《Ascension Through Skills》 Chapter 1: Prologue + Easy Mode Player (1) Taesan stared pensively at the enemy in front of him. ¡°Ka-aaa!¡± Its radiant red scales were shimmering. The reptile¡¯s eyes seemed to contain all of the cruelty in the world. White mes were sometimes visible as it exhaled its breath. The red dragon growled. The king of dragons, Moebius¡¯ lizard, which heralded the end of everything, the one who guarded the abyss. It was a divine being that even gods could not easily deal with. All Taesan had against such a monster was his shabby equipment. The most basic suit of cloth armor and a rusty sword. That was all. ¡°With this equipment, I¡¯m supposed to fight a dragon alone. This difficulty level definitely lives up to its name.¡± He wasn¡¯t entirely alone. He felt a gaze from above. The light contained in that gaze was simple. It was filled with endless expectations of him. As well as admiration for miracles that would be shown in the future. They wouldn¡¯t interfere with the feast in front of them. They would always watch from a distance, as usual. He was used to it now. He held the sword without hesitation. ¡°Krrr¡­¡± The dragon moved its front w and tried to cautiously back away as it looked at Taesan. The cruelty reflected in those eyes began showing hints of fear. ¡°Why are you scared?¡± ¡°Ka-aaa!¡± As if havinge to a decision, the dragon roared and moved its feet. Its bulky body approached as the ground thumped under its weight. Taesan looked behind him. The door through which he had entered was long gone. There was no escape. The battlefield, this time, was about the size of a sports field. ¡°Just like always.¡± Kill or die. As he took a step forward, the dragon roared threateningly. ¡°Ka-aaa!¡± [The dragon''s roar overwhelms you!] [Starting judgment.] [Stat reduction judgment in progress...] [Action restriction judgment in progress...] [Mental copse judgment in progress...] [Surrender judgment in progress...] [Instant death judgment in progress...] [...] [All judgments seeded!] [You endured with the Indomitable Spirit!]] [All stats have increased.] [Your actions will never stop. Acquired the special always-active skill, "Continuous Action".] [A spirit that does not sumb descends.] [A body that does not surrender manifests.] [Your opponent is an invincible enemy.] [Judgment unnecessary. Your heart did not break against an enemy who cannot be defeated!]] [Judgment unnecessary. Your fighting spirit rose against an enemy who cannot be defeated!] [Judgment unnecessary. Your willpower increased against an enemy who cannot be defeated!] [All stats have increased.] [You will never break during battle.] [You have gained an eye that discerns the opponent''s weaknesses.] [The dragon was intimidated by you, who did not surrender.] [The dragon felt fear towards you, who did not falter.] [The dragon is filled with fear of defeat towards you, who is filled with confidence.] ¡°Clear it.¡± Taesan cleared the system window and brandished his sword. ¡°Come at me quickly. This will be over soon.¡± ¡°Ka-aa!¡± The dragon charged toward Taesan. ¡°Ah, annoying.¡± Taesan grumbled as he walked through the devastated city. ¡°Why did that damn thing run all the way here and annoy people?¡± Traces of alien shapes were visible in the copsed streets. However, Taesan simply walked down the road with indifference. ¡°Is this Anyang?¡± He could no longer find any traces of that city in these ruins. What was left visible were only buildings and their foundations. As well as the shattered asphalt. In this scenery devoid of human scent, Taesan scrunched up his face. ¡°So bothersome¡­¡± He strode forward. It didn¡¯t take long to find what he hade for. Grrr. Grrrrr. A monster appeared. It waspletely ck, resembling neither human nor animal. Three such monsters were tearing apart a body. That body was Taesan¡¯s target. However, it wasn¡¯t dead but was still alive. ¡°Quite a spectacle.¡± Grrrrr. The monsters noticed Taesan. They finished consuming the rest of the body and moved slightly. [Monster435 is ring at you.] [Monster221 is ring at you.] [Monster222 is ring at you.] ¡°Really, can¡¯t they have better names?¡± Taesan grumbled. Every time he saw their names while fighting, he felt drained. Grrrrrr! The monsters rushed at him. While their speed was beyond human capabilities, Taesan simply looked at them with annoyance. ¡°Hey. Open the door.¡± Taesan knocked heavily on the door in front of a giant wall. The vibration of his knock spread through the door, and it opened before long. ¡°Bro. You¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have asked someone else? This is so bothersome.¡± ¡°Haha. Knowing what¡¯s out there, there was no one else but you, bro.¡± Junggeun weed him upon his return. He looked beside Taesan and asked with a confused face. ¡°The escapee?¡± ¡°He¡¯s dead. The monsters ate all of his body.¡± ¡°What?¡± Junggeun was taken aback. ¡°He was a Hard Mode yer, and he¡¯s already dead?¡± ¡°Three A-grade monsters were cheerfully tearing him apart.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± Junggeun closed his mouth. While Hard Mode yers were strong, an A-grade monster was equal in strength to one. There would have been no way to deal with three of them. ¡°Where are those monsters?¡± If there were three A-grade monsters nearby, they needed to be dealt with quickly. Taesan calmly responded to Junggeun¡¯s serious question. ¡°I killed them all.¡± Junggeun then felt drained and muttered. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Enough, I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s go to a restaurant.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There were several buildings within the walls. They all seemed old and on the verge of copsing, but single-family homes that maintained their shapes could still be seen. While walking, Junggeun asked Taesan. ¡°Bro. Be honest. You¡¯re not an Easy Mode yer, are you?¡± ¡°What nonsense is this now?¡± Taesan frowned. ¡°How many havee through thebyrinth with me? Ask them.¡± ¡°All the Easy yers other than you are dead, you know? Even those who pop up asionally die within a couple of days.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Was it like that?¡± ¡°Honestly, how can an easy yer survive in the current situation? Even Normal yers are barely managing. You¡¯re the strange one, bro.¡± An Easy yer whoughed at Hard Mode. That was Taesan. ¡°Why are you so strong? I¡¯m a Hard yer, but I¡¯m nothingpared to you.¡± ¡°You guys just cleared too hastily.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying that again.¡± ¡°So, what do you want me to do?¡± The other yers rushed to clear thebyrinth while Taesan had grasped every aspect. That was the single point of difference in Taesan¡¯s view. ¡°Since we can¡¯t go back to thebyrinth anyway, let¡¯s stop the pointless talk and eat.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± They entered an old tent, and Taesan sat at the dining table. ¡°What¡¯s for dinner today?¡± ¡°Potatoes.¡± Taesan¡¯s face distorted. ¡°Potatoes again? Can¡¯t you cultivate something else? There¡¯s sweet potato or corn.¡± ¡°But potatoes are the most efficient, so what can we do? There¡¯s a limit to the quantity in simple cultivation.¡± It was a skill that allowed a yer to cultivate something from nothing, anywhere. Thanks to this skill that a few people possessed, humanity has survived until now. ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn it, bro?¡± ¡°Why would an Easy Mode yer learn such a thing? There¡¯s food everywhere, no matter where you go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true.¡± Junggeun nodded his head. Junggeun brought out the potatoes after a few moments. The two ate in silence without any conversation. From a distance, there was amotion. They were voices mixed with cheers and sighs, as well as shouts that denied reality. ¡°Looks like another one who cleared hase.¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± A yer who cleared thebyrinth and returned to Earth caused a disturbance because he couldn¡¯t ept reality. It was amon urrence. Neither Taesan nor Junggeun moved. It was a habit now for those yers to be subdued by those around him. Eventually, they would listen to the exnations without causing a fuss. But this time, unlike usual, the noise did not easily subside. ¡°Uh¡­¡­Brother. He seems to be a Hard yer.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± Taesan¡¯s face distorted. Validating Junggeun¡¯s words, a man ran inside in a hurry. ¡°Taesan. Come quickly. It¡¯s a total mess right now.¡± ¡°Why me? There are a lot of Hard yers. Can¡¯t they handle it?¡± ¡°Oh,e on. You know as well as I do why. Juste quickly.¡± Taesan stood up with a grimace. Junggeun leisurely took Taesan¡¯s potato. ¡°Please go ande back.¡± ¡°If you eat that, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Junggeun quietly put the potato back. Taesan followed the man with a sigh. ¡°What kind of guy is this one?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a Hard Mode clearer, iming that we¡¯re all lying and is causing amotion.¡± ¡°Are there not enough Hard yers here to subdue him? Is he quite strong?¡± ¡°Fucking hell.¡± The man clicked his tongue. ¡°He¡¯s got some decent skills, so someone might die if we try to subdue him. That¡¯s why we need your help, Taesan.¡± ¡°What about Taeyeon?¡± ¡°Taeyeon is currently out on external reconnaissance. You knew that, right?¡± ¡°Huff.¡± Sighing, Taesan headed toward the center of themotion. There, a young man was shouting with a red face. ¡°Don¡¯t joke with me! How is this Earth! This is a hidden camera! Stop fooling around!¡± ¡°Young friend, this really is Earth. The world has changed a lot while you were in thebyrinth¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke with me!¡± The man swung his fist roughly. The middle-aged man who had been trying to calm him down stepped back with a groan. ¡°He¡¯s about to get rough.¡± ¡°Taesan, I¡¯m counting on you!¡± The man who brought Taesan cheered him on. ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed to depend on an Easy yer like me?¡± ¡°This is a time where we can¡¯t survive with shame.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and walked towards the man. In the square, only the man and Taesan remained. ¡°Young man, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°¡­Lee Changchun.¡± ¡°I see. Changchun. Sadly, this really is Earth. We¡¯re in the process of being annihted.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke with me!¡± ¡°Is that your catchphrase or something?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way this is Earth! There are so many yers, yet they can¡¯t stop these monsters?! You¡¯re all lying to me!¡± Changchun roared in rage. It¡¯smon for those who returned from thebyrinth to lose their minds after being unable to ept reality. And he showed no signs of epting it easily. In such cases, there was only one solution. Taesan clenched his fist. ¡°If he gets hit, he¡¯ll understand.¡± [Duel Request.] Changchun was taken aback by the prompt on the screen. ¡°¡­Duel? Who are you?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Kang Taesan?¡± Changchun chewed on his name and smirked. ¡°The Easy yer who always had a big mouth?¡± ¡°You know me? Must be a frequent Community user.¡± ¡°What a joke! An Easy yer like you wants to challenge a Hard yer?¡± Changchun scoffed at Taesan. The gap in strength between yers from the different difficulties was immense. Even if a hundred Easy yers gathered, it would be difficult to even deal damage to a Hard yer. But Taesan simply waved his hand with an annoyed look on his face. ¡°Shut up ande at me. If you can beat me, I¡¯ll show you the ¡®real world¡¯ you want so badly.¡± ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t regret it!¡± ¡°The one who¡¯s going to regret it is you.¡± [Duel Established.] [Lee Changchun and Kang Taesan may begin the duel.] The onlookers made space around them. Changchun, who had been confidently standing, began to waver slightly. The people around them were beginning to make bets as if the oue wasn¡¯t even worth watching. ¡°Who are you betting on?¡± ¡°One potato on Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Five potatoes on Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Three potatoes on Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t anyone betting on the young man? He might just win, you know?¡± There was no reply to that. No one here thought Changchun would be able to win. They actually believed that an Easy yer could defeat a Hard yer. Taesan crossed his arms nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯ll let you attack first.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Changchun gritted his teeth. The duel had begun, regardless, so there was no backing out now. [Lee Changchun activated Increase. His basic attack power has increased by 50%.] [Lee Changchun activated Concentration. The next attack has a high probability of hitting.] [Lee Changchun activated Strong Strike. The next attack will deal significant damage.] ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Adding ¡®Increase¡¯ and ¡®Strong Strike¡¯? That¡¯s a powerfulbo.¡± People around him marveled at the sight, but that was it. They calmly waited for the oue as Changchun gritted his teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t care anymore.¡± He charged towards Taesan. [Lee Changchun''s Attack.] [Kang Taesan''s ''First Attack Immunity'' is activated.] [0 Damage to Kang Taesan.] ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Are you done?¡± Changchun checked his system window in disbelief. ¡®First Attack Immunity¡¯ skill? What was that? He had never seen anything like it while ying in hard mode. ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn, right?¡± Taesan raised his fist. Changchun quickly snapped out of shock and raised his arms to protect himself. [Kang Taesan''s Attack.] [Lee Changchun activated ''Solid''. The damage received is reduced by half.] [Kang Taesan activated ''Absolute Judgment''. The opponent''s defense skills and defense are ignored.] [49 Damage to Lee Changchun.] ¡°Huh?¡± Changchun was baffled again. It was too weak. His health points were well over a thousand. This kind of attack was nothing more than a tickle. ¡®R-right.¡¯ Changchun steadied his nerves. His opponent was an Easy yer. The absolute gap in stats and level couldn¡¯t be easily bridged. But Taesan raised his fist again. ¡°Your health exceeds one thousand, right?¡± [Kang Taesan activated ''Addition''. Current attack power is doubled.] [Kang Taesan activated ''Multiply''. Current attack power is squared.] [Kang Taesan activated ''Absolute Judgment''. The opponent''s defense skills and defense are ignored.] Changchun¡¯s body stiffened. ¡°Take this.¡± ¡°Wai-wait.¡± [Kang Taesan''s attack.] [9,604 damage to Lee Changchun.] Wha- ¡°Mr. Taesan, isn¡¯t that too harsh?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t die, did he? How much kinder do you want me to be here?¡± Taesan grumbled. Changchun was sprawled out on the ground, twitching. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Young man, do you understand now? This is the real Earth. We are the failures who managed to clear that miserablebyrinth but couldn¡¯t protect Earth.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t joke¡­¡± Tears dripped from Changchun¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why¡­ why is the world like this¡­ It would¡¯ve been better if we didn¡¯t clear thebyrinth¡­¡± Silence followed his words. The man who had beenforting Changchun smiled bitterly. ¡°But we¡¯ve alle out. What can we do? We should try to save this insane world anyway.¡± Back when this world was still their world. The sky had split open, and monsters poured out of it. Choices then appeared before humanity. Easy Mode. Normal Mode. Hard Mode. And Solo Mode. The yers chose different levels of difficulty and entered thebyrinth. Those who cleared it then returned to Earth. To an Earth overrun with monsters and on the brink of destruction. They were those people. And Taesan was a yer who chose Easy Mode. Chapter 2: Easy Mode Player (2) Junggeun, who had been watching from a distance, quickly approached Taesan. ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°You came?¡± ¡°Of course, I had toe and watch you fight.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Taesan caught the potato that Junggeun had thrown at him. His face crumpled at the touch of the now-cooled potato. ¡°This was why I didn¡¯t want to go.¡± Returning to the restaurant was a bother, so he had no choice but to eat it. Lee Changchun, who was on his mind, had long disappeared. Only Junggeun was left to admire Lee Changchun¡¯s defeat. ¡°Wow, you are really great, hyung. Even though he¡¯s a Hard yer, you beat him in one hit.¡± ¡°Is there anything great about defeating such a weak guy?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not a weak guy¡­¡­ Junggeun said this with some trepidation. Changchun was strong. Besides, he also had a valuable skill that few other Hard yers possessed. His Strong Attack was also quite a sessful skill. Sturdiness, a rare skill that halved all damage, was also rare. Even Junggeun, considered the strongest Hard yer, would have struggled to suppress him. He was not a yer who could be easily taken down. Taesan was just overwhelmingly strong. Junggeun couldn¡¯t suppress his curiosity. ¡°So, how on earth did you acquire that multiplication skill?¡± Such a crazy skill that would automatically square the power of an attack. It wasn¡¯t even applying the effect to the basic attack power but rather the current attack power. Taesan¡¯s basic stats werecking, with the highest capping at about 10,000. However, depending on the user, the damage that could be dealt was nearly infinite. The onlyparable skill was Addition, but it was utterly negligible whenpared to Multiplication. Lee Taeyeon was the only other yer to possess it after Taesan. ¡°What¡¯s ¡®Absolute Judgment¡¯? Ignoring defense? Where is there such a skill? Absolute invalidation of the first attack? What kind of cheat-like skill is that? Where on earth did you get it from?¡± Junggeun was genuinely curious. If every Easy yer had gotten skills like Taesan, Junggeun would have killed himself for choosing Hard Mode. However, only Taesan had such skills. As always, Taesan answered. ¡°I worked hard and got them well.¡± ¡°There you go again. Even in this situation, do you have something to hide?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all there is, so what do you want me to do?¡± Taesan repliedzily. He had diligently broken through thebyrinth tower. He didn¡¯t merely pass through it but understood and analyzed it thoroughly. That was all there was to it. However, people couldn¡¯t ept it even if he exined it that way. For them, thebyrinth was nothing more than hell. They didn¡¯t try to understand why he put in the effort to understand and analyze such a dreadful world. And so, Taesan, too, worked hard¡­ Junggeun could feel that Taesan had no desire to exin in detail, so he simply only spoke. Then, another cheer erupted from the other side. ¡°Oh, looks like another yer has arrived? It¡¯s a good year.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Usually, a yer would arrive in the center of the city. However, the cheer came from the side nearest to the barrier. Junggeun also noticed this quickly. ¡°Looks like Lee Taeyeon has arrived.¡± In a situation where humanity was on the brink of extinction, no one had the luxury of being concerned about style and safety. Most of the houses in the city were on the verge of copse. However, there was a single neat house among them. It looked as if it had been consistently maintained, and not even a speck of dust was on its walls. ¡°She¡¯s still annoyingly attentive to these things.¡± Taesan stood in front of the house with an annoyed expression. He then entered. Squeak. As the door opened and the interior was revealed, Taesan was taken aback. ¡°What the hell.¡± All sorts of decorations and murals were visible inside. The madness of this world meant that nobody cared about decorating their homes. If someone did, they would be considered insane. Taesan sighed and spoke to the woman who was waiting for him inside the house. ¡°Are you not going to fix this strange habit?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about my hobbies.¡± The woman grumbled while sitting in a luxurious red leather chair. The long-haireddy proudly raised her finger. ¡°Isn¡¯t it beautiful? I got it from an art museum this time.¡± At the end of her finger was a gigantic portrait. The portrait, four times the size of a human body, didn¡¯t have a speck of dust or a single scratch on it. In an outside world swarming with all kinds of monsters, she had carefully brought that portrait back without knowing if she would see tomorrow. Taesan sighed. ¡°Why must the strongest human be a woman like you?¡± Lee Taeyeon. The only human who cleared Solo Mode. She was a woman considered to be the strongest human on earth. ording to Taesan¡¯s standards, she was also the most abnormal. Lee Taeyeon grinned. ¡°In a situation like this, obsession with something is important. How about you try having a hobby like me? I used to think things like art had no meaning in the old world, but now I see each has its own vor. For instance, this portrait I brought this time¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear about that when we have time.¡± The more Lee Taeyeon talked, the further she strayed from the main point. From his past experiences, Taesan knew it was best to not get sucked in and just get to the point. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The reason why Taesan came here was because Lee Taeyeon had called for him. Lee Taeyeon casually touched the armrest of her chair. ¡°That newbie in Hard Mode. You said you were training him?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one else to do it, so I have to.¡± ¡°Really, an Easy Mode yer training a Hard Mode yer. No matter how many times I hear it, it¡¯s a weird story,¡± Lee Taeyeon said this while giving Taesan a curious look. ¡°Status window.¡± Lee Taeyeon¡¯s status window appeared. [Lee Taeyeon] [Level: 258] [HP: 45810/45810] [Mana: 7020/7020] [Strength: 10152] [Intelligence: 9899] [Agility: 13254] [Attack + 5421] [Defense + 8456] [Target is frightened.] To any other person, these stats would inspire awe. Even a casual attack from her would be deadly against a fully prepared Hard Mode yer. Taesan simply looked at her status window nkly. ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you showing off?¡± ¡°Just a simple check. Taesan, show me your status window as well.¡± ¡°You are bragging, aren¡¯t you? So much for feeling inferior to the Easy Mode yer.¡± Grumbling, Taesan opened his status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 57] [HP: 1021/1021] [Mana: 820/820] [Strength: 105] [Intelligence: 100] [Agility: 98] [Attack + 49] [Defense + 58] [Target is in optimal condition.] Lee Taeyeon nodded her head. ¡°As expected, you¡¯re pretty weak.¡± Taesan frowned. ¡°Are you suggesting we fight?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it¡¯s just a simple check? Still, those stats are pretty good. Most Easy Mode yers have stats much worse than yours. In terms of mana, you¡¯d rank among the top even among Normal Mode yers.¡± Fundamentally, Taesan was a yer of the easiest difficulty level. And the difference in growth based on the difficulty of thebyrinth was extreme. Since all growth stopped the moment thebyrinth was cleared, it was impossible to get stronger. Typically, a Hard Mode yer would easily be ten times stronger than Taesan. In Junggeun¡¯s case, he would be twenty times stronger. Yet Taesan would be able to take a hit from all of them. Even Lee Taeyeon wasn¡¯t sure she would be able to decisively win against Taesan. All because of the skills that Taesan possessed. ¡°Do you have about two hundred skills?¡± ¡°About two hundred thirty or so.¡± ¡°¡­Truly an astounding number.¡± Lee Taeyeon let out a hollowugh. She only had about fifty skills. Hard yers, at best, had about twenty. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just Taesan¡¯s number of skills. Each and every one of his skills was of a different quality. Lee Taeyeon clenched her fist. ¡°Just stand still.¡± [Lee Taeyeon has activated ''Addition''. Half of the base attack power is added.] [Lee Taeyeon has activated ''Multiply''. The current attack power doubles.] [Lee Taeyeon has activated ''Sure Hit''. This attack will definitely hit.] [Lee Taeyeon attacks.] An attack that would kill Taeasn ten times over was about to engulf him. [Taesan''s ''First Attack Immunity'' has been activated.] [Taesan receives 0 damage.] Yet only a short system message appeared. Taesan hadn¡¯t even bothered to take a defensive posture. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Just nothing.¡± Lee Taeyeon managed a bitter smile. ¡®Sure Hit¡¯ the ultimate hit skill. It was one of the top five skills she possessed, but it was of no use in front of Taesan. ¡°¡®First Attack Immunity¡¯, ¡®Absolute Judgement¡¯, ¡®Multiply¡¯, ¡®Multiple Ovey Attack¡¯, ¡®Copy¡¯, ¡®Temporary Time Stop¡¯¡­ truly unbelievable skills.¡± Skills that, even if you possessed only one of them, would make you a top yer. Taesan had more than two hundred such skills. That¡¯s why, despite his mediocre stats, he was able to survive for so long and overpower everyone else. ¡°You said you got the skills while ying with elements of the Tower, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a tower. It¡¯s abyrinth. Why call it a tower when you¡¯re going down?¡± ¡°Most people other than you call it that. What¡¯s the problem? You¡¯re one of the few who call it abyrinth, right? Answer me.¡± ¡°Yeah. You can get the skills regardless of the difficulty level.¡± Lee Taeyeon dropped her head and mulled over this. ¡°We should have properly understood the tower like you. Instead of obsessing over clearing it, we should have be stronger to our limits¡­ They failed to do so. They were controlled by their fear and were obsessed with clearing thebyrinth as quickly as possible, missing most of the opportunities to be stronger. Lee Taeyeon had btedly realized this. ¡°I wonder.¡± Taesan spoke in a low voice. Would the others have be as strong as him if they had acted the same way? He didn¡¯t think so. To him, Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words were like saying that if everyone lived like Edison, everyone could have invented the light bulb. But he didn¡¯t want to fuss about something meaningless, so he just said casually, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s all in the past.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case.¡± Lee Taeyeon gave him a cryptic smile. Taesan looked at her with a puzzled face, but she changed the subject instead of responding. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re amazing. If you yed in Solo Mode, maybe we could have won.¡± His skills were powerful, but most of them were based on stats. The current Taesan couldn¡¯t even use a tenth of his skills. If Taesan had statsparable to a standard Hard yer, humanity could have been at least twice as better off. Taesan waved his hand irritably. ¡°Can you stop talking about that?¡± What if he yed in Normal Mode? What if he yed in Solo Mode? He had heard those words so many times that it was getting on his nerves. ¡°Just get to the point. You went on a reconnaissance, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lee Taeyeon replied with a serious face. ¡°The next wave is about to start.¡± Taesan frowned. A wave was when the monstersunched a total attack. Each time they returned to Earth, a wave would ur. In the first wave, humanity lost Seoul. Half of the Hard yers died in the second wave. Humanity could only defend a small city in the third wave. Many people died each time a wave urred, and humanity¡¯s territory shrank. This was now the fourth wave. ¡°How many are there?¡± ¡°Two S-ss. Dozens of A-ss. Hundreds of B-ss. And an Apostle.¡± Lee Taeyeon said this tly. Taesan nodded his head. ¡°We¡¯re finished.¡± S-ss was a level of monster that even Lee Taeyeon could barely deal with. And now there were two of them. On top of that, dozens of A-ss monsters. There were barely over twenty Hard yers capable of facing A-ss monsters left. And the Apostle. Something beyond an S-ss, an alien entity. In reality, defeat was already certain. ¡°But we have to struggle anyway. Taesan, please handle the two S-ss monsters.¡± ¡°What?¡± Taesan let out a hollowugh. ¡°Do you want me to die?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one else who can handle an S-ss but you. I¡¯ll be fully upied with dealing with the Apostle. I don¡¯t have the time to worry about anything else. You know, right?¡± ¡°What a mess.¡± Although Taesan grumbled, he did not refuse. He, too, knew that there was no other way. He turned around. ¡°Should I go and inform them?¡± ¡°At least let them prepare themselves mentally. Should I let them die without knowing anything?¡± He would strive to survive even if he had to crawl on the ground and vomit blood. That was Taesan¡¯s belief. Taesan stepped outside. Left alone, Lee Taeyeon muttered, ¡°Taesan, you are strong. You might even be able to lead us to victory.¡± She offered a bitter smile. ¡°But I¡¯m a coward.¡± In her hand, she held a rugged stone. ¡°Goodness.¡± Junggeun looked beyond the barrier with a bewildered face. ¡°I knew this day woulde someday, but it¡¯s too upsetting.¡± ¡°How are the others doing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a mess. Everyone¡¯s saying it¡¯s the end. They¡¯re praying and causing amotion.¡± ¡°Well, that would be expected.¡± You were all going to die. Humanity was ending. No one would be able to maintain their sanity in that. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll just ept it. After all, I have lived quite long in a situation where everyone is dying. This is a luxury. A luxury.¡± ¡°What kind of luxury is there in dying?¡± Lee Changchun passed by them with a dark, dead expression. ¡°When I think about it, he¡¯s really pitiful.¡± He must have been thrilled as he cleared thebyrinth and looked forward to enjoying modern life. Instead, what awaited him was this horrifying reality and inevitable death after just a day of seeing the world. Since he was a Hard yer, he must have suffered all kinds of hardships to clear thebyrinth. Truly, how unlucky. ¡°How about you, hyung?¡± Junggeun asked Taesan. ¡°To be honest, I feel you would be the most aggrieved. If we did half of what you did, we wouldn¡¯t be facing annihtion.¡± ¡°I feel so wronged that I could die. Satisfied?¡± Taesan spoke sullenly. It was a casual attitude, but it reflected Taesan¡¯s true feelings. Roar¡­¡­ The monsters¡¯ cries were heard. Junggeun¡¯s expression hardened/ The wave had begun. ¡°Ah, shit. This is crazy. Really. What did you say you had to fight?¡± ¡°Two S-sses.¡± ¡°¡­¡­See you in the afterlife. I think you will go first. Please wait for me.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Taesan leaped into the air. His main enemy was not in this group of monsters. It was two distinct monsters that were far removed from him. Taesan braced his feet. [You have activated the skill Great Leap.] His body soared through the sky. He flew past the clouds and quickly distanced himself from the city. The aftermath of a fight with an S-ss was massive. It could create a crater the size of a city, so he couldn¡¯t fight near it. Taesan looked down at the ground from the sky. [You have activated Full Reconnaissance.] Dots appeared on the ground. The blue dots were gathered in one ce and were very few, while the red dots twinkled like city lights at night, filling the ground. Among them, two shining red dots stood out. ¡°Found them.¡± [You have activated Landing.] Taesannded on the ground. The two monsters headed towards the city stopped in surprise when they saw Taesan. ¡°Happy to see me?¡± Grrr. [Monster 5 has identified you as an enemy.] [Monster 7 has identified you as an enemy.] The monsters stared at Taesan. The system window appeared between him and them. [You have encountered horrific beings.] [Judgment starting.] [Judging for mental breakdown... ] [Judging for confusion... ] [Judging for fear... ] [Judging for instant death... ] [...] [All Judgments Seeded!] [You have endured with indomitable willpower!] [All your stats have increased.] [Your spirit never breaks.] The system had made an attempt to pass a judgment of instant death. Taesan sighed and drew his sword. It was an old sword that had been with him all his life. ¡°Die, you damned things.¡± [You have activated Unstoppable Force.] Chapter 3: Easy Mode Player (3) Taesan looked at the monsters. Monster 7, asrge as a house, resembled a jellyfish. And Monster 5, hovering in mid-air, was shaking its tentacles like an octopus. ¡°I just hope they aren¡¯t defense types.¡± Attack type, defense type, long-range type, close-range type, brainwashing type, etc. Monsters came in various types. The monsters¡¯ information was concealed, making it impossible to determine their capabilities. People had to learn about them throughbat, a result that inevitably resulted in many casualties. Of course, this was not a concern for Taesan. [You have activated Complete Reconnaissance.] [Monster 7] [Defense Type] [Health: 148,551,233/148,551,233] Taesan¡¯s face twisted. ¡°140 million? They¡¯re really messing around.¡± What was that supposed to be? Even if all of humanity attacked it together, wouldn¡¯t it be impossible to deplete that amount of HP? Suppressing his anger, Taesan checked the other one. [Monster 5] [Long-range Attack Type] [Health: 1,255,212/1,255,212] ¡°This one seems somewhat manageable.¡± Still, it had 1.25 million health. Compared to a regr monster, the task remained insurmountable. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Taesan let out a deep, long sigh. If only Lee Taeyeon had been here, it would have been easier. Having cleared Solo Mode, she possessed top-notch stats and legendary equipment. A defense-type monster can¡¯t damage Lee Taeyeon, so she would quickly take care of the long-range attack type first and eitherpletely ignore the defense type or slowly wear it down. Take care of the attack type first, then handle the defense typeter. It was an incredibly tactical approach. Other yers would likely follow the same strategy. Unfortunately, Taesan was an anomaly as a yer. His stats were at the level of an Easy Mode yer. His equipment remains the same as when he left thebyrinth because yers can¡¯t trade equipment. His only hope was in his skills. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan gathered his strength. His skill, Unstoppable Force, provided immunity to all status ailments for five minutes. It would be easier to deal with them within this time period. Thump. Taesan stomped on the ground. [You have activated Physical Time eleration.] Taesan¡¯s body became faster. This eleration gave him a speed that was iparable to his usual pace. Vrooom. Monster 5 moved its tentacles toward the moving Taesan. The tentacles aimed at Taesan, and a green light began condensing at their tips. Zzzzzing! Beams of light shot out from the tip of the tentacles. It obliterated anything in its way as it struck Taesan at the speed of light. [Your First Attack Immunity has been activated.] [You received 0 damage.] As he dismissed the system window, Taesan thought. ¡®So, it fires in the direction its tentacles are pointing. There¡¯s no dy. It¡¯s impossible to dodge by sight. The only possibility is prediction.¡¯ He quickly discerned this. The slower he was at figuring out his opponent, the less likely he was to survive. Taesan quickly made a decision. ¡®In that case.¡¯ Taesan changed his direction. Instead of running head-on, he moved sideways to confuse the monster¡¯s focus. The tentacles moved, and a green light condensed at their tips again as Taesan swiftly threw his body. Zzzzzing! That light of destruction obliterated everything in its path. Its destructive power reached up to several kilometers and could erase Hard Mode yers in one hit. Taesan managed to avoid them. ¡®I can¡¯t avoid it.¡¯ The density of lighting from the tentacles was high. If he got close, he would inevitably get hit at least once. There were a few possible solutions. The first one was to purposefully dodge. He could use a few skills to avoid everythingpletely and gradually get closer. A standard approach, but simultaneously, an impossible one for Taesan. Skills were consumable. His frail mana pool was slowly but surely being drained. He had to resolve this as quickly as possible. ¡°Tsk.¡± As always, he¡¯d have to gamble. Taesan hunkered down, ready to unleash his stored power. [You have activated Supersonic Speed.] The air exploded as Taesan¡¯s body darted forward. Supersonic Speed. A movement skill that allowed him to easily surpass the speed of sound. It allowed Taesan to quickly close the gap on an opponent, and he used it frequently. But its downside was clear. During the dash, evasion was impossible. Monster 5¡¯s tentacles aimed at him once more. Zzzzzing! A green beam filled Taesan¡¯s vision. Taesan kicked the ground, elerating even more. [Your Second Attack Immunity has been activated.] [You received 0 damage.] Vrooom. Monster 5 was taken aback. It had no face per se, but Taesan could sense it. ¡®The attack nullification is over now.¡¯ Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t create any more nullification skills. But thanks to that, he had gotten close. Taesan gripped his sword. Just as he was about to attack Monster 5, Monster 7 made an appearance with its bulky body. Grrrr! Monster 7 took a protective stance and surrounded Taesan. When a ranged attacker was in danger, a defender protected it. They must have been deployed together for that purpose. However, Taesan smiled. ¡°Gotcha.¡± [You have activated Forced Duel. For one minute, no one except Monster 7 can inflict damage on you.] A golden barrier enveloped both Monster 7 and Taesan. Monster 5 fired a beam, but the barrier didn¡¯t even react. To Taesan, there was no big difference between a defender and an attacker. Holding out was a Hard Mode yer¡¯s strategy. With his weak stats and equipment, even if he was hit by a defender, he was done. So, he¡¯d rather take out the annoyingly tanky defender first. Taesan gripped his sword. [You have activated Addition. Your current attack power doubles.] [You have activated Multiplication. Your current attack power squares.] [You have activated Absolute Judgment. Ignore the opponent''s defense skills.] Addition, which doubled his attack power. Multiplication, which squared his attack power. It was a truly overwhelming skill. But it was insufficient. His basic stats were too low, so even after addition and multiplication, it only amounted to 9,604 damage. It was not enough to prate a monster with hundreds of millions of HP. So, one more time. [You have activated Designated Skill Reset. This skill cannot be activated again for one month.] [You have reset Multiplication.] [You have activated Multiplication. Your current attack power squares.] The square of 9,604. But it was still insufficient. He still couldn¡¯t reach hundreds of millions. So, to the limit. Taesan gritted his teeth. Mana waspletely drained from his entire body. [You have activated Duplication. The next attack is applied twice.] [You attack.] [Monster 7 takes 92,236,816 damage.] [Monster 7 takes 92,236,816 damage.] [Monster 7 has fallen.] It vanished without a trace. Taesan barely managed to keep his body upright as he staggered. Monster 5 pointed at him with its tentacle. Kreeee. The beam swallowed Taesan. [You take 22,543 damage.] [Your Endure skill has been activated. The attack that would have led to death has been nullified. All damage bes 0 for 5 seconds.] Unlike Attack Nullification, he only had one instance of Endure. Taesan quickly rushed towards Monster 5. The tentacle moved, but it was easier to dodge at this close range. From now on, it was no longer difficult. It was a simple repetition of dodging and striking. However, Taesan¡¯s expression was not good. [Mana 21/820] His weak mana pool was at its limit. He could no longer use Multiplication. He had to shave off 1,250,000 HP purely with his attack. Taesan swung his sword. [Monster 5 takes 48 damage.] Simply put, he needed to strike it 25,000 times. ¡°I think I¡¯m going crazy.¡± The long battle began with only the use of minimum defense pration skills. [Monster 5 takes 54 damage.] The sun and moon revealed themselves to the world, then disappeared repeatedly. At some point, Taesan lost his sense of time. ¡°Damn it.¡± Suddenlying to his senses, Taesan looked at his opponent¡¯s health. [Health: 655,212/1,255,212] ¡°Halfway.¡± Some would say that there¡¯s only half left, but to Taesan, that was nonsense. This was already excruciating enough. The fact that he had to repeat this much again made him feel nauseous. ¡°Ugh.¡± But after sighing, Taesan moved. He dodged the beam and swung his raised sword. [Monster 5 takes 50 damage.] Time passed. Again, the sun and moon repeatedly showed themselves. yers were resistant to physical needs, but at this rate, even Taesan was gradually getting hungry. Theck of sleep made the tip of his sword waver. But his mind remained unchanged. Time continued to flow. At some point, it wasn¡¯t the mind controlling the body, but the body controlling the mind. And then, it ended. [You have entered a state of Mindless Absorption. Body and mind be one.] [A miraculous power is imprinted on your soul. You have gained the soul skill [Soul Ascension].] [Because you are outside thebyrinth, you could not acquire the skill. [Soul Ascension] has been sealed.] ¡°So noisy.¡± He turned off the system window, not understanding why it had appeared. Taesan barely managed to hold himself upright with his shaky legs. When he looked around, it was a valley. Everything was destroyed, and the city hadpletely disappeared, reced by a valley. Taesan spat. ¡°Die.¡± [Monster 5 takes 48 damage.] [Monster 5 has fallen.] [All the gods of every dimension cannot hide their astonishment at your achievement.] The cost of chipping away at a total of 1.25 million health points purely with time was substantial. He found it even hard to stand up. Barely managing to move his quivering lips, Taesan muttered, ¡°¡­¡­Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 57] [HP: 1/1021] [Mana: 2/820] [Strength: 105] [Intelligence: 100] [Agility: 98] [Attack + 49] [Defense + 58] [The subject is in a state of near-death.] It was a pitiful status window. It felt like he had been fighting for well over a month. ¡°Damn stat deficiency.¡± Things would have been easier had he at least been at the level of a Normal yer. But he won. He had defeated two S-rank entities, something that even someone of Lee Taeyeon¡¯s strength could not guarantee doing. He moved his trembling legs. Without mana for a big leap, he had no choice but to walk back. Fortunately, his mana and health recovered to some extent during his walk. When his mana slowly recovered to around 20, the city started toe into his view. There were no monsters in sight. But Taesan¡¯s face was contorted. [You have activated Full Reconnaissance.] All information around him was visible in the form of a map. Blue dots represented humans, and red dots were monsters. There were no blue dots. The only thing visible was a massive red dot inside the city. ¡°Damn things.¡± Swearing, Taesan headed towards the city. As he got closer, bodies started to appear. They were faces he recognized. They were the ones who had wasted time with him in mundane conversation not long ago. All of them were dead. ¡°You all bragged about being some of the rare hardcore yers in the world, so why am I, with this messed-up difficulty, the only one alive? Why is it that everyone¡¯s dead when Ie back victorious?¡± He vented hisints. With a truly irritated face, he entered the city. Inside the city, there were even more bodies. Among them was also the body of Junggeun. His face was peaceful. ¡°Guess he went as he said he would.¡± Next to him was also the body of Lee Changchun. Judging by his not-so-dark expression, it seemed that, in the end, he hade to ept his fate. Taesan passed by the bodies. At the end of the path of bodies, there was one bodyid out. ¡°Lee Taeyeon.¡± The only person in the world who had cleared the Solo difficulty. The person that was regarded as the strongest in the world. She had died a brutal death. And the monster that killed her was here. A terrifying sound. Something was crawling towards him. An indistinguishable monster that stood next to Lee Taeyeon¡¯s body was looking at him. Something beyond an S-rank. The people had named this monster the ¡®Death God.¡¯ [!#$!#¡¯s gaze.] [You instantly die.] An absolute gaze without judgment. It was an irresistible death sentence even for Hard Mode yers. The only known person to have withstood it was Lee Taeyeon. Taesan grimly waved his hand. ¡°Dispel.¡± [Resistance Sessful.] The sound returned. Taesan drew his sword. He struck down at the monster with irritation. The most formidable monster that even Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t defeat. [You have activated Essential Strike.] [$#!!!# damage.] The monster squirmed in pain. Taesan roughly flicked his hand. ¡°Come on, punk.¡± Chapter 4: Easy Mode Player (4) Taesan did his best against the Apostle. He used his slightly recovered mana to cast skills and used all his items to buy time. He worked hard for even a slim chance of survival. But he lost. ¡°Damn.¡± Taesan uttered this with a twisted face. ¡°So, this is it.¡± His condition was horrible. Half of his lower body had melted away, and he couldn¡¯t feel anything inside, probably because his internal organs had oxidized. He would be screaming in agony if he hadn¡¯t possessed a pain-blocking skill. ¡°I lost.¡± The opponent was not something guaranteed to be defeated, even in the best circumstances. There was no way he could win in his nearly dead-state. [Your Health has reached 0. Unyielding Will is activated. You will forcibly survive for 1 minute.] The system window obscured his view. Taesan swiped it away with an annoyed look. ¡°Let¡¯s go in peace, you guys.¡± Unyielding Will was only a stay of execution, not recovery. Without any means of healing, he¡¯ll die on his own in a minute. The Apostle, too, seemed to know this as it calmly watched him from beside Lee Taeyeon¡¯s corpse. Taesan looked up at the sky. Monsters were still emerging endlessly from the giant rift. ¡°Useless bastards.¡± Taesan scowled. What¡¯s the point of being the one and only yer who cleared the hardest Solo difficulty? They were all weaker than Taesan of the Easy difficulty. Bluntly put, if there were two of Taesan, then humanity could havested longer. ¡°They were too busy rushing to clear that they weren¡¯t able to build real strength.¡± However, Taesan also had a clear limit. There was a definite limit to how strong you could get based on the difficulty level, and he was a yer of Easy difficulty. He became stronger up to the given limit but ultimately could not ovee the limit of his stats. ¡°This sucks. Really.¡± Taesan gritted his teeth. He felt wronged. If only he hadn¡¯t chosen the Easy Mode back then. Even if he had chosen the Normal Mode. He wouldn¡¯t be dying like this. He could have won against the Apostle. Everything was messed up only due to a single choice. Although he didn¡¯t vomit it out, his insides were twisted with boundless fury. Why did you choose the Normal or Hard Mode yet still remain so weak? Why did you move through thebyrinth so clumsily and only gain such feeble power? Humanity could have won if they had followed even half of what Taesan did. ¡°Did it¡­ end?¡± Taesan smiled bitterly. After all, it was something that had already happened, something that he had chosen. It was of no use ming others. He restrained his emotions. This was the end for humanity. There would probably continue to be yers appearing afterward. Still, they wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything without the support of even a city. It was no exaggeration to say that humanity was practically extinct. As he was calmly epting his death, something caught his eye. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lee Taeyeon¡¯s right hand was holding something. Her tightly clenched fist signaled that it wasn¡¯t something ordinary. And the Apostle was next to Lee Taeyeon¡¯s body. As if it were protecting something. ¡°Ugh.¡± Taesan moved by crawling with his arm. The Apostle tried to kill Taesan as he approached. ¡°Stay still.¡± [You have triggered yourst chance. You can use a skill without any conditions. This skill cannot be triggered for a year.] [You have triggered Temporary Time Stop. Time within 100 meters of you has stopped for 2 minutes.] Taesan reached Lee Taeyeon¡¯s body by crawling on the ground. When he opened her right hand, a bulky stone was revealed. ¡°Check.¡± [The Seat of Power Regurgitated by Ouroboros] [The Seat of God that governs the cycle of all things.] [Only once. It can rewind the time of one person.] [Status is Unused.] ¡°What?¡± Rewind time. Those words stopped Taesan in his tracks. ¡°Could it be¡­ Rewind time? He was puzzled as to why Lee Taeyeon possessed this, but that quickly disappeared. Taesan stared nkly at the Seat of Power. [Roar!] The sky split, and a monster emerged. The power felt from the monster, which enveloped the sky itself, was beyond that of the Apostle. Even if Taesan were at full strength, winning would be hard. Smirk. Taesanughed and clenched his fist. ¡°See you next time, punk.¡± [Item used.] [Time Interference.] The world turned upside down. The world on the verge of destruction disappeared. In its ce was a worn-out one-room apartment. Taesan¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°Where is this?¡± An oldputer. A dusty nket. Mosquito blood stains on the wall. He remembered this ce. It was before everything fell apart when the world was still as humans knew it. When the status window was a joke. It was the one-room apartment where he lived. ¡°Status window.¡± He uttered the words he always said, but nothing appeared. He looked at his body. His physique was emaciated, but it was full of muscles. He had no choice but to train to survive in that terriblebyrinth. But now, his body was weak and fragile, the body of an ordinary man. ¡°Huh.¡± Taesan chuckled dryly. It was certain now. He had returned to the world of the past. ¡°Delivery!¡± The delivery man shouted loudly in front of the one-room apartment. A man appeared as the door opened a momentter. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Ah, yeah¡­ okay¡­¡­¡± The delivery man flinched for a moment. The man¡¯s eyes were incredibly calm. He was like a monk who had practiced for a long time. The man calmly asked the delivery man, who was nkly staring at him. ¡°Hasn¡¯t the payment already been made?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. You¡¯re correct. Please enjoy your meal.¡± The delivery man came to his senses and scurried away. The man came in carrying a pizza box. A smile tugged at the man¡¯s lips as he opened the box. ¡°How long has it been since I had pizza?¡± He couldn¡¯t remember. He carefully cut a piece and ced it in his mouth, letting the vor of cheese and toppings flood his mouth. The taste of civilization. It was exhrating. There was no time to make something like pizza in a world heading toward destruction. Given that what he had eaten was only the carcasses of monsters and potatoes, this moment was incredibly precious. The man, Taesan, savored each bite. After eating about four pieces, he began to feel full. ¡°Hoo.¡± His stomach was full. While waiting for the pizza, he had finished assessing the situation. ¡®So there was an item that could turn back time.¡¯ Thebyrinth had all kinds of things, but this was beyond expectation. Seeing as he, who had grasped everything at the Easy difficulty, did not know about it, it must have been an item exclusive to the higher difficulties. Considering the equipment that Lee Taeyeon had used, it was not impossible. Taesan had a puzzled look on his face. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she use it until the end?¡± She must have said something to him at the end because she had the means. But he didn¡¯t understand why she didn¡¯t use it, instead saving it until she died at the hands of the Apostle. She would have run away long ago if she were the woman he thought he knew. ¡°But thanks to that, I was able to acquire it.¡± Consumable items were unbound at the moment of death. Thanks to this, Taesan was able to obtain the item from her after she died. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± But now it was his. Taesan quietly looked at the clock. ¡®January 1, 2020.¡¯ At the exact moment of the New Year. The sky had split open and revealed a monster. It was now December 31, 2019, 11:30 PM. In 30 minutes, the world will be turned upside down. Suddenly, Taesan recalled his memory of that time. The system window appeared with the monsters and stated. The world woulde to an end. Monsters would appear. But it would give us a chance. To gather strength in thebyrinth and save our own world. In the middle of all the chaos and fear, options of Easy, Normal, Hard, and Solo difficulty levels appeared as options. Everyone made their choice while in a daze. The only way to escape from the world on the brink of destruction was to make that single choice. It was extremely rare for someone to choose a difficult option on a sudden prompt. Taesan had chosen the Easy difficulty level. That was a testament to his weakness. ¡®You are a good-for-nothing.¡¯ It was something he had heard from his parents since he was a child. Typically, parents believe in and nurture their children, but Taesan was different. To Taesan¡¯s parents, he was nothing more than a tool for stress relief. He had been a victim of violence from a young age. It wasmon for him to eat only one meal a day, and verbal abuse was a daily routine. He surely would have died if it weren¡¯t for shopkeepers who pitied and helped him. ¡®Why were you born?¡¯ they would say, ¡®You arepletely useless.¡¯ He heard these words almost every day. Inside such an environment, Taesan had been diminished. He began to believe that he was as worthless and valueless as they said. ¡®I didn¡¯t know my own talent.¡¯ In that life-threatening maze, Taesan discovered his talent. He was stronger than anyone. He was an existence akin to a miracle, making a mockery of even the Hard difficulty yers despite being in the Easy Mode. It was Taesan who broke the basic concept that the skill limit was clearly defined ording to the difficulty level. Taesan checked the clock. 58 minutes past eleven. Just 2 minutes to go. He went outside. The night sky, where nothing but the moon hung proudly, was beautiful. He had lost even the memory of seeing such a sky. 1 minute. Right now, everyone in the world would be counting down the time. They were hoping that the New Year would resolve everything well. 30 seconds. Regrettably, the world will copse at the same time as the New Year. 15 seconds. The precursor was already visible. Cracks appeared in the gloomy sky. Tiny fractures that only a keen-eyed person would notice. 5 seconds. Zeo-eung! A massive sound reverberated through the world. The cracks expanded to a size noticeable to everyone. Whispers came from all directions. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear that noise?¡± ¡°Is someone selling popcorn?¡± 1 second left. The world copsed. In the copsing world, Taesan looked up at the sky alone. Kwa-deu-deuk. The cracks widened. Now, there wasn¡¯t a single person who didn¡¯t realize the anomaly. Everyone screamed and looked up at the sky. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Kkuk-kuk-kuk¡­ Beyond the cracks, the monster revealed itself. The ck monster ced its reptilian hand on the crack and looked down at the ground. He was merely taken aback then, but he knew now. It was only a B-grade monster. A weak monster that a Normal yer could easily handle. Those who didn¡¯t know this started to panic and flee. However, there was no safe ce on the ground. And the ces ahead of it weren¡¯t safe either. ¡®It¡¯s about time.¡¯ Taesan¡¯s prediction was right on the mark as the system window obscured his vision. [Hello.] ¡°Uh, what?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Those who were fleeing also momentarily halted at the sudden appearance of this window. The system window kept appearing as if their confusion didn¡¯t matter. [Your world is being destroyed by invaders. The weapons you''ve diligently created are of no use to them.] Neither guns nor nuclear bombs had any effect on the monsters. They were creatures from a different dimension. To fight back, we also needed to acquire power from a different dimension. [But, do not worry.] [A merciful being who pities you is willing to give you a chance.] Taesan snorted. ¡®Merciful, my foot.¡¯ He still didn¡¯t fully understand its nature but roughly understood its habits. That thing wasn¡¯t a merciful being. It was merely a being obsessed with entertainment. [I will give you a choice. Choose the ce you desire! Enter thebyrinth. Clear it to gain power.] [Ande back, save your world.] Choices appeared before Taesan. Chapter 5: Solo Mode Player (1) [Easy Mode] [This is the easiest difficulty level. Plenty of food is avable, and the rest areas in the middle of thebyrinth will be like an oasis for you. Even ordinary and weak individuals can clear this level with enough effort.] Easy Mode. It was the mode he had chosen and was incredibly easy. As stated in the description, even an ipetent could clear it with some resolve. Of course, some people still died. The clearance rate was about 70%. [Normal Mode] [This is the average difficulty level. The amount of food here is scarce, and the rest areas that exist halfway through thebyrinth are significantly less than in Easy Mode.] [Survival for ordinary people is challenging, but if you do your best and avoid sumbing to despair, you can clear it.] From here, the survival rate dropped sharply. The average clear rate of Normal Mode was about 30%. [Hard Mode] [This difficulty level tests your limits. The amount of food here is critically low, and the rest areas scattered throughout thebyrinth are very scarce. Monsters will willingly sacrifice their lives to kill you. If you don''t ensure maximum safety, you will lose your life horribly.] The clear rate for Hard Mode was just 1%. Those who survived this mode boasted strength iparable to those from the Easy and Normal Modes. Until this point, yers of the same mode were able to cooperate. They can clear thebyrinth together and jointly attack the bosses. And then, thest one. [Solo Mode] [This is a mode where you are alone. You cannot meet anyone from your world. The only things you can see here are monsters, individuals hostile to you, and NPCs.] [Luck, talent, wisdom, strategy. You can''t survive in this ce that tests everything. If your life is precious, don''t choose this difficulty.] Such a brutal description. The funny thing was about 10,000 people chose Solo Mode despite that description. Among them, only Lee Taeyeon survived. Abyrinth where the clearance rate was unknown. The first time, Taesan had chosen Easy Mode. Because he was weak because he didn¡¯t know his worth. But now, he knew his worth. Taesan looked up at the crack in the sky. The apostle who killed him might also be beyond that. Would he have won if he had been fully prepared? Taesan thought there was a possibility. If he pulled out all the stops, maybe he could have won. But would that be the end? There had only been four waves. Thest monster that appeared in the sky was stronger than the apostle. The strongest monster hadn¡¯t even shown itself yet. In the end, he would have been defeated. But if he hadn¡¯t chosen Easy Mode, if he had chosen the mode where he could gain the most and be the strongest. Taesan smiled faintly. ¡°Wait for me.¡± [Solo Mode selected.] [May fortune be with you.] His vision flipped, and his body transitioned. Taesan closed his eyes and waited quietly. Soon the difort disappeared. When he opened his eyes, a vige came into view. Houses with chimneys. A well in the middle of the vige. A world with a medieval setting was before his eyes. ¡°Sigh.¡± Taesan let out a sigh filled with both longing and weariness. After a long time, he returned here once again. ¡°It looks the same.¡± The vige looked no different from the one in Easy Mode. The important part was not the vige but thebyrinth, so it probably hadn¡¯t been made with much care. There was nothing to see here. His n was to just check to the bare minimum and then head straight to thebyrinth. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Community.¡± [Community.] [Posts.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo] : ??? Guys, what is this?] Community. It was the only way for people of different difficulties tomunicate. It was of great help as pioneers released various pieces of information. ¡®There¡¯s already a post?¡¯ He also logged in and immediately opened the Community. But the existence of a post meant that someone had shouted ¡®Community¡¯ and left a message as soon as they entered. He didn¡¯t know who it was, but they were quick to adapt. Taesan wrote ament. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Fighting.] He could utilize the Communityter. It had no significant meaning now. ¡°Status Window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 1] [HP: 100/100] [Mana: 10/10] [Strength: 10] [Intelligence: 10] [Agility: 10] [Attack + 0] [Defense + 0] [The target is in the best condition.] A familiar window appeared. Looking at those feeble stats, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Every yer who entered thebyrinth started with the same stats. But the difference in growth varied depending on the difficulty level. As you broke through thebyrinth and leveled up, the gap gradually widened and eventually became insurmountable. He was now in Solo mode. He would be stronger faster than anyone else. The simple check was over. Taesan headed for thebyrinth. Walking through the vige, he recalled Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words. ¡®There was someone guarding the entrance of thebyrinth.¡¯ There was one even in Easy mode. A white-bearded old man, an NPC who answered only when asked. It would be different here. Taesan recalled the description of the Solo Mode. [This is a mode where you are alone. You cannot meet anyone who came from your world. What you can see here are only monsters, those who are hostile to you, and NPCs.] NPC. There must be a reason why they specifically mentioned them. As he arrived in front of thebyrinth, he saw a sleeping man leaning against the cave wall. As Taesan approached, the man slightly opened his eyes. ¡°What, you¡¯re here already? I thought it would take about a month.¡± The man with ck hair woke up with a yawn. Sharp eyes became visible. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Taesan quietly admired him. As the man stood up, it felt as if the world itself was standing up. Something colossal seemed to be condensed into that small body. An aura, or perhaps a sense of intimidation. He felt something. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ He was stronger than Lee Taeyeon. An opponent against whom even his past self could not guarantee victory. ¡®This is the gatekeeper?¡¯ ¡°First of all, congrattions. I am the gatekeeper of thebyrinth. The guardian of this ce and the one to guide you.¡± As he stretched, the man asked. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan. Taesan.¡± ¡°Taesan. Not a bad name. Call me Broken Man.¡± ¡°Broken Man?¡± ¡°The one who challenged and failed became the gatekeeper. Doesn¡¯t that seem appropriate?¡± ¡°I suppose so.¡± Taesan slightly nodded his head. Outwardly, he was having a calm conversation, but inside, he was quite surprised. ¡®So, it was real.¡¯ Lee Taeyeon often told him how hard her difficulty level was. He wasn¡¯t particrly interested, but he had listened to her because she offered him a drink. There was something she said that stuck in his memory. ¡°Taesan, how were the NPCs in Easy mode?¡± ¡°Just NPCs. What¡¯s different?¡± They were like game NPCs who only gave set answers and mindlessly repeated the same actions. All the NPCs in Easy, Normal, and Hard modes were such entities. But Lee Taeyeon rejected Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°The NPCs in Solo Mode were¡­ well, they were different. They were almost like people.¡± ¡°A person?¡± ¡°Yeah. They possessed a genuine intellect and moved freely. It seemed like that was one of the differences between other modes and Solo Mode.¡± A proper NPC, not a machine. They existed in Solo Mode. Why did they only exist in this mode and not in Easy, Normal, or Hardmode? The reason wasn¡¯t hard to figure out. ¡®This mode must be the only true mode.¡¯ As Taesan calmly sorted out his thoughts, Broken Man furrowed his eyebrows. ¡®Why is this kid so calm?¡¯ He thought that Taesan, who had only lived in a tranquil world, would not be able to ept this sudden reality and would panic. He had nned to beat him up first and then exin, but Taesan was unfazed. He was just silently looking at him. ¡°Do you want to hear the exnation?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan responded. Most of the information he knew was from Easy Mode. It would be good to listen. ¡°You¡¯ve heard it roughly from the outside, right? Your world is being destroyed by invaders. This ce is an opportunity bestowed on you by a merciful transcendent.¡± Broken Man grumbled. ¡°Such a disgustingly merciful one. It would be happier to just be destroyed.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± From that dialogue, Taesan was sure. Broken Man was a simr existence to them. It meant that he was an existence that hade from a destroyed world, just like them. Broken Man continued speaking. ¡°This ce is abyrinth. Some call it a tower. You can call it as you want. In total, there are a hundred floors, major changes ur every ten floors, and naturally, the deeper you go, the harder it gets. Figure out your own food situation within thebyrinth, and you can find the specific details yourself. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Is that all?¡± It was a very clumsy exnation. Broken Man grumbled. ¡°Do you want me to exin what¡¯s on the 1st floor and what¡¯s on the 2nd floor too? There¡¯s a guy selling stuff inside. Ask him.¡± His face showed immense irritation. Taesan recalled what Lee Taeyeon had said. ¡¯The gatekeeper was foul-tempered and beat me up every time Iined. I almost died even before entering thebyrinth, you know? Taesan kept his mouth shut, heeding the advice of the pioneer. Broken Man reached out into the empty space. ¡°Still, I need to give you the basics.¡± Crack. The space split open. ¡°Catch.¡± Broken Man tossed the cloth armor and sword he took out from that void space. ¡°Say ¡®check¡¯.¡± ¡°Check.¡± The same system window as before blocked his view. [Torn Cloth Armor] [Defense +1] [It seems like it can block minor scratches.] [Rusted Sword] [Attack +1] [It seems like it''s about to break soon.] ¡°It¡¯s shoddy.¡± It was exactly the same as the equipment provided as the basic in Easy Mode. ¡°What, you don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°No.¡± He could now finally enter thebyrinth. That alone was incredibly exciting. Broken Man stared at Taesan as an oddity who felt this way. ¡°Why are you doing that?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± After a moment of thought, Broken Man made a decision. ¡°Take this too.¡± Broken Man handed him a worn wrist protector. [Worn Wrist Protector] [Defense +1] [It''s been used so much that it''s lost its original value. It seems it can block animal teeth.] Taesan was momentarily taken aback, but he silently epted it. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Lee Taeyeon said that she only received a rusted sword and cloth armor. Just two things. There was no wrist protector. However, Broken Man did not offer an exnation. ¡°And try shouting ¡®inventory¡¯.¡± ¡°Inventory.¡± A window blocked his view. The ck window was divided into a total of twenty squares. ¡°You can put one item in each square. The same item can be stacked up to 20 times. If it¡¯s full, carry it yourself or sell it. And then¡­¡± ¡°Status window.¡± A window appeared in front of Taesan. ¡°You know it well, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯smon.¡± Taesan checked the familiar status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 1] [HP: 100/100] [Mana: 10/10] [Strength: 10] [Intelligence: 10] [Agility: 10] [Attack + 1] [Defense + 2] [The target is in the best condition.] Seeing the stats, Taesan wore a satisfied smile. A difference of 1 in defense was quite significant early on. It was an unexpected harvest. ¡°Later, you¡¯ll see various things added. You¡¯ll have to find out for yourself what effects each ability has. Also, you¡¯ll have to figure out the skills.¡± Broken Man snapped his fingers. ¡°Well, go ahead.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan quickly stepped into the cave. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Good luck.¡± Broken Man waved at Taesan. He only put down his hand when Taesan was out of sight, swallowed by the darkness. ¡°I wonder if he can survive?¡± This ce was hell. Broken Man had seen countless people so far. Among them were born warriors and skilled wizards. There were also those called prodigies, but none of them could conquer this ce. However, when Broken Man saw Taesan, he perceived something different about him. Not merely talent or skill but something more fundamental. The power to survive. ¡°I hope he survives.¡± But he was just the gatekeeper of thebyrinth. He couldn¡¯t interfere with thebyrinth. Unless Taesan came back, he would never see him again. Broken Man dismissed his interest and guarded thebyrinth. Taesan walked through the cave. There was no torch, but the visibility was not a problem, as if the roof above was open to the sky. Soon, the cave ended, and a brick tunnel appeared. Thebyrinth was open. As he checked the surroundings, a window covered Taesan¡¯s view. [This ce is abyrinth created by a great magician long ago. Rumors say that those who conquer it are granted one wish.] [This ce is a prison.] [Dreadful beings move breathlessly. Living things die. Everything here exists to oppress you.] [Eternal glory awaits you if you can break through the deep and dense abyss.] Familiar. Yet, very different exnations. Taesan entered the brick tunnel with a happy face. [This is the entrance to thebyrinth.] [A ce where things that die when stabbed can survive. The power of this ce is not very strong.] As soon as he confirmed the contents, another window appeared. [Main Quest Begins.] [There are many hidden ces and secrets here.] [You will be rewarded upon clearing the floor ording to the secrets you discover.] [1st Floor Quest Begins.] [Defeat the boss of the 1st floor and pass through.] [Reward: Random Stat Increase Potion.] [Secret Reward: ???] Chapter 6: First Level (1) ¡°Ohh.¡± A delighted glow spread across Taesan¡¯s face. The reward for the first level was a random stat increase potion. This was a reward that was only given after finishing the tenth level in Easy Mode. ¡®It¡¯s indeed on a different level.¡¯ The system window didn¡¯t stop. [As soon as you set foot in the maze, whether it is courage or recklessness, those who know the dangers of the abyss will praise you.] Another advantage of the Solo Mode. It was solely for single yers. You were unable to meet other Solo Mode yers. This meant that he could get all the initial rewards. Considering the benefits, it was a significant advantage. [You received the title £ÛPioneer]] Taesan quickly checked the effect. ¡°Title verification.¡± [Title: Pioneer] [NPCs feel favorably towards you.] Taesan¡¯s face cooled. This was because Lee Taeyeon had told him that the NPCs of the maze were hostile toward yers. She always said they disliked her, and there were even some who asionally tried to kill her. She thought that the concept of favor was meaningless. She also received the Pioneer title, but she judged it as just an achievement that was given to anyone. All of the verifications were now done. All that was left was to break through the maze. He walked through the brick passage. As Taesan walked the corridor, he recalled Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words again. It was impossible to break through to the 100th floor in a condition where you have nothing. Naturally, thebyrinth provided a minimum level of preparation. One of which was the shopkeeper. [Taesan. There was a shopkeeper in Easy Mode, too, wasn''t there?] [Of course. Is there any difficulty level without one?] [What kind of merchant was he?] [What does it matter? He was just a simple merchant.] The shopkeeper would appear at the entrance of each floor, selling only a limited number of items. Generally, he didn¡¯t sell anything too extraordinary. Just potions to buy and throw away. That was how he operated. [But Solo Mode is different. He sold a lot of things. Look at this.] She showed him a piece of equipment. [Are you bragging?] It was a wrist protector made of dark light. It was one of the most powerful items she possessed, reducing all iing damage by 50%. [I bought this from the shop.] [...They sell stuff like this?] [There was much more than this, but I couldn''t buy them because I was short on gold. If I could buy everything in the shop, I could be even stronger, don''t you think?] She had said it with confidence, Taesan just listened with an annoyed face. After all, he was a yer of Easy Mode. ¡®But not anymore.¡¯ He could go to the shop she talked about. Finally, the passage showed its end. Taesan flung open the door. ¡°What? You¡¯re already here?¡± There was a dwarf in the room. He had a long, white beard and a typically dwarf-like and grumpy face. At least he didn¡¯t look like a monster. [You have encountered the Lost King.] Taesan looked at the dwarf carefully. This was the shopkeeper of Solo Mode that Lee Taeyeon kept talking about. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hello?¡± The dwarf gave a forcedugh. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good mentality.¡± The dwarf knew where Taesan came from and how he got here. The dwarf opened his mouth. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Taesan. Who are you?¡± ¡°The shopkeeper.¡± ¡°But there are no items?¡± In a room about the size of a small apartment, there was only the dwarf. The dwarf chuckled. ¡°Kid. If I were toy out all my items, even the entire first floor wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡± The dwarf took out a pipe and lit it. ¡°And I have no intention of showing my children to you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± A shopkeeper who didn¡¯t sell items. Taesan chuckled. ¡°So why are you here?¡± ¡°Do you think I want to be here? I had to abandon my kingdom because of those crazy things, and I¡¯m struggling in this crazy ce.¡± The dwarf puffed his pipe nervously. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t want to show my children to those who don¡¯t understand their worth.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Taesan wasn¡¯t surprised since this was as Taeyeon had described. [But that insane shopkeeper was so foul-tempered? He didn''t sell anything at first, and I almost died, you know? After that, he always ticked me off and ignored me. Ah, it makes me mad.] She had trembled as she said this as if she was truly irritated. ording to her, that dwarf only opened his shop after certain conditions were met. ¡°If you show me what kind of guy you are, the story might change.¡± The dwarf lifted his pipe. At the end of the room, there was another passage. ¡°Go ande back alive. Then, I¡¯ll show you my items.¡± Survival. That was the dwarf¡¯s condition. It was also a poignant statement about the difficulty of thebyrinth. Taesan asked calmly. ¡°Is that all I need to do?¡± The dwarf was taken aback by his too-calm demeanor. ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°So what should I do? Will you show it to me if I clear thebyrinth?¡± ¡°¡­.No, it¡¯s not that.¡± The dwarf shook his head in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re a strange one.¡± ¡°Can I go now?¡± ¡°Yes, do as you please.¡± Taesan strode towards the passage. The dwarf watched his back with a strange gaze. ¡°Is such a thing even possible?¡± He looked as if he could not feel fear itself. The dwarf took another puff of his pipe. ¡°I guess it doesn¡¯t matter since he won¡¯t be able to return anyway.¡± The difficulty of thebyrinth wasn¡¯t set with solo y in mind. Even if he were to return, he¡¯d likely be overwhelmed with fear. He would return with a face consumed by terror. Those kinds of people were worthless to him. It would be enough to just throw a few useless items at them. Whatever happened, it would be convenient for the dwarf. He lit his pipe again with a sullen face. Taesan crossed the passage and arrived in another room. ¡®Passage, then a room. The structure of the first floor is the same as in Easy Mode.¡¯ After assessing the structure, he surveyed the room. Thebyrinth, made of moss-covered bricks, looked safe enough without any apparent threats on its surface. ¡®That can¡¯t be right.¡¯ Taesan gripped his sword. A wailing sound could be heard. This ce was in Solo Mode. The monsters that appeared from the start were at the level of bosses in other modes. ¡°Squeak. Squeak.¡± Soon, a huge rat revealed itself. [A Big Rat has appeared.] ¡°Big Rat?¡± Taesan let out a hollowugh. He was familiar with this monster. Its defense was pitiful but it moved at a speed difficult to track with the eye. This monster, which caused many yers to vent their frustrations, served as the boss of the fifth floor in Easy Mode. Yet, here it was, amon monster on the first floor. Once again, the stark difference between the two difficulties was engraved in his mind. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ First, analyze. It was a monster he had faced decades ago, so his memories were vague. Taesan eyed the Big Rat. ¡°It¡¯s as disgustingly big as I remember.¡± It was the size of a cat. It wasparable to the world¡¯srgest rodent that lived in tropical regions, a capybara. It resembled a rat. However, it didn¡¯t look as cute as a capybara. Its ck, bristly fur and those grotesquely protruding incisors were striking. ¡°Squeak!¡± After briefly examining Taesan, the Big Rat charged at him. The Big Rat was fast. In the blink of an eye, it was at his ankle. A sharp pain was felt at his ankle. [You have taken 10 damage.] Taesan swiftly swung his sword. However, the sword only ended up striking the floor. ¡°Squeak. Squeak.¡± Before he knew it, the Big Rat had run far away. Taesan let out a hollowugh. ¡°It¡¯s indeed fast.¡± It moved so quickly that even keeping up with it was a challenge. A speed many times faster than a cat. Its speed of running away was much faster than the speed of his arm movement. Without increasing his stats, he couldn¡¯t react to its speed that even left an afterimage. In Easy Mode, he had, of course, managed to catch the Big Rat, given he had cleared the mode. However, the situation then and now was very different. In Easy Mode, yers could meet and party with each other. Naturally, they gathered together and overpowered the boss monster by using numbers. ¡®We used to exhaust it by chasing it around.¡¯ And there was also a difference in stats. Even though it was Easy Mode, by the time he cleared the fifth floor, his reaction speed had easily exceeded a normal human, so he could respond to the speed of the Big Rat. But now, he was alone, and his stats were at the base level. Oveing it was practically impossible. Lee Taeyeon had run away from it. Returning to the store in a near-death state, she had received the dwarf¡¯s pitying gaze and took his advice. And that was an extremely correct decision. Among the Solo Mode yers who had broken through the first floor, there wasn¡¯t a single yer who had fought the Big Rat. This meant that all those who had done so were dead. ¡°I have a rough idea now.¡± However, Taesan held the sword with a cheerful face. He was well aware of the difficulty of Solo Mode. If he wasn¡¯t confident, he wouldn¡¯t havee here in the first ce. The reward principle of the maze was simple. Achieve what others could not. If you aplished a feat that everyone would recognize, your reward would match that feat. Taesan¡¯s goal was to be stronger than anyone else here. There was no reason to run from the Big Rat. And it wasn¡¯t something he couldn¡¯t catch. He calmed his heart. He didn¡¯t waver. He had seen countless people who died in confusion, even though they could have cleared the game. Serenity was the greatest thing of value in the maze. [Your mind bes deeply calm.] In his quiet mind, Taesan calmly recalled the information about the Big Rat. It was the size of a cat. Not very big. Its jumping power was not very high. It couldn¡¯t reach to bite a person¡¯s neck. Then, there was only one ce it could aim for. ¡°Squeak!¡± [You have taken 9 damage.] The Big Rat bit his ankle. Taesan quickly stabbed with his sword, but it only sliced the air again. Taesan grimaced and focused once more. The Big Rat that had been watching him charged again. Taesan shed his sword down. It was much faster than before. ng! But the sword was still only hitting the ground. [You have taken 8 damage.] ¡®I thought it might work, but it didn¡¯t.¡¯ Even knowing that it wasing and focusing all of his senses, there was a difference in reaction of more than 0.3 seconds. Responding by using sight was impossible. The Big Rat charged again. This time, Taesan didn¡¯t even swing his sword. [You have taken 10 damage.] His health was gradually decreasing. But there was no wavering in Taesan¡¯s face. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 1] [HP: 63/100] [Mana: 10/10] [Strength: 10] [Intelligence: 10] [Agility: 10] [Attack + 1] [Defense + 2] [The target is in the best condition.] He had plenty of health. There was also no sign of other monsters intervening. A single attack caused about 8 to 10 points of damage. It was quite simple. He just needed to seed within six attempts. ¡®It¡¯s spacious.¡¯ Getting hit only once and dying was infinitely more merciful than what he had gone through before. In the meantime, the Big Rat continued to attack his ankle. Damage was inflicted again. ¡®It¡¯s always aiming for the ankle.¡¯ Because of the basic size difference, the Big Rat couldn¡¯t target anywhere else. But the problem was that he couldn¡¯t react fast enough. Human reflexes could not react to a speed that left afterimages. ¡®Give up on this side.¡¯ With a clear conclusion in mind, Taesan¡¯s eyes calmed. His unwavering, serene gaze turned towards the Big Rat. The Big Rat flinched momentarily. The Big Rat¡¯s instinct warned it of danger. It was certain that the creature, which had been foolishly hit up to now, would bring about a different oue this time. ¡°Squeak!¡± However, the Big Rat¡¯s shallow intellect denied its instinct. This creature was weak. It couldn¡¯t react to my movements. The moment the Big Rat kicked the ground to bite¡­ Thud! The sword struck the ground. ¡°Squeak!¡± The Big Rat momentarily stopped its charge, startled. Did it see that it was going to charge? No, it didn¡¯t. It couldn¡¯t react to the rat¡¯s movements. The Big Rat, which had drawn this conclusion, charged again, but it was the same this time. Thud! ¡°Squeak!¡± The moment the Big Rat tensed its body, the sword hit the ground. The Big Rat was momentarily intimidated and stopped moving. ¡°Squeak, squeak.¡± The Big Rat couldn¡¯t understand the situation. With its tiny brain, it seemed like Taesan was suddenly reacting to its movements. [The Big Rat is thrown off bnce. The Big Rat''s movement slows down.] Taesan smiled slightly. ¡°This is working.¡± Chapter 7: First Level (2) [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Mr. Taesan, how do you n to fight the Big Rat?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Observe its muscle movements and anticipate where to strike.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Isn''t that telling me to respond to its movements?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: No. I said anticipate, right?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: ¡­¡­ How am I supposed to observe the muscles of a rat?] ¡°Squeak!¡± The Big Rat squealed threateningly. Taesan quietly observed the Big Rat. Responding to its movements was impossible. But the Big Rat was a creature that breathed and used its muscles to move. Anyone would be able to confirm the body¡¯s movements when it was about to do something. Suddenly, the Big Rat¡¯s legs contracted. Its vibrating chest puffed out. This was the moment. Taesan struck with his sword. ng! ¡°Squeak!¡± The Big Rat, which was about to rush in, reflexively retreated. This was the concept of anticipation. Every creature had some sort of prelude when they were about to attack. If one paid close attention, blocking in advance wasn¡¯t difficult. It was the same as professional boxers who did not dodge punches by watching the fist but by observing the movements of the shoulder and moving in advance. The opponent wasn¡¯t human, but a rodent, yet the theory was the same. Now, the real game began from here. Taesan extended his arm that wasn¡¯t holding the sword. The Big Rat hesitated, then attempted to charge once more. However, it was again thwarted by Taesan¡¯s attack. ¡°Sque-squeak.¡± [The Big Rat is intimidated by you.] [Its decision-making process is slowed.] Uncertainty clouded the rat¡¯s tiny red eyes, something that was visible even to Taesan. In the rat¡¯s mind, the ankle had be a ce it could no longer attack. Then, it would aim for the next easiest ce to attack. His arm was extended quite invitingly. Its decision was swift. The Big Rat charged and threw itself to bite his arm. ¡°Squeak?¡± Surprise shed in the Big Rat¡¯s eyes. The sensation of its bite was strange. It felt like it was biting something hard instead of flesh. It attempted to flee btedly, but the Big Rat¡¯s body was suspended in mid-air. Its nimble movements were sealed. ¡°You¡¯ve lost.¡± Taesan smashed the arm that the Big Rat had bitten into the ground. Thud! ¡°Squeeeeeak!¡± Pinned by the arm, the Big Rat screamed. It squirmed as it tried to escape, but the basic difference in strength was significant. Taesan did not miss the opportunity and stabbed his sword into its chest. An unpleasant sensation ran up his arm. [You have attacked.] [The Big Rat is incapacitated. It takes more damage.] [The Big Rat takes 4 damage.] [The Big Rat takes 5 damage.] ¡°Squea¡­k¡­¡± The vitality faded from those red eyes. ¡°Hoo!¡± As the Big Rat¡¯s movement ceased, Taesan finally rxed his strength. ¡°That was rather tough.¡± The rat, whose movements were too quick for human reflexes to counter, was merely the first monster. But Taesan calmly summarized the situation. He had won. It was now time to receive the rewards. [You have defeated the Big Rat.] [You have received arge amount of experience points.] [Your Health has been restored by 5.] [You have obtained 43 gold.] [You have obtained the Big Rat''s hide.] [You have obtained the Big Rat''s meat.] Taesan brushed over these messages nonchntly. He had no intention of fussing over those basic rewards. [You have attacked.] [You have single-handedly defeated a challenging enemy.] [Your Agility has permanently increased by 1.] ¡°Ho.¡± Taesan smiled in satisfaction. In thebyrinth, stats held an unchanging value. An increase was always a good thing. But the system messages did not stop there. [Your Heroic Blow has been activated. Your Agility permanently increases by 1.] [You have obtained the basic skill: Swordsmanship.] [You have seized victory in battle by utilizing a wide field of vision. You have obtained the special constant activation skill: Vision Enhancement.] [You have seized victory in battle by identifying the enemy''s weakness. You have obtained the special constant activation skill: Insight.] [You faced your opponent without faltering in your first battle. You have obtained the special constant activation skill: Composure.] ¡°Huh?¡± Taesan was taken aback. This was beyond his expectation. But the system messages kepting. [You have won against a monster for the first time.] [You have obtained 100 gold.] [You have obtained the title: The Brave One.] ¡°They¡¯re giving me so much just for defeating one small monster?¡± They wouldn¡¯t even give half this many rewards for defeating a boss monster in Easy Mode. Taesan made a sarcastic thought, but considering the characteristics of thebyrinth, it was a perfectly reasonable urrence. Thebyrinth didn¡¯t just consider the result of victory. It took into ount how the process went, how perfectly victory was achieved, and the method used to achieve the result. Taesan¡¯s battle was close to perfect. Moreover, he was a Solo yer. Thebyrinth was merely giving him the rewards he deserved. But Taesan, who didn¡¯t know this, was both delighted and bewildered. Still, a reward is a reward. ¡°Skill window.¡± [Basic Skill: Swordsmanship] [Proficiency: 1%] [You seem to be able to swing a sword.] It was the most basic skill. For Taesan, who had been pushing the edge with his skills, it was a skill he hadn¡¯t needed to use until the end. Taesan brushed it off and checked the next skill. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Vision Enhancement] [Proficiency: 5%] [You can obtain a wide field of vision, but it still falls within the range of human vision.] Vision Enhancement. A good skill. The human vision would blur outside of its focus area. Still, with Vision Enhancement, one would be able to see countless things simultaneously. This was quite an advantage. During battles, one¡¯s field of vision tended to narrow. Therefore, it became hard to react when unexpected variables came into y. If this skill was avable, the urrence of that would decrease significantly. It was a skill he had acquired only after passing through the 20th floor on Easy Mode. And the next skill. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Composure] [Proficiency: 12%] [A calm mind that doesn''t get flustered. You won''t get flustered as long as no entity that surpasses human cognition appears. You gain a correction on judgment.] Composure was also a highly useful skill that allowed resistance against all sorts of judgments. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Insight] [Proficiency: 5%] [You can perceive many things. It seems like, for now, you can only discern the weaknesses of creatures.] ¡°I¡¯m getting this already.¡± Insight. It was a sinct exnation, but it was a skill that Taesan had used until the end. When proficiency reached 100%, the skill evolved. When Insight evolved through several stages, it would be a skill that allowed total discernment of everything around him. It would be Total Reconnaissance. Taesan had obtained Insight only after reaching the 40th floor. Even that was quick. Hard Mode yers had barely been able to acquire Insight by the 50th floor. He got all of these on just the 1st floor. ¡°Damn, what a disparity.¡± He knew there would be differences, but he didn¡¯t expect them to be this big. He clicked his tongue for a moment and then checked the skill again. [Soul Skill: Soul Strike Increase] [Proficiency: 100%] [Your soul has seen a world a step higher. Your high-dimensional soul takes away the power of the opponent each time you win.] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± It certainly wasn¡¯t a skill he had acquired in this world. As Taesan paused to remember, it came to him. ¡°¡­When I was fighting with the S-ss.¡± It was when he had cleanly reduced 1.25 million hit points. At thatst moment, a system window appeared. He had casually dismissed the system window because he was too tired. ¡®It definitely appeared then.¡¯ [You have entered a state of mindless immersion. Your body and mind be one.] [A miracle-like power is engraved on your soul. You have gained the Soul Skill [Soul Strike Increase].] [You are in a state of having left thebyrinth, so you couldn''t acquire the skill. [Soul Strike Increase] has been sealed.] Yes, it was sealed. This skill could only be obtained within thebyrinth. Now that he had entered thebyrinth, the seal had been released. ¡®So the skill remains even if time is rewound?¡¯ Perhaps because it¡¯s a Soul Skill, it was a skill that was engraved onto the soul itself. After briefly pondering it, Taesan shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s not think too deeply about it.¡± It wasn¡¯t a problem he could immediately solve anyway. He had obtained a good skill. That was enough. To take something away each time he killed an opponent. It was practically the same as saying he could be infinitely powerful depending on the conditions. It would be hard to find a better skill than this. Taesan closed the skill window with a satisfied expression. ¡°As for the title¡­ nothing special.¡± [Title: The Brave One] [You have proven that you have courage, not recklessness.] [NPCs feel favorably towards you.] Another favorability title. Without a word, Taesan closed the title window. The shop owner had told him toe back alive, and he had survived. He should then open the shop for him. There was one thing he wanted to sell. Taesan turned back and headed towards the shop while holding the skin and meat. The dwarf, seeing Taesan¡¯s return, dropped his pipe. ¡°¡­You survived?¡± ¡°Did you wish for my death?¡± ¡°No, not that.¡± The dwarf hastily picked up his pipe while looking at Taesan with a peculiar gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t encounter any monsters?¡± ¡°I did encounter them.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ then you must have run away. It would¡¯ve been hard to even flee from a rat. Wonder how you managed.¡± When you turned your back, a Big Rat would even chase you to the safe zone to kill you. However, since the monster¡¯s base damage wasn¡¯t too high, there was a chance of survival if you ran away quickly. The dwarf thought that Taesan had made such a decision. He was scrutinizing Taesan¡¯s face, and his eyebrows twitched. ¡°Don¡¯t you have fear?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°No, never mind.¡± Despite a situation full of despair, Taesan didn¡¯t waver. He was barely worth bing a trading partner at this point. Taesan opened his inventory and said. ¡°I caught it.¡± The dwarf dropped his pipe again. ¡°¡­You caught it?¡± Taesan pulled out the Big Rat¡¯s skin and meat from his inventory. ¡°You buy things in your shop, right? How much can you give me for these?¡± ¡°Mister?¡± The dwarf, stunned, opened his mouth. ¡°You really caught it?¡± ¡°Would it be fake?¡± ¡°¡­How?¡± The dwarf was noticeably flustered. Taesan looked at him with a face that said the dwarf was surprised over nothing. ¡°If you catch it, you catch it. What¡¯s there to be so surprised about?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± The dwarf lost his words. He barely managed to regain hisposure and hesitantly reached out his hand. ¡°Le-let me see.¡± Taesan calmly handed over the skin and meat. [Big Rat''s Meat] [Quality: 96%] [It''s the meat of a Big Rat. You can eat it if you want.] [Big Rat''s Skin] [Quality: 95%] [It''s the skin of a Big Rat. It seems reasonably warm.] The dwarf¡¯s pupils dted. It was real. And of the highest quality. It meant it had been perfectly caught without causing any mess. ¡°How¡­¡± The Big Rat was strong. Even his proud soldiers couldn¡¯t catch it easily due to its fast speed. It was not a monster that a neer to thebyrinth would be able to catch. However, the item did not lie. The dwarf looked at Taesan with disbelieving eyes and then btedly regained hisposure. ¡°¡­Alright. Since you have met my condition, I¡¯ll open the shop.¡± His role was to be a shop owner. If the other party had passed his condition, it was time to perform his role. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°What do you sell?¡± ¡°I sell everything. Just tell me.¡± In that case, what Taesan needed to buy was decided. ¡°Do you have a Tower Shield?¡± ¡°A Tower Shield? The big one?¡± ¡°Yes. Something of a size that you would have to hold with both hands.¡± ¡°Why do you want to buy it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to smack it down. Completely.¡± ¡°¡­ That¡¯s the correct answer.¡± The dwarf let out a sigh of admiration. After looking at Taesan with a look of wonder for a moment, he reached into thin air. ¡°Golden Gate.¡± Rustle. The dwarf, rummaging through the split space, pulled out a Tower Shield. It wasrge enough to cover a person¡¯s body and seemed quite sturdy. ¡°How about this?¡± Taesan took the shield and checked it. [Heavy Tower Shield] [Attack +1] [Defense + 5] [It seems quite sturdy and should be able to block many attacks.] Taesan was surprised. It was not just at a decent level. This kind of equipment could only be obtained on the 7th floor of Easy Mode. ¡°How much is it?¡± ¡°500 gold.¡± It was a reasonable price. Taesan quickly checked his gold. With only 243 gold, he was short half the value. ¡®I¡¯ll have toe backter.¡¯ The increase in stats would make catching Big Rats much easier. He only needed to catch about seven more. As Taesan was about to leave the shield behind, the dwarf stopped him. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have enough gold.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll give it to you for free.¡± Taesan, who was headed towards thebyrinth, paused. ¡°For free?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As if to prove it wasn¡¯t a lie, the dwarf tossed the shield. [You¡¯ve received a Heavy Tower Shield.] ¡®He¡¯s giving it for free?¡¯ This was not like a shopkeeper. But the dwarf didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°You have about 250 gold right now, right? There should be something you can buy with that. Wait.¡± The dwarf kept pulling out something from his space. Taesan was taken aback. ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯ Lee Taeyeon had always said that the dwarf was always cranky and never spread out his goods for disy. He seemed extremely reluctant to give her anything. It was as if he was giving her something that didn¡¯t fit her ss. But right now, the dwarf was showering him with items as if he was an easy mark. Chapter 8: First Level (3) [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Isn''t the shopkeeper too stubborn? Why does he always make ament when selling something?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: You too? If he''s a shopkeeper, why doesn''t he just sell stuff like one? I really want to stab him with a knife, but I can''t because I''ll be the one hurt. Ah, I''m so annoyed.] ¡°Why are you doing this for me?¡± Taesan had to ask. Lee Taeyeon had no reason to lie to him, so she must have been really poorly treated by the dwarf. But the current behavior of the dwarf was hard to believe. ¡°What¡¯s the matter if I¡¯m kind? Can¡¯t I care a little?¡± The dwarf was grumbling while organizing the items one by one. ¡°Think of it as a simple investment.¡± ¡°Investment?¡± ¡°Quiet. Now, choose. These are the items you can afford right now.¡± Heid out nearly ten items on the floor. Taesan was still suspicious of the dwarf, but since he didn¡¯t answer, he decided to go shopping. Most of the items were potions. Taesan picked up a red potion. [Health Recovery Potion] [Recovers 50% of health] [200G] Health recovery potions were very hard to obtain anywhere but at the shop. They were also limited in number in the shop, so they were essential items to buy. However, Taesan put the health recovery potion back down. ¡®I won¡¯t need it in the early stages anyway.¡¯ There were also many other potions. A fury potion that temporarily increased attack power. A quickness potion that temporarily increased all speeds. A teleportation potion that allowed you to move to the location where it was thrown. All of them were useful. They were indispensable potions for clearing thebyrinth. But they were not the things to use right now. He had heard that potions were very hard to obtain in Solo Mode. If he had to use them at these lower levels, that would be a disaster, so there was no need to buy them now. In other words, it was a kind of trap. There were more important items that he needed to buy right now. Taesan picked up a small bow. [Cheap Bow] [uracy + 20%] [It seems quite difficult to use.] [200G] [Cheap Arrow] [Attack Power + 1] [The arrow is properly shaped.] [10G] One ranged weapon was absolutely necessary. If he had a bow, he could avoid a lot of headaches. With his current gold, he could buy one bow and four arrows. ¡°How much for the leather?¡± ¡°For this quality, around 70 gold?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll sell it.¡± He immediately purchases seven more arrows for seventy gold. The dwarf was watching him with a satisfied face. Taesan was baffled by his excessively friendly face. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ ¡°You know that health doesn¡¯t really recover in thebyrinth?¡± ¡°I know.¡± In thebyrinth, the natural recovery rate was horrendously slow. Even if a whole day passed, only 10 health points would recover. Mana recovery was somewhat better, but it was still slow. There were three solutions. One was to drink a recovery potion. You could also kill monsters and absorb their health to recover. Or you could use the Fountain of Life, something that existed in thebyrinth. ¡°There¡¯s a Fountain of Life on the first floor. If you don¡¯t leave the first floor, you can use it an infinite amount of times. Let me tell you its location. There¡¯s a crazy old man there, but you should have no problem.¡± It¡¯s different. Definitely. The dwarf also guided Lee Taeyeon to the Fountain of Life. But she had to listen to all sorts of contemptuous words. He told her to starve and die there, but now he was being incredibly kind. ¡°Let me map the location for you.¡± He was even marking it on the map. ¡°Do you know how to use a Map Ball?¡± ¡°I know.¡± Taesan checked the map. His path was marked on the ck map, and a bright light was ced in the darkness. That was the location of the Fountain of Life. Taesan looked at the dwarf quietly. ¡°What? Do you need something else?¡± ¡°¡­No, nothing.¡± Taesan then said his farewell. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± ¡°Yeah. See youter.¡± Lee Taeyeon had no reason to lie to him. The dwarf must have treated her quite poorly. But he did not treat him the same way. ¡®Is it because of the method?¡¯ Lee Taeyeon ran away without catching the Big Rat. But he caught the Big Rat and returned. That difference might have changed the dwarf¡¯s attitude. He couldn¡¯t be certain for now, so he headed toward the Fountain of Life. He put the Rusty Sword into his inventory and tightly gripped the Tower Shield with both hands. As he was walking through thebyrinth, a Big Rat appeared. [A Big Rat has appeared.] Squeaking, the Big Rat eyed him. Taesan quietly raised his shield. His agility had increased by 2. Such a small numerical difference was significant in these early stages. For example, he could now react to the Big Rat¡¯s movements. Not perfectly, but he was no longer just observing muscle movements to block attacks; he could predict its movements and reduce the damage. Taesan deliberately lifted his shield, exposing his ankle as if setting a trap. The Big Ratcked the intelligence to determine whether it was a trap. The Big Rat charged. [You received 4 damage.] The moment he saw the damage window appear, Taesan mmed down his shield. The shield pressed its body down as the Big Rat tried to quickly dodge. A high-pitched scream erupted from below. ¡°Squeeeeek!¡± [Your attack connected.] [The Big Rat is incapacitated. It takes more damage.] [You inflicted 4 damage to the Big Rat.] [You inflicted 4 damage to the Big Rat.] [You have defeated the Big Rat.] [You received arge amount of experience.] [Your health has recovered by 5.] [You acquired 33 gold.] [You acquired the Big Rat''s skin.] [You acquired the Big Rat''s meat.] He happily looked at the system window blocking his vision. ¡®The shield really is the best.¡¯ A sword could only hit a narrow area and required precision. There was a very high chance of missing. However, with the Tower Shield, he just needed to m it down. After the Big Rat¡¯s attack, it only tried to retreat backward, so there was no chance of failure. By meeting the minimum stat requirement and obtaining enough money to purchase the Tower Shield, this strategy was the most perfect. Furthermore, beginners were most afraid of taking damage, so the Tower Shield, with its high defense, was a significant advantage. After he posted this strategy on themunity forum, beginners began carrying around the Tower Shield. Recalling that time, Taesan checked the system window. [Your level has increased.] [You are in the best condition.] [As a reward for leveling up, your health has increased by 10.] [As a reward for leveling up, your agility has permanently increased by 2.] [Your Skill Enhancement has been activated. Your agility has permanently increased by 1.] [You have acquired the basic skill [Shield Technique].] [Your proficiency in Perception has increased by 1%.] ¡°Status Window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 2] [HP: 110/100] [Mana: 10/10] [Strength: 10] [Intelligence: 10] [Agility: 15] [Attack + 1] [Defense + 7] [The target is in a state of hunger.] Taesan smiled in satisfaction after checking his stats. He was still on the 1st floor, yet his agility was already at 15. Looking solely at agility, it was simr to when he had reached the 10th floor. The difference between 10 and 15 may not seem like much, but even a small stat difference was very significant in this ce. If those with a strength stat of 10 and 15 were to fight, the one with 15 could take down five of the other. That¡¯s why yers in Hard Mode could survive in this crazy world. Those possessing thousands of stat points had the strength to even cut down a mountain. And now, Taesan could also have that power. He was very excited. Taesan sprinted through the maze. After that, he encountered more Big Rats, but he was able to handle all of them without a problem. The stat difference was now toorge. Without even receiving a single point of damage, he reached the vicinity of the Fountain of Life. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Taesan opened the map. A bright light was present just in front of his location. It meant that the Life Spring was just past this one corridor. Taesan stepped into the corridor. ¡®It¡¯s longer than I thought.¡¯ The door on the other side looked far away. It would take at least five minutes of walking to get there. He thought it was unnecessarily long and kept walking. When he was about halfway there, a system window appeared. [A Big Rat has appeared.] Taesan raised his shield without any panic. Encountering monsters in the corridor was a frequent urrence. However, he frowned at the system windows that appeared after. [A Big Rat has appeared.] [A Big Rat has appeared.] ¡°Squeak. Squeak.¡± ¡°Squeak.¡± Their cries ovepped and echoed. Three Big Rats were approaching Taesan. One was in front of Taesan. The other two were behind him. [You are in a difficult situation.] [Confusion judgment in progress...] [Fear judgment in progress...] There were three Big Rats in a corridor where there was barely any space to move. They had also encircled him. Even for Taesan, this could be dangerous, but his expression did not change. [...] He did not waver. He had seen countless people die due to sudden unexpected variables, despite having the capability to ovee them. Taesan had no intention of bing one of them. [All judgments passed!] [You have withstood through excellent mental strength!] [All stats have increased.] [You have obtained an unwavering mind.] [Proficiency of Composure has increased by 1%.] His leveling efficiency had given him full readiness. The width of the corridor was roughly the size of an apartment staircase. There was room to turn his body. [Proficiency of Field of Vision has increased by 3%.] Due to the sessful judgment check, all of his stats had increased by 1. With his current stats, he would win a battle of reaction speeds against a Big Rat. The odds were overwhelmingly in his favor. [Proficiency of Insight has increased by 1%.] He raised his shield. This time, he does not leave his ankles exposed. He quietly stared at the Big Rat in front of him. ¡°Squeak. Squeak.¡± ¡°Squeaaak.¡± The Big Rats happily squealed. They had encircled a big human with their brethren. They could tell they had the upper hand, even with their weak intelligence. And that thought led them to let their guard down. Whooosh! Taesan took the first step. He rushed toward the Big Rat in front of him. ¡°Squeak!¡± The Big Rat in front of him was startled and ran away. Startled by the sudden charge, it ran a good distance away. It would take some time to approach again, as a substantial distance was created. ¡°Squeak, squeak!¡± The Big Rats that were quietly sneering behind him were surprised and charged. At that moment, Taesan quickly turned his body as if he had anticipated this. ¡°Squeak!¡± The Big Rats abruptly stopped at the sight of the shield pointing at them. But the body that had been elerating couldn¡¯t stop so easily. Taesan¡¯s shield crushed a Big Rat. ¡°Squeaaak!¡± [You have triumphed over the Big Rat.] [Your level has increased.] Taesan dismissed the system window that popped up. He quickly rushed towards the remaining Big Rat. ¡°Squeak, squeak!¡± But this time, it didn¡¯t sumb so easily. It quickly put some distance between them. The Big Rat that had escaped earlier then charged back btedly. Thinking that Taesan¡¯s turned back was an opportunity, it bared its teeth. Swish. And then Taesan stopped chasing the Big Rat and turned his body. The charging Big Rat tried to halt in surprise, but it was toote. Thud. ¡°Squeaaak!¡± [You have triumphed over the Big Rat.] He had taken down two Big Rats in the blink of an eye. It was a one-sided victory. Taesan pointed his shield toward the remaining Big Rat. ¡°Come on.¡± ¡°Squeak, squeak.¡± [The Big Rat is overwhelmed by you.] [The Big Rat''s thinking slows.] Fueled by rage, the Big Rat charged. In this situation, even its quick speed was quite easy to predict. Taesan waited for the right time and struck with his shield. Thud. ¡°Squeaaak!¡± [You have attacked.] [The Big Rat is in a weakened state. Damage will be significantly increased.] [8 damage to the Big Rat.] [9 damage to the Big Rat.] [You have triumphed over the Big Rat.] ¡®Nice.¡¯ Taesan grinned widely. He had already faced several Big Rats. He knew all about their habits - if he charged, they would run far away. If he turned his back, without any hesitation, they would aim for his heel. Fundamentally they only had a hit-and-run attack pattern. The value of information in this ce was not to be underestimated. Taesan reopened the window he had previously closed. [Your level has increased.] [You are in top condition.] [As a reward for leveling up, your Health has increased by 10.] [As a reward for leveling up, your Agility permanently increases by 3.] [Your permanent Agility increase has been activated. Agility permanently increased by 3.] [You emerged victorious without faltering in a desperate situation. Your Intelligence increased by 1.] [Cold Judgment skill proficiency has increased by 5%.] [Field of Vision skill proficiency has increased by 3%.] [Discernment skill proficiency has increased by 2%.] ¡°Leveling up nicely.¡± His Agility had already surpassed 20. Considering that even increasing skill proficiency by 1% was quite a struggle, this was unbelievably rapid progress. In addition, there were also many gold coins, leathers, and bones. He could make a good amount of money if he sold these at the shop. Taesan walked down the passage with a smile. This time, no monsters appeared. A square room. Inside there was a small spring without a single fish living in it. [You have discovered the Fountain of Life for the first time.] Chapter 9: First Level (4) [First Discovery Bonus] [Intelligence has permanently increased by 1. Mana has permanently increased by 2.] Both were good stats. Increased intelligence decreased the basic consumption rate of mana, allowing for more use of skills. The increase in mana was self-exnatory. [This is a shelter in thebyrinth. Your enemies cannot enter here of their own volition.] [The peace of this ce makes you sluggish.] Monsters appeared in most ces inside thebyrinth. The only exceptions were the shop and the fountain. It was a type of safe zone. Taesan scooped up the spring water with his hand. The cool liquid smoothly went down his throat. [You have returned to your best state.] The lingering fatiguepletely disappeared. It felt as if he had had a good sleep. Taesan sat next to the spring. He wanted to lie down as the floor was not a hard stone floor but a warm sandy one. Although the spring could restore him to his best state, it couldn¡¯t alleviate the mental fatigue that built up over time. A little rest was also a necessary thing. ¡®Has a day passed already?¡¯ That seemed about right when he checked his hunger state. It was about time for something to be posted in the Community. ¡°Community.¡± [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Guys, is it okay to enter thebyrinth?] [Na Jaeyeon[Solo]: Seeing that there''s no answer from those who entered, it seems not. This is driving me crazy.] [Yoo Youngseok[Easy]: Anyone want to break through the First Level together?] [Kang Dongjun[Solo]: Looking for information. Does anyone know what kind of monster the first one is?] [Lee Sang[Solo]: Going crazy. Seriously.] Of course, most of the posts were from Solo yers. yers in other modes could meet each other, so they solved things through direct conversations rather than through the Community. However, Solo yers weren¡¯t able to meet directly. That meant that their only means of conversation was the Community. As Taesan scrolled through the Community, he chuckled. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Guys, how the heck do I do this? TT] The strongest yer who survived and broke through thebyrinth, Lee Taeyeon. For someone who always seemed so confident, her present self was utterly confused. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s not it.¡¯ Her final status showed that she was scared. Perhaps she simply hid her true self, she might have been a coward until the end. Taesan took a moment to look at the Community. Thebyrinth had only been open for a day. Naturally, many Solo yers were still alive. You couldn¡¯t die of hunger here. As far as Taesan knew, the real entry attempts started a month from now. Solo Mode gave rewards proportional to the difficulty. Lee Taeyeon said she missed out on countless number of them. In particr, she imed that she hadn¡¯t received what should have been hers because she cleared the boss using an exploit. But she was still called the strongest yer. So proper development through Solo Mode could potentially be of great help. ¡°Hmm.¡± In thebyrinth, every victory was precious. Even if he went outside, things would not change much. ¡°That¡¯s not too bad.¡± Taesan started writing on the Community. He began with simple advice. He started by telling them not to be aggressive to the gatekeeper and then told them what kind of things the shopkeeper sold. Taesan had defeated the Big Rat, but others could not. He advised them to immediately run away and return to the shop. He then also instructed them to run with all haste once they heard the fountain¡¯s location. Survival was nearly impossible if they didn¡¯t follow this basic route. He also wrote about what to do after that. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Basic Strategy for the first floor of Solo Mode.] He didn¡¯t know if the others would believe him. Trusting an anonymous post and entering thebyrinth would be very difficult. Even if they did believe him, how much it would be epted was unknown. After all, only Lee Taeyeon survived out of tens of thousands. He simply threw the hint out with no great expectations and closed the Community. ¡°Time to give it a try.¡± Taesan stood up and stretched. Unlimited use of the fountain was possible as long as he didn¡¯t leave the first floor. The reason Lee Taeyeon was able to survive was because she had wandered around here for a week before finally catching the Big Rat. In Solo Mode, the normal flow was to return to the shop after encountering the Big Rat, hear about the location of the Fountain Life, and then rush here to enter the Safe Zone. ¡®What kind of arrangement is this?¡¯ He had felt that something was strange about this ever since he heard about it from Lee Taeyeon. It would have been better to ce the Fountain of Life at the start. Without it, survival would have been impossible anyway. But the creator of thebyrinth chose to ce it far away, causing most to die on their way there. It was hard to understand whether this was mercy or cruelty. Regardless, this part was the most important. There was no limit to healing here. He could prepare a lot before leaving the first floor. He only survived with his low stats due to his skills. Taesan thus concluded that skills were more valuable than stats. At that moment, his stomach grumbled. Thinking about it, he hadn¡¯t eaten anything for the whole day. Although he wouldn¡¯t die of hunger, his overall stats would be reduced, and he would suffer significant pain. It was better to resolve this quickly. Taesan intended to resolve this properly as well. Using a slightly different method to what others might think. Taesan opened his inventory and took out some meat. [Big Rat Meat] [Quality: 86%£Ý [It''s Big Rat meat. It can be eaten if desired.£Ý Although it was a rodent, the meat was quite plentiful, given its size. Taesan took out his rusty sword. With a swift motion, he sliced off a piece of meat that was of a good enough size to eat. After examining the meat for a moment, Taesan mumbled anxiously. ¡°Is it really edible?¡± The easy mode provided plenty of food, so he had never eaten Big Rat meat before. The meat was closer to ck than red, and the muscles were grotesquely bulgy, not the kind that would whet one¡¯s appetite. ¡°Considering the goal, maybe this is better.¡± Taesan ced the meat inside his mouth. His face crinkled at thepletely tasteless and dry meat. However, he didn¡¯t spit it out and swallowed it with difficulty. [You ate raw, uncooked meat.] [Diagnosing abnormal status¡­¡­] [¡­] [Diagnosis failed!] [You are suffering from food poisoning!] Abnormal status - food poisoning. For two days, his stamina would decrease. The speed that it decreased was extremely fast. Without drinking a disease-curing potion or a stamina potion, one could die within moments. It was a nightmare-like status effect for beginners. Those who had experienced it once would always cook their food afterward. However, Taesan was eating raw meat on purpose, aiming for something. Taesan drank some water from the fountain. [You have returned to your best state.] And then he ate more of the raw meat. [You ate raw, uncooked meat.] [Diagnosing abnormal status¡­¡­] [¡­] [Diagnosis sess!] [Nothing happened.] Another one. [You ate raw, uncooked meat.] [Diagnosing abnormal status¡­¡­] [¡­] [Diagnosis failed!] [You are suffering from food poisoning!] He drank more fountain water. [You have returned to your best state.] He ate more meat. [You ate raw, uncooked meat.] [Diagnosing abnormal status¡­¡­] He would eat another piece of meat if he didn¡¯t get food poisoning. If he got food poisoning, he would drink the fountain water and then eat another piece of meat. He continuously repeated these two actions. As his stomach started to get full, a different system message appeared. [You have suffered from numerous diseases and developed resistance. You have acquired the special always-active skill [Disease Resistance]£Ý Taesan grinned broadly. ¡°Bingo.¡± Thebyrinth doesn¡¯t provide food. Emergency rations were sold in shops but were very expensive and scarce in Hard and Solo Modes. It wouldn¡¯t be enough for exploring thebyrinth. Inevitably, creatures within thebyrinth had to be grilled or boiled to be eaten. Still, given the limited space, there were asions when food had to be eaten raw. In such a situation, getting food poisoning was a real disaster. Even Lee Taeyeon hade close to dying. However, if one had Disease Resistance, the story would be different. [Special Always-Active Skill: Disease Resistance£Ý [Proficiency: 1%£Ý [A resistance to various diseases. At the current proficiency, one is less likely to contract diseases from eating.] The chance of a sessful diagnosis of food poisoning was reduced to below 10%, providing a significant bonus during times of crisis. As proficiency increased, it was fair to say that one would be virtually immune to food poisoning. Originally, the skill could only be obtained after suffering from various diseases. Still, for Taesan, who had information, it could be acquired quite easily. Next was the other skill. Taesan headed towards the fountain. It was just deep enough to submerge him up to his waist. ¡°I really hate this.¡± With a grimace on his face, Taesan plunged his head into the water. Blub blub. His breathing was naturally cut off underwater. Instead of surfacing, Taesan closed his eyes and held his breath. Blub blub. The air bubbles gradually decreased. Finally, the air he had been holding in waspletely depleted. His body, devoid of air, longed to breathe. The difort gradually spread. But he endured. [You are in a state where breathing is not possible.] It was painful. Someone once said that drowning was the most torturous way to die. Whether that was true or not, it meant that it was exceedingly agonizing. His body, yearning to breathe, ordered him to quickly get out of the water. But he didn¡¯t leave. With an unwavering face, he endured underwater. He forcibly closed his windpipe, which was opening, to drink the water and waited. His consciousness was beginning to blur. He felt his strength wane. His consciousness was disappearing, and his vision was flickering. Death was right in front of him. That¡¯s when the system window appeared. [You have refrained from breathing until the brink of death. You''ve acquired the special activation skill [Breathlessness].] [You have perceived death. You''ve acquired the special always-active skill [Death''s Line].] It was done. Taesan lifted himself up. Arge amount of water sshed out. ¡°Hah, hah.¡± While calming his wildly beating heart, he smoothed out his ragged breathing. It took a few minutes for him to barely settle down. ¡°This is really some unpleasant stuff.¡± Heined while flipping his wet hair. It was essentially self-water torture. Even for Taesan, who was ustomed to pain, it was a thoroughly miserable experience. But he had no other choice. Breathlessness could only be obtained while underwater. [Special activation skill: Breathlessness] [Mana Consumption: 1] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can hold your breath for a long time. Right now, it''s only about twice as long as an average human.] Breathlessness was an activation skill that increased the duration of holding in one¡¯s breath. It wasn¡¯t a widely known skill. It could only be obtained underwater and only just before dying. Most who acquired it ended up as fish food, so it wasn¡¯t until Taesan obtained the skill that information about it became known. And even after it was known, no one tried to acquire it. You had to stay underwater until just before death. The number of people who could endure the pain of not breathing and the fear of possible death was exceedingly small. Most of those who survived in thebyrinth were close to being cowards, and weren¡¯t willing to learn the skill in such a manner. For this reason, apart from Taesan, the only one who had acquired it was Junggeun. In Easy or Normal mode, it wasn¡¯t a particrly useful skill. Still, in the Hard and Solo modes, the story was different. Intermittently, floors where the air itself was poisoned, would appear. Breathlessness would be of great benefit there. At the same time, Death¡¯s Line was not a bad skill either. It was a skill that informed you when you were at risk of dying due to the location or an attack. He had been able to escape quite a few crises because of it. [Special Always-On Skill: Death''s Line] [Proficiency: 54%] [You can sense when you''re nearing death. Activates in most crises.] Seeing the proficiency, Taesan was surprised. ¡°Why is it already at 54%?¡± Raising the proficiency by just 1% was usually quite challenging. There wasn¡¯t a yer who exceeded 50% for advanced skills until they were better in thebyrinth. But it was already 54%. This was the same proficiency as he had in the future. ¡°Does something like this carry over?¡± It seemed like power engraved in the mind, rather than the body, had a certain degree of continuity. However, it was hard to fully ept this theory because the basic proficiency of Cold Judgment and Pration were different. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Taesan tidied up his thoughts neatly. In thebyrinth, things that couldn¡¯t be understood happened frequently. He wouldn¡¯t be able to endure if he tried to assign meaning to all of them. It was a good thing for him, so he should be satisfied with that. Taesan checked the number of skills he now had. Swordsmanship. Shield Technique. Sight Enhancement. Pration. Cold Judgment. Soul Ascension. Death¡¯s Line. Breathlessness. Disease Resistance. Nine in total. From the 1st floor, he had obtained the number of skills that an Easy Mode yer usually obtained by clearing thebyrinth. In the past, Taesan didn¡¯t reach this number until he arrived at the 20th floor. Considering that most of them were useless skills, their value was even higher. But Taesan had no intention of stopping here. There were still more skills to be obtained. Chapter 10: First Level (5) [Kang Junhyeok£ÛSolo£Ý: Uh, brother. Are we really doing this right?£Ý [Kang Taesan£ÛSolo£Ý: High risk, high return. You understand, don''t you? If the gap bes too big, we can''t catch up. Now is the perfect timing, don''t you think?£Ý [Kang Junhyeok£ÛSolo£Ý: No, that''s not the issue. Ah, seriously... I''m sorry, brother. I just can''t do this.£Ý [Kang Taesan£ÛSolo£Ý: Do as you please. I''m not the one at a loss.£Ý [Lee Taejun£ÛSolo£Ý: Junhyeok, it''s not your fault. Except for that guy, nobody could get it.£Ý Skills could bebined. When certain skills and situations intersect, new skills can be formed. Taesan, who had risen from his seat, took a deep breath. [You have activated Breathless.] Taesan, who had activated the skill, began to swing the rusted sword. The ability to hold his breath for twice as long applied only when he was idle. When in action, it was a different story. The whole body demanded oxygen, and his face turned red in no time. Yet, Taesan did not stop swinging his sword. He delivered tens of sword strikes. And when the sword strikes reached a hundred¡­ [You have attacked countless times in one breath. You obtained the Special Activation Skill [Breathless Rush Attack].] [You have acquired more than ten skills and have reached a stage where you can confidently say you have gained skills.] [You obtained the Title [Skill yer].] ¡°Huff!¡± Taesan gasped heavily for breath. There was a tempo to attacks, just like how he predicted the movements of Big Rat; humans, too, showed signs before they moved. The Infinite Breath Attack was a skill that freely altered this tempo. During a 10-second span of attacking, there was no need to breathe, thus creating room for unpredictable variables. It was a skill he frequently used until he exited thebyrinth. ¡°Title Window.¡± [Title: Skill yer] [You have acquired 10 skills. A bonus is applied to all skill proficiency levels.]] It was one of the fundamentally better titles one could attain. Not bad at all. ¡°Status Window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 3] [HP: 120/120] [Mana: 12/12] [Strength: 10] [Intelligence: 12] [Agility: 21] [Attack + 1] [Defense + 2] [The target is tired.] It was definitely fast. Lee Taeyeon said her agility was around 13 when she passed the first floor. This was a crushing pace. Just considering agility, it was a stat that even a Hard Mode yer could only achieve after reaching the 5th floor. Taesan, who was joyfully looking at his status window, stroked his chin. ¡°Maybe I should make one.¡± He had acquired many skills by this point. Even if a Hard Mode yer reached the 3rd floor, they would still be weaker than him right now on the 1st floor. Considering that one¡¯s power increased exponentially with each floor descended, his pace was incredibly fast. However, he didn¡¯t have a main skill yet. A main skill had a value beyond ten ordinary skills. A skill that could ovee any gap in stats. These kinds of skills were called main skills. To give a simple example: Addition, which added to the current attack power. Multiplication, which squared the current attack power. Full Recon gave fullprehension of all hidden elements and situations around him. Attack Nullification, which negated the result of an attack. Forced Duel, which ensured that no one, except the target, could interfere. And Mini Time Stop halted time around him, a skill everyone envied. All of these were main skills. Having even one of them could grant overwhelming powerpared to other yers at the same level. He once had dozens of main skills. Taesan nned to create one of them. Before stepping outside, he drank from the fountain, relieving all his fatigue. The acquisition conditions for most main skills were quite demanding, perhaps due to their power. For instance, Full Recon could only be created after Insight evolved a few times. Considering most yers couldn¡¯t even manage to evolve a skill once, these skills were practically unattainable. However, there was one skill that could be created even on the 1st floor. Rather, it was a skill that was hard to obtain if not made at this moment. Taesan stood still in the passage and waited. Not long after, a squeaking sound echoed. [A Big Rat has appeared.] The Big Rat red at Taesan. He took a stance and held up his shield. Instinctively, the Big Rat charged toward his exposed ankle. [You have taken 4 damage.] ¡°Squeak, squeal!¡± The Big Rat quickly ran away. Taesan didn¡¯t move a muscle. After scrutinizing him for a moment, the Big Rat charged at him again. Taesan watched it with an unperturbed gaze. He saw everything since agility was linked to reflexes. Not only did agility improve reflexes and speed, but it also improved his overall cognitive abilities. With an agility of 21, he could have struck the Big Rat as it came in. However, he did not move. [You have taken 3 damage.] ¡°Squeal.¡± The Big Rat, assuming that Taesan couldn¡¯t react, squealed happily. Now, it didn¡¯t even bother to run away, instead just circling around and biting at Taesan¡¯s feet. The damage window kept appearing. His health was slowly decreasing, like clothes getting wet in a drizzle of rain. However, he did not move. Taesan opened his status window to check his health. [Health: 23/120] ¡®I¡¯ll have to take a few more hits.¡¯ He did not move. The Big Rat continued to attack. [You have taken 4 damage.] Remaining health: 19. [You have taken 3 damage.] Remaining health: 16. [You have taken 4 damage.] Remaining health: 12. [You have taken 3 damage.] [You are in a near-death state.] Remaining health: 9. [You have taken 4 damage.] [You have taken 4 damage.] [You are on the brink of death.] [Proficiency in ''Brink of Death'' has increased by 3%.] [Proficiency in ''Cold Judgment'' has increased by 2%.] Only when he was one hit away from death did Taesan move. He swung his shield down. Thud! ¡°Squeal!¡± The Big Rat, which had been biting merrily, hastily fled. Taesan guarded himself, standing firm like a sturdy wall. ¡°Squeal!¡± The Big Rat was unhappy that a dying man was resisting. It immediately charged again, aiming for an opening. It burrowed under the shield and bit Taesan¡¯s ankle. Thud! ¡°Squeal!¡± However, the shield moved and blocked the Big Rat¡¯s attack. The Big Rat was startled and backed off. [You are on the brink of death.] [Proficiency in ''Brink of Death'' has increased by 2%.] [Proficiency in ''Cold Judgment'' has increased by 2%.] [You have perfectly blocked your opponent''s attack. You have acquired the special skill ''Block'' that is always activated.] ¡®Block.¡¯ A useful skill that nullified damage below a certain threshold. However, it was not the skill he was looking for. Taesan pushed away the window and stared at the Big Rat again. ¡°Squeal!¡± The Big Rat hesitated, then charged. It aimed for a gap in the shield. Thud! But the shield moved and blocked the Big Rat. The Big Rat had no choice but to retreat again. [You are on the brink of death.] [Proficiency in ''Brink of Death'' has increased by 2%.] [Proficiency in ''Cold Judgment'' has increased by 2%.] There was a skill called ¡®Endurance.¡¯ It was a skill that nullified all damage leading to death just once. It also eliminated all damage for a certain duration. Nullification was a remarkably powerful effect. It allowed him to disregard an unstoppable blow from an opponent and counter and even break through traps that no one could pass even after risking their lives. Taesan also greatly benefited from this skill, which was worthy of being called a main skill. Thud. [You are on the brink of death.] [Proficiency in ''Brink of Death'' has increased by 2%.] [Proficiency in ''Cold Judgment'' has increased by 2%.] However, no one else but Taesan has acquired it. Those curious about him asked Taesan how he learned ¡®Endurance¡¯ after clearing thebyrinth. Taesan replied that it was not difficult. [You are on the brink of death.] [Proficiency in ''Brink of Death'' has increased by 2%.] [Proficiency in ''Cold Judgment'' has increased by 1%.] The method of acquiring skills was already determined. The easiest method was to receive it from someone else. This was the case with very basic skills like Herb Identification. However, the only skills that could be passed on this way were basic skills. Skills useful for clearingbyrinths could not be acquired. The second was through achievements. If you aplished what others could not, you were given a skill fitting for that achievement. [You are on the brink of death.] [Proficiency in ''Brink of Death'' has increased by 2%.] [Proficiency in ''Cold Judgment'' has increased by 2%.] And finally, through implementation, something akin to the effect of a skill. In a broad sense, swordsmanship and shield techniques operated through the same concept. You gained swordsmanship because you wielded a sword, and shield techniques because you handled a shield. You gained breathlessness by holding your breath, and a breathless attack by swinging your sword multiple times before exhaling. So how did you gain ¡®Endurance,¡¯ which nullified an attack leading to death? It was simple. [You are on the brink of death.] [Proficiency in ''Brink of Death'' has increased by 2%.] [Proficiency in ''Cold Judgment'' has increased by 2%.] You just needed to sessively block attacks that would lead to death. [You have blocked several attacks that could kill you. You have acquired the special always-active skill ''Endurance.''] He had acquired the skill. Taesan immediately rushed to the Big Rat. The Big Rat tried to flee in fear, but the shield pressed down on its small body. ¡°Squeak!¡± [You have killed a Big Rat.] [Your Aura of Vitality is activated. Agility permanently increases by 1.] [You''ve earned a small amount of experience.] [...] He sheathed his dripping shield and opened the skill window. [Special Always-Active Skill: Endurance] [Proficiency: 1%] [It nullifies an attack leading to death. Afterward, it ignores all damage for 1 second.] Taesanughed. Upon hearing how Taesan acquired ¡®Endurance,¡¯ Lee Taeyeon called him crazy. Junggeun had also looked at him with fear. But Taesan was the opposite. Imagine being afraid of obtaining a skill that could save your life. Taesan could not understand why they refused for such a reason. Yes, a mistake could lead straight to death, but considering the rewards, it was a light gamble. Thebyrinth was a ce where you would get nothing if you didn¡¯t risk your life. Taesan simply followed this rule. After returning to the fountain and recovering his stamina, Taesan began the verification process. [Special Always-Active Skill: Block] [Proficiency: 1%] [It blocks damage below a certain numerical value. Currently, it can only block damage less than 1.] ¡®Block¡¯ was also a good skill that could easily stop dot damage depending on the level of proficiency. The problem was that it was very difficult to increase its proficiency. There were no people who focused on this skill because it required a lot of time and perseverance. Taesan did not think of improving his proficiency right away, either. He decided to postpone it. The proficiencies of ¡®Brink of Death¡¯ and ¡®Cold Judgment¡¯ were also quite satisfying. [Special Always-Active Skill: Cold Judgment] [Proficiency: 31%] [A steady mind. Unless something beyond human perception appears, you will not panic. It gives an appropriate correction to judgment.] [Special Always-Active Skill: Brink of Death] [Proficiency: 68%] [It can sense when death is approaching. It is activated in most crises. It also activates when significant damage is received.] Both texts had changed. ¡®Brink of Death¡¯ was especially appealing. It meant that he could detect most traps in advance. ¡°Are there more skills to obtain?¡± There seemed to be a few, but he couldn¡¯t remember. It was hard to recall all of the two hundred skills he once possessed. Taesan wracked his brain. ¡°There were premonition skills!¡± Just then, a loud voice rang out. Taesan instinctively took out his shield. ¡°Good reaction!¡± An old man wearing gold was looking at him with a smile. Monsters couldn¡¯t enter the Fountain of Life. This was an NPC. [You have encountered a Seeker of God.] ¡°Hello.¡± He didn¡¯t let his guard down as he greeted him. Lee Taeyeon said that most NPCs in Solo Mode were nuts. He tried to recall whether she had mentioned anything about an elderly knight in golden armor as he started a conversation. The knight stroked his white beard and asked, ¡°Are you an adventurer?¡± ¡°Adventurer?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they call those who strive to conquer thebyrinth. Is that correct?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± As he was speaking, he was racking his brain. [There was an old knight when I was resting on the first floor at the Fountain of Life. Was he a holy knight serving a god?] And then, what did she say? He remembered. Taesan hurriedly lifted his shield. The holy knight was approaching. Despite the considerable distance, he arrived right in front of him in one step. The holy knight lifted his fist with a grin. ¡°Try to block this.¡± [Ainzhar hasunched a non-lethal attack.] [Ainzhar''s attack.] His fist swooped down on Taesan. Chapter 11: First Level - The Seeker Of God, Paladin Ainzhar (6) A fist moved. Slowly. But assuredly. [Your Death Line has been activated.] The system window gave a warning alert. Even without it, it was impossible not to notice. That fist held enough power to kill him. His body reacted quicker than his mind. Taesan raised his shield. He crouched, bracing for impact. Boom. Shield and fist connected. Taesan was shocked by the power he felt from the other side. ¡®This is.¡¯ It was not just a simple matter of being strong. It was heavy. It felt as if a mountain itself was bearing down on him. Taesan gritted his teeth. He flexed his muscles to their limit. He forcefully twisted the direction that the power moved. Creak. The shield moved with an ear-piercing noise. It skewed the point of the fist¡¯s impact and diverted the direction of power. [You have received the Power of the Mountain. Your strength permanently increases by 1.] [You have parried the Power of the Mountain. You have gained the special activation skill [Parry].] ¡°Hmm?¡± Admiration was reflected on Ainzhar¡¯s face. ¡°Then how about this?¡± The fist went straight, crushing the direction of the shield that tried to deflect the power, and headed straight to Taesan. Taesan quickly came to a decision. He couldn¡¯t block that. Skills or not, the difference in strength was toorge. Therefore, he wouldn¡¯t block it. He crouched. As Taesan¡¯s posture lowered, the fist¡¯s trajectory naturally headed downwards. The titled shield aligned with the fist. Taesan let go of the shield and kicked the ground with all his might,unching himself backward. Crash! [You received 35,211 damage.] [Non-lethal attack activated. Damage is nullified.] ¡°Cough!¡± His body collided with the shield against the wall. The solid dungeon stone wall crumbled, revealing what was beyond it. Taesan chuckled wryly, confirming that fact through the sensation on his back. ¡®Is such a thing even possible?¡¯ Breaking a dungeon wall in one hit. It was unheard of and unseen. None of the yers or monsters he had encountered could do it. And this old man did it effortlessly. On top of that, the damage. Despite doing his best to dodge and reduce the damage, it was still thirty-thousand. This alone told him enough. This old man was much stronger than Lee Taeyeon. ¡®What the hell?¡¯ Both the gatekeeper and this old man were pure monsters. He couldn¡¯t confidently say he could win even if he had his previous level. ¡°Ho!¡± But the old man was looking at Taesan with an admiring face. ¡°I thought it would be a hundred thousand, but it¡¯s only thirty thousand! Amazing!¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t just stand there and get hit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± The old manughed and asked Taesan. ¡°Who might you be?¡± ¡°Do I have any reason to tell you that?¡± Taesan responded in a sharp tone. The old man chuckled. ¡°So, that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t use a lethal attack. I don¡¯t n to kill a stranger, either. Above all, even if I attacked sincerely, you had Endurance. I judged there would be no problem.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Did you see that?¡± ¡°Uh-huh!¡± The old man clenched his fist and nodded his head. ¡°The sight of raising one¡¯s foot at death to survive! It was incredibly admirable! And you actually have outstanding skills! To parry my attack with such feeble stats!¡± The old man spat out his words with boundless momentum. Taesan frowned as he listened to the old man¡¯s words. ¡®Does he know about the skill?¡¯ Self-aware NPCs existed only in Solo Mode. But Lee Taeyeon had never mentioned that they knew about skills. There were two answers. She didn¡¯t tell him, or she didn¡¯t know. ¡°I was honestly worried that you might be weak, but it was a meaningless worry! You more than passed!¡± The old man¡¯s face was infinitely satisfied as he looked at Taesan. ¡°Adventurer, what is your name?¡± ¡°My name is Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Taesan! It¡¯s a very honorable meeting!¡± The old man, Ainzhar,ughed brightly. ¡°Bless this miracle! I am Ainzhar, the Seeker of God!¡± Ainzhar didn¡¯t seem to think about doing anything else to him now. Taesan took this chance to calm his body. There was no damage due to the non-lethal attack, but the numbing shock didn¡¯t disappear. While calming his body, he checked his skill. [Special Activation Skill: Deflection] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 24%] [Deflect the center of the attack to reduce damage. It seems possible to deflect attacks from all weapons.] Having confirmed his proficiency, Taesan let out a hollowugh. Proficiency was already at 24%. It meant that blocking that one strike was worth that much. Moreover, his strength had increased by 1. It was extremely rare for stats to increase without fulfilling any other condition. That was the value behind Ainzhar¡¯s single strike. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°If you have something you¡¯re curious about, just ask anything! I¡¯ll answer!¡± The old man shouted cheerfully. Taesan, who was observing him, narrowed his eyebrows. ¡®He is indeed different.¡¯ Lee Taeyeon had also met Ainzhar at the Fountain of Life on the first floor. And she had said that she, too, had received the trial of a single strike like Taesan. But she was unable to react at all. She had just arrived at the safety zone and was relieved when suddenly an old man appeared and threw a punch. The attack had also been powerful enough to kill her. There was no way she, who was just starting to adapt, could react. Ainzhar had clicked his tongue at Lee Taeyeon, who was just staring nkly at the punch. [What a weak coward.] With those words, Ainzhar left. He turned his back on the fountain, giving her a contemptuous look. And Lee Taeyeon said she never saw Ainzhar again. If her secret was true, the way he treated Lee Taeyeon and Taesan were very different. Ainzhar was looking at Taesan with a pleased expression. ¡°May I ask one thing?¡± ¡°Anything!¡± ¡°Why do you suddenly attack? Is it to torment the weak?¡± It was only the first floor now. No one would be a match for someone like Ainzhar. He was a kind of bugged NPC, in a way. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. I¡¯m a knight of virtue. I would never oppress the weak!¡± The Golden Knight spoke with a confident face. ¡°I am here to evaluate those who visit this ce.¡± ¡°Evaluate?¡± ¡°Whether they are worthy of surviving here. Whether they have a value that I can acknowledge. There¡¯s nothing more annoying than those who can¡¯t understand themselves.¡± Ainzhar chuckled. ¡°In that sense, you pass. You¡¯re great!¡± ¡°Ah, thank you.¡± Taesan answered hesitantly to Ainzhar, who was giving him a thumbs-up. He was a little bewildered because it was quite different from the image he had heard. However, thanks to this, things were somewhat sorted out. Recognition of worth. That was Ainzhar¡¯s evaluation criterion. Lee Taeyeon didn¡¯t pass, and Taesan presumably did. The reason for the different attitudes was probably due to this. In other words, there would be no reason to antagonize him. On the contrary, he would probably act with goodwill. Having confirmed this, Taesan asked. ¡°Did you say your name is Ainzhar?¡± Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t even speak to Ainzhar. Taesan didn¡¯t know what kind of person Ainzhar was or what his objective was. He had to gather information directly. ¡°Yes! It¡¯s the name given to me by my glorious father!¡± ¡°You said you are searching for a god.¡± There were several gods in thebyrinth. But most yers didn¡¯t show any particr interest in them. The reason was simple. ¡°Because they only existed in Solo Mode.¡± Lee Taeyeon once told him that a variety of gods tested yers and handed out rewards. She also oftenined about how horribly disgusting they were. As the main target of these gods was Taesan, he knew many of them. He also knew information about them. ¡°May I ask which god it is?¡± ¡°By all means! The more people know our god, the better!¡± Ainzhar spoke jovially. ¡°The god I serve is the beloved goddess. Her name is Levynenoff!¡± Upon hearing the name, Taesan paused. ¡°Levynenoff. Is that correct?¡± ¡°Absolutely! There¡¯s no way I could get her name wrong! All of us served Lady Levynenoff!¡± Ainzhar, with a vacant look in his eyes, looked up at the sky. ¡°At the beginning and end of each day, we would shout her name. She was an absolutely captivating goddess who would form bonds with the ones she loved. In my world, no other goddess was as loved as she was.¡± Ainzhar shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Sadly, as my world has perished, I am the only one left who remembers her.¡± ¡°¡­So, you entered this ce to find her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. However, I haven¡¯t even caught a hint of her yet¡­¡± Ainzhar dropped his head. Seeing him look so downcast, Taesan pondered his options. ¡®Levynenoff.¡¯ Taesan knew her. Lee Taeyeon had told him about the goddess. He also knew which floor she was on. But there was one problem. ¡®Lee Taeyeon said that she was already dead.¡¯ The beautiful goddess had been brutally torn apart. Lee Taeyeon had found the scene so repulsive that she had flooded the Community with posts about it. Taesan also remembered it as a result. If Lee Taeyeon, who had ovee countless adversities, said it was disgusting, it must have indeed been a gruesome sight. As Taesan was contemting the truth, Ainzhar¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Taesan, may I ask you a question?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you have any urgent need to rush down into thebyrinth?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± His goal wasn¡¯t to clear thebyrinth, but to understand and strategize for it. He had no intention of leaving until he received all the rewards. Ainzhar pped his hands. ¡°That¡¯s excellent. Taesan, would you consider learning Levynenoff¡¯s technique from me?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Taesan answered immediately. His answer was so free of hesitation that Ainzhar was taken aback. ¡°No hesitation, huh. I thought you might be a bit conflicted.¡± ¡°I have no reason to refuse.¡± Ainzhar was powerful. He was so strong that it was hard to understand why an NPC inside thebyrinth possessed such strength. If he had been someone from Earth, Taesan would have survived as well. There was no reason to refuse such a person offering him a skill. ¡°What is the cost?¡± ¡°Of course, there isn¡¯t one. This is an apology that I must rightfully make.¡± ¡°Apology?¡± ¡°For suddenly attacking you.¡± Ainzhar shook his head with a look of shame. ¡°Even if the purpose was a test, it was wrong to resort to violence against you, a stranger. As a Pdin, I deeply regret it.¡± Seeing the sincerely apologetic look on his face, Taesan let out a hollowugh. ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t have attacked in the first ce.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a different story.¡± Ainzhar replied brazenly. ¡°I apologize to you because you¡¯re someone worth doing that for. If you weren¡¯t, I would have simply spat at you and left.¡± Ainzhar had actually done that to Lee Taeyeon. He left her only with a look of contempt. ¡®He¡¯s really crazy.¡¯ But for him, it was a sign of insanity in a good direction. ¡°A mere verbal apology is worthless. Thinking that you, too, as an adventurer, would want a valuable skill, I decided this, is it eptable?¡± ¡°Of course it is.¡± A non-lethal attack in exchange for a skill. This was extremely easypared to risking one¡¯s life to gain a skill. Taesan was more than willing to do it hundreds of times. Ainzhar seemed relieved and brushed his chest. ¡°I¡¯m very relieved. I was about to do something that might be a burden to the goddess.¡± He had a genuinely relieved expression. Judging by his actions, Taesan could haveined and squeezed out more, but he was satisfied with this. Unlike Lee Taeyeon, he had a high likelihood of continuing to encounter Ainzhar. It was his judgment that maintaining a reasonable line was more beneficial than ruining the rtionship by getting greedy. Chapter 12: First Level - The Seeker Of God, Paladin Ainzhar (7) [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Bro. Isn''t this different from the story you told?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What are you talking about suddenly?] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: The pdin. He didn''t just spit and leave, right?] ¡°Alright! There¡¯s no reason to dy. Let¡¯s start right away.¡± Ainzhar began to exin the skill. ¡°There are countless skills in thebyrinth.¡± There really was a lot. There must have been thousands of skills that Taesan hadn¡¯t acquired because he didn¡¯t need them. If you include the skills he didn¡¯t know, it would be tens of thousands. ¡°But I think the technology of Levynenoff is the best skill I can confidently mention. It may not look shy, but it¡¯s honestly useful. It¡¯s a skill even the goddess has personally praised.¡± Ainzhar spoke with a proud expression. ¡°Do you know what the basic skills are?¡± ¡°They¡¯re the easiest skills to acquire in thebyrinth. You can obtain them with just one action.¡± ¡°You are well-informed.¡± Ainzhar looked at Taesan with an admiring face. ¡°It¡¯s the most basic information, but it¡¯s not something adventurers on the first floor would notice. Like learning to endure, it seems that your world is well-informed about this ce.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A world that knew about thebyrinth. Taesan appropriately responded and stored the information in his mind. ¡°But since I¡¯m the one teaching, I¡¯ll give a brief exnation. If you don¡¯t know any information, feel free to ask.¡± Ainzhar cleared his throat. ¡°Taesan. What basic skill are you learning?¡± ¡°Swordsmanship and shield techniques.¡± Ainzhar nodded approvingly. ¡°Traditional indeed.¡± ¡°When you handle a sword, you learn Swordsmanship. When you handle a shield, you learn Shieldmanship. When you handle a spear, you learn Spearmanship. That¡¯s basic.¡± Basic Skills. Skills that would be automatically obtained when a yer handled a weapon. The more proficiency increased, the more knowledge and applicability of that particr weapon would also increase. They were skills that all yers would fundamentally learn. And to Taesan, these skills were meaningless. He was a yer who battled with skills, not with gimmicks. The applicability of the spear and sword was irrelevant, so he never bothered with their proficiency. But it was different now. Since he could gain stats again, adequately improving his basic skills would be good. ¡°Levynenoff¡¯s technique, we call it the Airak Weapon Technique. Its effect is the integration of basic skills.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I see.¡± Taesan¡¯s face cooled. Ainzhar gave a thin smile. ¡°You must think it¡¯s meaningless now.¡± ¡°Even if the skillsbine, there won¡¯t be any change.¡± One could misconceive it as good since proficiency can be raised altogether. It would indeed have been good for other skills. But not for basic skills. That was because, due to system issues, the use of many weapons didn¡¯t hold much significance. Ainzhar, seemingly knowing what Taesan was thinking, opened his mouth. ¡°What¡¯s your additional attack power now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s 1.¡± ¡°¡­¡­A cute number. That should be about 4.¡± ¡°With basic attack power, it would be around there.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Ainzhar stood in front of Taesan. ¡°That is probably the attack power of that shield. Try attacking me with it.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t even inflict damage, though.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± Ainzhar chuckled and activated a skill. [Ainzhar has activated Target Lock. Ainzhar will receive all attacks as fixed damage.] ¡°Go on, try it.¡± If that¡¯s what he wanted. Taesan struck Ainzhar¡¯s head with the edge of his shield. Crack! [Ainzhar took 4 damage.] ¡°¡­¡­Did you really need to hit my head?¡± ¡°It was an ident.¡± ¡°Well, if you say so¡­¡­¡± Ainzhar, with a wary look on his face, spoke again. ¡°This time, try hitting me with your fist.¡± He held out his chest as if to say, Hit me here and not my head. Anticipating his reaction if Taesan struck his head again, Taesan obediently hit him in the chest. [Ainzhar took 2 damage.] ¡°Do you realize what I¡¯m trying to say?¡± ¡°Do you mean the change in damage depends on the weapon being used?¡± ¡°Exactly. You¡¯re quick to understand. It¡¯s precisely because of this that adventurers only use one weapon.¡± It was a simple issue. Each weapon had its own attack power + value. While it was negligible now, like a value of 1, it wouldter grow to the hundreds or even thousands. And the bonus attack power would only apply if you attacked with that specific weapon. ¡°For instance, if you¡¯re equipped with a gauntlet with an attack power of 50 and a sword with an attack power of 20, only the 20 attack power applies when you hit with the sword. Conversely, only the 50 attack power applies if you hit with the gauntlet. You can never have 70.¡± ¡°That¡¯s obvious, isn¡¯t it?¡± If the attack power of two weapons wasbined when equipped, every yer would be carrying a plethora of weapons. They would probably have a dagger for each finger. However, that was not the case, so they only used one main weapon and focused on improving their proficiency with that weapon. Ainzhar grinned. ¡°But isn¡¯t that inconvenient? To use only one weapon during battle! What an absurdity! If it were anyone else, they might not understand, but you should get what I mean!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± A battle was a life-or-death action and naturally involved all parts of the body. You didn¡¯t just wield a sword. You also kicked, punched, and shoulder-bashed. Each time he did so, only a weak amount of basic damage applied, which was rather inconvenient. However, nothing could be done about it since it was a system issue. ¡°The sect that I served under Lord Levynenoff disliked that. My body is a weapon, and a weapon is my body. There should be no difference in how they are handled. Thus, after long research, we developed the Airak Weapon Technique. I put a lot of effort into it.¡± Ainzhar chuckled as he spoke. ¡°The effect in thebyrinth is simple. Integration of basic skills. And integration of damage from all equipped gear. Just these two things.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°The sum of attack power?¡± ¡°You seem to understand correctly. In other words, if you¡¯re equipped with a sword of 20 attack power and a gauntlet of 50, the total would be 70.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ What¡¯s the scope of the application?¡± ¡°Of course, it applies to every part of your body! Whether you hit with your arm, bash with your shoulder, or kick, the 70 attack power applies!¡± Taesan groaned. It was basically like his entire body bing a weapon. yers tended to use only one weapon. After all, only the attack power of one applied. But with the Airak Weapon Technique, there was no need for that. You could wear a gauntlet for unarmedbat and a polearm simultaneously and apply the attack power of both. Various types of armor and rings that increased attack power, which had been discarded as unnecessary, could all be equipped. Right now, it may not have significant value. Still, as you progressed through thebyrinth and acquired more gear, its value would increase exponentially. ¡°That¡¯s a good skill.¡± It was a level of utility difficult to describe as merely ¡®good.¡¯ Taesan also hadn¡¯t been able to acquire this skill in the past. The Airak Weapon Technique was worthy enough to be considered a main skill. ¡°To someone like you who already possesses such resilience, it might not be surprising, but it¡¯s a skill of a value that a regr adventurer would not be able to acquire even with a lifetime of effort. Are you considering learning it?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll learn it.¡± At his answer, which was devoid of any hesitation, Ainzhar smiled in satisfaction. ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll give you the Airak Weapon Technique. Rx your whole body and ept it.¡± ¡°You can give it to me like that?¡± ¡°This is a skill that I have mastered and learned differently from other skills. There¡¯s no problem in passing it on. This alone is enough.¡± Ainzhar ced his hand on Taesan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ohhh.¡± Taesan let out a small groan as something flowed into him. The type of technique, how to control it, and a plethora of other information. It was a sensation he had never experienced before. [You have received the Airak Technique from its creator. You have acquired the top-level skill [Airak Weapon Technique].] [The basic skill [Shield Technique] has been integrated into the Airak Weapon Technique.] [The basic skill [Sword Technique] has been integrated into the Airak Weapon Technique.] ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Surprisingly simple.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because my proficiency with the Irak technique is at 100%. If it wasn¡¯t, you would have had a hard time for quite a while.¡± Ainzhar chuckled. From his words, Taesan gained new insight. ¡®Physical techniques created by oneself can be easily passed on.¡¯ This was information that he had not known in his previous life. Users just worked hard to learn the basic skills and did not create anything by applying them, so the existence of advanced skills was not even known. ¡°Let¡¯s try it out once.¡± Taesan opened the skill window. [Top-Level Skill: Airak Weapon Technique] [Proficiency: 1%] [It''s a technique that handles weapons and physical strength. It seems that there may be a loss in power transmission because it is still immature.] ¡°As your proficiency increases, your handling will be more adept, so it would be good to train every day without fail. And I¡¯ll give you this too.¡± Ainzhar handed him a rusted ring. [Faded Ring] [Attack Power +1] [It''s a ring that someone has used for a long time. It seems it used to have considerable value.] ¡°I can only give you this so that you don¡¯t lose the important value due to benefits. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more than enough.¡± In the past, he would have discarded it as useless. After all, you can¡¯t hit with a ring. But now that he had learned the Airak Technique, the value of this ring was equal to a rusty sword. Taesan epted the ring and put it on. ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ve handed over everything I need to¡­ but it¡¯s a bit regrettable. You can¡¯t go down to the depths just yet anyway¡­¡± After pondering for a moment, Ainzhar made up his mind. ¡°How about a duel?¡± Ainzhar drew his sword. ¡°You just learned the technique. Shouldn¡¯t we test it out before actualbat?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± There was no reason to refuse. Taesan held up his shield. Every action taken in thebyrinth was evaluated. Even if it was a useless room, if you carefully examined it and found something, your detection skill proficiency increased, and if you continued to block the opponent¡¯s attacks, your shield skill proficiency increased. Therefore, fighting against a strong being was a meaningful act in itself. Ainzhar began to spar with Taesan for two full days, and Taesan gained a lot. First of all, one skill. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Battle Endurance] [Proficiency: 3%] [[You can continue fighting for a long time. You don''t get tired easily.] It was a constant activation skill that enabled long-term battles, and there was a distinct difference in endurance depending on whether you had it or not. The reason he could fight an S-ss monster for several days was thanks to this skill. However, he had half given up on acquiring this skill here. It could only be acquired by fighting other yers, and Solo Mode was solo y. ording to Lee Taeyeon, there were more adventurers around, but it was not the time to leisurely spar. Thanks to Ainzhar, he was able to acquire it. In addition, the proficiency of most skills also increased. ¡°Is that enough?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than enough.¡± The results of the two days were incredibly substantial. Taesan sincerely thanked Ainzhar. Ainzhar waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It was something I wanted to do. And it was also a pleasant experience for me.¡± Ainzhar looked at Taesan with an amazed face. ¡°Unbelievable sense and skill for a first-floor adventurer¡­ indeed, I have a discerning eye.¡± He opened his mouth with a satisfied smile. ¡°Taesan. Promise me two things.¡± ¡°Please tell me.¡± ¡°Now that you have learned the AirakTtechnique, you can teach it to someone. But if that person is worthless or a piece of trash, never teach them. If you break this, I wille to kill you myself.¡± He seemed serious as he was emitting an intense aura. Taesan nodded his head. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°And the other thing, if you discover any information about Levynenoff, be sure to let me know.¡± ¡°The chance of meeting you again in thebyrinth is low.¡± That was what Lee Taeyeon said. After the first floor, she hadn¡¯t seen Ainzhar. Ainzhar gave a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m not hoping for much anyway. I¡¯m just clinging to a miracle.¡± He looked extremely worn out. He likely spent a considerable amount of time here, unable to find anything. And in the end, he probably only found a dead goddess. If Ainzhar had seeded in finding the goddess, he would have protected her or died with her. But neither happened. In other words, unless a major change urred, this meant that Levynenoff would be assassinated by someone before Ainzhar could find her. To inform him or not to inform him. It was a branching point. Chapter 13: First Level - The Secret Room (8) If Taesan did not disclose the goddess¡¯s location, Ainzhar would continue to live in despair. He would inevitably disappear without finding what he hoped for until the end. If he told him, Ainzhar would learn the location of Levynenoff. Ainzhar would be immensely grateful to Taesan and would likely do anything for him. But he didn¡¯t know what would happen afterward. Ainzhar, upon finding Levynenoff, could be hostile. The goddess could also potentially detest him. As a fanatical follower, there was no question as to whether he¡¯d prioritize the goddess or Taesan. He might suspect that Taesan was the killer of the goddess and attack him. All possibilities were on the table. He was stronger than even Lee Taeyeon. An NPC whom even his past self couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against. If he became hostile to him, it would be a significant problem in breaking through thebyrinth. After a moment of contemtion, Taesan spoke. Ainzhar had given him a lot. The Airak Weapon Technique. A ring that increased attack power. These were excessively generous gifts for a stranger. He must reciprocate that generosity. ¡°Levynenoff. Do you want to know the location of your beloved goddess?¡± ¡°Yes. Finding her is my wish.¡± ¡°I know her location.¡± ¡°What?¡± Ainzhar¡¯s face shook. ¡°I know where Levynenoff is.¡± ¡°¡­Your joke is excessive.¡± Ainzhar grimaced as if he was ufortable. Naturally, he didn¡¯t seem to believe Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ve roamed the entirebyrinth myself and couldn¡¯t find her. How could you, who¡¯s only just started on the first floor, know her location?¡± The trust he had a moment ago disappeared, and difort appeared on his face. It was a natural reaction. To Ainzhar, Taesan was a novice who had just entered thebyrinth, and it seemed unbelievable that he would know something that Ainzhar himself, who had been in thebyrinth for so long, did not. Ainzhar wouldn¡¯t believe it if he were told that Taesan had found something he couldn¡¯t locate throughout all these years. Taesan had anticipated his reaction. ¡°In my world, there¡¯s an item for thebyrinth.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Thebyrinth has no map.¡± ¡°You would know. There is a map for a specific entity, not for the entirebyrinth.¡± At Taesan¡¯s unwavering gaze, Ainzhar closed his mouth. His pupils expanded shortly after. ¡°¡­ The flute that calls for a god? That is in your world?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Although the reality was different, Taesan nodded. ¡°An item that tells the location of each god. It¡¯s an item that can be obtained in thebyrinth.¡± ¡°How did you¡­¡± ¡°My family possessed information about it. We had pre-determined and written about the locations of the gods.¡± Of course, it was a lie. In his world, there was no such information about thebyrinth. What he was talking about was the information that Lee Taeyeon had told him. The Flute that Calls for a God. Its effect was to ascertain the location of a god. It was an item that Lee Taeyeon had obtained on the 89th floor. However, she could not make use of that item. Most gods mocked andughed at her, unwilling to help. As a result, The Flute became an item that was stuck in her inventory. Because sheined that all the gods were disrespectful, Taesan also learned about the existence of the flute. He had thought it was meaningless information and had stowed it away in a corner of his mind, not realizing it woulde in handy like this. ¡°The 78th floor. The Library of All Things. The 24th secret room.¡± Ainzhar¡¯s eyes shook. ¡°Levynenoff is there.¡± ¡°¡­I see. The Library of All Things is there. I haven¡¯t checked there yet¡­¡± When Taesan mentioned the floor and what was there, Ainzhar seemed to gain confidence in his words. His eyes swirled with delight. ¡°So it was there!¡± ¡°I think I have given you a fair return.¡± ¡°Ha ha! More than enough! It¡¯s overflowing!¡± Ainzhar burst intoughter and grabbed Taesan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I really thank you! I¡¯ve never felt so grateful to anyone before! You¡¯re my benefactor!¡± His eyes held madness. Taesan, disturbed by this zealous emotion, said. ¡°My shoulder hurts.¡± ¡°Ah, sorry. I couldn¡¯t control my emotions for a moment.¡± Ainzhar stepped back, grinning broadly. ¡°Are you thinking of going right away?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­¡­ that¡¯s a bit difficult. The 78th floor is deep. It¡¯s a dangerous ce for me too. I should prepare sufficiently.¡± Still, Ainzhar had a lively face. He could now find his goal. That alone would be delightful. ¡°Once again, I sincerely thank you. No, it¡¯s hard to express it in words. I want to repay you somehow¡­¡­¡± Ainzhar racked his brain. He couldn¡¯t give anything too good. It would increase the chance of Taesan bingcent and losing his life due to arrogance. But to give something insignificant, something of no value to him was too little for what he had received from Taesan. After desperate contemtion, Ainzhar made a decision. ¡°If you¡¯re as skilled as you, it¡¯ll be okay. Take this.¡± There was no reason to refuse a gift. Taesan obediently epted an old ring. [Gloomy Ring] [+20 HP] [It appears to be a ring distributed among priests in a certain sect. Now, only one person has it after its destruction.] ¡®Oh.¡¯ Taesan marveled inwardly. A single ring increased his health by 20. In Easy Mode, one would have to reach the 30th floor to get such a ring, and even that would require luck. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t usually give this to a first-floor adventurer¡­ but I believe you are not an adventurer who will becent. I hope my judgment is not wrong.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Taesan had already seen the ending of this story. He didn¡¯t have time to becent. Ainzhar gave him a soft smile. ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯m really thankful.¡± ¡°Are you going down now?¡± ¡°I have to prepare, too. I can¡¯t stay on the first floor any longer, can I?¡± Ainzhar, as if not wanting to dy any longer, dashed towards the door. Before leaving, he turned around and waved. ¡°Thank you! See you again!¡± ¡°Take care.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha ha! Goddess! Here Ie! I¡¯m the only one who remembers you, and I¡¯m heading toward you!¡± With augh full of madness, Ainzhar left. Could he find the goddess? When he did, would she be a dead goddess or a living one? Whatever it was, Ainzhar¡¯s journey had begun. It would take a considerable amount of time until he met Taesan again. Taesan raised his shield. After sufficient rest, he started delving into thebyrinth. Taesan wandered around the first floor again. Big Rats attacked him, but it was no longer a problem. The issue before was theck of agility stats, which made it hard to keep up with the movements. Now, Taesan¡¯s agility was 22. He could more than adequately react. He absorbed agility from the Big Rats he caught. After increasing his agility by another 3 points, a system window appeared. [Your Soul Ascension has activated. The difference in the soul level between you and the opponent is too great. You gained nothing from the opponent.] ¡°Huh?¡± Taesan paused and checked the message. And then he understood. ¡°If the gap is too great, the ascension stops.¡± No matter how many Big Rats he caught now, his agility would not increase. It was regrettable, but he had somewhat expected this. If he could gain indefinitely without any conditions, it would mean that infinite grinding was virtually possible. He could achieve an agility score of a thousand just on the first floor. Surely, the creator of thebyrinth must have set some limits. But even with such restrictions, it was an unbelievable skill. The fact that a stat increased every time he defeated a monster. Honestly, it was better than any other skill he had acquired. As long as he had this skill, no matter how hard others in the Solo Mode tried, they could not catch up with him. However, his growth on the first floor had now stopped. The experience points he received had also seemed to halt at some point. It was time to head to the second floor. But instead of finding the way down, Taesan started going around the first floor again. He carefully inspected each room and explored the passageways. There were secret rooms in thebyrinth. Typically, at least one was hidden on each floor, and a great reward awaited those who found them. Magic wands, rings of levitation, permanent stat-increase potions, etc. Items that greatly aided in conquering thebyrinth were there. Since only one person could enter, thepetition was fierce. Taesan had missed many secret rooms. It was something that relied more on luck and experience than skill, so that was unavoidable. ¡®I¡¯ve only been able to enter twenty.¡¯ But this ce was Solo Mode. There were no other yers except him. Here, he could gain all the secret rooms. ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s the same here?¡± Thebyrinth maps were naturally different by difficulty level, but the basic structure was the same. There were distinct characteristics of rooms where secret rooms were hidden. ¡°Here it is.¡± Taesan, who had been wandering around, arrived at a particr room. The room had no connections. There was only one entrance, and the interior waspletely empty. A room with no apparent purpose. A room that everyone would dismiss and pass by. Such ces were the ones that held the secret rooms. Taesan examined the walls. They were bricks covered in moss, no different from any other room. The floor and ceiling were also not much different. In such cases, the likelihood of the existence of a brick that could be manipted to find the secret room was high. ¡°What a grind.¡± Without a change in expression, Taesan began to check the bricks nearby. He pressed, turned, and pulled out bricks. And if there was no change, he moved on to the next brick. He spent at least 10 seconds on each brick. There were hundreds of bricks in the room. He had to check each one like this. It was a level of tedium that could make one¡¯s mind as if it had gone far away, but Taesan was enjoying it. ¡°This is pretty reasonable.¡± In thebyrinth, the value of the results was based on actions. Grinds were not much different. Among the secret rooms he had found, there were somewhere he had to persevere for a week without any sign of progress. Thinking back to that time, this attempt now felt like heaven. The same actions were repeated countless times. Taesan checked the bricks one by one, his expression unchanged. After about halfway through¡­ ¡°I found it.¡± [Proficiency of Detection has increased by 5%.] Rumble. The brick sank deep inside. The nearby bricks followed suit, exposing whaty behind them. What appeared was a small passage. This was the secret room. [You have discovered a secret room.] [You have earned the title of Adventurer.] [You have earned the title of Adventurer.][You are the first to discover this secret room. Intelligence has permanently increased by 3.] Adding the Adventurer title that increased intelligence by 1 and the first discovery bonus, the total increase was 4. This alone justified the grind. And the main dish was a separate feast. As Taesan entered the secret room, a passage of appropriate length was visible. At the end of it, there was a box. That was the reward. The passage seemed empty as if one just had to run to get to the treasure. ¡®But it can¡¯t be that easy.¡¯ Nobody knew about this ce because even Lee Taeyeon hadn¡¯t figured out the secret room on the first floor. He had to find it himself, and Taesan was quite adept at such tasks. Taesan went outside. It wasn¡¯t long before he found a Big Rat wandering around thebyrinth. ¡°Squeak, squeak!¡± He stepped on the rushing Big Rat to subdue it. His current agility was 25. Catching a Big Rat was no longer a challenge for him. Taesan took the subdued Big Rat back to the secret room and threw it towards the seemingly empty passage. Click. Along with a clicking sound, an arrow whizzed through the air. ¡°Squeeee!¡± The Big Rat screamed and copsed. Its twitching body soon stopped moving. ¡°An arrow trap, huh.¡± Quite a textbook trap for the first floor. It was a trap activated by stepping on the floor, and considering that only one arrow had been shot, it seemed not to be a particrly difficult trap. Taesan stepped on the spot where the Big Rat had died. Click. An arrow shot toward Taesan¡¯s chest. He quickly moved his hand. Thwack. He caught the arrow in his hand. Catching one was manageable. He walked again. Swish! He caught two arrows targeting his head and chest at the same time. Two were not a big problem either. After putting the arrows in his inventory and taking another step, this time, three arrows flew at him. He grabbed two and dodged one by tilting his head. ¡°It¡¯s getting tougher as I go.¡± The distance to the box was about ten steps. At the end, ten arrows flew at once. As the distance was closer, it was harder to avoid. But that was by the standards of a normal yer. Taesan¡¯s Agility was now at 25. He could catch ordinary arrows that were shot at him. Even if there were ten, it was not impossible if he used his skill and focused solely on dodging. Therefore, he nned to grab what he could before he reached the end. Chapter 14: First Level - The Secret Room (9) Taesan returned to the entrance and took a step forward. Swoosh! A single arrow flew toward him. Taesan caught it without much difficulty and came to a conclusion. The arrows were being replenished. ¡°Good.¡± Taesan confidently stepped forward. Two more arrows flew towards him. He caught them and put them in his inventory. Then he took a step back. He caught the identical arrows flying at him and stored them in his inventory. And then another step forward. Two arrows flew at him, and he caught them. Once again, he stored them in his inventory. The number of arrows he had now was seven. A strikingly small number. But buying arrows was too expensive. At 10 gold per piece, buying just fifty would cost 500 gold. So, he decided to gather some here. ¡°About a hundred should be enough.¡± Taesan murmured as he caught the iing arrows. As he kept repeating this process, different types of arrows asionally appeared. [Poison Arrow] [Attack + 2] [A chance to inflict a poison condition on the target. Depending on the level and stats, it may fail.] [Paralysis Arrow] [Attack + 2] [A chance to inflict a paralysis condition on the target. Depending on the level and stats, it may fail.] ¡°All kinds of things are flying at me.¡± He quickly ced them in his inventory. Both were types of arrows he didn¡¯t have because he couldn¡¯t afford them. After about half an hour, he was able to gather about a hundred. He had managed to collect quite a few. Taesan sorted out his inventory. Eighty regr arrows. Ten poison arrows. Ten paralysis arrows. The same items could be stacked up to twenty, and the inventory had a total of twenty slots. He had used up six slots. It was a satisfying result. With this amount, he could make do until the next floor. ¡°This is quite good.¡± It was a sort of trick. Thebyrinth was designed to prevent users from taking the arrows from the traps. The moment an arrow shot from a trap hit something, it was programmed to shatter. No user on the first floor could catch an arrow, and once they got past the first floor, there was no reason to waste time in such a ce. So, it was a reasonably fair mechanism. But Taesan¡¯s agility was at 25. Even in Solo Mode, it was a stat that couldn¡¯t be achieved normally on the first floor. He was already approaching a quarter of his previous life¡¯s stat total. Catching one or two arrows was no big deal. Thanks to this, he was able to collect quite a few. ¡®Now then.¡¯ Taesan took a small breath. It was time to break through the arrow trap. If he only thought about breaking through, it would be incredibly simple. Taesan had a tower shield. He could just hold it up and proceed. However, his goal was not just to receive a reward. He had to draw more out of the process. Tap. Taesan stomped his foot. He didn¡¯t n to take slow, measured steps. In an instant, he stepped to the middle of the trapped floor. Peep, peep, peep, pik! A whistling sound resonated as five arrows flew at him. He dodged an arrow aimed at his head by tilting it. He kicked away one aimed at his leg. With both hands, he caught one arrow in each. The remaining arrow was aimed at Taesan¡¯s abdomen. With the hand that caught the arrow, Taesan pped it away. The arrow pinged as it hit the wall. He leaped again. As he stepped on the floor, nine arrows shot out at once. Listening to the sharp whistling sound, Taesan took a deep breath. [You have activated the Breathless Attack. You will be able to breathe freely for the next 10 seconds.] Breathing does not interfere with movement. Hence his movement was maximized. [The proficiency of your Field of Vision has increased by 2%.] [You confirm everything visible to the eye. Your field of vision, which should have narrowed inbat, appears to widen.] Three in front. Two on the left. Three on the right. One aimed at his feet. It was difficult to avoid them all. [Your Proficiency in Perception has increased by 2%.] [Your Proficiency in Calmness has increased by 1%.] Yet, his heart did not waver. [You have heightened your senses in a crisis situation. You have gained a special constant activation skill: Enhanced Senses.] His senses were sharpened. He could sense where the arrows wereing from without seeing them. The arrows did not all shoot at once. There was a slight dy. He first avoided the ones closest to him. He tilted his head and felt the arrow graze his hair. Now there were eight left. He moved his leg to fend off an arrow. He caught one with each hand. Now there were five left. One on the left. Three in front. One on the right. All of the remaining arrows were aimed at his chest. It was impossible topletely block them all as they flew from different directions. So, he ignored what he should ignore. The arrow from the right was the fastest. [You have activated Deflection. The next attack will be deflected.] The arrowing from the right twisted right in front of Taesan¡¯s waist. ¡°Damn!¡± The arrow from the right grazed his skin but did not pierce him. [You have taken 8 damage.] The damage was bearable. Moreover, ignoring the arrow from the right had given him some leeway in his movements. He grabbed and knocked away the arrows from the front. He cleared them all together as their paths ovepped. He also immediately knocked down the arrow from the left. The arrow broke as it hit the ground. Tap. And finally, Taesan stepped on the floor again. Peep Taesan¡¯s eyes flickered. Fifteen arrows were shot at him. ¡®Crazy.¡¯ The number of arrows shot depended on the number of bricks on the floor. He had expected ten at the end, but suddenly five more were added. Taesan clicked his tongue and quickly moved his arm. [You have activated the Counter Attack. You are free to counterattack for the next 10 seconds.] Fortunately, as there were many arrows, the majority of their trajectories ovepped. He grabbed an arrowing from the left with his left arm and threw it. The thrown arrow collided with another one, and both flew off in strange directions. He tilted his head to the left to dodge an arrow and immediately turned it to the right. Two arrows that came with a slight dy hit the distant wall. The arrows from the right perfectly ovepped in their trajectory. This meant that he could fend them all off with a single move. He shook his right arm, and three arrows dropped. He moved his foot and stepped on two arrows. Still, five were left. But there was no room to block them. The arrows had already reached him. Then he might as well not block them. Taesan pulled his arms back, and the arrows struck them. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Taesan groaned. The sharp sensation of the arrows digging in was incredibly unpleasant. Five separate damage windows showed 16 damage, and a system window appeared together. [You have be disabled.] [You have started bleeding. Your health continues to decrease.] ¡°Damn.¡± Blood flowed down his arm. The pain from the arrows having seemingly struck the bone traveled up his spine. ¡°Hurts like hell.¡± If he hadn¡¯t experienced this several times in the past, he¡¯d be rolling on the floor by now. [You have experienced terrible pain. You have gained a special constant activation skill: Pain Reduction.] Gaining the skill slightly reduced the pain, but there was not much difference. There were usable skills and unusable skills depending on the level of proficiency, and Pain Reduction was the former. Still, it wasn¡¯t bad. Sweating cold sweat, he broke the notch of the arrows. [Health: 54/140] There was enough health left. He could afford to take the hits since he had already determined that the damage wouldn¡¯t kill him. He could fully recover once he reached the Fountain of Life, so he just needed to move slowly, even in a disabled and bleeding state. There was still something to be gained. ¡®If I had avoided everything, I would have been hit deliberately on the way back, but that¡¯s no longer necessary.¡¯ Taesan pulls the lever next to the box. The sound of something breaking echoed from inside the wall. Now the arrows would no longer be fired. And it was time for the reward. Taesan opened the box with a throbbing heart. Inside it was a red staff. Taesan was so surprised that he even forgot the pain. ¡°A staff already?¡± Staves were used for healing, summoning water, creating mes, obscuring vision, or hypnotizing targets. A staff could be used for magic and held a variety of powers. Even having just one made navigating thebyrinth considerably easier. It was a valuable item. And in Easy Mode, this item would barely make an appearance after passing the twentieth floor. Even in Hard Mode, it would not show up until after the tenth floor, at the least. It was hard to understand that it had shown up right from the first floor, regardless of being in Solo Mode. ¡°Could it be a blunt weapon disguised as a staff?¡± Taesan checked the staff with some skepticism. [me Staff] [A staff used by novice magicians. Basic magic [Fireball] can be used.] ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s real.¡± And it was the me Staff, which was much more valuable than other magics in the early game. ¡®Is this the average for Solo Mode?¡¯ There was noparison since Lee Taeyeon rarely broke through the secret rooms. If this was the average, things would be much easier in the future. However, the reward was not without cost. The fifteen arrows that flew at him at the end were only blockable because he had gained so much; an ordinary human would have been instantly killed. Perhaps there were those who found this ce in their past lives, but they died without breaking through, so it never became known. Taesan picked up the staff and turned around. It was time to return to the Fountain of Life. ¡°Squeak! Squeak!¡± On his way back, a Big Rat appeared and attacked him. Although he couldn¡¯t use one arm, his stats were good enough that it was not a problem. However, Taesan did not immediately kill the creature and prolonged the fight. Around the time the Big Rat was bing exhausted, a system window appeared. [Despite being in a disabled state for a long time, you had no issues with your actions. You have obtained a special activation skill [Unyielding Will].] ¡°Good.¡± It was a skill that could be obtained when one fought for a long time while disabled. He had obtained the skill he wanted, and so Taesan then stepped on the Big Rat. ¡°Squeak!¡± [You have defeated the Big Rat.] He cleared the windows that appeared. There was no reason to check them all since he was not leveling up, and there were no stat increases. [You are now in peak condition.] Upon returning to the Fountain of Life, Taesan restored his health and checked the skills he had gained. [Special Passive Skill: Pain Reduction] [Proficiency: 1%] [You be somewhat numb to pain. However, your senses do not be numb.] [Special Passive Skill: Sensory Enhancement] [Proficiency: 1%] [Your senses are enhanced. For now, you may only notice a slight difference.] Both were decent skills. They may not be of great use right now. Still, as their proficiency increased, they exponentially became more beneficial and powerful. Increasing the proficiency was not difficult as it naturally increased by simply fighting and progressing through the maze. [Special Activation Skill: Unyielding Will] [Mana Consumption: 1] [Proficiency: 1%] [All manner of injuries and wounds cannot halt your fighting spirit. During battle, you can ignore injuries and fight for 10 seconds.] It was a skill that was a lower-tier version of Unstoppable Power. It allowed him to ignore all status abnormalities. Being able to ignore injuries even temporarily was a fairly useful skill. And the skill attached to the me Staff, Fireball. [Basic Magic: Fireball] [Mana Consumption: 3] [Proficiency: 1%] [Shoots a fireball. It deals more damage to enemies without immunity. Attempts to afflict the target with the abnormal status [Burn].] It was the same skill that he had seen before. ¡°This is awesome.¡± There were endless ways to use it. With a joyful face, Taesan ced the staff into his inventory. ¡°Is it about time to end?¡± It seemed that he had gained everything he could from the first floor. It was time to descend. Taesan stood up and walked through thebyrinth. The path leading to the second floor could be found in no time. The door, which was a crimson color, made it clear that this was a different ce. It was hard to mistake it. This was the path leading to the second floor. And, as always, there was a boss guarding each floor¡¯s threshold. Taesan raised his shield and opened the door. A staircase leading down appeared. And a monster guarding the ce was also visible. ¡°Squeeeak.¡± Its basic appearance was simr to the Big Rat. ck, sharp fur. Ugly, protruding teeth. But it was bigger. A rodent the size of a human was in the room. Its red eyes were sneakily targeting him. ¡°So this is the boss of the first floor.¡± A formidable boss whose sharp ws had killed quite a few yers. It had been the boss of the 10th floor in Easy Mode. ¡°Squeeeaaak!¡± [A Giant Rat has appeared.] Chapter 15: First Level - Boss (10) The Giant Rat. As its name suggested, it was an enhanced version of the Big Rat. A monster the size of a robust young man, its speed was also slightly faster than the Big Rat. It had a strength the Big Rat did not have, and its ws could easily break through a wooden shield. ¡®Lee Taeyeon used a trick to defeat it.¡¯ Her method was simple. She kept hunting Big Rats on the first floor, then used the money she umted to buy oil and fire bottles. Then she set the whole room on fire and ran out. A boss monster could not leave the boss room. When she came back in about an hour, the boss monster was nicely roasted. If she had enough time, it was a fairly reasonable method. The Giant Rat wasn¡¯t a monster that a yer could defeat on the first floor, so Lee Taeyeon¡¯s method was the closest to the correct answer. But Taesan had no intention of doing the same. To fill the room with oil, he would need to stay here for at least two more days. There would also be a significant loss of money, and since it was a trick to defeat the boss, he wouldn¡¯t be able to receive the rewards he should receive. So, he would defeat it with strength, First, he observed the space. The room was about the size of two gymnasiums. There was plenty of room to run away. The distance between him and the Giant Rat was about 150 meters. First, he would keep his distance. Taesan set his feet. The Giant Rat roared and lumbered after him. ¡°Screeeech!¡± While running, Taesan looked at the Giant Rat. Despite its lumbering movement, its speed was not slow. As an enhanced version of the Big Rat, its speed was considerably fast. However, there was no significant difference between it and Taesan. It would take quite a while for it to close the gap. ¡®Good.¡¯ Taesan spun his body around. He ced his shield into his inventory and pulled out the me staff. The tip of the staff glowed red. [You have activated Fireball.] Whoosh. The me gathered at the staff¡¯s tip, then a fireball about the size of a baseball was shot toward the Giant Rat. Boom! [14 damage to the Giant Rat.] ¡°Squeeeek!¡± The Giant Rat let out a pained squeal. Rage glimmered in its red eyes, but Taesan didn¡¯t care. There was something he needed to verify. [Burn status check in progress¡­¡­] [Check sessful! The Giant Rat is now in a burn state.] ¡°That worked.¡± Abnormal state, burn. The effect was simple. It dealt 1 damage to the enemy every 10 seconds. The effect duration was around 10 minutes. 1 damage every 10 seconds in these early floors was not insignificant at all. His intention was to inflict the burn abnormal state even if he had to fire two or three times, but fortunately, it worked in one shot. Thanks to that, he could conserve his mana. ¡°Now then.¡± It wasn¡¯t over yet. Taesan put away his staff and pulled out his bow. He had acquired archery skills beforeing in by using the Big Rat as a target. It was immediately integrated into the Airak Martial Technique. Still, the skill itself didn¡¯t disappear, so there would be no problem with shooting arrows. Taesan took out a poison arrow and notched it on the bowstring. The bowstring was tautly pulled back. As he looked at the Giant Rat lumbering towards him, Taesan released the arrow. Ping. ¡°Squeeeek!¡± [7 damage to the Giant Rat.] [Poison status check in progress¡­¡­] [Check failed! The Giant Rat is unaffected.] It didn¡¯t work. Unflustered, Taesan began to run away again. It was normal to attempt this multiple times. Sess on the first try was rare. As Taesan ran, he pulled out another arrow. This time, it was a paralysis arrow. Ping. [8 damage to the Giant Rat.] [The target is paralyzed. It cannot move until the next attack hits or until 10 seconds pse.] ¡°Squee, Squeeeek.¡± The Giant Rat stopped as if it was a machine. Confusion shimmered in its red eyes. Taesan made more distance between them and shot a poison arrow. [8 damage to the Giant Rat.] [Poison status check in progress¡­¡­.] [Check sessful! The Giant Rat is in a poison state.] Abnormal state, poison. Like burn, it dealt 1 damage every 10 seconds for 10 minutes. Damage and duration time increased with level and skill, but with nothing to extend it, it was the basic duration for now. ¡°Squeeeeeeeek!¡± The Giant Rat, inflicted with two abnormal states in an instant, let out a roar of rage and charged. Taesan, unbothered by this, pulled out another arrow. It was a paralysis arrow. [7 damage to the Giant Rat.] [The target is paralyzed. It cannot move until the next attack hits or until 10 seconds pse.] There was a gap of strength between the Giant Rat and Taesan. Still, it was not enough to automatically cause the paralysis abnormal state to fail. Taesan put away his bow and pulled out his shield. Gripping it with both hands, he charged toward the immobilized Giant Rat. Kuwoong! ¡°Kiiiik!¡± [Giant Rat is in a weakened state. It receives increased damage.] [Giant Rat has taken 13 damage.] The shield pushed the Giant Rat away. As soon as it took damage, the paralysis state was broken, but the shock made the Giant Rat stagger. Taesan didn¡¯t miss the opportunity, quickly created some distance, and pulled out his bow again. Ping. ¡°Kiik!¡± The Giant Rat was paralyzed again. He pulled out his shield once more. Kuwoong! Then, he pulled out his bow again. He shot a paralysis arrow, struck with his shield, and then shot another paralysis arrow. He repeated this series of actions, and the Giant Rat had no choice but to be pushed around like a toy. ¡®As expected, this is good.¡¯ Taesan thought this as he drew his bowstring. Both the paralysis arrows and poison arrows were expensive. Each cost about 30 gold, which was difficult to get on the first floor. Thanks to what he obtained while going for the secret room box, he was able to use them rtivelyfortably. But there was also a limit to this. It wasn¡¯t impossible to get them, even if they were expensive. You could work for a few days on the first floor, buy paralysis arrows and poison arrows, and then clear the floor. Of course, thebyrinth also had prepared countermeasures. The time for that wasing slowly, and Taesan began his preparations. ¡°Kiik, kiik¡­¡± The Giant Rat was staggering. Its head was shaking. Its skin, scorched by fire, was hurting. The poison coursing through its body made it feel hot all over. All of this was due to the human in front of it. The Giant Rat let out a sharp cry. ¡°Kiiiiik!¡± [Giant Rat is furious. It has entered Berserker mode.] ¡°It¡¯s begun.¡± The so-called Second Phase, Berserker mode. Its effects were the nullification of incapacitation and increased speed. Now, paralysis arrows were ineffective. It would be impossible to run and shoot arrows. However, there was no change in Taesan¡¯s expression. He had also conquered the Giant Rat before. He knew this would happen. He was running out of paralysis arrows anyway, and they had served their purpose well enough. Berserker mode was activated when the health dropped below 20%. From this point, it was a direct battle. Taesan raised his tower shield. ¡°Kiiiiik!¡± With a cry, those monstrous ws struck down. With a grating noise, the shield was pushed back. Feeling the force from the other side, Taesan grimaced. [You take 8 damage.] ¡®As I thought, it¡¯s impossible with my current strength.¡¯ His strength stat was only 11. Even blocking with a shield resulted in taking damage. It wasn¡¯t a battle of strength but of whittling the boss¡¯s hp down with his high agility. Once again, the ws aimed for him, and Taesan raised his shield. The moment those ws made contact with the shield, he changed direction. The ws scraped the shield with a sharp sound and impacted the ground. [You take 4 damage.] The Giant Rat¡¯s body was left defenseless, with its ws lodged into the ground. Taesan collided into it with his shield. Jeoeong! ¡°Kiik!¡± [Giant Rat takes 6 damage.] Staggering, the Giant Rat swung its ws, and again Taesan blocked with his shield. [You take 5 damage.] Now their turn was switched. This time Taesan struck with his shield. Jeoeeong! [Giant Rat takes 7 damage.] [Your proficiency in Battle Continuity has increased by 1%.] His breathing quickened. His muscles began to tire. He was pressing hard, but the situation wasn¡¯t good. The fight has alreadysted nearly thirty minutes. Although it was one-sided harassment, the continuous movement had exhausted him. Without Battle Continuity, he would have been fatigued much earlier. He needed to quickly end it. Taesan dashed into the Giant Rat¡¯s range. [You have activated Breathless Attack. You have free breathing for the next 10 seconds.] The restriction of his heavy breathing disappeared. The body that had been demanding oxygen also gained freedom. The Breathless Attack was simr to a full recovery for these precious seconds. Koong! [Giant Rat takes 8 damage.] ¡°Kiik!¡± The Giant Rat didn¡¯t simply stand there to endure it. It held its staggering body and lunged using its ws and teeth. While Taesan blocked with his shield, there were limits when simultaneously attacking and defending. [You take 24 damage.] 24 damage. He could withstand a total of five more attacks. He couldst for another eight attacks if he included Endurance and Evasion. He then calcted the Giant Rat¡¯s remaining health. It was enough. Taesan gave up on defense, and multiple damage points appeared as he charged the Giant Rat. ¡°Kiik!¡± The Giant Rat also counterattacked. [You take 25 damage.] [You take 23 damage.] [You take 22 damage.] Both parties traded attacks as the Giant Rat struck Taesan with its ws. [You activated Evasion. The next attack is evaded.] The w abruptly veered off course. The skill, Evasion, ensured that it would only barely graze him. As the Giant Rat became flustered by this sudden change in movement, Taesan struck it with his shield. ¡°Kik, kiik!¡± The Giant Rat swung its ws, but it didn¡¯t hit. This time, Taesan dove under to avoid and whacked the Giant Rat¡¯s neck with the edge of his shield. [You seeded in a Counter Attack. Great damage is dealt to the opponent. You have obtained the special activation skill [Counter.] [Giant Rat takes 20 damage.] ¡°Ki, kiik.¡± The Giant Rat staggered. It fell into a critical state, and the berserker effect wore off. Taesan then struck the finishing blow. [Giant Rat takes 8 damage.] ¡°Kiik¡­¡­ The Giant Rat fell, its massive body mming into the ground with a thud. Then its breath also stopped. ¡°Hoo.¡± It wasn¡¯t that difficult. His stats were not low. Even if he had gone for a direct confrontation, he had a chance of winning. He also dealt with it much more easily than expected since he was able to paralyze it with the paralyzing arrow. He had won. A long system window appeared. [You have won against the Giant Rat.] [You received arge amount of experience points.] [Your health has recovered by 10.] [You obtained 153 gold.] [You obtained the skin of the Giant Rat.] [You obtained the meat of the Giant Rat.] [You obtained the ws of the Giant Rat.] [You have achieved victory against a challenging opponent single-handedly. Your Agility permanently increases by 2. Your Mana permanently increases by 3.] [Your Strength Surge has been activated. Your Strength permanently increases by 2. Your Agility permanently increases by 3.] [Your level has increased.] [You are now in top condition.] [As a reward for leveling up, your Health increased by 15.] [As a reward for leveling up, your Agility permanently increases by 3. Your Strength permanently increases by 1.] [You defeated the boss of the 1st floor. You received the basic reward [Random Stat Increase Potion.] [You identified the hidden element of the 1st floor. You received the reward [??].] Chapter 16: Second Level (1) He couldn¡¯t help but smile at the sight of the lengthy system window. The proof of his growing strength always boosted his mood. Taesan meticulously checked everything. The reward for defeating the boss was a 2-point increase in Agility and 3 point increase in Mana. The need to use skills would gradually increase, so a boost in Mana was always good news. The reward for leveling up was even better. Agility increased by 3 while Strength increased by 1 for a total of 4 stat points. The fact that his Strength stat, which had not increased so far, had finally gone up was great news. ¡°I was expecting this, but it¡¯s satisfying.¡± ording to the level he was on, rewards took into ount what he did and what stats were used while gaining experience. If a yer mainly used Strength, then Strength would increase. If Agility was used mainly, then Agility would increase. He had a fair amount of strength-based shes against the Giant Rat, so this increase was expected. Although it was still in the single digits, dozens of stat points woulde as his reward as he leveled up more. He could ept it calmly as this was an expected part of the process. However, the case of Soul Ascension was slightly different. ¡°What kind of skill is this?¡± Through Soul Ascension, his Agility had increased by 3 and his Strength by 2. This was more than the increase he got from leveling up. No matter how he racked his brains, this skill made no sense. Simply put, it was far superior to skills like Endurance or Attack Power Enhancement. It could even be barelypared to Multiply. ¡°Yes, I deserve this kind of reward.¡± He had defeated two S-ss monsters as an Easy Mode yer. He deserved something in return. Taesan then checked his status window as he whistled. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 4] [HP: 155/155] [Mana: 15/15] [Strength: 14] [Intelligence: 16] [Agility: 30] [Attack Power + 2] [Defense Power + 7] [The subject is in peak condition] ¡°Sigh.¡± He had to admire these stats. Breaking through the first floor and having a stat reach the 30s was impressive. All of those futile attempts to raise his stats in Easy Mode came flooding back to him. Lost in thought, Kang Taesan began checking the rewards. [Random Stat Boost Potion] [Randomly increases one stat] It was a potion with a straightforward effect. The value of stats was always constant. Even at a high level, it was a coveted item. There was no reason to hesitate, so Kang Taesan drank the potion. [Strength permanently increases by 1] ¡°Yes.¡± Kang Taesan clenched his fist lightly. The stat he needed most had been the one increased. Now, only one thing was left. [You used ???] [You received two Designated Stat Boost Potions] ¡°Oh.¡± Kang Taesan, having checked the reward description, eximed in surprise. [Designated Stat Boost Potion] [Increases the designated stat by 1] It was an item with a straightforward effect and was hard to get even at ces above the 50th floor. The basic method of increasing stats was through leveling up. Other methods were either too difficult or involved too many variables, leaving it to luck. And the stat increase from leveling up depended on what you did while umting experience. In other words, the higher the stat, the easier it was to raise, and the lower the stat, the harder it was to raise. You had to pass a minimum threshold to be able to bnce the stats, and the Designated Stat Boost Potion was the best potion to achieve that. These rewards were more than generous as Kang Taesan drank the potion. [You have consumed the Designated Stat Boost Potion. You must designate one stat to increase.] ¡°Strength.¡± Kang Taesan replied immediately. There was no reason to raise any other stat. He also consumed the remaining potion and raised his Strength again. In a sh, his Strength had increased by 3. Kang Taesan checked his status window with a satisfied face. With these stats, he should be able to defeat the Giant Rat again without using arrows. ¡°I also learned a skill.¡± Kang Taesan remembered. [Special Activation Skill: Counter] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 1%] [Retaliates against an enemy''s attack, inflicting greater damage.] ¡°Counter? I got it faster than I thought.¡± If the opponent¡¯s attack was avoidable, it would trigger evasion without conditions and then a counter-attack. Counter-attacks were quite strong, dealing two to three times the usual damage. This skill was on par with Holy Light, and they were good in different ways. The problem was its high mana consumption, but it was definitely worth it. ¡°Ugh.¡± Kang Taesan stretched and sat down. Rewards from leveling up could not alleviate mental fatigue. He nned to rest his brain a bit before entering the 2nd level. While resting, he thought about the Community. ¡°I wonder how it¡¯s going.¡± A few days ago, he posted a strategy for the first floor of Solo Mode in the Community. He had written the shortest route to the Fountain of Life. However, the probability that people would believe his words was low. Someone was trapped in an unknown space and wrote a strategy guide? And that, too, after just a few days after being trapped? Even Taesan would initially doubt it. Kang Taesan opened the Community page without high expectations. ¡°Huh?¡± A surprised sound echoed from his mouth. Several posts had been made in the Community, most of them about Solo Mode. [Park Chanwoong[Solo]: Anyone here can guide me to the Fountain of Life? I''m too anxious to go.] [Moon Jaeseong[Solo]: We can''t help being anxious. Everyone''s location is different, so we have to follow the shop owner''s words.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Once you arrive, it bes safe, so it would be best to grit your teeth and run. If you endure here for much longer, won''t it be hard to move because of hunger?] [Kim Taejin[Solo]: A life-risking race. This is indeed fun. Ha ha...] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Still, having a possibility is better than nothing.] ¡°Huh.¡± This was very different from the Solo Mode Community he remembered. In his past life, the Community was filled with despair. Day by day, people hid themselves, and no one discussed strategies. Later, nobody even spoke, as if they were all dead or their spirits were broken. Only Lee Taeyeon vigorously made noise. It was very different now. [Lee Sang[Solo]: I''ve reached the Fountain of Life! Thank you for your support!] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Congrattions. From now on, as long as you''re careful, there''s no reason for you to die on the 1st level.] The Community was lively. Though there were some signs of despair and fear, it was notpletely dead. There was hope of survival visible in the posts. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: By the way, that person, Kang Taesan, right? Where did he go? I haven''t seen him since he posted that.] [Lee Sang[Solo]: I''ve been checking the Community every day without missing a day, and I haven''t seen him.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Did he die?] [Kim Taejin[Solo]: A life-risking race. This is indeed fun. Ha ha...] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Ah,e on. Would someone who reached that far in just a few days die? He must be descending now.] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Taesan had descended to the 2nd level. There, a dwarf was waiting for him. ¡°Did you catch it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡± The dwarf, who examined Taesan, smiled happily. ¡°You look good. As expected, you should be at that level. Are you going to use the shop?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± He had to prepare before entering the 2nd level. The dwarf puffed his pipe. ¡°Buy what you need to buy, sell what you need to sell. By now, you should have something to sell, right?¡± ¡°You seem to know things well.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough. Do you have something to sell?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan took out the meat of a Big Rat from his inventory. ¡°I want to sell this meat.¡± Meat rots over time. Food with lower quality wasn¡¯t covered by disease resistance, so it¡¯s better to sell it right away. Until the 10th floor, most enemies were living creatures, so there was no reason to hesitate. The dwarf checked the meat and priced it. ¡°This should be worth about 500 gold. Aren¡¯t you going to sell the skin? If you¡¯ve caught a Giant Rat, you should have gotten its teeth, which should be quite valuable?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not selling them.¡± The monster¡¯s skin and teeth were useful. The dwarf grinned upon realizing what Taesan was aiming for. ¡°You¡¯re looking for a cksmith.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You can find one if you go a bit further down. Usually, people die before they get there, but I guess you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Since he had broken through the first level, there was now a stronger sense of trust on the dwarf¡¯s face than before. Since he had a rough guess of who they were, Taesan wasn¡¯t taken aback. When he encountered the dwarf, a system window appeared. [You''ve encountered the Lost King.] The Lost Dwarf King. A being drawn into thebyrinth from his ruined kingdom. That must be the dwarf¡¯s identity. ¡°So, what are you going to buy? Shall I show you what I have?¡± ¡°I would appreciate that.¡± He had plenty of money. Adding the amount he got from selling, he had twelve hundred gold. It wasn¡¯t an amount you could umte on the first floor. Even if the items were from a higher level, he should be able to afford them without any pressure. The dwarf, seemingly catching on to Taesan¡¯s thoughts, raised a finger. ¡°Let me tell you one thing. I only sell certain things. Even if you¡¯ve gathered more money than needed, I won¡¯t sell things that you could buy on the 4th or 5th floor. If you¡¯re expecting otherwise, it¡¯s best to drop that thought.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The dwarf was simr to Ainzhar. Although he extended certain benefits, he wouldn¡¯t allow you to growcent while enjoying those benefits. He seemed to uphold a certain line. ¡°Alright, here you go. If you need anything else, let me know.¡± The dwarfid out the items, and Taesan checked each one. He passed on the potions again. Although he couldn¡¯t use the Fountain of Life after leaving the first floor, there was still no reason to use potions. It was more profitable to save the money for potions and buy other items to conserve his health. Taesan checked the arrows. He had more than enough basic arrows. What he needed were different types of arrows. [Paralysis Arrow] [Attack Power + 2] [Makes the target paralyzed. The sess may vary depending on level and stats.] [30G] The dwarf, who was watching, asked. ¡°Are you buying that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy thirty.¡± ¡°Buying a lot, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Because I need them.¡± If the information Taesan received from Lee Taeyeon about the second floor was true, he would need at least this much. The dwarf passed him the arrows with another satisfied expression. ¡°Here you go. Now, you¡¯ve got three hundred gold left. What else will you buy? Personally, I rmend equipment. Going to the second floor with your current equipment will be a bit tough.¡± He had no armor, and his additional attack power was barely at plus two. He couldn¡¯t rely on the Tower Shield¡¯s defense forever. Whether it was weapons or armor, he needed to buy something. Conveniently, the dwarf had several spears, shields, and pieces of armor among the items he showed. All could be purchased for under 300 gold. ¡®What a waste.¡¯ But Taesan was in a dilemma. Monsters dropped what they had. Big Rats dropped leather and meat, and enemies with equipment dropped their equipment. The enemies on the second floor used weapons and armor, which meant he could get both. It felt like a bit of a loss to buy them in advance. While pondering and looking around the goods, a pair of gloves caught Taesan¡¯s eye. [Brawler''s Gloves] [Attack Power + 1] [Protects the hands. Seems like it can cause a bit of pain to the enemy.] [300G] Brawler¡¯s Gloves. He wouldn¡¯t have given them a second nce before. Gloves only dealt damage when you punched with them. But now it was different. Taesan picked up the gloves. ¡°I¡¯ll take these.¡± ¡°Brawler¡¯s Gloves? Are you going to use your fists? Why buy those?¡± ¡°Because I can use them.¡± The dwarf looked at Taesan in confusion for a moment before realizing suddenly. ¡°Ah, that old geezer taught you Airak martial arts, didn¡¯t he? Yeah, I figured you¡¯d be to that madman¡¯s liking. But I didn¡¯t expect he¡¯d even give you the martial arts.¡± ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°We¡¯re rotting together in this ce, so of course, I know him. Not that I particrly like it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like him?¡± ¡°Who would like a fanatic running around crazy trying to find a god?¡± The dwarf made a disgusted face. From his repulsed expression, Taesan realized one thing. The NPCs in thebyrinth were aware of each other, but they weren¡¯t friendly. They seemed rather hostile. Chapter 17: Second Level (2) Given that the NPCs didn¡¯t show any particr hostility towards him after he learned the Airak Martial Art, it seemed their dislike was not that serious. However, it was best to be cautious. Unlike Ainzhar and the dwarf, there would certainly be NPCs who were hostile enough to kill each other. ¡°Do you need anything else?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any money. This will do for now.¡± ¡°Then hurry and go down. You don¡¯t want to lose your nerve from hanging around unnecessarily, do you?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t, even if you didn¡¯t say so.¡± Taesan passed by the store and headed toward the second level. The dwarf waved his hand in farewell. ¡°See you on the next floor.¡± Thud. The door closed. At the same time, a system window appeared. [This is a ce a little bit further away from the entrance of the Labyrinth] [This is where those who die when stabbed with a knife live. The power of this ce is not very strong] [Starting quest on the second floor] [Defeat the boss of the second floor and pass] [Reward: Basic Mana Increase Potion] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°A Mana Increase Potion?¡± It was a very valuable potion that increased mana and was not sold in stores. While roaming thebyrinth, there was no choice but to try to discover it. Even Taesan hadn¡¯t seen more than a few of those potions. If it was a basic potion, it would give about a 10-point increase. Since his mana was only about 15, it would be of great value. With that much of an increase, a lot of the constraints on using his skills would disappear. As Taesan proceeded down the passageway, anticipation began to build up within him. Ding. An alert rang as someone was calling him. Taesan opened his Community feed. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What''s up?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Ah. You''re here.] Taesan had posted his messages for a brief moment before responses began pouring in. [Lee Sang [Solo]: It''s Mr. Taesan! You''re still alive!] [Kim Taejin [Solo]: Thanks to you, we were able to reach the Fountain of Life! Thank you so much!] [Kim Junan [Solo]: Mr. Taesan! I have something to ask you!] [Kim Suhyun [Solo]: Mr. Taesan! Mr. Taesan! Oh! It''s Mr. Taesan!] Messages directed towards him quickly filled his vision. Taesan clicked his tongue and answered in a hurry. [Kang Junhyuk has requested a whisper to Kang Taesan.] Taesan clicked ept. [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Wow. This is no joke. I don''t even know what to say?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What''s going on?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Nothing much. Just checking if you''re alive?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How about worrying about yourselves rather than me?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Well, I''m stuck here. Really, thinking about it again gives me the creeps. Thank you, bro. Everyone is grateful to you.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: You guys followed because you trusted, so let it go.] Taesan had left information about the first floor in the Solo Community. If they followed the most optimized route to the Fountain of Life, they had a reasonable chance of survival. However, he did not hold out much hope after that. Was it possible for a person, trapped in an unknown space and driven to the edge, to risk their life and take on a challenge based solely on the posts from a simple and faceless Community? Taesan thought it was impossible. Most would think that it was unbelievable and would not follow it. However, contrary to Taesan¡¯s assumptions, most of the Solo Mode yers followed his guide. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I''m not the one to say anything, but did you guys run here just believing in a single post?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: We had no choice. We were all desperate. You grasp at straws when you''re drowning, right?] Listening to Kang Junhyuk, their reasoning was quite simple. If they didn¡¯t enter thebyrinth, they couldn¡¯t get food. Not eating didn¡¯t mean losing health or death, as only stats and mental strength were consumed. If one was determined, they could hold on as long as they wanted. But hunger was a different issue. People trapped in this disaster were starving to the point of considering cutting and eating their limbs. The pain of hunger was greater than the fear and pain of amputation. Since they couldn¡¯t die here, they had no choice but to live with endless hunger. Those people would be haggard husks. If they could meet other yers like in the other modes, they would have at least been able to have conversations, but even that wasn¡¯t possible. The vige outside thebyrinth only had NPCs who gave predetermined responses. The Broken Man refused to converse altogether. Although some interaction was possible through the Community, it was a world apart from meeting and talking directly. There was no one to talk to. There was nothing to eat. It was an environment perfect for driving people insane. In fact, many Solo yers in his previous life died in droves because they gave up on survival and entered thebyrinth as if they weremitting suicide. In such a situation, Taesan made a post. A strategy guide for the first floor. [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: You said you didn''t expect much, but from our perspective, that post was really necessary.] In Taesan¡¯s post, there was information. There was a shopkeeper inside thebyrinth, and on the first floor, rat-like monsters simr to capybaras appeared. They were ankle-targeting monsters; if you saw them and ran away, you could return to the shop. That was the information. To the Solo Mode¡¯s yers, thebyrinth was an unknown entity. Not being able to enter it was a big reason for their fear. They were too scared because they didn¡¯t know what woulde out. Thanks to Taesan, they obtained information. The fear of the unknown began fading, and they started preparing to enter thebyrinth. Among them, Lee Taeyeon attempted it first. Following Taesan¡¯s words, she entered thebyrinth, met the shopkeeper, and arrived at the Fountain of Life. She survived her journey through thebyrinth. Lee Taeyeon had left manyints in the Community. To those viewing the Community, she was a human just as fearful as they were. And yet she had seeded. In other words, they could also reach a ce where infinite recovery was possible. It was an extremely appealing proposition. After Lee Taeyeon¡¯s sess, many Solo yers ran into thebyrinth. Not everyone was sessful. Even knowing the strategy didn¡¯t guarantee easy progress. The Fountain of Life was quite a distance from the shop, and the likelihood of encountering a Big Rat along the way was not low. Still, the number of people who managed to reach the Fountain of Life was iparable to his previous world. The difference was even surprising for Taesan. However, reaching the fountain and defeating the Big Rat were two separate issues. Even with infinite recovery, defeating a monster that exceeded a normal human¡¯s speed was impossible without natural talent. Most were only satiating their hunger at the fountain while continually attempting the challenge. Only two had seeded in hunting. Lee Taeyeon. And the one currently conversing with him, Kang Junhyuk. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What were you nning to do before my post came up?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Well, I was just nning to run into thebyrinth. I couldn''t stand being hungry. I thought of defeating the monster or whatever and then eating them.] A 17-year-old boy, not yet an adult, had already won against the Big Rat, indicating he had simr talent to Lee Taeyeon. But he was a name Taesan had never heard before. Perhaps in his previous world, he had immediately challenged the Big Rat and died. He was an irregr who survived by following his post. Would the number of clearers increase if he left a strategy? In Taesan¡¯s view, that was not the case. Even if one managed to narrowly defeat the Big Rat, they probably wouldn¡¯t be able to go any further. Survival rate and clear rate were two different things. Even in his previous world, there were a few who had reached the Fountain of Life. But aside from Lee Taeyeon, no one had managed to clear the first floor. Only Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk had a chance to clear it. Just the two of them. ¡®Are they worth nurturing?¡¯ [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What are you doing right now?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: I''m currently taking a break after hunting the Big Rat.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What about Lee Taeyeon?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: She''s probably sleeping now?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Have you met the pdin yet?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Huh? Who?] He seemed not to know. Given that Lee Taeyeon from the previous world had met Ainzhar, it would be fair to say that one would meet him at least once if they stayed at the Fountain of Life. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: An entric old man searching for a god wille looking for you. He''s an NPC whose treatment changes based on your actions, okay? He will attack you outright but don''t panic and respond properly. Then, you can get something useful.] Although he didn¡¯t know if the old man would give the Airak Weapon Skill, Kang Junhyuk could gain other skills. In the early stages, every skill was precious. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Tell Lee Taeyeon when she wakes up.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Uh¡­¡­] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What is it?] Kang Junhyuk seemed to be considering something for a moment. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he left a message. [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Are you okay, hyung?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What do you mean?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Aren''t you giving too much to me? I appreciate your help, but we are, after all,petitors trying to clear thebyrinth.] Taesan was taken aback by the sudden remark. Junhyuk continued typing. [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Of course, I''m weaker than you for now, but aren''t you worried that I might catch up to you if you give too much away? I, of course, have no intention of doing anything to you, but isn''t it too much of a favor? You don''t need to just give away what you''ve earned through hard work.] Taesanughed softly. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: So that''s what you''re worried about?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: It''s a serious concern of mine¡­¡­] Taesan could understand Junhyuk¡¯s point. It was natural for anyone not to want to give away what they had earned with hard work without any conditions. However, Junhyuk was misunderstanding things. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Whatpetition? We are all humans from the dying Earth.] They were notpetitors. They wererades. There were a few opportunities to go out to the outside world before clearing the game. He¡¯d realize then how foolish he had been. There were some fools who didn¡¯t get the bigger picture and acted recklessly, but they all died either by monsters or by Lee Taeyeon. And there was another misunderstanding. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: There''s one reason why I''m telling you all this. It''s so that you don''t die in some strange ce.] Knowing the strategy and being able to implement it were two different things. It was pure luck upon luck that Lee Taeyeon had cleared Solo Mode. She herself said she had no confidence in surviving if she entered Solo Mode again. It was a ce where even those who had cleared it once couldn¡¯t guarantee another clear. That was Solo Mode. Even if Taesan told Junhyuk about the secret room, he wouldn¡¯t be able to clear it. The chances of being skewered by thest fifteen arrows were high. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: And you think you can catch up to me just by knowing that?] Even when he cleared Easy Mode, he was alreadypared to Lee Taeyeon. Junhyuk¡¯s words felt simr to a chick saying to the owner who fed it that if they kept feeding like this, it would be stronger than the owner. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Don''t waste your time and just focus on descending.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: True, I haven''t even cleared the 1st floor yet, I am being too ambitious.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Good, you understand. Work hard. I''m going to descend further.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Where are you right now?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: 2nd floor.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: ¡­¡­Wow. I''ve just managed to kill a Big Rat. It''s only been a week. Isn''t this too fast?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Fast? It''s just normal.] In the middle of the conversation, he had a thought. ¡®Speaking of which, isn¡¯t it about time?¡¯ A week had passed. It was the adaptation period for Easy and Normal Mode yers. Taesan asked, [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How is the Community these days?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Normal, I suppose? Ah, recently, people from other modes have started to interact a bit. But... There are some people who start fights. I''ve ignored them for now, but I don''t understand why they''re doing it.] There were those who would start disputes. Taesan knew who they were. ¡®Those ignorant ones have started to make trouble.¡¯ yers from different modes could not see yers from other modes. They misunderstood each other¡¯s strengths and believed their mode was the hardest. In his previous world, Taesan had interfered, but since he was not there, they started to run amok as they wished. He wasn¡¯t very interested in humoring them. If they acted up, he would just have to deal with it. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Good luck.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Yes, you too.] Taesan turned off the whisper chat. The structure of the 2nd floor was simr to the 1st floor. It changed every 10 floors, so there was little difference until then. He saw mossy bricks and the brick floor. The interior of thebyrinth seemed likely to be simr. However, Taesan knew from his previous experience that the 1st floor of Solo Mode was half a tutorial. The real start was from the 2nd floor. Abyrinth where even the Fountain of Life couldn¡¯t be found, Where recovery methods were limited. Taesan knew what would appear here. Taesan walked down the passage, and a door came into view. Once he passed through this ce, he could see the room. Taesan opened the door just slightly, enough to check the inside. ¡°Kieek.¡± ¡°Karuk. Karuk.¡± Green monsters came into view. These creatures, with a human-like form, were small and didn¡¯t reach past Taesan¡¯s chest. Each held a sword and shield or a bow, and they were chattering with their protruding tusks. ¡°Karuk.¡± ¡°Keck, Kieek!¡± When one said something, the other monsters roared withughter. They seemed to have heard a funny joke. [A Goblin with a bow has appeared.] [A Goblin with a short sword has appeared.] [A Goblin with a short sword has appeared.] [A Goblin with a shield has appeared.] ¡®Goblins.¡¯ Green monsters. The mostmon monsters that appeared everywhere in the middle and upper floors. The monsters of the 2nd level were these goblins. Chapter 18: Second Level (3) The goblins were teasing each other, nudging their shields, and bumping their heads together. They seemed to be very friendly with each other. ¡°Heehee.¡± ¡°Kekek.¡± Kang Taesan watched them expressionlessly. Facing a single goblin wasn¡¯t an issue. In Easy Mode, they were the typical monsters of the 10th floor and were rtively weak. The 1st-floor boss, the Giant Rat, was much stronger in terms of sheer power. However, the difference between goblins and other monsters was that they possessed a rudimentary level of intelligence. They could cooperate, set traps, and hunt in groups. They became stronger the more of them there were. Thanks to these factors, they weremonly seen on both the middle and upper floors. There were four goblins in the room. In Easy Mode, a group of such numbers would not appear until you went past the 20th floor. Moreover, multiple yers could confront them in Easy Mode, making their numbers more manageable. But here, Taesan was alone. Taesan was keenly aware of this and had adequately prepared strategies to handle them. He then analyzed the goblins¡¯ weapons. Two out of four were wielding what appeared to be longswords. However, they were only longswords rtive to the goblins. If Taesan were to wield them, they would look closer to short swords. Another one was armed with a shield and a dagger. The shield was small, barely covering the upper body. Thest goblin was holding a bow. It would probably provide cover from the rear when he attacked. Their clothing consisted of thin leather outfits that barely covered their loins. Their defensive ability was likely to be around 1 or 2. After checking their equipment, Taesan determined the order of engagement. He mentally mapped out a scenario on how to handle them. Once he finished his assessment, Taesan kicked the door open and stepped inside. Crash! ¡°Kahk!¡± ¡°Kiyaek!¡± The goblins were taken aback by his sudden appearance. However, it was only a moment before the glint of malice appeared in their eyes and their chattering vanished. All that remained were monsters ready to kill their enemy. Taesan immediately drew his bow, notched a paralysis arrow, pulled the string, and fired. Thud. ¡°Kiyaek!¡± [10 Damage to the goblin using the bow] [Target is paralyzed. It cannot move until it is hit again or for the next 30 seconds] Compared to the Giant Rat, a regr monster like this goblin remained paralyzed for longer. Taesan pulled out another paralysis arrow. The goblins were screaming and rushing toward Taesan. In this urgent situation, panic could lead to failure, but Taesan pulled the bowstring without any hint of confusion. [Calmness proficiency has increased by 1%.] He fired his arrow, piercing the arm of the rushing goblin who wielded the short sword. ¡°Kik, Kiyik.¡± The goblin trembled and stopped, leaving only its eyes to roll wildly. Two were already neutralized - the goblin with the short sword and the one with the bow. Only the other goblin with the short sword and the one with the shield remained. They were already in close proximity, and it was not possible to shoot arrows anymore. The goblin with the shield struck out at Taesan with its dagger. Taesan quickly put his bow away and pulled out his tower shield. He dodged the dagger and pushed back with the Tower Shield. Thump. ¡°Kaak!¡± The goblin with the shield was repelled. The size difference between the shields was overwhelming. Taesan also has the upper hand in strength. In a head-on sh, Taesan would win. [3 Damage to the goblin with the shield.] However, the damage was minimal since the opponent was also defending with a shield. From his memory, a goblin¡¯s HP ranged from 40 to 50. Killing by pushing it with a shield was virtually impossible. ¡°Kareuk!¡± The goblin with the short sword swung his de. ng! The tower shield split, but the damage was bearable. Taesan braced himself and then explosively struck back at the goblin. [8 Damage to the goblin with the short sword] ¡°Kaak!¡± Taesan closed in on the reeling goblin. He deflected the wildly swinging sword and tripped the goblin, causing it to fall over. Taesan then mounted the goblin. ¡°Kaak! Kaak!¡± The pinned goblin iled, trying to somehow escape, but it was already suppressed. There was no way for such a weakened opponent to break free. Taesan struck down with his tower shield, and the goblin¡¯s head reeled. [The goblin with the short sword is in a weakened state. It will take more damage] [15 Damage to the goblin with the short sword] [14 Damage to the goblin with the short sword] ¡°Kak, Kagak.¡± The goblin¡¯s pupils dted. One more strike, and it would die. However, as Taesan lifted his tower shield, ¡°Kaaak!¡± The goblin with the shield had rushed in to intervene. Taesan repelled it without even standing up from his seated position. The goblin with the shield retreated impotently once more. [14 Damage to the goblin with the short sword] [You have defeated the goblin with the short sword] The system window did not visibly appear. Taesan, who found it bothersome as it obstructed his view, set it to appear only after the battle ended. One had been dealt with. The problem was that the effect of the paralysis arrow had worn off. ¡°Kaaak!¡± ¡°Ki-eak!¡± The three goblins were enraged at having lost apanion. The goblin with the bow harshly pulled back the string, and his arrow impacted with the tower shield. [2 Damage to you] ¡°Ki-eak!¡± The goblin wielding the short sword moved and aimed for the unprotected nk that was beyond the tower shield, but Taesan managed to block it. As the goblin was repulsed, the other goblin who wielded the shield slipped in and attempted to forcibly yank the tower shield away. ¡°Kaak!¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and jerked the tower shield roughly, and the goblin with the shield was thrown off. However, a gap was created, and the goblin with the short sword didn¡¯t miss it. ¡°Ki-eak!¡± The de was targeted at Taesan¡¯s neck. He quickly jerked his head to dodge, but his skin was still nicked. [7 Damage to you] As Taesan tried to push the goblin with the short sword away using the tower shield, an arrow was shot at him. In the end, Taesan had no choice but to back away. ¡®This is indeed tricky.¡¯ The goblins covered each other¡¯s vulnerabilities, making openings for the other goblins. Their cooperation was wless, not giving Taesan a chance to act. This could have been quite dangerous if he hadn¡¯t taken one out beforehand. To win, he had to break their teamwork. Taesan drew in a deep breath. [You have activated your Breathless Attack. You are free of breathing limitations for the next 10 seconds] He pushed forward with his tower shield at the charging goblin. ¡°Kak, Kaaak!¡± His attack was momentarily twice as fast as before, causing the confused goblin to back away. The goblin with the short sword hastened to hisrade¡¯s aid, but their coordination was already shattered. Taesan thrust roughly with his tower shield, and the goblins were thrown off. As the two goblins distanced themselves from Taesan, he gained some respite. Taesan stored his shield and pulled out his me Staff. [You have activated Fireball] A fireball was shot toward the goblin, preparing to fire an arrow. The goblin stared dumbly at the iing fireball. ¡°Kaak?¡± Boom! [15 Damage to the Goblin shooting the bow] [No judgment needed! The Goblin shooting the bow is in a burning state] ¡°Ki-e-eak!¡± The goblin engulfed in mes, shrieked and jumped around. Judging by the looks of it, it didn¡¯t seem to have the presence of mind to shoot arrows anymore. Meanwhile, the two goblins were charging towards Taesan again. Taesan switched back to his tower shield and stored his staff. ¡°Kaak! Kaak!¡± The two goblins energetically hammered at the tower shield, but unlike before, they didn¡¯t have the support of arrows. There were plenty of openings. Kwoong! [9 Damage to the Goblin with the short sword] ¡°Ki-eak!¡± The goblin was thrown off. Taesan quickly stowed the tower shield in his inventory and drew his rusty sword to charge at the goblin with the shield. The goblin tried to protect itself with its shield while waiting for itsrade to return, but Taesan had no intention of leaving him be. Unlike the tower shield, the rusty sword was a one-handed weapon. He grabbed the goblin¡¯s shield with his free hand. ¡°Kik!¡± The goblin desperately tried to protect its body with the shield, but Taesan was stronger. The shield was forcibly pulled away, exposing its body, and Taesan swung his rusty sword. [9 Damage to the Goblin with the shield] [8 Damage to the Goblin with the shield] ¡°Kik¡­.¡± The goblin copsed. [You have defeated the Goblin with the shield] Two were down, and two remained. However, since one was writhing crazily on the floor while covered in mes, there was only functionally one left. ¡°Ggik, Kkik.¡± [The Goblin with the short sword is intimidated by you. It is constrained in its actions] The Goblin with the short sword backed away with a worried look on its face. As Taesan approached, it gritted its teeth and swung its sword. Taesan parried with his sword and stabbed it in the throat. [9 Damage to the Goblin with the short sword] ¡°Keeak!¡± He parried again and pierced its throat. [9 Damage to the Goblin with the short sword] [You have defeated the Goblin with the short sword] Only one remained. Taesan approached the goblin, who was still burning and screaming. ¡°Kii-eek¡­¡­¡± With itsst breath, the goblin transformed into a reward. [You have defeated the Goblin with the bow] He was victorious. Taesan sat down and wiped away his sweat. He then massaged his muscles throughout his body and began to rx. ¡°It¡¯s doable.¡± It was not easy. He used two Paralysis Arrows and expended a considerable amount of energy. However, it wasn¡¯t life-threatening. His health and mana were significantly depleted, but they were fully recovered through the reward of victory, and he didn¡¯t use any skills besides the Breathless Assault and Fireball. The progress was much smoother than expected. As he proceeded, the number of goblins would increase, and their equipment would improve. Still, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult, considering he gained stat points through the bonus he received from Soul Ascension. Taesan began to confirm the rewards. His level did not increase. Judging by the amount of experience points, it seemed like he would level up after clearing one more room. [Your Soul Ascension increase has been triggered. Your intelligence permanently increases by 1] ¡°How simple.¡± The same message appeared four times. Taesan murmured to the uniform system window with some apprehension. Nevertheless, the increase in intelligence was not bad. He would gain bonuses for various mental checks, and the amount of mana consumed would also decrease. It was an important stat as he would need to use skills more often in the future. His proficiency also steadily increased, and finally, the content of a few skills changed. [Constant Special Activation Skill: Vision Enhancement] [Proficiency: 20%] [You can obtain a broad field of view. It has slightly surpassed human standards] Usually, changes began to ur from around 20% proficiency. The phrase ¡®It has slightly surpassed human standards¡¯ was added to Vision Enhancement. In reality, this meant that Taesan had a perfectly clear 270-degree field of view, something that normal humans would not be able to see. He could even perhaps perceive a little beyond objects that obstructed his view. It was a good change. On the second floor, several goblins would attack at the same time. The possibility of being surrounded and hit from behind would then disappear with this skill. Even after leaving the second floor, a broad field of view was always an advantage. Insight also had a change in its description. [Constant Special Activation Skill: Insight] [Proficiency: 24%] [You can perceive a lot. It seems to be able to identify only the weaknesses of creatures. You might also be able to find hidden rooms. Very asionally, it informs you of important information] ¡°Great.¡± Taesan muttered softly. The change in Vision Enhancement was good, but this was even better. ¡®Very asionally, it informs you of important information.¡¯ That single sentence held tremendous value here. It effectively artificially induced the luck necessary to survive in thebyrinth. Depending on when it was activated, it would be as valuable as endurance and agility. The proficiency of Insight increased quite slowly, so he thought he would have to reach at least the 5th floor to get the upgrade, but it was much faster. It was a pleasant miscalction. Now, it was time for items. Instead of giving meat and leather, the goblins dropped the equipment they were wearing with a certain level of probability. A small sword and a small shield were lying in front of Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s about time to change one.¡± The equipment changed with every floor that he progressed. Taesan began to check. Chapter 19: Second Level - Lakiratas, The God Of Struggle And Death (4) [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Don''t ept it.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Hmm¡­ It''s tempting... Can''t I do anything about it?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Lee Taeyeon is too scared, which is a problem, but you have no fear, which is also a problem. I''ll give you a simple example. You were too scared to earn Endurance, weren''t you?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Yes. How can I possibly get it?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: If you ept, you might get it.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: What does that mean... Ah.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: It''s either get it or die. It''s one or the other. ept the quest if you''re confident.] First, he checked the dagger, and the information window for the dagger appeared. [Slightly Rusted Dagger] [[Attack Power + 1] [It seems usable, to some extent] Its attack power was the same as the rusted sword. This dagger, which had a faster attack speed, was superior in performance. However, he didn¡¯t switch to it. Goblins used weapons, and when fighting with the same weapons, reach had a greater value than attack speed. But it¡¯s not a bad weapon. It should be useful in closebat. Taesan ced the dagger in his inventory and checked the small shield. [Wooden Shield] [Defense + 3] [It''s notrge. It can block most attacks, but it seems like it would break under a very strong attack] In terms of performance, it was inferior to the tower shield. It was 2 points lower in defense andcked any attack power. Still, Taesan considered it. ¡®From here on out, the tower shield isn¡¯t going to be of much use.¡¯ Unlike the Big Rat, goblins came inrge numbers and were quick. They cooperated with each other to pressure him. The tower shield had an advantage in one-on-one fights. Still, it was not suitable for battles against multiple opponents. Furthermore, it couldn¡¯t be held with one hand, making him unable to equip another weapon. Also, it was too big. It wasrge enough to cover Taesan¡¯s entire body, which limited his vision. It also created problems for his movements since he needed to focus more on blocking than avoiding attacks beyond what was necessary. Taesan made his decision. He put away the tower shield and pulled out the rusted sword. Shield in his right hand and the sword in his left. Usually, it would be the other way around, but he was left-handed, so this felt morefortable. His defense was now two points lower. However, when facing goblins, this was the optimal setup. A sword and a shield. This was abination he had used for quite a while. He had obtained 200 gold. It was 50 gold per pair of goblins. Not bad. Having finished his preparations, Taesan headed towards the passage. In the next room, he found a goblin with a bow, one with a spear, one with a dagger, and one with a longsword. There was a slight change from before, but Taesan¡¯s actions wouldn¡¯t change much. Taesan charged at the goblins. ¡°Kwak!¡± ¡°Kieek!¡± He blocked their attacks with his shield and stabbed them with his sword. It felt much safer than when he was using the tower shield. Although minor damage dide through, it was manageable. The damage would be fully recovered by defeating just one of them. [You inflicted 8 damage to the goblin with a dagger] [You have defeated the goblin with a dagger] ¡°Kaaaah¡­¡± The goblin copsed. The eyes of the goblin holding the bow, who had just seen itsrade killed, widened in fear. Suddenly, the goblin with the longsword also halted as it saw itsrade killed. Taesan didn¡¯t miss this opportunity and charged at the goblin. ¡°Kieek!¡± Thump! He mmed down on the goblin¡¯s arm with his shield. The hand holding the weapon was forced wide open. He then thrust his sword straight in. [You have defeated the goblin with the longsword] ¡°Kieeee¡­¡± ¡°Kaaak!¡± The spear was thrust at Taesan. He parried it with his sword, deflected the attack, and blocked an iing arrow with his shield. The goblin with the spear roared and swung its weapon toward Taeesan. At that moment, Taesan noticed that the goblin¡¯s grip on the spear was incredibly sloppy. It had lost its sanity to rage. Taesan moved as his senses instructed. He deflected the spear with his shield and lifted his sword to strike. The spear whistled through the air. ¡°Ka, Kaak.¡± He struck down the weaponless goblin. [You have defeated the goblin who lost its spear] The system message responded quickly. All that was left was a single goblin with a bow. It shot arrows at him desperately, but Taesan casually swatted them away with his sword. A bow without support was not scary. ¡°Ka, Kaak¡± He walked towards the trembling goblin. His sword descended. [You have defeated the goblin with the bow] [Your level has increased] [You are in the best condition] [As a reward for leveling up, your health has increased by 10] [As a reward for leveling up, your strength has permanently increased by 1, agility has permanently increased by 2, and intelligence has permanently increased by 1] The stats had increased in small but significant amounts. Bnced growth was always the best way. The reward for leveling up remained the same. Four new intelligence increase windows appeared. ¡°Status Window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 4] [Health: 165/165] [Mana: 15/15] [Strength: 18] [Intelligence: 24] [Agility: 32] [Attack Power + 3] [Defense Power + 5] [The subject is in the best condition] His current stats were almostughably absurd. This was what his stats looked like before he returned to the past. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 57] [Health: 1021/1021] [Mana: 820/820] [Strength: 105] [Intelligence: 100] [Agility: 98] [Attack Power + 49] [Defense Power + 58] [The subject is in the best condition] His level now was 5, yet his agility had already reached a third of the value he had achieved in the past. And this was happening not on the 10th or 20th floor but while he was still exploring the 2nd floor. The more he thought about his growth rate, the more he found himselfughing. What he had once thought of as Lee Taeyeon¡¯s overwhelming stats didn¡¯t seem all that impressive now. As she had carelessly overlooked a lot of things, her stats were likely below average for Solo Mode. It was just that no one knew this, as no one else had survived. Taesan, who had been contentedly checking his status window, quickly verified his equipment. ¡°Longsword. Show me the longsword.¡± There was one goblin carrying a longsword. If the dagger had an attack power of 1, it was highly likely that the longsword had a power of 2. Two arrows, one bow, and a longsword. ¡°Yes!¡± Taesan quickly confirmed it. [Rusty Sword] [Attack Power + 2] [It looks usable enough] ¡°Good.¡± An increase in attack power of 1. It looked very shabby, but it was more valuable than anything else. In thebyrinth, additional attack power was calcted cumtively. If the attack power increased by 1, the damage of 8 became 9. At this stage, when the base damage was low, the difference between 1 and 2 in attack power could mean having to hit an enemy one more time or not. Attack power was far more important than any other stat at this moment. The sword alone was more than satisfactory. But there were more rewards. Taesan¡¯s eyes widened when he checked the bow. [Bow] [Attack Power + 1] [uracy + 40%] [It looks usable enough] ¡°This is also good.¡± The bow he was currently using had no attack power, so he relied solely on his arrows¡¯ attack power. Thanks to his Airak Weapon skills, he was doing decent damage, but without that, he would have been terribly weak. His uracy was also extremely low at 20%, requiring a lot of focus when firing arrows. Two problems were solved at once as Taesan happily organized his bow. ¡°You¡¯re banished now.¡± He stored the rusty sword in his inventory and wielded the less-rusty sword. He had be stronger once more. He had already managed to take out four goblins without using a skill, simply by switching to a sword and shield. Now, he could probably handle them without using arrows. Having finished organizing, Taesan turned again towards the corridor. Simr to before, he cracked the door open slightly to check inside. ¡°Huh?¡± Taesan entered the room. There were no goblins inside. However, it wasn¡¯t simply an empty room. Inside the room, there was an altar for a god. [You have discovered the Altar of Lakiratas] [First Discovery Bonus] [Intelligence has permanently increased by 1. Mana has permanently increased by 2.] Intelligence and Mana. They were always good stats. Taesan looked at the altar. It was a circr altar ced in the center of the room. It was grotesquely dotted with blood, and the sharp, line-like decorations gave an idea of the nature of the altar¡¯s owner. The gods of thebyrinth had various personalities. There were gods who were friendly towards the yer and those who were hostile. Some regarded the yer as a target of mockery, and there were also gods who showedpassion. However, as Lee Taeyeon had said, most of them considered the yers their ythings. Taesan saw the name Lakiratas in the system message. He tried to recall what kind of deity it was. ¡®The god of struggle and death.¡¯ That was all he knew. Lee Taeyeon didn¡¯t care to know more about the gods as she was often their object of scorn and ridicule. Taesan raised his hand toward the altar. [Altar of Lakiratas] [An altar made by the followers of Lakiratas. It serves as a passage to the god. Lakiratas can exert his influence through this ce.] The altar of the followers of the god. Each time Lee Taeyeon arrived here, she said she received a quest. A bloody mist spread throughout the room as soon as he finished his thoughts. A great presence could be felt from beyond the altar. It was a denser and heavier force than any monster he had encountered before. If what was felt beyond the passage was this intense, most people would go mad upon seeing it directly. ¡®So this is a god.¡¯ These entities only existed in Solo Mode. Lakiratas was one of them. A quest window appeared. [Sub-Quest Begins] [Lakiratas wants to test you, the one who came to his altar. If you ept, a trial wille to you. If you ovee it, a reward will follow.] [Reward: Determined by Lakiratas ording to your achievements.] Upon arriving at the altar, one could take on the challenge posed by the god. Lee Taeyeon also discovered the altar of Lakiratas on the second floor and received a simr quest proposal. However, she declined. Lee Taeyeon had instinctively felt that the trial was beyond her capacity to handle. She escaped the room as if she was fleeing. Therefore, she had no information about what kind of trial it was. But Taesan was considering epting. ¡®Risk and reward.¡¯ After risking his life and breaking through the secret room, he had obtained the Staff of mes. He had also blocked Ainzhar¡¯s strike. And acquired the Airak Weapon Technique. When an achievement deemed impossible was achieved, a reward beyond that was given. Although it was the same in Easy Mode, the rewards here were more. There was no thought of running away like a coward as Taesan epted the sub-quest. [Sub-Quest Begins] [Lakiratas is pleased with your choice.] The bloody mist that filled the room gathered in front of the altar. The mist clumps together to form legs. Riding up the legs, knees were formed, followed by thighs. The chest and stomach, and even the head, were modeled, revealing a human figure. But it didn¡¯t end there. The mist engulfed the formed figure once more. Eventually, the mist disappeared, revealing a blood-red armor. nk. The blood-red armor extended its hand. The remaining mist congealed into the shape of a sword. [You have encountered the Servant of Lakiratas [Fake]] [Lakiratas'' Trial: Achieve victory against the Servant of Lakiratas [Fake]] Taesan distanced himself and scrutinized the Servant of Lakiratas. It was wearing armor simr to that of a medieval knight. It firmly covered all parts of the limbs, and the head was perfectly protected by a helmet. No matter how closely he looked, it was difficult to find a gap. nk. The bloody knight raised his sword and pointed at Taesan. Even without fighting, its nature could be understood just through this stance. It was infinitely stronger than the goblins. Taesan held his shield and sword. After a moment of staring at Taesan, the knight moved his foot. Whoosh! Despite being in armor, he rushed at Taesan with incredible speed. However, Taesan didn¡¯t panic. He had seen countless beings whose appearances contradicted their abilities. He swung his shield towards the descending sword. ng! Taesan was the one who was pushed back, and he grimaced at the numb feeling in his arm. [You have taken 25 damage.] ¡°Heh.¡± A ridiculous amount of damage caused him to chuckle. Even if he blocked, this much damage made the shield meaningless. Taesan took a step back to increase the distance, put away his shield, and pulled out his rusty sword. ¡°Twin swords, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Whoosh! The knight stamped his foot again. The heaviness that made the entire room vibrate reverberated through the floor. The knight shed across its body roughly. Taesan swung his sword to meet it. The sound of steel shing rang out. Once again, Taesan was the one pushed back. From these two exchanges, Taesan realized that the Servant of Lakiratas had the upper hand in strength. The difference wasn¡¯t huge, but if theypeted head-on, it would inevitably lead to Taesan¡¯s defeat. Then how about agility? Taesan turned his body and began to flee. The knight pursued. nk! nk! Observing the knight chasing after him with heavy metallic sounds, Taesan realized. He had the upper hand in agility. The distance between him and the knight was gradually increasing. It wasn¡¯t a huge difference, but it was not small either. The opponent had the advantage in strength, while he was superior in agility. Taesan, who had been fleeing, suddenly turned his body. He ran towards the knight and immediately swung his sword downwards. The knight, who had been chasing after him, hurriedly raised its sword. ng! Their swords shed, their hands locked, but Taesan wielded twin swords. With his free left hand, he stabbed the knight¡¯s nk. Crack! [You have dealt 6 damage to the Servant of Lakiratas [Fake]] The armor split apart. Although he was wearing armor, which mitigated the major damage, this was sufficient. Taesan began to press on relentlessly. He jabbed his left hand into the knight¡¯s waist. This time, it disyed 5 damage. The knight wouldn¡¯t stand idle, either. He put strength into his sword and struck an attack. He shed in a diagonal line directly toward Taesan. Instead of blocking, Taesan took the strike head-on, positioning himself right beneath his opponent¡¯s hand to dodge the attack. Taesan did not have space to swing his sword in this position, but he had martial arts skills. He quickly sheathed his sword and swung his fist. [You have dealt 4 damage to the Servant of Lakiratas [Fake]] It was a wise decision to have purchased the brawler¡¯s gloves. If he had hit the armor barehanded, it would have inflicted more damage on Taesan. The knight tried to create space to swing his sword, but Taesan clung closely. As ast resort, the knight attempted to swing his sword, but Taesan reached out and grabbed his wrist. He struck his legs, hit his neck, and pushed with his shoulder. 4, 3, 4. A total of 11 damage was inflicted. ¡®Not bad.¡¯ Taesan had swept through all 100 floors of thebyrinth. Though it was on Easy Mode, that experience didn¡¯t go anywhere. The method to fight an enemy with superior strength. The way to handle an enemy with superior agility. He knew all about how to fight multiple enemies. The knight¡¯s strength was superior, but Taesan had the upper hand in agility. So, he just had to stick close to him, creating a situation where the knight couldn¡¯t fully utilize his strength. As strength stats increased physical power, sticking so close that there was no room to exert strength greatly diminished their value. He was using a strategy he had enjoyed in the past. He approached the staggering knight once again. The knight abandoned swinging its sword and attempted a knee strike. Taesan blocked it with his foot. Even though the knight had a strength advantage, the difference was not substantial. If Taesan could intercept before the knight¡¯s strike gained momentum, he could suppress it. ¡®Easier than I thought?¡¯ Taesan thought this while swinging his fist. But, of course, this was to be expected. This was the 2nd floor. Regardless of being in Solo Mode, they wouldn¡¯t give enemies that are impossible to clear. The Servant of Lakiratas, a 2nd-floor enemy, had surprisingly high stats butcked the intelligence and sensibility that would match those stats. A certain level of bnce was maintained. yers who were initially overwhelmed by the superior stats had toe up with all sorts of strategies to secure a hard-fought victory. That was the picture Lakiratas probably desired. But Taesan¡¯s stats weren¡¯t low. He gained significant power from the Soul Ascension enhancement, and the additional rewards from sweeping the first floor also added to this. Even whenpared to the Servant of Lakiratas, he was not outmatched. Even if he was a yer at the beginning of thebyrinth, with Taesan¡¯s current stats, a fair fight would be possible. Besides, Taesan was already a yer who had cleared thebyrinth. He understood the countermeasures perfectly, so he could defeat the enemy easily. And there was an entity that was displeased with this. [Lakiratas feel slight bafflement] Despite his servant being a formidable entity for a 2nd-floor yer, Taesan was fighting wlessly without receiving any damage after the initial contact. Even to a god¡¯s eyes, this was an impressive feat. But Lakiratas was the god of strife and death. He desired to watch the struggling inferior being strategize and employ skills and wisdom to win intense battles, not one-sided fights. That was the realm of power and deception. After some contemtion, Lakiratas made a decision. He decided to give back what he had taken. He allowed the strong knight to reim what once belonged to him. [Lakiratas''s divine power manifests. As a price, the influence zone of Lakiratas is reduced.] [The Servant of Lakiratas [Fake] regains intelligence. The Servant of Lakiratas [Fake] regains skills.] [The rewards for the trials are significantly enhanced.] ¡°What?¡± Suddenly, Taesan squinted at the windows that blocked his vision. A red light emerged from the dead eyes inside that blood-red helmet. [You have encountered the Servant of Lakiratas] The term ¡®fake¡¯ attached to its name had disappeared. ng. The knight grasped his sword with both hands. Taesan tried to block, but his stance was lowered. Conversely, the knight waspletely upright. Given the knight was taller, Taesan¡¯s hands couldn¡¯t reach him. The knight brought down the sword in the same posture it was held. The end of the hilt, the pommel, was aimed at Taesan¡¯s head. ¡°Tsk.¡± He could no longer engage this way, and Taesan retreated. The knight swung his sword again. A full-powered strike from an upright posture. It was hard to block as it contained all his strength. Taesan barely dodged it. Utilizing the force of the downward strike, the knight advanced and thrust his sword. It wasn¡¯t a mindless swing like before, but a perfectly controlled thrust. Without room to evade, Taesan tried to force the knight¡¯s sword away, intending to deflect its path. ¡°Damn.¡± The knight twisted his wrist, and his sword began to curve under Taesan¡¯s sword. Despite Taesan¡¯s attempt to force it away, it was perfectly blocked. Just like that, the knight raised his sword. Thud! Already dealing with a powerful adversary, Taesan¡¯s sword moved in a direction where he couldn¡¯t exert full strength. Caught off guard, Taesan¡¯s hand was lifted high. The knight moved his foot as it was as Taesan wrapped his body with his forearm and kicked. ¡°Argh!¡± [You have received 12 damage] The damage wasn¡¯t substantial as it was not a weapon but a foot. However, his posture copsed due to that kick. The knight didn¡¯t miss the chance. He rushed quickly and thrust his sword as Taesan rolled on the ground. ng! The sword stuck into the ground. It was fairly deep, and it took some time to pull out. Thanks to this, Taesan could distance himself and regain his stance. ¡°Damn. What¡¯s he trying to do?¡± Taesan gritted his teeth. Suddenly, the situation had changed. The knight, who already had high stats, became incredibly strong after gaining intelligence. Above all, the quality of his skills was exceedingly high. Even when their swords shed, it was to the level where Taesan¡¯s attacks were deflected. Looking solely at skills, he was superior to anyone Taesan had met so far. The servant of Lakiratas, who regained intelligence, tried to carry out his master¡¯s order and charged Taesan. Chapter 20: Second Level - Lakiratas, The God Of Struggle And Death (5) The knight charged in like a storm, and Taesan barely managed to block the swinging sword. ng! The moment their swords shed, the knight¡¯s wrist trembled. His sword slid down Taesan¡¯s de, aiming to slice off his wrist. Taesan tried desperately to increase the distance, but the weapon wouldn¡¯t fall away, as if it was glued. ¡°Ugh!¡± [You''ve taken 20 damage.] His forearm was cut. As Taesan swung his sword wildly to shake his opponent off, he checked the condition of his arm. ¡®There¡¯s no problem.¡¯ Neither the muscle nor the bone was damaged. The wound stung, but it would not affect the battle. ¡®What the hell is this?¡¯ He was dumbfounded. What on earth was that? It was clearly a technique, the swordsmanship of a systematically trained knight. Taesan had never seen such a technique before. Most of the yers had called theirbat experience as a weapon technique. Still, they didn¡¯t have anything as high-dimensional as the knight before him. That same thing was true for Taesan. Every technique he used was a swordsmanship that followed no pattern and was honed in realbat. His movement was based on experience. He could not grasp a method to deal with a type that he was facing for the first time. The knight swung his sword, and Taesan roughly shed with it. The sound of their swords shing resonated loudly through the room. The knight pushed forward as Taesan tried to flow the direction of the force to counter, but he was easily suppressed and kicked away. [You''ve taken 11 damage.] ¡°Whoa.¡± Taesan¡¯s admiration was growing. The weapon in his hands was uncontroble. He had experienced many battles and had not been particrly impressed with any techniques until now, but his thinking was now changing. The fact that such a thing was possible when a skill was honed to its extreme was something he had never known. The knight in front of him seemed to be an opponent he couldn¡¯t beat with his sword, no matter how many times their swords shed. ¡°I want to learn that,¡± Taesan muttered. His eyes were filled with greed. All actions in thebyrinth were evaluated, and if they exceeded a certain level, it would be expressed as a skill. The swordsmanship in front of him had crossed that line. It was certainly a skill and at least an advanced one. He wanted to learn it. If he learned that swordsmanship, he could break through the many difficulties he had anticipated ahead. Even though he nned to acquire many skills, swordsmanship wasn¡¯t one of them. Just like a never-satisfied Scrooge, he eyed the knight with greed. Feeling that deep longing and desire, the knight retreated momentarily. ¡°Your swordsmanship is superior. I admit that,¡± Taesan said. He was a yer, one who had ovee thebyrinth. ¡°But that¡¯s not all there is to it.¡± He had skills. Until now, the knight had been attacking continuously, and Taesan had been retreating. It was natural, given the clear difference in their swordsmanship. But this time, Taesan charged. In his hand, he held a red staff instead of a sword. [You have activated Fireball] A ming red sphere flew out of his staff. Taesan then immediately switched his weapon back to a sword and followed right behind the fireball as he rushed toward the knight. The knight then swung his sword down. Woosh. His fireball was sliced away by the sword and disappeared. Taking advantage of that moment, Taesan swung the sword in his left hand. [6 Damage to the Servant of Lakiratas] [You have activated Breathless Attack. You gain freedom of breathing for the next 10 seconds] He immediately followed with a stab from his right-hand sword, inflicting the same 6 damage. The knight, who had regained his stance, thrust his sword forward. Taesan didn¡¯t block it but instead rushed toward the sword. His head would have been pierced through if he had stayed where he was. [You have activated Flow. The next attack is manipted.] As the sword neared Taesan¡¯s head, its trajectory was twisted, and forcibly tried to strike him from a different angle. The bewildered knight desperately pulled his sword, but it wouldn¡¯t obey. The sword grazed Taesan¡¯s shoulder. [15 Damage to you] Dragged by the uncontroble sword, the knight was pulled out of position. Taesan furiously swung his sword at the knight, who was nowpletely defenseless. [6 Damage to the Servant of Lakiratas] [5 Damage to the Servant of Lakiratas] [....] In less than two seconds, he had struck six times. Thanks to the Breathless Attack, he could attack without needing to pace himself. Vroom! The knight tried to shake Taesan off andunched a high kick at him. Taesan calmly retreated from the knee that was flying toward him with a gust of wind. In his hand, he held a red staff. [You have activated Fireball] A red sphere formed in midair. The knight tried to block it, but he was too close this time. [13 Damage to the Servant of Lakiratas] [Checking for Burn Damage¡­¡­] [Judgment Sessful! The servant of Lakiratas is under Burn status.] ¡®Good.¡¯ He wasn¡¯t sure how it would turn out due to the armor, but he seeded in causing a burn on his first attempt. The knight began to take continuous damage. ng! The knight had not yet lost his target. He charged towards Taesan, brandishing his sword. His momentum was like a bull¡¯s. If he were to collide head-on, Taesan wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. But he had no intention of taking it. [You have activated Parry. The next attack is parried] The sword was forcefully changed from its course. The knight seemed to be determined not to fall for it this time, exerting even more force, essentially using all his strength. The power contained in the sword was enough to wipe out Taesan¡¯s remaining health in one blow. But it missed. The sword skimmed past Taesan¡¯s chest. [11 Damage to you] Skills were the ultimate power in thebyrinth. Parrying was a technique that manipted the opponent¡¯s attack. Even if Ainzhar struck a mountain-crushing blow, it would be deflected. Unless countered by a higher-level skill, there was no way to block its effects. The sword twisted, and the knight¡¯s body was exposed once more as Taesan moved his sword. [You have activated Breathless Attack. You gain freedom of breath for the next 12 seconds] 6, 6, 5, 5, 6. [You have attacked your opponent in session. You have acquired the special activation skill [Sequential Attack]] A long damage window as long as the skill acquisition window appeared. ¡®When will he die?¡¯ A humanoid shouldn¡¯t have higher health than a Giant Rat. However, the knight showed no signs of dying. Taesan had almost used up all of his mana. Though intelligence reduced the amount of mana consumed, at a stat value in the twenties, its effects were not substantial. His remaining mana was barely 5, enough for just one or two more skills. And Taesan¡¯s remaining health was 71. There was no ce to retreat. Taesan pressed on further and stabbed with his sword. [5 Damage to Lakiratas''s Servant] The knight raised his sword, knelt, and aimed a downward blow at Taesan. [You have activated Counter. You retaliate against the opponent''s next attack] Taesan¡¯s body moved automatically as he dodged the downward thrust at the pommel. He moved his sword toward the direction of the knight¡¯s body, moving both hands to strike the knight¡¯s neck one after another. [22 Damage to Lakiratas''s Servant] [21 Damage to Lakiratas''s Servant] Yet his enemy still didn¡¯t die. The knight kicked Taesan away. ¡°Ugh!¡± Taesan gritted his teeth, enduring it. He would be done if he was thrown off this time. He forcibly tensed his stomach and managed to not get pushed back as a result. Taesan wildly brandished his sword. The knight¡¯s armor began to show scratches. The knight didn¡¯t remain still either. His sword drew a diagonal line that Taesan had to bend over to dodge. He crouched enough to touch the ground, and using that force, he stabbed under the knight¡¯s neck. The helmet broke. A pale face was revealed. It was a handsome face, but there was no time to calmly appreciate it. Taesan swung his sword towards the head. The knight also counterattacked, stabbing Taesan¡¯s stomach. With his remaining sword, Taesan managed to fend off the blow. Due to ack of strength, he couldn¡¯tpletely deflect it, but he managed to slightly move it from its target. [32 Damage to you] [15 Damage to Lakiratas''s Servant] Taesan struck the neck again as the knight counterattacked. This time, he didn¡¯t dodge. The sword pierced through Taesan¡¯s chest. [65 Damage to you] [Endurance has been activated. An attack leading to death has been invalidated. All damage bes zero for 1 second.] Endurance. Invalidation of all damage. This was the end. [16 Damage to Lakiratas''s Servant] [15 Damage to Lakiratas''s Servant] The knight¡¯s armor shattered in an instant as life returned to his face. The servant, having regained his senses, smiled faintly at Taesan. Taesan¡¯s mouth felt dry. [It was a good fight, brave one.] Taesan felt that the knight said that to him. The form of the knight dispersed into mist and rose to the ceiling of thebyrinth. Eventually, the scenery of thebyrinth returned to its original state. [You have defeated Lakiratas'' Servant] [Lakiratas is greatly satisfied] ¡°Satisfaction, my ass.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. The knight who had regained his senses was really strong. He was out of mana, and his health was critically low. ¡°Since when do quests suddenly change? Isn¡¯t this cheating?¡± Lee Taeyeon had said that all the gods were shameless. He felt that he could now understand that sentiment a bit. Taesan checked the system window he had minimized earlier with some trepidation. [You have defeated Lakiratas'' Servant] [You received arge amount of experience] [Your health has recovered by 30] [You have gained 253 gold] [You have won against an enemy that was difficult to defeat alone. Your strength permanently increases by 2. Your agility permanently increases by 2. Your mana permanently increases by 2.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 4. Your agility permanently increases by 3.] [Your level has increased] [You are in the best condition] [Your health has increased by 25 as a reward for leveling up] [As a reward for leveling up, your strength permanently increases by 3, your agility permanently increases by 3, your mana permanently increases by 3, and your health permanently increases by 5.] ¡°Huh.¡± Taesan chuckled hollowly. The increase in his stats was outrageous. ¡°At a simple calction, 17 just for the stats? 30 for health and 5 for mana? This is no joke.¡± This clearly indicated the kind of opponent that the Servant of Lakiratas was. Taesan would not be surprised if this opponent showed up as a boss on the 15th floor or above in Normal Mode. His experience bar was empty, but he had leveled up instantly. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 6] [Health: 190/190] [Mana: 22/22] [Strength: 27] [Intelligence: 25] [Agility: 40] [Attack Power + 5] [Defense + 2] [The target is in the best condition.] His stats had skyrocketed. He chuckled at the staggering increase in numbers, momentarily forgetting his anger. ¡°Equipment¡­ none.¡± Regret washed over Taesan¡¯s face. The weapons and armor used by the knight were both items of overwhelming quality. He had anticipated this since quest monsters usually didn¡¯t drop equipment, but that didn¡¯t make it any less disappointing. A reward to ease that regret was waiting for him. [You have passed Lakiratas'' trial. Based on Lakiratas''s evaluation, you are given a reward.] [Lakiratas is greatly satisfied with your struggle. Lakiratas wishes to grant you a worthy reward.] ¡°Satisfaction, my ass.¡± Changing the quest content all of a sudden, where does that happen? He could have easily died if he had made a slight mistake. A grudge against Lakiratas was born in Taesan¡¯s heart. Lakiratas, oblivious to this, began the process of dispensing the rewards. [Lakiratas''s influence area has shrunk.] [Lakiratas grants you a reward. You have received [Lakiratas''s Ritual Dagger].] [You have cleared an enhanced trial. Additional rewards are given.] [You have acquired the special constant activation skill [Mark of Struggle].] [Lakiratas offers you the Apostle''s Contract.] Chapter 21: Second Level - Lakiratas, The God Of Struggled And Death (6) [Lakiratas offers you an Apostle''s Contract] ¡°Eh?¡± Taesan was startled. ¡°An apostle¡¯s contract? What¡¯s this?¡± Taesan stared nkly at the window. However, no matter how long he waited, no exnation appeared. ¡°So, I have to make a choice.¡± Taesan sat down hesitantly while stroking his chin. The Apostle¡¯s Contract. Lee Taeyeon had not been offered such a contract since she had fled. She had no information regarding what kind of contract it was. Taesan summoned the system window. [Lakiratas'' influence area has decreased] This was disyed before the window that offered the apostle¡¯s contract. Seeing the system window stating that the influence area decreased while enhancing Lakiratas¡¯ servant, it seemed that gods suffered penalties when exerting their influence. Perhaps he was willing to ept such penalties just to make him his apostle. Although it was closer to favor than hostility, Taesan felt a sense of reluctance. The other party was a god. Lee Taeyeon said they did whatever they wanted, and Taesan also felt it deeply. The fact that Lakiratas had strengthened the trials midway meant that it would have been dangerous if Taesan had been a little weaker. Would an offer given out of goodwill by such a being be really beneficial to him? It was hard to guarantee that the god¡¯s favor would coincide with his purpose. Perhaps there was a high possibility that he would live as a ve, like Lakiratas¡¯ servant. Taesan made a decision. ¡°I will not ept.¡± [You refused Lakiratas''s offer. The apostle''s contract is put on hold.] The god did not explode in rage because of the refusal. Whether the gods were merciful to those they recognized, or if that was just Lakiratas¡¯ way, the contract was merely put on hold, as if suggesting that the choice could be made at any time. That was a relief. It meant there would be no grudge that would lead the god to withhold the reward. [Lakiratas grants you a reward. You have received [Ritual Knife of Lakiratas].] The mist gathered, and soon a blood-red longsword appeared before Taesan. It was not rusted at all and was extremely sharp. Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled at the sight of the exceptionally good-looking weapon. [Ritual de of Lakiratas] [Attack +5] [Upon eliminating a target, recover 5 health points] [A de used by those who serve Lakiratas. The de is stained red with the blood of sacrifices.] Taesan¡¯s eyes stopped for a moment. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was seeing things wrong, and checked again. ¡°It¡¯s real.¡± There was no change in the description, and Taesan let out a dryugh. ¡°What? Can they even give something like this?¡± The attack power was a whopping 5. It was not an item one could obtain on the second floor. His current attack power was 4. If he changed his weapon, it would be 7. If he wielded dual swords, it would be 9. Judging by attack power alone, it was a nearly twofold increase. In terms of damage, it was about 30% stronger. On top of that, it also had a special effect. Recovering 5 health points upon defeating an enemy. A minor but significantly perceptible effect. ¡°Awesome.¡± It was a reward that made all the hard work worthwhile. Taesan was quite satisfied. But the rewards weren¡¯t over yet. [You cleared the enhanced trial. Additional rewards will follow.] [You have acquired a special constant activation skill, [Mark of Struggle].] It was a skill he had no knowledge about. If the first reward was a sword with an attack power of 5, then this skill must be quite good too. Taesan checked it with anticipation. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Mark of Struggle] [Proficiency: 1%] [You have proven your struggle. The more you fight and defeat enemies, the stronger you be.] ¡°An eleration skill?¡± It was a skill that increased speed and stats. Such skills were called eleration skills. Many yers found them useful and categorized them as buffs. It seemed that the Mark of Struggle was such a skill. The detailed effects would only be known when it was used, but since it was a reward given by a god, it was unlikely to be bad. Lakiratas did not stop there. [Sub Quest Start] [Lakiratas wishes to give you another trial for sessfully oveing his challenge.] [Condition: Defeat the enemies of the 2nd and 3rd floors and return.] [Reward: Lakiratas will decide based on your achievements.] Taesan looked at the quest window with a bit of trepidation. He was hesitant to ept, as Lakiratas had already altered the contents of his previous trial. Taesan made his decision. ¡°I won¡¯t take it.¡± Someone who had stabbed him in the back once could do it again at any time. Taesan refused the quest. [You have refused the sub-quest.] Then another window popped up. [Sub Quest Start] [Lakiratas wishes to give you another trial for sessfully oveing his challenge.] [Condition: Defeat the enemies of the 2nd and 3rd floors and return.] [Reward: Lakiratas will decide mercifully based on your achievements.] The word ¡®mercifully¡¯ was added to the description. Taesan, with a wry smile, epted it this time. This wasn¡¯t a quest that presented something like a trial but rather a task to eliminate things already existing in thebyrinth. It was impossible for any kind of trickery. Judging from the changed quest window, it didn¡¯t seem like Lakiratas intended to do anything, so it seemed okay to ept. [Sub Quest Start] [Lakiratas is pleased with your choice.] If he was to kill, he should kill them all. If the quest required killing all the enemies on the 2nd and 3rd floors, he would have to spend a lot of time here. He thought he should prepare a bit before that. Taesan returned to the shop. ¡°Why are you back so soon?¡± ¡°I have something to buy. The potion is 200 gold, right?¡± ¡°It is 200 gold¡­ you¡¯re buying already?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll need a few.¡± He hadn¡¯t originally nned on using them on the lower floors. Still, his thought had changed after his previous trial was enhanced. There would be more ces like the Altar of Lakiratas. He would never know when and where something might attack him. He could pass them without much trouble if he had healing potions at such times. If he had potions this time, he could have cleared the floor even more smoothly. Taesan currently possessed a total of 650 gold. As he was also thinking of selling the unused equipment, Taesan brought out a rusty sword and a crude bow. ¡°How much for these?¡± ¡°Those two? I¡¯ll give you 100 gold each.¡± 850 gold. He could buy four potions. ¡°Do you sell mana potions too?¡± ¡°We do, but it¡¯s more expensive. 250 gold each.¡± ¡°Then, give me one of those and three healing potions.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The dwarf quickly exchanged the gold for potions. Three red potions and one blue potion were handed to Taesan. [Health Recovery Potion] [Recovers 50% of health] [Mana Recovery Potion] [Recovers 50% of mana] The basic preparation was over, and Taesan put the potions into his inventory. The dwarf, who had been looking at Taesan, grimaced for a moment. ¡°¡­ That sword.¡± The dwarf¡¯s gaze was on the Ritual Knife of Lakiratas. ¡°Lakiratas. Did you get it from that pervert?¡± ¡°Pervert?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a pervert if he enjoys watching others fight, isn¡¯t he?¡± The dwarf spoke with a frown, seemingly not liking Lakiratas very much. ¡°Seeing that you have that, you must have passed the trial. It¡¯s too much of an item for you now¡­ but I can¡¯t take what you¡¯ve received.¡± The dwarf clearly didn¡¯t seem pleased that Taesan had received a weapon. Gods and NPCs. He didn¡¯t know the clear distinction between them yet, but they didn¡¯t seem friendly towards each other. ¡°I had anticipated this, though. I knew you would have cleared it.¡± ¡°I almost died, you know?¡± ¡°Oh, you almost died?¡± The dwarf¡¯s face hardened. He asked in a serious tone. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me the trials suddenly became more intense?¡± Taesan nodded. The dwarf¡¯s face twisted. ¡°This insane god still hasn¡¯t corrected his habit.¡± ¡°Was it always like this?¡± ¡°He¡¯s always been like that to those he fancies. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing, chipping away at his own domain. I would understand if he were nurturing talents, but he ends up killing everyone. What¡¯s his aim?¡± The dwarf looked at Taesan in amazement. ¡°So far, everyone has died, but you survived. That pervert must be thrilled.¡± The dwarf seemed to know quite a bit about Lakiratas. Taesan then asked a question. ¡°May I ask one thing? What is the Apostle¡¯s Contract?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Surprise spread across the dwarf¡¯s face. ¡°Did Lakiratas propose that to you?¡± ¡°Yes, but I postponed it since he didn¡¯t give any exnation.¡± ¡°Good decision. It¡¯s not something to decide easily. He mentioned a contract¡­ When was thest time this happened?¡± After a long period of contemtion, the dwarf opened his mouth with a grimace. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t answer that.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± Taesan stared strangely at the dwarf, who, after hesitating, said he couldn¡¯t answer. The dwarf exined it as if making an excuse. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. All I can do for you is my role as a shop owner. I can¡¯t do more than that. That¡¯s the contract condition.¡± ¡°Contract?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m tied to this ce.¡± The dwarf snorted as if he was annoyed and gestured with a face that no longer wanted to continue the conversation. ¡°You¡¯ve bought everything you need, haven¡¯t you? Leave now.¡± There was no point in staying, as he wouldn¡¯t get any more answers. Taesan asked another question. ¡°Before I go, could you show me the items you showed mest time?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even have any money, do you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking about buying themter.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Wait a moment.¡± The dwarf showed him the items. There were numerous items that included earrings and rings too. Among them, an item caught Taesan¡¯s eye. [Iron Cross Ne] [Attack Power +1] [A ne worn by those who served the God of War. It was of no practical use, but they believed it protected them.] [600G] ¡®I see.¡¯ After checking, Taesan turned around. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be back next time.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather see you on the next floor.¡± ¡°That seems difficult.¡± Taesan was nning to visit the store often. NPCs and the gods. Taesan made a judgment that they were the most important things in Solo Mode. Taesan opened the Community. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Are you there?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Oh, hyung. Hello.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Oh, it''s Mr. Taesan. Hello.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Did you meet the Pdin?] It was about time that they met the Pdin. He was thinking of confirming what kind of rtionship they had established with Ainzhar. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: We did meet.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: What happened?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: ...Hyung, it''s a bit different from your story?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: What are you talking about out of the blue?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: The Pdin? He just spat and left.] Taesan paused. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Couldn''t you stop him?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Could we? Even if we knew how we couldn''t move. We were just overpowered, and that was it..] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: The same happened when I met the Pdin. No matter how much I tried to move, I couldn''t.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You guys too?] Being able to respond to an attack was another story since Ainzhar¡¯s strike was intimidating in itself. The only reason Taesan could block it was because it was extremely slow. However, he thought that if Taeyeon or Junhyeok knew beforehand, they would be able to respond, but apparently, they couldn¡¯t. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: So, what happened? Did you cling to him?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: We did. But he spat and told us to get lost. Said we were worthless to him.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: That''s quite different from what you said, Mr. Taesan.] Taesan tapped his chin thoughtfully. One thing became clear. Ainzhar treated only those who could react to his strike as valuable. Thinking about it, the dwarf was simr. Taeyeon said the dwarf was rude and seemed to begrudge even offering anything. But he was very kind to him. Lakiratas might not be any different. Perhaps even more so than the dwarf or Ainzhar. Being an existence that provides definite rewards based on achievements, there was a high chance he would mock and belittle those who did not ept his trials. After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Taesan posted a message. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Where are you guys now?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: I''m currently hunting Big Rats.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Same here. I want to level up a bit before going down.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: What about the others?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: There are a few now hunting Big Rats. But it might take some more time.] The yers were still in the adaptation phase. It would take time to get past the first floor. ¡®I can tell themter.¡¯ Taesan prioritized which information to give them. What he was going to teach them now was information about the boss. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: When you try to go down to the second floor, there will be a boss mob. It''s called the Giant Rat, a strengthened version of the Big Rat. It has over 200 HP, and even when you block, it deals damage. Be careful.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: ...How do we kill that?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Think about it. I can''t tell you everything.] He intended to guide, not to lead. If he told them everything, they would rely on him and lose the ability to clear thebyrinth. That would be a loss for both sides. Taeyeon had already killed the Giant Rat on her own. She and Junhyeok should be capable of doing so. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: If you think a little, you can find a way. And don''t die unnecessarily by entering the red door. Inform the other yers too.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Yes. Thank you.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: We''ll do our best.] Taesan closed the Community. Those two should be able to make it to the second floor without problems. ¡°Now, I need to gather some money.¡± He had the skill Airak Weapon Technique. An absurd skill that applied the attack value of all the gear he equipped. However, he hadn¡¯t made full use of it yet. With a ring and the Brawler¡¯s Fist, he could only increase his attack power by 2. So, he thought about buying some items from the store. The dwarf had shown many pieces of equipment. Among them were nes, earrings, and rings. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing since I have to kill all of them anyway.¡± Lakiratas¡¯ quest was to kill all the monsters on the second floor. It would earn him quite a bit of gold. He would throw all of his gold into the store to buy nes, rings, earrings, and countless other essories. Even just getting the basics would allow him to exceed an attack power of 10. And then he would descend to the third floor. That was his current goal. Chapter 22: Second Level - Buried One, The Ghost Of The Hero (7) His goal was to hunt goblins. There was no longer any need for caution. His stats had risen by an absurd amount from fighting Lakiratas¡¯ servant. Taesan, who had passed through the corridor and arrived at the door, mmed his foot down. Crash! Four goblins were startled and looked at him. ¡°Ki eek!¡± [A Goblin wielding a bow has appeared.] [A Goblin wielding a spear has appeared.] [A Goblin wielding a spear has appeared.] [A Goblin wielding a dagger has appeared.] Taesan calmly pulled his bow and shot a paralyzing arrow at the Goblin wielding the bow. [You inflicted 12 damage on the Goblin wielding a bow] [The target is paralyzed. It cannot move until it is hit again or for 30 seconds.] ¡°Kee eek.¡± The Goblin jerked back its arm and stiffened. Three remained, and Taesan pulled out his sword and shield. ¡°Kaaak!¡± Taesan pushed with his shield. [You inflicted 6 damage on the Goblin wielding a dagger.] ¡°Kee eek!¡± Despite the light push, the Goblin was thrown back three steps. The two Goblins wielding spears took this chance to thrust at Taesan. All of it was within his vision. Agility also enhanced visual acuity, after all. Taesan parried the spear on his left with his sword. The goblin was unable to withstand the force of the counter, and its spear was sent flying. Taesan then effortlessly avoided the other goblin¡¯s spear and thrust his sword into its neck. ¡°Kieek.¡± [You inflicted 12 damage on the Goblin wielding a spear.] The dagger-wielding goblin was only now rushing over to join the fray. The other spear-wielding goblin had scrambled off to retrieve its weapon. It was now a 1:1 situation as the goblin swung its spear desperately. [You have activated Counter. Retaliate against the next opponent''s attack.] His body naturally evaded and stabbed the opponent. [You inflicted 30 damage on the Goblin wielding a spear.] [You have defeated the Goblin wielding a spear.] ¡°Keck, Keeek.¡± With just two attacks, that goblin was in. He had be much strongerpared to when he first entered the second floor. The goblins were now longer a match for him. What he wanted to verify now was the ¡®Mark of Struggle.¡¯ [Your Mark of Struggle has been activated] His mind cleared instantly. As his fatigue noticeably lessened, Taesan¡¯s face brightened. ¡°Oh!¡± Skills that reduced mental fatigue in thebyrinth were extremely rare. Even if they existed, the effects were so weak that it was unnoticeable. Despite ample physical energy, there were often times when he had to rest due to mental fatigue. However, the relief of fatigue from the ¡®Mark of Struggle¡¯ was noticeably perceptible. There was also an increase in stats. Taesan opened his status window to check and noted that all of his stats had increased by 1. His action speed also increased. Taesan moved his hand to verify this. ¡®About 5%?¡¯ On top of that, the mana he used was also recovered. It meant that as long as he was fighting goblins, his mana wouldn¡¯t decrease even if he kept using the Counter skill. This was quite good. Even when overwhelmed by numbers, if he could somehow kill a single enemy, he could rampage freely from then on. As long as the battle continued, this skill made him unlikely to lose. ¡°Kieek!¡± He dodged the daggering in diagonally from the left and grabbed the goblin¡¯s wrist. He pulled the goblin towards him and stabbed its belly. ¡°Kaaak!¡± He smashed away the charging goblin wielding a spear with his shield and then stabbed its belly again. [You have defeated the Goblin wielding a dagger] [Your Mark of Struggle has been activated] Once again, all his movements sped up. He charged at the goblin that had been thrown back with its spear. The goblin tried to stab him in panic, but Taesan parried with his shield effortlessly, and the spear went flying. ¡°Kieeek!¡± 14, 14, 13. [You have defeated the Goblin wielding a spear] [Your Mark of Struggle has been activated] The battle ended swiftly. The Goblin with the bow, whose paralysis had just worn off, didn¡¯t know what to do as Taesan strode towards it. His sword moved, and the damage window appeared in session. ¡°Kiee¡­¡± [You have defeated the Goblin wielding a bow] [Your Mark of Struggle has ended] The power that was coursing through his body disappears. The difference was so drastic that it felt like a moment of powerlessness. ¡°This is quite good.¡± To put it simply, it provided mental recovery, increased all of his stats, provided an increase in action speed, as well as recovery of health and mana. There were too many effects for a single skill. Considering that normal eleration skills only had one of these, the ¡®Mark of Struggle¡¯ was the best eleration skill he had seen. There were no restrictions. There were no limits. As long as the continuousbat condition was met, he could fight endlessly. Depending on the situation, it was a skill that could be of the level of a main skill. It was very useful, especially in these lower levels, where monsters often swarmed. It was certainly not a wasted skill. ¡°They¡¯re giving quite a bit.¡± This was different from the Dwarf or Ainzhar. They acknowledged Taesan¡¯s abilities but were very cautious when giving something because they feared he might becent due to their rewards. But Lakiratas gave rewards befitting his achievements. Having finished checking, Taesan started to organize the rewards. A 4-point increase in intelligence from the Soul Ascension. A consistent increase. He then checked his gold. A total of 200 gold, 50 from each goblin. The equipment dropped was a dagger and two arrows. It was good, but still not enough. Taesan gripped his sword and headed toward the passage. He casually batted away the desperately fired arrows as he approached. He then bent over a goblin that was about to burst into tears. ¡°Keeeek!¡± [You inflicted 13 damage to the Goblin wielding a bow] [You have defeated the Goblin wielding a bow] [Your Mark of Struggle has ended] [Your level has increased] [You are now in optimal condition] [Your health has increased by 15 as a level-up reward] [Your agility has permanently increased by 2 as a level-up reward. Your strength has permanently increased by 2.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your intelligence has permanently increased by 1.] Taesan wiped the blood off his sword. ¡°Maybe this is enough.¡± He had cleared six rooms. After defeating twenty-four goblins, his level had increased. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 7] [Health: 205/205] [Mana: 22/22] [Strength: 29] [Intelligence: 39] [Agility: 42] [Attack Power: + 7] [Defense: + 7] [Subject is in the best condition.] The increase in intelligence was more noticeable than the other stats. Originally, it should have increased more, but it repeatedly tried to reach and failed to surpass the barrier of 40. Still, it was a significant increase. Without Soul Ascension, he would have barely reached that number after only passing the fifth floor. He had also earned a lot of gold at about 1,200 gold. It could go up to 2,400 gold if he sold the duplicate weapons. He hadn¡¯t just earned money but also found useful equipment. [Worn Ankle Protector] [Defense: +1] [It seems capable of blocking minor scratches.] [Worn Leather Armor] [Defense: +2] [It seems capable of blocking moderate attacks.] Though Taesan didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, defense was the foundation for yers. The more you increased it, the less absolute damage you took, so there were people who would solely increase their defense. Six rooms, which brought it to a total of nine rooms, had been cleared. It was about time to wrap up the second floor. But before that, Taesan nned to stop by the store. As Taesan returned to the store, the dwarf greeted him with a scowl. ¡°What is it? Why are you back again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to buy some gear.¡± ¡°Gear? Do you think I¡¯m selling anything better than what you¡¯ve got now?¡± The dwarf¡¯s face, which had been looking at him as if he was strange, hardened. ¡°¡­ Airak¡¯s Weapon Technique. Damn it all.¡± ¡°Show me some essories.¡± The dwarf didn¡¯t show any of the higher-level gear. He was worried Taesan might get caught up in the benefits and fail to navigate thebyrinth. But essories weren¡¯t included in that. The dwarf sighed heavily. ¡°Alright. I suppose it¡¯s okay for you. Go ahead and take a look.¡± The dwarf opened up the space in what seemed like resignation. A multitude of essories tumbled out. Taesan whistled at therge quantity, well over fifty, and began checking each one individually. ¡®Skip the stat nes.¡¯ Normally, it would be the first thing he¡¯d get. Stats applied regardless of where you wore them. But since he had Soul Ascension, this wasn¡¯t so important. What Taesan needed now were essories for attack power or defense. Taesan picked up the iron ne he had noticed earlier. [Iron Cross Ne] [[Attack Power +1] [This is a ne worn by those who served the God of War. It''s useless, but they believed it protected them.] [600G] Contrary to the description, it was very useful for Taesan. He opened his inventory and took out the duplicate items. ¡°How much will you give me for these?¡± ¡°¡­ You¡¯re selling every single thing?¡± The dwarf checked the mountain of equipment with a weary face. ¡°It¡¯ll be about 1400 gold in total. Are you selling all of them?¡± There was no reason to keep items that just filled the inventory. Taesan sold everything cleanly and received the gold. 2600 gold. With a simple calction, he decided that he could buy four more essories. Taesan held the Iron Cross Ne and continued to search. As a result, he was able to find three pieces of gear that were perfect for him at the moment. [Rusty Bracelet] [[Attack Power +1] [It seems like it would break if you hit something.] [600G] As the description suggested, it was in a state where it might shatter into pieces if used to block something or if it took a hit. But since Taesan only cared about its attack power and had no use for it otherwise, it didn¡¯t matter. [Gloves with Knuckles] [[Attack Power +2] [It protects your hand. It seems like it would allow you to hurt your enemies a little more.] [900G] This was an upgrade from the Brawler¡¯s Gloves. The modifier ¡®more¡¯ was added to the item description. [Leather Boots with Sharp Tips] [[Attack Power +1] [If you aim using the tip and stab, it seems like you can hurt a bit more. It appearspletely useless for defense.] [500G] ¡°I will buy these.¡± The total was 2600 gold, which perfectly matched the amount he had. ¡°Good. Take them.¡± After receiving the equipment, Taesan quickly equipped them and checked his attack power. [Attack Power +11] Now, even if he wasn¡¯t good against goblins, it would still only take three hits. If he aimed well, he could finish them in two. If it was a counter hit, then one would be enough. He had be significantly stronger than before. The Airak Weapon Technique was a really good skill. The dwarf grumbled at Taesan, who was feeling satisfied. ¡°Are you happy?¡± ¡°Happy or not.¡± ¡°Damn, old man. Why did he give such a thing to him? There¡¯s nothing more to buy now. Go quickly.¡± The dwarf waved his hand in an exaggerated manner. It was half as if he was driving Taesan away, but Taesan was already satisfied enough. Without any reaction, he headed for thebyrinth. ¡°Then I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± ¡°Hopefully, I¡¯ll see you on the next floor, huh?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t answer the dwarf¡¯s earnest voice. When Taesan returned to thebyrinth, he roamed around here and there, but there were no more goblins as Taesan had cleared nine rooms. It signified that the boss was just around the corner. Walking down the corridor without much thought, Taesan spotted a peculiar door. An orange door was in front of Taesan. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The boss room had a red door. He had never seen an orange one. He tried to recall it, but Lee Taeyeon didn¡¯t mention it. Since she avoided ces that seemed dangerous, there were gaps in her information. This was a different room. And such rooms usually gave rewards. Taesan opened the door. Inside, there were two goblins. They were impressively d in perfectly prepared leather clothing and were wielding swords without a speck of rust. ¡°Gah.¡± ¡°Gurk.¡± They saw Taesan and drew their weapons. Unlike the goblins so far, they did not rush in immediately. Instead, they kept their distance and remained wary of Taesan. [Elite Goblin, Atk has appeared.] [Elite Goblin, Genesis has appeared.] Named monsters. They were guarding a small tomb. [You have discovered the Tomb of the Warrior.] Chapter 23: Second Level - Buried One, The Ghost Of The Hero (8) Did Lee Taeyeon mention something about monsters with names? He couldn¡¯t remember, and the why of it would be one of two things. Either he had forgotten, or Lee Taeyeon had never met them. If it was thetter, it meant that she had avoided them. Meanwhile, Taesan had ughtered the goblins. Atk. Genesis. Their basic appearance was the same as other goblins. They wielded longswords and kept their distance from Taesan while staying on guard. Those endlessly sunken pairs of eyes were directed at Taesan. This alone made it clear that they were much stronger than other goblins. ¡°Shall we test it out?¡± Taesan charged in, and the goblins began to move. They spread out, trying to surround Taesan. If they moved like that while he was far, then Taesan¡¯s response would be simple. As he ran towards them, he took out his staff. [You have activated Fireball] A fireball wasunched at the goblin named Atk, who hastily leaped away to avoid it. Because of this, their encirclement was broken and left Genesis exposed. Taesan shed his sword down. Kang Genesis blocked it with his sword. The goblin kept the same posture, straightened its body, and shed down. In response, Taesan dove to the left to avoid it and stabbed upward as Genesis moved its sword. Kagagak. The sword swung upwards and was deflected off the de. This was not random swinging but proper usage of the sword. Genesis swung his sword, and Taesan raised his shield. Kang! The shield was pushed back. The force Taesan felt from the sword was quite strong. [You have taken 7 damage.] ¡®Significant, huh?¡¯ That power and speed were equivalent to a regr goblin¡¯s full strength. There was a reason why they were called elite goblins. But still, he was in a superior position. Taesan added force to his shield-bearing hand. Boom! ¡°Kick!¡± Genesis was bounced back. Instead of rushing in, Taesan twisted his body and swung his sword down. Atk, who was aiming at his back, hastily blocked it. Screech ¡°Guh!¡± Atk¡¯s knee buckled. It tried to grit its teeth and endure it, but the sword slowly began to press down. Genesis shouted as it rushed in. ¡°Argh!¡± Taesan attempted to fend it off with his shield, but Genesis refused to easily step back. Eventually, Taesan had no choice but to retreat. ¡°Gurk.¡± ¡°Kick.¡± The goblins didn¡¯te any closer. Their vignce toward Taesan intensified. They had changed their tactics. Rather than seeking an opening in Taesan, they decided topensate for each other¡¯s weaknesses. Atk and Genesis charged at the same time. Taesan blocked Atural¡¯s attack, but then Genesis came attacking. In the moment of blocking the attacks from both sides and trying to push them off with force, the goblins had voluntarily created distance. And then they charged again. sh! The sword trembled, and the shield moved. A fierce swordy was exchanged. A faint admiration appeared on Taesan¡¯s face. ¡®Perfect, huh?¡¯ Atk and Genesis. The sum of the two elite goblins left no openings. No matter how he tried to push one aside and aim at the other, they evaded together. The other would exert intense pressure if he tried to concentrate on one. The capabilities of the elite goblins were not inferior to him. Taesan would also struggle if he tried to deal with both of them at the same time. He had to take down one first. So, he also had to bear some losses. [You have activated the Breathless Attack. You gained freedom of breath for the next 12 seconds.] Thud! ¡°Ugh!¡± He knocked away Genesis¡¯ weapon and dashed toward Atk. Genesis immediately charged in, aiming for his back, but Taesan ignored the goblin. [You have activated the Evasion skill. The next attack is evaded.] [You have taken 12 damage.] Ignoring the pain he felt, he swung his sword forcefully. Atk¡¯s arm was raised up, so Taesan swung his sword toward the exposed torso. At that moment, his senses alerted him. [You have felt a strong premonition.] A single warning. This attack would definitely fail. Taesan barely managed to restrain his strength to follow his intuition. His sword stopped right in front of Atk¡¯s head. And then his pupils expanded at the spear that came after. [Atk has activated the Evasion skill. The next attack is dodged.] ¡°What?¡± ¡°Kick!¡± Atk swung his sword at Taesan, and so did Genesis from behind. He was surrounded. Taesan quickly rolled onto the ground. The goblin¡¯s swords struck the ground. Taesan, who had escaped from the goblins, let out a hollowugh. ¡°What?¡± He hadn¡¯t seen it wrong. The system window was still in the corner of his vision. [Atk has activated the Evasion skill. The next attack is dodged.] The window that showed up when the yers used skills. It was also appearing for the goblins. ¡°Roar!¡± The goblins rushed in, with Atk aiming for the left and Genesis for the right. Taesan ran to the right. He ignored Atk, who had activated the Evasion skill, and aimed for Genesis, but Genesis did the same. [Genesis has activated the Evasion skill. The next attack is dodged.] ¡°Darn.¡± Taesan kicked back and distanced himself. It was clear. These goblins were using skills. ¡°Roar!¡± ¡°Shriek!¡± The goblins charged fiercely, unlike before. Taesan realized one more fact from their reckless behavior. The Evasion skill allowed the user to dodge an opponent¡¯s attack. It essentially allowed the user to ignore an attack without regard for defense. The goblins were fully aware of the effect of the skill they were using. It meant that they didn¡¯t acquire it overnight. ¡®Do all those with names behave like this?¡¯ Taesan swung his sword with a nervous face. Bang! ¡°Ugh!¡± Pushed by the force, Genesis was thrown away. Taesan then knocked off Atk¡¯s weapon with his shield. It couldn¡¯t dodge smoothly as before since it was focused on the attack and was thrown far away. Taesan stepped back and pulled out his bow. Thanks to his increased agility, he was able to shoot two arrows before the goblins could charge again. [Genesis took 6 damage] [Atk took 7 damage] ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Shriek!¡± The arrows brushed past and scraped the goblins. With this, their Evasion was nullified. The goblins hesitated for a moment. ¡°Shriek.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Taesan raised his sword grimly towards the goblins who hesitated to rush in. ¡°No big deal. Judging by the looks, it seems like they can¡¯t use their skill more than once. This makes it simple.¡± [You have activated the Evasion skill. The next attack is evaded.] Just as the goblins had, he activated the Evasion skill and rushed in. The first attack would definitely miss. The goblins couldn¡¯t recklessly attack and scrambled about. Meanwhile, Taesan arrived in front of Atk. Swish ¡°Roar!¡± Taesan¡¯s sword came down. Atk hastily blocked, but the difference in strength was toorge. Genesis tried to attack, but it was toote. Due to Evasion, the attack was dodged, and Taesan used his sword again. Swish! Atk¡¯s sword broke. Taesan then thrust his sword into the goblin whose means of defense had disappeared. [You have activated the Continuous Attack skill. The next attack is used twice.] [Atk is in a weakened state. Damage is inflicted more severely.] [Atk took 39 damage] [Atk took 40 damage] [You have won against Atk] [Your Mark of Struggle has been activated] ¡°Roar!¡± Genesis, who had lost itspanion, screamed in rage. Instead of turning around, Taesan activated a skill. [You have activated the Counter skill. The next enemy attack will be retaliated against] His body moved automatically. He dodged Genesis¡¯ attack and thrust his sword into its chest. [Genesis took 46 damage] ¡°Cough, cough.¡± He stabbed the suffering Genesis a few more times. [Genesis took 18 damage] [Genesis took 17 damage] [You have won against Genesis] [Your Mark of Struggle has ended] ¡°That was easy.¡± Taesan cleanly finished them off. He said that all yers were coborators. However, there were always exceptions to the rule. They were those who didn¡¯t know their ce and ran wild. Those with a shallow power who tried to control others. Easy Mode yers who believed their narrow well was everything and created a guild. Taesan had dealt with them all. He knew all about each skill¡¯s disadvantages and how to target them. He was taken aback by the fact that monsters used skills, but the skills themselves weren¡¯t scary. ¡°Do these named ones use skills?¡± Elite monsters wouldn¡¯t only be limited to goblins. Orcs, skeletons, and most named monsters would likely use skills. ¡°It¡¯s not that hard.¡± If the elite goblins had fought in unison instead of relying on their skills, it would have taken him quite a bit of time. But the opponents were too dependent on their skills. Knowing all the countermeasures, this approach was simpler for him. Taesan checked his rewards. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 1. Your agility permanently increases by 1. Your intelligence permanently increases by 1.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 1. Your agility permanently increases by 1. Your intelligence permanently increases by 1.] [You have acquired 458 gold.] Perhaps because they were elite monsters, the Soul Ascension stat gain covered all the stats. Taesan was about to overlook it as he always did, but then he paused. ¡°Huh.¡± [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your proficiency in Flow Skill increases by 3%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your proficiency in Flow Skill increases by 3%.] The proficiency of a skill increased. ¡°So because they used skills, it means I can steal that too?¡± Soul Ascension stole the power of those he slew, and the scope wasn¡¯t just limited to stats. It was natural to steal the skill proficiency when killing an enemy that used skills. It was surprising but good. Increasing proficiency was hard. Taesan checked the Flow skill. [Special Activation Skill: Flow] [Mana consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 42%] [The attack is diverted, reducing damage. It seems like it can divert any weapon''s attack. It seems like it can also divert magic and curses.] As he had used it frequently, it steadily increased, and thanks to Soul Ascension, the proficiency exceeded 40%, and the skill description changed. The added description was about allowing evasion against both magic and curses. This was great. There were some unavoidable spells in magic. You could only deal with them through equipment or skills, and the Flow skill was just right. The curse could be diverted to reduce its effect too, which was more than satisfactory. Unfortunately, there was no equipment. It was regrettable, as the armor worn by the goblins seemed to have a defense power of about 4. He could do nothing about this since it was a matter of probability. ¡°This one¡¯s pretty good.¡± Chain Attack. The skill he acquired from fighting with Lakiratas¡¯ Servant. It was quite useful when he first used it. [Special Activation Skill: Chain Attack] [Mana consumption: 3] [Proficiency: 1%] [The next attack is used twice. It is not constrained by time or space.] In other words, it was a copy of his attack. A copy would be created after the initial attack, resulting in double damage. Unlike the damage, the effect of the attack was not copied. Even if he triggered addition and multiplication and then used a chain attack, only the initial attack power would go in, so it was a skill that Taesan had discarded before. But Taesan was a Solo Mode yer now. His basic attack power would also increase, so it would be used more often. The mana consumption was rtively low, at 3. The simple check was over. Taesan arrived at the tomb with a puzzled face. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The goblins were guarding this ce. Given that there were two elites, it must have been a fairly important ce. Taesan conjured up the system window. [You have discovered the Hero''s Tomb.] [First Discovery Bonus] [Your intelligence permanently increases by 1. Your mana permanently increases by 2.] He hadn¡¯t noticed earlier, but he had received the first discovery bonus. It meant this was something important like the Fountain of Life or Lakiratas¡¯s Altar. Taesan reached out to the tomb, and a white mist appeared. The mist clustered and formed a shape. It was not in the form of a human. ¡°A ghost?¡± It took on the shape people on Earth would think of when they imagined a ghost. The shape resembled someone wearing a white sheet upside down. The ghost spoke. [Hello! Adventurer!] The ghost then dissipated into the mist. [And off you go!] Taesan reached out to the tomb again. The ghost appeared. [Hello! Adventurer! Off you go!] And it disappeared once again. Taesan¡¯s face twitched. He reached out. The ghost appeared. [What are you doing? Didn''t I tell you to leave?] ¡°Hand over the quest.¡± [Huh. Look at this one. You dare to ask me for a quest? Do you know who I am?] ¡°You¡¯re the fallen hero. Who else?¡± He already knew the identity of the ghost from the system window. The ghost grumbled after a brief silence as if it had nothing more to say. [Everything''s so convenient now. No need to walk by oneself, sacrifice one''s life, and gather information when the system will tell you everything. How handy.] ¡°Weren¡¯t there any systems in the previousbyrinth?¡± [No. There were? What a picky guy.] The ghost grumbled. Taesan stared at it in shock. ¡®What¡¯s with this one?¡¯ All the NPCs he had encountered were far from lightweight. Whether it was the dwarf or Ainzhar, there was a certain gravitas. But this one was incredibly lightweight. An NPC and a ghost. The deceased. They could interfere with the living. It could only be one thing. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give me the quest?¡± There was something simr to this ghost in Easy Mode. It wasn¡¯t an NPC there, but a quest based on something like a diary, something of the deceased, which was simr. A quest to fulfill the wishes of the deceased by reading the contents of the diary. The ghost in front of him wouldn¡¯t be much different. The ghost mumbled as if it was bewildered. [You''re a strange one. Bluntly asking for a quest? Wouldn''t it be a bit too early for the second floor?] Chapter 24: Second Level - Buried One, The Ghost Of The Hero (9) ¡°Are you noisy and a quest, or just an object?¡± [You''re treating a person as an object. You have a bad personality.£Ý ¡°So?¡± The ghost groaned with irritation. It soon began to speak as if there was no choice. [You''re right. I''m a deceased existence. I am a human who has been bound here to give you quests.£Ý The ghost grumbled. [However, I can''t give them to a weak guy.] ¡°Then why are you here?¡± [Isn''t it obvious? Ah, this damnbyrinth. If they''re going to confine me, why didn''t they put me in the deepyers instead of these high ones?] Taesan quietly watched the ghost as itined. This was a new type of NPC. The ghost waved what seemed to be its hand and appeared to be shooing him away. [Anyway, leave. If you manage to break through the 30th floor, I''ll reconsider.] At this point, Taesan let out a hollowugh. He didn¡¯t say anything further and tried to leave the room. He had felt that it would be useless no matter how much he tried to persuade him. [Farewell, adventurer...... huh?] The cheerful ghost trailed off in the middle of its farewell. [Wait a minute. You, that weapon.] The ghost¡¯s gaze was fixed on the Ritual Knife of Lakiratas. [That''s Lakiratas'' weapon. Why do you have it?] ¡°I defeated him, so I have it.¡± [... You''ve ovee the trial?] Taesan looked at him as if to ask if there was anything else. The ghost shut its mouth. The white cloth, which had been showing signs of thought, then moved wildly. [Good! I''ll give you a quest!] ¡°Suddenly?¡± [If that capricious one recognized you, you are worth it! Come back! I''ll exin the quest to you!] ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± [You want to receive it, right? Then listen!£Ý What on earth was this guy doing? Taesan couldn¡¯t help but think so, given his attitude and posture. Taesan returned with a sullen face as the ghost started exining. [I was an excellent and great hero. I reached the deeper floors faster than anyone else. I was even evaluated to conquer thebyrinth soon.£Ý ¡°But why are you buried here?¡± [Some weakling exploited my weakness£Ý The ghost said in an outraged voice. [I was resting after meeting a strong enemy while breaking through the deepyers and was lying on the 10th floor. My stamina was in danger, but since the monsters of the loweryers couldn''t prate my defense, I just slept deeply.] This was not necessarily a bad decision if the ghost¡¯s words were true. If one was able to break through the deepyers, their defense would be thousands. Even if all the monsters of the 10th floor attacked him, they could only inflict one point of damage. He could wake up from the impact immediately and react. However, the fact that the ghost was dead meant that there was something else. [The boss of the 10th floor. I don''t know where he got it from, but he had a weapon with fixed damage. That bastard killed me. He killed me, who was about to conquer the lower floors!] Whether he couldn¡¯t control his anger or something else, the ghost yelled out its frustration. The once calm ghost spoke with an angry voice. [The quest I will give you is simple. Kill the boss of the 10th floor! Then I''ll give you a reward.] [Sub-quest started.] [The buried hero of thebyrinth wants you to take revenge.] [Condition: Kill the boss on the 10th floor.] [Reward: The hero decides based on his mood.] Taesan chuckled at thest sentence. To decide based on his mood. Didn¡¯t that mean he wouldn¡¯t give it if he didn¡¯t feel like it? [Are you going to ept?] Taesan nodded. Still, a quest was a quest. The condition was also a boss he had to kill, so there was no reason to refuse. ¡®It seems like a linked quest.¡¯ A quest that could only be obtained after passing through Lakiratas¡¯s Trial. Hearing the ghost¡¯s words, that was exactly what came to mind. As soon as Taesan epted, the ghost eximed satisfactorily. [Good! I look forward to working with you!] Then, the ghost clung next to Taesan. [Now, let''s go!] ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯reing with me?¡± [Would I just stay buried in the grave, not knowing whether you can catch him or not? Honestly, I''m sick of being there. Even though it''s just to the 10th floor, it''ll be fun to get out!] He had to descend to the 10th floor with such a noisy guy? Taesan felt a headacheing. [Where on earth did that bastard get a fixed damage weapon? I was careless, but a fixed damage weapon was supposed to be introduced muchter. A mere 10th-floor monster shouldn''t have obtained it. Do you think you know?] ¡°Since I don¡¯t know, stop talking.¡± Taesan said this in annoyance. The ghost¡¯s mouth never stopped. It squawked in his ear like a parrot, and Taesan felt like he was going to get neurosis. The ghost said confidently. [You''ve epted the quest, right? Then you have to take responsibility!] ¡°¡­¡­Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have epted.¡± The feeling of mental fatigue seemed to be greater than the reward. Taesan, who had sighed lightly, asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were a hero? What did you do?¡± The quest has already been epted, and it couldn¡¯t be revoked. The ghost wouldn¡¯t stop talking, so instead of that, Taesan thought to get some information from it by asking questions. [Hmm, why should I tell you that?] ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk, don¡¯t.¡± Taesan walked indifferently through thebyrinth. It wasn¡¯t something he desperately needed to know. [¡­¡­Alright! I''ll tell you, especially if you want to know that much!] ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to talk if you don¡¯t want to?¡± [I was a noble prince of the Calvert Empire!] The ghost began to chatter alone. [I was the eldest son, destined to inherit the empire. Not just that! I was excellent! I was unparalleled in the empire in swordsmanship, tactics, and strategy! Ah! Every youngdy rushed to see my face whenever I attended a ball! It was a glorious era!] He felt like a street bum from the way he talked, but he was a prince. He had a higher status than expected. [But the world was destroyed, and I entered here to save everyone.] ¡°And you died.¡± [¡­¡­ You''re not fun. But you''re right.] The ghost mumbled in a deted tone. [In the end, I failed. I couldn''t save my world. If I had tried a little harder, I could have conquered thebyrinth, but that one mistake ruined everything. Now that it''s like this, I have to kill the one who killed me to ease my anger.] Listening to thement of the ghost¡¯s world, Taesan walked through thebyrinth and soon arrived in front of a room. Looking at the number of rooms he had dealt with so far, this ce was probably thest room. Only the boss room and the secret room remained after this. A full clear of the 2nd floor was in sight, and about ten days had passed. It was about time to start seeing results from the others on the 1st floor. Instead of opening the door, Taesan opened the Community. [Park Chanwoong [Solo]: How do I beat the Big Rat?] [Moon Jaeseong [Solo]: You just have to work hard. If you face it hundreds of times, you''ll start to see the patterns. That''s when you need to aim.] [Park Chanwoong[Solo]: Ugh... How did Taeyeon and Junhyuk catch this thing so quickly?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Me? I''m nothingpared to the guy in front of me right now.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Let''s consider that person as an exception.] ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± [What are you doing?] ¡°Don¡¯t you know about the Community?¡± [What''s that?] ¡°It¡¯s something that exists.¡± Taesan responded vaguely to the ghost and continued checking. As he read through the posts, it seemed like there were now a few more who had caught Big Rat. Taesan moved his hand. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: 1] [Park Chan-woong[Solo]: Huh?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Oh, it''s Taesan.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Bro, it''s been a while.] [Moon Jae-seong[Solo]: Taesan! I have a question for you!] Posts quickly filled the screen. Taesan casually replied, and soon the flurry quieted down. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: You''ve left a post on the Community. What''s up?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: I thought it was time to exin. How is it going now?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: It''s so-so] Kang Junhyuk started to exin slowly. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Half of the people who''ve arrived at the Fountain of Life have caught Big Rat. The rest should catch it soon.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: It seems to work when you keep trying.] The Big Rat possessed a speed that exceeded human cognitive capabilities, but a pattern became visible as you continued to face it. It required a lot of time, but like Taesan, it could be caught by anticipating its movements in advance. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: What aboyt you?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: I''ve seen the boss. My head was spinning after taking a hit.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: I had a simr experience. Did you really defeat it with strength?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Yes.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: ...How on earth did you do that? I don''t think I can, so I''m looking for other ways. It might take a while, but I believe it would be safer.] Taesan read the posts and confirmed that they had adapted to thebyrinth. There were hardly any posts filled with rage or despair. Then, it was time to reveal what he had found about what was necessary to break through thebyrinth. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: The reason I posted today is to inform the Solo Mode yers about something.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Something to tell us?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: About how to acquire skills.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: ...Ah. Ahhh.] Lee Taeyeon must have two skills by now. Kang Junhyuk also seemed to have realized something as he posted a message out of curiosity. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Uh. We do need that. But why now?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Now is the best time. If I had told you too early, the means would have be the goal.] The skill was not the goal but a means. If they were informed about skills while they were still unfamiliar with the nature of thebyrinth, the skill would be their goal. They would waste time obsessing over gaining skills without even thinking about entering thebyrinth. He needed to inform them when they had some understanding of thebyrinth and were willing to venture into it. The only monster on the first floor was the Big Rat. As long as they were careful, they wouldn¡¯t die. Thanks to the Fountain of Life, unlimited recovery was possible, so informing them after some dy was fine. Taesan¡¯s words convinced Lee Taeyeon. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: That makes sense. If we were told about skills out of the blue, I would have been confused.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: I''m going to exin from now on, so listen carefully. And tell those who didn''t see themunity posts.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Wow. Really? Isn''t that super valuable information?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Wow... Thank you.] [Moon Jae-seong[Solo]: Taesan...!] [Park Chan-woong[Solo]: Thank you! Thank you!] Many posts filled with gratitude and excitement were posted. However, Taesan seemed somewhat uneasy. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You may want to hold your thanks until after you''ve heard.] In his previous world, Taesan had exined about the skills he had acquired. However, it didn¡¯t hold significant meaning for humanity. After all, they were just ordinary humans who had lived in a gentle world. Still, given that most of the Solo Mode yers had survived, things might be slightly different. With a very faint hope, he posted. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: How many skills have you all acquired? Excluding the basic ones.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: I have two. Disease Resistance and Line of Death.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: I also have two. Disease Resistance and Sense Enhancement.] Two. That was a high number for first-floor yers. Others began to chime in, but most had one or none at all. Kang Junhyuk asked, seemingly curious. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: How many do you have, hyung? Five?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Eh. No way. Could you have that many?] The general consensus in the Community was that he might have up to five. They had tried various things to obtain skills but had gained nothing, so they assumed Taesan would be simr. Taesan gave the answer. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Neen.] The Community froze for a moment. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: ...Really?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: What would I gain from lying?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Wow. That''s unbelievable. What do you have to do to gain that many?] Chapter 25: Second Level - Buried One, The Ghost Of The Hero (10) [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I''m toozy to exin each and every one, so I''ll skip that. Just listen up.] Taesan began his exnation. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I''ll tell you about the skills you can acquire with some effort. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk, you''ll know what I''m talking about.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Yep.] Insight was a skill one could acquire by understanding the essence of things. Cold Judgment was a skill attainable by maintaining a steady mind. Sensory Enhancement was attainable by keeping the senses sharp. They were all skills one could only obtain with innate talent. In essence, these talents were expressed as skills. These weren¡¯t skills you could learn just by being taught; these were skills you acquired on your own. Taesan nned to reveal the skills that could be acquired with effort, even ifmonce. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: First, I''ll pass over the Disease Resistance skill since I assume you all have it.] Emergency rations were too expensive for the first-floor yers to buy. Until they could purchase a torch, they had no choice but to eat raw meat. In the process, they would contract food poisoning and recover at the Fountain of Life. This naturally led to the acquisition of Disease Resistance. Indeed, the majority of skills reported by the Solo yers were Disease Resistance. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: So, the easiest skill to acquire: Pain Reduction.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Wow, that sounds good.] Expectations spread throughout the Community. They were all modern people vulnerable to pain, and gaining a skill that could reduce their pain¡ªit was an incredibly appealing prospect. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Since you''ve all obtained one or two skills, you know the conditions for acquiring them, right?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Replicate the effects of the skill to some extent. I know that. ...Huh?] Kang Junhyuk, who had been speaking, came to a realization. Taesan responded calmly. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: As you said, the method is simple. Just endure the pain.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: That''s easier than I thought. So, just get beaten up by a Big Rat?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Would that work?] The Big Rat¡¯s attacks stung a bit but didn¡¯t count as pain in thebyrinth¡¯s judgment. [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Then how can we obtain it?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Stab yourself in the arm.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: ...What?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: You all have a rusty sword, right? Stab it deep into your arm. It must reach the bone for proper recognition, so don''t be scared and do it half-heartedly.] The only monster on the first floor was the Big Rat. Only people willing to die if this secret got out woulde forward, so there was no other way. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Why so silent?] The once noisy Community had quieted down. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: ...Stab ourselves with a sword?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Yes. Make sure it reaches the bone. You have the Fountain of Life nearby. What''s the problem?] Even if it hurt, you could recover. Taesan believed there was no issue. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: While in that state, if you fight the Big Rat, you can acquire the skill called Indomitable Will, as well as the ability to ignore injuries and keep fighting. Make sure you fight.] Silence fell again. After a while, Kang Junhyuk asked with some difficulty. [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: How long do we have to endure it?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Roughly a minute?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: ...Wow.?] It was an exmation packed with many meanings. As this was the reaction Taesan had expected, he continued posting. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I''ll keep going. The next skill is called Breathless. Dive into the Fountain of Life and hold your breath. Wait until you''re on the brink of death, and you can obtain it. Use that skill while swinging your sword to your limit, and you''ll acquire Breathless Attack. It''s a highly useful skill that grants freedom from breathing, so it''s good to learn it.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Until just before death?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: How did you learn the Death Line?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: While fighting in the corridor, two Big Rats suddenly appeared. I ran away as soon as I saw them. When I arrived at the Fountain of Life with just 2 HP left, I got it.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: That''s the feeling. You''ll get Breathless in much the same way, alright?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Ah......] Realizing the literal danger to her life, Lee Taeyeon closed her mouth. [Moon Jaeseong[Solo] : ......Is there anything else?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: There''s a skill called Endurance, which nullifies damage leading to death and provides immunity to damage for a few seconds.] This sounded like a skill with significant benefits to the Community, yet they were quiet. Lee Taeyeon asked, seemingly having given up. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: How do you get that?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Leave only 1 HP and block the Big Rat''s attack about thirty times. Then you can get it. You''ll also get a skill called Blocking as a bonus. It''s a worthwhile gamble.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo] : Huh.] [Moon Jaeseong[Solo] : ......Are you lying?] [Park Chanwoong[Solo]: No matter how difficult we must go to such lengths to acquire skills?] The initial trust, faith, and joy were gone and were reced by skepticism. Taesan reviewed the somber posts. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: I don''t intend to force you to learn. There''s no reason to. The choice is yours.] [Moon Jaeseong[Solo]: I, I can''t. How am I supposed to do such an insane thing?] [Kim Yohan[Solo]: Me too. No matter how much I need skills, I don''t think this is right.] Most of the reactions were refusals. They couldn¡¯t ept the fact that they had to go to such lengths to gain skills. And it was the reaction Taesan had expected. After all, they were people who had lived in the modern world. War was a story of history, and starvation was something that happened in farawaynds. They¡¯ve never once risked their lives for anything in their lives. Even if they were suddenly thrown into the maze, their fundamentals didn¡¯t change. There was no one willing to endure pain to gain something, even if they knew it would save their lives. They¡¯ll realize this after they¡¯ve gone through some hardship. The problem was that most of them would die by then. Those who knew before experiencing hardship were very few. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo] : ......Is there no other way?] [Kang Taesan[Solo] : None.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Wow, this is crazy.] Although he grumbled, his words were filled with determination. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Sigh. Still, we have to try.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Living and living, I end up doing all kinds of strange things.] [Moon Jaeseong[Solo]: Uh, Junhyuk, are you really going to do that crazy thing?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Then what should we do? If we learn, it will definitely help.] [Moon Jaeseong[Solo]: They could be lying, right?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Taesan? For what reason?] Reading Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words, Moon Jaeseong was speechless. Taesan had proven himself by posting the strategy. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo] : Why would someone who''s doing well on his own lie? Let''s just learn safer skills first. Holding your breath isn''t that dangerous, right?] [Kang Taesan[Solo] : It''s okay if you exit as soon as you see the system window. But you''re going to have to suffer a bit? It''s not easy to suppress instinct.] Excluding him, the only one who learned Breathless in his previous world, Junggeun, also seeded only after dozens of attempts. Enduring the fear of death was not a simple thing. Only someone mentally abnormal somewhere could withstand it easily. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Ugh, I''ll have to try.] The only ones showing some will were Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk. This was also expected. Only those with talent and a spirit of challenge were able to move forward. The rest would rot in thebyrinth, or they might btedly realize and make their best effort. ¡®I wish one or two would step up.¡¯ [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Work hard. I''ll tell you when you can learn the next skill.] Taesan closed the Community. The remaining people would probably make a lot of noise, but it was none of his business. [Is it over? What did you do?] ¡°Just some advice.¡± The ghost didn¡¯t know what the Community was, but he would have guessed roughly by Taesan¡¯s actions. The ghost grumbled. [You''re doing such a pointless thing. Anyway, those who are going to die will die, and those who are going to live will live. That''s how it is here.] ¡°Even so, the ambiguous ones might be able to survive.¡± He was giving them various pieces of advice for that. By the time he opened the Community next, something would have changed. The ghost urged Taesan. [Are you done? Hurry up, let''s go!] Taesan stood up and opened the door in front of him, inspecting the inside. ¡°Kkiruk.¡± ¡°Kieek.¡± Inside, there were four goblins. And as Taesan predicted, there was a red door beyond them. These would probably be thest monsters on the second floor. Taesan opened the door calmly. Against the terrified goblins, he drew his bow. ¡°Kek!¡± ¡°Kak!¡± ¡°Kak!¡± He shoots a paralyzing arrow at the three. The ghost asked with a tone of surprise. [Why are you wasting arrows?] ¡°Just watch.¡± Taesan drew his sword. ¡°Kkeuk, kkiek.¡± The only goblin that hadn¡¯t been hit by the paralyzing arrow nervously raised its shield. Taesan pointed his sword at the goblin. Jeong! [10 damage to the Goblin with a shield] ¡°Kkiieek!¡± The goblin screamed and knelt. If he exerted a little more strength, the goblin would probably be split in half by the sword. But Taesan held back his sword. The goblin, sensing its impending death, closed its eyes in confusion. ¡°Kek?¡± Taesan removed all kinds of attack power essories. After reducing his attack power to 1, he swung his sword carelessly. The goblin blocked it in a fluster. ¡°Kaak!¡± ¡°Karuk!¡± The moment the paralyzed goblins were able to move, Taesan drew his bow again. ¡°Kieek!¡± ¡°Kkak!¡± The three goblins were frozen again. Taesan continued to pummel the remaining goblin, who was left stunned. [What kind of nonsense is this?] ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± [Isn''t this to get a skill?] ¡°So you do know?¡± Taesan fired a paralyzing arrow. He had been pummeling one goblin for nearly two minutes. The ghost pounded its chest in frustration. [Knowing vaguely makes it so scary. Indeed, you can obtain skills in such a manner. However, there are no skills to be gained this way.] ¡°There are.¡± There were very good skills. Taesan again cast a paralyzing arrow, and the ghost chuckled. [Do you know how many floors I''ve been down? I''ve been to the 80th floor. The 80th floor! There is nothing that I do not know!] ¡°Then shall we bet?¡± [A bet? What can a dead man like me gain?] ¡°If you win, I will be your puppet. I will obey everything you say, even if you tell me to die.¡± [Oh?] ¡°But if I win, you must answer without lying when I ask a question. That¡¯s the bet.¡± [Huh. This guy has big guts.] The ghostughed, seemingly delighted. [A newbie who has just entered thebyrinth wants to challenge me, who''s dead and buried, with information?] ¡°So, you don¡¯t like it?¡± At Taesan¡¯s rxed response, the ghost nodded vigorously. [Of course, I like it! The noble imperial family of the Calvert Empire! I bet on the name of Alkelite! If you win, I will answer your question without a trace of a lie! But if I win, you are my ve!] ¡°Okay.¡± Even during the conversation, Taesan kept tormenting the goblin with his sword. The goblin was half-heartedly moving its shield as if it had given up. ¡°Can you see the system window?¡± [If you want to show me, I can see it.] ¡°Then that¡¯s good.¡± Taesan shot another paralyzing arrow. A look of annoyance began to appear in the eyes of the frozen goblins. The ghost mumbled joyfully. [What are you doing? This creature can happily roam around until it''s about to die.] Taesan ignored and moved his hand. Four minutes had passed like that. [Give up now?] Instead of responding, Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a duel skill?¡± [It''s a basic skill, why don''t you know?] It was a skill used when yers challenged each other, and once both parties agreed, no other yer could interfere. It was a skill more frequently used outside thebyrinth rather than inside. ¡°You can obtain something simr here.¡± The difficulty of obtaining it was quite low. However, because of its peculiar nature, it was a skill that nobody knew about until Taesan obtained it. It seemed that the ghost was not much different. [What the hell are you talking about¡­¡­] As the ghost asked what he meant, the system window appeared. [You have fought against multiple enemies while continually engaging with only one. You have obtained the special trigger skill [Forced Duel].] He got it. Taesan struck his sword down, and the goblin disappeared without even being able to scream. The ghost mumbled in confusion. [¡­¡­Huh?] [Special Trigger Skill: Forced Duel] [Mana Consumption: 10] [Proficiency: 1%] [You duel with the target. For 10 seconds, no one but the target can damage you.] Taesan, who confirmed the contents of the skill, smiled satisfactorily. It was a main skill. Although it consumed a lot of mana, it made it so that nothing could interfere. The interference here referred to literally everything. Continuous damage, DOT damage, poison judgment, confusion judgment, intimidation judgment. It erased all judgments, effects, and substances. Depending on how it was used, even if you were stuck inva or flung into space, you could survive with a Forced Duel. It lost some value because it didn¡¯t have its own buff, but its power as a main skill was sufficient. [¡­¡­This doesn''t make sense.] The ghost mumbled in confusion. [Where did such a skill exist? A skill of this level obtained in such a way¡­¡­.] ¡°That¡¯s why everyone couldn¡¯t get it.¡± When facing multiple enemies, they needed to exclude the rest and only hit one. They also needed to deliberately not kill them for more than five minutes. It was a method that a normal person wouldn¡¯t do. However, Taesan tried and challenged all sorts of things. The acts he did to obtain Forced Duel were rtively less crazy the first time around. ¡°Do you remember our bet?¡± If he lost, he would be the ghost¡¯s ve. If he won, the ghost would tell him everything it knew. [¡­¡­Fine. Let''s say that''s the case. Anyway, unlike the others, I don''t have such restrictions.] The ghost looked at Taesan uneasily. [But who are you?] Chapter 26: Second Level - Secret Room, Boss (11) [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: This is kind of easy.] [Moon Jaesung [Solo]: ...I feel like I''m going to die doing this.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Rtively speaking, it''s easy. If you time it just like a machine, there should be no problems.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: As soon as you enter the room, you shoot three paralyzing arrows at the goblins, beat them up for 30 seconds, then shoot three more paralyzing arrows. You have to do this almost ten times without making a mistake, but yes. Compared to earning Endurance, it''s easier.] [Forced Duel? How do you get that? I''ve never seen this skill before?] ¡°Work hard and well.¡± [Did a guy on the second floor get it by working hard and well? That''s funny.] The ghost clicked his tongue as if he¡¯d been tricked. [Even the guy who has such a skill wouldn''t give it away. Where did you get the information?] The ghost seemed to think that Taesan had heard about the Forced Duel from someone else. Taesan left him to his thoughts. If the ghost dug too deep, it would be hard for Taesan toe up with a usible response. He was grateful that the ghost was making assumptions on his own. [But skills aren''t everything. I understand that you just received a good skill, but don''t be overconfident.] ¡°You just answer the questions you¡¯re asked.¡± [...Damn it.] The ghost quaked with anger. The ghost continued to grumble, seemingly dissatisfied with Taesan¡¯s victory. Taesan listened with one ear while exploring thebyrinth. [Forced Duel seems like a good skill, but there are a ton of skills in the maze, you know? You know Leap, right?] ¡°I know.¡± [...You know?] ¡°But why Leap? Couldn¡¯t you learn Big Leap?¡± [What? What is Big Leap?] ¡°Seems like you didn¡¯t learn it.¡± Taesan replied dryly. The ghost grumbled at his words. [I admit, you know your skills. But that''s not everything in the maze. How you survive and what you discover are also important here. But what are you doing now?] ¡°What does it look like?¡± Taesan was examining the bricks in an empty room. The ghost realized it btedly. [A secret room? That''s going to be a pain.] Exploring this type of secret room was pure grunt work. There was no other way but to check every single brick in the room. The only ways to shorten the process were either to increase the number of heads or to have a special skill. It was one or the other. [You have a strong premonition.] One of the numerous bricks caught Taesan¡¯s eye. Taesan stared at it for a moment before walking over and pulling at it. Creak. The brick receded, revealing the secret room. [Huh?] ¡°Just as I thought.¡± It was an ability that manifested once his proficiency in Perception exceeded 20%. It asionally provided him with important information. It came to Taesan in the form of a premonition and resolved all of the issues that were clouding his mind at that moment. It had the effect of allowing him to bypass the trial-and-error phase that was absolutely necessary for navigating thebyrinth. The ghost must have realized that Perception had been activated because he mumbled in a flustered voice. [...You have Perception? And it''s over 20% proficiency?] Taesan entered the secret room. Inside, he could see a corridor filled with numerous traps. ¡°Goblin traps, huh.¡± [These are traps they use to protect what they consider valuable. Given the haphazard setup, getting through will be tricky. It might be a better choice to give up and turn back.] Taesan stared quietly at the traps. The first trap was an arrow trap. The second trap appeared to be a copsing floor trap. And the third and fourth were warning traps with moving walls. It was the same as Easy Mode. Taesan walked towards the traps. [Huh?] Whoosh! He fended off an iing arrow. He stomped on the ground to dodge the copsing floor. With a grinding noise, the wall moved to crush Taesan. Rather than rushing to escape the moving wall, Taesan sprinted nimbly and clenched his fist. He swung it towards the approaching wall. Crash! The wall turned into sand and crumbled, and Taesan dusted off his hand with a grim face. ¡°Same as always.¡± The moving wall was a trap for a trap. If you panicked and rushed forward to escape, dozens of traps activated at once. It was not impossible to pass, but it would cause some trouble. The easiest way to clear it was to destroy the wall. The moving wall was different from thebyrinth¡¯s wall; it was made by the goblins. Its durability was not that high, so it could be destroyed with a punch. Taesan walked through the corridor, calmly removing each of the traps one by one. [...] The ghost silently followed. At the end of the corridor, a small box appeared. Taesan pulled a lever to break all the traps and checked the box. [Ring of the Deep Well] [Mana +5] [A ring filled with water from a hidden well deep within. It emits a faint azure scent.] ¡°A mana ring?¡± Pleasant surprise mixed into Taesan¡¯s expression. An increase in mana was always a good thing. Moreover, it was a ring, not other jewelry. Unlike nes or earrings, a ring could be worn on any finger, making it the best piece of jewelry if obtained. ¡°This is nice.¡± Taesan put on the ring and happily exited the secret room. The previously silent ghost spoke. [Who are you?] ¡°Would you understand if I said I¡¯m the second?¡± [The second?] The ghost did not seem to understand. From the ghost¡¯s reaction, Taesan confirmed one fact. ¡®It seems that you can only get the Seat of Uroboros after passing the 80th floor.¡¯ Given that Lee Taeyeon hadn¡¯t told him anything, he didn¡¯t know how to get it either. However, he intended to look for it, considering there might be a chance to get it once more. Anyway, that was a story for after going to a deep floor. Taesan walked through thebyrinth and arrived in front of a red door. Taesan went inside. The ghost, surprised by his unhesitating attitude, asked. [Won''t you ask me?] By their contract, the ghost had to share everything it knew. As an NPC that had descended to the 80th floor, it would certainly know what the 2nd-floor boss was and how to strategize against it. ¡°No need.¡± Taesan already knew what the 2nd-floor boss was. The reason he struck a deal with the ghost was to ask about something else. ¡°Huh?¡± There were two goblins inside the boss room. One was an ordinary goblin, but the other was different. Unlike the goblins he had seen so far, it was dressed in cloth of superior quality. It wore a long hat and held an unwieldy wooden staff in its hand. [A Goblin with a Staff has appeared.] [A Goblin Escort has appeared.] ¡°Heeek!¡± The goblin swung its staff, and the magic began to gather at its tip. A goblin that looked like a bodyguard protected him. The boss of the second floor was the goblin with a staff. What it used was magic. It was the first enemy that used magic in Hard Mode. In Easy Mode, such a monster wouldn¡¯t appear until after the 40th floor. ¡°Keeek!¡± While the magic was being cast, the Goblin Escort rushed at Taesan. Taesan nonchntly raised his sword. Schwiiing! ¡°Kugh, Kaaak!¡± The goblin was mmed into the ground, and Taesan stabbed it in the back. After about three stabs, the Escort Goblin died and disappeared. [You have defeated the Goblin Escort.] In the meantime, the magic had beenpleted. Taesan calmly watched. This would usually be the wrong approach. Low-level yers did not have a way to block magic. The correct answer was to ignore the escort or shoot a paralysis arrow and immediately deal with the magician. Lee Taeyeon didn¡¯t know that and had a hard time. However, Taesan deliberately left the magician alone. The ghost made a frustrated noise. [Oh dear. This is not how it''s supposed to be done. Seems like he knows about the skills but not the strategy.] From his point of view, it would seem as if Taesan was using the wrong method. But for Taesan, this was correct. ¡°Kaak!¡± The staff shone brightly. [The Goblin with a Staff has cast Confusion.] [Starting the judgment.] [Judging Confusion¡­¡­.] His mind wavered. Something external was trying to invade his neural pathways. All sorts of images appeared and disappeared in a cycle. [...] The judgment for confusion magic was extremely strict. Even the slightest mistake or mental disturbance would lead to immediate failure. One would lose themselves and go berserk. ¡°Get lost.¡± Taesan shook his head. The creeping chaos was repelled. [Judgment sessful!] [You have resisted with indomitable mental strength!] [All stats have increased.] ¡°Keeek!¡± The goblin was using magic again. Taesan just waited quietly. [The Goblin with a Staff has cast Madness.] [Starting the judgment.] [Judging Madness¡­¡­] ¡°I told you to get lost.¡± [Judgment sessful!] [You have resisted with indomitable mental strength!] [Your action speed has increased.] [Well, well.] By this point, the ghost realized it too. [You''re just resisting, aren''t you?] [The Goblin with a Staff has cast Curse.] [Judgment unnecessary! You have shaken it off with your indomitable mental strength.] Taesan looked at the grumbling goblin. He had never failed a judgment on his mind since he was in his previous world. The ghost muttered, seemingly astounded. [It''s my first time seeing someone resisting mental magic just with their mental strength, without any skills or items. Even I couldn''t do it like this.] [Judgment unnecessary! You have resisted with indomitable mental strength!] [You have experienced mental magic multiple times. You have acquired the Special Constant Activation Skill [Mental Resistance].] A skill that aided in resisting all sorts of mental attacks. And to Taesan, it was a rather useless skill. Taesan confirmed his skill while shaking off the confusion. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Mental Resistance] [Proficiency: 100%] [You will seed with a very high probability in all judgments rted to the mind.] ¡°So this is something that carries over.¡± [Huh.] The ghost chuckled dryly. [This is truly ridiculous.] Even after gaining Mental Resistance, Taesan didn¡¯t rush to defeat the goblin but remained still. The ghost also didn¡¯t urge him on, instead lying down on the ground as if the whole thing was troublesome. [Darn it. I thought I could teach this ignorant guy this and that, make him move ording to my will, but he''s crazier than I imagined. I never thought it would be this boring.] ¡°Cough, cough¡± The goblin huped and cast magic. The ghost, who had been watching idly, opened his mouth. [They can even use magic. These goblins are really interesting.] ¡°Didn¡¯t they use it in your world?¡± [Magic users were rare. Can you imagine? I don''t know how the creator of thebyrinth did it, but overall, everything has be stronger. Even goblins have an average strengthparable to orcs. And orcs are stronger than lizardmen.] As expected, thebyrinth¡¯s monsters were stronger than those from other ces. [What were the goblins in your world like?] The ghost asked, seemingly curious. It seemed like he was trying to guess what kind of person Taesan was, or perhaps he was simply satiating his own curiosity. ¡°There weren¡¯t any?¡± [...No goblins? Then what about orcs or ogres?] Taesanughed at the mention of these popr monster names. ¡°Why would they exist?¡± [Then what did exist?] ¡°Nothing, really. At best, we were burdened with luggage.¡± [That sounds like a veryfortable world.] The ghost muttered as if it was strange. [Why is someone from such a world doing so well here?] Once again, a judgment for confusion appeared. Upon seeding this time, Taesan was able to acquire the skill he wanted. [You''ve been exposed to magic multiple times. You have acquired the Special Constant Activation Skill [Magic Resistance].] Magic Resistance. A skill that provided damage reduction and resistance to all magic. It was also a skill that must be acquired to break through thebyrinth. Taesan endured a few more spells and increased his Magic Resistance. Only after reaching the limit did he swing his sword. The goblin, who was conjuring magic while whimpering, died on the spot. [You have defeated the goblin with a staff.] [You have gained arge amount of experience.] [Your health has been restored by 10.] [You have acquired 453 gold.] [You have acquired a Random Staff of Spirit.] ¡°Oh. A staff?¡± Getting it immediately despite the low probability was extremely fortunate. [You have won against a formidable enemy single-handedly. Your intelligence permanently increases by 2. Your mana permanently increases by 2.] He also received rewards for oveing a formidable enemy. Magic wasn¡¯t supposed to appear in the lower levels, and Taesan won because he was essentially immune to mental judgments. Otherwise, he would have struggled through all sorts of curses and confusion. In fact, Lee Taeyeon almost died here. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your agility permanently increases by 1. Your intelligence permanently increases by 2.] [You have defeated the boss of the 2nd floor. You''ve obtained the basic reward [Beginner''s Mana Increase Potion].] [You have figured out the hidden element of the 2nd floor. You''ve obtained the reward [??].] Chapter 27: Third Level (1) Taesan began by checking the wand. [Random Spirit Wand] [This is a magical wand created by chance. Even its creator does not know why it contains such magic. It can use the basic magic [Random Spirit Attack].] [Basic Magic: Random Spirit Attack] [Mana Consumption: 5] [It uses randomly disadvantageous mental magic on the target. Attempts to induce a status abnormality on the target.] It was a wand in the truest sense and casted adverse mental magic, such as confusion, curse, madness, and others, on the target. The randomness was a concern, but it wasn¡¯t a major downside since the spells were only within the frame of disadvantageous effects. Then, the 2nd floor¡¯s clear reward: a basic mana increase potion. [Beginner''s Mana Increase Potion] [A liquid containing the power of mana. Drinking it will increase your mana.] Taesan immediately drank it. [Your mana permanently increases by 10.] It was a satisfying increase. Now, Taesan¡¯s mana was at 41. By simple calction, he could use the Flow skill nearly eight times. ¡°Good.¡± Now, for the remaining reward: ???. ¡°What is this?¡± Since it was a reward for clearing a secret element of the level, it should be better than the clear reward. Taesan checked the reward with anticipation. [You used ???.] [You have obtained the Despicable Thief''s Tool.] A tool that looked like a lockpick appeared in Taesan¡¯s hand. He was momentarily confused, as he had assumed the reward would be rted to stats. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± [Despicable Thief''s Tool] [It''s a tool only possessed by despicable individuals. If lost, you''ll likely be abandoned by yourrades.] [It attempts to disarm traps and unlock locks.] ¡°Oh?¡± Taesan was surprised. It was equipment that aided in disarming traps and unlocking locks. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to get this.¡± There were traps that needed to be triggered no matter what. They were a type of guaranteed trap. Without a tool like this, he would have had to reluctantly give up on the reward behind it. Moreover, boxes with traps and locks would gradually start to appear starting from the 5th floor. If he had this tool, it would be possible to attempt to disarm them. It was an extremely good item. Plus, using this tool could also lead to gaining skills in trap detection and lock unlocking. Though it didn¡¯t have a directbat advantage, it could prove useful for making progress in thebyrinth. The ghost grumbled. [You''re really getting everything.] ¡°Why are you so dissatisfied?¡± [Would a dead person be happy to see a living person achieve things?] ¡°Well, when you put it that way.¡± Taesan agreed with the ghost¡¯s valid point. The ghost was someone simr to him, but had failed at conquering thebyrinth. Watching Taesan gradually make progress in thebyrinth could stir up a lot of emotions. Anyway, the verification wasplete. Taesan headed towards the passageway leading downwards. As he descended the passageway, a quest window appeared. [3rd Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 3rd floor and proceed.] [Reward: Beginner''s Health Increase Potion.] [Secret Reward: ???] A Beginner¡¯s Health Increase Potion. It was an item that increased your health by 50 points. Just like the Mana Increase Potion, it was a very good item. After checking, Taesan opened the door where the dwarf was waiting for him. ¡°Oh. You¡¯re here?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The dwarf, who had greeted him with a happy face, suddenly frowned. ¡°¡­What?¡± [Isn''t that the old fogey? He''s still alive, not dead yet?] The ghost chuckled as the dwarf clicked his tongue. ¡°You¡¯ve epted the quest.¡± [He epted it. That''s why I''m here. Are you blind?] Ignoring the ghost¡¯s words, the dwarf spoke to Taesan. ¡°That one¡¯s just a noisy loser. Don¡¯t let it bother you.¡± [An old man who can only pray is boasting.] They were both acting antagonistic to each other. If the dwarf¡¯s reaction to the ghost was indifference and scorn, then the ghost¡¯s was hostility, criticism, and mockery. [But, can the old man tell me what not to bother with? It seems quite valuable, this one.] The ghost spoke yfully. [Why don''t you try touching it? I want to see the old man go crazy.] ¡°You? Touch that?¡± The dwarf chuckled as Taesan waved his hand. ¡°Both of you, stop squabbling and focus on me, the main character.¡± ¡°Ah, sorry. That loser kept making a fuss.¡± The dwarf apologized obediently. As expected, the dwarf was very friendly to him. ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯ll be influenced by that guy. Do you want to buy something?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± He hadn¡¯t collected enough money. He was nning to roam around the third floor ande back. ¡°Then, see you next time. And if possible, get rid of that thing.¡± [Heh.] The ghost snorted. As they exited the shop and entered the third floor, Taesan asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you two get along?¡± [How can we? That old man is so sinister and stupid.] His voice was filled with animosity. [You should be careful too. The old man treats you well if he thinks you''re beneficial, but he can turn on you at any time. You can''t trust him.] ¡°Is this a story from when you were alive?¡± [Or after I bit the dust?] If he was alive, then it must have been when he was navigating thebyrinth. It must have been a situation simr to Taesan¡¯s current one. Someone he could not trust. The ghost described the shop owner in this way. Taesan entered thebyrinth. ¡°Kyaak!¡± ¡°Keee!¡± Just like on the second floor, four goblins were waiting. The second and third floors of the Solo Mode ovepped, and the types of monsters that appeared were the same. The only difference was that instead of goblins using bows, there were goblins using magic here. ¡°Kyaak!¡± [A goblin holding a staff has cast a Confusion spell.] [No judgment required! You withstand with your indomitable spirit.] [All stats have increased.] Taesan drew his sword nonchntly. Three minutester, only Taesan and the ghost remained in the room. ¡°The third floor is easier than the second.¡± [I''d like to refute that, but you''re right, so I have nothing to say.] The ghost grumbled. [Should''ve been tough here, you know? I almost died here several times, yet you passed it just like that.] The ghost was not wrong. The goblins here used illusion magic. Plus, there had been three goblin guards. It was difficult to go past three guards, and dealing with them one by one opened the chance to be afflicted by a confusion judgment. In a way, it was like a deadlock. However, Taesan was half immune to mental abnormalities. It was even easier than on the second floor since it was as if one goblin was missing in the fight. Taesan casually started to break through thebyrinth. He moved to another room and dealt with the goblins. This time, it took two minutes. [Oh my.] The ghost, who had been quietly watching, marveled at this. [Watching you, your movement is pretty good. The techniques learned in real battle have clear limits, but you cover them with your sense and observation. ¡­¡­I think you can reach the middle floors without any problems.] He didn¡¯t intend to be satisfied with just the middle floors. He nned to clear the whole thing. Taesan kept roaming thebyrinth while hunting goblins. The ghost, finding it strange, asked. [Why are you killing all of them? With your current level, they won''t give you much experience. Isn''t it better to just descend quickly?] The ghost was not wrong. Though they only gave a small amount of experience, with Taesan¡¯s current stats, he could easily handle the fourth and fifth floors. Any experience boost was also limited due to the gap in levels, so the only things he could gain were money and equipment. Taesan answered tly. ¡°Because there¡¯s a quest.¡± [A quest? What more could you possibly have to take now?] ¡°Lakiratas.¡± [Huh?] The ghost paused. [That guy gives out such quests? This is the first time I''ve heard of this.] ¡°Did you also go through the trial?¡± [I did. And I cleared it without any issues.] The ghost boasted. Now that he mentioned it, Taesan was curious. As he killed a goblin, he asked, ¡°What is Lakiratas¡¯ Servant?¡± [That is quite literally his servant. It''s when the lowly ones offer themselves to Lakiratas to be stronger. The price is eternal envement, but some are content with that.] The ghost spoke as if he couldn¡¯tprehend it. [Still, they do be strong. If it''s real and not fake, you need to get past at least the 5th floor to stand a chance against them. Maybe they think it''s worth dedicating their pitiful lives?] From the ghost¡¯s story, it didn¡¯t seem like the trial had suddenly be harder. Still, he seemed well-informed about Lakiratas, given that he made it to the deeper levels. Taesan asked, ¡°Do you know what an ¡®Apostle¡¯s Contract¡¯ is?¡± [Huh?] The ghost asked in surprise. [How do you know about that?] ¡°Lakiratas proposed it to me.¡± [... He proposed it to you?] The ghost closed his mouth, seemingly quite flustered. He seemed to ponder for a moment but soon opened his mouth again. [You''re strong enough to receive the proposal now. Hmph. I didn''t get it.] The ghost grumbled. [Where should I start exining?] ¡°You¡¯re willing to exin?¡± The dwarf was reluctant to discuss the contract. He expected a slight refusal even though they had a bet, but this was unexpected. [I''m already a dead man! I am bound by rules, but there is no restriction on information. And if the old man doesn''t tell you, it''s also for your sake. It''s a shoddy, half-hearted consideration.] The ghost chuckled. [Why should I care about you? We''ll part ways on the 10th floor anyway.] The ghost wasn¡¯t on his side, but that was better. Frankly, he didn¡¯t need the dwarf¡¯s consideration. What he needed was information. About this ce, the NPCs¡¯ goals, and who the gods were. The ghost began to answer his questions. [Each god is in charge of their own realm. Some are in charge of victory, others are in charge of defeat, and so on. Among them, Lakiratas is the god of struggle and death. And he is also the strangest god.] ¡°Strange?¡± [Despite being a god, he behaves very lightly. He breaches contracts as he pleases and tries to help those he likes by even draining his own power. He is like a child, I suppose? But he is incredibly strong and suppresses any rebellion. He''s a difficult god to describe.] As he listened to the exnation, he became curious. ¡°What are gods?¡± At least they were not the same as the gods that were known on Earth. Judging from the ghost¡¯s words, there seemed to be at least dozens of them. [Those who helped design thebyrinth.] ¡°Design?¡± [Do you remember the system window you saw when you entered here?] Taesan tried to recall it. ¡°¡­¡­Abyrinth created by a wizard.¡± [This ce is abyrinth created long ago by a great wizard. It is rumored that a wish is granted to anyone who conquers it.] Abyrinth created by a great wizard. That¡¯s what this ce is. [But it would be hard to create it alone. The wizard sought out the transcendent ones and shared his n. He wanted to create a grandbyrinth, a tower leading underground. He wanted to invite countless warriors and heroes to break through it. Didn''t they want to witness their challenges, their struggles wagering their lives, and their fleeting deaths?] ¡°They must have liked it.¡± [Liked it? They went absolutely wild. They supported the wizard wholeheartedly. This ce, thebyrinth, was designed after a significant time, even for the gods.] It was a bigger story than he thought. The ghost finished talking. [And the gods took their ce in thisbyrinth, which they had painstakingly created. They judged those who entered thebyrinth from the depths, the loweryers. They imposed trials, granted visions, and evaluated worth. And among them, a proposal to those who particrly caught their fancy. That is the Apostle''s Contract.] Chapter 28: Third Level (2) ¡°Is that a bad thing or a good thing?¡± [It''s not bad. As a favored one of a transcendent, you can have numerous abilities. They give you something better than what you can receive as a reward. It''s significantly helpful in clearing thebyrinth.] Mark of Struggle, Ritual Knife. Something even better than these? If he received it, he might even continue running without stopping until the 10th floor. ¡°So what¡¯s the downside?¡± A contract with a god would not be purely beneficial. The ghost said. [Your soul belongs to the transcendent. And the other gods don''t like it much? There are several transcendent beings in thebyrinth. What they all want is different.] Lakiratas is the god of struggle and death. Levynenoff is the beloved goddess. It was unlikely that transcendents would y nicely together. [Lakiratas is a god with particrly many enemies. Quite a few gods don''t like his free-spirited actions as it lowers their dignity. You''ll probably have some trouble as you descend. And there''s one more thing. As much as they give you power, you have to follow the transcendent''s decree. You cannot refuse, no matter how unreasonable it is.] There were quite a few disadvantages. Above all, theck of freedom to take action was a big deal. It meant that a god could drive him to the edge if they so desired. It was even more dangerous, especially with a capricious god like Lakiratas. [I had a few who called for me but didn''t ept. You do get stronger, but a limit to growth also appears. It''s not bad from the old man''s point of view, but for us, it''s not an attractive choice.] ¡°You really seem to hate it.¡± Hate was evident in every mention that the ghost made of the dwarf. Taesan couldn¡¯t understand why he hated him that much. [Just a submissive ve who is overly prideful. How can someone like that? You should also disregard his words. He''s an enemy to people like you and me.] Hero, one who died while descending the floors for the conquest of thebyrinth. He referred to the shopkeeper as an enemy. ¡°Well, that¡¯s that.¡± I was now even less inclined to ept the Apostle¡¯s Contract. Unless it was a real emergency, I had no intention of epting it. That led me to one question. [A long time ago, a great magician created thisbyrinth, and it''s rumored that those who conquer it are granted a wish.] That¡¯s what the system window said when I entered thebyrinth. At the time, I was too captivated to give it much thought, but upon reflection, it seemed strange. Conquest probably meant clearing, and Lee Taeyeon had cleared thebyrinth. Yet I never heard that she had her wish granted. ¡®Was Ouroboros¡¯ Throne her wish?¡¯ The stone that turned back time. It seemed usible that it could be the prize of a wish, but Taesan denied his own thought. If he knew Lee Taeyeon, she would not be satisfied with just turning back time. She would wish to eradicate the monsters or ask for a safe ce. ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ It was a mystery. Taesan continued to descend thebyrinth. He kicked a running goblin down with his foot. [You dealt 7 damage to the goblin with a staff.] [You have won against the goblin with a staff.] [Huh?] The ghost paused. [...You kicked it, and damage was dealt? What the. Did you learn that from Ainzhar?] ¡°You know him?¡± [When I was descending thebyrinth, that old man was around. His daily cries for a god were very noisy.] It seemed like the ghost of the hero had been in thebyrinth for quite a while. And Ainzhar had been lingering longer than such a ghost. The ghost¡¯s disapproval of Ainzhar weighed heavily. [That guy is really annoying. I passed the checkpoint too, but I told him I didn''t really want to take care of him.] ¡°Weren¡¯t you able to receive it?¡± [...I didn''t receive it.] The ghost said with displeasure. [Hmm. Even if you have good skills and know some information, conquest is another problem. Don''t getcent now that you''ve entered the 3rd floor.] ¡°I know. I have no intention of ignoring you.¡± [Huh?] The ghost was a yer who had descended to the 80th floor. Unlike Lee Taeyeon, if he had gone by the book, he could be even stronger than she was when she cleared. The Taesan of the past also likely had a high probability of losing to the hero. The hero, seemingly embarrassed to admit it, spoke with some energy. [Hmm, huff. That''s right. Activation skills are important, but I had swordsmanship!] ¡°Swordsmanship?¡± [It''s the swordsmanship of our empire! There were countless knights, but none of them could defeat me. I even received the title of the glorious Swordmaster!] Swordsmanship. In his previous world, he had thought it was an unnecessary skill. But his thinking changed when he faced Lakiratas¡¯ Servant. In this ce, not only activation skills but also swordsmanship is important. ¡°Can you teach me?¡± [Huh?] The ghost, who seemed to be inexplicably happy, let out a groan. [... I''m sorry, but I can''t. Even if you ask as a stake in a bet, I can''t do what I can''t do. This is something I can only teach to those I acknowledge.] ¡°Labyrinth¡¯s restrictions?¡± [If you want to get technical, yes.] The ghost had no restrictions on providing information but seemed to have limitations when it came to teaching skills. In a way, it was only natural. If there were no such constraints, it would mean they could freely hand out the top-tier skills as they pleased. [You''re okay. You have decent abilities. I''ve beenining because I''m too critical, but you are strong enough right now.] The ghost spoke in a calm voice. His attitude seemed a bit more rxed. The sharp posture he had been maintaining seemed to fade a little. [But, I don''t acknowledge you yet. You have not yet proven your strength.] The ghost had seen Taesan overwhelm his enemies with his dominant stats. However, he hadn¡¯t seen him confront a strong opponent. Taesan then asked. ¡°If I prove it?¡± [Then, I might be able to teach you.] ¡°Then, it¡¯s settled.¡± 10th floor. There was plenty of time. Taesan continued to break through thebyrinth. He kept wandering around without any specific destination. It took him about an hour to grow weary of it. The 3rd floor was different from the 2nd floor, with no sight of a god¡¯s altar or an orange door. And finally, the time to return to the shop arrived. [Your inventory is full.] ¡°It¡¯s all filled up.¡± The inventory had a total of 20 slots. Considering his arrows, roughly 15 other pieces of equipment could fit in. As a result of wandering around thebyrinth, he had been able to fill his entire inventory. [Are you going back now?] ¡°Of course.¡± Taesan returned to the shop, and the dwarf looked at him and frowned. ¡°¡­Again?¡± ¡°Show me all the equipment.¡± At Taesan¡¯s cid words, the dwarf sighed deeply. ¡°Ai, this isn¡¯t good.¡± [Why are you the one judging what''s good or bad?] At the ghost¡¯s nagging, the dwarf¡¯s eyebrows twitched. However, instead of arguing, he opened the space. ¡°Open. The Golden Gate.¡± Countless pieces of equipment fell down in a heap. ¡°Go ahead. Look around and decide.¡± Taesan began to check each one. As he had reached the 3rd floor, better equipment was avable. [Ne of the Strong] [Attack Power + 2] [A ne was worn by the strong. Their strength might linger.] [1,000G] The price was higher, but it was worth it. Taesan opened his inventory. ¡°How much will you give me for these?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Heh.¡± The dwarf let out a hollowugh at the pile of equipment that was poured out. Soon, as if giving up, he began to check each one. ¡°For all of these¡­ it would be about 2,000 gold.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sell.¡± He¡¯d obtained quite a few staves, but they were all Staffs of Confusion. Confusion was the lowest-tier mental judgment. There¡¯s no need to use them as long as he had the random mental staff. Including the 2,500 gold he had, his assets amounted to a total of 5,500 gold. It was more than plentiful and was enough money to buy equipment for his entire body. Taesan began choosing his equipment. Thirty minutester, he had made his choices. [Metal Ring] [Attack Power + 1] [Your hand may hurt more.] [600G] He bought two metal rings. Rings could be worn on all fingers, so it was never harmful to buy more. [Thorn Ring] [Attack Power + 2] [The ring has thorns. The reason for its creation is unknown.] [1,000G] He wanted to buy more rings, but attack power essories were very non-mainstream. He searched everywhere, but he could only find three. [Ne of the Strong] [Attack Power + 2] [A ne was worn by the strong. Their strength might linger.] [1,000G] He bought these essories for a total of 3,200 gold. The increase in attack power was 5. [Attack Power + 16] That was his current attack power. Now, a goblin would be killed in two hits. It was not a value that one could normally reach on the 3rd floor. The observing ghost muttered, seemingly amazed. [Really, what kind of skills are there?] Even the ghost who had descended to the depths and saw skills that were close to being miracles was amazed by the Airak Weapon Technique. His remaining gold was 2,300 gold. Taesan looked for more essories, but there was nothing noteworthy. There was only expensive stuff with a small increase in attack power. Taesan changed his n and picked up a bronze shield. [Bronze Shield] [Attack Power + 2] [Defense + 5] [It seems capable of blocking many attacks. It could also block a very strong attack once.] [1,500G] For a one-handed shield, its stats were the same as the Tower Shield. The price was about three times more, but it was worth buying. [Attack power 17. Defense 9.] It was a satisfying growth. His remaining gold was 800. He looked around the shop more, but there was nothing else to buy, so he did not buy anything else and stepped back. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± ¡°Sure, go well.¡± The dwarf sent a cold gaze toward the ghost. The ghost responded with a smirk. Ignoring this, Taesan left the shop. The sword swung, and the goblin holding the shield tried to block while grinding its teeth, but its shield was cut along with it. ¡°Kieack!¡± [20 damage to the Shielded Goblin.] [You have defeated the Shielded Goblin.] [Your level has increased.] Taesan sheathed his sword. ¡°Is it over?¡± [Probably? I can see the boss room ahead.] ¡°There¡¯s nothing special here.¡± Unlike the 1st and 2nd floors, no particr objects were visible. This made it faster to pass through, but it was somewhat boring. [Entities like me and gods are not scarce, but not enough to fill every floor. Sometimes there are empty floors like this.] He knew this from Taeyeon. She had said she was very grateful for floors with nothing. But for Taesan, it was extremely boring. Nevertheless, it wasn¡¯t without results. By selling the obtained equipment at the shop, he was able to increase his attack power considerably. And his level also increased. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 9] [Health: 245/245] [Mana: 44/44] [Strength: 34] [Intelligence: 55] [Agility: 50] [Attack Power + 17] [Defense Power + 9] [The subject is in the best condition.] Even though his experience points were not increasing much, the goblin wielding the staff and using magic yielded a decent amount of experience. His level increased from 7 to 9. ¡°I should start looking.¡± Taesan wandered through thebyrinth. The ghost realized what his seemingly aimless steps meant. [Secret room? This will take more time.] ¡°It¡¯s worth it.¡± The Staff of Fire. A ring that increased mana by 5. Everything obtained from the secret rooms was items that could not be obtained on that floor. It was well worth investing an hour or two. However, it was still boring. It was a truly meaningless repetition, so he had no choice but to empty his mind and do it. Taesan kept wandering through thebyrinth. But unlike before, he could not see any empty rooms. ¡°This is getting annoying.¡± Taesan frowned. Secret rooms were usually hidden in empty rooms with only one passage, but there were always exceptions. There were quite a few cases where it was hidden in a regr room. This time it was likely one of those cases. In this case, he would have to look over the entire floor, so it was essentially the same as not finding it. Just as Taesan was feeling disappointed. [You have a strong premonition.] ¡°Huh?¡± A brick caught Taesan¡¯s eye. It looked no different from any other brick on the outside. A brick Taesan would not have paid attention to. But he knew. That was the passage to the secret room. Taesan pushed the brick as his hunch directed him. Druruuk. The brick moved, revealing a passage. [Your Insight skill proficiency has increased by 5%.] The ghost muttered in awe. [...This is cheating. Why does your intuition burst every time you find a secret room?] Chapter 29: Third Level - Boss Room (3) Taesan was also surprised. The Perception skill had a very low probability of revealing critical information. Despite the chances being really low, it had been activated on every floor. ¡°It¡¯s not too bad.¡± This had nothing to do with skill, experience, or instinct - it was pure luck. The correct response was to ept it happily. Taesan entered the secret room. The trap inside was exactly the same as the second floor. Although he knew how to bypass it, he didn¡¯t go in, instead taking out a dagger from his inventory. A Despicable Thief¡¯s Tool, the reward for verifying the secret of the second floor. Its effect was to attempt to disarm traps. Taesan ced the dagger onto the first arrow trap. [Disarming trap judgment in progress¡­¡­.] [Judgment failed! The trap is activated.] Ping! An arrow flew out. Taesan simply moved his hand and caught it. He had expected it to fail. Unless it¡¯s an item from Gorebel, the probability of a judgment failing was quite high. Taesan moved on to the next trap, where the floor would copse. [Disarming trap judgment in progress¡­¡­.] [Judgment sessful! The trap has been disarmed.] Then, onto the next trap. He attempted to disarm it in the same way. The judgment failed again. The wall was pressing down, but he punched it and smashed it. He also tried it with the next trap. After nearly ten attempts, he was able to gain a skill. [You attempted to disarm the trap. You gained the special triggered skill [Trap Disarm].] ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± [Special Trigger Skill: Trap Disarm] [Mana Consumption: 1] [Proficiency: 1%] [Attempts to disarm traps. It seems barely worth ignoring for now.] It was a pitiful description. Given the proficiency was only at 1%, it made sense. Taesan started to use the skill to disarm the traps after putting the dagger away. Most attempts were failures, but the main goal was not to disarm the traps. [Proficiency in Trap Disarm has increased by 1%.] As skills were used, their proficiency increased. It was crucial to raise proficiency in these seemingly useless situations to ensure smooth usage when it was really needed. The ghost couldn¡¯t understand this. [Is all that really necessary? Whether you have Trap Disarm or not doesn''t really matter. You can just physically bypass them, can''t you?] ¡°That¡¯s a possibility.¡± The ghost wasn¡¯t wrong. The type of traps didn¡¯t change significantly between the floors. Even with his frail stats, he could handle them without a problem now. He would be able to bulldoze his way through even if he went beyond the 10th floor. But Taesan had no intention of stopping. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about this ce.¡± What he had cleared was Easy Mode. This was Solo Mode. Lee Taeyeon¡¯s information had a lot of gaps. It was as if she had speedrun the game. ¡°The more cards I have, the better. I don¡¯t know how they will be used. I¡¯ll gather everything I can. That¡¯s my principle.¡± That¡¯s how Taesan had ovee crises. The ghost¡¯s form wavered for a moment. [...Yeah. You''re right. I couldn''t stick to that, and I died.] As that bitter voice echoed, thest trap was disarmed. [Judgment sessful! The trap has been disarmed.] [Proficiency in Trap Disarm has increased by 1%.] His proficiency had increased by a total of 7%. He intended to do this each time he found a secret room from now on. Taesan opened the chest. [Squeezed Ring] [Strength + 3] [A ringpressed by someone with great strength. Despite its squashed and distorted shape, it seems to contain strength.] A ring that gave Strength +3. Simrly, this wasn¡¯t an essory that could be obtained on the second floor. Taesan had already received so many rewards that this one seemed a bit less significant, but it was still a good piece of equipment. Now, the secret room was also finished. Only the boss remained. Taesan stood up. He didn¡¯t wander around since he had already scouted thebyrinth beforehand. It didn¡¯t take long for Taesan to arrive at the red door. [This is the Goblin floor. You can guess what''s going to show up, right?] ¡°I know.¡± Lee Taeyeon had also told him. Taesan opened the door. ¡°Creak.¡± Inside, there was a single goblin. It was roughly the size of the bellies of other goblins. It was also adorned with grand ornaments as if it was a shaman from ancient times. A staff was in its hand. The goblin straightened its back and pointed its staff at Taesan. ¡°Caw!¡± [A Goblin Chieftain has appeared.] A goblin that ruled over other goblins. It was a higher-level monster that only appeared deep into Easy Mode. ¡°Creak.¡± The Chieftain directed a gaze filled with rage at Taesan. It couldn¡¯t be known whether it was due to the killing of its kin or just the monster¡¯s instinct, but at least a profound rage was apparent. ¡°Caw!¡± The staff wavered, and Taesan charged. Unlike the other monsters, there was no reason to hold back against the Chieftain. [The Goblin Chieftain has invoked a curse.] A curse. A kind of magic that slowed physical speed or decayed parts of the body. Unlike mental magic, it attacked the physical body itself and could not be repelled with mental resistance. Taesan exerted force on his foot and activated a skill. [You have invoked Flow. The next attack is manipted.] The curse veered slightly off-target. Checking his status window, all his stats and health had decreased by 10%. They would have been reduced by 30% if it weren¡¯t for Flow. Upon reaching close range, Taesan shed his sword. ¡°Caw!¡± The Chieftain swung his staff to block it. A dull impact was felt through the sword. The Chieftain¡¯s strength did not fall significantly shortpared to Taesan¡¯s. The Chieftain pushed Taesan back and raised his staff again. [The Goblin Chieftain has invoked Wave.] Wave. A magic that created a shockwave to blow the opponent away. Seeing the system window, Taesan immediately drew out his staff of random mental spells. [You have invoked Confusion.] [Judgment in progress...] ¡°Cough, Caw?¡± The Chieftain was momentarily confused. With the copse of his mental state, the magic power contained at the end of the staff also disappeared. The Chieftain then shook his head violently. [Judgment Failed!] Though the judgment for Confusion failed, the execution of Wave was canceled. Taesan then stabbed his sword and cut off the Chieftain¡¯s arm. ¡°Caw!¡± [21 damage to the Goblin Chieftain.] The Chieftain¡¯s health, as he remembered it, was 200. He only had to attack ten more times. Taesan pressed on, and the damage window kept appearing. ¡°Caw, Caw!¡± The Chieftain swung his staff wildly, trying to put distance between them, but Taesan clung to him by forcing his way with skills such as Flow and Counter. In the end, the Chieftain, unable to hold on, began to use magic. [The Goblin Chieftain has invoked Explosion.] The system window appeared. Taesan immediately grabbed the Chieftain¡¯s arm and broke it. The magic that was beingpleted disappeared. The Chieftain used magic through his staff, but magic wasn¡¯t instant. It required a certain amount of preparation. If that process were to be disturbed and destroyed, it would be practically impossible to use magic. Normally, it would have pushed a yer using its superior stats and utilized magic. Once the distance was created, keeping up with the continuous curses and magic would be hard. Though quite tricky, it wasn¡¯t too hard for Taesan, who knew the strategy. ¡°Caaaaw!¡± The Chieftain swung its staff with a lot of strength but was repelled with a shield. Taesan thrust his sword. [22 damage to the Goblin Chieftain.] [You have defeated the Goblin Chieftain.] ¡°Caaah¡­¡­¡± The Chieftain disappeared. The ghost¡¯s response was, as expected, somewhat dreary. [You wouldn''t have had a problem with a chieftain now. Normally, it would''ve been a tough opponent.] Taesan checked the system window that was blocking his view. [Your level has increased.] [As a reward for leveling up, your health increases by 20.] [As a reward for leveling up, your agility permanently increases by 2. Your strength permanently increases by 3. Your mana permanently increases by 3.] [You have defeated a difficult opponent alone. Your intelligence permanently increases by 2. Your mana permanently increases by 4.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your agility permanently increases by 1. Your intelligence permanently increases by 3. Your mana permanently increases by 3.] [You have defeated the boss of the 3rd floor. You have received the basic reward: a Beginner''s Health Increase Potion.] [You have acquired an Old Hardwood Staff.] The system window was still long. More than anything, the increase in mana was noticeable. It increased by a full 10 points, and now his mana exceeded 50. With this kind of increase, reaching his previous stats wasn¡¯t too far off. Taesan used the Beginner¡¯s Health Increase Potion and increased his health. Now his health was 295. He was just on the cusp of reaching 300. Taesan checked the staff. [Old Hardwood Staff] [Magic + 3] [A faint magical power is contained within. If you''re talented, you might be able to use it.] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The stat bonus was magic, not mana or intelligence. It was a value Taesan was seeing for the first time. He couldn¡¯t find any simr equipment in Easy Mode. The ghost expressed admiration. [A magic staff? You''re really lucky. How did you get that?] ¡°Do you know about it?¡± [It''s literally a staff that you can use magic with. Like the staff of random mind spells you have but with more versatility? You can use it to enhance the power of the magic you''ve learned.] ¡°¡­Learn magic?¡± [Considering that there are monsters that can use magic, is that really surprising?] The ghost replied in a dreary voice. For him, who had lived in a world with monsters and magic, it was not surprising at all. But Taesan was a modern human. Being able to use magic with his own power, not borrowed from a staff, was amazing. ¡®I didn¡¯t have this information.¡¯ Another reason for his surprise was that the use of magic was a story he was hearing for the first time. In Easy, Normal, or Hard Mode, magic could only be used by borrowing the power of the staff. Lee Taeyeon also had never used magic with her own power, so he believed that magic couldn¡¯t be learned under the concept of skills. But suddenly hearing that he could learn magic, he couldn¡¯t help but be momentarily confused. Taesan sorted out hisplicated thoughts. ¡°How do I learn it then?¡± [Either you understand and realize the concept of magic yourself or learn it from someone. One of the two.] The former was impossible. So, thetter was it. ¡®An NPC, I guess.¡¯ In the deep and profoundbyrinth, there were certainly NPCs who used magic. Since he couldn¡¯t use it right away, he ced it in his inventory. [Now it''s the 4th floor. You''re going down quickly.] ¡°Before that, I have to visit Lakiratas.¡± He had defeated all the monsters on the 2nd and 3rd floors. He had cleared his quest, so he had to go back to the 2nd floor. Taesan, who was about to leave the room, then paused. [What''s up?] ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Taesan pulled up the system window to check. Level-up reward. Boss reward. Heroic action reward. 3rd floor clear reward. There was no reward for understanding the secrets. ¡°Is there more hidden here?¡± He was missing the reward for understanding all the hidden elements of a floor. Generally, the secret room was the end, so he thought he had found everything on this floor, but it wasn¡¯t cleared yet. The ghost also seemed to realize it btedly and shook its head. [Huh. That''s strange? Why isn''t it there? Is there something more?] ¡°How was it for you?¡± [I couldn''t find the secret room, so I gave up. Could there be two secret rooms?] Usually, there was only one per floor. But this ce was Solo Mode, so there was a possibility. ¡°Do I have to search everything again?¡± This time it would truly be an impossible task. He had only managed to find the secret room by luck. He would have to check the whole floor to find the other secret, but going down would allow him to be stronger much faster. Taesan was about to give up. The boss room had various decorations. Given that the boss¡¯s name was Goblin Chieftain, he thought it was obvious and ignored it. But now that he looked at it, the decorations seemed to form a pattern. As if it was a path. Taesan moved and went to the wall where all of the decorations were pointed to and touched it. Creek. [What?] The sound of a mechanism being activated echoed through the boss room as the wall slid smoothly to the side. It was a moving wall trap. It had been camouged as a normal wall. [...What? There was a ce like this?] Even the ghost seemed quite surprised, as if he was seeing this ce for the first time. Of course, Lee Taeyeon hadn¡¯t found it either. Taesan entered. Numerous decorations. Much more extravagant and neat than the boss room. It showed vividly what the goblins thought of the individual here. A huge jade throne was visible. On it, a single goblin was sitting like a king. [...A Lord?] With a voice full of surprise, the goblin opened its eyes. It looked at Taesan in wonder. Its mouth opened. ¡°Human.¡± A small murmur. And then it extended its hand. ng. A greatsword appeared in its hand. [You''ve encountered the former Goblin Lord, Hage-Ha.] Chapter 30: Third Level - Goblin Lord (4) The goblin grasped a greatsword as tall as a human in their hand. In the face of this surreal sight, Taesan took a step back. ¡®A Lord?¡¯ A monster with a name. A named monster. The Lord of Goblins. As the title befitting a ruler suggested, it was likely much stronger than an elite goblin. The ghost lets out a groan. [Uh¡­ This isn''t good. Why is a Lord here?] ¡°Do you know anything about it?¡± [It''s literally the king of the race. It is a single entity that exists and has broken free from the concept and limit of its species.] ¡°It seems so.¡± Its body was three times the size of other goblins. At that size, it was even bigger than Taesan. Its eyes were indifferent, and its muscles were perfectly sculpted. Its stance was also unwavering. It was so different that it was embarrassing to call it a goblin. Even its clothing was far from its kin¡¯s ragged, bare-bones attire but instead was as neat as a human¡¯s. [No matter how goblin-like it is, a lord is still a lord. It''s not a monster that should appear on such low-level floors. Why is it here?] The ghost kept muttering, clearly finding this situation out of his predictions. Taesan took in the information and readied his stance. The Goblin Lord silently observed Taesan. ¡°Is it signaling for me to approach?¡± There was no reason to refuse, and Taesan put some strength in his ankle. Thud! His body elerated, and the wind harshly blew against his face. He reached the Goblin Lord in an instant and brought down his sword. ng! The metallic sound of their shing sword rang through the room, and Taesan frowned. The Goblin Lord, while seated, did not move at all and blocked his attack. The Goblin Lord, who had been staring nkly, opened his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t me you.¡± The voice was not sharp like the goblins he had encountered before; it was incredibly smooth. ¡°You are just a ything being manipted by them as well. But¡­ I am assigned the role of a monster in this ce.¡± The Lord¡¯s hand tightened on the grip of his greatsword, and he calmly spoke. ¡°So, I will kill you.¡± His power exploded. Taesan felt as if a truck was charging at him, a several-ton truck fully loaded with cargo. [You activated Deflection. The next attack is parried.] He used the skill almost like a reflex. The path of the sword twisted, and it struck a wall, leaving behind arge scar. ¡°What.¡± ng! In the same seated position, the Lord moved his hand, and his sword moved like a storm. Taesan gritted his teeth and put strength in his arm. ng! With a harsh sound, both swords shed and were knocked away. A faint admiration shed across the Lord¡¯s face. ¡°You are strong.¡± ¡°What the hell.¡± Taesan was surprised. His Strength stat was 37. It was a stat value that would have allowed him to go through the 50th floor of Easy Mode with no problems. But the Lord¡¯s greatsword was clearly heavier than that. A foe that couldn¡¯t be handled even with a strength stat that was near 40. Was this a monster on the third floor? ¡°This bnce is nuts.¡± While Taesan spat out curses, the Lord swung his greatsword calmly. The weapon, as big as a person, aimed to slice Taesan in half. Taesan made a quick decision. The shield was not needed. If it was the Lord¡¯s strength, blocking wouldn¡¯t make a difference. He threw away his shield and gripped Lakiratas¡¯s sword with both hands. ng! The swords shed, and Taesan¡¯s knees bent, but he didn¡¯t touch the ground. He could endure it even if he needed to use both hands. Taesan shed away his sword and rushed towards the Lord. Sparks flew. ng! The current situation was favorable for Taesan. The Lord¡¯s sword was in a downward strike position. While the Lord needed to raise his arm to attack again, Taesan was pushing in from below. At the very least, attacking with the greatsword would be difficult. Taesan intended to take advantage of this timing to inflict significant damage. He assessed that he had an advantage in closebat, considering the opponent¡¯s weapon was a veryrge greatsword. However, the Lord, expressionless, pulled his sword around. Instead of swinging down his sword, he aimed the hilt at Taesan¡¯s face. Faced with this certain countermeasure, Taesan clicked his tongue and activated a skill. [You activated Parry. The next attack is deflected.] The trajectory of the hilt was twisted. It tried to graze and hit Taesan¡¯s shoulder with some force. Skills were absolute determinants in thebyrinth. The only way to ovee them was to counter with a higher-level skill. [Goblin Lord activated Power Strike. The next attack inflicts significant damage.] The calm system window blocked Taesan¡¯s view. The hilt, which was about to be forced to bend away, was now aimed squarely at Taesan¡¯s head. Taesan¡¯s pupils wavered momentarily, but he quickly assessed the situation. He lodged the sword into his body to block it. Crash! ¡°Damn!¡± [You have received a strong shock. All actions are slowed for 10 seconds.] His body tingled with tremors, and his movements became noticeably slower. The situation was the worst. Escaping the Goblin Lord¡¯s attack range was impossible in this physical state. There was only one answer. He must endure for 10 seconds. Taesan steadies his breathing. The Lord raises his sword. ng! Sword and sword collided. There was no area where Taesan had the upper hand, not strength nor agility. Even his movements were slowed, making it overwhelming just to block one attack. [You have activated Counter. It retaliates against the next opponent''s attack.] His body moved automatically. The skill controlled his body and tried to find the optimal path to counter his opponent¡¯s attack. But there were drawbacks. If, for any reason, it was impossible to retaliate against the opponent, the skill would end at the level of dodging the attack. Still, that was important since he dodged an attack that would have hit him otherwise. The greatsword grazed beside his head, and his cut hair flew in the air. 5 seconds. The Lord pulled his sword to the side and swung it. The sound of the air being split sent chills down his spine. Taesan had to nearlyy down to dodge it. 3 seconds. His posture was broken. He couldn¡¯t avoid the following attack. [You activated Parry. The next attack is deflected.] [The opponent activated Power Strike. The next attack inflicts significant damage.] [You activated Deflection. The next attack is parried.] The trajectory of the attack twisted, returned to its original path, and then twisted again. The greatsword bent towards Taesan¡¯s waist. [You receive 46 damage.] 0 seconds. His physical condition returned to normal. As he bounced back, Taesan stood up and put distance between them. Instead of pursuing, the Lord calmly corrected his posture. ¡°Oh, well.¡± A hollowugh came out. What was that? The opponent still hadn¡¯t gotten up from the jade throne. [The opponent is an invincible enemy.] Even without the system telling him, he could tell. That creature was absolutely not something that should appear on the 3rd floor. It was a level of monster that one could understand if it came from the 7th floor. [You need to run away.] The ghost¡¯s voice was serious, not as yful as usual. [That isn''t an enemy you can face right now. First, you have to run away, get stronger, and thene back.] ¡°And what does that make me?¡± [What?] Taesan calmly looked at the Lord, who was still sitting on his jade throne. The ghost tapped its chest in frustration. [That''s the Lord, you know? It''s not something a 3rd-floor adventurer should face! Anyway, it''s not going anywhere!] ¡°Then, I get nothing. The rewards for each floor drastically decrease the moment you descend.¡± The grumbling ghost paused. [...Do you know that?] ¡°Of course.¡± In thebyrinth, moving between floors was free - but that didn¡¯t mean the rewards remained the same. The moment you descended, the rewards for the previous floor dramatically decreased. The acquisition of experience points and gold drops to one-fifth, and all special rewards disappear. That¡¯s why there were no people endlessly grinding on the lower floors. He needed to resolve this issue if he wanted to obtain everything from this floor. ¡°I have no intention of going down.¡± He would defeat it here. At Taesan¡¯s determined stance, the ghost muttered as if it couldn¡¯t understand. [You''re being reckless. After being so careful and raising your proficiency, you''re challenging it like this?] ¡°What are you talking about? That¡¯s what all this is for.¡± It wasn¡¯t about grinding for safety or to avoid danger. If he were a cautious person, he would have chosen Hard Mode. Just clearing Hard Mode would make him much stronger. However, he had chosen Solo Mode. Not for survival. It was a risk that gambled his life. A move made to maximize the rewards. Disarming traps, acquiring skills, raising proficiency - they were all to raise the chances of that, even if just a bit. [You... ] [No judgment needed. You haven''t lost heart in the face of an enemy that seems impossible to defeat!] [No judgment needed. Your fighting spirit has increased against an enemy that seems impossible to defeat!] [No judgment needed. Your willpower has risen against an enemy that seems impossible to defeat!] [All stats have increased.] [You never yield in battle.] [You have gained the eye to discern an opponent''s weakness.] [The awe-inspiring unyielding you have felt admiration.] ¡°You¡¯re a brave warrior.¡± Admiration seeped into the indifferent eyes of the Lord. He gripped his sword with a serious expression. ¡°If you do not retreat, then I, too, will face you with dignity.¡± Taesan carefully observed the Lord. They wouldn¡¯t have ced an entirely unbeatable enemy on the 3rd floor. There must be a chance of victory. The judgment reward of facing an impossible enemy began to reveal the enemy¡¯s weakness. The Lord had never once left his jade throne. At first, he thought it was due to disregard, but it was not the case upon closer inspection. ¡°¡­..leg.¡± [Huh?] The Ghost also noticed btedly. [His leg is mangled, isn''t it?] There was arge wound on Lord¡¯s leg. Intimidated by his presence, they hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but the scar that covered his entire thigh made it seem difficult for him to stand. [Was he driven out in a territorial dispute?] ¡°Does that happen?¡± [It does. Either another species invaded, or someone challenged the Lord and won. For various reasons, monsters kill and are killed.] Thinking about it, the Lord was a goblin before. That he wasn¡¯t a goblin lord now meant something. Regardless, the opponent was limited in mobility. Taesan kept his distance. The Lord did not chase him but stayed in his ce. Confirmed. The opponent couldn¡¯t move out of the throne. In that case, there was a chance of winning. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing?¡± The goblin asked with a bored face. Taesan had been standing still for almost half an hour. ¡°Just wait a moment.¡± Taesan¡¯s mind was spinning rapidly. He was calcting tactics and how to finish this fight. And then the answer came. The Lord gave a slight smile. ¡°Come, brave one.¡± [Oh dear. This doesn''t seem right...] The ghost grumbled, but its previously pessimistic look was gone. [But give it a try. I''ll be watching in anticipation.] Taesan approached the wall and caught his breath. [You have activated Infinite Fury.] He gathered his strength. To the limit, to the point of muscle rupture. And then, he struck the wall roughly. KWAAAANG! The vibration spread along the wall. His strength wasn¡¯t enough to break the wall, but it was enough to knock off the things attached to it. There were countless decorations in the room. Animal bones, ornate wooden decorations, and so on. Heavy andrge things were hanging from the ceiling. They all fell at once. Decorations started to copse as if a hailstorm was falling. ¡°Is this how you¡¯reing?¡± The Lordughed cheerfully and drew his sword. The falling decorations were quiterge, and if hit directly, even he would take significant damage. He had no choice but to strike them away with his sword. Tae-san quickly pulled out his staff. [You have activated Fireball.] As soon as the mes gathered, he transformed the staff into a bow. He then quickly drew two arrows. Whistle! Paralysis Arrow and Poison Arrow wereunched. As they passed through the flying fireball, they became me Arrows. He then pulled out the Staff of Mind Control. [You have activated Confusion.] [Judging¡­¡­.] The Lord let out a small moan. But he shook it off easily, which Taesan expected. The use of the Staff of Mind Control was only for a very slight gap. The decorations obstructed the view. With them falling all over the room, Taesan had nowhere to dodge. But instead of blocking, Taesan dug his heels in. He ran towards the Lord inside this copsing room. [You have activated Forced Duel. For 10 seconds, no one but the Lord can inflict damage on you.] Chapter 31: Third Level - Goblin Lord (5) The Lord shook his head roughly. [Judgment failed!] The confusion check failed, and the recovered Lord moved his great sword. He dropped the ming arrow and extinguished the fireball. Then, he swatted at the ivory decoration falling towards him. Crash! The ivory decoration was knocked away, altering the trajectory of the other falling decorations. Only the area surrounding the Lord was peaceful amid the ruinous debris. That was a sword technique that had reached its zenith. Taesan couldn¡¯t do that. Even if he could, he wouldn¡¯t. It would be the epitome of inefficiency for him. Forced Duel. Nothing but the target can inflict damage. The implied meaning was quite simple. Taesan ran directly towards the Lord through the falling decorations. A decoration shaped like a de dropped right in front of his nose. He would have taken quite a bit of damage if it hit him. Ting! But it was deflected. It wasn¡¯t just the decorative de. All the falling debris colliding with Taesan scattered in all directions like billiard balls. It was as if they were rejecting contact with Taesan himself as if some sort ofw was in effect. [What''s this...?] Taesan charged directly at the Lord while the Lord was still focused on knocking away the debris. Taesan swung his sword from out of the Lord¡¯s field of view. A long line appeared on the Lord¡¯s chest. ¡°Huh?¡± [You''ve activated a continuous attack. The next attack will be used twice.] [16 damage to Hage-Ha.] [16 damage to Hage-Ha.] Confusion overrode pain on the Lord¡¯s face. Taesan, who had broken through the rain of debris, also looked puzzled. ¡°How did you¡­?¡± In response, Taesan swung his sword, and the Lord lifted his great sword but couldn¡¯t block in time due to Taesan¡¯s speed. The damage window appeared. It was a continuous attack. ¡°Hmm.¡± The Lordposed himself, his face returning to its usual calm expression, and he moved the handle of his weapon. [Hage-Ha activated Heavy Strike. The next attack will inflict significant damage.] Heavy Strike. A skill that gave additional attack power in proportion to the consumed mana. If Taesan took a single hit from this attack now, he would be in critical condition. He absolutely had to avoid it. [You activated Counter. The next attack of the opponent will be retaliated against.] A skill that ensured any attack that could be avoided was avoided and then countered. His body moved automatically, dodging the plunging handle to the left. Taesan¡¯s sword moved, and once again, the damage window appeared. Another continuous attack. ¡°Ho-ho.¡± A smile touched the Lord¡¯s face as he took 100 damage in an instant. His hand moved swiftly. Faster than before. At a speed that left afterimages. His de and hand were aimed at Taesan. Taesan also moved his sword. ng! A harsh metallic sound echoed through the room as he blocked every attack aimed at his entire body. Taesan shook off the de, sending the shockwave away. A favorable judgment against an impossible opponent. Thanks to the overall increase in his stats, he could now manage it to some extent. Parry, push, dodge. Numerous attacks and defenses were exchanged in close-quartersbat. ng! The Lord¡¯s weapon was massive, a great sword the size of a stout man. It could respond to closebat due to skill, but its weakness was clear. Instead of gaining distance, Taesan pressed in even more. [You have activated Breathless Attack. You have the freedom of breath for the next 10 seconds.] [Hage-Ha has activated Breathless Attack. He has the freedom of breath for the next 10 seconds.] Both swords moved even faster. Their hands were now too quick to follow. ng! Taesan swung his sword roughly to create a slight distance. The Lord, who was about to thrust with his de¡¯s handle, hesitated as the distance became unreachable. Taesan did not miss that brief gap. He changed his sword to a staff, then back to a sword. It took less than 0.2 seconds. [You have activated Fireball.] Fire ignited. The Lord, undaunted, shook off his hand and dispersed it. However, the mes obscured his vision for a moment, causing him to lose sight of Taesan. Taesan went behind the chair. Thud. [15 damage to Hage-Ha.] [15 damage to Hage-Ha.] He pierced through the chair and stabbed into the Lord¡¯s abdomen. The Lord calmly held his weapon in one hand and grabbed the armrest with the other. Swirl. The chair rotated smoothly. Taesan clicked his tongue at the speed. It was not much different from turning the body. ¡°Why are you so fast?¡± ¡°I had to adapt to this weakened body.¡± Along with his leisurely reply, the Lord moved his arm. Taesan stuck to the side of the chair while dodging the swirling great sword. [You have activated Forced Duel. For the next 10 seconds, no one but Hage-Ha can damage you.] Thunk! Forced Duel. Nothing except Hage-Ha could interfere with Taesan. The only exceptions being the weapons he used and subordinate creatures. The chair wasn¡¯t included in that. The chair, repelled like the same poles of mas, was flung away. Sitting on the chair that was flying into the air, the Lord gasped in awe. ¡°You¡¯re using your skills that way? Incredible! Warrior! Give thanks to the gods that I am your final battle!¡± There was no time to respond to the praise. The Lord, flipped upside down, was flung into the air. In a posture with nowhere to anchor his strength, it was difficult to defend against an attack. Taesan gripped his sword and charged as the Lord came down in his flipped position. Taesan met him head-on in an upright stance. With a sound like a lightning strike, they both flew together. ¡°Kuk!¡± ¡°Uhm!¡± Taesan barely managed to steady himself, and the Lord¡¯s situation worsened. After arge force of their midair collision, he tumbled roughly on the ground. This was a chance. Taesan pounced. Some system windows obscured his vision, but he had no time to care. However, the Lord wouldn¡¯t let it happen easily. He quickly regained his posture and swung his sword. [You have activated Counter. You will retaliate against the next opponent''s attack.] Counter. Its functions were forced evasion and counterattack. However, the opposite was also possible, depending on how you used it. Taesan forced his body, which was moving automatically, to resist. He withstood the instinct to dodge and charged toward the tip of the sword. The ghost was aghast. [Damn it, you!] The sword pierced through Taesan¡¯s chest. [462 damage to you.] [Your Endurance has been activated. The attack leading to death has been nullified. All damage bes 0 for 1 second.] [What, Endurance?] Counter was based on retaliation. A retaliation that inflicted more damage. In other words, if you charged at the opponent¡¯s attack while using Counter, the damage from that attack would be part of your retaliation. Thanks to this, he could activate Endurance in a state of full health. The Lord tried to push Taesan away, but all damage had been nullified for 1 second. Taesan struck the Lord¡¯s whole body as numerous damage windows obscured his view. 1 second had passed. Taesan deflected the trajectory of the downward-striking greatsword and struck once again. [16 damage to Hage-Ha.] [16 damage to Hage-Ha.] Another series of consecutive attacks. This was not an opponent that could be defeated by holding back, so Taesan unleashed everything he had. The Breathless Attack also activated without a moment¡¯s rest. His mana was drained in an instant. Taesan quickly drank a mana recovery potion from his inventory and attacked again. His breathing quickened. His mana was almost depleted. Fatigue has significantly umted throughout his body. Breathless Attack removes the constraint of breath, allowing for free movement, but it didn¡¯t help with muscle usage. Moving more than usual led to faster exhaustion. Taesan had plenty of health left, but given the power of the attack, a few hits could leave him at death¡¯s door. So having arge amount of health didn¡¯t mean much. Since Endurance was also gone, there was no way out. But the Lord¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t good either. He had taken an immense amount of damage. As a living being, the limit of his health was clear. He was probably nearing the end. So, this was the end for him and for the goblin. From now on, he wouldn¡¯t try to avoid attacks perfectly. Instead of blocking perfectly, he decided to take minor damage and attacks. They repeated the exchange of damage. His sword pierced through the Lord¡¯s shoulder. Taesan¡¯s pupils shook as he saw that the Lord¡¯s expression was infinitely calm as if he had anticipated this. The Lord yanked at Taesan¡¯s wrist. The sword was embedded deeply, unable to be pulled out. Using that moment, he kicked Taesan¡¯s abdomen. [35 damage to you.] ¡°Kuek!¡± His body was lifted momentarily, and a dull pain was felt in his chest. His ribs were broken. Judging from the sensation, it seemed more than three were broken. [You have activated Indomitable Will. You ignore all injuries and act for 10 seconds.] The pain didn¡¯t disappear, but he no longer felt the unpleasant sensation. Taesan pushed the sword deeper. [25 damage to Hage-Ha.] [25 damage to Hage-Ha.] The handle of the greatsword struck Taesan¡¯s back. [46 damage to you.] Taesan lifted the sword that had been stabbed into him. His shoulder, leather, skin, and all were torn apart. The Lord hit Taesan with his own shoulder, and the sound of bones breaking echoed through the room. [35 damage to you.] His whole body creaked as he forcibly moved his damaged body. He repeatedly stabbed the sword while enduring his own damage to his body. Taesan plunges his sword into the chest of the Goblin Lord. The de sunk deeply. He could feel the heartbeat at the end of the sword. At that moment, the Lord¡¯s face rxes. With a gentle face like one who had found rest, he whispered to Taesan. ¡°Holy. Warrior¡­¡­!¡± Something seemed to leave the Lord¡¯s body. Taesan felt that it was his soul. That spiritual something scattered, not toward the ceiling, but along the floor. It seemed to be going deep, deep down. [You have won against the former Goblin Lord Hage-Ha.] [You have cleared the quest of Lakiratas.] [You have deciphered the hidden element of the 3rd floor. You received the reward [???].] A system window announcing the end of the battle appeared. It was over. Taesan slumped down. ¡°Phew.¡± He exhaled, eyes closed, leaning against the wall. His level had increased, relieving all physical fatigue, but the mental burden was substantial. ¡®So this is a Lord.¡¯ It was a strength that didn¡¯t seem goblin-like. His power, calmness, situational awareness, and responses to all variables were perfect. If there had been even a slight or even minute mistake, he would have been the one to die. It was dangerous during the Lakiratas incident, but it was truly close this time. [Are you alright?] ¡°Somewhat.¡± He rubbed at his eyes, easing his fatigue. As his consciousness gradually returned, he suddenly had a thought. ¡°Why so quiet?¡± The ghost hadn¡¯t said a word since the end of the battle. It just silently stood by Taesan¡¯s side. [Just... nothing.] The ghost trailed off. Taesan felt something was off about its unusual behavior but didn¡¯t press further. He didn¡¯t have the energy to worry about that now. ¡°Phew.¡± He stretched. His body had finally calmed down. His heart, which had been beating wildly, had returned to a normal rhythm. ¡°Time to check things out.¡± He opened the system window that was blocking his view. Lines of text densely filled his field of vision to the point where he could hardly see in front of him. Firstly, the victory rewards. [You have won against an unbeatable foe. Your health increases by 50. Mana increases by 5. All stats increase by 7.] Victory against an unbeatable foe bonus. He had never seen this before. It was impossible to encounter such a foe in Easy Mode, and after leaving the ce, it was not possible to receive rewards, so this was his first proper reward. All stats +7. On top of that, his health and mana increased. This was far more than any reward he had ever received. And it didn¡¯t end there. [You fought a bloody battle against an unbeatable foe. You acquired the special permanent skill [Thirst for Battle].] [You fought and won a bloody battle against an unbeatable foe. You acquired the special permanent skill [Thirst for Victory].] [You sessfully faced all trials against an unbeatable foe. You acquired the special activation skill [Contempt for the Strong].] Chapter 32: Fourth Level (1) He had acquired three skills at once. This was a first for Taesan, so he began to check his skills. [Special Permanent Skill: Thirst for Battle] [Proficiency: 1%] [When facing a difficult enemy or an unbeatable foe, you feel exhration. Everything about you is enhanced.] ¡°A skill specifically for tough opponents?¡± That was exactly what the description stated. He wasn¡¯t sure about the exact numbers, but if it was an average increase, he could find a lot of use for it. Especially considering how often he encountered difficult or unbeatable foes here. [Special Permanent Skill: Thirst for Victory] [Proficiency: 1%] [You receive greater rewards when you achieve victory against a difficult or unbeatable enemy.] ¡°Huh.¡± A skill linked directly to the rewards? Taesan had never seen such a skill before. He confirmed the content. The effect was additional rewards when achieving victory against a tough opponent. Although he didn¡¯t know what kind of additional rewards, like Thirst for Battle, it would likely be quite useful. And now thest one. Contempt for the Strong. [Special Activation Skill: Contempt for the Strong] [Mana Consumption: 1] [Proficiency: 1%] [When facing a difficult or unbeatable foe, you can receive a judgment bonus.] ¡°Hmm¡­¡­¡± Taesan pondered this, trying to understand the effect. ¡°Does it mean I get the judgment bonus twice?¡± If that was the case, it was a great skill. The increase in judgment bonus was quite significant. The reason he was able to beat the Lord this time was that all his stats increased due to the judgment bonus. If he could receive it twice, it would be a great help when facing a tough opponent. The victory reward was fully satisfying. It was time to check the other rewards. [Your level has increased.] [As a reward for leveling up, your health has increased by 25.] [As a reward for leveling up, your strength has permanently increased by 4. Your agility has permanently increased by 4. Your mana has permanently increased by 4.] [Your level has increased.] [You have reached your optimal state.] [As a reward for leveling up, your health has increased by 30.] [As a reward for leveling up, your strength has permanently increased by 5. Your agility has permanently increased by 6. Your mana has permanently increased by 5.] He had leveled up twice. Usually, even against a tough opponent, it ended with just one level up. This change clearly showed what kind of level the Lord was. It was truly breathtaking, even when he thought about it again. He would have died if he had made the slightest mistake. If the Lord¡¯s leg had been intact, Taesan would not have thought of fighting and would have fled. He was trying to challenge thebyrinth, not tomit suicide. It was that level of strength. And then the Soul Ascension. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength has permanently increased by 7. Your health has permanently increased by 30. Your mana has permanently increased by 10.] It was a simple but definite increase. And Soul Ascension was not just a skill that stole stats. Taesan checked the remaining system window. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. The proficiency of Breathless attack increases by 6%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have obtained the special activation skill [Strong Blow].] Taesan¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°I got a skill too? What kind of skill is this?¡± It was truly beyond imagination. He thought Soul Ascension was good, but he had to revise his thoughts if it also gave him skills. ¡°It¡¯s iparable.¡± A skill that could proudly be the best among all skills. That was Soul Ascension. At this point, it was more of a top-tier skill rather than a multiplier. Considering what kind of hardships one had to endure and what dangers one had to ovee to obtain a skill, this alone was a main skill level. Taesan whistled while checking Strong Blow. [Special Activation Skill: Strong Blow] [Mana Consumption: ?] [Proficiency: 1%] [Your next attack hits harder.] The mana consumption wasn¡¯t even listed. The description was brief, but Strong Blow was a good skill used till the end by even Hard Mode yers. The effect was simple. Additional damage was added to the skill used in proportion to the mana used. As the proficiency increased, the amount of mana consumed, and the more skills used, the damage exponentially increased. It was a skill that many yers loved to use as it could hold a lot in one blow. However, Taesan, being an Easy Mode yer, had low basic attack power and hence didn¡¯t use this discarded skill. It wasn¡¯t like Addition, which doubled the attack power itself, but a skill that judged the damage when attacking, so there was no way to use it. Moreover, since he had too many skills, using Strong Blow was quite a waste of mana. But it was different now. It could be very useful. And he also received a piece of equipment. It was a ne adorned with beast teeth. [Ne for the Master] [Attack Power + 3] [Defense Power + 3] [Strength + 3] [Agility + 3] [Intelligence + 3] [A ne made by goblins praying for three days for their master. It is imbued with spiritual power.] ¡°Hah.¡± Taesanughed with satisfaction. The stats attached to the ne were unbelievable. While the stats were impressive, the ne even had attack and defense power. The ne had the highest defense power among all the equipment he was wearing now. Taesan swapped his ne. While the ne with 2 attack power wasn¡¯t bad, it couldn¡¯tpare to the Lord¡¯s Ne. It seemed like the increase in stats was over. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 12] [Health: 430/430] [Mana: 75/75] [Strength: 63] [Intelligence: 71] [Agility: 58] [Attack Power + 18] [Defense Power + 12] [The target is in its best condition.] The overall increase in power was significantly high at a nce. With this rate, he should be able to reach the stats he had when he cleared Easy Mode by the 5th floor. But it didn¡¯t stop there. Taesan gained a skill that he hadn¡¯t even anticipated. [You have charged towards your enemy at high-speed countless times. You have obtained the special activation skill [eleration].] [Special Activation Skill: eleration] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 1%] [elerates towards the target.] ¡°I already got eleration?¡± ¡®elerates towards the target.¡¯ It was a very simple description. In thebyrinth, shorter descriptions often denoted stronger skills. eleration was one of those skills. If the criterion of rushing towards the target was met, he would run at a speed double his usual. The criteria were rtively generous and could be used in most situations. Once the proficiency reached 100%, he could also get the Hyper-eleration that he frequently used. ¡®I thought it would be quite a struggle to get this.¡¯ One of the methods to obtain a skill was to replicate its effect. To get eleration, one had to create various potions, conditions, and situations and try them. Yet the chances of obtaining it were low. Perhaps, he got it because he received a judgment of achieving an impossible victory. It was an unexpected harvest. Taesan finished his checks with a satisfied face. He became strong in an instant. The risk and return were definitely worth it. It was certainly worth investing in this. ¡°This is the answer.¡± [You¡­¡­] The ghost spoke softly. Noticing a different tone than before, Taesan smirked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± [No, it''s nothing.] The ghost shook its head and then forced itself to speak with an enthusiastic voice. [So, are we going down now?] ¡°We have to go to Lakiratas first.¡± Though it seemed odd, Taesan didn¡¯t question it. He ascended to the 2nd floor and arrived at Lakiratas¡¯ Altar. A crimson mist congealed, and a transcendent something revealed itself beyond the altar. [Huh.] The ghost flinched for a moment and hid behind Taesan¡¯s back as if to conceal itself. Lakiratas, as if indifferent to the ghost, sent out a system message. [You have passed Lakiratas'' Trial. Rewards are given to you ording to Lakiratas'' evaluation.] [Lakiratas was greatly satisfied with your struggle. Lakiratas wishes to give you a worthy reward.] Taesan looked at the system message with indifference. Lakiratas must have known about the Goblin Lord hidden on the 3rd floor. The likelihood was high that he had given such a trial because he wanted to watch the battle between the Lord and Taesan. A life-or-death battle. Strategy, talent, skill, and luck. A bloody fight that demanded all of these. Struggle and death. Lakiratas was clearly asserting his dominion. [Lakiratas proposes the Apostle''s Contract to you.] ¡°I told you I won¡¯t ept it.¡± He promptly hit the refusal button. The ghost was taken aback. [You, you. Wait a minute.] ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± [Then Lakiratas will¡­¡­.] ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, does it?¡± The entity that existed beyond this space chuckled as if it found this quite amusing. The ghost closed its mouth. [Lakiratas'' influence area has decreased.] [Lakiratas gives you a reward. You have received [Shield]. You have received the special permanent activation skill [Shield Increase].] ¡°Shield?¡± It seemed like a reward rted to stats. Taesan opened the status window to check. ¡°Hmm?¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 12] [Shield: 10/10] [Health: 430/430] [Mana: 75/75] A new itembeled ¡®Shield¡¯ was added above ¡®Health¡¯. ¡°Ghost?¡± [I don''t know either. It''s a stat I''ve never seen before.] It seemed to be a reward only given by Lakiratas. Taesan also checked the skill he had received. [Special Permanent Activation Skill: Shield Increase] [Proficiency: 1%] [You have gained a shield that blocks damage. The value of the shield increases proportionally with your health.] Taesan, who read the skill, tapped his chin. A shield that blocks damage. It increases in proportion to health. ¡®Feels like a second health bar.¡¯ Health would probably be depleted after the shield, and once the shield reached 0, health would start to diminish. It seemed to work in that way. If Taesan¡¯s guess was right, it was a very good skill. He didn¡¯t know how much the proportional value would be, but it was the same as saying that his health would increase. No, it was even better. The shield was marked entirely differently. It wasn¡¯t a judgment of health. This means there was a moment when health was not depleted, even when damage was taken. ¡®Is it possible?¡¯ A single possibility passed through his mind. Still in the realm of spection, he tidied up his thoughts and looked at the altar. The red fog was disappearing as if everything was over. [Lakiratas looks forward to your next meeting.] The fog disappeared. Only the altar to worship the deity remained. [Whew!] The ghost exhaled btedly. It had been on high alert since Lakiratas revealed its presence. [Darn it. I didn''t expect to be so nervous even when I was already dead.] ¡°Why are you so scared? Doesn¡¯t seem like something worth fearing.¡± [Once you know what kind of entity it is, you''ll think differently.] ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± He had already seen simr things outside. Taesan indifferently descended thebyrinth. He passed the 3rd floor and arrived at the 4th. [4th floor quest begins.] [Defeat the boss of the 4th floor and pass.] [Reward: Ashen Wrist Guard.] [Secret Reward: ???] The reward for the 4th floor was equipment. Ashen Wrist Guard. Considering the rewards given so far, it was likely to be pretty useful equipment. Taesan, who was checking the secret reward, realized something btedly. ¡°I haven¡¯t used the reward yet.¡± The secret reward ??? from the 3rd floor. He obtained the reward he hadn¡¯t been able to get by defeating the Lord. He hadpletely forgotten while dealing with so many rewards. Taesan btedly started to check. [You have used ???] [You have obtained a Proficiency Increase Potion.] ¡°Eh?¡± Taesan was taken aback by an unexpected potion. [Proficiency Increase Potion] [Increases the proficiency of one skill by 5%.] ¡°Really.¡± Increases proficiency. He had never seen such a description. It was surprising since it was a well-known fact that proficiency could only be obtained through endless usage and mastery. But the reward in itself was splendid. A full 5%. Considering that you would have to grind for days to increase the proficiency of a top-tier skill by 5%, it was a very good reward. For now, he would set it aside. It would be more beneficial to find an appropriate skill to use the potion on rather than using it immediately. Taesan put the potion into his inventory and turned toward the room. Inside, the dwarf was waiting. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± The dwarf, who had been examining Taesan for a moment, had a look of admiration on his face. ¡°A protective shield? Rakiratas gave that too? He¡¯s really dishing out the rewards.¡± ¡°Can you see it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s obvious when it¡¯s floating above your head.¡± Whether NPCs in thebyrinth had such abilities or had a rted skill, it appeared that Taesan¡¯s status was visible to the dwarf¡¯s eyes. ¡°Looks like you beat Hage-Ha. Did he have a good time?¡± ¡°He seemed quite satisfied.¡± ¡°Oh? That¡¯s at least a good thing.¡± The dwarf said with a poker face. ¡°There¡¯s nothing harder than meeting a satisfying death here. Just like the guy behind you.¡± Chapter 33: Fourth Level - The God Of Victory, Balthasar(2) [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Can I get it too?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Lee Taeyeon would refuse even if it was offered, but you''re proactive. It should be possible. But I don''t really know. What I received might be something different.] [Shut up.] The ghost spoke sharply. However, his voicecked the force it had previously. It seemed as if something was missing. The dwarf, who noticed this, suppressed a snicker. ¡°You are a halted existence. Don¡¯t forget that.¡± ¡°Stop that already.¡± Taesan waved his hand with an annoyed face. ¡°Why do you two have such bad chemistry?¡± ¡°Do you expect us to hold hands and y house here? This ce is inhabited by those driven to their limits from the beginning. It¡¯s hard to find anyone here with a good rtionship.¡± The dwarf shrugged with a look of annoyance. ¡°If you have nothing else to do, you should go down. I¡¯m tired of looking at that guy.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± There was nothing to buy for now, anyway. Taesan went down to thebyrinth. The ghost said nothing. The fourth floor. He knew about this ce from Lee Taeyeon. ¡®She said it was the floor of the orcs.¡¯ Rats were followed by goblins. Goblins were followed by orcs. It was a rather conventional arrangement. Orcs. yers called them a warrior race. Each one possessed a robust physique and strength and demonstrated excellentbat movement. That didn¡¯t mean that their intelligence wascking. They were also quite agile. These all-around monsters, rare to see in thebyrinth, were seen as bosses from the middle floors in Easy Mode. Now they roamed the entire floor. The way Lee Taeyeon passed the 4th floor was simple. She favored using Molotov cocktails and oil. She used them on susceptible targets until she ventured quite deep. Taesan arrived at a room. In it was a single altar. [You''ve discovered the Altar of Balthasar.] [First Discovery Bonus] [Your Intelligence has permanently increased by 1. Your Mana has permanently increased by 2.] ¡®Just as I heard.¡¯ He confirmed it without being surprised since he had heard about it from Lee Taeyeon. A high and lofty spire reaching up to the ceiling was noticeable as Taesan ced his hand on the altar. [Altar of Balthasar] [An altar created by those who serve Balthasar. It is a passage connected to the god. Balthasar can exercise his influence through this ce.] The basic content was the same as the Altar of Lakiratas. Balthasar. If Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words were correct, his domain was victory. [God of Victory. Balthasar, huh.] ¡°Do you know about him?¡± [He''s not a bad god. Nor is he good, either. Just an average god?] Power was gathering at the altar, and I felt something from beyond the space. It was looking down at this ce. It wasn¡¯t as dark and sticky as Lakiratas. It was a collection of violent power that didn¡¯t permit anything. [Sub Quest Start] [Balthasar wants to test you, who havee to his altar. If you ept, a trial wille to you. If you ovee it, there will be a reward.] [Reward: Balthasar will determine based on your achievements.] There was no information about the trial either, as Lee Taeyeon had avoided all altars. However, there was no reason to refuse. Taesan epted the quest. [Sub Quest Start] [Balthasar rejoices in your choice.] [Balthasar is reading your experiences.] Taesan grimaced at the system window that followed. ¡°He¡¯s reading?¡± [As he''s the God of Victory, he reads your memories and experiences to evaluate your worth. If he deems you unworthy, he won''t give you a quest or will dismiss it. But you won''t have any problems.] It was as the ghost said. A momentter, the power beyond vibrated violently. It was as if the happy shaking of an excited force had eventually stabilized. Then, another window popped up for Taesan. [Balthasar''s area of influence decreases.] [Balthasar proposes an enhanced trial to you.] Taesan paused. The ghost seemed to expect that. [Ha. He reduces his area of influence and offers a trial? Well, there''s no way Balthasar would dislike you.] Taesan pondered as he looked at the system window. From his experience with Lakiratas, he realized that gods were fickle. It would be hard to readily ept an enhanced trial. The ghost resolved his dilemma. [Are you worried about the enhanced trial?] ¡°I¡¯ve already had one with Lakiratas.¡± [...So, he offered that to you too. And you survived.] An indiscernible emotion was contained in the ghost¡¯s voice. Then, he began to speak calmly. [It''s okay to ept. You''re more than capable of clearing it now.] ¡°I nearly died during Lakiratas¡¯s trial.¡± [That''s because it''s Lakiratas. That god is capricious. Even if you fought and died, it would be satisfactory for him, and it wouldn''t have mattered.] Lakiratas governed over struggle and death. Even if Taesan fought and died, both elements were satisfied. The opposite was also true. That was one reason why Lakiratas could act freely. [Did your trial suddenly get tougher while you were in the middle of it?] ¡°How did you know?¡± [Well, that''s because he''s a capricious one. I expected it, but I didn''t know he''d really do it.] The ghost said with a touch of unease. [Gods fundamentally hate to break agreements. Even for humans, who are like ants to them, or perhaps especially because of that, they dislike breaching the contract. The moment they lie, they feel that their dignity diminishes.] So, the ghost¡¯s judgment was that there should be no problem. After a moment of contemtion, Taesan nodded his head. ¡°I ept the quest.¡± The rewards of the gods were certain. Despite its difficulty, Lakiratas had provided ample rewards. If he epted, he could be significantly stronger. If the ghost¡¯s words were true, the gods would try not to lie. If that¡¯s the case, there was no reason to refuse. [Sub-quest initiated.£Ý [Balthasar is greatly pleased.£Ý [Balthasar''s area of influence decreases.£Ý [Balthasar gets the consent of the residents of the 4th and 5th floors.] [. . .] [Approval 20. Disapproval 1.] [The 4th-floor changes.] A system window popped up, and with it, a violent crashing sound reverberated through the floor. The ground shook for a moment. Taesan quickly bent his body to stabilize himself. Boom! Boom! The intense sound kept resonating. The vibrations felt through the floor, and the walls suggested that something significant was happening. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± A few secondster, the vibrations disappeared. The system window appeared. [Balthasar''s Trial: Conquer the transformed 4th and 5th floors.] ¡°Transformed?¡± [Uh... this is my first time seeing this too.] Even the ghost seemed taken aback as if he had never encountered this before. Taesan opened the door and moved into the next room. Only then did he realize what the vibrations were. [Wow.] This whole ce was abyrinth. Passages connected to each other, and rooms were organically linked. The 4th floor probably wouldn¡¯t be much different. But now, changes have urred here. A passage was visible at the far end. ¡°It transformed into a straight line.¡± The 4th floor had transformed from abyrinth into a series of connected rooms in a straight line. Thebyrinth itself had transformed. Not just one room but the whole floor. ¡°Is this even possible?¡± Taesan knew how solid the walls of thebyrinth were. Through many experiences, he realized how solid the concept of a ¡®floor¡¯ was in this ce. But even he had never heard of an entire floor changing like this. [The adversary is a god who participated in creating thebyrinth. It''s not impossible... but it''s surprising. He was capable of this?] The ghost also seemed quite taken aback, as if it was his first time seeing this. Taesan looked around the room. There was no significant change in the room itself. ¡°Good.¡± Then his task hadn¡¯t changed either. The ghost was surprised as Taesan headed toward the room. [You''re going in just like that?] ¡°There¡¯s nothing to do if I just stay put here, is there?¡± [... That''s true.] Taesan passed through the room and entered the next one. There was an orc there. ¡°That¡¯s big.¡± It was three times the size of an average person. The orc, sitting down, opened its eyes. Seeing Taesan, it curved the corners of its mouth. ¡°Grunts.¡± The orc extended its sword. [An orc wielding a sword has appeared.] There was only one orc in the room. It seemed as though it wanted a fair fight. ¡®Agreement.¡¯ Twenty in favor. And one against. He seemed to understand the meaning. Taesan pulled out Lakiratas¡¯ sword and his shield. The orc, seeing that he was ready, stomped its foot. It seemed to say that nothing more was necessary as it swung down its sword. ng! Their swords shed, and Taesan pushed back immediately. The orc was pushed back, but it quickly regained its stance. It was definitely stronger than a goblin. Even in terms of strength, it didn¡¯t fall far behind Taesan. ¡°Grunts!¡± The orc swung its sword. Taesan blocked it with his shield. [You took 4 damage.] With over 400 health points, that damage wasrgely insignificant. Taesan quickly opened the status window to check. [Protective Shield 6/10] His protective shield had been scraped off. Confirming that the shield took damage before health, Taesan moved his sword. The orc reacted by moving against him. ¡°Stronger than I thought.¡± There were no openings. He had fought against orcs in the previous world, so he knew. They were definitely stronger now. [A divine trial. It seems you have to fight one on one and win till the end. Of course, the enemies would also be equally strengthened.] nk. Taesan¡¯s arm was pushed down as the orc exerted great force. Taesan pulled his arm back momentarily and then pushed back immediately. Thunk! ¡°Grunts!¡± The orc was thrown back, and Taesan immediately closed the gap. [You have activated a continuous attack. The next attack will be used twice.] [You have activated a powerful strike. The next attack will cause significant damage.] [You caused 34 damage to the orc wielding a sword.] [You caused 22 damage to the orc wielding a sword.] The continuous attack only added a basic attack. Thanks to this, he could definitely confirm the difference in damage from a powerful strike. Taesan used 6 mana, and the damage was 34. ¡®So, 2 per 1 mana spent.¡¯ Not a bad ratio. The ratio would increase as his proficiency level rose. ¡°Grunts!¡± The orc pushed Taesan back and swung its sword. He dodged lightly and thrust at its neck. After swinging his sword a few more times, the orc fell. ¡°Grunts¡­¡± A satisfied expression was on its face. [You have won against the orc wielding a sword.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 1.] Given that it was an orc, the strength increase was usible. ¡°It¡¯s not that hard.¡± [If it''s hard with your current stats, that would be a problem. It looks like it''s a staircase style, so it''ll get harder the further you go.] It was a sort of stage. The first orc was the weakest enemy. As he passed through each room, increasingly stronger orcs would appear. Considering the number of approvals, there should be ten rooms on each floor. Taesan moved further in. A sword was thrust at him. Despite its massive body, it was fast enough to leave afterimages. It charged towards Taesan. Taesan, with a calm expression, swung his sword, deflecting the orc¡¯s de and piercing its chest. ¡°Grunts!¡± [You have won against the orc wielding a sword.] [Your level has increased.] [As a reward for leveling up, your health has increased by 20.] [As a reward for leveling up, your strength has permanently increased by 3. Your agility has permanently increased by 4. Your mana has permanently increased by 1.] Five orcs. After clearing a total of five rooms, his level increased. Perhaps due to the divine trial strengthening the orcs, the experience also seemed to have increased. ¡°Not as much trouble as the noise suggested. I was unnecessarily startled.¡± Although they had been strengthened, they were not enough to stop him. As thebyrinth had changed into a straight path, unnecessary movements were eliminated, enabling faster clearing. The spirit spoke as if it was absurd. [So that''s how you talk about divine power. Goodness.] ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± [...Well, that''s true.] So far, nothing significant has changed in thebyrinth for Taesan. Strictly speaking, only the path had changed. There wasn¡¯t much thrill since his regression, as he had been in a simr situation before. The spirit grumbled. Taesan checked the equipment he had acquired. [Thick Ankle Guard] [Defense + 3] [It seems like it can block many attacks. It doesn''t seem like it can block weapons.] Defense 3. That was quite a high value. The ankle guard he was currently wearing was 1, so this was an increase of 2. And then, the weapon. [Crude Spear] [Attack + 4] [It''s a spear. It looks like it would hurt quite a bit if you got stabbed.] It was exactly as the description said. His first spear and it had quite a high attack power. The variety of weapons in this ce was also a significant benefit. There were definitely asions when he would need to use a spear. Taesan put the spear into his inventory and checked his status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 13] [Shield: 12/12] [Health: 450/450] [Mana: 78/78] [Strength: 72] [Intelligence: 72] [Agility: 62] [Attack + 18] [Defense + 14] [The subject is in perfect condition.] The shield had increased to 12. An increase of 2. ¡°So the ratio is 1/10. That¡¯s good.¡± This means that if his health was one hundred thousand, the shield would be ten thousand. The ratio would also gradually increase as proficiency increased, so it was quite a good skill. However, the shield¡¯s value was not just in terms of his overall health. Taesan confirmed it in the first battle. The shield depletes before health. The two had different judgments. In that case, there was something to be gained. A main skill that could only be gained when taking damage that would reduce health without actually losing health. It was a paradox that needed to be solved, but it was a skill worth that effort. ¡°This really seems possible.¡± If he could just raise the shield a bit more, it would be feasible without any trouble. He thought he could only do this after significantly preparing various potions, equipment, and skills, but it was a pleasant miscalction. Chapter 34: Fourth Level - The God Of Victory, Balthasar(3) To do so, leveling up was a priority. A shield of 12 wasn¡¯t sufficient. Taesan entered the next room. ¡°Krrk.¡± [An orc armed with a spear has appeared.] As if waiting, the orc immediately charged toward Taesan with its spear. ng! The sword and spear collided. The strong pressure told him that the opponent¡¯s stats were quite high. The orcs had been enhanced once again through the trials of Balthasar. As he passed through each room, they became stronger, and the orc right in front of him now had the power to easily handle two ordinary orcs. Of course, it wasn¡¯t difficult. Taesan¡¯s stats were at values that only yers in Easy Mode would barely even reach when entering the lowest levels of thebyrinth. For him, a difficult enemy would mean that other yers couldn¡¯t defeat them at all. No matter how enhanced the trial was, a mere sixth monster on the path could not possibly pose a threat. However, he was not winning easily. The spear spun around as it tried to grab the tip of Taesan¡¯s sword and throw it away. The pinnacle of technique. If he tried to counter the technique with his own, there would be no chance of winning. [You have activated Counter. You retaliate against the next attack from your opponent.] His body moved naturally as his sword pushed the spear away and struck the orc. ¡°Krrk¡­¡± The orc fell. Counter. A forced retaliation skill. If there was a chance to counter a technique, even if the body didn¡¯t know how to respond, it would retaliate. The problem was that the process didn¡¯t leave any effects or memory on the body. No matter how much he used it, he couldn¡¯t apply it without activating the skill. ¡°This is tough.¡± Even though his stats were overwhelming against the orcs, he couldn¡¯t win easily because of their spear technique and swordsmanship. He didn¡¯t know where they learned it from, but all the orcs had considerable skills. With swordsmanship learned through training and practice, not realbat, they easily deflected Taesan¡¯s sword. He seemed to slowly understand the importance of systematic skills. The weapon techniquesbined with realbat weren¡¯t bad, but the limitations were evident. It would be even more pronounced here, where they were expressed in the form of skills. So far, he had been responding with skills, but he couldn¡¯t continue to do so forever. ¡°I want to learn.¡± But he couldn¡¯t grasp it. He had tried mimicking the actions of the orc, but seeing as it didn¡¯t manifest as a skill, it seemed that the skill only appeared after being taught by someone. [......] The ghost didn¡¯t say anything. Taesan headed to the next room. This time, an orc holding an axe was waiting for him. ¡°Krrk.¡± Taesan drew his sword. As he passed through each room, the orcs became stronger, and their skills improved, but they couldn¡¯t stop Taesan. His stats were still superior; even if the opponent¡¯s techniques were superior, he could still cope. Taesan could reach the boss¡¯s room without much trouble. ¡°That was fast.¡± The God of Victory had turned the maze into a straight path, so all he had to do was run. This brought up a question. ¡°How do I find the ¡®secret rooms¡¯?¡± There was at least one secret room on each floor. But with the maze changed like this, he didn¡¯t know what happened to the secret rooms. The ghost seemed clueless as well. [Ding.] [Kang Junhyuk (Solo) has invited Lee Taeyeon and Kang Taesan.] A message came as Taesan was about to enter the boss¡¯s room. [Kang Taesan (Solo): What''s up?] [Kang Junhyuk (Solo): Oh, you replied immediately. What were you doing?] [Kang Taesan (Solo): Was about to go fight the boss.] [Kang Junhyuk (Solo): So you''re already heading to the 5th floor... you''re really fast.] [Kang Taesan (Solo): So what''s the matter?] [Kang Junhyuk (Solo): Well, Taeyon noona and I just cleared the 1st floor. Wanted to let you know.] Clearing the 1st floor meant that they had finally defeated the Giant Rat. Taeyeon appeared just in time. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Ah, I thought we were done for.] [Kang Junhyuk (Solo): Noona is here too. How''s the 2nd floor?] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Why are so many monsters popping out? Is this really the 2nd floor?] After grumbling for a bit, Taeyon noticed Taesan and greeted him. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Hello, Mr. Taesan.] [Kang Taesan (Solo): So how did you do it?] Taesan asked about how they defeated the Giant Rat. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): We just threw oil and Molotov cocktails. Upon closer inspection, it seemed like the boss couldn''t leave the room. After holding out for a few minutes, it just died on its own?] [Kang Junhyuk (Solo): I didn''t like it either, but we didn''t have any other way. So we had to work hard.] Lee Taeyeon replicated the same approach she used in the past. Throwing fire and then running away to wait. It was a safe method that ensured sess without risking her life. Most crises could be resolved this way. However, Kang Taesan didn¡¯t proceed this way. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): But, maybe because it''s a trick, there''s no reward like the ones you mentioned, Kang Taesan. The level-up rewards were also less than expected.] Rewards for defeating foes were given when facing them head-on. The level-up rewards were also contingent on what was done during the leveling process; if you simply set fires and ran away, no significant stats would increase. It was a safe tactic but one that cut into future progress. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): But we can''t help it because we have no other options. We''re lucky to have defeated it at all.] [Kang Taesan (Solo): What skills did you gain?] Kang Taesan had released information about the skills in themunity. It was time to see if that effort had paid off. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Hmm... For now, Breathless and Breathless Attack. Also, Pain Reduction.] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): Me too. But how do we gain ''Unyielding Will'' and ''Endurance''? No matter how I try to fight, it hurts so much that I can''t concentrate.] Kang Taesan was surprised to see Lee Taeyeon¡¯s message. ¡®She learned Breathless?¡¯ Kang Taesan had shared about Breathless in the previous world. However, Lee Taeyeon was unable to learn it. She, who was already deep in, had refused, not wanting to take risks. ¡®Is it a difference in circumstances?¡¯ Was it the difference between the limatization period to thebyrinth being over versus just beginning to adapt? That difference seemed to have made Lee Taeyeon make her decision. [Kang Taesan (Solo): How about the others?] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): ...... Not yet, I''m sorry.] She seemed apologetic, but Kang Taesan, who had been expecting this, maintained a calm expression. Whether to die or not to die. Before standing on such a precipice, they wouldn¡¯t understand the gravity of the situation, as Kang Junhyeok feverishlymented. [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): Even if we tell them it''s good, they refuse to learn.] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): The Breathless Attack is really great. I never imagined that gaining freedom in my breathing would be this beneficial.] [Kang Taesan (Solo): Do you think I told you to learn it for no reason? ''Unyielding Will'' and ''Endurance'' are good too, but if you can''t master them, it can''t be helped.] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): I felt like I was really going to die while trying... I just couldn''t.] They had finished discussing the basic skills and clearing methods. Taesan began to discuss the second floor, which they had just reached. [Kang Taesan (Solo): You''ve seen the second-floor monster. How was it?] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): ...Is this really something that can be beaten?] Lee Taeyeon spoke as if it was absurd. This was a natural reaction if she had seen the second floor. The Big Rat was difficult, but its damage was low, and it usually moved alone. If one was resolved to counter it, it wasn¡¯t impossible. However, on the second floor, there were four goblins in one room. Each one had a simr strength to Lee Taeyeon, making it incredibly hard to ovee. [Kang Taesan (Solo): You''ll have to figure out the method on your own. You should be able to think of something.] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): ... Aren''t you trusting me too much? I barely managed to get through the first floor using tricks.] [Kang Taesan (Solo): It''s a simple fact. You are more than capable.] Lee Taeyeon had cleared Solo Mode. Even if it was by trickery, her aplishment was undeniable. After a moment of silence, Lee Taeyeon responded. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Thank you.] He then gave a rough exnation about the goblins. While he couldn¡¯t reveal the exact answer, he could at least discuss their characteristics. In the course of the conversation, the topic of the altar came up. [Kang Taesan (Solo): While wandering around the second floor, you''ll find an altar of Lakiratas. It''ll probably give you a quest. Don''t ept it.] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): ...It seems dangerous. Okay.] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): What does it give? I want to take it if possible.] It was clear from the conversation that the personalities of Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon wereplete opposites. Lee Taeyeon avoided all ces that seemed dangerous. She might have missed out on a lot, but that allowed her to survive. On the other hand, Kang Junhyeok wanted to try challenging things first. Perhaps because of his young age, he had no fear. Neither of them could be said to be better than the other. If Kang Junhyeok¡¯s method led to survival, he could gain a lot, so it could be seen as being closer to the right answer. However, the Altar of Lakiratas did not fall within the right answer. [Kang Taesan (Solo): Don''t do it. If it were a different deity, maybe, but not Lakiratas. If you ept it, you''re 100% dead, so filter it out.] Defeating the Lakiratas¡¯ Servant [Fake] was impossible. Moreover, the opponent was whimsical. He judged that the losses outweighed the gains. But Kang Junhyeok was wistful to the end. [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): Hmm... It''s tempting... So it can''t be done no matter what?] [Kang Taesan (Solo): Lee Taeyeon has a problem because she has too much fear, and you have a problem because you have none. I''ll give you a simple example. You couldn''t get ''Endurance'' because you were scared, right?] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): Yes. How can I possibly get that?] [Kang Taesan (Solo): You could get it if you epted, right?] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): What does that mean... Ah.] [Kang Taesan (Solo): It''s either get it or die. Choose one. If you''re confident, ept the quest.] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): ...Okay.] Finally, he seemed a little disappointed. Taesan grimaced. ¡®If I don¡¯t firmly warn him, he¡¯ll cause trouble.¡¯ Having a spirit of challenge was good. But he should know his limits. If he continued like this, Kang Junhyeok had a high probability of dying. ¡®I should give him some training.¡¯ [Kang Taesan (Solo): Then struggle on your own. I''m going to clear the rest.] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Where are you now?] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): He was almost at the 5th floor.] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): ...Wow.] Taesan closed the Community window. The ghost that was waiting patiently got up. [Is it over now?] ¡°Yeah.¡± Taesan entered the room. Inside, an orc was waiting for him. [An Orc Warrior has appeared.] Warrior. A position that only the chosen ones among the Orcs could reach, and its strength was iparable to ordinary Orcs. ¡®The boss is the same.¡¯ Lee Taeyeon also met a Warrior on the 4th floor. However, it must be much stronger, as it was strengthened by Balthasar¡¯s trial. As Taesan assumed a stance, something caught his eye. ¡°Euh¡­¡± A woman trembling was nailed to a corner of the wall. It was a human. Taesan¡¯s eyes flickered. A western woman with long blue hair crouched like a squirrel and clutched her head. The golden robe she wore was striking. [Oh my. Why is she here?] ¡°Do you know her?¡± [I know her...but... how is she still alive? I thought she would die soon.] A human known by the hero. Then the probability of her being an NPC was high. The problem was, why was she trembling and cowering in the boss room? ¡°Uh¡­ Huh?¡± The trembling woman nervously looked around, and her eyes met Taesan¡¯s. ¡°¡­Adventurer?¡± [Hello?] ¡°¡­Mr. Hero?¡± She suddenly got up and ran towards him. She was holding a wooden staff in one hand. ¡°Please save me!¡± She quickly hid behind Taesan¡¯s back. The ghost chuckled. [Why are you acting like this here?] ¡°I, I don¡¯t know. Suddenly thebyrinth changed, and I was chased out. When I came to my senses, there was an orc right next to me. Damn it. What the hell is this?¡± The woman murmured while sniffling. Taesan realized. ¡®Is this the secret room¡¯s NPC?¡¯ She was chased out forcefully when thebyrinth changed. That seemed to be the identity of the woman. [You have encountered a miserable person longing for magic.] Chapter 35: Fourth Level - The God Of Victory, Balthasar (4) [Ah?] She was chased out due to the changes in thebyrinth. The ghost, who realized this btedly, chuckled. [So, you''ve been cohabitating ufortably?] ¡°Ugh¡­ Why is thebyrinth changing all of a sudden¡­ The woman began sobbing, finding her situation truly unfair. Being driven out of her dwelling and suddenly ended up in a room with an Orc Warrior. It must have been quite startling. [It''s because of this guy.] ¡°Pardon?¡± Confusion welled up in the woman¡¯s eyes. She nced at Taesan and trailed off as if it didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°He seems like a new adventurer who just entered thebyrinth¡­ [Well, anyway. Let''s talk about thister. Let''s deal with this first.] The Orc Warrior drew his sword, and Taesan met him head-on. ¡°Uh, um.¡± The woman murmured, breaking the tense atmosphere. ¡°Wait a minute. An adventurer like you¡­¡± [It''s okay.] The ghost spoke with a voice filled with trust and faith. [Just watch for now.] Although there was some noise from behind, Taesan barely heard it. His gaze was entirely focused on the Orc Warrior. ¡°Hehe.¡± The warrior chuckled happily and swung his sword. The great sword, befitting his massive physique, was aimed at Taesan. ¡°Is your target me?¡± If the woman had been here since thebyrinth changed, she could have been killed at any time. However, the warrior dismissed her as if she were a mere bug. He sprang into action Only after Taesan arrived, thrusting his sword at him. They had consented to the trial of the gods. They were exclusively targeting Taesan. In that case, he was ready to respond. Taesan nted his feet. [You activated eleration.] The wind batted against his face. Even without that sensation, his already-high agility became faster due to eleration. The warrior hurriedly raised his sword, but Taesan had already swept past him. [31 damage to the Orc Warrior.] ¡°Hehe!¡± The warrior roughly swung his greatsword, and Taesan faced him. The swords shed with a loud noise that echoed throughout thebyrinth. As expected, the Orc Warrior was a boss. The power he felt was only slightly weaker than his own. Despite the power boost from leveling up and his enhancement from Soul Ascension after entering the 4th floor, it was not a pushover. And the warrior also possessed swordsmanship. The greatsword moved smoothly, targeting Taesan¡¯s weak points. Watching the trajectory aiming at his own arm, Taesan activated his skill. [You activated Counter. Retaliate against the next attack from the opponent.] His body moved naturally as he fended off the warrior¡¯s sword and, in return, stabbed at his chest. But the warrior didn¡¯t just take the attack. He moved his arms and legs to minimize the damage. However, his stance had to break, and Taesan didn¡¯t miss that opportunity. Kaang! The sword struck down at the Orc, causing its knee to buckle. But he didn¡¯t fall. No matter how much power Taesan exerted, it was just maintaining the status quo. [You activated Mighty Strike. The next attack deals significant damage.] Mighty Strike. A powerful attack. It was not just an increase in damage but literally added weight and power. It was a hidden feature that even the other users didn¡¯t know of. Squeak! The additional strength pinned down the Orc as if it was being crushed. He desperately resisted, trying to break free, but was blocked by Taesan¡¯s movement. Unable to withstand the weight, the Orc¡¯s body slowly started to be sliced by his own sword. The warrior¡¯s face reddened. ¡°Hehe!¡± [The Orc Warrior has entered a Berserk state.] Berserk was a skill that was activated by enemies of the warrior ss. Its effect was a reduction in cognitive ability and a twofold increase in strength. The Orc roughly pushed out his sword. The sudden change in power usually caught most yers off guard, costing them their lives. However, Taesan was already aware of the conditions for activating Berserk. As soon as Berserk was activated, he created distance, leaving the warrior¡¯s sword to cut futilely through the air. The warrior, unable to control his aimless power, stumbled. [You activated eleration.] Taesan¡¯s elerated body and sword pierced the warrior¡¯s chest. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± With an admiring expression, the warrior disappeared. [You have defeated the Orc Warrior.] [You have defeated the boss of the 4th floor. You have received the basic reward [Ashen Wrist Guard].] [You have understood the hidden element of the 4th floor. You have received the reward [???].] [Your level has increased.] [You have acquired a Heavy Greatsword.] Taesan collected the sword. Although it was a boss, the victory wasn¡¯t that difficult. He had easily defeated the Goblin Chieftain on the 3rd floor as well. Only the Goblin Lord was irregr. For a regr boss, even with a 30% enhancement, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against Taesan. The difference was not in simple stats but in experience and information. Regrettably, he did not receive the formidable enemy victory reward. This implied that the warrior was no longer considered a difficult enemy. In fact, the difficulty was about right for Taesan¡¯s level. That being said, the rewards were not meager. Including the rewards for leveling up and the increase in his stats, his Health increased by 50. Agility increased by 4. Strength increased by 6. Intelligence increased by 1. His Strength stat was already close to what it was previously. Even Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t reach these stats before reaching the 10th floor, and considering that the growth rate increases exponentially the further one descended in thebyrinth, this was an incredibly fast rate. His Shield also increased by 10% of his Health, now reaching 17. And thanks to the continuous battles, the descriptions of several skills had changed. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Battle Continuation] [Proficiency: 20%] [Allows you to sustainbat for an extended period. You won''t easily umte fatigue. The duration you can fight at peak condition extends.] Battle Continuation was a skill that did not easily increase in proficiency. However, he could reach 20% proficiency on just the 4th floor thanks to fighting countless tough enemies. Now he wouldn¡¯t tire from just ordinary activities. Even if he continued to fight without rest, he could easily battle for over an hour. Reaching 20% proficiency implied this. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Enhanced Perception] [Proficiency: 21%] [Perception is enhanced. You can sense things like killing intent. You can also perceive blind spots.] The ability to detect blind spots had been added. Now, getting hit from behind was virtually out of the question. There were still more rewards left, but he couldn¡¯t check them right now. Thanks to his Enhanced Perception, he could continuously feel distrustful gazes aimed at him. ¡°H-how did an adventurer on the 4th floor defeat the warrior, and so easily at that¡­¡± The woman muttered as if it were impossible. ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± ¡°A yer.¡± Taesan answered gruffly. After a while, the woman, who had insisted that this was impossible, seemed to calm down after hearing an exnation from the ghost. With aposed expression, she approached Taesan. ¡°Uh, hmm. Thank you. I survived, thanks to you.¡± Chewing on some goblin meat, Taesan nodded. The woman looked at him as if he were a curiosity. ¡°There really are people who eat that¡­ Is it tasty?¡± ¡°No.¡± The taste was awful but enough to roughly fill his stomach. There was a time when eating the human-like form of a goblin was disturbing, but now he didn¡¯t even remember it. ¡°So, who are you?¡± The ghost of the Hero knew her, so she must have survived here for quite some time. The woman with blue hair dusted off the dirt on her robe. ¡°I¡¯m Lillis. A devotee of magic. A woman who entered this ce to learn profound mysteries.¡± ¡°Magic?¡± ¡°It seems youe from a world without magic like the Hero said¡­ There really are all sorts of worlds.¡± Lillis, who seemed to find it fascinating, answered. ¡°Magic can only be learned by those who can. It¡¯s a born talent. I didn¡¯t have the talent, but I wanted to learn magic more than anyone else. That¡¯s why I came here.¡± She murmured with a distant look on her face. ¡°This ce is abyrinth. A ce where one can find their dreams. Thanks to it, I¡¯ve achieved results.¡± [Though they were very feeble, like that of a firefly.] Lillis¡¯s face crumpled at theughter-filled remark. She waved her hand, and light was woven. Then, it filled the room. In the brightened room, Lillis grumbled. ¡°Yes, this is as far as I could go. This damnbyrinth also discriminates against people.¡± [But didn''t you acquire something you couldn''t have otherwise? You should be satisfied.] ¡°But isn¡¯t it stillcking? I didn¡¯t give up everything to obtain just this.¡± Taesan looked at her askance. She said her achievement was weak. However, the light magic she manifested was something everyone desired, but only a fortunate few could obtain. Given that the effects attached to the staff were random, the chance of obtaining the desired magic was very slim. It was no exception for Taesan either. Unaware of Taesan¡¯s gaze, Lillis continued grumbling. ¡°So I was stuck here, continuing my research, when suddenly my room was smashed, and I was chased out. Why did this happen?¡± [I told you. It''s because of this guy.] ¡°Don¡¯t lie.¡± Lillis scowled. ¡°Yes, I acknowledge that he is strong. But it doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s at the level to disturb thew, right? Even the Hero couldn¡¯t do it, could he?¡± [Well, this guy couldn''t.] The ghost spoke leisurely. [But there is someone who could, isn''t there?] Lillis¡¯s pupils, deep in thought, widened. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, a god?¡± [You know it.] ¡°But to change thebyrinth, they also have to sacrifice their own domain.¡± [They deem it worth it for this guy.] ¡°Ah¡­¡­ Lillis sent a gaze filled with wonder toward Taesan. ¡°Some are stuck begging to learn magic¡­¡­¡± [Are youining about that now?] ¡°It¡¯s just a gripe. What an unfair world.¡± Lillis grumbled, bending her waist. ¡°Sigh. Now that thebyrinth is like this, I have to find a new base.¡± [You''re going down?] ¡°Do I have any other choice? I have to find the secret room and establish my base. The 5th floor is probably in the same condition, so I might have to go to the 6th floor.¡± [Can you go down?] The 5th floor had changed into a straight line. As more powerful monsters appear on the 6th floor, it would be difficult to break through without problems. ¡°That much isn¡¯t a problem.¡± Lillis snapped her fingers. An opaque curtain wrapped around her, hiding her from sight. [Invisibility magic? You learned that too?] ¡°They can¡¯t notice me until the 9th floor, so I can go down with this.¡± Before she left, she looked at Taesan. ¡°Thanks for helping me for now. I¡¯d like to repay you, but¡­ I don¡¯t have anything.¡± ¡°You do.¡± Taesan spoke impassively, and Lillis looked puzzled. ¡°I really am penniless? All my catalysts and materials flew away.¡± ¡°Your power.¡± Lillis¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Magic. I want to learn that.¡± ¡°Uh..¡± Her voice trailed off, and her face disyed a sense of repulsion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I spent my lifetime learning this. I¡¯m grateful for your help, but it¡¯s hard for me to give this away.¡± She rejected Taesan¡¯s proposal. He somewhat expected this reaction. From her words, it seemed she came here to learn magic. She wouldn¡¯t teach that to just anyone. From here, it was negotiation time. As Taesan was about to speak, the ghost spoke first. [Why not just teach him?] ¡°Excuse me?¡± Lillis looked at him in surprise. Taesan also gave his attention to the ghost. The ghost started speaking calmly. [You''ve got nothing, do you? Anything to give back?] ¡°Well¡­¡± [All you have is magic. I understand you put a lot of value into it, but from an absolute standard, it''s nothing. Isn''t it a fair price for a life?] ¡°Well¡­ yes, but¡­¡± Still, she looked reluctant. Value was rtive, and to her, her magic was truly precious. [And it''s not a bad deal for you either.] ¡°Pardon?¡± [How far did you go down?] ¡°¡­the 9th floor.¡± She replied quietly, as if embarrassed. The ghost responded as if he expected as much. [Right. With your abilities, you can''t go any further. But he is an adventurer who explores thebyrinth. Moreover, he''s been recognized by a god. Naturally, he''ll go deeper. In other words, he''ll be able to obtain things from those depths. Isn''t it a chance for you to learn the magic you haven''t learned yet?] ¡°Ah.¡± Lillis¡¯s pupils widened. [I think it''s a win-win deal. What do you think?] ¡°Come to think of it¡­¡± Lillis¡¯s face brightened. ¡°That sounds great! Yes! I¡¯ll teach you!¡± Taesan nodded with uncertainty. He threw a nce at the ghost, who remained silent. With a joyful face, Lillis spread her arms. ¡°Wow! I just remembered you¡¯re an adventurer! This will make life more exciting. I have nothing to teach you now, but once I settle on the 6th floor, let¡¯s meet again!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± She pped her hands, but there were no visible chains. Her body slowly faded until she becamepletely invisible. ¡°See you on the 6th floor!¡± She disappeared. He had no choice but to assume so, as he felt absolutely nothing. If she didn¡¯t speak, he wouldn¡¯t even detect her presence. ¡®That¡¯s magic.¡¯ It seemed worth the investment of time. Taesan looked at the ghost with a puzzled face. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± [What?] ¡°Why are you suddenly being so helpful?¡± [So what if I am? Do I need a reason to be?] The ghost grumbled. Chapter 36: Fifth Level - The God Of Victory, Balthasar (1) The ghost had always grumbled from the moment they met. He showed dislike for Taesan and constantly talked down to him while stating the kind of person he was. Whether that was the jealousy of the dead or not was unknown, but they were definitely not on good terms. However, the ghost¡¯s attitude had suddenly changed. ¡®Ever since I defeated the Goblin Lord.¡¯ After that, he became quiet and answered Taesan¡¯s questions without hesitation. He no longer boasted about his own greatness. ¡°Why are you acting like this?¡± [I just saw the possibility.] The ghost said in a bitter tone. [And it''s also an atonement for me.] ¡°Atonement?¡± [Forget it. I''m going to help you with what you''re going to do from now on. There''s nothing wrong with that, right?] He had a simr attitude to the dwarf. No matter how much he was asked, he wouldn¡¯t answer. ¡®¡­Fine.¡¯ The face Lillis showed when he asked for magic didn¡¯t seem like she would easily give it up. Thanks to the ghost, he had easily passed that hurdle. Taesan then joked, ¡°Then, will you also teach me swordsmanship?¡± [With your current stats, even if I teach you, you can''t learn it. Originally, you would barely be able to do it when you reach the 10th floor... considering your growth rate, yes, on the 7th floor. It would be possible. I''ll teach you then.] The ghost obediently answered. Taesan, who thought the ghost would refuse as he was very protective of his own swordsmanship, was even more surprised. ¡®What?¡¯ Although perplexed, it wasn¡¯t a bad thing for Taesan, as the ghost said. It was rather good. If he fully cooperated, it would make navigating through countless problems easier. Thinking that what was good was good, Taesan checked his rewards. He had the weapon that he acquired when he defeated the warrior. [Heavy Greatsword] [Attack + 7] [It''s extremely heavy. It seems difficult for an ordinary person to even lift.] If the attack power was 7, it was higher than Lakiratas¡¯ sword. However, he had no intention of changing it. The weight itself wasn¡¯t a problem. If a weapon was hard for Taesan to lift now, it wouldn¡¯t be because of its shape. The problem was that the greatsword was incrediblyrge. It was over twice the size of Taesan. There would be constraints depending on the situation or conditions. On average, Lakiratas¡¯ sword was undeniably better. It was nonsensical for a long sword to only have an attack power of 5. But still, it was a good weapon. As the attack power was higher, there mighte a day when he could use it. And the reward for clearing the 4th floor. [Ashen Wrist Guard] [Defense + 5] [Ash has been sprinkled on it. It doesn''t seem to have any significant meaning.] ¡°Huh.¡± For a wrist guard, the defense was 5. It was on par with the shield he was holding. It wasn¡¯t the expected performance for a simple floor clear reward. Taesan switched out the wrist guard that he had been wearing happily. The ghost, who had been watching him closely, opened his mouth. [I recognize that one.] ¡°The gatekeeper gave it to me.¡± He had given Taesan the wrist guard. Taesan thought it was just basic wristguard equipment and had been using it quite efficiently. [Right. That stingy one did that.] The ghost murmured softly. Taesan changed his equipment and checked and saw that his defense was now 19. It was slowly bing higher than his attack power. ¡°Not bad.¡± He didn¡¯t care much, but defense was also an important value, so it was good that it was increasing. And then there was ???. It seemed that he was rewarded for finding an NPC or a secret room. [You used ???] [You obtained an Engraving Scroll.] It was a satisfying reward, as expected. ¡°I already got a scroll.¡± Unlike the wand, there were types of magic in the form of buffs. They were named scrolls. [Engraving Scroll] [It endows special power to equipment.] Taesan used it immediately. It was hard to obtain on the lower floors, but it could be easily found on the middle floors. There was no need to save it. Of course, it wasn¡¯t that it had little value. In this early stage, the value of a single scroll was greater than equipment. The equipment he used it on was naturally Lakiratas¡¯ Sword. [You activated the Engraving Scroll on Lakiratas'' Ritual Knife.] [Lakiratas'' Ritual Knife] [Attack + 5] [Recovers 5 health when the target is killed.] [Has a certain probability of knocking back the target.] The effect of knocking the target with a certain probability was added. Taesan, after checking it, smiled in satisfaction. The Engraving Scroll had random effects. It could infuse the weapon with the attribute of lightning or refill health with every attack, among various other effects. Among them, there were effects close to being duds. Effects that could even harm the user. The knock-back effect he obtained was close to being a jackpot, providing a helpful variable duringbat. Given the number of enemies in this ce, it belonged to the higher-tier effects. ¡°As expected, secret rewards are good.¡± It was only possible to obtain these by finding all the secret rooms and hidden elements. Therefore, the things you could obtain there were only those that you couldn¡¯t find on any floor. Hence, Taesan was trying to obtain them, even if it meant wasting time. Having finished his preparations, Taesan went down. The dwarf, who had been waiting, was surprised to see Taesan. ¡°You¡¯re already here? That¡¯s quick.¡± ¡°Thebyrinth has changed.¡± ¡°Ah. I wondered why it was so noisy. It must have been Balthasar meddling. Well, of course, you¡¯d have been involved.¡± Like the ghost, the dwarf seemed to take it in stride that Balthasar had exerted his power. The ghost didn¡¯t say anything. As if feeling it was needless to say anything, the dwarf also ignored it. ¡°So, what are you going to buy?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He had now umted quite a bit of money as he had gained 100 gold per orc. As they were an elite minority of monsters, the supply of gold from them was a little less than the goblins. Still, including the rewards from the boss fight, he had a total of 1,500 gold. He also nned to sell what he had. ¡°How much is this worth?¡± ¡°About a thousand gold.¡± A thousand gold. A total of 2,500 gold. The dwarf casually opened the space and showed his goods. ¡°My rmendation is this.¡± ¡°Inventory Expansion Ticket?¡± ¡°¡­How did you know about this?¡± The dwarf was surprised as Taesan checked what he had offered. [Inventory Expansion Ticket] [Expands inventory by five slots.] [1,000 G] ¡°I¡¯ll buy it.¡± Twenty slots in the inventory were starting to be insufficient. It was better to buy the expansion ticket right away as it only went on sale at certain times. Now, 1,500 gold remained. Taesan checked the goods. As he descended a floor, better items were avable, but it was hard to decide quickly. ¡®It¡¯s all about the same.¡¯ Even if he bought something, the difference would only be an increase in attack power by 1 or 2. It was hard to make a significant change as he had already bought all the basic equipment. An increase was an increase, so it wasn¡¯t bad, but something feltcking. As Taesan continued to check, something caught his eye. A silver glittering powder was contained inside a transparent bottle. ¡®Why is this here?¡¯ Taesan, surprised, checked it. [Blessing Powder] [Rumored to be a powder thates from fairy wings. It is rumored to bless the user.] [500G] He was certain, and Taesan was bewildered. The dwarf noticed his expression and picked up the Blessing Powder. ¡°Were you looking at this?¡± ¡°Do you know what it is?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± The dwarf shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Fairy powder. There¡¯s a lot of talk about it granting blessings. But no one knows if it¡¯s true. There was a guy who bathed in it to get good luck, and he ended up busting his head open. Strangely, it has high value and is expensive. But it¡¯s useless.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± [I don''t know. I''ve never bought it.] The ghost also appeared not to know. ¡®I guess that¡¯s natural.¡¯ In his previous world, countless yers had bought the Blessing Powder. This was because the phrase¡¯ it grants blessings¡¯ was incredibly attractive. However, no one had ever felt its effect. Until Taesan discovered its secret, it had be a discarded item for everyone. Blessing Powder. Its effect was the adjustment of minute probabilities. ¡°Give me three.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The dwarf looked surprised. ¡°Are you really buying this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stop you but¡­ really? You know this thing doesn¡¯t have any effect, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± It was not that it had no effect. Others just didn¡¯t know how to use it. ¡°Do you have any more?¡± ¡°For now, that¡¯s all I have.¡± He couldn¡¯t get more. It was a pity, but this was enough. He wouldn¡¯t have to wait long before he could put it to use. The dwarf gave him a strange look. ¡°Why are you buying that?¡± But Taesan was satisfied. He believed he would soon reap the benefits. Now, all his money had been spent. There was nothing more for him to see in the shop. ¡°Then I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± ¡°Alright. Be careful.¡± The dwarf waved him off. [5th Floor Quest begins.] [Defeat the boss of the 5th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Splendid Decorative Sword.] [Secret Reward: ???] Another window appeared as he entered the floor. [Balthasar is pleased with your achievements. He looks forward to giving you a satisfactory reward.] It was a subtle nudge. The ghost also seemed to have seen the system window and let out a chuckle. [Those bothersome ones who are figuring out their weight, not only do they cut into my territory, but they go this far too. A bothersome person remains bothersome.] ¡°Is the influence area that important?¡± [Important? Gods only know about their own territories. Many who have found this ce, the brave warriors who have gone through their trials, the loyal followers who call their names, they do not use what is my territory. They package it as if it''s something valuable while giving a measly reward. That''s what gods are.] The ghost spat out as if he was saying something disgusting. However, Taesan had a dark face. From his perspective, all the gods tried to give him something while reducing their influence. He didn¡¯t think it was such a big deal. The ghost spoke with bitterness. [They''re using you because you''re worth it. You can be proud.] ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that.¡± He thought of clearing their trials only if there was a reward. Taesan arrived at the first room. ¡°Heh, heh.¡± [An Orc Warrior has appeared.] ¡°Starting with a two-hander.¡± The warrior raised his spear. With that, he thrust straight forward at Taesan. Taesan swung his shield. ng! The force he felt impacting the shield was not inferiorpared to the boss of the 4th floor. Kang! Instead of immediately pushing back, Taesan took some time. The sword, shield, and spear collided. Suddenly, the warrior¡¯s body was pushed back. ¡°Heh, heh!¡± The warrior let out a perplexed cry as his body moved involuntarily. Taesan immediately charged in and pierced his chest. The warrior pushed him away with a rough swing. ¡°Heh, heh!¡± Once again, their weapons shed. After exchanging about ten blows, the warrior was once again repelled. Taesan stabbed his chest. The warrior fell. A powerful strike and continuous attack. Because he used his abilities in session, he could finish quickly. ¡°Definitely useful.¡± The effect of the Engraved Spell Scroll. It had a certain probability of pushing back the opponent. As sudden as the pushback was, it could create a big variable in battle. It seemed to ur once every ten attacks. This would have taken quite some time if it weren¡¯t for the spell scroll. The warrior had that kind of strength. The difficulty level suddenly increased upon entering the 5th floor. If the first one was this tough, the fifth, eighth, and tenth ones would definitely be much stronger. ¡°Not bad.¡± However, Taesan had a joyful face. So far, his descent had been rather boring. He had only managed to defeat one; hence there was a sense of regret somewhere. The stronger the opponent was, the more one gained. The most important thing was to secure a victory. Taesan began to pass through the rooms. Chapter 37: Fifth Level - The God Of Victory, Balthasar (2) Taesan kept moving through the rooms. Without a moment¡¯s rest, he was able to clear up to the fifth room at a fast pace. ¡°It¡¯s starting to get tough.¡± Taesan rubbed his tingling wrist. The orcs were getting stronger as the rooms progressed, making it a bit risky. From now on, the strength of the enemies was such that it wouldn¡¯t be strange to obtain reward items after defeating them. Instead of immediately heading to the next room, Taesan sat on the floor. The God of Victory¡¯s trial was a series of 1:1 duels. As it repeated, he felt a little fatigue. ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel a bit regretful.¡± With the enforced 1:1 situations, the number of variables decreased, and the gains also decreased. As the enemies were getting stronger, hecked the leisure to create skills, and his stats were not yet at a level to do so. [The god will give a fitting reward. There''s no need to regret.] ¡°I suppose so.¡± It wasn¡¯t bad now. As the enemies were strong, his Soul Ascension also had greater effects. He also acquired a few minor items. He could make a decent amount of money if he sold them in the store. If he could pass through here, he would reach the 6th floor, and then he could learn magic. ¡°She was someone who yearned for magic, wasn¡¯t she?¡± [That little one?] ¡°How did you find out?¡± The woman named Lilis was weak. Despite surviving for a long time, she still couldn¡¯t pass the 10th floor. He didn¡¯t expect such a weak being to be here. [You know that the constraint of lifespan disappears here, right?] Taesan nodded his head. In thebyrinth, lifespan was not an issue. If it had been, most yers would have either aged to death or be elderly when they went outside. [She was there when I first entered thebyrinth. Just like now, she was groveling on the 4th floor. I felt sorry for her as she was about to die by the orc, so I saved her and heard her story. She really was a pitiful one.] ¡°¡­How long ago was that?¡± [Well? In terms of time outside, it wouldn''t be over a hundred years, would it?] She couldn¡¯t get past the 10th floor for a hundred years. She hadn¡¯t learned any proper magic either. It was truly an old story. [She came here to learn magic but was a pitiful creature who couldn''t catch a break due to her pathetic talent. I helped her a bit because she was so pitiful. I didn''t know she''d still be alive.] The ghost muttered in an amazed voice. Indeed, that was the case. Even if she didn¡¯t aim for the top, surviving without dying for a hundred years was an amazing feat in itself. ¡®I wonder if there are quite a few NPCs like that.¡¯ Those who came in with their own purpose, not conquering thebyrinth, established a ce to stay. It was entirely possible. After a brief rest, Taesan broke through the rooms again. Bymitting bloodshed and repeating victories, Taesan finally cleared the ninth room. The ninth was a named orc, a being named Baltha. It shouted a glorious roar of battle towards Taesan and started the battle. And Taesan won. The ghost watching him eximed. [Could it be that Flow wasn''t an upper-level skill but something you could counter. I didn''t know.] Baltha, the orc with the name, used many skills, including Flow. A regr yer might have been confused by the variety of skills, but it was actually better for Taesan. He knew all the weaknesses and countermeasures of Flow. Baltha¡¯s whole body was bleeding red. He would die from bleeding out soon. It was his victory. ¡°Who are you?¡± Baltha didn¡¯t express anger or joy in defeat, instead wearing a puzzled expression. ¡°That¡¯s impressive. To utilize the Counter in such a way. It¡¯s amazing. Indeed, you are a great warrior. But¡­ I¡¯m not sure. Are you truly an adventurer from the 5th floor?¡± Baltha had activated Flow and charged in. In a charge that disregarded defense, it was possible to panic and show a gap, but Taesan countered it very simply. Taesan activated his Counter and ran towards him. He attacked the opponent, removing the Flow. The twisted trajectory of his body then showed a gap that would bait the opponent¡¯s weapon, forcibly activating Counter to allow him to regain control of the body. Counter was a skill that forcibly moved the body. Even if the trajectory was twisted by Flow, it forcibly corrected the body. At first nce, it seemed like a reasonable strategy. Counterattacking inflicted more damage, and since the opponent focused on Flow and discarded defense, it could change the bnce of the fight in an instant. It was a perfect answer. However, that was a conclusion one could only reach after going through thebyrinth countless times, learning the method, the advantages and disadvantages of skill activation, and numerous other conditions. ¡°It¡¯s not just about the information. It¡¯s about the movements you¡¯ve personally felt and experienced. I can¡¯t know.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t answer. Baltha let out a satisfiedugh. ¡°There are questions, but¡­ it was a satisfying fight. I¡¯ve something to brag about to myrades.¡± The orc took off an earring and threw it. ¡°You humans value material rewards for your victories. Take it. It¡¯s the reward for your victory.¡± A monster giving a reward directly. Taesan was surprised and picked up the earring. ¡°Go on, warrior.¡± Life disappeared from Baltha¡¯s face. [You have defeated the elite orc, Baltha.] Orcs. They yearned for an honorable death. There must be a reason they epted the divine trial. Taesan checked the earring. [Baltha''s Earring] [Strength + 5] [Baltha made this earring the year he came of age. He imed that long-loved objects imbue strength.] The strength stat increased by a whopping 5 points. This was not something that could be acquired on the 5th floor. And then the victory rewards. [You have single-handedly defeated a difficult opponent. Your strength permanently increases by 4. Your agility permanently increases by 3. Your health permanently increases by 10.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your strength permanently increases by 5. Your agility permanently increases by 4. Your health permanently increases by 5.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your proficiency in Flow increases by 7%.] There was one more. [Your Thirst for Victory has activated. Your strength permanently increases by 4. Your agility permanently increases by 3. Your health permanently increases by 10.] The total simple stat increase was 23. Health increased by 25. Proficiency also increased by 7%. ¡°This is useful.¡± In reality, it was more than just a simple increase. The Disdain for the Strong, Thirst for Victory, and Thirst for Battle skills he gained from defeating the goblin lord were all top-tier skills. Even though his level hadn¡¯t increased, the stat increase felt as though it had. And his proficiency in Flow was slowly approaching 50%. After finishing the verification, Taesan checked his status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 15] [Shield: 24/24] [HP: 575/575] [Mana: 80/80] [Strength: 112] [Intelligence: 75] [Agility: 85] [Attack Power + 18] [Defense + 19] [The subject is in top condition.] His strength had already surpassed the stats he had previously reached. Agility was also barely there. It was unbelievable to have his stats be on par with what they were when he had cleared 100 floors in Easy Mode while he was only at Solo Mode¡¯s 5th floor. And he also acquired another skill. [Permanent Special Activation Skill: Fair Duel] [Proficiency: 1%] [When facing a 1 on 1 situation, your stats increase. The increase is proportional.] He hadn¡¯t used it yet, so he didn¡¯t know how much the increase would be, but it was a skill that was always activated. There was no mana consumption, so it was a skill that only had this point. It was obviously good to have. Now, he had exactly 30 skills. And only one room remained. Before going, Taesan shared his experiences through the Community. While Taesan was breaking through, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were also slowly clearing the second floor. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: If you slightly open the door and throw something like a stone, you can lure them in one by one and catch them.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Noona, you''re really good at thinking of these things.] They had found a way to defeat goblins and were clearing each room. Although it was slow, they were making progress, so it was close to the correct method. The yers on the first floor were also slowly moving toward the second floor. The Giant Rat could be cleared with just a spear and a Molotov cocktail, so it wasn¡¯t that difficult. Surviving after that was a separate matter, but Taesan couldn¡¯t help them with that. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: It''s best to collect everything you can from the first floor before moving on. You lose your means of recovery on the second floor.] [Moon Jaesung[Solo]: Got it.] The Fountain of Life stopped functioning as soon as they left the first floor. The rewards also significantly decreased, making it hard to go back and grind. Time passed as he gave some warnings and advice. Most of the yers in the Community were in Solo mode. yers in other modes didn¡¯t need to use the Community since they could meet in person. [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Ah, bro, I found the altar.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Will you listen if I tell you something?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: If you say so, I have to listen. You know better than me.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: It''s interesting. Do you feel like doing it after hearing that? I didn''t even want to touch it.] They were in the middle of a conversation. [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: You''re having fun.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: ¡­¡­Huh?] [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: You''re really enjoying yourselves. Drumming and singing. It''s making my eyes twitch, so could you tone it down?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: What did you say?] [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: Stop showing off.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: ¡­¡­Showing off?] Lee Taeyeon posted a short message. They were words filled with much meaning. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: We''re showing off?] [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: Isn''t that right? You''re all just ying around.] The trolling continued. [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: I can''t believe what I''m seeing. What? Can''t even touch the Big Rat? Can only dream of a direct confrontation with the boss and have to burn it? Where is such a ce?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]:......You.] [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: Stop showing off in the Community like it''s a ce no one else knows. Alright? Let''s take it easy.] [Gal Heejung[Easy]: That''s right. The Community isn''t yours, is it? I understand that you can''t meet people, but could you please restrain yourselves a bit?] [Moon Soohan[Easy]: Besides, is it true that you can''t meet each other? Or is it just a scam?] Posts from the Easy Mode yers flooded in. The Solo Mode yers, who had been dumbfounded, became enraged. [Lee Sang[Solo]: You people!] [Moon Jaesung[Solo]: You call this a conversation! Can you imagine how we feel doing this here!] [Kim Taejin[Solo]: Wow. This is ridiculous. Choosing Easy Mode and then talking like this?] [Gal Heejung[Easy]: Who asked you to choose Solo Mode? Why are youining after choosing it yourself?] [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: yers in other modes are all quiet, but you guys talk so much.] Their emotions escted, and they started arguing. Emotions ran high, enough that if they had been face-to-face, they might have stabbed each other. Taesan watched this scene darkly. A month had passed since the people of Earth entered thebyrinth. In Easy and Normal Modes, it was time for them to have adapted and entered a stable phase. From this point on, there would be no deaths if they were cautious. And leisure made people focus elsewhere. They wanted to vent their anger for being trapped in this horrible ce. They wanted to create something to vent their emotions. The Solo Mode yers, who were always making a fuss in the Community, seemed like the perfect target. Especially the Easy Mode yers who couldn¡¯t feel the difficulty of the game. ¡°Still, it was never this bad.¡± There had been conflicts in the previous world, but they never escted to this degree. They were all victims trapped in the same ce. While victims often resent other victims more than the perpetrators, a sense of homogeneity still ended the quarrels at minor disputes. Taesan looked at the posted messages. [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: Wow, only in Easy mode? Are you making fun of Easy mode yers? That''s not a joke. It''s just¡­] Choi Junghyeok. A name he had seen in the previous world. ¡°It¡¯s that guy, as expected.¡± [What is?] ¡°This discussion.¡± That guy must have inmed the emotions. Taesan, who had been silently watching, finally opened his mouth. [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: And Kang Taesan? That guy is the funniest. Why is he so boastful? What''s with all the talk? I actuallyughed while watching, you know?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: That guy is really crazy.] [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: The advice he gives is also absurd. Endure in HP1 state? Isn''t that just a fancy way to say die? Why do you guys believe in such a person?] Chuckles. Laughter escaped. It was clear why Choi Junghyeok was pushing this far. By now, he must have established his guild. There was a troublemaker in the previous world, but now there was no one to stop him, so he had essentially conquered Easy Mode. And every group needed an enemy. Not a massive,byrinthine entity, but an enemy on which they could vent their emotions and frustrations. Choi Junghyeok was not a fool. Solo and Easy Mode yers could meet each other, and if what the Solo Mode yers said were true, then they thought that clearing the game was impossible, hence the taunts. People who onlyined about the difficulty but could not be met. They were perfect targets. However, Choi Junghyeok was missing one thing. Taesan leisurely posted a message. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Let''s meet in a month.] [Choi Junghyeok[Easy]: ....What?] There was a hint of surprise. Taesan stopped talking and closed the Community. Choi Junghyeok was going to pay for his careless words. Until then, he nned to descend as far as he could. [Are you going to proceed right away?] ¡°There¡¯s no reason to dy.¡± Taesan got up. He was hardly fatigued. His physical and magical energies had been fully restored as he rested. Taesan headed to the next room. [Orc Chieftain. Latran has appeared.] An orc was waiting for him, a greatsword buried in the ground with both hands. ¡°It¡¯s not a Lord.¡± [You expect a Lord-grade already? The odd thing is - if that guy had fully functional legs, you would have died.] Even with the significant penalty of being immobilized, it was hard to guarantee victory against a Lord grade, given that an orc was a higher-tier monster than a goblin, a Lord grade was expected to be impossible to defeat, even for the improved Taesan. [The Chieftain is not weak either. It has enough power to manage a phase. Considering it''s the final trial, the difficulty level is high, and it''s an enemy that the adventurers here can''t oppose... but well, you can probably handle it.] Those calm words carried a definite trust. Latran, looking at him, began to speak. ¡°You¡¯ve made it here. Oh, great warrior. I thank you for yourbative spirit. It will make for a pleasurable duel.¡± Latran lifted his greatsword. ¡°Are your honorablerades satisfied with their departure?¡± Taesan nodded his head. Latran smirked. ¡°I guess that¡¯s enough. I thought the so-called gods were useless¡­ but this time is different. I must express gratitude.¡± ¡°You¡¯re more interested in the duel than in killing me.¡± If you thought of their roles as defenders of thebyrinth, opposing the god¡¯s trial would be the correct choice. Everyone mobilizing at once to pressure Taesan would give them a much higher chance of winning. But the orcs didn¡¯t do that. All twenty orcs approved of the trial. ¡°What use is killing you?¡± Latran disyed a puzzled look. ¡°We are just ves tied to this ce. We can¡¯t even anticipate when our liberation wille, let alone have a glorious battle. And now you say we should trample on you, who could not only free us but also give us a glorious death? You expect us to do such a meaningless and valueless thing?¡± Latran bared his teeth. ¡°We can¡¯t do that.¡± There was madness in his face. ¡°We cannot. You must show us glory.¡± The air became sharply cold. ¡°Oh, warrior! Show me your power!¡± [You are facing a tough opponent. Your thirst for battle has been activated.] [You have activated ''Disdain For The Strong''. You receive a bonus for facing a formidable enemy.] [You are in a 1:1 situation. Your ''Fair Duel'' has been activated.] As the system message windows cascaded in front of Taesan, Latran bellowed. ¡°And grant me death!¡± [Latran has activated ''Charge''.] [Latran has activated ''Rage''.] Chapter 38: Fifth Level - The God Of Victory, Balthasar (3) Charge and Rage. These were skills that hadn¡¯t appeared until now. If it were anyone else, they would have been taken aback and hesitant because of their unknown effects, but Taesan was different. He had knowledge. Taesan immediately charged at Latran. At this, Latran was rather taken aback. ¡°Huh?¡± Presumably, he thought that Taesan would hesitate in front of an unknown skill; the orc¡¯s sword¡¯s point wavered. However, he immediately regained hisposure and drew his sword. ng! A strong force could be felt from across the sword, and his arm was pinned down instantly. ¡®Indeed, this is absurd.¡¯ This much of a difference was unthinkable. It was monstrous strength. This was quite literally not a monster who belonged on the 5th floor. It was equivalent to saying that a normal yer should not fight it. But Taesan was not a normal yer. Three skills were activated as soon as he started fighting Latran. ¡®Thirst for Battle¡¯ improved all action speed, attack power, and defense when dealing with formidable enemies, and ¡®Despising the Powerful¡¯ also granted a stat bonus when dealing with formidable enemies. Because it was a 1:1 situation, ¡®Fair Duel¡¯ was also activated, which increased his stats. The Goblin Lord had granted him many things. Taesan confirmed the increase in his stats. Due to the activation of the three skills, all of his stats had risen by about 20. This was almost a 30% increase. Taesan rushed towards Latran. ng. This time, he didn¡¯t back off. Their strength was perfectly equal. ¡°Hah!¡± Latran swung his greatsword wildly. His movement was as if he was inviting an attack, and Taesan responded in kind. There was no reason to miss an opportunity to attack without any burden. The damage window began to scroll. In an instant, over 200 damage was inflicted. Latran¡¯s eyes shone. The greatsword moved quickly. Grasping it with both hands, he struck down in a straight line. [Latran has activated Heavy Strike.] [Latran has activated Ignore Offset.] It was the same strike as before. It even had arge gap. It was a clumsy attack that could cause significant damage if blocked and counterattacked. However, Taesan did not block it and immediately created some distance. The greatsword fruitlessly sliced the air, and Taesan took out his staff. [You have activated Fireball.] A me shot towards Latran. Fireball was a good spell, but it was more of a story in the early stages. With Latran¡¯s stats, he could easily avoid it. ¡°Uh?¡± However, Latran unnecessarily dodged the Fireball. Taesan, as if he knew it would happen, had already drawn his bow. Beep-beep-beep! Arrows were shot. With agility exceeding 100, dozens of arrows filled the space between them in an instant. In this rain of arrows, where there was no room to dodge, Latran was forced to move his sword. ng-ng! With one movement of the greatsword, all the arrows fell. Although his attack failed, Taesan remainedposed. It was Latran who wore a bewildered expression. ¡°Do you know something?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Taesan put away his bow. Charge was a skill that allowed the use of specific skills. And Rage, which dealt more damage the more hits itnded. Heavy Strike was a skill that could be used to deal unimaginable damage at the moment of impact. Moreover, Ignore Offset. Normally, no damage was judged when weapons collided, but the Ignore Offset skill could bypass this. If Taesan had blocked it normally without knowing anything, he would have lost half his health. However, Taesan knew. He knew he must not block it. Even if he blocked a minor attack like an arrow, the Heavy Strike would be wasted. ¡°Hmm.¡± Latran nervously held his weapon. He would have gained a significant advantage normally, but due to Taesan¡¯s perfect response, he was the only one who suffered damage. ¡°This tactic won¡¯t work.¡± From here on, it was the real deal. Latran moved his sword with a serious face, and a near-perfect swordsmanship unfolded. Taesan counteracted and, after several rounds, Latran realized. ¡°You don¡¯t have any sword skills.¡± Latran grinned and moved his sword. A technique at its limit revealed itself. As he said, Taesan did not have proper skills. However, Taesan had faced beings with more than nine skills. He had developed sufficient countermeasures. Taesan threw his body towards the trembling end of Latran¡¯s sword. [You have activated Counter.] His body moved automatically to respond to the opponent¡¯s skill. He took advantage of the gap and stabbed the opponent¡¯s thigh. Latran¡¯s face was colored with surprise. ¡°Oh?¡± The duration of the Counter ended. Instead of blocking the sword aimed at his head, he dodged. [You have activated Flow.] The attack twisted its trajectory and mmed into Taesan¡¯s shoulder. A wound appeared on Latran¡¯s chest. [You received 43 damage.] [45 damage to Latran.] Damage was exchanged. A smile appeared on Latran¡¯s lips as he roughly pulled back his greatsword. [Latran has activated Heavy Strike.] Heavy Strike was a skill that could not be ensnared by Flow. Taesan created distance as the sword whizzed perilously close to his nose, and he immediately nted his foot down. [You have activated eleration.] With twice the speed, he plunged into Latran, who still hadn¡¯t recovered the momentum from his swing. He stabbed his sword into Latran¡¯s chest. [56 damage to Latran.] Kagang! Admiration crept onto the face of Latran, who had pushed Taesan away. ¡°You use skills as if they were sword techniques.¡± Skill activations were perfectly timed, without an inch of gap, as if they were his own limbs. It was truly an ideal use. ¡°I¡¯ve been using them for half my life.¡± Taesan answered and shed down with his sword. Latran swung to deflect. [Latran has activated Heavy Strike.] [You have activated Heavy Strike.] Jeong! Both used Heavy Strike, and the one who used more mana and skills would prevail. Taesan pressed down on Latran and continued his health. There was no depletion of health. Mana was also plentiful. If he won here, he would level up andpletely recover. Then there was no need to save mana. Taesan, who made his decision, rushed in. He stabbed with his sword, struck with his shield, and pushed with his shoulder. Latran also responded. He thrust with the handle of his greatsword and pressured with his bulky body. Taesan¡¯s health dropped at a fast pace, but Latran¡¯s decreased at an even faster rate. Taesan deflected the weapon that Latran swung. Teong! ¡°Eum!¡± The effect of the Engraved Spell Scroll. Latran¡¯s arm was raised high. Taesan plunged his sword directly into his chest. [You have activated eleration.] He charged from his current position as eleration was judged even in this entwined state. Latran was pushed back by Taesan¡¯s force and eventually hit the wall. Ku-eung! ¡°Cough!¡± Latran vomited blood, and Taesan pulled out his sword and stepped back. The battle was over. Regret filled Latran¡¯s face. ¡°I should have fought purely. I tried something cheap and only suffered a loss.¡± It would have taken more time if Latran had not used Charge and Rage and only responded purely with swordsmanship and Heavy Strike. However, Taesan, knowing all the skills, could easily counter. That was why it was even simpler. ¡°But it was a fairly satisfying fight. This is a death that¡¯s sufficiently honorable.¡± Latran, with a cheerfulugh, threw a single orb. ¡°Thank you. This is a reward for the victor.¡± Life disappeared from Latran¡¯s face. ¡°Go. Warrior. Seize the victory¡­¡­ Latran closed his mouth. His soul departed from his body. [You have in the 5th-floor boss.] [You have obtained the base reward [Spectacr Decorative Sword].] [You have understood the hidden elements of the 5th floor. You have obtained the reward [???].] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained a Rune of Strength.] [Balthasar is greatly pleased.] He had won. The 5th floor was now over. He had cleared Balthasar¡¯s trial. In response to this, numerous messages popped up in front of him, and Taesan began to sort them out carefully. Firstly, level-up rewards. Health increased by 30, Strength by 7, Agility by 5, and Mana by 4. Since he mainly dealt with orcs, the increase in strength and health was noticeable. Then, the reward for defeating enemies. Health increased by 20, Strength by 5, and Agility by 5. The bonus for Soul Ascension was Health 10. Strength 6. Agility 4. Mana 3. And with the Desire for Victory, Health increased by 20. Strength 4. Agility 4. The total was Health 80, Strength 22, Agility 18, Mana 7. It was an incredible increase for a single victory. And Latran was a Named monster that used skills. The Soul Ascension bonus was activated again. [Your Soul Ascension bonus has been activated. The proficiency of Heavy Strike increases by 5%.] [Your Soul Ascension bonus has been activated. You have obtained the Special Activation Skill [Charge].] The proficiency of Heavy Strike increased, and he also obtained the Charge skill. [Special Activation Skill: Charge] [Mana Consumption: 4] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can enhance the power of a specific skill.] A brief description. It could be used in conjunction with other skills, and it was a skill that became useful from the mid-stages of the game. And the basic reward for the 5th floor. [Spectacr Decorative Sword] [Attack Power + 5] [Decorative Sword. Pointlessly sharp.] Its attack power was 5, so it was on par with Lakiratas¡¯s sword. Moreover, it was small enough for one hand. That meant he could use swords on both hands. ¡°Not bad.¡± Honestly, there was no big need for a shield right now. Rather, it was more beneficial to increase attack power by wielding two swords and killing enemies faster. Satisfied, Taesan checked the other rewards. He decided to put off the secret reward. It wasmon to check such rewardsst. There was an entity that had been restless because it couldn¡¯t give out rewards. [Balthasar is greatly satisfied. He wants to give you a worthy reward.] It could be seen that even through the system window, he was pleased. The ghost grumbled as if it was ridiculous. [Yeah, of course, he''s happy. Who else could pull off something like this?] Monsters on the 5th floor with over 100 in all stats. If it wasn¡¯t Taesan, a normal yer would have died without even clearing the 4th floor. [Balthasar''s influence area has decreased.] [Balthasar gives you a reward. You received the [Belt of Fighting Spirit].] [You''ve cleared the enhanced trial. Additional rewards follow.] [You have obtained a Special Constant Activation Skill [Proof of Victory].] [Balthasar proposes a contract of apostleship to you.] ¡°I won¡¯t ept it.¡± Taesan immediately refused. Rather, Balthasar seemed ted by this response. [Balthasar is pleased with your choice.] This could mean that he thought the fish that escaped appeared bigger or that he might prefer those he acknowledged to not ept too readily. [Balthasar is waiting for your next meeting.] [You have received the title [Recognized One].] The huge presence was leaving. The ghost took a small breath, and Taesan began to check. [Belt of Fighting Spirit] [Attack Power +3] [Defense Power +3] [Each time you pay respect, health, and mana recover by 5.] [A belt that Balthasar bestows only on those he acknowledges.] ¡°Of course, it¡¯s good.¡± A belt. It was a piece of equipment that you could get quitete. Furthermore, many of them often have mediocre stats, making it difficult to find a good one. With a satisfied face, Taesan put on the belt. The gods were beings that gave definite rewards. It was worth the hard work. And the constant activation skill. The Proof of Victory. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Proof of Victory [Proficiency: 1%] [You have ovee and proved your strength. Choose a stat to constantly increase.] ¡°Does this mean that my stats will increase each time I win?¡± Although the exact content needed to be verified, it seemed to mean that. If so, the skill he needed to set this skill to was clear. ¡°Mana.¡± [Proof of Victory is set to Mana.] Mana was always better in greater quantities. For Taesan, mana was more important than strength or intelligence, unlike other yers. Although the ratio had to be checked, it was definitely a win. A skill that increased things on its own without worrying about it was always the correct choice. Then, the reward from the secret room. With thebyrinth changing, a box was ced in the boss room. Inside was a small dagger. [de of Self-Harm] [A reverse de that only hurts the wielder.] [You can consume health to store it.] [Health 0/500] ¡°Is it a kind of potion?¡± Taesan immediately cut his arm with it. As the blood started oozing out, the de quickly absorbed it. [Health 20/500] Consumed health: 20. Stored health: 20. A 1:1 ratio. Considering the losses, this item was top tier. It could be very useful in emergencies if it was filled in advance. It was quite satisfactory as a reward from the secret room. He spent a long time checking the rewards. But it was not over yet. There were still many rewards left. Taesan checked the Rune of Power that Latran had given himst. Chapter 39: The Pitiful One Who Desires Magic (1) [Kang Taesan [Solo]: The 6th floor is no big deal. It''s just an easy floor, so you should pass through it.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: ......That doesn''t seem like good news for us.] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Doesn''t it just mean we''re always at risk of dying, as usual?] [Rune of Strength] [It increases your strength.] A simple exnation. It was exactly as stated. It immediately increased your power. It was a significant item even on the higher floors as there were no conditions or restrictions to increase the stat. Although it was a little less meaningful because it was still early on, it was much better than mediocre equipment. [Used the Rune of Strength.] [Strength + 10] Strength increased by 10. It was a high figure. More than enough as a reward from the boss. And, after a long time, he finally reached the title he obtained. [Title: Recognized One] [The gods have recognized your fighting spirit and strength.] [The gods are fond of you.] [Mana + 2] There was a small increase in Mana too. Considering that the gods showed certain favoritism to those they were fond of, it was a title with some beauty. And one more. [Title: Rising Hero] [You have made significant achievements in thebyrinth.] [Power + 2] [Agility + 2] [Intelligence + 2] The title was obtained upon clearing the 5th floor. The effect was an increase in all stats by +2. It¡¯s a basic title that everyone received, but it was not without value. Just by simple calction, there was a stat increase of 6. And the secret clear reward. [You have used ???] [You have obtained the Robe of Shadows.] ¡°Huh?¡± Shadows. That word rang a bell. With a curious expression, Taesan checked the information. [Robe of Shadows] [Equipment possessed by a despicable thief. It can barely sustain his worthless life.] [Bes invisible for 1 second.] [Can only be used once per hour.] ¡°A real stealth robe, indeed.¡± Invisible for 1 second. One¡¯s location cannot be tracked unless detected by a skill or innate senses. ¡°Isn¡¯t it great?¡± A 1-second limit. And there was a one-hour cooldown, but its value didn¡¯t diminish. After all, a stealth robe was not something easily obtained even after passing the middle floors. Invisibility. The value of that word was immense. Whistling, Taesan put on the ck robe. ¡°Are we about done?¡± There were so many rewards that it was almost overwhelming. It seemed like everything that needed to be checked had been checked. And now, it was time to switch weapons. He swapped his shield for the Spectacr Decorative Sword. Defense decreased by 5, but Attack increased by 4. Although there may be some problems with defense without a shield, there was no need for an additional 5 defense points with his current stats. His choice was to rather increase attack power to finish off enemies quickly. The ghost seemed to wee this decision. [Dual swords? That''s good. My swordsmanship is also in that direction.] ¡°Then, why don¡¯t you teach me quickly?¡± [You can''t do it now. With your stats, you''ll probably die using it.] ¡°¡­Is that even swordsmanship?¡± Even though his strength was nearing 150, he couldn¡¯t understand how using swordsmanship could lead to death. The ghost chuckled. [It''s a swordsmanship that the Empire created, and I modified. It''s going to be among the top even in the Labyrinth, so don''t worry about it.] He spoke with such confidence that it seemed there wouldn¡¯t be a problem in that area. Taesan opened his status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 16] [Shield: 32/32] [Health: 655/655] [Mana: 87/87] [Strength: 146] [Intelligence: 77] [Agility: 105] [Attack + 25] [Defense + 17] [The target is in the best condition.] Good. Taesan nodded his head. He was definitely stronger than before. As many skills were contributing to his rapid growth, catching up to Taeyeon wouldn¡¯t be a far-fetched idea. Taesan descended to the 6th floor. [Starting the 6th Floor Quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 6th floor and pass.] [Reward: Engraving Scroll.] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°So, the basic reward on the 6th floor is the Engraving Scroll.¡± Muttering to himself, he opened the door. A waiting dwarf greeted him. ¡°You came quickly?¡± ¡°There was nothing much.¡± The linearity had changed, and the enemies had gotten stronger. That was it. There was nothing to discover or analyze. Hearing Taesan¡¯s response, the dwarf chuckled. ¡°The fact that you say there was nothing much is unique to you. Clearing the 5th floor, you are slowly adapting. It¡¯s time to congratte you, but it seems like there¡¯s no need to say that to you. Keep going diligently.¡± Taesan nkly stared at the dwarf. The dwarf then spoke. ¡°Do you also give out quests?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± The dwarf shed a mischievous smile. ¡®Is an answer even necessary?¡¯ The dwarf spoke as if it was not goodwill but an investment. Seeing Taesan¡¯s expression, the dwarf clicked his tongue. ¡°You already know the answer. You seem smart, and there¡¯s still a long way to go.¡± The dwarf pointed at the quietly standing ghost. ¡°What bes of you going deeper than that guy? That¡¯s the question. Don¡¯t bother yourself until then.¡± The ghost had gone down to the 80th floor. The dwarf was saying that for his investment to show results, Taesan had to go further than that. ¡°Anything you want to buy?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Taesan looked around at the items, but there was nothing that caught his eye. He had already prepared most of the basic equipment. Even if he bought more here, it would only make a difference of about 1 attack power or 2 strength. It would be equipment he¡¯d naturally acquire as he progresses through thebyrinth, so he didn¡¯t particrly want to buy it with his money. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any of the Powder of Blessing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m currently out. I thought it was useless, so I just bought it wholesale.¡± Then there was really nothing to buy. Taesan, who had been stroking his chin, asked. ¡°When does good equipment start to appear?¡± What the dwarf was showing now was already quite good. ording to Junggeun¡¯s words, in Hard Mode, you needed to pass the 10th floor before they sold anything simr in the shop. However, the gear that Lee Taeyeon mentioned was on a different level. There was no equipment that could reduce the received damage by half. The dwarf pointed down towards thebyrinth with his finger. ¡°You need to surpass the 10th floor, at least.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be back then.¡± Such equipment would be quite expensive. Since there was no particr ce to spend money, he just nned to save it. The dwarf, who seemed to understand Taesan¡¯s thoughts, waved his hand. ¡°You are indeed smart. Farewell.¡± Taesan had arrived at the real start of thebyrinth¡¯s floors. There was a sticky swamp beneath his feet. ¡®Just like the stories.¡¯ The 6th floor. This was the floor where lizardmen appeared. Their individual strength wasn¡¯t much different from orcs. However, small swamps were spread throughout the entire floor, hindering movement. Lizardmen, unaffected by the swamps, were considerably difficult to handle, ording to Lee Taeyeon. Of course, that was irrelevant to Taesan. He took out his staff. [You have activated Fireball.] The me collided with the swamp. [Kiiii!] The swamp howled. It moved roughly as if it was alive and then gradually quieted down. [You have defeated the swamp.] [The proficiency of your Detection has increased by 4%.] In this way, the swamp covering the floor of thebyrinth was ssified as a life form. It was immune to physical damage but took heavy damage from fire. With one fire staff, he could easily eliminate it. [You really know everything. How did you even know this?] The ghost mumbled in an incredulous voice. Taesan moved to another room. It wasn¡¯t long before he found a lizardman. ¡°Kaak!¡± If you were to turn a lizard into a human, it would look exactly like this. The green monster thrust its trident. Lizardman. A monster on par with orcs. In Easy Mode, it was a monster you could barely deal with if you went down to the lower levels. Taesan stretched out his hand indifferently. With a thud. The quickly thrown spear was lightly caught. The lizardman¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°Kuk, Kaak!¡± It tried to pull the spear away, grunting, but it wouldn¡¯t budge as if stuck in a wall. Taesan kicked at the lizardman from this position. [You dealt 20 damage to the Lizardman.] ¡°Kaaaak!¡± The lizardman fell with a scream. He trod on it lightly. After a few stomps, the lizardman disappeared. ¡°Kaaaa¡­¡­ [You have defeated the Lizardman.] [It''s as easy as expected.] ¡°There¡¯s no need to struggle against a regr monster that has nothing.¡± He had gone through numerous trials of gods and secret rooms. His current stats could let him run nonstop until the 10th floor. It didn¡¯t make sense to struggle against just a single lizardman. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your Agility permanently increases by 1.] Soul Ascension. Always a wee boost. And there was one more thing to check. Taesan checked his Mana increase. [Mana: 88/88] Evidence of Victory. Each time you killed an enemy, a designated stat increased. His Mana had increased by 1. ¡°Is it one per kill? Not bad.¡± Usually, there were about ten to twenty monsters per floor. It meant that each time he cleared a floor, his Mana would naturally increase by 20. The ghost spoke uneasily. [You casually say it''s not bad. In my opinion, it''s a really crazy skill.] Each time he passed a floor, a designated stat would increase by ten, twenty. It was a skill no one else could have. However, Taesan had quite a few simr skills. Soul Ascension. Desire for Victory. Evidence of Struggle, and so on. Their value had to decrease rtively. Taesan continued running through thebyrinth. [Your level has increased.] His level increased as he got about to the halfway point through thebyrinth. He was also able to gain a new skill. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Forced Action] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can somewhat ignore situations that impair your actions and movement.] In fact, it didn¡¯t matter to Taesan whether he erased the swamp or not. So he didn¡¯t erase it and acted to gain an additional skill. Forced Action. If the proficiency reached 100%, it would be a good skill that allowed him to move without any restrictions, even underwater. The increase in stats was quite high, along with the Soul Ascension. The ghost spoke as if it was sleepy. [It''s boring.] ¡°It sure is easy.¡± There was not a single crisis. There were situations where three Lizardmen appeared at the same time, but he easily wiped them out. Trial of the Gods and the Secret Room. And the Named. The difference was enormous. It became slowly but surely apparent. ¡°What would have happened if I hadn¡¯t received the Gods¡¯ Trials?¡± [You would have been much weaker. You wouldn''t have been able to pass this easily, right?] That was exactly it. In Solo Mode, there were gods. They bestowed trials and gave suitable rewards to those who passed. These significant rewards created arge difference between those who cleared the trials and those who did not. The same went for the ghost. An NPC and a named monster. Since Lee Taeyeon said she had not seen them, it meant that if one only pursued absolute safety, one might not even be aware of their existence. Gods and NPCs. And the Named. Three realizations. The gap could have been greater than the difference between Hard and Solo Mode. ¡°It¡¯s challenging.¡± If there was a problem, it was that even if you told people about this, there was nothing they could do. As gods were capricious beings, they did not give trials considering the strength of those who came to the altar. In the end, the others would have no choice but to ignore gods and the Named as much as possible while proceeding. But was that really the right approach? Lee Taeyeon did clear Solo Mode, but even she wasn¡¯t sure if she could do it again. It was half-required for a safe clear. He nned to look for it as he descended. What kinds of gods were there? If there truly were kind NPCs. Taesan roamed thebyrinth. He encountered Lizardmen, killed them, and roamed again. His current Defense was 35. There was a skill to be gained. But before the skill, there was something else he had to find. He soon found the Secret Room. ¡°It¡¯s right out in the open.¡± The Secret Room was perfectly hidden, but right in front of Taesan was now a brick half-protruding alone. When Taesan pressed the brick, a passage appeared with a clunking sound. [The monsters can''t find it like that. You know that well because you''ve lived for a long time.] Taesan entered the passage. Inside, there was a small room. A table and numerous magical tools were scattered on the floor. ¡°Oh. You¡¯re here already?¡± Tousled blue hair was visible. Lilis smiled broadly and waved her hand. ¡°Yahoo! Hi!¡± Chapter 40: The Pitiful One Who Desires Magic (2) [You finally made it?] ¡°I¡¯m an expert in finding the Secret Rooms, aren¡¯t I? Got here in one shot.¡± Lilis said this boastfully as the ghost chuckled softly. [Then you must have met the old man too, what did he say?] A hint of unease crossed Lilis¡¯s face. ¡°Well¡­¡­he hasn¡¯t changed a bit since Ist saw him. It¡¯s a wonder. I don¡¯t know why he chooses to live such a life.¡± Lilis muttered. It seemed like the dwarf looked down upon her too. She looked at Taesan with glittering eyes. ¡°Wow. Looks like you really did defeat it¡­¡­ It seemed pretty formidable from afar.¡± She was probably referring to the boss on the 5th floor. She must have passed it without fighting. It wasn¡¯t strange, considering she had the invisibility magic. Lee Taeyeon would have proceeded in a simr manner if the floor was deemed impossible to clear. But it wasn¡¯t a good method. If the goal was to clear each floor, skipping the 5th floor would mean missing out on its reward and incurring divine contempt, making it the worst choice. However, as Lilis¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t clearing the floors, she could proceed without any burdens. Taesan nced at the box behind Lilis. Noticing his gaze, Lilis pped her hands. ¡°Oh, right. You can take that. I found it first, but without you, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to get here.¡± ¡°Well then, thank you.¡± The reward for the Secret Room. Missing it would¡¯ve been quite regretful, but things turned out well. ¡°Alright then.¡± She dusted off the chair and plunked down, crossing her legs and propping up her chin. She looked down at Taesan as if she were a grand archmage. However, she seemed quiteughable, as shecked the power to match the image. The ghost, too, seemed to find it amusing as it asked, along with a chuckle. [What are you doing?] ¡°I¡¯m getting in the mood. Hmm. Shall we start now?¡± Taesan nodded. The reason he came here was specifically to learn magic. Lilis grinned. ¡°Shall we start with the exnation? What is magic?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Kang Taesan. Then I¡¯ll call you Taesan. Taesan, you have skills, don¡¯t you? How did you acquire them?¡± ¡°I replicated their effects, to an extent.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Lilis nodded. ¡°The way to obtain skills is just that. Use the effects without the skills. It¡¯s kind of a paradox. Magic, on the other hand, is bestowed or gained. Therefore, there are things in magic that are not in skills.¡± To acquire skills, you were required to replicate simr effects. So, skills that were physically impossible cannot be obtained. That was the general idea. She waved her hand. The mes flickered gently. ¡°Creating fire, cutting through space, distorting time. Magic can do things that are impossible with skills. It may sound absurding from me, who hasn¡¯t even passed the 10th floor, but the value of it in this ce is not small. Like the invisibility magic, I use. This can¡¯t be obtained as a skill, you know?¡± He knew. Even the Robe of Invisibility, which onlysted for a second, could only be acquired after diving deep into thebyrinth. The simple fact that one can use invisibility without any other restriction was enough to prove the effectiveness of magic. The ghost also chimed in. [Magic that''s not used forbat, like buffs or enchantments, can be incredibly helpful. They''re simr to skills, but they provide a different kind of power. Their value is beyond measure.] ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s magic! And I¡¯m going to teach you that.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing else.¡± She twiddled her fingers. ¡°Well, I know you are much stronger than me, but I¡¯m the one who¡¯s teaching, right? So that¡­ you¡¯re my student, right? Correct?¡± Seeing that she was desperate for agreement, Taesan nodded his head. ¡°If you say so, then it is.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t care about such a title. Lilis was satisfied when he readily agreed and carefully said, ¡°So, listen. Since you¡¯re my student, you shouldn¡¯t treat your teacher casually, right? I mean, you should also add honorifics, right?¡± ¡°You want me to use honorifics?¡± ¡°¡­It would be nice if you did!¡± She was desperate for him to agree, and Taesanughed quietly. If she wanted him to use honorifics, he didn¡¯t mind. He wasn¡¯t bothered by such titles or honorifics. If learning magic required using honorifics, then it was a win-win situation. The silent ghost opened its mouth. [You''re getting honorifics while I''m not?] ¡°Uh, what?¡± Lilis froze for a moment. ¡°Well, since the ghost isn¡¯t teaching¡­¡± [But I promised to teach this guy swordsmanship, didn''t I?] Lilis¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°Really? But he has refused all this time.¡± [That''s my problem. Why are you trying to receive honorifics when even I can''t?] ¡°Why not. Will you ask for it?¡± [I don''t need it.] The ghost rejected it, and Lilis¡¯s pupils shook violently, then sagged as if giving up. ¡°Alright. You don¡¯t have to use honorifics¡­¡­ I could have been addressed with honorifics for the first time. Why reject it when he also¡­¡± [What are you mumbling about?] ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± The previously grumbling woman quickly pulled herself together and resumed the exnation. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the basics. What do you think magic is?¡± ¡°A gift from gods and skills.¡± At Taesan¡¯s answer, Lilis nodded as if it were the correct response. ¡°Right. It¡¯s literally a mystery. But here, it exists as the concept of skills. That¡¯s why even someone like me can learn it. Look.¡± She spread her hand, and mes burst out. ¡°What do you see here?¡± Taesan, who had been observing for a moment, shook his head. To him, it was just a ball of fire. ¡°There¡¯s nothing there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what magic looks like to those without talent. It just looks like a natural phenomenon.¡± ¡°Do I alsock talent?¡± ¡°That might be a bit different?¡± Lilis snuffed out the me. ¡°You came from a ce without magic, right? Those who came from there didn¡¯t know. It¡¯s natural for those who don¡¯t have it not to know, right?¡± ¡°I see.¡± It wasn¡¯t a particrly interesting story to him. Lilis brought up the main point. ¡°Now, when ites to learning magic, the method is simple. You just have to make a contract with the god of magic.¡± ¡°A contract?¡± ¡°Yes. After struggling here for a few months since I arrived, the god of magic suddenly appeared. And they bestowed magic upon me. Since then, I¡¯ve been able to use magic.¡± ¡°¡­¡­So I also need to make a contract to learn?¡± It was an ufortable proposition for Taesan, who had refused all the contracts of apostleship. Fortunately, Lilis negated Taesan¡¯s assumption. ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to. I¡¯m here.¡± She proudly stated. ¡°Those who possess magic can teach it to those who don¡¯t. That¡¯s the advantage of thebyrinth. After all, how often do gods teach directly? The Hero was quite surprised to see me, right?¡± [They only show interest in the strong or the mad. Because your interest in magic is madness, even the god of magic would be interested.£Ý ¡°Hehe.¡± [That wasn''t apliment, you know?£Ý Lilis gently put her hand on Taesan¡¯s shoulder, wearing a soft expression. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you right away.¡± Power flowed into Taesan. [You have received magic from a pitiful person who desires magic. You have acquired [Magic]£Ý [You have acquired [Magic Enchantment].£Ý [You have acquired [Magic Extraction].£Ý ¡°Check if you¡¯ve learned it properly.¡± Taesan opened his skill window. [Magic] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can use magic. For now, you seem to be only able to create a spark.] [Magic Enchantment] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can enchant magic.] [Magic Extraction] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can extract magic.] It was a simple description. Lilis waved her hand again and created a me. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s different.¡± He could see something within the me. A sensation that he had never felt in his previous life that felt new. This was magic. He had tried various things, but what he ended up not learning was magic, and now he learned it so easily. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not very important here. You¡¯ll learn it anyway through skills. Now, I should exin how to learn magic.¡± Merely possessing magic didn¡¯t cut it. One needed to possess magic that suited them. ¡°There are several ways, but the easiest is learning from objects with magical power. Magic wands or magical tools. Extracting from those is the easiest, right?¡± ¡°This one?¡± Taesan pulled out the Staff of mes. Lilis was slightly surprised. ¡°You already have one? You can extract from there. Try it.¡± Taesan ced his hand on the Staff of mes. [You have activated Magic Extraction.] The power within the staff moved into Taesan¡¯s hand. Slowly, it permeated his entire body. [You have acquired the basic magic [Fireball].] [Staff of mes] [A staff used by novice magicians. The magic power that was contained within has been drawn out.] The exnation of Fireball, which was contained in the staff, had disappeared. ¡°Skill window.¡± [Basic Magic: Fireball] [Mana consumption: 3] [Proficiency: 9%] [Launches a fireball. Enemies without immunity suffer great damage. Attempts to inflict the status abnormality [Burn] on the target.] The content was the same as when he used the Staff of mes. Taesan put away the staff and stretched out his hand. [You have activated Fireball.] Boom. mes red into the empty air. ¡°So, that¡¯s the concept.¡± ¡°Exactly, you got it?¡± Lilis watched with a satisfied expression. Taesan also extracted the magic from the Staff of Random Spells. [You have acquired the basic magic [Random Mental Attack].] [Basic Magic: Random Mental Attack] [Mana consumption: 5] [Uses detrimental mental magic at random on the target. Attempts to inflict a status abnormality on the target.] He had learned two types of magic. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Even without a staff, he can use magic. This was a significant advantage. It meant that he could freely use magic during battle, creating variables as he wished. In simple terms, an opening would be created if he used Random Mental Attack repeatedly after an engagement. It meant that the dy was gone. But he wasn¡¯t satisfied yet. ¡°How do I learn the rest?¡± There were still many truly good types of magic left. ¡°One, from someone who has learned magic. And the other is by paying a price to the god of magic. That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t been able to learn any particr magic. The Invisibility spell was obtained only after all sorts of hardship, you know?¡± She grumbled and gave Taesan a quick nce. ¡°So, since you¡¯re my disciple, if you gain something as you descend, you shoulde back to me¡­¡­¡± ¡°I intend to do so.¡± As Lilis learned magic, she could acquire another new magic. It was a mutually beneficial deal. Lilis suddenly stood up. ¡°Great! Finally, I can learn new magic! This tiresome 10th-floor limit ising to an end!¡± She spun around as if dancing, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Watching her nearly mad with joy, Taesan asked, ¡°So, are there any spells you can learn right now? You have spells I want to learn.¡± She had used the Invisibility spell. And it was not just that one. He could learn quite a few useful spells from her. But Lilis made a vague face. ¡°Um¡­ This is a bit different. I told you, right? A price is needed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the price for you to learn magic?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit different. The only thing I can teach without a price is the skill known as magic. However, teaching the basics or types of specific magic bes a different story.¡± Lilis twisted her hair. ¡°If you had a contract with a god, that would be correct. You can just learn. But it¡¯s not like that when you have to learn from me. I can teach you magic itself, but¡­ I can¡¯t just freely teach the specific magics since I also received them.¡± ¡°Do you need a price for that?¡± ¡°Yes. I have to get permission to teach you after offering a sacrifice. Only then can you learn the magic.¡± Taesan summed it up. ¡°So, to learn the magic you don¡¯t know, we need double sacrifices: one from me to the god and one from you for learning?¡± Lilis answered a bit nervously. ¡°Uh¡­ I guess that¡¯s how it works?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a big eater.¡± Still, magic was worth that much. ¡°What can be a sacrifice? Materials too?¡± ¡°No, not materials. A special weapon. A unique, valuable weapon. That¡¯s what can be a sacrifice.¡± ¡°Weapons or equipment?¡± ¡°You can say that. The more valuable it is, the better magic you can get.¡± Then it wasn¡¯t bad news. In terms of simple value, materials were more expensive. Equipment couldn¡¯t fetch its full price when sold in shops. There was no cksmith, and there was no room in the inventory, so he had been just selling them. Disposing of them at a low price was a waste, but now there was a solution. Chapter 41: The Pitiful One Who Desires Magic (3) To learn magic, one must offer a sacrifice. Taesan rummaged through his inventory. ¡°How about these?¡± Taesan brought out the items he obtained from killing lizardmen. They were ambiguous things that made no big difference from his current equipment. Lilis, who examined the equipment, tapped her chin. ¡°Well, it works¡­ but you can¡¯t learn even a single magic spell with these.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it quite a lot?¡± ¡°This is magic. It¡¯s not just about the quantity. It has to be something valuable, unique.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s not easy to go for it.¡± Indeed, if magic could be learned with these things, everyone would have learned it. But even Taeyeon could not do it. Taesan turned his eyes to the equipment he was wearing. ¡°How about this?¡± Taesan showed Baltha¡¯s earrings. Lilis still had a doubtful face. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ but this alone is not enough. You need to have two pieces of equipment of the same grade.¡± ¡°Then how about this?¡± This time, he showed the Ne for a Master he received from killing the goblin lord. Surprise appeared on Lilis¡¯s face. ¡°Huh? That doesn¡¯t look like equipment that can be obtained here?¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s valuable. Maybe enough for one basic magic spell?¡± ¡°That¡¯s cheap.¡± ¡°Really? I thought it was a lot.¡± The lord¡¯s item was equivalent to a single basic magic spell. Considering this was from near the entrance, it was somewhat understandable. Then Taesan pulled out the Sword of Lakiratas. ¡°How about this?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Um.¡± Lilis opened her mouth with a nervous expression. ¡°He would be quite pleased¡­ even though the value might be less, he might think of it as giving candy and may even grant you a beginner¡¯s magic spell, but can you handle it?¡± ¡°Lakiratas would like it.¡± He was greatly fond of Taesan. He did not seem to bear any grudges for selling the sword he had bestowed. At Taesan¡¯s words, Lilis made a bored face. ¡°You¡¯re the first one I¡¯ve seen talk about a god like that.¡± He put the weapon back. Magic was important, but not to the extent of selling his current equipment. He was onlyparing, not considering selling. As Taesan searched his inventory, one piece of equipment caught his eye. ¡°What about this one?¡± [Old Hardwood Staff] [Magic +3] [A faint magic power is contained. It seems usable by someone with talent.] This was equipment obtained when he defeated the Goblin Chief. A stat called magic¡¯ which was new even to Taesan, was attached to it. Lilis, who confirmed the equipment, nodded. ¡°This could work. Just barely enough for one basic magic spell.¡± ¡°This is equivalent to the lord¡¯s ne?¡± ¡°Not in terms of value, but it differs when ites to sacrifices. Gods prefer items rted to them. Unless you can offend the opponent like the Sword of Lakiratas, they ce greater value on objects rted to magic.¡± Then, it worked out well. Honestly, it was useless. The concept of magic was peculiar, and he had left it untouched, unable to find a use for it. ¡°What is this magic?¡± ¡°It literally is magical power. If you hold a staff and use magic, it improves the power, size, duration, and judgment.¡± Then it was useless for Taesan. He was learning magic to use it conveniently inbat. ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one.¡± ¡°Great! Got it!¡± Lilis spiritedly took the staff. She seemed to start a prayer but then paused. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. Is there any specific magic you want? Invisibility is too high in value, but I think other spells should be possible.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what magic is avable.¡± ¡°Let me show you.¡± She waved her hand. A list of spells obscured his view in session. [Fireball] [Ice Arrow] [Invisibility] [Basic Detection] [Shield of Concealment] [Food Production] Except for Fireball and Ice Arrow, all of the spells were used to either hide oneself or endure. It sinctly told what kind of life Lilis lived here. ¡°Shall I exin?¡± Taesan nodded his head. It was better to listen clearly and decide. Lilis began to exin. ¡°You already have Fireball, so skip that. Ice Arrow is just like Fireball in terms of power and mana consumption. It¡¯s just a difference of attributes. It might not be bad?¡± The Ice status effect significantly slowed movements, a pretty useful status effect. It could be effectively used as an arrow substitute since it took a physical form. ¡°Since you can¡¯t learn Invisibility, we skip that too. Now, Detection. This reveals the number and location of monsters in the next room. With this, you can clearly know where the danger lies.¡± She hummed as she spoke, but to Taesan, it was an unnecessary spell. He was nning to clear all the rooms. ¡°And the Shield of Concealment. It blurs your presence. It allows safe passage from creatures with detection skills.¡± This could be somewhat useful. Initiating an attack was a big advantage. ¡°Lastly, Food Production is just as it sounds. It literally produces tasteless water and porridge. I want to sprinkle at least some salt, but everything here is too precious.¡± She grumbled deeply as if she had a lot ofints. Taesan quietly checked the spells. And then he made his decision. ¡°Food Production.¡± ¡°Huh? This one? I thought you¡¯d take Ice Arrow.¡± ¡°I can get thatter.¡± Ice Arrow was the spell that most frequently appeared from magic staves. The same applied to Basic Detection. Most of the magic listed existed on staff item drops. Invisibility was extremely rare but asionally seen. However, he had never heard of Food Production. Most yers satisfied their meals with makeshift farming, monster meat, or purchasing emergency food. If Food Production existed, that annoyance and gold consumption could be solved with minor mana consumption. A skill that existed only in magic and could not be found anywhere else. Of course, it was the correct answer to learn it first. ¡°Okay. Just wait for a moment.¡± She held up the staff and closed her eyes. She opened her mouth and began to mutter. An indecipherablenguage flowed out like a song. The fact that Taesan could have a conversation with Lilis, a resident of the other world, and the ghost without any problem meant that there was automatic trantion. Yet, not understanding meant one of two things. It was never anguage, to begin with. Or anguage for those who are not subjected to trantion. [You feel a great gaze.] The god who answered the call showed its presence from the other side. The bnce of divine power filled the space. Its gaze was directed at Taesan. Chuckling. The godughed. That was what Taesan felt. [You have gained Food Production.] With thatughter, the presence disappeared. Lilis opened her eyes with a disconcerted look. The staff that had been in her hand was gone. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°No, not that. The permission was given quite easily. I thought there would be some difficulty.¡± ¡°Difficulty?¡± ¡°Because gods are very particr unless they have given their permission. Actually, even the hero had a hard time when learning magic.¡± [Isn''t it different with me? The gods who dislike this guy can be counted on one hand.] There was also a title for being favored by the gods. Considering the reactions so far and the ghost¡¯s words, it seemed rare for any god to be hostile toward Taesan. Taesan checked the magic he had acquired. [Basic Magic: Food Production] [Mana Consumption: 5] [It summons a small amount of consumable liquid and consumable solid. It seems tasteless.] Now, there was no need to bother eating monster meat. In all honesty, there was no need to further raise the proficiency of disease resistance. ¡°Is there any more magic I can learn?¡± ¡°There is, but there¡¯s nothing left of the payment now. Come backter.¡± He intended to learn all that he could. The more options, the better. ¡°So, I have toe back here?¡± ¡°No. When you conquer a floor, I¡¯ll go down too. A kind of safety zone is created in the floors that have recently been cleared.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a thing?¡± Taesan was surprised. It was news to him. Normally, there was no reason to revisit a cleared floor; if one did, they would just stay in the shop. ¡°It¡¯s basically a hidden ce. So, there¡¯s no need toe down here inconveniently.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± It would have been quite bothersome to have to return to the 6th floor after descending to the deeper levels. Lilis smiled faintly and waved her hand. ¡°Then see youter! I¡¯ll be waiting for you to bring back good stuff!¡± ¡°But before that, one thing.¡± There was something he had to ask. ¡°Does magic used here get a skill check?¡± ¡°Though they¡¯re different types, I suppose it does if you¡¯re asking which side it falls on?¡± ¡°Then, like skills, can one not receive it and create it themselves?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lilis hesitated. She trailed off with a vague expression. ¡°In theory, it¡¯s possible since it¡¯s a skill check. But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough for me.¡± It wasn¡¯t that it couldn¡¯t be done, but that it was unknown. That was sufficient. [Why did you ask that at the end?] ¡°Because I have an experiment to conduct.¡± Magic was also something he was obtaining for the first time. Unlike skills, it was an unexplored territory. There were numerous things worth trying. First, he checked the reward from the secret room that Lilis gave him. [Ashen Boots] [Defense +4] [Movement Speed +5%] [Comfortable footwear for movement. It looks quite good.] These were nice shoes with an additional movement speed boost. Although it reduced his attack power by 1, it was still worth the trade-off. From now on, the process was simple. As he descended the floors, he would collect valuable items, sell them at the shop or bring them to Lilis to learn magic. That was the n. Therefore, he intended to learn everything he could before that. ¡°Karguk!¡± Taesan blocked the Lizardman¡¯s attack while contemting. ¡®How much was the damage again?¡¯ He rummaged through his past memories. He recalled the defense he had at the time and the damage he took. Then, the answer surfaced. ¡®Basic Attack Power Boss Room¡¯ Without any armor, that would be the expected damage. Taesan checked his protective shield. [Protective Shield: 35/35] It was possible. Taesan put force into his sword, and the Lizardman was knocked back, crashing into the wall. ¡°Kerk, Karguk.¡± While it struggled to get up, Taesan just watched. The ghost seemed to guess what he was thinking and let out a dry chuckle. [Here he goes again, about to do something strange.] ¡°Karguk.¡± The Lizardman, barely standing, held its spear with resolved eyes. Despite knowing it couldn¡¯t win, it didn¡¯t retreat. The Lizardman, prepared to face death honorably, was taken aback. ¡°Karguk?¡± Taesan started to remove his gear one by one. Ne, armor, shoes, wrist guards, and so forth. He put all equipment with a defense boost back into his inventory. [... What''s he doing now?] Wearing the same clothes as when he first arrived in this world, like the ones from Earth, Taesan stood in front of the Lizardman. ¡°Karguk?¡± The Lizardman hesitated. Its small reptilian brain couldn¡¯t understand. A formidable opponent suddenly weakened itself. Even if it had higher intelligence, it would react the same way. ¡°Come at me.¡± Taesan crossed his arms. Chapter 42: Sixth Level (4) [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Uh, um. So, you''re saying, if you take off all your armor and take the hit, that damage shouldn''t ur?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: You understood it well, didn''t you?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: ...What kind of crazy talk is that? It makes less sense than Endurance, doesn''t it?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: More importantly, how did you even know about such a skill? That''s more surprising.] ¡°Karguk.¡± Taesan, with his arms crossed, waited quietly. The Lizardman was utterly puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s annoying.¡± Without a taunt skill, he had to wait for it to attack. Taesan just stood there quietly. The ghost muttered in a confused tone. [Are you doing this to acquire a skill?] ¡°I did something simr before, didn¡¯t I?¡± Taesan had previously shown the way to acquire the Forced Duel skill. But the ghost¡¯s tone still expressed itsck of understanding. [No, but I really don''t understand this. Is there a reason to take off your armor? And why do you have to take a hit in this state?] Even the ghost, who had made it to the depths, had never heard of such a thing before. [Is there a skill that you can get by doing all this? I''ve never heard of it. I mean, it makes sense for Forced Duel, but what is this?] ¡°Just watch quietly since there is.¡± Taesan gazed at the Lizardman intently. The Lizardman, with a resolved face, firmly held its spear. ¡°Kak!¡± Kicking off the ground, it lunged towards Taesan. Taesan looked at the tip of the spear. The speed was fast, but he could see it all. Taesan spread his arms and tensed all the muscles in his body. He tensed the muscles throughout his body. He couldn¡¯t use any skills. He had to respond with the pure movements of his body alone. The spear touched Taesan¡¯s arm. It started to dig into the skin. Feeling the pain, Taesan withdrew his arm. The Lizardman unceasingly thrust its spear even further. It bore down, aiming to cut through Taesan¡¯s arm. He strained his body to the limit. He moved his body in the direction of the force. He managed to evade all the attacks being released at a breath¡¯s distance. He would have been skewered if there was even a minor mistake, but there was only a small scratch on Taesan¡¯s body. No severe damage was done. Eventually, the damage window popped up. [You have taken 20 damage.] The strike that would normally inflict 50 damage in an unarmored state only inflicted 20 damage. The Evasion skill wasn¡¯t a skill that forcefully reduced damage. It was about whether you dodged or took a hit squarely; there was a clear difference in damage. At the same time, a system window popped up. [You have received only half of the damage. You have acquired the special activation skill [Robust].] Along with Robust, the skill Taesan was hoping for also appeared. [Your health did not decrease from the first attack. You have acquired the special constant activation skill [First Attack Absolute Nullification].] [Huh?] ¡°Kak!¡± As the ghost eximed in surprise, the Lizardman thrust its spear. Taesan looked at it impassively. This time, he didn¡¯t make any movements to evade. The moment the spear touched Taesan. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] The attack was nullified. The force carried by the spear vanished. The body of the Lizardman returned to the state it was just before the thrust. The ghost was aghast at the sight. It was as if time had been rewound. [Wait a minute. What is this?] ¡°Kak, Kaak?¡± The Lizardman, also bewildered, hesitated and looked at its spear. Although it had definitely thrust the spear, it had returned without causing harm. It was as if the very act of the attack was erased. Taesan had acquired a skill. Taesan pulled out his sword and swung it. The stunned Lizardman was cleaved and copsed. ¡°Kaahaa¡­¡± [You have defeated the spear-wielding Lizardman.] It was his skill that he had used until the very end: Absolute Nullification of Attack. He was able to acquire it much quicker than expected, so Taesan murmured satisfactorily. ¡°I should thank Lakiratas.¡± [First Attack Absolute Nullification...] Btedly understanding the skill¡¯s meaning, the ghost let out a hollowugh. [This really is a crazy skill.] [Special Constant Activation Skill: First Attack Absolute Nullification] [The first attack from an opponent is nullified. This skill can only be used once perbat against the same opponent.] It was incredibly simple. There was no proficiency because there was no meaning to it, given the absolute nature of the judgment. Absolute Nullification. Literally, any first attack from the opponent, whatever it may be, would bepletely erased. [What kind of skill is this? Forced Duel was already hrious, but this is even more ridiculous.] The ghost¡¯s voice was filled with awe. The performance of the skill indeed merited such a reaction. Bothmon monsters and yers often aimed to end the battle with the first attack. They didn¡¯t hold back their skills and strength. But this skill could erase that attackpletely. It would turn it into something that never happened. The opponent couldn¡¯t respond at all. It was almost like altering reality, securing a forceful advantage. Moreover, it was not an activation skill like Flow but a constant activation skill. It was impossible to counter unless the opponent knew about the Absolute Nullification in advance. However, the ghost was even more surprised about something else. [How on earth do you know about a skill like this?] Taesan answered calmly. ¡°Because I¡¯ve tried it.¡± Skills didn¡¯t contain any information. No one talked about the information of higher-level skills, not even the very basic skills, like expanding vision or insight. No one in thebyrinth was willing to give away what they had obtained with great difficulty for free. So they had to find skills on their own. The only known fact was this: you earned a skill when you managed to mimic its effect. For instance, when you were fighting multiple opponents but you focused on battling with only one. For instance, when you were on the verge of death, but you managed to block countless attacks. For instance, when you didn¡¯t take any damage from an attack that should damage you. In such situations, you could acquire a skill. It was a concept of prediction. A realm of possibilities. Whether a skill could be obtained that way, nobody would know. If done wrong, it could lead to death or danger. Usually, they stopped in the realm of imagination. But Taesan had tried it directly. Countless trials and errors. Duplication. Addition. Temporal freeze. Absolute judgment. He obtained all of them this way. ¡°This difficulty sure is nuts.¡± Usually, you would need to pass through a paradox in order to obtain a skill with overwhelming performance. Absolute Attack Nullification was one of them. One had to pass through the paradox of not taking damage while taking damage. The ghost chuckled sarcastically. [You couldn''t have gotten this without a shield, could you?] ¡°I would have had a tough time.¡± In fact, in his previous life, he did have a hard time. If the difference in level with the opponent was too great, you couldn¡¯t acquire the skill. He had to figure out where that precarious line was hundreds of times, and only after thousands of trials could he barely obtain it. So, even in this life, he thought he could only get it muchter after obtaining various other skills. Still, thanks to Lakiratas, the process was significantly shortened. A shield was not a judgment of health. When you received the first Absolute Attack Nullification skill, the judgment that your health did not decrease would pop up. Taesan¡¯s judgment and the correct answer was that obtaining it was not difficult as long as you had a shield. Since he was forcing the opponent¡¯s damage to decrease, he naturally also obtained Resilience. [Special Activation Skill: Resilience] [Mana Consumption: 15] [Halve the damage of the next attack.] Likewise, since it was a fixed judgment, there was no proficiency. The mana consumption was high, but it was a good skill that even Hard Mode yers couldn¡¯t easily obtain, as it could reduce the absolute value of the damage. [Ha. So, that''s why you did that. So are we going down now?] ¡°No, not yet.¡± [What else is there to get?] ¡°This is just the first Absolute Attack Nullification.¡± There was also a second Absolute Attack Nullification. Taesan took out the de of Self Harm and stabbed himself. [de of Self Harm used. Your shield has been restored.] ¡°As expected.¡± Although a shield wasn¡¯t a judgment of health when hit, it was when it was restored. The judgment was convenient in various ways. His shield was back to 35. The ghost, who realized what Taesan was saying, nervously said, [I get the meaning. This is really a crazy skill. But is that possible? You took 20 damage, didn''t you?] The shield was at 35. He had taken up to the limit of damage but only took 20 damage. It was impossible to block two attacks. ¡°That¡¯s why I have this.¡± Taesan took out the Powder of Blessing from his inventory. [Powder of Blessing£Ý [Rumor has it, it''s a powder thates from the wings of a fairy. It is said to bestow a blessing on the user.£Ý An item that neither the ghost nor the dwarf knew the effects of. Its effect was setting a fixed probability on a minute chance. Taesan sprinkled all three of the Powder of Blessing on himself. And then, he went to find the next room. There he met a Lizardman. ¡°Kak!¡± With a roar, the Lizardman thrust his spear. The first attack waspletely nullified by the Absolute Attack Nullification. The baffled Lizardman thrust his spear again. This was the real deal from here. Taesan moved to the limit, just like before, to dodge. As a dotted line was drawn on Taesan¡¯s body, a damage window popped up. [You took 17 damage.] [Uh?] The ghost was surprised by the noticeably reduced damage. [Could it be the Powder of Blessing?] There were several judgments in an attack. Hit judgment. Dodge judgment. Defense judgment. There were several others, but these three were the basics. Among them was a random judgment. When damage was taken, 10% of it waspletely randomly applied. For an attack value of 30, anywhere between 27 to 33 total damage was determined purely by the system¡¯s luck. It was generally epted that it couldn¡¯t be controlled. However, the Powder of Blessing allowed for a minute adjustment in probabilities. It included random judgment. If more than three were used at once, It ensured that you took the minimum damage from said random judgment. It was information that Taesan discovered only after more than half of the people had escaped from thebyrinth. He dodged the second attack. [You took 18 damage.] [You didn''t lose health from the second attack. You have acquired the constant activation skill [Second Attack Absolute Nullification].] He acquired it. Taesan finished off the Lizardman. The ghost chuckled in disbelief. [Really, how do you manage to obtain it in such a strange way?] [Constant Activation Skill: Second Attack Absolute Nullification] [It nullifies the opponent''s second attack. This skill can only be used once perbat against the same opponent.] Complete immunity up to the second attack. With this skill, he could win against any opponent of the same level. Absolute Nullification, like Endurance and Forced Combat, was a main skill. [The skill itself is remarkable, but the way you obtained it is also fascinating. How did you figure out that the Powder of Blessing had the effect of reducing damage?] ¡°Countless trials and experiments.¡± [Ah, yes.] The ghost chuckled dryly. [Yeah, you said it was your second time. That''s understandable. Taking it into ount, it''s still amusing.] He seemed to be getting an idea. If he hade this far, he should understand. If Taesan were that stupid, he couldn¡¯t have made it this deep. Since he had expected it, Taesan grinned inwardly. ¡®I¡¯ve already acquired up to the second one.¡¯ And he was only on the 6th floor. He hadn¡¯t used any tricks except for the shield. In his previous world, Taesan had acquired up to Second Attack Absolute Nullification. It was obtained after countless tricks and innumerable challenges, and even that was quite lucky. Even if asked to do it again, he wouldn¡¯t be able to acquire up to the second one. But now, Taesan had a shield. Chapter 43: Sixth Level (5) The judgment didn¡¯t apply to his health but to his shield. As time passed, not only could he get attack nullification for the third attack but also the fourth and the fifth. Not to mention, he could acquire other skills. There were quite a few skills that were dependent on health depletion. ¡°It¡¯s bing interesting.¡± New possibilities always excited him. Taesan made his move. ¡°Kerak!¡± The Lizardman swung his spear. It was quick, but Taesan casually blocked it and pierced the creature¡¯s chest. His sword went through its heart. ¡°Kaah¡­¡­¡± [You have defeated the spear-wielding Lizardman.] [You urately attacked the opponent''s vital point. You have acquired the constant activation skill "Vital Point Attack".] ¡°Finally got it.¡± It took more time than expected. He had to grind because it was a skill acquired through repetition, but he didn¡¯t have much leeway until now due to the divine trials and hidden bosses. [Constant Activation Skill: Vital Point Attack] [Proficiency: 1%] [When attacking an opponent''s vital point, you deal greater damage. Currently, it seems like you can only do half as much.] It inflicted greater damage when hitting the heart, neck, or other critical points. As proficiency increased, up to triple the damage could be added. It was a basic skill that was obtained after continuousbat and a skill that one must acquire. Finally, he was able to obtain it. He had now finished the 6th floor. Unlike before, there was nothing much left here, so only the boss room was left. ¡°It should be about time.¡± There were no monsters to disturb him. The respawn time was quite long, so he couldfortably experiment. He spread out his hand. [You have activated Fireball.] Fwoosh. The fire zed in thin air. He stared intently at the mes flickering above his hand. [What are you doing?] ¡°Testing.¡± Taesan had been experimenting with his skills. He had checked all sorts of situations and conditions. Now it was time for magic. [You''re testing all sorts of things, huh?] ¡°The differences can be quite significant.¡± If Taesan hadn¡¯t known the activation conditions for Evasion, he would have had a hard time against two named Goblins. He would have been flustered not knowing about the arrow attack and would have only won by a hair¡¯s breadth. But Taesan won easily. He had learned all the drawbacks of Evasion through his experiments. The same went for magic. With the staff, he could only use fixed magic. But now that he could learn and use magic, different results could ur depending on the conditions, just like with his skills. ¡°Can I adjust it?¡± He had been trying to sharpen the me into the shape of an arrow, but it hadn¡¯t worked. It was as if it was forcibly trying to maintain its current state. [me Arrow. It''s a higher-level magic with increased pration. If you could adjust magic like that, what would be the point of having different stages of magic?] ¡°So, I can¡¯t adjust it like this.¡± [Aren''t you going to ask me?] ¡°Only when I get stuck.¡± He tried things out himself and only looked for answers when he hit a wall. It had been Taesan¡¯s preferred method since his days on Earth. This time, he tried using Fireball consecutively. [You have activated Fireball.] [You have activated Fireball.] [You have activated Fireball.] Several mes appeared in the thin air. They were spaced at a certain distance, not ovepping each other. Unlike the staff, he could use multiple spells at once, but it didn¡¯t seem like the spells could merge with each other. Taesanunched all of the conjured fireballs at once. Pffft! The previously stagnant swamp oxidized instantly. Theunched fireball was shaped like a hollow circle. ¡°So, it doesn¡¯t work like this.¡± Fire Wall, a magic also known as the Wall of Fire. He tried creating something simr using Fireball, but no window appeared. Unlike skills, even if you created a simr effect with lower-level magic, it didn¡¯t seem like you could learn that higher-level magic. ¡®Or there might be other restrictions.¡¯ For now, that was it for Fireball. He started to check his other magics. Food Production. [Basic Magic: Food Production] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Summons a small amount of consumable liquid and edible solid.] Taesan spread out his hand. [You have activated Food Production.] Thud. A wooden bowl and a wooden cup appeared out of thin air. Inside were a transparent liquid and a thick porridge. Taesan picked up the cup and took a little sip. ¡°It tastes like water.¡± It tasted just like in water, nothing more, nothing less. This time, he scooped up a little porridge and tried it. ¡°¡­¡­It tastes like porridge.¡± It felt like eating something thick with no discernible vor. Taesan put down the bowl somewhat ufortably. ¡°Does anything change with the Food Production spell?¡± [Among the spells I know, Food Production is the most uninspiring.] A listless reply came back. It meant that there was nothing special about it. Taesan quietly cleared away the porridge. In that case, there was only one spell left. [Basic Magic: Random Mental Attack] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Uses non-beneficial mental magic on the target at random. Attempts to afflict the target with a status condition.] ¡°I wonder if anything will change.¡± The Random Mental Attack as a staff was simple. It attempted a judgment on the opponent. Until the judgment seeded or failed, no new judgment could be made. It could only be used once per turn. That was the staff¡¯s restriction. But looking at the Fireball, it seemed that such restrictions did not apply when he himself used magic. ¡°Can mental judgments be ovepped?¡± [They can be ovepped. But it''s not the kind of ovep you''re probably thinking of. It''s an ovep where, once the initial judgment is resolved, an attempt is immediately made on the next judgment.] ¡°So, it¡¯s sequential.¡± Still, that wasn¡¯t bad. It meant he could cause continuous confusion in the opponent¡¯s mind. Unlike the staff, he could attack whileunching a mental attack. If that was the case, he might be able to gain something. Taesan extrapted various possibilities. The ghost, who had been watching, asked as if tired. [Aren''t you tired of this?] ¡°It¡¯s fun, though?¡± Creating something bybining, pursuing new possibilities, and actually achieving results. There was no reason to feel bothered. The general summary of magic was finished. Magic could be used simultaneously with a slight dy. And unlike skills, you couldn¡¯t learn new magic by emting its effects. However, something felt missing. ¡°So, are you saying that one cannot learn magic on their own?¡± [Hmm...... that''s a bit ambiguous.] The ghost spoke in an ambiguous tone. [Magic is something that a talented individual can discover themselves or receive from someone else. It''s one or the other. As you''ve just experimented with Fireball, you cannot learn higher magic no matter what you do. But... asionally, there are exceptions.] ¡°asionally, there are exceptions?¡± [Those without talent gain higher magic by the concept of skill. I''ve asionally heard about them... but I don''t know how they acquired it. They themselves didn''t know because they obtained it by chance, and they did not intend to tell.] The information would be easy to obtain if there was a concept of amunity for discussions, but there was no such information market here. Information about skills or magic was quite precious, and it seemed that the ghost also didn¡¯t know the answer. It was not that it was impossible, but that it was unknown. This meant there was another direction Taesan could try. [You have activated Fireball.] Whoosh. Fire appeared in the air. He activated Fireball again. Two fires appeared in the air. The Fireballs do notbine. Taesan looked at the Fireball suspended in the air. ¡®It¡¯s different.¡¯ The Fireball used with the staff flew straight away. However, the Fireball used by magic remained next to Taesan until he issued amand. In other words, there were two states. A stationary fixed state and a flying trajectory state. Also, Fireball had a subtle dy. In terms of time, it was a very subtle dy of about 0.2 seconds. Its speed was such that Taesan could catch up with it by running. ¡°I wonder if it¡¯ll work.¡± [What will?] Instead of answering, Taesan drank a mana potion. His empty mana bar filled halfway. With a breath, Taesan stomped his foot. [You have activated Fireball.] A Fireball formed next to Taesan as he began running from the end of the room. Matching the speed of the flying Fireball, Taesan implemented another Fireball as he ran. [You have activated Fireball.] A Fireball formed right in front of the flying Fireball. The two Fireballs ovepped, bing a single Fireball. [Huh?] It was a Fireball that was about twice as big as the previous one. Taesan nced to confirm and once again ran, activating a Fireball. This time too, the Fireballsbined when they ovepped. He repeated this until the end of the room. A total of five Fireballs had merged. At the end of it, a sphere noticeablyrger than before collided with the wall. Boom! The room shook with a massive vibration. It was a force that was far beyond a Fireball. [You have learned [zing Sphere].] [...Was this the way?] Unlike when acquiring a skill, the exnation was extremely simple. But it was the same as having learned a new skill. [Beginner Magic: zing Sphere] [Mana Cost: 6] [Proficiency: 1%] [Fires a moderately sized fireball. It does greater damage to enemies without immunity. It still does reasonable damage to enemies with immunity. It attempts to inflict the abnormal status [Burn] on the target. It has a small physical force.] Various information was added. Judging from the vibrations in the room just now, the power seemed to have significantly increased. [You have activated zing Sphere.] The me intensified. It was iparablyrger than a fireball. ¡°So, this is how it is.¡± [Were the stationary state and the flying statepletely different judgments... I didn''t know.] The ghost muttered in a trembling voice. ¡°Is the method that difficult?¡± All you had to do was run while activating a fireball. But the ghost spoke in a tone that told him not to talk nonsense. [Fireball is basic magic, you know? And to follow the fireball, you need agility, which you can only achieve by delving pretty deep. By that point, you wouldn''t be using basic magic. Few learn magic, and how would they know this?] ¡°Is that so?¡± Thinking calmly, Taesan¡¯s stats were currently too high. Being able to catch up with a fireball meant that he could dodge even with his eyes closed. By that point, the enemy would have simr stats, so it would be reasonable to discard it. [And how many people do you think experiment deliberately and learn like you? Even if they do, they probably just got lucky. Most of them don''t even know how they learned it.] ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Even Lee Taeyeon didn¡¯t know how she had acquired Addition. Only after Taesan told her did she realize how. ¡°I get it now.¡± It was not that he could not learn new magic. Unlike skills, the various learning conditions were quite strict, making it appear as if he couldn¡¯t learn it. Taesan stood up and tried various methods. He fired a fireball and an arrow to create a ming arrow, activated the zing Sphere and fireball simultaneously to ovep them, and even tried to collide them. [Uh, uh, uh. I''m bored to death.] The ghost twisted its body. Instead of responding, Taesan continued his experiments. He spent two hours like that. However, whether there was really nothing or the conditions were not met, he did not learn new magic. ¡°So, this is the limit.¡± Roughly after twenty attempts, he had learned one zing Sphere. It was a satisfactory result. At worst, his odds of learning anything had gone down to a decimal point, so a 5% chance was close to a jackpot. Taesan drew his sword and entered the boss room. The ghost¡¯s voice was tinged with irritation, probably because it was already quite bored. [Yeah. Skills are good, but let''s move on in thebyrinth. If we go down, we can get better things, right? They say they teach swordsmanship on the 7th floor, right?] ¡°Kraaah!¡± A Lizardman appeared in the boss room. [A Lizardman warrior has appeared.] ¡°Kraaah!¡± The Lizardman rushed towards him. Taesan activated his magic. [You have activated zing Sphere.] Whoosh. The fireball flew. The warrior, with a shout, tried to split it. At that moment, Taesanunched a mental attack. [You have activated Confusion.] ¡°Ka, Kraaah?¡± [You have activated Madness.] The warrior¡¯s pupils shook. He shook his head to try and shake off the confusion and vitality returned to his eyes. However, the verdict of madness hit him immediately. Unable to ward off the fireball due to the screams prating his mind, the warrior became confused. ¡°Kraaah!¡± [49 damage to the Lizardman Warrior.] ¡°49? Not bad.¡± With this level of power, it could be used for damage, not just deterrence. Taesan cast his magic again towards the Lizardman, who had barely shaken off the madness. [You have activated zing Sphere.] [You have activated Powerlessness.] [You have activated Confusion.] ¡°Ka¡­¡­¡± The warrior¡¯s movement slowed down. He shook his body violently to shake off the powerlessness, but the judgment of confusion immediately hit. [50 damage to the Lizardman Warrior.] [Judgment sessful! The Lizardman Warrior is in a state of burn.] Taesan repeated this as both fireball and mental magic were consecutively cast. The Lizardman let out a powerless scream. ¡°Kieeeee!¡± [Poor thing.] The monster could not do anything. If he could at least swing a weapon or something to attack, it would be one thing, but he couldn¡¯t even do that due to the mental attack. All the warrior could do was get beaten up. ¡°Not bad.¡± Until now, magic was merely auxiliary. There were many restrictions due to using it with a wand. But now it was different. As much as the dy and restrictions had significantly disappeared, he could now defeat monsters using only magic. The dying Lizardman was the proof. ¡°Kieeeee¡­¡­¡± [You have won against the Lizardman Warrior.] Chapter 44: Seventh Level - Sword Of The Ruined World (1) ¡°It seems like we could descend only by using magic.¡± The lizardman warrior was an enemy you could encounter only after descending to at least the 70th floor in Easy Mode. It was now possible to defeat such a monster only with magic. The potential was plentiful. [Magic is a fully realized power. Some actually made it to the depths. I know someone who managed to descend to the 70th floor; it''s not impossible.] He obtained a skill on par with swordsmanship. Considering the uniqueness of magic, he should be able to pass many hurdles he struggled with before. And he had won against the boss, earning various rewards. [You have achieved victory over your enemies using only magic. You''ve acquired the special Continuous Action skill: Magic Booster.] It seemed like he could get a magic-rted skill because he properly used it. [Special Continuous Action Skill: Magic Booster] [Proficiency: 1%] [The speed of boosting magic decreases. The difference is still hardly noticeable.] Magic had a very fine casting time. Probably, the casting time of higher-level magic would increasingly take longer. It was a good effect to have at least one speed-reduction skill. [You have grasped a perfect victory. You''ve acquired the special Continuous Action skill: Perfect Victory.] ¡°Seems like I got this because I won without lifting a finger.¡± Perfect Victory. Its effect was simple. [Special Continuous Action Skill: Perfect Victory] [Proficiency: 1%] [A forced intimidation judgment is applied against enemies with an overwhelming gap to you.] Intimidation slowed down the target¡¯s actions and thoughts¡ªa good judgment. And it forced that upon them. As proficiency increased, it was a good skill that could even be applied against enemies of the same level. He received two skills. And by defeating the boss, his level increased. [Your level has increased.] [You are now in optimal condition.] [As a reward for leveling up, your HP increased by 40.] [As a reward for leveling up, your strength permanently increased by 4, and your agility permanently increased by 5.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your strength permanently increases by 3. Your agility permanently increases by 3.] The increase from Soul Ascension was not very high. The gap between the warrior and Taesan at the moment was too wide. Naturally, there was no struggle in his victory. Hoping for more after defeating the boss so easily would be shameless. ¡°Still, it¡¯s disappointing.¡± Taesan confirmed the items dropped by the boss, licking his lips. [Warrior''s Ne] [Strength +3] [Agility +1] [A ne that the warrior wore for a long time.] ¡°Not bad.¡± For a ne, the stats were quite high. Under normal circumstances, he would have been happy to wear it. But the Goblin Lord¡¯s ne was just too good. ¡°I should offer this as a tribute.¡± It was not a bad item; it should be a decent offering. [You defeated the boss of the 6th floor. Basic Reward: Acquired an Engraved Spell Scroll.] [You deciphered the hidden element of the 6th floor. Reward: Acquired ''???''.] He would save the Engraved Spell Scroll for now. The scroll could be applied to all equipment, but the effect was very small if not applied to the main gear. Using it on the ne would only make a difference of 1 or 2 in stats. Using it on the splendid sword was a waste, and Taesan¡¯s current armor was not very good. He nned to use itter. And the secret reward. [You used ???] [You acquired the Staff of Calmness.] ¡°A staff?¡± This was the second staff he acquired after defeating a boss. [Staff of Calmness] [Magic +6] [Magic usage cost -1] [Calmness is the foundation of a magician. Only those who adhere to this foundation can use this staff.] ¡°Does it reduce mana consumption?¡± If the mana consumption of a fireball, which was 3, became 2, it was reduced by 33% by a simple calction. Given that most of the skills he has learned so far consumed single-digit mana, even this small number was significant. ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± He originally nned to offer the staff as a tribute, but now the story had changed. ¡°Status.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 18] [Shield: 39/39] [HP: 725/725] [Mana: 104/104] [Strength: 161] [Intelligence: 79] [Agility: 122] [Attack +24] [Defense +21] [The target is in optimal condition.] His stats were so much better than his previous life that it almost seemed shameful. More than anything else, the increase in mana was noticeable. He had designated mana as the stat associated with Proof of Victory, so it increased every time he killed an enemy. As he was learning magic, mana consumption was expected to increase, so it was a wise choice. Taesan returned to the 6th floor. First, he had to meet Lilis and talk about magic. On his way back to the secret room, Lilis appeared first. ¡°Yahoo! Hello!¡± ¡°Is it okay for you to be out there?¡± ¡°I have invisibility. Besides, you¡¯ve taken care of all the monsters, haven¡¯t you? It¡¯s safe for now.¡± She led the way with a cheerful face. ¡°Follow me! I¡¯ll show you the safe zone!¡± As he followed her to the floor¡¯s periphery, there was a small door. ¡°This is the safe zone! Monsters can¡¯t enter!¡± The size of the interior was enough for one person to live in. Taesan looked around the empty room, which contained nothing. ¡°So, there was a ce like this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a well-known ce, is it?¡± It appeared on a small edge of the floor only after clearing it. Moreover, there was nothing inside. It was so insignificant that those who found it simply passed it by, thinking it was a room they hadn¡¯t found before. However, Lilis seemed to enjoy these little things, and she cheerfully pped her hands on the bare walls. ¡°Now, you came here because you have something to offer, right? Show me!¡± Taesan took out his inventory under Lilis¡¯ expectant gaze. tter. Countless pieces of equipment he had gathered so far fell out. They were decent but not something Taesan could use. Lilis¡¯ mouth fell open at the sight of the wave of over ten pieces of equipment. ¡°With this much, you should be able to learn something.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡­¡± With a gloomy face, Lilis turned each piece of equipment into an offering. After about ten minutes, once thest piece of equipment had been offered, Taesan chose his magic. ¡°Ice Arrow.¡± [You have gained Ice Arrow.] [Basic Magic: Ice Arrow] [Mana Consumption: 3] [Proficiency: 1%] [Fires an arrow of frost. Targets without immunity suffer significant damage. Attempts to inflict the status abnormality [Freezing] on the target.] The basic exnation was simr to Fireball. The difference was that Ice Arrow had definite physical force. It could be useful when he was unable to use a bow. ¡°I wonder if this would work?¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± Lilis tilted her head, catching Taesan¡¯s murmur. The ghost chuckled when it grasped what he was implying. [I guess your thoughts went right there. In terms of judgment, it should be possible.] ¡°Huh? Judgment? What do you mean?¡± To Lilis¡¯ continued inquiries, the ghost replied teasingly. [How much beginner''s magic have you learned?] ¡°You know what I¡¯ve learned. Aside from invisibility, nothing else.¡± Lilis groaned with disappointment. Shield of Concealment. Basic Detection. Fireball. Ice Arrow. They were all basic magic. ¡°You know, the difference in magic ranks is massive. As long as I can¡¯t leave the 10th floor, I can¡¯t learn any beginner¡¯s magic. It was truly a miracle that I even learned invisibility.¡± ¡°Is the difference that great?¡± ¡°Of course! Basic magic is just imitating magic. It can be easily contained in a staff. But beginner¡¯s magic is magic itself, something that can¡¯t be contained in anything.¡± She passionately exined. ¡°It may beckingpared to intermediate or advanced, but it¡¯s still sufficiently magic. I came in here for that, but all I¡¯m doing is struggling. If I couldn¡¯t learn invisibility, I really would have gone crazy.¡± She groaned like a weary old woman. The ghost held backughter and spoke. [You know zing Orb, right?] ¡°The upgraded version of Fireball? Of course, I know. It¡¯s a fire attribute but also has physical power, making it hard to counter, right?¡± [That. Can this guy learn it?] ¡°Huh?¡± Lilis¡¯ eyes widened in surprise. She soon chuckled and waved her hand. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t joke about it.¡± [Do I look like the type to joke about this?] ¡°You have to make sense. I admit he¡¯s strong. But he¡¯s from a world without magic. How could he learn it without someone teaching him?¡± [Why don''t you check for yourself then? Is it okay?] ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Really?¡± Lilis looked at him skeptically. Taesan opened his system window. [Beginner''s Magic: zing Orb] [Mana Consumption: 6] [Proficiency: 1%] [Fires a me orb of appropriate size. The more vulnerable the enemy, the greater the damage. Attempts to inflict [Burn] status abnormality on the target. It has a small physical force.] Lilis¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± [How is it? Real, right?] The ghost spoke proudly as if boasting about how impressive his own child was. And Lilis didn¡¯t have the mind to pay attention to that. ¡°What is this? This. zing Orb. How. How did you¡­¡± Like someone who has witnessed an impossible event, she stammered. ¡°How did you¡­¡± She then gathered herself and said. ¡°Teach me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She paused for a moment. After dozens of considerations in a short moment, she opened her mouth. Her face was a mix of desire as a magician and her own conscience. ¡°If you could teach me¡­¡­ that would be¡­¡­ great, but¡­ What can I do in return¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. I¡¯ll just teach you.¡± There was a high chance of having a long-term rtionship with Lilis. There was no harm in gaining favor. Awe spread across Lilis¡¯s face. ¡°Are you an angel? Or a messenger of God? You¡¯re going to teach me this? You should be my master!¡± ¡°But even knowing this won¡¯t be much help.¡± ¡°Not helpful! It¡¯s a method!¡± ¡°Well, who knows.¡± It would really be of no use to her. Taesan started exining. As his exnation progressed, Lilis¡¯s face twisted grotesquely. After the exnation, she chuckled hollowly. ¡°What was that?¡± [Yes. That reaction is normal.] ¡°Can¡¯t it be learned?¡± ¡°Do you think a mage would train physical strength? If you¡¯re fast enough to follow a fireball, why use a fireball? Just use other magic.¡± Lilis grunted in frustration. ¡°¡­Still, it¡¯s not entirely a bust. There¡¯s a difference in that kind of judgment. I didn¡¯t know. I can try various things. Thanks.¡± She looked at Taesan with admiring eyes. ¡°How did you find such differences? Is it because you¡¯re a favored adventurer by the gods?¡± ¡°I tried various things. And I have a question. What exactly is the difference in numbers when ites to magic?¡± ¡°Why are you asking all of a sudden? What did you get?¡± Taesan showed her the Staff of Serenity. Upon confirming its stats, Lilis expressed admiration. ¡°Magic +6 and Mana consumption reduction. This is equipment you can¡¯t even get on the 10th floor.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference in magic ¡®amount¡¯?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. Consider Magic + as a percentage.¡± ¡°So, if it¡¯s 6, it means 6%?¡± ¡°Right. Here, the percentage applies to everything about magic. Duration, judgment bonuses, power, etc¡­ excluding Mana consumption. Everything gets stronger.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just okay; it¡¯s good.¡± If it was a bonus for everything, not just power, then it was not simply a 6% increase. Depending on the situation, it could have been used as a substitute for a weapon. He received all the information he wanted. Taesan turned around, and Lilis waved her hand energetically. ¡°See you on the 7th floor!¡± Taesan headed towards the staircase heading down. Finally, the 7th floor. He was not far from the 10th floor. [7th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 7th floor and pass.] [Reward: Earring of the Forsaken One.] [Secret Reward: ???] Upon arrival at the entrance, as always, the dwarf was waiting. ¡°Did you arrive?¡± ¡°Do you have any Dust of Blessing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have any more?¡± If Taesan had two or three more, then he could get something, but it appeared that he couldn¡¯t buy any right now. It seemed like it wouldn¡¯t be easy to get. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll sell this.¡± Taesan pulled out things like the skin and teeth of the Lizardman and Big Rat. If he thought about the cksmith, he needed the skins, but he didn¡¯t need so many. ¡°That¡¯s a lot¡­ this should be about two thousand gold. What do you want to buy?¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± ¡°Are you just leaving again this time? How much money are you trying to save?¡± ¡°An ample amount.¡± He had collected almost five thousand gold. But it was still not enough. He would be able to use it properly after passing the 10th floor. ¡°See you next time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s boring.¡± Leaving behind a dwarf filled with boredom, Taesan walked on. [You''ve reached the 7th floor.] As soon as he left the shop, the ghost spoke. Taesan chuckled at the clearly visible change in attitude. ¡°Do you dislike him that much?¡± [I told you. He only moves for his own benefit. But... you don''t have to worry. The reason I dislike that old man is because of my personal experience. It has nothing to do with you.] Unlike when he spoke about the dwarf before, his emotion was more restrained this time. The ghost dismissed his lingering gloom. [Anyway, this is the 7th floor. You remember our promise?] ¡°You said you would teach me swordsmanship when we reach here.¡± At first, the ghost refused to teach him, but after Taesan got a hold of the path, it said it would teach him when they reached the 7th floor. That was if there were no problems with his stats. Now, that time hase. [What I''m going to teach you is the swordsmanship of our empire.] The ghost said it was the prince of an empire, that he hade here to save a dying world. [The Calvert Empire was a country that worshiped strength. The weak had no value, and if you had strength, most things were allowed. It was verymon for the strong to oppress the weak, and it was even considered right. Even as royalty, it was no different. I had six brothers.] Those who had the bloodline of the royal family fought each other for session rights. In the case of the Calvert Empire, it wasn¡¯t a political struggle. [I won against my brothers. I thrust a knife into their throats and seized the right of session.] ¡°That¡¯s a cruel world.¡± [Everyone says that. Little Lilis said so too. How could one live in such a ce, she asked. It''s a barbaric world, she said. But it''s my one and only world.] The ghost spoke in a mncholic tone. [I want to go back, but I can''t. I even failed the chance to save it. At the very least, leaving evidence of my world is my minimum atonement.] After briefly rposing himself, the ghost spoke calmly. [As it''s the swordsmanship of such a world, its characteristics are also intense. First, there is no defense.] Chapter 45: Seventh Level - Sword Of The Ruined World (2) ¡°No defense? You¡¯re saying I have to just take the hits?¡± [If we''re talking theoretically, yes.] ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a very good swordsmanship technique.¡± If there was no defense, it would be hard to even call it a sword technique. The ghost gave a careful exnation. [I said there''s no defense, but that doesn''t mean you don''t block attacks altogether. You know the saying'' the best defense is a good offense''? It''s like that. You preemptively stop the opponent''s movements. You attack where the opponent is going to move their sword, blocking from our side. If you had to put it into words, it would be an aggressive defense?] ¡°Hmm.¡± Having used a sword extensively himself, Taesan understood what that meant. ¡°But there are certain attacks that can¡¯t be blocked.¡± The opponent¡¯s movements were anticipated, and their attacks were stopped. It sounded good. However, in the end, this was based on the movement of an attack. Perfect blocking would be impossible. [You just take the hit.] [But in return, you attack even more. There areplete strategies for that as well.] ¡°It¡¯s not a very stable sword technique.¡± [It is risky. But its power is certain. I couldn''t learn magic very extensively since the gods were annoyingly picky. My innate talent was alsocking, so I was stuck with beginner magic.] However, the ghost had descended deep into the dungeon. Trusting only his sword technique, he broke through this ce. [If it was a weak sword technique, it would be impossible. What will you do?] ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®what.¡¯ I¡¯m obviously learning it.¡± Taesan was already fond of the chicken game, where both participants risked their health and rushed in. He had Endurance and could also nullify attacks, so it was just the right sword technique for him. [Good.] The ghost said, seemingly relieved. [Then let''s start the lessons.] ¡°Do I need to show respect?¡± [As I said before, there''s no need for that. This is a kind of trade.] ¡°But how are you going to teach me?¡± The ghost didn¡¯t have a body. It was a being that, being dead, could not interfere with the living. [Don''t worry about that. I have permission up to this point.] The ghost ced a hand on Taesan¡¯s shoulder. He felt a weight that he hadn¡¯t felt until now. [A raging storm. A scar like a fingernail mark.] The subdued voice resonated. [Storm Scar Sword. The only remnant left of my world.] [You learned the Storm Scar Sword from the owner of the Storm Scar Sword. You learned the Advanced Skill [Storm Scar Sword].] An advanced skill. This was a level of skill he had not seen before. [You have learned the Airak martial arts, but my swordsmanship follows a different track. It won''t be integrated.] ¡°Eugh.¡± He didn¡¯t feel anything. When he learned the Airak martial arts, some kind of concept and theory came into his mind, but this time there was nothing when he learned the skill. [Advanced Skill: Storm Scar Sword] [Proficiency: 0%] [A sword technique passed down from a ruined world. Now, only one person has mastered it.] The proficiency was 0%. Considering that all the skills he had gained started at 1%, it was definitely different from the norm. [I am a Swordmaster. Owner of a title that is given only to those who have mastered the sword. In the maze of skills, my proficiency is 100%... but I''m a dead man. I wasn''t allowed to go that far.] ¡°So, I need to learn it by myself.¡± [Even though that''s the case,municating verbally is possible, so I''ll do what I can.] The ghost began to exin. The ghost exined kindly. From one to ten, all the postures to take, and how to respond in various situations. His kindness was such that even a master would not instruct to this extent. [So, it''s not about blocking attacks; it''s about responding to them. You have to keep your line. If the line is crossed, just abandon it and pierce your opponent.] ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡± But Taesan could not understand. The ghost was eagerly exining, but it was too abstract or too concrete, making it hard toprehend. He could understand a sentence or two, but they weren¡¯t particrly meaningful. Taesan knew many of these types. [Groan.] The ghost groaned. [Exining swordsmanship verbally is indeed an impossible task.] Swordsmanship was ultimately a physical skill. Learning by moving and practicing directly rather than hearing hundreds of words was much faster. However, the ghost was a deceased entity and couldn¡¯t intervene. All it could do was verbalize, and Taesan was struggling to understand. ¡°When attacking an opponent¡¯s chest, do you mean to bend your arm, move to the left, and use the momentum of your whole body?¡± [Yes. Do you get the feeling?] ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± He tried to move his body, but it resulted in strange movements. The ghost clicked his tongue in frustration as time passed without progress. [As I expected, we''re stuck here. How should we do this?] Taesan closed his mouth without a word. The ghost spoke anxiously. [This is not because youck talent or anything like that. It just doesn''t make sense. Swordsmanship is about moving the body. Even the written doctrines are written based on the experiences of those who have moved their bodies. So, until you actually move, you can''t understand what it means.] The ghost seemed to worry that Taesan might give up or be pessimistic at a very fast pace. Contrary to the ghost¡¯s concern, Taesan had not given up. ¡°Can proficiency also be considered ¡®experience¡¯?¡± [Eh? Since it can be built up only through direct usage and acquisition, isn''t it indeed experience?] The ghost answered in surprise at the sudden question. Taesan sorted out his thoughts. Proficiency could be gained by umting experience. So conversely, if you raised your proficiency, did you gain experience? It was worth trying. Taesan took out a potion from his inventory. [Proficiency Boost Potion] [Raises the proficiency of one skill by 5%] [Oh, that.] The ghost noticed it, too, albeit btedly. [Is that... possible?] Taesan drank the potion. [You have used the Proficiency Boost Potion.] [The proficiency of Storm Scar''s sword has increased.] ¡°Woah.¡± All sorts of information flooded into his mind instantly. The way to wield a sword. The way to block an attack. The way to use strength. All of that steadily fell into ce. Taesan stood up. When attacking an opponent¡¯s chest, bend your arm and move to the left, then use the sticity of your whole body. It was a statement he couldn¡¯t understand just moments ago. Taesan gripped the sword and moved his body. Thrusting the sword, bending his arm, and turning his body to the left, he swung his arm as if bouncing off with the help of the recoil. His body naturally turned a full circle. Whoosh! The sound of his sword splitting the air rang loudly. The clean movement he couldn¡¯t do earlier was now possible. ¡°It works.¡± [Oh... So this kind of workaround is possible.] [Kang Taesan has invited Kang Junhyeok.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Is it still the same?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Yes. It''s driving me crazy. Whenever I try to have a conversation, they keep interrupting and picking fights. Why do these crazy guys do this?] Taesan could feel the anger through the text. There was a reason why Kang Junghyeok was this angry. [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Why on earth are they calling us the enemy in Easy Mode? I just don''t understand?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Because thebyrinth is too big of an enemy. You need an enemy that''s easier to understand.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: So why are they doing that in the first ce?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: I don''t know their thoughts either. They may think it''s beneficial.] He knew why Choi Junghyuk was acting like that. But that was information known by the previous Taesan. He couldn¡¯t tell him now. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Just ignore them like now. There will be set guys who keep bbering.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Only Choi Junghyuk and a few of his flunkies are bbering. Ah, it''s annoying.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: How''s thebyrinth anyway?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: For now, I''m roaming around the 2nd floor. It''s tough, but I manage by catching one monster at a time. My level also went up not too long ago, so it got a bit easier.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: That''s good, then. Don''t touch my stash.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Hmph, I''m tempted... but can''t help it.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Going to fight the boss soon?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: I will go once I''m done exploring. I have to defeat it.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Be careful then. That one uses mental magic.] The boss of the 2nd floor was a goblin wielding a staff. Taesan, being semi-immune to mental attacks, passed without any problem, but the situation was different for others. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You should buy some immunity potions from the shop.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Yup. I always appreciate your advice. My stats are pretty high, so if I handle the mental part, there won''t be a problem.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: How high are your stats now?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Around 15 overall? I heard it''s higher than sister Taeyeon.] Overall stats of 15. Just as Kang Junhyeok said, it was not a weak number. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: I see. That''s good.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: What about you, brother?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Do you want to know?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: ...No, I think it''s better not to know.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: We''ll seeter.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: You said the same thingst time, but can we really see each otherter? I feel like I might die before then.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: We can see each other.] Kang Junhyeok would definitely see him as long as he didn¡¯t do anything crazy. Taesan closed the Community. [Is it over?] ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan stood up, gripping his sword. Not the sword he always used, nor Lakiratas¡¯s sword, but two rusty swords, each with an attack power of 1. He had returned to the store and bought them. The dwarf gave him a look of confusion as to why he would buy them, but to Taesan, they were necessary weapons. He also took off all his equipment that had attack power attached to it. His attack power now was 2. He moved on to the next room. ¡°Grr!¡± [A Lizardman Warrior has appeared.] A Warrior. A monster one rank lower than a diator. The weapon it used was either a sword or a spear. [Perfect.] Recalling the memories in his head, Taesan dashed forward. The Lizardman swung his sword. ng! The sword de jangled violently, creating a deadlock. Taesan didn¡¯t avoid the attack targeting his whole body but rather pushed further into it. It was his first practical application of swordsmanship. Therefore, he decided to fight in a conventional way first. ng! nk! Heunched an attack and circled around the Lizardman. The Lizardman gritted his teeth and moved his hand. Taesan attacked towards the trajectory where the sword was about to move. sh! The Lizardman¡¯s movement, which was about to attack, shifted to defense as the swords shed. Seizing the gap, Taesan plunged his sword into the Lizardman¡¯s chest. [5 damage to Lizardman Warrior.] [6 damage to Lizardman Warrior.] ¡°Gah!¡± The Lizardman held onto its sword. Taesan couldn¡¯t properly respond to the attack where the handle was swung down at him in previous fights. But now, he knew how to respond. All of that information was in his head. Just like that, Taesan pulled up the hilt of his sword. The two hilts collided. ng! ¡°Eek!¡± He cut straight through. The damage window ostentatiously obscured his view. ¡°Aargh!¡± However, having removed equipment with additional attack power, the damage was minimal. The Lizardman was still vigorously swinging his weapon. Taesan also squared off with him. He organized the numerous pieces of information resounding noisily in his head and showed it through his body. Finally, after a battlesting over an hour, he was able to win. ¡°Aah¡­¡± [You have triumphed over the Lizardman Warrior.] [The proficiency of the Storm Scar Sword has increased by 1%.] His proficiency increased. The ghost pointed out Taesan¡¯s movements. [It''s important to strike, but it''s also crucial to pull back. Use that pulling back motion as the movement for the attack.] He grasped the theory, but his practical application was still immature. Taesan finished his confirmation. ¡®It¡¯s a good skill.¡¯ If it wasn¡¯t for Storm Scar, it would have taken two hours. In terms of quickly delivering damage and continuing the attack, it was an exceptional skill. Even though he was still unskilled now, as he increased his proficiency, the value would continually rise. He made his decision. He would break through the 7th floor just like this. He would keep going until he could maximize his proficiency. The value was more than enough. Taesan gripped his rusty sword and moved to the next room. Chapter 46: Seventh Level - Sword Of The Ruined World (3) From then on, it was half-gruelingbor. Since he switched all his weapons to rusty swords, which had abined attack power of only 2, battles took a long time. It took an hour just to barely defeat a single creature. ¡°Is this the right way to do it here?¡± [That''s correct. But it would be better if you twist a bit more. Try moving your left wrist about 3cm to the right.] Listening to the feedback on his movements, he headed toward the monster again. And the battles began. He tried out the movements based on the feedback he received from the ghost. It was awkward at first, but the longer the battles continued, the smoother his movements became. [You have triumphed over the Lizardman Warrior.] [The proficiency of the Storm Scar Sword has increased by 1%.] And once again, he listened to feedback on his movements. [Hmm... not bad, but when you turn your body to the left, try moving your left foot a little further forward. With your current movements, it''ll be hard to approach if the opponent just keeps a little distance, right?] The ghost pointed out his movements in detail, and Taesan followed his advice. He faced the next monster and, keeping in mind the ghost¡¯s words, moved his left foot forward. ¡°Kraah!¡± Indeed, he was able to get a little closer morefortably. As Taesan wielded his sword, he continued to adjust his movements. [The proficiency of the Storm Scar Sword has increased by 1%.] Time passed. A day went by. He spent twelve hours battling, six hours sleeping, and six hours replenishing his strength while refining his movements. He ate on the move between rooms to not waste a single moment. The ghost let out a hollowugh. [You''re doing the right things to get stronger, but it''s strange no matter how I think about it. Are you okay? Aren''t you tired? It seems incredibly boring?] ¡°Why would it be boring? I¡¯m only enjoying it.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t understand thement. Each time he went through a battle, he could physically feel the increase in proficiency. The danger was low, and he didn¡¯t have to impose any constraints on himself. The rewards for his actions were also definite. Considering the thousands of repetitions that he did without any known answer, without knowing when the results would show, Taesan couldn¡¯t understand how something thisfortable could be considered boring. The ghost chuckled softly. [Crazy bastard.] And so, time passed. He adjusted his movements with each battle and started the next one. Just like building a castle, he gradually eliminated unnecessary movements. And so, two days passed. Taesan moved his hand holding the sword- for a moment, the de distorted strangely, and the wind ripped roughly. It had be significantly smoother and faster than before. It was a movement that he would never have been able to see before. ¡°Is this swordsmanship? It¡¯s definitely different.¡± Until now, he hadn¡¯t been able to properly respond to his opponent¡¯s movements. Because their movements seemed meaningless to him, he had no way of knowing how to move to counter the opponent. He had finally found the answer to such a problem where he once couldn¡¯t find the right answer. The reasons and countermeasures for the opponent¡¯s movements were drawn in his mind. He felt a bit disappointed. If the current Taesan were to fight against himself, who hadn¡¯t learned swordsmanship, he would win ny-nine out of a hundred times. He had definitely be stronger. But it wasn¡¯t a drastic difference as the ghost had said. It was the difference between knowing and not knowing. He hadn¡¯t learned anything particrly novel. ¡®It¡¯s obvious since there wouldn¡¯t be much difference just because it¡¯s swordsmanship.¡¯ It was amusing to think there would be something special in moving his body. With this thought, he encountered a monster. ¡°Kaaa!¡± The Lizardman thrust its spear. Just as Taesan began to parry and move, the ghost spoke. [Move your foot forward.] Taesan hesitated for a moment. Until now, the ghost had only advised him after he had defeated the enemy. It had never spoken during battle. However, Taesan promptly followed the ghost¡¯s words and moved his foot forward. The distance to the enemy narrowed. The Lizardman held the spear short and swung it around. ¡°Kaaaa!¡± [Empty your head and follow the way of the sword.] Words he didn¡¯t understand. Although it was advice that seemed to make him grasp at straws, an image was already being drawn in his mind. The words burrowed into his head, and before his consciousness could react to it, his body moved first. The sword moved. His wrist shook smoothly. The Lizardman¡¯s left wrist, elbow, arm, and fingers were cut off. The speed was iparable to before. ¡°Kaaaa!¡± [Move your foot forward.] He moved forward. The Lizardman shook his spear with a rage-filled face. He read the trajectory and blocked it. [Counteract with prediction. Rely on your senses. Use your whole body. Move your foot forward, your hands on your chest, and advance with a posture like a beast.] He lunged at the Lizardman. He parried the spear, and his two hands holding the sword moved so fast that afterimages were formed. [You dealt 6 damage to Lizardman Warrior.] [You dealt 5 damage to Lizardman Warrior.] [You dealt 5 damage to Lizardman Warrior.] [You dealt 6 damage to Lizardman Warrior.] [You dealt 6 damage to Lizardman Warrior.] An unprecedented damage window appeared, showing an iparable amount of damage. The speed was much faster thanbining continuous and breathless attacks. The Lizardman fell with a scream. [You have defeated the Lizardman Warrior.] [The proficiency of Storm Scar Sword has increased by 3%.] ¡°This is¡­ the movement is different.¡± It was not a fast attack simply driven by stats. It was literally a perfectbination attack that was inhuman, without a single gap, an idea that was impossible to conceive in one¡¯s mind. The ghost spoke impassively. [That''s the first sword of the Storm Scar, Wolf''s Fang.] ¡°Nice.¡± [Advanced Skill: Sword of the Storm Scar] [Proficiency: 12%] [A swordsmanship passed down from a ruined world. Now, only one person has mastered it.] It wasughable how he thought it was regrettable. Could he counter the Wolf¡¯s Fang without any information about it? The answer was no. Even with a skill, countering it with a physical reaction was impossible. Even if there was a considerable difference in stats, it would still be the same. It was abination attack filled with that level of speed and smoothness. It was satisfying. He could have won more easily if he had this when fighting against Lakiratas¡¯ Servant. [That''s the first sword. There are still many swords, but youck the experience to get there. It''s better to learn slowly. So, it''s a bit regrettable.] The ghost was disappointed. [The guys around here are too weak.] Even if all equipment was removed, the difference in basic stats was toorge. No matter how much Taesan restrained himself, he pushed them away the moment he collided. There was a limit even in trying this and that. [If it continues like this, it''s hard to significantly increase proficiency. A stronger one needs to appear. I want to teach you the second sword before I leave...] ¡°Are there such guys?¡± [That''s the problem, there aren''t any.] Taesan¡¯s stats were too high. [Honestly, I think the 10th-floor boss will lose to you now, so such a guy can''t appear. But it''s still regrettable.] A voice full of regret echoed. Taesan kept roaming thebyrinth. However, no more monsters appeared. ¡°Did I catch them all?¡± He caught well over thirty, so it should be dawn. Taesan then started searching for the secret room. Twenty minutester, he found a ce where a secret room could be located. An hourter, he found the secret room. The door opened with a creak. Inside, there were countless traps, and beyond that, a box was ced. Now, the traps were no longer a problem. He was agile enough to grab the arrow, react to the opening floor, and escape. Taesan started to use the trap disarm skill. [Judgement sess! The trap is disarmed.] [The proficiency of Trap Disarming has increased by 1%.] He disarmed every visible trap one by one. There were times when he failed, and the trap was activated, but he simply avoided them and tried to disarm the trap again. The ghost, now seemingly convinced, said nothing. It quietly watched from Taesan¡¯s side. Thirty minutester, all the traps were disarmed. Taesan arrived at the box. [Agility Rune] Like the Power Rune, it increased agility. There was no need to save it, so he used it immediately. [You have used the Agility Rune.] [Agility + 10] He took everything he needed, and Taesan left the secret room. He looked around once more, but he didn¡¯t see anything special. ¡°There¡¯s nothing.¡± [Sometimes there are empty floors like this. From my memory, there was something on the next floor.] Going to the next room was the right answer. Before heading to the boss, Taesan moved to a spacious room. He manifested magic right in front of the door. [You have activated the Ice Arrow.] Zheok! An ice arrow the size of a fist appeared in thin air. The chill spread throughout the room momentarily. [I see you''re thinking of making it.] Taesan fired the arrow. Ping. With a light sound, it hit the wall. Its speed was the same as the fireball. The size was also simr. Then, it could be made in a simr way. [You have activated the Ice Arrow.] He stamped his foot the moment he shot the arrow. [You have activated the Ice Arrow.] Zheok. The ice collided with each other, increasing in size. It changed into the form of a sphere rather than an arrow, and it directly collided with the wall. Zheong! The cold spreads along the wall. Frost sticks to the wall. [You have learned the Frost Arrow.] [Beginner Magic: Frost Arrow] [Mana Cost: 6] [Proficiency: 1%] [Fires a frost arrow. The less immunity the enemy has, the more damage they take. It attempts to inflict the abnormal status [Freeze] on the target. The intense cold can freeze liquids.] ¡°Good.¡± [Already two beginner spells. That little Lilis had to struggle so much to learn just one. And you''re learning without any cost. Oh dear.] The ghost¡¯s voice of incredulity echoed through the room as Taesan immediately used the spell. [You have activated the Frost Arrow.] Zheojeok. The room¡¯s temperature dropped in an instant. The chill emanates enough to stick to his hand should he reach out for it. Taesan fired the arrow, making it hit the wall. Zheoeoong! The wall froze on the spot. It was a cold that could not bepared with modern dry ice. ¡°This one¡¯s pretty good too.¡± Monsters might be able to resist due to their high stats, but this level of cold could be used outside of battle as well. You could spray water and shoot a frost arrow to make a road or use it repeatedly in a short time to create an ice barrier. There were ways to use it that were different from fire. Perhaps it could be used more efficiently for such purposes than for battle. After checking the spell, Taesan headed toward the boss room. ¡°Kaaaak!¡± [An elite Lizardman has appeared.] ¡°No name, huh.¡± [Monsters with names are very rare. There are levels to elites as well.] The fact that it had no name meant it wouldn¡¯t use skills. Nevertheless, it wouldn¡¯t be weak as it was called an elite. In other words, it was a sufficient practice opponent. Holding a sword in each hand, Taesan faced the elite Lizardman. ¡°Kaaaak!¡± He parried the whirling spear as if shredding it with his sword des and stuck close to the opponent. He shed at the opponent¡¯s wrist, stabbed its thigh, and pped its jaw. ¡°Kaak!¡± The staggering opponent raised its hand to attack Taesan. At that moment, Taesan moved his sword. He attacked the trajectory where the opponent intended to move the spear. The Lizardman hastily pulled back its wrist. Kaang! The opponent¡¯s attack was blocked by Taesan¡¯s attack. Taesan continued to attack, pressing his body against the opponent¡¯s thigh. ¡°Ka, Kaaaa!¡± The Lizardman changed its tactics, aiming to find an opportunity while blocking. But Taesan had no intention of giving it that chance. He stuck closer, intensifying the trajectory of his sword. ¡°Kaaaak?¡± He struck as if the opponent waspletely unguarded. The Lizardman tried to block hastily, but Taesan twisted its wrist and attacked other parts. ¡°Kii eek¡­¡­¡± In the end, the elite Lizardman fell without being able to do anything. [You have defeated the elite Lizardman.] [Your level has increased.] [The proficiency of the Storm Scar Sword has increased by 1%.] ¡°That was easy.¡± He had certainly be stronger. He had won without using any skills. It wouldn¡¯t have been this easy if he hadn¡¯t learned swordsmanship. Although his stats were superior, he would have taken some damage if he couldn¡¯t predict the opponent¡¯s movements. Swordsmanship and the difference between knowing and not knowing the information was really significant, he realized. [Advanced Skill: Storm Scar Sword] [Proficiency: 13%] [A sword technique passed down from a ruined world. Now only one person has mastered it.] The proficiency was already at 13%. It was a considerably fast rate. [Since it''s the beginning, it will increase quickly, but once it exceeds 30%, it will rise little by little. There''s no solution. You have to practice slowly and learn.] Taesan checked the clear reward. [Relic of the Lost One''s Earring] [Mana + 10] [A precious possession that the lost one would have wanted to protect, even at the cost of their life.] ¡°Oh?¡± Mana earrings. And it increased his stats by as much as 10. This meant fewer restrictions for magic and skill usage. And a secret reward. [You used ???.] [You obtained a Neat Leather Armor.] ¡°Armor, huh. It¡¯s about time for a change.¡± The armor he¡¯s currently wearing is an old piece of armor with a defense of 2 that he purchased long ago. He had to change it but didn¡¯t urgently need the defense, so he left it as it was. There was also the thought that he would get something eventually. [Neat Leather Armor] [Defense + 10] [Agility + 2] [A sturdy leather armor. There aren''t many who would say this isn''t good.] The defense value was 10. On top of that, it had agility. The secret reward was not a piece of equipment that could be obtained at the current stage, as always. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 20] [Shield: 45/45] [Health: 785/785] [Mana: 123/123] [Strength: 166] [Intelligence: 82] [Agility: 142] [Attack + 24] [Defense + 26] [The subject is in optimal condition.] Mark of Victory and Soul Ascension. Thanks to various skills, his stats continued to rise steadily. In Easy Mode, there were quite a few cases where he didn¡¯t get much stronger even after perfectly clearing the floor, but now he couldn¡¯t find a trace of such a pattern. Chapter 47: Eighth Level - Oman, The God Of Trials (1) [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Uh, um, Mr. Taesan. As you said, I experienced the trial.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Really? How was it?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: The trial itself was fine... uh. It''s a bit confusing. What was that? Is that what a god is?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What are you talking about?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: ¡­¡­I couldn''t breathe. Madness and confusion came at the same time.] Before going down to the next floor, he met with Lilis. He exined to her how to acquire the Frost Arrow. ¡°It¡¯s the same as the zing Orb¡­ is it some kind ofw?¡± As she wrapped her head around the theory, Taesan took out his excess equipment from his inventory. ¡°With these, I can learn at least one, right? This time, let¡¯s learn Basic Detection.¡± He learned a spell. A new power hade to Taesan. [Basic Magic: Basic Detection] [Mana Consumption: 2] [Proficiency: 1%] [[Understand the surroundings. Can only detect things like the location of objects.] It was a perfect downgrade version of Reconnaissance. But there must be a way to use it, as magic and skill had different judgments. Lilis peeked her head inquisitively. ¡°When will you learn a new spell?¡± If Taesan learned a new spell, she could also learn something she hadn¡¯t learned. But Taesan shook his head. ¡°First, I will learn all the spells you have.¡± Two things were needed to learn a new spell: the price that Lilis received and the permission he received. There was no reason to risk an uncertain option when he could learn magic with the least price. Lilis changed her face to a sulky look. ¡°Alright. I got it.¡± His business was done. Taesan left Lillis. In the end, she also waved at him with a beaming smile. ¡°See you downstairs!¡± Taesan headed to the 8th floor. As always, he greeted the waiting dwarf and descended. [The 8th-floor quest starts.] [Defeat the boss of the 8th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Marnius''s Rune.] [Secret Reward: ???] At the same time, a quest window popped up. [Special Quest Starts] [Return to Earth.] ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± [Huh? What is?] ¡°This issue.¡± Taesan checked the quest. [Special Quest Starts] [Return to Earth.] [In a week from now. You will return to thend you abandoned. Survive there ande back. The reward will be determined ording to your achievements.] [This quest cannot be refused.] It was a short quest window. But the sentence contained in it was anything but light. They would return to Earth in a week, to the ce where the monsters were poised to trample the world. He confirmed it without any sense of excitement, as it had happened several times in the past. They, the yers, asionally had to return to Earth even before clearing thebyrinth. All of those began under the name of a special quest. Those quests made the yers experience various emotions and experiences. Opening the Community, it was noisy, as expected. [Kim Taejin[Solo]: What is this? It''s not just me, right?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Yes, I also got it... How should we ept this?] First, confusion and flustered reactions were visible. Then, sporadic expectations began to show. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Isn''t it literal? We''re returning to Earth after a week?] [Kim Taejin[Solo]: But so suddenly? Isn''t it strange?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: What''s not strange here? At least it''s a quest. I don''t think they''d lie.] [Na Jaeyeon[Solo]: ...Can we really go back?] [Lee Sang[Solo]: Wait a minute. Really?] [Moon Jaesung[Solo]: Wow. Amazing.] They could get out of this ce where they had to fight for their lives. Everyone was delighted at that fact. Just as the people were almost overwhelmed with happiness, Kang Junhyuk dampened the mood. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Uh... Is this a good thing?] [Kim Taejin[Solo]: What are you talking about! We''re going back! Why isn''t this good?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: But, the reason we entered here was because of the monsters.] [Kim Taejin[Solo]: ...Ah.] The bted realization of what they had forgotten swept over them. Before the quest window appeared for them, the sky had split. A giant monster appeared from there and looked down at them. Everyone who entered thebyrinth had been startled by the monster and fled in haste. [Lee Sang[Solo]: Uh... ] [Moon Jaesung[Solo]: So what. We''ve be stronger than before. It could just be a big brute.] [Na Jaeyeon[Solo]: Right. It will work out somehow.] Still, hope was more prevalent than despair. Everyone didn¡¯t say much, but a considerable amount of stress was built up from their extreme situations. They were happy just by the fact that they could get out of this ce where they had to risk their lives. Above all, if they returned to Earth, there would definitely be material benefits. [Lee Sang[Solo]: We''ll be able to eat, right?] [Moon Jaesung[Solo]: Probably, right? Can we finally stop eating this damn Big Rat meat?] Emergency food rations were too expensive for neers to buy, so all they could eat was monster meat. For them, who were ustomed to modern food, it was torture. [Lee Sang[Solo]: There should be canned food left. Maybe we could even eat rice.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Canned corn! I used to love that.] [Na Jaeyeon[Solo]: It''s delicious. But I found peanuts tastier.] [Kim Taejin[Solo]: I prefer pineapple!] They were in high spirits for the first time in a long while. In Solo Mode, they couldn¡¯t meet anyone except NPCs. Everyone struggled from the istion. The anticipation of meeting people also excited them. An alert appeared to Taesan, who had been staring at the Community. [Kang Junhyuk has invited Kang Taesan.] Taesan epted it. [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Oh, was this what you were talking about, brother?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Yeah.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: ...How did you know about this?] Kang Junhyuk asked nervously as Taesan replied with a gruff voice. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You know about the Altars of God, right?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Oh, they told you about it?] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Notpletely, but they gave a rough guide. I inferred from there.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: There''s such a method. If you''re called a god, you''d know that much.] Kang Junhyuk quickly agreed. Although it wasn¡¯t the case, he had no choice but to ept it because he didn¡¯t know anything about the gods. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Try to break through the second floor while you''re at it. It would be better if you could prate a bit of the third floor too.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: ¡­¡­It seems to be quite difficult.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: It won''t be easy.] Everyone in the Community was overjoyed to be able to leave this ce. However, half of the surviving yers died when they returned to Earth for the first time. Given that, there was no reason for Taesan to celebrate. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Don''t dampen the mood by bringing it up; just tell them to try their best to break through. Morale is important here.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Got it. I''ll do my best.] The conversation with Kang Junhyuk ended. Taesan, who had been looking at the Community, chuckled to himself. He could not see Choi Junghyuk, who was always loud and talkative. ¡®He must be suffering from a headache.¡¯ He looked forward to the day they would return to Earth. Taesan had no ns to just sit still. He nned to go as far as he could. He moved toward the 8th floor. ¡°Kkiruk!¡± Monster of the 8th floor, the Marukanda. It was a bird the size of a human with a sharp beak, the first non-humanoid monster after the Big Rat. It was a tricky opponent to face as it fluttered its wings and rushed forward unpredictably. Of course, this didn¡¯t matter to Taesan. He shed his sword down. ¡°Kkik!¡± [You have defeated Marukanda.] This kind of monster was morefortable than fighting humanoids. Since it only moved instinctively without higher-dimensional techniques like swordsmanship, Taesan could respond more easily. ¡°Can I use swordsmanship against beasts?¡± [Uh¡­¡­ My swordsmanship, which is based on fighting humans, won''t work. That would be the domain of mercenaries or barbarian''s swordsmanship.] There seemed to be some limitations to swordsmanship. Unlike skills, its effect greatly varied depending on the opponent. It was not a big problem, so he moved on while keeping it in mind. His goal was to break through quickly, so his movements were unhesitant. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] Even while doing so, his stats continued to rise steadily. About halfway through, he was able to find an altar. [You have discovered the Altar of Oman.] [First Discovery Bonus] [Mana + 2] [Intelligence + 2] It was another god¡¯s altar. This was the third altar, following Lakiratas and Balthasar. [Altar of Oman] [An altar built by those who serve Oman. It is a passage connected to the god. Oman can exert influence through this ce.] The spirit spoke. [Oman. The god of trials. He likes to test adventurers and allow them to gauge their own strength. He''s just the god you need right now.] Power could be felt from beyond the altar. The same transcendental power as before. But it wasn¡¯t as strong. It was moderate enough to be received calmly. [Sub Quest Started] [Oman wants to test you, who visited his altar. If you ept, trials wille your way. If you ovee them, you will be rewarded.] [Reward: Determined by Oman based on your achievement.] There was no reason to refuse. Taesan epted the quest. [Sub Quest Started] [Oman is preparing for your choice.] Kooong! The door closed as the room transformed into an isted space. [Oman''s Trial: Prove your strength.] A ck liquid began to seep out and gather on the floor. It started to take a form. A shadow in the shape of a human wielding a sword. Chulkuk. The sword was aimed at Taesan, and Taesan took his stance. There was no information at all about what level the opponent was. The shadow, who had been quietly watching him, kicks off. Taat. Seeing the shadow rushing towards him, Taesan was taken aback. ¡®Why is it so slow?¡¯ It was the speed of an ordinary human. Considering that even a small increase in stats transcended the realm of humans, it was too slow. ¡®Is there something else?¡¯ Cautious of any skills or special abilities, Taesan swung his sword. The shadow couldn¡¯t react and was sliced. The liquid scattered. [You have passed the first trial. Your Agility increases by 1 as a reward.] With that system message, the scattered liquid regathered. Chulkuk. Again, a human form appeared. Tat. The shadow kicked off again. This time it was faster than before. Its movement was at the limits of human capabilities. Topare precisely, all the stats would be slightly superior to an Olympic gold medalist. But to Taesan, it was extremely slow. Just like before, it disappeared with one sword strike. [You have passed the second trial. Your Strength increases by 1 as a reward.] Ggulreong. Once again, the liquid gathered. The shadow took the form of a human again. Taesan realized what the trial was. ¡°It¡¯s step by step.¡± [Correct.] The first shadow was an adventurer on the first floor who hadn¡¯t leveled up much and had stats not much different from a human. The second shadow was at the level of an adventurer who had entered the second floor and was gradually challenging the limits. The third would be an adventurer who had entered the third floor, showing movements beyond human capabilities. Taat. As Taesan expected, it was faster than the previous shadow. A simple movement of the sword knocked it down, and yet another shadow appeared. [You have passed the third trial. Your Intelligence increases by 1 as a reward.] ¡°Testing with the average strength of the Solo Mode?¡± The god of trials. His intention was simple. He would test whether you really had the strength fitting for the floor. If he took down this shadow, a shadow with the strength of the fourth floor would probably appear. Perfect timing. Taesan grabbed his sword. It was a situation he didn¡¯t know about himself. The only yer in Solo Mode was Lee Taeyeon. She had dodged all sorts of things and descended, so she was far from average. She could not be a reference point. On top of that, only monsters he had seen in Easy Mode were appearing. It was hard topare. Comparing stats also didn¡¯t have much meaning. [Lee Taeyeon] [Level: 258] [HP: 45810/45810] [Mana: 7020/7020] [Strength: 10152] [Intelligence: 9899] [Agility: 13254] [Attack + 5421] [Defense + 8456] These were the stats of Lee Taeyeon, who cleared thebyrinth. The numbers were so high that theparison was meaningless. The more you descended, the more the growth increased, making it difficult to gauge what level it was. In other words, Taesan knew he was strong, but he didn¡¯t know what floor level he was in Solo Mode. He could only make a rough guess. Understanding this was necessary. Taesan swung his sword towards the shadow rushing at him. Chapter 48: Eighth Level - Oman, The God Of Trials (2) [You have passed the fourth trial. Your Agility increases by 2 as a reward.] Each time a trial was passed, the shadow transformed into an adventurer from the next floor. The shadow took on a human form as the fifth trial began. An adventurer from the 5th floor. Suitably, it had a rather fast speed as its sword strike plunged down towards Taesan. Kang. It was strong. With a brute force clearly beyond human limits, it held a power capable of easily flinging a car. Taesan applied force to his arm, and the sword held by the shadow screamed and split in two. [You have passed the fifth trial. Your Strength increases by 2 as a reward.] And then the sixth trial began. The adventurer from the 6th floor was faster and stronger. It also started using skills. [The shadow activates a Vicious Thrust.] ¡°So from here, they start using activated skills?¡± The 6th floor. It was not strange to start using one or two skills. It was not a good skill. Vicious Thrust was a skill that only applied about 10% extra damage upon sessful thrust. Taesan knew how to acquire it but didn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t need it. The acquisition method was thrusting into the air 100 times in the same posture. Instead of swinging his sword, Taesan made some distance and waved his hand. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Zheong! A massive piece of ice flew toward the shadow. The shadow blocked it, but it shattered just like its sword. [You have activated zing Orb.] Poeong! Two spells. And then the shadow disappeared. [You have passed the sixth trial. Your Mana increases by 2 as a reward.] It was still at a level that could be handled with magic alone. Taesan checked his mana. All the expended mana was fully recovered. Every time he passed a trial, all of his resources were restored. Judging from how he felt, it seemed like even mental fatigue had disappeared. ¡®I can try various things.¡¯ Kkulrong. A shadow appeared. An adventurer from the 7th floor. Taat. It was definitely fast. It was moving at a speed that would be hard to follow with the eyes of an ordinary person. Although it could easily avoid something like an arrow, Taesan calmly used magic. [You have activated zing Orb.] Poeong! Another ability acquired while learning magic. He had gained the ability to control the speed of magic. The ball of fire, which would originally only move at a speed simr to an arrow, moved so swiftly that one would think it had disappeared. The shadow desperately twisted its body to avoid it. However, it was inevitable that the tip of its arm was grazed and started to burn. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] [You have activated Frost Arrow.] [You have activated Confusion.] Zheojeong! With the activation of mental magic, it could no longer dodge. The shadow¡¯s body was skewered and disappeared. [You have passed the seventh trial. Your Strength increases by 3 as a reward.] ¡°This is quite significant too.¡± Although minor, the frequent urrence of the reward made it a considerable gain. The Trials of Oman had you sequentially facing adventurers starting from the 1st floor. This method could have been shared in the Community. One could try as far as they could and then quit. But that was a story once he cleared all of them. Taesan activated magic as he faced the newly-appeared shadow. [You have activated zing Orb.] The shadow charged and narrowly avoided the zing Orb. The 8th floor. If we went by the floor, it would be on the same level as him. It seemed capable of avoiding at least one spell. As the shadow approached Taesan, it swung its sword and activated a skill. [The Shadow has activated Deflect. The next attack will be diverted.] ¡°Hmm?¡± From here on, it seemed to be able to use decent skills as well. Taesan swung his sword. The moment it came into contact with the shadow, his body was forcibly twisted. Matching that, he bent his body and swung his arm backward. The chaotic attack tore the shadow apart. [You have passed the eighth trial. Your Mana increases by 4 as a reward.] Deflect was a skill that forced an attack to miss. The direction of the force was diverted the moment it would make contact. However, that direction was somewhat fixed. If used frequently, you could predict and minimize the loss of control, allowing for an attack tond. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Proficiency in Deflection increases by 2%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your Strength permanently increases by 1. Your Agility permanently increases by 2.] From here on, it seemed Soul Ascension would be activated as well. It was an unexpected increase in stats. Taesan was excitedly expecting the next shadow, but nothing appeared. ¡°What the?¡± A clear window should have popped up if it was over, but that wasn¡¯t the case either. Taesan looked at the altar. The power he felt within was subtly fluctuating. ¡°Why is it noting out?¡± [This is amusing.] The ghost seemed to have an inkling and chuckled. [Oman only has permission to create shadows from the same floor. To progress further, a price must be paid. Didn''t I mention this before? Gods value their area of influence greatly.] ¡°There was no such impression until now.¡± Both Lakiratas and Balthasar willingly reduced their areas of influence. [That''s because you''re an anomaly. And because they were powerful enough to afford that level of loss.] ¡°Oman doesn¡¯t fit that description?¡± [There is a clear disparity among Transcendents. It''s probably giving him a headache right now. He must have mixed feelings about wanting to see more of your potential but not wanting to sacrifice his domain.] Taesan folded his arms and waited. The power of the altar was still fluctuating, seemingly undecided. ¡°Should I just leave?¡± If he remained still, it seemed like it would stay that way all day. It was the moment Taesan showed signs of leaving. [Oman''s area of influence has reduced.] [Oman proposes an enhanced trial to you.] [This is really amusing.] The ghost burst outughing. It felt as if the god was hurriedly telling him not to leave. It was the moment his impression of the gods that he had held until now was shattered. Taesan nervously epted the trial. [Oman feelsplex emotions.] [Oman''s Trial: Prove your strength.] The shadow congeals again. It pointed its sword toward Taesan. An adventurer from the 9th floor. A yer who reached a ce he had not yet reached. The shadow charged towards Taesan. ng! He could feel the weight of the sword. He could fend off the strike, but it was impossible to cut through with his own sword in one swift motion. However, his opponent wasn¡¯t stronger. Taesan fended off the sword and pressed forward. The shadow tried to block it, but it couldn¡¯t even properly resist the storm-like onught of sword attacks and copsed. [Ninth Trial passed. As a reward, your strength increases by 4.] [Your skill, Soul Ascension, has been activated. Your proficiency in ''Flow'' increases by 3%.] [Your skill, Soul Ascension, has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 3. Your agility permanently increases by 2.] Once again, a shadow appeared. Seeing it take form piqued Taesan¡¯s curiosity. ¡°What are these?¡± They weren¡¯t just toys created by the god. Each shadow had its own movements and habits. It implied they were remnants of someone. [They are from diverse sources. Those who challenged the trial and lost. Those who made a pact. Those who passed away and dedicated their souls. They are their shadows.] ¡°So you¡¯re saying they gather on each floor?¡± [The history of thebyrinth is long. There are gods who have hundreds of ves. Lakiratas is one of them.] The shadow took form. This time it was the 10th floor. Taesan activated a spell. [You activated the zing Orb.] The shadow avoided the magic and rushed toward Taesan at an incredibly fast speed. ¡°If it¡¯s Solo Mode¡¯s 10th floor, it¡¯s about the same level as Easy Mode¡¯s clear, right?¡± ng. Taesan fended off the sword. [You activated Madness.] [You activated the zing Orb.] [You activated the zing Orb.] [You have activated Frost Arrow.] The magic materialized in thin air. Filling the space, it incinerated the shadow. [Tenth Trial passed. As a reward, your strength increases by 5.] Again, Soul Ascension was activated. Although it seemed no experience was given, the increase in stats felt undeniably satisfying. And now, the 11th floor. A power that managed to break through the 10th floor. The shadow that had been staring at him nkly stepped onto the ground. Koo-woong! It was fast. Definitely stronger. Taesan blocked the sword, and a sense of heaviness traveled up through his hand. Thebyrinth changed its theme every 10 floors. If the 1st to 10th floors were about living things, then the 11th to 20th floors were about the dead. The 21st to 30th floors were about strange things. And so on. As such, you would be significantly stronger when you broke through thest floor of a theme. Taesan deflected the sword. [The shadow has activated the Flow skill. The next attack will be manipted.] [You have activated the Strong Strike. The next attack will deal major damage.] Strong Strike ignored the Flow skill and forced an attack. The shadow, who was pushing with his body, was cut down just like that. It floundered in resistance, but Taesan swung his sword, breaking through its defense and knocking it away. With a minormotion, the shadow falls. [Eleventh Trial passed. As a reward, your strength increases by 4. Your agility increases by 2.] [Your skill, Soul Ascension, has been activated. Your proficiency in ''Flow'' increases by 3%.] [Your skill, Soul Ascension, has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 3. Your agility permanently increases by 4.] It was gradually bing less of a one-sided push; the shadow this time didn¡¯t give him time to observe and rushed straight in. Taesan faced it head-on. Their swords collided. This time, he faced his opponent with swordsmanship alone, not magic. The shadow didn¡¯t remain passively taking the attack either. It moved its body but couldn¡¯t respond easily to higher-level swordsmanship. Five minutester, the shadow disappeared. And now, the 13th floor. This time, he started using one skill after another, excluding Flow. Taesan used magic along with it. It took him ten minutes. The 14th floor was easier than that. He used various skills, but his movements were clumsy, perhaps because he was an adventurer who relied on them. For Taesan, who knew how to respond, it was rather simple. He was able to win after 20 minutes. And now, the 15th floor. Ka-ahng! It was heavy and didn¡¯t get pushed back easily. ¡°Is it starting from here?¡± The 15th floor should be of the same level in terms of stats. It meant that Lee Taeyeon or Kang Junhyuk had to reach the 15th floor to barely keep up with him. But Taesan had skills and magic. [You have activated the zing Orb.] Magic at zero distance. It couldn¡¯t be avoided as the orb exploded. [You have activated the Strong Strike.] The attack crushed the shadow. The shadow tried to block it, but Taesan added more strength to the Strong Strike. The sword was pushed down, and its knee touched the ground. The shadow barely blocked and countered, but Taesan didn¡¯t block it. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] The result of the attack was erased. Taesan moved his sword. [You have passed the fifteenth trial. As a reward, your strength increases by 6. Your agility increases by 5. Your mana increases by 4.] Inbination with the Soul Ascension, his stats had increased by almost 20. The increase in proficiency was a bonus. ¡°This is crazy.¡± It was not just satisfactory. The increase was insane. With every shadow he killed, his stats noticeably increased. He had done this fifteen times already. His stats had increased by more than 60 from when he first started the trials. Originally, it wouldn¡¯t have been like this. It would¡¯ve still been a decent level, as the trials would only progress up to the floor he was on. But Taesan had Soul Ascension. Moreover, a god¡¯s pride enhanced the trials in the end. It was too good. It was a considerable rewardpared to Lakiratas or Balthasar, but this was even more. It was a crazy growth in conjunction with his skills. A new shadow appeared with a whistle. ng. The adventurer of the 16th floor. The shadow pressed on, and its stats were higher than Taesan¡¯s. Using Flow, Breathless Attack, and Unyielding Will, the shadow pressured Taesan. Taesan, too, moved his sword with a serious expression. Ka-ga-gak! He swung his sword and struck. Using the Storm Scar sword technique, he restricted the opponent¡¯s movement and secured advantageous positions. He also intermittently cast magic, obscuring the opponent¡¯s vision and hindering their movement. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Strong Strike.] Ka-ga-gak! With his elerated body and enhanced strength, Taesan struck down roughly. The shadow smoothly moved the sword, blocked it, and counterattacked. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] The attack was erased. He poured all of his attacks on the shadow, which showed a bewildered expression. He used magic, swordsmanship, and all of his skills. The shadow fell. [You have passed the sixteenth trial. As a reward, your strength increases by 6. Your agility increases by 5. Your intelligence increases by 3. Your mana increases by 5.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. The proficiency of Unyielding Will increases by 4%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 5. Your agility permanently increases by 5.] Chapter 49: Eighth Level - The God Of Trials, Oman (3) The shadow from the 17th floor appeared. Kaang! It was heavy. It had been quite some time since he had felt this numbing sensation. Although he could withstand it for a while, there was a difference in power that gradually pushed him back as time went by. ¡®It¡¯s not to the point of being an enemy that caused judgment.¡¯ Taesan deflected the sword and moved. He drove at it with the Storm Scar sword. The shadow, bewildered by an uncounterable sword technique, made a decision. The shadow figure stabilized its posture and struck down. It was an attack that smashed down with sheer force, able to destroy all sorts of sword techniques and tricks. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan calmly retreated. His opponent had higher stats. It also had skills. [The shadow has activated Strong Blow.] It charged with a rough momentum as if intending to finish everything in a single strike. How should he deal with such an opponent? Taesan asked himself this question and drew out an answer. The opponent was a shadow. It was an avatar of those who had traversed thebyrinth. Each one had a different pattern and movement. It seemed to have a bit of intelligence too. Then it was simple. [You have activated eleration.] Taesan charged toward his opponent. It was a rush thatpletely disregarded defense. The shadow paused for a moment at the act that seemed akin to suicide. However, it was only for a brief moment. The shadow promptly thrust its sword. If it was naive enough to neglect such an obvious w, it wouldn¡¯t have made it here in the first ce. But this time, it was a miscalction. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] The attack disappeared. The shadow¡¯s body returned to the state before it swung its sword. Shock seemed to resonate even beyond the darkness. Taesan moved his sword into the first sword, Wolf¡¯s Tooth. Only after dozens of damage windows appeared did the shadow barely manage to regain its senses. Kagak! Deflecting the sword, the shadow aimed for Taesan¡¯s throat. This time too, Taesan didn¡¯t block it. [Your Second Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] The attack disappeared, and Taesan moved his sword. Over 200 damage points were inflicted in an instant. [Seventeenth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 8, Agility increases by 9, Intelligence increases by 3, Mana increases by 10.] He turned off the reward notification entirely. He was tired of seeing simr words. The watching ghost smirked. [A selfish skill that can''t be found in thebyrinth. There''s no way to counter it, right?] Absolute Attack Nullification. It erased the attack itself, but by itself, it couldn¡¯t be considered a particrly remarkable effect. If one thought about it, both Parry and Counter had simr effects by forcefully repelling the attack. There were quite a lot of skills that interfered with the result of an attack. Of course, Absolute Nullification, in erasing the result of an attack itself, deviated from the other skills, but that wasn¡¯t the most important factor. The biggest advantage of Absolute Nullification was that it¡¯s an always-on skill. When a skill was activated, a system window popped up. As it was also visible to the opponent, they could anticipate and respond to it. Just like what Taesan did. He quickly distanced himself from elite goblins using Parry and countered them with arrows and fireballs. Against the Hage-Ha, who used Strong Blow, he activated his Counter to respond. Against the goblin chieftain who used magic, he disrupted the activation with his Mental Magic every time the activation window popped up. All this was possible because the activation of the opponent¡¯s skill was visible. How quickly each side responded to the other¡¯s skill was also important. Maybe thebyrinth designer considered this, too, as most of the skills that could interfere with the situation were activation skills. But Absolute Nullification was an always-on skill. It was a skill where the system window appeared after the result. Unless the opponent knew the information in advance, there was absolutely no way to counter it. And Absolute Nullification was a hidden skill that even the ghost did not know. Practically speaking, unless Taesan explicitly told them, it was fair to say they would inevitably be hit by it. The shadow of the 18th floor appeared, but it wasn¡¯t much different this time either. The opponent attacked using all sorts of skills, and Taesan abandoned defense. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] The attack disappeared, and he poured everything into the puzzled shadow. The shadow regained its senses and attacked again, but it disappeared once more. Again, it attacked. But this time, it didn¡¯t fall. Having grown significantly stronger than the 17th floor, it withstood the damage. [You have activated Parry.] But there wouldn¡¯t be a problem. He stuck to the retreating shadow, shing at it. He used magic and skills to pile on the damage. The shadow fell. And the shadow of the 19th floor appeared. It rushes in just like before. The shadow attacked, and the attack disappeared due to Absolute Nullification. Taesannded a sword strike. In an instant, damage windows blocked the view. The shadow paused for a moment. But it attacked again right away. The second attack was nullified. This time, without even pausing, it immediately attacked again. Taesan retreated, clicking his tongue. He attacked based on the nullification but couldn¡¯t inflict as much damage as before. It was because the opponent, instead of hesitating, attacked right away. ¡®This is where it gets serious.¡¯ As someone who had survived up to the 19th floor in Solo Mode, the shadow¡¯s judgment was quick. The shadow made a dash and swung its sword at a speed that was hard to react to. Ka-aang! Taesan¡¯s arm was pressed down, and his body started to be slowly pushed back. It was strong. He could feel a significant enough difference that a battle of strength would result in his defeat. [The opponent is an enemy that you cannot defeat.] The ¡®hard enemy¡¯ judgment appeared. Taesan used a strong strike to push it back and made some space. [Judgment unnecessary! You didn''t lose heart against an enemy you cannot defeat.] A ¡®hard enemy¡¯ judgment bonus. [Your Fair Duel has been activated.] A skill that increased his stats during a 1v1. [Your Thirst for Battle has been activated.] A skill that enhanced everything when facing a ¡®hard enemy¡¯. [You have activated Despising the Strong.] A skill that gave him a judgment bonus when faced with a ¡®hard enemy¡¯. Taesan struck his sword again. Ka-gak. He did not get pushed back like before. A somewhat equal match was possible. Being Taesan, who had countless skills he could use against ¡®hard enemies¡¯, this situation was more favorable. He drove back in using his increased stats. [You have activated zing Orb.] He used magic, and an explosion covered the view. The shadow retreated and swung its sword wildly. [The shadow has activated Heavy Strike.] The sword left a trail, shing in all directions. A skill that forced the body to move and sh at a 270-degree angle. The downside was greater, but it wasn¡¯t a bad skill when visibility waspromised. Taesan knew all the conditions and patterns of that skill. It couldn¡¯t sh behind it, and its range was limited to the upper body. And that it couldn¡¯t be stopped midway. He lowered his posture as if crawling on the ground. The sword barely grazed the tip of his nose. [40 damage to the shadow.] [30 damage to the shadow.] He thrust his sword into the shadow¡¯s ankle. Although the shadow shuddered as if screaming, its hand did not stop. Taesan went behind it and pierced its chest. [You have passed the 19th trial. As a reward, your Strength increases by 10. Agility increases by 12. Intelligence increases by 5. Mana increases by 10.] Add to that the bonus from Soul Ascension, the ¡®hard enemy¡¯ victory reward, and the Thirst for Victory skill. He became stronger in an instant. But it wasn¡¯t that easy. The opponent didn¡¯t flinch at the Absolute Nullification of Attacks and attacked immediately. From the 19th floor onwards, it meant they had the ability to quickly find the correct answer even to sudden variables. ording to Taesan¡¯s estimation, the next one was his limit. The shadow appeared. The adventurer of the 20th floor. The shadow raises its great sword toward Taesan. [The shadow has activated Complete Victory.] [Judgment unnecessary! You have repelled it with your strong willpower.] Complete Victory. A skill that imposed an intimidation judgment when facing an enemy with an overwhelming gap. Naturally, a ¡®hard enemy¡¯ judgment appeared. Like he did against the shadow of the 19th floor, Taesan activated skills to increase his stats. After observing Taesan for a moment, the opponent raised its great sword. Vroom. A greatsword, longer and thicker than a person, seemingly filled the room. ng! His arm was pressed down, and his body was pushed back. Even with skills raising his stats, the gap was too wide. Taesan put strength into his arm and dug in his feet. [You have activated eleration.] sh! With their swords separated, Taesan closed in on the shadow. It swung its arm, attempting to hit Taesan¡¯s head with the hilt. Taesan did not slow down and rushed in. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] The attack was erased, and Taesan drove his sword into the shadow¡¯s chest. The shadow attacked with a gauntlet-d fist. This attack was also erased. The damage indicator obtrusively obscured the view. The shadow swung its elbow, and Taesan activated the Dodging skill. The elbow swung past, brushing his shoulder. [The shadow has activated Repulsion.] ¡°Huh.¡± An intangible force pushed Taesan away. Forced to widen the distance, Taesan admired it. ¡°You have Repulsion?¡± A skill that pushed away using an intangible barrier proportional to one¡¯s stats. It was a skill that Taesan learned quitete. But it didn¡¯t end there. [The shadow has activated Continuous Attack.] The shadow¡¯s hand moved. The greatsword formed afterimages as it rapidly swept the room. ¡°It also has Continuous Attack.¡± An upgraded version of Random Attack. It rapidly attacked, unlike Random Attack. It had no restrictions on actions or range. The sweeping sword strikes formed a kind of defense barrier. Taesan narrowly dodged and cast a spell. [You have activated Madness.] Hesitation. The interference with the shadow¡¯s mind caused the sword¡¯s tip to waver. Taesan seized the opportunity and dug in his feet. [The shadow has activated Repulsion.] [You have activated eleration.] He pierced through the intangible barrier with pure speed. As much as it was based on stats to push the enemy away, it was possible to break through depending on the conditions. The shadow activated the Dodging skill, but Taesan pierced through it with a strong strike. The opponentshed out with the sword hilt. [You take 152 damage.] An enormous amount of damage came in. As expected, a 20th-floor adventurer hurt significantly. As the fight continued, Taesan realized one thing. ¡®It¡¯s not a monster.¡¯ Those who came from the outside must attack with a weapon with attack power for damage to be applied. The opponent did not push with their feet or shoulder. It meant it could not deal damage using those parts of its body. The opponent had a greatsword. The advantage of reach was on his side. Then it became simple. Just stick to it and don¡¯t give it any distance. [You have activated Sturdiness.] [You have activated Evasion.] He pre-activated the skills and started the battle. Unlike the shadow, Taesan, who possessed the Airak Martial Arts, could deal damage using any part of his body. He made good use of this advantage and gradually wore down his opponent. But the opponent also didn¡¯t just take this passively. It wasn¡¯t likely that an adventurer who went down to the 20th floor in Solo Mode would be so weak. The opponent sheathed its greatsword and drew a longsword. He didn¡¯t expect that he could change weapons, too, so Taesan was momentarily taken aback. The shadow swung its sword in its present state. [The shadow has activated Heavy Strike.] [You have activated Heavy Strike.] ng! With this sh, Taesan was pushed back. As both of them had used Heavy Strike, the oue depended on their basic stats and the amount of mana consumed. While blocking the sword, Taesan activated a spell. Frost Arrows were drawn in the air. Whoosh! The shadow narrowly tilted its head. Seizing that opportunity, Taesan made his move. [26 damage to the shadow.] He calcted the damage. So far, he had dealt nearly 1,000 damage. The health of the 19th-floor shadow was around 1,100. The end was near. Taesan abandoned defense, and the shadow¡¯s longsword pierced through Taesan¡¯s shoulder. [You take 210 damage.] [You have activated Unyielding Will.] Instead, he pushed his body forward, deeply impaling himself on the sword. Ignoring the sharp pain, he manifested magic and swung his sword. The shadow drew its greatsword. Taesan activated Strong Strike. ng! With a blow that almost exhausted all his mana, the greatsword was lifted and pushed away. The shadow tried to push him away with Repulsion, but he stuck close using eleration. His sword pierced the shadow. The shadow counterattacked, but Taesan fluttered his robe. [You have activated the Robe of Darkness.] The Robe of Darkness. The effect was to apply invisibility for 1 second. As his body disappeared, the shadow¡¯s sword stopped. He took advantage of this moment of hesitation. As a series of system windows appeared, the shadow disappeared. [20th Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 12. Agility increases by 13. Intelligence increases by 10. Mana increases by 14.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your Strong Strike proficiency increases by 7%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have obtained the special activation skill [Repulsion].] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 8. Agility permanently increases by 8. Mana permanently increases by 10.] [Your Thirst for Victory has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 8. Agility permanently increases by 9. Vitality permanently increases by 10.] Victory. The system window popped up loudly. Another shadow appeared beyond it. nk. Its sword was raised. An intense pressure engulfed Taesan. In terms of pure intimidation, it wasrger than anything he had seen before. Taesan smirked. ¡°That¡¯s far enough.¡± It was too much. Breaking past a theme made it iparably stronger. It was hard enough on the 20th floor. There was no chance of winning against the 21st floor. His current limit was the 20th floor. He had clearly understood that. [The Trial of Oman ends.] [Oman is silent on the oue.] Chapter 50: Eighth Level - The God Of Trials, Oman (4) [Now this guy, who just entered the 8th floor, somehow managed to win against someone who was on the 20th floor... what an absurd urrence.] ¡°Indeed.¡± Taesan was also surprised. While he was currently strong, he had assumed his limit would be around the 15th floor, given that each floor exponentially increased in difficulty. However, he was able to win against an adventurer from the 20th floor, which was more than twice as difficult. ¡°I might have been able to go further¡­ but I guess I should stop here.¡± He might have had an easier time if the opponent were a monster with no real intellect. But the shadow was an adventurer who had broken through Solo Mode. They were the ones who had broken past the 10th floor of this crazy ce without any knowledge or information. They would have more information about this ce than Taesan. They were not only strong but also quickly responded to Taesan¡¯s skills with their umted knowledge and experience, so it was better to stop here. Regardless, he achieved victory against enemies up to the 20th-floor adventurer. With the Soul Ascension, victory rewards, and enemy judgments, he became incredibly powerful when all these werebined. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 21] [Shield: 50/50] [Health: 835/835] [Mana: 215/215] [Strength: 332] [Intelligence: 170] [Agility: 268] [Attack + 24] [Defense + 29] [The target is in the best condition.] [Huh.] The ghostughed hollowly. [What an absurd growth.] ¡°The growth rate is no joke.¡± The eleration was no joke, either. Comparing it to the growth rate in Easy Mode, he almost felt ashamed. He might soon catch up with Lee Taeyeon¡¯s stats at this speed. She avoided all the trials, so it wasn¡¯t impossible. [The trial wasn''t supposed to make you this strong. You would normally be just strong enough... but due to your crazy skill and Oman''s capriciousness, you''ve be like this.] ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s quiet.¡± The trial had ended. But the reward hadn¡¯t arrived yet. The power from the altar was subtly shaking. It appeared the god was dealing with aplex emotion as if it was confused. After a moment, a system message appeared. [Oman''s influence range has diminished.] The power was shaking subtly. Taesan could feel that the total amount of power had decreased. It was a decrease he hadn¡¯t felt from Lakiratas or Balthasar. [Your mind must beplicated right now. Whether to be happy or sad.] The ghost mumbled as if it found the situation amusing. He seemed to enjoy seeing the deity having its domain reduced. [Oman rewards you. You''ve received [Ring of Proof].] [You''ve cleared the enhanced trial. Additional rewards follow.] [You''ve acquired a special continuously active skill, [Proof of Limits].] [Oman offers you the Apostle''s Pact.] ¡°I decline.¡± As always, he refused the Apostle¡¯s Pact. At this, the power beyond shuddered. It seemed like it was grumbling. But nothing more was seen. The trembling power, as if it were sulking, slowly disappeared. [Oman promises the next encounter.] Taesan, who had been quietly observing, murmured. ¡°They¡¯re not hostile, at least.¡± This god showed a variety of emotions. He thought refusing the Apostle¡¯s Pact might disadvantage him, but there were no such signs. [Gods have strong pride, so if you had clumsily excelled, maybe. But you''ve far exceeded that line. Plus, you''re a crazy transcendent being that even Lakiratas and Balthasar are wary of. At least Oman isn''t one of those.] It seemed that there were power struggles among the gods as well. Taesan, who had sorted out the information, started checking his rewards. His stats had about doubled. Originally, as the ghost said, it wouldn¡¯t have been this much. As the 8th floor was the limit, he would have just gotten appropriately stronger. But due to the Soul Ascension and his other skills, he managed to reach the 20th floor and achieved crazy growth. He checked the rewards of the trial. [Ring of Proof] [Strength + 5] [Defense + 5] [A ring that can only be worn by those who understand their own strength. It seems that the god has granted a speck of power.] ¡°Not bad.¡± Considering his current stats, it was a bit disappointing, but thinking of it as the basic reward, it was a good ring. Both strength and defense had high values, so it was okay. Especially now, given hisck of defense, it had value, if not a lot. And now for the enhanced trial reward. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Proof of Limits] [Proficiency: 1%] [All stats increase when facing an opponent of the same or simr level. Action speed increases, and health and mana continuously recover.] ¡°All special skills seem to be simr.¡± Lakiratas, the god of struggle, offered a buff during continuous battles. Balthasar, the god of victory, increased specific stats with each victory. The god of the strength test provided an appropriate effect. Considering the skills of other gods, this was also quite a good skill. It meant that he¡¯d have an advantage against opponents who should be evenly matched, which wouldn¡¯t be bad. And then there was Soul Ascension. It didn¡¯t just increase stats; it also increased the proficiency of skills. Since all opponents used skills, it was quite beneficial. Thanks to this, the contents of a few skills have changed. [Special Activation Skill: Flow] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 62%] [Distorts an attack to reduce damage. It seems that it can dodge attacks from all weapons. It seems like it can also dodge magic and curses. It seems like it can even dodge concepts.] A sentence about dodging concepts was added. He wasn¡¯t sure what it meant before, but now he knew. Concepts. It was literally everything. Presence. Mental confusion. Pressure. Oppression. The mental pressure felt when encountering something transcendent. It meant that he could dodge that. ¡°Will it be useful?¡± Whether it will be useful or not, having it won¡¯t hurt. It simply meant having more options. But Flow wasn¡¯t the only skill that had changed. [Special Activation Skill: Counter] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 20%] [Retaliates against the enemy''s attack. Deals more damage to the enemy. Counterattacks even when it''s not possible to retaliate.] Counter was a skill that automatically moved the body to retaliate. However, it only half-activated or didn¡¯t activate at all for attacks that the body couldn¡¯t retaliate against or avoid. This simply meant extending that threshold a bit. Taesan had seen Counter used several times in the previous world. ¡®It literally defies thews of physics.¡¯ From what he remembered, it was quite a useful change. Many other skills that he had ignored also underwent significant changes. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Enhanced Vision] [Proficiency: 42%] [You can obtain a wide field of view. It''s quite beyond human categories.] Whether it was because ¡®slightly¡¯ had changed to ¡®quite,¡¯ his range of view subtly changed. He could see more widely and further than before. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Insight] [Proficiency: 43%] [You canprehend many things. It seems that you can perceive the weaknesses of both living and non-living entities. It seems you can even find hidden passages. It asionally gives you important information.] He could now also perceive the weaknesses of non-living entities. Considering the floors beyond the 11th, this was a good change. Taesan, who was casually looking through the skills, was surprised when he saw Calmness. ¡°Why did this increase so much?¡± [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Calmness] [Proficiency: 65%] [It''s an unwavering mind. Even when a presence beyond cognition appears, it doesn''t panic. It gains adjustments in judgments. It never wavers, even in extreme situations.] From what he remembered, it used to be 38%. It had nearly increased by 30%. The ghost answered as if it were natural. [Even if the gods do not see directly and use the link called an altar, judgments are attempted. You were unique, so there was no problem... The proficiency of the skill itself deserves to rise.] ¡°Hmm.¡± Calmness was not a particrly useful skill for him. Still, if he could max out its proficiency to 100%, the story would be different. It wasn¡¯t bad. The proficiency of the Storm Scar Sword was now 15%. It was a moderate increase. ¡°This should be fine.¡± He could stop whenever he wanted. Starting from the 1st floor, it was good to slowly understand things. It was a trial worthy of being shared with the Communityter. Unlike other gods, Oman didn¡¯t just throw anything haphazardly at him. The evaluation of this trial rose in Taesan¡¯s heart. After that, it was a breeze. The monsters, which were already too easy, had about twice the statspared to when he first entered the floor due to the trial. If he roughly blocked and roughly hit, they copsed. ¡°It¡¯s a bit regrettable like this.¡± Taesan¡¯s current attack power was rtively low. Considering his average strength, it was on the high side but unbncedpared to his stats. He wanted to quickly pass the 10th floor and buy equipment. But since his level hadn¡¯t increased, he was able to gain all the experience and level up. While he was breaking through the floors, he found another secret room. As always, traps were waiting, but there were no problems. Peew! Even though the trap disarmament failed and an arrow flew at him, he didn¡¯t even bother to block it. [The first attack is absolutely nullified.] The arrow dropped to the ground. He continues to disarm the traps, raising his proficiency and gaining rewards. [Sturdy Ankle Guard] [Defense + 6] [Agility + 3] [Light and robust. It''s hard to find any shorings.] A minor increase in defense. The agility was a bonus. Taesan cleared the floor, but no other altars or rooms were found. ¡°This is the end of this ce.¡± He had found everything there was to find on the 8th floor. Taesan entered the boss¡¯s room. ¡°Screech!¡± [Markanda Rutia has appeared.] A red bird, twice asrge as the normal monsters appeared. It pped its sharp beak and tough wings to attack Taesan. Taesan swung his swordzily. The sword crushed the bird. ¡°Screech.¡± The bird pped around in a struggle. It tried to dodge and somehow deal damage, but it was too slow for Taesan. Having blocked all its attacks and then countering them, he emerged victorious without a scratch. [You have won against Markanda Rutia.] ¡°This isn¡¯t even a challenge.¡± It was too easy. The struggles he had faced until now seemedughable. [That''s what happens when you perfectly clear a god''s trial. There''s nothing on the surface to stop you. You roughly know, right? How this ce is structured.] ¡°I do know, indeed.¡± Hidden rooms. The trials of the gods. Doors ofpletely different colors. NPCs. In the Solo Mode, there were a variety of existences. The rtionship formed with them and the manner in which progress was made could cause a significant difference. A prime example was Lee Taeyeon. She had abandoned all the trials and descended. She appeared strong from the outside, but listening to the warrior¡¯s words, her level wouldn¡¯t fill a castle. In other words, a ghost who descended to the 80th floor could be stronger than Lee Taeyeon, who had cleared the whole thing. But then there was one problem. ¡°You went down to the 80th floor, right? And you were especially strong.¡± [Right. I was often negligent, that''s why. But I was strong.] The ghost smirked. Lacking caution to the point of losing his life on the lower floors, yet going down to that level alone proved his strength. ¡°Objectively thinking, do you think you could have cleared it?¡± [Maybe... I could have.] The ghost agreed. [But what''s the point of that? Clearing it anding out of here isn''t a victory. There''s no reason to do so without fulfilling the wish.] ¡°I see.¡± It was confirmed. Clearing and conquering thebyrinth werepletely separate things. ¡®What¡¯s the difference?¡¯ Whether it was a meeting with the god and NPCs, the permission of the shopkeeper, or even the decision of the dungeon¡¯s wizard, the precise concept was still hard to understand. But there was a being here who could provide an answer. ¡°What¡¯s the difference? Between clearing and conquering.¡± [Uh...] The ghost hesitated. [Actually, I''m not sure either.] ¡°So why didn¡¯t you clear it? You could have just gone down and tested it.¡± [Well, it was like... a sort of intuition? Revtion? Something like that. I had a feeling that I wouldn''t be able to fulfill my wish just by descending. These intuitive feelings tend to be quite urate here, so I investigated them one by one.] ¡°Hmm.¡± There was no way to know for now. He was nning to go down further and find out from other NPCs. Taesan checked the reward for the 8th floor. The Rune of Marnius. The effect was simple. It gave attributes to weapons. Chapter 51: Ninth Level - Hobgoblin (1) [Rune of Marnius] [Imparts a random attribute to a weapon.] As before, the exnation was concise. This rune could be oveid with the Engraving Scroll and used for different purposes. This led to a question. ¡°Is Marnius also a god?¡± An existence that inserted its own name into an item. Previously, he didn¡¯t care much about gods, but his thoughts changed as he saw the many gods here. [He''s not a god, he''s a transcendental being.] ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± [There isn''t a big difference. Is there a domain they govern? Or did they wish for it themselves? That''s about the extent of the difference.] It seemed he had no intention of exining in detail. [Just know that such things exist. They''re not all involved in thebyrinth. If I were to exin each one, I''d have to spend days just exining, right?] ¡°I see.¡± There seemed to be more transcendental beings than he had thought. Taesan put the Rune of Marnius in his inventory. It was about time to discard the weapon of Lakiratas. He had used the weapon obtained on the 2nd floor up to the 9th floor, truly a long time of usage. He was nning to use it until he acquired a new weapon. And then the random reward. [You have acquired the special always-activated skill, [Touch of Plunder].] ¡°Does the random reward also give skills?¡± He didn¡¯t know. There was never a time when it gave a skill in Easy Mode. Lee Taeyeon hardly ever received any secret rewards, so she didn¡¯t know either. First, he checked the effect. [Special always-activate skill: Touch of Plunder] [Proficiency: 1%] [Absorbs a certain proportion of health every time damage is inflicted on the enemy.] ¡°For longer battles, I guess.¡± This was the first time Taesan had seen such a type of skill. He would need to know what the ratio was, but given that it was a secret reward, its value was likely not small. Taesan went down to the 9th floor. This time, he didn¡¯t encounter Lilis. As the bird monster used its beak as a weapon, it didn¡¯t drop any particr items. The only real drops were materials. [9th floor quest starts.] [Defeat the boss of the 9th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Boots of Swiftness] [Secret Reward: ???] The dwarf greeted him. ¡°You¡¯re here. Already on the 9th floor, huh? You¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± In many ways, he was indeed almost there. The ghost quietly closed his mouth. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to buy this time, either. Hurry down. I hate seeing that annoying face.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I need to say before that.¡± What kind of reaction he would get was unknown, but he still had to confirm. The dwarf grumbled. ¡°What is it? Surely you¡¯re not saying you¡¯re going to stick around until that guy kicks the bucket?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m probably going to be out for a while.¡± ¡°Out?¡± The dwarf¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°From here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± [What do you mean?] The ghost, who had been silent, asked in surprise. [You''re going out of thebyrinth?] ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to leave. I¡¯m going to be forced to.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Is that possible?¡± The dwarf scratched his chin with a puzzled expression on his face. ¡°It sounds like something is interfering¡­ but nothinges to mind.¡± ¡°Do you not know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m stuck here,pletely ignorant of the outside world. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t know. The gods of this ce wouldn¡¯t do such crazy things¡­¡­¡± The dwarf also seemed not to know what entity had summoned Taesan to this ce. ¡®So it¡¯s not a god.¡¯ The pondering dwarf asked, ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± It was a question Taesan couldn¡¯t definitively answer either. Depending on how things unfolded, it could end quickly or take a long time. ¡°I think it will take about one or two months.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not too long. I don¡¯t know what it is, but it seems like you can¡¯t avoid going even if you don¡¯t want to. Take care.¡± The dwarf spoke frankly. Taesan nodded and headed towards the 9th floor. The ghost, who hade to its senses a littlete, began to ask questions. [Where are you going?] ¡°Outside.¡± [Outside? Outside thebyrinth? The ce that broken man is guarding? What''s there?] ¡°Not there, I mean really outside.¡± [Huh?] The ghost was taken aback. [What ''outside'' are you talking about?] Taesan did not respond. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he found out anyway. He looked at the ghost. An existence that disappeared once the 10th floor was cleared. An entity bound by a quest. In other words, as long as the quest was maintained, it would always be by his side. [Why are you looking at me like that?] ¡°No reason.¡± He averted his gaze. For now, everything was just a possibility. There was no need to say anything since he didn¡¯t know how thebyrinth would react. Taesan moved to the next room. The monsters of the 9th floor appeared. ¡°Caaak!¡± [A hobgoblin wielding a spear has appeared.] [A hobgoblin with a shield has appeared.] [A hobgoblin wielding a bow has appeared.] It was the same arrangement as on the 2nd floor. The difference was that the goblins had evolved into hobgoblins. ¡°So, these are stronger than the lizardmen?¡± While hobgoblins were a higher species than goblins, they were below lizardmen in terms of strength by species. Taesan soon found out why they were considered stronger. ¡°Kieeek!¡± The hobgoblins swung their weapons. Their actions were restrained and neat, not something that could be achieved with a day or two of practice. ¡°Whoa.¡± Taesan deflected the attack with his sword and stepped back. The goblins coordinated their attacks. ¡°This is interesting.¡± No matter how much they had trained, the basic stat differences were significant, and Taesan was also learning swordsmanship. He had no issues dealing with them. What surprised him was that the hobgoblins were stronger than he had anticipated. ¡°So, this kind of enhancement is also possible.¡± There were no differences in the strength of monsters in each mode. The goblins he met here were at the level of goblins encountered in the Easy Mode, and it was the same with lizardmen and orcs. The orc warriors were different, but given that they were enhanced as a part of a divine trial, they were exceptions. Taesan had encountered hobgoblins in the Easy Mode before, but the ones he was facing now were distinctly stronger. The ghost responded. [There are limits, but some degree of training is possible. You need someone to teach you, but you already know that, right?] In other words, on the 9th floor, there were named monsters. There were Named. Taesan extended his hand, and the hobgoblins attacked Taesan. When his shield waspletely depleted and his health started to decrease, Taesan swung his sword. Crack. ¡°Cough!¡± The hobgoblin trying to block Taesan¡¯s sword was crushed along with its shield. The Touch of Plunder. It recovered a certain proportion of the damage. The shield was not a judgment of health, He had no choice but to take hits. When Taesan checked, he had recovered 3 health points. ¡°The ratio is about 5%.¡± Even though it was just acquired and at the base proficiency level, it already was at 5%. It would be quite useful if he consistently increased the skill¡¯s proficiency. It was a skill that could help him gain the upper hand in long battles. The fact that it was always activated was also a plus. It meant that it would activate without him having to worry about it. These little things collectively created significant variables. Taesan quickly regrouped and started breaking through thebyrinth. In the next room, four hobgoblins were waiting, and Taesan had eliminated them all in less than a minute. Taesan had fought against an adventurer of the 20th floor. The monsters on the 9th floor were no longer a match for him. He continued to clear the rooms without stopping. He searched for the secret room. The effect of Perception was activated, and he quickly found it. As always, he disarmed the trap and imed the reward. [A Thick Shield] [Defense +15] [Purely for defense. It seems useless on its own.] Its defense attribute was the highest he had ever seen. The drawback was that it was a two-handed shield. As described, it wasn¡¯t handy by itself. Taesan had Soul Ascension, so he could use it to some extent, but defense wasn¡¯t what was important right now. The problem was that his attack power was too lowpared to his stats. Before long, he was able to encounter the boss. ¡°Caw!¡± [A Hobgoblin Chieftain has appeared.] This chieftain used both magic and sword at the same time. He attacked Taesan with magic and sword strikes, wielding his sword and staff. Taesan approached as if walking into a breeze. [You activated the Robe of Invisibility.] His body disappeared in an instant, causing the chieftain to halt. Taesan thrust his sword into the chieftain¡¯s throat. ¡°Cough, caw.¡± Surpassing the inherent resistance, he thrust his sword in. It didn¡¯t take long for the chieftain to fall. [You have defeated the Hobgoblin Chieftain.] [Your level has increased.] [You are in peak condition.] [As a reward for leveling up, your health has increased by 60.] [As a reward for leveling up, your Strength permanently increases by 12. Agility permanently increases by 15. Mana permanently increases by 8.] [You obtained the Staff of Fading.] He checked it right away. [Staff of Fading] [Magic +5] [A magical staff that now only remains as a fragment. It seems to have been quite valuable once.] It was worse than the Staff of Calm he currently possessed. But since it could be used as a tribute, it was better than poor-quality equipment. [You''re disgustingly fast.] ¡°You can¡¯t make things difficult.¡± Now it was the 10th floor. However, Taesan didn¡¯t go down and looked around the boss room. Before long, he was able to find a peculiar decoration forming a pattern. Taesan pressed the decoration. With a rumble, the wall moved inward, revealing a passage. ¡°There it is, as expected.¡± Taesan entered. The pattern was reminiscent of the Goblin Lord¡¯s secret location. Likest time, the interior was decorated luxuriously. ¡°An adventurer, huh?¡± At the end, a goblin was seated on a throne. [You have encountered Goblin Lord. Root-La.] Unlike Hage-Ha, there was no title for ¡®Chief.¡¯ That meant this was a true Goblin Lord. The Lord, watching him, opened his mouth. ¡°Did you meet Hage-Ha?¡± Taesan nodded his head. Root-Laughed. ¡°Having faced a warrior like you, he must have gone to the afterlife satisfied.¡± Root-La rose to his feet, held his spear, and pointed at Taesan. Taesan nonchntly drew his sword. Now Taesan was at the level of an adventurer who had reached the 20th floor. Even if Root-La held the title of Lord, the odds of victory were clear. Perhaps Root-La also felt this as he gave a bitter smile. He held his spear as if betting his life. ¡°I knew someday this woulde, but it¡¯s a peculiar feeling.¡± ¡°You must have defeated Hage-Ha.¡± ¡°Yes, I won a fair battle and imed the seat of the Lord. It was a fight for life.¡± ¡°Why did you do that?¡± From the conversation, he appeared fully aware of his own nature. He was a monster destined to be defeated by adventurers. Root-La casually answered. ¡°If I¡¯m destined to fall anyway, shouldn¡¯t I leave some sort of result behind? Death as a Lord rather than one of the countless goblins seems more magnificent.¡± ¡®Was it greed?¡¯ He had challenged Hage-Ha for a more morous death. In the Easy Mode, monsters were creatures that moved purely on instinct, rarely exhibiting intelligence. But here, even those called monsters were living ording to their own values and beliefs. The NPCs came here for their own desires. Then, why did the monsters exist here? ¡°Let¡¯s fight, warrior.¡± The Lord charged with his spear raised. He was fast and strong. Even the shadow from the 20th floor couldn¡¯t move like that. Even without any skill, purely through his movements, he was superior to anyone he had seen. Taesan moves both of his hands. The sound of the wind tearing resonated through the room. ng! The goblin¡¯s arm was pushed back, and Taesan kicked on and charged aggressively. ¡°Oh!¡± The Lord gritted his teeth as he hit the ground. Desperately lowering his posture, he raised his spear towards Taesan and thrust. [Root-La has activated Strong Blow.] [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification is activated.] The attack was nullified. Taesan counterattacked. With a determined face, the Lord activates his skill. [Root-La has activated Deflection.] [You have activated Strong Blow.] The deviating sword corrected its trajectory again. Root-La gritted his teeth and blocked it, causing the spear to shake violently. ¡°What¡¯s this? I can do nothing.¡± Root-La chuckles to himself. ¡°Even my skills can¡¯tpete, nor can my movements. Even my swordsmanship can¡¯t be considered superior. I didn¡¯t expect to be pushed back this much by an adventurer on this floor.¡± Root-La was strong. An ordinary yer would have just enough power to face him upon reaching the 14th floor. He was a monstrous being. Taesan raises his sword. ¡°Do you want to give up?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± Root-La gripped his gleaming spear with both hands. A storm raged. The spear created afterimages, piercing ten ces at once. The freely moving spear formed a circle, gently pulling in the air. Such an extreme mastery of a weapon. Taesan raised his sword. Whoosh! He destroys the skill with pure strength. The sword strike cut through all directions like a storm. Root-La had given his best. Five minutester, the Lord slowly retreated with a sword embedded in his chest. ¡°So, this is it.¡± ¡°Yousted longer than I thought.¡± Normally, it would have ended in about three minutes. However, Root-La hung on until the very end. The result of clinging to the ground and discarding his weapon earned him a little bit of time. It was a meaningless difference. After all, there was no chance of victory. But Root-La looked satisfied. ¡°Well, fine. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll remember this result, but I¡¯m satisfied for now.¡± Root-La threw his spear. Taesan caught it. [You have acquired a makeshift spear.] ¡°Use it as you wish. Warrior.¡± Root-La closed his eyes. [You have defeated Root-La.] [You have defeated the Lord of the Goblins. You have earned the title [One Who is Cursed by Goblins].] [You have defeated the leader of a race. You have earned the title [King yer].] Chapter 52: Tenth Level (1) Root-La peacefully epted his death. Not only that, but he even gave his own weapon to Taesan. Just like the Orc, the monsters did not harbor resentment or burst out in anger at Taesan. Taesan checked the makeshift spear. [Makeshift Spear] [Attack Power +10] [It''s a hastily made spear. It''s incredibly sharp but will break easily if not handled carefully.] The attack power was 10. That was quite high. Even though it needed careful handling and it was a two-handed weapon, it was definitely worth the switch. [There are also movements for the spear in the Storm Scar. You probably have them in your head, right?] ¡°I kind of do.¡± The knowledge had been umted. It was a bit awkward now, but a few physical movements would fix the dissonance. And then there was the 10th-floor clear reward. [Boots of Swiftness] [Defense + 7] [Dexterity +5] [Movement Speed +10%] [Action Speed +5%] [Light and sturdy boots. Optimized for quick movements.] The stats fit well with the item¡¯s name and description. Dexterity, movement speed, and even action speed were included. Taesan swapped his boots. And he also checked the secret reward. [You have acquired the Frostbite Sword.] ¡°Ah.¡± It was a sword. It had about the same length as the one he was currently using. He felt like he could finally switch his weapon. [Frostbite Sword] [Attack Power +11] [A sword that once held the cold of the underworld. It has lost its power now, but the de still seems to gleam with the light of frost.] Its attack power was high at 11. Taesanughed joyfully and drew the splendid sword. When he opened his status window, the stats were nicely aligned. [Attack Power +30] [Defense +40] It didn¡¯t hold much significance, but it personally made him feel good. And after quite a long time, he also received a title. [Title: One Who is Cursed by Goblins] [The one who killed their master.] [All stats of the Goblins that confront you increase.] [All rewards received for defeating Goblins increase.] The title made his opponents stronger, but the rewards also improved. He didn¡¯t know when Goblins would appear again, but the title effect activated just by having it, so it was not bad to have it. [Title: King yer] [The one who killed a king.] [Your stats increase, and rewards are enhanced when confronting a race''s Lord, King, Sovereign, etc.] He didn¡¯t acquire this title in his previous life because he had never faced a Lord-like existence. Stat increase and reward enhancement. The title offered the best possible effects one could have. After finishing the check, Taesan turned back before proceeding to the next floor. He helped Lillis, who was grumbling while carrying items, back to the safety zone. ¡°Phew! Thanks! I need to buy even this little space from the store.¡± He gave his staff to the wheezing girl, who seemed exhausted and offered a sacrifice. [You have learned the Cloak of Concealment.] [Basic Magic: Cloak of Concealment] [Mana Consumption: 4] [Proficiency: 1%] [It hides the presence of your body.] With this, he had learned all the magic spells, excluding invisibility. After confirming this, Taesan spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll be away from here for a while.¡± ¡°Ah? Going outside?¡± ¡°Approximately for one or two months.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ it¡¯s tiring to be stuck here all the time. It makes sense to take a change of pace.¡± Lillis nodded with an understanding face. ¡°Take a break ande back!¡± ¡°See youter.¡± Taesan headed toward the descending stairs once again. As always, a system window appeared. [10th floor quest starts.] [Defeat the boss of the 10th floor and pass.] [Reward: Ogre Ring] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°It¡¯s almost over.¡± The ghost spoke. It was a calm tone, devoid of emotions. ¡°Right.¡± Taesan met the dwarf. This time, he did not go down immediately as before but looked around the shop. He purchased a lot of things. Arrows. Potions for health and mana recovery. Apart from those, he also bought potions for agility, rage, and so on. Numerous potions. Each item was slowly ced into the inventory. The amount was surprising enough for the dwarf who was watching. ¡°How much are you buying?¡± ¡°The more, the better.¡± In the past, he had suffered quite a bit for not preparing potions in advance. Although his current stats meant that this next quest wouldn¡¯t pose a problem, there was nothing wrong with preparing beforehand. After selling some of the materials he had and using the proceeds, he spent half of his total gold on buying potions. The goods in the shop noticeably decreased. ¡°Then, take care.¡± ¡°Oh, my.¡± Leaving behind the dwarf with a wry smile, he headed to the 10th floor. ¡°Kuaaaa!¡± [An Ogre has appeared.] Gigantic muscles were visible. Its massive size almost reached thebyrinth¡¯s ceiling, making it something that would strike fear in most yers. The ogre. The people called this monster the muscle monster. In terms of strength, it was a non-standard monster, corresponding to a deepyer boss. It was hard to find as an opponent in Normal Mode, and in Easy Mode, it was represented in the final stages. ¡°Kuaaa!¡± The ogre swung down with its swollen muscr arm. The pressure that would immobilize a weak yer fell upon Taesan. Taesan extended his arm leisurely. Kooong! The wind exploded. Taesan did not retreat even a single step. ¡°Kua?¡± He grabbed the flustered ogre¡¯s arm and threw it. The giant¡¯s body flew across the narrow room. The ogre was bewildered. Why am I flying? Why is this tiny thing throwing me? The ogre realized that something had gone wrong, but it didn¡¯t have the intelligence to deduce what it was. With its shallow intellect, the ogre charged again with a roar. ¡°Kuaaaa!¡± Taesan swung his fist. His hand became momentarily blurry and crushed the ogre¡¯s chest like a crumpled piece of metal. ¡°Kuaaaa!¡± The ogre was thrown away like a baseball. After that, the same pattern repeated. The ogre would shake its head, regain its senses, and rush in again, and Taesan would knock it down. [You have defeated the ogre.] He defeated it just by punching, without a single cut from a sword. Taesan¡¯s face became nostalgic. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve taken it down like this.¡± He, too, had faced the ogre before. It had monstrous strength and skin so tough that a sword could barely cut it. Before obtaining higher-level skills, he had to risk his life in battle. Even after obtaining skills, it was quite a troublesome monster until he acquired multiplication. Now he was knocking down that monster just by punching. He thought back to the times when he would be ted or devastated over a single stat increase. Of course, he didn¡¯t miss those times. Taesan leisurely cleared the 10th floor. Unlike the 9th floor, he took his time, moving at a yawning pace. He used methods like defeating monsters only with his fist without using a weapon or vice versa, using only a weapon to target vital points. The ghost, who had been watching, asked in a curious tone. [Why are you going so slow?] ¡°I need to time it right.¡± [Time? What do you mean?] ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± He wondered how it would turn out. Even Taesan didn¡¯t know. After that, he found a secret room while hunting monsters. His movements were incredibly leisurely again. He disarmed all the traps and opened the chest. [Blue Ring] [Mana + 10] [There is a very tiny fragment of mana inside. It seems that only debris is left now.] He changed his equipment and moved again. Leisurely and slowly. But he also very surely cleared thebyrinth. A day passed like this, and Taesan arrived at the boss room. [This is the ce.] The ghost spoke in a subdued tone. [He is beyond this point. After defeating the Ogre Warrior and finding the second room behind it, you''ll find a big guy in there. Kill him, and it''s over.] The ghost¡¯s quest was to kill the boss of the 10th floor. That was why it was sticking with Taesan. When the quest was cleared, the remnants usually disappeared. [Thank you.] ¡°For what?¡± [I could leave a trace of my existence because of you.] The ghost spoke calmly. [My world has perished, and I am dead too. We''re done. My role is to leave at least that remnant.] The ghost appeared to be somewhat relieved. [If it''s you, you''ll be able to descend to the depths. If you don''t let your guard down and keep going as you are now... You might be able to conquer this ce someday. I''ve taught a man like that the sword. That should be satisfactory.] A voice filled with a light regret echoed. [I regret not being able to teach you the second sword... but you will get there someday. Maybe you''ll even get to the very end. If it''s you, it''s possible.] A smallughter echoed. [Hahaha... it was fun in its own way.] The ghost bade its farewell, and Taesan silently opened his inventory. He applied an inscription scroll to the Frostbite Sword. He also used it with the Runes of Marnius. [Frostbite Sword] [Attack Power + 11] [A sword that once held the cold of the bottom. Although it has lost its power now, the de still seems to emit a frosty light.] [It has the attribute of lightning.] [On offset, it has a low probability of inflicting forced slow judgment on the enemy.] The inscription scroll added a forced slow judgment. An effect that noticeably slowed the movement of those suffering from it. Offset urred when weapons collided with each other, something that happened dozens of times in a battle, so it was likely to be used frequently. And the attribute of lightning. ¡°Not bad.¡± This was close to an absolute victory as well. The attribute applied to the weapon activated when it collided with something. And both monsters and users alike most frequently used metal weapons. The lightning attribute ran along the opponent¡¯s weapon, causing a numbing sensation and creating a significant amount of openings during battle. His preparations were all done. But instead of heading to the boss room, Taesan opened the Community. [Lee Sang [Solo]: Ah, this feels strange.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Hmm... I wonder what will happen...] [Kim Taejin [Solo]: Well, we have to think positively. I''m going to tear into some canned food.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: But where will we be teleported to? Will we be summoned back to where we were before we entered thebyrinth?] [Lee Jaeseong [Solo]: It should be, right?] The Community was noisy. Usually, there was a lot of conversation, but now there were three times as many posts. Taesan, who had been watching, posted a message. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Junhyuk, where do you live?] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: Me? I live in Gyeonggi Province. Do you know Annyang?] That shouldn¡¯t be a problem. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Let''s meet in a little while.] Taesan closed the Community. He waited, staring at the boss room. Unable to contain himself, the ghost spoke. [What are you doing instead of going in?] From the ghost¡¯s perspective, it must be puzzling. All that remained was to defeat the boss, yet he was just waiting, not entering. Without taking his eyes off the door, Taesan asked the ghost. ¡°Are you part of the Labyrinth?¡± [Eh? If we get into specifics, yes?] Startled by the sudden question, the ghost still obediently answered. [Well, if I was alive, I don''t know, but being dead, I''m tied to the tomb. I was freed because of you, but the essence hasn''t changed.] ¡°That¡¯s the thing. You¡¯re tied to me because of the quest.¡± The ghost never strayed from Taesan. It would probably stay by his side until the quest was cleared. Then, a question appeared. ¡°If I don¡¯t defeat the boss and descend, will you still be with me?¡± [...Probably, yes.] The ghost spoke in a stiff tone. [But that wouldn''t be good. Descending without taking the reward you rightfully deserve. Comparing the information I have, it would be meaningless to you. You are an adventurer who doesn''t need my information. Think about the value properly. Although I appreciate your consideration, it''s unnecessary.] ¡°I don¡¯t n on doing that.¡± Naturally, he nned to defeat the boss and then descend. What he was aiming for was a different part. ¡°Anyway, as long as the quest is not cleared, you are tied to me. Then, I wonder which judgment will prevail?¡± Would it be the side tied to the Labyrinth? Or would it be the side progressing with the quest? Still not understanding, the ghost asked. [What are you...?] Suddenly. At that moment, space split. Beyond the distorted crack, the image of a world appeared. It was Earth. The ghost was surprised. [What is this?] At the same time, the quest window popped up. [Starting the Special Quest.] [Prepare for the shock.] The gap in the split space widened. It expanded as if to swallow up the room. The ghost flustered at the increasingly faint existence of the Labyrinth. [Wait. Hey. What is this...?] Taesan closed his eyes. With the sound of something shattering, he felt the wind. It was the wind of nature, something he had not felt in the Labyrinth. The scent of grass and asphalt wafted. It was a rich smell he hadn¡¯t recognized in the past. Taesan opened his eyes. Buildings were visible. Massive human structures made of brick and concrete were either crumbling or standing perfectly, decorating the scenery. He had returned to this ce. Only, he wasn¡¯t alone. [...What?] The ghost was horrified. Chapter 53: Earth, Return (1) Since this was his first return, the remnants of civilization were still present, unlike prior to his regression. Taesan looked up and saw a giant skyscraper that was piercing the sky. [Wait. Wait. What''s this?!] The ghost muttered in a voice full of astonishment. [...Where is this?] ¡°My world.¡± The world he had lived in and was chased out from. Earth. That ce was now weing Taesan. [How am I here? Why am I here?] The ghost was still apparently flustered. Taesan quietly waited. A few minutester, the ghost, who had barely managed to calm down, began to organize his thoughts hesitantly. [...Is this what you meant by leaving?] ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a form of being forced out in the form of a quest.¡± [Since I''m an entity tied to you... is this possible?] ¡°I was also doubtful.¡± The ghost was tied to Taesan due to the quest. He could not leave until the boss on the 10th floor was defeated. Then what would happen to the ghost¡¯s existence when Taesan descended back to Earth? Things from the Labyrinth belonged to the Labyrinth. However, when descending to Earth, there was a way to bring all the items with him. The ghost was no different from the items. He belonged to the Labyrinth, possessing self-awareness but no freedom. In other words, from a judgment standpoint, the yer¡¯s ownership takes precedence. He had thought there was a possibility. However, items and lifeforms were fundamentally different. He was more inclined to the idea that it would be impossible, yet there was no issue in bringing him to Earth. The ghost also organized his thoughts. [I was bound to you by a quest and forced to follow, huh? This is interesting. So there was such a judgment...] Looking at Taesan, the ghost admired his new surroundings. [So this is your world.] The ghost looked around as if he had found it interesting. He then swallowed his breath at the sight of the skyscraper. [How was that made? Is it a building made by demonic beings? Are there followers of the demon king in your world too?] ¡°It¡¯s just a building.¡± It was a unique statement to say that the building belonged to the followers of the demon king. [A building? What''s that?] ¡°A tall structure.¡± The ghost was a being who lived in a fantasy world. It was quite usible for such architecture to be absent there. ¡°You can think of it as a regr structure.¡± [A regr building like that...] A voice filled with awe echoed through the air. Concrete. Walls made of bricks, assembled without an inch of error. Uniquely shaped objects. The lines of telephone poles extending to the sky. The ghost, who verified each one, couldn¡¯t hide his admiration. [You said there''s no magic in your world. To think you created all these with just human strength... And what''s that?] The ghost, who was fluttering around, pointed at a car. ¡°Would you understand if I say it¡¯s a carriage that moves without horses?¡± [No horses? But how does it move?] ¡°I don¡¯t know about that either.¡± Most people did not know how a car¡¯s engine worked to move its frame. With Taesan¡¯s words, the ghost realizes one fact. [...There are quite a lot of them.] Cars were ced on every road. [In my world, there were carriages that worked on magic, but they were very few, and only the nobility could use them. So, cars aremon items that evenmoners can use, right? The fact that you don''t know how they work means that the technology here has developed quite a bit. What a wonderful world.] A voice filled with awe echoed. Taesan couldn¡¯t help butugh at the typical reaction of a character from a fantasy world in a novel when exposed to modern civilization. ¡°That¡¯s how it used to be.¡± Now it didn¡¯t matter. They had lost their civilization to the monsters. Taesan looked up at the sky. There was a wide-open hole peeking between the clouds. ¡°Do you feel anything?¡± [Huh?] The ghost, who had barely calmed down, btedly noticed the hole in the sky. [... What''s that?] ¡°That¡¯s what is trampling on our world.¡± In 2020, at the start of the New Year, the sky split, and the monsters appeared. From there, monsters emerged and trampled upon the earth. [Hmm... It feels different. I can feel apletely different energy. I think I''ll need to get closer to understand it.] ¡°¡­¡± Taesan didn¡¯t have a skill that would allow him to ascend to the sky right now. Not even mentioning Big Leap; he didn¡¯t even have Leap right now. There might be helicopters left, but Taesan was just an ordinary person. He didn¡¯t know how to operate them. ¡®I should move first and see.¡¯ Cracks were present not only in the sky but also on the ground. Taesan looked around. It was a familiarndscape of countless one-room quarters. When the selection box suddenly appeared, he returned to the location from where he had left his house. At that time, there were people making a lot of noise, and there were also those screaming. However, now, he didn¡¯t feel any signs of life around him. It was the same as before. At that time, he was flustered, thinking he was left alone, but now he knew the reason. The selection box appeared to them as the sky shattered, but not all humans made that choice. In the first ce, there were few who clicked on the suddenly appearing selection box. They chose to remain on Earth, hiding themselves, hoping that the government would rescue them. ¡®They must have all died.¡¯ The selection box disappeared over time. The ce where he was now was Anyang, in Gyeonggi-do. Out of a poption that exceeded 500,000, only 100,000 survived during the first return. [But what are we supposed to do here? Just survive?] ¡°No.¡± Whether the one who sent the monsters had a conscience or it was for a more enjoyable direction, they gave at least a minimum guideline. A system window appeared. [Special Quest Initiated] [Head to Anyang City Hall.] [Condition: Arrive alive.] [Reward: Differential payment depending on sess when returning to thebyrinth.] A quest had appeared. Everyone in Anyang would have received the same quest window. Taesan started to move. He slowly moved his steps towards the road. He couldn¡¯t feel any sign of life. There was no sign of monsters either. He casually strolled into a convenience store that was still in good shape. A nauseating smell wafted from items like bananas and sandwiches. About three months had passed, so anything that could spoil had spoiled. Taesan picked out some Spam from the selection. As a canned product intended for long-term storage, it was still fine amidst the foul smell. He picked up a few items and walked outside. He opened the Spam and extended his hand. [You have activated a fireball.] Whosh. A fire flickered above his hand. He ced a piece of the cut Spam on it. Sizzle. The Spam cooked in the air, releasing a delicious smell. He put a piece of properly cooked Spam in his mouth. Heughed. He didn¡¯t particrly like Spam. He thought it was cheap food with a ton of salt sprinkled on it. But now, it tasted so good. In that spot, Taesan finished off a can of Spam. The ghost, who had been silently waiting, asked. [Are we moving now?] ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡± Something would legitimately start once they arrived at Anyang City Hall. They needed to move first. Taesan began to move. The distance to the city hall wasn¡¯t far. It was within the city limits. It wouldn¡¯t take long for an average person to reach it by foot; with his current stats, it wouldn¡¯t even take five minutes. Not just Taesan, most people would arrive quickly. But the enemies wouldn¡¯t stand still. Groan. A monster revealed itself. [Monster 4516233121 has appeared.] Its form was simr to a slime. Its ck color and the numerous short tentacles at the bottom were the only differences. A ten-digit monster. As a contracted monster, it was one of the weakest and appeared earliest. Even yers in Easy Mode could easily defeat hundreds of them. Groan. The monster crawled on the ground and rushed towards Taesan, attempting to grab his head with its short tentacles. Taesan reached out his hand. Grab. Groan. Gurgle. The monster was caught. It struggled to escape, but Taesan¡¯s firmly grasping hand didn¡¯t even flinch. A repugnant sensation could be felt across his hand. ¡°What is this thing?¡± [Hmm......] The ghost scrutinized the monster from all angles. [A servant of a god? Although it feels somewhat different.] ¡°You said your world was also destroyed.¡± [Mine was destroyed by a Demon King. It was the end caused by an entity belonging to the world itself, not by something external. This is fascinating.] The ghost mumbled in a peculiar tone. [Invaders of the world? Are there really entities that would go to such lengths?] The grumbling ghost arrived at a small conclusion. [One thing is certain, the master of these beings is a considerably strong entity. It seems to be even stronger than Lakiratas.] ¡°Is that so?¡± A transcendent. And one belonging to a considerably strong group. That was the identity of the enemy. Indeed, bringing the ghost was the right decision. The ghost figured out information that he wouldn¡¯t have known on his own. Realizing this, the ghost burst intoughter. [Did you bring me here for this?] ¡°Not a bad deal either for you, right?¡± [Well, yes. Knowing such a world exists is a gain for me.] Taesan tightened his grip. St. The monster burst. Taesan brushed off the slimy substance stuck to his arm with a sentimental expression. ¡®I had to struggle so much to catch it before.¡¯ It was not this easy in the previous world. Even though yers in Easy Mode could defeat hundreds of them, it was a story for after they had cleared the game. A yer in Easy Mode, just three months into the game, would only have stats around 11. Back then, they really fought while risking their lives. Since it was the early stage, they didn¡¯t have any particr skills, and there were times they almost died. Gurgle. [Monster 4516242121 has appeared.] He threw a punch. The shockwave struck the monster. Crack. Now, they burst with just a mere gesture. He felt a big difference in these little things. Taesan looked up at the sky. From the opened hole, only small monsters jumped out. ¡®As expected, they are not here.¡¯ The B-ss monsters that appeared when the sky first opened. They were not on the ground. Only weak monsters were showing up now, and progressively stronger ones would appear as time passed. ¡°The transcendent like to see mortals make an effort, right?¡± [Hmm? Most of them do, yes.] They sent enemies suitable for him one step at a time, and they got progressively stronger. Just like a game. Taesan began to walk. The journey monsters constantly blocked Taesan¡¯s path, as if trying to stop him from reaching the City Hall. Their movements were consistent. Of course, they were not much of a match for him. The enemies were calibrated to the average strength in the game. He casually fended them off and moved forward. The ghost asked in a puzzled tone. [Is it far away?] ¡°It¡¯s close.¡± With Taesan¡¯s current stats, it would take less than five minutes, but he was walking leisurely. [Why are you going so leisurely?] ¡°I have someone to meet.¡± [Ah, I see.] The ghost seemed to understand [You''re meeting those guys you''ve been teaching. I was curious about who they might be since you go through so much trouble teaching them. You want to find and help them?] Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk. Both of them lived in Anyang. He could find them right away if he wanted to, but Taesan shook his head. ¡°Not them. There¡¯s no need to rush; we¡¯ll meet them anyway.¡± Both of them were strong. They would be able to dodge the monsters in their path and reach City Hall. ¡®Around here.¡¯ Taesan was walking, recalling the words he had heard in the past. He felt a presence. A human was approaching him. It was fast. Comparatively, the person seemed like a wormpared to Taesan, but generally, the speed was high. ¡°Hello?¡± The man who appeared had a friendly smile. With a pleasant smile, he greeted Taesan. Taesan nodded. For a moment, the man was taken aback by hisposed demeanor. ¡°Ah, you seem calmer than I thought. Haven¡¯t you encountered any monsters?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Whether the man recognized Taesan¡¯s strength or not, he reached out his hand with a bright face. ¡°Seeing you for the first time, you don¡¯t seem to be in Hard Mode¡­ Maybe Normal Mode? I am Geum Junggeun of Hard Mode.¡± Junggeun, who seemed more youthful than Taesan remembered, smiled warmly. ¡°Please take care of me in the future.¡± Chapter 54: Earth, Return (2) Taesan looked at Junggeun¡¯s face. A round, homely face. So incredibly ordinary. It was the type of face you¡¯d forget about five seconds after passing by on the street. However, his pleasing smile somehow made him endearing. Junggeun, who was being gazed at by Taesan, scratched his head with a flustered look. ¡°Um¡­ Err¡­¡± Junggeun was taken aback. He had never met the man in front of him. But he was being stared at as if he were a familiar face that had been seen once before. Junggeun coughed awkwardly. Heposed himself and recalled why he was there. ¡°You¡¯ve received the city hall quest, right?¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°Do you want to follow me? Going to the city hall by yourself could be quite challenging.¡± Taesan nodded again. Junggeun smiled pleasantly. ¡°Great. Follow me then. Oh, you aren¡¯t here with anyone else, right?¡± The ghost was still beside Taesan. But Junggeun showed no sign of noticing him. Taesan responded briefly. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good. Stick with me.¡± Junggeun lowered his posture and extended his hand. [Geum Junggeun has activated Presence Reduction. The presence of Geum Junggeun and Kang Taesan has decreased.] Presence Reduction. As the name suggested, it was a skill that reduced one¡¯s presence. It was a skill obtained by hiding and avoiding the enemy¡¯s sight for an hour. It was a skill that could be put to good use in certain scenarios. The presence of Taesan and Junggeun was diminished momentarily. Junggeun grimaced for a moment. ¡°Taesan? ¡­No way.¡± He murmured quietly,ing to a conclusion on his own. ¡°Follow me slowly. Keep as quiet as possible.¡± Taesan nodded slightly. He watched Junggeun move forward with caution, scanning the surroundings. The ghost opened his mouth. [It seems like only you can see me. Adventurers should be able to perceive me, though. Why is that?] The ghost, with a perplexed look on his face, asked. [Did youe to see that guy?] Taesan nodded silently in response. He had not forged many connections with others. Part of it was due to his nature of being averse to rtionships, but also because there was no real purpose to it. The person you know today could be dead and gone tomorrow. It was an extremelymon urrence. Furthermore, he had been an Easy Mode yer. He was a human at the easiest difficulty level. Everyone he became attached to or had a decent rtionship with died. From a certain point in time, he stopped getting attached to anyone who couldn¡¯t survive till the end. One of them was Junggeun. A human who conversed with him at thest moment. A human who never lost his sense of humor, even in despair. The ghost mumbled in a puzzled tone. [Hm. You don''t seem like someone who would juste to say hi. It seems like you have something to do with him.] Taesan didn¡¯t respond. The ghost continued to speak alone. [Well, he is somewhat useful. If he''s really good, he might even make it to the deep levels.] There was a grudging eptance in his voice. After following behind Junggeun for about thirty minutes, he could hear the bustling noise of life. The presence of many people could be felt inside a small building. ¡°Everyone, are you alright?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Mr. Junggeun!¡± Numerous individuals rushed towards them with delighted expressions. There were close to a hundred people. None of their faces were familiar to Taesan. ¡°This person here is Kang Taesan, whom I rescued this time. I believe he¡¯s a Normal Mode yer, so please get along well.¡± ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen him before¡­¡­¡± A person who seemed to be a Normal Mode yer mumbled softly. At that remark, people around him retorted. ¡°There are so many people in Normal Mode; how could you know everyone?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s true.¡± The man who was singled out scratched his head with a sheepish expression. ¡°Nice to meet you. Let¡¯s get along.¡± Taesan nodded silently in response. ¡°Now, let¡¯s move on.¡± Junggeun pped his hands, enlivening the atmosphere. ¡°It seems like we¡¯ve gathered all the people nearby. Now we¡¯re heading to the city hall.¡± The people¡¯s faces hardened. Anxiety lurked in their expressions. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Everyone.¡± Junggeun reassured them with a confident smile. ¡°I will protect you all.¡± They began to move towards the city hall a bit uneasily. Approximately a hundred people were slowly moving, advancing from the rear as much as possible to avoid monsters. [What are these?] The ghost spat out in a trembling tone. [Why are there only weak ones? Are these the ones who entered thebyrinth?] Except for Junggeun, everyone else seemed frail. At a nce, they were not even close to exceeding human limits; they were no different from ordinary humans. [I roughly understand. That Junggeun guy is leading you to your destination. You''re one of them too.] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Taesan responded softly. Grade F monsters were weak. However, they had the strength to easily rip an ordinary human apart. At this point, neither Easy nor Normal yers could face them. Only Hard yers and above could win at this point. And among them, only the top yers would really have a chance. Junggeun was leading these weak individuals toward the city hall. ¡®Just as I thought.¡¯ Junggeun had led them to the city hall even in the previous world. Taesan remembered exactly what had happened then. While they were moving leisurely, a girl who had been casting curious nces at him approached. ¡°You¡¯re from the Normal Mode, right?¡± She was a freckled girl with notable brown hair, just on the cusp of adulthood. She chattered away while walking at Taesan¡¯s side. ¡°My name is An Jeonghui. And you??¡± Oppa. Hearing this term of address for the first time in decades, he replied with an amused feeling. ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± An Jeonghui tilted her head. ¡°I was a bit of an information broker, but I¡¯ve never heard the name Taesan before¡­¡­ ¡°How many people are in Normal Mode that you would know all of them?¡± In Korea alone, the number of yers in Normal Mode was close to ten million. Just like a game server, the dimensions were divided to prevent overcrowding. Thus, it was impossible to know everyone. If the dimensions had not been divided, it would have been impossible for Easy Mode yers to enter thebyrinth. ¡°I know everyone who is somewhat strong. For example, that man.¡± She pointed to a muscr man at the end of her finger. ¡°He¡¯s a high-ranking member of the Athena Guild and pretty strong. He has a bad temper, but he¡¯s been behaving since Junggeun Oppa is here.¡± Guilds were created by yers. There were guilds in Easy, Normal, and Hard Modes. The Athena Guild was not the only one that existed. Whenever people gathered, societies formed, and groups were frequently made. Sometimes they would appear as guilds, other times as revolutionary parties. Of course, Taesan didn¡¯t belong anywhere. Understanding thebyrinth was more important than engaging in such childish pranks. The girl seemed to need someone to talk to and continued to speak. Then she started talking about how Junggeun ended up leading them. ¡°We were at a concert.¡± It was a small-scale amateur performance. It was a fairly popr band, so a lot of people gathered. Naturally, a lot of people showed up when it was time to return. ¡°Everyone was panicking, not knowing what to do, and that¡¯s when Junggeun Oppa stepped in.¡± He calmed the confused people down and suggested they head to the city hall together. Some people resisted, asking who he was to give orders, but they fell silent when he announced that he was a Hard Mode yer and demonstrated his grip strength by bending a piece of steel with his bare hand. That was how this group formed. It was not very different from what Taesan had heard from Junggeun in the past. Junggeun, who was leading the way, raised his hand, and An Jeonghui fell silent. [Monster No. 56994258 has appeared.] Growl. A ck monster with massive arms and legs appeared. People¡¯s faces turned pale in terror. Junggeun held his sword with a stern face. ¡°Please wait here for a moment.¡± Junggeun slowly approached the monster. The creature lumbered around, not yet aware of his presence. Junggeun stabbed its back. [Monster No. 56994258 took 6 damage.] Grrr! The monster arched its back. It moved its massive arm to attack Junggeun. ng! ¡°Kuh!¡± Junggeun gritted his teeth under the force of the blow. The future him was a yer who could defeat even an A-ss, but he was still adapting. He had to deal with a tough fight, even against a monster of this level. He dodged the wildly swinging arm and stabbed again. After a ferocious battle, Junggeun emerged victorious. He caught his breath and said to the people. ¡°I¡¯ve taken it down. Come this way.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Junggeun!¡± People cried out in awe. They rushed to Junggeun and praised his strength. Junggeun managed a smile and waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving for now.¡± People proceeded with extreme caution. They held their breaths and crouched low. But with more than a hundred people moving, they were bound to catch the monsters¡¯ attention. During the fight with another monster of the same level that appeared, yet another monster showed up. Grrr. ¡°Hyeeeek!¡± ¡°Mr., Mr. Junggeun!¡± Junggeun was too upied to answer. When it became apparent that he couldn¡¯t help them, the nearly hundred-strong group started screaming and scattering. This level of monster wasn¡¯t that strong. If they all banded together, they could easily defeat it, but they were too frantic to do anything but run away. [......] The ghost watched, looking very displeased. Taesan picked up a stone from the ground. ¡°Hyeeeek!¡± An Jeonghui screamed and ran away. The monster was about to crush her head. Thwack. The monster, its head hit by a small rock, flew far away. It tumbled and disappeared with a loud noise. The people who were frantically running away were startled by the sudden disappearance of the monster. ¡°Huh, what?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± The people were bewildered. Junggeun, who barely managed to defeat an F-ss monster, ran up to them while panting. ¡°Where did one of the monsters go?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know either. It suddenly disappeared.¡± ¡°What?¡± A look of confusion crosses Junggeun¡¯s face. He looked around, but he really couldn¡¯t see the monster anywhere. ¡°Who took it down?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t any damage window. There¡¯s no one here who could have¡­¡± This was a monster that even Junggeun in Hard Mode struggled to defeat. The people here were weak even in Easy and Normal Mode. Junggeun sneakily nced at Taesan. Taesan stood there expressionless. He looked indifferent, almost bored, as if the current chaos and fear were nothing to him. ¡®Could it be?¡¯ Junggeun lowered his head with an apprehensive thought. Taesan had said he had encountered a monster, but Junggeun thought he had just hidden himself and managed to escape unscathed. Even at the top ranks in Hard Mode, Junggeun was confident of a 1:1 victory. And Junggeun wouldn¡¯t have been unaware of such a strong person. ¡°Um¡­¡­ let¡¯s keep moving for now.¡± Ultimately unable to solve the mystery, Junggeun headed towards City Hall. The journey was repetitive. Whenever a monster appeared, Junggeun would confront it. The rest just watched from afar. asionally, Taesan would throw a stone to drive away the more fearsome creatures. After several repetitions, the ghost finally couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. [These useless things!] His roar resonates. The deep, grumbling voice echoes, but only Taesan can hear it. [How can they be so useless! They don''t even try to do anything, let alone risk their lives to fight! They''re just like trash, relying on others!] The voice seethed with anger. This was the first time Taesan heard such a surge of emotion from the ghost. If the others could hear the ghost¡¯s voice, they¡¯d be frozen stiff. [These fools entered thebyrinth? Don''t make meugh.] His voice, beast-like, resounded through the air. [This is an insult to us. I won''t tolerate such worthless beings challenging thebyrinth.] To the ghost, who had risked its life to break through thebyrinth, those who had given up the battle itself must have seemed utterly repugnant. Taesan quietly waited until the ghost calmed down. [...I can''t understand.] The now calm ghost muttered irritably. [Strength isn''t the issue. There''s no one who''s strong from the start. Everyone gets stronger by risking their lives and fighting.] The ghost¡¯s words were true. Taesan wasn¡¯t strong from the beginning. He had risked his life against Big Rat, challenged Hage-Har, and only then reached where he was now. [But these guys have no will. They don''t even try to do anything, nor do they try to gain knowledge or information. They''re just focused on running away. Have such weak creatures survived till now?] ¡°Don¡¯t be so harsh. After all, I¡¯m the strange one here.¡± They were from the normal world. Risking one¡¯s life in a fight was a figment of fiction. Those who quickly grasped the situation and advanced were extremely rare. Moreover, with the existence of Junggeun protecting them, it was natural for them to put more effort into escaping rather than fighting. ¡®But it¡¯s not a world merciful enough to let such people live.¡¯ Taesan looked at Junggeun. He wasforting the struggling people. ¡°Yes, yes. It¡¯s okay. Just a little more courage.¡± Geum Junggeun. One of the few yers Taesan had a bond with. He wasforting the people. Junggeun was the one who led around a hundred people to City Hall on his first return to Earth in the previous timeline. And the only one who made it then was Junggeun. Chapter 55: Earth, Return (3) All of them had died then. The ghost continued to grumble. [How did they survive this far when they couldn''t even catch a single Big Rat?] ¡°They survived because, unlike me, they¡¯re in an easierbyrinth.¡± [Easierbyrinth? Where''s that?] Taesan exined. They had options for Easy Mode, Normal Mode, Hard Mode, and Solo Mode. They chose one and entered thebyrinth. After a moment of silence, the ghost spoke. [There are different kinds ofbyrinths?] ¡°Yes.¡± [...What are you talking about?] It was a voice full of confusion. [There''s only onebyrinth. It can''t be divided into modes like that.] ¡°But what if it¡¯s actually like that?¡± Easy, Normal, Hard, Solo. Each mode had different monsters and bosses per floor. The onlymonality was the form of the floors and the limit of 100 floors. After a long moment of contemtion, the ghost managed to articte. [At least, as far as I remember, thebyrinth wasn''t separated. There were rare times when the gods split the dimensions, but they mostly returned to normal.] Taesan looked up at the sky. Monsters were pouring out of the open hole. [Did someone artificially create it?] The Easy, Normal, and Hard modes were created by someone other than a wizard. In other words, the only real mode was the Solo Mode. It was an unknown truth, but he wasn¡¯t surprised. He had already suspected it. He predicted that NPCs, Named characters, and gods only existed in Solo Mode, so it must be something different from the start. ¡°Is that even possible?¡± Great wizards and transcendents were involved in the design of thebyrinth. The ghost then spoke indifferently. [Thebyrinth was difficult to design because of its density. Each floor is akin to a dungeon. If you just crudely copy and paste it, it''s not technically impossible. But it would still require a lot of power.] At least a transcendent, then. Perhaps something beyond that. [But it''s surprising. Even if we exclude the essence, given the size, it would require a lot of power... and they created three of these? What was their purpose?] The ghost, who spoke softly, distorted its voice abruptly. [Anyway, can''t we head straight to the destination? I hate seeing those things.] ¡°No.¡± Taesan cut him off leisurely. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to do even if we go.¡± Until more than half of the people arrived at the city hall, a new quest did not start. There was no reason to rush. [Sigh.] The ghost let out a deep sigh. Nothing much changed after that. The ghost remained silent as if displeased, and Junggeun kept ying monsters. Whenever a multitude of monsters appeared, Taesan blew them away with a stone. When this was repeated multiple times, people realized that something was strange. ¡°Aren¡¯t the monsters disappearing strangely?¡± When Junggeun engaged one and another tried to attack them, the attacking monster would suddenly disappear. It was clearly a strange phenomenon. However, they were not able to find the answer because their stats were not high enough to see Taesan¡¯s movements, and since a stone was not a viable target of the Airak Martial Arts, there was no damage assessment. ¡°Can a multitude of monsters not move together?¡± In the absence of information, they could only specte like this. During this idle progress, the ghost spoke. [Why are you helping in such a strange way? You could just rush to the destination with everyone. You like helping others, don''t you?] ¡°I don¡¯t particrly enjoy it.¡± [Huh?] The ghost asked as if it didn¡¯t understand. [You seemed to help others quite diligently.] ¡°I don¡¯t just help anyone. I only help those with potential.¡± [Then why don''t you let these people die?] ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± He was the kind of person who would go to lengths for those who had shown him kindness. Junggeun was one of them. He didn¡¯t care if they died, but if they did, Junggeun¡¯s morale would copse. Since they had plenty of time, it became a sort of diversion. It was mealtime, and everyone began eating with weary expressions. ¡°Ugh¡­ No taste at all.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we get something from the convenience store?¡± ¡°What if we run into a monster?¡± For safety¡¯s sake, everyone reluctantly ate the meat of the monsters they had brought from thebyrinth. Taesan pulled out a can of Spam. He had brought quite a bit from the convenience store. When An Jeonghui saw the golden can, she let out an exmation. ¡°It¡¯s Spam! Where did you get it?¡± ¡°Before I joined up.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡­¡± She looked at him enviously but didn¡¯t ask for any. Although weak, she was a yer who survived in thebyrinth. She understood very well that there were no exchanges without a price. Cases like Junggeun¡¯s were very rare. ¡°Ugh. I want to exchange, but I have nothing to exchange with.¡± Not just her but everyone else also looked at him with envy, but no one said anything. Those who would, were the ones who were shamelessly bold. ¡°Hey. Give me some.¡± A muscr man approached Taesan. He stretched out his hand as if it was his own. The rose tattoo on his forearm was striking. Taesan looked at him coolly and put another piece in his mouth. The man¡¯s face twisted. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I, I¡­¡± An Jeonghui could not keep her calm as her face paled. The man puffed out his chest. ¡°I am the executive of the strongest guild in Normal Mode. I¡¯m Lee Changseok from the Athena Guild!¡± ¡°So?¡± Taesan asked indifferently. Lee Changseok let out a hollowugh. ¡°Hey. Do you want to go back and die? Are you thinking of opposing the Athena Guild?¡± ¡°I wonder.¡± Taesan muttered. ¡°Will you be able to go back?¡± ¡°What?¡± The Athena Guild. It existed in his previous world as well. It was said to be the biggest guild in Normal Mode. It was known to be the type that controlled thebyrinth through strong-arm tactics. ¡®Didn¡¯t they all die during the second return?¡¯ That was Taesan¡¯s memory of the Athena Guild. As Taesan didn¡¯t react, Lee Changseok¡¯s face reddened. ¡°This bastard. He really wants to die.¡± Just as Lee Changseok raised his hand. ¡°Stop there.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The pale face of An Jeonghui brightened. ¡°Junggeun¡­¡± Junggeun came over with a nk expression. Lee Changseok flinched for a moment but soon puffed up his chest. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just stop.¡± A subdued voice echoed. His cold, expressionless face turned toward Lee Changseok. Lee Changseok choked. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°You think you¡¯ve be something just because you brought us here? Why should I listen to you?¡± Lee Changseok was confident. And he had calcted things to a certain extent. ¡®This guy is a pushover.¡¯ While leading them, he didn¡¯t ask for anything in return. He risked his life for them, always smiling sadly. Lee Changseok believed that those with power had corresponding rights. But he couldn¡¯t understand and didn¡¯t want to understand someone who generously gave without asking for anything in return. Geum Junggeun was a good person. Even when he got tough, he was a person who had some things he wouldn¡¯t do. They were the kind who could be found asionally in their previous world, and Lee Changseok had made a business of leeching off them. People may call them good-natured, but they were nothing more than pushovers to him. ¡°This is a personal matter between us. You should stay out of it.¡± ¡°Haa.¡± Junggeun sighed. His gaze was filled with annoyance. He reached out and grabbed Lee Changseok by the head. ¡°He, hey! You! Aren¡¯t you going to let go?¡± Lee Changseok struggled with a rigid face, but the hand did not waver. Junggeun lifted his arm and hoisted Lee Changseok up. The muscr man felt incredibly light. ¡°Hey, hey! You!¡± ¡°I know what kind of thoughts you have.¡± Taesan watched with an aloof expression. If Lee Changseok had a misconception, it was one thing. Junggeun was not the pushover he imagined. ¡°Regardless of the intentions you hold, if those lead you to cross the line¡­¡± Junggeun punched Lee Changseok in the chest. Lee Changseok sprawled out, gasping for breath. ¡°I can discard someone like you at any time.¡± ¡°Cough, cough.¡± The damage wasn¡¯t too severe for a fist attack, but the shock was fully felt. As Lee Changseok was unable to scream from the pain, Junggeun, who was coldly looking down at him, lifted his head. People turned their heads, shivering. They couldn¡¯t meet his gaze. To them, Junggeun smirked bitterly. Crackle. Crackle. The campfire burned. The city hall was only a few hours away, no matter how far the distance from any part of Annyang, but due to therge number of people, they couldn¡¯t arrive until nightfall. Taesan approached Junggeun, who was sitting in front of the campfire. ¡°Are you going to keep watch tonight?¡± ¡°Everyone else must be tired.¡± ¡°You must be the one who¡¯s tired.¡± Junggeun had fought over five battles on the way. The others did nothing but spectate or flee out of fear. Junggeun didn¡¯t respond but gave a bitter smile. Taesan sat opposite him. ¡°People seem to be scared of you.¡± Ever since Junggeun punished Lee Changseok, people had be extremely cautious in their actions. They were not only avoiding the monsters but also watching Junggeun¡¯s reactions. Having only seen his gentle face, they were now finding him unfamiliar and frightening. Everyone had somewhere in their hearts the thought that Junggeun would definitely protect them, so his action of breaking that belief scared them. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be helped. It was something that needed to be done at least once.¡± He poked at the campfire with a stern face. ¡°There are too many people. We¡¯ve been in danger multiple times.¡± If Taesan hadn¡¯t been there, they would¡¯ve probably lost more than twenty people. ¡°I had to get everyone to follow my instructions at least once. Thank you. Thanks to you, I had a good opportunity.¡± Junggeun was suspicious of Taesan. His too-calm attitude and unruffled face were unusual for someone in Normal Mode. He didn¡¯t waver even a bit when monsters appeared. His attitude was too stable to be a normal person. He even suspected that he was a disguised monster. But he couldn¡¯t find any more anomalies. He couldn¡¯t see Taesan throwing the stones because Junggeun was locked in his own fierce battle. Even if he was at ease, the stat difference would have made it impossible to notice. ¡®What a pointless thought.¡¯ Junggeun chuckled lightly. Taesan was an ordinary person. There was no way he could be a disguised monster. It was then that he decided to abandon his suspicions. ¡°Is there a need for that?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Taesan spoke casually. ¡°You could reach the city hall without any issues.¡± ¡°¡­¡­are you suggesting that I should abandon all of these people?¡± A crowd of more than a hundred people. Junggeun asked in a trembling voice at the suggestion that he should leave them all to die. Taesan looked at him with cold eyes. ¡°You must know this if you¡¯re a Hard Mode person. Those who will live, live. Those who will die, die.¡± Junggeun bit his lip. Hard Mode was a mode with a 1% survival rate. If you survived there for three months, you naturally learned this. Those who would live, live. Those who would die, die. Even if someone helped, that standard did not change. It may prolong life for a while, but eventually, it leads to death not long after. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just go alone?¡± In reality, they had met a few yers while heading toward the city hall. Those confident in their strength saw Junggeun and his group, clicked their tongues, and left without looking back. Some tantly called them crazy. ¡°Why are you so obsessed with lives that are bound to end anyway?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Junggeun looked at Taesan in response to the emotionless voice. Chills. Junggeun felt a momentary shiver. He could discern what kind of person someone was to some extent by looking at their eyes. Although it could be said to be a skill he gained while growing up, Junggeun considered it a superstition simr to physiognomy and had always ignored it. The eyes of Taesan that he saw were endlessly dimmed. A human who has witnessed countless deaths and could no longer afford emotions for them. A human who faced the end and let everything go. Not a human of Normal Mode. Junggeun clenched his sword. ¡°Who are you?¡± Eyes full of caution. Eyes observing a stranger. The Junggeun who had greeted him with an awkward smile was no more. ¡®It¡¯s like I am seeing you for the first time.¡¯ ¡°I wonder.¡± Taesan stood up. Seeing his back, Junggeun was taken aback. ¡°We¡¯re going to the city hall anyway, aren¡¯t we? I¡¯ll tell you then.¡± Junggeun slowly lowered his sword. Dawn broke. They started moving again¡ªtheir faces were bright since they only had about an hour¡¯s journey left. However, they were oblivious to one fact. The monsters had been ordered to attack humans heading to the city hall. In other words, once they reached the city hall, the monsters would not attack. Those who moved alone were already either there or dead. Naturally, the monsters began to swarm near the city hall. Chapter 56: Earth, Return (4) ¡°Alright, everyone, get up.¡± Rubbing their eyes, the people wearily rose to their feet. After checking the number of people, Junggeun spoke softly. ¡°This is thest stretch. Let¡¯s hurry.¡± The journey began once more. The expressions on their faces were bright. Though slow, they had been moving for nearly two days already. They would reach the city hall soon. And then, a problem arose. Gurgle. [Monster 8995421675 has appeared.] In front of them, a monster resembling a snake appeared. Junggeun halted the group and drew his sword. He could handle a single monster. Everyone was waiting without tension. Gurgle. ¡°Huh?¡± A second monster with the same number of digits showed itself. But the people were not overly rmed. There had been instances of a second monster appearing before, but they were always resolved in ways unknown to them. They were under the vague impression that it would be the same this time. Gurgle. However, when a third monster appeared, the situation changed. ¡°Wha, what?¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Three monsters surrounded them. Junggeun swung his sword harshly to fend off the monsters and shouted. ¡°Run!¡± Two were somewhat manageable. But three were absolutely impossible. People screamed and ran. A life-or-death race had begun. Gurgle. The monsters targeted the backs of the people. As one attempted to crush the head of a childgging behind, Junggeun rushed in and blocked it. Kwoong! ¡°Ugh!¡± Junggeun gritted his teeth against the brute force. People were desperately trying to escape, but they were bound to be caught by the monsters eventually. He had to buy them time until they reached the city hall. Three monsters simultaneously attacked Junggeun. He held his breath. [You have activated the skill Breathless Attack. You will have freedom of breath for the next 10 seconds.] Cack. He gained the freedom of breath. Moving his arms and legs, he parried the monsters¡¯ attacks and quickly opened his inventory. He threw blue powder. Boom! The powder exploded, forming a physical barrier. Powder of Tranquility. An item that would explode and form a physical barrier upon contact with the enemy. It was a pricey item worth 500 gold. Despite the tears welling up in his eyes thanks to the explosion, the monsters were pushed back, creating a gap. One of the monsters, with its long arms writhing, struck Junggeun. Instead of avoiding the attack, Junggeun blocked it with both arms. [6 damage to Geum Junggeun.] ¡°Ugh!¡± He took damage, but it allowed him to propel his body backward. Junggeun immediately ran toward the people. His response was astonishingly perfect. If he could buy a little more time, they could reach the City Hall. As Junggeun was moving in the direction of the people, he suddenly stopped. His eyes widened in confusion. ¡°Why?¡± People were lingering, unable to move forward. Soon, Taesan also understood the reason. Gurgle. [Monster 5123198777 has appeared.] Two monsters were blocking the people¡¯s path. ¡°This, this is¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Junggeun!¡± ¡°Please, save us!¡± Criesced with tears echoed, but Junggeun couldn¡¯t respond. Three monsters were closing in from behind him. They were surrounded by five monsters. Junggeun gritted his teeth. ¡®So they¡¯re determined to kill us.¡¯ Gurgle. A monster withrge tentacles moved. More people were about to be swept away, and Junggeun rushed in to block them. Kwoong! Junggeun¡¯s body was pushed back. The other monsters targeted him. He desperately blocked the attacks, but he couldn¡¯t handle even two from the start. Injuries started to appear all over his body. In the face of despair, Junggeun¡¯s mind made a clear assessment. ¡®I absolutely can¡¯t win.¡¯ Even if he put everything on the line, the oue would not change. If he held on here, the only possible result was everyone¡¯s death. Then, could he alone manage to escape? The answer came quickly. It was possible. His strength and speed were nearly equal to the monsters. If he struck quickly and moved, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult. His sword moved roughly. Kaang! A monster was pushed back momentarily. Another monster filled the gap. Junggeun¡¯s face contorted roughly. He had to abandon them. Over a hundred people. Those who had followed him and trusted him. And that, too, by his own will. Junggeun felt sick. He was a good person. He had led over a hundred people to the City Hall. He took it upon himself to work hard to save them. Some might say it was his duty, but in a world where no one was doing their duty, he could be considered a good person. However, he was a person who could assess reality coldly. He was not so good as to sacrifice his life for others. And that pained him immensely. Everyone felt the same way, but it was more intense for him. He found it abhorrent that he couldn¡¯t abandon them even though he knew he couldn¡¯t take responsibility until the end, nor could he coldly abandon them. If he was going to abandon them like this, wasn¡¯t the right answer not to save them in the first ce? If he was going to save them, shouldn¡¯t he save them until the end? He barely managed to steady his trembling hands and turned the line of attack around. The desperate gazes of over a hundred pairs of eyes looking at him. The faces of those who relied on and put their hopes in him alone. He had to abandon them all. He had to ignore the cries of those dying and the resentment directed at him. ¡®If I sacrifice my life for them instead¡­¡¯ Then it would be extremely simple. Just dying together would solve the problem. However, Junggeun was not the kind of person who could do that. He couldn¡¯t choose death in the end. He had calmly epted death in the previous world partly due to such experiences adding to his umtion of self-loathing. ¡®If I had the power.¡¯ To protect all of them. If he had the power to defeat the monsters and move forward. But he didn¡¯t have such power. Junggeun stopped fighting. His still and standing figure made the people falter. ¡°Mr. Junggeun?¡± ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± He looked at the people forlornly. Fear crept onto their faces as they sensed something ominous. It was time for Junggeun to make a decision. ¡°Should we go?¡± Taesan spoke. Junggeun, who was about to make a move, paused. Taesan was looking at him nkly. Even in a situation where everyone was dying, there wasn¡¯t an inch of wavering. Taesan mumbled. ¡°So, it¡¯se to this.¡± Junggeun, who had returned alone to City Hall in the previous world, refused to converse with anyone and was shut in. He came to his senses only after the second return. Junggeun gave a bitter smile when he realized that Taesan had guessed what he was going to do. ¡°Are you going to criticize me?¡± ¡°Why would I?¡± Junggeun was taken aback by his casual reply. Taesan¡¯s face showed that he had no reason to do so. Growl. A monster moved its arm as if displeased with their conversation. Junggeun reflexively tried to block the attack that was aimed at Taesan¡¯s head. Crack. But before he could even move, the monster was crushed. [60 damage to Monster 5123198777.] ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°60?¡± The eyes of those who were in despair widened. Junggeun hesitated. Taesan shook off the slime-covered sword. ¡°I won¡¯t me you no matter what choice you make. I was just curious.¡± What had happened? He had followed him because of that one thing. It gave him something to do. Taesan¡¯s arm blurred. The moment he saw its form disappear, the monsters¡¯ heads exploded. ¡°Wha, What?¡± Junggeun was astonished. He had barely managed to take down one. From the second monster onward, he couldn¡¯t do anything but run away. But five such monsters were deleted at once. He couldn¡¯t even see how the sword moved. ¡°Could it be that you¡­¡± That was the moment his suspicion became a certainty. Growl. [Monster 45677521 has appeared.] An eight-digit monster showed itself. It looked bigger and stronger than the others. An E-rank monster. A monster that could only be encountered deep into the Easy Mode. Taesan moved his swordzily. ¡°Woah¡­¡± ¡°Finally, we¡¯ve reached City Hall¡­¡­¡± The people arrived at City Hall, their voices choked with sobs. A woman who had volunteered to guard the ce widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Uh, why are there so many?¡± The woman was frantically looking after the nearly a hundred people. Then she saw Junggeun and let out an exmation. ¡°Ah, Junggeun! You¡¯re here too.¡± ¡°Yes. Hello, Hwiyun noona.¡± Junggeun greeted her with a bitter smile. Kim Hwiyun. She was one of the few who had a close rtionship with Taesan as a Hard Mode yer. She had died during her third return to Earth. ¡°Wow¡­¡­ this is the first time I¡¯ve seen such arge group.¡± She couldn¡¯t hide her admiration as she looked at the crowd. She had watched peopleing into the City Hall, but the most she had ever seen at one time was five. Such arge group was astonishing. She looked at Junggeun with pride on her face. ¡°You protected them?¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t me¡­¡­¡± As he tried to mention Taesan, thetter slightly shook his head. Junggeun closed his mouth. ¡°Huh? You said it wasn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­No. It was thanks to everyone¡¯s help.¡± Hwiyun tilted her head but did not probe any further. ¡°Then, let me guide you. Come this way.¡± She showed no particr interest in Taesan. She just thought of him as one among the hundred. She led the people into City Hall. Junggeun was amazed. ¡°There are¡­¡­ so many people.¡± There were quite a lot of people gathered outside City Hall, but inside, there was barely enough room to lie down. ¡°All the people of Anyang have gathered. Considering that, it¡¯s actually a small number.¡± Hwiyun clicked her tongue. Understanding what she meant, Junggeun¡¯s expression darkened. The poption of Anyang was half a million. It was a number that couldn¡¯t fit in just one city hall. The fact that it was filled meant that many people had died. ¡°We survived, though. We did.¡± Sheforted Junggeun. ¡°Thanks to you, a hundred more people survived. You should be proud.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡­¡± Junggeun smiled awkwardly, sneaking a nce at Taesan. He changed the subject. ¡°But who¡¯s the representative if there are so many people?¡± There were hundreds of thousands there. With everyone only wanting to say their piece, it would be ear-splitting. Someone had to lead and manage them. ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± Hwiyun made a vague face and clicked her tongue. ¡°My head hurts because of that. Those strange guys keep talking nonsense¡­¡± ¡°Strange guys?¡± ¡°They are making a fuss, fighting amongst themselves. I want to scold them, but I can¡¯t¡­¡± She sighed deeply and waved her hand. ¡°Just rest for now. You must be tired. I¡¯ll exinter.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Junggeun nodded obediently, though curious. He was really tired. He had been fighting for two straight days without sleep and felt like he could pass out at any moment. Hwiyun stroked Junggeun¡¯s head with a friendly smile. ¡°I¡¯ll take the others to their families. You rest.¡± The hundred or so people sought out their own families. They embraced each other tearfully. ¡°Brother!¡± An Jeonghui hugged a man who looked like her, shedding tears. Taesan watched the scene from a distance. Even though they could all die, it wasn¡¯t a bad sight. Noticing him from afar, An Jeonghui thanked him through her tears. Taesan moved on. Not everyone had found their families. Some had heard of death and despaired; others held onto hope, biting their lips. Everyone would adjust as time passed. Taesan left City Hall and looked outside. He could feel one or two signs of life heading this way. Soon it would be more than half of the remaining survivors. A new quest would begin. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Taesan answered the voice that spoke behind him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?¡± Junggeun, looking tired, was staring at Taesan. Chapter 57: Easy Mode, Choi Junghyeok (1) ¡°Of course, it¡¯s you.¡± Junggeun narrowed his eyes. ¡°But I felt I should tell you at least once.¡± He gave a wry smile and looked at Taesan. ¡°¡­¡­So, you were Taesan of Solo Mode.¡± Taesan nodded nonchntly. Heughed dryly. ¡°Well¡­¡­ Ah. I¡¯m grateful for the skill.¡± ¡°Is it useful?¡± ¡°Quite.¡± Junggeun used Breathless Attack in his battle against the monster. It meant he learned it not by discovering it himself but by following Taesan¡¯s post on the Community. ¡°Honestly, I was skeptical. But I thought it was not an unbelievable story, so I tried it and really got it. How amazing.¡± He murmured with a fascinated look in his eyes. ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s unbelievable.¡± ¡°You also thought we were all just big talkers, right?¡± ¡°Y-yeah¡­¡­.. Well.¡± Heughed bitterly. ¡°I did think so, a little.¡± As a Hard Mode yer, Junggeun had nearly died several times. There were also multiple instances where he would have certainly died if his teammates, who were working together to conquer thebyrinth with him, hadn¡¯t helped him. But to venture into thebyrinth alone, without anyone¡¯s help, in Solo Mode, which was more difficult than that Hard Mode? To Junggeun, it seemed impossible. He had obtained the Breathless Attack skill thanks to Taesan¡¯s exnation, but his preconceived notions remained unchanged. That¡¯s why he thought their morous talks were pitiful, yet at the same time, full of empty bravado. But it wasn¡¯t a lie. Junggeun looked at him in awe. It was such overwhelming strength. Honestly, he had no idea how strong Taesan could be. Thest to appear had been an evenrger monster. When the monster attacked them, he missed the monster¡¯s movements. It was an entity he could not face as he was now. Yet when the monster appeared again, its upper body had already been blown away. ¡°Is everyone in Solo Mode like you?¡± ¡°No. They¡¯re probably more like you.¡± The current Junggeun was strong. He had descended into thebyrinth without hesitation, and there was no big difference between him and those who had hesitated, like Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junghyuk. Junggeun sighed in relief. ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± He had done his best to descend thebyrinth, risking his life in battle. If everyone in Solo Mode was like Taesan, if his efforts meant nothing, he would have been greatly shaken. Junggeun bowed from his waist. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Taesan. Because of you, I¡­ didn¡¯t have to make a disgusting choice.¡± A desperate emotion seeped out. Taesan casually waved his hand. ¡°I did it because I wanted to, so it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°No, really, thank you.¡± He spoke as his eyes burned quietly. ¡°If you wish, Mr. Taesan¡­ You can use me as you wish. I¡¯ll follow whatever you say.¡± ¡°Just shove it, you jerk.¡± Taesan shivered. ¡°Just act as you normally do. Before your head gets smashed.¡± Such a polite Junggeun. It was quite awkward. At Taesan¡¯s threatening words, Junggeun shuddered, then chuckled. ¡°I see. You really are a jovial person, hyung.¡± ¡°Hyung?¡± ¡°You¡¯re older than me, right?¡± ¡°Perhaps?¡± What he remembered was that Junggeun was 23. A two-year difference. ¡°Then you¡¯re my hyung. Is it okay to call you that?¡± Heughed lightly. It was the cheerful, always livelyughter that Taesan remembered. Taesan answered, ¡°Do as you like.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Junggeun seemed relieved somehow. After unburdening his mind, his face was abruptly overtaken by exhaustion. He rubbed his tired eyes. ¡°I think I¡¯ll go to sleep. See you tomorrow.¡± He staggered off, and the ghost chuckled to itself. [He''s quick to change his attitude.] ¡°That¡¯s his strength.¡± Not losing a smile in despair was a challenge in itself. The next day. Junggeun immediatelytched onto Taesan, chattering incessantly. Taesan received him with a not unpleasant expression. ¡°Hyung. So all the skills mentioned in the Community are real?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve heard them all, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Does ¡®Endurance¡¯ really exist? How do you learn it?¡± Junggeun looked at Taesan with a bored face. In a situation where a single hit could kill, he had said not to take a single hit. It might work in a game with multiple lives, but in reality, it was an impossible method. ¡°How did you acquire such a skill? As expected, hyung, you¡¯re impressive.¡± Taesan felt slightly ufortable under his bright-eyed gaze. ¡®He wasn¡¯t like this originally.¡¯ He had approached him amicably, but he hadn¡¯t shown this sort of admiration. He acted like a familiar older brother, despite anypliments or praises. But now, his face truly showed admiration. ¡®Is it because I saved him?¡¯ As their meeting circumstances changed, so did their attitude. As he vaguely passed over the conversation, Kim Hwiyun approached. ¡°So you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Ah, noona.¡± ¡°Did you get some good rest?¡± ¡°Yes. My head¡¯s starting to clear now.¡± ¡°Good. Then let me slowly start exining.¡± She nced at Taesan. ¡°There¡­¡­¡­¡± Hwiyun subtly hinted at Taesan. Junggeun shook his head. ¡°Hyung will listen with me. That¡¯s okay, right?¡± ¡°Ah, a hyung?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hwiyun was flustered. She had never seen Taesan before. She thought he was an ordinary person from Normal or Easy Mode, but seeing Junggeun¡¯s reaction, something was different. ¡°Were you close before?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no harm, right?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡­ That¡¯s true.¡± What she intended to exin was the overall situation. Even if one more person listened, there wouldn¡¯t be much of a difference. After a moment of consideration, Hwiyun turned around. ¡°Then, follow me.¡± They arrived at a small reception room inside the city hall. ¡°Excuse me, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Taesan?¡± Hwiyun¡¯s face showed surprise as she tilted her head slightly. ¡°Could it be?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ so I finally met the person who has been much talked about?¡± ¡°Seems like there have been quite some stories about me?¡± ¡°We discussed among ourselves. We weren¡¯t sure if those stories were true or false; we were more inclined to believe thetter¡­ but it seems like they weren¡¯tpletely false, huh?¡± She looked at Taesan with a curious gaze. ¡°Are you really strong? Even stronger than Junggeun?¡± Junggeun gave a small nod. Hwiyunughed and let out a sigh of admiration. ¡°That¡¯s impressive. Even though we are many, a lot of us died, but you managed to break through alone. Do you have some sort of secret?¡± However, there was no more reaction than that. She thought there wouldn¡¯t be a big difference between him and Junggeun. Junggeun and her strength were almost equal. It was not an unreachable level. Noticing her thoughts, Junggeun let out a bitterugh but didn¡¯t bother to correct her. ¡°Then it should be fine for you to listen.¡± Hwiyun started exining with a calm face. ¡°First of all, most of the survivors have gathered. Judging by the significantly reduced number of people arriving, it seems like everyone who was supposed toe hase.¡± She spoke indifferently, but her face was distorted. ¡°ording to a rough count, about a hundred thousand people are left.¡± From five hundred thousand to one hundred thousand. Only 20% survived. At that despairing number, Junggeun bit his lip. ¡°I don¡¯t know who started it, but they¡¯re bastards.¡± She rubbed her eyes as she continued. ¡°The problem is, among these hundred thousand people, only about a thousand can fight against the monsters.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Are there so few?¡± ¡°You must have felt it too when bringing people. Unless they¡¯re at the very top of Normal Mode or at least in Hard Mode, confrontation is impossible. Practically, ny-nine thousand people are useless in battle.¡± Hwiyun pressed on her forehead. ¡°Food is a problem, a ce to sleep is a problem, not knowing what quests will start next is a problem¡­¡­ There are problems everywhere.¡± ¡°It might even be better to be in thebyrinth.¡± ¡°I think so too. Why bother calling us here?¡± They were in the top ranks of Hard Mode. Since they had already adapted, they weren¡¯t afraid of thebyrinth. In thispletely blocked situation, it would have been simpler to just go down further. That¡¯s what they thought for now. ¡°Moreover, the person inmand is a problem.¡± ¡°Wait. Aren¡¯t you inmand?¡± Kim Hwiyun had organized people¡¯s parties in Hard Mode and managed the basic strategies. People didn¡¯t know the reality of Solo Mode, so they naturally thought that Hard Mode yers would be in charge, but Hwiyun shook her head. ¡°I intended to do so, but those crazy people from Easy Mode will make a lot of noise.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Easy Mode?¡± At those unexpected words, Junggeun tilted his head. ¡°Why them?¡± Junggeun thought that the Easy Mode people he knew were really weak. They were almost indistinguishable from ordinary people, making it impossible, he thought, for them to have any significant impact. However, Kim Hwiyun ruffled her hair. ¡°Choi Junghyeok, was it? That guy said he would takemand.¡± ¡°You just epted that?¡± ¡°Of course, I told him not to talk nonsense. Then he retorts, asking if I¡¯m dismissing him because he¡¯s in Easy Mode, and bluffs loudly that he can manage things just fine too. So, for now, I have deferred to him.¡± Kim Hwiyun sighed. ¡°It would be simple if it was a monster; you just need to kill it. But you can¡¯t do that with humans.¡± A simple rule that the loudest voice wins was still tolerated. ¡°And I¡¯m also fighting with those in Solo Mode. It¡¯s an utter mess. A mess. Even ending up as hostages, what are they doing?¡± ¡°Hostages?¡± ¡°Yes. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok, I think? They were captured.¡± ¡°What?¡± Taesan crinkled his face. At his sudden reaction, Hwiyun was slightly surprised and faltered. ¡°Uh, yes. They were captured.¡± ¡°Why were they captured?¡± They may be weaker than him, but they¡¯re not so weak as to be messed with by the likes of Easy Mode. If it was Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon, they could even fight with Junggeun and win without any major issues. Being captured meant that it wasn¡¯t about strength but a different problem. ¡®I can roughly guess what¡¯s happening.¡¯ ¡°How could they not handle that?¡± ¡°What can we do? We don¡¯t even know who¡¯s right or wrong.¡± They had never fought amongst humans. Getting involved in a fight meant attacking someone and being hostile. That¡¯s why they were still cowards. They were adept at fighting monsters but hopelessly inexperienced in fights with humans. ¡°But no one has died yet. We need to observe a bit more before intervening.¡± ¡°I have no intention of doing that.¡± Taesan spoke nonchntly. He stood up. ¡°Choi Junghyeok. Where is he?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Hwiyun¡¯s pupils shook at the sudden movement. She muttered softly. ¡°He¡¯s in the building on the left¡­¡± Taesan headed towards the door. Hwiyun, who was stuttering, got up. ¡°Wait. What are you doing?¡± ¡°You have to stomp out the rats in advance.¡± With a rxed answer, Taesan headed towards the building. Hwiyun followed behind, trying to stop him. ¡°Wait. No violence!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Taesan questioned, and Hwiyun hesitated at his calm question. ¡°We¡¯re already finished. The world has copsed, and thew has no meaning. So why not?¡± ¡°¡­Still, it¡¯s not allowed.¡± Hwiyun spoke with a stern face. ¡°Order must be maintained. People must not kill people.¡± Taesan looked at her indifferently. Kim Hwiyun. A woman with long hair and an impression of stubbornness. She always tried to maintain order. She died trying to save everyone ording to the rules she had maintained until the end. ¡°You¡¯re always the same.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Hwiyun heard what Taesan said softly and was taken aback. ¡°I also intend to keep order.¡± But there were always exceptions. Seeing that Taesan had no intention of stopping, Hwiyun grasped her sword. She couldn¡¯t stand by and watch humans fighting, so she intended to stop it by force if needed. It was the moment she took a step forward. ¡°Huh?¡± She lost strength in her body and fell. She felt a dull pain in the back of her neck. [Kim Hwiyun has taken 22 damage.] ¡®What¡¯s happening!¡¯ She screamed in dismay. She had been attacked without feeling anything? Taesan, who had knocked her down, brushed his hand off. ¡°Watch calmly.¡± ¡®Choi Junghyeok.¡¯ Even in Taesan¡¯s first time in Easy Mode, he had formed a guild and created a simr power structure. Having first imed thebyrinth, he had asserted his rights and engaged in all kinds of misdeeds. Control of thebyrinth. Forcing others to provide items. Priority for boss monsters, and so on. And he even secretly murdered those who seemed to be growing stronger than him. Normally, those who couldn¡¯t endure would rebel, but Junghyeok didn¡¯t simply resort to violence; he also had a knack for politics. After turning some people into his underlings and setting an example, he made sure nobody dared to speak out. It was not just a matter of forcing submission. He also doled out enough carrots to make people ept the situation. There was even a time when the entire Easy Mode moved ording to Junghyeok¡¯s will. Perhaps if things had continued that way, he would have stayed on top, using everyone else as sacrificialmbs. ¡°Come to think of it, it¡¯s a pity. He got smashed by me twice, didn¡¯t he?¡± Taesan, standing in front of the building door, pulled his finger and snapped it. With a loud noise, the door shattered. Chapter 58: Easy Mode, Choi Junghyeok (2) Choi Junghyeok looked over therge room with satisfaction. The city hall was packed with so many people that all the rooms were filled to the brim. But he was using thisrge room all by himself. ¡°This is power.¡± It was too good. He had struggled and built up his influence for this. ¡°You brat, are you enjoying yourself?¡± A woman with long hair asked derisively. Beside her, a young boy with a tense expression was biting his lip. Their bodies were wrapped tightly in thick chains. Junghyeok scoffed at them. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I enjoy it? It¡¯s a power you ignorant people will never possess.¡± ¡°You¡¯re ying around. If it wasn¡¯t for your tricks, you¡¯d be dead.¡± Lee Taeyeon gritted her teeth, and Junghyeok nodded in agreement. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll admit that. You¡¯re strong.¡± He was speaking nonchntly, but it was a miraculous level of strength. With herculean power enough to bend the chains and cause cracks in the wall, he would have been shattered had they shed head-on. ¡®But luck is on my side.¡¯ Junghyeok smirked. A special quest to go outside of thebyrinth. While everyone was happy, Junghyeok was covered in goosebumps. He thought he could never meet with those in Solo Mode. If their posts in the Community were anything to go by, clearing Solo Mode was as challenging as Hard or Normal Mode, making them an appropriate opponent. So he had openly shown his malice and contempt for them, and in this way, he hade outside. He didn¡¯t think that all the posts on the Community were true, but if even a part of them were, his own meager power would literally be shattered. He had been worried and tried to find a way, but he ended uping outside without any particr method. But if there was a lucky point for him, he had been summoned near city hall, so he was able to enter the ce without meeting a single monster. He quickly realized that the people who were making a fuss about Solo Mode were very weak and quickly captured them. There was resistance, but he suppressed them surprisingly easily. If the Community was right about the madness, everyone would be focused on surviving. So he let his guard down. He and Lee Taeyeon appeared, and they tried to capture them by force. ¡°Monster-like bastards.¡± Junghyeok clicked his tongue. These two were different. Junghyeok tried to capture them, but he repelled the Easy Mode yers trying to capture them in one blow. With their momentum that was like a bull¡¯s, he had no choice but to run away in surprise. But he won. ¡°That¡¯s why people should use their heads.¡± The captured Solo Mode users. As he took their lives, hostage, the two had no choice but to be captured obediently. ¡°Idiots.¡± Junghyeok scoffed at the two. The chains wrapped severalyers around them, and even they could not escape. ¡°Whether it¡¯s a hostage or whatever, you should have stepped up. That¡¯s why you guys are getting caught.¡± He was different. He was on the devouring side, even on Earth. He deceived the foolish people with false contracts, cheated them out of their money, and repeatedly ran away. He thought of himself as a winner. It didn¡¯t change even when he entered thebyrinth. ¡°All of you are too stupid.¡± They entered thebyrinth into a world withoutws or order, where lives were on the line. In that case, it was only natural for people to adapt and live ording to that world. But everyone tried to uphold thew and order from Earth. They all tried to help each other and be together. He wasn¡¯t that stupid. Junghyeok quickly entered thebyrinth and figured out the difficulty level. He was the first to realize the separated dimensions and drew a few conclusions. The number of people who could enter thebyrinth was limited. Even if dimensions were split, there were so many Easy Mode yers that there couldn¡¯t be an empty dimension. In other words, it could be controlled. Along with that conclusion, he moved quickly. He absorbed those who were a little ahead of the pack. There was now or order. Just by giving a light push, people tended to go crazy. So he gathered people and began to control them. At first, quite a few resisted, but with violence and persuasion, their control soon becamemonce. Except for a few who resisted, everyone followed his words. It was too captivating. ¡°After all, it¡¯s a ce where people gather, and it¡¯s as ugly as that.¡± Taeyeon scoffed at the sight of Junghyeok leaning back leisurely on the sofa. ¡°Yeah. You did really well. How long can you survive living so diligently like that?¡± Junghyeok snickered. Certainly, he had chosen Easy Mode. Its limitations were clearly distinct. Taeyeon and Junghyeok, the yers of Solo Mode, were really strong. The Hard Mode yers who came from outside also had power iparable to his. No matter how strong he got, there was a wall he could never catch up to. ¡°Power isn¡¯t everything.¡± One rule that existed from Earth. Power and position had no corrtion. He was ruling Easy Mode. There was a difference in power, but he had far more numbers. It was thew that the side with more voices won, so he nned to somehow use that as a basis. These people were for that purpose. If he could hold onto the other guys from Solo Mode, he could use them to his advantage. ¡°Scumbags.¡± Good people. But they were weak. So they had the privilege of being used by someone as clever as him. ¡°The future is bright.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± There was a loud explosion, along with a noise outside the door. Bang! ¡°Ah!¡± Junghyeok flinched and bent over. Dust spread out thickly in the air. ¡°What the!¡± A man with anguid face was standing at the door. A man with a grim expression. His lean muscles were visible. Junghyeok. A familiar face appeared. And there was another one that he missed in a different sense. A youthful face that was different from his memory. Her emotions were visibly changing on her face, maybe because she was still immature. Taeyeon was looking at him nkly, tied with chains. ¡®It¡¯s been a while.¡¯ They had spoken several times through the Community, but seeing her in person brought fresh emotions. For a moment, Taesan turned his gaze away from the girl. A young boy¡¯s face, nkly staring at him, just like her. ¡°You¡¯re Kang Junhyeok, right?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Yes¡­¡± Kang Junhyeok, who was tied in chains, hastily nodded. Their gaze was not towards Taesan but to his side. ¡°That is¡­¡± [Oh? It seems these guys can see me.] The ghost muttered at the sight of their gaze towards him. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter.¡± Step by step. Taesan moved forward. Startled for a moment, Junghyeok held back hisughter. ¡°I see. You¡¯re Kang Taesan, right?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Both Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok eximed. ¡®He¡¯s younger than I thought?¡¯ While Taeyeon was thinking to herself, Taesan silently stared back at Junghyeok. A chill went down his spine at the intense gaze, but Junghyeok tried his best to ignore it. He had hostages. Judging from the fact Taesan broke the door, he was definitely strong, but he couldn¡¯ty a hand on him. ¡°Hyung!¡± Junggeun, supporting Hwiyun, arrivedte. ¡°Ugh¡­ Junggeun, thank you.¡± Hwiyun staggered as she stood up. The girl who had been ring at Taesan momentarily bit her lip as she looked at Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok, who were tied up in chains, and at Junghyeok. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Seems everyone who needs to be here is here.¡± Junghyeok leaned against the couch with a nonchnt attitude. Hwiyeon spoke coldly. ¡°Enough is enough. If you cross this line further, I won¡¯t stay quiet.¡± ¡°What gives you the right?¡± Junghyeok instead retorted. ¡°Did I kill anyone? Did I do anything? I¡¯m just holding them back because we¡¯re all fighting each other. Why are you pressuring me so much?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Hwiyeon clenched her teeth. She had heard things too. Among the Easy Mode people she had saved, there were those who talked about Junghyeok. There were also mentions of the people he¡¯d taken care of without anyone knowing. But there was no evidence. If the opponent was a monster, she could easily deal with it, but with a human, she was at a loss. In the end, Hwiyeon gave up and asked calmly. ¡°What is it that you want?¡± ¡°What I want?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t dodge the question. You must want something, which is why you¡¯re causing such a ruckus.¡± At her cold words, Junghyeok smirked. ¡°Simple. Give me the authority.¡± ¡°To you, who¡¯s from Easy Mode?¡± ¡°I know you guys are strong. But has anyone here evermanded anyone before?¡± Hwiyun couldn¡¯t respond. As an ordinary college student, her experiencemanding people was limited to leading a group project. She obviously had never managed arge number of people before. ¡°I¡¯ve managed people many times.¡± ¡°There must be many people who can say the same.¡± ¡°Sure, there may be some among the Annyang people. But have they managed an entire mode like I have?¡± Junghyeok spoke confidently. ¡°I¡¯ve overseen both Earth and thebyrinth; that¡¯s what I¡¯m saying.¡± Hwiyeon couldn¡¯t find words to refute him when he put it like that. The fact was that he had managed the entirebyrinth in some way. ¡°I want one thing. My safety. And authority. Guarantee me these two. Then I¡¯ll release these people.¡± Junghyeok spoke leisurely, confident that his opponent would ept. They had killed monsters, not people. Regardless of how he appeared, he assumed they would only imprison him, not kill him. Hwiyeon couldn¡¯t reply. The still-young girl couldn¡¯t decide what was right. ¡°Can I decide this on my own¡­¡± ¡°If you, a Hard Mode person, can¡¯t decide, who will? Are you nning to leave it to those with flimsy power on Earth?¡± Hwiyun hesitated. She was still young. It was hard to respond when her opponent asserted so strongly. It seemed like she was about to agree. ¡°If they assure you, what happens next?¡± Taesan, who had been silent until now, spoke up. The interruption in the conversation made Junghyeok¡¯s face contort. ¡°Do you think that assurance will save your life? If we twist your neck off here, who will be shouting that a promise wasn¡¯t kept? Who will punish your killer?¡± Taesan spoke indifferently. ¡°You are mistaken.¡± Junghyeok thought he was smart. He oppressed people without respecting order orw. But he had forgotten that he himself wasn¡¯t protected by order orw. Taesan took a step forward. Junghyeok flinched at the advancing Taesan. Seeing the bottomless depths in Taesan¡¯s eyes, Junghyeok realized. That the man in front of him was not one who adhered to order orw like him. A creepy sensation washed over Junghyeok¡¯s body. ¡°Don¡¯te!¡± Taesan didn¡¯t answer. Seeing him approach slowly, Junghyeok quickly picked up his radio. He nned to tell those holding the hostages from afar to kill one. As he was about to speak, the sound of the wind splitting rang out. Crack. The radio in his hand was crushed by Taesan. ¡°What?¡± Taeyeon¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The fact that the radio ended up in Taesan¡¯s hand meant he had moved and taken it. But she hadn¡¯t seen anything. ¡°You, you brat!¡± Junghyeok gritted his teeth. He wasn¡¯t just bluffing with a single hostage. He pulled the lever. Rumble! With the sound of something copsing, iron bars fell from the ceiling. ¡°Die!¡± The massive iron bars fell, elerated by gravity. Taesan didn¡¯t avoid the iron bars that could crack the ground and bring down the building. The iron bars hit Taesan hard. [Taesan''s shield has been activated.] [0 damage to Taesan.] [0 damage to Taesan.] [0 damage to Taesan.] [0 damage to Taesan.] Kicking aside the fallen iron bars, Taesan moved forward again. ¡°Wha, what¡­¡± Junghyeok¡¯s mind froze at the system window that appeared in front of him. yers had defense stats, but not enough to withstand iron bars of that size. He had already tested it. Even those with a defense of 5 took nearly 20 damage. 0 damage? He took no damage at all? He couldn¡¯t hide his terror and screamed. ¡°Come out!¡± Crash! The doors inside the building opened, and people rushed in. More were waiting outside, swarming to surround the building. ¡°Why are there so many?¡± Junggeun, who had been watching in a daze, was horrified. Hundreds of people surrounded them. Junghyeok yelled harshly. ¡°Kill him!¡± Taesan watched the hundreds of people impassively. Chapter 59: Easy Mode, Choi Junghyeok (3) Before confronting those who were trying to kill him, Taesan grabbed the necks of Junggeun and Hwiyun. ¡°Eh?¡± Confused, Junggeun¡¯s body flew through the air. ¡°Whoa!¡± They were forcibly thrown to the rooftop of the building. Following them, Taesan brought Taeyeon and Junhyeok in the same way. Junhyeok, who had been dragged along, nkly stared at Taesan. ¡®How is he so fast?¡¯ He, too, had exceeded the human limit but couldn¡¯t see the process of being caught and moved to the rooftop. ¡°Stay here because you¡¯ll be in the way.¡± As Taesan was about to descend, Junggeun quickly grabbed him. ¡°Hold on. With that number, it could be dangerous. Even the minimum damage¡­¡± Junggeun, who was speaking, noticed something odd. ¡°Huh?¡± Taesan hadn¡¯t received any damage from the iron bars. Taesan drew his sword. ¡°Wai, wait.¡± Hwiyun spoke in a trembling voice. Her shaking eyes were directed at Taesan. ¡°I understand your concern.¡± Taesan calmly said. ¡°But you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Taesan returned to the ground again. Those surrounding him hesitated. ¡°What are you just looking at!¡± Junghyeok yelled harshly. ¡°Kill him!¡± The ones who arrived at the city hall were surprisingly idle. Since no special quest had started, they could only wait in silence. ¡°So boring¡­¡± ¡°Does the inte work?¡± While they were trying to alleviate their boredom, amotion arose outside. The noise of hundreds of people gathering and making a fuss could be heard. ¡°Is there a speech or something?¡± The bored group huddled together. Among the crowd, they saw hundreds of armed individuals surrounding one man. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Are they fighting?¡± They whispered cautiously among themselves. Some of them recognized the face of Junghyeok among the crowd. ¡°What the hell is that guy doing?¡± With a mixture of confusion and surprise, more and more people started gathering. Amid thousands of stares fixed on him, Junghyeok twisted his lips. ¡°Rather, it¡¯s good.¡± No matter how strong the opponent was, with this many people, there was no way they could lose. If so, he could use this opportunity to shift to a regime of fear. If he showed that anyone who opposed him would be trampled by hundreds of people, everyone would follow his words. That was his thought. Taesan could also see this through Junghyeok¡¯s face. It was not wrong. If it was Taeyeon or Junhyeok, they would have had a hard time against those numbers. They might even lose. ¡®But I¡¯m not them.¡¯ Taesan drew his sword. Junghyeok shouted. ¡°Kill him!¡± ¡°Whaaa!¡± He looked indifferently at the people rushing at him while screaming. The ghost grinned. [Are they really trying to attack you at that speed?] They were too slow. Moving at the speed of ordinary humans, they seemed to be standing still. When they got close, Taesan moved his hand. His hand disappeared for a moment, and when it reappeared, numerous system windows appeared along with it. ¡°Ack!¡± ¡°Ah! [Do Munjun takes 50 damage.] [Seojun takes 36 damage.] [Doyun takes 54 damage.] [Siwoo takes 33 damage.] ¡°What, what?¡± Everyone was appalled by the shocking damage. For them, who were in Easy Mode, where the damage had not even reached double digits, it was an outrageous number. Taesan casually moved his sword again. Everyone nearby was cut down and fell. ¡°Ah¡­¡± In a matter of seconds, several lives were lost without any response. Junghyeok, who had been stuttering, shouted out. ¡°Murderer!¡± Those who were disturbed by the sudden death also echoed. ¡°Murderer!¡± ¡°Mass murderer!¡± In the face of hundreds of criticisms, Taesan calmly lifted his sword. ¡°So what?¡± To kill someone. His emotions had gone through much worse to be hurt by such an act. After witnessing the extinction of mankind and the deaths of everyone he knew, the death of a person held no significant meaning for him. And these hundreds of people were the aplices of Junghyeok, who had also killed humans without hesitation. There was no reason to show mercy. Taesan nted his foot. People thought his figure had disappeared for a moment. When he reappeared, he was behind them. Swoosh! With innumerable damage points, people fell without even a chance to scream. Facing Taesan, who was looking at them indifferently, people charged with screams and shouts. Taesan didn¡¯t dodge their attacks. He just cut and stabbed those who attacked him. A spear hit Taesan¡¯s chest. The attacker¡¯s face lit up. [Kang Taesan''s Block has been activated.] [Kang Taesan takes 0 damage.] ¡°Ugh, Ack.¡± Taesan swung his sword, cutting them down. Numerous spears and des touched Taesan, but no damage was done. Junghyeok, who had been watching, spat out a curse. ¡°There should be at least 1! Why isn¡¯t there any?¡± No matter how high the defense was, there was a minimum damage value. If hundreds of people hit him just once, hundreds of points of damage should have been done, and it could have been a threat. But Taesan had a blocking skill that eliminated damage below a certain level. There was no way for them to inflict damage on Taesan. Thud. Again, dozens of people fell. The ghost sighed. [Is this all they can do? It''s frustrating.] ¡°Isn¡¯t it already over?¡± With a casual response, Taesan nted his foot again. ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t see¡­¡± Bang! With a loud noise, the ground was shattered. Those watching doubted their eyes at a power that created a crater. Taesan began to kill each person around him one by one. He grabbed the neck of a disagreeable-looking man. The man¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± Taesan didn¡¯t listen and snapped his neck. He was the man who had been loudly chatting next to Junghyeok like an aide and had killed hundreds of people. There was no reason to spare him. ¡°This is a nightmare!¡± Junghyeok yelled in denial. Hundreds of people were being wiped out by just one person. And it wasn¡¯t a guerri-like tactic but a pure fight of strength. They couldn¡¯t keep up with his movements, couldn¡¯t block his attacks, yet their own attacks were perfectly blocked. ¡°Shoot arrows! Throws! Use potions!¡± They somehow followed suit in response to his desperate cries, but it was meaningless. The arrows were deflected weakly, and the was torn like a spider¡¯s web. He would break through with force even if they tried to block his way by consuming strengthening potions. The expressions of those who had been admiring and watching from the surroundings gradually hardened. They hesitated, distancing themselves, their faces filled with fear. If they were at that level, there was nothing to say about those who were participating in the battle. Taesan dusted off his sword. ¡°Are you going to do more?¡± By now, almost half of the people were dead. Hundreds had died in just a few minutes. ¡°Ah, ahhhhhh!¡± With a scream, they ran away. Whether that was the starting point or not, people disappeared into the stampeding crowd. He didn¡¯t bother chasing them. After all, they were as shaky as a day-old fawn. Chasing them to kill them would be a waste of time. He walked over to Junghyeok, who was dumbfounded and sitting down and grabbed his head. ¡°The dream is over.¡± ¡°I¡­ I-.¡± Everything he had built up so far was smashed by just one person. ¡°Why, why does someone like you exist!?¡± A cry filled with despair echoed through the air. Taesan responded to coldly Junghyeok¡¯s hatred-filled re. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that before.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°And they died like this. Goodbye.¡± Junghyeok¡¯s body fell. It was an incredibly pitiful death for a man who had once ruled Easy Mode. It hadn¡¯t been this simple in Easy Mode. Back then, Taesan was just an ordinary yer, and Junghyeok was the one who ruled Easy Mode. Avoiding them, using guerri tactics, and descending into the maze, Taesan was able to win after several months of battle as he grew stronger. But now, the difference in stats was so great that he could finish him off in one shot. Taesan nonchntly retracted his hand and looked around. Those who met his gaze shivered. After briefly watching them turn their desperate eyes away, he climbed back up to the tform. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Yes¡­¡­¡± Taeyeon answered nkly. Hwiyun bit her lip. ¡°You¡­¡­..¡± Her eyes, having seen the corpses, were shaking endlessly. From her perspective, she wouldn¡¯t be able to ept the fact that people kill each other. As the difficulty level of Hard Mode was high, the atmosphere tended to be more of mutual support. However, she would have to get used to it. ¡°From now on, this kind of thing will happen often. You can¡¯t move forward if you¡¯re tied to one or two things.¡± Taeyeon and Junhyeok were still dazed. It seemed that a little more time was needed to have a proper conversation. ¡°Just take a rest for now.¡± Taesan looked down at the people. The gaze directed at him was that of one looking at a murderer. ¡°You might have a bit of a headache.¡± In the vast park, Taesan stood alone next to a tree. Junggeun approached him. ¡°You look lonely.¡± ¡°I prefer it this way.¡± Taesan responded in a deep voice. ¡°No one bothers to ask me to teach them something. This side is better. How about you? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Well, you saved my life, so I shouldn¡¯t dwell on such things.¡± Junggeun casually shrugged. It was not just his words; he genuinely didn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°Besides, I roughly know what kind of people they are.¡± ¡°What about Taeyeon and Junhyeok?¡± ¡°They¡¯re resting now. They said they woulde soon.¡± ¡°Tell them to take their time.¡± Taeyeon, in particr, was emotionally weak. The numerous corpses she had seen could have weighed heavily on her mind. ¡°Hyung.¡± Junggeun asked with a worried face. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Taesan, in turn, asked back. Junggeun lowered his head as if he realized it was a pointless question. ¡°You look fine. If it were me, I would be quite shaken¡­ Is it because of Solo Mode?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not rted.¡± He was fine because of umted experience, but he couldn¡¯t mention that. Junggeun, who had been curiously looking at him, soon opened his mouth with a serious face. ¡°¡­Brother. But you might be in trouble. Right now, Hwiyun and the others are discussing you¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± Taesan cut off Junggeun¡¯s words indifferently. Ordinary words from numerous people. They couldn¡¯t stir any feelings in Taesan. ¡°And soon they won¡¯t be able to make a racket.¡± It was about time for the special quest to begin. ¡°We can¡¯t just sit idle!¡± A middle-aged man harshly mmed the table. His face, with a strong impression, looked stubborn. ¡°We must punish that man!¡± Hwiyun pressed her forehead. She sighed deeply. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have called them.¡¯ Hundreds of people had died, not by monsters, but by their own kind. In the chaos, Hwiyun tried to cope somehow. She needed people to discuss the matter, so she called representatives from the National Assembly or civil organizations. Now, she was deeply regretting her decision. ¡°He killed people.¡± A woman with a stern look spoke. Back when Earth was fine, she was a representative of a civil organization and received quite a lot of respect. ¡°We must punish him byw.¡± ¡°Yes. No matter how the situation is, there are things that we must preserve to remain human.¡± ¡°Punish him?¡± Hwiyun sneered with a bitterugh. ¡°Are you saying we should punish him, who can single-handedly deal with hundreds of yers, and who I myself can¡¯t even handle?¡± ¡°Yes. Even if the monsters are terrifying, we need to establish order.¡± Faced with their insistence that this was the natural course of action, Hwiyun felt dizzy. She scrambled to convince them. ¡°Firstly, the instigator of the fight was Choi Junghyeok. He was the one who started it. He held the yers of Solo Mode as hostages.¡± While it was shocking that people had died, fundamentally, Taesan did nothing wrong. He was attacked and merely fought back. Perhaps this would have been wrong in the past, but in the current situation, it was exceedingly natural. Still, the congressman shook his head firmly. ¡°But what he did was a private punishment. It was an excessive response. He must be punished.¡± Private punishment. To utter such words in a situation where there was no official existence. Hwiyun couldn¡¯t help but let out a hollowugh. The representative of the civil organization quietly said. ¡°You said he¡¯s a university student? Then he might not understand well. If a world where brutes with power can act as they please, our world wouldn¡¯t have been maintained. We suppressed such people withw.¡± ¡°¡­But that world has crumbled now.¡± ¡°We have to rebuild it. Are you nning to live like animals?¡± Annoyed by the words as if she was soothing a child, Hwiyun felt a surge of irritation. Those who talked with her were congressmen, representatives of civil organizations, and the like. They were people with many followers. Even when they entered the maze, they naturally had many followers. They were so-called baby birds who didn¡¯t enter the maze and only hoarded the food their followers brought to them under their protection and help. Because of this, they didn¡¯t understand the current situation. The monsters were powerful. No matter how hard they fought, they could never return to the previous world. And yet, they mentioned Earth¡¯sws and talked about punishing Taesan, who was nothing less than their hope. If they were to punish him, who would do it? If Taesan got angry and attacked them, who would stop him? Who could handle the power of such an absolute being? They had no such thoughts at all. They just wanted to regain the power they once had. Hwiyun closed her eyes at the desire visible in their eyes. ¡®Did Mr. Taesan see me like this?¡¯ She opened her mouth, thinking anew that he had somehow spared her. [Start of Special Quest£Ý [The first wave starts.] A quest window appeared in front of them. Chapter 60: First Return, First Wave (1) [Start of Special Quest£Ý [The first wave begins.£Ý [Countdown begins: 12 hours.£Ý [Defense area: In all four directions from the City Hall.£Ý [Defeat all enemies and protect the City Hall.£Ý [ording to your achievements, rewards will be given differentially when returning to the maze.] The quest engulfed them. They had no choice but to stop their noisy debate about Taesan¡¯s punishment. For Hwiyun, it was a great relief. It meant they didn¡¯t have to argue noisily anymore. However, she soon realized it wasn¡¯t as happy an event as she thought. People terrified by fear came to her. ¡°How should we deal with the monstersing?¡± ¡°I, I am on Easy Mode, so I¡¯ll wait inside.¡± ¡°Me too!¡± Those who feared the battle tried to flee. Those who tried to take control amidst this chaos. Those who refused to fight and wanted to wait inside until everything was over. Countless people loudly voiced their desires. Hwiyun clenched her teeth and spoke to each of them. ¡°Everyone, please be quiet!¡± A moment of silence followed her loud voice. She rubbed her forehead. The congressman and the representative of the civil organization, who spoke as if they knew everything, had long since hidden themselves as if not wanting to take responsibility. ¡®In the end, am I the one who has to take control?¡¯ With a hollowugh, she gave orders methodically. From a park far away, Taesan watched the scene. ¡®They¡¯ll handle it on their own.¡¯ He could not help. If he intervened, it would only increase the fear and confusion about him. She had sessfully takenmand before and would do the same this time. He turned his head. ¡°Are you here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A young boy calmly answered. Next to the boy, a mature-looking woman showed restraint. Lee Taeyeon. And Kang Junhyeok. Taesan quietly observed their faces. He hadn¡¯t been able to take a good look earlier as he was dealing with Choi Junghyeok. Kang Junhyeok was still young. He just turned seventeen, a face that matched his age perfectly. His overall impression was that of gentleness. And Lee Taeyeon. Taesan looked at her silently. There was an air of youthfulness about her. It wasn¡¯t about wrinkles on the face. Their time was stopped, so her biological age would be the same as it was at the end. It was more about the atmosphere. The haggard look and tired decadence of before were gone; she was simply youthful. ¡°Oh¡­¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon scratched her head at the gaze directed at her. Kang Junhyeok gave an awkward smile. ¡°Hello, hyung.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°This is the first time seeing you in person. Thanks for everything.¡± ¡°Are you thanking a murderer?¡± ¡°You had to do that to save us.¡± Kang Junhyeok shrugged his shoulders. ¡°At this point, after living in that ce, I¡¯m not sensitive to people dying.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem that way when I look at the person behind you.¡± Lee Taeyeon showed signs of being scared of Taesan. Kang Junhyeok gave a bitter smile. ¡°It varies from person to person.¡± He had made a rough guess from the Community chats, but Kang Junhyeok was mentally strong as expected. As for Lee Taeyeon, it was not surprising. She was closer to being a coward. ¡°Are the hostages safe?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks to you, they were all terrified and ran away.¡± With admiring eyes, Kang Junhyeok looked at Taesan. He was indeed monstrously strong. Junhyeok had expected Taesan to be somewhat strong from the stories he had heard. Still, he never imagined it would be to this extent. Taesan shrugged his shoulders. ¡°So, what about it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You two would have had some discussions, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Kang Junhyeok smirked. ¡°You knew.¡± ¡°What you two would discuss is obvious.¡± Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon. They had met and talked about various things, most of which were about Taesan. What he looked like, what kind of person he was. That sort of thing. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°¡­You look younger than I thought.¡± A person who had been through all sorts of hardships, who had seen everything. They thought he would be over 30, but he looked to be in his mid-twenties at most. ¡°Is your age¡­¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m twenty-five.¡± ¡°I guess we¡¯re the same age.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon¡¯s voice seemed filled with wonder. Despite being the same age, there was such a big difference between them. It was natural to be curious about Taesan¡¯s past. ¡°Can I ask what you did on Earth?¡± ¡°Just working. What else would I do?¡± ¡°By ¡®work¡¯, do you mean tracking people and stuff like that?¡± Taesan gave a chuckle. ¡°Just ordinary work.¡± As Taesan seemed very ordinary, perhaps that was why the tension was eased, and Junggeun sighed in relief. ¡°Phew. Honestly, I thought you could be a strange person; I¡¯m relieved.¡± It wasmon for a unique individual to be considered strange in fiction and reality, so they had to worry. There was also a fear that he might kill them if they got in his way. With a weight off his mind, he thanked him once more. ¡°Thank you again.¡± ¡°Me, me too.¡± ¡°No need for thanks.¡± Taesan looked back at Lee Taeyeon again. She flinched and trembled. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t respond. An item that turned back time. The Throne of Ouroboros. Did she not use it, or could she not use it? The current her would not be able to answer that question. Time in thebyrinth was enough topletely change a person, and she herself might not know how she changed. Still, seeing her again wasn¡¯t so bad. Taesan spoke. ¡°I¡¯m d to meet you.¡± Their encounter was over. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok realized that Taesan was more normal than they had thought, which brightened their expressions. They started making small talk. ¡°So, how was it meeting people from the other modes?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t anything special. As expected, it seems that our mode is the hardest.¡± Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok had conversations with the yers they met while moving toward city hall. As they exined the difficulty, they received responses akin to incredulity. ¡°A Big Rat. They say it¡¯s a 5th-floor boss in Easy Mode? Why is it jumping out on the 1st floor for us?¡± When Kang Junhyeok learned of this, he was truly dumbfounded. The basic monsters in this mode were bosses on the 5th floor in the other. He knew there would be differences, but he never imagined they would be this drastic. ¡°Sucks, doesn¡¯t it? But what can you do when you choose Solo Mode?¡± Junhyeok trembled. Taesan chuckled and said. ¡°But don¡¯t regret it. It¡¯s thanks to that we¡¯re able to survive like this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, well¡­ huh.¡± Evenpared to Easy or Normal Mode, they defeated monsters the other yers couldn¡¯t dare to fight against without a problem. Their efforts were proven not to be in vain, and the evidence was right before their eyes. Kang Junhyeok looked nkly up at Taesan. He was incredibly strong. The difference was unbelievable, considering they must have entered thebyrinth around the same time. He could rush up to the top of a building in a single breath, and attack dozens at an unseen speed. Moreover, Taesan hadn¡¯t used any of the skills he mentioned. He had aplished everything solely with the power of his stats. Kang Junhyeok thought himself to be strong. In Solo Mode, the only one who couldpare with him was Lee Taeyeon, and since they hade outside, everyone else seemed to be weak, reinforcing this belief. But Taesan demonstrated his power as if scoffing at Junhyeok¡¯s thoughts. ¡®Can I catch up to him?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t get a grasp on Taesan¡¯s power. Lee Taeyeon was feeling a simr emotion. The fact that they were the same age made it even worse. She even felt a sense of self-loathing, questioning what she had been doing while he became so strong. ¡°You just need to survive.¡± As if guessing their thoughts, Taesan stood up and said. ¡°As long as you survive, you can be strong. Solo Mode is such a ce.¡± He stood in front of Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok. ¡°How far have you reached?¡± ¡°I just cleared the 2nd floor.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Recalling her memory, Lee Taeyeon shivered. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t heard from Taesan in advance, I would have died.¡± The 2nd-floor boss was a goblin that used magic. It was a monster that suddenly attacked the mind, rendering any countermeasure impossible. They were fortunate to have heard from Taesan in advance and prepared a mental potion. Otherwise, they would have be corpses decaying in thebyrinth. As he was recollecting his memories, Kang Junhyeok suddenly asked a question. ¡°Ah, there¡¯s an orange door on the 2nd floor; what is that? I wanted to go in but remembered what you said and desperately held back.¡± ¡°It leads here.¡± Taesan pointed to the ghost next to him. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok fell silent. ¡°So, it wasn¡¯t an illusion¡­¡± A typical ghost wearing a white cloth over its head greeted them. [Hello, idiots.] ¡°It even speaks.¡± The dumbfounded Junhyeok asked. ¡°Is it some kind of quest?¡± ¡°Correct. There are two monsters waiting inside that use skills.¡± [Don''t be arrogant since you can''t even touch me. I don''t intend to give you guys any quests.] At that cold response, Junhyeok timidly answered. ¡°But we wouldn¡¯t know unless we tried.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem.¡± Taesan reached out his hand into thin air and grabbed a sword. ¡°Brother?¡± ¡°Draw your sword, Lee Taeyeon. You too.¡± ¡°Me?¡± The previously quiet Lee Taeyeon was startled. To their surprise, Taesan spoke. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of giving you some training.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ bro, are you serious?¡± Junhyeok hesitated with his sword in hand. Across from him stood Taesan. ¡°Are we really fighting?¡± ¡°I told you, it¡¯s training.¡± Taesan pointed at Kang Junhyeok with the tip of his sword. ¡°You¡¯re too daring.¡± There was strong confidence in the boy. When an unknown territory came into sight, his first instinct was to try it and not be dominated by fear. At Taesan¡¯s words, Junhyeok replied timidly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad. Challenging things is an important element. But recognizing your limits is also crucial. You seem to have none of that control.¡± Taesan calmly said. ¡°Speaking objectively, you¡¯re close to the weakest in Solo. There were signs of denial in his response. Since this was expected, Taesan continued undisturbed. ¡°You probably think you¡¯re quite strong. And if you take people as a standard, you¡¯re right. Apart from me, there are only a few who couldpare to you. But it¡¯s different inside thebyrinth. Ainzhar. You met that guy, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes, I did.¡± Ainzhar. The holy knight, in search of a god, had deemed Kang Junhyeok worthless and gave him nothing. ¡°That¡¯s you in Solo mode.¡± At his cold words, Kang Junhyeok¡¯s face twitched. Taesan turned his gaze to Lee Taeyeon. She trembled slightly. ¡°And you are too fearful. Of course, it¡¯s good. Because of that, you can survive till the end. But it¡¯s better to gain as much as you can. If you leave everything behind, someday you will regret it.¡± Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon. They hadpletely opposing tendencies. Lee Taeyeon calmly asked. ¡°¡­¡­So we should challenge things?¡± ¡°Exactly. I don¡¯t want to see you two merely spectating.¡± Kang Junhyeok, if he continues this way, would surely die. Taesan had no intention of seeing that happen. ¡°I can¡¯t give you the answer to a question with no definitive solution, but at least I can let you know where you stand.¡± There were twelve hours left until the wave. There was plenty of time. [Duel request. This duel will be conducted on equal terms.] ¡°Wh, what?¡± Taesan swung his sword. ¡°Come on.¡± Chapter 61: First Return, First Wave (2) ¡°A duel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a basic skill. You should be able to use it too.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t among the skills¡­¡­¡± ¡°There are a few skills not listed. Duel is one of them.¡± ¡°You seem to know everything.¡± Kang Junhyeok muttered in awe. Lee Taeyeon tilted her head. ¡°What kind of skill is it?¡± ¡°A skill that allows two yers topete. Except for the two, no one else can interfere. It can only be epted if the other party agrees.¡± Taesan pointed at Kang Junhyeok with the tip of his sword. ¡°In other words, if you ept, a fight will take ce just between us.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Kang Junhyeok backed away with a trembling face. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be meaningless for me to fight with you?¡± The difference in their stats was too significant. He couldn¡¯t even keep up with Kang Taesan¡¯s movements, let alone learn anything from a fight in his current state. ¡°That¡¯s why there¡¯s a following statement, right?¡± Taesan lightly said. ¡°The duel will take ce on equal terms. The stats, attack power, and defense power; all of it will be adjusted to the lower party. In this fight, you and I are equal.¡± ¡°What about the skills?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t use any activated skills.¡± The conditions were almost identical, though not perfect. The only differences would be experience and proficiency. ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to refuse. ept.¡± ¡°Fine, I ept.¡± Kang Junhyeok epted with shining eyes. [Duel established.] [Kang Junhyeok and Kang Taesan start the duel.] ¡°But can you die from this?¡± ¡°In a regr duel, yes, but this is a conditional duel. You won¡¯t die even if you run out of health.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Kang Junhyeok steadied his breathing and drew his sword. He took a stance and stared at Taesan. ¡®If the stats are the same, I have a good chance of winning.¡¯ Taesan was as strong as a monster. Not just because he had higher stats and more skills, he likely had good sense and movement. However, that wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. Or rather, Junhyeok thought he himself was quite capable. His confidence had grown stronger as he made his way through thebyrinth. He intended to prove to Taesan through this duel that he was not weak, that he was strong enough. Kang Junhyeok saw this as a sort of opportunity, and this thought was evident on his face. Seeing the excited look on Kang Junhyeok¡¯s face, Taesan chuckled inwardly. ¡°I¡¯ll make my move.¡± While Lee Taeyeon was watching nkly, Kang Junhyeok charged confidently. He quickly swung his sword down. His movements were pretty good. He wouldn¡¯t lose to a yer of simr stats at this rate. Taesan moved his sword. ng. Their sword tips collided, and Taesan flicked his wrist. Taesan¡¯s sword smoothly grazed Kang Junhyeok¡¯s de and brushed past it. A mark was drawn on Kang Junhyeok¡¯s forearm. [8 damage to Kang Junhyeok.] ¡°Eh?¡± Kang Junhyeok paused. He looked down at his forearm. There was a fairly deep wound, and blood was trickling down. ¡°Wha, what?¡± ¡°We continue.¡± Taesan moved his sword. Kang Junhyeok, who had been standing dumbfounded, hastily blocked. Their sword des collided. Taesan pulled his wrist back, and their sword des parted. The moment his swordpletely cleared the other, he stabbed immediately. Thud. Kang Junhyeok¡¯s shoulder was pierced. ¡°Won¡¯t you block?¡± Taesan spokenguidly while moving his body. Kang Junhyeok¡¯s expression hardened. He gritted his teeth, focusing his senses to defend himself. ng. But he couldn¡¯t block. Like a living creature, the sword ignored Kang Junhyeok¡¯s defense and cut through. In an instant,rge and small wounds appeared all over his body. ¡°What, what the¡­¡± Kang Junhyeok couldn¡¯t ept it. Their stats were equal. The first attack was blocked without any problems. But he couldn¡¯t block any attacks after that. Even if he focused and tried to block, the sword de was already cutting through his flesh. ¡°Why is there such a difference¡­¡± ¡°Stats and skills are not everything.¡± Taesan shed in a diagonal line, and Kang Junhyeok blocked hastily. The moment the des collided, Taesan lowered his stance and plunged toward Kang Junhyeok¡¯s lower body. As his body moved, the sword smoothly grazed past Kang Junhyeok¡¯s de and cut through his thigh. ¡°You¡¯re weak.¡± Kang Junhyeok gritted his teeth. The moment he tried to kick Taesan, his knee was stomped down to block it. The moment he tried to forcefully swing his arm to strike Taesan, his forearm was grabbed and suppressed. He was pushed down just like that. Taesan brought down his sword. Crash. It struck right next to Kang Junhyeok¡¯s face on the ground. As Taesan pulled out his sword, he spokenguidly. ¡°Sensitivity, judgment capability, the method to exploit momentary weaknesses. Such physical factors cause a great difference. You¡¯re not weak, but you¡¯re still too inadequate. You¡¯re not at a level to survive in Solo Mode. Moreover, you¡¯re not properly controlling your stats, right?¡± They obtained an inhuman strength called stats. They gained the power to smash the earth and blow up the sea without any hard training. Since it was not something they had made their own through training, they couldn¡¯t help but be inexperienced in the transmission of strength and movement. It was possible to perfectly control the body only through endless physical training, but Kang Junhyeok did not appear to have undergone any particr training. ¡°Still, can such a difference exist just because of that¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just because of that. It¡¯s a huge difference.¡± Taesan kicked Kang Junhyeok. The boy let out a gasping sound and clutched his stomach. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet. Stand up.¡± With a flushed face, Kang Junhyeok grasped his sword. Thus, thirty minutester, a worn-out Kang Junhyeok copsed. [Victory of Kang Taesan.] ¡°You¡¯re starting to get the feel, right? What level you are at?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m frustratingly aware.¡± Kang Junhyeok spits out his response with an exhausted voice. He didn¡¯t even manage to inflict a single point of damage. All of his attacks were blocked, and he took all of Taesan¡¯s attacks. His confidence was shattered, giving rise to a sense of self-abasement. ¡°Evenpared to the Named Ones in thebyrinth, I¡¯m not exceptionally outstanding.¡± Taesan said this as his victories against them were based on skills and information; he couldn¡¯t overpower them with just his movements. ¡°Confidence is good. But keep your limits. At your current state, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to get through the trials of Lakiratas on the second floor, let alone get through the ce where this guy is waiting.¡± Looking at oneself objectively was a must for survival. Kang Junhyeok was done. Taesan pointed to Lee Taeyeon. The woman who had been watching in a daze was startled. ¡°Wow.¡± She looked dismayed, hesitated, and then approached. [Duel Request. This duel will be conducted on equal terms.] [Duel begins.] [The duel between Lee Taeyeon and Kang Taesan begins.] ¡°I-I don¡¯t need to do it. I already know I¡¯m weak, so I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll cross the line.¡± ¡°You have a different problem. Youck confidence.¡± Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok had simr skills, but they hadpletely opposite problems. Lee Taeyeon was a coward. This was an undeniable truth. Thanks to this, she managed to survive till the end, but on the flip side, she had given up everything she could possibly achieve. Her personality suppressed her potential. Taesan approached her and brought down his sword. Lee Taeyeon screamed and blocked it. ¡°Try to counter.¡± ¡°Hee-heek!¡± She randomly moved to block Taesan¡¯s sword. Her face showed no trace ofposure, but her movements were efficient. She would have been pierced and hit if there was even a slight disruption, but somehow she managed to block it. Taesan lunged forward and reached out. Lee Taeyeon let out a scream-like kihap (a martial arts shout), struck his hand away, and punched. Taesan caught her wrist and threw her as is. ¡°Ugh.¡± Looking at her sprawled on the ground, Taesan twisted his wrist. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Wow.¡± Lee Taeyeon dusted herself off and wobbled. She looked down at her hand with a strange expression. She pulled off a move she thought she couldn¡¯t do. ¡°You¡¯re not as weak as you think.¡± She wouldn¡¯t have cleared the challenge if she were merely a coward. She had the potential to be stronger than she was before. ¡°Of course, confidence is good, but you can¡¯t be too bold. If it feels wrong intuitively, you need to pull out immediately. There¡¯s no right answer.¡± Even Taesan had to rely on his senses in his all-in mode, where he gambled on probabilities. What he taught was how to increase their chances of survival and how to be stronger. After a general lesson, Taesan began to share information. ¡°You guys don¡¯t have Guard or Counter yet, right? It might not have been feasible until now, but it¡¯s good to learn now. Depending on how you use it, these are skills you could use until the end¡­¡± He taught them how to survive along with the necessary skills. He shared basic information. He didn¡¯t give a perfect countermeasure but gave basic hints. Both Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon listened with serious expressions. ¡°That¡¯s it for now. You can share it with the others.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Thank you.¡± Kang Junhyeok expressed his gratitude with a serious look. ¡°I¡¯ll hear that after we¡¯ve survived to the end. Both you and Lee Taeyeon. Don¡¯t die.¡± His words wereposed but serious. Both looked up at Taesan with slightly emotional faces. Taesan flinched. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that your words were warmer than I expected¡­ I thought you were a very cold person.¡± ¡°Do you think a cold-hearted person would be so generous with information?¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Kang Junhyeok scratched his head. His perception was drawn from Taesan¡¯s usual tone and indifferent attitude, not from the information given. And this was something Taesan was not aware of. To him, all of them were already dead. And most of them were bound to die. No matter how hard he tried to save them, it didn¡¯t change. yers in Easy and Normal Modes died in the aftermath of fights. It was an unconscious attitude to avoid attaching emotions from the start. Lee Taeyeon changed the subject. ¡°But, what¡¯s happening inside there now?¡± Already six hours had passed. In six hours, the Wave was set to begin. ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll know when we get there.¡± Taesan casually stood up. ¡°Hoo.¡± Kim Hwiyyn massaged her head as if she had a headache. Given the importance of her role, she was given a single room, but she wished she could just let it all go. ¡°This is driving me crazy¡­ ¡°What happened?¡± At the voiceing from behind her, she hastily distanced herself. She swallowed and smiled. ¡°When did youe in?¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to keep the windows closed. If your stats are high, you can just break in.¡± Taesan stood by the window, looking at her. ¡°I see.¡± Hwiyun muttered quietly. She found Taesan¡¯s presence to be slightly ufortable. She knew they were not enemies, and he was not a bad person, but his indifferent attitude and the way he killed people calmly made her slightly scared. She hid her emotions and opened her mouth. This attitude was visible to Taesan¡¯s eyes, but he didn¡¯t point it out. ¡°First, as they¡¯reing from four directions, we n to distribute our forces ordingly. There were people who resisted and questioned why they should do so, but what could we do? In the end, theyplied.¡± ¡°To block them from inside?¡± ¡°No.¡± Hwiyun shook her head. ¡°We think it¡¯s best to block them from the outside, so we¡¯ll move out before the quest starts.¡± Wave. They didn¡¯t know what it was, but they inferred it meant enemies would attack. The city hall interior was too cramped for a hundred thousand people to move about. The idea was to move outside and deal with it in a broader space. And that was the right answer. Hwiyun had used this formation in the previous world. Thanks to this, quite a few people survived. ¡®About twenty thousand people survived, I guess.¡¯ That was a decent survival rate. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll handle one direction.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I can manage it. Redirect those people elsewhere.¡± ¡°Oh, are¡­ are you sure?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say it if I wasn¡¯t.¡± Aplicated emotion crossed Hwiyun¡¯s face for a moment. She quietly nodded. ¡°Thank you¡­ really, thank you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet back here alive first.¡± Time passed. People waited in silence. There were those biting their lips, gnawing at their fingernails. Some were panicking, but they were quickly subdued. And so, six hours passed. The monsters showed themselves. Looking at them approaching from the edge of his sight, Taesan grasped his sword. Chapter 62: First Return, First Wave (3) [Special Quest Begins] [Defeat the enemies and survive.] Monsters appeared from all four directions. At the same time, a colorless curtain fell from the sky with a thunderous noise. Koogooong! It blocked each of the four directions from interfering with each other. Taesan slowly approached and struck it. Zzeoeoeong! The vibration spread along the colorless wall, and the wall remained unscathed. ¡°Is it invincible even with these stats?¡± The curtain was a warning not to interfere with the other directions. After testing it for a moment, Taesan turned his gaze to the monsters. Guroog. Guroog. A number of monsters revealed themselves. If Taesan¡¯s memory served him right, there should be a hundred F-rank monsters. He calmly raised his sword. Contrary to theposed Taesan, screams of terror erupted elsewhere. ¡°Aaaah!¡± ¡°Save me!¡± They came out somewhat prepared, but there were too many monsters. Confronted by what seemed like triple-digit numbers of monsters, people panicked and tried to enter the city hall. ¡°What the!¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t we go in!¡± However, a transparent curtain also blocked the path leading to the inside of the city hall. While they were flustered by this, the monsters had reached near them. In all three directions, approximately 30,000 people panicked and iled around in terror. Hwiyun desperately tried to reassure them. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared! They can¡¯t kill you!¡± She tried to calm people down but to no avail. They were running about frantically, trying to escape in a space from which escape was impossible. ¡°Damn it.¡± Hwiyun gritted her teeth and charged at the monsters. If there were people of a simr level to her, it would have been a bit easier, but both Junggeun and Taeyeon had gone to assist in different directions. She stopped a monster with giant tentacles from striking a man¡¯s head and counterattacked. Guroog. She blocks the iling tentacles. She was pushed back little by little due to the difference in strength, but she covered this difference with skills and quick movements. [7 damage to Monster 5446654451.] Guroog. She barely managed to take down one monster. But she couldn¡¯t stop all the monsters. One monster attacked a man. A young man, sensing death, screamed like a woman. ¡°Aaaah!¡± [7 damage to Jeong Junyong.] ¡°Ah¡­huh?¡± The young man who got hit had a surprised look in his eyes. Hwiyun, facing one monster, shouted. ¡°The monsters aren¡¯t that strong! If you¡¯re a little careful, you can survive! We have to fight!¡± People had given up on fighting due to their fear of the monsters¡¯ horrific appearances, but the monsters themselves were only as strong as beginner-level monsters and weren¡¯t that powerful. At this point, both Junggeun and Hwiyun could easily handle them. Their attack power wasn¡¯t high, and their speed and strength weren¡¯t too overwhelming. Their basic health was 100. They wouldn¡¯t die even if they were hit more than ten times by a monster. Those who had been running away began to realize this. ¡°They said rewards would be given based on performance.¡± ¡°So, can¡¯t we just give it a try?¡± Little by little, greed began to spread. They began to step forward and fight. They stabbed at the monster¡¯s neck and pounded it with their gauntlet. Those who got hit ran off to gulp down health potions before returning to the fight. Hwiyun smiled bitterly, thinking how easy it was to understand them. But it wasn¡¯t bad. There were only a few like her, those on Hard Mode, who were fighting furiously. However, they were outnumbered and were being pushed back, so this change was a wee relief. The same was true elsewhere. Once people in the area Junggeun was responsible for realized the monsters¡¯ attack power was low, they rushed in. It was simr in the areas Junhyeok and Taeyeon were in charge of. ¡°Cling onto them!¡± ¡°Kill them!¡± Junhyeok whistled at the sight of people charging in of their own ord. ¡°This is easy.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Taeyeon replied as she moved her hand. A monster¡¯s neck was split into a triangr shape. Those fighting alongside her couldn¡¯t hide their astonishment. ¡°You¡¯re as strong as a monster¡­¡± The man who muttered this was a rtively high-ranking yer in Hard Mode. He wasn¡¯t at the level of Junggeun or Hwiyun, but he was capable enough to handle a monster on his own. He considered himself quite strong. He believed that even Hwiyun and Junggeun wouldn¡¯t find it easy to defeat him. But the two from Solo Mode were stronger than him. This was a great shock to him, who had been dismissive of Solo Mode. Junhyeokughed sarcastically. ¡°We¡¯re not that strong.¡± ¡°What the¡­¡± The man who was about to say, ¡®Aren¡¯t you strong¡¯ closed his mouth. ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s a real monster here.¡± Taeyeon looked beyond the barrier. Over there, no one else was present; only Taesan was there. Hwiyun had said that they should win quickly and go help him, but from what she saw, there was no need for help. Taesan casually swung his fist. Crash. The monster¡¯s head crumpled. He kicked another with his foot. That monster¡¯s lower half exploded and disappeared. Gulp. Gulp. Dozens of monsters simultaneously pounced on Taesan. Taesan calmly drew his sword. sh. In an instant, afterimages formed, and the monsters were reduced to chunks and disappeared. He brushed aside the damage window obstructing his view and thrust his sword. The monster, which was hiding in the shadows, was impaled. Taesan used force to cut it upward, splitting it in half. Gurgle. Using the corpse of its kind as bait, one monster barely managed to attack Taesan¡¯s chest. [Kang Taesan''s Block has been activated.] [0 Damage to Kang Taesan.] Crash. The monster¡¯s head burst apart before it could even rejoice in its sessful attack. With each movement of his sword, monsters died, and hundreds exploded with each movement of his body. It was truly an overwhelming gap. They were, at best, around 13 to 14 on average in terms of stats. Simple calctions showed there was almost a twenty-fold difference between them and Taesan. [This is fascinating.] A spectating ghost murmured. [That number must represent their count.] ¡°Right.¡± Later, a countless number of monsters would appear. Some people even suffocated, buried in the sheer volume. The threat was not only from their sheer power but also from their numbers. [It must require quite a bit of power to send this amount to someone else''s world. What for?] ¡°You mentioned it when talking about gods; what does ¡®that power¡¯ refer to?¡± [Their divine force, influence field, value, and so on... Things rted to the transcendental in some way.] ¡°So, you need to use that to interfere with someone?¡± [If it''s simple, it''s possible without using it. You can providepensation of dust-like value without loss of power, assuming a fair trade. You have items that you received when you cleared trials. That''s about the level for gods.] For him now, it had great value, but it seemed like it had no value at all to a god. Thinking about the items to be gained at the end of Solo Mode, he understood. [But to give rewards that have even a tiny bit of value to the transcendental, permanent loss is needed. Like the contract of the apostle or the skills given to you.] Gurgle. He crushed the approaching monster. He threw his sword into the skull of a monster that was trying to take advantage of an opening from the left. The sword smashed the monster¡¯s head. That was thest monster. As he approached and drew his sword, Taesan said, ¡°Keep talking.¡± [In simple terms, as they be transcendent, interference with mortals bes harder, and to make meaningful interference, they have to sacrifice something. And that power does not recover easily.] ¡°Then what is this guy?¡± Taesan pointed at the monster¡¯s corpse. Hundreds of monsters. ording to the ghost¡¯s words, it meant a considerable loss of power. But as far as Taesan could remember, new monsters kept appearing even when he was dying. The ghost made a groaning sound. [I''m not sure either. It''s not a typical transcendental being. It seems to be a higher existence... I need to see more to know. But why isn''t it ending?] Taesan had killed all the monsters, but the questpletion hadn¡¯t appeared. Taesan kicked the monster¡¯s corpse and sat down. ¡°We have to wait until it¡¯s over everywhere else.¡± Just dealing with one direction did not mean it was the end. Taesan waited leisurely. Everyone must be celebrating right now. The time when their joy would turn to despair wasn¡¯t far away. ¡°Huff, huff.¡± Hwiyun, who had knocked down thest monster, wiped her sweat. Cheers of joy resonated from all around. ¡°We won!¡± ¡°We won! Hooray!¡± Everyone raised their hands with joy. They embraced each other, savoring the victory. There were some who died, but it was extremely rare. Excluding those who couldn¡¯t maintain their line and stepped out, everyone survived. As they celebrated their victory, the quest was alsopleted. [Special quest sess] [Rewards will be given when returning to thebyrinth.] All four directions had achieved victory. They were embracing each other with faces full of anticipation and joy. [Special quest start] [The second wave begins.] [Defense area: East, west, south, and north based on the city hall.] [Defeat the enemy and protect the city hall.] ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± Their confused gazes shifted to their respective directions. A monster appeared from the direction where they had previously emerged. The tension on people¡¯s faces eased. ¡°Oh, just one?¡± ¡°Just one isn¡¯t a big deal¡­¡± Unlike their rxed attitudes, Junggeun¡¯s face hardened. ¡°¡­Wait.¡± He had seen a monster that was even bigger and more formidable while moving with Taesan. A monster outside the standards, whose movements were too swift to follow. If Taesan hadn¡¯t brought it down, it would have been a monster capable of killing him and a hundred others. The monster that appeared now looked simr to that one. He tried to tell people that something was wrong, but someone acted before he could. ¡°Just one monster!¡± A man stepped forward confidently. The man was one of the top fighters in Normal Mode, and he had delivered decisive blows to several monsters. This time, he intended to prove his strength by engaging in one-on-onebat. The man¡¯s sword pierced the monster¡¯s chest. [1 damage to monster 54612154.] ¡°¡­What?¡± Thud. [52 damage to Choi Minsik.] ¡°Ah, huh?¡± [54 damage to Choi Minsik.] ¡°Huh¡­¡± The man fell. The monster moved. In that instant, everyone except Junggeun and a few yers from Hard Modepletely missed its movement. With a loud explosion, people were sent flying. Like ants being swept away by a fierce wind, they were utterly powerless. The people realized it from this attack. The monster hasn¡¯t been ranked yet, but they still could tell. This was a monster of a higher level, different from those they had encountered so far. The fear they had momentarily forgotten returned. People began screaming and scrambling to escape once again. ¡°You can¡¯t run away!¡± Junggeun gritted his teeth and shouted. There was no ce to run from a monster. The only way out was to fight with their lives on the line. As Junggeun stepped forward to charge at the monster, the monster¡¯s arm moved. Feeling a chilling sensation, Junggeun quickly ducked. With a loud roar¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± People behind Junggeun were sent flying. Chills ran down Junggeun¡¯s back, causing him to grit his teeth. ¡°What the¡­¡± It was incredibly fast. Dodging it was half-luck. He couldn¡¯t guarantee that he¡¯d be able to dodge again. It was incredibly powerful. ¡®Are we supposed to beat this?¡¯ Despair was etched onto Junggeun¡¯s face as the monster began to move silently. Thud. [43 damage to monster 78541212.] The monster fell. Taesan brandished his sword. An E-ss monster, a dimension apart from the F-ss monsters. It was certainly powerful, but Taesan was stronger than those who had cleared Easy Mode. It was not a problem for him. The problem was the others. They were not yet ready to defeat an E-ss monster. ¡°What a cruel existence.¡± The only way to ovee it was literally to stake their lives. If they could inflict even 1 point of damage, they could win bymitting themselves to attack, prepared for death. He wanted to help, but he was obstructed by the barrier, unable to help. He could only hope they managed to win on their own. However, since he alone had taken on one direction, they were more numerous and should be able to take it down with fewer casualties than the previous world. ¡°I have to do what I have to do.¡± The barrier only prevented interference with each other. It didn¡¯t prevent him from moving far away. Taesan left the city hall and headed towards the devastated city. Chapter 63: First Return, First Wave (4) There were no monsters in sight outside of the direct surroundings. All of them were attacking the city hall, so the outer area was rtively safe. And the monsters were not just invading Annyang. There were countless cities in Korea, all of which were under attack. Taesan headed towards a nearby city. With his exceptionally high stats, he arrived in no time. That ce was also under attack, just like Annyang. Seeing people fighting desperately, the ghost was slightly surprised. [Huh. Is it the same for other cities too? How many are there?] ¡°Since it¡¯s worldwide, it¡¯d be well over hundreds of thousands of areas.¡± [Hundreds of thousands?] The ghost was shocked. Taesan lifted his bow towards a monster, swinging its massive arm, and fired. It pierced the monster¡¯s head with a sharp sound, but nothing happened. The monster continued to attack people without suffering any damage. ¡°I guess it doesn¡¯t work.¡± People in other cities were made invulnerable to his interference. He had thought there would be some loopholes, given it was the first return trip, but it was meticulously managed in such regard. Taesan moved to do what he had originally nned. He moved near Annyang again and journeyed to a region he had found in the previous world, based on his memory. And there, he found the monsters. Gurgling sounds filled the air. Monsters of all shapes and sizes were clustered together as if protecting something. They were guarding a split purple rift. Monsters sprang from the huge rift split in the sky, but not all of them came from there. As if expanding their domain, smaller rifts opened intermittently on the ground, and monsters rushed out from them. [Special Quest Begins] [Destroy the Veins of the Dark Swamp.] [Rewards will be distributed in thebyrinth ording to your achievements.] Destroying those would reduce the appearance of monsters. It was a kind of area elimination quest. The monsters gurgled and targeted Taesan. Taesan brandished his sword. He took them down one by one. There were dozens of them, but they were all entry-level monsters. It didn¡¯t even take him minutes to deal with them all. A beast¡¯s hand appeared from the rift when thest monster fell. A monster, code number 267511, had appeared. A six-digit, D-ss monster. A ck figure in the shape of a wolf. The ground rift itself had been discovered during the second return trip, but because of this monster, it was only eliminated during the third return trip. Taesan moved his sword. There was a sh with the monster¡¯s ws. As a D-ss, it was quite strong. To face it alone, one needed to have cleared the Normal Mode. Taesan¡¯s current stats weren¡¯t at that level yet. However, he had skills and experience. [Monster 267511 took 78 damage.] [Monster 267511 took 78 damage.] Vital Attack. Heavy Blow. Continuous Attack. He condensed everything into a single strike. The monster retaliated, but its attack was nullified. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] Using the erased attack, he struck again. His sword stroke left an afterimage as it sliced through the monster. The monster attacked once more. [Your Second Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] The attack was erased. Taesan continued to attack. The monster bared its fangs. He deflected it with a parry, creating distance and activating a frost arrow. The monster¡¯s ck fur froze. The monster was undoubtedly strong. But Taesan has faced too many such monsters before. ¡°Compared to a health point of over a million, this is nothing.¡± He muttered as he drove his sword into the monster¡¯s open mouth. He activated a zing orb at the edge of his sword at that moment, causing an explosion to ur within the monster¡¯s mouth. [Monster 267511 took 58 damage.] Endurance and attack nullification. He also utilized all of his swordsmanship to take down the enemy. After approximately an hour of battle, he was able to im victory. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan caught his breath and stood in front of the rift. ¡°I always feel bad seeing this.¡± That cut in space, rippling violet and purple. It was extremely unpleasant. Just being nearby, he felt an instinctive sense of disgust. ¡°This is certainly different from the gods of thebyrinth.¡± While their power gave a sense of weight and intimidation, it didn¡¯t cause this kind of difort. [This is¡­¡­.] The ghost was astonished. Taesan thrust his sword into the rift. Screeeech! With an unpleasant sound, the rift disappeared. That was all he had to do for now. As far as Taesan remembered, there were no more rifts nearby. [Special Quest Sess] [Rewards will be delivered upon return to thebyrinth.] A window announced the sessful destruction of the rift. And then another one appeared. [Special Quest Sess] [Rewards will be delivered upon return to thebyrinth.] It appears twice. That only meant one thing. ¡°Guess we won.¡± It meant that the others had cleared the second wave. Groan¡­¡­ The monster copsed with ast terminal groan. Kim Hwiyun, who had dealt the final blow, also copsed. ¡°Ugh.¡± She fell as if she was sinking, and sweat poured down her body like a flood. They won. They had ovee that terrible monster, but she could not rejoice. Mountains of corpses surrounded them. She grimaced. People had initially tried desperately to escape. They tried to pass through unshakeable barriers and ran towards the city beyond the monster. But all of them were blocked by the monster and died. During this time, as hundreds of people died, they realized there was no other way but to bring down the monster. Not so many people would have died if they had disregarded their lives and attacked from there. While the monster promoted to the second wave was undoubtedly strong, it also had the limitation of being unable to attack multiple people at once. But they wished for someone to step forward. Instead of stepping up, they chose to hide in the back, waiting for death. A few brave ones did step forward, but a few were not enough to do anything. She did her best, but the monster that appeared wasn¡¯t something she could defeat alone. The limits were clear. After countless people died, they were able to win. [Special Quest Sess] [Rewards will be delivered upon return to thebyrinth.] The quest sess window appeared. The colorless barrier preventing ess to the other sections gradually disappeared. She suddenly came to her senses. ¡°I have to go help.¡± Taesan was alone. She knew he was strong but didn¡¯t think he could win against such a monster. The barrier disappeared because everyone had won, but she didn¡¯t know that, and with wobbly legs, she headed in the direction Taesan had been guarding. Arriving there, Hwiyun¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you here?¡± Numerous monster corpses. Above them, Taesan was standing without any injuries. Drained, she copsed to the ground and let out a hollowugh. ¡°We literally fought for our lives¡­¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve been fighting for your lives in thebyrinth too.¡± As soon as Taesan finished speaking, a window appeared. [Congrattions. You have survived. Rewards will be distributed ording to the actions you took and the results achieved.] [You will return to thebyrinth in 48 hours.] Hwiyun mumbled nkly. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± ¡°For now, yes.¡± People had died. They needed to process that. Under normal circumstances, loud politicians or those who imed status on Earth would have raised their voices, but all of them had been killed by monsters. Naturally, the focus fell on the people of Hard Mode and Solo Mode, and among them, Kim Hwiyun received the most support. Previously, she had suggested rational approaches, and everyone saw her risk her life in battle. Thus, they followed her word without question. Trust was given to those who risked their lives, especially to those who did it alongside others. Hwiyun was taken aback by the blind support. In her view, it should have been Taesan leading the people. However, Taesan declined. ¡°I¡¯m not cut out for that.¡± He was not someone who could lead others. He had painfully realized that in his previous life. ¡°And besides, they¡¯ll like you more, right?¡± Too divergent an individual was often excluded from a group. Hwiyun gave a bitterugh, seemingly aware of that to some degree. Under her direction, the situation was quickly organized. ¡°Out of a hundred thousand¡­ only thirty thousand survived.¡± Hwiyun bit her lip with a pained expression. Seventy percent had died. It was the worst survival rate considering that losing half was regarded as annihtion in a war. ¡°You did your best.¡± Taesan said. They had returned without any information in the first ce, and they didn¡¯t even know what a wave was. Not to mention, the people¡¯s mentality was also immature. In the previous world, if only this many had survived¡­ Considering the circumstances, the survival rate wasn¡¯t bad. ¡°You can¡¯t save everyone.¡± Taesan spoke the harsh but rational reality. ¡°It¡¯s better to get used to death.¡± Hwiyun bit her lip. The people, surprisingly, maintained aposed demeanor. Too many people had died. Those who lost friends buried them with their own hands. Gradually, they realized that they were in a world where civilization and order did not exist, and anyone, even those who might mourn their death, could die the next day. The excitement of returning to Earth hadpletely disappeared. So, when Hwiyun reported the number of deaths, there wasn¡¯t much of a disturbance. Taesan approached Junggeun. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, somehow. I¡¯m managing.¡± He was a person who could realistically assess what he could and couldn¡¯t do. Especially this time, since he couldn¡¯t protect anything from the beginning, he seemed to be less mentally shocked. Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were not much different. Both of them were used to death, having survived in Solo Mode, where everyone was dying. They were shocked when they heard about the deaths of people from Solo Mode but recovered quickly. [.....] Since observing the rift, the Ghost had been silent, seemingly deep in thought. Taesan didn¡¯t rush him, assuming it was something that could be discussed once they were back in thebyrinth. As time passed and it was time to return to thebyrinth, Kim Hwiyun called everyone and spoke. ¡°Many people have died.¡± Of the five hundred thousand Annyang citizens, only thirty thousand survived. Hwiyun spoke with a distorted face at the desperate figures. ¡°This return won¡¯t be the end.¡± There would surely be a second and a third. ¡°We have to survive. For those who have died and for the truth of everything,¡± she said softly. Everyone listened with serious faces. ¡°Let¡¯s be as strong as possible ande back.¡± Taesan listened to her speech from afar. The first return marked a turning point, making those who had been leisurely exploring thebyrinth approach it with a more serious attitude. They would undoubtedly be stronger the next time they met. ¡°See you next time.¡± ¡°Yes, you too, hyung.¡± ¡°See youter.¡± It was time to say goodbye to Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok. Just as when they had returned, space split and swallowed them. Taesan closed his eyes and opened them again. Moist air. Moss-covered walls. It hadn¡¯t been a week since he had left this ce. He started to organize his situation quickly. What was in front of him now was the boss room on the 10th floor. If he defeated the second boss beyond that, the ghost would leave and disappear. And after passing the 10th floor, proper equipment would appear in the shop. In terms of magic, if he learned the Invisibility spell, then he would have learned all the spells Lillis had. ¡°Okay.¡± The assessment was over. Taesan reopened the system window he had closed. There had been a mention of different bonuses being awarded every time they did something on Earth and returned to thebyrinth. Now that he was back, it was time to receive the reward. [Monster Situation Bonus + 443] [First Wave Bonus + 124] [Second Wave Bonus + 435] [Special Quest Bonus + 845] [Suppression Bonus + 54] [Victory Bonus + 75] [Settlement Complete] [482p will be granted.] 482p. Back in the previous world, he only received a mere 10p after his first return. Considering that Kim Hwiyun, who had received the most back then, didn¡¯t even surpass 50p, it was an extraordinary figure. And there were a lot of ways to use the points. [The provided P points can be used for everything. It can be converted to gold and can increase stats. It can also increase the proficiency of skills.] Since it was earned outside thebyrinth, it could increase even things that require an enormous value to increase within thebyrinth. Normally, he should be careful with the usage as he would only receive a small amount of P, but the amount he received this time had almost reached 500. Taesan joyfully checked the skills he possessed. Chapter 64: Tenth Level - Boss (2) The usage of points was exined through gold, stats, and skill proficiency. The ratio was as follows: [Gold can be converted at a 1:10 ratio.] [Stats can be converted at a 5:1 ratio.] [Skill proficiency can be converted at a 10:1 ratio.] The first number he paid attention to was points. He currently had 482p. When converted to gold, it amounted to 4,820 gold. When converted to stats, it amounted to 96 stats. Skill proficiency amounted to 48%. The 10:1 ratio seemed high, but considering the value of proficiency in this ce, it was worth the exchange. He could definitely be stronger due to this return. The first priority was gold. The ratio was the best. You could get 10 gold for 1 point, so it was arguably the most profitable. However, Taesan had no intention of converting his points into gold. Gold was an important currency here, but he could get it anytime. Compared to stats and proficiency, its value was much lower. Stats were the most basic figure here and could be considered even more important than proficiency. Though that was not the case for Taesan. For Lee Taeyeon or Kang Junhyeok, choosing stats would be the correct answer. Both probably obtained more than 50 points, so they could increase their stats by 10 across the board. Considering their current stats were around 15, they could be stronger in an instant. However, Taesan¡¯s current stats were already too high. If hebined all his current stats, it would be 819. Even if he spent all his points, it would only amount to a mere 10% increase. Of course, it was a significant figure. Still, considering how difficult it was to acquire points, it felt wasteful to convert them to that. However, proficiency was different. It was a figure that could only be umted through time, experience, and effort. It was practically impossible to find opportunities to increase it like this. There was a reason why he was surprised at the proficiency potion that could increase proficiency by 5%. ¡°Well then.¡± Taesan opened the skill window for the first time in a while. There were several skills with updated content due to increased proficiency. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Vision Enhancement] [Proficiency: 62%] [Allows for a broader field of view. Significantly surpasses human standards.] Vision Enhancement had surpassed 60%. It could now bepared to thepound eyes of an insect. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Composure] [Proficiency: 83%] [Unshakeable mentality. Even in the face of transcendent beings, no panic ensues. Acquires corrections to judgment. Never wavers, even in extreme situations. The spirit of this existence is indomitable.] The phrase ¡®The spirit of this existence is indomitable¡¯ was added. It was nothing special for Taesan, who had never failed a mental judgment. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Death Line] [Proficiency: 84%] [Can sense the moment of death. Activates in most crises. Also possesses a form of premonition.] Just like Intuition, premonition was added to Death Line. Premonition was always beneficial in any skill. It was like a semi-future prediction skill with no downside. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Sensory Enhancement] [Proficiency: 40%] [Enhances senses. Can sense vitality and danger. Can even sense things that are not visible.] The phrase ¡®Can sense things that are not visible¡¯ was added. If what Lee Taeyeon said was true, then in Solo Mode, even enemies that were ghost types would appear. Sensory Enhancement could prove to be a great advantage when dealing with such entities. These four skills had updated content. ¡°It¡¯s much faster than before.¡± Even when he was clearing Easy Mode, he had to work hard to raise his proficiency, and there were cases when he spent a whole day just to raise it by 1%. Unlike that time, the speed was extremely fast now, perhaps because his opponents were of equal strength or stronger. ¡°What should I level up?¡± He could increase the proficiency of his skills by 48%. It was a delightfully decisive moment. He decided to rule out all the skills he just mentioned. There were skills that could reach 100% proficiency, but they were not worth using these precious points to raise. At least, that was what Taesan thought. There were skills whose proficiency levels increased well and others that didn¡¯t. He was thinking of leveling up thetter. Naturally, his eyesnded on the Airak Martial Arts skill. [Advanced Skill: Airak Martial Arts] [Proficiency: 8%] [A skill to handle weapons and the physical body. Still immature; it seems like there might be a loss in power transmission.] The word ¡®advanced¡¯ wasn¡¯t just for show. It was the slowest to increase in proficiency among the skills Taesan had. Airak Martial Arts was a skill that improved by moving the body. Despite using it in every battle, it was only at 8%. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan stroked his chin. A skill changed its content when it reached 20% proficiency. Would Airak Martial Arts be worth that? It was a skill he didn¡¯t fully understand yet. It could change, or it might not. Even if it did, it might not give him any significant advantage. Being a rather simple skill that allowed damage to be dealt, even when attacking with body parts other than the weapon, the proficiency might only be rted to damage. Endure was just like that. Even when the proficiency increased, there were no significant changes other than the damage negation duration. For the time being, Taesan postponed the decision and checked out his other skills. ¡°¡®Shield?¡¯¡± [Special Always-On Skill: Shield] [Proficiency: 3%] [You have obtained a shield that prevents damage. The value of the shield increases in proportion to your health.] If he increased the skill¡¯s proficiency, the proportional value would rise. It wasn¡¯t bad, but something feltcking. Taesan couldn¡¯t easily make a choice. In his dilemma, he asked the ghost. ¡°Hey.¡± [Eh, eh?] The ghost, who seemed to be deep in thought, was startled. [What?] ¡°What do you think about raising the proficiency of Storm Scar¡¯s Sword?¡± [Eh... without any conditions?] ¡°Yeah.¡± [...What do you mean?] It looked like it didn¡¯t understand, but it obediently answered. [Putting aside whether that would be possible, it''s not very good, right?] ¡°Should I have to move physically to learn it after all?¡± [After all, it''s swordsmanship. The reason why I agreed to your raising the proficiency at first was because I couldn''t help it since I couldn''t teach you. Otherwise, you definitely have to move your body. No matter how much knowledgees into your head, the body is a separate issue.] It wasn¡¯t surprising since he had anticipated this problem. Taesan continued to check the skills. Forced Duel. Critical Strike. Thirst for Battle. Craving for Victory, and so on. All were good skills to improve. However, he had no intention of raising any of them. ¡°The problem is that there are too many choices.¡± It was, quite literally, a happy problem. Thinking that it would never end this way, Taesan shifted his gaze to another skill. [Magic] [Proficiency: 2%] [You can use magic. Currently, you might only be able to ignite a me.] Magic, something he hadn¡¯t been able to acquire at all in his previous life. He didn¡¯t know how it would evolve. ¡°Should I check it out?¡± There was someone who could give him the answer, so there was no need for him to worry alone. Taesan returned to the 9th floor and went to find Lilis. As soon as he entered the Safety Zone, an explosion sounded. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± Lilis was sobbing, her face dusted with white powder. ¡°Thisbination doesn¡¯t work¡­ Huh?¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Taesan greeted her briefly. ¡°¡­ You¡¯re here?¡± She blinked and looked up at Taesan, dusting herself off as she got up. ¡°You¡¯re earlier than I expected.¡± ¡°How much time has passed here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also forgotten the concept of time¡­ Maybe around three or four days?¡± The concept of time here was the same as on Earth. While it was unlikely, it would have been a problem if the axis waspletely skewed. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t. ¡°Why are you here? Do you have something to show me?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± The proficiency of the Magic skill. When he asked what would happen if he increased it, Lilis tilted her head. ¡°Why are you asking? It will definitely change¡­ but reaching 20% would take a few years of struggle?¡± ¡°I have a way to increase it.¡± ¡°¡­ You¡¯re going to increase the proficiency?¡± Lilis¡¯ face contorted oddly. ¡°How are you going to do that? Wait. Is that why you went outside?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Although the details were different, he nodded vaguely, not wanting to exin. Astonishment crossed Lilis¡¯s face. ¡°You can interfere with the system of the Labyrinth from outside? How did you find it? I searched thoroughly to see if I had something simr, but nothing came up.¡± ¡°Nothing like that exists?¡± ¡°Proficiency is a rule of the Labyrinth. Here, even those without talent can be strong, but in a way, they¡¯re bound by the rules of this ce. That¡¯s why no one can interfere¡­ what exactly is it? It doesn¡¯t even sound possible.¡± She still seemed bewildered, unable toprehend. ¡°So, how much is it?¡± ¡°Around roughly 50.¡± ¡°¡­.50%?¡± Taesan nodded. Lilis closed her mouth. For a moment, a dangerous light shed in her eyes. Her pupils flickered incessantly, and after barely calming down, she exhaled. ¡°Whew. That was dangerous.¡± She wiped her forehead. Her inner turmoil seemed quite severe for a moment as sweat was pouring down. ¡°It would be best if you didn¡¯t mention that to anyone.¡± Her voice was exceptionally serious, unlike her usual demeanor. ¡°There would be many people who would kill you if they knew. In this ce, where one can even cut off their own fingers for just 1%, it should absolutely remain a secret.¡± ¡°Is it that serious?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s so difficult. I¡¯ve just barely reached 20% with my magic.¡± She grumbled, but her words didn¡¯t quite resonate with Taesan. While a proficiency of 50% was undoubtedly valuable, he had several skills that had reached 100%. ¡°You¡¯re going to use it on magic?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what magic is. I¡¯m just thinking about it for now.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you came to me.¡± Lilis began to exin, shaking her head. ¡°I can¡¯t exin in detail since I¡¯ve only reached 20%, but as you increase your proficiency in magic, its versatility and the number of usable spells increase too. Right now, your proficiency is around 2%, 3%?¡± ¡°About that.¡± ¡°Then, you probably aren¡¯t fully utilizing the power of beginner-level magic.¡± ¡°Is it stronger than this?¡± He¡¯s already causing close to 50 damage. In the case of Frost Arrow, it was cold enough to freeze anything it touched within minutes. Lilis spoke as if it was obvious. ¡°Beginner-level magic? It¡¯s directly named ¡®beginner¡¯ by the god of magic. How could it not be strong?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Roughly 20%. You should be able to fully draw out its power at my level. And the moment it reaches 20%, the skill¡¯s description changes. The ability you gain is reduced mana consumption and significantly increased power.¡± Lilis waved her hand. Her body disappeared. It was invisibility magic. ¡°Originally, I couldn¡¯t use it this long. It disappeared in about 10 seconds. And if the person has good senses, they would notice it right away. ¡°The moment it hit 20%, it changed like this.¡± If her words were true, it was a significant difference. Taesan couldn¡¯t sense her current state. Despite having evolved his sensory enhancement, he couldn¡¯t perceive her, suggesting that without a specific method, one might not be able to sense it at all. ¡®Is it worth improving?¡¯ ¡°As I mentioned before, the skill changes at every 20% interval. 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%. In the maze, magic changes through five stages.¡± Lilis began her exnation. Chapter 65: Tenth Level - Boss (3) ¡°I¡¯m at 20%. If we categorize it into stages, it¡¯s the first stage.¡± She proudly dered this while swinging her hand. With a whoosh, mes erupted from it. ¡°As I said earlier, even at this level, the ss of magic changes. But still, in overall terms, it¡¯s just 20%. And while you can use all magic once you learn it, you can only use basic magic effectively.¡± ¡°A limit?¡± ¡°Labyrinth magic is divided into basic, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and highest. There¡¯s more than that, but the known ones are these five stages.¡± Lilis inted her cheeks. ¡°Within thebyrinth, you can use all magic as much as allowed¡­ but the level you can use effectively changes with proficiency. At 20%, you can fully harness the power of basic magic, but for beginner magic, you can only use it at about half effectiveness. Anything above intermediate is virtually unusable.¡± It seemed it wasn¡¯t merely about learning. If your proficiency wasn¡¯t up to par, it was quite difficult to use stronger magic. But there was something he didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°I¡¯m at 2%, but I used beginner magic.¡± ¡°You can use beginner magic to some extent. The criteria get stricter from intermediate onwards.¡± Lilis continued. ¡°When you hit 40%, you can perfectly control beginner magic. But the intermediate level will be rtively undeveloped. Advanced is virtually impossible. When you hit 60%, you can perfectly control intermediate magic; when you hit 80%, you can perfectly control advanced magic. 100% is the highest level.¡± Her words outlined the stages. There were no restrictions in learning magic, but there was a constraint called proficiency in mastering it. ¡°So, am I at about the 2nd stage?¡± ¡°Yeah. And isn¡¯t that strange! Do you think it makes sense for a novice to suddenly reach the 2nd stage?¡± She cornered him with her face turning red. ¡°This is an insult to those who tread the path of magic!¡± Considering she dedicated her life to thebyrinth and was still at 20%, it would be hard for her to ept. ¡°She¡¯s throwing a fit. Mr. Hero, say something. Is this really possible?¡± [Well...] The ghost responded to Lilis, who was whining. [If you pay the equivalent price, it''s not impossible.] ¡°Ah, where would you find such a crazy person? An ordinary person would fall short even if they dedicated a hundred of their lives.¡± [Normally, yes. Normally.] ¡°Chet.¡± Lilis turned her head away grumpily at the ghost¡¯s lukewarm response. The conversation was over, and Lilis waved her hand. ¡°Well, go! Oh, Mr. Hero, is this the end for you?¡± [Yes.] The ghost¡¯s quest only went up to the 10th floor. ¡°Let¡¯s meet again if we can.¡± [Sure.] The ghost responded nonchntly. Taesan arrived again in front of the boss room on the 10th floor. Taesan made a decision. ¡°I¡¯ll use it for magic.¡± It was more valuable to use it for magic than for other skills. After hearing Lilis¡¯s words, he was sure of it. He didn¡¯t n to use all 48%. Just 38%. He intended to use enough to exactly reach 40%. [Using 380p. The proficiency of the magic skill has increased by 38%.] Along with an extremely simple exnation, something engulfed Taesan. A different, alien sensation sprung out from within his physical body. [You have obtained Magic eleration.] [You have obtained Magic Explosion.] Taesan opened the skill window. [Magic] [Proficiency: 40%] [You can properly handle magic. It seems you can control mes, adjust the cold, and manipte the wind.] There was a significant change from the sentence that stated he could only handle a spark. He could only see how it changed by experiencing it. Taesan then spread out his hand. [You have activated a zing Orb.] Fire was kindled in the air. Its size was twice asrge as when he had used it before. ¡°Oh-ho.¡± Taesan let out a small exmation of admiration. Not only had the power of magic increased, but the activation time of the magic had also changed. Previously, there was a slight dy. The manifestation of magic felt as if it was burning through his mind and emerging from his physical body. It wasn¡¯t a slow speed, but in a heated battle where lives were at stake, there was a clear difference due to this subtle dy. But now, it was activated as smoothly as water flowing. The magic was realized as soon as he thought about it. ¡°So this is 40%.¡± Honestly, this alone was worth it. It meant there were no constraints when using magic, just like with his physical body. Of course, this was not the end. The zing Orb was now twice asrge. Its power seemed to have grown correspondingly. On top of that, the mana consumption had almost disappeared. The mana consumption of the zing Orb was 6. Taesan¡¯s current mana was 235. This was not an insignificant amount of consumption. However, the mana consumed just now was only 2. Although mana consumption decreased with an increase in his intelligence stat, it had never reduced this dramatically. Considering the mana that was recovered during a fight, it could be said that there was essentially no constraint on mana usage. He had also acquired new skills. [Magic eleration] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can elerate magic.] [Magic Explosion] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can make magic explode.] He could guess what kind of skills they were from the descriptions. Taesanunched a zing Orb into the air. Watching it fly toward the wall, he activated a skill. [You have activated Magic eleration.] The zing Orb elerated. It collided with the wall at a speedparable to that of a running horse. Kwaang! A rumble echoed through the air as the room vibrated. Taesan was impressed. ¡°Both speed and power are increased, huh.¡± [You have activated Frost Arrow.] This time, it was an explosion. Taesanunched his magic. After it flew a reasonable distance, he activated his skill. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] Zheooong! The flying Frost Arrow exploded. Ice shards flew around like beads of rain. In an instant, the room was filled with cold air. ¡°This is pretty good.¡± Taesan continued experimenting, his eyes gleaming. After casting about ten more spells, he had a rough understanding of it. He was impressed. ¡°Pretty decent, huh?¡± Magic eleration. As the name suggested, it allowed the eleration of the speed of his magic spells. Magic Explosion allowed magic to explode during its use. The mana cost was zero. At first nce, they may not seem significant, but both were essential abilities in using magic. Until now, the magic used by Taesan could not be stopped. Onceunched, the magic would not stop until it collided with something, and its speed remained constant. This was why Taesan didn¡¯t use magic other than surprise attacks against enemies above a certain level. It was too obvious. The speed did not change; once implemented, it would simply fly. Before it collided with something, its power was not released. Taesan was confident that he could fight as if the enemy¡¯s magic did not exist if it was in that state. However, he was now able to solve all these disadvantages. The skills dramatically changed how magic was handled, depending on its application. ¡°Satisfying.¡± This was enough. He had to check whether eleration and explosion applied to mental magic, but he assumed it would. It was worth using his points to increase his proficiency by 38%. The only question was where to use the remaining 10%, but he had already decided. [100p used. The proficiency of the Insight skill has increased by 10%.] Finally, the proficiency of Insight exceeded 60%. [Special Always Active Skill: Insight] [Proficiency: 62%] [You can discern a lot. You appear to be able to identify the weaknesses of living creatures and non-living entities. You may even be able to find hidden rooms. asionally, it informs you of critical information. You can get a rough idea of the opponent''s information.] ¡°I need to level this up quickly.¡± Though it was one of the most basic skills to learn, its importance was quite high. Taesan thought that increasing Insight was more important than upgrading the Airak Martial Arts. As the division of his points had ended, Taesan entered the boss room. A giant ogre bellowed at him. ¡°Kuoooo!¡± [Ogre Warrior has appeared.] Taesan calmly thrust his sword. [You have activated zing Orb.] [You have activated Magic eleration.] The slowly flying magic elerated. The Ogre Warrior flinched and tried to avoid it, but it was toote. [112 damage to the Ogre Warrior.] ¡°Whoa.¡± Taesan whistled. The damage was incredible. ¡°Kuoooo!¡± [You have activated Confusion.] ¡°Ku, kuo.¡± The Ogre Warrior flinched momentarily, but confusion was the most basic magic. An Ogre Warrior could quickly shake it off. Taesan added eleration to it. [You have activated Magic eleration.] ¡°Ku, kuoak.¡± The ogre, attempting to shake it off, flinched again. The more potent magic harshly assaulted the ogre¡¯s head. It couldn¡¯t easily shake it off this time and clutched its head. ¡°So, mental magic works too. What about this, then?¡± [You have activated Magic Explosion.] The ogre¡¯s body shivered slightly. Drool trickled from its wide-open mouth. ¡°It works.¡± It seemed to shake the brain itself and did not need mental judgment. This was better for Taesan. [You have activated Confusion.] ¡°Kuooo!!!¡± [Judgment sess!] Perhaps due to its weakened state, the judgment was immediately sessful this time. The ogre¡¯s eyes became clouded. As expected, it was convenient. Taesan continued to form magic with a smile. [You have activated zing Orb.] [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Numerous fire orbs and ice arrows formed in the air. When their number reached the tens, Taesanunched them all at once. ¡°Ku, kuo.¡± The ogre, its head wobbling, tried to avoid them with great effort. As the magic got close to his target, Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] Red explosions and ice bombs went off like fireworks. The ogre¡¯s body was repeatedly frozen and burned. ¡°Kuoooooo!¡± [86 damage to the Ogre Warrior.] [90 damage to the Ogre Warrior.] [78 damage to the Ogre Warrior.] [110 damage to the Ogre Warrior.] [You have triumphed over the Ogre Warrior.] [You have defeated the 10th-floor boss. You obtained the base reward [Ogre Ring].] ¡°Nice.¡± Taesan muttered while receiving the reward. It was as convenient as he thought. The ogre, despite being able to avoid the magic he used, couldn¡¯t do anything. There was no need to even move his body at this rate. At least up to the 20th floor; he could get there just by using magic. The ghost spoke impassively. [Magic is the axis here. It''s the natural result since you reached 40%. You should know that it''s absurd to raise proficiency like this.] ¡°Is everything settled now?¡± ¡°More or less.¡± The ghost¡¯s voice carried a sense of confusion ever since he saw the rift back on Earth. The ghost let out a deep sigh. [But... I don''t know, either. Why did such things appear?] ¡°So what is it?¡± The ghost knew about the beings that invaded the Earth. ¡°Who trampled upon our world?¡± In response to the calm yet emotionally charged question, the ghost fell silent for a moment before speaking. [I''ve only heard about it in stories, so I don''t know the details. It might not be true. Let''s consider it as one possibility and move on.] A voice filled withplex emotions resounded through the air. [I said that for the Transcendents to have meaningful interference, they, too, must sacrifice something, right?] ¡°So that¡¯s why the influence area of the gods in this ce has diminished.¡± ¡°Yes. Even the Transcendents residing in the Labyrinth must sacrifice something to interfere within the Labyrinth. It¡¯s even more severe to interfere with other worlds. That¡¯s why they usually don¡¯t do it. At most, they reduce the interference of the Divine Order. It¡¯s what you might call madness.¡± But Earth was experiencing such madness in real-time. Iprehensible monsters trampled them and brought humanity to ruin. ¡°There are beings capable of such things. Beings that can interfere with the mortal world without expending any power. Beings from the forgotten past who have now lost their names.¡± Chapter 66: Tenth Level - Boss (4) ¡°Is a transcendent different from them?¡± Ipared them to the spirits and the exalted beings who had taken their ces here. The ghost denied it in response to my question. [A transcendent, yes. But the type is different. Why do you think they expend energy when they do something meaningful? It''s because they have transcended from being mortal.] ¡°From being mortal?¡± [Yes.] The ghost whispered softly. [Aren''t there a few beings in your world who were once human but became gods?] ¡°There are indeed.¡± The likes of Hercules, who became a god, Buddha, and so on, definitely existed, even if they were stories from mythology. [Those are the transcendent beings gathered here. Lakiratas. Balthasar. Oman. Levynenoff. They were all once mortal.] ¡°All the transcendent beings here?¡± [Yeah. All of them, without exception. They seem to like this ce because they''ve been through trials and ascended. They were once human, or beasts, beings with lifespans. The areas they''re in charge of are rted to their lives, but that''s a long story, so I''ll skip it.] ¡°So, they expend energy?¡± [Whether it''s soul, power, or faith, you be transcendent when something reaches a certain degree. And the moment you be transcendent, the increase in power stops. It bes a power that disappears when used, fixed as it was when they ascended, bing an exalted and supreme being.] Taesan stroked his chin. The ghost continued lightly. [Simply put, it''s a disadvantage that beings that acquired transcendence have. They possess enormous power and escape the shackles of mortality but cannot recover easily. Can you guess what I''m leading up to?] ¡°There must be innate transcendent beings too.¡± Beings that were strong from birth were simply born that way. The ghost affirmed. [Beings that had no lifespan, to begin with. They are simply strong from birth. Therefore, when they interfere in the world of the mortals, they use power, but there is no permanent consumption. Unlike the acquired ones, it''s just the power they had from birth.] Those who had be transcendent from a mortal state would consume finite power. Those who were transcendent from birth had no such limitation. And all the transcendent beings in thebyrinth were beings that became transcendent. It seemed to be that kind of story. ¡°So, those who attacked my world are the innately transcendent ones?¡± [...The likelihood is high. Those acquired types could never expend that level of power.] The ghost grumbled with a grim expression in his voice. [But why are they trampling on your world?] ¡°Did you say they are gods who have lost their names?¡± The ghost referred to them as beings from the past. The ghost affirmed this. [Honestly, I have never seen them directly. I only know about them through legends and information about this ce. I could not even guess before I saw them directly. They are beings that disappeared a long time ago, a kind of ancient gods.] ¡°They disappeared?¡± [I don''t know why either. There might have been a war between the transcendent beings, or they just disappeared as per naturalw. Either way, they were beings that did not leave a trace for thousands of years.] Despite the exnation, he still couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why is such a being attacking Earth?¡± [I don''t know either.] The ghost shrugged his shoulders. [Why would the mentally ill do such things? Still, they can''t send out too strong a one, right? There''s no power consumption, but there are limits, so they can only send down to that level.] The ghost exined lightly, but Taesan could not easily understand. ¡®Some pretty strong ones have appeared.¡¯ After Lee Taeyeon, who cleared the Solo Mode, fell to the apostle monster, monsters still emerged from the rift until the end. ¡®So that¡¯s the extent, even with the limit?¡¯ Being unfamiliar with the true power of a transcendent being, he couldn¡¯t say it easily. The power he had seen was really the cream of the crop. ¡°That¡¯ll do for now.¡± He stored the information in his mind. He had received various rewards for clearing the 10th-floor boss. Titles, achievements, and clear rewards. Though there were many, he didn¡¯t check them immediately. Taesan headed towards the second room. A small door was beyond the stairs leading to the 11th floor. [Finally, you''re here.] With the indifferent voice of the ghost, Taesan entered the room. ¡®I remember this.¡¯ Lee Taeyeon had also discovered this ce. Unlike Hage-Ha¡¯s room, it was conspicuous, so there was no way she couldn¡¯t have found it. However, she didn¡¯t enter. She had received the clear rewards and initially avoided it because she thought such ces were undoubtedly dangerous. Taesan pushed aside the curtain hung in front of the door. There was one Ogre in the narrow room. It was an Ogre smaller in size than others, no different from arge human. But in its two eyes, intelligence was overflowing. The Ogre who was looking at him opened its mouth. ¡°Have you arrived, hero?¡± [You have encountered the Ogre Sage.] An Ogre, which didn¡¯t seem to have any intelligence, and a sage, a title for the enlightened. The ghost said he died to the second boss of the 10th floor. That being was right before his eyes. The Ogre with an unfitting name spoke fluently. ¡°I knew a day like this woulde, but it seems to have arrived sooner than I thought.¡± The Ogre looked up at Taesan and asked, ¡°Is he your puppet?¡± [No.] The ghost responded indifferently. His voice was devoid of any strong emotion. ¡°I see.¡± The Ogre casually responded, remaining seated. The Ogre in front of him didn¡¯t seem stronger than other Ogres, but it was an entity that felt unsettling to touch. ¡°Shall we have a conversation then?¡± [A conversation?] The ghost scoffed. [With you?] ¡°The adventurer in front of me doesn¡¯t seem like someone I can defeat.¡± The Ogre¡¯s assessment was urate. Unless he possessed strength exceeding the 20th floor, there was no gap that would result in Taesan¡¯s defeat even after a hundred battles. The Ogre spoke softly. ¡°The oue is already decided. So, shouldn¡¯t we at least satisfy our curiosities?¡± His voice was like gently scolding a child. The ghost momentarily showed a displeased expression but quickly hid his emotions. [Do as you wish.] ¡°Oh?¡± The Ogre seemed intrigued by the ghost¡¯s response. ¡°A different answer than I expected. I thought you¡¯d just order him to kill.¡± [What do you know to speak so presumptuously?] ¡°Arrogant, rude, and careless hero. That¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it?¡± The Ogre gave a slight smile. The ghost fell silent. It didn¡¯t feel like a conversation between a killer and the one who was killed. Taesan looked intently at the sage and asked, ¡°Did you kill this ghost?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re asking if I did, yes, I did. By my own hands.¡± The Ogre took out a small dagger. Seeing the dagger embedded with a red gem, the ghost¡¯s temper red up. [That damned thing¡­] ¡°It¡¯s your fault, hero.¡± The Ogre spoke with sunken eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t kill me when you first saw me because I was the only one with whom you could converse. The seeker of god rejected you, and the lost king also despised you. You, the one from the destroyed world, were utterly weak. So, you cherished me, who listened to your story and didn¡¯t kill me.¡± Hearing the ghost¡¯s past for the first time, Taesan whistled. The ghost stiffened. ¡°I¡¯m a monster. You¡¯re an adventurer. I just did what I had to do as a monster. I suppose you won¡¯t hold a grudge.¡± [Enough.] The ghost spoke harshly. [It''s enough now. Just kill him.] ¡°No.¡± [...What?] The ghost was taken aback by Taesan¡¯s refusal. The Ogre looked surprised. ¡°That¡¯s different from what I thought.¡± ¡°What did you think?¡± ¡°I thought you were a puppet who moved ording to the hero¡¯s will and reached this ce.¡± It was a reasonably logical assumption. The ghost was someone who had ventured deep into this ce. If he were to stick to a beginner, the beginner naturally would have no choice but to follow the ghost¡¯s words. The ghost must have clung to him, hoping for this, but he changed his mind after observing Taesan¡¯s actions. ¡°That must be a fixed attack weapon.¡± ¡°You know well.¡± ¡°Who gave it to you?¡± [...Ah.] The ghost realized it btedly. A fixed attack weapon was very precious. It was equipment that couldn¡¯t be obtained on the 10th floor, considering it bypassed defense and skills. The Ogre grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve switched positions with the hero.¡± ¡°Give an answer.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t you guess, hero? There were many here who disliked you, who were arrogant and looked down on others. Not just the gods, but the adventurers too.¡± [No way.] The Ogre responded to the trembling voice of the ghost. ¡°The Guides of Sin. They gave me the fixed attack weapon. They said they¡¯d kill me if I didn¡¯t harm you, so I had no choice but to ept.¡± [Those bastards!] A harsh voice resonated. The Guides of Sin. That group was also known to Lee Taeyeon. They were the ones who wanted to kill her more passionately than anyone else, even whenpared to monsters. The Ogre sneered, looking at the ghost, expressing his anger. ¡°They must have been too afraid to do it themselves as you were too strong. So, they had no choice but to rely on the hands of a worthless monster like me. What do you think?¡± [......] The ghost took a heavy breath without replying. Towards that surging torrent of emotions, the Ogre softly spoke. ¡°Do as you wish. I¡¯ve said everything I wanted to say.¡± The Ogre averted his gaze from the ghost. He, who was briefly observing Taesan, couldn¡¯t help but admire him. ¡°¡­.Indeed, I made a mistake. You¡¯re not an adventurer who¡¯d be swayed this way and that by a hero.¡± Taesan drew his sword. Though it seemed there was a conversation between the Ogre sage and the ghost, at least Taesan wasn¡¯t particrly interested in it. The Ogre, without trying to block or counter-attack, spoke calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve survived for a long time in this ce. Those weaker than me didn¡¯t evene here, to begin with, and those stronger than me, I befriended through ttery. It wasn¡¯t that hard as there were many lonely ones. All of them didn¡¯t want to die.¡± Thud [50 damage to the Ogre sage.] He pierced the Ogre¡¯s chest without resistance. ¡°But there is an end to everything.¡± The Ogre continued without a change in expression. ¡°What do you think is the lesson of this story?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t trust others?¡± ¡°That¡¯s part of it, but the core is one.¡± The Ogre said. ¡°In this ce, power is the answer. Have a power that no one dares to touch, power that no one would even dare to challenge.¡± The Ogre looked at the ghost with bitter eyes. ¡°The hero couldn¡¯t do that. He was strong but not strong enough that they couldn¡¯t harbor any other thoughts. That¡¯s why they sought a gap. This is the advice I can give you.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d. I¡¯ll be waiting for you to conquer this ce and save us.¡± With a smile, the Ogre sage bowed his head. Something that seemed like a soul flowed from his body and burnt out. [You have won against the Ogre sage.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 2, agility by 3, and intelligence by 10.] [As a reward for leveling up, your HP increases by 45.] [As a reward for leveling up, your strength permanently increases by 1, agility by 3, and intelligence by 10.] [You have grasped the hidden element of the 10th floor. You received the reward [???].] [You havepletely cleared the 10th floor. You obtained the title [Adapted One].] [You havepletely understood and cleared all the floors up to the 10th. You obtained the title [Perfectionist].] [You have ventured far enough into thebyrinth. You obtained the title [Walker].] [You have proven your strength enough in this ce. You obtained the title [Sessful Prover].] [You are entering a new territory. You obtained the title [Adaptive Challenger].] [The entities of this ce start to take an interest in you. They show you both goodwill and hostility.] [You obtained the Cusp of Cmity.] [Sub Quest sessful.] [The hero will provide you with a reward.] [Sub Quest start.] [The hero, who realizes the truth, wants more revenge from you.] [Conditions: Kill those who were involved in killing him.] [Reward: The hero decides based on his mood.] Chapter 67: Eleventh Level (1) The ghost trembled violently. Despite Taesan¡¯spletion of his quest, he did not fade away. Firstly, Taesan left the ghost to his emotions and checked his rewards. He started by confirming the 10th-floor clear rewards. [Ogre Ring] [Strength + 15] [A ring of the ogre. For humans, it''s more like a bracelet.] He remembered seeing simr items in games on Earth. True to the fact that it was used by the ogre, it had a high strength value. And there were numerous titles he received for perfectly clearing the 10th floor. [Title: Adapted One] [You''ve proven that you''ve adapted by perfectly breaking through a certain number of floors in thebyrinth.] [Strength + 8] [Intelligence + 8] [Agility + 8] So far, the stat values attached to titles were either low or non-existent, but this was a high value. And it wasn¡¯t just the title of Adapted One. [Title: Perfectionist] [You have broken through thebyrinth while deciphering everything.] [Strength + 10] [Intelligence + 10] [Agility + 10] [The reward is enhanced when all aspects of a specific floor are deciphered.] [Title: Wayfarer] [You''ve walked a significant path to prove yourself.] [Strength + 6] [Intelligence + 6] [Agility + 6] [Movement Speed + 2%] [Title: Proven One] [You have proven meaningful value.] [NPCs and gods have a good impression of you.] [Strength + 6] [Intelligence + 6] [Agility + 6] [Title: Adaptive Challenger] [You have proven meaningful value.] [Your journey is not yet over.] [Strength + 4] [Intelligence + 4] [Agility + 4] [eleration is applied to the proficiency of all skills.] Five titles. All of them had high stat values. Other yers also inevitably received at least three titles when they cleared the 10th floor. It was a meaningful figure even for Taesan, let alone for regr yers. As a result, yers became significantly stronger when they cleared a set of themes like the 10th floorpared to a normal floor clear. And he also received the red dagger shown by the Ogre Sage when he defeated him. [Cusp of Cmity] [A dagger forged from destruction. While it''s now so old as to be meaningless, the energy of destruction within it hasn''t yet disappeared.] [Fixed Attack + 10] ¡°Heh.¡± He didn¡¯t expect to see equipment with a fixed attack so soon. ¡®As far as I remember, you had to reach at least the 20th floor to acquire such a level of item.¡¯ It was a weapon that, unaffected by any skill and equipment effects, inflicted a constant 10 damage. Although it might seem meaningless at a nce, the value contained within was significant. Fixed attacks, like the one the ghost had suffered, couldpletely ignore the defense stat. On top of that, it inflicted absolute damage, disregarding any potential situation and conditions. Even if the opponent was immune to physical attacks, they were forced to receive 10 points of damage. Moreover, it prated even skills. It possessed a high level of judgment that would allow it to pierce even through ¡®Steadfast,¡¯ one of the definitive damage reduction skills. The effect of the ¡®Essential Strike¡¯ that Taesan used against the apostle in his previous life was simr to the effect that this weapon possessed. In Easy or Normal mode, one could not even find this type of equipment. ¡°But it didn¡¯t mean much to me.¡± While the judgment of fixed attacks was certainly high, it couldn¡¯t prate through Attack Nullification and Endurance. As Taesan also possessed an essential attack skill, he did not find it particrly attractive. However, as he didn¡¯t yet have an ¡®Essential Strike,¡¯ having it woulde in handy someday. He put the dagger in his inventory. [You used ???] [You obtained the Lance of Subjugation.] At first nce, the item looked promising from its name, and Taesan was excited to check it out, but his excitement quickly cooled off. [Lance of Subjugation] [A named artifact created at a lofty wizard''s tower.] [It can bind the target for 1 second. A resistance check is attempted depending on the target''s level.] ¡°It¡¯s not bad¡­¡± But it wasn¡¯t good either. If a regr yer had obtained it, they would not be able to hide their joy. For them, who had no means to stop enemies, it would be a treasured item, allowing them to buy time and create openings. But for Taesan, it didn¡¯t mean much. He already had numerous crowd-control spells. There was no reason to use it, going through the cumbersome process of drawing and sheathing the spear. If it was a tower, it probably referred to a magic tower. In that case, it might have great value as a tribute. Taesan thought to bring it to Lilis and put it in his inventory. Then, he opened his stat window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 24] [Shield: 65/65] [Health: 990/990] [Mana: 240/240] [Strength: 406] [Intelligence: 227] [Agility: 332] [Attack + 30] [Defense + 40] [The subject is in peak condition.] It had been a while since he checked his stats. His stats were still overwhelming. However,pared to that, his attack and defense were rtively weak. It was time to start increasing them slowly. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Are you sorted out?¡± [...Mostly.] The ghost responded with a voice still quivering with emotion but calmer than before. [Ha, I don''t know whether to be grateful or to spew hate.] The ghost let out a hollowugh. [You''ve received the quest?] Taesan nodded his head. The ghost would usually disappear after the 10th floor because that was his quest¡¯s goal. But a new quest had appeared. It was a quest to kill all of the targets of his revenge. ¡°It seems to be a bit more.¡± [Well... It''s not bad. I wanted to see how far you can go. And also, I wanted to see those bastards'' heads getting ripped apart.] The ghost exined in a voice mixed with annoyance. [They''re not that great. They just jump around, considering themselves magnificent.] The Guides of Sin. He could understand why they killed the ghost if Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words were true. They wanted to kill all adventurers who were not affiliated with them. [I''ll exinter. We have to deal with things first.] Light gathered in the ghost¡¯s white hand. An object started to take form above it. What will he give as a reward? The hero¡¯s reward was simple. He would decide ording to his mood. That was all. The reward could be a pebble or a grand treasure. As he waited with the feeling of spinning a roulette, a pure white sword revealed itself. It was simple but smooth. It had an unfamiliar scent of blood. At first nce, it looked valuable. [Take this. It''s a sword I brought from my world.] [Calvert''s Relic: The Sword Imbued with Ancestor''s Blood] [A relic from a now-destroyed world. It has imed the lives of countless emperors.£Ý [Attack Power + 20£Ý [When facing enemies of noble lineage, Attack Power + 10£Ý Taesan paused. The ghost was taken aback by Taesan¡¯s silence as he stared at the weapon. [What, not good enough?] ¡°No, it¡¯s the opposite.¡± It was too good. He thought the attack power wouldn¡¯t be low, but he couldn¡¯t imagine it would reach a value of 20. The ghost chuckled when he realized why Taesan had gone silent. [It was a venerable sword from my empire. Even the founder lost his life to this sword. Thebyrinth has many outstanding items, but this is fairly decent.] It was not just fairly decent. It was outstanding. He hadn¡¯t expected such a great weapon to appear. Honestly, the quest was simple. Just take the ghost, go down the floors as usual, and defeat the boss. That was all. The result was beyond his expectations. [When you kill those bastards in the future... I''ll give you more valuable things. We''ll end up fighting as soon as we meet anyway.] Hearing that mncholic voice, Taesan switched his weapon. He put the Sword of Lakiratas into his inventory and equipped Calvert¡¯s Relic. His current attack power was 45. It had jumped up by 50% in an instant. Satisfied, Taesan went to find Lilis. She was happy to see Taesan but stammered when she saw the ghost. ¡°Huh?¡± [That''s how it turned out.] ¡°Ah. Yes¡­¡­¡± Taesan handed the Lance of Subjugation to the flustered Lilis. ¡°Can you learn invisibility magic with this as tribute?¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Lilis quickly forgot about the ghost, and her eyes sparkled as she examined the spear. ¡°This is an artifact that I can¡¯t even see in my world¡­ It should be enough.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± As Lilis took the spear and began to chant, a great presence filled the room. Taesan looked at that shimmering power from a distance. ¡®It¡¯s different indeed.¡¯ The purple crack he saw on Earth. In front of his eyes was a being with the same conduit of power. However, the way the power felt and the difort was different. While Taesan was checking out the presence, Lilis, who had offered the ritual, wiped off the sweat that was trickling down her face. ¡°Phew! It was close, but somehow we made it.¡± [You have obtained Invisibility.£Ý [Novice Magic: Invisibility£Ý [Mana Consumption: 20£Ý [Proficiency: 1%] [Hides the body. Depending on proficiency, you can hide from more things.] The mana consumption was the highest among the skills he had acquired so far, but it was a skill worth the cost. ¡°Now you¡¯ve learned all the magic I have, right?¡± Lilis murmured with a hopeful face. Now she could also learn new magic depending on the sacrifices Taesan offered. Since Taesan wasn¡¯t satisfied with just this level of magic, she would be able to get the magic she wanted. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Do you know a way tomunicate with the gods?¡± The difference between the existence on Earth and these entities. The only sure way to know was to ask directly. ¡°A conversation?¡± Lilis¡¯s pupils grewrge, surprised by his sudden question. ¡°Well¡­ as far as I know, there isn¡¯t? Why do you ask?¡± [There is.] The ghost, seemingly guessing Taesan¡¯s intentions, responded calmly. [It''s quite deep. You have to go near what is colloquially called the depths. But there is a passage there. Normally, the mere attempt tomunicate is crazy, but it wouldn''t be a problem for you.] ¡°Heh.¡± Lilis nodded as if she had just learned a new fact. Taesan said goodbye to her and headed to the 11th floor. Thebyrinth changed its theme every ten floors. If the floors until now had been rooms of mossy green, the 11th floor was a room of red. The walls were speckled with a mix of blood and rust, giving off an unpleasant smell. [This ce is beyond the entrance of thebyrinth.] [Those that won''t die even if you stab them live here. There aren''t many living things here. The darkness of this ce is gradually getting stronger.] The content of the exnation text had changed. From the 11th to the 20th floor. The monsters that came out here were not living but dead. [11th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 11th floor and pass.] [Reward: Lion''s Ring.] [Secret Reward: ???] The quest was the same as before. Taesan passed through the room stoically. The dwarf, as always, was waiting for him. ¡°Are you here already? I thought it would take a few months, but you came sooner than I expected?¡± ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t something that would take that long.¡± 11th floor. From here on, the items sold in the shop changed significantly. It was now the time when he could obtain the items that Taeyeon boasted to him in the past. Taesan looked at the dwarf with a hopeful face. Chapter 68: Eleventh Level - Penalty Play (2) The dwarf, seeing the ghost, grimaced for a moment. ¡°This tiresome fellow has followed you all the way here.¡± He wasn¡¯t surprised by the fact that the ghost had arrived. Rather, he seemed like he had expected it somewhat, and with an indifferent attitude, the ghost spoke. [You knew, didn''t you.] ¡°I knew. So what?¡± His indifferent words echoed through the shop. Instead of expressing anger or annoyance, the ghost clicked its tongue and retreated as always. The dwarf also didn¡¯t react much and turned his gaze to Taesan. ¡°Atst, you¡¯ve stepped into a realbyrinth. It¡¯s not that everything until now was false, but it¡¯s said that those who pass the 10th floor are a rarity even among a hundred challengers.¡± In the dwarf¡¯s eyes, looking at Taesan, there was a proud glow. ¡°So, from here on out, I can show you items that are worthy of this level. Check it out.¡± The dwarf opened his space and took out equipment. The equipment¡¯s shape, color, and aura were all in a different league from what he had seen so far. Taesan whistled as he checked each one. He picked up a dark chainmail armor. [Unused Dark Chainmail Armor] [Defense + 33] [Damage from enemy weapons - 5] [Armor that has never been shown to the world from the craftsman''s warehouse. The reason for this is only known to the craftsman.] ¡°Huh.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t help butugh. What a crazy performance level. His current armor only provided a defense of 10 and agility of 2. It wasn¡¯t low-tier equipment. In Easy Mode, he would wear his current leather armor until he cleared it. But armor that was iparable to it appeared in the store. Moreover, it reduced damage from weapons by 5. Considering it was not conditional on a situation, it was a much better effect than +5 defense. Equipment that could be obtained only in the deeper levels, even in Normal Mode. Such things were appearing from the 10th floor here. As expected, the price was not cheap. [30,000G] It wasn¡¯t just ¡®not cheap¡¯. Taesan lost his words after checking the price. The dwarf chuckled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it good? That¡¯s on the cheaper side.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯ll look around more.¡± He also checked other equipment, but all of them had outstanding performance. [Orator''s Gauntlet] [Attack + 34] [Additional Damage + 5] [A gauntlet used by a lowly diator. A mage, who was his fan, blessed it.] [50,000G] [Star-calling Shoes] [Defense +2] [Movement Speed + 15%] [Shoes imbued with the breath of nature. The energy of an entire forest is contained here.] [40,000G] [Armor-Piece: Helmet] [Defense +30] [Strength + 10] [A helmet from the set crafted by the Dwarf King in jest. Hidden features are revealed when the set ispleted.] [70,000G] [Book of Death] [Magic + 20] [A book containing death.] [66,000G] ¡°What is this¡­¡± No matter how much he looked around, there were only pieces of equipment with crazy performance, and their prices were equally absurd. ¡°There¡¯s even a set item.¡± The pieces of the Armor-set. Even one piece alone had a decent performance, and there was a hidden feature on top of that. It would be worth collecting, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that the price was outrageously high. That was exactly the problem. The prices were far too high. Right now, Taesan only owned 15,000 gold. Even if he spent all of it, he couldn¡¯t buy the cheapest item. While continuing to look around, Taesan chortled at one ring. ¡°What is this?¡± [Purple Ring: Hongyeong] [Strength + 3%] [Intelligence + 3%] [Agility + 3%] [A ring that has been bathed in sunlight for the time it takes for a falling droplet to make a hole in a rock.] [100,000G] A boost to all stats by 3%. It was an item with a percentage increase applied, and it wasn¡¯t even armor or a weapon but a ring. One could wear ten of a ring, each with a 3% buff attached. The price was significantly higher than the other pieces of equipment, but it was worth the cost. He wanted to buy it. But he had no money. As if guessing Taesan¡¯s feelings, the dwarf gave a heartyugh. ¡°Do you want to buy it?¡± ¡°I want to buy it, yes.¡± It was just that he didn¡¯t have the money. It was a pipe dream. ¡°There is a way you can buy it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Taesan looked surprised at the dwarf. The dwarf grinned mischievously and began to speak. ¡°Of course, you can¡¯t just buy it. I¡¯m not showing you this for nothing on the 10th floor. There¡¯s a way.¡± ¡°What way?¡± This was something he hadn¡¯t heard from Lee Taeyeon. The dwarfughed heartily and continued speaking. ¡°You can think of it as a kind of challenge. Whenever you aplish something, I¡¯ll reduce the price ordingly.¡± ¡°¡­What kind of challenge?¡± ¡°Simple.¡± The dwarf raised a finger and pointed towards the entrance. ¡°It¡¯s a kind of penalty y.¡± The dwarf began to exin, and Taesan listened with a serious face. A momentter, after the exnation had ended, Taesan stroked his chin. ¡°So I have to sacrifice my stats.¡± ¡°I like when you adventurers take on challenges. The harder the challenge, the better. You may risk your life, but in doing so, you¡¯ll be stronger.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. At the end of life-risking battles, they did be stronger. The problem was losing their lives in these challenges. ¡°Considering who you are, you don¡¯t have to worry about that, do you?¡± The dwarf said with augh. Taesan shrugged in response to the trust-filled words. ¡°That could be true.¡± ¡°Then, I haven¡¯t misjudged the person.¡± The dwarf chuckled. He was smiling more than usual. Penalty y. The dwarf¡¯s words were simple when summarized. When you opened your stat window, you could see several figures. To simplify, the numbers that directly affectbat are Health, Mana, Strength, Intelligence, Agility, Attack Power, and Defense Power. Seven stats in total. The dwarf said to choose from the numbers that could be made into basic stats, and he promised to lower the price for each number. ¡°How much for one?¡± ¡°10%¡± 10%. It wasn¡¯t a small percentage. But considering the cost, it couldn¡¯t be consideredrge either. If Health was lowered to the base stat, you would die after just a couple of hits. If Mana was the base stat, you could only use skills two or three times. If Strength changed, you couldn¡¯t even wield a sword, and if Agility changed, you couldn¡¯t avoid your opponent¡¯s attacks. Not to mention anything about Attack Power and Defense Power. ¡®I can see why he didn¡¯t mention this to Lee Taeyeon.¡¯ He was sure she wouldn¡¯t ept his proposal. Even if it wasn¡¯t her, almost no one would ept. This ce was Solo Mode. Everyone risked their lives to barely clear one floor; no one was crazy enough to sacrifice their stats in such a situation. ¡®What?¡¯ But Taesan looked at the dwarf with a bewildered face. The dwarf was still smiling broadly. Taesan realized that the dwarf had misunderstood something. ¡°I will sacrifice it.¡± The dwarf¡¯sughter deepened even more. ¡°What will you sacrifice?¡± ¡°Can I also sacrifice the protective shield?¡± ¡°That? Since that¡¯s also a stat, sure.¡± ¡°I will sacrifice the Protective Shield, Health, Mana, Intelligence, and Defense Power.¡± The dwarf, who had beenughing, paused for a moment. ¡°¡­¡­five stats?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m okay with it, really?¡± ¡°Yes. Please do it.¡± When Taesan urged him to do it, the dwarf extended his trembling hand. Something with tremendous power took its ce. [The transaction isplete. Your Protective Shield, Health, Mana, Intelligence, and Defense Power has dropped to their base stats.] A moment of exhaustion overwhelmed Taesan. When he checked his stats, they showed really disheartening figures. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 24] [Shield: 1/1] [Health: 100/100] [Mana: 10/10] [Strength: 406] [Intelligence: 10] [Agility: 332] [Attack Power + 45] [Defense Power + 0] [The target is in the best condition.] ¡°When you clear a floor, your stats return to normal. The stats that increase in the meantime will normally rise when you clear, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± They were very poor stats. He would be in danger just after taking two hits. But Taesan headed for thebyrinth with a happy face. ¡°I will be going now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Wait. Speaking of which, that guy¡¯s stats¡­¡± The dwarf mumbled something after realizingte, but Taesan had already passed through the door. ¡°What a jackpot.¡± He passed through the room with a cheerful face. Before long, he was able to meet the enemy of the 11th floor. [A Skeleton Warrior has appeared.] A fleshless monster appeared with a rattling sound. From the 11th to the 20th floors, the dead appeared. It was a monster fitting for that theme. Clink. The skeleton swung its rusted sword at Taesan. It was a reasonably decent sword strike. ¡®They¡¯re definitely strong.¡¯ As soon as you entered the 11th floor, the enemies became much stronger than the previous rate of enemy growth. It was amusing that a monster with only bones left was stronger and faster than an Ogre, but since that was the case, it was hard to say anything. But that was just it. It had just gotten stronger. Taesan ced strength into his sword. The skeleton¡¯s sword broke, and its joints shattered. [80 Damage to the Skeleton Warrior.] The attack included a critical hit. It was easier because it was a critical hit, as the joints shattered instantly. With another strike, he knocked it down. [You have obtained a Piece of Joint.] [You have obtained 453G.] ¡°That was easy.¡± [Of course.] Changing health and defense to basic values meant nothing. He wouldn¡¯t get hit in the first ce. Returning mana to the basic value also had no meaning. There was no problem even if he didn¡¯t use his skills. Because his stats were overwhelming overall, there was no problem with the penalty. While clearing thebyrinth, Taesan defeated skeletons. During that time, his sixth sense activated, and he quickly found the secret room and received the reward. [Bracelet of Retribution] [Defense Power + 5] [1% chance to retaliate against an enemy''s attack.] For a bracelet, it had a defense power of 5 and a special effect attached. It wasn¡¯t a bad piece of equipment. He could wear two bracelets, so there were no items he needed to remove. After that, he looked around for various things, but the 11th floor, as a new theme, didn¡¯t have anything particrly special, whether it was consideration to adapt slowly or just coincidence. So he promptly entered the boss room. [A Skeleton Knight has appeared.] It was a Knight, not a Warrior. It was much faster and stronger inparison. But it was just at the level of a boss on the 11th floor. He dealt with it without any problem and received the reward. [Lion''s Ring] [Damage + 3 to Undead] [A ring that once led the dead.] Damage increased by 3. It wasn¡¯t bad. With this ring, he had equipped rings on all ten fingers. And a secret reward. [You have used ???] [You have obtained Anklet Guards made of skeleton leaves and filled with a magical potion.] [Anklet Guards made of skeleton leaves and filled with a magical potion.] [Defense Power + 12] [Agility + 7] [Anklet guards that the Magic Merchant was trying to sell but couldn''t due to the high price.] It was a good item. It was anklet guards with high defense power and a high agility stat attached. The secret reward was worth it. With the arrival of the 11th floor, overall rewards were also strengthened. While the dropped items from the monsters were not significant enough to use, they were noticeably better than the acquired items. It was a satisfactory achievement. He also gained 2 levels, and thanks to his various skills, his stats also increased significantly. Taesan descended to the 11th floor. [Quest Started: 12th floor] [Defeat the boss of the 12th floor and proceed.] [Reward: Necromancer''s Staff] [Secret Reward: ???] It didn¡¯t take even an hour to clear one floor. He reached the 12th floor and encountered the dwarf. The dwarf¡¯s face immediately turned sour. ¡°Five of them, so it¡¯s 50%, right?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, that¡¯s right. Damn it.¡± The dwarf looked at Taesan with an expression simr to when he realized Taesan had a protective shield. After a moment, he burst intoughter. ¡°Why are you so smug? I knew you were strong, but I never imagined you would be this powerful.¡± [Now you see?] ¡°Yeah. You damned guy. You got this for almost nothing?¡± Heined incessantly, but Taesan was pleased. He had obtained a chance to get a 50% discount at almost no cost. ¡°He¡¯s incredible.¡± While Taesan was enjoying himself, the dwarf couldn¡¯t help but admire him. Although he acted cool on the surface, he was in a quite miserable state. From his experience, Taesan¡¯s stats were something unimaginable at the moment. ¡°Is this even possible?¡± Chapter 69: Twelfth Level - Marias Choice (1) The dwarf had been brought here directly by the wizard right after this ce was designed. Having been here since the beginning, he¡¯d seen countless visitors. Among them were those whose names were known even before they arrived, those who were strong from the start, and even those with surprising talents that caught his eye. ¡®It was awe-inspiring.¡¯ The dwarf reminisced about the past. He gained skills with each stroke of the sword, and with every floor he descended, his proficiency increased by double digits. It was truly an incredible talent. From his perspective, Taesan was outstanding. There was no doubt that he had talent. If he didn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t have survived up to this point. But it wasn¡¯t the greatest talent he¡¯d ever seen. While exceptional, he had seen several others with the same level of talent as Taesan. The world was vast, and there were many more worlds beyond that. Everyone who entered thebyrinth had talent. ¡®Wasn¡¯t there also a mechanical race?¡¯ There were those who came from worlds so advanced that he couldn¡¯tprehend it. With their perfectputational and judgment abilities, they sprinted through thebyrinth. Although their advantage waned as they moved into the middle stages, they were faster than any other race in the early stages. However, none of them had shown the figures that Taesan was demonstrating now. The strongest one reached around 250 for their highest stat. Taesan¡¯s stat figure was nearly twice as high. It wasn¡¯t just simple talent. He must have some other ability. Being unaware of Soul Ascension, the dwarf couldn¡¯t help but think this way. ¡®I wish I knew the skill.¡¯ The dwarf licked his lips. If there were any variables here, it was most likely due to skills. He would have loved to dissect and examine him if he could, but since that wasn¡¯t allowed, he had no choice but to ask inly. ¡°Is this your first time here?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± It was indeed his first time in Solo mode. The dwarf eximed at his calm response, ¡°Good heavens¡­¡± ¡®He¡¯s not the type to go down easily.¡¯ In his view, Taesan¡¯s ability was not just talent but the ability to stick to a line. The one who had a stat of 250 died on the 74th floor. He tried to gain everything by stripping all his gear and only holding a weapon against a god¡¯s trial, but he died just like that. The man with the greatest talent died on the 30th floor. He let down his guard against the boss, showed a gap, and died from a sudden attack. ¡®But this guy won¡¯t do that.¡¯ Taesan had offered five stats. At first, he thought it was wasteful, but then he realized that even that was restrained after seeing his stats. In his view, he could¡¯ve touched his attack power and agility. ¡®He didn¡¯t only pursue safety.¡¯ His current stats would have beenpletely impossible if that were the case. In terms of weighing the value, Taesan was perfect. The dwarf¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡®Could it be?¡¯ At first, it was just fascinating. A kind of interest in believing that he wouldst long and that he wouldn¡¯t die easily. He didn¡¯t even expect him to clear it. But if things continued like this if Taesan didn¡¯t make a big mistake and continued to go down thebyrinth¡­ ¡®Could it be possible?¡¯ For a moment, his heart pounded. A hope he had given up long ago began to re up. Unaware of his feelings, Taesan looked at the dwarf nkly. From his perspective, the dwarf was thinking to himself, and then suddenly, his eyes were gleaming. Regaining his senses btedly, the dwarf coughed awkwardly. ¡°Since you are already paying upfront, I¡¯ll give you a 50% discount.¡± Taesan grinned. He thought there could be some resistance as he used some underhanded means, but his worriespletely disappeared. ¡°How should I use it?¡± ¡°Choose an item. I will cut its price by 50%.¡± He was given a choice. What he was going to buy was already decided. [Purple Ring: Hongyeong] [All Stats +3%] [A ring that has endured the energy of the sun until the falling water molds the rock.] [100,000G] ¡°Do you choose that one?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He had never considered other equipment. Of course, all of them were good items. If he equipped them, he could probably use them for quite a while. But if asked whether they were worth spending all his money on at this point, the answer would be no. He wouldn¡¯t have a problem up to the 20th floor in his current state. His stats and level were continuously rising, and he would acquire skills, so by the time he reached the 20th floor, he would likely be able to handle up to the 25th floor, maybe even the 30th. And by that time, the other equipment would have lost its value. This ce elerated growth, so they wouldrgely be meaningless. However, a percentage increase was useful at any stage. Moreover, the value increased significantly since a ring was an equipment slot that could hold the most items. ¡°Do as you please.¡± The dwarf said grumpily, but he was quite satisfied inside. In his view, that was the correct action. He was starting to view Taesan more favorably. ¡°But when will I buy it?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll take some time. I¡¯m keeping an eye on it for now.¡± He currently had around 20,000 gold. Despite being careful and saving, it was far from enough for 50,000 gold. Taesan realized something. ¡®I¡¯m not actually supposed to buy this with money.¡¯ If he hadn¡¯t received a penalty, he¡¯d barely be able to afford one by reaching the 30th floor. He clicked his tongue. ¡®How much grinding did they do?¡¯ Lee Taeyeon had almost full equipment like that. She didn¡¯t y with penalties like Taesan, so she would¡¯ve bought everything at full price. It quite literally meant she had cut back on sleep and repetitively ground for gold. While Taesan was admiring her persistence, the dwarf was stroking his chin. ¡°I need to adjust this. The penalty will stop here. I¡¯m a merchant, you see. I don¡¯t want to give things out for free.¡± He calmly epted it since it was an expected part. The dwarf didn¡¯t like giving rewards undeservedly, even ones like these. Still, he reduced it by 50,000 gold. In any case, it was a huge gain. ¡°Just think about it some more.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going.¡± ¡°Go on, kid.¡± The dwarf was grumbling, but a satisfied smile was on his face. Taesan turned his back to the dwarf and headed towards thebyrinth. He breezed through the 12th floor just like the 11th. This time, it was a ghoul. ¡°Is a ghoul stronger than a skeleton?¡± ¡°Who do you think is stronger, one with flesh or one with just bones?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan was convinced by the reasonably persuasivement. Soon, he found a divine altar. [You have discovered the Altar of Maria.] [First Discovery Bonus] [Intelligence has permanently increased by 3. Mana has permanently increased by 5.] There was a statue of a goddess holding a scale. It was sorge that it nearly filled half of the room. Any ordinary person would have been overwhelmed by the size of the statue itself. ¡°It¡¯s quite in.¡± At the altar, you could find the characteristics of the corresponding god. Just like the Altar of Lakiratas, which was adorned with violence and blood as if it loved the struggle. On the contrary, Maria¡¯s altar had no other decorations. Only the statue of the goddess holding the scale stood inly in the room. If there had been no exnation, it would have been hard to recognize that it was a divine altar. ¡°What kind of god is she?¡± It wasn¡¯t as if Lee Taeyeon knew all the gods. Maria was not among the gods she had mentioned. The ghost trailed off in its speech. It seemed reluctant. [She''s a god of choice... Hmm ...] ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± [No, it''s nothing.] The ghost dodged the question. [Our conditions are different, so I can''t say much. But if I only talk about the god and not about the trials, she''s a strong god. Very much so.] ¡°How strong?¡± [On par with Lakiratas.] ¡°I don¡¯t understand when you say that.¡± He had never really seen the extent of a god¡¯s power yet. The ghost chuckled. [You''ll find out as you go down. Anyway, just know this. Powerful gods are usually capricious.] ¡°Hmm.¡± Even if that was the case, nothing would change. The trials of the gods gave a lot. He had no intention of running away in fear. As Taesan approached the altar, power poured out from the statue of the goddess. A serene yet deep and profound power began to take shape. [Sub Quest Begins] [Maria wishes to test you, who havee to her altar. If you ept, the trial wille to you. If you ovee it, rewards will follow.] [Maria''s influence zone decreases.] [Maria proposes an enhanced trial to you.] ¡°An enhanced trial right away?¡± There was not even a sign of the god scrutinizing something like before. The ghost answered Taesan, who was frowning as if it was obvious. [Your story must have spread among the gods. They don''t need to check because they already know everything. Unlike Lakiratas, she won''t pull tricks in the middle, so don''t worry.] Anyway, he¡¯s decided to ept it. [Sub Quest Starts.] [Maria chuckles.] [Maria''s domain shrinks.] [A choice is given to you.] [What do you prefer more?] [Many enemies vs. Few enemies.] Taesan stopped at the unexpected system message. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± [As the name suggests, she''s a god of choice. Choose as you wish.] It felt unsettling. There was no correct answer to what result this choice would bring. Even if he asked the ghost, the atmosphere suggested it wouldn¡¯t answer. After a moment of contemtion, Taesan made his choice. ¡°A few enemies.¡± If there was no right answer, answer honestly. That was Taesan¡¯s philosophy. Besides, the gods had shown behavior several times as if they were reading his memories. There was no reason to unnecessarily get on the wrong side of the gods. The choice appeared again. [A variety of enemies VS A few types of enemies.] ¡°A few types.¡± It was easier to deal with those who only used the sword cleanly than those whoplicatedly used magic, enchantments, swords, and arrows. [Combat with movement. VS Combat without movement.] ¡°Combat with movement.¡± He liked to dodge and fight from all angles. He used the surrounding environment to the maximum extent. Choices were continuously given. Whether it was about quantity or a bit at a time, enemies using spears or magic. Everything was aboutbat. Taesan¡¯s face grew more and more ufortable. But he couldn¡¯t change his choices now. He answered honestly as he had done so far. After dealing with about ten more questions like this, finally, The choices stopped. [Maria is satisfied.] ng! The statue of the goddess disappeared, and the room expanded momentarily. Taesan was left alone in a room that had doubled in size. A rumble. Monsters showed their shapes. Seeing their number, Taesan scowled. There was a lot. The monsters filled the expanded room without leaving a single empty space. And each one of them had a distinct personality. A big one, a small one like a child, one with long arms. One that floated in the air, and so on. There were incredibly many. Kyiing. A red, circr curtain was drawn around Taesan. It¡¯s a distance he could move about twice withrge strides. [If you move beyond this space, you lose.] ¡°Damn it.¡± He didn¡¯t finish his words. The monsters all rushed in at once. Taesan, with an annoyed expression, stood ready. He drew his twin swords and enhanced his senses. [You have activated your Breathless Attack.] First, he removed the constraint of breath and identified the attacks. One goblin in front. An ogre to the left. A lizardman to the right. Behind him, a monster wielding a spear, whose name he didn¡¯t know. He nned his movements and moves. He twisted the head of the goblin and pped the face of the ogre. He ducked to avoid the spear of the lizardman and the unnamed monster and kicked out. ¡°Caww!¡± ¡°Ki ack!¡± The monsters were sent flying, but Taesan frowned. They were clearly stronger than the monsters he usually encountered. It meant they were strengthened for the trial. As they flew away, new monsters began their attacks. Taesan tries to retreat and create distance, but the red barrier blocks his movement. ¡°Darn.¡± It was clear. The trial had begun in the form opposite to all the methods he chose and preferred. ¡®So this is why they call her the God of Choice.¡¯ There were many monsters among them that he didn¡¯t know. No matter how he looked, there were creatures that didn¡¯t seem to appear on the lower floors. The skeleton flying above Taesan started to mutter something, and magic began to form. Taesan pulled out a temporary dagger he had and threw it. The dagger struck through the skeleton¡¯s head, disrupting the magic. He immediately lowered his stance and dug in his feet. His body flew into the sky. The skeleton, trying to pull out the stuck dagger, paused. ¡°Die.¡± Crack. The skeleton shattered. [Your Mark of Struggle has been activated.] Chapter 70: Twelfth Level - Marias Choice (2) Having jumped off the ground, his body was now in free fall. The monsters on the ground were reaching up toward him like zombies. Taesan didn¡¯t stop them. Attack Nullification was applied to each individual target. In other words, he could block any one target twice without fail. Numerous attacks wereunched at Taesan as hended on the ground, all of which were wiped out. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] [Your Second Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] [Your Second Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] Nullified, nullified, nullified, nullified, nullified¡­ Numerous system windows. If he hadn¡¯t changed the preset for them, they would have covered his entire field of vision. Taesan, havingnded on the ground, moved his sword. The first sword of the Storm Scar, Wolf¡¯s Fang. Crack. Using the sticity of his whole body, he swung in all directions. He shattered the attempts to block him with sheer force and twisted the trajectories of those trying to dodge him, stabbing them in the neck with his sword striking like a snake. He deflected his opponents¡¯ attacks, scattering theirbos and making them attack each other. ¡°Ca!¡± ¡°Gak.¡± In an instant, all the surrounding monsters disappeared. The monsters were stronger than average but decidedly weaker than him. It would have been a real nightmare if they were as powerful as their numbers, which were in the hundreds. And this was when the Mark of Struggle shone. [Your Mark of Struggle has been activated.] A skill obtained by oveing the enhanced trial of Lakiratas. During the course of a battle, every time an enemy was defeated, health, mana, stats, speed, everything improved. Against such a multitude of enemies, it was a virtually peerless skill. But this was a trial by the gods, a trial personally enhanced by Maria, who was presumed to be on par with Lakiratas. It wouldn¡¯t be easy enough to manage with just the Mark of Struggle. Pit. [You received 12 damage.] A long scar appeared on Taesan¡¯s arm. Taesan frowned. ¡°What the?¡± Suddenly, a wound appeared. The damage taken indicated that it was more than a scrape from a piece of stone. As there were so many, he couldn¡¯t block all the attacks, so Taesan continued to fight nonchntly. Pat. [You received 14 damage.] But another scar appeared. This time there was no mistaking it. The wound had appeared from the direction he had been subduing the monster. There were also no signs of magic manifestation. ¡®Invisible monster.¡¯ Taesan frowned. ¡®I don¡¯t feel anything?¡¯ He could even feel the insects in the grass, thanks to his enhanced senses. Even if it was a stealth monster, he should feel its general location, but he felt absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, another wound had appeared. [You received 13 damage.] As the damage window appeared, Taesan swung his sword. It shed through everything like a storm, but he didn¡¯t feel like he was hitting anything. ¡®It¡¯s not just invisibility.¡¯ Whether it was removing its presence from this location or teleporting, it wasn¡¯t an easy enemy to catch. Taesan quickly made a decision. ¡®I won¡¯t target it.¡¯ He focused on the monsters attacking him. He repelled them, knocked them down, and while more wounds appeared, he didn¡¯t even pay attention this time. The damage from each hit wasn¡¯t significant. It was a level that could be recovered with the Mark of Struggle. There was no reason to be obsessed then. Since he didn¡¯t know the method of the enemy¡¯s attack, he didn¡¯t know how to counter it. Rather than obsessing over such a situation and potentially taking a big hit, it was a better decision to ignore it altogether. A monster with the form of a fascinating womanughed. [Subus''s Charm has been activated.] [No judgment necessary!] Kwajik. Taesan crushed her head just like that. ¡®So there are subi, too?¡¯ Taesan frowned as he scrutinized each one. There were more monsters he had never seen before than those he knew. Literally, there were monsters of every kind. ¡®I think I understand.¡¯ In the worst situation you least wanted to face, bet everything you had and win. That was what Maria wanted. He could feel the divine joy of the god watching from afar. ¡®Show them.¡¯ He grinned faintly and gripped his sword. The range of motion was limited. For him, who preferred to strike and dodge, it was an extremely frustrating situation. He had to calcte each move due to the diversity of the enemies. ¡®It¡¯s bothersome.¡¯ But it didn¡¯t matter much. He blocked, stabbed, and cut down the monsters. Thanks to his Storm Scar Sword, he was able to bring down the monsters without taking significant damage. But there was a limit to physical maneuverability. It was hard to block an attacking directly from behind. ¡°Crack!¡± A tiny monster, looking like a rat, scratched the ground while aiming for Taesan¡¯s neck. The monster jumped, baring its fangs. At that moment, a me was kindled. [You have activated zing Orb.] Pwong! ¡°Kyee!¡± The rat-like monster disappeared with a scream. He dealt with the monsters aiming at his back with magic. Despite the many monsters dying and disappearing, there was no end. ¡°Kwoar!¡± A giant swung down his club, and the block momentarily pinned Taesan¡¯s foot. At the stronger feel of force, Taesan gritted his teeth and applied strength. [You have activated Heavy Strike.] Teorong! He parried the club and blocked the oing des. Significant damage was taken, but with his quick response, the loss was minimized. While blocking, he analyzed the monsters¡¯ habits. Taesan caught another rat-like monster aiming for his neck and threw it head-on. The orc swinging the greatsword momentarily paused and cut down the rat-like monster. Kwajik. As he pierced the orc¡¯s neck, he was certain. Monsters didn¡¯t attack each other. Even if it meant showing their own weaknesses. ¡°Wooa!¡± The giant swung his club again. Taesan suddenly lunged forward, grabbed the neck of a startled goblin, and threw it at the giant. The goblin screamed at the club that intended to crush him. ¡°Kkeeeeek!¡± At that desperate scream, the giant reflexively paused his club. Taesan activated his Frost Arrow. [You have activated Magic eleration.] Shwak! The elerated Frost Arrow pierced through the goblin and skewered the giant. ¡°Wooa!¡± Taesan kicked the ground and reached the eye level of the giant. The giant, bursting with pain and anger, swung his club. Tak. Catching the club, Taesan climbed higher. He struck down his sword from above the giant¡¯s head. [The Giant takes 153 damage.] ¡°Wooa!¡± The sword pierced through the head and sprouted from the jaw. The eyes lost their sense momentarily, and the mouth trembled. Destroying the head itself dealt significant damage and momentarily erased intelligence. Taesan skillfully swung his sword on the edge, shing and toppling the giant. The giant fell. [Your Mark of Struggle has been activated.] ¡°Kyaaa!¡± ¡°Kyaruk!¡± The monsters aimed at Taesan¡¯s falling body after he toppled the giant. Taesan wrapped himself in his robe. [You have activated the Robe of Darkness. You will be invisible for 1 second.] His body disappeared. The monsters, screaming with their bloodshot eyes, were taken aback. ¡°Kaak?¡± Havingnded on the ground, Taesan moved his hands. The monsters, who hadn¡¯t noticed, lost their legs. ¡°Kyaaa!¡± Yet there was no end to them. Taesan clicked his tongue and reassessed the situation. The monsters tried to keep their order to a reasonable extent. They did not push away a weaker monster in front and take its ce. His judgment and decision were quick. If a weak one was in front, he would leave it and deal with the stronger ones first. He could not afford to hesitate even an inch in such a situation. [Skeleton Mage hasunched a Fireball.] [Skeleton Mage has activated a Magic Arrow.] Magic flew from the sky. Taesan did not evade. [You have activated Deflection.] The magic skimmed past Taesan, striking the monsters around him. In the meantime, the invisible monster was still attacking Taesan. Without paying it any mind, he surveyed his surroundings. To his left was a lizardman¡¯s spear. To his right, a fist. It was a goblin. An Ice Arrow wasing from the sky. He traced the trajectories and lines of movement, then moved. He grabbed the goblin¡¯s fist and shook it hard. The spear, which collided with the goblin, broke, and the Ice Arrow lodged into the goblin¡¯s belly. Taesan threw the corpse away. The skeleton constructing the magic was hit and fell. Numerous monster corpsesy scattered around him. Taesan did not stop. By the time he had defeated 2/3 of them, no easy monsters were left. Either they possessed strange special abilities or were simply so strong that they could withstand his sword strikes. Defeating one meant he also had to tolerate a loss of health. The rate of recovery from the Mark of Struggle could not cope with the rate of damage. All attack nullification effects had long been activated. Thus, the battle continued for thirty minutes, and¡­ With only 10% of his health remaining, the end was in sight. ¡°Hu.¡± He wiped away his sweat and held his staggering sword. Although under normal circumstances, his stamina wouldn¡¯t be drained after only an hour of fighting, it was literally a battle where everything was at stake; thus even he was exhausted. It was not over yet. Four monsters remained. ¡°Are you guys thest?¡± The monsters dressed in red armor drew their long swords and surrounded him from four directions. Death Knights. If Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words were true, they were the bosses of the 20th floor. And that was not all. Upon closer inspection, their armors were simr but subtly different. Human-sized decorations were visible on the chest part of the rusted armor. It seemed adventurers had died here and became Death Knights. ¡°Are they simr to Lakiratas¡¯s subjects? And there are four of them?¡± Each one would be stronger than a simple 20th-floor boss. Taesan drew the de of Self-harm and stabbed it into his arm. He recovered the stored health of 500, but he was still not in top condition. He was at most at around 60%. Clink. The enemy¡¯s de moved toward Taesan. Taesan quickly reacted with his hand. ¡°Come on.¡± Four swords stabbed at Taesan from all directions. His sword moved as the crimson sword shed with Taesan¡¯s, making a loud noise. Thwack. A long scratch was drawn on his cheek. It was impossible to block all attacks from all directions. Moreover, the opponents were not weak. They were those who had learned systematic swordsmanship, so naturally, his body was bound to suffer injuries. It would have been tough if he hadn¡¯t learned the Storm Scar Sword. Even with it, it was difficult because there were four opponents. ng! While blocking with his sword, Taesan activated a skill. [You have activated Forced Duel.] A system window popped up, and all attacks except for those made by the target were erased. The moment that happened, the opponent quickly pulled back. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°Damn limitation.¡± If there weren¡¯t spatial constraints, it would have been incredibly easy. Just set a Forced Duel and follow through to knock them down. However, due to the constraint of not being able to go beyond a certain limit, there wasn¡¯t much he could do if the opponent immediately distanced themselves. Taesan activated the zing Orb and Frost Arrows. He mixed eleration and explosion to attack, but none of itnded. They seemed capable of blocking when used inly like this, but it could be different in the heat of battle. ¡°Hu.¡± If there was a fortunate point for him, it was that the Mark of Struggle also recovered mana. Because his magic proficiency was high, mana consumption was greatly reduced, so his mana had barely decreased. The duration of the Forced Duel ended, and the Death Knights charged in. Taesan grasped his sword. [You have activated Flow.] He activated Flow four times in a row. The attacksunched together were also held back together. Taesan swung the sword he held with both hands roughly. The knights, who lost control of their bodies, suffered scratches on their armor. [25 damage to Maria''s Servant [Fake].] The amount of inflicted damage made Taesan frown. As was the case with Lakiratas¡¯s servants, their defense was quite high. The least injured knight lunged forward with his sword. He activated Counter. His body naturally moved to retaliate against the knight¡¯s attack. He knocked off the sword and counterattacked. With a grunt, the knight staggered back from the chest. ng. He lowered his posture and roughly moved his hands. He dodged and parried the sword aiming at his entire body, but a long scar formed on his arm. [You have taken 56 damage.] ¡®This is indeed impossible.¡¯ Fighting against four at the same time was impossible. Taesan, who judged calmly, kicked the knight in front of him, defended against the remaining knights¡¯ attacks, and repelled them. The kicked knight swiftly jabbed his sword. Taesan didn¡¯t block and spread his arms. The sword deeply pierced Taesan¡¯s chest. [You have activated Endurance.] [You have taken 73 damage.] [You have activated Forced Duel.] ¡°Got you.¡± Taesan whispered to the knight and grabbed his arm. Realizing something strange, the knight tried to quickly pull out, but he was firmly trapped and couldn¡¯t get away. Taesan stabbed his sword into the knight¡¯s chest. The remaining knights moved their swords, but all were ineffective due to the activation of a Forced Duel. Somehow the knight evaded and managed to hold on. The duration of the Forced Duel was 10 seconds. It was not impossible to endure if he devoted himself entirely to evasion. [You have activated Forced Duel.] So, if he used it once more, the problem would be solved. Under the continuous attack, the knight couldn¡¯t hold on and copsed. With this, he had beaten one. There were only three left. ¡°Ho¡± Taesan defended with a vague expression. Taesan¡¯s health had greatly decreased. He took small amounts of damage, and the final attack was decisive. Endurance halved the damage, but still, 70 damage had been inflicted. His remaining health was around 150. Now, he was in a situation where he couldn¡¯t afford to be hit even once. He moved his body, focusing his mind even more. Although their numbers were reduced to three, their attack was still fierce, and it was difficult to find a gap. He could have counterattacked like before, epting a bit of damage, but his health was too low. He moved his sword to the extreme with the utmost caution, parrying and blocking all attacks. sh! The swords collided and bounced off each other. Taesan immediately moved another sword and blocked the attack from the left. He gently pulled the blocked sword and parried the attack from the right. His body started to move before he thought. ng, ng, ng! Block the sword. Parry. These three actions were repeated to the point of frenzy. At some point, the use of skills stopped. He blocked all attacks with just the sword. He realized at that moment. ¡®It¡¯s a bit rough.¡¯ He swung his hands roughly. The first sword technique, Wolf¡¯s Fang, was a wild sword that attacked like a storm, pressuring the opponent and preemptively blocking the opponent¡¯s attacks to gain an advantage. As the name suggested, the Wolf¡¯s Fang was a savage sword technique that exerted pressure by wing at the enemy¡¯s whole body like a wolf. ¡®Can¡¯t I make this a little smoother?¡¯ With that light question, Taesan moved his sword. The end of the movement was smooth, unlike before. [Oh?] The ghost, who was quietly watching, couldn¡¯t help but exim in surprise. Chapter 71: Twelfth Level - Marias Choice (3) Taesan moved his arm gently. There was a naturalness in the sword¡¯s movement that was not there before. ¡®Is this how it moves?¡¯ He traced the trajectory in his mind and moved physically. He corrected the movement of the sword in real-time. It was crazy. Swordsmanship was something that needed to be perfected slowly through countless training over long periods of time. Suddenly changing it during a fight would not bring meaningful changes but rather endanger one¡¯s life with clumsy movements. But the ghost said nothing, and Taesan also corrected it as if he was certain. He pulled his elbow and shook his wrist. The hand that held the sword until now had been moving roughly like a beast. It wasn¡¯t bad, but it was dull and heavy, like ink sshing on nk paper. But the swordsmanship unfolding from now on was the exact opposite. The tip of the sword trembled like a dance of the sword. But it became lethal. Smoothly passing by like a dance, each of its trajectories was a deadly attack. ng. Sparks flew as the swords collided. Taesan¡¯s sword gently slid down the knight¡¯s sword and scratched the armor. Scrape. The solid armor was cut as if it were a cloth. Taesan gently deflected an attack heading diagonally by gripping the sword in reverse. The knights were disturbed by thepletely changed movements, and it was reflected in their movements. Taesan did not miss that gap and pressed on. When he moved both hands, the knight blocked with his sword. Taesan twisted the trajectory of his hand momentarily. The sword grazed past and pierced the knight¡¯s chest. He blocked an attack aiming for his back as he pulled out his sword. ng. He slid down along the de in that position. Moving like flowing water, he bent his arm, shoulder, and armpit. The knight could do nothing and lost an arm. ¡®A bit more.¡¯ A bit more smoothly. But not to lose the characteristics of the sword. He moved both hands at the same time. Like another person¡¯s hand, he performed apletely different movement smoothly. He struck with the sword and counterattacked smoothly. The knights began to waver greatly. The pressure that had been effective until now changed so that it didn¡¯t work at all; hesitation and disbelief seeped into their movements. There was no chance of winning in such a situation. Finally, one more knight fell to Taesan¡¯s sword stroke. Only two were left. The knights¡¯ confusion subsided. They perfectly aligned with each other to target Taesan. Taesan moved his fingertips. The same dance-like sword attack as before unfolded. ng! The sword made a loud sound. There was no wavering from the knights as before. They moved their swords in response to Taesan¡¯s changed movements. They began to press with force. They tried to trample away the dance with violence. Taesan rolled his feet. He rotated his body, pulling his left hand to the right. He pushed his right hand further to the right. His body turned to the right side. The sword of the knight on the left missed. The knight on the right was off bnce, and the force didn¡¯t hit properly. He channeled the force into the dance. And the sword attack changed. He drove toward the knight on the right. The movement was more like a storm, a beast-like momentum, rather than a dance. The first sword, Wolf¡¯s Fang, cuts down the knight. If the knight remembered the swordsmanship he first encountered and did not panic, he could have blocked it. But the knight could not block the trajectory of apletely opposite style of swordsmanship. He desperately moved his sword, but injuries were inflicted all over his armor. Just as the knight barely managed to respond, the movement changed again. As smooth as a dance, like a dancer. ng! The knight could not withstand the constantly changing swordsmanship and fell. Catching the remaining knight was not difficult at all. He attacked with movements like a dancer. The knight desperately blocked, but alone, both the power and speed werecking. Especially the level of swordsmanship. Taesan was superior; the knight could notst long and fell. ¡°Sigh.¡± Taesan looked down at his own hand in amazement. Apletely different swordsmanship hade from his hand than before. ¡°Skill window.¡± [Advanced Skill: Storm Scar''s Sword] [Proficiency: 22%] [A swordsmanship handed down from a destroyed world. Now only one person has learned it. You can be confident that you have just started.] It had already reached 22%. The specter who was watching could not hold back his admiration. [I was thinking of teaching you slowly, but I couldn''t imagine you would figure it out yourself.] ¡°What is this?¡± The swordsmanship unfolded itself as if this was the right answer from the beginning. The specter exined. [The second sword. Dancer''s Dance. If Wolf''s Fang is a striking sword, Dancer''s Dance is to approach softly and cut off the head. It minimizes the roughness characteristic of swordsmanship and cuts off with the optimal movement. Not bad, right?] ¡°Quite.¡± Neither could be said to be superior. Wolf¡¯s Fang was good when facing lower-ranking enemies, and Dancer¡¯s Dance was good when facing equals or multiple enemies. But it was a great advantage that both swords hadpletely different styles. If he had used Dancer¡¯s Dance from the beginning, the knights would have responded to it. But during the battle, the stylepletely changed. They were momentarily confused and were defeated. If they werepletely devoid of intellect, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but since they had a shred of intellect, it definitely made a difference. This made a huge difference in battle. [Do you always have to be pushed to your limit? I was thinking of teaching youplex swordsmanship step by step... You''re impressive.] Leaving the constantly admiring ghost behind, Taesan stretched his body. He had defeated all the monsters in sight, but still, monsters remained. ¡°They don¡¯t even attack now.¡± The invisible monster that had been bothering him all this while. It was time to catch that one. During the battle, out of annoyance, he gradually tracked it down and was able to find an approximate answer. ¡®It¡¯s not one that goes to another dimension.¡¯ There were monsters that hid their bodies in the so-called second dimension and made surprise attacks. He first thought it was them, but the possibility was quite low. Perhaps due to the advantage of hiding in another dimension, their other abilities were often insignificant. Moreover, it was unlikely to have both stealth and dimension movement. Even if they existed, they should only exist deeper down. It wasn¡¯t the kind of monster that would appear like this. Then it was simple. The spatial movement was a lot lower in rank than dimension movement skills. Therefore, quite a few monsters were using both stealth and spatial movement. ¡®High-ranking subus was one of them.¡¯ Taesan activated his magic. Frost arrows began to fill the space one by one. In no time, twenty frost arrows filled the room. Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] Whoosh! The frost arrows exploded all at once, and shards of ice struck the room. Magic Explosion caused damage indiscriminately. Taesan was at risk, too, since his health was considerably low, but he didn¡¯t care. [Your endurance has been activated. The attack leading to death has been nullified. All damage bes 0 for 1 second.] Endurance was a skill that made even suicide tactics feasible to use. Taesan¡¯s prediction was spot on, and a scream erupted. ¡°Argh!¡± [43 damage to Goblin Shaman.] [44 damage to Goblin Shaman.] [You have defeated the Goblin Shaman.] The moment he defeated thest monster, system windows appeared one after another. [You have passed Maria''s trial. You will be rewarded based on Maria''s assessment.] [Maria is very pleased with your honest choice and performance. Maria wishes to give you a deserving reward.] [Maria''s influence area has decreased.] [Maria rewards you. You received [Shape-Shifting Weapon].] [You have cleared the enhanced trial. Additional rewards follow.] [You received the special activation skill [Freedom of Choice].] As always, the rewards were weapons and skills. Thanks to the fight against the limit, the proficiency of some skills significantly increased. Their contents changed, and he also gained new skills. Even before he checked those, an offer came in. [Maria proposes to you the Apostle''s Contract.] ¡°I won¡¯t ept.¡± As always, he refused. He had no intention of epting bing an Apostle yet. It felt as though he could hear stifledughter. Suddenly, the power from beyond seemed to have made a decision and stopped fluctuating. ¡°Hmm?¡± Taesan hesitated. The atmosphere suddenly became ominous. Something enormous was beginning to encroach into this space. [Uh-oh.] ¡°Hold on.¡± [Maria''s irrational choice activated. Maria''s influence area decreases.] [You have been invited. You are given choices. Respond to the invitation. VS Respond to the invitation.] [Forced selection. You have responded to the invitation.] [Pantheon wees you.] The world flipped over. Everything began to be covered as if painted over with a thicker color. His body was forcibly pulled into the transformed space. The instantaneous spatial movement made his head dizzy. Taesan, who momentarily settled his nausea, lifted his head. And then he let out a hollowugh. ¡°What is this?¡± It was as if he was in the void of space as utter ckness spread around him. It was apletely ck space where nothing could be seen, no matter how far he looked. [...This is impossible.] The ghost let out a gasp mixed with shock. [No, this isn''t right. How could a god... invite you here? Invitations like this are impossible.] The ghost kept murmuring. It was as if he had witnessed the end of the world. ¡°Damn it all.¡± In the empty space, there was only one magnificent temple standing tall. ¡°It¡¯s huge.¡± Looking up, he couldn¡¯t see the end of the ceiling. It was as big as a mountain. As Taesan approached the temple, the ghost was startled. [Wait, hold on. Don''t rush in recklessly.] Seeing the ghost desperately trying to stop him, Taesan felt a strange emotion. It was the first time he had seen the ghost so frightened. ¡°Didn¡¯t they invite me? I should see a pleased face.¡± There was no point in just standing still. Entering was the right answer. Even though the ghost seemed reluctant to acknowledge it, it didn¡¯t say anything more. Creak. The massive door opened smoothly, causing Taesan to gasp in awe at the temple¡¯s interior. ¡°What is this again?¡± Gems were spread out like a colorful flower garden. ck gems, golden gems, white gems, and more. There was an overwhelming amount and variety that would hurt one¡¯s eyes. The ghost, who had been keeping its mouth shut, let out a sigh. [Those...] The ghost¡¯s gaze turned toward a peculiar gem with a mix of silver and gold colors. ¡°What is that?¡± [... It''s a gempressed from a meteorite that fell from the stars. There was only one of its kind in our world and a sword made from it... destroyed an entire continent.] It destroyed a continent, not just a country. There were thousands of such gems here. [The Archmage managed to seal them together by gathering their heat, but...] [How amusing that you''re surprised by such a trivial toy.] A voice mixed withughter echoed. [Indeed, to you, what could be more precious in this ce? Even a pile of rusted iron would be something you could never see again.] A majestic voice reverberated within the temple. Taesan turned his head. He saw the figure of a woman with long hair that reached down to her ankles. Her rich golden hair made a strong impression. She looked down at them with a somewhatnguid expression. She had a human form. But it didn¡¯t feel like a human at all. First of all, she was enormous. There was a size difference between Taesan and the woman, simr to that between a kitten and a human. If the woman had been upright, the height difference would have been so great that looking up would have caused severe neck pain. And the immense power emanating from her. The woman smiled. [It''s nice to meet you, child.] Along with the greeting, countless evaluations were attempted. Chapter 72: Twelfth Level - Marias Choice (4) [Chaos Judgement in Progress......] [Madness Judgement in Progress......] [Fear Judgement in Progress......] [Instant Death Judgement in Progress......] [Lost Soul Judgement in Progress......] [Unconsciousness Judgement in Progress......] [All Judgements Sessful!] [Chaos Judgement in Progress......] [Madness Judgement in Progress......] [Fear Judgement in Progress......] The judgments keep seeding and then being attempted again. When the judgment was sessful, another judgment was tried again. The judgments did not stop. [Heuk, heuk.] The ghost¡¯s situation was worse than Taesan¡¯s. It seemed to be hanging on somehow, but its white body, which seemed about to disappear at any moment, was buzzing like the static of a television. Taesan looked up at the woman who wasughing mischievously. The woman¡¯s smile deepened. Taesan scowled. ¡°Is this how you treat your invited guest?¡± The pressure of power lessened for a moment. The loud judgment notifications also disappeared. [Heuk.] The ghost barely managed to take a breath. The womanughed scornfully. The ghost bowed. [Th, thank you. Oh God.] [Don''t thank me. That''s what he said. Long time no see.] [It''s been a long time......] The woman and the ghost seemed to recognize each other. The woman chuckled. [Yes. It''s the first time since our unpleasant meeting.] Although it was said yfully, the ghost couldn¡¯t respond carelessly. After a moment of looking at the ghost, the woman turned her gaze to Taesan. [Well, you know who I am, don''t you?] ¡°The God of Choice. Maria.¡± There was no mistaking her. The mental judgment that had urred earlier was denser and felt more endless than the worst entity he had ever seen, the Apostle. [I am the Goddess of Choice. I am the god who reached this ce through repeating hideous choices and who imposes choices on mortals.] The nickname attached to a god revealed what the god was in charge of. [Wee to my shrine. You''re a precious child.] With a smile, the goddess looked down at Taesan. Seeing a face full of goodwill, Taesan was taken aback and astonished. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ He had not thought deeply about the gods. He was sure they were powerful entities, but he didn¡¯t think each individual would be that strong. He thought they might be two or three times stronger than an Apostle at most. But the god he was witnessing directly was on a different level. ¡®There are tens, hundreds of entities like this?¡¯ As Taesan wasughing inwardly in disbelief, the ghost cautiously spoke. [Great One. May I dare to ask a question?] [Go ahead. You''re a child who is now dead.] [Wasn''t it that we couldn''t be invited to a god''s shrine? That we, as mortals, couldn''t ept it......] [No, it''s not like that, child. You can''t bear our existence, but that''s a problem that can be solved. There are other issues.] Mariaughed. [You weren''t called because you were not worth calling.] The ghost closed its mouth. This time Taesan spoke. ¡°Do you mean that I have value?¡± [Quiet.] The ghost swallowed its breath at the audacious question. From its point of view, Taesan¡¯s behavior was quite rude. But Taesan didn¡¯t think so. The goddess in front of him wouldn¡¯t feel such behavior was impolite. His presumption hit the mark, and the goddessughed. [You do have value. You are quite interesting to us. I wanted to see you in person.] The goddess showed personal interest. The ghost could not hide its astonishment at this fact. In all the time it had lived in the maze, it had never heard of such a thing. [Lakiratas was buzzing around so much that I thought I should be strict... but you were worth it.] Maria. Not many epted the ordeal imposed by her, the one who imposed the trial of choices. Even fewer among them emerged triumphant. In particr, not a single challenger had ever been able tost through a trial that she had personally enhanced. Yet Taesan passed that trial. Moreover, he achieved results that pleased her. Maria looked down at Taesan with the eyes of someone who had found a precious treasure. [I thought settling here would be disappointing, but it was a rather good choice.] ¡°I would like to ask one thing. What would you have done if I had lied in the choice of the trial?¡± [If that was the case,] The goddess spoke softly. [You wouldn''t have liked it.] Instantly, an oppressive atmosphere enveloped them. The ghost couldn¡¯t help but gasp for breath. [The one beside you did that in the past.] [Ha, haha¡­¡­.] The ghostughed awkwardly. Not lying was the right answer. If he had, the goddess likely wouldn¡¯t have shown him such favor. The goddess broached the main reason for her summoning of Taesan. [Child, have you really no intention of bing my apostle?] She liked Taesan. She was the Goddess of Choice. She didn¡¯t like coercion. Maria¡¯s trials granted the recipients the freedom to choose. However, that was the problem. The adventurers who took her trials lied. While that was also a choice, she didn¡¯t like it. She liked the honest choices and the power and wit to ovee them. It was a matter of preference. Since thebyrinth was designed, she hadn¡¯t appointed a single apostle. None of them pleased her. But Taesan was different. He made choices without lies, and he perfectly won by using reason and wisdom in a nearly impossible situation. She was very pleased with Taesan. [If you ept, you will be my first apostle. What you want wille true, and you will go down thebyrinth as my representative. No one will dare to open their mouth against you, even if they are apostles of other gods.] Maria had such power. And she was willing to give it to Taesan. [How about it?] ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Taesan calmly refused. Maria¡¯s offer was certainly attractive. If he had such power, he could descend thebyrinth more quickly. But it wasn¡¯t the path he wanted. With a smile, Maria gracefully retreated. [That''s not bad either. I respect your choice.] Contrary to expectations, she didn¡¯t seem upset. Taesan then decided that he should be able to ask. ¡°May I ask a question?¡± [Go ahead, child.] ¡°How much do you know about me?¡± At that question that pierced through the essence of the matter, Mariaughed. [I know as much as you think. That this isn''t your first time here. That you used what the snake vomited.] She knew that Taesan had returned in time. [Poor child. A child who has gone astray by choice. A child that was swept up in their mischief.] It wasn¡¯t surprising. In the first ce, the Throne of Ouroboros that Lee Taeyeon had obtained was from here, thebyrinth. The gods would not leave an item that they themselves could not control. Especially when Taesan was able to interfere with time a little, it didn¡¯t seem likely that a being with such power would be tied down by time. But something caught his attention. ¡°¡­ You say I was caught up in mischief?¡± [What else would it be but mischief? They gave you the wrong choices. They prevented you from going where you should. Didn''t that torment you?] Taesan¡¯s eyes narrowed. By mischief, she meant the Easy, Normal, and Hard Modes. The goddess knew what choices they were given. ¡°Do you know who they are?¡± At his calm yet emotional voice, the goddess chuckled softly. [I will give you that answer if you ept my offer.] ¡°So you mean you can¡¯t tell me.¡± [It''s a burden to us as well, you see. We can''t tell you without a price.] Still, that was somewhat of an answer. The goddess spoke with a smile. [You''re remarkable now but still weak. Come down a bit further. There''s something you need to receive.] ¡°Your attention is too much for someone like me.¡± [The only reason you can say that is because you don''t understand this ce. You have no idea what the adventurers you talk about do here. We''re staying here for a y, but it''s not a calm and simple y. It''s a y with our lives as the stake.] Annoyance shed briefly in the goddess¡¯s eyes. Just with that, the atmosphere became heavily stifling. [I would love to crush you... But that would be no fun. We''re not childish enough to throw tantrums.] The goddess smiled again. [You''ll know soon enough. Yes, that will be fun too. Your fight with them.] Just then, a noise resonated from outside the shrine. [Ah, they''re here. Something troublesome hase.] [Gulp.] The spirit swallowed. A tremendous presence rushed in. It was not much less than Maria¡¯s. [See youter, child.] With her farewell, Taesan¡¯s body began to depart from the shrine. Crack. The wall of the shrine split open. A huge eyeball was visible through the gap. It was filled with annoyance. [You.] [Are you angry? You should have moved first. I want to be disturbed too, you know?] With a cacklingugh at thosest words, Taesan returned to thebyrinth. [Oh...] The spirit was still standing there with its mouth open, seemingly in shock. Taesan was also in a state of shock. However, his shock was different from that of the spirit. ¡°What a joke.¡± Taesan believed that he would have no opponents if he simply only focused on his stats. That was neither arrogance nor hubris. It was evident whenparing himself to Lee Taeyeon, who had cleared Solo Mode. He had been defeated by the apostles, but it wasn¡¯t due to his own power. It was because of ack of stats. Even if he was a seeker of gods, even Ainzhar, if he was his former self, he could win, even if it was hard. With only half of Lee Taeyeon¡¯s stats, he thought it would be a sure victory. Simply put, if his former self had taken care of the stats at his current level, mankind would have survived at least another year. So while clearing thebyrinth, he didn¡¯t have much pride orpetitive spirit. There were a few crises, but he didn¡¯t feel particrly excited because those crises urred because his current self was weaker than his former self. He was only thinking about developing his stats as much as possible and returning to Earth. But the gods were incredibly powerful. Not only Maria, but even the god who appeared at thest moment was equally powerful. Even if his former self had done everything, he would never have been able to defeat them. Even if his stats were at Lee Taeyeon¡¯s level, it wouldn¡¯t be much different. That was a shock to Taesan. ¡®So what about here?¡¯ Taesan¡¯s eyes shimmered. They said the other modes were fake. Taesan had held the most power in those fakes. If he gained everything in this ce, which could be called real, could he also oppose the gods? Or would it still be impossible? ¡°I want to try it.¡± Taesan murmured. He now had a profoundly personal goal. Chapter 73: Twelfth Level - Boss (5) He had a goal, but nothing would change. As Maria said, he was in a very weak state right now. He hadn¡¯t learned multiplication yet, not even addition, the essence strike, or copying. So he would descend. Deeper. To a ce where he could be stronger. ¡°But before that.¡± He hadn¡¯t checked what he had gained from the sudden invitation. He checked Maria¡¯s reward first. [Shape Changing Weapon] [Attack + 15] [Selectable weapon.] [It can transform into the form of a dagger or a long sword.] It had decent attack power and was attached to a special ability. Taesan immediately checked it. The weapon changed into a short dagger and then transformed into a normal-looking longsword. He could use it as two different weapons. The attack power seemed to not change even when the shape changed. Taesan, who had finished checking the weapon, checked his new skill next. [Special Activation Skill: Freedom of Choice] [Mana Consumption: 20] [Proficiency: 1%] [It is possible to convert stats. The ratio doesn''t seem to be very high yet.] Stat conversion. It was something he hadn¡¯t seen yet. Taesan immediately experimented. The possible conversion ratio was 10%. Agility, Strength, Intelligence, Health, Mana, Shield, Attack, and Defense could be converted among each other. It seemed impossible to convert two types at the same time. ¡°Not bad.¡± Changing around his stats could be important, depending on the situation. There were times when health was of no value, while there were other times when defense had no value. Those meaningless stats could be changed to important ones as necessary. The effective ratio was only 10% now, but the ratio would rise further as proficiency rose. Eventually, it might be possible to convert 100%. Depending on how it was used, it was a useful skill. ¡°She gives rewards as promised.¡± Maria¡¯s reward wasn¡¯t the only thing. As difficult as Maria¡¯s trials were, additional rewards could be obtained. First, there were skills that had significantly increased in proficiency. [Special Activation Skill: Breathless Attack] [Mana Consumption: 2] [Proficiency: 21%] [It allows movements that ignore breathing duringbat. Currently, it onlysts for about 20 seconds. The fatigue of muscles decreases.] The Breathless Attack skill, which he had been using tirelessly, finally passed 20% proficiency and added the content that the fatigue of muscles decreases. The Breathless Attack was tiring because the movements became more intense as breathing was ignored. It was a good change that alleviated this fatigue. [Special Always-on Skill: View Expansion] [Proficiency: 80%] [You can obtain a wide field of view. It has greatly exceeded the human category.] View Expansion was quickly rising, almost reaching 100%. Most skills change dramatically the moment they hit 100%. It was safe to say they became entirely different skills from what they used to be. It might be possible to reach 100% at this speed before breaking through the 20th floor. With a little hope, Taesan checked the other skills. Perhaps due to the endless fights, he was able to learn a new skill. [Your mind is out of sync with the flow of time. You''ve obtained the Special Activation Skill [Mind eleration].] ¡®I¡¯ve been feeling like time was a bit off.¡¯ During Maria¡¯s trials, the enemies and his own movements seemed generally slower than expected. Mind eleration. In Easy Mode, there were not many asions to fight intensely enough for the time in his mind to twist to that extent, so he could not learn this skill in his previous life. [Special Activation Skill: Mind eleration] [Mana Consumption: 8] [Proficiency: 1%] [elerates the mind. The flow of time twists very slightly. It seems like it can only be used for 10 seconds at this point.] [You have activated Mind eleration.] He used the skill, but nothing seemed to change. Taesan raised his arm. ¡®Slow.¡¯ The speed at which his arm moved felt strangely slow. His mind was moving faster than the time outside. It was a very subtle difference, but it was a definite difference. ¡®So this is the skill.¡¯ Having more time to think duringbat was equivalent to increasing the chances of winning. The value would increase more and more as proficiency was raised. Its usefulness could just be below a main skill. As he learned each of these things, he became stronger. At that moment, Taesan finished checking and was about to move. There was something in his pocket. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± It was a tiny flower-shaped ornament. Its seven petals were colorful like a rainbow. [Maria''s Gift] [A gift given to a human loved by the gods. Currently, it has no effects.] ¡°Ghost?¡± [Uh, what?] ¡°What is this?¡± [Uh...... It''s the first time I''m seeing it too.] The ghost also didn¡¯t know. ¡°It won¡¯t be bad.¡± It would be an item given in goodwill, so Taesan put it back in his pocket. Finally, Taesan moved. He killed the monsters he encountered and found the secret room. He disarmed traps and collected rewards. In the process, his proficiency in Trap Disarmament reached 20%. [Special Activation Skill: Trap Disarmament] [Mana Consumption: 1] [Proficiency: 20%] [Attempts to disarm traps. There seems to be a low chance of sess.] Although it didn¡¯t mean much, it felt good. The reward for the secret room was a pair of fine leather gloves. [Powerful Gloves] [Attack Power +5] [Defense Power +3] [The best gloves made by a famous craftsman. They are strong enough to block even sword strikes.] ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve changed gloves.¡± He changed his equipment and headed towards the boss room. [A Less Rotten Ghoul has appeared.] It was quite a straightforward name. As the name implied, the ghoul still had red flesh left and bared its teeth. Taesan scrunched up his face. ¡°It smells.¡± Swoosh. He swung his fist. The ghoul was knocked to the ground. He stepped on it repeatedly until it disappeared with a scream. [You have defeated the Less Rotten Ghoul.] The boss of the 12th floor. If it were Lee Taeyeon or Kang Junhyeok, they would have literally fought for their lives and barely won. However, for him, it was too easy. He didn¡¯t feel even a slight crisis. That dissatisfaction was felt by Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s too easy.¡± He had be far too strong for the floor he was on. The only way he could feel difficulty was by meeting a Trial of God or a Named monster. He naturally missed out on most of the benefits that came with encountering a boss on equal terms. First of all, he didn¡¯t get any real reward for defeating the boss. Furthermore, Soul Ascension also did not properly work. These were things he couldn¡¯t gain because he was too strong. That made Taesan feel regretful. He wouldn¡¯t have thought much of it if it had been before. Even if he couldn¡¯t take care of such small details, clearing the levels would be no problem. However, if he was now aiming for the gods, he had to take in as much as he could. ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s a way.¡± As there was no particr method yet, he had no choice but to descend. Of course, it wasn¡¯t like he gained nothing. The Soul Ascension effect, though small, had worked, and his level had risen by two from clearing the floors, making him now level 28. He could still achieve significant stat increases. The clear rewards for the 12th floor and the secret rewards were magic-rted. Thinking that he wouldn¡¯t particrly need them, he went to Lilis. She greeted Taesan with sparkling eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you toe! Did you bring it?¡± ¡°Here.¡± When Taesan handed the items over, she excitedly took them and checked. Soon she showed a satisfied smile. ¡°This should do it! Finally, I, too!¡± She was going to learn basic magic. Her pupils gleamed at that fact. As she muttered something, the magical items disappeared. They were offered as a sacrifice. After praying with her eyes closed for a moment, she opened them with a sh. ¡°I did it!¡± Unable to contain her joy, she jumped around the room. ¡°Now I can learn one basic magic! Yahoo! Finally!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being too noisy?¡± ¡°Basic magic! Basic magic! It¡¯s worth that much!¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± To him, who had created the zing Orb and Frost Arrow, it didn¡¯t seem that significant. Recognizing Taesan¡¯s reaction, Lillis pouted. ¡°People risk their lives to learn this¡­¡± ¡°So, what can you learn?¡± At Taesan¡¯s question, Lilisposed herself and put a finger on her lips. ¡°First of all, you aren¡¯t allowed to choose. The gods decide and bestow it.¡± ¡°So there¡¯s no choice.¡± He nodded calmly, as he had expected this. ¡°Then let me learn.¡± ¡°Okay. Just wait a moment.¡± She closed her eyes again and murmured something. A force descended on her from the void. ¡®Is that the power of magic?¡¯ It was a wave of mana so strong that even Taesan could sense it. Lilis opened her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve learned it.¡± ¡°Which one is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a status effect magic. I¡¯ll let you know which magic it is when you learn it. Let¡¯s postpone the fun forter.¡± As she spoke, a constant smile was on Lilis¡¯s face. The ghost asked with a smile of his own. [Is it really that good?] ¡°Good or not, it¡¯s basic magic! I struggled to learn Invisibility, but I easily learned one this time! Thank you so much!¡± Lilis spread her arms wide, intending to hug Taesan. Taesan distanced himself, and she fell to the ground. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°What the hell are you doing all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I wanted to express my joy.¡± Taesan chuckled softly. ¡°No need for that. I¡¯lle back when I have more offerings next time.¡± ¡°Mmm. See you again!¡± She said goodbye with a shaky smile. Taesan went down to the 13th floor. [13th floor quest start.] [Defeat the boss of the 13th floor and pass.] [Reward: Ring of Severance.] [Secret Reward: ???] He didn¡¯t have enough money to use the store. The dwarf also looked sullen, as if there was nothing else to bet on besides penalty y. He arrived at the 13th floor without much conversation. The 13th floor was a zombie den. Like goblins, they attacked inrge numbers, but each individual was weak. While roughly fending them off and breaking through, he felt a presence. As Taesan was about to crush a zombie¡¯s head, he paused. His presence detection sense had activated sharply. Someone was approaching him from beyond the door. Soon, as the door opened, the presence revealed itself. ¡°Ugh. Annoying. How long do I have to patrol¡­¡± A man with red hair and a bold face appeared. He saw Taesan, and his pupils dted. ¡°Oh, what?¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Crack. Taesan smashed the zombie¡¯s head and spoke. The man stammered at Taesan, looking perplexed. ¡°Oh, hello?¡± [Your detection skill has been activated.] [Levabas Aita] [Level: 42] Level 42. He was 14 levels higher than Taesan. ¡°Uh¡­ are you new? I was surprised. It¡¯s been so long.¡± Levabas scratched his cheek, looking at Taesan, then his gaze fell on the ghost. Levabas¡¯s face twisted. The ghost sneered. [Piss pants. You''re still alive?] ¡°¡­ Why are you here?¡± Levabas frowned at the ghost. Chapter 74: Thirteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (1) Looking alternately at the ghost and Taesan, Levabas muttered with a frown on his face. ¡°I thought the 10th floor was the end for you.¡± ¡°I thought so too. But it added more.¡± Taesan stared nkly at Levabas. Upon Taesan¡¯s words, Levabas had an epiphany. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened? Isn¡¯t it so nasty?¡± He chuckled, his voice filled with mockery and ridicule. ¡°If you fell behind, you should just leave. Isn¡¯t it shameful to keep following pathetically?¡± [Me?] The ghost scoffed. [You''re messing around. The guy who used to pee himself talks well now. Was the sight of you hiding like a scared rat, seeing me, an act?] ¡°You!¡± Levabas¡¯s face twisted in anger. He, who had shown his emotions for a moment, soon smiled. ¡°I have no need to waste emotions on the dead.¡± The ghost ignored him as if he wasn¡¯t even worth replying to. Levabas spoke to Taesan. ¡°Nice to meet you. You¡¯re a rookie, right?¡± Taesan nodded. Levabas let out an admiring exmation. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we had a rookie. The reason I am scouting is because of this, but I didn¡¯t really think I¡¯d get to see it¡­¡± Muttering, Levabas shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m a member of the Guides of Sin. You know about us, right?¡± ¡°I do. You¡¯re the biggest group in this ce.¡± Lee Taeyeon and the ghost had also spoken about them. Hearing Taesan¡¯s words, Levabas smirked. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s us. The strongest group.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± His words had a hint of mockery. Taesan¡¯s mumbling was so quiet it seemed as if Levabas didn¡¯t hear it, his eyes gleaming as he opened his mouth. ¡°Then, the story is¡­ ¡°Rrrrr.¡± ¡°Aargh¡­¡± Zombies burst through the door. The interrupted Levabas furrowed his brows. ¡°I forgot about these bastards. They¡¯re annoying.¡± The zombies didn¡¯t stay in one ce but wandered all over. Watching the zombies with apparent annoyance, Levabas seemed to have a good idea and pulled out a horn from his inventory. Vvvvvv. [The Horn of Widespread Sound has been activated. All monsters within range are approaching.] ¡°I hate being disturbed, so I¡¯ll handle this instead. Is that okay?¡± With a smirk, Levabas spoke this while showing no sign of waiting for a response. Soon, zombies began to appear one by one, filling the room. All the monsters on the 13th floor, except the boss, were present. Among them, there were some zombies that were stronger than ordinary ones. There were dozens of them in literal terms, but Levabas wore his gauntlet with a confident face. He struck the face of the zombie at the front. Crack. The zombie¡¯s face smashed and flew away. The zombies that were attacked first iled about, targeting Levabas. At the sight of the zombies trying to bite his flesh, Levabas scoffed. ¡°Look at you!¡± Levabas moved his hand roughly, and the zombies crumbled and flew away. A zombie was a monster that relied on numbers, but it was still a monster from the 13th floor. Its grasp could shatter rocks, and its movements were incredibly fast. Levabas dodged and blocked everything, dealing with them one by one. Trampling on the zombies, Levabas shouted in a roaring voice. ¡°You can¡¯t defeat me with such weaklings!¡± What the heck was this? Taesan looked at Levabas with a nk stare. He was strong. But that was it. It was not something to admire. Rather, it was annoying. ¡®What the hell is this guy doing, clearing out other people¡¯s monsters?¡¯ All the zombies that Levabas was killing were the monsters he was supposed to kill. It was a situation where he could only suffer losses in experience points, soul ascension boosts, or proficiency. Ordinary monsters that were not named would regenerate, but that time wouldn¡¯t be short. There were virtually no ordinary monsters on the 13th floor. ¡®Is it done?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t uneptable if it was for an exchange of information. Maybe he could receive something better. Taesan grabbed his sword. ng. Taesan also joined the fight. However, his movement was slower and weaker than before. He intentionally restrained himself, facing the zombies and dealing with them to some extent. [You have activated Flow.] The zombie¡¯s hand twisted. Taesan cut off its neck with a sword. Levabas, who had been sneaking a peek, admired it. ¡°Oh, you have Flow too? Not bad!¡± Levabas spoke while looking down from above. Taesan continued swinging his sword without reacting to the intendedment. Levabas rushed into the zombies,ughing heartily. [Levabas has activated a heavy strike.] Crack. The zombie¡¯s head waspletely smashed. Levabas activated a skill against the zombies¡¯ hands that were rushing in from all directions. [Levabas has activated a counter.] He moved again, smashing the zombies. Among the chunks of flesh, Levabas grinned. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± Even if he asked how it was, Taesan didn¡¯t know what he wanted him to say. It would be strange if he struggled on the 13th floor, being at level 42. It felt like watching a middle school student bragging about solving an elementary school student¡¯s problem. When Taesan looked at him with such emotion, Levabas clicked his tongue. ¡°You¡¯re no fun. You won¡¯t survive long with that attitude.¡± Even though there was a light threat, Taesan only found it amusing. He started dealing with the zombies again. They had already been reduced by almost half. [It''s your choice.] The ghost said tly. [Do as you wish.] ¡°That¡¯s what I intend to do.¡± Muttering, he swung his sword. Thirty minutester, the battle ended. ¡°That¡¯s the end. I haven¡¯t sweat like this in a long time.¡± Levabas stretched out with a refreshed face. Looking at Taesan, Levabas nodded his head. ¡°Not bad, huh?¡± After watching Taesan¡¯s fight out of the corner of his eye, it wasn¡¯t bad. He survived up to the 13th floor, which was eptable. ¡°You might even get permission to go up to the 20th floor.¡± His tone suggested it was obvious that Taesan would join them. Instead of pointing it out, Taesan asked. ¡°It seems like you have something to say?¡± ¡°Sure. This is why I¡¯m bothering to do tedious scouting and moving around. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°My name is Taesan.¡± ¡°Taesan¡­ that¡¯s an unusual name. Which world do youe from?¡± Levabas, tilting his head, asked with a serious face. ¡°Have you considered joining the Guides of Sin?¡± In thebyrinth, countless humans from countless worlds enter ording to the sorcerer¡¯s whims. These individuals, known as adventurers, descended into this ce for their desires, growing stronger as they went. When people gathered, groups inevitably formed. Among them, the Guides of Sin were thergest group of adventurers in Solo Mode. They were spread from the lower to the deeper levels, and ording to Lee Taeyeon, one encountered them quite often. And there was a phrase that both she and the ghostmonly said. ¡®Those who have given up on thinking.¡¯ Those obsessed with self-justification under such a theme. These individuals did not try to clear thebyrinth. They viewed this ce as aplete product and settled down. Levabas spoke with a fierce tone. ¡°We can be endlessly strong here. Do you know how great a blessing that is?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± Lilis. She had no talent for magic. However, aftering here, she was able to learn about at least a minimum amount of magic. Considering her reaction, it must have been something unimaginable in the outside world. In that regard, Taesan was the same. Without the system of thebyrinth, he would have still been an ordinary person. Levabas continuously spat out. ¡°That¡¯s right. We have already received sufficient grace.¡± A power that could not be obtained outside could be acquired in the maze. ¡°And you dare to think about breaking this ce, about clearing it? That¡¯s really ignorant. You¡¯re like an ungrateful brat.¡± Levabas continued to spit out harsh words, and Taesan looked at him silently. ¡°So, you¡¯re giving up on clearing?¡± ¡°Well, saying ¡®giving up¡¯ sounds wrong. ¡®Letting go¡¯ would be more urate. epting the grace received from thebyrinth and not expecting anything more.¡± Taesan asked Levabas, who spoke confidently. ¡°Didn¡¯t youe here wishing for something?¡± If thebyrinth was conquered, one wish could be granted. Most adventurers would havee here for that. At that, Levabas flinched. ¡°I did, but that¡¯s a story from an immature time. It¡¯s a child¡¯s folly.¡± Levabas said with a twisted face. ¡°And this ce is not originally a ce where you can clear.¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°You would know if you¡¯vee this far, right? The damned gods are trying to kill us with trials as a prank. The ces hidden here and there only contain things we can¡¯t solve. The one behind you died just like that, too.¡± [These killers sure talk a lot.] ¡°Did we kill you? You have a serious delusion.¡± The ghost did not speak, as if he didn¡¯t even want to respond to the teasingment. Levabas looked at Taesan again with a serious face. ¡°So the adventurers who came here formed a group. That¡¯s the Guides of Sin.¡± ¡°Instead of going down the maze, it¡¯s a group that focuses on bing stronger.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Levabas nodded heavily. ¡°We maintain order. We establish and enforce thew here.¡± Levabas spoke ofw. Thew came with penalties for those who broke it. They might have tried to hide it, but the group¡¯s colors were revealed in every tone. ¡°I see.¡± Taesan tapped on the wall with his finger. ¡°I¡¯m not forcing you right now, so take your time to think.¡± Levabas thought he was contemting joining the Guides of Sin, but his thoughts were somewhere else entirely. ¡®Meeting other adventurers.¡¯ Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk. yers in Solo Mode couldn¡¯t meet. They cleared the maze in a different dimension. This meant someone forcibly isted them. Then was it the gods who did this, or that something that invaded Earth? It wasn¡¯t particrly important, but it piqued his curiosity. ¡°If you join us, you obviously have to refuse that bastard¡¯s quest.¡± Levabas pointed at the ghost. ¡°That bastard broke thew and attacked us. We can¡¯t take him with us.¡± ¡°Thew.¡± Taesan muttered. ¡°I have a question. I heard that even getting stronger requires permission from the Guides of Sin. Is that true?¡± Levabas spoke with a serious face. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± And he quickly added. ¡°But it¡¯s not what you think. The deeper you go here, the more dangerous it is. So, it¡¯s a minimum measure for safety.¡± ¡°Sounds good. But doesn¡¯t that prevent even fair challenges?¡± Levabas¡¯s face hardened. Taesan gave a small smile. ¡°You spoke of thew. Do you have the right to make thatw? The sorcerer and transcendents who designed this ce gave us freedom. Yet, you adventurers manage this ce?¡± ¡°You¡¯re refusing?¡± ¡°I can definitely answer that.¡± With a hard, rigid voice, Taesanzily moved his finger. ¡°I don¡¯t like you guys.¡± Those who werecent. Those who had given up. Those who tried to justify themselves despite this. Those who tried to drag even others down to their level. Even Lee Taeyeon, even that coward, gritted his teeth and cleared this ce. She had achieved it. But these guys didn¡¯t. They abandoned the challenge and courage they should show here and sought only safety. They tried to suck the marrow and ran away. ¡°I understand why Maria dislikes you guys.¡± The gods settled here to watch the fight and struggle of heroes. The Guides of Sin, broken and tame, must be very repulsive to the gods. ¡®It¡¯s simr for me too.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re talking about¡­ So you¡¯re refusing?¡± Levabas¡¯s voice was cold. His hand, clenched into a fist, tightened. Taesanughed brightly. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Too bad.¡± Along with that answer, Levabas moved. He had two reasons to scout for new recruits. One was to draw them into the Guides of Sin. The other was to kill the potential rebels who refused before they became strong. With a rush like an explosion, he threw a punch at Taesan¡¯s head. Thud. But it was blocked by Taesan¡¯s hand. As his fist was gripped by Taesan¡¯s hand, Levabas¡¯s eyes wavered. ¡°Huh?¡± Levabas was an adventurer who had been granted clearance up to the 20th floor. Naturally, he had power that an adventurer on the 13th floor couldn¡¯t match. He nned to blow him away with a single strike, but Taesan blocked his attack by just moving his hand. Grrr. ¡°Gah!¡± When Taesan used force, Levabas felt pressure and pain in his hand. Levabas jerked his hand away roughly. He stared at Taesan as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°You¡­¡­¡± ¡°Those who break thew receive punishment, right? Try it. Punishment. I don¡¯t know if you can do it, though.¡± Along with that mockery, Taesan drew his sword. Chapter 75: Thirteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (2) ¡°¡­¡­What are you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re an adventurer, right? Figure it out on your own. Ah. Can I call a quitter an adventurer?¡± Taesan casually raised his sword as he spoke. Levabas clenched his fist, his face contorted. This was the first time he was fighting a proper adventurer. Taesan¡¯s face turned serious. Levabas gritted his teeth. ¡®Even so, it¡¯s only the 13th floor!¡¯ He may have had some special means, but Taesan was an adventurer who could only clear up to the 13th floor. There was no way Levabas could lose. With this certainty, Levabas ran. He rushed at Taesan, punching while keeping his body close. Kagagak. Sparks flew as the sword and fist collided. As he blocked Levabas¡¯s attack, Taesan thought. ¡®Did he say he cleared up to the 20th floor? He¡¯s not weak.¡¯ He could feel a substantial weight. No, he was iparably stronger than an average adventurer on the 20th floor. He had probably pushed his limits by endless repeated hunting. While Taesan was calmly sorting out his thoughts, Levabas felt like he was having a nightmare. ¡®What is this!¡¯ He screamed inwardly. His punches were perfectly blocked. ¡®How can someone from the 13th floor¡­¡¯ Levabas had cleared the 20th floor. The difference in stats between the 13th and 20th floors was overwhelming. When their fists collided, his opponent¡¯s defense would shatter, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to even keep up with his movements. Under normal circumstances, it was a gap that couldn¡¯t be ovee. But Levabas couldn¡¯t catch up. Not only that, he was even being pushed back. His fists were numb, and his movements were blocked in advance. Levabas was on the verge of losing it. If he knew that Taesan was controlling his strength to some degree, he would have truly gone mad. Taesan swung his sword. He deflected the opponent¡¯s gauntlet and bent his arm. [12 damage to Levabas.] ¡°Ugh!¡± With a groan, Levabas created some distance. As Taesan swung his sword, he mumbled. ¡°The defense is quite high.¡± Having gone down to the 20th floor, Levabas must be wearing better armor. This could take some time. ¡°Damn it!¡± Looking down at him, Levabas gritted his teeth and charged in, but the same oue unfolded. He couldn¡¯t block the swinging sword, and a wound appeared. ¡°H-How can this¡­ ¡°Your movements aren¡¯t all that impressive.¡± They were systematic but clearly different from the monsters Taesan had seen here. The ghost answered his question. [I heard he''s of humble origin. He wasn''t at the level to learn proper martial arts. Probably at the level of a third-rate mercenary.] ¡°Can¡¯t you learn it here?¡± [You can learn, but will anyone teach you without a price? No one gives their cards withoutpensation. That guy couldn''t afford the price.] ¡°Shut up!¡± Levabas roared harshly and swung his fist. Taesan did not evade. [Kang Taesan has activated a block.] The activation of a skill. The corner of Levabas¡¯s mouth twitched. [Levabas has activated a heavy attack.] [Kang Taesan has activated a counter.] He blocked the punch and thrust his sword into Levabas¡¯ chest. A surge of blood gushed from Levabas¡¯ mouth. Barely managing to create some distance, Levabas stared at Taesan with a dazed expression. ¡°Huh?¡± It wasn¡¯t an unconscious act. Taesan activated the counter in response to the heavy attack. ¡°How did you know?¡± Impossible. A block couldn¡¯t beat a heavy attack, and a heavy attack couldn¡¯t beat a counter. They only learned this hidden property after countless attempts and duels over three years. A newbie on the 13th floor couldn¡¯t possibly know this. Meanwhile, Taesan had a calm expression. ¡°If it¡¯s this hard to figure out that simple thing, what¡¯s the average level like?¡± Levabas¡¯s face reddened as he pulled out ck powder from his inventory. [Levabas has activated the Powder of Illusion.] The Powder of Illusion. An item that creates hallucinations upon inhtion, a high-tier item worth more than 2,000G. Levabas also took out a robe. [Levabas has activated the Robe of Stealth.] The Robe of Stealth. A valuable piece of equipment he had obtained. Its effect was invisibility for one second. A psychic attack and invisibility. Using abination of the two, Levabas spread the powder and stuck it to Taesan. When he raised his fist, Taesan shook his head. [Judgment sessful!] Even Maria¡¯s presence had no effect on Taesan¡¯s mind. There was no way that such a powder would have a significant impact. [Kang Taesan has activated the Robe of Stealth.] Taesan¡¯s body also disappeared. Levabas, who couldn¡¯t have imagined that Taesan would have a stealth skill, flinched. As time passed, the invisibility wore off, and Taesan kicked Levabas. ¡°Ugh!¡± [6 damage to Levabas.] ¡°It really is petty damage.¡± Taesan grumbled as if annoyed, and Levabas coughed in shock. ¡®He kicked me, and it caused damage¡­?¡¯ There didn¡¯t seem to be any attack power attached to the shoes. As he knew about Ainzhar and the Airak weapon skills, Levabas¡¯ thoughts naturally drifted in that direction. That arrogant old man who despised and trampled on them gave him a skill? Levabas still couldn¡¯t forget the look of contempt that Ainzhar had given him. ¡°What are you!¡± Levabas charged while screaming. Taesan counterattacked calmly. Levabas was only on the receiving end, nevernding a hit. There was a basic difference in stats, and the quality of their learned weapon skills was different, so the oue was as expected. But Levabas did not fall easily. ¡°He¡¯s tough and has a lot of stamina.¡± A hit only dealt around 10 damage. Levabas¡¯s health was around 1500. Simply put, he would have to be hit about 150 times to be taken down. Taesan¡¯s movements naturally began to show ws that hadn¡¯t been there at the start. Levabas¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡®Finally!¡¯ Despite being toyed with, he had cleared the 20th floor. Most ordinary people couldn¡¯t pass the 1st floor; even those with talent often died before the 10th floor. Getting to the 20th floor was no easy feat. Levabas put strength into his fist. His gauntlet had a hidden function. Its effect was a skill that caused damage equal to five times the basic attack power, just once. It was an effect that could not be found on the 20th floor. After use, the gauntlet becamepletely ineffective for a month. Still, even considering this, it was a significant piece of equipment. Though it wasn¡¯t allowed for someone who had only been given permission up to the 20th floor, Levabas had desperately hidden and kept the gauntlet. ¡®Just one hit!¡¯ With bloodshot eyes, he pressed on. Seeing this, Taesan burst into derisiveughter. He punched. ng! Then he swung his sword. Levabas¡¯s thigh was sliced. Levabas¡¯s eyes sparkled. Whether Taesan was off guard or he swung his sword too wide, a gap was created. ¡®A gap!¡¯ Levabas closed the distance. Whether it was coincidence or Levabas had good timing, or for some other reason, he was able to get close without any resistance. Sparks flew in Levabas¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re dead!¡± [Levabas has activated Heavy Strike.] [Levabas has activated the Exploding Gauntlet.] Adding to the Heavy Strike that had consumed all his mana, he added five times his basic attack power. If it hit properly, it would be powerful enough to leave his opponent near death. [Kang Taesan''s First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] But it meant nothing. Seeing his own fist returning to its original position, Levabas¡¯s pupils shook. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°All done?¡± Taesan stabbed forward with his sword. Normally, Levabas would have quickly created distance or counterattack, but he wasn¡¯t in the right state of mind to do so. ¡°This¡­¡± He barely managed to swing his fist. [Kang Taesan''s Second Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] Levabas let out a hollowugh. ¡®What was I fighting against?¡¯ Despair washed over him. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Levabasy defeated. Seeing the nullification of his attacks, he lost all his momentum, making everything incredibly easy for Taesan. With just one more hit, he would be dead. Instead of finishing him off, Taesan looked at the listless Levabas with cold eyes. ¡°You were nothing special, really.¡± But he was an adventurer from the 20th floor. Taesan expected some level of resistance, but he did nothing from the moment his spirit broke. He could only take hits helplessly like a puppet with its strings cut. Even now, the sense of emptiness and powerlessness seemed more prominent than the fear of death. The ghost responded. [Originally, he wasn''t like this. He couldn''t have reached the 20th floor if he was. His mind was sharper, his fights more ferocious¡­] ¡°He must have lost his edge.¡± They said the 20th floor was the limit. Perhaps he had been lingering here for a long time without a worthy opponent. A beast without prey would bezy. ¡°Well then.¡± He dug for information. Although he had heard about the Guides of Sin from the ghost, the information he knew was old, from before he died. He merely mentioned that such a group existed but did not go into detail. As Taesan approached, Levabas regained his senses btedly. ¡°Do you know what I¡¯m going to ask?¡± ¡°¡­ If I answer, will you spare me?¡± ¡°No. I will kill you.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t lie. He had no intention of leaving a loose end. Levabas let out a hollowugh. ¡°Then do I have a reason to answer?¡± ¡°You should.¡± Taesan gestured to the ghost. He knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy to get an answer. He had been pondering this, but the ghost had given him the solution. [Do you know what the transcendents of this ce get as offerings?] Levabas¡¯ body shook slightly as fear appeared in his eyes. [If you don''t answer, you''re useless to this guy. Your soul will only be put to the most valuable use. You don''t have to answer if that''s what you want.] ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it.¡± He grabbed the hem of Taesan¡¯s clothes. ¡°Please¡­¡± ¡°Just answer.¡± Taesan was slightly surprised. To hear that he¡¯d answer just because of a threat of being offered as a sacrifice to the transcendent. His fear of that action was undeniably visible. [Is that so scary?] At least the gods he had seen didn¡¯t seem to treat him so badly, so it was unexpected. Anyway, he could get the answer. He didn¡¯t seem to be lying. Taesan began his questioning. ¡°How many of you are there?¡± ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Levabas shook his head. ¡°I told you, I was only allowed up to the 20th floor. The further down you go, the more there are, and I¡¯ve never been there.¡± Levabas gave a grim smile. ¡°You¡¯re strong, but there are many stronger than you. Now that you¡¯ve messed with me, you¡¯ll also¡­¡± Taesan smacked Levabas on the head. ¡°Shut up and just answer.¡± ¡°¡­ Roughly a few hundred.¡± Taesan was slightly taken aback at the answer that came out with a pained expression. ¡°That many?¡± ¡°Most of those who found this ce epted it.¡± Hearing this, Taesan understood. This ce was dangerous and difficult. Even Taesan, with his knowledge and his Soul Ascension, faced various crises. No matter how much hope one had, it inevitably crumbled in front of reality. Those who didn¡¯t break either ran away into thebyrinth or perhaps they died at their hands. The number of those who descended to the deepyers like ghosts would be extremely small. After organizing his thoughts, Taesan asked. ¡°You said there¡¯s a limit to the floors you can descend. How does that work?¡± ¡°20th floor, 30th floor, 40th floor. It¡¯s like this. Most are on the 30th or 40th floor.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s the bottom floor.¡± Levabas kept his mouth shut. In reality, he couldn¡¯t answer because of that. ¡°Imbeciles.¡± Taesan ridiculed them. To set a limit aftering this far. And not even a limit decided by themselves but imposed by others. Taesan could not understand it. ¡°You don¡¯t know.¡± In response to Taesan¡¯s contempt, Levabas spoke with a trembling voice. ¡°You¡¯re strong.¡± Taesan was a monster. Levabas still found it hard to believe he even existed. Skills that could nullify attacks. Not just one, but two of them. It wasn¡¯t just Taesan¡¯s skills. Hisbat ability was also superior, and he knew all about thepatibility of skills. There must be more that he has not shown. Perhaps even at this point, he could clear up to the 30th floor without a problem. It was an unbelievable situation. ¡°But not as much as those who have settled here. They¡­ are monsters.¡± Fear was visible in his eyes, impossible to hide. Taesan scoffed. ¡°I know better than you.¡± He knew those ones who had cleared this ce. There was no way those whom even the ghosts were afraid to touch would be stronger than Lee Taeyeon. ¡°Still, they might be stronger than I am now.¡± While Taesan was confident he could catch up eventually, it wasn¡¯t yet time. Thebyrinth gained momentum as you descended, and the dimension of strength changed. Above the 50th floor, perhaps even those who had reached below the 60th floor. They were the adventurers who could be considered the brains of the Guides of Sin. ¡°Will theye up here to catch me?¡± Chapter 76: Thirteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (3) Levabas¡¯s eyes trembled. After some hesitation, he tightly closed his eyes. ¡°Just promise me one thing.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Kill me.¡± Levabas spoke as if he was tired. ¡°Just don¡¯t do anything else. Just kill me purely. Then I will answer properly.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Taesan nodded. He had no particr reason to do anything else. Levabas, who had briefly worn a bitter smile, opened his mouth. ¡°I suppose so. To them, we are less than dust but still a part of the Guides of Sin. They won¡¯t stand by those who break their rules.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s it.¡± Taesan, who was someone out of the norm, couldn¡¯t beat a person who cleared the 20th floor just because he had cleared the 10th floor. It didn¡¯t change much even if that number increased. The leaders had no reason to be interested in the adventurers of the 20th floor. However, they wouldn¡¯t ignore those who disturbed their order. ¡°They¡­ they despise us.¡± Levabas mumbled with emotion in his voice. ¡°They see the floor they are on as the absolute standard and rank ordingly. Up to the 20th floor is the 2nd hierarchy. Up to the 30th floor is the 3rd hierarchy. That¡¯s how it is. They see each hierarchy as an absolute rule, so they rarelye up. They think that their dignity falls if they do. It¡¯s even worse for adventurers deeper down.¡± ¡°They¡¯re just messing around.¡± Taesan ridiculed this mindset. A loss in dignity. He never imagined such words woulde up in this ce. [It was like that before too. It revolved around a few strong guys. Although it''s a fractious group, no one betrays them. Because if they do, they are killed.] ¡°Do you know about Ainzhar?¡± ¡°Do you mean the one who seeks God?¡± ¡°Who else could it be?¡± Levabas opened his mouth. ¡°They don¡¯t care about those bound within thebyrinth. They are irregr beings.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying they have different powers.¡± Levabas gave a bitter smile. ¡°I roughly understand what you want to know.¡± If he killed more of them, those who resided below woulde up to catch him. ¡®I need to prepare some responses.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t that there was no way. ¡°Even if it¡¯s not them, there are many adventurers of the 2nd rank. No matter how you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in them.¡± Anguid reply. Taesan disyed strong confidence. He also had the strength to match. Levabas looked up at Taesan in disappointment. He was like that once. When he first stepped into thebyrinth and had just cleared the 5th floor, he thought he was the strongest. No one could stop him. He had no doubt that he would clear thebyrinth. But he was broken. He faced despair and fell. And in this way, he would die in a way he could not have imagined then. ¡®If only I had refused the offer then¡­¡¯ Even if he fought till the end, if he had died back then when he still believed in himself, wouldn¡¯t that have been better? ¡°Then go on.¡± A sharp sensation pierced his chest. Levabas gave a bitterugh. It was a thing of the past. Regret was worth nothing now. In the end, Levabas epted his death. ¡°Hmm?¡± Taesan squinted his eyes. Something from the dying Levabas entered Taesan. Whether it was a soul or umted power, Taesan absorbed that unknown thing. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your power increases permanently by 23. Agility increases permanently by 20. Intelligence increases permanently by 18. Physical strength increases permanently by 70. Mana increases permanently by 40.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your proficiency in Heavy Attack increases by 8%.] Soul Ascension. Its effects were the same as before, but the increase was iparable. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained the Power Gauntlet.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How far have the two of you gone?£Ý [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: We''ve cleared the 3rd floor. We''re now entering the 4th floor and exploring a little. Junhyeok is doing the same.£Ý [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Are you okay?£Ý [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Yes, thanks to the points, there''s no significant problem.£Ý Not only Taesan but other yers also gained a range of points after returning to Earth. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok performed quite well, so they must have received decent points. After returning, Taesan had told them to use the points for stats, and they did. As a result, their stats increased significantly. The 3rd floor had no significant peculiarities. Although there was a hidden boss room, Taesan had said not to enter even if they found it, so they were able to clear it without any major issues. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How about the other modes?£Ý [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: As for Easy Mode, well, it''s quiet. From the asional stories, it seems like everyone is struggling.£Ý Easy Mode, which was oppressed under various restrictions by Choi Junghyuk, became significantly more liberated after he disappeared. However, at the same time, Easy Mode also had the most deaths. It was Easy Mode. As long as they were cautious, they wouldn¡¯t die easily. Therefore, they were not used to death. The number of people decreased noticeably after the return to Earth, and it would probably take a while for the atmosphere to settle down. But it couldn¡¯t be helped. They, too, had to get used to death. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How about Normal Mode?] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Nothing much changed there. If anything, people have be more cautious?] Normal Mode was the most ambiguous ce. It wasn¡¯t weak, but it wasn¡¯t strong either. Hence, there was a strong tendency to be swept away. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How about Hard Mode?] [Geum Junggeun [Hard]: I''ll exin that.] Junggeun interjected. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: You''re still alive?] [Geum Junggeun [Hard]: I survived because I couldn''t die. How about you, hyung?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I''m always the same.] After exchanging a few words, Junggeun began to exin. [Geum Junggeun [Hard]: We don''t have many dead people. Most of those who nned to raid survived, except for those who were just sticking to the first and second floors without descending the maze.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I see.] Just like Solo Mode, surviving in Hard Mode required more than just talent. One needed to know how far they could go and where the dangersy, sticking strictly to the line. Monsters on Earth were strong, but most of the yers in Hard Mode survived by risking their lives. [Geum Junggeun [Hard]: We also improved thanks to you and Taeyeon, and Junhyeok.] yers in Hard Mode believed they were the strongest. From the beginning, Easy and Normal Modes were excluded. They half-believed that Solo Mode was a lie, and even if it was true, they thought that they couldn¡¯t go deep due to its difficulty level. But Taesan was a monster. Both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were simr to or even stronger than Kim Hwiyeon and Geum Junggeun, the strongest ones among them. Thus, their subtle confidence was quietly shattered. [Geum Junggeun [Hard]: I''m also advising other Hard Mode yers. They might be much stronger the next time we meet, don''t you think?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: That''s great news.] Taesan could not save everyone. As the four directions were blocked from each other during the previous return to Earth, it bes apparent that there will consistently be situations where each individual would have to triumph over their own circumstances. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Survive, and let''s meet again next time.] [Geum Junggeun [Hard]: Sure.] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Ah, hyung, I need to tell you something.] As the conversation wrapped up, the previously quiet Kang Junhyeok spoke up. [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Upon entering the 4th floor, there was an altar of a God.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: The God of Victory?] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: It''s marked as Balthasar. Is that the God of Victory?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: That''s right. That was on the 4th floor, wasn''t it?] As they entered the 4th floor, an altar would wee them. The Altar of the God of Victory, Balthasar. [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Can I ept it?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Have you seriously thought it over?] Taesan asked. Kang Junhyeok was very confident. He wanted to try everything and believed he could survive. So Taesan had given him a brief training when they met on Earth. [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Yes, I seriously thought about it. Considering my current state, I think I can do it.] Upon hearing this serious remark, Taesan stroked his chin. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Lee Taeyeon would refuse even if offered, but you''re proactive.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: I would also like to try that.] Upon hearing Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words, Taesan was truly surprised. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You want to do it too?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: As you said, Taesan, I can''t keep being a coward.] Just like Kang Junhyeok, it was a serious statement. Taesan¡¯s face also turned serious. ¡®Is it because of me?¡¯ Even if Kang Junhyeok didn¡¯t know of her past, Lee Taeyeon had always run away from trials. This sudden eptance must be due to Taesan¡¯s words back on Earth. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: It could work. But I''m not sure. What I received was different from what you guys will receive.] His trial was a challenge strengthened directly by the god. If one were to think that it was simr to the level of difficulty of the trial before Lakiratas¡¯ enhancement, then it wasn¡¯t impossible for Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok, who also raised their stats with points. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I can''t stop you guys if you''ve seriously considered it yourselves. Try it. But don''t die.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Yes. I need to prepare.] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: See you alive.] As Taesan closed the Community window, he asked, ¡°Have you ever received a trial from the God of Victory?¡± [Yes? It''s been a while.] ¡°How was itpared to Lakiratas?¡± [Uh... It was easier than that. It was barely manageable?] Easier than Lakiratas. This meant there was a high possibility that Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok could clear it. They both had the talent for it. ¡°I hope they don¡¯t die.¡± In a way, it could be said that he was the one who pushed them. Even if others didn¡¯t know, those two held a significant meaning for Taesan. But if they didn¡¯t take on challenges like this, things would be increasingly difficultter, so they had to do it now. The dice had been thrown. All there was left to do was to wait. ¡°Anyway.¡± A message hade, and he had to stop checking his spoils in the middle. Taesan checked the equipment he had obtained. [Power Gauntlet.] [Attack Power + 18] [Gauntlet worn by the strong] [The next attack deals five times the base damage. This skill can only be used once a month.] It was a great piece of equipment. The excitement had faded because Taesan had been acquiring equipment not fitting his level so far, but if he was a regr adventurer, they would be trembling with joy. After all, it was equipment that could only be obtained from the 13th to the 20th floors, so it was only natural that it was valuable. Taesan opened his status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 30] [Shield: 97/97] [Health: 1300/1300] [Mana: 332/332] [Strength: 462] [Intelligence: 287] [Agility: 395] [Attack Power + 65] [Defense + 54] [The subject is in the best condition.] He would soon have a stat that reached 500. By defeating Levabas, his level had increased by 2, and his Soul Ascension had also brought about great improvements, making this level possible. When he killed Levabas, something had been absorbed from the fallen adventurer. It was likely that Soul Ascension had forcefully taken a portion of the fallen¡¯s strength. It was a sensation he had never felt before. ¡®Does it work properly when dealing with other adventurers?¡¯ Soul Ascension was a skill with many unknown factors even to him. He could only infer roughly. [You defeated Levabas. Although it''s the lowest rank, you''re now an enemy of the Guides of Sin.] The ghost spoke impassively. [Before long, there will be movement. Even if they''re not arrogant, those who are nearby will move.] Adventurers like Levabas. Taesan said grimly. ¡°Tell them toe.¡± Chapter 77: Thirteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (4) A gigantic round table. This was the conference room of the Guides of Sin. A woman was sitting there. Fiery red hair. This was not a metaphor since it was actually burning. mes flickered, lighting up the room brightly. The woman was nonchntly tapping the table with her fingers. Thud. The door opened, and a perplexed voice echoed inside. ¡°What¡¯s this? Only an olddy here?¡± A middle-aged man, dusting off the dirt on his clothes, slumped into a chair. Towards the man, who was smiling with arrogance, the woman spoke. ¡°You have arrived, young one.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve aged enough to be old. At least shouldn¡¯t you say I look young?¡± ¡°Compared to me, you are still young.¡± ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be whenpared to an olddy like you.¡± The man grumbled. The woman with burning hair, her identity was a fire spirit. Spirits existed from the birth of a star and continued until the me of the star was extinguished. Compared to such a woman, the man who hadn¡¯t lived even a hundred years was like a newborn. The many down on the table. ¡°Where are the other guys? Those who were always stuck here, where have they gone?¡± ¡°They said they were attacking the 74th floor.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The man¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°What do you think will happen?¡± ¡°It seems like they will fail again.¡± Disappointment flitted across the man¡¯s face. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not surprising. Is it ack of power or ack of qualification¡­They had been unable to pass through the 74th floor for a very long time.¡± The woman spoke softly. ¡°Both could be the case. Weck something.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± The man furrowed his face. ¡°What about the guys upstairs? The devil¡¯s child is still in the third rank, but he¡¯s worth seeing, right?¡± ¡°He has talent. He also has skills and is objective about himself. However, reaching our level is a different issue.¡± Even those who had everything had to invest decades of time to barely reach the depths. The man, who was resting his chin on the table, mumbled. ¡°Should we shift our focus entirely¡­¡± ¡°To the enlightened ones?¡± They were adventurers not affiliated with the Guide of Sin. They were few but certainly existed. The leaders of the Guides of Sin referred to them as the enlightened ones. The woman gave a faint smile. ¡°Ainzhar. Are you thinking of calling him?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even mention that old guy. It¡¯s annoying.¡± The man scowled deeply. A few days ago, Ainzhar passed them by. Since it was seemingly at a good timing, he smacked each one of them and sent them a look of contempt. ¡®I suspected, but you indeed have no value.¡¯ That was what Ainzhar had said. ¡°Why did hee down here all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. He might have found a purpose.¡± The woman spoke dispassionately. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s strange. We won¡¯t be able to pass the 74th floor for decades more if we continue like this.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± The man groaned. ¡°Should we have not killed the hero¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± The woman shook her head in rejection of this. ¡°Do you think he would have listened to us?¡± ¡°Well, no.¡± The man also promptly answered, not having said it seriously. The man, who had been deep in thought for a moment, opened his mouth as if he had an idea. ¡°Speaking of which, there was a problem in the second ranks. Do you know about it?¡± ¡°Second rank? I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not interested.¡± The second ranks only had permission up to the 20th floor. They were weak beings. The woman, who had passed the 70th floor, had no interest in them. ¡°An adventurer came in.¡± ¡°A neer after a long time.¡± ¡°And one from the second rank died. Looks like a useful one came in?¡± ¡°Ho?¡± A faint glow appeared in the woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°A mid-10th floor adventurer beat a second-rank adventurer?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but it must be so?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°But he refused us.¡± Those who did not ept the offer were all killed. That was thew of the Guides of Sin. ¡°Pity¡­ but what can we do?¡± ¡°Shall we decide among us, being the only two?¡± Decisions were made when all of the leaders gathered. The woman spokezily. ¡°Just a matter of the second-rank people. It¡¯s not something to gather everyone for.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± The man nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s put a bounty on him for now. Let them kill him in the second rank.¡± A casual statement. This piece of news went up and up, reaching even the people of the second rank. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± Adventurers of the second rank gathered and murmured among themselves. About twenty people were discussing this with faces filled with anxiety and anticipation. ¡°Kill him?¡± ¡°But he¡¯s the guy who beat Levabas. Shouldn¡¯t we be careful?¡± ¡°Humph!¡± A beast-like man with gray hair,rger than the others, snorted. ¡°That guy got weaker! That¡¯s why he died!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± A woman with long ck hair sneered. ¡°He must have been stronger than you, right? Both in skill and strength.¡± ¡°What?¡± The beast-like man contorted his face. ¡°How dare a lowly one talk like that?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re arrogant because you¡¯re from a noble background, but you still need to know your ce. Being a beast and barelyparable to us, why are you so talkative?¡± The womanughed mockingly at the man. Their rtionship was never good. Especially between the woman and the beast-like man, it was so bad that even the others were used to them having their own conversations. The beast-like man twisted his mouth. ¡°Come to think of it, you were always hanging around Levabas. The sight of lowly ones clinging to each other is truly ugly.¡± ¡°¡­Are you asking for a fight?¡± A threatening aura flooded the area. The man did not back down and instead bared his teeth. A young man, who seemed to have a headache, pressed on his forehead and heaved a sigh. ¡°Enough.¡± A small voice echoed. The beast-like man ground his teeth but slowly released his tension. The woman also scowled, but she collected her strength. While all of them were adventurers of the second rank and simr to each other, there were always those who were exceptionally strong. The young man with a charismatic appearance was such a one. ¡°We¡¯re all at the bottom anyway. Let¡¯s get along.¡± The young man gave a bitter smile. ¡°None of you seem willing to back down.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The beast-like man bared his teeth. ¡°The High Council issued a bounty themselves! If we seed, we can even go to the third rank. Who would give way!?¡± They wanted to be stronger. Having epted the offer in despair of thebyrinth¡¯s power, their fear had faded over time. Moreover, they were all people who were scoffed at outside of this ce. Forced to stop at the second rank by the High Council, they had no intention of being satisfied at the bottom. ¡°Then, as always, it¡¯s the same.¡± The young man took out a 36-sided dice from his pocket. ¡°The person who gets the highest number has the priority. Does everyone agree?¡± Twenty heads nodded. One by one, they started throwing the dice. tter. And finally, the number 36 was revealed. ¡°You go first, Aldoata.¡± The beast-like man, Aldoata, bared his teeth. While they were discussing this matter, Taesan was descending into thebyrinth. Nothing major changed. As always, he searched for secret rooms and gathered rewards. [Deep Sea Maw: Earring] [Defense +8] [An earring crafted from a life form living in the deep sea. It has a faint fishy smell.] ¡°There really are all sorts of items.¡± Still, its high defense value made it worth an upgrade. He removed the Baltha earrings he had been wearing and put on the new ones. His strength decreased by 5, but his defense increased by 8. ¡°I¡¯m starting to want to learn a new skill.¡± Taesan flicked his fingers as he pondered this. So far, he had learned numerous skills in thebyrinth. Including magic, his skill count was around 50. It was a considerable amount considering that Lee Taeyeon had 50 when she cleared Solo Mode. However, there were still many skills he hadn¡¯t acquired. Among them, there were several main skills. ¡°I¡¯d like to get multiplication, or at least addition or essence strike, even absolute judgment¡­¡± The ghost muttered as if he was being absurd. [...You want to get more here?] ¡°If it¡¯s possible.¡± The conditions for acquiring powerful skills were tricky. So, Taesan thought he would obtain them after descending to at least the 40th floor. But contrary to Taesan¡¯s expectations, the rate of stat growth was very high. Not only that, the items and consumables avable in the shop were things he couldn¡¯t easily get yet. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for now anyway.¡± There were several conditions needed, and few of them were met. But he could definitely start preparing now. Now only the boss remained. Taesan met the boss. [A Zombie Horde has appeared.] ¡°Uuughh.¡± The boss was not a single entity but a horde of zombies numbering in the hundreds. With such an overwhelming number, it was impossible to face them head-on. Probably, the designer intended for the yers to annihte them using traps or fire. ¡°How annoying.¡± Taesan dove in with a sulky expression. He shook off dozens of reaching zombie hands and swung his twin swords. Zombie limbs were severed and scattered about. After thirty minutes, Taesan seeded in clearing the stage. [You have won against the Zombie Horde.] [Your level has increased.] [You have defeated the 13th-floor boss. You have obtained the basic reward [Ring of Severance].] [You have understood the hidden element of the 13th floor. You have obtained the reward [???].] Just as Taesan was about to check his rewards, ¡°Hahaha!¡± A loudughter echoed. The reverberation hit his ears and made Taesan scrunch his face. A figure emerged from the stairs leading to the 14th floor. ¡°So you¡¯re the nobody who defeated Levabas!¡± ¡°And what if I am?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to kill you then!¡± With a wildugh, Aldoata rolled his shoulders menacingly as he red at Taesan. Aldoata¡¯s body disappeared with a loud noise. He kicked off the wall, swooping down at Taesan as he pondered. ¡®He¡¯s just on the 13th floor, after all!¡¯ There was a world of difference between the 20th and 13th floors. Although Levabas was defeated, Aldoata believed that it was because Levabas was overlycent, not because he was physically overpowered. Aldoata swung his clenched fist like a hammer. With an annoyed expression, Taesanzily swung his fist. In an instant, the fist disappeared. Crunch. Aldoata¡¯s face distorted as he was thrown backward. Watching Aldoata squirming on the ground, Taesan asked nonchntly. ¡°What¡¯s with this guy?¡± [Uh... hold on.] The ghost tried to recall. [I think there was a noisy guy named Aldoata. He''s not particrly remarkable.] ¡°A Guide of Sin, huh? He¡¯s arrived sooner than expected.¡± [I thought they''d take at least two days because you would be underestimated by the second rank. Is it closer?] Barely regaining consciousness, Aldoata staggered to his feet. What just happened? Aldoata couldn¡¯t understand. He lost consciousness the moment he noticed his opponent¡¯s fist swing. ¡°You!¡± He had been hit by some cowardly move. Aldoata, with a flushed face, got up and rushed to Taesan. Lazily, Taesan swung his fist again. Aldoata was sent flying once more. ¡°This, this¡­ ¡°Even more stupid than Levabas. And weaker.¡± His face contorted endlessly under Taesan¡¯s contemptuous gaze. A man who had yet to get past the 13th floor was mocking him? Comparing him, who was of noble birth, to a wretch like Levabas! ¡°How dare you! You lowly creature!¡± In his fury, Aldoata¡¯s body began to swell. His clothes ripped, and hair sprouted all over his body. ¡°Ho?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes showed a glint of interest. Aldoata, who had been in human form despite his immense size, disappeared, reced by a werewolf. ¡°A beastman? So such transformations are possible?¡± It was the first time he had seen this. A monster taking on the form of a different monster. Overall, he seemed stronger. ¡°You lowly¡­¡± Aldoata gritted his teeth. Turning into a werewolf was a big risk, and he didn¡¯t use it often, but he had no chance of winning without it. ¡°I admit your strength. But this is the end!¡± Aldoata, now a werewolf, charged. He was faster than before. His ws sliced through the wind, aiming for Taesan¡¯s head. Taesan¡¯s fist swung through the air. Crunch. Aldoata¡¯s chest was crushed. This time, he didn¡¯t fly back. His chest caved in, and he vomited blood. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten a bit faster, but is this all you¡¯ve got?¡± With that final punch, Aldoata¡¯s consciousness faded away. Chapter 78: Fourteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (1) Aldoata fell. He desperately tried to regain his senses, resisting and struggling, but ultimately was trampled by Taesan. Aldoata cried out with a face twisted in fear. ¡°Wait¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± A sword pierced through Aldoata¡¯s chest. Blood spilled from his mouth, and life faded from his eyes. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your Strength permanently increases by 20. Your Agility permanently increases by 18. Your Intelligence permanently increases by 13. Your Vitality permanently increases by 70. Your Mana permanently increases by 20.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have acquired the basic transformation skill [Werewolf].] [Your level has increased.] ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan whistled. It was indeed a significant increase. ¡°Is it more profitable to hunt adventurers than monsters?¡± [That''s because what you have is outrageous.] Soul Ascension was a skill that plundered strength. It stole all that the opponent had umted. Perhaps that was why it was more profitable to defeat adventurers than monsters. Furthermore, his level had also increased. This was a great value considering that clearing one floor usually increased his level by one or two. The ghost muttered in a doubtful tone. [The skills you''ve gained overall are outrageous... But what is this Soul Ascension? Is that a skill one can acquire?] After witnessing the nullification of attack and endurance, the ghost was taken aback but had doubts about Soul Ascension. Soul Ascension was an utterly preposterous skill. Soul Ascension¡¯s effects granted not only stats but also skills. [Basic Transfer Skill: Werewolf] [Mana Consumption: 10] [Proficiency: 0%] [You transform into a werewolf. You cannot transform yet due to ack of special blood.] ¡°What kind of skill is this?¡± [You saw it earlier, right? It allows you to transform into a werewolf. It''s a skill with both advantages and disadvantages, but you can''t use it now, can you?] ¡°It seems so.¡± There was a description saying hecked special blood. He attempted to use it as a test, but it didn¡¯t activate, as if it was blocked. [You need the blood of a noble lineage for the transformation skill. You can''t get it now. Go down a bit, and you''ll be able to use it.] ¡°What a waste.¡± He was curious about what effects this new skill could bring. It might allow him to gain other skills as well. Licking his lips, Taesan began to check the rewards from the 13th floor that he hadn¡¯t had time to inspect as Aldoata had appeared. A sharp, small de was on the outside of a ring, so it could be used as a sort of gauntlet. [Ring of Severance] [Attack +5] [The artisan believed that wearing ten of these rings would produce the same effect as a gauntlet. But it would be better to wear a gauntlet instead.] As the description indicated, it was improperly made equipment, but it was the perfect equipment for Taesan, who possessed the Airak Martial Arts. He wore the ring on each of his ten fingers, removing the old ring, which had an attack power of 1. And then the secret reward. [You have used ???] [You have obtained one Blessing Powder.] ¡°Oh?¡± Blessing Powder. An item that made uncertain probabilities certain. It was worth far more than mediocre equipment. Taesan happily stowed it in his inventory. Now, towards the 14th floor. This time he wouldn¡¯t go to Lilis. The zombie room didn¡¯t provide much except for basic materials. [Starting the 14th-floor quest.] [Defeat the 14th-floor boss and pass through.] [Reward: Anklet of the Valley.] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°Hello there.¡± He greeted the dwarf waiting at the entrance of the floor as usual. The dwarf looked at him and opened his mouth. ¡°Did you meet them?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°I took care of it.¡± At the dispassionate answer, the dwarf smiled. ¡°You did well. They were useless, so it¡¯s good they¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°I will handle things on my own.¡± Taesan responded bluntly and asked a question. ¡°Are you still contemting?¡± At the implied question that was essentially a request for a kind of quest to substitute for the penalty y, the dwarf stroked his beard. ¡°I¡¯m considering one thing¡­ but I¡¯m still adjusting it. I will propose it around the next floor.¡± ¡°I see.¡± In that case, he should clear the floor quickly ande back. Taesan descended to the 14th floor. The young man spoke first. ¡°Is he dead?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The adventurers from the second rank who were leisurely waiting were startled. ¡°Who died?¡± ¡°Is it about Aldoata? The light went out?¡± The young man in charge of managing the second rank had a gem that allowed him to confirm the survival of each adventurer. The young man looked at the gem with shaky eyes. The brilliantly burning light hadpletely vanished, transforming the gem into something like a in pebble. ¡°He must have let his guard down.¡± They all agreed with those words. The young man mumbled with a strange expression. ¡°¡­Do you really think so?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too quick? That blockhead must¡¯ve died without even transforming.¡± If Aldoata didn¡¯t transform into a werewolf, he would be one of the weakest among them. They thought he must have let his guard down and fought without transforming on the 13th floor. The speed at which the light went out in the gem also reinforced this idea. In a normal battle, even they could not win so quickly, so they could only think that the incredibly arrogant Aldoata had let his guard down. ¡°Alright! Then I¡¯m next!¡± The man who had drawn a number one less than Aldoata clenched his fist. He, who was dressed grandiosely in a ck robe, started to prepare with a sly smile. ¡°Tch. Seems it won¡¯te to me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s going to die this time.¡± Everyone who knew the power of the man in the robe tucked away their expectations and muttered discontentedly. The young man cautiously spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. It¡¯s the guy who defeated Levabas and Aldoata.¡± ¡°Do you remember who I am?¡± The manughed as he fluttered his robe. ¡°I am one who walks the path of magic. There¡¯s no such thing ascency for me.¡± ¡°Are you the arrogant fool who killed Aldoata and Levebas?¡± The man in the robe spoke first. Taesan didn¡¯t answer and simply drove his foot forward. [Kang Taesan activated eleration.] [54 damage to Jusepi.] ¡°Kheuk!¡± In an instant, Jusepi, with his chest pierced, vomited blood. Hastily backing away, he opened his mouth as if he couldn¡¯t believe what just happened. ¡°Crazy¡­to attack out of the blue¡­¡± ¡°Why should there be a conversation?¡± After all, it was kill or be killed. ¡°Eek!¡± With the sudden onught of attacks, Jusepi ground his teeth and pulled out a staff. [Jusepi activated Confusion.] [No judgment necessary! Kang Taesan repelled it with his unyielding willpower.] ¡°What, what¡­¡± Thunk. As Taesan thrust his sword in, he thought. ¡®So, a mage this time.¡¯ A robe and a staff. They were unmistakably a magician¡¯s gear. When Taesan resisted the confusion without any resistance, the greatly unsettled Jusepi took the hit. To Taesan, this was a fortunate event, so he continued to thrust his sword while swatting away the staff. Jusepi, who came to his senses btedly, clenched his teeth. ¡°Yikes!¡± [Jusepi activated Magic Shield.] A white curtain enveloped Jusepi. When it collided with Taesan¡¯s sword, a strong repulsion effect urred. ¡°Oh?¡± It was a form of magic he had not seen before. Interest sparked for the first time on Taesan¡¯s face. ¡®Is there some advantage to using this in creating an opening?¡¯ The moment they engaged, he could have kept up the attack until the end, never letting go until the death of his opponent. However, he had purposely created an opening to gain what he could. With a rigid face, Jusepi roughly shook his staff. [Jusepi activated Madness.] [No judgment necessary! Kang Taesan repelled it with his unyielding willpower.] ¡°This is crazy.¡± Jusepi ground his teeth. What was that? Repelling mental attacks with just willpower was something unheard of. ¡®It wasn¡¯t just luck that won the day.¡¯ Jusepi stared at Taesan with serious eyes. It was usible for Levabas and Aldoata to lose. Though he, being a mage, had a low defense, receiving 50 points of damage was no joke. He was not an opponent to be underestimated. [Jusepi activated Ice Pellet Dispersion.] Crrrk, crkkk! The ice pellets scattered with a harsh bouncing sound. The magic that was intended to restrict movement was obvious. [Jusepi activated Frost Arrow.] [Kang Taesan activated Frost Arrow.] ¡°What?¡± Jusepi, who had been confident that he wouldn¡¯t be unsettled, raised his voice. Two frozen arrows collided, and the one that shattered was Jusepi¡¯s. Taesan¡¯s arrow collided with Jusepi¡¯s magic shield and exploded. ¡°What is this!¡± Magic! Not even basic magic, but elementary-level magic called Frost Arrow! And his magic was defeated. This meant that his opponent had higher proficiency. ¡®Impossible!¡¯ Who did he think he was? Recognized for his talent even in the high magic tower, he had heard that he was a genius who only came once in ten years. He had only been granted ess to the second tier here, but that was because the god of magic had not descended upon him, not because hecked talent. Contrary to his expectations, the talent Jusepi was credited with by the magic tower was urately assigned to the second tier. Although such talent was not particrly impressive in this ce, Jusepi was unaware of it. But this kid in front of him, this child who had not been in thebyrinth for long, had a higher proficiency than him? He had a talent for magic? ¡®It can¡¯t be!¡¯ Jusepi distorted his face in staunch denial. In reality, Taesan had raised his proficiency using points, but Jusepi, unaware of this, experienced a shattering of his world. [Jusepi activated Thunderbolt.] Boom! Lightning struck Taesan. He was unable to avoid it due to its speed of light and got hit directly. ¡®Yes!¡¯ Jusepi smirked. A real wizard would be able to react in advance upon seeing the manifestation of magic, but Taesan did not. He thought that Taesan¡¯s magic had won merely by chance. [Kang Taesan''s First Attack Nullification activated.] [Kang Taesan receives 0 damage.] ¡°What?¡± Jusepi blurted this out without realizing it as confusion filled his eyes. ¡°¡­Attack Nullification?¡± ¡°Is there such magic? Fascinating.¡± Instantaneous magic. Unlike Frost Arrow or Thermal Orb, it couldn¡¯t be avoided. Taesan grinned and held his sword. ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± Jusepi engaged in the battle desperately. Barely holding onto his waning spirit, he manifested his magic. At first, Taesan was on the losing end of the battle. Jusepi¡¯s magic was diverse and effective, considering he had used magic all his life. It was difficult to counter for Taesan, who was facing magic for the first time. However, Taesan had his stats, experience, and skills. As the battle continued, he learned one by one how to respond to magic and fought back. Finally, Taesan¡¯s sword shattered the magical shield. ¡°Thank you.¡± Thanks to this, he learned a bit more about how to use magic. Jusepi let out a hollowugh. ¡°Nonsense¡­¡­¡± His sword pierced Jusepi. ¡°He¡¯s dead?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Again?¡± Everyone on the second tier was taken aback. Aldoata and Jusepi¡¯s defeat felt different. Jusepi was a master of magic. They all thought he would naturally win and return due to his diverse magic, which even they couldn¡¯t easily respond to. ¡°¡­Did he let his guard down?¡± ¡°If he couldn¡¯t use magic properly, it¡¯s possible. After all, there are ghosts, too, right? If they helped from the side, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible.¡± But they still didn¡¯t take the matter seriously. The 13th and 20th floors had a significant gap. ¡°I¡¯m next!¡± The boy, who still looked young, clenched his fist. This time, a serious expression crossed everyone¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll be back!¡± The boy left with a smile. An hourter, the young man said, ¡°He¡¯s dead?¡± They were shaken. The middle-aged man who was nextughed and gripped his sword. ¡°I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d reach me. I¡¯ll dispose of him quickly.¡± The middle-aged man left. He had conquered the mercenary world with just one sword, and his experience was more than anyone else¡¯s here. Everyone thought he would win. Forty minutester, the young man spoke again. ¡°¡­Again.¡± ¡°Wha¡­?¡± They were taken aback. The woman who was next in line hesitated and waved her hand. ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll be back?¡± And thirty minutester, the young man twisted his face. Although he said nothing, they all realized what had happened. ¡°¡­Next is me. Do I really have to go alone?¡± ¡°¡­Maybe?¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s only on the 13th floor. It¡¯s weird to get serious. Let¡¯s go together.¡± Despite their casual words, their eyes were filled with agitation and fear. In the end, they decided to ascend together as a group of five. As they departed, their faces bore a mix of anxiety and confidence. Everyone thought it was over now. There were five of them. Five 20th floor adventurers. They couldn¡¯t possibly lose. Two hourster. The young man said, ¡°¡­ They¡¯re all dead.¡± The gems lost their light. A deafening silence loomed over them. Quiet filled the room. Chapter 79: Fourteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (2) ¡°Next is¡­ you.¡± The ck-haired woman who had bickered with Aldoata shivered at the gazes directed toward her. ¡°I, I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t want to go.¡± She showed a strong stance of refusal. Her eyes were full of fear. ¡°What is this? It¡¯s strange. I don¡¯t want to go.¡± ¡°So, next is¡­ you.¡± All eyes turned to the young man, who looked panicked. He was alwaysughing and enjoying jokes, but now that version of him was nowhere to be seen as he was trembling and refusing to go. ¡°I, I also don¡¯t want to.¡± Their gaze naturally passed to the next person. However, it was the same. With a face full of fear, he shook his head. The next one would probably be the same. The young man in charge of managing the second tier bit his lip. ¡°What kind of monster is he¡­¡± How could he push them to this point, even though he was only on the 13th floor? It was impossible. Their judgment was not wrong. The difference between the 13th floor and the 20th floor was like that between a child and an adult. Moreover, it was not just an ordinary child and adult, but the difference between a 9-year-old child and a robust young man. However, the result was theirplete defeat. Five robust young men were all killed by a 9-year-old child. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Me, me too.¡± Everyone refused. Their responses were fearful and, honestly, expected. They joined the Guides of Sin in the first ce because it was less about being impressed with the idea and more about being scared. The threat of being killed if they refused was so overbearing that they had no choice but to ept it. They were only allowed up to the 20th floor as their deepest point of descent, and the fact that they stayed there revealed their nature. The young man let out a hollowugh. ¡®Half of us are dead.¡¯ Half of those who had been together for a long time were gone just like that. Some of them were not on good terms, but they still had affection for each other. A feeling of emptiness swept over the young man. The young man finally opened his mouth. ¡°So, let¡¯s all agree not to bother them, and when theye up, we¡¯ll hide and wait for them to pass.¡± ¡°Uh, uh-huh.¡± Everyone agreed. This was their unanimous conclusion. ¡°You pathetic guys never change, do you?¡± A mocking voice echoed through the room. A man wasing up the stairs leading to the lower floors. A confident face and muscr body. And impressive horns growing from his head. He emanated an aura of magic. ¡°Hello, guys?¡± The young man swallowed and bowed his head. The other adventurers, following him, also bowed their heads in surprise. ¡°Have you arrived?¡± ¡°Yes, guys.¡± The horned man, a demon named Jagan,ughed and waved his hand. ¡°Hey.¡± The woman with ck hair shivered. ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± The woman, trying to hide her trembling, stood next to Jagan. Jagan put his arm around her shoulder. The young man hid his annoyance with a forced smile. The Demon Jagan. He was an adventurer who was allowed to progress to the third tier. Unlike them, who were only allowed up to the second tier, he was an adventurer who could go that extra bit further. However, rather than going down thebyrinth, he often came up and tormented them, the adventurers of the second tier. Honestly, it was incredibly annoying. If he had been allowed up to the third tier, he should have stayed quietly on the 30th floor. Why did he keeping up and tormenting them? If they could, they would have torn him apart dozens of times. They had a hunch. There was no difference between them and the third tier. Just because ten more floors had been added didn¡¯t mean that they hadn¡¯t hit a limit. Out of boredom, he came up and tormented them. They understood, but from their perspective, they just wanted him to stay out of it. Repressing his emotions, the young man asked. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Nothing special.¡± Jagan, after quickly looking around them, opened his mouth. ¡°Why are only half of you here? Where did everyone go?¡± Everyone was shaken for a moment. Only the young man calmly answered. ¡°Everyone else is temporarily on other floors.¡± Heh. Jaganughed and raised his hand. His fist smacked the young man¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Do you think the news only reached you guys?¡± The young man bit his lip in pain. He already knew, so why did he ask? Swallowing his anger, he opened his mouth. ¡°Everyone¡­ is dead.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Interest sparked in Jagan¡¯s face. ¡°Although you¡¯re the second tier with no talent or skills, you were beaten by someone on the 13th floor?¡± He mocked the guides of the second tier, but he didn¡¯t despise them. Surviving up to the 20th floor here meant that they had proven themselves, so he couldn¡¯t ignore them. ¡°Hmm.¡± Jagan stroked his chin, deep in thought. ¡®Will killing that guy change the evaluation of me?¡¯ Jagan was incredibly powerful to them, but there wasn¡¯t much difference for him at the bottom tiers. After all, he was only allowed up to the third tier, up to the 30th floor. He twisted his face in frustration. ¡®Why did they allow that fool to go to the deep levels?¡¯ A child from the same demon race entered thebyrinth some time ago. He quickly descended to where Jagan was, but he honestly didn¡¯t care. Rather, he sent a look of contempt to him. The reason was simple. They were the same demon race, but Jagan was of a more noble lineage. He was one of the few noble-born in the demon world, while the other came from the lowest ces among the slums. But that one was allowed to go to the deeper levels. It was absurd. He wanted to kill him, but if he did, the leadership would kill him, so he had no choice but to behave. So, he changed his tactics. He nned to prove his strength and talent and change the leadership¡¯s evaluation of him. There was someone who had killed ten adventurers on the 20th floor despite having only reached the 13th floor. He would kill that guy to prove his own strength. Even though he was only on the 13th floor, he would be worth adding points to Jagan¡¯s evaluation. Having made his decision, Jagan nodded. ¡°Good. Guide me to him.¡± ¡°What?¡± Suddenly, out of the blue, what nonsense was Jagan talking about? That kind of incredulous gaze was contained in their looks. Jagan nonchntly bared his teeth. ¡°I will avenge you, so guide me. Or would you rather perish?¡± [Like moths to a me.] The ghost sneered. [Even so, swallowing their pride, five of them came at the same time. It was toote a decision, though.] Five adventurers who had reached the 20th floor. They were definitely a threat. Their defensive and offensive power was quite high, and Taesan also took a fair amount of damage. However, the adventurers had never fought together before, so their coordination was very clumsy, and he leveled up every time he defeated one of them. When he leveled up, all of his conditions were restored. He was able to win by taking advantage of this. ¡°Nice.¡± He made quite a significant overall increase since he caught ten. His level before he started fighting with them was 28. And now it was at level 39. His strength had increased by 11 levels. Naturally, his stats also increased significantly to match this. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 39] [Shield: 169/169] [Health: 2020/2020] [Mana: 416/416] [Strength: 615] [Intelligence: 412] [Agility: 540] [Attack Power + 69] [Defense + 62] [The target is in the best condition.] ¡°These are not the stats of someone on the 13th floor.¡± Taesan whistled. But not everything was good. He was able to receive the floor clear rewards normally so far because, while his stats were abnormally high, his level was appropriate for the floor. However, when the level rose like this, the clear rewards would decrease significantly. As Taesan showed regret, the ghost sneered. [Even considering that, it''s still a huge gain. You''re trying to grab everything like a greedy person.] ¡°That¡¯s the way it has to be.¡± Transcendent beings. Gods. To even approach them, he really had to gain everything. The fact that Taesan was far stronger than an average adventurer was not an attractive point to him. Still, as the ghost said, the gain was a big gain. By facing off against the adventurers, the proficiency of his skills also greatly increased. On top of that, he gained one more piece of equipment. [Bead of the Strix] [Magic + 6] [Sound Magic + 5] [A magical bead containing the sound of the Strix.] After listening to the ghost¡¯s exnation, Taesan learned that it was a bead that added +6 to magic and +5 to the effects of sound magic. To Taesan, it was a rather meaningless item, so he intended to offer it as a tribute. And he also gained skills. First, he acquired the Werewolf skill after his first victory. [Basic Inherited Skill: Werewolf] [Mana Consumption: 1] [Proficiency: 0%] [Transform into a werewolf. Currently, theck of special blood prevents transformation.] Since it was an inherited skill, he could only keep it unused unless he received blood. And next, he acquired the basic magic from a magic user. [Basic Magic: Particle Dispersion] [Mana Consumption: 4] [It triggers arge amount of ice particles to collide and scatter. Enemies without immunity take significant damage. It attempts to apply the status abnormality [Frostbite] to the target.] It was the first wide-ranging magic that Taesan had acquired. The particles densely filled the space where it was cast, causing significant constraints on movement unless one had strong physical strength. The damage might not berge, but it was valuable in the sense that it restricted movement. And there was another new skill. ¡°What on earth is this skill?¡± Taesan put his hand on the ground with a vague expression. He picked up a weed that had shriveled up from the blood. [You have activated Green Grass.] Along with the system window, the weed wriggled. Life returned to the shriveled greenery. After a moment, a fresh-looking weed appeared. [Basic Elemental Skill: Green Grass] [Mana Consumption: 2] [Proficiency: 1%] [It bestows nature''s mercy. It revives vegetation.] ¡°An elemental skill?¡± It was a skill he had never seen before. The ghost began to exin. [Do you know about the existence of elementals?] ¡°I know roughly.¡± [Then it''s easy to exin. You can think of it as simr to magic. It bes somewhat simr at the extreme, but unlike magic, there are more nature-friendly skills.] ¡°How do you learn this?¡± [Meet an elemental, right?] The ghost answered nonchntly. Elementals. Lee Taeyeon had asionally mentioned them. But she had said that they were all in the form of monsters and were hostile. ¡°It seems there must be something else.¡± He could look for it on the way down. ¡°Is this the end?¡± The adventurers who had been continuously appearing were no longer in sight. [Well, you did beat about ten of them. They must have figured it out by now. That they can''t mess with you. ¡­¡­Speak of the devil, here theye?] Multiple presences were detected through Taesan¡¯s senses. The nearly double-digit number made Taesan grimace. ¡°Is this thest one?¡± He drew his sword. Soon, a horned figure appeared. The ghost chuckled under its breath. [So that one showed up too.] ¡°Hello?¡± A massive surge of magical energy was released in the room. It was a power full of deep and dense evil, so much so that even Taesan, who had never seen a demon before, could notice it. ¡°So there are demons as well.¡± Taesan nced beyond the room. About ten presences were quietly lingering there. ¡®They won¡¯t interfere.¡¯ Taesan looked at the demon before him with a serious gaze. It was powerful. He was intrinsically different from the adventurers he had seen so far. Even with his increased strength, he couldn¡¯t easily guarantee victory. Such was the power he felt. ¡°Hmm.¡± The demon, Jagan, stroked his chin. He, who had been looking at Taesan, opened his mouth. ¡°Who are you?¡± His eyes became serious. When he first showed up, he was full of carelessness andcency, but now all of that had disappeared and was reced by extreme caution. Jagan, who had been looking at Taesan, carefully asked. ¡°Could you possibly be a dragon?¡± Chapter 80: Fourteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (3) ¡°Dragon?¡± The young man who had been listening from behind them swallowed his breath. Dragon. The strongest species. A being that could even split dimensions and was untouchable unless its opponent was a high-ranking demon. Even the weakest young dragon was a monster that could not be fought against unless one descended to the 40th floor. Jagan swallowed his saliva. As a demon, he could roughly estimate the fluctuations of power. Taesan¡¯s power was an unseen strength for an adventure on the 13th floor. Such power could not be obtained within thebyrinth. From the beginning, there was a high probability that this was a powerful being who had entered thebyrinth. And it was hard to find such a being other than a dragon. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°So what?¡± Jagan¡¯s face turned pale. He forced his trembling body to step aside. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to interfere. Please go ahead.¡± Unable to bear the perfectly submissive posture of Jagan, who had bent to the waist, the ghost burst intoughter. [He''s really showing his bottom. How ugly.] ¡°Is the dragon that strong?¡± [Although you can gain stronger power inside thebyrinth than outside, dragons surpass that. They are the strongest species in most worlds. Those who are the oldest or born with special bloodlines can even rival gods. I know there are a few near the bottom of this ce.] ¡°That strong, huh?¡± ¡°You..?¡± Jagan looked at Taesan and the ghost in confusion. Soon, his face twisted. ¡°You!¡± Realizing he had been fooled, Jagan showed his anger. Taesan waved his sword. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary human. Satisfied?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Is it because you¡¯re a lowly human that you easily lie?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something a demon should say.¡± Taesan pointed at Jagan with his sword, giving a vague smile. On Jagan¡¯s face, there were contrasting lights of anger and calmness. Even though he recognized his opponent was a human, he couldn¡¯t release his tension. Even if he wasn¡¯t a dragon, the fact that he was strong didn¡¯t change. Jagan thought Taesan was only slightly weaker than himself or equal in power. ¡°We didn¡¯t juste to talk, did we? Let¡¯s do it then.¡± [Duel request. This duel will be conducted with both parties having 0 defense.] Jagan frowned. ¡°Duel?¡± ¡°When will the guys behind you target me? How would I know whether you, about to die, would ask for help or ept death calmly?¡± ¡°I? Beg for help from those guys?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know that, do we?¡± Jagan, whose pride was hurt, was enraged. ¡°How dare a mere human¡­¡­¡± Jagan barely held back his anger, scrutinized the system window, and curled up the corners of his mouth. ¡°A duel state with 0 defense?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be chewed up little by little, you know? Let¡¯s finish it quickly.¡± From Taesan¡¯s casual words, Jagan realized something. ¡®His attack power isn¡¯t high.¡¯ Within thebyrinth, physical attacks were entirely determined by the weapon¡¯s attack power. Even if the opponent was exceptionally skilled, if their attack power was lower than their defense, it was challenging to make a proper attack. Jagan was someone on the 30th floor. His opponent was on the 13th floor. The equipment difference was absolute. It was clear from the fact that he proposed a duel with a condition of having 0 defense. Jagan cleanly rejected it. ¡°I refuse.¡± [The duel has been declined.] [Duel request.] ¡°Let¡¯s fight in a proper state.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± [Duel established.] [Taesan and Jagan start the duel.] Taesan charged as if he had been waiting. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Jagan couldn¡¯t respond properly. Instead of a longsword, Taesan took out a dagger and stabbed Jagan. [Jagan received 12 damage.] ¡°What?¡± Jagan was caught off guard. He thought that since Taesan proposed a duel under the condition of 0 defense, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do any damage due to the difference in attack power. That was why he didn¡¯t put much effort into defense. Taesan didn¡¯t miss that moment ofcency. He proposed a duel with 0 defense to catch the opponent off guard. He smoothly bent the dagger and cut parts of his opponent¡¯s arm. This was the second sword, Dance of the Swordsman. Dozens of system windows appear in an instant. ¡°Th, This!¡± Jagan, barely maintaining his sanity, focused his magic and exploded it out. Taesan, who has already done enough damage, easily maintained a distance. ¡°Damn it!¡± With a distorted face, Jagan cleared the system window. He had received around 300 damage in an instant. ¡°A weapon with a fixed attack. Right. There was such a thing.¡± [It''s the weapon that killed me.] The ghostughed hauntingly. Fixed attack power prated through defense. No matter how high the defense was, you couldn¡¯t avoid taking damage. The ghost died for the same reason, and Jagan was no different. Grinding his teeth, Jagan charged. In his hand was a sword that was filled with magic. Taesan swung his sword in response. sh! He parried the attack with one longsword and shed into Jagan¡¯s flesh with his dagger. After several exchanges, Taesan realized it. ¡®He¡¯s weak.¡¯ Jagan was strong, of course. Despite receiving various buffs from his skills, their stats were not significantly different. However, his movements were incredibly clumsy. Contrary to Taesan¡¯s anticipation, he couldn¡¯t properly block the Stormscar sword and continued to reveal his vulnerability. sh! Twisting his wrist, he deflected Jagan¡¯s sword. He stabbed his dagger into Jagan¡¯s chest. Jagan backed off with a groan. ¡°Hmm.¡± Jagan treated his wound without much agitation. ¡°The Sword of Stormscar. A hero without pride interferes with the living. It would be hard to win in closebat as long as you have that.¡± Jagan opened his hand. The magic that formed the sword scattered and began to swirl around Jagan¡¯s body. ¡°But I am a demon. An entity that inherits noble magic. My main focus is not on physical movement.¡± Magic swelled and poured out of his body. It began to take shape as itbined with his magical power. ¡°Behold. The grand magic that the demons have created throughout the long history.¡± [Jagan has activated the Decarabia''s Distorted Vegetation.] Boom! From the darkness, nt roots sprung out. The nt life,rge enough to fill the room and still be in excess, covered Taesan. Taesan grimaced, moving his sword roughly. He fended off the approaching massive tree roots. A dull shock reverberated tinglingly up his arm. ¡°What is this?¡± The room was filled with numerous roots. Screech! With a noise like a scream, the roots writhed. Like a cobra dancing to a flute, the roots clung to Taesan¡¯s arms and legs, piercing his chest with their sharp ends. Crack. He snapped the roots with his elbow and moved his sword roughly. The first sword, Wolf¡¯s Fang, cut down all the approaching roots. Still, there were too many. Seeing the frenzy of the roots, Taesan clicked his tongue and cast a spell. Woosh. A zing sphere ignited in mid-air. It collided with the roots. In an instant, the mes spread out massively. The roots died out one by one, giving off a painful sound. Roar. mes filled the room. Taesan blocked the approaching mes with Frost Arrow and turned his gaze. ¡°You used a zing Sphere?¡± Jagan, who blocked the mes with magic, grimaced and waved his hand. [Jagan activated Decarabia''s Crow Hex.] Caw, caw, caw! From the darkness, distorted crows sprung out. Over a hundred easily, their beaks moved to attack Taesan. Taesan moved his sword roughly and managed to shake the crows off with his body movements. ¡°Is there such magic?¡± The magic Taesan had seen so far was simple: calling down lightning, creating mes, creating ice. It was notplex and difficult to understand like this. [Demon''s magic. Or maybe Hex magic.] The ghost said in exnation. [The magic you use is the magic of the god of magic. It''s the most popr magic here, but it''s not all there is to magic. It''s distinctly different from the magic the demons have independently created.] ¡°Don¡¯t interfere. Hero! This is a fight between him and me!¡± Jagan spoke sharply. Even if he was a ghost, there was no way he would know about the demon¡¯s magic, and it was irritating to Jagan, who was in a life-or-death battle. [Don''t worry. I have no intention of helping.] Jagan was momentarily taken aback by the leisurely talking ghost. Despite what he had said, he thought he would still say this and that to help. ¡®Do they not get along well?¡¯ This was a good thing for Jagan. He continued to manifest the demonic magic. Marchosias¡¯s False mes. Blue mes burst out and swallowed the remaining zing sphere mes, scorching everything. Taesan cast Frost Arrow to create a cold barrier, but the mes would not be easily extinguished. In the end, the mes touched his arm. [Kang Taesan''s First Absolute Attack Nullification is activated.] However, the me was extinguished. As the result of the attack itself disappeared due to the skill, Jagan involuntarily raised his voice. ¡°What!¡± Attack nullification? What kind of skill was that? He was greatly shaken, but Jagan quickly collected himself. ¡®As expected.¡¯ Jagan bared his teeth. As the name suggested, Marchosias¡¯s False mes was not actually fire. It was an extremely hot material in the form of fire. Therefore, it was not greatly affected by temperature and needed to be blocked by physical force. But Taesan did not do that. Because he had no information about it. All of the demon¡¯s magic was unique and colorful, so if one didn¡¯t know of them in advance, it was practically impossible to respond properly. Jagan had no intention of missing this advantage. The demon¡¯s magic continually overwhelmed Taesan. Even the second nullification was triggered. With the onrushing magical force, big and small wounds began to appear on Taesan. Motivated by the thought of victory, Jagan was overlooking one fact. The fact that Taesan¡¯s responses were gradually getting better. Jagan clenched his fist. [Jagan has activated Nebiros''s Despair.] Darkness engulfed Taesan, and Jagan chuckled under his breath. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± The magic he used now was a type of magic that attacked the human spirit and buried it in endless darkness. Without preparation in advance, it was impossible to respond to it. All Taesan could do was to be pinned in the darkness and slowly die. As he was confident of his victory, Taesan stood in the darkness. Grrr. The roar of a beast assailed his ears. Horrible things tried to eat into his mind. [It''s hard to respond. This is magic you''re seeing for the first time. From the beginning, the demon''s magic is difficult, and even those who have frequently faced it can''t respond properly. I don''t know it well either.] The ghost had faced several demons, but the depth of the demon¡¯s magic was not shallow enough to be fully understood from such experiences. Moreover, the magic of the demon was a secret among secrets, so no one opened their mouths about it. He also only roughly knew about it and did not know the detailed countermeasures. [But it would be different if it were you.] The ghost¡¯s words contained deep trust and belief. Taesan stroked his chin in the darkness. The noises assaulting his ears had no effect on his mind. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡®Can I also learn this?¡¯ Taesan tore through the darkness. Jagan, who was leisurely waiting for Taesan¡¯s self-destruction, was startled. ¡®He overcame this?¡¯ Impossible. Nebiros¡¯s Despair attacked the fundamental part of a person¡¯s spirit. Even with an unyielding spirit, it was not easy to shake it off, but toe out this quickly!? Jagan quickly gathered his wits. ¡®But nothing changes.¡¯ Taesan still didn¡¯t know about the magic of the demons. If so, the oue was obvious. He unleashed his magic. [Jagan has activated Decarabia''s Crow Swarm.] Caw, Caw! Numerous crows took flight. Each one was weak, but their overwhelming number beat down the opponent - a crushing spell. ¡®The countermeasure is not to counter in the first ce.¡¯ Ignore them, or shake it off with just the aftermath of force. One of the two, but Taesan had fended off each one with his sword. It was natural since he didn¡¯t know the countermeasures. Jagan believed it would not be much different this time. However, Taesan activated a skill. [Kang Taesan has activated Repulsion.] Skill: Repulsion. A skill that fired an intangible force from the center of the user to push things away. It didn¡¯t mean much when facing a singr force, but it was a great skill against these kinds of opponents who attacked in numbers. The crows disappeared, crushed by the force before they even reached Taesan. Jagan¡¯s pupils dted. ¡®Did he figure out the countermeasures?¡¯ Jagan denied his own thoughts. It was only the second time. Believing it to be just a coincidence, he unleashes more magic. [Jagan has activated Marbas'' False mes.] Blue mes poured out like a dragon¡¯s breath. Taesan lifted his sword and struck the mes. With a loud noise, the me-shaped substance flew far away. ¡°Indeed, this is the correct way.¡± Taesan shook his head. Chapter 81: Fourteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (4) It was strange. mes that burned mes. At that rate, Taesan should have melted just from the residual heat. But he only suffered burns. When he touched it, he felt a sense of difort, as if it was a foreign substance. So, he thought it was a physical substance, and he was right. Taesan raised his sword, and Jagan looked at him while swaying. He had just realized the nature of Jagan¡¯s magic after two spells. Taesan had perfectly figured out the countermeasures to his magic. ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡± The magic of the demons was of their own creation. It was a perfect power that had been umted over a long period of time. ¡°And you, of all people!¡± [Jagan has activated Decarabia''s Distorted Vegetation.] Dark figures burst out violently. The manifestation of the magic was exactly the same as the one Jagan had previously manifested. Jagan was not so foolish as to fail from the 30th floor from here, but he did not forcibly change the manifestation of magic because it was the same as saying that his pride was wounded, as much as there were feelings of denial and contempt. That was very good for Taesan. [Kang Taesan has activated Mental eleration.] Time subtly slowed down. A very small difference. But it provided enough time to think. ck magic. A magic that was not intuitive and difficult to deal with. Something he had not seen in his previous life. ¡®It onlyes out in the darkness.¡¯ The magic only manifested within the wavering darkness that manifested around Jagan. Distorted vegetation was a spell that manifested countless tree roots to attack. If he looked at the darkness quietly, he could see the manifestation¡¯s origin. The end of the roots stuck out jaggedly. By looking at that, he could read the trajectory. Taesan stepped forward. Three steps to the left. Then, two steps forward. The magic manifested, and the roots whipped around the room. And Taesan remained unscathed. It filled only the space around Taesan as if it was avoiding him. Jagan opened his mouth, and Taesan raised his finger. zing Orb. The roots burned and disappeared, emptying the room. Taesan activated eleration. He swept past the mes and stabbed his sword into the chest of Jagan, who stood stunned. Thud. ¡°Thi-this!¡± Jagan hastily tried to create distance, But Taesan clung to him. The most important thing when dealing with a magician was not to let the distance widen. He grabbed Jagan¡¯s arm, pulled him closer, and moved his sword again. ¡®As expected.¡¯ The watching ghost couldn¡¯t help but admire it. Interception. Understanding the essence of objects or phenomena, inferring the most rational methods and solutions, and then drawing conclusions. It was the most important skill anyone descending thebyrinth should have, and Taesan was more proficient in this ability than anyone else. In the midst of battle, even upon seeing perhaps new magic, he deduced its activation method and means of destruction straight away. No one had ever seeded or even attempted this. They were too busy avoiding it to think about a means of destruction instead. Yes, the ghost hadn¡¯t done it either. ¡®Indeed, his greatest strength was this.¡¯ If he hadn¡¯t realized that the static state and the trajectory state in magic were separated, he wouldn¡¯t have learned the beginner spells zing Orb and Frost Arrow, which he couldn¡¯t have known about initially. He had realized the properties of all skills, such as Heavy Attack, Flow, and Counter. And his swordsmanship. He tried moving in a way to remove what he determined as rough movements in the Stormscar¡¯s swordsmanship. In doing so, he obtained the second sword, Dance of the Swordsman. Even if it was his first time seeing something, he grasped its core, inferred, and tried to move. It was a skill anyone could possess, but Taesan was outstanding. ¡®Is it¡­ talent?¡¯ There were no signs of the light of talent. Only violence was visible. Countless efforts. Efforts so abundant that they could be considered stubbornness and madness. It all started from there. While the ghost inwardly admired Taesan, the fight continued and was one-sided. The reason Taesan was pushed back initially, unable to do anything, was because he knew nothing about ck magic. But now, he has learned, to a certain extent, its activation and suppression methods. From here on, it was simple. All he had to do was block the magic and suppress it. ¡°Eek, eek!¡± Jagan tried somehow to manifest magic but couldn¡¯t. Whether blocked by magic, skills, or a sword attack, all means were blocked. In the meantime, he had already received over 1,000 damage points. In the end, Jagan gave up. He spat out with a grim face. ¡°I admit it. But it¡¯s not over yet!¡± Jagan gathered his magic power. The magic power welled up, trying to envelop Jagan¡¯s body. [Jagan activated Descent.] A unique skill of the demon tribe that converted magic power and mana into stats. With a high conversion rate, a stat that can overwhelm Taesan would bepleted once activated. Of course, Taesan won¡¯t just stand and watch. He stepped on Jagan¡¯s foot and struck his chin. As concentration was released, the activation of Descent was canceled. ¡°How, how?¡± ¡°Why are you so foolishly trying to activate it openly?¡± Taesan sent a look of contempt. ck magic could be canceled at any time due to external stimuli during the casting process. Surely, Taesan, who had blocked countless magic from Jagan, would not just watch idly. Jagan, btedly realizing this fact, struggled to create distance. But the difference in physical ability between them is clear. The stats did not differ much, but it went without saying which side had the upper hand between the magician Jagan and the swordsman-like Taesan. Thud. ¡°Kuhuk.¡± Finally, the sword pierced through Jagan, bringing him to the brink of death. Taesan thrusts his dagger at the copsed Jagan. ¡°Stay still if you don¡¯t want to die.¡± ¡°Me, by a human like this¡­¡­¡± Jagan looked up with a deste face. The ghost released the admiration it had held back. [Impressive. Despite being a crude kid, I didn''t think he would win so easily.] ¡°Even if it¡¯splex, there¡¯s only about ten spells. It would be different if there were skills that could vary it, but if there aren¡¯t any, it¡¯s simple.¡± For example, Magic eleration or Magic Explosion. If there were skills that could change the activation and implementation, Taesan would also have had a hard time. However, only raw magic was activated, possibly due to ack of proficiency. [Really?] The ghost smirked. Typically, magicians on the 30th or 40th floors only used about ten spells. And most of them couldn¡¯t use a variety of magic. It was not that they were weak. Magic was a kind of number game. Up to the 30th floor, ten moves were enough. But in Taesan¡¯s eyes, all of them would look like novices. Essentially, unless they went further deep down, magicians at the same level or simr to Taesan couldn¡¯t win against him. [I''m curious about the proficiency of your Detection.] For example, Taesan had learned the Complete Renaissance skill, the final evolution of Detection, and the ghost didn¡¯t. That difference was huge. ¡°If this bastard hadn¡¯t acted foolishly, it wouldn¡¯t have been this easy.¡± Jagan was a pure magician who didn¡¯t use his body. He should have manifested many spells to keep Taesan from approaching, but he didn¡¯t because of hiscency. The moment he gave up distance, the oue might as well have been decided. ¡°Then.¡± Taesan poked Jagan¡¯s throat with the tip of his sword. Blood flowed out. ¡°How can I learn ck magic?¡± ck Magic. A type of magic that waspletely different from normal magic. Jagan¡¯s disy of ck magic was extremely difficult and, at the same time, appealing. Even though Taesan did not know much about magic, he would have to learn a lot of magic to have such a range and variety. It would be a valuable card to y if he could learn it. Jagan answered Taesan¡¯s question with a curse. How dare a human covet the magic of the Demon race? He showered Taesan with all sorts of curses, wishing the curse of the Demon Lord upon him. Taesan¡¯s response to this was simple. If he did not answer, Taesan would offer his soul as a sacrifice to the gods. This sentence was extremely effective, so Jagan shut his mouth quietly. With a scared face, he started answering Taesan¡¯s questions. He tried to mix lies in between, but the ghost cut them off in advance. Because he had descended deep down, he had a rough idea about ck magic, so the conversation was easy. Finally, the story was sorted out. ¡°So, can I learn it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jagan nodded his tired face. ¡°ck magic is a magic that is operated with mana and magic power. Since the mana is fulfilled, all you need is magic power.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t magic power something only your race has?¡± It was a kind of energy that the demon race naturally acquired from birth. The ghost exined that no matter how hard other races tried, they could not obtain it. ¡°Normally, yes. But this ce is thebyrinth. All kinds of strange and distorting powers are summarized as skills. If the conditions are met¡­ it is not impossible to obtain magic power.¡± In fact, he had seen a few who had obtained it. Jagan added. ¡°That is the way to go to your god.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Just like the God of magic, our God also settled here. He abandoned all of us.¡± Jagan spat out with a twisted face. His face contained both reverence and betrayal. ¡°He is a being who loves those with abilities. If you are liked by him and pass his trials¡­¡­ you may receive the privilege that only we have been allowed. Although it is a thing infinitely close to impossible.¡± Jagan twisted the corners of his mouth. The God of the Demons had never allowed humans to have magic power, not even once. For Taesan, there was nothing more for him to give. That was his thought. ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide.¡± He had to find the God of the Demons. That was the goal. Taesan asked the ghost. ¡°Do you know the location?¡± [I barely remember... but it shouldn''t be too far. Just a little further down.] He felt like he could learn quicker than expected. Given this situation, there was something he was curious about. ¡°What is the rtionship between the God of Magic and the God of the Demons?¡± He was learning magic from the God of Magic. It was possible because the God of Magic had goodwill towards him. If the rtionship between the two was not good, he might have to give up one. The ghost paused for a moment. [Uh... I''m not sure about that. There are often bad rtionships among transcendent beings. Maybe you should check it out yourself?] Relieved that there was no immediate confirmation of a bad rtionship, Taesan organized his thoughts. With this, he had obtained all the information he could from Jagan. Taesan immediately stabbed him with a sword. Jagan disappeared, his life fading with a gloomy face. The power he had umted was now instilled in Taesan. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength permanently increases by 26. Agility permanently increases by 27. Intelligence permanently increases by 34. Stamina permanently increases by 50. Mana permanently increases by 70.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have obtained the novice ck magic [False me of Marchosias].] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] The increase was substantial, probably due to him being an adventurer of the 30th floor, even though the activation of Soul Ascension was not fully functioning due to the level increase. He didn¡¯t get any equipment, but he didn¡¯t mind. Hoping for equipment from the 30th floor was too much to ask for. [Novice ck Magic: False me of Marchochias] [Mana Consumption: 13] [Basic Magic Power Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summons a material in the form of the me that the demon, Marchochias, maniptes. The temperature, hot enough to melt the sun, seems like it could cool things like ice.] ¡°It was indeed a physical substance.¡± There was a part for the consumption of magic power. Until he acquired magic power, he couldn¡¯t use it. Then¡­ Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t hide,e out.¡± However, there was no movement from the shadows. Taesanzily flicked his hand. ¡°Shall I pull each of you out and kill you? If you can run, try to.¡± ¡°¡­We apologize.¡± Quiet voices came forth, and the figures appeared. One. Two. Three. A total of ten. They were the second-rank adventurers. The young man clenched his teeth and bowed his head. Following him, the others also bowed their heads, trembling. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m tormenting you.¡± [Isn''t it simr in reality?] ¡°What do you mean? I took the first hit.¡± Taesan grumbled. ¡°Even if I kill all of these people, you¡¯d have nothing to say.¡± At those words, they shook even more. The young man bit his lip. ¡®No¡­¡­¡¯ They couldn¡¯t. The 13th-floor adventurer before them was a monster. An entity they absolutely couldn¡¯t resist. A 30th-floor adventurer has perished. Although Jagan focused on tormenting them and didn¡¯t cultivate his power for a long time, still, he was someone of the 30th floor. Even over ten people on the 20th floor couldn¡¯t dare to touch such a powerful being. And that being was killed by someone from the 13th floor. Moreover, it seemed like he didn¡¯t have a hard time, and he was overwhelmingly powerful. They shouldn¡¯t resist. The young man calmed himself down and asked cautiously. ¡°What do you want from us?¡± Chapter 82: Fourteenth Level - The Guide Of Sin (5) ¡°For you guys? I don¡¯t expect much. If I have to specify, experience and stats?¡± Taesan drew his sword. The adventurers retreated, releasing screams mixed with terror. However, the young man who first revealed himself was watching Taesan with unflinching eyes. Taesan smirked. ¡°Are you the easiest one to talk to? Are you the representative?¡± ¡°For now, yes.¡± The young man calmly replied. If Taesan wished, he could rip them all apart and kill them. It was no use running away. Their refuge, as those who were unable to go down below the 20th floor, was obvious. They would face death soon. But instead of striking with his sword, Taesan called out to them. The young man thought that Taesan had something to ask of them. And the young man¡¯s assumption was correct. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Taesan asked, stroking his chin. ¡°I am Gagarat.¡± He gave his name. If Taesan nned to kill him immediately, he would not need to know his name. This meant he intended to keep him alive. The young man heaved a sigh of relief inwardly. Taesan sheathed his sword. ¡°Originally, I nned to kill you all, but it didn¡¯t seem particrly meaningful.¡± His level had increased significantly, and now there was not much difference between him and them. Even if he defeated them all, his level and stats wouldn¡¯t increase much. ¡°You guys. You don¡¯t want to die, do you?¡± Everyone nodded. They were all prepared for death, but none of them wanted to die in such a meaningless way. Then Taesan spoke. ¡°Instead of killing you, I onlymand one thing. Do not send my information to the Guide of Sin.¡± ¡°That means¡­:¡± ¡°Just as I said. Keep those on the bottom ignorant of me.¡± Those at the very bottom wouldn¡¯t be interested in the affairs of the 2nd tier. However, if more than twenty adventurers were to die, they wouldn¡¯t stay indifferent. Even one of the adventurers of the 3rd tier had already died. Taesan¡¯s information must have been conveyed to some extent. So they would realize that someone on the 30th floor had been killed by someone on the 13th floor. Then, even the most arrogant of them wouldn¡¯t stand still. They¡¯d have interest or hostility, whatever it may be. They might evene down themselves. That would be problematic. No matter how strong he was, he wasn¡¯t at a level to deal with those down below. So, he would confuse them with this information. Gagarat organized his thoughts with a moreposed gaze. ¡°You mean to convey false information.¡± ¡°Correct. They probably won¡¯t care much whether the information you give is true or false. You can throw in a decent amount of lies, can¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true.¡± From the beginning, Gagarat hadn¡¯t directly seen the brains behind the Guides of Sin. Communication was only through intermediaries, so it was possible to tell any number of lies. ¡°So, pass this on. I was killed by you guys. I was ambushed along with the adventurer from the 30th floor.¡± Gagarat swallowed. It wasn¡¯t an impossible task. It was quite possible. However, this was equivalent to saying that they were helping Taesan descend. He was of the Guides of Sin. This was a behaviorpletely against the purpose of the group. As if he had read Gagarat¡¯s thoughts, Taesan smirked. ¡°You didn¡¯t join because you wanted to, did you?¡± Gagarat forced a bitter smile. Taesan¡¯s words were not wrong. They didn¡¯t believe in thepulsive idea that they must protect thebyrinth. Even if they had one, it vanished the moment they were blocked on the 20th floor. They only epted the invitation to join because they would have been killed if they refused. Gagarat organized his thoughts neatly. ¡°I ept.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Taesan chuckled delightfully. The choking pressure was released, and they exhaled with a gasp. ¡°Just in case I¡¯ll tell you this, if any of you send information to the bottom, I n to kill you all. So it would be best not to make futile attempts.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Anyone who would do that is already dead by your hands, Taesan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± After organizing things, Taesan spoke to the ghost. ¡°Is that okay?¡± [It doesn''t matter. The one who killed me is not these lowly things, but those below.] The ghost looked at Taesan as if expecting something. Taesan took a step back. ¡°Do as you please.¡± [Okay. Hey. Whisper.] ¡°¡­ It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve heard that nickname.¡± Gagarat smiled bitterly. The surviving hero used to call him that. He didn¡¯t expect him to still remember it. [Yeah. You. Long time no see, right?] ¡°Do you resent me?¡± [Why should I resent you? You did nothing. I don''t even care.] The ghost spoke grumpily and gritted his teeth. [The piss ant might not know, but you do. Who''s the one who ordered to kill me?] The one who contributed most to the death of the hero. [Don''t say you don''t know. As a manager of the hierarchy, there''s no way you wouldn''t have received that much information.] After a moment of silence, Gagarat opened his mouth. ¡°We disliked you. You must have known that.¡± [How could I not? You weak things who showed such envy.] The ghost snickered. He had descended to the depths in a very short time. He had been the subject of envy, jealousy, and hatred for them, who had been stuck on a certain floor for a long time. ¡°However, there were not many who wanted to harm you. You were strong and could have been helpful to us. Then, one person made a suggestion.¡± Gagarat looked at the ghost. ¡°To kill you. There was some bacsh, but your death was soon decided.¡± [Who is that bastard?] ¡°It might be better for you not to know.¡± [I will decide that.] Annoyed by the response, Gagarat spoke slowly. ¡°The woman who inherited the bloodline of the cursed kingdom. The Lady of Ash. Societ Gardentia.¡± The ghost¡¯s body shuddered greatly. [...She wanted to kill me?] ¡°At least, that¡¯s what I heard.¡± [Why?] Only a question was contained in the ghost¡¯s voice. Gagarat shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. So, I was surprised when I heard it. She was the unique brain trust member who had a good rtionship with you.¡± [....] The ghost closed his mouth as if he was shocked. ¡°If you follow after her, you¡¯ll see her. I hope you can solve your curiosity.¡± Speaking softly, Gagarat turned around. The others also began to slowly retreat, their faces rxed. Taesan caught them. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°There¡¯s still something you have to give me.¡± Gagarat swallowed. At their frightened expressions, Taesan waved his hand. ¡°Information up to the 20th floor.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Gagarat came to a realization. They knew everything about it since they had permission up to the 20th floor. It was natural for Taesan, who was going down, to want that information. They spilled all the information they knew. From the secret room to the altar of the god. And even the existing NPCs. ¡°When you reach the 16th floor, there will be an empty room. The cksmith will be there.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes shone. It was finally time to meet why he had been collecting materials so far. ¡°Okay. You can go now.¡± ¡°¡­Yes. Thank you.¡± They left. Soon, the news of Taesan¡¯s death would be delivered to the brain trust. Only Taesan and the ghost who had fallen silent remained. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Congrattions.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Yes, yes......] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: We won! We did! We won!] On the Community, a dispirited Lee Taeyeon replied while an excited Kang Junhyuk left a message. The reason for their reaction was simple. They had passed the trial of the God of Victory, Balthasar. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How do you feel?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Uh¡­ I''m stunned. Honestly, it doesn''t quite feel real that I woke up.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: It''s great! We cleared that crazy thing! And we got the rewards, too! I''m so happy!] At theirpletely different reactions, Taesan chuckled. Lee Taeyeon showed relief, perhaps having calmed down from hearing Junhyuk¡¯s noisy rant. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Somehow, we survived.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What was it like?] The trial of the unenhanced Balthasar. Taesan was curious, too. Lee Taeyeon responded. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: You have to face what you fear the most. For me, a huge spider came out and attacked me. Ugh, it was horrifying.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: It was an elephant for me.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: You''re scared of elephants? They''re cute.] [Kang Junhyuk [Solo]: That''s easy for you to say. You didn''t see it. Do you know how terrifying it is to see that huge thing charging at you?] Watching their yful conversation, Taesan thought to himself. ¡®Conquer your greatest fear. A fitting trial for the God of Victory.¡¯ He could see the meaning was to face an enemy that would make him flinch, make his breathing quicken, and sweat break out, to gather his courage and achieve victory. He roughly understood it now. ¡®I wonder what would have appeared for me?¡¯ It could have been the Apostle he had seenst. Or the colossal monster he had seen in the sky. With a small question in mind, Taesan posted a message. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Was the reward satisfactory?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: More than enough.] The God of Victory. Balthasar¡¯s basic reward was the Belt of Valor. It had stats of +3 attack and defense and also replenished health and mana upon victory. The attack power wasn¡¯t meaningful if it was for Taesan, but the recovery was of great value. It was even more significant, especially for Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk, who didn¡¯t have any special healing skills. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: I see why you rmended taking it, Taesan. The rewards for defeating tough enemies are significantly higher.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Even so, don''t be too greedy. Gods are capricious. They can change at any time. It''s better to ept things moderately.] After giving some sound advice and revealing some information about the secret room, he exited the Community. Taesan began to speak. ¡°Are you ready to talk now?¡± [Do I have to talk?] ¡°You have to.¡± With a sharp voice, Taesan calmly replied. ¡°I don¡¯t like it when a quest I¡¯ve worked hard on fails due to the subject¡¯s whims.¡± It was written that the ghost¡¯s quest was determined ording to the ghost¡¯s mind right from the description. Taesan had no intention of leaving any variables. The ghost trembled slightly. From within its wavering remnants, a voice echoed. [It''s not a great story. I came here from a destroyed world. All that was there were monsters, and the only ones I could converse with were madmen or idiots, so I didn''t even want to talk.] Although he did not speak properly, he must have been quite tormented. Humans are social creatures, and mental problems could arise without interaction with others. [She was a woman I couldmunicate with. We had a certain sense of kinship because of our simr circumstances.] ¡°Did you like her?¡± [...There were feelings, but not to that extent.] The ghost spoke indifferently. The emotion in his voice had lessenedpared to before. [But if she contributed significantly to my death, I must do what I need to do. I''m just curious. I want to know why she did it.] ¡°That¡¯s enough then.¡± He would be able to meet her when he went down. Taesan went downstairs and met the Dwarf. The Dwarf looked taken aback upon seeing Taesan. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°You said you would give a new quest from here. I came to get it.¡± The Dwarf had promised to give another quest instead of a penalty y. However, the Dwarf was hesitant before finally opening his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t give it to you.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to give it.¡± The Dwarf spoke as if making an excuse. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m a being that is bound here, so there are restrictions. It was fine before, but when you were going down the floor? Suddenly, it stopped me from doing so. So, I¡¯m quite taken aback right now.¡± ¡°Suddenly?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan tapped his cheek. He had a rough idea of the reason. ¡®Is it because of the level?¡¯ Taesan¡¯s current level was 41. It was not a level you could reach on the 14th floor. It was because he won against the adventurers as he went down the floors. Even if it was understandable for his stats, the level might also cause imbnce, resulting in restrictions. Taesan nodded as he could understand that part. ¡°Then there¡¯s no other way.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ But still, I made a promise. It¡¯s a bit odd to call it a substitute, but how much do you have now?¡± ¡°I have about 30,000 gold.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s deduct 20,000 gold. Take this.¡± The Dwarf threw a ring. Taesan reflexively caught it. [Purple Ring: Hongyeong] [All stats + 3%] [A ring that has endured the energy of the sun until the dripping water shapes the rock.] ¡°¡­¡­Really?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t keep the promise. I need topensate for that.¡± The Dwarf spoke calmly. Taesan epted the ring with a bewildered feeling. Even though the penalty y reduced it by 50%, it was still 50,000 gold, which he thought he could only buy after going down to about the 20th floor. He could never have imagined getting it like this. ¡°Thank you.¡± It was still a good thing, so he epted it politely. It was a profit of 20,000 gold. He didn¡¯t know what kind of quest it would be, but it would be hard to be better than this. ¡°So, are you going down now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have anything else to do.¡± The Dwarf, who had been observing Taesan for a while, let out a sincereugh. ¡°I see why the restriction was applied. You won¡¯t even take an hour.¡± ¡°See you next time.¡± The 15th floor. As he deleted the entry quest, Taesan thought. ¡®There¡¯s nothing to gain.¡¯ A skill could be obtained if the opponent was somewhat simr in level. So far, his level hadn¡¯t been too high, so it was possible to acquire, but now his level had gotten too high. Acquiring a skill was impossible. So he quickly descended. Until he could acquire skills until he reached the floor where Soul Ascension would activate again. There was nothing to hinder him as he had information from the adventurers of the 2nd tier. He knew the location of all the secret rooms up to the 20th floor. Taesan, who was descending leisurely, quickly passed through the rooms. Chapter 83: Sixteenth Level - The Fool Who Refines Dreams (1) In the Guides of Sin conference room, people were sitting around the circr table. A brash man who had beenzily watching the noisy chatter suddenly spoke as if something urred to him. ¡°Speaking of which, didn¡¯t he die?¡± ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°Well, you know. The one with wide-open eyes that I mentionedst time.¡± ¡°Ah, that one.¡± The memory surfaced, and a fire sprite¡¯s voice was filled with fascination. Those who had been arguing amongst themselves stopped and listened to their conversation. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Nothing much. It¡¯s an already finished story.¡± The impudent youth spoke lightly. A sturdy, muscr man who had heard the exnation frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to discuss such matters after the meeting?¡± ¡°Who would bother holding a meeting about an adventurer from the 13th floor?¡± ¡°But we should at least talk about it. If the stories get mixed up, it might cause an incident.¡± The man just gave a light piece of advice and did not speak seriously. At most, it was an adventurer from the 13th floor. There was no need for them to be interested. ¡°So what happened?¡± ¡°He got killed by those below.¡± ¡°An obvious oue.¡± The difference between the 13th and 20th floors was clear. Everyone thought that Taesan died on the side of the 20th floor, but the cheeky man shook his head. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t die to those on the 2nd rank.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Rather, it was the 2nd rank who lost their cool and died to him.¡± Silence fell for a moment. Interest was sparked on their faces. ¡°The 13th-floor adventurer triumphed over the 2nd rank?¡± ¡°Is that such a big deal? I¡¯ve done it too. It¡¯s not hard against those without talent and broken spirits.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you were a strong existence from the outside. I don¡¯t know about the guy in the story. And even you couldn¡¯t have faced the heat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something you know once you try.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I said it¡¯s unknown. Are you deaf?¡± They prattled on. For these people, who had lived unchanged for a long time, Taesan¡¯s story was an interesting one. ¡°So he eventually died to the 2nd rank?¡± ¡°No? I heard he had a stand-off with the 3rd rank.¡± The muscr man furrowed his brow. ¡°Someone from the 30th floor?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Huh. The brash man nodded his head. Silence fell once again. ¡°¡­.Is that even possible?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sounds of disbelief filled the room. They were surprised but somewhat convinced when they heard the story of an adventurer winning against the 2nd rank. It was something they could see as feasible. But the story became very different if it was against someone of the 3rd tier. ¡°¡­.It seems it would be difficult for me as well.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s the 20th floor, it¡¯s possible. But the 30th floor¡­ It¡¯s impossible. I wasn¡¯t that strong when I was on the 13th floor.¡± ¡°Could he be a dragon¡¯s child?¡± ¡°No. ording to the story I¡¯ve heard, he¡¯s just an ordinary human? Besides, if he was a dragon¡¯s child, there¡¯s no way the 3rd ranker would have died to him, right?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Defeating someone on the 20th floor and defeating someone on the 30th floor were entirely different problems. In this ce with elerated growth, even a single-floor difference was by no means small. Yet he died against someone who was 17 floors behind him. ¡°What a waste.¡± There was regret in that voice. An adventurer of that level could have also been a great power for them. The fire spirit spoke impassively. ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s the one who rejected our proposal. He would have ended up being hostile in the end.¡± ¡°Then who died?¡± ¡°A demon child. A guy named Jagan.¡± ¡°Demon¡­¡± The blue-haired woman¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Is that the one you said was useful?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a different one.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± The interest quickly vanished from her voice. The surprise was that the 13th floor beat the 3rd rank, but the 3rd ranker itself was an adventurer of no interest to them. The fire spirit spoke. ¡°He¡¯s a dead man. Regardless of the circumstances, without the resurrection of the lion, there will be no chance of meeting him again.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, he was said to have received the hero¡¯s quest and was on his way, wasn¡¯t he?¡± At the brash young man¡¯s words, their gazes gathered in one ce. The ashen-haired young girl spoke in a curt tone. ¡°What¡¯s that about?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Under a tacit agreement, they turned their conversation away. The talk about Taesan hade to an end. ¡°It¡¯s not the one who died, as the Fire Spirit said, that¡¯s important. We need to discuss what¡¯s toe.¡± The burly man banged on the table. ¡°Strategies for the 74th floor. Let¡¯s discuss that again.¡± ¡°Is this the two hundredth time?¡± ¡°Exactly 234 times, to be precise.¡± They started the conversation with serious faces whileughing between themselves. Taesan, having cleared the 14th floor, checked his rewards. He hadn¡¯t been able to check them due to the continuous appearances of the Guides to Sin. The standard clear reward for the 14th floor was an anklet. [Anklet of the Valley] [Magic + 4] [Defense + 3] [An anklet made deep within the valley. It carries the power of the depths.] ¡°Looks like this will be used for donation.¡± Unless the magic items were extremely good, he intended to donate them all. And the secret reward was a bracelet. [Bracelet of Six Hundred and Seventy Patterns] [Strength + 10] [Defense + 4] [In this small bracelet, countless patterns are engraved. It seems they were all carved by human hands.] Not a bad piece of equipment. Taesan equipped it. The secret room reward was two Intelligence Runes. After using them, his intelligence increased by 10. And then he descended to the 15th floor. [15th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 15th floor and proceed.] [Reward: Sapphire Staff] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°Passing through.¡± He greeted the dwarf and immediately descended. The 15th-floor monster was a Skeleton Knight. A monster that used rough swordsmanship and swift speed with a body made of mere bones. Taesan pulled at his opponent¡¯s arm. Crunch. The bones shattered, and the skull flew off into the distance. Taesan cleared the room. There were rooms where two would appear at once, but the result was unchanged. He crushed the sword in one blow, destroyed the chest, and flung the head away with a swing of his fist. Too easy. He was indeed overwhelming. Even if it was a 15th-floor monster, if it were Lee Taeyeon or Kang Junhyeok, they would need to stake their lives to win. But for Taesan, they were too weak. Even ordinary monsters could not match him, and his stats had risen unbelievably by defeating fellow adventurers. Taesan didn¡¯t stop his steps and continued to defeat the monsters. His level didn¡¯t increase. Taesan¡¯s current level was 41, almost the same as someone who was on the 20th floor. The 15th-floor monsters didn¡¯t even give him proper experience. Simrly, the increase from Soul Ascension wasn¡¯t working properly. He smashed and trampled them without any particr thrill, as it was only natural. Based on the information he got from the Guides of Sin, he immediately found the secret room. He disabled the trap and dealt with it. And then¡­ He killed the boss. It took less than twenty minutes to reach that point. The reward for the secret room was a ring. [Frost Ring] [Defense + 4] [1% chance to inflict freeze status on the opponent during an attack.] And the clear reward, the Sapphire Staff. [Sapphire Staff] [Magic + 14] [Sapphires have been hailed since ancient times as excellent gems for gathering magic power. A staff embedded with such a sapphire is likely to be of considerable value.] And the secret reward. [Bow Made of Troll Tendons] [Attack + 17] [uracy + 50%] [Troll tendons are incredibly tough and stic, and they also have regenerative properties. They have been perfect materials for bow strings since ancient times.] Although he didn¡¯t use a bow due to the existence of magic, there was no harm in having it. Taesan collected the rewards and went to find Lilis. She was still struggling to move her belongings to the 14th floor. ¡°¡­ You¡¯ve already gone down to the 15th floor?¡± She looked at her half-moved belongings with a forlorn face. Ignoring her struggles, he offered her the two items he brought back, and he learned the beginner magic she had learned. [Beginner Magic: Slow] [Mana Cost: 12] [Proficiency: 1%] [Slows down all speeds of the target. The reduction in speed varies depending on the target. The judgment can fail.] ¡°I¡¯ll show you how it¡¯s used.¡± Lilis casted Slow on Taesan. [No judgment needed! Taesan shook off the Slow.] ¡°¡­It didn¡¯t work?¡± ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to use it.¡± Taesan then casted Slow on Lilis. Unlike with Taesan, it seeded immediately without any judgment. ¡°He..re.. it.. fe..els.. we..i..rd..¡± It felt like the speed of a video that was forcibly reduced. Lilis was flustered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t slow you down that much.¡± ¡°I.. c..an.. n..ot.. m..ove.. e..as..ily..¡± Looking at Lilis¡¯ movements, she seemed to have slowed down by about 20%. It was likely that the stronger the opponent, the higher the probability of failure, and the reduction in speed would also decrease. But even considering that, it was good magic. Speed was significant in any level of fight. Moreover, the target of the judgment was not just the enemy but all targets. Perhaps it would include things like magic or objects. ¡®I¡¯ll have a fun time finding out.¡¯ The scope of its application and how much judgment was allowed. Finding out about these things was quite enjoyable for Taesan. Lilis spoke with a frustrated face. ¡°Pl..ease.. r..e..le..ase.. me..¡± ¡°How do I release you?¡± ¡°W..hat..?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know because this is my first time learning this magic. I don¡¯t have any skill to dispel it. Don¡¯t you know how?¡± ¡°¡­I.. do.. n¡¯t.. k..now.. e..ith..er..¡± Lilis¡¯s face turned pale. Even the speed of her face turning pale was about 20% slower, which was somehow funny. Fortunately for Lilis, the Slow naturally wore off after about 10 minutes. She was greatly surprised, but it was a gain for Taesan because he figured out the duration. Taesan immediately headed for the 16th floor. [16th floor quest has started.] [Defeat the boss of the 16th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Hammer] [Secret Reward: ???] The monster of the 16th floor was a Wraith. Taesan then said, ¡°They¡¯re your friends.¡± [Shut up.] He made a light joke as he made his way through the floor. They were somewhat troublesome monsters that did not take physical attacks, but they were not trouble for Taesan, who had learned magic. He quickly advanced, firing dozens of Frost Arrows. Before long, he found the room mentioned by the adventurers. A blue door, different from a regr door. Taesan went inside. A warm heat blew out of the door as the sound of crackling mes echoed. The walls of the 20th-floor maze were generally red, but it was even redder here. ng. ng. The sound of hammering echoed cheerfully. A man was there. He was not a human but a dwarf. However, he was different from the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper was half the height of Taesan and had a bushy beard, a typical dwarf appearance. The dwarf in front of him was the exact opposite. Firstly, he was tall. He was not as tall as an ordinary human, but one head taller than the shopkeeper. He had a smooth chin with no beard, and his entire body was covered in a rough color as if smeared with ash. [You have encountered Uduna, the Dream Refiner.] ng. Along with the system window, the sound of hammering stopped. ¡°Are you an adventurer?¡± A voice too thin for the man in front of him echoed, and Taesan nodded. The dwarf who had been looking at Taesan turned his gaze to the ghost. ¡°Are you here too?¡± [Not surprised?] ¡°I figured the fool wouldn¡¯t leave without telling the truth, so he woulde down one way or another. It¡¯s been a while.¡± [It has been quite a while since I was alive.] The fool in their conversation likely meant the Ogre Sage. It seemed that NPCs or monsters with intellect interacted with each other. After a moment, the dwarf, who had been looking at the ghost, nced at Taesan without much interest. ¡°So, he¡¯s the one who epted your quest this time?¡± [Yes.] ¡°That¡¯s surprising. I thought he¡¯d clean up because it has been so noisy recently.¡± [Well, he didn''t just stay idle. This guy killed them all.] The dwarf¡¯s eyes widened for the first time at the indifferent answer. ¡°That¡¯s impressive. To win against the adventurers of the 20th floor¡­¡± [Well, it''s not just that...] The ghost swallowed the rest of his words. The dwarf reached out his hand. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Taesan. Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be formal. We¡¯re on equal footing.¡± The cksmith. Lee Taeyeon received a lot of equipment from him. She said she couldn¡¯t have reached the deep levels without him. ¡°I am Hafran. Nice to meet you.¡± Chapter 84: Sixteenth Level - The Fool Who Refines Dreams (2) cksmith Hafran. Lee Taeyeon said he was blunt and rarely showed emotions. And to her, it was quiteforting. The NPCs and gods she encountered looked at her with disdain and scorn, but not Hafran. He simply saw her as a trading partner. She described it as one of the few sanctuaries in her challenging journey. ¡°I¡¯m a cksmith. You know what that job is, right?¡± Taesan nodded, and Hafran continued to speak. ¡°Monsters here drop two things: equipment and materials. There are several ways to handle materials. One is selling them at the store. The other is using them as equipment materials. That¡¯s the gist of it.¡± Kkaang. The sound of hammering rang through the forge. The heat was fierce. ¡°Bring me the materials. Then, I¡¯ll make the equipment you want.¡± This was the reason to use a cksmith. You could get equipment from monsters or secret rooms, but the types were random. Whether a ring, weapon, or staff would drop would bepletely uncertain. The odds of getting the desired equipment were extremely low. However, if you used a cksmith, the situation changed. You could select the equipment you wanted, reducing the reliance on luck. Although the equipment that a cksmith could create was of lesser qualitypared to treasure drops, it was still useful, and Lee Taeyeon received a lot of equipment. ¡°How much is it?¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time, I¡¯ll give you a service. It¡¯s free.¡± ¡°Ho-ho.¡± He was short on money anyway, so this wasn¡¯t a bad deal. Hafran continued his exnation. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about trading with me, keep this in mind. I don¡¯t discriminate against anyone I do business with. It doesn¡¯t matter to me whether they are humble beings or Guides of Sin. What¡¯s important to me are the materials and equipment. If you have something to say about that, then speak up.¡± ¡°Was there such a person?¡± ¡°There was. Those annoying ones were making a lot of noise, demanding exclusivity.¡± Hafran frowned. He seemed to be referring to the Guides of Sin. He must not be weak, considering he has dealt with those people. ¡°I have no intention of doing that.¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s settled. What do you want?¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Taesan answered. ¡°A wrist guard.¡± The wrist guard had the lowest value among the defensive items that Taesan was wearing. Hafran nodded his head. ¡°Give me the materials.¡± Taesan opened his inventory and pulled out the materials. Numerous pieces of leather, tooth fragments, and such fell out. ¡°¡­¡­ You have a lot.¡± Hafran looked at Taesan with a slightly bored face and picked up the materials. ¡°Come back in thirty minutes.¡± ¡°That quick?¡± Taesan was quite surprised since he thought it would take at least a day. Hafran spoke bluntly. ¡°These aren¡¯t deep-level materials and are quitemon, so there¡¯s no reason it would take long.¡± Thirty minutes. It was enough time to clear a level. Taesan left the room as Hafran took out the materials. Thetter then said, ¡°Come backter.¡± Thud. The door closed, and Taesan began to roam the rooms. His pace was not very fast. Since the forging would take thirty minutes, he was nning to take his time, as it wouldn¡¯t take ten minutes if he put his mind to it. However, considering all that, it was still an inconceivable speed. Thirty minutes per floor? If Kang Junhyeok, who took several days to clear one, saw this, he would surely scoff in disbelief. Taesan cleared the secret room and imed the reward. [Sturdy Cross Shield] [Attack + 5] [Defense + 2] [A very sturdy shield. It seems like it could even block a ballista.] Right now, a shield didn¡¯t mean much to him, but it would fetch a fair price if sold at the shop. Or, he could take it to Hafran. He had mentioned that he also rbined equipment, not just materials. Having finished the secret room, he dealt with the boss. It wasrger and had a deeper color than other members of its race. It was a monster that exercised a little bit of physical force but disappeared once it was shredded by Taesan¡¯s Frost Arrows. [Hammer] [You can now repair equipment.] [A hammer lost by someone. To a craftsman, their equipment is their life. Then who could have lost this?] ¡°Is there durability for equipment?¡± [Yes.] ¡°I didn¡¯t know that.¡± This was the first time Taesan, who had cleared thebyrinth, heard of it. The equipment he gained here boasted invariability when it came to durability. [But it doesn''t mean much. Weapons and armor are often reced, and the overall durability is so strong that it usually gets reced before it wears out.] ¡°I see.¡± Nevertheless, he discovered information about the existence of durability, which he hadn¡¯t known in his previous life. From Taesan¡¯s experience, no matter how useless the information may seem, it was bound to be useful at some point. Taesan also checked the secret reward. [Ring adorned with many gems] [Attack + 8] [A ring that can''t be used for anything other than decoration. The gems embedded more than necessary seem like they could hurt quite a bit if used to hit.] Normally, this would be a useless item. The attack power only applied to the attacking part, so a ring¡¯s attack power was often meaningless. Perhaps the secret reward was meant to be sold at the shop to make money. However, for Taesan, who has the skill of Airak Martial Technique, it was hard to find better equipment than this. If he took off the ring with an attack power of 1 that he was currently wearing, it was equivalent to a weapon with an attack power of 7. Taesan, havingpleted the floor clear, returned to Hafran. ¡°You¡¯vee at a good time. I just finished.¡± Hafran handed him a wrist guard made of leather. [Wrist Guard Made from Ogre Leather] [Defense + 13] [Crafted by a skilled craftsman. It''s still new, so it has a bit of a smell.] ¡°Wow.¡± That was quite high. It had a defense value of 13 using just ogre leather and no other materials. Moreover, it was made in only thirty minutes. He was quite satisfied. ¡°I¡¯ll charge you starting next time. The amount will vary depending on the value of the item. Anyway, I¡¯ll keep the materials.¡± ¡°Whatever suits you.¡± It was meaningless for Taesan to keep the materials. It only took up unnecessary space in his inventory, so it was more convenient for both of them if Hafran kept it and made it when Taesan came. For now, what needed to be made was done. He had also confirmed the level of equipment that Hafran could make. ¡°See youter.¡± He nned toe back with better materials and money after going down a certain degree. The dwarf also nodded. The ghost chatted with the dwarf as Taesan was about to leave. [You can make something better than this, right?] Hafran spoke calmly. ¡°I can, but Ick materials and money.¡± The best material Taesan had was ogre leather. If he wanted to make something better, he needed better materials to begin with. [Not that. You know what I''m trying to say, right?] Hafran scowled. The ghost tranted his words. [Something that only you can make, not anyone else. Equipment with a special power. Something that can be made with materials from the ce that only those who have been granted permission can enter.] ¡°¡­.Hero.¡± [I guarantee it. If it''s this guy, it can be done.] ¡°Hmm.¡± Hafran stroked his chin. He opened his mouth. ¡°Do you know the value of that ce? You know what that ce means to me, right?¡± [Of course, I know better than anyone. You''ve only told me about it.] ¡°And you still suggest it so lightly?¡± Hafran¡¯s eyes darkened noticeably. The ghost affirmed right away. [It''s possible. That''s why I''m suggesting it.] Hafran closed his mouth. As he was lost in thought, Taesan asked from behind him. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± A ce that required permission to enter. Equipment with special powers. As far as he could remember, Lee Taeyeon hadn¡¯t mentioned anything like that. It was one of two things. She had forgotten, or she was not permitted. [Do you remember why I came here?] ¡°You said that your world was destroyed. You came to revive it.¡± [He''s simr to me. The difference is, Hafran can return to his world.] After a long contemtion, Hafran opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve only told you about it. I haven¡¯t even mentioned it to others. They simply weren¡¯t worthy.¡± Hafran spoke to the ghost with calm eyes. ¡°And you didn¡¯t make it to the end either.¡± [I did not. But this guy can.] The ghost¡¯s words were full of certainty. [Especially this guy, I''m sure he can.] Hafran scowled. ¡°¡­I know he¡¯s strong, but he¡¯s a rookie who hasn¡¯t even reached the 20th floor yet. It¡¯s certainly impressive that a 13th-floor body could beat someone from the 20th, but for me to spill my own secret¡­ [30th floor.] ¡°Excuse me?¡± [This guy has defeated a 30th-floor adventurer.] Hafran¡¯s pupils dted. For the first time, shock painted his face. ¡°¡­Are you lying to me?¡± [Have I ever lied to you?] ¡°But¡­¡­¡± Suspicion didn¡¯t disappear from Hafran¡¯s eyes. Defeating an adventurer from the 20th floor as a 13th-floor yer was surprising but not entirely impossible. Hafran had been here for a long time and had seen talents and skills that surpassed stats on asion. But it wasn¡¯tmon. Only those with exceptional talent could defeat those who ventured deeper, and even that had clear limits. No one had ever defeated an enemy that had a gap of more than 10 floors. But to defeat someone on the 30th floor¡­ After a long contemtion, Hafran opened his mouth again. ¡°I need to verify this.¡± [What verification?] ¡°The verification that he defeated someone on the 30th floor.¡± Hafran said with a solemn expression. The ghost apologized to Taesan, who unexpectedly had to take a test. [Did I proceed too abruptly? Sorry. But it seemed hard to catch a good timing if not now.] ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter.¡± If he could gain something, he could ept an equivalent test. There was only one thing Taesan was curious about. ¡°Is what you¡¯re saying worth it?¡± [More than enough.] The ghost spoke with a voice full of certainty. [If you get recognized by Hafran, you can be stronger in various ways.] ¡°Then that¡¯s good.¡± The idea of bing stronger from outside thebyrinth was beneficial to him beyond just power. It meant he could find a different path. Perhaps he could gain a new skill. [And you want to reach them.] At the ghost¡¯s muttered words, Taesan paused. ¡°Did you notice?¡± [How could I not?] Immediately after meeting Maria, Taesan showed fighting spirit and neither reverence nor fear. The ghost had enough experience to read that. [I wonder if you''re aiming too high... but if that''s what you want, it''ll be quite a valuable experience.] Having finished preparations, Hafran appeared holding a scroll. ¡°A summoning scroll?¡± At Taesan¡¯s words, Hafran¡¯s eyebrows moved. ¡°You know about it? It¡¯s almost a forgotten item now.¡± ¡°I have some connections.¡± Taesan had used it in the past as well. The summoning scroll. It was a scroll to summon a sealed monster. The item¡¯s value surged depending on the grade of the sealed monster. ¡°In here, a Balrog is sealed.¡± [What?] The ghost was shocked. It was a demonic monster that was rare, even in Solo Mode. A being that could rival a dragon. Hafran shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry because it is an existence that couldn¡¯t remain even a speck after being incinerated.¡± [You surprised me.] ¡°But it¡¯s not weak. It will be at least at the level of a boss on the upper 20th floors. Will you really ept it?¡± Taesan nodded his head. With a skeptical look, Hafran tore the scroll. ¡°Roaaar!¡± A howling sound echoed throughout thebyrinth. A ck monster with horns and wings appeared. [A sealed Balrog has appeared.] The Balrog was suddenly freed into the world and looked around in confusion. It caught sight of Taesan, who drew his sword in response. It was a creature that had fallen endlessly into oblivion for an indeterminable amount of time, its intellect and spirit having degraded severely, but its instinct hadn¡¯t faded. The human before its eyes was hostile. It would kill the one who was hostile. With a roar, the Balrog charged at Taesan. The ghost, temporarily parting from Taesan, approached Hafran. [Do you still doubt?] At the ghost¡¯s words, Hafran lost his words. The Balrog was strong, even though it was sealed. Even if weakened to thete 20th-floor level, its aura and unique skills would not be an exaggeration to say it was equal to someone at the 30th-floor level. ¡°Roar!¡± The Balrog screamed in pain. Taesan was overwhelming such a monster with ease. Chapter 85: Sixteenth Level - The Fool Who Refines Dreams (3) ¡°Roaaar!¡± The Balrog covered its body. With its massive hands, it attempted to seize Taesan. Taesan took a short breath and swung his sword. The smooth movement of the sword¡¯s tip passed the trajectory of the Balrog¡¯s arms. He struck the Balrog¡¯s chest, which was now exposed. Crack. ¡°Roaaar!¡± The Balrog was mmed to the ground. It immediately got up and red at Taesan. Taesan whistled. ¡°It¡¯s quite tough.¡± A surge of magic energy umted around the Balrog. [The Sealed Balrog has activated a magic energy eruption.] Magic energy swept around the monster like a storm. Taesan made some space between them and considered the situation. ¡®Is it simr to the demon n?¡¯ The concept of magic energy was the same, but something was different. Compared to the magic energy that Jagan used, it was darker and deeper. [You have activated Flow.] As the explosive magic energy came into contact with Taesan, it distorted erratically and was deflected. [You have activated Slow.] ¡°Roaaar!¡± The Balrog¡¯s movement slowed down. Taesan, holding his sword, charged in. Fighting the Balrog was a very good opportunity for him. Once he descended deeper, he would encounter the Balrog again, so this served as a rehearsal. Taesan did not quickly dispose of the Balrog but tried various attack methods. Watching this, Hafran couldn¡¯t help but feel awe. ¡°¡­¡­Is this even possible?¡± Taesan¡¯s stats were simr to the Balrog¡¯s. However, he was utterly dominating with skill, technique, and sense. ¡°Even if it¡¯s lost its intelligence and is enraged, dominating a Balrog¡­¡± [Didn''t I say? He can do it.] ¡°No, but this is strange. What on earth¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t a great achievement if you objectively looked at Taesan as a 30th-floor adventurer. The Balrog had been sealed for a long time, and all of its intelligence and skills had not just decayed but disappeared. Even an ordinary adventurer on the 30th floor could easily defeat the current Balrog. An enemy that attacked indiscriminately without intelligence was very easy for them. But that was the case when they were 30th-floor adventurers. ¡°¡­¡­The stats are simr? How? No matter how strong, it¡¯s impossible to approach the gap in stats.¡± Hafran, who was muttering this to himself, had only questions in his eyes. Skills could be obtained with exceptional talent or effort. Proficiency was also the same. But the story was different with stats. These were values that could only be obtained by leveling up and confronting enemies. No matter how strong they were, there were absolutely no cases of gaining stats beyond their floor. Although there were skills that specifically increased stats, they were very few, and their numbers were notrge. Yet, Taesan, who was on the 16th floor, had stats simr to a Balrog from the 30th floor. [That''s also surprising to me.] If the person allowed it, you could see their system window. Since he was already a dead ghost, Taesan didn¡¯t have any particr guard against sharing it. [Where did he get those skills?] All of Taesan¡¯s skills were non-standard, but the stat-boosting skills were particrly special among them. A skill that increased stats. On top of that, a skill that also granted other skills. It was indeed an impossible skill. The ghost thought to himself. ¡®¡­Is that a skill permitted to mortals?¡¯ Rather, it felt something more high-dimensional. Something alien. At least, it wasn¡¯t a skill that could be obtained with the assistance of thebyrinth. [Anyway, he''s someone we haven''t seen before. Moreover, you''ll see. He''ll be exactly the help you need.] Taesan wasn¡¯t simply winning against the Balrog but was trying numerous strategies and skills. Even Hafran, who was seeing it for the first time, could tell. Taesan¡¯s discerning eye was indeed extraordinary. [With him, it might be possible to fulfill your hope of settling down here.] Upon hearing these indifferent words, Hafran¡¯s eyes widened. Meanwhile, the Balrog was copsing after exerting all its strength. [Kang Taesan has won against the sealed Balrog.] ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll allow it.¡± As soon as Hafran, who had been nkly watching Taesan defeat the Balrog, approached, he said those words. ¡°So how do we do it?¡± Taesan sheathed his sword and asked. ¡°My world. It¡¯s about going to that ruined ce.¡± ¡°Can we go to a ruined ce?¡± ¡°My world perished in a slightly unique way. There¡¯s a gem that can take us there.¡± Hafran opened a portal and took out a dark-colored gem. Beyond the rippling energy of the gem, a world was visible. ¡°I¡¯m going to send you there with this. Once you¡¯re there, just bring back the materials. It¡¯s a ruined world, but there are still things left.¡± Hafran looked at his workshop. It was a simple workshop with an anvil, a hammer, and a forge. ¡°It¡¯s not bad here either, but there¡¯s little I can make. It¡¯s all just ordinary things.¡± Taesan knew about that. The advantage of a cksmith was the ability to make equipment for any desired part, not making superior equipment. Even Lee Taeyeon only used the cksmith until the mid-phase of her descent. She didn¡¯t visit him much once she entered the depths. ¡°But if I have materials from my ruined world, which only a resident like me can handle, I can make stronger things.¡± Passion burned in Hafran¡¯s eyes. Taesan tilted his head. ¡°Is it possible at my level?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t intend to send you to difficult ces from the start. If you can capture a Balrog, it¡¯s a perfectly feasible location. Do you have the courage?¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s all you need. Let¡¯s start lightly.¡± Hafran calmly opened his mouth. ¡°Go to my ruined world. Bring back the wild roots from the gray forest there.¡± [Sub Quest Start] [Hafran has a request for you. Enter his ruined world and bring back wild roots from the gray forest. If sessful, there will be a reward.] [Reward: Equipment made from the wild roots.] ¡°I¡¯ll give you the map for the location. Once you arrive at the forest, you¡¯ll understand how to get the wild roots.¡± He had no intention of refusing the quest, so Taesan nodded. As soon as he epted the quest, Hafran mumbled something while holding the gem. Keeing. The space opened. An ashy world showed itself. ¡°Go in.¡± Before Taesan stepped in, he asked. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re very selective about who you give quests to.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Aside from the Hero and you, I haven¡¯t given it to anyone. There were those who wanted it, but I refused them all.¡± Hafran said sternly, ¡°I¡¯m sending someone to my world because there¡¯s something I want there. It is in the deepest part of my vige. What I regret most about leaving my world is not taking that with me.¡± A deep regret was seen in Hafran¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to rake the soil of my world for a weakling who can¡¯t even reach that ce.¡± It was an implicit acknowledgment for Taesan. Hafran stepped back. ¡°That¡¯s all I have to tell you. Remember one thing.¡± Hafran spoke to Taesan, who entered the passage the gem opened. ¡°The world will try to kill you.¡± Suddenly, everything went dark. Taesan¡¯s body began to move through the ck space. ¡°What is this?¡± [Space Transfer. Traveling as far as the stars take quite a bit of time. Just wait a bit, and you''ll arrive.] The ashy world on the other side was getting closer. The ruined world. This was his first visit. Honestly, he was curious. The ghost of the hero also said that his world was destroyed. Probably the same applied to the shopkeeper. In a way, Earth was also a world on the brink of destruction. Their fate could also be the future of Earth. Taesan was curious about how their destruction differed from Earth¡¯s. The ashy world was getting even closer. Soon, Taesan¡¯s body arrived in that world. His first impression was that it was ufortable and sticky. The first sensation was the inability to breathe. The moment he tried to breathe, a foreign substance simr to poison tried to enter his body. [You have activated Breathless.] He reflexively activated the skill. Taesan squeezed his hand into the void. He felt nothing. If there was air, the movement of his hand would create something like wind, but literally, no phenomena urred. Taesan looked down at the ground. The withered, twistednd slowly turned into sand, trying to swallow Taesan. He rolled his foot to escape, but the new ground was no different. The earth itself was trying to consume Taesan. He looked up at the sky. There were no clouds. Over the hollow expanse, a grey hue was painted. That grey hue had a palpable hostility, evident even to a child. Taesan realized. The star itself was trying to kill the living. He exhaled. The weakly existing air inside him was escaping. And he inhaled again. Something like poison invaded his throat and lungs. ¡®¡­ There¡¯s a little bit of oxygen.¡¯ A small amount of oxygen was included in this alien atmosphere. He took small breaths, exhaling and inhaling, gathering his breath. [You take 2 damage.] He could minimize the damage and breathe. If he didn¡¯t have Breathless, it would have been impossible. He was attacked just by breathing. A hollowugh escaped him. ¡°Is there something I can save in a ce like this?¡± He had thought that the world was simply devastated, but it was not. The world itself held hostility and was trying to kill him. [Because it''s a ce like this, there are also things that can be saved.] Taesan exhaled and inhaled. During all this, the ground was shifting and trying to swallow Taesan. Taesan spread out the map. The gray forest and Taesan¡¯s current location were marked. The distance was not far, but it wasn¡¯t close either. Taesan started moving. [It''s best if violent movements aren''t visible. If you show more movements than necessary, this ce will watch you. Even if you move slowly, you will eventually show movement¡­ but at least you won''t be crushed into a mountain.] ¡°That¡¯s a harsh statement.¡± Following the ghost¡¯s advice, Taesan advanced at a normal walking pace. As he continued to breathe little by little, he was able to acquire a skill. [You have endured in a terrible environment. You''ve gained the special passive skill [Poison Resistance].] [Breathless'' proficiency has increased by 1%.] [Disease Resistance''s proficiency has increased by 1%.] As he moved a little further, another system window appeared. [Block''s proficiency has increased by 1%.] Just by walking, his proficiency increased, and he gained new skills. A hollowugh escaped him. However, it wasn¡¯t to the point where he couldn¡¯t endure it, as Hafran said. His health was being slowly chipped away, but it was very minuscule. It was the speed at which his shield might wear out before he arrived. Taesan kept going. As time passed, the poison became more potent. The damage that came in every time he breathed was increasing. Creak. Rough marks appeared on his skin. The areas in contact with the air were slowly trying to wrinkle. His skin peeled off, revealing the flesh beneath. [You take 4 damage.] Taesan grimaced and pressed on his skin. [It''s getting stronger in trying to expel foreign substances.] ¡°Hmm.¡± While it was still bearable now, it would be increasingly difficult as time passed. Hafran said he could return anytime if he wanted to. In that case, the quest would be considered a failure, but at least there was no risk of death. Taesan, having made a decision, swung his hand. Beep. [You take 5 damage.] His fingernail tore the end of his skin. Taesan continued to move his hand, creating wounds in various parts of his body. [Eh¡­ I sort of have an idea, but why are you doing this?] ¡°Resistance and tolerance are better gained when injured.¡± Watching Taesan, who had stopped and was standing still, the ghost chuckled. [I know that, but it''s rare to see someone who actually does it. I wasn''t surprised because I''m used to it now.] Creak. The wound that Taesan had made was torn open. Blood flowed out, and an unpleasant pain engulfed Taesan. Taesan maintained his silence quietly and waited. After a while, he was able to acquire a skill. [You have acquired the special passive skill [Decay Resistance].] [You have acquired the special passive skill [Heatstroke Resistance].] ¡°So, two.¡± [Special Passive Skill: Decay Resistance] [Proficiency: 1%] [Resistance to decay. It doesn''t seem to mean much yet.] [Special Passive Skill: Heatstroke Resistance] [Proficiency: 1%] [Resistance to tearing wounds. It doesn''t seem to mean much yet.] Although the descriptions suggested they didn¡¯t mean much, a skill was still a skill. After acquiring them, the pressure he felt earlier had lessened. As he moved forward, he discovered a massive desert. Chapter 86: The Ruin Of Hafrans World (1) A grey desert. A colorless world of sand where nothing could be seen. Taesan stepped into such a ce. As soon as his foot touched the desert, his skin dried up. Each step he took made the sandy ground sink like a swamp, and the small amount of oxygen left dwindled even more. It would have been quite tough if he hadn¡¯t acquired resistance skills. Taesan reduced his breathing more and more and covered his whole body with a robe. ¡®How much further?¡¯ He looked at the map. He was now halfway there. Taesan slowly moved his steps. He couldn¡¯t run, only breathe and move forward. Nothing particrly strange had happened yet. Perhaps because of that, Taesan, who had be a little bored, asked a question he had been curious about. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between adventurers and you guys?¡± [Are you referring to contractors when you say ''you guys''?] ¡°Probably that.¡± NPCs that existed within thebyrinth. They called themselves contractors. Contractors and adventurers. They were simr but different. [Can''t you guess it? It''s the difference between those who are bound and those who are not.] The ghost spoke. [Adventurers, like you, can go outside. They have freedom. But contractors can''t. Because they made a deal with the magician and are bound within thebyrinth.] Contractors lived in thebyrinth and provided quests and assistance to adventurers. [It''s a kind of contract. I get a chance to fulfill my desire, but I''m tied to thebyrinth in exchange.] ¡°A wish?¡± [I was killed by a backstabbing Ogre Sage. I made a contract for revenge. Lilis contracted to pursue the path of magic. The old man seeking a god made a contract to find his god.] Everyone had something they passionately desired. [The Dwarf in charge of the shop must also have something he wishes for. Hafran is no different. He undertook the role of a cksmith because of his desire for something.] That wish musty here, where Taesan was. ¡°So, it¡¯s about quests.¡± [Since they can''t leave thebyrinth themselves. They ask adventurers like you to do it for them.] If he had managed to ovee the pressure of the Guides to Sin, he would certainly be stronger than Taesan was now. However, instead of returning to his ruined world himself, he made a request to Taesan through a quest. If he was bound by a contract, that would answer that question. ¡®I kind of get it.¡¯ Thebyrinth was deep and difficult. As you descended each floor, various monsters tried to kill you, and the gods were extremely cruel and cold. There was also a high chance that the adventurers you met asionally would be hostile. In a situation where there were no ces to rest or allies, it would be hard for even someone with an iron will to endure. So, it would be good to have a presence that did not oppose but showed goodwill. It would be even better if they were connected by mutual interest and could never betray you. If there was a being that gave rewards after passing an appropriate trial, it would be a great strength. The magician must have created the contractors for that reason. [Whether it''s mercy or something else, I don''t know, but it wasn''t a bad deal for me, so I epted it. It''s better than just dying.] The ghost muttered as if it were an ufortable topic. Taesan asked. ¡°What happens to the contractors?¡± [It varies. In my case, the magician came to me directly. If you ept, you be a contractor. If not, you don''t.] ¡°Who¡¯s the magician?¡± The one who created thebyrinth. He had the help of the gods, but such a vast space was¡­ He might have been stronger than the transcendents. After a moment of silence, the ghost spoke. [I cannot answer.] ¡°Is it a secret?¡± [Something like that. You''ll naturally find out as you go down.] It wasn¡¯t an urgent matter, so he didn¡¯t press further. Around the middle of the desert, a wind suddenly arose before Taesan. The wind, gathering the sands, gradually increased in size, eventually forming a massive sandstorm. ¡®Is this a serious attempt to kill me?¡¯ Creak! Though he tried to avoid it, it was too big. The mountain-sized sandstorm swallowed Taesan at a fast pace. The fierce wind tried to blow him away, and the sand struck Taesan¡¯s body. [You have activated ''Flow''.] [You have activated ''Sturdy''.] He used skills, but they were meaningless. Most activated skills exerted great power against single attacks. They had little significance against countless attacks that came with a sandstorm. ¡°It¡¯s not passing.¡± He held out for quite a while, but the sandstorm was still swallowing Taesan. [It''s trying to kill only you, so there''s no need for it to go elsewhere.] Ultimately, he had to escape himself or erase the sandstorm. Taesan activated his Frost Arrow and sent it toward the center of the sandstorm, but nothing appeared. He swung his sword around, but only sand struck it, with no other phenomena. ¡°Can¡¯t I kill it?¡± Although it was a natural phenomenon, he thought it could be alive in this special case, but it wasn¡¯t. Then, he had no choice but to escape. Taesan activated his magic. [You have activated ''Slow''.] The speed of the sandstorm slowed down a bit. ¡®Skills targeting the object work.¡¯ Crack. Taesan nted his foot. [You have activated ''elerate''.] He charged against the wind. ¡®elerate¡¯ could only be activated with a target. This time, the target was the sandstorm itself. Due to ¡®Slow¡¯, the slightly decelerated storm,bined with ¡®elerate¡¯, which increased his speed, his body raced forward. He touched the ground again. [You have activated ''elerate''.] His body quickly escaped out of the sandstorm. The sandstorm tried to chase Taesan btedly, but Taesan was already out. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan, who had escaped to a safe distance, brushed off the sand that stuck to his body. The sandstorm was swirling around as if not knowing what to do. The distance was too far for it to chase and capture Taesan. It was able to swallow him up because it appeared right in front of him like a surprise attack, but the difference in speed was clear. The momentarily wavering sandstorm made a decision. ¡°Is it disappearing?¡± [It must think that there''s no value if it can''t fulfill its purpose.] The power of the sandstorm was gradually subsiding. Eventually, only the scattered sands remained, and it disappeared. And something from within it came to Taesan. [Huh?] [Your ''Soul Ascension'' has been activated. You have acquired the Concept Skill [???].] Taesan murmured in surprise at the suddenly appearing system window. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why was this activated?¡± ¡®Soul Ascension.¡¯ It seized the power of the opponent when he killed them. It was written like this, and it was also activated that way. Thus, Taesan thought ¡®Soul Ascension¡¯ was a skill that only activated against living opponents. However, an activation urred that negated his thoughts until now. [Oh.] The ghost looked stunned. [...The sandstorm was sent to kill you. And it failed to kill you. So I can understand that it ended as if you won... but why ''Soul Ascension''?] ¡°Don¡¯t you think I¡¯m surprised too?¡± Taesan was just as flustered. ¡°But what kind of skill is this?¡± [Concept Skill: ???] [Proficiency: 3%] [???] Only ¡®???¡¯ was written, and there was nothing else. The only information he could understand was that it was a ¡®Concept Skill¡¯. ¡°What is a ¡®Concept Skill¡¯?¡± [I''ve never seen it before, either.] It was a skill that even the ghost didn¡¯t know about. If the ghost who had delved deep into the depths didn¡¯t know, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that most adventurers in thebyrinth wouldn¡¯t know either. The ghost, who was deep in thought, let out a moan. [Could it be...?] ¡°Do you have some kind of idea?¡± [I do, but...] The ghost shook its head. [I''m not sure yet. I''ll tell you when I''ve figured it out a bit more.] It seemed like the ghost wasn¡¯t certain yet. Although it was surprising because it was unexpected, looking at it coolly, it was a situation where a new skill was easily obtained. It was not a bad thing for Taesan. Taesan went further. He managed to get out of the desert without any particr problems, passed the ins, and, as a result, he could see a huge cliff. With a loud crash, the cliff copsed. The falling fragments defied gravity and began to fly toward Taesan like a cannonball. ¡®I¡¯m having all sorts of experiences.¡¯ Being attacked by a crumbling cliff was something to talk about for a long time. [You have activated ''Mental eleration''.] Taesan swung his sword with a serious look in his eyes, batting away the iing rocks. He effectively mixed the ¡®Dance of the Sword¡¯ and ¡®Wolf¡¯s Fang¡¯, batting each one away. While the entire cliff had crumbled and the rocks poured like rain, he batted them away with calmness, mental eleration, and swordsmanship. Although he was batting them away without much difficulty, there were simply too many. His fingertips began to tingle. Taesan swung his hand with a grimace. Crash. A rock the size of a house broke into fragments. A slight scrape appeared on the back of his hand. They weren¡¯t just simple rocks. Whether it¡¯s because of the will of the world, they were prating Taesan¡¯s defense. Something appeared to Taesan, who was blocking with gritted teeth. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Inside the crumbled cliff was ash-colored energy in the form of a circle. [Huh? What''s what?] ¡°Over there on the cliff.¡± [I... can''t see anything?] It seemed to be visible only to Taesan. ¡®Is it because of the skill?¡¯ It could be visible because of the ??? skill he obtained after the sandstorm disappeared. After briefly thinking, Taesan put strength into his feet. [You have activated ''eleration''.] He charged towards the rocks that were falling like meteorites. He swung his sword to bat them away and kicked up with his feet. He avoided what he couldn¡¯t block and took with his body what he couldn¡¯t avoid, quickly approaching the cliff. The rocks fell fiercely as ifmanding not toe any closer, but it was already toote. Taesan stabbed the ash-colored energy with his sword. The rocks, which had been falling with a will of their own, started to fall down under the influence of gravity. At the same time, the energy was absorbed by Taesan. [Oh?] [Your ''Soul Ascension'' has been activated. ??? ''s proficiency has increased by 2%.] It was clear. The ash-colored energy was attacking Taesan. Perhaps it was something rted to this ce. Given that it wasn¡¯t visible to the ghost, there was a high probability that the inhabitants of this ce were also unaware of it. ¡°What kind of skill is this?¡± [Conceptual Skill: ???] [Proficiency: 3%] [Will''s???] A word was added, but it still remained unknowable. Taesan grimly closed the skill window, and the ghost groaned inwardly. [Is it... will?] The ghost could not see the ash-colored energy, but he vaguely guessed at it. The destruction of Hafran¡¯s world was because the star itself tried to kill the world. The sandstorm that appeared this time to kill Taesan, the copse of the cliff, was also part of that plot. It was the will of the star that did not allow life to exist. Against such a will, Taesan won. In a way, it could be said he achieved a victory. So, he drained power from a defeated enemy. If thought of in this way, it wasn¡¯t an impossible story. [But¡­¡­] The ghost was perplexed. [Is this a power that is allowed for humans?] It was shocking when he found out about the ¡®Soul Ascension¡¯ skill. Every time Taesan defeated an enemy, his stats increased. Furthermore, if he won against an adventurer, he could even steal their skills. This was not a minor thing. One could only obtain skills with a great deal of effort and talent. ¡®Soul Ascension¡¯ meant one could arbitrarily seize such skills. Simply put, if Taesan defeated someone who had learned ¡®Airak Martial Arts¡¯, he could also acquire ¡®Airak Martial Arts¡¯. However, there was a limit that the enemy had to be defeated. Therefore, the ghost thought ¡®Soul Ascension¡¯ was a skill that required the enemies to be killed, physical or spiritual, to possess something and take what was inside them. Seen this way, it was a clearly defined skill. [But... It''s more sophisticated than that.] The sandstorm and the copse of the cliff could be seen as the will of the star, or rather, the world itself. Taesan won against the will of the world. So, ¡®Soul Ascension¡¯ had been stealing the power of the world. It was not just a skill that robbed from the physical, but also from the conceptual. And, the skill could not steal anything if it was of a lower level. In other words, ¡®Soul Ascension¡¯ held a level higher than the will of the star itself. [This is not so much a power permitted to a mortal¡­] But to something higher. Permitted only to transcendents¡­ ¡°Is that the ce?¡± [Eh?] ¡°Is that our destination? It looks just like that.¡± Taesan looked at the map. A colorless small forest was in sight. The ghost, who had regained his senses, answered. [Yes. I also took roots from a ce like that.] The ghost erased his thoughts. He still wouldn¡¯t be trapped in a mortal body if he had truly reached that level. [But could it be at the level just below that? I''m bing more curious about the past.] While the ghost was thinking on his own, Taesan went into the forest. The colorless trees were rustling, making threatening sounds, but Taesan paid no mind. ¡°Is that it?¡± There was a huge tree in the middle of his path. It was so big that it was hard to think of it as a tree. Interestingly, the roots of the tree were exposed outside, and their shape was irregrly distorted. It was obvious at a nce. That was the root of chaos. Chapter 87: The Ruin Of Hafrans World (2) ¡°Do I need to take all of these roots?¡± [You can just cut and take them. They''re big, but it won''t be a problem since you have an inventory.] Taesan got ready. At the same time, the forest began to move with a loud noise. Koong! The ground copsed, and the roots rose. The surrounding trees swayed and struck Taesan. Taesan nted his feet. He trampled the roots, leaped into the air, andnded on the chaotic mass. Thud! The chaotic mass shook back and forth, and the branches began to bend in curved shapes. They whipped at him, creating a sonic boom like a slingshot pulled to its limit. Crack! Taesan kicked off again and created some distance. The sound of the tearing atmosphere collided with the tree branches and spread out to the outside of the forest. It was powerful. The force was enough to give him a bruise when hit. Taesannded a bit further away. [You have activated Breathless Attack.] Koong! The other trees didn¡¯t stay still either. They each moved their branches and roots, trying to entangle Taesan. [You have activated Repulsion.] A skill that dispersed opponents by creating formless force around him. Repulsion. However, the roots only hesitated slightly. They didn¡¯t stop their momentum and aimed at Taesan. Realizing that Repulsion wasn¡¯t very effective, Taesan changed his approach. He held his sword and focused all his mind. [You have activated Mental eleration.] The world¡¯s time slowed down for him. He kicked away the root that was targeting his left foot. Avoiding the branch trying to pierce his head, he moved his hand. The roots and branches rushing to grab his arms were cut down and fell into pieces. The ground copsed, making the footing unstable, but Taesan still had a forced action. A skill that allowed some degree of movement in situations where his actions were hindered, it was a quite useful skill in situations where the footing was copsing. He kept shing. One of the trees, seemingly unable to stand still any longer, rushed at Taesan, attempting to crush him, but he moved his sword fiercely, chopping it into pieces. In the midst of battle, Taesan calmly scrutinized everything around him. ¡®Is there no ash-colored energy¡­?¡¯ He hadn¡¯t discovered it yet, or it was not visible. Unlike the cliff, he couldn¡¯t see it. ¡®It might be hidden in the trees.¡¯ Regardless, his goal was to chop down the chaotic mass. Having deflected all attacks against him, Taesan charged towards the chaotic mass. The branches of the chaotic mass were pulled tight again and then exploded. Zeeeong! A numbing sonic boom hit Taesan. He grimaced and retreated. It was a pushback, not a hit judgment, so attack nullification was not triggered, making it too tricky to approach. Then, he changed his approach. He made the opponent use physical attacks. Taesan changed his target and turned towards the surrounding trees. The trees tried to push him away using their roots and branches, but such minor attacks couldn¡¯t stop Taesan. The trees began to be chopped down in an instant. Zeeeong! The chaotic mass hit the atmosphere, trying to drive him away. Still, Taesan was able to withstand it since it wasn¡¯t a direct hit, and he was at a certain distance that lowered its effectiveness. The trees were rapidly chopped down. The small forest noticeably started to thin out. ¡®I wonder how it wille out.¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t simply move ording to the energy¡¯smand. Seeing that the cliff attacked more fiercely when Taesan got closer, there was a high chance it had its own will. And Taesan¡¯s prediction was urate. The chaotic mass continued to pull its branches back, fiercely swinging at the air, but Taesan kept cutting down the trees without any difort. After swinging at the air a few more times, the chaotic mass started to move with a loud noise. The branches of the chaotic mass gathered into one, forming a massive spike, and stabbed at Taesan. Taesan quickly twisted his body and blocked with his sword, but he couldn¡¯t withstand the force and was pushed back. Realizing that its attack was effective, the chaotic mass began to gather its branches and attack continuously. That was exactly what Taesan was hoping for. Gruuug. The moment the branches gathered and fired again, Taesan nted his foot. He charged towards the firing branches. £ÛYour First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.£Ý The branches returned to their state before they fired. The chaotic mass was visibly flustered, enough for Taesan to notice. It quickly regained itsposure and fired again, but the same result was repeated. £ÛYour Second Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.£Ý Taesan shed his sword. The chaotic mass was cut in half and copsed. £ÛYour Soul Ascension has been activated. ??? proficiency has increased by 1%.£Ý ¡°So it was indeed inside.¡± The movement of the trees stopped simultaneously as the chaotic mass copsed. Taesan put the root of the chaotic mass into his inventory. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that difficult.¡± [Didn''t I tell you? It won''t be very hard for someone at your level. It would be better to go back quickly.] ¡°Seems so.¡± Taesan looked up at the sky. From the stars¡¯ perspective, Taesan¡¯s existence must be quite small and fragile. That was why they wouldn¡¯t have paid much attention. The sandstorm and the cliff made that clear. Naturally, they targeted Taesan, but there was no deep malice in it. However, it was different now. In that ashen space, there was a definite malice directed at Taesan. Koo-goo-goo-gung¡­¡­ A tremendous sound resonated from the world itself. An overwhelming sensation began to envelop Taesan. He knew for sure. If he continued here, he would die in this ce. ¡°See you next time.¡± Taesan waved his hand and plunged into the split in space. Just as when he had entered, a little time had passed, and he could return to the familiarbyrinth. ¡°Are you back?¡± Hafran greeted Taesan. Taesan opened his inventory. £ÛSub Quest Completed£Ý £ÛRoot of the Chaotic Mass£Ý £ÛFrom the extinct world. Alone, it amounts to nothing. If nted in a suitable environment, it seems like it will grow.£Ý Taesan handed over the root of the chaotic mass to Hafran. Hafran epted it with longing eyes. ¡°It looks like an ordinary root to me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it would appear to you. You¡¯re not a resident of that world. But it¡¯s different for me¡­ It¡¯s been a very long time since I could make something enjoyable.¡± Hafran, who was looking at the root with flickering eyes, said. ¡°So, what do you want?¡± ¡°On the contrary, what can you make?¡± ¡°I can make something for any wearable part.¡± It meant that Taesan could just say anything he wanted. Taesan fell into thought. He didn¡¯t know what level of gear could be created, but it would surely be a considerably good one. Which meant he would likely wear it for quite some time. That was, even if he were to get other equipmentter on, there was a possibility that he wouldn¡¯t be able to use it at all. It wasn¡¯t a loss, but it felt like a loss. ¡®I¡¯ve had a simr experience in the previous world.¡¯ Choosing a piece of equipment from a quest in a game, only for a better piece of equipment for that specific part to drop in the next dungeon. Having had such experiences quite frequently, he instinctively felt a sense of rejection. After pondering, Taesan came to a conclusion. ¡°Is it possible to infuse what you¡¯re going to make into a weapon I already have?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± Taesan was surprised. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s possible. If I couldn¡¯t do that, I wouldn¡¯t deserve to be called a cksmith.¡± Hafran spoke indifferently. Taesan had asked without great expectations, so he felt like he was gaining an advantage. In that case, there was only one thing to do. ¡°Would that be okay?¡± £ÛI don''t mind. It''s yours. You can do as you please.£Ý He had received the ghost¡¯s permission. Taesan drew his sword. ¡°Then please infuse it with this.¡± £ÛRelic of Calvert: Sword Imbued with Ancestor''s Blood£Ý £ÛArtifact of a now extinct world. It has taken many royal lives.£Ý £ÛAttack + 20] £ÛWhen facing an opponent of noble blood, Attack + 10£Ý The Sword of Calvert. It was the sword the ghost had given him as a quest clear reward. Since he had no ns to rece it for the time being, he intended to use it. Hafran, who had received the sword, gave the ghost a peculiar look. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± [It''s fine. Do as you wish.] ¡°If you say so¡­¡­¡± Hafran nodded his head. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Do I have to leave my weapon with you?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll make it using the root here, and we canbine themter. You can keep it.¡± ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°About¡­¡­ it¡¯ll take about two days.¡± Two days. It was both a long and short time, depending on how you looked at it. ¡°Then I¡¯lle back in two days.¡± ¡°Take your time.¡± With a joyful expression, Hafran bid him farewell, touching the root. [What will you do?] ¡°Since I have some time, I¡¯ll go as far down as possible.¡± Since he had two days, he had plenty of time to descend to the 20th floor. Taesan descended to the 17th floor. The 17th floor was the realm of the Duhan. He recalled that Lee Taeyeon had almost died on this floor guarded by the headless knight. ¡®Come to think of it.¡¯ None of the floors she had spoken about had been without risk of death. She¡¯d said that there was a risk of death on every floor. Jogging his memory, he continued to descend. The Duhan was undoubtedly a powerful monster, but as always, it held no particr significance. He cleared up to the secret room smoothly and cleaned up the boss room. The rewards were earrings, armor, and a shield. The shield was useless as he didn¡¯t use that kind of equipment, but the earrings and armor were quite useful. £ÛEarrings of Blood Mist£Ý [Dexterity + 10] [Defense + 5] [A pair of earrings abandoned in the blood mist. No one knows who their owner was.] The earrings of a fallen entity. He removed the earrings that increased his Mana by 10. They weren¡¯t very valuable as he had high intelligence and magic proficiency, so he seldomcked Mana. [Lava Dew-Soaked Leather Armor] [Defense + 20] [Slightly increases the chance of sessful fire damage judgment.] [An armor soaked in dew that forms beneath theva. It has fire resistance.] He changed his current armor for this one because it was better. He finished the 17th floor and headed for the 18th. He met the dwarf, sold the unnecessary equipment, and descended. ¡°Safe travels.¡± The dwarf spoke indifferently. Despite knowing that Taesan had met the cksmith, he said nothing. It seemed like they were not on good terms. The 18th floor was simr to the 3rd floor in enemyposition. There were several Skeleton Mages and Skeleton Knights in one ce. Naturally, they were of no threat to Taesan. He dealt with them and descended. What he got was a staff, a shield, and a ring. [Super Ring] [Attack + 5] [Defense + 5] [Strength + 5] [Super Ring?] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± [...Who knows?] The exnation was ambiguous, but the effects were good. He took off the ring that increased his Mana by 5 and put this one on. His experience points, which had been slow to increase because of his high level, had finally climbed a bit by passing through these floors, and he reached level 42. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 42] [Shield: 183/183] [Health: 2160/2160] [Mana: 475/475] [Strength: 677] [Intelligence: 459] [Dexterity: 597] [Attack + 79] [Defense + 93] [The subject is in the best condition.] The Hongyeong ring increased strength, intelligence, and dexterity by 3%. Thanks to this, his strength increased by 20, intelligence by 13, and dexterity by 17. It was a satisfying increase. The 19th floor. From here, the increase through Soul Ascension began to trigger a very small amount. It meant that the level of the enemies had gradually risen to a simr level to him. The monster on the 19th floor was a Lich. It was a bit tricky as it was a monster that used various magic, but thanks to Taesan¡¯s superiority in stats, he swiftly trampled on it and descended. Unfortunately, he could not acquire the magic, either because it was a regr monster or because the magic of the dead was something entirely different. And finally, he found the altar of a god. [You have discovered the altar of Lucifer.] Chapter 88: Twentieth Level - Death Knight Lord (1) In front of the altar, the ghost spoke. [Although they''re called the god of demons, its essence is the magic of demons itself. It is the being that governs the whole demon magic system.] The Demon God, Lucifer. Perhaps for that reason, dark magical energy was flowing from the altar. The amount was small, but it was very dense. [Initial Discovery Bonus] [Intelligence has permanently increased by 3.] [Mana has permanently increased by 10.] [Altar of Lucifer] [An altar made by those who serve Lucifer. It is a passage connected to the god. Lucifer can exercise influence through this ce.] ¡°Do you know what the trial is?¡± [Uh......] The ghost trailed off his words. [Actually, I don''t know.] ¡°Didn¡¯t you receive it?¡± [What you should know is that the god gives a trial suitable to the area that they rmend. So, what trial do you think the god of demons would give?] Taesan realized something through the ghost¡¯s words. ¡°So, he¡¯s a god who only gives trials to demons?¡± [Not necessarily, but the standard would be impossibly strict for humans.] The god of victory gave trials of victory, the god of struggle gave trials of struggle, and the god of choice gave trials of choice. The god of demons would naturally give trials rted to demons. And humans had no connection with demons. Naturally, it was highly likely that the god of demons would not find the value of giving a trial. Although he understood, it was a problem. ¡°So I can¡¯t receive a trial either?¡± He had sought the altar of the god of demons to learn ck magic. Yet, it was baffling that he couldn¡¯t learn aftering all this way. [I didn''t receive it, but your story would be different. After all, you''ve defeated a demon and acquired ck magic, so Lucifer should know. Even if not, they would still make contact.] Taesan had cleared all the enhanced trials given by various gods. Not only that, Maria even showed overt action by directly inviting him. In such a situation, there was no god who would stand by just because it was not their domain. The ghost thought so. [The problem is... I can''t predict what the trial will be at all.] ¡°I¡¯ll have toe backter.¡± [To strengthen your weapons and go?] ¡°Because I don¡¯t know what the trial is.¡± There was no information. Therefore, he thought it would be good to strengthen everything that could be strengthened before going. Even if the trial was strengthened, ording to Taesan, there was clearly a difference in the number of victories and defeats. Taesan finished the rest of the 19th floor. As it was the floor of the lich, all secret rooms, clear rewards, and secret rewards were magical equipment. Thinking about taking them all to Lilis at once, he entered the 20th floor. The monster on the 20th floor was a death knight. It had considerable swordsmanship skills as a knight of death wielding a sword. Of course, that had no meaning to Taesan. With a loud crash, he swung his sword, knocking the monster away and piercing the chest. It exploded in a cloud of ck energy and scattered in all directions. Their levels were simr, so Soul Ascension was active, but the gap in stats was toorge. Taesan didn¡¯t have to struggle now. While breaking through the floor, he encountered a Guide of Sin. He was passing by, or perhaps he saw Taesan while moving rooms and shivered in fear. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I won¡¯t kill you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­The weak can only worry about the whims of the strong.¡± Gagarat smirked. ¡°You¡¯re already here¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m just passing by.¡± Taesan brushed past him. Gagarat opened his mouth towards Taesan¡¯s back. ¡°Are you going straight down to the 21st floor?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m going to stay a bit.¡± He nned to descend after upgrading his equipment, meeting Lilis, and clearing the trial of the god of demons. ¡°Then I have something to tell you before you go down.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Taesan entered another room, leaving Gagarat behind. He found the secret room, quickly handled the rooms, and then left. Then he entered the boss room. [The Death Knight has appeared.] The name was the same, but it was stronger than the floor¡¯s other monsters. The wild sword swings contained power enough to be equal with Taesan to some extent. Their swords shed loudly. However, the result was the same as before. The Death Knight¡¯s sword was thrown away due to Taesan¡¯s strength, and it fumbled as it could not catch up to his speed. Taesan had been able to defeat adventurers from the 20th floor since he was on the 8th floor. There was no way a boss from the same floor would be an equal opponent once he reached it. He effortlessly won against the boss. [Well... It''s not supposed to be so easy to get through...] ¡°Fighting against the Guides of Sin halfway through this theme was a big factor.¡± He couldn¡¯t have overwhelmed the boss by this much normally. It was possible because he could raise his stats and level tremendously while dealing with the Guides of Sin. The system windows popped up steadily. He also became noticeably stronger each time he cleared a quest. For the current Taesan, it was not that significant, but it wasn¡¯t meaningless. However, Taesan was confirming something while flipping through the system windows. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not here.¡± The secret clear was the reward he would have received when he figured out all the hidden elements of a floor. That system window was not visible. Taesan carefully examined the room. [You feel a strong premonition.] With that premonition, a brick came into Taesan¡¯s view. That brick was lighter in red color than the other bricks. Taesan pressed the brick. With a rumbling sound. The brick moved into the wall, and a passage was created. [...Thinking about it, I didn''t get a secret reward on the 20th floor either.] ¡°I knew it.¡± From the 1st floor to the 10th floor, there were quite a few monsters with names, the so-called Named. However, from the 11th to the 20th floor, there were only NPCs and not a single Named monster. He thought there would be at least one on the 20th floor, and his guess was right. Taesan went inside. There was a Death Knight there. [Death Knight King Valoran has appeared.] ¡°Is it a Lord ss?¡± Lords and Kings were overwhelmingly stronger than the average level of their race. While dealing with Hage-Ha, who couldn¡¯t get out of his chair because of his broken leg, Taesan felt the threat of death several times. [Your Fair Duel has been activated.] Valoran opened his mouth. [You''re here.] A dark and low voice echoed through the room. [You must be the ghost of a hero.] [You know me?] [The sage often talked about you. He said you were strong but pitiful and weak.] [...You met him?] There was a considerable difference between the 10th and 20th floors. Valoran chuckled. [What of it? It''s our little secret. I should have some freedom in my bound state.] Valoran wiped off his smile and shifted his gaze. The red pupils inside the ck helmet were directed at Taesan. [Are you my enemy? You are indeed powerful. There''s no chance of winning for me.] ¡°You seem happy for someone in such a state.¡± Even Taesan could tell there was joy in his voice. [This is a hidden room. Not easy to find.] With his somber, madness-filled voice, Valoran stood up, pulling out his greatsword. [It''s been hundreds of years since someone found this ce.] Valoran lunged at him. As there was no need for further dialogue, he approached Taesan at a high speed. Taesan pulled back his arm and raised his sword. The swords shed and bounced off each other. Valoran was strong. It definitely wasn¡¯t something of the level of the 20th floor. If anything, it felt like something from above the level of the 25th floor. It was not a level a normal yer could win. But Taesan was not a normal yer. [Heh!] With a short shout, the greatsword moved. Despite itsrge size, it moved with impressive ir. Taesan moved his hands roughly. The greatsword shed with Taesan¡¯s sword, creating a loud sound. Sparks flew, brightening the dim room. The greatsword, unable to withstand Taesan¡¯s power, was pushed back, and Taesan shoved his sword into the gap. [Valoran took 25 damage.] Valoran moved his foot. His heavy leg struck Taesan¡¯s abdomen. This activated Taesan¡¯s attack nullification, and Valoran¡¯s foot was moved back to the state just before the strike. Taesan plunged his sword into the gap again. Valoran attacked again, and yet again, it was nullified. In a blink, Taesan had attacked over ten times. Valoran wildly swung his greatsword, driving Taesan away, and let out a hollowugh. [Attack nullification... amusing indeed. What a surprising skill.] Murmuring gloomily, Valoran charged again. His sword strike didn¡¯t bear the fear of his attack being nullified again. It was a calm attack that even had a sense of resignation. While parrying the sword, Taesan noticed something strange. Valoran was a named monster. Whether it was Flow or Counter, he should be able to use one or two skills. But in this pressing situation, Valoran only used his sword against Taesan. His red eyes were seriously looking at Taesan. ¡°Hmm.¡± His thoughts changed. Taesan started pressuring Valoran with only his swordsmanship. The eyes of Valoran, visible between the gaps of the helmet, squinted in a smiling curve. ng! The greatsword exhibited shy movements. It seemed like that itself was a form of swordsmanship. Taesan moved both his arms smoothly to begin the Dance of the Sword. He diverted the greatsword this way and that, altering its path. Thud! Valoran let go of the greatsword with one hand and struck Taesan¡¯s chin with his elbow. [You take 72 damage.] A hefty amount of damage came in, and the shock made his brain shudder. Valoran did not miss the chance and held the greatsword in a short grip. Taesan bit his lip. The bitter taste of iron brought his shaken consciousness back a bit. He held the sword in his left hand in a reverse grip. ng! He stopped the greatsword just below his chin. Just like that, Taesan pierced Valoran¡¯s side with his other sword. The sword prated the armor and dug in. Valoran stepped back, twisted the hand holding the greatsword outward, and shed. The sword that Taesan used to block the greatsword was pierced, and the greatsword skewered Taesan¡¯s shoulder. Taesan immediately struck Valoran¡¯s helmeted head. The helmet shook considerably, creating a gap. In terms of swordsmanship, the opponent was superior. But in terms of stats, Taesan had the upper hand. So, it was a matter of securing victory based on his advantage. He roughly brought down both of his hands. ng! Valoran¡¯s arm was slightly pressed down. The Dance of the Sword held little meaning when it came to a power struggle like this. Taesan instead roughly shed with the Wolf¡¯s Fang. Valoran didn¡¯t just stand there and take the attack. Using every part of his body, he repelled Taesan¡¯s attacks and perfectly covered his body by holding the greatsword in reverse. Both of them utilized their respective advantages and engaged in a bloody fight. And the victor was Taesan. Thud. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced Valoran¡¯s chest. The cracked and split armor crumbled perfectly. Taesan caught his breath. His condition was not good either. Blood flowed from various ces throughout his body, and nearly half of his health had been drained. Valoran let out augh as he leaned against a wall. [Thank you. I didn''t expect you to intentionally refrain from using skills.] ¡°We¡¯re in the same boat.¡± Valoran intentionally did not use any skills. Taesan matched him by sealing his skills and continued the fight using only his swordsmanship. Valoran chuckled. [I am a knight.] A knight was a term that referred to those who wielded a sword. [I didn''t want to rely on inexplicable skills that can only be acquired in an inexplicable space like this. I wanted to fight with just my sword. But that was a wish fulfilled only by my obstinacy. I had no intention of forcing a fair fight¡­ Thank you, really. I can leave with satisfaction thanks to you.] Valoran removed his helmet. Surprisingly, his face was clean. He seemed to be just turning thirty. He didn¡¯t look very old. [It''s not much of a reward for that, but take this.] Valoran also had skills, but they were not his main focus. However, for Taesan, skills were his main focus. If he had used his skills, he could have won this fight without serious injury. But Taesan epted the damage to himself and did not use his skills. Valoran, knowing this well, intended to give an appropriate reward. It was the helmet used by the Death Knight King. Of course, it gave an excellent performance. Moreover, the helmet was a piece of equipment that could only be obtained after reaching quite an advanced level deep in thebyrinth. Taesan received the ck helmet. [I originally intended to give nothing, but you may consider it a reward for your actions.] Although he didn¡¯t aim for it, there were results for not using his skills. [I''d like to say... you''re free now, but that''s not the case.] Valoran gave a bitter smile. [Adventurer, do you know why we, sentient beings, are bound here as monsters?] ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± [It''s simple. This ce is and of opportunity for some. But it''s not for others.] Valoran grunted as he stood up. His staggering body was supported by his sword. [I regret that I can''t reveal the truth. You will probably be able to go down to the depths. Then, you''ll naturally learn. Who we are and what kind of beings the magicians are.] With a bitter voice, Valoran disappeared. [If ites to that... show mercy to us who cannot escape. Oh, mighty one.] With those sad words, Valoran disappeared. What was left was only shattered armor and a sword that had lost all its power. [You have won against Valoran, the Death Knight King.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Aura of Bravery has been activated.] [You have acquired Valoran''s Helmet.] [You have understood the hidden element of the 20th floor. You have received the reward [???].] Taesan opened the system window he had closed. [You have perfectly cleared the 20th floor. You have obtained the title [The One Who Moves Forward].] [You have perfectly understood and cleared all the floors up to the 20th floor. You have obtained the title [The One Who Touched the Speck of Perfection].] [You have entered thebyrinth to a level you can be proud of. You have obtained the title [The One Who Reached the Beginning of the Path].] [Not only have you proven your strength in this ce, but you have shown more value. You have obtained the title [The One Who Seeded in the Challenge].] [You have umted countless experiences. You have obtained the title [What Has Been Built]. You have obtained the special always-active skill [Proof of Self].] [Transcendents have begun to take a stronger interest in you.] Chapter 89: Nineteenth Level - Demon, Lucifer (1) First, Taesan checked the helmet Valoran had given him. [Valoran''s Helmet] [Defense +22] [Action Speed +3%] [A helmet of a once great knight. His soul is tarnished, but the will contained in the helmet has not disappeared.] Action and movement speed was usually effects attached only to shoes. Having it on a helmet meant it was a remarkable piece of equipment. It was a piece of equipment well worth not using skills for. And, just like when he cleared the 10th floor, he earned countless titles. [Title: The Advancer] [You not only perfectly broke through a certain floor in thebyrinth but proved that you will go even deeper.] [Strength +15] [Intelligence +15] [Agility +15] [Title: One Who Touched the Grain of Perfection] [You broke through while figuring out everything about thebyrinth. It''s still small, but it''s a definite achievement.] [Strength +18] [Intelligence +18] [Agility +18] [The reward will be strengthened when all floors have been fully figured out.] [Title: One Who Began the Path] [You have begun walking the path to prove yourself.] [Strength +12] [Intelligence +12] [Agility +12] [Movement Speed +4%] [Title: One Who Seeded in the Challenge] [You have sessfullypleted a meaningful challenge and further proved yourself.] [NPCs, gods, favor you.] [Strength +12] [Intelligence +12] [Agility +12] Up to this point, the titles were simr to those he earned when clearing the 10th floor, but they were about twice as strong. And there was also a unique title obtained while clearing the 20th floor. [Title: The umtor] [You have gathered enough power. This is proof of that.] [Mana +21] [Agility +16] [elerated gain is added to all skill proficiency.] Title: The umtor. It was a title that evaluated everything that had been done as he descended down to the 20th floor and gave him a special ability. For Taesan, it was an eleration in skill proficiency. His main technique was his skill, so it was natural. The eleration, although very minute and difficult to notice, created a big difference as he obtained it one by one like this. He also obtained a skill. [Constant Activation Special Skill: Self-proof] [What you have umted bes a phenomenon and revolves around you.] ording to Taeyeon¡¯s words, it was a skill that gave off a kind of oppressive feeling. Monsters he had in, the strengthening of his mind as he traversed thebyrinth, and his physical strength. All of it remained in his body, giving off an aura of intimidation. In fact, every time he met Taeyeon, a strange energy was always swirling around her. A kind of energy that made the weak recoil upon encountering it. It was apt to say that it represented a kind of strength. Having confirmed all the clear rewards, Taesan checked the secret reward this time. The secret reward was a pair of shoes. [Shoes of the Sharp Scar] [Attack +4] [Defense +14] [Agility +10] [Movement Speed +12%] [Action Speed +6%] [Shoes with a distorted pattern. It looks like it would hurt a lot if kicked.] The defense and agility were exactly twice as much as the shoes he was currently wearing. The movement speed and action speed were also high, and there was even an attack power gain. There was no reason not to switch. The secret reward was a Rune of Power. His strength naturally increased by 20. ¡°Status Window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 43] [Shield: 192/192] [Health: 2250/2250] [Mana: 514/514] [Strength: 765] [Intelligence: 533] [Agility: 688] [Attack Power +83] [Defense +115] [The subject is in top condition.] He had be incredibly powerful once again. Taesanughed joyously. At this rate, he might catch up with the previous stats of Lee Taeyeon even before reaching the depths of thebyrinth. Taesan went up thebyrinth again to meet Lillis. She was panting as she moved her luggage. ¡°You, you went down again?¡± ¡°I reached the 20th floor.¡± ¡°Ah ah¡­¡± She looked at her luggage with a face of despair. ¡°Just stay put. Isn¡¯t it morefortable for me toe up?¡± ¡°¡­No. I can¡¯t be bothered by this if I also have something to gain.¡± Lillis shook her head with a brief, stern expression. It seemed like her way of expressing gratitude. She quickly organized her luggage, and her eyes lit up. ¡°So, you came with something to offer?¡± Nodding, Taesan pulled out the equipment he had obtained from defeating the liches. Each time an item came out, Lillis was amazed. ¡°Woah!¡± ¡°Can I learn with these items?¡± ¡°More than enough!¡± Sheughed heartily as she arranged the equipment. As always, she prayed and offered the items to the deity of magic. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you right away!¡± [You have learned Air Leap.] [Beginner Magic: Air Leap] [Mana Consumption: 10] [Proficiency: 1%] [Leap in the air. Can only be used once at a time for now.] ¡°Shall I exin?¡± ¡°No.¡± The best way to understand after learning was to use it directly. Taesan immediately leaped off the ground. Thump. His body shot up into the sky, almost to the ceiling, before gravity started to bring him back down. Halfway down, Taesan activated the spell. [You have activated Air Leap.] A tform appeared under his feet. Taesan exerted force on his foot to step on the invisible tform. His body shot up into the sky once more. Uponnding, Taesan realized. ¡°It¡¯s a double jump.¡± It was a skill that frequently appeared in games. Leaping in the air and jumping again. He could understand it right away since he had seen it multiple times. ¡°This is good magic.¡± In Taesan¡¯s experience, most skills that could defy physicalws were jackpot. Being able to change direction once in the air was a big advantage in both battle and movement. ¡®I wonder if it could bebined with the Great Leap?¡¯ A skill that made the body leap a great distance, the Great Leap. He wondered if it was possible tobine it with Air Leap. Naturally, his thoughts went in that direction. ¡°Then, see you next time.¡± ¡°Goodbye!¡± Taesan, who had parted with Lillis, returned to the 20th floor. There was one room there that Taesan had deliberately not visited. [A Death Knight has appeared.] There was one Death Knight there. Upon seeing the Death Knight, Taesan removed all his equipment. The ghost realized something. [Are you trying to learn more Nullification skills?] ¡°You know it well.¡± [...Is there more to learn?] ¡°I have to find out.¡± From the 20th floor, the levels would start to even out. It would reach a point where he could obtain skills. That was why he had intentionally left one room unexplored. Taesan used the fairy dust he had received as a reward. And then he quietly waited for the attack. The Death Knight thrust its sword. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] The Attack Nullification skill did not count as Nullification when it was obtained, so all Attack Nullifications needed to be used. [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] After two attacks were erased, Taesan tensed the muscles throughout his body. The Death Knight thrust its sword. He contorted his body to the limit to minimize the damage received. [You receive 62 damage.] Taesan¡¯s shield was at 192. A simple calction showed that he could sustain up to four attacks. Once again, he contorted his body to its limits. [You receive 61 damage.] And once more. The Death Knight thrust its sword. He twisted his body to the sword, aiming for his side. A feeling of difort apanied the tearing of his flesh. [You receive 65 damage.] [You did not lose any health from the third attack. You have acquired the special always-on skill [Absolute Nullification of the Third Attack].] He barely managed to acquire the third one. Taesan pulled out his sword and obliterated the Death Knight. ¡°So it goes up to the third time.¡± [This is something.] The ghost chuckled. It was a sight it had already seen, but it never ceased to be unbelievable. [Doesn''t it seem like a skill that you obtain inbination with the shield?] ¡°It seems so.¡± A skill that could only be obtained by clearing the enhanced trial of Lakiratas that granted the Shield stat. The shield wasn¡¯t a health-based mechanism, so it made it easy to acquire the Attack Nullification skills. It seemed like a skill that could be obtained in some kind ofbination with the shield. It was like an additional reward for breaking through the enhanced trial. [I guess it''s a skill designed in that way from the beginning.] However, so far, no one who had undergone Lakiratas¡¯ enhanced trial, nor anyone who had cleared it, seemed to know about it. [Hmm. Then I understand it. After all, it isn''t a skill that can be normally obtained.] ¡°Is that so?¡± He wasn¡¯t sure. After all, Taesan had obtained it after much effort with nothing at hand in his previous life. But objectively, it made sense. Nobody else had obtained the nullification skill. Regardless, he had obtained the skill he wanted. There was still plenty of time left. Hafran would take two days to finish, and not even a day had passed yet. ¡°So.¡± Taesan sat down. The ghost took it as him wanting to rest. [You should take a break. You''ve been going too hard.] Since signing a contract with the ghost, Taesan hadn¡¯t taken a single day off. He had slept minimally and just descended further into thebyrinth. Any normal person would have burnt out a long time ago. Even if they didn¡¯t, their mental strength would have been drained and quickly crumbled. No matter how exceptional Taesan was, he would reach his limit soon. It was necessary to stop thinking about anything and rest. Taesan had an expression asking what the ghost was even talking about. ¡°Teach me swordsmanship.¡± [What?] ¡°Since I have two days off, teach me swordsmanship. I want to learn some theory now.¡± So far, he had only practiced in realbat. He wanted to properly understand the parts he only had a rough grasp of. [¡­¡­.] The ghost was at a loss for words. Seeing the speechless ghost, Taesan asked. ¡°Won¡¯t you teach me?¡± [No, it''s not that.] The ghostughed awkwardly. [You''re really an odd one.] The ghost obediently taught him swordsmanship. While moving his body, Taesan once again realized the principles and theories he had roughly understood, along with the exnations. For two days, he kept modifying his body like that, and as a result, he was able to greatly increase his proficiency. [Advanced Skill: Storm Scar Sword] [Proficiency: 29%] [A sword technique passed down from a destroyed world. Now, only one person has mastered it. You can be confident that you have made a start.] He was able to raise it by a whopping 5% in two days. He also felt a corresponding improvement. [It was easy to raise because it was a process of organizing what you have built up. From here, it''s going to get much harder.] ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± It was an advanced skill. He never thought it would be easy to raise from the beginning. This was a satisfactory result. And now, it was time to receive the reward. Taesan went to Hafran. Hafran, who was pounding with his hammer, opened his mouth when he saw him. ¡°You came just in time. I just finished.¡± Hafran showed him a colorless round bead. Energy was shaking inside it. ¡°I processed it into the simplest form. It¡¯s easier to use than something too unique. The advantage ofbining is strengthening. Give me your weapon.¡± Taesan obediently handed over his sword, and Hafran struck the bead against the sword. The bead shattered, and the energy inside started to flow into the sword. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°Is this it?¡± ¡°Do you want me to loudly smash it with a hammer?¡± Hafran handed it over with a bored face. Taesan took it and checked. [Relic of Calvert: Sword imbued with the Blood of Ancestors] [Artifact from a world now destroyed. It has taken the lives of numerous emperors.] [Attack power + 30] [Against all enemies of noble bloodlines, attack power + 15] Taesan was taken aback. The specter, who had been watching with interest, eximed in admiration. [You managed to achieve this level?] ¡°Because it is something that strengthens the weapon¡¯s inherent advantages. Since it¡¯s nothing special, it was easy to make. Are you satisfied?¡± Taesan nodded his head. It was an enhancement that surpassed satisfactory levels. The base attack power increased by 10. Not only did the attack power of 10, which increased when dealing with noble bloodlines, increase to 15, but it also changed to apply when dealing with all enemies that carried noble blood. Considering that there were virtually no enemies with noble bloodlines, the attack power increased by around 25. It was a change beyond what Taesan had expected. With a weapon of this level, he could use it until he really went deep in thebyrinth. Taesan expressed his gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trade. There¡¯s no need to thank me.¡± Hafran waved his hand. ¡°Make your next visit after you¡¯ve be much stronger. The world will be watching you, so it will be much harder next time.¡± Taesan was aware of that part. The malice directed at him before he returned was indeed creepy. ¡°Even if it¡¯s not that, bring me something like materials. I¡¯ll make you some trivial things.¡± ¡°Do I have to keeping down to the 15th floor?¡± If Hafran stayed here, he might have toe back to the 15th floor even after going to the depths. ¡°Normally, yes. But since you¡¯re different from the others, I¡¯ll have to work hard.¡± Hapran swung his hammer. ¡°I¡¯lle down every five floors. Any more would be too much of a hassle.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll do.¡± It reduced some of the hassle for Taesan. Finally, it was over. Taesan, who said goodbye to Hafran, returned to the 19th floor. Taesan ced his hand on the altar of the god of demons. Mana poured out. A dense and ck fog filled the room. He felt a gaze from within it. Curiosity. Annoyance. And besides, it was a gaze filled with various emotions. Taesan waited quietly. Soon, a system window appeared. [Lucifer invites you to their domain.] Chapter 90: Nineteenth Level - Demon, Lucifer (2) ¡°Huh.¡± Taesan had expected an invitation. However, he assumed there would be a minimal trial to clear first, so he was momentarily taken aback. ¡°Does it mean there¡¯s no need for a trial because they already know, or¡­¡± ¡°It could also mean they don¡¯t want to give a trial.¡± Taesan, who had been ncing at the system window for a moment, moved his hand. [You have epted Lucifer''s invitation.] [Lucifer''s domain wees you.] The world warped. Thebyrinth was oveid with darkness, materializing an entirely different world. The world that emerged was different from Maria¡¯s domain. If her domain was a temple standing alone in a space akin to the void of the universe, Lucifer¡¯s domain was a vast castle. Taesan was summoned inside a building so long and wide that it was hard to see the end of the corridor. Taesan quietly inspected the interior of the castle. ck gem decorations. Pirs that reached up to the end of the sky. A high ceiling that appeared faintly visible. It was indeed a massive castle. [Hmm.] A dissatisfied voice echoed. Taesan realized btedly. A girl in ck was looking down at Taesan from a high, high throne, resting her arms on its sides. Her ck hair flowed down to the base of the throne. Eyes as sharp as a cat¡¯s. A long ck dress. Taesan was slightly taken aback. When he had met Maria, he had felt an incalcble power. So, he could immediately realize that it had manifested. But it wasn¡¯t the same with this girl. On the surface, she was just an ordinary and cute child, and he didn¡¯t feel any power from her. The girl opened her mouth. [Are you just going to stare nkly?] Taesan came to his senses btedly. The girl was weing him from her grand throne as if she were a queen. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess what she wanted. Taesan bent his knee. ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty.¡± Demon God Lucifer. Her true form was the young girl in front of him. The girl, who had been staring down at Taesan, spoke. [You kneel obediently.] ¡°I¡¯m not so clueless that I can¡¯t read the room.¡± He couldn¡¯t tell what emotions the deity in front of him had towards him. It was likely that she was hostile. After all, he had killed someone who could be considered part of her lineage. It was his judgment that it would be correct to move obediently as she wanted. And that was the right answer. [Not bad. If you were defiant, I would have crushed your head.] A chilling sensation grazed Taesan¡¯s neck at her light voice. The muscles throughout his body began to contract naturally. The girl waved her hand. [No, I''m just kidding. I can''t crush your head. That would upset quite a few people. Instead,¡­..] A dreary gaze was directed towards Taesan. [Hmm. I''ve seen through the eyes of the pitiful one, but you''re definitely unique. Could someone like you really exist in this world?] At the iprehensible words, Taesan¡¯s eyebrows twitched. [If you don''t understand, that''s fine. It''s none of my concern.] With anguid attitude, the girl caught her own hair with her toes and swayed it back and forth. [I have no intention of seeking retribution for your killing of the pitiful one. It was a rightful battle and victory for you.] ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± She didn¡¯t seem to hold any negative feelings about him killing Jagan. [The reason you came to me must be for magical energy. Right?] Taesan nodded. The consumption required for dark magic. Magical energy. He had epted Lucifer¡¯s invitation because he wanted that. Lucifer shook her head, and her silk-like hair swayed gently. [You''re a human.] A small finger pointed towards Taesan. [And I am a Demon God. Mana is the power of my beings. Humans are not mine.] ¡°¡­ You¡¯re saying you can¡¯t give it to me.¡± As she said, magic power belonged to the demons. In fact, even the ghost couldn¡¯t obtain anything from Lucifer¡¯s altar when he had passed by it when he was alive. But Lucifer had deliberately brought Taesan into her realm. This meant there was another way. [If you ask whether I can bestow upon you the power that only my beings can possess, yes, I can.] ¡°But didn¡¯t you say you couldn¡¯t give it?¡± [Ordinarily, yes. But you already have a portion of my power, albeit through a loophole. That one beside you wasn''t qualified, but you are.] Taesan was able toprehend what Lucifer was saying. From Jagan, Taesan had taken ck magic, a skill humans couldn¡¯t learn, due to Soul Ascension. Meaning he was learning skills that required magic power, thus fulfilling the minimum requirement. Lucifer murmured with a faintly interested expression on her face. [It''s definitely unique. Is that your power......] Taesan cast a questioning nce at Lucifer, but she simply continued speaking. [I can bestow mana upon you by putting you through a trial; if you pass, you''ll receive it. But would that be enough? You responded to my invitation hoping for something more, right?] Taesan didn¡¯t deny it. Lucifer continued in anguid tone. [You''d want more than just magic power. Like receiving a new spell from a god of magic, you want a new path from me, right?] It wouldn¡¯t be a big deal if it was just about receiving magic power. Unless he met and defeated new demons to steal their ck magic spells, the ck magic he could use was limited. Taesan desired more. He hoped he could learn new ck magic from Lucifer to possess a greater number of cards to use in battle. Lucifer responded to Taesan¡¯s wish. [It''s possible. You have a sliver of my power. Adding one or two more won''t make a difference.] Taesan clenched his fist triumphantly, out of Lucifer¡¯s sight. Looking at ck magic at the same level as magic, Taesan could now wield four powers: swordsmanship, skills, magic, and ck magic. The difference was undeniably huge when it came to battle. [But everythinges at a cost, Kang Taesan.] Her sharp eyes softly glowed. [The reward I will give you will not be satisfied with a simple trial.] ¡°Do you want me to be an apostle?¡± All the gods that Taesan met wanted this. Lucifer burst intoughter. [Hardly. It may seem like Marianna and other gods want that, but I am a Demon God. A mere human can''t be my apostle. Only pure demons can be my apostles.] Lucifer stated confidently. [They''re really foolish. No matter how exceptional you are, you''re still human. It''s rather pitiful that they''re begging so desperately. It diminishes their dignity as gods.] ¡°Were you watching me?¡± [Why would I watch a fight of a child that''s not even mine? I''m not interested.] It was an attitude showing strong self-esteem, and Taesan was rather grateful for it. The proposals to be an apostle were subtly tiring for him, who had no such intention. [What I want from you is a simple rtionship of followingmands and receiving rewards.] It wasn¡¯t a bad proposition for Taesan. ¡°Please proceed.¡± [It''s simple. Protect mymb.] A quest window appears. [Sub Quest Begins] [The Demon God, Lucifer, wants help for her child who is being oppressed.] [However, that world is a realm where she could not intrude. She hopes you, who can enter that ce, will help her child.] [Reward: Lucifer will determine based on your performance.] Taesan scanned it and opened his mouth. ¡°Do I have to go to another world?¡± [You have experience going into the foolish world of that dull-witted one, right? It''s not a ruined world, so you don''t have to worry.] Lucifer frowned. Wrinkles formed on the girl¡¯s pretty cheeks. [Mymb is suffering from oppression and pain in a world where I have been lost. Take her to a safe ce.] ¡°I heard you¡¯ve settled here and abandoned the outside world.¡± [The pitiful child seems to have misunderstood something. I moved my dwelling, not abandoned it. Where my child is, my gaze also exists. I''m just not paying attention because this ce is more fun.] Wherever demons existed, Lucifer watched. Thus, her power was subtly revealed. Taesan closed his mouth and thought. ¡®It¡¯s not a quest that will end in a short period of time.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know who themb she was referring to was, but they were likely in a dangerous situation. It was severe enough for Lucifer to request that he take them directly to a safe ce. ¡®It won¡¯t be easy either.¡¯ It was a quest given by a god who considered her own trials to be insufficient. It would be harder than any strengthened trial. While considering this, Taesan made a decision. ¡°I ept.¡± Lucifer smiled. [Good.] ¡°However, I have another request.¡± The ghost, who had been waiting quietly, swallowed its breath. A mortal was making a request to a god first. If it was a hasty god, they would have shown anger immediately. Lucifer narrowed her eyes. [Are you asking something from a god without giving anything in return? Normally, I would''ve be furious... but I can''t do that this time.] Lucifer¡¯s energy that was flowing out suddenly subsided. This made it clear. Lucifer had initially seen Taesan and had said that she had no intention to hurt him, even though they were interested in him. It was an insincere statement. It meant that she was a god who was weaker than Lakiratas or Maria or that she respected them. She would not rashly touch Taesan in such a case. [Speak. If it''s nonsense, I''ll ignore it.] Facing the grumbling Lucifer, Taesan spoke. ¡°Do you know about the one who invaded my world?¡± [...Ah.] The smile on Lucifer¡¯s face deepened. [I will forgive you for asking something without giving anything in return. You want to know who they are, right? That''s fine. If you carry out mymand to my satisfaction, I will also tell you about them.] Having gained everything he wanted, Taesan nodded. ¡°Then that¡¯s settled.¡± [Good. I know it''s a hassle, but I need to give you a basic exnation. Listen carefully as I will exin only once.] Lucifer started to exin. [The world you''re going to is known as Vekveta to us. It''s a world where magic exists, guarded by dragons. The strength of the world itself is average... but it''s guarded by an annoying entity.] A faint irritation appeared on Lucifer¡¯s face. [A world where weak and frail beings torment my subjects.] Lucifer clenched her jaw, and her hair fell loose. [The world of the god of light born of the, governed by Hamon. That''s where you''re going.] Taesan squinted his eyes. The sunlighting down from the sky was dazzling. It had been a very long time since he¡¯d seen the sun. There was no such thing as sunlight inside thebyrinth, and ever since the earth was invaded by monsters, the sun had been obscured by holes. It was the sun he was seeing after an innumerable amount of time. ¡°So, this is Vekveta.¡± Taesan murmured as he looked around. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be much difference.¡± He saw a forest. There were rocks of a striking color, and next to them ran a blue river. At first nce, it was just like Earth. [You know by just looking at the Guides of Sin, right? The mostmon form is that of a human.] ¡°I guess I won¡¯t be chased around for being a monster. Never thought I¡¯d end up in another world in my life.¡± This world didn¡¯t seem to be on the verge of destruction, nor did it appear to be invaded by monsters. The people here would live and die in an ordinary way, just like on the old Earth. That felt strange to him. To Taesan, this normality felt incredibly distant. [It doesn''t look like you have time to be lost in thought.] ¡°That seems to be the case.¡± Through his detection skill, Taesan sensed several presences from the other side of the forest. Several pursuers. And one being pursued. Chapter 91: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (1) Taesan kicked off the ground and took to the air. Then hended back on the ground again. [You have activated Aerial Leap.] Whoosh. His body, which had elerated in the air, was obscured by the forest. Since the distance wasn¡¯t too far, he was able to reach his destination quickly by stepping off the tree branches and leaping. ¡°Heuk, heuk, heuk.¡± A young girl was running, panting heavily. With ck hair and ck eyes, she appeared to be a teenager with long, semi-curly hair. Despite her worn-out appearance, an unmistakable aura of nobility emanated from her. However, her clothing, ragged and tattered like that of a beggar, did not match her aura. Her face was smeared with dirt as if she hadn¡¯t washed for a long time. ¡°Is that the child of the demon god?¡± [She has an overall ck appearance. Seems like a child of the demon n.] Taesan observed from atop a tree. A single arrow was shot right in front of the girl who was running with cold sweat trickling down her face. The girl instinctively stepped back. At the same time, a trap was activated from beneath the bushes, tying one of her ankles with a rope. The girl¡¯s face turned pale. Although she quickly cut the rope and tried to escape, the men who had been chasing her had ample time to catch up. ¡°Whew, that was tough.¡± Several men revealed themselves. A boisterous man looked at the girl and whistled. ¡°Definitely a princess. There¡¯s a reason she hadn¡¯t been caught for ten years. A pro at escaping. Pro.¡± ¡°You men¡­..¡± The girl bit her lip. The men started to take out their equipment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Princess. You¡¯ll have to be captured without resistance.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so cheap to be caught by the likes of you.¡± Her tone was light, but her eyes were filled with tension that she couldn¡¯t hide. It was the first time she had been cornered this far since she started being chased. ¡°You¡¯re all alone anyway after everyone¡¯s dead, aren¡¯t you? Isn¡¯t it about time to meet them?¡± ¡°You bastard!¡± The girl swung her sword roughly. It was a decent move, but the girl was too worn out. Her swinging swordcked strength, and, unsurprisingly, she was overpowered by the man¡¯s power. ¡°Ah!¡± The girl fell to the ground, appearing to faint as she started to breathe heavily. ¡°Great!¡± The men cheer. ¡°We did it!¡± ¡°We finally caught her!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± The men started to settle down with flushed faces. ¡°How much is this?¡± ¡°The bounty was a thousand gold, so¡­ If we divide it per person, isn¡¯t it a hundred gold?¡± ¡°Ha!¡± If one were to save and live conservatively, a hundred gold would be enough to live the rest of their life without need. They had be wealthy in an instant. While they were chattering about what they would do with their lives, someone said. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit short?¡± ¡°Short? What¡¯s short? It¡¯s a hundred gold. A hundred gold!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s short.¡± The man who spoke wrinkled his face. ¡°Do you know how much gold we¡¯ve spent to get here? A whopping 60 gold.¡± ¡°But that gold was spent jointly by all of us, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No, most of it was my money!¡± The man raised his voice roughly. ¡°I paid for most of the tracking cost,mission fee, and hush money! Out of sixty gold, I spent forty gold? I used up all the money I saved in my lifetime!¡± Even if he got a hundred gold, the man would only profit by sixty gold. He wasn¡¯t satisfied with that. ¡°So, what do you want?¡± ¡°Give me more.¡± ¡°What?¡± The atmosphere quickly turned hostile. The man extended his hand. ¡°You all take only 90 gold. I¡¯ll take 190 gold.¡± ¡°You spent 40 gold, and you¡¯re going to take an extra 90 gold?¡± ¡°The value of money has different rules. My 40 gold is now worth 90 gold.¡± The man said confidently. In the silent hush, someone muttered gloomily. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll allow that?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, you can die.¡± From the suddenly tense atmosphere, they slowly started to draw their weapons. The ghost chuckled. [Did you really think these miserable creatures would uphold any loyalty before money?] It wasn¡¯t a new sight for Taesan either. It was amon tale for Somali pirates who disappeared after collecting a hefty ransom. News often reached him that half of the crew had been killed by their own hands when they were found again. As the atmosphere turned hostile, one man was fidgety. The pale-faced man opened his mouth. ¡°Um, I¡¯ll just¡­¡± ¡°May I join in, too?¡± Taesan snapped a tree branch andnded in the middle of them. The overheated atmosphere surprised the group and forced them to create a distance. ¡°A ck-haired one?¡± ¡°A demon?¡± ¡°No, no. The color is too light.¡± Listening to their mutterings, Taesan realized. ¡®Do demons have perfectly ck hair?¡¯ The girl¡¯s hair seemed to suck in the light, a perfect ck. While East Asians typically had ck hair and eyes, there were also many shades of brown, and perfect ck wasn¡¯t thatmon. Taesan was the same. ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m someone who has business with that woman.¡± At his words, the men¡¯s eyes dangerously flickered. Taesan quickly realized they perceived him as apetitor, and they drew their weapons. Whizz! As the arrow flew, eight men charged at him. Only the young-faced man seemed flustered as he watched the other men charge. ¡°You fight quite well for a bunch of brutes.¡± Taesan moved his hand. He caught the arrow. The spectacle of him catching the flying arrow made them halt for a moment. Taesan casually shook his hand. The arrow flew and pierced through the head of the man who was still staring nkly with a bow in his hand. His fist wavered, and multiple afterimages formed. Squish. The chests of the men in front of him crumbled and disappeared. Taesan was more surprised that he managed to kill them all in one hit. ¡°Why did they die instantly?¡± He thought they wouldst at least two to three hits, but they crumbled and died immediately as if they had no defense. The ghost casuallymented. [How can ordinary hunters withstand your attack when famous swordsmen probably won''tst long either?] ¡°Even yers in Easy Mode allsted at least a hit.¡± [That''s because your world is unique.] It was frustrating. He had been beating them one by one, trying to extract information, and they had all died. ¡°Maybe I should be satisfied with just one.¡± The young-faced man who hesitated to attack was alive. The man was startled by the gaze directed at him. These were not weak hunters. If they were, they would not have been able to capture the princess. Among bounty hunters, even outstanding swordsmen in the upper ranks couldn¡¯t easily break through their teamwork. However, they all died in a single strike. The process of catching the arrow, the process of throwing the arrow back, the process of killing hispanion, all of it wasn¡¯t visible to the eye. Then, there was only one conclusion. ¡®..He must be at least a Sword Master!¡¯ The man slowly retreated, screaming inwardly. Taesan took a step. In an instant, he disappeared from sight. The man felt a strong force at his neck and was mmed to the ground. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± ¡°Can you withstand this? It¡¯s difficult to control my strength.¡± ¡°Ple, please¡­¡± ¡°Just answer my questions, and I¡¯ll spare your life.¡± Taesan, who had overpowered the man, spoke leisurely. The man didn¡¯t want to die. Not only did he answer Taesan¡¯s questions, but he also spilled everything he knew without being asked. Thanks to him, Taesan was able to gather more detailed information about this world. ¡°So, a decade ago, an oracle came from the heavens.¡± ¡°Ye, yes¡­¡­¡± The man¡¯s words were summarized as follows. This world was originally a normal one. It was a world where humans and demons divided the world in half and lived by interacting with each other appropriately. While there was an existence known as the Demon King, he bore no ill will towards humans but rather had goodwill towards them. They aided each other and lived in peace. The deity that the humans in this ce believed in was the god of light, Harmon. Demons believed in the Demon God. Although they believed in different gods, there were no major issues as they respected each other. Then, precisely ten years ago, an oracle came down from Harmon. Kill the demons! They aimed to kill humans! They were the enemy! The priests who received the revtion were bewildered. It was too cruel and brutal for a divine oracle. They attempted to confirm it several times, but another revtion came down. Kill the demons! It was a sentence filled with firm determination. And then, unnaturally, incidents caused by demons started to ur. A mad demon self-destructed, wiping out a vige and terrifying the capital. A serial killer who had caused widespread terror was actually a half-demon. Such rumors about demons came and went daily. Thus, the chaos elerated. The Demon King was also flustered and sought the Demon God, but the Demon God gave no answer. Having lost their god, the demons were also shaken and started to create incidents one by one. A yearter, the war broke out. The demons, who had lost their god, were helplessly swept away. Their proud dark magic was sealed and could not inflict any damage on holy knights d in their armor. The demon¡¯s treasury was plundered by wretched beggars, and ordinary people killed the most noble of them unceremoniously. Another year passed. The Demon King was killed, and the war ended. All the notable demons became the dew of the gallows, and those who ran away had a bounty on their heads, bing fugitives. After a persistent pursuit, most of them were killed. ¡°And she is¡­ thest princess of the demons.¡± The child of the Demon King. The hope of the demons. Somehow, she managed to survive for eight years, constantly on the run and staying alive. ¡°So it¡¯s like that.¡± Taesan stroked his chin. He understood the situation. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± The man rolled his eyes anxiously. Taesan spoke leisurely. ¡°I¡¯ll let you go if you answer one more thing.¡± ¡°W-, what is it?¡± ¡°How strong are you guys here?¡± The man swallowed hard when he understood what Taesan was asking, and then answered. ¡°If you look at us as bounty hunters, we¡¯re at the top. If you look at individual strength, we¡¯re average mercenaries, and in terms ofbination, we can handle up to a first-ss swordsman.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s like that.¡± They were stronger than average. Just this level? ¡°Are the higher ranks extremely strong?¡± [Well¡­¡­] The ghost trailed off. Taesan waved his hand. ¡°Okay. You can go.¡± ¡°R-, Really?¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened. Honestly, he didn¡¯t have high expectations of being spared. ¡°Why? Do you want me to send you to your friends?¡± ¡°No, not at all! Thank you!¡± The man scampered away hastily. ¡®What a nuisance!¡¯ The man nned to give up his life as a bounty hunter and return to his hometown to farm. As the man disappeared into the forest, the ghost spoke. [Not going to kill him?] ¡°I promised. He doesn¡¯t seem like someone who¡¯d cause trouble, so I don¡¯t feel like killing him.¡± Instead of enjoying the capture of the princess, he looked at her with pity. The young man was more startled than eager to attack Taesan, who they perceived as apetitor. He didn¡¯t seem like someone who would cause any problems. ¡°And it wouldn¡¯t matter if he did.¡± If he set his mind to it, he could cover tens of kilometers in a single day. His current location wasn¡¯t important information. Taesan looked down at the unconscious girl. Her ck hair was tousled. ¡°I think I understand what happened.¡± Presumably, Harmon had made a pact with Lucifer. He didn¡¯t know the details, but it must have been an agreement not to interfere with the world. Having achieved his goal, Harmon began to exterminate the demons. The Lucifer that Taesan met seemed to have an obsessive personality about her possessions. Seeing the demons crying out her name as they died, Lucifer must have been enraged. And then he showed up. He was free to act here since he was a human, not a demon. Lucifer would have thought it fortunate and fulfilled the minimum requirement needed for interference. That was why she had given him the quest, even if it cost her. Chapter 92: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (2) Taesan, who was looking at the unconscious girl, realized something btedly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your world was destroyed by the Demon King?¡± The ghost had said that their world was destroyed due to their defeat by the Demon King and that they entered thebyrinth to save their world. The ghost simply affirmed it. [Unlike the Vekveta, we were a world fighting the demons from the start. We lost after an endless battle.] ¡°So, you don¡¯t harbor any hatred for the Demon God?¡± [Why should I?] Taesan was slightly surprised by the ghost¡¯s calm and matter-of-fact voice. ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± [Of course not. Why would you think we do?] ¡°Demons are enemies of humans, aren¡¯t they?¡± [Huh?] The ghost seemed flustered. After a moment of thought, the ghost seemed to have realized something. [Come to think of it, in your world, only humans exist. Hmm. I guess that perspective exists. Interesting.] The ghost began to exin. [It''s simple. Suppose a spirit or something like that appears in your world and says that you humans exterminated us, and we want revenge. How do you think you would respond?] ¡°Is that how it is?¡± Taesan realized what the ghost was trying to say. ¡°So, the demons are just a race.¡± [They''re just like humans. There are countless of them, with various characteristics. There are worlds where they coexist with the Demon King and others where they oppose him. We were opposing. We might be angry at the Demon King who destroyed us. Still, we don''t particrly feel anything towards the Demon God or others.] ¡°But why the demons?¡± [Because they are indeed derived from the Demon God.] Taesan, who was having this conversation, realized something. The demons were a race that numbered simr to humans. And they all originated from the Demon God. ¡°So, what level is the Demon God at?¡± [I''m not sure about the individual strength, but considering the gap, they must be very strong. Once you reach that level, it''s hard to properlyprehend from our standpoint.] The feeling was that it was too strong to make an urate estimate. Taesan understood this point. ¡°Is Lucifer weaker than the god named Harmon?¡± [Definitely not.] The ghost spoke in a firm tone. [I''m hearing about this god for the first time, but you said it was a god of light born from the world, right? If it were just a simple god of light, it would have been a significant figure, but the descriptor of being ''born from the world'' is attached. That means it''s not that strong. It might be much stronger than us, but it does not reach the level of the Demon God.] ¡°So why just watch and do nothing?¡± If Lucifer was so powerful, she could have crushed the enemy directly. The ghost trailed off. [Well... I have some spections.] ¡°What is it?¡± [This world is Harmon''s territory.] Taesan recalled a term. ¡°Indigenous God?¡± [Simr. A god bes infinitely powerful in its own territory. Even if it''s the Demon God, it''s hard to suppress the god within its own territory. So, you can roughly guess.] ¡°Ah, I see.¡± In the middle of their conversation, the girl moaned. She slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± The girl, who locked eyes with Taesan, jumped up in surprise. She groped for a sword and took a defensive stance. ¡°¡­¡­Who are you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have no interest in your bounty.¡± The girl¡¯s pupils shook. Taesan leaned against a tree. ¡°If I say I¡¯m on your side, will you understand?¡± The girl btedly surveyed her surroundings. The hunters who had captured her were now lying around as corpses. The girl looked at Taesan with confused eyes. Taesan met her gaze and organized his thoughts. ¡®Well then.¡¯ Lucifer had told Taesan not to tell this girl that he was sent on the Demon God¡¯smand and that his purpose was to protect her. He was to hide his true identity. Eventually, Taesan had to mask the information to convince the girl. Feeling annoyed, Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Princess of the Demons. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s Asha. Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Kang Taesan. In terms of roles, wouldn¡¯t I be your escort?¡± ¡°Escort?¡± Asha still looked confused. Taesan began to tell the story he had prepared in advance. ¡°A few years ago, a demon came to me. He was dying.¡± If the bounty hunter¡¯s words were true, the social system of the demons was not much different from humans. There were positions, ranks, and treasures. And they said most of them had died. In other words, some might still be alive. The princess had been pursued alone for eight years. That was the part he had to aim for. ¡°He came to me with gold and treasures, asking me to protect you. It was a reasonable amount of jewels, so I epted.¡± Asha¡¯s pupils showed mixed emotions. She asked in a trembling voice. ¡°Who was¡­ he?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. He died as soon as he gave me the job.¡± At the light-hearted remark, Asha¡¯s face clouded over. She must have been thinking about someone, and the thought of their death was tormenting. Taesan continued his words. ¡°You ran away quite well. It was hard to find you. I felt sorry for the client and even thought about giving up¡­ but since I found you like this, I should do my job. I will protect you.¡± Her eyes, filled with pain, settled down. She looked at Taesan with wavering eyes. Reading the light within, Taesan gave a slightugh. ¡°Do you think I would lie to you? For what purpose?¡± The girl¡¯s pupils shook. The bounty hunters who had chased her were strong. They were people who could face even the top-notch swordsmen if they teamed up. But Taesan had killed all of them. It was not clear how he had done it, but looking at the locations of the bodies, he hadn¡¯t fought them separately. That was, he either wielded Aura or he was a high-level magician. And if he was at that level, he didn¡¯t need to cling to her bounty. ¡°It seems like you epted it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Asha nodded her head. In an instant, her legs gave way. ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± Fatigue overwhelmed her. She hadn¡¯t been able to sleep even two hours this week while being chased by the hunters. ¡°Sleep for now. We can talkter.¡± Her eyes slowly closed. Taesan took the sleeping girl to a cave. ¡°Should I have brought something like a nket or quilt?¡± He didn¡¯t expect to receive such a caring quest. He roughly prepared a ce withrge tree leaves andid her down. He looked around to make sure no one wasing, but he didn¡¯t feel any presence. Two hourster, Asha opened her eyes. She groaned as she propped herself up. Her body still demanded sleep, but her mind was forcibly waking up. Asha gave a bitter smile. She had only been able to sleep peacefully once in eight years. Six years ago, she had fallen asleep in exhaustion and nearly became morning dew. Since then, she had only been able to doze. She staggered outside. Taesan, who was sitting indifferently, saw her and asked. ¡°Rest more. Why are you awake already?¡± Asha looked nkly at Taesan. ¡®It¡­ wasn¡¯t a dream.¡¯ The mercenary that was left for her by her dead kin. ¡®Can¡­ Can I rely on him?¡¯ A sudden thought made her shake her head hastily. ¡®No.¡¯ ¡°Go away.¡± Asha spoke coldly. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be around me.¡± She closed her eyes tightly. She still remembered. Her joyful eighth birthday party. Even in a difficult situation where they couldn¡¯t reach the gods, everyone gathered to celebrate, and the Demon King also showed himself in person. Numerous smiles and feelings of affection towards her. All of that became distorted. The ones who wereughing as the castle was being bombarded got smashed and disappeared. The vibrant and joyful party turned into a bloodbath in an instant due to the invading knights. So many sacrificed their lives with a smile to help her escape. She didn¡¯t want to witness such a scene again. Dying would have been enough if it were just her. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t do that.¡± Taesan spoke as he poked at the campfire. ¡°The reason I came here is for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous around me. I know you¡¯re strong, but you will die.¡± She opened her mouth with a miserable face. Taesan chuckled. ¡°Dangerous?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not only the bounty hunters chasing me. Those who have made a name for themselves are also after me.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°Like that guy?¡± ¡°What?¡± Asha reflexively looked in the direction Taesan was indicating. There was nothing there. As she was about to ask what he meant, the bushes parted. ¡°Ah, Princess. You were here.¡± A middle-aged man with a rat-like beard revealed himself with a groan. Asha was startled and grabbed her sword. ¡°Garante¡­¡± ¡°It is an honor to know that the noble princess knows my name.¡± Garante eye¡¯s shone as he made a sarcastic remark. ¡°I heard you were around here, but I didn¡¯t think it would be true¡­¡± Garante, who took a quick look at Asha, wore a sardonic smile. ¡°It¡¯s not like the beautiful princess. Do you want to survive so desperately?¡± ¡°You swore allegiance to our father once¡­¡± Asha gritted her teeth. When humans and demons lived in peace, Garante had sworn allegiance to the demon king and lived as his knight. However, as soon as the Demon King disappeared and chaos ensued, Garante quickly hid himself. He was able to escape without any problem, as it was not a time when they could afford to chase a single knight. ¡°That¡¯s all in the past. Thinking about it now, it was a terrible experience. Swearing allegiance to the likes of demons! I wish I could erase that memory. Really.¡± Garante grimaced. He had run away when chaos ensued due to the silence of the Demon King. He thought he had made a good escape, but those in power knew all about his allegiance to the Demon King. At that time, he was not in a proper position to do anything about it. ¡°So you should just surrender quietly, Princess.¡± But that was all over now. If he captured thest remaining princess of the demons, if he took her with him, they would treat him properly. Asha bit her lip at the sight of Garante¡¯s greed. Ability and character were not proportional. Garante was a subject worthy of criticism but also a powerful being. He could use Aura and was a top-ss swordsman, surpassing the average. There weren¡¯t many who could im to have an advantage over him. Asha had never heard the name Taesan. He was strong, but not to the level she had heard. ¡°¡­Run away.¡± She blocked Taesan¡¯s path. Garante, who had noticed Taesante, raised the corner of his mouth. ¡°It seems there are still people who worship her, even though her bloodline is all dead.¡± Garante, mistaking Taesan for Asha¡¯s escort, who had been following her, made up his mind. He decided to kill Taesan first. Then, he thought, Asha, whose will would be broken, would easily submit to him. As soon as he made the decision, Garante moved. He rushed at a fast pace. Asha quickly moved her sword, but Garante easily dodged it and stabbed his sword toward Taesan. ng! The sound of swords shing, not the feeling of pierced flesh, resonated. Garante¡¯s pupils dted. Taesan calmly moved his fist. Thump! ¡°Ugh!¡± Garante hastily retreated. Taesan looked amused. ¡°Not dead?¡± Not only that, but he was not seriously injured either. ¡°Not bad.¡± He had shown the entire process of clenching his fist, raising his arm, and moving, but it was still a good move. Garante rubbed his cold cheek. It was fast. If he hadn¡¯t reacted reflexively, his face would have flown off. There was that much power in Taesan¡¯s fist. Garante¡¯s face twisted. ¡°How dare an unknown ruffian!¡± A blue light shone on Garante¡¯s sword. Asha was horrified. Aura de. Despair fell on Asha¡¯s face. The moment you learned to control Aura, you possessed a power that diverged from themon swordsman. A light shed across Taesan¡¯s face. ¡°What is that?¡± It wasn¡¯t a look of despair but of interest. Chapter 93: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (3) A blue light ran along the sword. An energy that shimmered like mes covered Garant¡¯s sword. ¡°Is that what they call Aura?¡± [How the hell did you know about that?] ¡°Because there was something simr.¡± Since there was magic, there was no reason why there wouldn¡¯t be Aura. Taesan¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°Come at me.¡± Taesan pped his hands with an interested face. Garant twisted his mouth corners. ¡°Die!¡± Garant swung his aura-covered sword. Taesan moved his sword cidly, and Garant scoffed at it. ¡®What a stupid barbarian!¡¯ A sword with Aura boasted absolute sharpness. Unless the opponent used a legendary sword, it could never block an aura sword. ng. But the sound of swords colliding rang out. ¡°What?¡± The sword, showing no trace of Aura, stood firmly against the blue one. The blue light roughly engulfed Taesan¡¯s sword, but the sword, seemingly unaffected, didn¡¯t have a single scratch. ng. Garant hastily retreated. He looked at Taesan¡¯s sword with eyes full of astonishment. ¡°What the¡­.¡± ¡°This sword doesn¡¯t break so easily.¡± [It''s one of the best swords in my world. Do you think it''ll be shattered by such a level of Aura?] The ghost grumbled. [Even without that, a weapon influenced by thebyrinth system does not lose in terms of toughness. It''s difficult to scratch it even with Aura.] ¡°You, you!¡± Garant, denying the unfolding phenomenon in front of him, charged again. The blue Aura growled like a beast. Taesan didn¡¯t stop him. [Your first attack absolute nullification has been activated.] ¡°Huh?¡± Asha¡¯s pupils widened as she was caught off-guard by the sight. In her eyes, Garant had stabbed Taesan, but it seemed as if time was rewinding, and he returned to his previous attack posture. ¡®A magician?¡¯ Naturally, she could only think of that. ¡®¡­A magic that messes with time?¡¯ It was a level of magic that was difficult to find, even in the grand magic tower. Garant, who was the opponent in this fight, was more confused than Asha. He certainly stabbed Taesan. However, when he regained his senses, he returned to the position he had taken before said action. ¡°Th-this¡­¡­¡± He stabbed with his sword again. [Your second attack absolute nullification has been activated.] And he returned again. Garant¡¯s face became miserable. Taesan moved his armzily, and Garant moved his sword reflexively. [Your third attack absolute nullification has been activated.] Even that reflexive counter was erased. ¡°Nullifying attacks also seems like a task.¡± Judging from their reactions, it seemed that the system window was not visible to the people there. Garant¡¯s face was increasingly bing deathly pale. His attacks, his movements, all of them were erased. Having experienced firsthand that even the result of his attack disappeared, Garant was able to understand. A being that manipted time. To Garant¡¯s knowledge, only the great wizards of the Magic Tower, those who have essed the realm of magic, could do this. No, even they couldn¡¯t do this. Limited interference was possible, but even a grand magician could not erase the result of an action like this. ¡®It¡¯s a monster!¡¯ No matter what he did, he was destined to die. Terror struck, and Garant swung his sword, screaming. ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± Garant swung his sword wildly, without any swordsmanship. Taesan casually dodged and reached out his arm. Squeak. The sword imbued with Aura grazed past his arm. [You have taken 63 damage.] ¡°The damage is fine.¡± The damage prated his defense. Simply calcted, it meant that this weapon had nearly 200 attack power. Garant¡¯s sword looked good, but it wasn¡¯t a legendary sword. This means it was pure damage from Aura. ¡°I¡¯ll have to test various things.¡± [You have activated Feint. The next attack is enticed.] Taesan charged at Garant, who was in despair. Taesan used all kinds of skills to fight against Garant. Garant, not wanting to die, forcibly lifted his powerless body and responded. Having used Feint, Counter, and all kinds of magic to counter the Aura, he was able to gather various pieces of information. ¡°It seems it can¡¯t ignore skills.¡± Feint and Counter. Both representative attack response skills were activated normally. Endurance also reduced the damage normally. This meant that there was no judgment beyond attack for the Aura. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be able to change form, and there is no enhancement of mind or body? Just a high cutting force. Nothing particrly new.¡± At this level, it seemed that was the limit. But the cutting force was quite useful. Garant had been able to effortlessly cut through the Frost Arrow, a magic that freezes the air itself, which Taesan fired as a test. This meant that he could cut through any ordinary attack. ¡°Not bad.¡± Taesan muttered, and Garant hadpletely dead eyes. His attacks suddenly twisted, and the sword didn¡¯t hit properly. Arrows of coldness, freezing his whole body merely by appearing nearby, flew at him while all sorts of mental interferences urred. Even his movements couldn¡¯t be traced. Even while casting magic, Taesan was faster and stronger than Garant, a swordsman. ¡®Something beyond a Swordmaster¡­¡­ There¡¯s no way I could win against such a person!¡¯ Garant then asked in despair. ¡°Who are you¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thatter.¡± Taesan pressed on Garant¡¯s throat. Garant, deprived of his breath, fainted. Asha, who had been watching, suddenly came to her senses and approached. ¡°You¡¯re, you¡¯re strong¡­¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s this guy¡¯s level?¡± ¡°¡­¡­A swordsman who is acknowledged by the king, respected wherever he goes.¡± She looked up at Taesan nkly. She had been watching the battle right next to it, so she was able to calmly judge Taesan¡¯s strength. He was literally strong. An excellent swordsman. A physical ability that even a swordsman who used Aura couldn¡¯t catch up with. And a magician whomanded even time and freely used extreme cold. Even if he did just one of those things, he would be known throughout the world. But he was doing both. ¡°I was hired to escort you.¡± Taesan said calmly. ¡°My job is to protect you.¡± Protect. Upon hearing that word, Asha¡¯s face trembled. She had lived alone for these eight years. Every living being she encountered was her enemy, showing only greed for her existence. Taesan¡¯s words soaked deeply into her heart. Gurgle. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The tension in Asha¡¯s belly loosened for a moment, and her stomach growled. Her face turned red. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Asha nodded slightly. Taesan waved his hand in the air. [You have activated food production.] A bowl of gray porridge appeared. Asha¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Eat. It won¡¯t taste great, but it should fill your stomach.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Can you make food too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Asha let out a small gasp. Even with her limited knowledge of magic, she knew it was no easy feat. Unless one delved deeply into creation magic, it was difficult to even summon the simplest water, let alone produce proper food. It was hard to believe. ¡°Let¡¯s go in and rest for a while.¡± Taesan took her into the cave. Asha followed him like a littlemb. Taesan lit a fire and brought more bushes to make a makeshift bed. ¡°You must be tired. Get some rest.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going far. Just going to check around.¡± Taesan waved his hand and went out of the cave. The woman who was nkly staring at him then put the gruel in her mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s tasteless.¡± But it was warm. The heat of the campfire rxed her tense body. Sleep came in an instant. She closed her eyes slowly. ¡°This is going to take a while.¡± He knew it was a tough situation, but it was more than what Taesan expected. It was hard to find a living demon. Even most of the demonkind had gone extinct, and the survivors had bounties on their heads. The quest that Taesan received was to take her to a safe ce. But at this point, there was no safe ce. It wouldn¡¯t happen overnight. It could take several months. Perhaps it meant that Taesan himself should create a safe ce. It would take time, but Taesan¡¯s face wasn¡¯t that dark. The reward was worth it. He could also earn extra ie. Taesan approached the unconscious Garant. Aura. The blue me contained in the sword. It would be very useful if he learned it. ¡°Did you learn Aura too?¡± [No? There was no such thing as Aura in our world.] ¡°So, there are worlds with it and worlds without it.¡± [Isn''t it the same in your world? There is no magic, no aura, no monsters. It''s simr. I don''t know either. It was rare for anyone toe down to the depths, and those who had Aura were even rarer.] ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to ask directly.¡± Taesan flicked his finger on Garant¡¯s forehead. ¡°Ah!¡± With a scream, Garant grabbed his forehead. He felt terrible pain along the impacted area. ¡°Hello?¡± Garant, who had regained his senses, bit his lip, looking at Taesan. ¡°So, how should I go about it¡­¡­¡± Taesan had no intention of sparing him. Letting this one live would be a bad idea, unlike the hunter he had let go earlier. Since he couldn¡¯t negotiate with his life, Garant wouldn¡¯t easily spill out information. Taesan, who was considering this for a moment, btedly recalled a skill. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t this activate?¡± [Special constant activation skill: Self-Proof] [What you have umted bes a phenomenon around you.] It was a kind of momentum-like skill acquired when clearing the 20th floor, but no one he faced here could feel the pressure. Taesan realized it after a brief look. ¡°This can be turned on and off. If it¡¯s like this, it¡¯s an activation skill. Why is it a constant activation skill?¡± Taesan, who hadined for a moment, activated the skill. ¡°Eh!¡± A gasping sound echoed from in front of him. Taesan looked down at Garant. Garant¡¯s face had turned pale, and he was panting. The skill went beyond making one feel overwhelmed and blocked the breath itself, leading to death. Taesan stopped the skill¡¯s activation. Garant exhaled the breath that had been blocked roughly. ¡°I can¡¯t use this.¡± He intended to frighten them with the pressure, which would make them easily spill information. But if they died before that, that was a reversal of the order. ¡°Ha, ha.¡± Fear was visible in the eyes of Garant as he looked up at Taesan. ¡°Who are you¡­¡­?¡± The moment Taesan activated his Self-Proof, Garant had seen something enormous. It wasn¡¯t a small concept like a human or a demon. It was something absolute that subdued everything by just existing and choked the breath of living things. Desperately, Garant opened his mouth. ¡°W-what do you want from me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Interest sparked on Taesan¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m curious about something.¡± ¡°A-ask me anything. I will answer everything.¡± Garant said this with a face filled with terror. He seemed ready to spill even what hadn¡¯t been asked. ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯ The skill could not be constantly activated. It was a skill that needed to be sealed because it didn¡¯t just overwhelm. It literally choked those affected and led to death. But it seemed he felt something different. Garant, who had been silent, was desperately trying to spill everything. ¡®Can I use it this way?¡¯ Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Everything you know about Aura. Spill it out.¡± Chapter 94: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (4) ¡°It¡¯s a skill only a swordsman can obtain. Whether you surpass the level of a first-rate swordsman or not is determined by the presence or absence of Aura.¡± Garante began exining. ¡°As you saw earlier, it¡¯s basically a blue me. It¡¯s said to turn white when it reaches the extreme, but I¡¯ve never seen it.¡± ¡°Features?¡± ¡°It has an absolute-like cutting power.¡± It was able to cut through steel and split rocks. Nothing in nature could block Aura. The only possible defenses against it were magical defenses and famous swords refined by skilled cksmiths. ¡°Can it only be used with a sword?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible with any weapon. However, it¡¯s not free. You can only use it with the weapon form that you have trained with for your entire life.¡± Those who trained with a spear could only infuse Aura into a spear, and those who trained with a sword could only infuse Aura into a sword. There seemed to be some restrictions. ¡°But¡­ as the level increases, you can use it more freely. You can infuse Aura into a tree branch, create a sword only with Aura, attack from a distance, and use it in various ways.¡± ¡°Is it a matter of proficiency?¡± Taesan asked another question after hearing the exnation. ¡°What about power consumption?¡± ¡°There is none.¡± ¡°None?¡± ¡°While the limit of Aura that can be expended is set, you won¡¯t be unable to use it because you¡¯ve been using it for a long time. You¡¯ll just get a little tired because you have to keep using your nerves, but there¡¯s no consumption like mana.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± There was also no consumption of any particr mana or energy. ¡®It seems useful.¡¯ It was not limited to just the sword. If you increase your proficiency, you could use it as a second weapon. Taesan then brought up the main point. ¡°How can I learn it?¡± The technique obtained beyond the sword. Aura. Taesan did not know about it until now. The ghost did not know either since it was a technique that did not exist in his world. Asking the locals would be best. Garante opened his mouth. ¡°There¡¯s no specific way to learn. It¡¯s the type of power that you naturallye to understand.¡± ¡°Understanding?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit different from that. In my case, two months ago, I entered an unconscious state while training, and since then, I have been able to use it. Not just me; most of those who use Aura awakened in this way.¡± A skill suddenly obtained, even unknowingly, by the owner. At Garante¡¯s not-so-helpful answer, Taesan frowned. Garante¡¯s face suddenly turned pale, and he spoke hurriedly. ¡°You never know. Those who¡¯ve awakened to Aura, Swordmasters, might know.¡± ¡°Swordmaster?¡± ¡°We call those who have reached a level of swordsmanship to learn Aura as first-rate swordsmen. When they start learning Aura, they¡¯re called Sword Experts. And those who surpass Experts, not only with swords but perfectly handle Aura, who has reached a higher level of realm, are called Swordmasters. They might know how to obtain Aura.¡± Taesan looked down at Garante with a strange gaze. ¡®He tells everything even if not asked.¡¯ What he did was only activate his proof of existence skill. Just that made Garante change into this obedient thing. ¡°Are you done with your questions?¡± ¡°For now.¡± ¡°Then, please kill me.¡± Taesan hesitated. Garante closed his eyes and calmly said, ¡°Please, no mocking. Grant me rest. Great One.¡± Surprised by the attitude of wishing for death, Taesan was taken aback. ¡®What?¡¯ He had no intention of letting him live, but the total surrender was a bit disconcerting. ¡®What did he feel?¡¯ ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan thrust his sword. Relief appeared on Garante¡¯s face. [Your Soul Ascension is activated. The gap between your soul and the opponent is too great. You did not gain anything from the opponent.] Soul Ascension was not activated. It was only natural since there was such a significant difference that Taesan could have killed him with the first move if he intended to. Taesan withdrew his sword, giving the man an ufortable gaze. Garante¡¯s face was filled with serenity. ¡°This feels eerie.¡± After dealing with Garante¡¯s body, Taesan confirmed his proof of existence skill again while waiting for Asha to wake up. [Special Permanent Skill: Self-Proof] [What you have umted bes a phenomenon and circles around you.] Taesan activated the skill. For a moment, the air seemed to be still. He felt that way, but he couldn¡¯t know. It was a skill that didn¡¯t give the user any sensation. ¡°Anything different?¡± [I don''t know. I''m a dead guy. I don''t know about strength, but I can''t discern Aura.] ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan knew about the Self-Proof skill. It was a skill that Lee Taeyeon always had activated. But she stopped at the level of intimidation. While Normal Mode yers followed her out of fear, there was no sense of seeing something absolutelymanding when he saw her. ¡°Something¡¯s different.¡± The description said that what you had umted became a phenomenon. There was no reason for Lee Taeyeon, who cleared up to the 100th floor, to have a weaker existence. If anything, she should be stronger. ¡°I¡¯ll have to figure it outter.¡± It was not urgent. Taesan turned off his skill. Time passed. The sun, which was high in the sky, had set unnoticed, and darkness hade. And Asha woke up. Asha, opening her eyes, sat up. She wobbled out of the cave. Asha stared at the already darkened sky. Usually, due to tension and fatigue, she would have only slept for an hour. However, she slept for well over ten hours. ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°¡­Hello.¡± Taesan poked the campfire as Asha nkly watched him. She was now being protected by a stranger. It felt like a fledgling bird finding a nest. A sense of relief washed over her, and her body started to rx. ¡®No.¡¯ Asha abruptly shook her head. Though Taesan was protecting her, he was still a stranger. He could leave at any moment, so she couldn¡¯t let her guard down. Her vacant eyes slowly found focus. What she was thinking was clear, but Taesan didn¡¯t point it out. It wasn¡¯t a wrong assumption. Once the quest waspleted, he would return to thebyrinth. Taesan brought up the main topic. ¡°Do you know of a safe ce?¡± ¡°¡­ There¡¯s no such ce.¡± Asha muttered in despair - Harmon had obsessively tried to erase the evidence of the demon¡¯s presence, so the ces that were once the demon¡¯snd had all been trampled and burned. ¡°Everyone¡¯s trying to kill me.¡± ¡°Yeah. I guess they would.¡± Move her to a safe ce. It was still hard to know what that meant. Taesan got up. ¡°Let¡¯s move for now. There must be a ce safer than here, at least.¡± Taesan went into the mountain valley with her. She led the way since he didn¡¯t know the geography, and he made the path. Hunters aiming for Asha kept appearing, and Taesan dealt with all of them. As time went on, what became apparent was that Asha was still unable to let go of her faith in the gods. She prayed to someone every night. The recipient of her prayers was likely the Demon God. And three days passed. Taesan swung his fist with an annoyed expression. The fleeing hunter fell right there. ¡°Where the hell is a safe ce?¡± Enemies chased them wherever they went. Though getting rid of them didn¡¯t take much time, it was annoying to the point of death. ¡°I don¡¯t have enough time to train.¡± Taesan grumbled and grabbed his sword. He closed his eyes and calmed his mind quietly. Garante said he suddenly realized the Aura during training. For now, he nned to start training with the sword from the beginning, ording to that information. The current training was the process of refining the sword that the ghost mentioned. The training method controlled the body by disciplining the mind rather than moving the body. He recalled memories to examine his actions and correct any errors. [The proficiency of the Storm Scar Sword has increased by 1%.] He continued training with a small side bonus. Three hours passed, and Taesan opened his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not working yet.¡± There were no signs of learning Aura. As Taesan grumbled and got up, he felt a gaze on him. Asha, sitting in front of the cave, was looking at him with sparkling eyes. ¡°¡­How long have you been watching?¡± ¡°Since two hours ago.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel better.¡± Asha smiled. For three days, Asha slept almost all the time, except when they were moving, as if to release all the umted fatigue. Now, her face had regained its vitality. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a chance to thank you because of the circumstances. Thank you very much.¡± Asha stood up, making a gesture to hold the hem of her dress, and bowed. ¡°As the princess of the demons, I, Asha Brihite, am truly thankful. Thank you, Mr. Taesan.¡± Impressed by her formal and neat manners, Taesan nodded. ¡°I¡¯m getting paid, so it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Still, I must express my gratitude.¡± She smiled and expressed her thanks. ¡°Have you finished your training?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± At her nk stare, Taesan responded briefly. He had essentially lived alone - no one had ever watched him train. The ghost was a dead man, so that was one thing, but this kind of curious gaze was new to him, and it was a bit embarrassing. ¡°What kind of training are you doing? Ah, if it¡¯s inconvenient, you don¡¯t have to say.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not inconvenient. I¡¯m just trying to learn Aura.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Surprise spread across Asha¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re learning aura?¡± In her view, Taesan was a monster. He had high-level swordsmanship, not just magic, and she naturally thought that he would have learned Aura. ¡°I¡¯m from somewhere else.¡± Taesan answered her question. ¡°Somewhere else¡­?¡± She was about to ask with a curious face. Taesan drew his sword, and Asha quickly shut her mouth. ¡°Did theye again?¡± He felt a presence from afar andined with a weary face. ¡°What on earth?¡± They had been chased continuously for the past three days without a day¡¯s break. Despite Taesan dealing with them all and moving quickly, they were steadily closing in as if they knew their location. ¡°Probably, a divine mandate has been issued. Harmon wants to erase us.¡± ¡°What a persistent guy.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°Go inside.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Asha hid herself inside the cave. Soon, the presences showed themselves. ¡°Hmm. Is that where the princess of the demons is?¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± An old man with a long beard and wearing a robe spoke. There were many people wearing robes around him. ¡°Are they mages?¡± Interest filled Taesan¡¯s face. ¡°It would be more interesting than dealing with hunters. There¡¯s also something to gain.¡± The old man looked at Taesan andughed heartily. ¡°A dog protecting the princess? You have no manners.¡± Taesan had killed all who came to him. The very first hunter he let go kept his mouth shut and returned to his hometown, so no information about him was disclosed. However, people began to realize when the hunters didn¡¯t return. Someone, a strong one, was protecting the princess. He was killing all the hunters. ¡°You seem quite useful, but you¡¯re just a lowly swordsman. Make him kneel before the rain of magic.¡± In other words, from now on, only those who could handle hunters woulde. ¡°I am a magician of the Malbrei School of the Great Tower, Barmondor. You wretched swordsman, kneel before me.¡± The old man raised his staff, and the light of magic began to gather. ¡°Li-¡± A man in a robe who was about to cast a spell screamed in fear. Instead, a sword pierced his chest. Barmondor gritted his teeth and shouted. ¡°Everyone, spread out! We will use magic in unison!¡± There was no more of his initial arrogance. Only a desperate determination to somehow kill Taesan filled the air. The magicians conjured magic with their chants. Small arrows of fire appeared. Frozen icicles were manifested. Taesan shed at the magic with a grave face. The mystic mes and cold struck his mortal flesh and disappeared. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] The extreme cold was drawn into the air. Nearby trees couldn¡¯t endure the cold and died off. The breath of the magicians became visible. The magician was appalled. ¡°How could he produce a Frost Orb without chanting!¡± ¡°So this thing is called a Frost Orb? Quite grandiose.¡± Taesanunched the frost arrows. The magicians tried to block them with magical barriers, but they were torn apart effortlessly as if they were trying to block arrows with a thin tent. ¡°What the hell!¡± Barmondor couldn¡¯t believe the reality in front of him. Even he, a magician of the tower, couldn¡¯t ess the magic of such a cold intensity! Taesan stamped his foot. His body flew into the air, and he cut down the person who was forming a chant above the trees. ¡°Damn!¡± The old man swung his staff. Magic arrows cut through the air. Taesan jumped into the air. [You have activated Aerial Leap.] He sprinted into the void. As the magical arrows fruitlessly crossed the empty space, Taesan dealt with another magician. ¡°Now it¡¯s just you?¡± Taesan pointed his sword at Barmondor. Barmondor stepped back with a pale face. ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill you right away, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Taesan stepped on the ground. Barmondor tried to quickly recite a spell, but Taesan grabbed his head and mmed it into the ground before he could even utter the first verse. After subduing Barmondor, Taesan growled. ¡°Exin magic to me.¡± Chapter 95: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (5) Barmondor resisted. He spat and cursed at Taesan. He called him a low-life descended from dirty bloodlines. He spat out all sorts of insults, saying the gods would punish him. Taesan¡¯s response was simple. He activated his proof. Barmondor shut his mouth and trembled, hitting his head. ¡°This is easy.¡± Taesan calmly listened to Barmondor¡¯s exnation. He confirmed each and every fact about magic, its manifestation, and what the magic tower was. And he understood. ¡°It¡¯s useless.¡± In Vekveta, there existed a Magic Tower. It was a ce revered by all magicians, and countless magical schools existed within it. The magic used by these schools was diverse. A school that used barriers. A school that manipted spaces. A school that used the power of nature. A school that materialized mana itself. Each one had distinct and diverse characters. Many magicians chose schools that suited them and trained in them. However, having a distinct character also meant that limitations were clear. Taesan, although he might have difficulty in learning, was not restricted in the direction of a particr school of magic. As long as he overcame the constraints, he could learn ice, fire, and space magic. There was no problem learning these different magics. But here, if you used cold magic, you could only use cold magic, and if you manipted space, you could only use space magic, which was very limited. First of all, it was a minus in that part. ¡°The imprisonment in the system here is also mandatory.¡± The magic Taesan learned may have a slight dy in activation, but he didn¡¯t have to chant anything. However, the magic here required verbal implementation for each one. And the biggest problem was that the power itself was insignificant. ¡°The basic magic for understanding the surroundings can be used from the level of an intermediate magician, right?¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡­¡± Basic detection. The effect of the basic magic that Taesan had allowed him to detect the location of objects. It was very low-level magic and aplete downgrade from the simple ss, so it was essentially discarded magic, but in Vekveta, it was impossible to do something simr unless you were a top-tier magician. ¡°And the Frost Orb and Frost Arrow are high-tier magic from the school that uses cold magic.¡± If you were not the master of the school, even using that magic was impossible. That was Frost Arrow. Other beginner magic was simr. The usage of zing Orb was simr to Frost Arrow, and Invisibility was even higher in level. In the case of Invisibility, which hid not only the appearance but also the presence, it was even considered ancient magic. Taesan looked down at Barmondor, who was shivering with a cold face. ¡°I expected it, but¡­ there¡¯s really nothing much.¡± The magic he learned was the magic bestowed directly by the god of magic. In contrast, the magic of the schools that existed in Vekveta was only human-made. No matter how outstanding,pared to the god of magic, there was as much difference as there was between a human and a bug. He expected it to some extent, but he was still upset. ¡°There¡¯s only Aura to learn.¡± Barmondor, hitting his head, trembled as he listened to Taesan¡¯s words. Being able to use the magic of the top of each school, and even that of several schools at once. On top of that, his physical ability greatly exceeded even a top-tier swordsman. And then he also wanted Aura on top of the quality and power he had. Barmondor¡¯s will was broken. Barmondor wanted to get out of here quickly. It didn¡¯t matter in which direction as long as he could escape. Even if it meant death. ¡°Then I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Taesan¡¯s sword wavered. Barmondor died with a smile. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. The difference between your spirit and the opponent''s is toorge. You gained nothing from your opponent.] He closed the system window. Asha, who had been waiting in the cave, peeked out. ¡°Is it over?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Taesan nodded. Asha, who examined the bodies, could not hide her wonder. ¡°You are really strong. Looking at the color of his robe, he was an above-average magician, even in the Tower of Magic. To defeat him so easily¡­¡­¡± ¡°The level is too low.¡± [It would be strange if it were high.] The ghost said it as if it was obvious. [If you could be strong easily outside, there would be no reason for adventurers to enter thebyrinth.] The chosen ones, those who could be called heroes from each world, entered thebyrinth. And even they died in droves before reaching even the 10th floor. Taesan had surpassed the 20th floor. In terms of skill, he was at the level of someone on the 30th floor. The strength of Vekveta was average. It would be strange if there were people who could approach Taesan¡¯s level. ¡°I know, but it¡¯s disappointing.¡± At Taesan¡¯s words, Asha nced over. Taesan waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. What¡¯s for today?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s steamed fish. I tried adding various things, and it turned out pretty good.¡± A pleasant smell wafted from the simple iron pot in the cave. Taesan sat in front of the pot with a happy face. When he cut the fish and put it in his mouth, he could taste a variety of vors. ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± Asha told Taesan that she was sorry, but at the very least, she wanted to be the one to cook. There was nothing wrong with that for Taesan, so he agreed. He had nned to eat using food production if the taste was not good, but it was better than he had expected. At some point, Taesan also started to look forward to meal times. Even though he imed not to care about eating, it was only a matter of efficiency. He also had taste buds; naturally, he would feel happy eating delicious food. At Taesan¡¯s review, Asha smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s been a long time since I cooked, but it¡¯s still good.¡± ¡°When did a princess like you learn to cook?¡± ¡°It was my hobby. I was in charge of most of the cooking at parties. My father initially said it was dangerous, but at some point, he began to enjoy it.¡± She muttered with a distant look in her eyes. However, the light of reminiscing quickly faded. Eight years. It was an incredibly long time. It was enough time for memories to turn grey. While eating, Taesan nced at Asha for a moment. Perhaps because she had had enough baths and sleep, she looked better than when he first saw her. The ck grime had decreased, and her matted hair had loosened a bit. But due to her hardships, she looked thin overall, and her face was pale, probably from malnutrition. Taesan reached into his inventory. Asha, who was eating the fish, was visibly surprised. ¡°Space magic?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Taesan took out a potion and threw it to her. ¡°Try drinking this.¡± ¡°Red potion? What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good for the body.¡± Taesan said briefly. Asha, who was curiously examining the bottle, opened the cap and swallowed its contents. Then, her pupils dted. ¡°Huh?¡± Her thin cheeks filled out. A rosy glow came to her pale face. The body that had be thin from years of hardship recovered. ¡°Ta, Taesan? What is this?¡± ¡°Health recovery potion. It works as expected.¡± The recovery potion healed even if your arm was cut off or your stomach was torn. There was no reason it wouldn¡¯t recover a body weakened by malnutrition. Looking at the empty bottle, Asha¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°I, I took such a precious thing¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that precious. Or maybe. By your standards, it might be expensive?¡± The price of a recovery potion was 200G. Asha¡¯s worth was 1000G. She was consuming 1/5th of it, but whether they held the same value was unclear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s not important to me.¡± There were more than ten health potions in his inventory. ¡°Th, thank you¡­¡± Asha bowed her head so much it nearly touched the ground. Only gratitude was visible in her eyes. Not only had he repelled powerful knights and superior wizards, but he also gave her such a precious thing that could recover her health. Her feelings of gratitude towards Taesan grew enormously. ¡°Where did you get such a precious thing¡­¡± ¡°I told you, it¡¯s not precious. I got it from thebyrinth.¡± Asha asked in a small voice. ¡°Perhaps, is it made by a magician¡­¡± ¡°Do you know about it?¡± ¡°Yes, there are oral traditions. My father asionally talked about it before bed when I was a child.¡± Asha spoke as if she was reciting a fairy tale. ¡°Once upon a time, there was a great Archmage.¡± ¡°He was so great that he lost interest in the ordinary world.¡± ¡°He desired a world that would rekindle his emotions. He went to the transcendents and proposed to them. He proposed to create a huge world where great warriors, magicians, and heroes woulde to fight for their lives.¡± ¡°The transcendents dly epted.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how the legendarybyrinth was created.¡± Hearing Asha¡¯s words, Taesan was surprised. ¡®Does she know about thebyrinth?¡¯ The ghost spoke softly as if guessing Taesan¡¯s thoughts. [It is passed down as an old story to those with noble lineage. I also learned that way and went into thebyrinth.] Well, thinking about it, it was obvious. No matter how deep and inhabited by transcendents thebyrinth was, no one woulde if it was not known. So, the outstanding ones would know to some extent. Asha was also surprised in her own way. ¡°Really¡­ you came from there.¡± Asha loved the stories of the magician and thebyrinth. Great people risked their lives and challenged it endlessly under the gaze of the gods. It was a story enough to fill a child¡¯s dream. But she thought it was an exaggeration, like any other legend. But now, Taesan, who was in front of her, was saying that he came from there. The character of the story she liked since she was a child appeared in reality and was protecting her. Knowing this, Asha was surprised and very pleased. She managed topose herself and asked. ¡°So that¡¯s why you¡¯re learning Aura.¡± ¡°In my world, there was no Aura. I wanted to learn it because it was something new to me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no Aura?¡± ¡°Technically, there was no swordsmanship either. Nor was there magic.¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡­¡± Asha¡¯s eyes sparkled. Seeing her eyes, as innocent as a child¡¯s, Taesan realized. Asha said she had been on the run for eight years. She probably started running when her age was in the single digits. Not meeting anyone and desperately trying to survive on her own. She could have dried up in reality, but it would have been hard to grow mentally during that time. Asha asked cautiously. ¡°Um, if it¡¯s okay, can I ask about your world, Taesan?¡± ¡°Hm? You¡¯re curious about my world?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Ah, if it¡¯s a bother, you don¡¯t have to.¡± She was startled and pped her hands. Taesan chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s no problem.¡± Asha¡¯s face lit up brightly. From then on, another task was added. After clearing out the pursuers and eating, instead of going straight to sleep, Taesan shared conversations with Asha. It wasn¡¯t a long time, and since the method of obtaining Aura was still unknown, Taesan had nothing to rush and obliged. She seemed very curious and asked Taesan various questions. If there were demons in his world, what did they use? If there was no magic, what did people do? Taesan answered each question. He told her that there were no demons, only humans. There was no magic, but they used a technology called electricity. People worked more by sitting still than by physicalbor. She was surprised, her eyes shining, and she asked another question. Taesan didn¡¯t feel bad, either. It felt like he was taking care of a small child. He thought it would be a boring time, but it was enough to pass the time. And Taesan also asked Asha various things. What kind of ce was Vekveta? What were the demons like? And what kind of gods were Lucifer and Harmon? ¡°Harmon is a god who hasn¡¯t been around for even a hundred years?¡± ¡°Yes. Originally, there were no native gods in our world. Everyone believed in different gods and lived. Then, a god was born in our world. That was Harmon.¡± Ashaughed bitterly. ¡°If we get down to it¡­ He is our world¡¯s main god.¡± The demons believed in Lucifer. But Lucifer was not a being limited to Vekveta. The only being that could be called a god of Vekveta was Harmon. That god then destroyed her and the demons. She barely swallowed the emotions that were about to surge up. Taesanforted her. Asha, who quickly found her calm, soon fell asleep. ¡°She¡¯s relying on me more these days.¡± [There''s no one else to believe in. It''s understandable. Hmm. A god who hasn''t been around for a hundred years...] ¡°Do you have any guesses?¡± The ghost, who had been pondering for a moment, opened its mouth. [Did I not tell you before? All those who were gods from the beginning have disappeared. All the existing gods are the ones who have transcended from the destroyed.] ¡°You did. You also said that they are the main suspects for the invasion of my world.¡± Who were the ones who trampled on Earth? If he cleared Lucifer¡¯s quest, he could find out who they were. Chapter 96: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (6) [So far, it''s just a suspicion, but it means that Harmon was a mortal a hundred years ago. And I''ve heard that soon after bing a transcendent, the self is often not intact.] ¡°Is that why he attacked the demons?¡± [We cannot ignore the possibility. Many gods are obsessed with what''s theirs. It''s not unreasonable to think that this direction has be more aggressive. It''s risky to keep a distance from Lucifer, but if he doesn''te out of his own world, it doesn''t matter.] ¡°Lucifer cannot even beat the indigenous gods on their own turf.¡± [Definitely. The gods within their territories are monstrously strong. As far as I know, even Lucifer cannot interfere if he decides to exclude, even if she is a powerful god.] ¡°That¡¯s why I was called.¡± [Maybe that''s the case? Because you''re a human, not a demon.] ¡°Ho¡­¡± There were a few more things he was curious about. But nothing would change. He just needed to break the quest. Taesan pulled out his sword. As always, he began training to gain aura. Time passed. Taesan¡¯s routine did not change. He ate, trained his aura, and drove away the hunters who came after him. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever get tired of this?¡± Taesan sheathed his sword with a fed-up face. The hunters came almost every day, and it was getting annoying. It would be different if there were strong guys and he could learn something, but that wasn¡¯t the case. It was a waste of time. After tidying up, Taesan went back into the cave. Inside, Asha was praying with her eyes closed. Taesan didn¡¯t disturb her and went out to catch some fish or wild game. Two hourster, Asha opened her eyes and was startled to see Taesan. ¡°When did youe?¡± ¡°Two hours ago.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Taesan, who was casually grilling meat, shook his head and asked. ¡°Are you praying to Lucifer?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Asha calmly nodded her head. Lucifer abandoned them. At least, that¡¯s what Asha believed. Taesan quietly ate his meat. And that night, as always, the conversation began. Stories about Taesan¡¯s world and what the demons were. A variety of words flowed out. In the process, naturally, the story about Lucifer also emerged. ¡°Lucifer was very kind. When I was a child and couldn¡¯t sleep because I was scared of ghosts, she would sometimese down andfort me.¡± Asha murmured with a longing face, and the ghost eximed in admiration. [Did the god directlye down and talk to you? That must be quite extraordinary?] ¡°Is itmon for Lucifer to talk?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s a rare asion. My father was very happy when Lucifer directly spoke to him. He said it was an event that happens once in a thousand years.¡± Asha spoke with a smile. Taesan, who was looking at her lost in memories, opened his mouth. ¡°So, it all fell apart ten years ago?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± Asha drooped her head in sorrow. Taesan stirred the campfire. ¡°Did the god abandon you?¡± ¡°No!¡± Asha raised her voice. ¡°There must be a reason. There must, there must be a reason.¡± Asha spoke while biting her lip. But her eyes were endlessly shaking. Distrust, denial, and faith. In the eyes filled with various emotions, Taesan didn¡¯t say anything more. Since he was sent down here, he didn¡¯t think he was abandoned. But because he didn¡¯t know why he was asked to hide his identity, he found it hard to be sure. Within the doubts, time flowed again. Thus, ten months had passed since Taesan arrived here. During that time, nothing special happened. It was only a repetition of trackersing after them and then him stopping the trackers. Taesan, sitting on a rock, shook his leg. ¡°Should I change the n?¡± ¡°We need to make a big move.¡± ¡°What?¡± Asha, who was adjusting the taste of the stew, opened her eyes wide. Taesan spoke. ¡°Nothing will happen as it is. So I¡¯m going to change the method.¡± ¡°W-what, is there a problem? If I did something wrong¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not you. It¡¯s our problem, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Take Asha to a safe ce. That was Lucifer¡¯s quest. But there was no such thing as a safe ce in this world. Harmon sent trackers wherever he went. Even if he dug deep into the ground to hide, the trackers urately located him and would try to invade in just three hours. So, practically, hiding was considered impossible. There were a few methods. The first option was to protect Asha until she died. Unless the god intervened directly, there was no one in this world who could stop Taesan, so it was not impossible. But it took too much time. Taesan may not age and die, but it was a matter of several decades. Lucifer did not seem to desire such a prolonged quest. Or, the God of Light, born from this earth. He could go directly to the temple of Harmon, the God of Vekveta, and challenge him. At first, he had considered this option. Because the god he had encountered so far was rational and valued honor as a god, he expected that even Taesan, who was close to being an enemy god¡¯s subordinate, would not be harassed recklessly. However, this option is also excluded because the ghost suggested the possibility that Harmon¡¯s sanity may not be intact. After a few considerations, Taesan realized the solution. ¡°You said the demons were extinct, right? But you¡¯re on the run. Wouldn¡¯t there be others like you who are hiding somewhere and have formed a vige?¡± Those who knew her. Those who could protect her. Those who were hiding their bodies. There were ces in this world that were out of the sight of the gods, and he learned from the trackers that they could not be found if they hid there. He did not know where that ce was, but the fact that it existed was known by everyone he met. Perhaps the demons were hiding there. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Asha closed her mouth. She also knew about it. But there was a problem. ¡°I¡¯m being tracked by the god himself. If I go to the ce where they¡¯re hiding from here, we¡¯ll just die together.¡± She spoke resolutely. It was not that she didn¡¯t want to see her kin. She certainly thought there would be survivors. But she was being watched by the world. Wherever she moved, trackers followed, so she couldn¡¯t meet anyone. ¡°If that problem is solved, would you want to?¡± Asha, who had been hesitating for a long time, nods. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all we need.¡± ¡°Ha, but how do you n to solve it? The enemies keeping¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡± Taesan spoke in a deep voice. ¡°We just show them our strength.¡± ¡°A lot of them havee, haven¡¯t they?¡± A man with a spear on his shoulder blew a whistle. At the end of his gaze, there were more than a hundred people. And all of them were somewhat known figures. ¡°Wow, even a high-ranking mage came?¡± ¡°He must belong to a school that was recently established. He probably wants to capture the princess of the demons and make a name for himself.¡± A woman with red hair, holding a whip, spoke calmly. The man admired the sight as he checked the surroundings one by one. ¡°It¡¯s impressive. With the people here, they could easily destroy a city, right?¡± ¡°Stop being noisy and just check. Did you forget why we came here?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. We need to do our job.¡± The princess of the demons, Asha, and her bodyguard. That story was the noisiest story in the world right now. The destruction of the demons itself was less than a decade ago and was still a topic of conversation. Information about thest surviving princess of the demons had always been a big deal. Everyone thought that the princess would die soon. A frail girl couldn¡¯t survive the world¡¯s pursuit. Some looked with pity, some with joy. But one day, a bodyguard appeared for the princess of the demons. In itself, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Demons fleeing from the massacre often sought out Asha to protect their princess. But all of them could not hold on for long and died. They were only able to buy time from the pursuers but couldn¡¯t protect the princess. During this time, someone appeared who could truly protect the princess. And this bodyguard was monstrously strong. He killed the mages of the magic tower and shook off all of the high-ranking hunters¡¯ pursuit. Even a top-ranked swordsman who went to capture the princess did not return. It was rumored to the extent that he had reached the realm of a renowned Swordmaster. The man and woman were dispatched from the information organization to understand him. The man grumbled. ¡°Even if our organization is weak and needs a big break, isn¡¯t this too dangerous? All the pursuers so far have died, you know?¡± ¡°Quiet! Don¡¯t you realize we will all starve to death at this rate? There¡¯s no information, even though we are an information organization!¡± The womanined. ¡°And will this many be enough?¡± There were a considerable number of them. They had a chance if there were this many, even if the opponent was a Swordmaster. ¡°It seems like the princess¡¯s story ising to an end.¡± The woman muttered. With serious faces, they slowly entered the forest. Though discord might have arisen among the strong individuals, they bowed to each other, were aware of the danger, and were able to advance without major issues. And then, they found them. ¡°There are a lot of you.¡± In front of a small hill, Taesan greeted them. ¡°Hello?¡± Cha-ja-jang! They quickly drew their weapons. The mage prepared a protective barrier with his staff, and the archer drew his bow. The man who was scrutinizing Taesan grimaced. ¡°A demon?¡± Taesan had killed everyone who came to find him, so no information about him was known. Rumors ballooned, saying that he had several arms, that he was a devil sent by the Demon King or even a dragon. Upon seeing such a figure surrounded by rumors, they first thought: a demon. ck hair, ck eyes. Naturally, their thoughts veered that way. However, upon closer inspection, they realized. It was just a dark color, too faint to be a demon. Additionally, they did not sense the unique aura of a demon. They realized that Taesan was human. The man carefully examined Taesan. He had a cold expression. He wore clothing made from an unknown material, but it looked quite good. His weapon was especially impressive. At a nce, it was a well-known sword. Despite having nearly a hundred people before him, his expression did not betray fear or disturbance. ¡°Hm.¡± An old man in a robe stepped forward. He was a powerful senior mage from a faction that had not been established for even a hundred years. The old man spoke to Taesan. ¡°Are you the guardian of the abandoned princess?¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± ¡°Step aside. Our goal is the princess. We have no intention of fighting you.¡± The old man brandished his staff, and his magic created a rough wave. In the face of the mage¡¯s threat, Taesan grinned. ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°¡­Do you really intend to fight us?¡± The old man, who thought Taesan would willingly step aside, was taken aback. Over a hundred people hade to find him, and they were all among the top members of the groups they belonged to. Even if he was a Swordmaster, it would be difficult to win. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t kill you. I need you to spread the word far and wide.¡± Taesan rose from the rock. He reached out his hand. Ssssk. An arrow of frost was drawn in mid-air. ¡°I did have something I wanted to test, soe on.¡± Chapter 97: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (7) The chill of the Frost Arrow spread. The grasses of the eastern mountain died instantly, and breaths turned frosty. The mage groaned in agony. ¡°Frost Orb¡­¡± The highest-ranking ice magic. The mage was mistaken to think that Taesan was not able to use it. ¡°Now I understand why those who came before couldn¡¯t ovee it.¡± To use the Frost Orb at such a rapid speed meant that he was a faction leader-ss mage. It was a level that even a multitude of lower ranks couldn¡¯t approach, let alone challenge. ¡°But this time, it¡¯s different.¡± The mage winked. The two swordsmen, who had been measuring the distance, rushed at the same time. Their speed was incredibly fast. In an instant, they pushed through the bushes and approached Taesan. Seeing their approach, Taesan did nothing. ¡°Hmm?¡± The mage was taken aback. Mages fundamentally needed time to cast. If they got that close, unless he had an artifact, it would be impossible to counter. ¡®Is it ending this easily?¡¯ The sword pierced Taesan¡¯s chest. And their bodies reverted to their original state. ¡°What!¡± ¡°Uhm!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± The onlookers exploded in astonishment. Taesan, indifferent, looked at them and again cast the Frost Arrow. The Frost Arrows floating in mid-air began to multiply one by one. ¡°Eh, wha?¡± The swordsman stammered as he attempted to move his sword again. But once more, his body reverted back to a state from before he swung his sword. The watching mage was shocked. ¡°Space, no. Time maniption magic? What in the world!¡± He could only think of it that way as someone ignorant about thebyrinth. Meanwhile, Taesan continued to multiply his Frost Arrows. Their number had noticeably increased now. ¡°¡­Casting?¡± The mage looked at Taesan with narrow eyes. ¡°Everyone listen. It seems he is preparing a wide-range magic spell. It looks like he can¡¯t move until hepletes it.¡± This was aplete misunderstanding. Taesan was able to move freely while casting the Frost Arrows. The mage continued to speak. ¡°He probably has all sorts of support magic in ce to protect himself from attacks while he prepares his magic. But if it¡¯s that powerful, it probably has limits.¡± The mage was stepping back as if he had identally stepped on a frog, but he was close to the truth. The attack nullification could only be triggered up to three times per person, so it would eventually disappear if they attacked multiple times. However, thinking they could defeat Taesan by doing so was a mistake. Taesan nned to correct each and every one of their misconceptions. They strategized on how to defeat Taesan and rushed at him all at once. The archer shot arrows, the swordsmen wielded their swords, and the mage cast and fired magic. All their attacks were erased by the attack nullification. They stubbornly continued to attack. And finally, the attack nullification ended. The swordsman, who had been swinging his sword swiftly, pierced Taesan¡¯s chest. When his body did not revert as before, the manughed and put more force into the hand holding the sword. ¡°Die!¡± ng! The man was flung away. He got up from the ground in surprise. ¡°What?¡± Taesan continued to cast, his face impassive. By now, the attack nullification count for each enemy was entirely finished. All their attacks were being absorbed by Taesan. But no damage was inflicted. The de couldn¡¯t cut his skin, arrows ricocheted as if hitting a steel te, and the magic didn¡¯t affect him at all. ¡°What the!¡± Hearing the shocked voices, Taesan thought. ¡®As expected, it¡¯s meaningless without Aura.¡¯ His defense exceeded one hundred. Ordinary weapons like these couldn¡¯t inflict damage. ¡®Did I take 60 damage?¡¯ When he deliberately took an Aura hit from Gnt, he took 63 damage. This meant he received a pure Aura damage of 163 before his defense stat was ounted for. ¡®I wonder if there¡¯s also an Armor Pration effect? I want to learn more.¡¯ Taesan pondered with a rxed expression while his opponents were at their wits¡¯ end. Their attacks and their actions were futile. Even if they stabbed his neck, they would only be pushed back with double the force. Enraged, the mage shouted. ¡°Push him! Try to knock him down!¡± ¡°Ughhh!¡± A person in heavy armor pushed Taesan with a Tower Shield, but only the ground beneath the armor sank, while Taesan did not budge. A man tied Taesan¡¯s arm with a rope. Taesan, with an annoyed look on his face, pulled his arm, and the man was sent flying. ¡°Aaaaaargh!¡± ¡°Controlling my strength is also a chore.¡± Even a light hit could kill. With an annoyed look, Taesan continued casting the Frost Arrows. The Frost Arrow drawn in the sky was steadily growing in size. Frost began forming on the shrubs that had died from the cold. A man swinging a sword at Taesan could not bear the cold and chattered his teeth, yelling at the mage. ¡°Do something!¡± ¡°What, what should I do?!¡± The mage was also panicking. At first, he thought it was just an enhanced version of Frost Orb. But as time passed, he realized it was a gross misjudgment. Frost Arrows, dozens of Frost Orbs were being drawn in the sky. The mage realized. That it was not just casting. That it was just a brute force manifestation of many Frost Orbs. Attacks towards Taesan gradually stopped. With frightened faces, they slowly distanced themselves. ¡°Oh¡­¡­¡± A shadow fell over them. The Frost Arrow drawn in the sky had be a giant sphere. Crack. The ground froze. The cold seeped deep into the earth. In the midst of nature freezing, their human bodies could not withstand it. Frost formed in their throats. Coughing, they slowly distanced themselves. ¡°I like wide spaces. Various experiments are possible.¡± The Frost Arrows and zing Orbs remained stationary until Taesan fired them. Then what would happen if he manifested dozens, hundreds of magic, and fired them all at once? He was curious from the moment he learned the Frost Arrow, but it was a method he could not use in the narrowbyrinth. On Earth, he was too busy blocking monsters to test it, but there were no such monsters here. Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Ice Shard.] The bunched-up Frost Arrow was firmly secured by the Ice Shard. Taesan lowered his hand. [You have activated Magic eleration.] The sphere of ice fell to the ground. The elerated object hits the next hill. Boom! ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± Along with the loud noise, people screamed and were flung away. The mages tried to bear it, gritting their teeth, but they were torn apart by the aftereffects of the force. A momentter, those who barely managed to stand were astonished when they looked at their hill. Everything on the hill had frozen. Shrubs, trees, and forests, without exception, were trapped in an ice prison. The extreme cold didn¡¯t stop there. It swallowed the surroundings and expanded its territory. ¡°This, this¡­¡­¡± The mage could not believe it. It was a small hill, but still of a size that would warrant the name of a hill. It would take a person ten minutes to walk across it. All of it was trapped in the cold. ¡®This is¡­¡­¡¯ It was of a level akin to a natural disaster. As far as the mage knew, it was a range of magic impossible for humans. ¡®¡­¡­Dragon?¡¯ A race that protected the world. It was a level only they could achieve. Taesan felt satisfied with the looks of astonishment and fear. ¡°The preparation process is long, but it¡¯s worth using.¡± The time spent experimenting had resulted in a result that was not regrettable. Taesan turned his gaze and looked at the trackers. ¡°Will you continue?¡± There was no answer. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°Then get lost.¡± Having lost their will to fight, they fled. And they started spreading what they had seen. The one who protected the princess was a monster. He was the incarnation of a dragon. Until now, it was just a rumor. The trackers who went to find the princess had all died, so they couldn¡¯t experience his real strength. But this time, everyone who went survived. With those who had personally experienced it making a big fuss, it couldn¡¯t be said that the evaluations were exaggerated. If the survivors were weak, if they were just specks in the group, they might have been dismissed as exaggerations¡­ But all of them belonged to the upper ranks of the world, so that was impossible, too. The story that Taesan had frozen a mountain started to circte. Some said he was a master swordsman and an outstanding mage, while others said he was an apostle of the demon god. The rumor grew as each tail bit onto another tail. Given this, each country had no choice but to start moving. Until now, those who had targeted the princess were just individuals. Therge group known as the nation did not show any movement. They were busy dividing the demon n¡¯s territory, and they had no reason to target the princess. The demon n was extinct. If the princess died, it would truly be the end. The limits of survival alone were clear. She would die soon, so there was no need to move. Moreover, Harmon did not show much interest in the princess after dealing with the demons. They didn¡¯t see the need to act when the god was quiet. But now the story has changed. If even half of the rumors about Taesan were true, victory was impossible for individuals. The countries quietly prepared to move. And Harmon was the one who drove thest nail into the coffin. [Kill the Princess of the Demon n and her dog.] It was a decree filled with a strong will, just as when they were ordered to kill the demon n. There was no major country that would defy the god who caused the demon n¡¯s extinction. The world began to move. They wouldn¡¯t send soldiers. They realized that what reached Taesan was not a group but a strong individual. Each country sent its strongest power. Those with the title of ¡°Master Swordsman.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Taesan raised the corners of his mouth in delight. Asha, who was basking in the sunlight, was startled by his sudden action. ¡°Why are you doing that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been disappointed so far. But¡­¡­this is enough.¡± A strong power could be felt from the other side. It was a power that even he, who had broken through thebyrinth, couldn¡¯t look down on. Several of them were approaching this ce. They scattered their strong power as if they had no intention of hiding it. Asha, realizing toote, turned pale. ¡°Ma, Master Swordsman?¡± And not just one. Their figures started to appear from beyond the eastern mountain. There were five in total. ¡°This is thest.¡± If he could just knock them down, there would be no one left who could bother him. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be¡­¡± Asha grabbed the hem of Taesan¡¯s clothes. Taesan was undeniably powerful. It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say he was the strongest human she¡¯d ever seen. But the Master Swordsmen were also those who have surpassed human limits. Any one of them could bring down a whole city. There were five such individuals here. Even for Taesan, it would be challenging. That was what Asha thought. ¡°We have to run away. We can¡¯t face them. We have to run away¡­¡­¡± Taesanforted Asha, who was fumbling with a pale face. ¡°Just go to sleep for a bit.¡± In an instant, Asha lost consciousness. ¡°No, don¡¯t¡­¡± With that thought, she fell. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Taesan carried her into the cave. Heid her down on a bed of grass and stepped outside. ¡°Have you finished saying your goodbyes?¡± A stern middle-aged man appeared. His rugged, muscr body revealed what he has been doing all his life. [Is it a worthy one?] The ghost was also intrigued. The four men in front of him had a strength that would satisfy even him, who had seen many adventurers as they challenged thebyrinth. Red-haired, blue-haired, white-haired, and blond-haired. ¡°It¡¯s easy to tell them apart.¡± Chapter 98: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (8) The red-haired man looking at Taesan grimaced. ¡°You¡¯re just a kid.¡± He had a face that belonged to someone who was barely twenty. Age usually corresponded with strength. If he had practiced martial arts in his twenties, it wouldn¡¯t even have been for more than ten years. ¡°We four had toe for this brat.¡± The white-haired man snorted. ¡°Do you think I came here because I wanted to?¡± They were the Swordmasters, the strongest people in this world. Even a mage tower master could not match them. Yet, they had to gang up to face one person. It was a matter of bruised pride. Furthermore, they belonged to different countries. It was not pleasant having to join forces from apetitive rtionship. The blue-haired man spoke calmly. ¡°It¡¯s a directmand from the Lord. Don¡¯tin.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± The white-haired man blew out a nose in difort. ¡°Ho-ho!¡± The blond man lighted up his eyes, looking at Taesan. ¡°Are you the knight protecting the princess? You¡¯re brave!¡± Unlike the other Swordmasters, he sent a gaze of admiration towards Taesan. The red-haired man took a rough step forward. ¡°Move aside, Atria.¡± ¡°Hmm? Do you n to do it alone?¡± ¡°Or should we all attack together? Against this runt?¡± ¡°That would feel bad.¡± The blond Swordmaster called Atria obediently stepped back. They knew that Taesan was a mage. And if they were Swordmasters, they could gain the upper hand even if their opponent was a tower master. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± The other Swordmasters also retreated. The red-haired man drew his sword. It was a long sword with no particr features. A blue light surged over it. It was deeper andrger than Garant¡¯s. The red-haired man took a stance. ¡°Shall we try it?¡± ¡°Nice.¡± Taesan smiled. Aura. He was now finally seeing its proper usage. Bang. The red-haired man struck, and Taesan moved his arm. ng! The swords shed. The red-haired man¡¯s momentum increased slightly. ¡°A famed sword, huh.¡± Despite the sh of Auras, Taesan¡¯s sword did not have the smallest chip. Greed surfaced on the red-haired man¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll have to take it as a trophy.¡± Crash! A blue light flickered, aiming at Taesan¡¯s entire body. It was much faster than Garant. ¡®This isn¡¯t physical speed.¡¯ It seemed like he had enhanced his physical abilities with something like Aura. But it wasn¡¯t that impressive. It was a speed that could be entirely countered with leisurely movements. ¡°Ho, you¡¯re impressive.¡± The red-haired man spoke in admiration, not knowing that Taesan was controlling his strength. ¡°I heard you were a mage, but have you also trained your body? Nice.¡± The red-haired man chuckled. ¡°I should get serious, too.¡± Crack. Five swords at the back of the red-haired man were unsheathed. The swords wrapped in blue light floated freely in the air. ¡°I heard rumors. You can erase attacks. But how many times can you do that?¡± The swords elerated. They moved freely and aimed at Taesan¡¯s entire body as if they were alive. Following that, the red-haired man charged towards Taesan. ¡®Ether Sword?¡¯ A technique from martial arts novels, where the swords were freely controlled, a sword technique that didn¡¯t seem like one. That was being shown now. Taesan moved. He kicked the ground, avoiding a sword that was aimed at his legs, and twisted his waist to let it pass. Then, he parried the sword. ng! However, he couldn¡¯t block all the attacks. He allowed attacks from all sides. [Your First Absolute Nullification of Attack has been activated.] The blue sword returned to its previous state before it struck his body. ¡°It truly feels like time is reversing.¡± The red-haired man admired and controlled the sword with a youthful face. This time, he targeted the upper body, lower body, and head. He bent his body and moved the sword to block, but like a living thing, the blue sword followed Taesan¡¯s evasion and attacked. ¡°Heh.¡± The attack nullification had all run out. Taesan roughly moved his body to fend off the swords aiming at him, but one sword grazed his shoulder. [You have taken 52 damage.] ¡®There¡¯s no significant difference in damage.¡¯ If the red-haired man¡¯s weapon dealt the same damage as Garant¡¯s, even though it was much more refined, it meant that the damage wasing from the Aura itself, not the weapon. ¡°Is the end of that magic limited after three times? What are you going to do now?¡± The red-haired manughed deviously while continuously pressuring Taesan. Taesan roughly moved his sword. ng! With a loud sound, the red-haired man was flung back. ¡°What?¡± The red-haired man clenched his numb hand. He would have been knocked to the ground if he hadn¡¯t momentarily enhanced his body with Aura. Taesan looked at the red-haired man with interest. ¡°Is this Aura?¡± It was interesting and tricky. Without magic or skill, he couldn¡¯t fend off the five blue swords that moved as if they had life. ¡°It seems more like a skill rather than a sword technique. It¡¯s peculiar.¡± But it wasn¡¯t impossible for him to counter it. ¡°I¡¯ve understood the concept.¡± [You have activated eleration.] With a speed iparable to before, he charged at the red-haired man. Taeasn moved at a speed that broke the air, hard to follow with the eyes, but the red-haired man was a Swordmaster. A person who had trained in the sword his whole life. Reflexively, he raised his hand and tried to plunge the blue sword into Taesan¡¯s body. Taesan roughly swung his sword. The blue sword shattered like ss. ¡°Wha, What?!¡± The red-haired man tightly clenched his fist. New blue swords appeared again, aiming at Taesan. Completely blocking or dodging was close to impossible. Then, it was a matter of taking the hits with the body. Taesan fended them off once again, but the swords that he couldn¡¯t block were lodged into him. Whoosh. The red-haired man¡¯s face lit up for a moment, then distorted grotesquely. ¡°What!¡± Taesan¡¯s speed didn¡¯t decrease at all. Although swords were lodged in his arms and legs, he charged at the red-haired man as if there was no issue. ng. Their swords collided. The red-haired man was pressed down. Taesan fended off the red-haired man¡¯s sword. His sword pierced the red-haired man¡¯s heart. ¡°I, I!¡± The red-haired man eximed while vomiting blood. That was hisst word. [Your Soul Ascension has activated. You have obtained a special, always activated skill [Qualification: Proof of the Sword].] ¡°If it¡¯s this level, I can get Heroic Strike.¡± Seeing that he didn¡¯t gain any stats, it seemed like it was a very close call in the difference of their strength. Taesan lifted his head. The Swordmasters were looking at him with astonished faces. ¡°Th, this.¡± ¡°¡­I heard he was a wizard.¡± ¡°He¡¯s faster and stronger than us?¡± The red-haired Swordmaster was from a nation opposing theirs. His death was something to be d about, but it was hard to simply be happy when the power Taesan disyed was of such a high level. ¡°¡­ He¡¯s as strong as a monster.¡± Having a physique that surpassed a swordmaster while using magic. It was a level of strength that was uneptable. What was more, Taesan didn¡¯t even use magic. The blue-haired man let out a hollow moan. ¡°Where did a guy like youe from?¡± ¡°Thebyrinth.¡± ¡°Thebyrinth?¡± The blue-haired and white-haired men looked puzzled. However, the blonde Swordsmaster called Atria seemed to have an idea of what Taesan meant. ¡°Labyrinth¡­ Could it be?¡± Taesan took notice of his reaction. The blue-haired man bit his lip. ¡°Let¡¯s attack together. It hurts our pride¡­ but he¡¯s much stronger than us. He won¡¯t say it¡¯s cowardly, will he?¡± ¡°Do as you please.¡± They got ready and began to surround Taesan. The moment the blue light appeared, they charged. ng! Taesan moved his twin swords to deflect and block. The first sword movement, the Wolf¡¯s Fang, and the second sword movement, the Dance of Swords. Taesan alternated between them, putting pressure on the Swordmasters. ¡®So he¡¯s even superior in swordsmanship than us.¡¯ The blue-haired man swung his sword roughly with a gloomy face. ng-ng! A crescent moon-shaped aura flew from the sword. The Aura that Taesan couldn¡¯t respond to in time struck his arms and legs. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has activated.] The fired Aura returned and came flying again. Taesan quickly increased the distance. Boom! The Aura shattered the trees. The blue-haired man¡¯s eyes darkened even more. ¡°¡­As the rumors say, the magic that turns back time seems to apply individually. Where on earth did he learn such magic?¡± The blue-haired man was disappointed, and Taesan was surprised in his own way. He never imagined he could fire Aura. ¡°Hop!¡± Atria moved the great sword with an interested face. The Aura inscribed on the great sword was several timesrger than the sword itself. Whoosh! The great sword, asrge as a tree trunk, collided with Taesan¡¯s sword. Taesan, pushed back by the force, took a step back. The white-haired Swordmaster struck down at Taesan. The blue Aura clinging to the sword rippled like a snake, aiming for Taesan¡¯s neck. [You have activated Repulsion.] An invisible force spread out from Taesan. As the white-haired man was pushed back slightly, Taesan increased the distance. ¡®This is totally a martial arts novel.¡¯ Taesan let out a hollowugh while avoiding the iing Aura. He overwhelmingly excelled in power and speed. The Swordmasters were of the level of the adventurers he had been killing so far on the 20th floor of thebyrinth. It was astonishing that the Swordmasters had be so strong without the assistance of the system, but it wasn¡¯t threatening. He could trample them at any time if he just considered their power and speed. However, they were quite tricky. An Aura that shot out like sword energy. An Aura that moved like a creature from the sword. And Aura that surpassed the great sword, growing to the size of a building. Due to the peculiarities of Aura and the damage that surpassed his defense, Taesan was not able to suppress them easily. He couldn¡¯t break through unless he was willing to take damage. Zap! The Aura was fired like a storm. Taesan widened the distance and deflected, but he could notpletely block it. An Aura struck Taesan¡¯s thigh. [56 damage to you.] ¡°Hop!¡± A giant sword made of Aura swung through the air. Taesan blocked it but was pushed back and hit a tree. ¡®Simr to me.¡¯ Taesan had been winning against enemies who had superior stats by responding with information and skills. They were the same. Although their stats were inferior to Taesan¡¯s, they were pressuring Taesan using an excellent technique called Aura. However, there was a decisive difference between Taesan and them. [You have activated the Robe of Obscurity.] The Robe of Obscurity hid the physical body for one second. The moment it was activated, Taesan¡¯s body disappeared. When even the trace vanished, the Swordmasters were flustered and stopped their swords. During this, Taesan positioned himself next to the white-haired Swordmaster who used the great sword. Whack. ¡°Ugh!¡± The white-haired Swordmaster, who reflexively sensed danger, created a shield out of Aura, and Taesan¡¯s sword was repelled. Taesan swung his sword again. [You have activated the Heavy Strike.] Crack! The Aura shattered. The white-haired Swordmaster was left defenseless. ¡°No!¡± Even though they were three, they could not suppress him. If one died, the oue was clear. The blue-haired Swordmaster swiftly fired countless auras, but they were deflected by Ice Arrows. However, not all were blocked, and some struck Taesan¡¯s body. His shoulder was brutally pierced. Taesan calmly held his sword. [You have activated Unyielding Will. You can ignore injuries and fight for 10 seconds.] Taesan¡¯s sword pierced the white-haired Swordmaster. The white-haired man spat out blood and fell. The blue-haired one growled out. ¡°Why won¡¯t you die!¡± His Aura pierced through Taesan¡¯s entire body. Despite the brutal injury, Taesan did not fall. ¡°I¡¯m different from you guys.¡± With a somber voice, Taesan charged towards the blue-haired one, who gritted his teeth and used his Aura. The Aura that cut everything in its path flew, drawing a crescent in the air. Taesan¡¯s response was simple. He avoided attacks that were aimed at the head and heart and charged while epting the rest of the attacks. Unable to stop Taesan, who ignored defense, the blue-haired Swordmaster died. ¡°It hurts.¡± Pulling out the sword stuck in his stomach, Taesan checked his health. [Shield: 0/192] [Health: 1522/2250] ¡°It has worn down quite a bit.¡± Taesan would not die even if a sword pierced his head or heart. He was practically immortal as long as his health was not at zero. In contrast, they had incredibly frail bodies that would die if their chest was stabbed or their head was decapitated. The difference was clear. ¡°But that¡¯s fine.¡± On the contrary, it meant that he had to fight against an endlessly weakening enemy, risking health loss due to a single blow of Aura. Of course, Taesan was not at full strength either. If he had fully utilized his skills, he could have suppressed them more easily. For instance, if he had just activated Forced Duel, it would have been a 1:1 situation and much easier to handle. But there would have been a definite consumption of health. Learning about Aura was worth that much. ¡°Only you are left.¡± Taesan pointed his sword at the blonde-haired Swordmaster. Atria. Atria smiled lightly and raised his hand. ¡°I surrender.¡± Chapter 99: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (9) ¡°Do you not fight?¡± ¡°I have no intention of dying.¡± Atria looked at Taesan with a face full of wonder. ¡°You¡¯re a monster. Together, the four of us could topple a kingdom.¡± Atria slowlyid down her weapon. ¡°Anyway, I still want to live. If you¡¯re going to kill me, I¡¯ll resist desperately, but I would really appreciate it if you showed mercy.¡± ¡°Then, stay still.¡± Unlike other Swordmasters, Atria did not seriously target him. It meant he wasn¡¯t the type to follow Harmon¡¯s instructions. He nned to spare him since he had something to ask anyway. If he begged for his life, he might obediently answer Taesan¡¯s questions, which could be more beneficial for him. Atria chuckled. ¡°Thank you for that. I will do as youmand.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s clean up this mess first.¡± Taesan pointed at the corpses of the Swordmasters. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Inside the cave, Asha opened her eyes. She nkly looked at the ceiling and suddenly sprang up. ¡°Oh, no.¡± She quickly got up and ran outside. Among the numerous scenes of destruction, there was no sign of Taesan. ¡°Ah, ahh¡­¡± She shed tears. He was dead, too. He died because of her. Self-loathing and regret, everything mixed together, ate away at her emotions. All she brought to those around her, being alive, were death and suffering. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just die? Despair was swallowing her. ¡°What? You¡¯re awake?¡± She hastily lifted her head. Taesan was looking down at her. He was alive. ¡°Where¡­ where have you been?¡± ¡°I went to clean up some bodies.¡± He threw the bodies of the three Swordmasters at the entrance of the forest. This would alert others as well. The Swordmasters were no match for Taesan. Asha, who had been staring nkly at Taesan, suddenly got up. ¡°Huh?¡± She embraced Taesan. Taesan raised his arms and looked down at her, feeling uneasy. He wanted to tell her to let go, but it was difficult when she was shaking so much. Atria, who was watching, whistled. ¡°That looks nice.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Asha btedly let go, her face red. As a princess, this was the first time she had hugged someone outside her family. Atria entered her line of sight as Asha blushed in embarrassment. ¡°¡­Atria?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Princess.¡± Asha startled, distancing herself. She reflexively grabbed a weapon. Atria raised his hands. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯te to capture you. I am a loser.¡± ¡°Loser¡­¡­?¡± ¡°You saw the four of use together, didn¡¯t you?¡± Atria pointed to Taesan with his chin. ¡°Three of us were killed by this guy. I barely survived by begging for my life.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± Asha understood. The reason she thought Taesan would die was because the four Swordmasters hade to capture her. In other words, the fact that Taesan was alive meant he had won against them. Asha¡¯s gaze deepened with admiration and dependence. Taesan ignored this and asked. ¡°Do you know each other?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. He used to visit asionally when my father was alive. ¡­¡­ You came to capture me, too.¡± ¡°Well, I did. But I lost. As a loser, I don¡¯t have any ns to fight again, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Atria shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I didn¡¯te seriously in the first ce. I was curious about what kind of person the high-ranking one protecting the princess was.¡± ¡°You seem indifferent for someone who follows themand of God.¡± ¡°Harmon is indeed our Lord, but I don¡¯t particrly believe in him.¡± At this unexpected remark, Taesan looked at Atria. Atria spoke in a deep voice. ¡°A god who is not even a hundred years old massacred the demons we have lived together with for thousands of years. I mean those who have the Demon Lord as their supporter. Does that sound like a normal god to you?¡± It seemed that Atria, a Swordmaster who had surpassed human limits, had all sorts of thoughts. Atria grinned. ¡°So, there must be a reason you spared me. Can I ask? You didn¡¯t save me just because I begged, right?¡± ¡°You seem to know well.¡± Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Aura. Exin about that.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Asha sat on a tree stump and nkly stared at Taesan. It seemed that Taesan leaving her unconscious to fight had be a trauma for her, as she refused to take her eyes off him. Atria looked at her, chuckling. ¡°Well, what are you curious about? Feel free to ask. I have to pay the price for my life, after all.¡± ¡°As I said earlier, I want to know how to use Aura and how to obtain it.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Atria stroked his chin. ¡°So you couldn¡¯t obtain Aura, even at your level?¡± ¡°Ie from a different ce.¡± ¡°A different ce.¡± Atria¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Are you talking about thebyrinth that the Archmage created?¡± ¡°Do you know about it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors. I had a particr interest, so I looked into it. So you came from that ce created by the Archmage¡­ It¡¯s amazing. I didn¡¯t think it was really there.¡± After expressing his admiration for a moment, Atria nodded his head. ¡°So, you can¡¯t use Aura.¡± ¡°Yes. There was no Aura in my world.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Atria tapped his arm with a finger. ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories too, but you probably won¡¯t be able to learn it. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Upon hearing this unexpected answer, Taesan scowled. ¡°This is the power of our world. If I follow your words, you came from a world without Aura, right?¡± Taesan nodded. Atria shook his head. ¡°Then you probably won¡¯t be able to learn it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because there was no Aura in your world to begin with. You can¡¯t learn what didn¡¯t exist, even if you came to a different world. That¡¯s the rule. At least, that¡¯s what I know.¡± ¡°In my world, there was no magic either, but I could learn magic.¡± ¡°Magic and Aura are different.¡± Atria cut him off sharply. ¡°I was curious, so I looked it up. Gaining power simr to magic through wielding a sword. Isn¡¯t it strange? At least, I found it strange. It¡¯s not normal.¡± Atria spoke with a gleeful face. ¡°It¡¯s an old tale or a legend, but I found it. Aura is a power directly granted by the God of the Sword. He chose a world he liked and bestowed the power there. Conversely, it means that residents of a world not approved by the God of the Sword cannot learn it.¡± It was a usible exnation. The Ghost was surprised that there was no magic in Taesan¡¯s world but did not mention anything about Aura. He also mentioned that he had not learned Aura. There was a clear distinction between worlds where one could learn and those where one couldn¡¯t. ¡®The God of the Sword.¡¯ The God of Magic was in the Maze. The possibility of the existence of a God of the Sword was high. Atria groaned with annoyance. ¡°Sorry about this.¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan nced at the void. ¡°It might work.¡± [Special Perpetual Activation Skill: Qualification: Proof of the Sword] [You have been granted the Proof of the Sword.] A mysterious skill gained by defeating a Swordmaster. This must be the permission granted by the God of the Sword. ¡°Possible?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gained the qualification.¡± ¡°Oh? Is it a power you acquired in thebyrinth?¡± It was an acquisition due to a rise in spirit, but Atria, unaware of this, shone his eyes even more. ¡°Does the God of the Sword exist in the Maze? That¡¯s interesting. Very interesting¡­¡± He murmured for a moment, then smiled broadly. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s talk after a brief exnation.¡± Atria began to exin. ¡°What do you think Aura is?¡± ¡°I first found out by watching you guys. Are you asking me?¡± ¡°Is that so? I always ask before starting. It¡¯s be a habit.¡± Atria awkwardly drew his sword. A blue light arose on the sword. ¡°As you use the sword, those with talent will eventually gain Aura. It¡¯s an elegant realm, but in essence, you end up with a much sharper, unbreakable sword. In and of itself, it¡¯s not that great. But when you be a Swordmaster, the story changes.¡± The Aura exploded out like a burst of energy. The Aura oveid on Atria¡¯s sword. It was incrediblyrge and massive. ¡°You can modify the Aura in this way to suit yourself. You¡¯ve seen it, so you know what I mean.¡± The Red-haired Swordmaster controlled several swords with Aura. The Blue-haired Swordmaster shot out like a sword aura, and the White-haired Swordmaster controlled the Aura like a creature. They all surpassed the realm of swordsmanship using Aura in their own way. ¡°How you handle Aura depends on the individual. I just wanted a big sword. That¡¯s how it was expressed in Aura.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you control the sword?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t. But I¡¯m just not good at it.¡± Atria threw his sword. The sword stopped in the air and started moving on its own. ¡°Do you think you can¡¯t stop it?¡± ¡°I could probably catch it.¡± The movement of the sword was very clumsy. It was at the level of a three-year-old child handling it. ¡°Just like this. It surpasses humanity, but the limit is clear. Very disappointing.¡± Regret was written on Atria¡¯s face. It was roughly understandable. Aura changed ording to the individual, and it could be used in a different way, but it was very clumsy. Now, this was the main point. ¡°How do I learn it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very simple.¡± Atria grinned. ¡°Just swing your sword.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Is that all?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all. Just swing and swing and swing again, then someday, you¡¯ll reach it.¡± Taesan stared nkly at Atria at the overly simple words. Atria waved his hand. ¡°It sounds like a joke, but it¡¯s true. Some say you have to have an epiphany. Others say you have to meditate. Can it be? Training to reach the limit. That¡¯s all it is.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no difference from before. I feel like I¡¯ve saved you for no reason.¡± Taesan grumbled, picking up his sword. Now that he had earned his qualification, he could finally obtain the Aura. Atria raised his hand. ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m done here. If you want to leave, leave.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Atria scratched his cheek as he was cut off abruptly. ¡°If it¡¯s okay with you, can I stay by your side?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious. Whether you can really learn Aura.¡± There was deep interest in Atria¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re worried I might harm the princess, I can swear. I won¡¯t do anything here.¡± Taesan nced at Asha. She nodded. ¡°I¡¯m okay with it, as long as Taesan agrees.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s okay. But let¡¯s make a deal.¡± [Taesan asked Atria for a contract. Atria can''t make any threatening moves against Taesan and Asha.] ¡°Huh?¡± Atria made a surprised face. ¡°I feel something in my heart.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a temporary contract that you can¡¯t harm us. ept it, and we¡¯ll let you stay.¡± ¡°Is that also the power of thebyrinth? There are so many things.¡± Atria pressed his chest with an interested look on his face. [The contract has been epted.] After that, it was free time. Perhaps because three of the four Swordmasters were already dead¡­ No one came. It was so quiet that when Taesan asked Atria, he replied as if it were natural. ¡°There are eight Swordmasters in the world. Except for those who have circumstances or are hiding, all came. And they all died. So, where else would there be any madmen toe?¡± No enemies came. Until the demons came directly, Taesan could not move, so he calmly continued his training. He took up his sword and swung it. He repeatedly used the Stormscar sword. He swung his sword for 22 hours out of 24 in a day. He took a nap for two hours, then got up and swung his sword again. Atria watched with an astonished face. Such repetition continued, and then the demons came. Chapter 100: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (10) ¡°Oh¡­¡± Asha, who was idly watching Taesan¡¯s training, suddenly stood up in surprise. A thin old man emerged from the bush, kneeling and crying profusely. The old man took off his tattered robe. He revealed ck hair and ck eyes. Asha covered her mouth in shock. ¡°Habenek¡­?¡± ¡°Princess¡­ It is an honor to see you.¡± The old man, called Habenek, knelt in tears. Asha burst into tears and ran to him. ¡°You¡¯re alive!¡± ¡°When the castle was set on fire, I barely escaped¡­ I apologize. We left you behind and only saved ourselves¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay! As long as you¡¯re alive!¡± While watching the emotional reunion, Taesan left the ce. He headed towards the forest clearing, leaving the voices mixed with tears behind. In the clearing, Taesan drew his sword and swung it. Pow! The air exploded along with the afterimage. Taesan looked at the tip of the sword with an unsatisfied face. ¡°Is this as far as I can go?¡± A prickling sensation came from the sword. At this moment, Taesan was on the fine line just before obtaining Aura. It seemed like a few more days of training would do the trick But unfortunately, the demons found Asha. ¡°I¡¯ll have to do the rest while moving.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he gained nothing at all. Thanks to his ceaseless sword training, his proficiency with the Stormscar Sword also increased by 3%. Wolf Fang and Dance of the Sword became smoother than before. Atria, who had been watching Taesan so far, inwardly marveled. ¡®He has managed to grasp the sense of Aura in just three days.¡¯ That in itself was certainly surprising. Considering that there were swordsmen who trained for decades to gain Aura, it was an overwhelming speed. But it was also a speed he could understand. Taesan had already reached the level of a Sword Master regarding the sword. As Aura was the power that certified the qualification of the sword, Taesan, who already had the qualification, could easily gain it. What surprised him was not because of that. Atria was amazed at Taesan¡¯s broad power. The power of Taesan that he witnessed was perfection itself. While using magic that surpasses even Tower Masters and learning Aura, his physical abilities were also outstanding. And he didn¡¯t even get tired. He swung his sword every day for four days without even breaking a sweat. If Atria recalled their battles, even if the sword was stuck in Taesan¡¯s body, there was no problem with his movement. He was able to ignore injuries and move, or the range of lethal injuries was significantly narrower than theirs. ¡®¡­Is that the power of thebyrinth?¡¯ Atria had almost lost interest in his own world. ¡®It¡¯s not fun.¡¯ He looked up at the sky with cold eyes. He pursued strength and became a Swordmaster. Then, there was no more strength to pursue. He became bored. He became idle. He didn¡¯t care about the gods or anything. What he wanted was strength. He followed Harmon¡¯s revtion, which he didn¡¯t care about, out of curiosity because the one who protected the princess was strong. ¡®Labyrinth.¡¯ Atria¡¯s eyes sparkled. An hourter, Taesan returned. Both Habenek and Asha had swollen eyes. Perhaps all their tears had been shed. ¡°Habenek. This man has been protecting me.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Habenek, who had been looking up at Taesan with eyes filled with fear and respect, bowed deeply to the ground. ¡°Thank you so much. You risked your life to protect our princess¡­¡­¡± ¡°I received my payment, so it¡¯s okay.¡± Habenek stood up and bowed slightly and expressed his thanks for a long time. ¡°Thank you. Then, princess, let¡¯s return to ournd.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah!¡± Asha looked at Taesan with a broad smile. ¡°You¡¯reing too, right Taesan?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going, I should follow.¡± It was impossible to know how the quest would bepleted. Confirming her safety could be the end, so naturally, he had to follow. Habenek looked noticeably flustered. ¡°Ta, Taesan, you¡¯reing too?¡± ¡°Yep. He¡¯s my benefactor, so it¡¯s natural. Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No.¡± Habenek nced around with anxious eyes. ¡°The ce is hidden, so it¡¯s difficult to bring outsiders¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! He¡¯s the one who protected me! He¡¯ll be good to you guys, too!¡± Asha spoke with a face full of confidence. Habenek mumbled with a flustered face. ¡°If that¡¯s the princess¡¯s wish¡­¡± ¡°Can Ie too?¡± Atria, who had been quietly watching, spoke up. Asha btedly realized his presence. ¡°Atria is¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not interested in the demon tribe.¡± Atria pointed his chin at Taesan. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve grasped Aura as well. It¡¯s about time to depart, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Do as you please.¡± ¡°Then I bid you farewell. It would be nice to see you again.¡± As Atria left, he nced at Taesan. Taesan¡¯s strength must have originated from thebyrinth. ¡®Maybe I should find it too.¡¯ Atria finalized his goal and left. Habenek, with a strangely relieved face, pulled something out of his pocket. ¡°Princess. Please take this.¡± ¡°Huh? What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an ornament carved from the w of a dragon. If you have this, it can block the gaze from the gods.¡± Asha asked in surprise. ¡°How do you have this?¡± An ornament made from a dragon¡¯s w. Even during the reign of the Demon King, it was a difficult item to obtain. Habenek gave a slight smile. ¡°You will understand when we arrive. Taesan, you should take one too.¡± Habenek pulled out another one and handed it to Taesan. [A Ne Made from the w of a Dragon] [A guardian dragon blocks the intervention of transcendent beings.] ¡°Let¡¯s move then.¡± Habenek once again wore his robe inside out. Asha, with a serious face, followed him. They began to move, leaving the center of the world and heading towards the outskirts. Whether the ne Habenek had given truly hid them from the gaze of the gods, no one came looking for them. Perhaps it was not because of the ne but because Taesan had killed the Swordmasters. It was a two-day journey, during which Taesan continuously swung his sword. And finally, he was able to achieve Aura. Crack. Crack. [Oh. Is this Aura? Amazing.] The ghost moved around, eximing in admiration. Taesan looked at the blue me that arose on his sword. Unlike Garante¡¯s Aura, the blue light jumped like an unstable spark. It seemed to be a phenomenon caused by ack of proficiency. ¡°Skill window.¡± [Special Activation Skill: Aura] [Proficiency: 1%] [A reward given to those who have proven themselves with the sword. It is still immature and cannot be fully controlled.] As he had heard, there was no mana consumption value. Taesan tried to extend Aura even more. However, there was no change. The Aura was crackling at the same size as it was initially. ¡°Is there a clear limit instead of a consumption value?¡± Taesan pulled his sword. A huge tree was cut off smoothly. Thud. There was no depletion of strength. It was cut off very smoothly. Exactly what performance it had, he¡¯d have to use it to know, but it seemed that the attack power had increased significantly. Taesan sheathed his sword satisfactorily. And after passing the desert, they arrived in thend of the demons. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Habenek introduced their destination with a tired face. The ce they had arrived at was a small mountain range. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting-looking mountain.¡± Among the mountain range, there was a single mountain where the autumn leaves were beautifully colored in various shades. Unlike other mountain ranges, it was exceptionally unique and immediately caught the eye. ¡°Is this really the ce?¡± The ce was too magnificent to be considered a hiding spot. Habenek confirmed. ¡°Yes, it is. No onees here.¡± Taesan gazed at the mountain thoughtfully. Seeing him not moving, Habenek cautiously asked, ¡°Is there any problem¡­¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s a problem or not. Is this the ce?¡± ¡°Yes, it is, but¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s something very powerful here.¡± Taesan felt a force stronger than anything he had encountered so far. A power of a level that no one could approach, except for the gods, was inside the mountain. With a surprised face, Habenek looked at Taesan. ¡°Do you feel it?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I thought it might be a big shock, so I nned to tell youter¡­ but to keep it simple¡­¡± Habenek pointed to the mountain covered in autumn leaves. ¡°There is a dragon there.¡± ¡°What?¡± Asha¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°A dragon?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Habenek reassured Asha. ¡°Fundamentally, it is a being that doesn¡¯t even obey themand of the gods and has no interest in our residence. If you exclude the anxiety, it¡¯s the best ce as even the gaze of the gods cannot reach.¡± The dragon was the guardian of the world. Its presence prevented interference from transcendents. It was the most suitable ce for the demon tribe, which was being chased by the gods, to stay. ¡°In fact, we have been staying here for over five years, but the dragon has never shown its presence. There is no problem.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Taesan looked at the mountain with suspicion. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem so.¡± He muttered to himself. Since they seemed to feel nothing, there was no need to speak now. Taesan changed the subject. ¡°So, are we not going?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, Princess.¡± Asha carefully stepped onto the mountain. They began to climb the mountain. Whether it was true that no one hade to find them, the path was not maintained, and it was very hard to walk. Even Asha, who had been trained in stamina through long chases, was a little tired, and Habenek requested a rest several times. In the end, they reached the middle of the mountain, where there was a small vige. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Asha eximed. Among the buildings that seemed to be all copsed and crumbling, there were several people with ck hair. They ran towards Asha with surprised faces. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Princess!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the princess!¡± ¡°Everyone! You were alive!¡± She cried as she embraced them. Hearing themotion, all the demons in the vige rushed over. Taesan counted the numbers one by one. ¡®About fifty.¡¯ He vaguely remembered that the number needed for a tribe to thrive was definitely more than fifty. It seemed that the demon tribe would go extinct in this ce. ¡°Oh! Princess!¡± ¡°Atunekia! You were here too!¡± A demon who appeared to be the vige chief found Asha and happily ran towards her. Asha also greeted him with a smile. Though they were a ragtag bunch, they all seemed happy. ¡°Ridiculous.¡± Taesan, who had been watching them for a while, turned his back. Asha, who didn¡¯t notice that Taesan had left, pointed happily in the direction where Taesan had been. ¡°This gentleman brought me here¡­ huh?¡± She looked perplexed. There was nobody in the direction where Taesan had been. [Are you okay?] ¡°He¡¯s indifferent to demons. I don¡¯t think he will attack me.¡± There had been a presence calling out to him ever since Taesan entered the mountain. ¡°He¡¯s quite impatient.¡± He intended to leave after he finished his conversation and confirmed their safety, but he couldn¡¯t help but leave because he was constantly being rushed. Taesan arrived at the peak of the mountain. There was a huge cave there. And there was a golem guarding the ce. Kugukung¡­ The giant made of rocks looked down at Taesan. Taesan let out a gasp of admiration. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± It was strong. Even if he confronted it now, he couldn¡¯t guarantee victory. In fact, it meant that he couldn¡¯t touch the inhabitants of this world. Kugukung¡­ The golem who was looking at Taesan moved aside. Taesan entered the cave. ¡°Mhm.¡± There was a dragon there. The creature with golden scales and majestic horns looked down at Taesan. The dragon, which filled the cave, greeted Taesan. [Wee, the one who came following the will of the Demon God.] [You have encountered the Golden Dragon Balbenares.] Chapter 101: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (11) A being that protected Vekveta. A dragon. Sometimes, adventurers in thebyrinth mistook Taesan for a dragon. It meant that he was a being with such strength. And Taesan finally understood why they thought so. ¡®Isn¡¯t there little to no difference from a god?¡¯ At least the power he felt outwardly was hard to distinguish from the gods he had seen. It was hard to believe that it was a mortal being. A soft strength was flowing from the golden dragon. Despite Balbenares seemingly reducing his power in consideration of Taesan, this level meant that even if hundreds of the current Taesans attacked him, they couldn¡¯t win. Taesan, who had been feeling the power for a few moments, asked. ¡°Why did you call me?¡± From the time Taesan showed himself on the mountain, he felt a prickly force touching him. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to kill me ording to God¡¯s will, are you?¡± [Of course not.] The dragon smiled. [I''m a dragon entrusted with the role of guarding thend. What the gods want is a story that has nothing to do with me. So, I did not touch the children of the Demon God who settled in mynd.] The dragon quickly turned his eyes. Balbenares, who was looking outside the cave, muttered. [Well, that will also be meaningless now. The reason I called you is to satisfy myst curiosity.] ¡°Curiosity?¡± [I''m a dragon guarding thend. In other words, I''m bound to this world. So, I''ve always been curious. About the hugebyrinth that magicians made and great gods that took their ces.] The reptilian eyes turned toward Taesan. Balbenares, who was examining Taesan, couldn¡¯t hide his admiration. [You''re indeed amazing. I understand why the Demon God was willing to bear the humiliation.] The Demon God did not give quests to anything that wasn¡¯t hers, not even to demons. The fact that she gave a direct quest to Taesan, a human, would have meant she bent her pride. [It would mean that the demons existing in this world were of such value to her.] Balbenares said with a regretful face. [But now, that is over, too. It''s truly sad that they are going to be destroyed due to fanaticism.] ¡°What do you mean by ¡®over¡¯?¡± [The young Demon God is angry.] Balbenares continued to speak calmly. [About this world where her things are dying. She has been silent because her things are still left, but it won''tst long. The world will shatter. It would have fallen long ago if she wasn''t the type to cling to her own things.] [Excuse me, I''m a little confused.] The ghost intervened. As a being of thebyrinth, the ghost could neither be felt nor heard by beings outside of it. But Balbenares asked quietly. [What is it, dead one?] [Is Harmon a god born in this world?] [Yes. Over a hundred years ago, a mortal became a transcendental. He is called by the name Harmon.] [Then Harmon can stop it, right?] A god within their own domain was very strong. Even the Demon God could not touch them. That was what the ghost had been saying so far. [Even if the Demon God is angry, she can''t interfere, can she?] Balbenares looked at the ghost andughed. [You, you''re strong.] [I was pretty strong.] The ghost grumbled, and Balbenares affirmed it. [If you were still alive, you could have defeated me. But you don''t know about gods.] [I''ve met more than a handful of gods.] [You only saw their outward appearance.] Balbenares said calmly. [You''ll understand soon enough.] [Hmm.] The ghost didn¡¯t seem to ept this but didn¡¯t say anything more. Balbenares once again looked at Taesan. [You satisfied my curiosity. And you are the first mortal I''ve met. So, I''ll grant you a small favor.] The golden dragon raised its front w. The tip of its w broke off and flew towards Taesan. [This is a dragon''s w. If there''s someone who can refine it, it will be a great help to you.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan epted the unexpected reward obediently. Dragon¡¯s w. If it was thebyrinth¡¯s cksmith, they might be able to refine it. [Goodbye. This will likely be our first andst meeting. Now, I''m off to prepare.] ¡°Prepare?¡± The dragon raised its front paw. A magical energy began to gather. [I mean my final struggle.] With a calm voice, the dragon disappeared. The giant cave was left empty, with only Taesan remaining. Taesan went outside. He put the w in his inventory and descended the mountain. When he arrived at the vige, he saw Asha looking startled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Oh, Taesan!¡± Asha¡¯s face brightened when she saw Taesan. ¡°Where have you been!¡± ¡°I had someone to meet.¡± ¡°Somebody?¡± Asha tilted her head. Taesan had never talked about any acquaintances while he had been with her. The demon known as Atunekia appeared a bitter. ¡°Oh, weren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Atunekia was noticeably taken aback upon seeing Taesan. Asha also spoke with a somewhat hurt face. ¡°I thought you had left without saying anything¡­¡± ¡°I would have said something if I were leaving.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ are you going to stay for a while then?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± He didn¡¯t know when his quest would bepleted, but it didn¡¯t seem like it would be anytime soon. Upon hearing Taesan¡¯s answer, Atunekia became even more flustered. His confusion was evident in his eyes. Noticing Taesan¡¯s gaze, Atunekia regained hisposure and cleared his throat. ¡°Then we will prepare a room for you. Since you saved the princess, we should certainly treat you well.¡± In his eyes, Taesan could read both confusion and determination. Lying down in the provided room, Taesan looked up at the ceiling. He could see sunlight that shouldn¡¯t be visible beyond the ceiling. The rough wooden floor was hard and bumpy, causing difort on his back, and if he nced to the side, he could see a few bugs crawling up the wall. ¡°I¡¯d be morefortable up in a tree.¡± The house was not serving its purpose. Still, he had no intention ofining. Compared to houses with half-open roofs, this was rtively better. Knock. Knock. The sound of knocking echoed through the door. Taesan got up and opened it. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Ah, Taesan, are you okay?¡± Asha asked hesitantly, shaking a wooden bottle in her hand. ¡°I thought we might have a drink, if you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the alcohol?¡± ¡°They say it¡¯s a liquor made through trial and error in the vige. I received one from Jo.¡± She gave a small smile. She seemed brighter than before, perhaps because she had found a ce to stay. Taesan moved aside. ¡°Come in if you want.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She took out two wooden cups. Taesan drank the liquor she poured. [Judgment for poisoning¡­] [Judgment failed. You are in a slight state of being poisoned. Your health decreases by 5 every second.] ¡°Are you okay?¡± She asked with a worried expression. Taesan nodded. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°Hehe. I¡¯m d.¡± She also poured some liquor into her own cup and drank. Taesan studied her face, but it didn¡¯t seem particrly affected. ¡®Is it a poison that only affects humans?¡¯ Taesan swallowed the liquor and opened his mouth. ¡°The state of the vige is pretty harsh.¡± ¡°It is.¡± Asha made a grim face. The demons had fled, unable to take even a decent tool with them. It was impossible to build a proper vige from scratch on bare ground. The result was these barely-standing houses. ¡®I think they said there were originally two hundred.¡¯ Unable to endure for five years, only fifty remained from those who had made it here. ¡°But¡­ still, it¡¯s a vige where my kin live.¡± Asha spoke with a determined face. ¡°I will also live here and help everyone. If we live with all our might, one day a day to rest wille.¡± Her smiling face settled into a solemn expression. Asha bowed respectfully. ¡°Thank you once again. Thanks to you, Taesan¡­ I was able to meet my kin again.¡± She spoke in a trembling voice. Asha thought she would always be chased, eventually caught, and killed. Meeting the old connections she thought had died was something she couldn¡¯t have imagined, even in her dreams. All of this happened because of Taesan. No words were enough to express her gratitude to him. ¡°Even if you received sufficientpensation, I¡¯m still not at ease. So¡­¡± Asha bit her lip. Her face turned red as she tightly closed her eyes. ¡°If you wish, Taesan, together with me here¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Taesan pushed her head away. She fell backward, holding her forehead and nkly looking up at Taesan. ¡°Don¡¯t say such foolish things. You will live here. And I will leave.¡± Asha bit her lip. ¡°Are you¡­ going back to thebyrinth?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only ce for me.¡± Vekveta was just a ce he was passing through due to a quest. No matter who he met and what rtionship he formed, everything disappeared once the quest waspleted. Asha didn¡¯t give up and stood up. ¡°A peaceful life here, too¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I want.¡± Taesan shook his head. He didn¡¯t choose Solo Mode for a peaceful life. ¡°You¡¯re still young. Live here, grow older, and get married. That¡¯s thepensation you can give me.¡± With that, Taesan left the room. Asha reflexively reached out her hand, but Taesan was long gone. Asha dropped her head. Taesan entered the forest. The quiet ghost opened its mouth. [Isn''t it a pity?] ¡°Shut up.¡± [I think such a life is also okay. You''re extraordinary, but... thebyrinth is a ce where even such a person dies.] ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± He was not going to fear death now. ¡°And a clean cut is also good for her.¡± The ghost realized it. [I felt it before, but your heart is weaker than I thought.] ¡°I told you to shut up.¡± [I don''t intend to interfere. I''ve seen a lot of humans who are only cold-hearted, but they all died. Thanks to that, I can stick around, which is a good thing. And it wasn''t the time for that.] Taesan¡¯s refusal was not only for personal reasons. [Are you okay?] Taesan checked his health at a nce. [Shield: 42/192] [Health: 2250/2250] ¡°There¡¯s no problem.¡± But the shield was reduced by 150. It meant the poison was quite strong. They must have prepared something stronger upon hearing that Taesan killed a Swordmaster. If Taesan were an ordinary inhabitant of this world, he would probably have been taken out already. ¡°There¡¯s no way it ends like this.¡± [You need to receive more rewards for this.] The Demon God¡¯s request was to take Asha to a safe ce. Depending on where the safe ce was, the meaning of the quest changed a lot. Taesan thought the ce where the demons had fled and settled was the goal of the quest, and Asha also believed so. But the quest was not cleared yet. This meant that this ce was not safe for Asha at all. Boom! A loud noise rang from beyond the forest. A formidable presence was getting closer. Not only the total amount of power but also the type of power it felt was different from ordinary adventurers or monsters. It was close to the divine power he had seen so far. Crash! The trees were uprooted, and the rough soil rushed at Taesan like a tidal wave. [You have activated Repulsion.] The soil trying to swallow Taesan was pushed away. The repelled soil and the onrushing sediment collided and scattered. Taesan punched the flying dirt. A hole was opened at the front with the sound of a st. ¡°It¡¯s noisy.¡± Between the gaps, a golden light could be seen. Among countless pieces of scattered brown dirt, there were wings that had not a speck of dust on them. A beautiful angel with eight wings revealed itself. It was incrediblyrge, many times the size of a human. [You have encountered an angel of Harmon.] ¡°You must be thest one.¡± This was probably Harmon¡¯sst resistance. He couldn¡¯t forgive the demons. It must be his final line. The expressionless angel wielded a golden sword. [The opponent is a very difficult enemy.] It had been a while since he faced a difficult enemy. And the word ¡®very¡¯ was also added to it. It meant the angel¡¯s level was just below an impossible enemy. Taesan took out his twin swords and put his strength into his whole body. ¡°Let¡¯s do this then.¡± Taesan stomped his foot. Chapter 102: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (12) Tottering. Asha walked through the vige with a drooping head. The painful feeling of rejection in her heart after Taesan¡¯s understandable reasoning. Her emotional state was aplex mix. ¡°Have you arrived?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Asha was taken aback. All of the demons had gathered and were waiting for her. ¡°Why are you all here?¡± ¡°We have something to ask.¡± Atunikia swallowed and asked. ¡°Have you finished all the drinks?¡± It was a very out-of-the-blue question. At least it was not something all the demons needed to ask her together. Asha shook the bottle with a puzzled look on her face. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve had them.¡± ¡°Phew!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± The demons noticeably sighed in relief. Just when Asha was about to ask what they meant, in her confusion. Koo-woong¡­ A loud noise echoed from far away. A shockwave engulfed them, destroying the forest. ¡°Huh?¡± Asha¡¯s face hardened. She could feel a sacred power from that swaying wave of force. ¡°Harmon¡­?¡± A tracker. As she closed her mouth, she looked at the demons. The moment she tried to shout and flee, she realized something was off. The demons were calmly looking at the source of the loud sound. ¡°He finally came.¡± ¡°What, what are you all doing! We need to run!¡± ¡°Run? From whom?¡± ¡°Who do you think?¡± Asha, who was about to say it was obviously Harmon, closed her mouth. Looking at the calm eyes of the demons, she understood. ¡°You can¡¯t mean that you¡­¡± ¡°Indeed, a god. It hasn¡¯t been a day since we informed him, and he sent his angel right away.¡± ¡°¡­.Atunikia!¡± Asha shouted as Atunikia smiled. ¡°Princess. We are tired.¡± The demons had sided with Harmon. At that realization, Asha gritted her teeth. ¡°Do you think Harmon will leave you alone? He wants to kill us!¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. We will no longer be demons.¡± Hmph. They were abandoning their demonhood. Towards Asha, who was looking at him with shaky eyes, Atunikia raised his arm. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? If we expel what¡¯s inside us, we can¡¯t be called demons anymore. How many times has that happened so far?¡± ¡°You, you guys¡­¡± Asha knew about that as well. Not only her but most of the demons knew about it, too. But even as they were dying, no one had ever done such a thing. The reason was one. To abandon one¡¯s self as a demon meant, in essence, to abandon the Demon God. It was a deed of crushing and trampling their own unchanging haven with their own hands. ¡°You mean to abandon the Demon God?¡± ¡°Abandon?¡± Atunikia twisted his lips. He could not contain his anger and raised his voice. ¡°We prayed to that god! We dedicated everything to that god! But when we were being destroyed, did the Demon God offer us a single word of constion? When we cried out for her, did she offer any advice? Did she descend and support us?¡± Asha unknowingly retreated from his emotionally charged words. Atunikia fiercely stretched out his hand. ¡°Look at this vige!¡± The houses were falling apart. The vige was on the verge of copse, with not even a fence to keep the beasts away. ¡°Our once glorious kingdom is gone, and we must live in a ce that can¡¯t even stop the rain! Not even fifty left from our brethren that once filled half the world! Warm and historical dishes have changed into roots and bugs, and the beginning of the day starts with despair, not prayers!¡± Therefore, Atunikia abandoned the Demon God. The moment Habenek had brought the princess, he immediately went down the mountain to find the shrine. Kuwoong¡­ The ongoing loud sound became quiet, and Atunikia regained hisposure. ¡°It¡¯s over. A mortal cannot win against an angel of God.¡± Under the pressure of Atunikia, Asha¡¯s face turned pale. The image of Taesan shed across her mind. ¡°No, no way!¡± As she was about to run to where the sound came from, Atunikia grabbed her. ¡°Princess. You will be a sacrifice for us. Please, sacrifice yourself for us.¡± Atunikia spoke with a grim face. He did not feel good. He had to abandon the Demon God he had trusted his whole life and offer Asha, who was as dear to him as his own daughter, to the god who killed them. It felt like his heart was copsing. But there were still those who believed and followed him. For them, he couldn¡¯t give up. ¡°Now, princess. With us¡­ Kuwoong! The roar echoed once more. Asha, who was in despair, quickly lifted her head. The sounds of battle started to ring out once again from the ce where the loud noise hade from. ¡°He¡¯s alive?¡± ¡°Taesan?¡± Atunikia was greatly shaken. The roar continued. Kuwoong! The golden angel swung his golden sword. It was an abrupt movement, like a runaway train with broken brakes, and it had an equivalent force. Kagagak! It was a power far superior to Taesan. The pushed-back Taesan gripped the end of his sword. [Your Thirst for Battle has activated.] A skill that provided buffs against everything when facing an enemy that was hard or impossible to defeat. [You have activated Scorn of the Strong.] A skill that provided a bonus in all judgments when facing an enemy that was hard or impossible to defeat. [You have activated Fair Duel.] On top of that, a skill that increased his stats in a 1:1 situation was also activated. With the three buff skills, he struck with his sword again. Kaang! This time, he wasn¡¯t pushed back easily. But it still wasn¡¯t a match. The angel¡¯s power was clearly superior. ¡®Let¡¯s test its defense.¡¯ Taesan charged into the angel¡¯s embrace, negating the harsh attacks with his attack nullification, and swung his sword. [0 damage to Harmon''s angel.] Buwoong! The angel struck his sword down harshly. Taesan grimaced and put some distance between them. ¡°Well, well.¡± An opponent that was immune to damage. Taesan unleashed his magic. [You have activated Confusion.] [Judgment failed!] ¡°Even mental attacks don¡¯t work.¡± This time, he created and fired frost arrows. Fragments of ice struck the golden armor. [0 damage to Harmon''s angel.] ¡°Is it immune to magical attacks, too?¡± Taesan smacked his lips as the angel moved. With wings spread, the angel swung the sword explosively, drawing a line in the air. Dirt exploded and covered Taesan¡¯s entire body. He activated Counter and deflected the debris, then struck with his sword. The angel spread its wings. The light that was flowing all over its body became even stronger. The surrounding grass died, unable to withstand the intense light. [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] [5 damage to you.] Suddenly, the attack nullification was used up. And then small amounts of damage started toe in continuously. Taesan pulled back, grimacing. ¡°Is it divine power?¡± The nts exposed to the intense light emanating from the angel were slowly drying up and dying. It showed a strong will that did not permit anything to exist but itself. One of the few disadvantages of Attack Nullification was that it became meaningless against tiny attacks that couldn¡¯t be blocked. So far, there had been no enemy that managed to reveal this shoring. The angel fluttered its wings and flew into the sky. Then, it elerated and fell to the ground. Taesan quickly retreated, sensing a sensation like a massive meteor falling. Kwooong! The angel¡¯s sword pierced the earth and exploded, creating a huge crater like a meteor had truly fallen. ¡°That¡¯s a total tank,¡± Taesan thought this as he dusted off the dirt. ¡®I wonder what would happen if I changed weapons.¡¯ Taesan had a weapon with a fixed attack that ignored all defense. If he switched to that, the damage would go through. However, Taesan did not change his weapon. The fixed attack weapon was in the form of a dagger. It was very short, putting him at a disadvantage in terms of reach. The angel before his eyes was not an enemy he could defeat with such a weapon. Moreover, the angel¡¯s health would not be low. It was not an easy opponent like Jagan, whom he faced in thebyrinth, so the possibility of seeding through thousands of attacks was practically nonexistent. If he wasted time, Taesan would be eaten away by divine power and die. Kwooong! The angel continued to push. Arge clearing appeared in the mountain covered in autumn leaves. The golden sword grazed Taesan¡¯s neck. [342 damage to you.] This much damage just from a graze. Taesan smacked his lips. The damage caused by the divine power has suddenly exceeded a hundred. An enemy who inflicted continuous damage just by fighting, and hundreds of damage even from a graze. That was the angel. ¡®I wonder about this¡­¡¯ Pajeek. A blue aura arose from Taesan¡¯s sword. He activated eleration and lunged into the angel¡¯s arms. [59 damage to Harmon''s angel.] ¡®Bingo.¡¯ Taesan smiled softly. It was confirmed. The aura had a defense pration effect. With this, the first condition was cleared. Taesan dodged here and there, gradually whittling down the angel¡¯s health. Then, the angel¡¯s eyes glowed red. And a light fell from the sky. ¡°Crap!¡± Despite Taesan quickly retreating from the sudden attack, his hand got buried in the light. [420 damage to you.] The flesh burned beyond cooking, parts of it charring and falling off. Taesan hastily gathered himself and gritted his teeth. ¡°This damn thing.¡± The angel charged in with red eyes. Lights fell consecutively from the sky. Taesan had to block both the angel¡¯s and the light¡¯s attacks. Naturally, his hand was in a whirl, and he was inevitably pushed back. Harmon¡¯s will to kill him was apparent. The light descended once again, and the angel violently swung its sword in sync. Taesan did not dodge the light. He blocked the sword. The moment the light tried to trample Taesan, he activated his skill. [You have initiated Forced Duel.] The moment the light touched Taesan, it split. It dissipated haphazardly and spread into the forest. The angel momentarily wavered, the tip of its sword shaking. Taesan did not miss this opportunity and swung his sword. He executed more than twenty attacks in an instant. The angel retaliated btedly, but Taesan had already created distance. It was now certain. Harmon did not know about the skills that originated from inside thebyrinth. Whether it was because Harmon¡¯s divine hierarchy was low or he hadn¡¯t entered thebyrinth it was unclear. But now, a solution has appeared. [You have activated eleration.] Taesan charged straight toward the angel. The angel forcefully pulled back its arm and thrust its sword. Taesan tilted his head slightly. [You have activated Parry.] The sword grazed Taesan¡¯s cheek. The proficiency of Parrying had risen decently, so unless it was a critical hit, the damage was greatly reduced orpletely nullified. Taesan continued his assault and swung his sword. Ka-ga-ga-gak! The damage window appeared in session. The angel counterattacked. The sword was swung, and its foot also moved. It was a difficult-to-avoid attack. [You have activated Counter.] Taesan¡¯s body moved. Moving his body along a trajectory that did not exist in his mind, he evaded the angel¡¯s attack. He stabbed the side of the angel with his aura-rippling sword. [112 damage to Harmon''s angel.] The light descended once again. Taesan ignored it by utilizing Forced Duel. The angel swept the ground. Taesan kicked into the air and thrust his sword into the angel¡¯s neck. The angel threw its fist in response. Unable to move in the air, it looked like Taesan would be hit and sent flying. [You have activated Air Leap.] Kicking the air, he ascended even higher. The fist aimlessly sliced through empty space. Taesan pierced the angel¡¯s head with his sword. He dealt a great amount of damage using powerful and continuous attacks and other attack-rted skills. Ka-ga-ga-gak! He blocked the swinging sword and counterattacked. [112 damage to you.] One could not avoid all attacks. If he sought a perfect battle, Taesan would die from the damage caused by divine power. Small wounds appeared due to the holy aura and attacks that broke through the counter. ¡®I can¡¯t use Solidity.¡¯ Although it was a great skill that halved all damage, it was a one-time use. Considering the ongoing damage from divine power, activating it would only halve the minor damage. Taesan didn¡¯t dodge everything. He had the Endurance skill anyway, so he had an extra life. Narrowly avoiding attacks, he pierced through the angel. And finally, he was able to knock down the angel. ¡°Phew.¡± It was definitely strong. His health had dropped to a dangerous level. Even with the Hand of Plunder, which recovered health each time damage was dealt, the damage was this bad. He was able to knock it down before Endurance was activated, as its health was lower than expected. If it was a bit higher, he was nning to activate Endurance forcibly and fight. Taesan took a breath and pulled out his sword. The beautiful appearance of the angel gradually disappeared. The golden aura that was inside was absorbed by Taesan. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have won against God''s Messenger and acquired a special permanent activation skill, ''Anti-Theology''.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your strength has permanently increased by 32, agility by 22, and intelligence by 1.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have acquired ''Divine Power''.] Chapter 103: Vekveta, Lamb Of The Demon (13) Transcendent skill. Divine Energy. It was the first time he had seen this type of skill. Then there was Anti-Theology. It seemed to be a skill rted to the gods. He wanted to check, but there was something he had to do first. Taesan flew back to the Demon¡¯s Vige. There, he saw countless demons and the captured Asha. ¡°Lord Taesan!¡± Asha brightened up when she saw Taesan. In contrast, the demons¡¯ faces darkened infinitely. ¡°Ha, haha¡­¡± Atunikia let out a wistfulugh. ¡°Has God¡¯s messenger¡­ been defeated?¡± ¡°What will you do now?¡± Atunikia, who was nkly staring at Taesan, opened his mouth. ¡°If only a being like you¡­ hade a little sooner¡­¡± There was a hint of resentment. Atunikia, with a bitter smile, nodded to the demons. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°What? No!¡± Asha tried to stop them hastily, but the demons were quick. They took out the daggers they had been hiding and stabbed their own throats. It was a move that was filled with resignation, without any fear or resistance. Fifty demons died like that. ¡°Ah, Ahhhh!¡± Asha rushed to their corpses, crying aloud. The demons had tried to abandon the god they believed in and originated from, and even attempted to sacrifice their princess. That resolve wouldn¡¯t have been easy. If they failed, they vowed to die, and they kept their promise. The princess nkly looked down at the corpses of her kin. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± A wheezy voice echoed. She couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. It was a hollowugh, an emptiness inside. The kin she found with great effort betrayed her. They betrayed her god. ¡°Lord Taesan¡­¡± Asha, who was reaching out to Taesan, dropped her hand. Taesan was also someone who would eventually leave. He was not someone who could be with her. Now, she waspletely alone. There was no safe ce for her. Taesan asked her. ¡°Do you still believe in your god?¡± Unlike before, Asha couldn¡¯t respond immediately. Bowing her head in despair, she barely opened her mouth. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± She bit her lip. ¡°I still¡­ believe in her.¡± With her wretched words, darkness descended. A deep, deep power spread throughout the world. The darkness swallowed the vige and gently enveloped the corpses of the demons. ¡°Huh?¡± Asha looked up in surprise. The darkness revealed itself in front of her. [My child.] The darkness took on the shape of a little girl and caressed Asha¡¯s cheek. Asha¡¯s eyes fluttered. ¡°Dark¡­Lord?¡± [I''m sorry.] In Lucifer¡¯s voice, there was a deep sense of regret and gratitude. [And thank you. Even when everyone was in despair and abandoned me, you never lost your faith in me. Do you know how much that means to a god?] ¡°Da, Dark Lord?¡± Asha couldn¡¯t suppress her confusion. [A token of my gratitude. My child. I''ll grant whatever you wish for.] Asha¡¯s eyes widened. Lucifer whispered to her. [Do you want revenge? Or do you want to meet your father?] ¡°I¡­¡± Staring nkly up at Lucifer, Asha opened her mouth. ¡°What will happen to those who abandoned you?¡± [They, at least, will not be able to return to me.] Demons originated from the Demon God. Their souls not being able to return to the Demon God meant that they were abandoned by everything. Asha¡¯s tremors subsided. ¡°Then please take them into your embrace. Oh, Great Dark Lord.¡± At Asha¡¯s words, Luciferughed. [I understand.] Darkness enveloped Asha. [Come with me.] And then the darkness exploded. Taesan¡¯s field of vision was dyed entirely ck. When his vision returned, he was in the Demon God¡¯s pce. He had returned to the ce where he first met Lucifer. Lucifer sat regally on her throne, just as she did the first time. The Demon God then opened her mouth. [The quest has been sessful, Kang Taesan.] [Sub Quest Completed.] Thepletion window appeared. ¡°From the start, was this your aim?¡± Where would be a safe ce for Asha? Initially, he thought it was thend where the demons gathered. However, that ce was a trap. At least, in Vekveta, there was no ce for Asha. Thinking about it, it was incredibly simple. The safest ce for demons is by the Demon God¡¯s side, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°If you could have descended, you should have ended it sooner.¡± [I, too, was timing it. The only one who believed in me was the only one left, so there was no need to watch my back. And you made Harmon send down an angel, creating an opening. Everything worked out well.] Lucifer¡¯s lips curled up in what seemed like satisfaction. ¡°Is it over with this?¡± The quest waspleted. But Lucifer shook her head. [It can''t be. You''ve done well. You''ve done more than enough.] A hint of emotion was contained in Lucifer¡¯s gaze towards Taesan. [So I''ll show you something fun.] Lucifer stood up from her throne. At the same time, the pce receded. In an instant, they were standing in an empty space. [Look at that.] Taesan looked in the direction Lucifer pointed. There was a there. A blend of blue, white, and green lights, it was incredibly beautiful. ¡®Space?¡¯ [That''s Vekveta, a world that is no longer mine.] With a chilly smile, Lucifer extended her hand. A tremendous darkness gushed out. It slowly stretched towards Vekveta and eventually wrapped around itpletely. [Uh... ] The ghost seemed to lose its words and groaned. [Here we go.] Lucifer clenched her fist. The darkness condensed and started to crush the star. Then, as if resisting, a golden light burst from the darkness. [This is my world!] A voice full of rage echoed from Vekveta. [This is mine!] [Yes. That is now yours.] Luciferughed wryly and put more force into her fist. [So die with your possession.] Crunch. The star crumbled. The shriveled like a stic bottle deted of air. Groan. Groan. Thepressed star began to shrink even more. The voice full of anger was no longer heard. After a moment, there was no longer anything that could be called a. There was only apressed rock. [It''s really over now.] Lucifer muttered with a relieved expression. Taesan, who had returned to Lucifer¡¯s pce, couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Was there a need to summon me?¡± Literally a monster. She had utterly crushed a star, a. There was nock of resistance either. A being that was likely to be Harmon spewed out golden energy, fiercely resisting. However, it was trampled in an instant by Lucifer¡¯s power. There was a difference in strength as if between a child and an adult. It meant that Lucifer could have handled it herself without needing to summon Taesan. [If I do, everything that''s mine will crumble.] Lucifer, crossing her legs, said in reply. [If I destroy that world, what is mine can''t return to me. Souls, lives, will. All fly away. I hate that so much.] ¡°¡­¡­Is that Asha?¡± [Yes.] Lucifer smiled. [A poor child. And a grateful child. Despite being abandoned and suffering by everyone, she didn''t let go of her feelings for me. It''s not bad to save such a child.] One thought crossed Taesan¡¯s mind. He had heard that hard gems were refined by colliding with each other. The gems broke each other and created beautiful shapes. In the end, many gems were discarded, and only one beautiful gem remained. Lucifer leaned back on her jade throne. [I''ll express my thanks. Kang Taesan. It''s quite rare for me to express gratitude.] ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan erased his thoughts. He didn¡¯t know which was the right answer, but now it was a story unrted to him. [And she also said to say thank you and sorry.] ¡°¡­¡­Is that so.¡± Asha was nestled in Lucifer¡¯s arms. He would never see her again. Taesan quickly sorted out his feelings. Lucifer opened her mouth with a cheerful face. It was an incredibly light attitude for someone who had just destroyed a world. [You''ve satisfactorily cleared my quest. So now I should give you a reward, right?] A ck aura emerged from Lucifer¡¯s hand and entered Taesan. [You have obtained Magic.] [You have learned [Demonic Magic].] A separate power engulfed Taesan. Something ck settled within him. [Check your status window.] Following Lucifer¡¯s words, Taesan opened his status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 45] [Shield: 207/207] [Health: 2400/2400] [Mana: 526/526] [Magic: 10/10] [Strength: 835] [Intelligence: 562] [Agility: 732] [Attack + 93] [Defense + 115] [Subject is in the best condition.] His stats had significantly increased due to level-up and Soul Ascension triggered by defeating an angel. And just below Mana, a new element called Magic was added. [The basic acquisition method is the same as other elements. It increases as the level goes up. But that would be a bit disappointing, wouldn''t it?] Taesan¡¯s level was not low. If it were to increase from here, there was a high chance it would not mean much. [So this is a service.] Power imbued itself in Taesan once more. [You have learned the special active skill [Plunder of Darkness].] [It has a simr effect to the skill Balthasar gave you. Your Magic will gradually increase each time you kill an enemy.] Having such a skill would make the use of Magic much more convenient. Taesan gratefully received it. [And I''ll give you a title.] A seal of darkness was drawn in front of Lucifer. It was then inscribed on the back of Taesan¡¯s hand. [You have acquired the title [One who is Beloved by the Demon God].] Lucifer exined. [If you pray to me, you can learn dark magic. Of course, it''s not free. Like the god of magic, you also have to offer me something. Especially if it''s rted to Magic.] Like the god of magic, the value would rise if it was rted to the deity. [And I''ll give you a little more service.] [You have learned the beginner dark magic [Dekarabia''s Twisted Nutrition].] [You have acquired the basic dark magic [Laum''s Emotional Disturbance].] One beginner dark magic and one basic dark magic. It was an unexpected harvest. He received more than he thought. Taesan expressed his gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Demon God.¡± [Hehe, you''re wee.] The Demon God exhaled through her nose. It was a strangely emotional sight. [Now there''s only one thing left, right?] Taesan nodded his head. Before going to Vekveta, he had asked the Demon God for one more thing, which the Demon God granted. Lucifer then opened her mouth. [The entity that brought ruin to your world. To put it simply, your conjecture was correct. They are beings who were Transcendents from birth, currently known as the High Gods.] Taesan¡¯s eyebrows twitched. He had been expecting it, but hearing the confirmation from a god made him feel quite strange. Lucifer spoke indifferently. [Beings who were strong from birth. Hence, they were those who did not understand the hearts of mortals. At one point, all the gods of the universe were High Gods. We usurped their positions and sealed them. The same goes for me.] Lucifer raised her hand. A dark, intense energy gathered there. [There was a Demon God before me. He was a Demon god from birth. Those who despised their indifferent gods then worshipped a small, young girl, and through various processes, the girl became a god.] Lucifer clenched her fist and grumbled, shattering the darkness. [To regard a child who has not aged as a god. Adults can indeed be irresponsible. Don''t you think so?] ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± [Humph. Boring.] Lucifer grumbled. A High God had trampled upon his world. Naturally, there was something he was curious about. ¡°Why did they trample on our world?¡± [Your question is a bit disrespectful.] Lucifer said calmly. [The world that was trampled upon was not just your world. 258. That''s the number of worlds that have been destroyed by the High Gods.] Chapter 104: Twenty-First Level ¡°Is it that many?¡± [They haven''t trampled on worlds for long. But they''re acting very passionately. 12 years. The time it took for 258 stars to fall.] This meant that even as he was born and grew up on Earth, the worlds were disappearing one by one. Taesan scrunched his face. ¡°Why is that?¡± [I don''t know either. Those who have been defeated are pathetically struggling. What reason would I have to guess why?] Lucifer scoffed. Her face showed disdain for the beings called High Gods. They clearly despised each other. [But there are parts that I can guess.] ¡°¡­What is it?¡± [The fact that they hate us.] Taesan didn¡¯t understand for a moment. It was hard to think that hating the gods was a reason to trample a world. Moreover, Earth was a world where no particr god was visible. Lucifer answered his question. [They hate us. And we settled in thebyrinth. And the adventurerse into thebyrinth from each world.] ¡°¡­So, they want to trample the worlds that have the potential to enter thebyrinth?¡± [Don''t you think it''s a usible story?] Lucifer shrugged her shoulders. [I''m just specting too. Unless you ask directly, you can''t know if it''s really like that.] ¡°But the possibility is high, right?¡± Taesan remained silent. The fact that his world, the Earth, was copsing because of a power struggle among the gods. In the silence, Lucifer opened her mouth. [Do you resent us?] ¡°The scale is toorge to resent.¡± Rather, there were no emotions. Gods were beings that crushed even stars in their hands. It was simr to the feeling that a meteorite falling to Earth was dropped from the stars, colliding with each other. If there was a difference, it¡¯s that there was intelligence in the meteorite. Even if emotions were held in a meteorite, there was no thought of resenting the collided stars. Lucifer spoke quietly. [That''s fortunate.] ¡°But I have more questions.¡± Not all the questions were answered yet. But Lucifer raised her hand to stop Taesan¡¯s question. [That''s all. I can''t tell you anymore.] ¡°Why?¡± [Because you''re not yet qualified. It''s enough service to tell you this much. I can talk about the rest after you''ve gone down further.] There seemed to be a limit to what could be discussed depending on the floor. Taesan was still on the 20th floor. It was close to the starting floors if you were to put it into perspective. ¡°Well, thank you.¡± [Are you leaving?] ¡°Because I have to go down.¡± The business with Lucifer was over. Taesan looked at Lucifer. His gaze conveyed a request to return him to thebyrinth, but Lucifer looked at Taesan nkly. ¡°Lucifer?¡± [You are strong.] Lucifer began to speak out of the blue. [But that''s also a story from the lower floors. The more you go down, the stronger the enemies you encounter, and the trials of the gods are the same. Gods who don''t care if you die will give you harsh trials.] ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡± Even Lee Taeyeon almost died on nearly every floor after passing the 50th. Even without undergoing the divine trials, it was that dangerous, so it was likely to be hazardous for Taesan as well. ¡°Still, I¡¯ll try. You¡¯ve seen me, haven¡¯t you?¡± [Hmm.] Lucifer tapped her cheek. She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly. After a dull moment, Lucifer finally spoke. [There is a way to make it easier.] ¡°Pardon?¡± [A surefire way to be stronger.] She stopped there and looked at Taesan with a grim expression. At her strange gaze, Taesan realized. ¡°Are you suggesting the Apostle¡¯s contract by any chance?¡± [......] Lucifer didn¡¯t speak. Taesan was flustered. That was because Lucifer told him that she wouldn¡¯t give him the Apostle¡¯s contract. She had said she had no intention of giving the Apostle¡¯s position to someone who was not hers. ¡°I appreciate your suggestion, but I¡­¡± [Who said it''s an Apostle''s contract!] As Taesan tried to express his refusal, Lucifer yelled. ¡°Then what is it?¡± [......] Lucifer shut her mouth. She waved her hand nervously. The space split and the path leading to thebyrinth opened. [Go! If you say anything more, I''ll burst your head!] ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Taesan headed towards the opened space. Lucifer, who had been chirping, looked at the back of Taesan¡¯s head and opened her mouth. [And a final favor. You can use my name when you encounter a small fry in thebyrinth.] ¡°¡­¡­Thank you.¡± Taesan entered the space. The world started to turn around. [I suppose it''ll be okay once he gets the hang of it. He knows what a favor is, so he wouldn''t dare to refuse.] With an iprehensible murmur, Taesan arrived in thebyrinth. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± She was a god whose words were iprehensible until the end. Taesan looked around. It was the familiar sight of thebyrinth, which he had missed. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan sat down on the ground. He was in thebyrinth after a long time. It felt asfortable as returning home. Having been with Asha, he had built up a bit of fatigue, so he took a rest for about two hours. It was then that the ghost managed to recover from the shock since it murmured with a trembling voice. [Are the gods... so strong?] ¡°Didn¡¯t you know?¡± [I knew they were strong. But I never imagined they could squish stars.] The ghost gave a bitterugh. [Well, my past self feels shameful.] ¡°I also felt a little suffocated.¡± Taesan had set the goal to be as strong as the gods. However, their real power was at the level of crushing stars. They didn¡¯t even exert much power, so it was hard to estimate. To catch up with that. At least for now, it was an infinitely remote goal. ¡°But that¡¯s a story forter.¡± Just as Lucifer had said, he was still a yer of the loweryers. There was no reason to give up already. He had received numerous rewards for clearing Lucifer¡¯s quest. Taesan slowly began to verify them. £ÛSpecial always-on skill: Anti-Theology£Ý £ÛProficiency: 2%£Ý £ÛThe will to resist towards the gods. When facing entities directly rted to gods, all stats increase. Willpower is not easily broken.] A skill gained from dealing with Harmon¡¯s angel. It was fittingly a stat increase when facing entities rted to gods. He didn¡¯t know to what extent, but a stat increase was always wee. The skill would be useful as the number of god-rted entities would not decrease in the future. The skill he gained from defeating the angel was not just Anti-Theology. £ÛDivine Power£Ý £ÛProficiency: 0%£Ý £ÛThe power of God. It is the grace bestowed when someone believes and follows. It doesn''t seem to mean anything yet.] ¡°What could this be?¡± £ÛWho knows.£Ý The ghost also showed an ambiguous expression. £ÛDivine power is the power bestowed by God. In the end, it''s a power that someone has to give, so what would it do by possessing it?£Ý ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He would keep it for now. A day woulde when he could make use of it. And the purpose of epting Lucifer¡¯s quest. ck magic. [ck Magic£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛYou can use the magic of Demons. Use magic power to utilize ck Magic. The power and range vary depending on the magic power consumed. It seems that only basic power can be drawn for now.] The description was a bit different from magic. The most different point was that the power and range varied ording to the consumed magic power. Taesan checked the ck magic he had acquired by defeating Jagan. £ÛElementary ck Magic: Marabas''s False me£Ý £ÛMana Consumption: 13£Ý £ÛBasic Magic Power Consumption: 5£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛMarabas the Demon. It summons an entity in the form of the mes that Marabas uses. The temperature, which can melt the sun, is quite furious, likely cooling ice and the like.] Unlike normal magic, it was written as basic magic power consumption. It meant that if he wanted, he could consume more magic power. ¡®Is it more free to utilize?¡¯ While magic could be changed by magic explosion and magic eleration, no influence could be given to the magic itself. Frost Arrow was Frost Arrow, no matter what he did. ck Magic seemed a little different. Taesan continued to check the acquired skills. £ÛSpecial Always-on Skill: Pige of Darkness£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛThe energy of darkness is engraved in you. Every time you kill an enemy, you steal the darkness they possess.] Lucifer had said that it was simr to the Proof of Victory from Balthasar. The fact that magic power naturally increased without him paying attention to it was a good thing. £ÛTitle: The One Who Receives the Demon God''s Favor£Ý £ÛA kind of proof given only to those they cherish. You can use and learn ck magic. It is the first time a human who is not a demon has received this.] £ÛMagic Power + 5£Ý The title was ordinary. It seemed to be a kind of proof that allowed him to learn ck magic from now on. Andstly, the two ck magics that Lucifer gave as a service. £ÛElementary ck Magic: Decarabia''s Distorted Life£Ý £ÛMana Consumption: 12£Ý £ÛBasic Magic Power Consumption: 6£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛA demon, Decarabia, summons a distorted life. It seems that only pieces of roots that swallowed stars can be summoned.£Ý This was the ck magic that Jagan had used. In the darkness, countless tree roots sprang out, restricting movement. £ÛBasic ck Magic: Raum''s Emotional Maniption£Ý £ÛMana Consumption: 7£Ý £ÛBasic Magic Power Consumption: 3£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛA demon, Raum''s emotional interference is used. It shows a dreadful illusion to the person who has been used. It seems to only show illusions within the range of human imagination for now.£Ý ¡°Is this the end?¡± This was all he had obtained for now. Taesan, who was organizing, realized something btedly. ¡°I had this too.¡± The golden dragon Balbenares had given him his own w. Its color was also gold. £ÛGolden Dragon''s w£Ý £ÛIt is a part of the one who guards the world. It seems that only an exceptional person can handle it.] There was one cksmith he knew. Taesan went up thebyrinth. The shop owner looked surprised when he saw Taesan. ¡°Did you¡­ meet with the Demon God?¡± ¡°Do you know?¡± ¡°I can feel the power. It¡¯s rare for the Demon God to acknowledge someone other than a demon¡­¡± The surprised shop owner¡¯s gaze went to the back of Taesan¡¯s hand. There, the Demon God¡¯s emblem was drawn. The shop owner nodded as if he understood. ¡°They did a branding. I didn¡¯t expect even the Demon God to do that?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad news for you.¡± The shop owner waved his hand. Apprehensively, Taesan went down and met the cksmith. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I was wondering if this could be refined.¡± Taesan held out the golden dragon¡¯s w. Hafran¡¯s pupils, which had been calmly gazing at him, grewrger. ¡°¡­¡­where did you get this?¡± ¡°Not from thebyrinth, but from elsewhere. I got it while clearing a quest. Is it possible to refine?¡± Hafran groaned. He fumbled with the w with a face full of admiration. ¡°There is something like this¡­¡­ it¡¯s interesting. If you¡¯re asking if it¡¯s possible, it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Is there a condition attached?¡± Hafran nodded his head. ¡°Thew is that if the core ingredient is a dragon¡¯s w, then simr levels are required for other things. You might be able to barely get one if you go down about 10 more floors.¡± It couldn¡¯t be used right away. He epted it calmly because he had expected this. Lee Taeyeon also used several pieces of equipment rted to dragons, most of which were part of her equipment when she came out of thebyrinth. It meant that it was equipment that could be obtained when clearing the Solo Mode. ¡°Then keep it. I¡¯ll bring it when I find the ingredients.¡± ¡°I should be the one thanking you.¡± Hafran looked at the w with joyful eyes. With a nk look in his eyes, Taesan did not interfere any further and came down. Finally, it was the 21st floor. ording to Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words, different monsters appeared on the 21st floor. ¡®Spirits.¡¯ Those were the monsters from the 21st to the 30th floor. Chapter 105: Twenty First Level - Mad Spirit (1) As he descended, Taesan opened themunity. It had been quite a long time since he had entered into Vekveta. It was enough time for some changes to have happened for the other Solo Mode yers. £ÛKang Taesan£ÛSolo£Ý: Are you alive?£Ý £ÛLee Taeyeon£ÛSolo£Ý: Huh?£Ý £ÛKang Junhyeok£ÛSolo£Ý: What. I thought you had gone away since you hadn''t said anything.£Ý £ÛKang Taesan£ÛSolo£Ý: I was somewhere for a while. So what''s up?£Ý As Taesan had predicted, Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon were descending quickly. £ÛKang Taesan£ÛSolo£Ý: Did you reach the 6th floor?£Ý £ÛLee Taeyeon£ÛSolo£Ý: Yes. I''m currently dealing with Lizard Men. The swamp is annoying, but it''s somewhat manageable.£Ý Lee Taeyeon posted calmly. She seemed more mature, perhaps because she had passed the trials of Balthasar. £ÛKang Taesan£ÛSolo£Ý: Come down quickly. I have something to tell you on the 8th floor.£Ý On the 8th floor was the God of Trials, Oman. His trial was very safe as one could voluntarily give up. It was a trial worth discussing with them. £ÛLee Taeyeon£ÛSolo£Ý: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Taesan.£Ý After that, they chatted about various things. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok asked Taesan about this and that, as they had a lot of questions for him. As someone who had gone deeper than them, they seemed curious about the information on the lower floors. Taesan answered these questions. Naturally, stories about other yers came up as well. £ÛKang Taesan£ÛSolo£Ý: Now there are several people who have cleared the 2nd floor.£Ý £ÛLee Taeyeon£ÛSolo£Ý: Yes. ...Although there are also many who have died.£Ý Clearing the 2nd floor. It was a very fast andrge numberpared to before. But it was still far from clearing thebyrinth. No matter how hard one tried, the 20th floor would be the limit. It was virtually impossible for most of them to descend to the end of thebyrinth. Unless a special method came out, one could not return to Earth except at the time of forced return. £ÛKang Taesan£ÛSolo£Ý: Then take care.£Ý Taesan closed themunity and arrived at the 20th floor. In the safe zone, there was Lilis. ¡°Huh? You¡¯re alive? I thought you were dead when I didn¡¯t see you for a while.¡± ¡°I had somewhere to go.¡± ¡°Phew. That¡¯s a relief. You can¡¯t die yet. There¡¯s still a lot to do.¡± Lilis waved her hand with a bright smile. ¡°See you next time!¡± Ignoring her farewell, Taesan headed for the boss room on the 20th floor. In there was the Guide of Sin, Gagorat, whom he had saved. ¡°¡­¡­You have arrived.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Taesan nodded. Gagorat swallowed his saliva. ¡°Now¡­ are you going to go down?¡± ¡°I have to.¡± The reason he came into thebyrinth was for conquest. Gagorat smirked and said. ¡°Then I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°About the Guides of Sin on the 21st floor?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan had detained the Guides of Sin and received their agreement to not pass on Taesan¡¯s information further below. But that was only an agreement he received from adventurers up to the 20th floor, the 2nd tier adventurers. The ce he was going to next was the 21st floor, where the 3rd-tier adventurers were. ¡°3rd tier adventurers will think you are strong, but they believe you are dead. So it will be troublesome when you meet them.¡± The one thought to be dead had appeared alive. If the 3rd tier adventurers realized that the 2nd tier adventurers had lied, they would immediately inform the headquarters. Then, it would be the end. There was no way for Taesan to defeat the core members of the headquarters that had gone down to the depths. So, Gagorat intended to suggest a way for Taesan to avoid the adventurers. ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± However, Taesan did not listen to Gagorat¡¯s words. Surprised, Gagorat urgently tried to exin. ¡°Do you n to kill them all? That¡¯s not good. If the Guides of Sin dies, the information is automatically ryed to the headquarters. They wille down then.¡± They shouldn¡¯t be encountered. They shouldn¡¯t be killed, either. ¡°Above all, even for you, Taesan, the adventurers of the 3rd tier¡­ are not weak.¡± Jagan died at Taesan¡¯s hand, but it wasn¡¯t because he was weak. It wasrgely due to the fact that he underestimated Taesan and let his guard down. If many from the 3rd tier attacked, Taesan was in great danger as well. ¡°The correct answer is to avoid them.¡± ¡°I know, but I have no ns to avoid them.¡± Avoiding the adventurers. It was not impossible. Unlike the 2nd tier, they, who didn¡¯t need to look for new adventurers, were likely to gather in one ce. So, all he had to do was somehow pass through that ce. However, passing through unnoticed was equivalent to giving up rewards. Taesan had no intention of suffering unnecessary losses. Desperate, Gagorat tried to stop him in any way he could. If Taesan rampaged, it would also be known that he had conveyed falsehoods. Then, his life was over, too. As Gagorat was trying to persuade him, Taesan spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared a way.¡± ¡°A way¡­¡­ you say?¡± ¡°Yeah. So stay put. Don¡¯t try to interfere needlessly.¡± With a warning, Taesan descended to the 21st floor. [This is a ce beyond the entrance to thebyrinth.] [There are things here that do not die when stabbed with a sword and do not fall when magic is cast. This is a space where darkness and light are mixed.] [Starting 21st floor quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 21st floor and pass.] [Reward: Spirit Stone] [Secret Reward: ???] The 21st floor. A ce the adventurers referred to as the 3rd tier. This was a level that could now be said to be separate from the starting floors, and Taesan knew what appeared here. Taesan prated thebyrinth. Upon opening the door, he felt a surge of heat. [A low-ranking fire spirit of thebyrinth has appeared.] There was a wavering sphere of me in the air. Taesan drew his sword. Spirits. Lee Taeyeon had mentioned their appearance. She said that if he went further, things like spirit kings woulde out, but that was a story forter. While Taesan was recalling the things she had said, the spirit detected Taesan. The body of the spirit swelled, and then balls of me were shot out like a shotgun. Taesan kicked the ground and flew into the air. He charged at the spirit through an aerial leap and struck it with his sword. But no damage window appeared. The split spirit rbined once again. ¡®As expected.¡¯ It was as Lee Taeyeon had told him. Taesan didn¡¯t panic and distanced himself. Lee Taeyeon had said that physical attacks did not work on spirits. She had tried all sorts of methods, but they did not work, so she had said that he should find another way to handle it. Taesan swung his sword a few more times after that, but it didn¡¯t work. It was the same even when he used a skill. As Lee Taeyeon said, physical attacks didn¡¯t seem to work. ¡®Then, how about this?¡¯ A blue light rose from Taesan¡¯s sword. The power gained from Vekveta. With the sword filled with aura, he split the spirit in half. Fizz. The form of the spirit distorted for a moment but soon returned to its original state. ¡®It¡¯s not working either.¡¯ Taesan distanced himself and activated Frost Arrow and zing Orb. Both fire and ice pierced the fire spirit. Again, it did not work. The spirit was floating as it had been at the start. ¡®Just as she exined.¡¯ When entering the 21st floor, it was noted that enemies here did not fall even when magic was used. He had tried it simply because it was easier to understand when verified directly. There was a separate way to deal with spirits. And Taesan knew that method. He was thinking of using what he had before that. ¡®I don¡¯t know how to use holy power, so how about this?¡¯ [You activated the False mes of Marbas.] With no particr expectation, Taesan activated the dark magic. There was no reason why dark magic should work when magic didn¡¯t. A me-shaped substance was poured onto the spirit. [106 damage to the low-ranking fire spirit of thebyrinth.] Woo, woo, woo! The spirit quivered as if in pain. Taesan was surprised at the damage window. ¡°Damage is applied?¡± [It''s simple.] The ghost answered Taesan¡¯s question. [Spirits are lifeforms from nature. Therefore, attacks derived from nature do not work. Even aura doesn''t work because it is ultimately something that gods bestowed upon the world. But ck magic originates from demons.] ¡°So because it¡¯s not natural, the damage is applied?¡± [It''s a bit moreplicated, but the basic concept is that. That''s why I heard that demons descend past the 3rd tier a bit morefortably.] The conclusion was that ck magic could take down spirits. Taesan invoked his ck magic again. This time, he used all the magic power he possessed. [You have activated the False mes of Marbas.] mes erupted. The spirit tried to avoid it, but the fake mes that swept the entire room couldn¡¯t be avoided. Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo! [302 damage to the low-ranking fire spirit of thebyrinth.] [You have won against the low-ranking fire spirit of thebyrinth.] [You''ve obtained the spirit''s core.] ¡°It worked.¡± It was an unexpected victory. Taesan quickly began to assess the situation. ¡°Still, it¡¯s not at the level to be useful.¡± His current magic power was too low. He had just barely taken one down by using all his magic power, so he couldn¡¯t descend into thebyrinth with this. ¡®I¡¯ll have to move as per Taeyeon¡¯s information.¡¯ Taesan broke through the rooms of thebyrinth. Fire spirits appeared from time to time, but he ignored them all and broke through. Due to the basic difference in stats, he could pass without any problems. Soon, Taesan was able to reach the peripheral room. [You know well. I don''t even need to tell you. The strategy for the 21st floor is just this.] Whether he was now familiar with it, the ghost was not surprised. Spirits were immune to both physical and magical powers. Taesan could defeat them because he had ck magic, but it was closer to a workaround. So there was another way. Taesan opened the door to the outskirts. A madughter came. [Hehe! Hehehe! Hehe!] A white spirit was spinning in the middle of the room. With a design like a simplified character, it could be called cute, but in contrast, the madughter that came out of it was eerie. [Hehe! A guest! Hello!] [You have encountered the crazed spirit.] [Hello! Nice to meet you!] The white spirit shouted with augh of madness. Taesan calmly opened his mouth. ¡°I want to descend into thebyrinth.¡± [Go down?] The spirit tilted its head. It was a face that didn¡¯t fully understand Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°I want to take down the spirits to do that.¡± [Spirits? Take down?] A deep hatred shed across the spirit¡¯s eyes for a moment. [Take them down! Take down the ones who abandoned me! Kill and take from those who said I''m not normal!] The white spirit shouted out furiously. He cried out with a face full of madness and hatred. [This one never changes.] The ghost clicked his tongue. He seemed to have encountered the white spirit before as well. The crazed white spirit waved his hand. [Straight ahead five, third on the left! There''s a hidden room there! There''s a golem made by the king who abandoned me! Avoid it and bring the hidden core! Then I''ll give you power!] [Sub-quest start.] [The crazed spirit hates everything that made him this way. The spirit wants you to bring back the fountain of nature that the golem is guarding.] [Reward: Skill to attack spirits.] Chapter 106: Twenty First Level - The Crazed Spirit (2) [Take care! I''ll be waiting!£Ý Taesan left the room, bidding the spirit farewell. ¡°Is it just¡­ like that?¡± It waspletely different from any other NPC he had seen. Lee Taeyeon also said that the spirit she had seen was just mad, and the ghost seemed to think the same based on its past encounters. [It was the same when I was there. It''s simply a mad being. Its role is to teach how to deal with the spirits on the 21st floor. That''s it. Once the quest is over, you''ll never have to see it again.£Ý Lee Taeyeon had the same experience. She never saw the crazed spirit again after learning how to counteract spirits from it. ¡®But is that really true?¡¯ NPCs were beings that made a trade with the archwizard. That spirit must havee here wanting something. Whatever that was was still unknown. Following the spirit¡¯s instructions, Taesan moved straight into the fifth room. He then moved to the left three more times. The room was empty. On the wall, there was a single brick that didn¡¯t have moss. From the 21st floor onwards, it seemed like nature had taken over, with all the walls covered in green nts. That must be the room the spirit was talking about. Click. Upon pressing the brick, a passage opened. Taesan began descending the stairs. Rumbling¡­ The floor echoed. Taesan activated his invisibility and silenced his footsteps. A secret room appeared at the end of the stairs, and inside was a massive golem made of stone. [The me Spirit King''s Ember Golem has appeared.] Oooong. Behind the golem was a small, greenish spring. With its red eyes, the golem seemed to guard the spring, its gaze moving to and fro. ¡®It¡¯s powerful.¡¯ Taesan could feel an immense power emanating from the golem. A force that felt like it could burn everything in its path. It was probably the power given to it by the Spirit King. Though it may only possess that single ability, its strength was undeniable. The golem was well beyond the level any yer on the 21st floor could handle. Taesan went up the stairs and asked the ghost, ¡°How did you manage it?¡± [Me? I simply ignored it and moved on. The golem stops functioning for exactly one minute a day. If you fetch water from the spring during that time, you''re done.] It was a sure solution. Lee Taeyeon probably did the same to fetch water from the spring. It was like a predefined answer. However, Taesan had no intention of taking that route. ¡°Is it even possible?¡± [It''s not impossible... but it could be quite risky.] ¡°Then that¡¯s the right way to do it.¡± The reward from thebyrinth diminished significantly the moment you descended to the next level. Even if you became stronger and returned, you wouldn¡¯t get the full reward. Taesan deactivated his invisibility and descended the stairs. The golem¡¯s eyes lit up upon spotting him. Wooong. Its massive arm swung. Taesan dodged the descending arm with a leap, thrusting his sword towards it. Kagang! [0 damage dealt to the Ember Golem created by the me Spirit King.] ¡°I keep running into enemies that my attacks don¡¯t work ontely.¡± Taesan muttered in frustration, distancing himself. For golems, their core was their vulnerability, and piercing through that was the orthodox approach. ¡°Since the spirit created this golem, is its core also made of spirit?¡± [Probably so?] Without the skill to confront spirits, obtained from the quest to acquire such skills, the enemy was unbeatable. [Do you think I just passed by for nothing? There was no way to confront it at all. You might be a bit different, though.] A blue aura formed around Taesan¡¯s sword. The aura struck the golem¡¯s arm, leaving a small mark. [47 damage dealt to the Ember Golem created by the me Spirit King.] ¡°As expected.¡± The aura had a defense pration effect. Taesan slowly began to wear down the golem. The golem retracted its arm and swung it. With a sound like air bursting, the arm brutally swept across the room. [Your First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] Taesan clearly dodged the golem¡¯s attack. The shockwave alone from the attack caused damage, indicating how powerful the golem¡¯s attack was. ¡®If I were hit directly, I¡¯d surely be done for.¡¯ The golem retracted its arm and swung again. Its trajectory was very much the same as before. While the golem was undoubtedly strong and tough, it was essentially a chunk of rock. Its movements weren¡¯t fluid, so its attack patterns were somewhat predictable. Taesan dodged a few times, recognizing all of the golem¡¯s attack patterns, and then charged directly. Kagak. The sword shed, sending stone fragments from the golem flying. The golem raised its arm high. When it made that movement, it would strike downwards. Taesan, having discerned this from past encounters, swiftly moved to the side and struck its nk. This time, the golem pulled back its arm for a direct thrust. Taesan swiftly ducked. Observing the movements and predicting the subsequent attacks, he acted ordingly. The watching ghost was awestruck. Know the strategy, understand the countermeasures, and then repeat. It sounded easy, but executing it in reality was another story. Those who believed they knew everything often died due to a tiny, unexpected variable. After all, strategy involved repetition, and repetition would wear down one¡¯s spirit. During theborious repetition that spans hundreds, thousands, or perhaps even days, one¡¯s mental strength could easily crumble. In fact, those who knew more often faltered. It wasn¡¯t unusual to see someone do well on their first try when they knew nothing, only to falter on their second attempt when they had gained some knowledge. However, Taesan moved and attacked like a machine without any hesitation or error in his movements. [It''s like watching someone from the Machine Race.] An admiring murmur came from the ghost, but Taesan didn¡¯t hear it. He was too focused on devising a strategy against the golem. Two hours passed this way, and without allowing even a single effective hit against him, Taesan defeated the golem. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your strength permanently increased by 34, agility by 22, and health by 102.] [You obtained 1,861G.] [You obtained a Fragment of the Spirit King.] [You obtained the Ore that Protects the Core.] [Through consistent repetitive tasks without faltering, you''ve achieved results multiple times. You''ve obtained the continuous activation skill: "Tenacity."] [The proficiency of "Insight" has reached 100%. "Insight" has evolved into the special activation skill "Reconnaissance."] A smile crept onto Taesan¡¯s lips. Atst, he acquired ¡°Tenacity¡±. Also, ¡°Insight¡± evolved into ¡°Reconnaissance¡±. Both were skills absolutely necessary for Taesan¡¯s n. [Continuous Activation Special Skill: Tenacity] [Proficiency: 1%] [Efficiency improves in repetitive tasks.] Such a straightforward, simple description. The effect was simple, too. Literally, when performing repetitive tasks, one would receive bonuses for various things. If one were to repeatedly swing a sword, they¡¯d experience an eleration in proficiency. If one were to mine ore repeatedly, the speed of mining would increase. Up to this point, it didn¡¯t seem all that remarkable¡ªjust a decent skill to have on hand. However, for Taesan, this skill was absolutely necessary. ¡°I finally have everything I need.¡± Main skills. Attack Nullification, Endurance, Forced Duel, and so on. Skills that, even if you only had one, could overpower opponents of the same stats. Among them, there was a skill called ¡°Addition¡± that literally doubled the damage. The term ¡®double¡¯ was meant in the most direct sense. Increased power from a counter, from continuous attacks, and from a critical strike. All that power was doubled. The ¡°Add On¡± skill used by hardcore yers added half of the basic attack power. Though it was far inferiorpared to ¡°Addition¡±, considering the few who possessed even ¡°Add On¡±, ¡°Addition¡± was an iparable skill. And to acquire ¡°Addition¡±, one absolutely needed ¡°Tenacity¡±. Now, he had everything he needed. Of course, it wasn¡¯t something he could obtain immediately. A specific situation was required to acquire ¡°Addition¡±. However, it wouldn¡¯t take that long. Happily, Taesan checked his other skills. [Special Activation Skill: Reconnaissance] [Proficiency: 1%] [An evolved form of Insight. Allows one to know strategic information about the target.] Taesan immediately looked at the ghost. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] The ghost¡¯s information was disyed. [Buried One] [Status: Ghost] [The one entrusted with dreams.] Beneath the ¡°Ghost,¡± an unfamiliar phrase appeared. The biggest change as ¡°Insight¡± evolved into ¡°Reconnaissance¡± was the ability to adjust its activation. When activating Reconnaissance towards an opponent or within a room, the information of the opponent would be revealed, and one could understand the hidden elements within the room. It was a valuable skill, as one could detect things like traps in advance. Using it on an opponent would reveal general information, as well as strengths and weaknesses, making it easier to strategize. [I also only managed to acquire Reconnaissance after passing the 50th floor. You''re really fast.] The ghost expressed admiration. Being one who had ventured deep into thebyrinth, the ghost was well aware of the value of Reconnaissance in this ce. [Tenacity? That''s the first time I''ve seen it.] In contrast, the ghost didn¡¯t show much reaction toward ¡°Tenacity¡±. It wasn¡¯t exactly an impressive skill. All it did was increase efficiency in repetitive tasks. It wasn¡¯t that significant. The reaction would likely change once the ghost realized the ability to acquire ¡°Addition¡±. Taesan checked his rewards. [Ore Guarding the Core] [A special ore that guarded the Golem''s core. It can be refined.] This seemed like something that should be handed over to the cksmith. And there was one more thing. [Fragment of the Spirit King] [Contains a portion of the power the Spirit King held. All spirits would desire it.] Spirits desired it. The crazed spirit would probably be no different. Taesan took a small sample of the spring water. He then returned to the deranged spirit toplete his quest. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Deranged White Spirit] [Status: Unstable] [A child longing forpleteness and desiring revenge.] Information about the spirit appeared. The spirit greeted him with a smile. [You''re here! How did it go?] ¡°Here.¡± Taesan handed over the sample. Upon receiving the sample, the spirit beamed, opening its arms wide. [It''s done! With this, I can regain a bit of mypleteness!] The white spirit touched the spring water. It was then absorbed into the spirit¡¯s body. Taesan felt the energy within the spirit rise. But it was truly minuscule. It seemed like it would take hundreds of years topletely fill up. The spirit, smiling, reached out to Taesan. [Good! I''ll give it to you!] [You have cleared the spirit''s quest. You have acquired the passive skill [Spirit Strike].] A passive skill. Spirit Strike. The effect wasn¡¯t very significant. It simply meant that he could now attack spirits. [Thank you! Take care!] The spirit waved its hand. As it was bidding farewell, Taesan opened his inventory. ¡°And I also got this.¡± [Fragment of the Spirit King] As Taesan took out the fragment, the spirit froze. For the first time, the continuous smile on its face disappeared. [...You defeated the Golem?] Taesan nodded. The spirit, with a trembling face, reached out. [Let me see it for a moment.] Taesan handed it over obediently. Lost in thoughts touching the fragment, the spirit suddenly let out a soft chuckle. [Hee, hee-hee! Heeheehee!] A madughter echoed, but unlike before, it now had a clear radiance. [You! I like you!] The spirit leaned closer to Taesan¡¯s face. [You''re different from the other visitors! You''re incredible! You can help me!] The spirit began to dance. Taesan watched with a wary gaze. [Will you help me, impressive guest?] [Hoo?] At the spirit¡¯s words, the ghost¡¯s demeanor changed, showing interest. It became certain. The deranged spirit wasn¡¯t just a non-yable character (NPC) that granted a skill to deal with spirits. There was another quest. The requirement was hunting the golem. Taesan nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± [Then gather cores for me! Cores that can make me aplete spirit! With that, I''ll be magnificent!] Along with its madness, the quest window popped up. [Sub Quest Initiated] [The deranged spirit wishes to alleviate its instability and yearns to be grander. It entrusts you with this task.] [Reward: Everything that the deranged spirit can offer.] Chapter 107: Twenty First Level - The Crazed Spirit (3) [Will you ept it?] Taesan nodded his head. There was no reason to decline the quest. Especially when it was a quest that no one else had received. A quest that a typical adventurer couldn¡¯t receive implied that the reward might be very promising. [Heehee! Good!] The white spirit burst outughing. [I''ll be powerful! I will kill them and absorb them, bingplete!] ¡°So, how should we proceed? Start by exining.¡± [There are many steps involved!] The spirit said,ughing merrily. [I am very unstable! So, first, I need to be made safe! After that, I must be madeplete, and then I need to gather power!] The spirit excitedly raised its arms. [So, first things first, defeat the master of the 21st floor! Kill it and bring to me its core!] ¡°Understood.¡± The first quest was one that would naturally bepleted once Taesan progressed through thebyrinth. Taesan immediately left the room. Behind him, the spirit continued tough maniacally. [I will take my revenge!] Leaving behind the voice filled with madness and hatred, Taesan stepped outside. The ghost murmured in surprise, [Was defeating the golem a condition for an additional quest... It was a quest that can''t typically be acquired. Why did they create such a thing?] The golem¡¯s core belonged to the spirit; it was imprable. Because of its durability and speed, it was impossible to defeat without surpassing the average stats of adventurers from the 21st to the 30th floor. For Taesan, this was an exception; objectively, it was a quest that couldn¡¯t be epted from the beginning. ¡°Perhaps they desired someone of that caliber.¡± Because adventurers wished for a level like Taesan¡¯s, it was possible that the gods had chosen this ce. At thatment, the ghost fell silent. [That''s... a terrifying thought.] ¡°It¡¯s an impossibility from the start.¡± The ghost, who was highly regarded within thebyrinth, couldn¡¯t hide its admiration for Taesan. For most, to reach Taesan¡¯s level was nearly impossible. A spirit appeared before Taesan. Taesan swung his sword. With a trail of afterimages, the spirit was torn to shreds. The reason he couldn¡¯t defeat the spirit before wasn¡¯t because his attacks were ineffective or his stats were insufficient. After breezing through without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he found an empty room with nothing inside. [You''ve activated Reconnaissance.] From Taesan¡¯s perspective, one brick seemed to stand out. When Taesan pressed the brick, a secret room opened. [It''s truly convenient to have Reconnaissance.] Having the ability to activate intuition made it unnecessary for him to tediously search for secret rooms. Taesan entered the secret room, disarmed the traps, and obtained his reward. [You''ve obtained the Staff of Lightning.] [Staff of Lightning] [A staff used by intermediate magicians. Can use the beginner magic [Lightning Strike].] It had been a while since he obtained a staff. However, unlike the Staff of mes from before, this wasn¡¯t basic magic but beginner magic. He immediately activated magic extraction and acquired it. [You''ve learned the beginner magic [Lightning Strike].] [Beginner Magic: Lightning Strike] [Mana Consumption: 6] [Proficiency: 1%] [A lightning strikes from above the target''s head. This attack is unavoidable unless the target moves faster than the lightning. It inflicts greater damage on enemies without immunity. Tries to afflict the target with the status ailment [Electrocution].] Guides of Sin. It was the magic that Josepi had used on him. It had no effect due to the presence of attack nullification, but its instantaneous nature made it quite tricky. Wanting to test it out, he moved to another room and cast it on a spirit. [You have activated Lightning Strike.] [75 damage to the Intermediate me Spirit of the Maze.] ¡°The damage is a bit low.¡± Being instantaneous, it indeed dealt less damagepared to zing Orb or Frost Arrow. However, its merity in being an undodgeable magic while in motion. Taesan headed towards the boss room on the 21st floor. [An Intermediate me Spirit of the Maze appeared.] It was not a low-level, but an intermediate spirit. It was considerablyrger, and the me¡¯s color was much richer. The spirit scattered flickering embers towards Taesan. The embers fluttered around the room like snow. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] A surge of extreme cold was spread through the air. Thanks to it, the embers somewhat lost their potency. Taesan charged directly at the intermediate spirit. Embers hit his entire body, but the damage was rtively less potent due to the Frost Arrow surrounding him. Taesan manifested his aura. [176 damage to the Intermediate me Spirit of the Maze.] The intermediate spirit resisted, creating a barrier of me to block the attack, and tried to push Taesan away. Taesan continuously broke through its defenses, attacking the spirit, and in no time, he was able to bring it down. [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Permanently increased Strength by 15, Agility by 11, Intelligence by 5, and Health by 55.] [Acquired me Ember.] [Acquired the Core of the Labyrinth''s Intermediate me Spirit.] ¡°Is the 21st floor only this challenging?¡± It was simpler than he thought. He was already strong, and ever since he finished with Vekveta, both his aura and stats increased. It was expected, but the simplicity was still a bit disappointing. In the end, all he could look forward to were the Trials of the Gods, Named Monsters, and the Guides of Sin. Feeling a bit regretful, he opened his stat window. Whenever he defeated an enemy or leveled up, his magic power increased. He was curious about how much it had grown. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 49] [Shield: 251/251] [Health: 2850/2850] [Mana: 551/551] [Magic: 27/27] [Strength: 984] [Intelligence: 643] [Agility: 821] [Attack Power + 93] [Defense + 115] [The subject is in optimal condition.] His magic power had increased by 10. His level rose by 4, he cleared one room, and even defeated a golem, resulting in an increase of 10. He couldn¡¯t discern if this was high or low. He would know once he encountered other demon races. Taesan checked the reward for clearing the 21st floor. [Spirit Gem] [A bead infused with the spirit''s energy. It seems it would be useful if taken to the cksmith.] [me Ember] [An ember of me. If you bring it to the cksmith and make a request, he can imbue a weapon with a fire attribute.] Since he had met the cksmith on a previous floor, the rewards rted to forging and refining seemed to gradually appear more often. [Core of the Labyrinth''s Intermediate me Spirit] [A core of the spirit. It seems that if someone unstable absorbs it, they might achieve stability.] This seemed like an item for a spirit quest. And there was still a secret reward left. [??? was used.] [Acquired the Skill Level Increase Potion.] ¡°Ohh!¡± It was the long-awaited Skill Level Increase Potion. A potion that increases one¡¯s skill proficiency by 5%. Considering that Lilis said she would even cut off her finger for a mere 1 or 2% increase, this was of incredible value. Having gathered everything, Taesan went back to the crazy spirit. ¡°Here you go.¡± [Hehe! Good! I like you!] The spirit burst intoughter and bit into the spirit core. A wave of power, almost like a scream, emanated from the core. [Hehehe!] The white spirit gathered the emerging power with itsughter. When the waves subsided, a significant amount of power had built up inside the white spirit. [The first quest of the frenzied spirit has beenpleted.] [Thanks! Now, the next is the 23rd floor! Go straight to the fourth spot and then turn right five times! There''s a hidden room there! Defeat its master ande back!] Having received the next quest, Taesan left the room. Heading back up to the 20th floor, he found the cksmith Hafran. Hafran had said he would move every 5 floors, and he had kept his word. ¡°Can these be refined?¡± Taesan handed over the ore containing the core, the me Ember, and the Spirit Gem. Hafran briefly nced at the Spirit Gem and me Ember. ¡°You brought these?¡± He wasn¡¯t particrly surprised by the Spirit Gem and me Ember, perhaps because they were standard clear rewards. However, upon seeing the ore containing the core, his pupils dted. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something I obtained from a golem said to be made by the Spirit King. Can you craft it?¡± ¡°A golem¡­ the one guarding the Green Spring? You managed to defeat it?¡± Hafran was impressed as Taesan nodded. ¡°I can craft it. Would you like an exnation?¡± ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that.¡± ¡°The me Ember, as the name implies, can grant a weapon the fire attribute. It enhances the weapon¡¯s attack power and may cause burn effects on hits. There isn¡¯t really a downside.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s like an enhancement te of the Rune of Marnius?¡± ¡°Something like that. If you use the Spirit Gem as a material for equipment crafting, it can provide resistance and benefits against specific attributes. And this¡­¡± Hafran looked at the ore containing the core with a vague expression. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about this. It feels like I¡¯d need to craft it firsthand to know.¡± ¡°Then please craft it.¡± Equipment crafting, that was what the cksmith was for. Hafran stroked his chin. ¡°I should typically charge for materials, but¡­ since this is my first time handling something like this, I¡¯ll do it for free. Do you want me to use this too?¡± ¡°As you wish? You can use it now orter.¡± The Spirit Gem. It was a valuable material, but not critically necessary. Taesan was aiming for the equipment the shop owner sold, so there was a high chance he¡¯d discard it anyway. ¡°Then craft it in the form of armor. It should be an enjoyable experience.¡± With a pleased expression, Hafran gathered the ore and Spirit Gem. Taesan patted Hafran¡¯s shoulder, which was reaching for the hammer. ¡°Before that, deal with this first.¡± ¡°Ah, the me Ember? Alright. Give me your weapon. It¡¯ll be quick.¡± Taesan handed over Carvert¡¯s Relic. True to his word, exactly ten minutester, Hafran returned with the sword. [Oh?] The ghost showed interest. A faint red aura circled the de. [Calvert''s Relic: Sword containing the bloodline of the ancestors.] [A relic from a now-lost world. It has imed the lives of numerous royals.] [Attack Power + 40] [+15 Attack Power against all enemies] [Infused with fire attribute.] The attack power increased by 10 and was now infused with the fire attribute. It was a significant increase. Taesan, who had expected a change of maybe 2 or 3 points, was surprised. ¡°This much?¡± ¡°Perhaps it was crafted that way from the beginning, but it matched the sword perfectly. It achieved the highest efficiency.¡± [The swords in my world are magic swords. It was a magical de from the start. But over the eons, the magic had faded.] It seemed the me Ember had filled that void. Gratefully, Taesan epted the weapon. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°We help each other out. Come backter, and I¡¯ll give you an overview after some preparation.¡± Hafran picked up his hammer and headed toward the anvil. Taesan turned away and descended back into thebyrinth. Now, he was on the 22nd floor. [22nd-floor quest initiated.] [Defeat the boss of the 22nd floor to proceed.] [Reward: Essence of Dark Stone] [Hidden Reward: ???] Taesan began his journey through thebyrinth. The monsters on the 22nd floor were lesser ice spirits of thebyrinth. He didn¡¯t quite understand the major difference between fire and ice, but they were slightly more potent. The difference wasn¡¯t significant, so he dispatched them with ease. The quest regarding the deranged spirit was on the 23rd floor, so the 22nd didn¡¯t hold much interest. About halfway through, he stumbled upon a divine altar. [You have discovered Pavsha''s Altar.] Chapter 108: Twenty Second Level - The God Of Self-Proof, Pavsha (1) [Pavsha. He''s the God of Self-Proof. The ghost began to exin. [He''s a god. Prove yourself. Show what you''ve umted. A god who bestows such trials. He used to be in a deeperyer, but now he''s moved up here.] ¡°What kind of trial is it?¡± [I never took it.] It was an unexpected response. Given the ghost¡¯s high confidence in its abilities, Taesan assumed it had taken the trial and asked, ¡°Is it difficult?¡± [It''s not so much that it is difficult... If you look at the clear rate, it''s actually a very easy trial. But it''s kind of ambiguous.] The ghost said in a slightly ufortable tone. [Most of the adventurers I remember took Pavsha''s trial. And all of them came out after clearing it.] This was also unexpected. Taesan frowned, ¡°Everyone?¡± [Even those who were not exceptional, those close to average, all seeded.] ¡°That¡¯s¡­ strange.¡± It was practically impossible. Trials bestowed by supremely powerful beings for their own amusement didn¡¯t cater to ordinary adventurers. While a majority might clear a trial, it was not possible for everyone to do so. That was the nature of the divine trials Taesan had seen thus far. [That''s the peculiar part. And among those who cleared the trial, some of them changed slightly. Their manner of speaking and behavior altered.] ¡°¡­Doppelgangers?¡± The mostmon monster that was known for mimicking appearances. If someone changed after clearing a trial, that would be the natural assumption. But the ghost denied it. [Doppelgangers mimic speech patterns, tone, and even actions perfectly. But those who emerged after breaking the trial gave themselves away. As if to insist that they were the real ones. We looked into these oddities, but we couldn''t find anything unusual about them.] ¡°So, they aren¡¯t doppelgangers?¡± [No, they''re not doppelgangers. But we referred to these changed individuals as "fakes."] Meaning they weren¡¯t seen as genuine. ¡°What happened to these ¡®fakes¡¯?¡± [It varied. Some went deeper into thebyrinth, some died on their descent, and some became Guides of Sin and stayed within their ranks. Most of them met the end typical of ordinary adventurers.] It was another puzzling story. If these fakes were imitating adventurers, they would do everything to survive. Descending into thebyrinth was the goal of the real adventurers they had reced, not the fakes themselves. Yet, these fakes, like real adventurers, died during their descent. ¡°So you didn¡¯t take the trial?¡± [It''s unknowable. I can''t measure it by the sess and failure rates, and I can''t trust the information from those who survived. I had no intention of risking myself.] Taesan looked at Pavsha¡¯s altar. The aura emanating from it conveyed one meaning: Prove yourself. ¡°What did the returnees say?¡± [Prove yourself. That''s all there was to it.] Taesan pondered. There was absolutely no information. It was an unknown trial. The ghost had its reasons for refusing it. It was akin to walking on a cliff with an unseen abyss beneath. But Taesan had one certainty. ¡®The gods of this ce expects strength of my caliber.¡¯ Then, the trial set by the gods would likely be suitable for Taesan. Pavsha was not a god of death. It wasn¡¯t like Lakiratas, who would wish for Taesan¡¯s death. Taesan ced his hand on the altar. [What now?] ¡°I have no intention of backing out now.¡± [Well... I guess they won''t give you a trial that can kill you.] The ghost seemed to agree, showing no particr emotion. [Pavsha''s Altar] [An altar made by those who serve Pavsha. It''s a passage connected to the god. Through this, Pavsha can exert influence.] [Sub-Quest Start] [Pavsha wants to test you, who hase to its altar. If you ept, the trial wille to you. If you ovee it, a reward awaits.] [Reward: Pavsha will decide based on your performance.] ¡°I ept.¡± As he consented, darkness enveloped Taesan. When his vision returned, he found himself in an empty space of darkness. It wasn¡¯t veryrge. Equivalent to the size of three rooms in thebyrinth, he could reach its end in just a second if he moved purposefully. Darkness began to gather in the center of this space, forming arms and legs and eventually taking on the shape of a face. ¡°Ugh.¡± Taesan grimaced. ¡°Looks like something simr to a doppelganger.¡± A being resembling Taesan appeared before him. Simultaneously, the quest window showed up. [Prove yourself.] It wasn¡¯t an enhanced trial. It meant one thing. The trial was adapted ording to the user. Seeing his own avatar, Taesan calmly drew his weapon. Fighting and defeating a doppelganger wasn¡¯t a rare plot in Earth¡¯s stories. Out of ten, you¡¯d find it in two or three. Taesan observed his avatar closely. The fluttering hair, a face almost devoid of expression. The ghost watching the scene was impressed. [It''s perfectly identical. Like looking into a mirror, huh?] ¡°I can¡¯t really tell.¡± [It''s always like that when you look at yourself. It''spletely the same. The face, height, physique, and even the attire.] To the eye, there was no difference. Among Taesan¡¯s equipment, many were of good quality. The weapon he currently wielded was the only sword given by the ghost as a reward, and one of his rings was worth tens of thousands of gold. The avatar also possessed those items. Copying such things would be trivial for a trial set by the gods. What about skills? Would it possess all the skills he had? Including the ck magic bestowed by the devil and the magic granted by the god of magic? While Taesan was pondering this, the avatar stared at him expressionlessly. First, he needed to gauge its level. Taesan swung his sword. And the avatar moved. [The avatar activated a powerful strike.] ng! Taesan¡¯s sword was parried. He quickly tried to redirect his sword with the Dance of the Sword. At that moment, the avatar¡¯s sword also changed, starting to strike at Taesan like a storm. [What!?] The first sword, Wolf¡¯s Fang. The avatar was executing the sword technique taught by the ghost. ¡°Oh-ho.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. His sword began to move, executing the Wolf¡¯s Fang technique, just like the avatar. ng! ng! ng! The des collided, creating afterimages and loud sounds. After the final sh, Taesan distanced himself. ¡°Does it possess skills as well?¡± [... This is humiliating. A god''s avatar using my sword technique?] ¡°Don¡¯t take it too personally.¡± The avatar bared its teeth, raising its sword. ¡°I¡¯ll soon be the real one!¡± The avatar charged. Blocking every attack, Taesan slowly retreated. Feeling the upper hand, the avatarughed uproariously. ¡°Die! Your soul will be mine!¡± The avatar shouted fiercely, moving its sword. Here and there, Frost Arrows targeted Taesan¡¯s entire body. Taesan deftly maneuvered his twin swords, parrying the avatar¡¯s de and diverting the trajectory of the Frost Arrows. With just his swordsmanship, Taesan countered both the magic and sword attacks. Realizing its miscalction a little toote, the avatar hesitated. Taesan gazed down at the avatar with indifference. ¡°Your skill level is nothing special.¡± [It''s just an average level 22 adventurer.] Even with identical skills and stats, there was a clear difference based on the user. If Taesan had possessed the stats and skills of someone like Lee Taeyeon, he could have used them more efficiently. The avatar before him may have his stats and skills, but the way it utilized them was incredibly clumsy. The ghost murmured with apparent interest. [So killing it and taking its soul makes you the real one? Interesting. That exins the change in attitude. Since the soul is real, there was no way to tell. Quite a test. Should I have taken it too?] In truth, it wasn¡¯t an easy trial. The term ¡°average level¡± literally meant the average of the Solo Mode. In terms of skill alone, he might be stronger than Lee Taeyeon of the 22nd floor in his previous world. However, Taesan was far from the average line. The avatar hesitated and took steps back. Instead of pursuing, Taesan stared into the fluctuating dark space. A divine trial had to meet the standard that pleased the god. At least, he felt that the current level wouldn¡¯t be to Pavsha¡¯s liking. As Taesan predicted, the avatar¡¯s body quivered for a moment. [Pavsha''s power manifests. In return, the area of Pavsha''s interference diminishes.] [Pavsha proposes an intensified trial to you.] It was a proposal in form, unlike the Lakiratas incident. Taesan nodded. [Pavsha is pleased.] [A separate soul inhabits the avatar''s body.] From the dark space, something spiritual descended onto the avatar. The avatar¡¯s body trembled, and then it took a deep breath. ¡°Hu!¡± The atmosphere shifted. It had Taesan¡¯s face but bore an entirely different expression. Taesan frowned. ¡°This feels unsettling.¡± Someone was wearing his skin. It wasn¡¯t aforting feeling, even if it was an avatar. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Ist descended to thebyrinth. Nice to see you, adventurer.¡± The avatar grinned, gripping its sword¡ªa peculiar stance where the de was held in a reverse grip. [What the...?] The ghost seemed to recognize something and murmured. The soul that had descended onto the avatar introduced itself. ¡°I am the apostle of the great Pavsha. One who has treaded the deepyers. Call me Malesten.¡± Seeing an adventurer who had epted the role of a god¡¯s apostle was a first. If the gods offered the apostle position to those who far surpassed the average, it meant that this being had been significantly powerful in its lifetime. The ghost seemed to recognize him and eximed in surprise. [Where did you go? So, you became an apostle?] ¡°Ho?¡± Malesten, realizing the presence of the ghost btedly, showed a surprised expression. ¡°The hero? Are you here?¡± Malesten, inspecting the ghost, soon recognized him. ¡°No, you¡¯re different. You¡¯re dead already, aren¡¯t you? If you couldn¡¯t conquer it, then there¡¯s truly no one left to have expectations for.¡± [I didn''t die descending thebyrinth. I was killed by other beings.] ¡°¡­The Guides of Sin. It was them.¡± Malesten frowned. ¡°That¡¯s insane. If they killed you, they¡¯d ensure they wouldn¡¯t be able to descend either.¡± [That''s why I''m stillining. It worked out well.] The ghost chuckled. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°Don¡¯t just converse amongst yourselves. Exin. Who is he?¡± [Sorry. He''s someone from around my time, another one who went down thebyrinth. He wasn''t affiliated with the Guides of Sin.] ¡°They weren¡¯t to my liking. They were weak, mentally dead.¡± Malestenughed sarcastically. His words implied he was strong enough that the Guides of Sin wouldn¡¯t dare touch him. [He''s an adventurer who surpassed the 70th floor. Like you, he used twin swords, but one in a reverse grip. He relied more on swordsmanship than skills.] ¡°Just a ve, albeit an apostle. But I have no regrets. Pavsha is surprisingly kind to her possessions.¡± Malesten shrugged, looking at Taesan. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re bound too, hero? Unexpected. I thought you would have chosen death.¡± [I would have, under normal circumstances. But there was an annoying incident.] ¡°Hmm. I¡¯m curious, but¡­ let¡¯s end our conversation here. Our protagonist seems to be getting bored.¡± Malesten¡¯s eyes momentarily zed over, looking into space as if checking a stats window. After a moment, he frowned. ¡°¡­Which floor is this?¡± [22nd floor.] ¡°22nd floor?¡± Shock was evident on Malesten¡¯s face. ¡°The challenger¡¯s level surpasses the 30th floor.¡± [This bastard sure is odd.] ¡°Oh, indeed.¡± Malesten looked at Taesan with astonishment. Taesan readied himself. He began to surmise what Pavsha¡¯s intensified trial might be. Defeating his own apostle with his stats and skills. That seemed to be the content of the trial. Chapter 109: Twenty Second Level - The God Of Self-Proof, Pavsha (2) ¡°What in the world¡­¡± Malesten kept gazing into the void, unable to contain his amazement. ¡°Who are you?¡± Taesan¡¯s avatar had all his stats and skills intact. Malesten had seen all of them, so it was no wonder he was surprised. ¡°How can one have these stats at such a low floor?¡± Malesten, an adventurer who had delved deep into thebyrinth, knew the standard of adventurers at the lower levels. So, he was naturally surprised. Taesan¡¯s stats far surpassed what one could typically achieve on the 22nd floor. As far as Malesten knew, there was no way to raise them this high. ¡°Did you ept multiple apostle contracts? Even then, it¡¯s challenging¡­ this is perplexing.¡± But that wasn¡¯t the main point. While the stats were indeed impressive, they weren¡¯t unreachable. In other words, anyone could attain such stats by reaching the 30th floor. However, the skills were a different story. ¡°How did you learn ck Magic?¡± Taesan was human. Yet, among his skills, there was ck Magic. Malesten knew it was impossible. ¡°The Demon God doesn¡¯t care about anything but her own. She wouldn¡¯t grant dark magic to humans¡­¡± For Malesten, who didn¡¯t know how Taesan cleared the quest from the Demon God, this was unbelievable. Moreover, ck Magic wasn¡¯t the end of Taesan¡¯s skills. ¡°You even learned normal magic?¡± Taesan, with permission from the God of Magic, was learning from Lilis quite easily. But for the average adventurer, this was practically impossible. The God of Magic was extremely discerning when evaluating adventurers. Even renowned geniuses in the world entered thebyrinth, but there were cases where the god didn¡¯t respond even once. That genius ultimately died in loneliness, forgotten by all. Even Malesten had forgotten his name. Only a very select few were granted permission to learn this skill: magic. ¡°Endurance? Nullify Attack? What are these?¡± Malesten eventually let out a dryugh. Even he, who had ventured deep into thebyrinth, was unaware of these skills¡¯ existence. ¡°How did you learn the Elemental Skill? And a hereditary skill like Werewolf? One cannot learn it unless it¡¯s in their bloodline. How did you manage this?¡± Each skill, every single one of them, was a mystery. While looking at them with a mix of admiration and confusion, Taesan realized a peculiar thing. ¡®He¡¯s surprised by the Elemental Skill and Werewolf?¡¯ Taesan had a Soul Skill. Soul Ascension existed. From its description, it could take the power of opponents, so it could be roughly guessed that Soul Ascension might have stolen the skill. However, Malesten showed no signs of such awareness. It was as if Soul Ascension did not exist among the skills Malesten knew of. ¡°Hmm.¡± After visibly struggling to hide his surprise for a while, Malesten finallyposed himself. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be. It¡¯s quite disrespectful to Lord Pavsha.¡± Malesten gripped his sword. It was the Relic of Calvert, the same as Taesan¡¯s. He smirked. ¡°This will be a surprising and delightful experience.¡± He stomped his foot, and an icicle formed behind him. [Malesten activated Frost Arrow.] [Malesten activated Magic eleration.] Seeing the iing arrows, Taesan was now certain. Indeed, Malesten was fighting him using the same stats and skills he possessed. Taesan stomped his foot to dodge the Frost Arrows. Malesten stomped the ground again. [Malesten activated eleration.] [You activated Aerial Leap.] He quickly jumped, avoiding Malesten, who was charging through the air. Following the leap, heunched a Frost Arrow, piercing through Malesten¡¯s back. [Malesten''s First Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] ¡°This is strange. It¡¯s an odd skill. I¡¯m not used to it.¡± Perhaps unsettled by the sensation of the nullification, Malesten, with a grimace on his face, charged at Taesan. ng! Their des shed. From Malesten¡¯s hand was shown the Stormscar Sword, identical to Taesan¡¯s. Taesan, in turn, used his primary sword, the Wolf Fang, to aggressively counter. ¡°Ho¡± With a serious expression, Malesten maneuvered his hand. The sword, held inversely, brilliantly targeted Taesan¡¯s armpit. Swiftly, Taesan pulled his arm away. Malesten bent his waist to the side, spun, and, like a hurricane, began to barrage Taesan with blows. ng, ng! With the sound of des scraping, Taesan was pushed back. ¡°What was that?¡± [What are you doing?] The ghost scolded, seemingly annoyed. [Why are you mixing someone else''s swordsmanship with your own?] ¡°Just because I have a new body doesn¡¯t mean the experiences etched in my soul disappear. I was intrigued by the hero¡¯s swordsmanship, so I triedbining it. Seems it doesn¡¯t work well.¡± As Malesten spoke, he rushed forward once more. His moving de left no gaps. Crash! Taesan was forced back. Malesten was undoubtedly powerful. The ghost had mentioned that he was an adventurer who primarily honed his swordsmanship. Despite Malesten using the Stormscar Sword for the first time, he was wielding it more smoothly than Taesan. ¡®He¡¯s strong.¡¯ He was on a different level from the adventurers he had encountered so far. But that was all. Swoosh. Taesan dived downwards. Immediately, Malesten swung his sword downward. [You activated Flow.] The sword strike was evaded. However, Malesten was unfazed. He had been in the depths; there was no way he didn¡¯t know about Flow. [Malesten activated Counter.] A forced retaliation skill. Even when the body¡¯s posture was off due to the direction of force, it adjusted the posture, a technique Taesan often used. And having used it frequently, Taesan knew its weaknesses. He distanced himself and activated a zing Orb. Expecting Taesan to charge immediately, Malesten was momentarily surprised and deflected the zing Orb. In the process, the Counter was nullified. Taesan again lunged and thrust his sword. ¡°Ugh¡± [Malesten activated Flow.] [You activated Thunder Strike.] Concurrent with the evasion, the Thunder Strike countered Flow. Trusting in his Flow and charging forward, Malesten¡¯s chest was pierced by Taesan¡¯s sword. Although taken aback, Malesten immediately reacted. The moment he raised his sword to counter-attack, Attack Nullification was activated. [Malesten''s Second Attack Absolute Nullification has been activated.] Taesan¡¯s form reverted to before the attack, immediately evading the counterblow. Unaware that Attack Nullification erased the attack, Malesten¡¯s strike cut through thin air, and Taesan didn¡¯t miss this opportunity. Malesten¡¯s Third Attack Nullification was activated. Finally recognizing the mechanism of Attack Nullification, Malesten charged at Taesan. However, Taesan had already distanced himself. The Thunder Strike remained, inflicting damage on Malesten. ¡°Uh¡± A look of perplexity never left Malesten¡¯s face. Taesan nted his feet, activating eleration to sh with Malesten¡¯s sword. Their stats were equal, neither giving ground to the other. [You activated Freedom of Choice.] Freedom of Choice from the god of choice. As a reward from Maria, one could change their stat values. Taesan shifted agility to strength. For a brief moment, his strength gained the upper hand, pushing Malesten back. Malesten, too, realized and activated a skill, but it was already toote. [You activated Marcosias''s False me.] A me-like substance engulfed Malesten, inflicting continuous damage on him. Taesan distanced himself and charged again. What followed was a repetition. Malesten tried to pin Taesan down with his swordsmanship and skills, but everything was countered and reversed by Taesan. [Well, I guess it''se to this.] The ghost muttered calmly. Flow, whichpletely evades an attack, and Counter, which retaliates against an opponent¡¯s move, were both excellent skills. They were almost essential, heavily favored by the majority of adventurers who ventured deep and by Hard Mode yers. However, Taesan had multiple skills that overshadowed even those two. Each skill, on its own, could overpower an opponent of the same rank. Of course, having powerful skills and being able to use them effectively were two different things. Malesten was a case in point. Having ventured deep, he effortlessly wielded the newly acquired skills. After all, if he couldn¡¯t, he would have died before descending¡ªsuch was the nature of thebyrinth. Yet, even such a Malesten could not offer any significant resistance against Taesan. Even if he had perfectly grasped Taesan¡¯s skills before the battle, the oue would have been simr. Such was the extent of Taesan¡¯s skill proficiency. Unless Malesten retrieved the power he once wielded in his lifetime¡ªthe skills he used, which he had mastered near perfection¡ªhe could not hope to gain the upper hand. The ghost let out a chuckle. It was a rather amusing thought. A 22nd-floor adventurer mastering his power as perfectly as an adventurer from the depths who had honed his skills over decades. ¡®¡­What if it were me?¡¯ If he battled Taesan, what would be the oue? Malesten was strong, but he was weaker than the ghost. The ghost was the only adventurer allowed the title of ¡°hero¡± in this ce, widely believed to soon conquer thebyrinth before his untimely death. Taesan¡¯s proficiency with skills surpassed that. But the ghost had his swordsmanship. Suddenly, a forgottenpetitive spirit ignited within the ghost but quickly subsided. It was impossible. He was already a deceased entity. The ghost silently watched their battle. The duel went on for quite a while. Taesan had high stamina; it would take over ten direct hits just to affect him. Over time, Malesten grew more ustomed to Taesan¡¯s skills, being able to adeptly handle them by the time he lost half his stamina. However, the gap between him and Taesan was evident. [Malesten''s Endurance activated. Attacks leading to death are nullified. All damage bes 0 for 1 second.] ¡°Ugh, figures.¡± Malesten sneered. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve felt so powerless in defeat since I lost to the hero.¡± Simply put, Taesan surpassed him. Ironically, the 22nd-floor adventurer before him had already achieved mastery in the concept of skills. His mastery came from his activities in the Easy Mode of his previous life and the prolonged battles on Earth. Still, to Malesten, who didn¡¯t know that, it was simply astonishing. ¡°I seem to have disappointed Pavsha.¡± Suddenly, the dark space surrounding them trembled. Malesten smirked as if he had heard something. ¡°That¡¯s kind of you to say. Thank you. Oh, deity.¡± Malesten slowly rose to his feet. Though he could endure another hit using Endurance, he seemed to have no will to fight any longer. ¡°If it were you, I assume Pavsha would offer you the same proposal as he did to me. Have you considered epting it?¡± ¡°Sorry, but I have no intention of doing so.¡± The fate of an adventurer who epted the apostle¡¯s contract after death. Malesten was the living proof. Bound to the will of a deity after death, moving as the deity wished. Taesan had no intention of enduring such a fate. Perhaps knowing that Malesten didn¡¯t press the offer further. ¡°It besfortable once you get used to it. Pavsha is merciful. Once you be his, he takes care of you¡­ well, I can¡¯t really force you.¡± Malestenughed lightly. Taesan¡¯s appearance blurred and revealed the visage of a wise old man. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I had such fun, adventurer.¡± [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. The proficiency of all skills, excluding the ''Soul Ascension'', has increased.] A system window with an unexpected message appeared. Before he could fully understand, a series of system notifications popped up. [You have passed Pavsha''s trial. Rewards will be given ording to Pavsha''s evaluation.] [Pavsha is very pleased with your performance. He wants to reward you ordingly.] [Pavsha''s interference area has reduced.] [Pavsha rewards you. You have received the ''Dagger of the Proven''.] [You have cleared an enhanced trial. Additional rewards are granted.] [You have obtained a special passive skill: ''Aura Strike of the Proven''.] [Pavsha offers you the apostle''s contract.] Chapter 110: Twenty Third Level - The Wind Spirit, Kashpa (1) ¡°I decline.¡± He was the first to refuse the apostle¡¯s contract, and Pavsha promptly withdrew. Given that he probably knew of Taesan¡¯s actions up till now, it wasn¡¯t surprising to see him not insisting too much. [Pavsha looks forward to your next meeting.] Kugugung¡­ The darkness faded, revealing thebyrinth. ¡°He really just lets me go.¡± Among all the gods he had met, this one was the most straightforward. Taesan quickly checked his rewards. ¡°I saw a strange system window earlier.¡± A sentence iming that the proficiency of all skills had increased seemed absurd. Taesan reopened the system window. [Your ''Soul Ascension'' has activated. The proficiency of all skills, excluding the ''Soul Ascension'', has increased.] ¡°¡­ It¡¯s real.¡± Taesan nkly stared at the message, then opened his skill window. The information in the system window was true. The proficiency of every skill he possessed had increased. ¡°Wow.¡± It was inconceivable. Not just one, but all skills. Every magic spell, passive skill, activation skill, and even the ck magic he barely used had increased proficiency. The increased proficiency was about 2-3% for each skill. Individually, this might seem minuscule, but collectively, it was an astounding boost. Currently, Taesan has around eighty skills. Simple math indicated that the total boost was close to 200%. ¡°This is peculiar.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t understand. ¡®Soul Ascension¡¯ was a skill that seized his opponent¡¯s strength. What he had defeated was the soul of Malesten, a strong warrior who had ventured deep in thebyrinth and a body no different from a clone of himself. Hence, if one considered he pilfered a little from everything Mallesten had, it made some sense. However, even considering that, the increase was unbelievable. Indeed, because of this surge, he had several skills that hit 100%. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Composure] [Proficiency: 100%] [The psyche of this being has reached the brink of mortality.] Composure. A skill he had from the very beginning had finally achieved 100%. With reaching 100%, the lengthy description was shortened to a single line. [Composure''s proficiency has reached 100%. ''Composure'' has evolved into a special constantly activated skill named ''Mastery State''.] [Special Constant Activation Skill: Mastery State] [Proficiency: 1%] [An unshakable heart. Unchanging will.] Evolution of Composure. Mastery State. It was a skill that impacted the psycheprehensively, and at its peak, one wouldn¡¯t waver in any situation. While it didn¡¯t directly influencebat, it was an incredibly essential skill. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Death''s Line ] [Proficiency: 100%] [The ability to sense the brink of death. Activates in all crises.] Death¡¯s Line, too, had been simplified. But it wasn¡¯t that fascinating. A great skill to detect mortal danger, but most of the trials Taesan faced were life-threatening, rendering the skill of little value to him. Although its proficiency had reached 100%, it had not evolved yet. Death¡¯s Line only evolved under specific conditions. His field of vision would soon reach 100%. The Airak martial arts skill, which had been frustratingly stagnant, had also increased by 2%. ¡°I¡¯d like to receive it once more.¡± Given this rate, he would have eagerly undertaken multiple trials. With a sense of regret, Taesan checked the remaining rewards. [Proven One''s Dagger] [Attack Power + 25] [A reward bestowed by the God of Proof. An exceptionally distinguished piece of equipment.] The attack power was a whopping 25. It was 10 points higher than the weapon he had been previously equipped with. There was no reason not to equip it. And then, the skill. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Proven One''s Soul Strike] [You have triumphed over another version of yourself. When faced with death, your soul faces Pavsha''s Trial. This skill can only be used once.] ¡°Hm?¡± Facing Pavsha¡¯s Trial? It was a hard-to-understand description. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± [Eh....] The ghost, who had been zoned out, regained its focus. [...I don''t know what the trial is, but I know the part about facing death. It''s often a skill that extends one''s lifespan.] ¡°A second life? Is that it?¡± [It''s very likely, yes?] In that case, it was an excellent skill. Attack nullification, endurance, and, on top of that, the Proven One¡¯s Soul Strike. To kill Taesan, one would have to ovee numerous challenges. ¡°Hmph.¡± He had confirmed everything. Taesan finished his sorting and looked at the altar. The power he felt was almost entirely gone as if its purpose had been served. ¡°A god¡¯s apostle.¡± A contract where the soul remains bound to a god even after death. The ghost spoke calmly. [Clearing thebyrinth is near impossible, even for those with talent, luck, and skill. Some among those who lose hope, give up, or fear death ept the offer of a god.] ¡°Why?¡± Their souls became bound to a god. Taesan didn¡¯t see any reason to ept this. The ghost replied. [Because one''s power remains intact.] Taesan realized. ¡°So they don¡¯t want to give up on what they¡¯ve built up?¡± [When you die, you lose everything. But with the apostle''s contract, you can retain your sense of self even if you''re forever bound to a god. Which is more painful? I can''t decide for you. Malesten chose thetter.] The ghost shrugged its shoulder-like part. [It''s not a bad deal. But it''s not a good one either. So take your time to think about it. At least, I see no need to ept it.] ¡°I feel the same.¡± At least for him, it wasn¡¯t a good deal. Taesan moved on. He defeated the spirits he encountered and arrived at a secret room. He deactivated the traps and received his reward. [ck Rune Ne] [Defense + 5] [Magic + 3] [Strength + 10] [Intelligence + 10] [A magical ne. The power of the rune contained within is decently useful.] While it had lower attack power and no agilitypared to the ne he currently wore, all other stats were higher. It was worth switching, especially with the rare magic stat. He then headed towards the boss room. The boss was an intermediate ice spirit. It was stronger than the intermediate fire spirit but not strong enough to stop Taesan. [You have defeated the Intermediate Ice Spirit of thebyrinth.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained an Icy Fragment.] [Soul Ascension has been activated.] The Icy Fragment, like the Spirit Gem, was a refining item. He checked the reward for the 22nd floor. [Ironrock Momentum] [A book containing the essence of ck Magic. It''s sold expensively at the store.] A ck Magic item. It was said that when you offer a rted item to the Demon God, you receive ck Magic in return. However, Taesan had no intentions of making an offer yet. ¡®I haven¡¯t even fully mastered the ck Magic I¡¯ve learned so far. There¡¯s no need to learn more just yet.¡¯ He knew the basic usage, but he didn¡¯t know detailed damage assessments, affinities, or how tobine various skills. If he tried to learn more here, it could justplicate things. He nned to sell it at the store if the price was right. [??? was used.] [Bracelet made from Dragon-Human''s skin] [Defense + 30] [Attack + 10] [A bracelet made from the peeled skin of a Dragon-Human. The tough and sharp leather will protect its owner.] Its defense was high. Additionally, it had an attack power of 10. Clearly, the equipment quality had significantly improved past the 20th floor. Then, he proceeded to the 23rd floor. [Starting the 23rd Floor Quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 23rd floor and pass.] [Reward: Snake Skin Belt] [Secret Reward: ???] At the entrance of the 23rd floor, Taesan showed the Ironrock Scripture to the store owner. ¡°How much is this worth?¡± ¡°A hundred thousand gold.¡± The shop owner replied after taking a quick nce. As expected, it was priced quite high, so Taesan sold it. The shop owner received it with a slightly nervous look. ¡°You¡¯re not offering it to the Demon God?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to right now.¡± There was still a lot to buy at the shop. With basic items ranging from tens of thousands to a hundred thousand gold, it was always good to have more funds. Taesan thought it was better to have the gold than the unpredictable ck Magic. ¡°If you look at it objectively, it¡¯s probably better this way¡­ It doesn¡¯t really matter. Even if her space is narrow, she¡¯s unlikely to be moved by such an item.¡± The shop owner muttered as he bid Taesan farewell. Taesan arrived on the 23rd floor. The monster on the 23rd floor was a Wind Spirit. It moved without a tangible form, so one had to rely on senses to strike it. Although Lee Taeyeon had a tough time properly attacking it, Taesan could handle it directly with his highly refined sensory enhancement. He moved forward four times and to the right five times. He arrived in an ordinary empty room. This was the ce the crazed spirit had mentioned. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] A single brick caught Taesan¡¯s eye. He pressed it and headed towards the revealed passageway. The deeper he went into the corridor, the stronger the scent of mold became. It became almost unbearable to breathe halfway through. [A human?] A clear voice echoed. There was evident surprise in the resonating voice. In a room resembling a tropical rainforest, a blue deer appeared. [A Superior Wind Spirit of Mold, Kashpa, has appeared.] ¡°What business does a human have here?¡± ¡°I received a request from the White Spirit.¡± Upon hearing Taesan¡¯s words, Kashpa fell silent. After a moment of rustling his horns, Kashpa spoke. [You must be talking about the deranged spirit. That pitiful thing asked you to kill me.] A heavy sigh resonated. [It is broken. A distorted spirit that does not possess proper intelligence. If you follow its words, you will eventually face destruction.] Kashpa raised his horns. [So go back, human. Return and fulfill your mission. That''s what you, a human, should do.] ¡°Sorry, but this is my mission.¡± Taesan drew his sword. The mes emanating from Calvert¡¯s Artifact began burning the surrounding mold. Anger surged in Kashpa¡¯s voice. [You¡­] [Kashpa activated the Deer that Walks the Wind Path.] A sharp wind emanated from the deer, extinguishing the mes. [Contemptible human! Even after I showed mercy, you dare set fire to mynd for your petty purposes!] ¡°Mercy?¡± Taesan chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s for me to grant to you, not the other way around.¡± [Human.] With a rigid voice, a rush of wind came. [Die.] Wind des rushed forth. Taesan swung his sword. With a sharp sound, the wind shattered and dispersed. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan began moving swiftly, and Kashpa directed des of wind toward him. An invisible force struck the walls. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] Upon activating the skill, Taesan began to see the approaching wind des one by one. He halted his movement and waved his hand, gracefully manipting both hands to evade each de. [Human...] Kashpa gritted his teeth. The wind des were an invisible natural attack. No matter how keen one¡¯s senses, they couldn¡¯t bepletely blocked, but Taesan defended against them as if they were visible. [It seems you have the capability to defeat a golem created by the King. But if that''s all you''ve got, you cannot defeat me.] Suddenly, the wind condensed, and it fired at Taesan like a massive cannon. With absolutely no dy in the attack, Taesan wrapped his arms around his body. Boom! [Your first attack nullification has been activated.] The wind exploded, causing Taesan¡¯s body to shake violently. Using his nullification, Taesan quickly charged at Kashpa. [Hmm!] Seeing Taesan¡¯s charge seemingly unaffected by the attack, Kashpa, taken aback, slightly shook his horns. A wind barrier separated Taesan and Kashpa. ng! Taesan swung his sword. The barrier violently swayed but didn¡¯t break. ¡®It¡¯s sturdy.¡¯ [Impressive skills, but still a human''s.] With a sneer, the air burst forth. After activating his Reconnaissance skill, Taesan saw thousands, if not tens of thousands, of wind needles aimed at him. ¡®Is this the spirit¡¯s technique?¡¯ The skill activation window, apart from the first time he used it, didn¡¯t appear. For activated skills, a system window would pop up before activation, allowing one to respond in advance. But with the spirit¡¯s attacks, it waspletely impossible. ¡®I want to learn that too.¡¯ Taesan grinned joyfully. Chapter 111: Twenty Third Level - Wind Spirit - Kashpa (2) The wind became a de and let out a sting sound. Taesan swung his hand widely in response. Kaang The de broke, and the air exploded. Taesan leaped into the void, avoiding the attacking with a mid-air jump, andnded above Kashpa¡¯s head, striking down with his sword. The moment the sword almost touched Kashpa¡¯s horn, the wind exploded and pushed Taesan back. Taesannded on the ground and moved his hand. The wind that was being shot like cannonballs disappeared as it collided with his fist. ¡°This is tough.¡± Taesan turned his hand. There was no significant damage as he had blocked everything with Reconnaissance. Still, he also wasn¡¯t causing any particr harm to the spirit. Taesan had obtained a skill that could attack spirits from the crazed spirit, making it possible for him to attack spirits as well. However, if the attack didn¡¯tnd, it was meaningless. [That is your limit. Human.] The spirit in the form of a deer spoke arrogantly. [I admit you are remarkable. Lower and middle spirits cannot stop you.] Immunity to attacks, eleration, and many other magics. The power and abilities shown by Taesan were of a level rarely seen, even by Kashpa. It was too much power for an adventurer on the 23rd floor to possess. Honestly, while continuing the battle, he had secretly admired him. [But that''s it. Your power can''t touch me.] ¡°You can say the same.¡± Kashpa also couldn¡¯t inflict any significant damage on Taesan. Kashpa seemed indifferent. [Your purpose is to kill me. I just have to drive you out of here. It''s clear who has the upper hand.] ¡°Humph.¡± Taesan chuckled but didn¡¯t refute. In reality, that was the case. His attacks didn¡¯t reach Kashpa. Whenever he tried to approach Kashpa, the wind would explode, pushing Taesan back. He tried to stick to him using eleration, strong blow, and flow, but most of the attempts failed. Magic was also not particrly useful. The frost arrow was blocked by the wind, killing its eleration, and the zing Orb couldn¡¯t be manifested, possibly due to the flow of the wind. Only the lightning bolt was useful, but the mana usage was too high for the damage it dealt. ¡®It¡¯s more focused on defense than attack.¡¯ At least with his current stats, it was a defense he couldn¡¯t break through. [Go back and reflect on your arrogance. Human.] ¡°Don¡¯t want to.¡± Kashpa chuckled at Taesan¡¯s manifestation of refusal. [Vulgarity is like a symbol of adventurers. Good. Feel the powerlessness.] The wind surrounding Kashpa intensified. Even without invoking Reconnaissance, a dense wall could be confirmed to have formed. Taesan shook the tip of his sword. Everything he had used and experienced up to now didn¡¯t work against this opponent. ¡°I wanted to practice more, but I can¡¯t help it.¡± Mumbling, Taesan nted his feet. Seeing Taesan rushing towards him, Kashpa showed a scornfulugh. [Just like a moth.] The wind swept in pieces around the room. The burnt grass was cut and flew around like petals. Taesan rushed towards Kashpa. The darkness expanded behind him. [You have activated the Distorted Life of Decarabia.] Dozens of giant tree roots sprouted from the darkness. Kashpa, who had been waiting leisurely, was startled. [This!] Koo Goo Goo Gung! The roots began to fill the room as they swayed. The pieces of flying wind were blocked by the roots and disappeared. [You shouldn''t be a demon!] Kashpa, along with a denial, released des of wind. Instead of blocking them with his sword as Taesan had done before, he hid his body behind the roots. Ka-Ga-Gak! de marks appeared on the roots. They were quite deep but not enough to break the roots. Normally, with the power contained in the wind, they should have been chopped off. ¡®As expected.¡¯ Magic, auras, and skills couldn¡¯t damage the spirit, but only ck magic could. From the 21st floor, he had a vague guess, and now he was certain. ck magic had a natural advantage over spirits. With this, the odds of winning shifted greatly. Taesan moved between the roots, avoiding the wind, and got closer to Kashpa. [What a futile effort.] The wind around Kashpa became stronger. The wind, beginning to elerate, soon became a storm and unfolded in front of Taesan. Taesan touched the storm. [You have activated the False me of Marchosias.] A substance in the shape of mes pours out, hitting the storm violently and releasing harsh heat. ¡°False mes are substances in the shape of mes. They give continuous damage. How far can you block them?¡± Ki-I-I-I! With a tearing sound, the storm shook violently. The false mes rose like living beings and swallowed the power of nature. [How dare! Contaminating spirits with twisted power!] Along with an angry voice, Kashpa gathered his strength. The room shook violently due to the wind¡¯s power, seemingly ready to explode. [You have activated the Emotional Disturbance of Raum.] In the previous battle, when he activated a random mental attack, Kashpa had not been affected at all, even scoffing at it. [Argh, ugh!] But this time, it was different. Kashpa visibly started to be confused. The explosive wind settled down, and the false mes continued to melt the storm. Finally, a small gap appeared in the storm. Taesan activated eleration and ran quickly, inserting his sword through the gap. The storm was torn apart, revealing Kashpa defenseless. A blue me appeared on Taesan¡¯s sword. [Human!] ¡°Stop calling me.¡± [210 damage to Kashpa.] The sword moved, and a damage window appeared smoothly. Kashpa roared, gathering the wind once more. [How dare a human, a creature of nature, hurt a spirit!] ¡°So noisy.¡± While pushing, Taesan activated the False mes of Marcoshias again. The substance in the shape of mes swallowed and destroyed the concentrated wind. He knew the countermeasure. He also seeded in approaching. From here, it was one-sided. He used the sword to inflict damage and ck magic to block the opponent¡¯s actions. Spirit skills didn¡¯t show system windows, but being this close, he could read the signs. Kwajik. Finally, the spirit fell. It didn¡¯t take long, as the spirit had lower health than expected. [Ha, hahaha.] Kashpa let out a hollowugh. [To think a human...a human!] Regret soon turned to anger. A voice filled with hatred resonated through the room. [Human! Our king will judge you! You will pay for daring to touch a spirit!] ¡°Is there a spirit king here, too?¡± [He resides in the deep, deep strata! To oppose us for such a crazed spirit! You will pay for your arrogance!] ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about it. We were going to be enemies anyway.¡± Taesan delivered the finishing blow. Kashpa¡¯s body dispersed into the air, and the power within him flowed into Taesan. [You have defeated the Advanced Wind Spirit, Kashpa.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Permanently increased Strength by 32, Intelligence by 22, and Mana by 60.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have acquired the Spirit Skill [Walking the Wind Path Deer].] [You have acquired the Core of an Advanced Spirit.] [You have acquired the Unbound Spirit Energy.] His level increased, and his stats also rose significantly due to the Soul Ascension. However, what caught his eye first was the skill. [Spirit Skill: Walking the Wind Path Deer] [Mana Consumption: 10] [Proficiency: 1%] [Duration: 30 minutes] [Spirits born from the wind itself can move their cradles. They can influence the wind during the duration.] The mana consumption was quite high, but there was a description about the duration. He understood why no system window appeared when Kashpa controlled the wind; once activated, it became a sustained skill. Taesan tried to use it immediately. [You have activated Walking the Wind Path Deer.] For a moment, a strange sensation enveloped him. He could feel the flow of the air, which he had never cared about before, through the skin of his entire body. He could know the direction and trajectory of the wind ording to his movements. Taesan, recalling the method used by Kashpa, tried to create a curtain of wind. The wind condensed and formed a bluish curtain around him. However, it was very weak and unstable, trembling as if it would break at any moment. Taesan clenched his fist. The wind that made up the curtain exploded and strongly hit the room. ¡°Is this all? It¡¯s still hard to use.¡± Taesan mumbled, feeling the strength of the wind. Whether it was because he wasn¡¯t a spirit or due tock of proficiency, it wasn¡¯t at the level to use for attack or defense. However, it wasn¡¯tpletely unusable. The point that it was a sustained skill was significant. It was sufficient in assisting movement as he could use it freely for 30 minutes. Against weaker enemies, just the spirit skill would be enough. It was a usable skill. Taesan, with such judgment, checked the items he had acquired. [Core of an Advanced Spirit] [A core of a spirit. Pure and strong. If nature without ego possesses it, it will be a spirit.] It seemed to be a quest item. He would have to take it to the frenzied spirit. Taesan also checked the other one. [Unbound Spirit Energy] [Spirits are not bound. Wind spirits especially have the attribute of flying in the sky without being bound. If used on certain equipment, it seems to gain a special power.] ¡°This is also a refining item.¡± It was around the time the refining of the materials he had entrusted to Hafran should be finished he had more reasons to visit. Having finished checking, Taesan cleaned the room and left. While heading to the boss room, he asked the ghost. ¡°Have you seen the Spirit King?¡± Kashpa had talked about their king. He said he resided in the deep stratum, and the ghost was also an adventurer who had descended to the deep stratum. [I have seen him. But I had no interest.] ¡°Why?¡± [He was a Guide of Sin.] The ghost said indifferently. It was an unexpected statement. ¡°Was he an adventurer, not a monster or NPC?¡± [Spirits are also a race like demons or humans. There''s no reason for him to enter thebyrinth as a monster. I don''t know why he came. I had no interest in the weak.] A faint anger was contained in the indifferent voice. [Come to think of it, did he also contribute to my death? Then, I have a goal. I will tear him apart.] ¡°Let¡¯s postpone that.¡± Taesan arrived at the 23rd-floor boss. The boss was an Intermediate Wind Spirit. Of course, he dealt with it easily. Having defeated an Advanced Spirit, an Intermediate one was no match for him. [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Permanently increased Strength by 15, Agility by 18.] [You have acquired a Snake Skin Belt.] [You have acquired ???] [Your level has be 55.] [You have reached the beginning level of a magician using thebyrinth system. The magician who rejoices in your growth grants you a special privilege.] [Choose your reward.] [1: Provision of special equipment.] [2: Increase in proficiency of a specific skill.] [3: Permanent increase in a specific stat.] [4: Overall knowledge about thebyrinth.] [5: Part of the hidden truth of thebyrinth.] [6: One piece of information you want. However, there are conditions and restrictions.] Chapter 112: Twenty Fourth Level, Guides Of Sin (1) ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan gazed thoughtfully at the system window. This was the first time he had seen such a description. Not only him but Normal and Hard Mode yers had also never seen such information. Only Lee Taeyeon had imed to see this benefit window before. [Oh. Are you receiving this already? I got it after going down quite a bit.] The ghost muttered. It seemed to be a benefit received upon surpassing a certain level of growth. ¡°What should I choose?¡± Taesan murmured. Six options. All were attractive. ¡°What did you choose?¡± [Me? I chose equipment. They give quite good equipment. It''s not to the level of the weapon I gave or the ring you have, but it''s equipment you would only get after going down another 10 floors from where you are.] That certainly was good equipment. For the average yer, choosing equipment might have been the right choice. ¡°If it¡¯s of a simr tier, a potion for proficiency should also raise about 3 or 4%.¡± That also had its merits. Currently, Taesan has skills that are just shy of 100% proficiency. He could reach 100% just by using them. But neither was especially necessary. Proficiency would increase eventually as he descended thebyrinth. It might be frustratingly slow, but he wouldn¡¯t fail to get it. Of course, if there was an immediately necessary skill, it might be different, but there wasn¡¯t any such skill, so the priority was rtively low. Equipment was the same. There was no reason to change equipment since he could go down with his existing gear to the 30th floor without any problem. Stats were the same as well. They weren¡¯t worth giving up other rewards. Overall knowledge about thebyrinth also wasn¡¯t very attractive. He had the experiences from his previous life, and he remembered what Lee Taeyeon had bbered about. Having the ghost with him, he could know roughly all the information. So, the choices narrowed down to thest two. ¡°Truth and information.¡± Truth could be rted to gods, magicians, monsters, and NPCs. Knowing about them would be of no harm to Taesan, who would be shing with them a lot. Information was also not bad. There are conditions and restrictions, but knowing what he wanted to know had its merits. Taesan, after contemting, made a decision. ¡°The sixth one.¡± He also wanted to know about the truth, but it wasn¡¯t so necessary. Moreover, having been involved a lot with gods, he had a high chance of getting to know them eventually. As Taesan made a decision, the floor of thebyrinth rose. Bricks assembled to form the shape of a gigantic apparatus. [I am the servant of the great magician, the observer of all things. Balbabamba.] The apparatus opened its brick eyes. [O traveler of the magician''sbyrinth, what do you wish to know, having called me?] [What. So, this guy answers?] The ghost muttered in a surprised tone, seeming to know about the entity referred to as Balbabamba. ¡°Who is it?¡± [He serves as a kind of guide, giving basic strategies. When you go down to the deep stratum, he asionally appears and provides guidance or information about thebyrinth. Adventurers believed he knew the entirebyrinth as he answered all questions and provided solutions to all problems.] Everything. The meaning contained within that word was not small. The ghost seemed to guess Taesan¡¯s thoughts. [There were a few who tried to subdue him, but they vanished without leaving a trace. After that, no one touched him.] [I am the servant of the magician. This ce is abyrinth created by the magician. Absolutews are in my hands.] Balbabamba spoke calmly. [The same goes for knowledge. Ask. I am the one who knows thebyrinth. I will give you the answer.] ¡°About the acquisition conditions for skills.¡± Taesan had learned several skills. Among them were skills that were, in reality, impossible to learn, bordering on irrational. Seeing the ghost¡¯s reaction, it appeared these were skills unknown even to adventurers who had ventured deep. So, Taesan became curious. ¡°Are the skills directly designed by the magician, or are they created to match conditions?¡± Did he learn already existing skills? Or did Taesan gain the skills by achieving something? It was a question of what came first, the chicken or the egg. [I have received the question.] The bricks that formed Balbabamba shed loudly against each other. They aligned like assembling a puzzle, and the shing stopped. Balbabamba opened his eyes. [I ¡­ understand the reason for the question.] The eyes, made of bricks, were radiating a strange energy. [So such utilization was possible. When he created it, he was ridiculed for wasting energy on meaningless actions, but it was a premature judgment. Never thought I would see the result right before my eyes.] ¡°So, what is it?¡± [I will answer. Skills are not pre-made. They are created ording to the achievements aplished.] ¡°I thought so.¡± [Humans, spirits, demons, and many other races. When they aplish irrational achievements or perform repetitive actions, skills are born. Once a skill is created, it bes standardized, allowing others to learn it too. That''s the skill of thebyrinth, the grace of the magician.] Assuming that all skills were anticipated and pre-made was hard. They kept being created; that was the mechanism of skill generation. Depending on what Taesan did, he could gain countless skills he didn¡¯t get in his previous life. Taesan smiled. He had contemted various things in his previous life, but there were experiments he couldn¡¯t perform due to theck of time, space, and other conditions. Now, it was worth trying all those conditions. Balbabamba sent a strange gaze to the rejoicing Taesan. [Was this the intended design? Interesting. Is your curiosity satisfied?] Taesan nodded. Balbabamba continued speaking. [Then there''s a condition.] There were conditions and restrictions for providing information. It had already been exined. [Do not tell the information you learned to anyone. If the information leaks, I wille to kill you.] ¡°Okay.¡± Taesan affirmed calmly. It was information he didn¡¯t need to share, and he had no intention to. ¡°Is the ghost okay?¡± [He is already a dead entity bound to thebyrinth. He isn''t bound by the restrictions. But if he tries to speak, I will move.] [Is that a threat? Don''t worry, I don''t intend to either.] [Then it''s settled. I have answered the question. I will now descend.] Crushing. The bricks crumbled down. They began assembling again on the floor, and after a moment, they formed the gleaming floor of thebyrinth again. ¡°The magician.¡± The magician who created thebyrinth. The ghost didn¡¯t know about him either. Seeing Lee Taeyeon didn¡¯t say much either. It seemed safe to assume she didn¡¯t ess the truth either. ¡°I am curious.¡± It wasn¡¯t something he could know immediately. He nned to find out gradually. It¡¯s settled. It was time to check the reward for clearing the 23rd floor. [Snake Skin Belt] [Strength +10] [Defense +15] [A belt made from an unidentified snake that can crush trees.] It had high defense and even added strength. It was not a bad piece of equipment. [??? used.] [Acquired the gauntlet used by the deity.] [The deity''s used gauntlet] [Attack +30] [The gauntlet favored by the deity before he was known as a deity. His abilities and growth are imbued within it.] It had high attack power. The powerful gauntlet he was currently wearing had the effect of giving five times the attack damage, but it had a limitation of being used only once a month. Considering this, it was worth the swap. ¡°I hope some magic items start appearing soon.¡± He hadn¡¯t learned any new magic for quite a while. It was regrettable, considering even beginner magic had value at this point. But wanting it didn¡¯t mean getting it. The items that appeared in thebyrinth were either random or predetermined. Taesan decided to wait patiently. Having cleared the 23rd floor, Taesan went to find the spirit. [Hee hee! You came!] ¡°Here.¡± Taesan handed over the high-level spirit core. The deranged spiritughed maniacally. [Hee, hee hee! Finally! Finally!] The deranged spirit swallowed the core greedily. Kwoong! A small resonance vibrated within the spirit. The white body, which seemed about to burst a moment ago, slowly calmed down. [Ha, ha¡­¡­.] Theughter gradually subsided. The unstable energy swirling around the deranged spirit almost disappeared. [Ha.] The spirit exhaled. The madness that was overflowing just a moment ago disappeared without a trace. [Now¡­¡­ it''s almost over.] The spirit spoke with a gloomy voice. [Now it''s thest. The 29th floor. There''s a hidden world there. You''ll know when you use this in the boss room.] The spirit waved its fingertips. A transparent energy settled into Taesan. [You have learned the Spirit Skill [Natural Harmony].] [Thend of spirits. The paradise of the escapees. What''s in there? The roots of the tree that maintain thatnd. Bring that to me. If you have that¡­¡­ it''s almost the end.] Taesan left the room. Theughter continued to echo behind him. [It''s your fault. Yours. Yours¡­¡­.] Leaving the seemingly sobbing voice behind, Taesan exited. ¡°I wonder how it¡¯ll turn out.¡± Why the deranged spirit hated spirits, he didn¡¯t know. Asking wouldn¡¯t get him an answer. Perhaps he would know when he reached the 29th floor. He went back to the 20th floor to find the cksmith Hafran. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Hafran handed over a shoe, seemingly waiting. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°You already made it?¡± ¡°Refining the ore itself was difficult. But using it in harmony with the spirit core made it easier to create.¡± The shoe made of colorless ore was radiating a strange energy. It looked like the energy of the spirit stone. [Shoe made of Golem''s ore and tempered with spirit.] [Attack + 15] [Defense + 40] [Agility + 30] [Movement Speed + 15%] [Action Speed + 8%] [Can hold the energy of spirits.] [Excellent items crafted by a renowned cksmith.] The shoes had an attack power of 15, even though they were not weapons. They even had higher defense than the armor he was currently wearing. In addition to that, agility increased by 30. Until now, no equipment had such a figure. While Taesan was verifying with a smirk, a phrase caught his eye. [Can hold the energy of spirits.] ¡°What does this part mean?¡± ¡°Exactly what it says. It can be endowed, just like your weapon.¡± The ghost¡¯s weapon, Calvert¡¯s Relic, could hold magic, so he put the me seed inside. These shoes, although restricted to the energy of spirits, could also hold something. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to put in, but if you get it, bring it. I¡¯ll make it.¡± ¡°There seems to be no need to wait.¡± He had something. Taesan took out the unbound spirit energy and showed it to Hafran. ¡°Ho?¡± Seeing the swaying energy of the wind, Hafran¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°This is interesting. Wait a moment.¡± Hafran took the shoes and fiddled with them in a corner. After a short wait, he returned with a bright smile. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. My curiosity is satisfied.¡± [Shoe made of Golem''s ore and tempered with spirit.] [Attack + 15] [Defense + 40] [Agility + 3] [Movement Speed + 15%] [Action Speed + 8%] [Can release all things that restrain oneself. This skill can only be used once a day.] [Excellent items crafted by a renowned cksmith.] ¡°Oh ho.¡± Taesan eximed in admiration. It had quite impressive abilities. It was a sort of status abnormality release technique. He didn¡¯t know to what extent ¡°all things¡± applied, but given the description, it seemed to have a wide range. Being able to release them momentarily could be a great advantage in battle. The cooldown of once a day was rtively short, making it a very good skill. Hafran also seemed satisfied, wearing a pleased smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I had such a fun project. I wish others would bring unique materials like you did, but they¡¯re usually useless.¡± Hafran extended his hand. ¡°It¡¯s three thousand gold. Hand it over.¡± Given the capabilities of this equipment, three thousand gold was rtively cheap. Taesan handed it over without fuss. Hafran happily pocketed the received gold. ¡°Then bring more if you find any. I¡¯ll make them cheap.¡± ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡± Taesan left Hafran¡¯s room. He immediately went down and reached the 24th floor. [24th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the 24th floor boss and pass through.] [Reward: Staff of Baal.] [Secret Reward: ???] Now, he was entering the middle stages of the 20th floor. The monsters on the 24th floor were spirits of darkness. They were spirits who attempted to devour the flesh with tentacles of darkness and obscured vision, the type that would have been very tough if one¡¯s stats were simr to theirs. Taesan proceeded easily, dealing with them one by one. As he reached about midway, he felt a presence. Taesan halted his ying of monsters and muttered. ¡°It¡¯s about time they came.¡± [I can''t ruin this interesting spectacle. I''ll hide for a while.] The ghost clung to the ceiling of thebyrinth. One couldn¡¯t notice him unless they concentrated. ¡°Huh?¡± A door opened, and an adventurer walked in. He was taken aback when he saw Taesan. ¡°Who are you?¡± A man with blonde hair asked. Instead of answering, Taesan activated a skill. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Horion Arban] [Level: 65] [Health: 3213] [Equipped Weapon: Sword] [Subjugated One.] Information that wasn¡¯t visible before was now seen. Such was the power of Reconnaissance. ¡®Our health is simr.¡¯ There was a 10-level difference. Despite the level difference, the adventurer¡¯s health didn¡¯t increase much, but Taesan¡¯s was a bit higher. The ordeal Taesan went through until now was evident. Horion wrinkled his face at Taesan¡¯s silence. ¡°Who are you? Are you from the second rank? How dare you crawl here? Decided to die, have you?¡± The Guides of Sin¡¯s rule was absolute. The moment someone from the second rank stepped below the 20th floor, they were instantly executed. However, there were those who risked this danger. Those obsessed with strength risked their lives and reaped the rewards. Horion thought Taesan was one of those. He believed that he didn¡¯t recognize him because he wasn¡¯t interested in the second rank. Taesan shook his head. ¡°I am not a Guide of Sin.¡± ¡°If not, who are you then? You couldn¡¯t have avoided the eyes of those below. Just die quietly.¡± Horion, thinking Taesan was lying, spoke derisively and stamped his foot. The difference in strength between an adventurer on the 30th floor and one on the 24th floor was clear. And he had been on the 30th floor for a long time, bing stronger to his limits. He believed that Taesan couldn¡¯t block a single blow. Taesan made a move. The tip of the sword met with Horion¡¯s, and the trajectory of power swayed immediately. ¡°Wh, what?¡± Horion¡¯s arm was opened. It opened smoothly without any resistance, and Horion stood there dumbfounded, unable to grasp the situation. Taesan¡¯s fist swayed. Horion¡¯s face was crushed. Chapter 113: Twenty Fourth Level, Guides To Sin (2) What just happened? That was Horion¡¯s first thought as he was pinned to the ground, barely able to raise his head. A throbbing sensation was felt in his face. ¡°You, youÒ»¡± By the time Horion barely managed to stand up, Taesan was already rushing in. Horion, startled, drew his sword. Taesan swung two swords. sh! Contrary to Taesan¡¯s expectation to overwhelm his opponent, both of their stats were almost equal. The fact that Horion was not falling behind in strength and speed, even though the health boosted by leveling up was simr, meant the equipment he was wearing was filling the gap. He was an adventurer from the 30th floor. Naturally, he would have better materials and equipment from the shops. ng! Swords were repelled. Both retreated to simr distances, and disbelief was in Horion¡¯s face. ¡°This, this¡­¡± He wasn¡¯t just any ordinary adventurer of the 30th floor, as Taesan expected. Like the Guides of Sin on the 20th floor, he too was an adventurer who had stopped at the line of the 30th floor. So, he had raised all the levels he could at the 30th floor, bought all the equipment avable in the shop, andpleted all the refinements using the cksmith. He could easily suppress an ordinary adventurer on the 30th floor. Even if they fought back fiercely, he had the skill to negate any advantage by exploiting openings. However, he was being pushed back against Taesan, who was on the 24th floor. ng. The repelled sword cuts through Horion¡¯s thigh. [Horion takes 225 damage.] ¡°Why is the damage like this!¡± Horion was baffled. The equipment difference between the 24th and 30th floors was absolute. Moreover, he was in a state where he had reached the limits of strength on the 30th floor. Essentially, he should not have taken any damage. However, the damageing from Taesan was unbelievable. ¡°I¡¯m a special case.¡± Aura. A skill that prated physical defense. Regardless of how superior Horion¡¯s equipment was, it was as good as non-existent against it. Considering the ghost didn¡¯t even know of Aura¡¯s full extent, a Guide of Sin of the 3rd rank couldn¡¯t have known about it. Horion gritted his teeth and charged. ¡°Eek!¡± [Horion has activated Counter.] [You have activated Lightning Strike.] Counter was a skill that avoided a possible attack and retaliated. It was meaningless and was wasted against unavoidable skills. That was the weakness of Counter. Taesan thrust his sword into Horion¡¯s chest. Since he believed in Counter and charged, his unprotected chest was pierced through. [Horion takes 67 damage.] ¡°This, this¡­¡­¡± Horion, clutching his chest, retreated, but Taesan did not stop his steps. [You have activated eleration.] It was a one-sided battle. Horion, being of the 3rd rank, was considerably stronger than the 2nd rank. However, Taesan had already defeated those of the 3rd rank when he was on the lower floors. Additionally, he had be much stronger since descending thebyrinth, so there was no chance for Horion. Horion kept resisting and then tried to flee but was blocked by Taesan¡¯s ck magic and magic. ¡°Gah!¡± Soon, Horion was pinned to the ground. Taesan pressed the tip of his sword against his forehead. ¡°Got some questions. Answer them, and I¡¯ll make your end quick.¡± ¡°You¡­¡­¡± Horion gritted his teeth. ¡°Who are you! I¡¯ve never heard of someone like you!¡± A guide of the 2nd rank overpowering a 3rd rank. It was impossible. To begin with, if he was at that level, the executives would have granted him permission to go deeper. While poking Horion¡¯s forehead, Taesan answered. ¡°A friend of yours came up a while ago, remember? And died?¡± Horion¡¯s pupils quivered. The 3rd rank guide, Jagan. He crossed Horion¡¯s mind. ¡°But¡­ I heard his opponent died with him.¡± ¡°A tant lie.¡± Horion let out a sarcasticugh. A man capable of defeating adventurers from the 20th to 30th floors and was even stronger after descending. Horion never had a chance of winning. His will broke. There was no need to oppress himself with self-evidence. In exchange for a peaceful death, Taesan asked, ¡°What are the executives doing now?¡± Now, there was no more hiding. The executives would be informed once the adventurers of the 3rd rank died. It was only a matter of time before they would act. To Taesan¡¯s question, Horion answered with a drained voice, ¡°They can¡¯te up now.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The executives have been stuck on a floor for a long time. I heard they left their positions for a long time to attempt to break through it. They won¡¯t show up for a while.¡± [..Hmm.] The ghost seemed to have a guess. ¡°Do you know something?¡± [Not much. When I was alive, they were also stuck and ranting. Could they still not have gotten past it? This is pathetic.] ¡°They¡¯re stuck?¡± [The deeper you go, the more unreasonable floors appear.] ¡°For example?¡± [Like passing a in an hour, facing three enemies of the same ss simultaneously, or catching a dragon with basic equipment. Those kinds of floors?] ¡°That¡¯s¡­ unreasonable.¡± Taesan had seen a dragon in Vekveta. He had witnessed its strength and level. Catching that with nothing, or even a thousand armors and a rusty sword, wasughable. [Typical floors can be descended without defeating the boss, but in such ces, if you don''t clear the condition, you can''t go down at all. They are probably stuck there.] Lee Taeyeon also said simr things. There were asionally absurdly unreasonable floors. It almost cost her life to break through them. Back then, he thought it was just the usual whining and ignored it, but it seemed there were really unreasonable floors. Horion, who recognized the warrior btedly, moaned. ¡°Dragon¡­ Lord.¡± [Hello? We''ve met before, right? Though I don''t remember.] The ghost chuckled. [You were just a bystander, so I don''t care. But let me ask you one thing.] ¡°¡­¡­What do you want to know?¡± [Is Societ Garudentia still alive?] Realizing the implication of the question, Horion nodded with a bitter smile. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of her death. So, I suppose she is alive.¡± [That''s enough. I didn''t think a minor character like you would know more, so I''m done.] ¡°¡­¡­Then, I hope for a peaceful death.¡± ¡°I have no intention of breaking my promise.¡± Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through Horion¡¯s heart. [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Permanently, Strength has increased by 26, Agility by 24, Intelligence by 22, Health by 120, and Mana by 22.] [The proficiency of Counter has increased by 5%.] He became stronger in an instant. ¡°This really pays off.¡± Soul Ascension was an excellent skill against monsters, but it revealed its true value when facing other adventurers. It could rob everything, increase his stats by arge amount, and even obtain new skills or increased proficiency. Furthermore, it showed a high increase in health points, which couldn¡¯t be obtained from monsters. It was a literal overall increase. ¡°Status Window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 56] [Shield: 292/292] [Health: 3460/3460] [Mana: 652/652] [Magic: 41/41] [Strength: 1145] [Intelligence: 812] [Agility: 984] [Attack + 145] [Defense + 172] [The subject is in peak condition.] [Truly ridiculous numbers.] ¡°I¡¯m still far behind.¡± Even now, catching up to Lee Taeyeon was a distant goal. The ghost was astounded by Taesan¡¯s words. [At level 56, do you think these stats and this health value make sense? It''d be worth watching if you can go down the abyss without dying.] Thebyrinth had eleration. And it would literally explode when you reached the abyss. Lee Taeyeon¡¯s ridiculous stats were mostly acquired after reaching the abyss, the true depths. ¡°Let¡¯s go down first.¡± It was still a far-off story. But at the same time, it was also a ce that could be reached before long. Taesan cleaned up the corpse and broke through thebyrinth. The administrators overseeing the adventurers of each hierarchy had life stones given by the executives. Life stones were connected to the lives of the guides, allowing them to know immediately if they died or were seriously injured. That was how they knew Horion was dead. ¡°He¡¯s dead?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this nonsense all of a sudden?¡± ¡°You know Horion, who said he would go up for a while.¡± ¡°Why him?¡± A man sitting on a plush sofa snapped his chin. The guides, who could no longer descend, had arranged all sorts of luxury items. It was only natural since there was nowhere to spend money after bing stronger to their limit. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± A light in the jewel held by the handsome young man¡¯s hand was gone. The man lying on the sofa frowned. ¡°¡­ He¡¯s dead?¡± ¡°Look. It¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it wrong?¡± ¡°A jewel connected to life itself is wrong? Rather, it¡¯s more likely that he¡¯s really dead?¡± ¡°Ok.¡± The man reluctantly stood up. ¡°First, call the others. Then let¡¯s talk.¡± Soon, eight Guides of Sin were gathered in one room. A woman with anguid face yawned. ¡°Why call busy people?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so busy about just sleeping with nothing to do?¡± ¡°Sleeping is busy. Proper sleep is precious.¡± ¡°Do you say that while sleeping two out of the three parts of the day?¡± There was no passion or zeal seen among them as they exchanged mundane chatter. Having been stuck on the 30th floor for a long time, they had used all means to be stronger. And they were the result of that end. Their strength faded, and there was no one to contend with. If they did not asionally confront each other, there would be no fighting at all. This was what the Guides of Sin had always been. Having lived for decades in this manner, everything had been broken down. ¡®It¡¯s almost as bad as being dead.¡¯ The administrator of the third hierarchy, who had called them, sneered bitterly. They, too, were once passionate about descending thebyrinth. However, they became Guides due to a fear of death, and this was the result. ¡®I should have died back then.¡¯ When they were still adventurers. They might have maintained their purity if they had died back when they still hoped to conquer thebyrinth and dreamed of conquest. However, that time had passed. They had made their choice, and this was the result. The administrator, gathering his thoughts, spoke. ¡°Horion is dead.¡± At those words, silence fell for a moment. A young boy with a flushed face spoke in confusion. ¡°Him?¡± ¡°Did he try to go past the 31st floor? And therefore, the Guides of the fourth hierarchy killed him?¡± ¡°No. Horion died on the 24th floor. That¡¯s why¡­ I called you.¡± The administrator spoke softly. ¡°If one of us dies, we are the most likely suspects.¡± When an adventurer killed an adventurer, their level increased. It was the only way for them to be stronger, whose growth had been blocked. However, they scrunched their faces in difort. ¡°Who would do such a thing?¡± ¡°The level difference would be immediately noticed, and if you try to go down, you¡¯ll get killed. Even if you don¡¯t go down, we will tear you apart. Who would do such a foolish act that leads to death either way?¡± ¡°I know.¡± A Guide who killed hisrade would be executed at that moment. Since the level was only 1 or 2 higher, it was not significantly stronger, not to the point of resisting an execution. As they said, there was no reason to do it. ¡°But Horion is dead. An adventurer of the second hierarchy absolutely couldn¡¯t have killed him. So I mentioned it.¡± There was a difference in equipment. An adventurer of the second hierarchy could rush and overwhelm Horion, but couldn¡¯t kill him. Even if they hit him, only minimal damage would be dealt, so he could somehow escape. The Guides of the second hierarchy were not equal to the third hierarchy. After a long period of thinking, someone spoke. ¡°Isn¡¯t it him?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The guy who killed Jagan recently. The one who was said to be apanied by the ghost of the hero.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Btedly, they realized the existence of Taesan. ¡°Jagan really did die, didn¡¯t he? He was unsightly but wasn¡¯t weak.¡± They disliked Jagan. He possessed the arrogance of the demons and had a low-value view that the weak should be trampled upon. Even in the third hierarchy, Jagan was one to be ostracized. But Jagan was not weak. The unique ck magic of the demon race had aplicated destructive power, and he was middle-tier within the third hierarchy. The administrator groaned. ¡°¡­¡­Right. He had gone up to the 20th floor and died. But he also died with him, didn¡¯t he?¡± The adventurer who had been apanied by Jagan and the ghost of the hero was already eliminated. That was the information they knew. ¡°What if that¡¯s false?¡± ¡°Would the adventurers of the second hierarchy lie?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a possibility. They might have thought to resist the guy who took down Jagan, knowing the oue, just to survive as long as possible?¡± ¡°The possibility¡­¡­exists.¡± The administrator¡¯s pupils sank. Either way, this matter needed confirmation. ¡°Let¡¯s go up together.¡± ¡°Do we all need to go just to catch one guy?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the one who won against Jagan even while in the second hierarchy. He must have gotten strongering down this far. We cannot be careless.¡± ¡°Do we all really need to go?¡± They expressed reluctance with ambiguous faces. ¡°After all, he¡¯s just an adventurer from the 24th floor. He might have beaten Jagan and Horion, but that was 1 on 1, right? If more than two go, isn¡¯t it a sure win?¡± ¡°True. Three of us going should suffice. No more needed.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The administrator mumbled. ¡°Then four should go down. If needed, just run away immediately.¡± ¡°There will be no need to run.¡± ¡°We will settle this quickly and return. I need to get more proper sleep.¡± Four Guides of Sin ascended thebyrinth. The rest leisurely started to wait for them. Their past selves wouldn¡¯t have made such a decision. The strength of the enemy was unknown, and it was certain that he was stronger than each of them individually. It would have been the correct move for everyone to go down and suppress him. But they had been lingering around the 30th floor for decades. That time of powerlessness had made them sluggish. Their judgment had be clouded, and an excessive confidence also emerged to prevent their ego from being consumed by a sense of powerlessness. If the second hierarchy obtained arrogance and recklessness after a long period of stagnation, the third hierarchy obtainedziness and a sense of powerlessness. The Guides of the second hierarchy paid the price. It was time for the third hierarchy to pay the price as well. Chapter 114: Twenty Fourth Level, Guides Of Sin (3) Chapter 114: Twenty Fourth Level, Guides Of Sin (3) The approaching presence caused Taesan to lift his head. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°He¡¯s younger than I thought.¡± ¡°Appearances don¡¯t mean much, but¡­ he does look young. Barely twenty, maybe?¡± The Guides of Sin assessed Taesan with a rxed attitude. Taesan counted their number. After the four, no one else was visible. ¡°Just four of you?¡± He thought all the guides of the third hierarchy woulde. Considering that Taesan had defeated Jagan when he was on the second hierarchy and that Horian was also dead, it would have been the right decision for them all toe. But just four? [They''ve been stuck here for decades. Maybe in the past¡­ but now their strength has all faded.] ¡°I thought everyone woulde¡­ does it not matter?¡± Whether there were many or few, it didn¡¯t matter to him. The woman awkwardly waved her hand. ¡°Um¡­ hero. Hello?¡± [Pleasant, but we aren''t supposed to greet, are we?] ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± The eyes of the awkwardly smiling guides started to sink. In an instant, the atmosphere became tense. Taesan drew his sword. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] £ÛHajing Roya£Ý £ÛLevel: 65£Ý £ÛHP: 3165£Ý £ÛEquipped Weapon: Spear£Ý £ÛThe Subjugated£Ý A man with brown hair and an Arabic appearance, holding a trident, was staring at Taesan. £ÛBaben Ruata£Ý £ÛLevel: 65£Ý £ÛHP: 2995£Ý £ÛEquipped Weapon: Dagger£Ý £ÛThe Subjugated£Ý A man in ck attire clinging to his whole body, not holding any weapon. He looked like a rogue. £ÛArinesia Clieus£Ý £ÛHP: 2350£Ý £ÛEquipped Weapon: Staff£Ý £ÛThe Subjugated£Ý The only woman among them. With her long blue hair and holding a staff, she looked like a mage. £ÛCasian£Ý £ÛHP: 2991£Ý £ÛEquipped Weapon: Bow£Ý £ÛThe Subjugated£Ý Andstly, an archer. Roles were clearly distributed. Taesan shrugged his shoulders, activating his whole body¡¯s muscles and beginning the awakening of his mind. ¡°No need for lengthy talk, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± With the reply, Taesan stepped forward. [You have activated Walking the Wind Path of the Deer.] [You have activated eleration.] It was an incredibly fast speed. They were startled by the approach that greatly exceeded their expectations. However, they were adventurers on the 30th floor. They quickly started responding. The mage shook her staff. [Arinesia has activated Madness.] [No judgment needed!] ¡°What, what?¡± The madness was repelled. Casian shot his bow. It was a speed and power suitable for the 30th floor. Taesan didn¡¯t dodge but manipted the wind. The gathered wind altered the trajectory of the arrow. The arrow didn¡¯t even graze him and passed by. ¡°Tsk!¡± ng! Hajing¡¯s spear and Taesan¡¯s sword collided. Hajing was horrified by the force felt from across the spear. ¡®He¡¯s stronger than me!¡¯ Taesan had superior stats. Hajing had strengthened himself to the limit on the 30th floor and naturally believed he would have the upper hand, but this belief created a gap in his movements. Blue mes rose on Taesan¡¯s sword. It slid past Hajing¡¯s spear and pierced his chest. [Hajing received 226 damage.] ¡°Hold on!¡± ¡°What damage is this!¡± The rest of them didn¡¯t just watch. The mage was chanting a spell, the archer was drawing his bow, and the rogue was trying to stab Taesan in the back with a dagger. [You have activated Decarabia''s Distorted Life.] And then, roots surged in. The guides hastily ceased their attacks and distanced themselves from the sweeping ck energy of vegetation. ¡°A forbidden spell!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not a demon¡­!¡± Crack. While they were adjusting, Taesan continued to pressure Hajing. Hajing wasn¡¯t just taking it. He activated his skills and tried to escape the crisis with his spear techniques. But all of it was blocked. The skills were neutralized by Taesan¡¯s slight movements, and the spear techniques were prated by the Stormscar Sword. In an instant, over half of his energy was drained. ¡°Do something!¡± ¡°Easier said than done!¡± [You have activated Frost Arrow.] [You have activated zing Orb.] While pressing Hajing, Taesan continued to pressure the other three with magic, dark magic, and elemental skills. Arinesia cried out in frustration as the attacks came flying at the exact time when they tried to do something. ¡°Does he have eyes on his back or what!¡± Taesan¡¯s field of vision was nearly 100%. In fact, there was practically no blind spot. For them, who only had 40, 50% proficiency, it was a level of freedom that was hard to understand. Taesan swung his sword harshly, and the force violently shook Hajing¡¯s spear. Taesan then thrust his sword. ¡°Ah.¡± The spear flew into the sky. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through Hajing¡¯s chest. ¡°Ah, aah¡­¡± [You have defeated Hajing Roya.] ¡°Darn it!¡± Arinesia clenched her teeth and waved her hand. Her mana drained out rapidly, and a spell materialized. [Arinesia has activated Storm Arrow.] Clink clink clink! The wind split, creating a massive arrow. Taesan, who deflected the arrow, maintained his posture. ¡°It¡¯s strong.¡± It was one of the strongest magics he had ever seen. It looked powerful enough to drain hundreds of health points if it hit properly. [Intermediate Magic... It''s usable if you''re on the 30th floor.] Arinesia red sharply at Taesan as she waved her hand. The arrow was fired. It filled the room, leaving no ce to dodge. And he had no intention to dodge either. [You have activated Forced Duel. For 10 seconds, no one except Baben Ruata can deal damage to you.] The arrow, connecting with Taesan, exploded. It lost its magic and dispersed in every direction. ¡°What, what?¡± Without understanding what had happened, Taesan charged towards them. The Guides of Sin. They were not weak. If the strength of the four wasbined properly, they could easily pressure Taesan. However, their coordination was very poor, and they were not prepared. The rogue couldn¡¯t target Taesan¡¯s back, and the archer couldn¡¯t pressure him at all. Due to constant restrictions, the mage couldn¡¯t materialize any magic. Even thete materialized magic lost its meaning due to Forced Duel. They probably never coordinated with each other. It was natural since there was no enemy to fight together. Even if their coordination was perfect, nothing would change. Forced Duel that prevented anyone other than the target from intervening. As long as he had it, outnumbering Taesan had no meaning. And this was the result. ¡°Cough.¡± ¡°That was somewhat annoying.¡± The chest of thest remaining guide was pierced. He tried to escape in every way possible but couldn¡¯t hide from Taesan¡¯s eyes. The light disappeared from the rogue¡¯s eyes. [You have defeated Baben Ruata.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Agility permanently increased by 36. Strength permanently increased by 21. Intelligence permanently increased by 19. Health permanently increased by 100.] [You have acquired the special activation skill [Stealth].] Having defeated the four guides, his level increased by 4. His stats increased more, and he also acquired two skills. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 62] [Shield: 329/329] [Health: 3830/3830] [Mana: 716/716] [Magic: 44/44] [Strength: 1246] [Intelligence: 915] [Agility: 1102] [Attack Power + 145] [Defense + 172] [Subject is in the best condition.] All stats had increased by about 100. He gained levels equivalent to passing through two floors by just defeating the four guides. And there were also skills. [Special Activation Skill: Stealth] [Mana Consumption: 20] [Proficiency: 1%] [It hides the body. It conceals the presence. It''s still very immature.] It was the activation skill version of invisibility. Judging by the simr description, it seemed the effects weren¡¯t much different either. Perhaps it was a skill used by those who couldn¡¯t learn magic. It didn¡¯t mean much, but it wasn¡¯t bad either. [Basic Magic: Wind Explosion] [Mana Consumption: 9] [Proficiency: 1%] [Causes an explosion of wind.] A very simple description. The effect was as simple as the description. Taesan raised his finger. [You have activated Wind Explosion.] Boom! Wind exploded right in front of Taesan. It harshly pped his face and tried to push him back. The power itself wasn¡¯t very impressive, but like the lightning, it had no dy and wasn¡¯t confined to Taesan¡¯s surroundings. It was quite usable in restricting the opponent¡¯s actions or blocking projectiles. ¡°So when are theying?¡± These four weren¡¯t the end. If the ghost was right, there were about five more left. [Well¡­ I don''t think they areing.] The ghost mumbled in an ambiguous tone. ¡°They are dead.¡± In the silence, a man¡¯s voice echoed. The mes in all four jewels in front of him had extinguished. ¡°¡­ All four of them?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± With a voice like a groan, the manager spoke. ¡°All¡­ are dead.¡± ¡°So quickly? It hasn¡¯t even been two hours yet!¡± Someone denied it and shouted. ¡°Even if they couldn¡¯t win, they could have escaped! Don¡¯t lie!¡± ¡°I thought so, too. That¡¯s why I sent them.¡± The difference in equipment was absolute. However excellent the adventurer were, they were adventurers from the 24th floor. To break through those with equipment from the 30th floor would take a considerable amount of time. He believed they could escape without much difficulty, even if a problem arose. ¡°But¡­ they are all dead.¡± Silence fell again. The manager hesitantly opened his mouth. ¡°Do we have to go down and fight too?¡± ¡°¡­ That¡¯s not a tempting suggestion. He killed four in just two hours. I don¡¯t think it will be different with six.¡± A woman who had regained herposure mumbled. It wasn¡¯t a wrong judgment, but it wasn¡¯t the right one either. ¡°If that demon was here¡­¡± The demon who had left the third tier a while ago. The guide who had received permission from the executives to enter the deep levels. They were the guides permitted to ces where others weren¡¯t. Initially, they had felt jealousy and envy. They wanted to see with their own eyes what was different. However, they realized this in the short time spent together. That demon was monstrously strong. Despite being on the same floor, they werepletely no match for him. He could have been a match for the intruder. But the manager shook his head. ¡°He already went down. And he said he wouldn¡¯te back. It¡¯s a pointless imagination.¡± ¡°Then what should we do¡­¡± They couldn¡¯t decide and were confused. Somehow, the manager came up with an idea and spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s wait for now. He¡¯s still on the 24th floor.¡± Their location was the 30th floor. It would take time for him toe down. A man frowned. ¡°Give him time to get stronger?¡± ¡°Our chances of winning are low anyway. So, we should give time andmunicate below.¡± ¡°¡­So we are waiting until the absent executives return.¡± At the dismal decision, they all groaned. It sounded grand, but the conclusion was simple. They couldn¡¯t beat the adventurer of the 24th floor, so they hoped the executives woulde back soon. If their prayer seeded, they could survive; if it failed, they would die. Their abilities couldn¡¯t influence this choice at all. ¡°But we have no other means.¡± The manager spoke as if making a final plea. The others also agreed in silence. ¡°So, the conclusion is rough. Let¡¯smunicate and then run. We endure somehow until the executives get better.¡± ¡°¡­¡­This sucks.¡± Someone muttered grimly. They all gave bitterughs. Taesan, who was resting against the wall, muttered. ¡°They are noting.¡± He waited about two hours. It was enough time for them to realize the anomaly ande down, but there was no sign of them. ¡°Your prediction was right.¡± [The Guides are the ones with broken spirits. So, they are cowards, and they procrastinate. Still disappointing.] The ghost muttered in a contemptuous tone. [They probably decided to wait until the executives came back. Whether it is wise or foolish¡­] ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter either way.¡± It didn¡¯t matter even if the executives came down. He was prepared for them. ¡°But¡­ It seems I need to give it a bit of time.¡± [Huh? Why?] ¡°A quest has appeared.¡± Taesan looked into the void. The quest window stated another return to Earth. Chapter 115: Twenty Fourth Level, Boss Chapter 115: Twenty Fourth Level, Boss [Special Quest Start] [Special Quest Start] [In one week, you all will return to the abandonednds. Survive there ande back. Rewards will be decided based on your achievements.] [This quest cannot be refused.] This was the second return quest. The ghost realized it btedly. [We''re going back again?] ¡°Yes.¡± [It feels like it hasn''t been long, but they are calling us back quickly.] He didn¡¯t know before, but now he knew that the gods were intervening. This call was also theirs. The gods kept returning them, the yers, to Earth. ¡°I wonder why.¡± [How would we know the intentions of those madmen?] This was something that couldn¡¯t be known immediately. Taesan opened themunity. [Bang Ja Yeon[Easy]: Ah¡­ It''s driving me crazy.] [Choi Geum In[Normal]: Where do they want us to go this time? Do they want us to destroy the monsters'' nests?] Themunity was in utter chaos. Unlike the first return, there was no hope or anticipation, only despair and fear. They all knew very well the state of the Earth now. That it was upied by monsters, and they couldn¡¯t cope with their power yet. To them, returning was not a blessing but a curse. [Kim Na Yeon[Easy]: No! I don''t want to! I like it here! I don''t want to go back!] Especially the Easy Mode yers felt this strongly. Easy Mode was very easy. If you were careful and didn¡¯t embark on vain adventures, most could clear it. Hence, thebyrinth wasn¡¯t a despairing ce for them, rather, it might feel like a cradle. So, for Easy yers, Earth would feel like hell. Taesan knew it well. He also came from there. ¡®But it¡¯s still manageable for now.¡¯ It was manageable up to the second return. If the Easy yers were careful and stayed beside others, the chances of survival were high. The problem was after clearing it, but there was no significant impediment to surviving for now. Taesan posted a message. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: How do you feel?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Ah, Mr. Taesan.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Bro.] Even the Solo Mode yers were in despair. They were already having a tough time, and now they had to return to Earth again. However, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk were calmlyforting the others. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You seem calmer than I thought.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Well, we expected this wasn''t the end, but we didn''t think it woulde this soon.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Still¡­ We are somewhat better off.] Both were striving desperately. They had cleared thebyrinth and gained power superior to those in Hard Mode. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You said you were breaking through the 7th floor, right?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Yes. It''s embarrassing topare to Mr. Taesan, but we think we''vee down well.] The 7th floor. Where Lizardman Swordsmen appeared. He thought it would be a tough one as they used proper sword skills, but it seemed manageable for these two. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: We have be stronger. We can''t just let others die.] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: Ugh. I''m nervous. It''s driving me crazy.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: We still have a week. Try to get down to the 8th floor at least. There''s a trial there worth receiving. It''s by the God of Trials, Oman. It''d be better to receive that too beforeing.] God of Trials. Oman. In this trial, you didn¡¯t need to risk your life. It was a test where one could realize their own limits and give up, a trial where one could be stronger without great risk. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Really?] [Kang Junhyuk[Solo]: So there is such a thing¡­ Thanks, bro. It will be tough, but we have to go down.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: But don''t overdo it and die. See you in a week.] There shouldn¡¯t be any major problem if it was the two of them. Taesan, after leaving hisst message, shifted his attention towards those in Hard Mode. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: How about you guys?] [Geum Junggeun[Hard]: I''m fine¡­ but noona is having some problems.] [Kim Hwiyeon[Hard]: ¡­I feel like vomiting.] Taesan could feel the pressure from beyond those words, causing him to chuckle. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Think lightly about it. Isn''t it better to make decisions yourself than entrusting your life to others?] [Kim Hwiyeon[Hard]: How can I think lightly when the lives of thirty thousand people are in my hands¡­] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Really?] Taesan remembered that Kim Hwiyeon managed over a hundred thousand people. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You know you have to do it, right?] [Kim Hwiyeon[Hard]: ¡­ I''ll do it. I know. It''s just aint.] Ignoring her grumbles, Taesan asked, [Kang Taesan[Solo]: How''s Hard Mode these days?] [Kim Hwiyeon[Hard]: It''s okay. There are still deaths, but the number has decreased, and we are slowly getting better.] This wasn¡¯t bad news. Hard Mode had the topmost yers outside of Solo Mode. Each one of them was valuable. After confirming, Taesan exchanged a few words before saying goodbye. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Then, see you in a week.] [Kim Hwiyeon[Hard]: Ah. I hate it¡­ I wish I knew what to do when we go back.] [Geum Junggeun[Hard]: Unless you can foresee the future, you won''t know.] [Kim Hwiyeon[Hard]: I know. Just venting.] Taesan closed themunity window. He already experienced it once, so he knew what to do during the second return. But there was no certainty that it would be the same as before. ¡°I wonder how it will be this time.¡± Something would definitely change. Anyway, it was not for another week. He nned to get stronger by then. Taesan continued to descend thebyrinth. He defeated the boss of the 24th floor and checked the reward. [Staff of Baal] [ck Magic + 10] [A staff made by the demon Baal out of boredom. Lesser beings will go mad just by touching it.] ¡°This can be dedicated to the Demon God.¡± [??? was used.] [Ring of Spring Water] [Attack + 5] [Defense + 5] [Strength + 5] [Agility + 5] [A ring containing the essence of a natural spring. Although small in quantity, it can summon clean water.] ¡°Ohho.¡± The increase in stats was quite high. Plus, it had a special ability to summon water. He decided to try it as a test, and about three bottles of water flowed out. This amount wasn¡¯t too bad. Considering what was to be done on Earth, clean water was absolutely necessary. ¡°Well then.¡± He now thought of learning a new ck magic. Taesan held the Staff of Baal with a doubtful expression. ¡°But how should I do this?¡± Even if he wanted to dedicate it so he could learn new ck magic, he didn¡¯t know the method. The Demon God also didn¡¯t give any exnation, so he had no choice but to try different things. First, like Lillis did, he kneeled and began to pray. As he kept wishing, dedicating offerings to the Demon God, a force began to descend. The dimension of thebyrinth was distorted, and a great power could be felt from the other side. Darkness began to expand, and the Demon God appeared. [Hmm.] She was standing with her arms crossed, an annoyed expression on her face. Taesan was taken aback by her openly disyed displeasure. ¡°Why are you like this?¡± [...No, it''s nothing. I can''t me you for something I didn''t tell you about.] The Demon God squinted her eyes. [But next time, offer things originating from me to me. Understand?] ¡°Ah, yes.¡± He didn¡¯t know why, but if she wished so, there was no reason to refuse. As Taesan immediately answered, the Demon God, seemingly in a better mood, spoke in a higher tone. [I know why you called me. You are preparing to leave, aren''t you?] ¡°You know.¡± [I cannot not know about my own matters. They are really bothersome and low creatures. To go to all this troublesome length.] Mirth and mockery were visible on the Demon God¡¯s face, understanding why Taesan would return to Earth. ¡°Perhaps¡­.¡± [You know. I cannot tell you.] ¡°I need to go down more.¡± [If you can¡­ reach at least the 50th floor, I might exin. Strive hard toe down.] The Demon God waved her hand. The staff floating in Taesan¡¯s hand flew to her. [This should suffice for basic ck Magic. I also want to annoy those creatures, so consider it a service. I''ll give you what you need now.] [You have learned the Basic ck Magic [Prayer to the Demon God].] ¡°What is this?¡± [Something you will definitely need when you leave.] The Demon God smirked. [You''ll probably find the ck Magic useful. You will be grateful to me, won''t you?] ¡°Thank you.¡± He expressed his thanks as it seemed like she took some care to provide it. The Demon God clenched her fist in delight. The darkness began to fade. [Don''t forget. The god who cares the most about you is me. Understood?] ¡°I understand.¡± [Then,e back without dying. It''s going to be tough since those creatures won''t stay still¡­ ¡­Leave.] As she turned around, the Demon God scowled. [Now, those who weren''t interested might interfere. I''ll have to dere beforehand.] With iprehensible words as herst, the Demon God left. The ghost, who had been silent until now, mumbled as if he found it fascinating. [This is¡­ really strange.] ¡°What is?¡± [Nothing. I shouldn''t have said it. It might look bad. What did you get?] ¡°A kind of rechargeable skill.¡± [Basic ck Magic: Prayer to the Demon God] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can draw the power bestowed by the Demon God through prayer to her. Upon using the skill, you enter a meditative state, elerating the recovery of magic power. In meditation, all stats and action speed are halved.] ¡°It¡¯s a recovery skill.¡± Unlike mana, magic power had no specific means of recovery, so it seemed like a considerate gift. Actually, once he returns to Earth, leveling up would be impossible, making the recovery of magic power itself challenging. All things considered, the skill was indeed useful, just as the Demon God had said. He expressed his gratitude to her and was sure. ¡®The Demon God knows.¡¯ About Earth, about his return, and his past as well. Then, it was highly probable that the High Gods also knew. Taesan moved to the next floor, the 25th floor. [Starting Quest of the 25th Floor.] [Defeat the boss of the 25th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Robe of Darkness] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°Have you arrived?¡± At the beginning of the floor, the shopkeeper was waiting. Instead of passing by as usual, Taesan asked. ¡°Can you show me the equipment avable for purchase now?¡± ¡°Why all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be away for a while.¡± ¡°¡­Ah.¡± The shopkeeper also realized. ¡°Leaving again? That¡¯s strange. Wait a moment.¡± The shopkeeper brought out several pieces of equipment. One by one, they were clearly of a higher grade than the ones Taesan had seen on the 11th floor. [Treasure Gauntlet] [A gauntlet adorned with treasures. Despite its appearance, it''s good for practical use. Created by a cksmith tired of the nobles'' fussiness.] [Attack + 45] [50,000G] [Silence Summoning Flute] [A flute favored by a bard who loved silence.] [On use prohibits the use of all magic within range for 10 minutes. This item can only be used once a day.] [70,000G] The grade had increased iparably. Surely, if he had bought other equipment instead of the ring that increased his stats by a few percentage points at that time, he would have regretted it. Taesan had 40,000 gold now. He had earned quite a lot of money by hunting guides. While looking around, a wrist guard caught Taesan¡¯s eye. Crack. The wrist guard covered in whips seemed to be alive, snapping the tips of its whips as he held it. [Wrist Guard of Killing Intent] [A wrist guard trying to kill everything except its owner. Created by the whim of a witch. There still exist hidden elements.] [Attack + 25] [Defense + 1] [40,000G] ¡°Why is this so cheap?¡± ¡°That?¡± Seeing Taesan speak, the shopkeeper spoke as if it was obvious. ¡°Would you want to buy it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It gave an attack of 25 for a wrist guard. Itpensated and even surpassed theck of defense. The shopkeeper also realized that fact btedly. ¡°¡­Now that I think about it, you have the Airak Weapon Technique. It¡¯s notmon, you know. Think about it: the attack only applies when you hit with that equipment. There are various attack buff equipment, but most are essories and are expensive. At least, that isn¡¯t it.¡± From a regr adventurer¡¯s standpoint, there was no reason to use equipment that only ambiguously increased attack with no defense at all. He understood when it was exined that way. But it was different for Taesan. ¡°I¡¯ll take this.¡± ¡°Well, it seems perfect for you. Do you have the money?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan paid the price and wore the wristguard. The whips wrapped around it shook here and there and tapped on Taesan¡¯s arm. ¡°It seems to like it too. Use it well.¡± ¡°Does it have intelligence?¡± ¡°Somehow, yes. It¡¯s quirky, but the grade itself is high. If it had been proper equipment, you couldn¡¯t have bought it at this point.¡± Crack. The whip gently wrapped around Taesan¡¯s arm. Chapter 116: Twenty Fifth Level, Special Activation Skill, Addition And Multiply Chapter 116: Twenty Fifth Level, Special Activation Skill, Addition And Multiply [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Uh¡­¡­] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: This¡­¡­ I really don''t know¡­¡­ is it correct?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I''m saying it because it''s correct.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Hmm. I don''t know. I thought every time the skill acquisition conditions were mentioned, it seemed crazy, but this seems to go beyond that.] The shop owner, watching Taesan, gave him a puzzled look. ¡°I¡¯m surprised, though. I thought you¡¯d save up more money and buy it.¡± ¡°I need to prepare a bit.¡± If Taesan recalled correctly, his strength for the second return should be sufficient. He could handle it alone without any injuries ande back. But that was not possible. So he had to be prepared. Taesan went downstairs, touching the whip that wrapped around his arm. ¡®It was around here.¡¯ There was something he wanted to get before leaving. Upon entering the 25th floor, a ck spirit appeared. [A Dark Spirit has appeared.] ¡°What is this now?¡± The spherical spirit charged at Taesan. The whip, wrapping around his arm, stood up abruptly andshed at the spirit. Taesan was intrigued by the armguard attacking on its own. ¡°This is good?¡± For other yers, it might be a disadvantage. Only 25 damageshing out on its own. But, for Taesan, who had the Airak Martial Technique, it was very good. He had obtained a means of attacking automatically with an attack power of 175. It needed various tests, but it was definitely a good weapon for him. The spirit struck by the whip flew away. Ssh! But no damage window popped up. Instead, the spirit¡¯s body split apart. ¡°Huh?¡± Taesan¡¯s pupils dted. The spirit split and became two entities. [A Dark Spirit has appeared.] [Dark Spirit 2 has appeared.] ¡°Split?¡± [A Dark Spirit. It''s a spirit without a fixed form or mass.] The ghost exined impassively. [It doesn''t take damage from the first attack and splits. And once it splits, there''s a cooldown. You have to defeat it within that time. Typically, it''s an annoying enemy, but it''s nothing to you, right?] If it split into two, and if not defeated within a certain time, it split again. It was a troublesome monster, but with Taesan¡¯s current stats, it could be handled without any problem. However, Taesan smiled. ¡°Bingo.¡± Lee Taeyeon told him many things, and among them was about the splitting spirit. He shrugged off most of what she said, but he remembered that information well. The reason was one. A particr skill was much easier to obtain with it. ¡°One week. Is it possible?¡± Taesan murmured and waited quietly. He evaded. He avoided the attacks of the spirits without retaliating. ¡°How long is the cooldown?¡± [Uh¡­¡­ 3 minutes?] ¡°Worth the wait.¡± Taesan blocked, dodged, and waited. After 3 minutes, he swung his sword. Ssh. Two spirits separated. Four spirits now upied the room. He once again dodged the simultaneous attacks of the charging spirits. And 3 minutes passed. Taesan swung his arm. Along with a sharp cracking sound, the whip struck the spirits. Eight spirits filled the room. He repeated the process. He dodged, and when the cooldown was over, he struck. Sixteen appeared. There were too many to dodge, so he used forcedbat to buy time. [That''s a lot.] ¡°Should be enough around now.¡± Thus, over a hundred spirits filled the room, closely packed, making it hard to find space to move. [Why are you doing this?] The ghost looked bewildered. [You''re doing this to create a skill, aren''t you?] ¡°You know well.¡± [Well, it''s about time you created one.] Having seen it multiple times, it seemed routine. The ghost asked with curiosity. [But, what skill are you trying to create by doing this?] The ghost had watched the process of acquiring forced duel and attack nullification in real time. Even such a ghost found the preparation process hard to understand. ¡°It exists.¡± Taesan gripped a sword with both hands. He mumbled as he took a proper stance. ¡°The timing is right.¡± [Timing?] ¡°Those who invade the earth are the gods of the past. Did they not notice my existence?¡± The ghost replied after a moment of silence. [That¡­¡­ is very unlikely.] ¡°Yes. They probably know about me.¡± The gods of thebyrinth, Lucifer and Maria, knew of Taesan¡¯s past, that he had traveled back in time. Transcendents meant that they were unaffected by the flow of time. And that applied to the old gods as well. Even though he was defeated by the current gods, a mere human was a being who couldn¡¯t resist. It was evident from the strength of the monsters that appeared on the doomed earth. Would such beings not notice the distortion of time that he had gone back to the past? The possibility was low. In fact, Lucifer also said it. It would be hard. Toe back alive. So, he had to be stronger. He needed enough power to break the interference of the old gods who would be waiting to kill him. ¡°This skill should make it possible.¡± [What skill is it? Don''t make me curious, just tell me.] The ghost asked impatiently. Taesan answered while blocking the spirit¡¯s attack. ¡°Multiply.¡± [Multiply?] ¡°A skill that doubles the attack power.¡± [What? Is it an enhanced version of Add? Good skill, isn''t it?] The ghost asked with an interested voice. [So, what''s the condition?] The ghost thought that ¡°Add¡± naturally had conditions, such as it could only add basic attack power or it couldn¡¯t be influenced by other skills. Considering its power, it was a natural penalty, and even considering that, it was still a good skill. Taesan responded. ¡°None.¡± [What?] The ghost hesitated. [There are no conditions?] ¡°It literally doubles. The damage inflicted always doubles.¡± [¡­¡­Unconditionally?] ¡°Unconditionally.¡± [What kind of madness.] The ghost was shocked, and rightly so. [What is that skill?] ¡°Add¡± was a skill that added half of the basic attack power; it increased the attack power disyed on the stats screen by half. It didn¡¯t apply to all kinds of attack power buffs, strong blows, critical attacks, etc. But even such a skill, ¡°Add,¡± was a good attack power increase skill favored by Hard Mode yers. However, ¡°Multiply¡± was double the damage inflicted. Critical attacks, strong blows, continuous attacks, and numerous other attack power buff skills and conditions were also affected. It doubled them all. A significant difference existed between ¡°Add¡± and ¡°Multiply,¡± and it was embarrassing topare them. [There are so many who beg for ''Add'', but unconditionally doubling? What kind of skill is that?£Ý The ghost spoke with an astounded tone. [Simply looking at the numbers, it means you are twice as strong as before, right?£Ý ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± [Oh.] The ghost was horrified. All the skills until now were one thing, but ¡°Multiply¡± exceeded them. It was a skill one would scoff at and think of as nonsense if someone spoke of it. And naturally, a question arose. [¡­¡­How do you learn such a skill?] Skills had acquisition conditions. The mostmon condition was producing an effect simr to the skill¡¯s effect. [Don''t tell me you have to produce damage double the attack power? Isn''t that impossible without using critical attacks or strong blows?] ¡°It can¡¯t be that easy, right? If you use an attack power increase skill, you can¡¯t learn ¡®Multiply¡¯.¡± If that was possible, everyone would be learning ¡°Multiply.¡± But no one except Lee Taeyeon and him had learned ¡°Multiply.¡± [Then how do you learn it?] ¡°Perseverance Skill.¡± [Huh?] ¡°Don¡¯t you remember the skill I learned with Reconnaissance?¡± [¡­¡­Ah. The skill that improves efficiency through repetitive actions?] The ghost remembered it btedly. Even then, he only focused on Reconnaissance and didn¡¯t value Perseverance much. [You can get ''Multiply'' with that? I don''t understand.] ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you see.¡± Taesan swung his sword. The spirit in front was halved. [243 damage to Dark Spirit 102.] Given it¡¯s a dividing monster, its health itself seemed considerably low. When one spirit died, another thrust its torso forward. Taesan didn¡¯t dodge. He didn¡¯t back off or change his stance. He steadied his breath, used the muscles throughout his body, and shed the sword in the same stance as before. [243 damage to Dark Spirit 102.] The spirits rushed in. Taesan, in the same manner, didn¡¯t change his stance and only shed down his sword. [245 damage to Dark Spirit 95.] [247 damage to Dark Spirit 53.] [Huh?] The ghost realized. [The damage... It''s increasing bit by bit?] The effect of perseverance was simple. Efficiency increased with repetitive actions. Here, efficiency also included damage. [From what I think, you have to extract double damage like this, right?] Instead of answering, Taesan swung his sword. [249 damage to Dark Spirit 12.] The ghost was convinced. [That''s right.] Taesan continued to swing his sword. Each time, the damage increased slightly. A skill that could be obtained only if one had perseverance and hundreds of enemies were provided. That was ¡®Multiply.¡¯ The conditions themselves were not that hard. Perseverance could be learned without any special restrictions by performing mind-numbing repetitive actions, and in the numerousyers of thebyrinth, there were bound to be hundreds of enemies at least once. However, ¡®Multiply¡¯ was a skill that was difficult to learn even if the conditions were met. A spirit rushed toward Taesan. Taesan shed his sword down as he had been doing. And before Taesan could regain his posture, another spirit rushed in. Taesan lifted his sword and shed down again. There was a difference in speed from before. It was subtle but definite. [243 damage to Dark Spirit 44.] The damage had returned to what it was when he first attacked. Taesan calmly attacked the spirits again, increasing their number to over a hundred, and again took his stance and shed his sword down. [244 damage to Dark Spirit 86.] He started again from the beginning. On the second attempt, on the twenty-fourth attack, his left foot moved a distance hard to discern with the naked eye when two spirits suddenly interfered, and the damage returned to the initial value. He started again. On the third attempt, on the thirty-fifth attack, a spirit rushed in even after being attacked. A little more strength went into his fingertips. The damage was reset. The fourth attempt began. The ghost realized. [So, even a tiny deviation isn''t allowed.] The subtle movement of the muscles in the arm, the distance between the feet, the speed of moving the sword. The direction of the sword, the direction of the gaze, the location of the contact point, and the stopping position of the sword afterpleting a series of processes. Everything had to match perfectly for perseverance to activate, even the breathing afterpleting a series of processes. Taesan¡¯s damage was around 240. To obtain ¡®Multiply,¡¯ he had to reach 480. [This is madness.] The ghost, who had also performed the same action perfectly several times for the training of swordsmanship, knew its difficulty. It wasn¡¯t simple repetition. It was a perfect match. Lifting the hand, moving the sword, every motion where the sword ends. He had to devote all his energy to each one of them. It was an indescribable agony. At least for the ghost, it was morefortable to fight against a formidable enemy where victory could not be guaranteed. Moreover, for Taesan, there was the mark of struggle, where stats increased with every enemy defeated. Stats directly affected movement, meaning that the power and speed of each attack had to be reset. In the meantime, the fourth attempt also failed. Because at the fortieth sh, a spirit broke through his defense and interfered. ¡°Really? I think it¡¯s doable.¡± Taesan spoke calmly, lifting his sword again and taking a stance. There was no threat of death. All he had to do was repeat. Considering all kinds of variables, it would take immeasurable time, but he would definitely obtain it someday. That was enough. Taesan swung his sword. Time passed. Several hours, then a day passed. One day turned into two, and two days turned into four. Taesan simply continued repeating during that time. Whooosh. How many times has it been? He lost count. At least ten thousand times, surely. [Crazy man.] The ghost muttered, bored. There were several attempts in dozens of tries where he almost achieved it. Just three more times, and it would have doubled, but that was ruined by a very subtle variable. Although it was enough to burst out in anger, Taesan only lifted his sword again expressionlessly. It felt like watching an emotionless machine. [Don''t you get angry?] ¡°I do get angry. My emotions do waver. But I¡¯m used to it.¡± He had put in countless efforts to acquire skills. More than half of them were fruitless, and many times, he invested several months, but it was all in vain. The effort of a few days was nothing. ¡®Rather, it¡¯s a gain.¡¯ If he could obtain ¡®Multiply¡¯ just by suffering for a week, what else could be called a gain if this wasn¡¯t? That was what Taesan thought. Taesan continued to swing his sword. The ghost, either bored at some point or not wanting to interfere, didn¡¯t say anything and just waited. And then six days passed. [485 damage to Dark Spirit.] [You have drawn out nearly double the damage without any special means. Activated Special Skill [Multiply] acquired.] Taesan¡¯s sword stopped. 6 days of repetition, 132 hours ofbor, 1,012 failures, and he was able to acquire ¡®Multiply.¡¯ Chapter 117: Second Return, Assembly (1) Chapter 117: Second Return, Assembly (1) [Special Activation Skill: Multiply] [Mana Consumption: 30] [Doubles the Damage.] A very sinct description window. There was no proficiency. There was no need for it with such a simple exnation that it doubles. Taesan swung his sword towards the remaining spirits. [You have activated Multiply.] [501 damage to Dark Spirit 12.] It exceeded 500. A damage value he had never seen before in this life. Taesan swung his sword again. [You have activated Strong Strike.] [You have activated Consecutive Attack.] [912 damage to Dark Spirit 25.] [498 damage to Dark Spirit 25.] A total of fourteen hundred damage was inflicted. The doubling of damage is also applied to skills. It meant that the efficiency of Strong Strike was also doubled. [This is really¡­] The ghost couldn¡¯t even moan. Only a sardonicugh escaped. Taesan smiled satisfactorily. ¡°I acquired it faster than I thought.¡± The conditions were too good. Dark spirits were just the right size to cut down with a sword, and their spherical form made variables less likely. The fact that every monster looked the same was also a significant advantage. Facing hundreds of different monsters of various sizes, reflecting on how long it took to acquire Multiply against them, two years would have easily passed when he did it the first time. Two years spent doing nothing but investing time to acquire only Multiply. He reduced that to six days. It was a remarkable time reduction. [This is¡­ how¡­] The ghost murmured in a dumbfounded voice. [And why does such a skill¡­] ¡°I also found it curious.¡± Multiply. Using the Persistence skill to double the damage. It was an unreasonable and almost impossible-to-learn skill. Even after learning it, Taesan wondered why such a thing existed. But he was assured by Balbabamba¡¯s words. Skills were automatically created by thebyrinth¡¯s system. They were designed ording to the situation. In other words, most of what he conceptualized in his mind could be created. ¡°Very good.¡± Taesan smiled joyfully. He wanted to rejoice more, but there was no time. Now, less than two hours remain. Taesan swiftly broke through thebyrinth. After dealing with almost all of the 25th floor, his level increased. [Your level has increased.] [You have reached your optimal state.] All the health and mana expended to acquire Multiply were fully restored. Taesan immediately went back to the shopkeeper, buying health and mana recovery potions with the gold obtained from selling unnecessary equipment and materials. ¡°That was close.¡± As he finished his preparations, space began to split in Taesan¡¯s vicinity. The split space expanded, engulfing Taesan. When his view changed, Taesan was back on Earth. The ash-grey sky. There, a crack had opened. If it had been a long time, then it had been a long time. ¡°Ah, Aaaaah!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°I, I want to go back!¡± Just like Taesan, the ones who returned screamed. Sneaking a nce around, they could see the city hall where they had arrived before. [Special Quest Start] [Prepare for the next quest in the city hall within 24 hours.] The quest window appeared. Taesan moved. ¡°Hello?¡± Firstly, Taesan calmly approached Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok, who were surveying their surroundings. [You survived?] ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Hyung! Long time no see!¡± Kang Junhyeok brightened up. Taesan, who tapped his running forehead, asked, ¡°How far did you go?¡± ¡°Uh. Barely managed to get down to the 8th floor, but we couldn¡¯t receive the Trial of Valor. Time was too tight. It seemed like we would be summoned in the middle of receiving it.¡± ¡°I had a simr experience.¡± ¡°Really?¡± [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Lee Taeyeon] [Level: 14] [Health: 412] [Equipped Weapon: Sword and Shield] [The Fear-Stricken.] [Kang Junhyeok] [Level: 14] [Health: 432] [Equipped Weapon: Sword and Shield] [Bearer of Courage and Versatility.] Level 14. When Taesan entered the 8th floor, he was at level 20 with health in the 800s. Considering that, there was definitely a difference. But they weren¡¯t weak. At their current level, they could easily defeat a Hard Mode yer. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Lee Taeyeon quickly began to move, taking people with her. ¡°Ah¡­.¡± ¡°No. No¡­.¡± Among the yers, there were some showing will. However, most were just immersed in fear and terror. 24 hours. Within that time, they had to beforted and prepared. Kim Hwiyeon sped her forehead. Her head felt like it was going to explode. ¡°Thebyrinth seems easierpared to this.¡± While others might be resting or collecting their thoughts during the 24 hours, she didn¡¯t have the luxury. Kim Hwiyeon looked at her desk with a face of despair. ¡°When will I sort all this out¡­.¡± In front of her were countless documents. Surviving Easy Mode yers, Normal Mode yers, and Hard Mode yers. Their number and approximate stats. And equipment, as well as the will to fight. All of them needed to be sorted and ced ording to their roles. This had to be done within 12 hours, as creating the documents took 12 hours. Geum Junggeun helped with the organization of the documents with augh. ¡°What can we do? You were the one who delegated this to me, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°There are others who could do this better than me.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t.¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Kim Hwiyeon jumped out of her seat, startled by the voiceing from behind. After seeing the owner of the voice, she barely managed to collect herself. ¡°¡­ Why did you enter through the window?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more convenient. I hate walking through the annoying corridors.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± She sat down again, grumbling, but she was inwardly shocked. The floor she was assigned to was the highest floor in the city hall. Even her, who became stronger as she went down thebyrinth, couldn¡¯t reach such height without holding on to the wall. It meant he climbed up such a height with a single jump. ¡°Really, you¡¯re not human.¡± ¡°You¡¯re realizing that now?¡± ¡°Hyung. You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan greeted and skimmed through the documents. ¡°A lot?¡± ¡°Yes. An annoying amount.¡± Kim Hwiyeon grumbled as she organized the documents. A slight strength entered her hands, holding the papers. ¡°But¡­ It¡¯s less thanst time.¡± At a nce, it was less than thirty thousand. It meant many had died while descending thebyrinth after the first return. Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. As an administrator, she couldn¡¯t simply be sad. She had to calcte the reduced number and readjust. ¡°Can¡¯t someone else do it besides me? I studied liberal arts.¡± ¡°If you studied liberal arts, you must be good at persuasion. That¡¯s perfect, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean.¡± Hwiyeon bit her lip with a pained expression. Taesan ignored Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s grumbling. ¡°There¡¯s no one but you.¡± Kim Hwiyeon was the right person. This had already been concluded in his previous life. ¡°As I said before, I can¡¯t be the person to manage andmand people. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok are the same.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t do it. But it was a matter of efficiency and effectiveness. In his case, moving directly was more efficient than controlling people, and Lee Taeyeon was too passive. In the case of Kang Junhyeok, he was too young to be a center point. Taesan looked at Junggeun. ¡°He is more of an assistant than a manager.¡± ¡°That is my true calling.¡± Geum Junggeun proudly shrugged his shoulders. Kim Hwiyeon spoke painfully. ¡°Still, there should be¡­¡± ¡°There might be.¡± Over twenty thousand people were here. Surely, among them, there were those who managed better than Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°But a weak person can¡¯t be the center point. You know that, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true.¡± Politicians and members of civilian organizations. They were weak. They didn¡¯t descend thebyrinth and didn¡¯t know the power that belonged to the strong. That¡¯s why they were making noises about punishing Taesan. Even if they were not like that, Hard Mode yers wouldn¡¯t simply follow a weak person. It was natural for the voice of the powerful to be louder. Someone with enough capability to suppress that had to be the center point. ¡°At least a Hard Mode yer is needed. You are the answer.¡± During the third return. Due to the incident caused by Choi Junghyuk, only about 5,000 people remained. And a quest was given. They were told to break through the monsters and go to Seoul. With a number that was no more than 5,000, they had to head towards Seoul. This was at a time when even E-rank and D-rank monsters appeared, crushing and killing them. This was when Taesan was only at a strong level for Easy Mode, and Lee Taeyeon was hardly different from Hard Mode yers. When most of the few Hard Mode yers had died, and everyone had given up on life. Kim Hwiyeon had managed to get over half of the yers alive to Seoul. There were many who took the position of a leader until humanity perished, but to Taesan, Kim Hwiyeon was the most outstanding. She made a difference enough to hold on a bit longer if she was there. Taesan muttered softly. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll find out in a few days.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°The story of this side. What about the other Hard Mode yers? Those who are not here, yers from other areas.¡± ¡°¡­Now that I think about it, there were those too.¡± Kim Hwiyeon realized what Taesan was talking about. During the first return, they all gathered at Anyang City Hall. Everyone gathered here were residents of Anyang. Even in Southern Gyeonggi alone, there were numerous cities like Seongnam, Gwacheon, Gunpo, Uiwang, Suwon, Hwaseong, Yongin, etc. Considering the whole of Korea, it was hard to count the number. Hard Mode yers who were summoned in areas other than Anyang. He was asking what conversation they had with them in thebyrinth. ¡°But is there a need to meet?¡± They had to leave Anyang and move to other areas to meet, and there was neither reason nor leisure for that. They were busy enough trying to live here. The reason Kim Hwiyeon didn¡¯t care much was also due to that. They thought they could only meet in thebyrinth anyway. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°Just tell me what you know.¡± ¡°Everyone was preparing something. But I didn¡¯t ask for details. I was busy preparing myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough then.¡± Taesan spoke calmly. ¡°Work hard. There isn¡¯t much time left, right?¡± ¡°Can you help¡­¡­¡± ¡°I have my own things to do.¡± Taesan left through the window like the wind. Kim Hwiyeon sulked at the piles of documents. This quest was a preparation quest for 24 hours. There were no specific restrictions on movement. Taesan left the city hall. He sprinted through the ruined city and moved as close as possible to the sky¡¯s fissure. A crack. A crack was spreading to the sky from the fissure. This fissure was gradually growing, Eventually reaching a size that would allow even giant monsters toe out. ¡°It has definitely gotten bigger.¡± The size of the fissure was bigger than during the second return in his previous life. ¡°And the energy is fluctuating.¡± Perhaps because he had met the gods directly and felt their power, he could feel the energy beyond the fissure more distinctly. The energy inside the fissure was slowly expanding. It seemed as if something powerful was about to descend soon. It wasn¡¯t at the level of D-rank. It was at least C-rank or maybe B-rank. ¡°Despicable beings.¡± Taesan chuckled. He examined the fissure for a moment and returned again. The ghost that had been silent until now spoke. [Why go through all this cumbersome process?] ¡°The high gods, you mean?¡± [Yes. They are powerful. I thought this was the limit, but after seeing the power of the Demon God, I realized I was wrong.] The Demon God crushed a star by herself. And that was even with another god resisting. Such was the power of the gods. [If they wish, they could crush this small world in an instant, so why bother creating such fissures, initiating returns, and giving quests?] ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He, too, wondered about this. Gods were powerful and ferocious beings. If it was revenge against those who expelled them, crushing the world, such tedious deeds would not be needed. They could have just crushed it thoroughly and moved on. But the high gods seemed to be showing mercy, waiting. In ordance with their power, they sent down monsters and gave them time. ¡°Over 12 years. It was said they destroyed 258 worlds.¡± Considering their power, it was quite a slow pace. The groaning ghost spoke with an ambiguous tone. [Is it interference by the gods of thebyrinth?] ¡°That seems the most likely.¡± To hinder the revengeful high gods. Numerous gods of thebyrinth were restraining them. It was the most logical and likely scenario. But something was off. They didn¡¯t seem to be entities who showed such favors. The pondering ghost gave up after a while. [I don''t know. We might find out while going down thebyrinth.] ¡°Or we might find out soon.¡± The fissure was shaking. It seemed like it could spew out what it held at any moment. This return seemed to be certainly different from thest. When Taesan returned to the city hall, everything was already sorted out. Then, once 24 hours had passed. [Special Quest Initiated.] [This quest is delivered to all yers in Southern Gyeonggi.] [Gather at Yongin City Hall.] [Time Limit: One Week] [Reward: Differential distribution depending on the sess when returning to thebyrinth.] Chapter 118: Second Return, Assembly (2) Chapter 118: Second Return, Assembly (2) ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°To Yongin?¡± People realized that there were others, not too far from them, at a ce they could reach on foot. ¡°I¡­I have friends in the Yongin area!¡± ¡°I had family there!¡± People who couldn¡¯t meet their acquaintances in thebyrinth due to varying difficulties or circumstances were raising their voices. Hope was embracing them. But then¡­ ¡°Do we have to go to Yongin from here?¡± At the same time, despair was also crushing them. They had seen numerous monsters on their way to Anyang City Hall. There were many who barely survived, gathered at the brink of death. Kim Hwiyeon desperately encouraged the people whose spirits were rapidly darkening. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! You¡¯ve all be stronger by descending thebyrinth!¡± She shouted with a forced bright face. ¡°And we will protect all of you! Once we arrive at Yongin City Hall, more people will gather. Then we canbine our strengths! We can survive!¡± Under her desperate shout, peopleposed themselves. Kim Hwiyeon, who barely managed to raise some morale, quickly organized the people. Unnecessary baggage was discarded, food was put into the inventory, and lines were formed. They then set off, leaving the city hall and heading to Yongin. ¡°The map¡­¡± ¡°We got it along with the quest. There¡¯s no problem with the route. It¡¯s quite considerate.¡± They grumbled and moved carefully. Next to Taesan, Junggeunughed bitterly. ¡°One week. It¡¯s actually ample time.¡± Considering a cross-country journey took about 15 days, the distance from Anyang to Yongin was very short. There were tens of thousands of people, but their physical abilities were extraordinary. Even the weakest, those from Easy Mode, were gradually reaching the limits of humans. They would have arrived quitefortably originally, but there were beings blocking them. [Monster 441623321 has appeared.] [Monster 126887995 has appeared.] Monsters swarmed them. ¡°Aaargh!¡± ¡°Die!¡± People were desperately wielding their weapons. Everyone had worked hard to be stronger after the first return. Even the Easy Mode yers could defeat monsters equivalent in strength to them. But their numbers were overwhelming. Monsters, double the number of the survivors, charged in. People resisted, but some were inevitably trampled. ¡°Aaaah!¡± ¡°Save me!¡± Kim Hwiyeon swung her sword with a desperate face to the screams resonating from all directions. Swoosh! Several monsters fell instantly, but their ces were taken by others. ¡°Junggeun!¡± ¡°I, I want to help too!¡± They were no different from other Hard Mode yers, busy dealing with the rushing monsters. But among them, there were noticeable ones as well. ¡°Huh!¡± Kang Junhyeok, still with a youthful face, swung his sword. All of the monsters that rushed in quick enough to leave afterimages were sliced and tossed aside. Kang Junhyeok firmly nts his feet. Crushing the monsters¡¯ heads underfoot, he leaped to aid areas where the yers had begun to retreat. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Tha, thank you!¡± Lee Taeyeon was simr. She might wail, scream, and make faces in distress, but she knocked down monsters without breaking a sweat. Evenpared to the Hard Mode yers, their actions were remarkably noticeable. But despite their struggle, there were inevitably areas being pushed back. Given the immense numbers, the number of Hard Mode and Solo Mode yers was too few. ¡°Aaargh!¡± An Jeonghee, who was at the perimeter of the group, screamed. A Normal Mode yer, she believed in her stamina and blocked the monsters¡¯ attacks from the frontlines. But having taken more hits than needed, her stamina was now in the single digits. ¡°No!¡± In tears and floundering, she showed unnecessary movements in fear. She got stranded among monsters due to being pushed out of the group. ¡°Aaaaahhhh!¡± The monster raised its massive arm. The woman, with a pale face, tightly closed her eyes. Then the wind blew. The sound of something crumbling resounded in the ears of the woman with her eyes closed. When she gently opened her eyes, her pupils dted. All the monsters around her were crushed. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Seeing the man patting her head, her face brightened. ¡°Taesan oppa!¡± ¡°Step back.¡± ¡°Ye, yes.¡± She hastily rejoined the group as Taesan faced forward. Monsters rushed at him. Countless violent attacks engulfed Taesan. They were isted, and the other yers were unable to help. The onlookers clenched their teeth. ¡°So annoyingly numerous.¡± Taesan frowned, seemingly annoyed, and raised his fist. In an instant, his fists collided, and an explosion urred. The rushing monsters were crushed and vanished. Due to the st, all the monsters within tens of meters in front were thrown into the sky. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Wh, what?¡± Ignoring the voices filled with astonishment, Taesan moved. The whip tied to his wrist came to life. It tore and killed all the approaching monsters. ¡°About 2 meters and the speed is good too. As expected, it¡¯s useful.¡± Taesan murmured as he swung his hand. Several ice arrows were formed, piercing through the monsters. Hundreds were swept away at once. And more than that number rushed in again. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°I want to have one area skill.¡± He had something simr. Darkness expanded behind Taesan. [You have activated Decarabia''s Distorted Life.] Kugukung! ¡°Aaargh!¡± ¡°What, what is this!¡± Gigantic roots rose and crushed the monsters. By the time people regained their senses, the roots had blocked the monsters¡¯ approach. [You have activated Frost Arrows.] Frost arrows conglomerated in the mid-air. They expanded in size, dispersing chill in every direction. ¡°Aaaaaaah!¡± Even the weak Easy Mode yers could feel the gathering of such considerable power. Soon, a massive icy meteorite formed in the sky. ¡°Farewell.¡± [You have activated Magic eleration.] The meteorite fell, dropping right in the midst of the monsters. With a loud boom, dust enveloped everyone. ¡°Wait, what happened!¡± Junggeun, who was organizing his area, rushed over hastily. Witnessing the devastation, he swallowed his breath. ¡°¡­Hyungnim?¡± ¡°Have you arrived? It¡¯s over here.¡± Taesan dusted off his hands. In front of him, a gigantic crater had formed. Taesan nodded faintly. ¡°Let¡¯s clean up fast and move.¡± Taesan continued to move forward. Crushing and killing the monsters. During this process, over two thousand people witnessed Taesan¡¯s strength. And they realized. They understood what level of monster Taesan was. Everyone knew Taesan was strong, but most hadn¡¯t truly felt it. When he was fighting against Choi Junghyuk¡¯s group, they had been distracted by the reality of humans killing each other. When blocking the wave, it didn¡¯t resonate much, as they confirmed it after Taesan killed all the monsters. Now, they finally realized Taesan¡¯s strength. He handled monsters that ten of them could barely suppress with a single blow. Monsters struggling against the flicks of his nimble fingers were blown away, and hundreds were swept away by his extraordinary skills. Awe. And fear. Various emotions were directed towards Taesan. Taesan indifferently handled the monsters. After handling all the monsters, they moved again. And night fell. ¡°Everyone seems tired, let¡¯s rest.¡± ¡°We need to find a ce. Let¡¯s get into some building.¡± After searching here and there, they finally found a building big enough for two thousand people. After assigning spots, Kim Hwiyeon spoke with a tired face. ¡°Then we need to keep watch. Arrange the turns amongst yourselves¡­¡± ¡°No need for that.¡± Taesan stepped outside the building and raised his hand. [You have activated Decarabia''s Distorted Life.] Kugukung! Roots rose and enveloped the building. Taesan continued using magic without stopping. The roots kept growing non-stop, eventuallypletely enveloping the building. ¡°It¡¯s sufficient till tomorrow. Ordinary monsters can¡¯t break through, so rest assured and sleep.¡± ¡°Ah, yes¡­¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon nodded with a drained face. The fearful gaze towards Taesan became even stronger. Taesan, not minding, stepped outside. Almost all of his magic was used to wrap the building. It needed to be refilled. [You have activated Prayer to Magic.] For a moment, he felt heavy. He opened the status window. All his stats had been halved. If he stayed still for 3 minutes, one magic point recovered. ¡°It will be all recovered by tomorrow.¡± Inside the building, people were finishing their meals and slowly falling asleep. Taesan was resting, leaning against the wall outside the building. Then, Kim Hwiyeon approached him. ¡°Taesan.¡± She hesitated and apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What are you sorry for?¡± ¡°¡­You had to stay out here because of the people.¡± The people who had witnessed Taesan¡¯s strength were startled every time he approached. When he summoned the roots that wrapped around the entire gigantic building, they looked at him as if they were seeing a horrifying monster. Being in the same ce would make it seem like their breath would stop, so Taesan had no choice but toe out. ¡°You saved us¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m used to it.¡± It was no different in the previous world. Despite being in Easy Mode, he surpassed Hard Mode yers and was avoided and rejected for being different and strange. Sometimes, he was even attacked, used of being a spy for the monsters. Compared to then, it was quite mild now. ¡°But¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. Taesan was abnormally strong. But he used that strength to help them, even though he could have reached the destination alone, abandoning everyone. She thought that they should be thankful to him, not alienate him. Realizing this from her expression, Taesan faintly smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s not like I hold grudges.¡± Time would naturally solve it. ¡°Rather, go and bring Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok.¡± ¡°Those two? Okay.¡± She obediently went into the building. After a while, she returned with the two. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep, and I was bored. I wanted to talk with Hyungnim.¡± Junggeun showed a naive smile. Taesan unsheathed his swordzily. ¡°There is no time to talk. Kang Junhyeok, you¡¯re first. Draw your weapon.¡± ¡°Phew.¡± Lee Taeyeon sighed in relief. Kang Junhyeok¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°¡­Is it likest time?¡± ¡°Is there any time to rest?¡± Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were Solo Mode yers. There were no other yers there. Meaning there was no way to get stronger by dueling each other in thebyrinth. The only time was when they returned to Earth. They wouldn¡¯t waste such precious time. Kang Junhyeok energetically drew his weapon. ¡°Alright! This time, I won¡¯t lose easily likest time!¡± [Duel request. This duel urs under equal conditions for both parties.] [Duel established.] [Kang Junhyeok and Kang Taesan begin the duel.] Kang Junhyeok was confident. He gained more skills as he descended thebyrinth. Not only stats but movement and practical aspects improved greatly after passing the divine trials. In this duel, the stats of Kang Taesan and Kang Junhyeok were exactly the same. With the will to create different results than before, Kang Junhyeok nted his feet firmly. And the result was obvious. ¡°Kaak!¡± In just 1 minute, Kang Junhyeok was thrown to the ground. Taesan, without a speck of dust on him, swung his sword. ¡°Is it over?¡± ¡°Why, why?¡± ¡°To catch up to me, you have a long way to go. I surpassed the point you are at a very long time ago.¡± Even if the stats were equal, the result didn¡¯t change. ¡°You have improved since before, but you have a habit of neglecting defense when attacking. If you don¡¯t fix that, you¡¯ll get countered and die.¡± ¡°Ugh. Yes¡­¡­¡± Kang Junhyeok banged his head. Taesan pointed his sword towards Lee Taeyeon. She shivered. ¡°You¡¯re next. Come.¡± ¡°Heek.¡± Lee Taeyeon screamed in fear. Chapter 119: Second Return, Assembly (3) Chapter 119: Second Return, Assembly (3) ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Taesan sheathed his sword. Lee Taeyeon, who was struggling to keep up, lost her strength and copsed. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°My, my arm won¡¯t rise.¡± Like Lee Taeyeon, Kang Junhyeok was also sprawled on the ground, groaning. ¡°Is, is it over?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even move, so it ends here. Even if we continue, it seems like nothing will change.¡± Using a recovery potion restores health but not mental strength. They had already been dueling for over three hours, so they were likely reaching their limits. ¡°Phew.¡± Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon sighed in relief, and the ghost seemed very displeased. £ÛFools. Do you think it''smon for the strong to teach you for free? You don''t even think about recovering and fighting, and you''ve already lost your spirit? Truly weak.] ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Kang Junhyeok closed his mouth. They knew since they had descended far enough. Every battle was a life-or-death struggle. Gaining a means to be stronger without risk was a definite privilege. ¡°But¡­next time.¡± Today was no more. Kang Junhyeok hit his head on the ground. [Tch.] The ghost clicked his tongue, seemingly displeased, but there was no point in urging those who had reached their limits, so he didn¡¯t say more. Kim Hwiyeon, who had been quietly watching, muttered. ¡°He really¡­ has be strong.¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s face was full of surprise. ¡°He was surely simr to us on thest return¡­¡± Since they fought together, Kim Hwiyeon knew well about the strength of Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok. They weren¡¯t that different from them, definitely strong but not astonishingly so. That was Solo Mode. So, she thought that Solo Mode wasn¡¯t much different from Hard Mode, considering how outstanding Kang Taesan was. But this battle broke that thought. The movements of Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon were clearly surpassing her level. Taesan said, ¡°In the beginning, there¡¯s not much difference. But as time passes, the gap widens, and eventually, it bes uncatchable.¡± Indeed, Lee Taeyeon was also simr to a Hard Mode yer until the second return in his previous world. It was from the third and the fourth that she became evidently stronger. ¡°Do you want to try too?¡± Taesan swung his sword. Geum Junggeun¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Is it okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care today since I have no particr ns.¡± ¡°Then, excuse me.¡± Geum Junggeun drew his sword. ¡°Wo! Ah-¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired¡­¡­ The next day, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok walked with tired faces. Geum Junggeun wasn¡¯t much different. They were in no condition to exert their full power. Still, dealing with monsters wasn¡¯t a problem. The monsters appearing now were mostly of the same level, and from now on, they wouldn¡¯t pose a significant threat to those above Hard Mode. ¡°Eek!¡± ¡°Block it!¡± But it was different for the Easy and Normal Mode yers. They had to do their best even to deal with one monster. Taking down one took a long time, so the number of monsters they managed to defeat was notrge. Most of the monsters were defeated by the Hard Mode yers, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Junhyeok, and Taesan. ¡®It was like this before.¡¯ It was the inherent limitation of Easy and Normal Modes. As time went on, the difference would only increase. Taesan sorted his thoughts and dealt with the monsters. What followed was a repetition of simr events. They advanced while dealing with monsters and rested in suitable buildings. At night, they practiced, calling on Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok and asionally Geum Junggeun and Kim Hwiyeon. The more they practiced, the better their movements became. And three dayster. They were able to arrive at Yongin City Hall. ¡°We are here!¡± ¡°Hooray!¡± Seeing the silhouette of Yongin City Hall, people embraced each other in emotion. ¡°Everyone! We haven¡¯t arrived yet! Don¡¯t let your guards down!¡± Lee Taeyeon shouted to calm the people, but her face could not hide the joy. They arrived earlier than expected. The number of people who died on the move was countable. It was all thanks to Taesan. Every time a monster appeared, thanks to him moving quickly and dealing with it, there were no deaths except for those who ran away in fear or sneaked out at night. ¡°Thank you! Mr. Taesan!¡± ¡°Thanks is enough. Let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Kim Hwiyeon ran in, smiling. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s huge!¡± Yongin City Hall was iparablyrger than Anyang City Hall. There were various buildings on arge site,rge enough for all of them to enter with room to spare. At the entrance of City Hall, there was a guard. Seeing the group, he panicked and raised his spear. ¡°Who are you!¡± ¡°We came from Anyang¡­ huh? Aren¡¯t you Baekun?¡± Kim Hwiyeon, speaking with a tired face, was surprised. The man called Baekun also looked surprised seeing Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°Hwiyeon Noona?¡± ¡°What the¡­ You were here too?¡± ¡°Yes. Weren¡¯t you here too, Noona?¡± ¡°Yes. Lucky you. Being in Yongin, you don¡¯t need to move.¡± Kim Hwiyeon sighed deeply. Baekun gave a bitter smile and lowered his spear. ¡°Please wait a moment. I¡¯ll call the king.¡± ¡°King?¡± Kim Hwiyeon sent a puzzled look, but Baekun didn¡¯t answer and quickly went inside. A man appeared shortly after. A stern-faced man with a sporty haircut. Seeing him, Kim Hwiyeon was again surprised. ¡°Seo Jangsan! You were here too!¡± The man with the sporty haircut looked surprised to see Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°Kim Hwiyeon. Is that you?¡± ¡°Yes! Nice to see you!¡± Kim Hwiyeon spoke with a joyful face. They seemed fairly close. Butpared to Kim Hwiyeon, Seo Jangsan had a vague expression. He seemed pleased yet ufortable. However, he quickly masked it so no one noticed except Taesan. Seo Jangsan extended his hand with a smile. ¡°Nice to meet you. Wee to Yongin.¡± Hmm. ¡°But why are there so many? How many are there?¡± Seo Jangsan looked at therge group with a bored face. It was a number difficult to count. ¡°About twenty thousand in total.¡± ¡°¡­Twenty thousand? How?¡± Seo Jangsan was baffled. It was a number hard toprehend with his understanding. Kim Hwiyeon pointed at Kang Taesan, Lee Taeyeon, and Kang Junhyeok with a smile. ¡°Remember what I mentioned in thebyrinth? There are exceptionally strong Solo Mode people on my side. Thanks to them.¡± ¡°Ahh¡­.¡± Seo Jangsan¡¯s face twitched. ¡°The ones frequently mentioned in the Community, those people?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡­¡± A strange gaze was directed at Lee Taeyeon, Kang Junhyeok, and Kang Taesan. Kang Junhyeok, feeling momentarily ufortable, frowned. Before he could object, Seo Jangsan pped his hands. ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard to get here. Rest until the quest is over. I will guide you.¡± ¡°Yes! Everyone! Pleasee in!¡± The people entered the premises of City Hall with cheers. As they entered, Kang Junhyeok muttered. ¡°Why is he looking at us like that?¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel it, Noona? It was a really annoying gaze.¡± Kang Junhyeok thought the other party would be happy. The Earth had turned into hell, and he had enough power to significantly influence everyone¡¯s survival. However, the gaze Seo Jangsan directed at Kang Junhyeok was as if looking at an intruder. Lee Taeyeon stumbled over her words. ¡°I, I don¡¯t know. Aren¡¯t you mistaken?¡± ¡°It was too clear to be a mistake. Didn¡¯t you feel it, Hyung?¡± ¡°I wonder.¡± Taesan spoke lethargically. Kang Junhyeok frowned at hisck of concern. ¡°Is it my imagination?¡± ¡°It probably isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°So, did I see it correctly?¡± Seeking agreement, Kang Junhyeok looked at Taesan. ¡°Just rest for now. Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°¡­I am tired.¡± Kang Junhyeok rubbed his eyes. They fought monsters while moving and practiced with Taesan while resting, so he was mentally exhausted. ¡°I¡¯ll go rest for a bit then.¡± ¡°I will go meet people. There should be Solo Mode people here, too, right?¡± With a tired face, Kang Junhyeok, and with an expectant face, Lee Taeyeon moved. Taesan also began to move. There weren¡¯t that many people in Yongin. Counting them all, there were about ten thousand, less than the average. And the expressions of the people walking around were of just two types. The majority had dark, gloomy faces. A very small number of confident and happy-looking people. They were very contrasting. ¡°Ah, Mr. Taesan.¡± While moving around, he ran into a cheerful Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°What have you been up to?¡± ¡°I went to hear some discussions about the number of people, the ratio of Hard Mode yers, food, and such. I found out where the food storage is. Would you like toe with me?¡± Taesan nodded his head. The food storage was in the basement of the city hall. Inside were countless cans and instant noodles. Kim Hwiyeon, who looked at each one, muttered. ¡°Except for canned food, the expiration dates are cutting it close.¡± ¡°Expiration dates are for the selling period. You can still eat things like noodles even after six months.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s face brightened. ¡°Then it¡¯s fine. We can eat this amount for a while.¡± ¡°Not really. We are not all who areing, right? More people wille.¡± ¡°Considering those people, it is indeed insufficient.¡± Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. There were twenty cities in southern Gyeonggi. It meant ten times the current number of people woulde. ¡°We might not need that much, but we¡¯re short on food. We need to prepare slowly.¡± They both came out after checking. Kim Hwiyeon spoke in a cheerful tone. ¡°But it¡¯s a relief. It will be manageable since Jangsan is here, right?¡± ¡°Do you know each other?¡± ¡°He is someone I talked a lot with in thebyrinth. He is among the strongest in Hard Mode and makes calm judgments, so he has a lot of people¡¯s trust. He was a bit aggressive, but it was never a problem.¡± Kim Hwiyeon was a Hard Mode yer on the same level as Geum Junggeun. That was also Seo Jangsan. ¡°A bit aggressive?¡± ¡°Yeah, sometimes he said harsh things, but when everyone spoke out, he wouldpromise. There shouldn¡¯t be any big problems, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Taesan knew. What Seo Jangsan did in the previous world, how many people he killed. But that was a thing of the past. Now, no matter what, they couldn¡¯t ept it. Kim Hwiyeon would find out soon enough. A day passed. There were three days left until the special quest was cleared. Those who had been resting and wandering around realized something strange. ¡°There are no Solo Mode yers.¡± Lee Taeyeon said with a baffled face. ¡°Really, not even one.¡± ¡°Did they all die? Honestly, besides us, surviving is hard.¡± Most Solo Mode yers were weaker than Easy Mode yers. They needed considerable luck to survive on Earth. ¡°Or there might not have been anyone in Yongin. There are fewer Solo Mode yers.¡± ¡°¡­ Is that so?¡± Lee Taeyeon conceded with an ufortable face. There was another strange thing. Walking in the park, Kim Hwiyeon fiddled with documents with a puzzled face. ¡°The number of Easy and Normal Mode yers is too low.¡± In fact, having a small number was somewhat expected. Against the monsters on Earth, Hard Mode could easily win, but not Easy or Normal. But even considering that, it was too low. The absolute number itself wasrge, so the ratio had to match, butpared to the ratio in Anyang, it was only 1/3. ¡°And¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon turned her gaze with a puzzled face. The yers of Yongin also knew about her. Seo Jangsan told people that she was the administrator of Anyang, so they should treat her well. ¡°¡­ they are strangely avoiding me.¡± Since then, the people of Yongin tried not to meet Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s eyes. As if receiving punishment for looking directly, likemoners who should not look at nobles, they lowered their heads and hid their bodies. And all of those people were Easy and Normal Mode yers. Chapter 120: Choosing The King (1) Chapter 120: Choosing The King (1) The people of Yongin in Easy and Normal Mode seemed somewhat tense. They refused to converse in a gloomy atmosphere. The only ones who seemed confident were the Hard Mode yers. ¡°¡­It must be the difference in strength.¡± Hard Mode could survive without problems. However, it was not the same for Easy and Normal. Kim Hwiyeon thought of this difference with a troubled face. Time passed. After two days, people from other regions began to arrive one by one. ¡°Sob, sniffle.¡± Their number was noticeably low. It was because many died during the journey as there was no one who could cover the entire area alone, like Taesan. Kim Hwiyeon brought them into Yongin City Hall with a pity-filled face. Slowly, the vast area was filling up. Taesan satzily on the roof of a building. He had nothing to do. There was nothing actively to do for a week until the special quest ended. Going to save people from other areas was also impossible as they were barred from going outside as soon as they arrived at Yongin City Hall. It meant they had to wait quietly at the city hall for two days. Taesan, who was idly looking at the ground, saw a dispute in his line of sight. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk were having a verbal fight with those who seemed to be Hard Mode yers of Yongin. When he focused, he could hear their voices. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Are you deaf? I said, don¡¯t act out because you are in Solo Mode.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not acting out, it¡¯s just blocking¡­¡± ¡°It IS acting out.¡± At Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words, the face of the Hard Mode man twisted. ¡°How we treat the Easy Mode guys is our freedom, our right. And you guys are trying to stop us?¡± ¡°Why is themunity so noisy? What¡¯s all the fuss about?¡± Kang Junhyuk¡¯s face tightened at the insult. He tensed the hand holding his sword. ¡°You guys¡­¡± ¡°What? A kid who still has blood on his mind is rolling his eyeballs where?¡± ¡°Stop.¡± A blunt voice resonated. The Hard Mode yers turned their gaze, and their faces brightened. Seo Jangsan approached with a scrunched face. ¡°What¡¯s themotion?¡± ¡°Ah. My king.¡± ¡°King?¡± Kang Junhyuk frowned. King, huh. It was a word that did not suit modern society, but Seo Jangsan calmly responded. ¡°Yes. What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. They vited thew set by the king.¡± ¡°I vited? I was just saying where was the need to¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon stuttered with a mournful face. Seo Jangsan ignored her words and stroked his chin. ¡°You can¡¯t break thew. Then you have to be punished.¡± Seo Jangsan sent a cold gaze towards Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk. It was a gaze never shown when he was with Kim Hwiyeon. Kang Taesan felt that gaze was like that of an arrogant king. After a moment of consideration, Seo Jangsan nodded his head. ¡°Originally, this would call for capital punishment¡­¡± ¡°Capital punishment?¡± Lee Taeyeon let out a sharp cry. ¡°It was done unknowingly, so we cannot give such severe punishment. So, it will be simple¡­¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± At the voiceing from behind, Seo Jangsan hastily turned his body. Taesan was looking at them with a slight smile. ¡°Can I join in too?¡± ¡°Who are you to dare¡­¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Seo Jangsan cut off the Hard Mode yer, who failed to recognize Taesan¡¯s identity. Seo Jangsan slowly backed off. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s nothing. We were just discussing her vition of thew.¡± ¡°Law? Who determines that? You?¡± Taesan scoffed. ¡°You might be the owner of this ce, but you are not the king. I would prefer it if you didn¡¯t force yourws on us.¡± ¡°This!¡± At his mocking words, a Hard Mode yer moved. He drew his sword and shed at Taesan. Taesan moved his body with an annoyed face. ¡°What¡¯s this now?¡± ¡°Th, Threat!¡± The Hard Mode yer did not stop and continued to swing his sword. His speed was definitely fast. The movement easily transcended human limits, as he had survived in Hard Mode. But it didn¡¯t even graze Taesan. Taesan was avoiding everything by merely swaying his body slightly on the spot. ¡°Wh, What?¡± Shock appeared in the eyes of the onlookers. The attacking man was frenzied. He was moving ever so slightly. And even that movement was at a visibly slow pace. But his attacks were notnding at all. Being able to avoid even while moving slowly meant the gap was staggeringly huge. ¡°Die!¡± With a shout filled with rage, the sword was brought down on Taesan¡¯s head. Taesan reached out and grabbed the sword. The man¡¯s body jerked to a halt. ¡°Self-defense?¡± Taesan clenched his fist. Without using full muscle strength, he swung as slowly and as weakly as possible. The Hard Mode yer flew back as if struck by a cue stick. [51 damage to Kim Guhwan.] The stricken Kim Guhwan writhed. Seo Jangsan was involuntarily shocked. ¡°51?¡± Unimaginable damage was disyed to him. Taesan swung his gauntlet and muttered. ¡°Controlled it well.¡± He said with a slight smile. ¡°Want to continue?¡± ¡°¡­No, never mind.¡± Seo Jangsan struggled to hide how disturbed he was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I will make sure he is duly punished for attacking you rashly.¡± As he retreated, taking the fallen Hard Mode yer with him, Taesan spokezily. ¡°This is thest time for acting up. Next time, it will be death.¡± Startled. Seo Jangsan¡¯s body flinched momentarily. The Hard Mode yer who suddenly rushed was under Seo Jangsan¡¯s influence. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok knew that they were simr to Hard Mode yers, but Taesan was an unknown factor. He had asked Kim Hwiyeon various questions but only heard baseless stories, so it was his intention to ascertain how strong Taesan really was. Taesan knew this and said he would let it slide this time. ¡°¡­¡­Remember this.¡± He said, swallowing, and then left. Kang Junhyeok, who had been quiet, burst out in anger. ¡°Those trashy guys!¡± It was the first time the always smiling, confident Kang Junhyeok showed anger. ¡°Why are you just listening quietly, Sister!¡± ¡°Bu, But I don¡¯t want to fight¡­¡­¡± ¡°They started the fight! What can we do by avoiding that!¡± Kang Junhyeok seemed frustrated and was pounding on his chest. Lee Taeyeon bowed her head deeply. Taesan asked with a smile, ¡°What happened? Exin to me.¡± Kang Junhyeok began to exin with an excited tone. ¡°We were walking in the park when Sister was cornered by those guys. I didn¡¯t know what was happening, so I was quietly listening, but then they started talking rudely. I couldn¡¯t stand it, so I intervened. Sister, tell me. What was it about?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing¡­¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon slowly exined. As she did, Kang Junhyeok¡¯s face slowly twisted, and by the time she finished, he couldn¡¯t hold back his anger. ¡°You did the right thing! Why are they acting so righteous!¡± Lee Taeyeon¡¯s exnation was as follows. She was walking in the park when she saw a group of men harassing a woman. At first, she was scared and didn¡¯t want to intervene, but as things escted, she hastily stepped in. She managed to send the woman away, but since then, the men have been pressuring her, iming she vited thew. ¡°They said they vited thew? Seo Jangsan, the ¡®king¡¯ of this ce or whatever, said something simr.¡± Kang Junhyeok spat out with a twisted face. ¡°Brother, isn¡¯t this ce strange?¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no Solo Mode, fewer Easy or Normal Mode, and everyone is acting strange. At first, I just let it go, but it¡¯s getting more and more annoying.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s strange, it¡¯s strange. If not, it¡¯s not. Just rest for now. After the beating, they won¡¯t bother you again.¡± ¡°Ah, okay.¡± ¡°Th, Thank you. Mr. Taesan.¡± Taesan bid them farewell and left them. Indeed,pared to Lee Taeyeon, Kang Junhyeok was more perceptive. He went back to the rooftop and looked down again. After observing for a while, Someone approached Taesan. ¡°Brother.¡± ¡°What brings you here?¡± Junggeun opened his mouth with a bitter smile. ¡°I heard there was a disturbance earlier.¡± ¡°There was something like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Junggeun spoke with a sorry face. ¡°There seem to be several Hard Mode yers with aggressive tendencies. When I spoke to Jangsan, he said it¡¯s difficult because he can¡¯t control them either.¡± From what Taesan saw, it seemed like Seo Jangsan was leading, but Junggeun seemed unaware of this. ¡°I told them to be careful from now on. It shouldn¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really care. It¡¯s not something you need to apologize for.¡± ¡°Still, we are both Hard Mode yers. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t know them.¡± Most Hard Mode yers knew each other. The ones who had a quarrel with Lee Taeyeon this time were also acquaintances of Junggeun. That was why he felt sorry. Junggeun left with an apologetic face till the end. Taesan looked down at the ground. Below, the scenes that Lee Taeyeon described were unfolding. Hard Mode yers harassing and tormenting Easy and Normal Mode yers. It was like a rtionship between nobles and ves. ¡°It was the same in the previous world.¡± [Disturbing.] There was irritation in the ghost¡¯s tone. [Just like the Guides of Sin. Base and vulgar beings are everywhere.] ¡°Aren¡¯t you sorry forparing them?¡± At least the Guides of Sin respected the strong. On the contrary, Seo Jangsan only epted Hard Mode yers, which was even worse. Hard Mode yers. They were the strongest entities, excluding Solo Mode yers. They were varied. Some, like Kim Junggeun, were those who despaired in reality, and some, like Kim Hwiyeon, wanted to save everyone. And there were those who wanted to seize power. iming they had to lead everyone. Insisting that only Hard Mode could save the world. Desiring a return to the medieval ages, where strict discipline and order prevailed, suppressing Easy and Normal yers and elevating Hard Mode to the status of nobility. That was Seo Jangsan. To such a Seo Jangsan, Solo Mode yers were thorns in his side because they, who were stronger than him, negated his ns by simply existing. He must have wanted to oppress and subdue using numbers. Indeed, in her previous life, Lee Taeyeon obediently submitted. Her nature meant that she didn¡¯t like fights and couldn¡¯t handle all the Hard Mode yers alone. But now, it was impossible for that to happen. Not just Lee Taeyeon, but Kang Junhyeok and him were also present. ¡°A stupid act.¡± Even without that, Seo Jangsan¡¯s n was doomed to fail. Easy and Normal Mode were indeed weaker. Depending on when they cleared, they could never beat a Hard Mode yer. However, that was the story for when they cleared thebyrinth. Now, the difference between them wasn¡¯t much. Even Easy yers could kill Hard yers if they risked their lives. Choi Junghyeok was the proof. Despite being an Easy Mode yer, he held power and survived for a long time, longer than Seo Jangsan. ¡°But he won¡¯t give up.¡± [Those guys cling to what they have until the very end.] Taesan¡¯s information was all from the previous world. The current Seo Jangsan must be full of confidence. He might be thinking of nothing but subjugating Taesan and bing the leader of the group. ¡°There won¡¯t be any regrets since I warned him it¡¯s thest time.¡± Taesan stood up. And two days passed. It was thest day of the quest to gather in Yongin. Twenty cities in southern Gyeonggi. A total of twenty groups had to arrive, but they didn¡¯t. Groups that barely survived with mere hundreds. Or groups not arriving at all. Groups lucky enough to arrive without much damage due to proximity. As time went by, the number of arriving groups decreased. On thest day, contrary to their expectations, the number barely exceeded a hundred thousand. A gloomy atmosphere spread throughout the city hall. They were sad about their friends not arriving and disappointed that all of southern Gyeonggi was just what was there. But the atmosphere didn¡¯tst long. A special quest appeared before them, dispassionate and cruel. [Special Quest Started.] [Choose your king.] [The king can assign roles to people. Following roles have great benefits. There will be disadvantages if you continually disobey the king''s orders.] [Killing the king will result in severe penalties.] [Once you have chosen a king, survive.] [Create food and protect yournd. Build barricades and block the monsters. Waves wille at regr intervals.] [Survival Period: One Month.] [Rewards: Based on your performance, differential rewards will be given when returning to thebyrinth.] [There are a few cases where you can change the king.] [When changing the king, the one most involved will receive great benefits.] Chapter 121: Choosing The King (2) Chapter 121: Choosing The King (2) People who saw the quest were startled because the system window had different content than the usualmands like ¡°Move¡± or ¡°Block.¡± ¡°Choose a King. The King can assign roles.¡± ¡°And the King can give orders.¡± People gathered to hold a meeting. Easy or Normal Mode yers were too numerous and were excluded. Even between the Hard Mode yers, the strongest people there were the Solo Mode¡¯s Lee Taeyeon, Kang Junhyeok, and Kang Taesan. A total of twenty gathered. Some expressed difort when the three joined, but there was no way to reject them, so they begrudgingly made room. ¡°What do you think?¡± Seo Jangsan asked from his seat in the conference room. Kim Hwiyeon pondered with a finger on her lips. ¡°Isn¡¯t it meant literally? If we simplify it, it means a leader. Or maybe a manager. Perhaps it¡¯s telling us to officially decide on what we¡¯ve had so far?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± A group needed someone to lead them. Therger the number, the greater the need. With a total of a hundred thousand, someone definitely had to be a leader. ¡°Then I¡¯ll do it.¡± Seo Jangsan said, his attitude seeming decided without hesitation. ¡°Any objections?¡± The Hard Mode yers nodded as if it was obvious. They were all yers from Yongin City. Kim Hwiyeon looked startled. ¡°You¡¯ll do it?¡± ¡°Yes. Do you have a problem with that?¡± ¡°No, not particrly¡­¡± ¡°I do.¡± Kang Junhyeok interrupted. ¡°On what basis are you proposing yourself as the king?¡± ¡°Because I am the king.¡± Seo Jangsan confidently responded. ¡°I am the king here. You all came here like refugees. Surely you¡¯re not saying you won¡¯t follow thendowner¡¯s word?¡± ¡°King? Refugees?¡± Kang Junhyeok bared his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t make meugh! This ce is just the quest¡¯s destination. You don¡¯t have the right to order us around!¡± ¡°But this has be the destination. So naturally, you should follow mymand.¡± It was a statement filled with unwavering confidence. Kang Junhyeok sneered. ¡°I know. You¡¯re already being called the king here, right? Your word is thew, right? You just don¡¯t want to lose that, do you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Seo Jangsan looked as if that was obvious. Undeterred, Kang Junhyeok frowned. ¡°So what¡¯s your point? The world is in chaos. We need a strong king. I¡¯m just taking on that role.¡± ¡°Why does it have to be you?¡± ¡°Then who? You?¡± Seo Jangsan scoffed. ¡°Do you think people will follow a child who, no matter how strong, isn¡¯t even an adult yet?¡± At that, Kang Junhyeok closed his mouth. He was indeed not yet an adult. Among the yers, he was considerably young. His words wouldn¡¯t carry much weight. Even though strength became everything in this world, human nature didn¡¯t change so easily. Being young meant being dismissed and being less likely to be followed. Seo Jangsan sharply said, ¡°Do you n to follow the words of a woman who can¡¯t even assert herself properly?¡± ¡°Me, me?¡± Lee Taeyeon, who had been listening quietly, looked startled and pointed to herself. She was not born a leader. That was a proven fact from the previous world. ¡°He is¡­ sufficient.¡± Taesan gave a sly smile. Seo Jangsan deliberately turned his gaze away. ¡°Who would trust a group with only three real powers? There are many yers in the ¡®Solo Mode¡¯, but all of them are weak. Are you sure you won¡¯t sacrifice us for your own benefit?¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Kim Hwiyeon, who had been listening quietly, frowned. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being too extreme? Moderate it.¡± ¡°Uh. I apologize. I got a bit emotional.¡± Seo Jangsan, who readily stepped back, suddenly mmed his hand on the desk. ¡°None. Only I am worthy of ruling and dominating people.¡± It was a statement filled with confidence. There was no rebuttal. Seo Jangsan looked at Taesan with a furrowed brow. ¡®¡­Why isn¡¯t he saying anything?¡¯ Taesan was silently mocking him. Although he anticipated some sort of interference, there was no movement. It was unsettling, but there was no interruption. That was good for Seo Jangsan. ¡°I am the king. Any objections?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any in particr.¡± Kim Hwiyeon looked relieved. Although Seo Jangsan¡¯s words were aggressive, they were right. Kang Junhyeok was too young, and Lee Taeyeon had a weak assertion. Moreover, Taesan hadpletely refused, so Seo Jangsan was reasonable. [The king has been decided.] [Hard Mode yer. Seo Jangsan.] ¡°Good.¡± Seo Jangsan grinned and moved his hand. ¡°Then, let¡¯s issue a decree.¡± ¡°Phew.¡± Kim Hwiyeon sighed. She looked happy. ¡®Finally, I can lessen my burden.¡¯ The position that was responsible for everyone¡¯s life was a heavy burden. Taesan said no one else but her was fit for the role, but she wanted to give it up. Now, she was thinking of relying on Seo Jangsan and moving morefortably. Seo Jangsan, havingpleted his settings, said, ¡°This is ourw.¡± [The king has issued amand.] A system window appeared in front of them. Kim Hwiyeon, who checked with a light heart, quickly became stern. £Ûyers in Easy and Normal Mode are allowed to eat. If no special achievements are made, one meal per day.£Ý £ÛDo not refuse the words of a Hard Mode yer. Punishment exists for refusal without a valid reason.£Ý £ÛExternal scouting and securing food will be selected from Easy and Normal Mode yers. If not followed, food will not be provided.£Ý £ÛBow and show respect when seeing a Hard Mode yer. Punishment exists for refusal.£Ý In addition, there were more than ten othermands. All were of simr content. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon asked with a trembling voice. Geum Junggeun stared at the system window with a stern expression. Kang Junhyeok made a face while Lee Taeyeon turned pale. ¡°It¡¯s the king¡¯s first decree.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Kim Hwiyeon stood up from her seat, her eyes filled with confusion. She knew that Seo Jangsan enforcedws on the people and proimed himself as a king. However, she didn¡¯t think much of it. To manage tens of thousands of people, someone had to take the lead. With all kinds of noise and thousands of individual opinions emerging, controlling everyone was no simple task. It might be a bit aggressive, but it was necessary to rule over the people. That¡¯s what she thought. But this was beyond her expectations. Eachmand was too aggressive and oppressive. Limiting meals, not allowing refusal of orders, and bowing to show respect. ¡°This is a total ss society! You said you¡¯re just assigning roles!¡± Kim Hwiyeon shouted angrily. yers in Easy Mode or Normal Mode refused to even converse with her. She realized something was off and tried to figure it out. But nothing significant came up. Hard Mode yers said everything was fine, and Seo Jangsan evenmented, ¡°How can one enjoy such a world?¡± Kim Hwiyeon simply epted it without much thought. It wasn¡¯t that she was naive; it was a matter of her values. In a desperate situation, she believed everyone should work together. She never imagined such oppression. ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that?¡± Seo Jangsan looked genuinely puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s obvious, Hwiyeon.¡± ¡°Seo Jangsan!¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s voice rose. She took a deep breath and spoke more calmly. ¡°What do you mean by needing permission for meals?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have much food. It¡¯s nowhere near enough for tens of thousands of people. That¡¯s why there¡¯s a limitation.¡± ¡°¡­And not refusing orders?¡± ¡°We are protecting them, after all. It¡¯s necessary for the benefits they receive.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason to assign the tasks of going outside to Easy and Normal yers. We can get results more safely¡­¡± ¡°Why should we do that?¡± ¡°What?¡± Seo Jangsan looked at Kim Hwiyeon as if he couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°The outside is dangerous. Monsters are roaming around. Even for Hard Mode yers, it¡¯s not 100% safe.¡± ¡°¡­So you¡¯re passing the risk onto others?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only value they can provide.¡± Seo Jangsan said bluntly. ¡°Easy and Normal Mode yers can¡¯t defeat the monsters. Even if they try, it¡¯s inefficient. So, the only thing they can do is gather food from outside.¡± ¡°¡­Many people will die in the process.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your point?¡± Seo Jangsan looked genuinely bewildered. At that moment, Kim Hwiyeon realized. Until now, Seo Jangsan had been aggressive, but there was a limit. That was why she hadn¡¯t given it much thought. But that was because she considered other Hard Mode yers as equals. On the contrary, if someone wasn¡¯t considered equal, there were no boundaries. Kim Hwiyeon clenched her teeth. ¡°So you¡¯re going to kill them all?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about killing. It¡¯s just about doing what you have to do.¡± Seo Jangsan said calmly. ¡°We are on Hard Mode. We are the leaders. It¡¯s our natural right.¡± ¡°You, you guys.¡± Kim Hwiyeon looked at the other Hard Mode yers with a horrified face. ¡°Do you all think the same?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not wrong¡­¡± Although not everyone expressed it directly, they all seemed to agree with Seo Jangsan. Only Kim Hwiyeon and Geum Junggeun were taken aback. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon realized it btedly. The Hard Mode yers who came with her to Yongin had time to have a long conversation with Seo Jangsan. ¡°You guys!¡± Kim Hwiyeon couldn¡¯t hold back and shouted. ¡°Then what makes us different from beasts! How is abandoning and using the weak any different?¡± ¡°It¡¯s different. We are humans.¡± Seo Jangsan replied. Kim Hwiyeon gritted her teeth. ¡°You and I are just different people.¡± She realized that her and Seo Jangsan¡¯s values differed fundamentally and that they couldn¡¯t reconcile. ¡°I understand your values. But¡­ I can¡¯t ept treating them like ves.¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± Seo Jangsan looked at Kim Hwiyeon expressionlessly. ¡°But this is the right answer. Just discard the Easy and Normal Modes, and only the Hard Mode will survive.¡± ¡°I wonder.¡± The previously silent Taesan muttered. A moment of silence ensued. Seo Jangsan asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Is this really the right answer? You¡¯re deluding yourselves.¡± ¡°¡­Are you saying I¡¯m wrong?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say that. It¡¯s true that the Easy and Normal Mode yers are weak. But¡­ are you guys really that different from them?¡± Taesan remembered the previous world. As time went on, stronger monsters appeared. Against Apostles and S-ss monsters, the Hard Mode yers couldn¡¯t resist at all. It was a matter of endurance, and in the end, the Hard Mode yers were just as useless. Their goal was victory. In that sense, both sides had failed. ¡°And it¡¯s foolish. You guys aren¡¯t that strong.¡± The difference between Easy, Normal, and Hard Modes wasn¡¯t that big in the mid-stages. Individually, there was a difference, but not as a group. Easy and Normal Mode yers greatly outnumbered the others. Among a thousand yers, it was difficult to find even one Hard Mode yer. ¡°If all the Easy and Normal Mode yers attack you, can you resist? If they try to trample and tear you apart, can you really survive?¡± The others flinched at Taesan¡¯s mutterings. Without a skill like a barrier, even attacks below one¡¯s defense would deal 1 damage. If overwhelmed by sheer numbers, the current Hard Mode yers would be killed without resistance. ¡®He was always a smart guy.¡¯ Easy Mode yer, Choi Junghyuk. By uniting the Easy and Normal Mode yers, he seized the opportunity to rebel. He killed several Hard Mode yers and even killed Seo Jangsan. Easy and Normal had made great sacrifices, but they were able to triumph. ¡°And then it was over.¡± Countless people had died. In particr, many Hard Mode yers had perished. They couldn¡¯t properly fend off the iing waves, and only a very few survived. Thus, during the next return, unable to endure, Kim Hwiyeon sacrificed herself to save the others. Seo Jangsan was left with a miserable failure and was eventually forgotten. In this world, while there was no Choi Junghyuk, the umted rage and hatred were bound to erupt. The odds of Seo Jangsan failing again were high. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t particrly care about your lives.¡± He didn¡¯t care much about Lee Taeyeon, Kang Junhyuk, Geum Junggeun, Kim Hwiyeon, or a few others. The realization that Kang Taesan genuinely didn¡¯t care about their lives sent chills down their spines. ¡°But what do you think?¡± Under the gaze directed at her, Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. After a long thought, Kim Hwiyeon spoke. ¡°Jangsan, I can¡¯t tolerate this. So, I¡¯ll request a change in kingship.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s impossible,¡± Seo Jangsan replied with confidence. ¡°You¡¯ve read the exnation, right?¡± [There are a few cases in which the king can be changed.] [Condition 1: The king''s death.] [Condition 2: Request from a majority of qualified yers.] [Condition 3: The king''s voluntary resignation.] ¡°I have no intention of stepping down myself. The second condition is the same. All Hard Mode yers, except the two of you, are on my side,¡± Seo Jangsan smirked. ¡°Or do you intend to kill me? epting the penalty?¡± The quest description stated that anyone who killed the king would incur a significant penalty. Considering the system highlighted this, it would surely have a major impact. ¡°Then, all the Hard Mode yers will be your enemies.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the way,¡± Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. There was no apparent way to dethrone the king. This was why Seo Jangsan showed his true colors as soon as he became king. ¡°But I know someone who does.¡± Kim Hwiyeon turned her gaze earnestly. ¡°This¡­ is what you meant.¡± Kang Taesan had said to her while they headed to Yongin that being strong didn¡¯t mean you could lead people well. It was her choice. She understood the meaning of his words. ¡°I get it now. I understand perfectly,¡± Taesan nodded and said to a confident Seo Jangsan. ¡°Why isn¡¯t there a way? There¡¯s the second one.¡± ¡°Ha. Every Hard Mode yer supports me, except for the two of you. What nonsense,¡± Seo Jangsan scoffed at Taesan. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s not that,¡± Taesan dered, raising his hand as if swearing an oath. ¡°I request a change in kingship.¡± And then, a system window appeared before everyone. [A qualified yer has requested a change in kingship. If the majority of yers agree, the king will be reced.] [No other qualified yers exist. The request has been epted.] [You can use various methods such as discussions, duels, and conflicts to change the king. Choose as you wish.] Upon seeing the system window, Seo Jangsan¡¯s pupils dted. Taesan smiled coldly. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? Next time, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Chapter 122: Choosing The King (3) Chapter 122: Choosing The King (3) ¡°Wait! We haven¡¯t agreed yet!¡± Seo Jangsan protested as he stood up. Taesanughed heartily and raised a finger. ¡°It¡¯s simple. You guys aren¡¯t the yers with the qualifications that the system speaks of.¡± In the previous world, there was no event where the king was reced. Many tried, but none seeded. Easy and Normal, even Hard Mode yers, including Lee Taeyeon, thought it was a meaningless provision since none could change it. So, Choi Junghyuk once insulted someone by calling them an Easy Mode yer when he was about to kill Seo Jangsan. Only yers with the required qualifications could request a change of king. And the criteria for these qualifications set by thebyrinth were incredibly high. Not just those who cleared a divine trial, but those who passed even the enhanced trial that pleased the hearts of the gods. Thus, neither the Hard Mode yers nor Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk had the qualification. Even though they passed the divine trials, they weren¡¯t to the level that pleased the gods. The only one who did was Taesan. Taesan pped. ¡°Now, we can change the king. Makes things simple, right?¡± Kang Taesan looked at Seo Jangsan with amusement in his eyes. Seo Jangsan, getting goosebumps, abruptly stood up. At the same moment, Taesan moved. As the chair broke, Taesan appeared right in front of Seo Jangsan. ¡°You!¡± Seo Jangsan was startled and tried to draw his weapon, but Taesan effortlessly pped it away and grabbed him by the throat. ¡°Cough cough!¡± He was then mmed against a wall. The surrounding Hard Mode yers quickly drew their weapons to attack Taesan. [You have activated Repulsion.] An intangible force struck them all. ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Those who charged were thrown as if they were flies hit by a swatter, rolling on the ground and crashing into walls. In the now chaotic conference room, Taesan spoke leisurely. ¡°I could end this now¡­ but that wouldn¡¯t be fun, would it?¡± ¡°Gasp!¡± Seo Jangsan swung down his weapon. Taesan just caught it and tossed it aside. ng! ¡°Ugh!¡± Amidst the wreckage, Taesan stood tall and dignified. ¡°So, I¡¯ll give you a chance. Struggle a bit.¡± ¡°Very generous of you.¡± In the city¡¯s park, Taesan whistled. ¡°Is this all?¡± ¡°Yes. This is all who follow me.¡± Seo Jangsan dered confidently. Behind him stood around a hundred yers. And all of them were Hard Mode yers. ¡°All of you¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. Indeed, all of the Hard Mode yers in Yongin were following Seo Jangsan¡¯s intentions. Whether explicitly or implicitly, it meant they were in agreement with Seo Jangsan¡¯s purpose. ¡°You¡¯ll regret giving me this chance.¡± Taesan had told Seo Jangsan to bring everything he had, all his strength. To try his best. Seo Jangsan heeded those words. Standing in front of Taesan, his expression was bright. With this many in number, even if Taesan was strong, they had a good chance of winning. ¡°Shall we begin right away? You remember the conditions?¡± ¡°Set the defense to 0 and have a non-lethal duel against everyone. I know.¡± Almost all the yers in Yongin were watching their fight, and most of them anticipated Taesan¡¯s defeat. Hard Mode yers were truly formidable. No matter how strong, it was believed that an individual couldn¡¯t defeat a group of a hundred of them. ¡°Begin!¡± The first to move was a Hard Mode yer. He rushed at Taesan with his shield raised. ¡®They said his attack power was 50!¡¯ When Taesan attacked a Hard Mode yer earlier, the registered damage was 51. Seo Jangsan remembered this and told everyone. Certainly, it was high damage, but not unbearable. He nned to block the initial attack and then counter. ¡°Sorry to break your hope, but I didn¡¯t give you a chance for any other reason.¡± It was to trample them, rather. Taesan raised his sword towards the approaching shield. [You activated an enhancement.] With a thud. The opponent flew into the air like a baseball hit by a bat. [453 damage to Kim Minjung.] [Kim Minjung has been neutralized.] ¡°He flew quite far.¡± Looking at the man who crashed at the far end of the viewing area, Taesan swung his sword with satisfaction. The other Hard Mode yers who were moving hesitated. ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you won¡¯te, I¡¯ll go.¡± Taesan started running. He charged towards the closest man, who was startled and drew his sword. Facing the man who tried to block with his sword, Taesan struck down with indifference. With a thud. The man crashed into the ground with the sword crushed. Sand and dust scattered, and the many still as if unconscious. [443 damage to Kim Guhan.] [Kim Guhan has been neutralized.] It was a one-hit takedown. Seo Jangsan, now alerted, shouted. ¡°What¡¯s with that damage! Stop joking!¡± Seo Jangsan remembered seeing a damage of 51 when Taesan attacked them. In response to Seo Jangsan¡¯s outcry, Taesan said, ¡°I had to work hard to control it.¡± He had attacked very slowly, almost without strength and without even using the sword, just his gauntlet. ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Seo Jangsan realized it btedly. He had believed without a doubt that the damage at that time was Taesan¡¯s full strength. 51 was a considerably high damage, iparable to theirs. It was hard to imagine he was holding back. That was why he believed they had a chance. If Taesan¡¯s damage was that much, they could withstand a few hits, and with a defense of 0, any sessful attack would cause damage. However, the power Taesan showed now shattered that assumption. ¡°Is the cleanup done?¡± Taesan moved. He pped a yer, who was dazed, on the side of his neck. With a loud noise, the yer crashed into a building. Then, he swung his sword in the opposite direction. A yer with a spear tried to block in panic, but he was thrown aside, along with his spear. Four were down in an instant. ¡°Don¡¯t joke around!¡± It was only then that Seo Jangsan, finally regaining his senses, shouted. ¡°We, we have to y in Hard Mode! We risk our lives to be stronger!¡± Confidence and self-esteem, everything that kept him going, was in those words. ¡°So what about it?¡± Taesan casually dismissed his outcry. Seo Jangsan gritted his teeth. ¡°We y in Hard Mode.¡± They couldn¡¯t lose so effortlessly. They were strong. The idea of them losing despite being hundreds in number was unthinkable. ¡°Get a grip, everyone!¡± With his fervent shout, the Hard Mode yers struggled to stand, ring at Taesan with eyes filled with determination. ¡®No matter how strong!¡¯ They, too, risked their lives to venture into thebyrinth, and they were among the best yers. Those who came to their senses started to move, aggressively pressuring Taesan. ¡°Hah!¡± A man holding a two-handed shield charged with thudding sounds. [Park Daein activated Defense Boost.] Defense Boost. A skill that reduced the percentage of damage taken. It was a lesser skill than Solid Defense but still pretty useful. Taesan swung his sword down. The man, along with his two-handed shield, was mmed into the ground. [Park Daein took 394 damage.] ¡°I, I held on!¡± The man on the ground eximed with relief. It was close, but he survived. ¡°What did you even hold on to?¡± Taesan kicked him disdainfully. Along with hundreds of damage, Park Daein was incapacitated. ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t think of just taking hits!¡± Seo Jangsan, who had been watching the fight, shouted. Park Daein had the highest health among them. The fact that he couldn¡¯t withstand more than two hits, even with his Defense Boost, meant they¡¯d get taken down in one hit. Taesan moved leisurely, breaking through each of them one by one. ¡°Haah!¡± A man with long hair let out a powerful yell and thrust his spear. Taesan parried it carelessly and attempted to counter. ¡°Got you!¡± [Li Sehan activated Feint.] Feint. A skill owned by only a few among the Hard Mode yers, and Li Sehan was one of them. Using this, Li Sehan had won numerous battles. He charged confidently towards Taesan¡¯s sword. Taesan¡¯s sword stopped. He dodged the spear and flicked Li Sehan¡¯s forehead with his finger, dismissing the Feint, and swung his sword. Thud. [Li Sehan has been incapacitated.] ¡°Uh!¡± Li Sehan copsed. It looked so fluid, like flowing water. To those watching from a distance, it looked like Li Sehan simply charged in a suicidal manner. Taesan¡¯s sword moved grandly. Everyone charging at him was squashed and thrown aside. Taesan didn¡¯t stop. A man rummaged through his inventory with hesitation. Upon seeing Taesan standing in front of him, the man¡¯s face turned pale, and he hastily threw something. sh! A violet powder spread out swiftly. The man eximed with a brightened face. ¡°It worked! Everyone, attack!¡± What he threw was a powder of enchantment, an item that dispersed the minds of sentient monsters. It was worth a whopping 2000 gold, and the man had to spend his entire fortune to obtain it. [Trying to confuse Kang Taesan...] [Judgment not needed!] ¡°Why are you trying something so pointless?¡± Taesan brushed off the powder with an annoyed expression. ¡°Huh, wha-?¡± His sword pierced through the bewildered man. The fight that followed was one-sided. ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± Seo Jangsan couldn¡¯t believe what was happening before his eyes. Hard Mode yers, those who ventured intobyrinths with only a 1% survival rate, each had their hidden ace up their sleeves. All those who were falling now had unique abilities and strengths and should not be so easily defeated. But they were all being taken down in a single blow. ¡°We¡¯re halfway through.¡± The only annoyance was visible on Taesan¡¯s face, as if he was dealing with a child¡¯s tantrum. And to him, they were the children. ¡°You Hard Mode yers think you¡¯re so strong and grand. What¡¯s the difference between you and the Easy Mode yers I always hear you belittling?¡± To him, there was no difference. Whether it was one or many, none affected him. Crash. Another Hard Mode yer fell. The fighting spirit of the others darkened. And the onlookers couldn¡¯t hide their astonishment. Even those from Anyang, who knew of Taesan¡¯s strength to some extent, were shocked. The surprise of the people from Yongin, who didn¡¯t know at all, was beyond words. Hard Mode yers could easily handle monsters that were tough for others, and even if a hundred others charged at them, they wouldn¡¯t win. They were, in essence, the rulers of this world. And yet, they were falling powerlessly, just like the others. It seemed like a fantasy. ¡°Huh¡­ Really.¡± Lee Taeyeon muttered in astonishment. Kang Junhyeok gave a wry smile. He wasn¡¯t weak, either. If he fought against a Hard Mode yer, he was confident he would win in a 1:1 situation. Even in a 1:2, he believed he had a chance. Butpared to Taesan, he was insignificant. It was as if Taesan could fight the entire human race and still stand. Junhyeok knew Taesan was strong, but he hadn¡¯t imagined this level. ¡®¡­Will I ever reach that level?¡¯ He and Taesan were yers of the same mode. It wasn¡¯t impossible. But it felt very far off, beyond even his imagination. As everyone was lost in their thoughts, the battle continued. And then, it was nearing its end. Among those who were rendered powerless, Taesan stood, not a drop of sweat on him. His breathing remained steady, and there wasn¡¯t even a tiny scratch on him. It was a sheer disy of dominance. ¡°You¡¯re thest one?¡± Taesan said to Seo Jangsan, who stared at him nkly. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 ¡°You¡¯ve lost.¡± Taesan leisurelymented as he pulled the knife out of Seo Jangsan¡¯s chest. ¡°What will you do? Will you continue? If so, I won¡¯t stop you.¡± A cold gaze pierced through Seo Jangsan. Seo Jangsan lowered his head. ¡°¡­I won¡¯t. I¡¯ve lost.¡± He gracefully stepped back. ¡°I will yield.¡± An undeniable strength. Even when a hundred of them charged, they were defeated withoutying a finger on Taesan. It was their defeat. Nothing more needed to be said. ¡°Good choice.¡± Taesanughed. Thatughter sent chills down Seo Jangsan¡¯s back. Swallowing, he said, ¡°¡­I crave power, but not to the point of throwing my life away.¡± If he had resisted even slightly or had raised his voice in denial of reality, he would have died. Seo Jangsan instinctively felt this. ¡°Then, Kim Hwiyeon.¡± ¡°Yes? Ah, yes.¡± Kim Hwiyeon, who had been watching nkly, quickly came to her senses and approached. ¡°I told you. I have no intention of bing the king. And you said you could handle it.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± With a determined look, Kim Hwiyeon nodded. She looked down at Seo Jangsan with an awkward expression. ¡°Jangsan¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be the next king?¡± Seo Jangsanughed bitterly. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m in the wrong. I lost without evenying a hand on him¡­ But in the end, only Hard Mode yers can stand against monsters. The weak must be sacrificed to survive.¡± This world was hell. Only the strong survive in hell. Seo Jangsan wanted to enforce that with his own hands. ¡°Do you n to save them too? I wonder how that will end.¡± ¡°Just shut up and hand it over.¡± Taesan smacked Seo Jangsan¡¯s head. Seo Jangsan clutched his head, reeling from the sharp pain. ¡°I abdicate.¡± [Seo Jangsan has ceded the throne to Kim Hwiyeon.] [The king has been decided.] [The one most involved in the change of the king is Kang Taesan. There will be a bonus when returning to thebyrinth.] ¡°Thank you.¡± As the fallen Hard Mode yers were being tended to and people were epting the change of the king, Kim Hwiyeon approached Taesan and bowed her head. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°¡­For not killing Seo Jangsan.¡± She knew. She knew that Taesan held no feelings towards Seo Jangsan. And that he wasn¡¯tpassionate enough to spare an enemy on purpose. If he had killed Seo Jangsan immediately after requesting the change, there surely would¡¯ve been chaos. Hard Mode yers who didn¡¯t witness the process might have rebelled. And that malice might have been directed at Kim Hwiyeon. After all, she benefited the most from Taesan killing Seo Jangsan and bing the king. The rtionship with Taesan would have been doubted, and her right to speak would have been damaged. Even if she managed to survive and return to thebyrinth, she likely would have been excluded. Kim Hwiyeon realized, somewhat btedly, that Taesan had considered everything in his actions. ¡°You better work hard then. That¡¯s the only way you can repay me,¡± Taesan said. Kim Hwiyeon looked at Taesan with a curious expression as if asking why he was being so kind to her. ¡°Just consider it a debt,¡± Taesan responded with a slight smirk. ¡°A debt¡­?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he smirked again. In his past life, during his third return, when he was weak, a rebellion by Choi Junghyuk caused Seo Jangsan and most of the Hard Mode yers to disappear. Only about 10,000 survived. The following journey to Seoul was hellish. They were confronted by monsters they couldn¡¯t resist, and humans died like mere ythings. In that hell, Kim Hwiyeon saved half of their lives. Taesan was one of them. ¡°It¡¯s because I can¡¯t stand seeing people die,¡± Kim Hwiyeon had replied, on the night before her near-death, to Taesan¡¯s question of why she didn¡¯t just save herself by running away. In a time when order disappeared, andws meant nothing, she voiced and upheld this simple principle. Taesan still remembered. ¡°I am truly¡­ truly grateful. For you to do all this for someone like me¡­¡± She believed Taesan was perfect, a person who could do anything. He effortlessly solved her problems and saved many. To her, these were feats beyond her capabilities. She even admired him. But for such a man to care so deeply about a weakened version of her felt truly overwhelming. Taesan waved it off, ¡°It¡¯s not just because of that. There are other reasons.¡± While Seo Jangsan was different from Choi Junghyuk ¡ª thetter was a parasite, offering no help, the former did try to save humanity, even if he considered himself central to it all. For instance, during the second return amidst various waves, Seo Jangsan stood at the forefront, fighting off monsters. ¡°He has an attitude problem, but he¡¯d listen if you hit him,¡± Taesan mused. The idea was to use him efficiently. If he didn¡¯t listen after one hit, then keep hitting until he did. ¡°Also, we still have other problems to deal with, right?¡± ¡°¡­ The food issue,¡± Kim Hwiyeon acknowledged it. Feeding over a hundred thousand people was still a pending issue. The king had changed from Seo Jangsan to Kim Hwiyeon. Everyone was informed of this change through the system notification. Even without that, since more than half saw it directly, the news would have spread quickly. The reactions varied. ¡°So, are we safe now?¡± ¡°Can we survive?¡± The people from the Easy and Normal Modes were ted. The Hard Mode yers had oppressed them, and they had to live in torment, fearing for their lives. Now, if the new king took care of them, it would be a turn for the better. In contrast, the people of Hard Mode were not in a good mood. ¡°We are fighting for our lives¡­¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t there be benefits for that?¡± Under the leadership of Seo Jangsan, they acted without hesitation. Naturally, they weren¡¯t pleased when those benefits were suddenly taken away. Kim Hwiyeon was aware of that. ¡°I¡¯m not denying the benefits. Everyone should receive benefits that match their abilities.¡± It was also a fact that they protected the majority of yers. With responsibility should alsoe appropriate rights. The reason she pushed Seo Jangsan away was because he treated those in Easy and Normal Modes with disdain. But she had nned to leave the benefits for everyone else untouched. Hearing that, the Hard Mode yers didn¡¯t show much resistance. Kim Hwiyeon had a high reputation in Hard Mode, and most of them didn¡¯t particrly enjoy tormenting others. Many Hard Mode yers had close ties with those in Normal Mode. From the start, they had entered thebyrinth through choices that were almost like coercion. Cases where the parents were in Easy Mode, and the children in Hard Mode were inevitable. No one wanted to see their acquaintances being toyed with by other Hard Mode yers. As long as the benefits weren¡¯t taken away, their decision was inevitable. With that in mind, they epted Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s decision. ¡°So, what will we do now?¡± Geum Junggeun asked. Kim Hwiyeon closed her eyes. The fate of a hundred thousand lives hung in her hands. It was overwhelmingly heavy. ¡®However.¡¯ She opened her eyes. She had taken on this responsibility. There was no room or reason forints. ¡°How much food do we have?¡± ¡°Almost none. If it was just for Hard Mode yers, I don¡¯t know, but for all a hundred thousand people? Not even a day¡¯s worth. We have some food everyone brought, so we canst a few days¡­ but the queststs longer.¡± Junggeun said. It was a month-long quest. With the food they had, it was impossible to sustain. Of course, Taesan had basic magic. Food production. Using mana to produce food. It was an excellent spell in such situations, but the quantity was the problem. Even if he used all his mana, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for a hundred thousand people. It wasn¡¯t necessary to use it right now. Closing her eyes and thinking, Kim Hwiyeon asked, ¡°Is there a ce nearby where we can get food?¡± At Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s words, Seo Jangsan nced at Taesan¡¯s expression. As Taesan nodded slightly, Seo Jangsan cautiously said¡­ ¡°There¡¯s arge mart nearby. But we¡¯ve already taken all the food around here, so there¡¯s probably nothing left.¡± ¡°We have to go far then.¡± She made the decision. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± ¡°How far?¡± ¡°Yes. We have no choice if we want to get food.¡± Most agreed with that statement. But what came next was the problem. ¡°Why do we have to go?¡± Some from Hard Mode resisted. Their logic was simple. If it was a dangerous job, let the Easy Mode do it. Why should they risk their lives? ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Easy Mode do anything, even for tasks like this?¡± Anticipating such a reaction, Kim Hwiyeon calmly said, ¡°After the first return, everyone got points when they went back to thebyrinth, right? You all have experienced their effects, so you know.¡± Differential rewards. Points. The impact was significant. Gold, stats, and proficiency were raised without risk, leading to noticeable differences based on the points earned at that time. ¡°This time, too, the rewards will be distributed based on performance. So, the more active you are in obtaining food, the more you can earn,¡± someone else remarked. Upon hearing this, they fell silent. If points could be secured, it was worth taking the risk. ¡°We won¡¯t just be fooling around with the Easy and Normal Modes. We need to gather as much food as possible, so we¡¯ll move in teams, organized in a certain proportion.¡± ¡°Are we supposed to protect them?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ask you to risk your lives. But do your best to protect them. I¡¯m asking you.¡± Kim Hwiyeon lowered her head. Hard Mode yers hesitated. ¡°Ah, understood.¡± ¡°I might seem like the bad guy now.¡± As everyone was agreeing, Seo Jangsan spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s still not enough.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°100,000. Even if we spread out to get food, there¡¯s a limit. How will we get by for a week? And what about the next week? How will we survive a month?¡± ¡°Jangsan, I didn¡¯t permit you to go that far. Shut it.¡± Taesan said, cutting him off before turning to the rest. ¡°But your concerns are valid.¡± ¡°Then why did you tell me to shut up?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s too loud.¡± Seo Jangsan closed his mouth, looking aggrieved. Taesan held resentment towards him. He had oppressed those in Easy and Normal Modes and didn¡¯t provide them with adequate food. The primary rationale was that Hard Mode yers needed to fill their bellies and prepare. Taesan, being an Easy Node yer himself, did not receive food. The memory of holding his starving stomach and peeling tree roots to eat still lingered. He felt that not killing Jangasan was already an act of great mercy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what you said. I¡¯ll take care of it. And if possible, bring back seeds of potatoes and corn.¡± ¡°To cultivate? Wouldn¡¯t that be difficult?¡± While cultivating corn and potatoes would be beneficial, there wasn¡¯t enough time. With only a month, crops wouldn¡¯t mature in time, and they¡¯d likely rot by the time of the next return. Taesan shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not the point. Just bring anything cultivable.¡± ¡°Um¡­ okay.¡± Hwiyeon looked puzzled but nodded. Then, Junggeun, who had been silent, spoke. ¡°Do you mean any food that can be cultivated?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t know for sure. Last time, they only obtained potatoes. But if potatoes worked, other crops might as well. ¡°I know a ce nearby.¡± ¡°Then move with me.¡± From there, Lee Taeyeon began organizing teams, and Taesan moved with Junggeun. ¡°Where is it?¡± ¡°Just this way. It¡¯s not too far.¡± Taesan followed Junggeun. Monsters asionally appeared, but neither Taesan nor Junggeun had trouble with them. ¡°Here.¡± Junggeun arrived at a small building next to them. ¡°It hasn¡¯t copsed.¡± Junggeun entered. Passing through an empty room, he arrived at a door leading to the basement. He confidently entered a password and went inside. ¡°Oh?¡± Taesan was intrigued. Numerous nts filled the basement. They had rotted fromck of care, but it must¡¯ve been a sight when they were alive. ¡°Just wait a moment.¡± Junggeun entered deeper into the nt room. Shortly, he returned with several vacuum-sealed seed packets. ¡°They seem well-preserved. They haven¡¯t decayed or dried out. They should be cultivable.¡± ¡°What seeds are they?¡± ¡°Corn, watermelon, greens¡­ various ones.¡± ¡°Great.¡± It was excellent news. Such a variety of seeds would be a significant help for survival. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there are no potatoes. They grow from tubers, and they¡¯ve all rotted.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. How did you know about this ce?¡± ¡°A friend of mine loved cultivation. I asionally brought him here. I never thought it¡¯de in handy like this.¡± Junggeun gave a bitter smile. Not bringing the original person meant he probably died. A fleeting sadness crossed his face. ¡°They¡¯d be happy to see their seeds used like this. But why are you collecting these?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a skill I can obtain.¡± A skill to cultivate food quickly anywhere. Essentially, a skill that sustained humanity until the end. Taesan knew how to acquire it. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Taesan and Junggeun looked further into the basement. As a result, they found three more seed packets that were still in good condition. ¡°We¡¯ve finished what we came for.¡± Upon returning to the city hall, Taesan called out to the people. ¡°Among you, who has experience with farming?¡± After a brief moment, a few people tentatively raised their hands. Given that there were about a hundred thousand people, the number was not small. Most of them were from Easy or Normal Modes. ¡°Can you cultivate these seeds?¡± The individuals who looked over the seeds finally spoke. ¡°It seems possible. They are old, but they have been stored well.¡± ¡°Then cultivate them.¡± Upon Taesan¡¯s words, they responded cautiously. ¡°If we sow them now, it will be a while before we can harvest any food.¡± ¡°And with just this amount, it won¡¯t even be enough for a day¡¯s meal. Farming consumes a lot of water, especially in our current situation¡­¡± The implication was that the efficiency would be very low. Hearing the discussion, Kim Hwiyeon approached. ¡°Have you gotten what you wanted?¡± ¡°I was thinking of farming.¡± Looking at the seed packets in Taesan¡¯s hand, Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s expression was as puzzled as the others. ¡°You¡¯re really going to cultivate them?¡± ¡°When you acquired skills in thebyrinth, how did you obtain them?¡± ¡°When we used something simr to the effect of the skill¡­ Ah.¡± Kim Hwiyeon realized. The others, who were fidgeting with the seeds, also seemed to understand. One obtained a skill when they could replicate its effect. If they seeded in cultivation, there was a good chance they could gain a rted skill. ¡°It¡¯s not certain, but isn¡¯t it worth a gamble?¡± ¡°Indeed. I hadn¡¯t thought of that.¡± Kim Hwiyeon looked at Taesan with admiration. Of course, it wasn¡¯t something Taesan had realized on his own. In their previous world, as now, they were concerned about food. Even if they managed to find some, without producers, they were bound to run out. But their realization came toote. The seeds they could have collected were ruined. Due to the cracks in the sky, it didn¡¯t even rain, causing most nts to rot. Their range of activity became increasingly limited, which hindered exploration. In the end, they searched every corner of Korea. They were barely able to find potatoes that survived in the wild. While a few seed potatoes were far from enough, they believed self-sufficiency was essential. They cultivated the potatoes and, in the process, learned about makeshift farming. Only muchter did they realize the existence of skills. They hastily looked for things they could cultivate, but it was a fruitless endeavor. That was why Taesan was prepared in advance. ¡°Indeed, such a skill would be a great help¡­ Please do your best.¡± ¡°Um, well¡­¡± The ones who received the seeds hesitated. Kim Hwiyeon understood what they wanted to say and spoke as if it were a given. ¡°Of course, there will be benefits for all of you. Once they sprout, you will be rewarded for sure. Just focus on cultivation, and don¡¯t worry.¡± With smiles on their faces, they took the seeds away. Taesan had nted several seeds in the ground. A few hourster, the people who went out to gather food returned. Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s face brightened when shepared the number of people who didn¡¯t return with the amount of food gathered. There were no casualties. Since it was their first expedition, the amount of food gathered was more than expected. ¡°We¡¯ll distribute the food now!¡± Although the quantity was small, food was distributed among the people. Of course, there were differences. People from Hard Mode and Solo Mode received the most, followed by those from Normal Mode, andstly from Easy Mode. However, there weren¡¯t any significantints. Due to previous hardships in Yongin, expectations were already lowered, and the amount of food provided was enough to prevent starvation. The first distribution went smoothly. This routine continued: gather food and distribute it. Apart from asionallypeting against each other to maintain their strength, the week passed without incident. And the seeds they nted were gradually sprouting. ¡°I thought it would be tough without sunlight, but they¡¯re growing better than expected.¡± Green sprouts were emerging from the ground. However, their expressions were somber. ¡°Still, they probably won¡¯t grow enough to be edible. The environment is too harsh.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter.¡± As long as they grew to the point where they could obtain skills, it was sufficient. Taesan had confirmed this in the previous world. Sprouts were also growing from the seeds Taesan had sown. Then, the wave began. £ÛThe first wave has started.£Ý £ÛRewards for returning to thebyrinth will be distributed based on performance.£Ý Monsters were everywhere, as far as the eye could see. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Why are there so many?¡± The faces of the overwhelmed group turned pale. Kim Hwiyeon shouted with determination. ¡°We can survive this!¡± And the battle began. About a hundred thousand people managed to wield weapons and fend off the monsters. ¡°Huff!¡± As Lee Taeyeon was slicing through monsters, Taesan swiftly moved past her. As he passed, monsters were torn apart. Whoosh. With a swing of his fist, not only did he destroy the monsters, but the shockwave sent others flying. Utilizing magic and skills, Taesan defeated thousands, if not tens of thousands, of monsters. A whole day passed, and finally, thest monster fell. ¡°We won!¡± ¡°We survived!¡± Everyone cheered joyously. Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s face wasn¡¯t dark either. There were casualties, but the number was significantly low. Most of them would likely survive until the end. Finding hope, everyone became more enthusiastic. They nurtured seeds, gathered food, and trained harder. Thanks to their efforts, they managed to fend off the second wave a weekter without significant loss. While everyone celebrated, only Taesan looked up at the sky with a mixed expression. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± It wasn¡¯t strange that they sessfully defended against the wave. During the second return, the monsters themselves weren¡¯t that strong. They were mostly simr to those from the first return, primarilyposed of contractor-level monsters, with a few E-grade monsters. Current Hard Mode yers could easily deal with E-grades using certain attackbinations. During the second return, the reason for the casualties was the conflict between the Modes and food scarcity, not because of the monsters. Now, with those two problems resolved, thanks to Taesan, it was normal not to have significant issues. Yet, Taesan¡¯s expression was uneasy. ¡°How strong do we need to be?¡± He felt a power emanating from the rift in the sky. That power had be about twice as strongpared to when they first returned. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous.¡± Taesan¡¯s expression was grim. Initially, he thought only one monster would appear, and at a C-ss level, which Taesan expected he could easily handle. But at this rate, ¡°How many will die?¡± Taesan looked towards the city hall. People were celebrating their victory. Even though some were hungry due to the decreasing food supply, no one was in despair. The yers in Easy and Normal Modes were weak. Although Taesan had said to Seo Jangsan that they were no different from Easy and Normal yers, it was just a way to hurt Seo Jangsan¡¯s pride. The difference was clear. If there were no Hard Mode yers in his previous life, the probability of surviving up to now would have been low. The fact that Taesan was the only Easy Mode yer to have survived till the end was proof enough. Practically, death seemed inevitable for all Easy Mode yers. Taesan, having seen the end, knew this. But even if he knew, there wasn¡¯t a solution. He had informed themunity about skills in his previous life, but no one had learned. To survive, a fundamentally different approach was needed, one that wasn¡¯t just about skills or items. It had been three weeks since he returned to Earth. There were a total of three waves, and they had managed to resist them all without significant losses. Except for those who overestimated themselves or got separated from the group, everyone survived. However, food supplies were dwindling. The time to explore and return was getting longer, and the amount of food brought back was decreasing. Even Taesan brought back a lot of food, but it was nowhere near enough for nearly a hundred thousand people. ¡°I¡¯m hungry¡­¡± Just when everyone was starving, farming finally showed results. ¡°Wow!¡± The man who was farming corn shouted while looking at something in the air. Simrly, others were also eximing with surprised expressions. Taesan also looked up. [Special Passive Skill: Simplified Farming] [Proficiency: 1%] [All farming gets elerated. It isn''t affected by geothermal conditions. nts grow better and aren''t affected by sunlight. They need less water, and the chances of seeds sprouting increase.] [You have not acquired the skill since you''re outside thebyrinth. "Simplified Farming" has been sealed.] The method to acquire Simplified Farming was after a certain time had passed since nting and the nt¡¯s growth. On average, it was between three to four weeks. It was time, and those who had been cultivating nts received their skills. They happily informed Kim Hwiyeon. Hearing the news, she rushed to the farming area. ¡°What skill did you get?¡± ¡°Just like its name.¡± Taesan exined to the excited woman. Her face brightened upon hearing it. ¡°That¡¯s great! We won¡¯t have to worry about food! To what extent?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to enter thebyrinth and check.¡± On Earth, skills couldn¡¯t be acquired. Even if they met the conditions, they had to return to thebyrinth to use them. Thus, they couldn¡¯t immediately check its effectiveness. Kim Hwiyeon was a bit disappointed but still optimistic. ¡°It¡¯s still a relief. If we do well, we might not have a food problem.¡± Kim Hwiyeon clenched her fist in excitement. Her biggest worry had been the food. Now that it was resolved, she couldn¡¯t be anything but ted. ¡°We only have a week left! We just have to hold on till then!¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions were bright. They had resisted three waves without significant losses and now had a skill that could potentially solve their food problem. Their faces were filled with hope. Taesan quietly observed this scene. Soon, only one day remained until the fourth wave began. As everyone was gearing up, Taesan looked up at the sky. The energy emanating from the crack in the sky was even more potent than thest time he saw it. ¡°It¡¯s going to be tough.¡± If it became that strong, what kind of monster would appear? He initially thought it would be just one. And at most, it would be of C-ss, so he wasn¡¯t too worried. With his current abilities, Taesan could defeat a C-ss opponent. But considering that power, the monster might not be C-ss. Maybe B-ss. Not the same monster he faced during the second return in his previous life. ¡°Do they want to kill us that badly?¡± Taesan smirked. The deities who had been defeated by the gods were invading Earth. They were gathering their power to kill Taesan. ¡°It won¡¯t be that easy.¡± Taesan gripped his sword. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 The fourth week was almost over. Only one day remained until thest wave. Everyone¡¯s expressions were bright. They believed that the level wouldn¡¯t be as difficult as before. Taesan went to see Kim Hwiyeon, who was preparing for the next day in his room. ¡°Ah, Mr. Taesan.¡± ¡°You should be careful tomorrow.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I have a strange feeling. Don¡¯t let your guard down and give it your best.¡± ¡°¡­You mean there¡¯s something up?¡± Kim Hwiyeon, who was rxed, suddenly tensed up and stood. ¡°I¡¯ll go inform the others.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With a serious face, Kim Hwiyeon left the room. And that night¡­ ng! ¡°Argh!¡± Kang Junhyeok grabbed his arm and fell. He then got up with a determined face. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s enough.¡± Taesan sheathed his sword. The worried face of Lee Taeyeon turned to shock. ¡°Huh? Is it over already? What happened?¡± Even after arriving at the city hall, Taesan continued to train with them, no different than before a wave. But today, Taesan finished training in just two hours. ¡°You don¡¯t want to die in actualbat after training, do you? Fight without regrets.¡± ¡°¡­Looks like something big ising tomorrow.¡± Kang Junhyeok said with aposed face. ¡°Kim Hwiyeon is moving around, arranging the ranks. Was that what you were talking about?¡± ¡°Just that tomorrow will be much more difficult.¡± Taesan looked at the rift in the sky. Kang Junhyeok, sensing something ominous, swallowed. ¡°If you find it challenging¡­ just how hard is it going to be?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t die. I¡¯d be quite sad if you guys died.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll try our best.¡± And then the next day came. Everyone was in position, preparing for the wave. After receiving a warning from Kim Hwiyeon, their faces were serious. [The fourth wave has begun.] [Based on your performance, differentiated rewards will be given when returning to thebyrinth.] Thud. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± This time, unlike before, monsters didn¡¯t rush in. The space simply tore open. From the spatial rift, monsters began to emerge one by one. ¡°This¡­ ¡° Someone swallowed hard. The number of monsters was around a hundred, much fewer than before. But it was ominous. They could feel that these hundred monsters possessed strength much greater than the mere number suggested. Taesan, who had been watching, murmured. ¡°Grade E.¡± And a few of Grade D. ¡°They¡¯re really going for it.¡± Taesan smirked at the monsters, which were stronger than he had anticipated. Even the current Hard Mode yers would have a hard time guaranteeing a win against Grade E, let alone Grade D. The monsters began to move. Kim Hwiyeon gritted her teeth. ¡°Everyone, get in formation!¡± The battle began, and the yers realized¡­ These monsters were on a whole different level. ¡°Ugh!¡± A monster fiercely wagged its tail. The yers in Easy and Normal Modes couldn¡¯t even block properly and were sent flying. ¡°Damn it!¡± Seo Jangsan, who barely managed to block, was in shock. ¡®So heavy!¡¯ It was a power he struggled to handle. He had experienced this level of strength before. ¡®The monster that appearedst during the previous return!¡¯ It was of that caliber of strength. And there were nearly a hundred of such monsters. Overwhelmed by despair, Seo Jangsan swung his sword. Monsters ran amok among the yers. A mere hundred monsters dominated a hundred thousand yers. ng. And the Grade D monsters were the very embodiment of destruction. Boom! ¡°Gah!¡± Easy, Normal, Hard Mode yers alike were crushed without distinction. Lee Taeyeon, with a grim face, swung down her sword. Her face might have shown panic, but her movements and trajectory were perfect. Smash! Her attack was easily blocked. When she was about to scream due to the monster¡¯s counter-attack, ¡°What are you just standing there for?¡± Crunch. Taesan stomped on the monster. The overwhelmed monster was mmed into the ground. Rumble! The ground cracked, causing a chaoticmotion as if an earthquake had urred. Lee Taeyeon looked horrified. ¡°Taesan!¡± The smashed monster didn¡¯t stay down but counter-attacked, moving its long chains to bind Taesan. ¡°Pest.¡± With an annoyed expression, Taesan flexed his fist. The chains burst apart, and he mmed his fist down. The monster was crushed into the ground again. ¡°In just two moves¡­¡± She was awestruck that a monster, which seemed invincible, was downed with just two strikes. ¡°If only Taesan is here¡­¡± The monsters might be powerful, but Taesan was even more so. As she murmured with hope, Taesan interrupted her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t be the only one fighting.¡± ¡°What?¡± As Taesan knocked away a Grade E monster, he narrowed his eyes. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± Crack. Space tore open. An arm pierced through the web-like fracturing space. A ck arm. It pulled the space towards it, causing a rough expansion of the rift. The monster was humanoid. Four arms. ck legs. A body three timesrger than the rest. The creature with a spherical head faced them. ¡°Ah.¡± [Monster 48881 appears.] A five-digit monster appeared on the scene. ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon¡¯s body shuddered intensely. Terrifying. A primal fear engulfed her. More than anything she saw in thebyrinth, this monster scared her the most. And she wasn¡¯t the only one who felt it. Everyone battling momentarily flinched in the face of the looming terror. The monster raised its four arms. Boom For a moment, they thought a bomb had exploded. That kind of shockwave enveloped them. ¡°Argh!¡± Easy, Normal, and Hard Mode yers alike were sent flying, their ranks shattered. And the shockwave was directly targeting Taesan. Taesan frowned and swung his fist in retaliation. Crack! The sound of the air exploding forced people to cover their ears. Taesan shook off his numb hand. ¡°It¡¯s damn strong.¡± [This one''s quite dangerous.] ¡°Tae, Taesan.¡± Kim Hwiyeon, having been blown close by the storm to Taesan, staggered to her feet. ¡°That thing¡­¡± She gritted her teeth audibly. The sheer aura emanating from the monster felt like it could stop her heart. ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± A sneer formed on Taesan¡¯s lips. Simultaneously, an overwhelming energy burst forth from him. ¡°Ah.¡± Kim Hwiyeon involuntarily stepped back. An indomitable aura emanated from Taesan. The intensity of his power was akin to what radiated from the monster. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t think I can help here.¡± ¡°Taesan!¡± Ignoring her call, Taesan took off. He left the city hall behind. He ran until the city hall was out of sight. ¡°This should be far enough.¡± Here, even if he battled, it wouldn¡¯t affect the city hall. The only concern was whether the monster would follow, but as soon as Taesan moved, the monster was right behind him, eliminating that worry. ¡°You¡¯re after me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Taesan drew his sword. The giant with four arms silently red at him. [It¡¯s strong.] The ghost moaned. [At that level, even an adventurer who reached the 40th floor could lose. Why is such a monster appearing so early?] ¡°The reason is simple, right?¡± To kill him. That was the only reason. ¡°I guess I should be pleased that such high-ups are showing interest?¡± Taesan joked, but his eyes were dead serious. A five-digit monster. A B-rank monster that could even defeat Hard Mode yers who cleared thebyrinth. [The enemy is invincible.] [Judgment unnecessary.] The recognition of a formidable opponent seeds, elevating all abilities. But it¡¯s not over. £ÛBattle Lust has been activated.£Ý £ÛHonorable Duel has been activated.£Ý £ÛDespise the Mighty has been activated.£Ý £ÛSelf-Belief has been activated.£Ý The system¡¯s window floods with notifications. Feeling the palpable increase in stats, he activates a skill. £ÛYou activated Reconnaissance.£Ý £ÛMonster 48881£Ý £ÛSpecialized Attack Type£Ý It was not aplete analysis, so health wasn¡¯t shown. Still, the provided information was sufficient. ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s a specialized type.¡± Monsters came in various kinds: Attack, Support, Defense, and more. And they had further subtypes. A in attack type was all-rounded, excelling in speed, strength, and stamina. But a ¡°specialized¡±bel meant, apart from one ability, the rest were below average. The challenge was discerning its specialty. Was it attack power? Speed? It was uncertain for now. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll find out.¡± The monster¡¯s spherical head moved. Itcked pupils, but a clear intent to kill was evident. Rumble. The monster stomped. Immediately, Taesan realized. It was a speed-specialized type. In an instant, the monster vanished. By the time the monster reappeared, it was right in front of Taesan. [Your First Attack Nullification activated.] Taesan moved swiftly, aiming for the creature¡¯s neck. As he lunged, the creature vanished. With a gust, the creature had retreated far behind. ¡°Damn.¡± Taesan smirked. He couldn¡¯t match its speed. He braced himself with a serious gaze. Flicker. The creature vanished again. Simultaneously, Taesan activated his skill. [You activated Mind eleration.] [You activated Path of the Wind Deer.] Only after employing all his speed-rted skills could he barely trace its movements. He moved, facing the monster¡¯s iing fist. Taesan¡¯s sword shed with the creature¡¯s arm. The creature¡¯s four arms iled wildly. Taesan, in turn, utilized his First Sword of the Stormscar, Wolf¡¯s Fang. sh! Despite the disparity in speed, Taesan took a hit. [Your Second Attack Nullification activated.] But it was anticipated. Taking advantage of the Attack Nullification, he stabbed the creature¡¯s chest, a seamless motion unlike before, leaving the monster unable to dodge. [You activated Heavy Strike.] [You activated Addition.] [You activated Chain Attack.] [Monster 48881 took 895 damage.] [Monster 48881 took 412 damage.] [This is truly surprising.] The ghost mumbled, unable to hold back. Even with continuous attacks, the damage doubled. No matter how one looked at it, it was an unimaginable skill. The monster charged again. This time as well, Taesan couldn¡¯t block it, and the nullification activated. He seized that moment to attack. Once again, over a thousand damage was inflicted. The monster retreated to gain distance. ¡°Now then, from this point on¡­¡± All the attack nullifications were used up. There was no chance to exploit any vulnerability when it retreated. Even though he managed to deal nearly 3000 damage, it could be said that he did enough, but from what he remembered, a B-grade monster had around 20,000 to 30,000 health. He still had to sessfully attack it about eight more times. The monster moved. Taesan swung his sword chasing its afterimage, but only cut through thin air. [You received 343 damage.] Because it was speed-specialized, the damage was surprisingly low. However, it couldn¡¯t be ignored. Taesan¡¯s health, including the shield, was about 4300. Even if he activated ¡®sturdiness¡¯, 30 hits would kill him. Facing a monster whose speed was barely trackable by eyes, where even countering properly was impossible, he had to seed in attacking eight times out of thirty tries. It definitely was an enemy deserving of the ¡®impossible to win¡¯ judgment. However. ¡°You underestimated me too much, didn¡¯t you? This hurts my pride.¡± Against specialized types, in his previous life, he had faced thousands. Taesan grumbled and ced his hand on the ground. [You activated ''Decarabia¡¯s Twisted Life.''] Twisted roots burst out as if exploding. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Roots as big as a house shot up suddenly. ck magic became stronger the more magic power it consumed, and the roots filled up the space in an instant. Kwoong! The monster swung its arm, shattering the roots. The roots broke like straw in front of Taesan, who watched calmly. He knew that these roots wouldn¡¯t be able to stop the monster. The reason he used the roots was different. Taesan stomped his foot. [You have activated eleration.] With a sound like the air tearing, Taesan¡¯s body moved toward the monster. As he flew, he quickly manifested magic. Jjeok. Five Frost Arrows were drawn in the air. All of them elerated and flew from Taesan. Kwaang! The monster, which had been breaking the tree roots, swung its fist towards the iing Frost Arrows. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] Jjeojeong! The Frost Arrows exploded, and fragments of ice pierced through the monster¡¯s body. Taken aback by the sudden turn of events, the monster paused for a moment but then swiftly moved its arm to deflect all the fragments. Thousands of ice fragments shattered. And in that gap, Taesan arrived in front of the monster. Taesan started attacking, and the monster blocked everything. The monster was overwhelmingly faster than Taesan. No matter how much Taesan tried to find an opening or exploit a weakness, the monster could easily block him. After blocking all of Taesan¡¯s attacks, the monster counterattacked. Four fists flew towards Taesan. But Taesan, as if anticipating the monster¡¯s counter, swiftly moved out of the way. [You have activated Lightning Strike.] Lightning Strike was an instant skill. It was unavoidable, but the monster dodged it anyway. The moment Lightning Strike manifested, the monster rolled out of range. And by then, Taesan had already arrived at the spot the monster dodged to. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced the monster. [Monster 48881 took 921 damage.] [Monster 48881 took 432 damage.] [Oh?] The ghost, watching the series of actions unfold, couldn¡¯t help but let out a sound. The ghost, though dead, was once an adventurer who had gone to the deepest depths. For him, the current fight between the two seemed slow. That was why he noticed what Taesan had done. Summoning tree roots to prevent the monster from moving towards him. Then, rushing in with Frost Arrows. Some of the arrows were elerated to prevent the monster from reacting in time. And once he was close, he attempted a surprise attack. But the monster had the strength to block it. So, after being blocked, Taesan immediately distanced himself and activated Lightning Strike. The monster could dodge Lightning Strike, too. But Lightning Strike was an instant spell. No matter how much of a monster it was, it couldn¡¯t easily react to it. It literally had to focus all its energy on dodging. After that, it was hard to block the attack. So, Taesan went to the spot where the monster would dodge andnded an attack. [This is interesting. Is it foresight or experience? It''s a perfect strategy, isn''t it?] Each step in the process built up to create the result. Even the ghost had rarely created such a clean result. ¡°Strong, but that¡¯s all.¡± Taesan murmured in anguid tone. B-grade monsters were indeed strong. Even if it was specialized, it didn¡¯t lose much in strengthpared to Taesan. It had an overwhelming advantage in speed, so if Taesan didn¡¯t have information, winning would be near impossible. But that was where the story changed. ¡°Compared to before, these conditions are very good.¡± In the previous world, he was an Easy Mode yer. No matter how much he used buff skills to increase his stats, his basic stats were terrible, so his limits were very low. Whether it was by using addition or multiplication, damage could be dealt, but the stats that managed basic movements were worse than those in Hard Mode. But he won. Against S-grade monsters, against apostles. He knew the monsters¡¯ movements and behavior patterns better than anyone. B-grade. Even specialization types were not a problem. Crash. The monster stomped the ground. Its speed was faster than ever before. It was a speed that couldn¡¯t be followed with mere physical ability. But Taesan didn¡¯t panic and drew his sword. ¡°That¡¯s not controlling its own speed.¡± Specialization typescked in every aspect except for speed. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that only their speed was abnormally developed. Naturally, their judgment, cognitive abilities, and senses couldn¡¯t keep up with their speed. It was more like plotting a course and then moving the body ordingly. So he could read it. He recalled the speeds and movements of the hundreds of specialization types he had faced, twisted his body, and pulled out his sword. ng! A huge collision urred. Dust and dirt exploded into the air. The monster¡¯s round face showed disturbance. Boom. The monster¡¯s body disappeared again. Taesan moved his hand roughly. [You have activated Particle Diffusion.] Ice shards collided with each other, filling the space. At the same time, a loud noise rang out. The monster had collided with the scattered shards. The monster was perplexed and stopped moving. Taesan activated eleration and quickly closed the distance. ng! His swords collided with the monster. In that situation, Taesan activated Invisibility. Instantly, Taesan¡¯s body was hidden. The monster¡¯s arm that was about to counterattack hesitated. If the monster was smart, it would have known that Taesan hadn¡¯t gone far and would have created some distance. But specialization types were below average in intelligence and sensing abilities. Perplexed, it stopped moving. And it paid a big price. Crack. Taesan¡¯s sword shed the monster¡¯s head. With one strike, the monster staggered, and Taesan thrust his sword into its chest. The monster swung its arms wildly as it moved. The ground erupted, and the air exploded outwards. ¡°Is it moving in a random pattern?¡± Counter couldn¡¯t be used. Counter was a skill to see and counterattack, not predict. Using it would just be a vain attempt. Just like before, Taesan activated Particle Diffusion. Even though it was beginner-level magic, specialization types had low health, so the spell wasn¡¯t something that could be ignored. The monster hesitated at the spreading ice shards, and Taesan didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. ng! Taesan pressured the monster with his sword. Then, he used magic, ck magic, and skills to restrict the monster¡¯s path. Crack. And he predicted where the monster would move and sessfully attacked. Now, the monster¡¯s health was less than half. The monster fought back desperately, but the limit was clear. The difference in health was too great, so Taesan just needed to respond and look for opportunities. Unavoidable attacks were just taken and countered, turning the fight into an exchange. That way, the monster¡¯s health gradually dwindled. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I had fun.¡± Taesan muttered as he watched the charging monster and stomped the ground, scattering fake mes to make the monster stop. He then used a mid-air jump and eleration to m the monster into the ground. The monster beneath Taesan resisted, but he firmly suppressed and ended it. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan takes a breath. It was not too difficult, but it was still a strong monster. It took quite a bit of time because to seed in attacking once, you had to go through aplex process. Looking towards the city hall, everything had ended, and there was no sound. Many must have died. But they won. Taesan plunged his sword into the monster¡¯s face. The dormant power inside exploded and soared into the sky. In an instant, the cracks in the sky shook. A gigantic eye looked towards the ground. Inside, it was filled with rage. This rage had a god-like power that could crush the mind of the observer and make their heart submit. Taesan taunted it. ¡°Next time, send down a stronger one.¡± The monster¡¯s powerpletely dissipated from the ground. [Your Soul Ascension has activated. ??? ''s proficiency has increased by 5%.] And the system window popped up. [Secret Quest Sessful] [The God of Struggle and Death Descends.] ¡°Huff, huff.¡± Kim Hwiyeon copsed on the floor with a sweaty face. She grimaced at the intense pain she felt from behind her. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± ¡°Are you okay, sister?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not okay.¡± She managed to get up with difficulty, answering Junggeun¡¯s question. ¡°We won, right?¡± ¡°Barely¡­ but thanks to you, sister.¡± E-grade monsters and D-grade monsters. The difference was clear even though they hadn¡¯t been definitively graded yet. D-grade monsters were impossible to handle properly, even if the Hard Mode yers were involved. It was a monster that needed at least twenty of them to suppress. But when nearly a hundred E-grade monsters ran amok, they panicked. The fear of death dominated them. In that situation, Kim Hwiyeon shouted desperately. She intuitively noticed the level of D-grade and sent Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk. She attached several Hard Modes as support and had them deal with E-grade monsters with Easy and Normal Mode yers. As long as yers were protected by the system¡¯s health rating, there was less risk of dying if they worked perfectly together. With timely and neat responses, they were able to win. But the damage was not small. ¡°How many died?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to know exactly, but about half.¡± Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. It was a considerable sacrifice. If you thought about the fact that in war, if 20% died, it was considered annihtion; it was a terrible loss. ¡°How are Taeyeon and Junhyuk?¡± ¡°They were injured, but no serious wounds. Amazing. To be able to withstand such a monster¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± She grabbed her sword. Junggeun was surprised at her movement. ¡°What are you going to do now? You need to rest!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t rest yet. Taesan is still there.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Junggeun¡¯s face turned pale. Taesan fought against a horrifically strong monster. Even though he was strong, it was hard to guarantee victory because the monster was unimaginably powerful. Kim Hwiyeon endured the pain and said, ¡°Call the healthy people. We must assist Mr. Taesan¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t continue her words. Her pupils shook. She felt a tremendous power from the direction where Taesan had gone. This power seemed to envelop the entire Earth. ¡°Oh, oh.¡± She stuttered. It was a power she couldn¡¯t even properlyprehend. It was a wave of power that couldn¡¯t bepared to even dust or bugs. ¡°Sister?¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Only Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk realized what kind of power it was. Lee Taeyeon shouted in astonishment, ¡°Why do I feel the power of a god here!¡± [Oh... uh... um.] The ghost lost its words and stuttered. It was an unsightly scene for it, but the situation was significant enough to cause that. Kwoong! The ground split and a pitch-ck throne rose. It was a chilling throne decorated with sharp thorns and des. The owner of the empty throne was an entity known to Taesan. ¡°Lakiratas¡­¡± [Yes, mortal. I am Lakiratas, the entity that oversees struggle and death.] A blunt voice resounded, and Taesan remembered hearing this voice before. ¡°Maria. The god that interfered when we were with the goddess was you.¡± When Maria sent him down, her world had been invaded by some god. His vague suspicions were now confirmed. [That is in the past.] Lakiratas¡¯s voice carried a slight irritation. As the god¡¯s emotions spread, the air twisted and died. An entity that distorted the world and trampled concepts just by existing. That was a god. Taesan was dumbfounded. The fact that the power was affecting the Earth like this meant that Lakiratas had truly descended. Even the ghost was speechless and trailed off. [Why... why are you here? You, who have taken residence in thebyrinth, would need a great cost to descend here.] [Does such a cost seem meaningful to me?] [Well, no, but.] After Taesan defeated the monster, Lakiratas suddenly descended. The timing was too abrupt. Lakiratas answered, [Because that was the contract.] [Contract?] [Let''s start fulfilling the contract.] Lakiratas¡¯s power burst out. It reached towards the Earth, enveloping Taesan and all humans. [The power of a God is manifested.] [Blessings descend.] Chapter 127 Chapter 127 ¡°Uh, uuh?¡± Kim Hwiyeon, who was in awe, was surprised in a different sense. Not only her, but also the people lying around and those who had barely managed to get up felt the same. A tremendous power began to envelop their bodies. Kim Hwiyeon looked at her fist with widened eyes. Squeeze. She clenched her fist. The power transmitted to her arm. Its intensity. And a more efficient way to deliver that power. All of that was drawn in her mind. Countless methods that she hadn¡¯t known, or hadn¡¯t been aware of, blossomed like fireworks. ¡°What is this?¡± Junggeun, who was feeling a simr sensation, felt the same. ¡°Stats, leveling up? ¡­ It¡¯s not that concept. This is¡­¡­ Kim Hwiyeon swallowed her saliva. It was a talent. An innate power was descending into their bodies. And Taesan felt it, too. Taesan grunted at the power that had settled in his body. ¡°This is curious.¡± Taesan threw a short punch. Bang, and the air exploded. The process of extending the fist, pulling it back, and retracting it was much faster and more urate than before. ¡°Your¡­ power?¡± £ÛYou have received the blessing of the talent of [Struggle and Death] from the God£Ý. £ÛIt is a blessing given to only a very few of those who believe and follow me. Be grateful and respectful, mortals.£Ý Lakiratas spoke arrogantly. Taesan couldn¡¯t refute that. Squeeze. He clenched his fist. The sensation was different. It wasn¡¯t just that he had be faster or stronger; something more fundamental had changed. ¡®Talent.¡¯ A power that could not be acquired postnatally but was inherent from birth. That was what he had obtained. ¡®With this power.¡¯ He could be stronger. It wasn¡¯t just that he had be stronger now; it was a power with the possibility of growth. It was amazing. It was exciting. And that wasn¡¯t the end. ¡°Is it not just me but all of humanity that has received this?¡± [Yes. Originally, such power wasn''t meant to be given to worthless beings like you, but it has be interesting.] Although Lakiratas muttered this, Taesan was too astonished to even respond. This level of divine power was given to all humanity. This wasn¡¯t a small matter. Depending on the situation, even the yers in Easy Mode could be more than twice as strong as in their previous lives. It was certainly a happy event, but there were things he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why?¡± Lakiratas was a god. Gods disdained those they didn¡¯t acknowledge and gave them nothing. But to give power to all humanity. At least, it was not what Taesan had expected. Lakiratas spoke bluntly. [It''s a contract. It''s a transaction as well. Your head isn''t bad. Make a guess.] Taesan closed his mouth and started thinking. It didn¡¯t take long to figure out the answer. ¡°Is it rted to monsters and high gods?¡± [Correct.] The power emanating from the throne fluctuated. It seemed to ripple as if it was enjoying itself. [They tried to cross the line. So, I made a contract.] ¡°¡­B-grade monster.¡± At least it wasn¡¯t a monster that should have appeared this early. If that had been possible, it would have expelled Taesan from this world long ago. The fact that it wasn¡¯t the case meant that there was something special about this time. [You have met our expectations and triumphed magnificently. We praise you, mortal.] Taesan looked at the throne. Lakiratas¡¯ tone was as if they had watched their entire fight. Lakiratas then said with a sunken gaze. [Do not be mistaken about your enemies, mortal. We are, at the very least, not your enemies.] ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Information was needed. Why had Lakiratas descended here? After pondering, Lakiratas was silent for a moment. [It doesn''t matter now. We created thebyrinth to see the struggle of great heroes and warriors. The high gods didn''t like us for that.] ¡°So they went around destroying worlds.¡± ording to Lucifer¡¯s words, 258 worlds had fallen into the hands of the high gods. It must be very displeasing for the gods who took residence in thebyrinth. Lakiratas¡¯ voice was annoyed. [They are beings who refuse to admit defeat and struggle futilely. Those filthy beings are crumpling and trampling upon worlds that may enter thebyrinth. Did you think we would simply watch that happen?] ¡°So you called us there.¡± The people from the worlds that were perishing without a trace called into thebyrinth because it was a pity to lose the potential of them entering. It was somewhat expected, so there wasn¡¯t much shock. It was just a feeling of realization. [But... I have a question.] The ghost, who had been silent, spoke. [May I dare to ask you a question, O great being.] [Hm.] Lakiratas¡¯ gaze turned to the ghost. Just that made the ghost¡¯s body shake uneasily. It started to flicker like a TV with static. [Your courage is noted, and I grant you permission to speak. Speak, dead one.] [...Thank you.] The ghost swallowed and opened its mouth. [Even for beings like you, it would have been difficult to call all humans from a certain world.] [Originally, yes. But they interfered and made a hole. Thanks to that, the process became easier.] [I see... That''s how it is.] [It wasn''t to hear such an insignificant story that you wished to speak. Continue.] [ording to the words of the one I am bound to, most of the people here did not enter thebyrinth. They entered a different ce mimicking thebyrinth.] Taesan realized what the ghost was trying to say. Easy, Normal, Hard Modes, etc. People on Earth were divided into countless modes. Previously, that was taken for granted, but the thought changed as he proceeded through Solo Mode. The real one was only the Solo Mode. The rest were all fake. The ghost was questioning that. [Originally, you all would have entered our world. But they interfered and made it troublesome. Imbnce arose, and dimensions warped.] The interference of the high gods. That seemed to have created the division of modes. [So, it was quite annoying previously, but... at least not this time.] Lakiratas spoke in a pleased voice. His gaze was on Taesan. [That''s it. If you want to know more,e and find me. I will be waiting in the deep.] ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan replied. However, Lakiratas did not disappear. His throne was still on the ground. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± As Taesan was momentarily flustered, Lakiratas spoke. [Mortal. Be my apostle.] ¡°I believe I¡¯ve declined that offer before.¡± When Taesan faced an enhanced trial at Lakiratas¡¯s altar, the god had proposed the apostle contract. Since Lakiratas was a capricious god and he didn¡¯t like being tied down, Taesan had refused. [True, you did, then. But circumstances have changed. The old gods may be defeated, but they are too powerful for mortals. And the vermin are also after you. You surely don''t want to perish namelessly.] Lakiratas spoke with the arrogance of a god. [I will grant you the honor of guarding my side. ept it, mortal.] [Huff.] The ghost was surprised and gulped at Lakiratas¡¯s words. The reaction was concerning, but a reply was due. ¡°You probably know my answer.¡± He had no intention of being tied down to a god. Especially when one of his goals was to be as strong as the gods. Bing an apostle might have limitations. [Hmm. I expected that. If you had epted, that young one would have been agitated.] It seemed Lakiratas had little hope. [Still, it was fun. I look forward to your fighting spirit.] Lakiratas¡¯s power gradually faded. His throne began to sink into the ground. [Oh, right.] Lakiratas suddenly remembered something. [You defeated that thing using a mere tool. Impressive. I was quite satisfied. ept this gift.] From the disappearing throne, power separated and entered Taesan. [You have acquired the special activation skill [Apostle of Lakiratas].] [Go back to thebyrinth and check. It''ll likely help your ns.] At the cryptic statement, Taesanughed. ¡°Did you know?¡± [How could I not? Still, I permit it. You may use my name.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan nodded. With Lakiratas¡¯s permission following that of the Demon God, there seemed to be nothing holding him back. [I hope to see more entertaining exploits, mortal.] And then Lakiratas disappeared. His presence was no longer felt. [Whew!] The ghost exhaled the breath he had been holding. [Just by his gaze, I thought I was a goner.] ¡°Why did you speak then?¡± [Did you think I wanted to? You were curious, so I asked for you.] The ghost grumbled. Indeed, the information he shared was vital, and Taesan was grateful. ¡°The modes urred due to the interference of the high gods.¡± Easy, Normal, and Hard Modes. While the specifics were unknown, it seemed all these difficulties arose from the high gods¡¯ intervention. It didn¡¯t seem like the gods of thebyrinth wished for it. The ghost mumbled in an exasperated tone. [It''s funny. Lakiratas offering a mortal the position to guard his side?] ¡°What does that position mean?¡± [Exactly what it sounds like. You''d be responsible for one of the duties of a god. It''s beyond a mere apostle. It''s akin to a divine entity.] ¡°So, bing a god?¡± [Something like that.] There was a hint of jest in the statement, but the ghost answered seriously. Taesan hesitated for a moment. ¡°Are you saying I can actually be a god?¡± [It may not be aplete status, but you''ll definitely be free from the confines of mortality. That''s what''s funny. As far as I know, only three beings have ever be one of Lakiratas''s fingers since its inception¡­ and now such an offer is being made to an adventurer who hasn''t even surpassed the 50th floor?] ¡°A god, huh?¡± Surpassing mortality to be an immortal being. It was an astonishing offer, but he wasn¡¯t ready to ept it just yet. ¡°I should head back.¡± Taesan returned to the battlefield. The ce was filled with people in turmoil. Everyone was frantically swinging their fists, trying to understand their newfound power. Looking around, Taesan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Half of them survived.¡± He had expected only about 20% or 30% to survive, but the number was much greater. ¡°What are they all doing?¡± ¡°Ah, Mr. Taesan!¡± Kim Hwiyeon approached with a panicked face. ¡°What¡¯s happened¡­? Something has settled within my body¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sort things out first.¡± The blessings of Lakiratas won¡¯t disappear. He could check it when they return to thebyrinth. More importantly, there were things to be done. Kim Hwiyeon nodded in agreement, her face somber. Two full days passed. It wasn¡¯t until a day before their return that things were finally sorted out. Nearly half of them had perished, with the majority being from the Easy and Normal modes. While there were also many casualties among the Hard Mode yers, they managed to hold on by consistently adapting, thus minimizing their losses. Everyone was in low spirits. The expected easy return journey had cost them nearly half of theirrades, casting a shadow over their mood. But they didn¡¯t sumb to despair. Having endured numerous trials, they couldn¡¯t dwell on the dead now. Those who survived mourned the dead, discussed the power they had each obtained, and began to debate strategies. Taesan, along with Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok, adjusted his movements through training. The blessing bestowed by Lakiratas. The talent of strife and death. [God''s Blessing: Talent of Strife and Death] [Obtain all talents rted to strife and death.] It was a simple exnation, but its implications were profound. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 sh. Their swords collided. Taesan¡¯s arm wavered. The second sword of the Stormscar Sword, the Dance of the Sword, unfolded. The trajectory was smoother and harder to read than before. Kang Junhyeok couldn¡¯t block it for even two seconds and got his arm sliced. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t block it now.¡± Kang Junhyeok grimaced as he shook his arm. Taesan, on the other hand, had a satisfied look on his face. His movements hadpletely changed. It was like the first time he had learned swordsmanship, a significant transformation. Movements he didn¡¯t understand or couldn¡¯t follow before were now effortlessly replicable. He had be iparably stronger in terms ofbat, especially in close quarters. It was a change worthy of being called God¡¯s Blessing. ¡°I received it, too, but I don¡¯t see any change. In fact, it seems easier for me to lose now.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve be stronger, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± Kang Junhyeok felt that he had be stronger as he looked at Taesan with awe. ¡°To have defeated such a monster.¡± The B-grade monster had released its power. Kang Junhyeok was overwhelmed by it. His confidence was shattered, and he was scared. But Taesan won against that monster. He received the recognition of a god from that dreadfulbyrinth, leading to the bestowal of a blessing to all of humanity. Now, it was embarrassing even topare them. ¡°Really¡­ you¡¯re amazing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Taesan swung his sword. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time left, soe on.¡± The God¡¯s Blessing bestowed by Lakiratas was not only for Taesan but for all of humanity. After resting and recovering, people sparred with each other to understand the changes. And they were amazed. They couldn¡¯t help but be in awe and excited about how strong they had be. For them, about to descend into thebyrinth once more, bing stronger literally meant their survival rate had increased. They expressed their infinite gratitude to Taesan. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Taesan! There you are!¡± Annoyed by the people flocking to him, Taesan climbed up to the rooftop of a building. ¡°This is burdensome.¡± He had not received such positive feelings very often. Taesan received their greetings and went to find Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°How are the damages?¡± ¡°A lot died.¡± Kim Hwiyeon grimaced, but there was no despair on her face. ¡°We¡¯ve be stronger. Thanks to you, Taesan.¡± She also tried light sparring. Just that was enough to feel the difference from before. ¡°Next time Ie back¡­ I will be much stronger.¡± She clenched her fist. This was not a bad result for Taesan either. Not only the majority of average yers but also thest surviving Hard Mode yers had been enhanced. No matter how strong he was, he couldn¡¯t handle all the enemies alone. In the end, the more people survived, the more they could do, and the higher their survival rate would be. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing.¡± The effort to defeat the monster was worth it. Above all, he received not only the blessing of God but also other skills. And it was time to return to thebyrinth. ¡°Then don¡¯t die, and see you next time.¡± After saying farewell, Taesan closed his eyes. The spreading cracks of thebyrinth swallowed him up. When he opened his eyes again, he was inside thebyrinth. [Monster elimination bonus + 383] [First wave bonus + 53] [Second wave bonus + 45] [Third wave bonus + 50] [Fourth wave bonus + 8] [Secret quest bonus + 525] [Suppression bonus + 104] [Victory bonus + 112] [Settlementplete] [12,800 points will be paid.] ¡°Ha.¡± 12,800 points. A number that naturally brought a smile to his face. It took Taesan a lot of effort to get this number. He sat down in his seat with pleasure. ¡°Let¡¯s take it easy and think about it.¡± [Gold is converted at a 1:10 ratio.] [Stats are converted at a 5:1 ratio.] [The proficiency of skills is converted at a 10:1 ratio.] The conversion rates were like this. Taesan prioritized them in order. It was a very pleasant worry. ¡®Just like before, gold is useless.¡¯ Converting 12,800 points only yielded 12,800 gold. Stats were simr. He could be significantly stronger with his current stats, but the value droppedpared to the proficiency. ¡°Is it proficiency again this time?¡± A total of 128% could be increased. It means that the proficiency of a skill could be fully leveled up to 100%, and there would still be some left. During the previous return, he had leveled up the proficiency of magic. Everything, including damage and activation speed, was enhanced, and he had been using it effectively until now. ¡®What will happen if it reaches 100%?¡¯ [Magic] [Proficiency: 48%] [You can handle magic properly. You can handle fire, control cold, and manipte wind.] Previously, he had increased the proficiency to 44% with points; after all that usage, it had only increased by 4%. It was a rule of thumb to use points for proficiency in skills that were hard to improve. However, just as Taesan was about to use his points. [Note: The ratio of points to proficiency may change when the proficiency of a skill exceeds a certain level.] ¡°Huh?¡± Taesan frowned. ¡°I didn¡¯t see thisst time.¡± Even before his regression, he had used points to reach 100% a few times, but there had been no problems. This was the first time he had heard of a change in ratio like this. After pondering for a moment, Taesan realized the answer. ¡®It must be because it¡¯s magic.¡¯ Lilis had said that the proficiency of magic rose very slowly. There were even those who would cut off their fingers to increase it by 1%. It was evident from the fact that the proficiency of magic had risen slower than any other skill he had obtained so far. And as the proficiency got higher, it would get worse. The bnce would be broken if one could reach 100% proficiency with just one point dump. This was likely some kind of bnce patch that had been judged necessary. ¡°Does this mean other skills will be the same?¡± Airak Martial Arts. Sword of the Stormscar. ck Magic. And so on. There would be restrictions like magic on all the valuable skills obtained in thebyrinth. ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡± Although Taesan understood, it was a disappointing story for him. The path to increasing proficiency in magic was blocked. After contemting, he made a decision. ¡°I should strengthen everything overall this time.¡± He decided to distribute 75%, investing a little bit into meaningful skills. It wasn¡¯t a bad decision to do so. Combat engagement skills. If the proficiency of all those skills increased by 5%, they would be that much stronger. Investing all in one skill was to see the potential of that skill. However, there was no skill worth doing that for at the moment. Divine power was a skill he didn¡¯t know how to use, and it was ambiguous whether ck magic had that much value yet. So, the right answer was overall investment. Having made his decision, Taesan began distributing the points. If he distributed 5% each, he could strengthen a total of 25 skills. He started investing in skills that could change their content as the proficiency increased. As a result, the content of many skills changed. [The proficiency of ''Field of Vision'' has reached 100%. ''Field of Vision'' has evolved into the special permanent activation skill ''Synchronized Eyes''.] Finally, the Field of Vision reached 100% and evolved into Synchronized Eyes. [Special permanent activation skill: Synchronized Eyes] [Proficiency: 1%] [A field of vision that resonates with everything. You can see beyond the field of vision and even see things that are not visible.] Taesan immediately experimented with it. [You have activated zing Sphere.] With a whoosh, mes erupted along with the system window that, indicated the skill¡¯s activation. Taesan admired the process he had observed. ¡°So this is how it works.¡± He saw the mana gathering in the brief moment when the zing Sphere was activated. Until now, he could only feel the wavelength, but now he could see it in his field of vision. This would be a great help inbat. The difference between feeling and actually seeing was significant. Confirming with eyes and taking counteraction was more urate than just evading based on sensation. [You have activated ''Walking the Wind Path of the Deer''.] It became even clearer when he checked the elemental skill. He could see the wind gathering, swirling, and moving forward, with the apanying power visible to his eyes. This would be a big help when fighting with spirits on the 29th floor. [Special permanent activation skill: Sustained Combat] [Proficiency: 60%] [You can sustainbat for a long time. You don''t get tired easily. The time you can fight in the best condition has increased. The time to reach the limit of physical strength has greatly increased.] The added part was that the time to reach the limit of physical strength had increased. This was a good change. Literally, he could fight for days without getting tired. In the previous world, he had defeated S-grade monsters through endless repetition, thanks to this skill. [Special permanent activation skill: Enhanced Senses] [Proficiency: 61%] [Senses are enhanced. You can feel things like killing intent. You can also feel blind spots. You can feel invisible things even better.] With Synchronized Eyes, if an attack came from an awkward ce, it wouldn¡¯t even reach Taesan. The skill Mark of Struggle given by Lakiratas had also changed its content. Still, it was disappointing because although the word ¡®decent¡¯ was added, there were no significant changes. [Special activation skill: Breathless Attack] [Mana Consumption: 2] [Proficiency: 62%] [You can move, ignoring breath duringbat. Itsts for about 30 seconds, and you can move at full power.] The Breathless Attack that he had always used without even realizing had also changed. Firstly, the duration became 30 seconds. Additionally, the content that he could move with full power was added. Literally, even if he moved his body with all his heart, his muscles would hardly get fatigued. This change had a significant impact on the battle. [Special Activation Skill: eleration] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 21%] [elerates faster towards the target.] eleration also had the faster part added. As it was a skill that allowed him to reach the enemy quickly, this was also a meaningful change. [Basic Magic: Frost Arrow] [Mana Consumption: 6] [Proficiency: 22%] [Fires a frost arrow. The enemy takes more damage the less immune it is. Tries to afflict the target with the abnormal status [Freeze]. The strong cold can freeze the air.] The Frost Arrow he always enjoyed using was also enhanced. Considering how often he used it, the speed was very slow. As expected, the proficiency in magic skills increased slowly. He activated Frost Arrow. The cold was much stronger. Now, just being next to it, his breath turned into frost. If it was a low-grade enemy, they would take damage even if they avoided it. He was satisfied. Besides that, Craving for Battle, Righteous Duel, Proof of Limit, Annihtion of the Strong, and Half-belief, etc. He had increased the proficiency of most of the skills that affected battle. Although the content was not changed, it was definitely a reinforcement. He was satisfied. There was also a new skill he had acquired. [Special Activation Skill: Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas]] [For 10 minutes, you gain some of the power of Lakiratas''s apostles since the god of struggle and death first bestowed his power after his birth. This skill cannot be used for a day after activation.] Until now, he had always been receiving the apostle¡¯s contract. It was a skill that allowed him to draw out some of the power he could get when he epted that contract. [Apostle Transformation... I''ve seen many who received the apostle''s contract, but I didn''t know there was a skill that could be given like this. It''s really interesting. Interesting.] Listening to the excited ghost¡¯s words, it seemed like he was the first to have obtained this power as a skill. If what the ghost had said until now was true, it was a skill that could change the course of events. ¡°A B-grade monster¡¯s reward is enough.¡± While Taesan was happily checking the skills, two skills caught his eye. ¡°What are these? How do you use them?¡± [Divine Power] [Proficiency: 2%] [The grace given when someone believes and follows a god. It seems meaningless for now.] He had obtained it when defeating Harmon¡¯s angel, but there was no change. The ghost mumbled in a vague tone. [I''ve never heard that I learned it like this. Maybe it''s a skill that you can use when you obtain divinity or godhood?] ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± For now, it was a meaningless skill that just increased in proficiency digits. But it was easy to understand. As it was a power rted to god, Taesan, who was not a god, could not use it. That was how he epted it. There was a truly unknown skill separately. [Concept Skill: ???] [Proficiency: 12%] [The ??? of will descends.] ¡°What kind of skill is this?¡± [...I don''t know?] It seemed that the ghost also didn¡¯t know. ¡°¡­When I defeated the monster, Soul Ascension was activated.¡± The proficiency increased by 8%, and the content descriptor of descending will was added. But it was still an unknown skill. He had obtained it when defeating the native monster in the world of cksmith Hafran. After that, proficiency increased when defeating the high god¡¯s monster. There was no consistency. ¡°I should check it with the cksmith.¡± Taesan headed to the cksmith. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Taesan went down to the 20th floor, and the cksmith was still at his ce, just as he was when Taesan had left. Upon seeing Taesan, Hafran raised his eyebrows. ¡°I thought you might have died since you¡¯ve been gone for a while.¡± ¡°I had somece to go.¡± Taesan calmly responded, and Hafran gave him a curious look. ¡°You¡¯ve changed. I¡¯ve seen countless adventurers, but I¡¯ve never seen someone be strong as quickly as you. What¡¯s your secret?¡± ¡°Just did this and that.¡± After exchanging some casual conversation, Hafran got to the main point. ¡°So, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°You came from a ruined world to this ce, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Hafran spoke with a calm expression. His face showed no emotion despite his world having been ruined. ¡°You said the will of the world brought about its own destruction. Can you tell me about that process?¡± ¡°I could tell you, but¡­ it doesn¡¯t seem like something you should be curious about. Why?¡± ¡°I have my reasons.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t talk about Soul Ascension. Thinking about the reactions of the NPCs he had encountered while descending thebyrinth, he couldn¡¯t predict how Hafran would change once he learned about Soul AScension. Hafran frowned slightly and then began to speak. ¡°I guess it doesn¡¯t matter. A rough exnation will do, right?¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°Our world itself was trying to kill us. I don¡¯t know why. Even as our world was being destroyed, there were those who tried to find a solution, but they all turned to dust. Looking back, there were signs from before.¡± Hafran began to exin. ¡°At some point, birds began to die suddenly, huge springs dried up, and mountains with fire in them exploded. We thought it was strange at that time, but we didn¡¯t worry too much about it.¡± Springs could dry up, birds could get infected with a disease, and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions could happen. All were natural disasters, but they were understandable to some extent. Therefore, the inhabitants of the world focused on dealing with the aftermath rather than finding out the reasons. ¡°But it got worse over time. Mountains spewed fire daily, and huge rivers dried up in an instant. That¡¯s when we realized something was wrong.¡± There was a presence threatening their survival. People started to move to find out why. But they couldn¡¯t find anything. ¡°Some believed it was the threat of the Demon King, while others thought it was a prank by the Transcendents. But we couldn¡¯t find the answer with such ideas.¡± Ultimately, they couldn¡¯t find anything and slowly faced destruction. ¡°One-tenth of our world turned from a forest to a desert. The sea dried up. Buildings turned to sand and copsed, and all living beings were dying. By then, we realized the stars were killing us, but it was toote. Even if we had known, there was nothing we could do.¡± What could they do when the stars wanted to kill them? The only thing they could do was leave the star. ¡°And then our world was destroyed. Only I survived and found a ce in thisbyrinth.¡± Hafran ended his story calmly. ¡°Are your questions answered?¡± ¡°Roughly.¡± Taesan stroked his chin. It became clear after hearing Hafran¡¯s story. The will of the star itself destroyed the world he lived in. In other words, the ??? skill Taesan acquired was likely rted to that. There was a way to confirm that. ¡°Can you go once again?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Hafran hesitated. After briefly inspecting Taesan, he sighed. ¡°¡­¡­ This is really funny. I thought you would at least have to go beyond the 40th floor, but already?¡± ¡°So, can I go?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hafran nodded. ¡°I need it as well, so there¡¯s no reason to refuse. Just wait a moment.¡± Hafran, who brought out a ck gem, spoke. ¡°This time will be much harder than thest. At that time, the world didn¡¯t recognize your existence yet, so it only used a fraction of its power, but now it certainly recognizes you.¡± [Sub Quest Start] [Hafran has a request for you. Enter his destroyed world, and bring back the crimson jade from the ruins of the dead king. If you seed, a reward will follow.] ¡°The world will definitely try to kill you with a clear intent to do so. If I could advise you, it would be best to finish as quickly as possible.¡± With that, Taesan¡¯s body was transported. When his sight returned, he was in the gray, destroyed world. ¡°Sigh.¡± He exhaled and activated Breathless. His skill had improved since thest time, so moving was easier. ¡®This time, it¡¯s definitely different.¡¯ A clear intent to kill Taesan could be felt from the gray sky. Rumble! Suddenly, the sky shook. Taesan stepped into the twinkling light. Roar! The lightning that struck the ground incinerated it. The sand turned into ss and sparkled. The strong heat hitting his face made Taesan whistle. ¡®You¡¯re trying to kill me, huh.¡¯ Of course, Taesan also intended to finish it quickly and decisively. He put strength into his feet. Boom! The ground cracked, and his body sprinted. The destination of this quest wasn¡¯t too far away. If he moved quickly, he would arrive within an hour. But, of course, arriving there wouldn¡¯t be easy. Rumble! A mountain in the direction he was heading writhed. The ground undted like waves. A gigantic baobab tree stood up from its roots, and rocks broke free from the influence of gravity and flew. The mountain transformed into a human figure and swung a fist at Taesan. Taesan stamped the ground. The fist struck where he was, and the sand exploded, creating a giant crater. Taesan drew his sword and stabbed it into the dirt-formed arm. But, just like before, no damage numbers appeared. This was an undying entity. In that case, the sword, which had a narrow area of attack, was unnecessary. Taesan put the sword away. Rumble! The giant made of the mountain raised its arm. Taesan, who was on the arm, naturally rose into the air. And the rocks and trees embedded in the giant¡¯s body flew like bullets. Taesan threw a punch. Boom! The air exploded as the meteor-like rocks collided with his fist. The rocks shattered and scattered in all directions. Rumble! The giant tried to press Taesan down with its other arm. Taesan escaped from the arm and dropped to the ground. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Taesan thought this as he fell. In order to achieve his goal, he needed to knock down this giant. While pondering, all sorts of things flew towards Taesan, who was falling. [You have activated the Wind Path of the Deer.] The wind wrapped around Taesan¡¯s body. His body moved in the sky. Taesan rushed towards the giant¡¯s torso. There were things flying towards him, but he dodged and swung his arm. Everything wrapped around Taesan¡¯s arm was smashed as he roughly moved. [You have activated Strong Strike.] He clenched his fist and pulled back his waist to strike. Koowooong! The pile of rocks shattered, and the giant staggered. It could not withstand the inflicted power and fell to the ground. The giant made of mountains crumbled by a human¡¯s fist. Taesannded on top of the fallen giant. ¡®Where could it be.¡¯ Taesan continued to throw punches. The giant waved its arms in resistance but was trampled and burst into disregard. When he came here before, everything that attacked him had an ashy aura. That was what he was looking for. It took a long time because it was big, but after swinging for a while, he was able to find it. ¡®It¡¯s on the sole of the foot.¡¯ Taesan gathered the ashy aura. The struggling giant stopped moving and eventually crumbled. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. ??? ''s proficiency has increased by 3%.] As expected, the proficiency increased. Upon checking, the content had changed. [Concept Skill: ???] [Proficiency: 15%] [The power of will, ??? descends.] The word ¡®power¡¯ had been added. ¡®As expected.¡¯ Something filled with will. It seemed that by knocking its attacks down, Soul Ascension was stealing its strength. He tried to use points as a test, but it did not apply. It meant that this was a skill that could only increase proficiency in this way. ¡®What happens when it hits 20%?¡¯ He was curious, but he didn¡¯t have the leisure to keep thinking about it. Kwarreung! The ashy sky shook, and lightning continued to strike down. Taesan quickly moved his feet to dodge. On the other side, a giant hurricane was blowing through the air with a loud noise, and the ground was starting to split, revealing thend beneath. Natural disasters were simultaneously hitting. ¡®This is where the real deal starts, huh?¡¯ Taesan stomped the ground. Kagagagak! The storm engulfed Taesan. Its strength, iparable to the sandstorm he experienced before, restricted his movements. [You have used shoes made of golem''s ore and forged by spirits. It releases you from all constraints.] In an instant, the wind disappeared. Taesan used this opportunity to activate eleration. He surpassed the speed of sound and escaped from the storm. What weed him was thend crumbling like puzzle pieces. Kugugugung! The ground was breaking into pieces. Taesan hastily found ces, barely enough to step on, and moved forward. Kureung! In the meantime, the lightning struck down, avoiding a direct hit, but the end of his arm was slightly burnt. [You have taken 215 damage.] The air did not stop thickening. Now, it had developed a viscosity that restricted movement. [You have activated Repulsion.] The air pushed away, restoring freedom to act. Taking advantage of the gap, he stepped on an unstable foothold and dashed straight ahead. The distance was not far. Now, it was right in front of his nose. However, in front of him was a massive cliff that seemed to have no end, stretching across his path. Taesan was approaching this cliff at a fast speed. Taesan hesitated as he tried to step back. Ku-gu-gung! Another cliff of the same size was rushing towards him from behind at a fast pace. [Oh my?] ¡°Well then.¡± Taesan let out a hollowugh, the world¡¯s will to kill him evident in his eyes. The cliff was approaching at a considerable speed. Slowpared to Taesan, but because the length of the cliff was quite long, it was impossible to move out of its path. But this was also a good opportunity. With power in his legs, Taesan ran towards the cliff. When the cliff was within reach, he kicked off the ground. Kwajik. He nted his foot on the cliff and began to ascend. The cliff was incredibly tall, reaching the sky, but he began to climb up at a fast pace. Halfway up, the speed of the moving cliff suddenly increased. [You have activated "Freedom of Choice."] He invested his intelligence into agility to climb even faster. When the opposite cliff was within reach, Taesan leaped over the edge. Koo-woo-woong! The cliffs collided and shattered to pieces. The power would have caused significant damage if he had been caught between them. Whistling, Taesan looked down below. ¡°Now, then:¡± Taesan stepped on the cliff and ascended to the sky, and then the cliff crumbled away. From the high sky, Taesan began to fall, the sharp wind scratching his cheeks. He had used all his skills, like ¡°Nullify Attack¡± and ¡°Air Jump,¡± and he had no intention of using any others. While falling, there was only one skill to use, ¡°Solidify.¡± He wrapped his body in preparation for the impact. Koo-woo-woong! And then he hit the ground. The strong impact made Taesan grit his teeth. [You have taken 1243 damage.] Even with ¡°Solidify¡± activated, which halved the damage, this was the amount of damage received. It was natural, given he had fallen from a ce higher than the clouds. If he had activated ¡°Path of the Wind Deer,¡± he could have reduced the damage, but Taesan did not use the skill. The reason was precisely because of this skill. [You havended from an extremely high ce to the ground. You have acquired the special activated skill "Leap." You have acquired the special activated skill "Landing."] [Did you know it would happen?] ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Leap¡± was a unique skill that was difficult to acquire due to its conditions. He had nned to get itter, but the opportunity presented itself, and he acquired it swiftly. And in front of Taesan was the entrance to the underground ruins. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 He wanted to leisurely check his skills, but there was no time to spare. The gray sky was flickering as if lightning was about to strike. Taesan quickly entered the ruins. Krung! Kukugung¡­ A massive noise came down the passage, but the inside of the ruins was unaffected. Even as the world was perishing, this ce remained intact, meaning it was very sturdy, physically or magically. ¡°It¡¯s somewhat safe here.¡± Now was the time to check his skills. [Special Activation Skill: Leap] [Mana Consumption: 3] [Proficiency: 1%] [Can leap very high and far.] Taesan smiled with satisfaction. Being able to jump very high was literally what the skill entailed. If he increased his proficiency, it would be a skill that could jump higher than the clouds. If used in conjunction with eleration, he could cover long distances in an instant. There were times when he traveled back and forth between regions to block the waves on Earth, and it was useful then. However, it wasn¡¯t a skill without disadvantages. If he floated in the air, he would take significant damage when falling. Moreover, it was a difficult skill to control, making it hard tond in the desired ce. But he had also acquired a skill to solve that problem. [Special Activation Skill: Landing] [Mana Consumption: 20] [Proficiency: 1%] [Cannd safely at the desired ce when in the air.] Just as the skill said, itnded you safely at the desired ce when in the air. Naturally, there was no damage. Even if you fell from higher than the clouds, you wouldn¡¯t take any damage as long as you activated the skill in time. It was a very good skill. And there was another reason Taesan wanted this. ¡®Will it link with the mid-air leap?¡¯ A magic that allowed the user to move once more in the air. If it could be linked with that, it would be very valuable. However, this ce was an enclosed indoor area, so he couldn¡¯t experiment there. Taesan decided to try itter and went deeper into the ruins. The cksmith called this ce a ruin. Ruins had mechanisms to block intruders. The floor Taesan stepped on pressed down, and a loud sound rang out. Taesan waved his hand and caught the arrow that was shot. More frequent andplicated traps appeared as he went deeper, but they were too crude to stop Taesan. Finally, he arrived in front of a gigantic door. ¡°This is it.¡± Taesan clenched his fist. The door cracked open, revealing the inside. There was a coffin with a person buried inside. And behind it was a red gemstone. That must be the item the dwarf wanted. As Taesan was about to go grab it, he stopped in his tracks. Slosh. Gray slime was dripping from the ceiling of the ruins. The droplets that fell on the floor gathered together to form a shape. It didn¡¯t take long for it to take on a human form. The shaped slime raised its head towards Taesan. At the same time, a burst of energy exploded. A gigantic burst of rage was trying to crush Taesan. Taesan drew his sword and made some distance. ¡°What is this now?¡± [It''s like a collective of wills?] ¡°A collective?¡± [A strong will can take a physical form. It''s neither a mediocre existence nor the will of the world. It''s quite possible. Think of it as a kind of incarnation.] The incarnation of a star. That was what was showing anger towards Taesan. Creak! The ruins trembled uneasily, and the coffin shattered. The thickened air blocked the breath, and the sensation of needles pricking all over the body was overwhelming. A mere emotion was bringing about a physical phenomenon. ¡°Is it some kind of deity?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes grew serious as he gripped the sword in his hand. The ash-colored existence raised its arm. Taesan saw the formless energy wavering in its hand. He quickly stamped his foot. Crack. At the same time, the space where he was standing was distorted. The dimension literally twisted and warped. ¡®Spatial distortion?¡¯ If he was hit by that, it would be hard to stay alive regardless of his physical strength. If his field of vision hadn¡¯t evolved to synchronize with his eyes, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to avoid it. Crack. Once again, the space distorted, and Taesan narrowly dodged it. The incarnation of the star was iparably stronger than Taesan. It had the power to kill him dozens of times over. ¡®But it¡¯s clumsy.¡¯ The way it manifested power was quite slow and clearly visible. Raising its hand seemed to be the keyword to activate its ability. It also took a considerable amount of time to activate once. He could see the signs, so as long as he was careful, he could avoid all of it. Thud. Taesan charged towards the incarnation. The incarnation raised its arm and manifested its power in the direction Taesan was charging. But at that moment, Taesan twisted his body to dodge and charged forward. Crack. His sword pierced through the chest of the incarnation. Energy exploded, and the flesh of the incarnation scattered. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. The proficiency of ??? has increased by 5%.] At the same time, his senses changed. He couldn¡¯t express it in words, but he could feel something he hadn¡¯t felt before. [I can see we''ve gained something, but it might be better to leave the mausoleum quickly?] ¡°Yes.¡± But there was no time to check. The ruins were creaking. It meant that an overwhelming power was pressing down on the ruins from the ground above. Taesan held the red gemstone and returned to thebyrinth. The dwarf weed him back. ¡°You seeded again.¡± [Sub Quest Completed.] [Scarlet Gemstone] [A thing of the ruined world. The king held onto this gemstone until thest moment, believing it would save him from death. The gemstone contains strong power but wasn''t enough to save the dead king, so his hope was in vain.] ¡°Here.¡± Taesan handed over the gemstone. Hafran received it with a joyful face. ¡°It¡¯s really good. You can make it possible.¡± ¡°What can be made from it?¡± ¡°Various things. You can make new equipment or strengthen existing equipment. What do you want?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be used for the dragon¡¯s w?¡± The w from the dragon that was given to him in Vekveta. It was still with the dwarf. At Taesan¡¯s words, Hafran hesitated. He stroked his chin as if it was interesting. ¡°It¡¯s possible¡­ Something fun could be made.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask for that.¡± ¡°But this one alone is not enough. At least five more are needed to make something decent.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± It was rather a benefit if a piece of equipment that could be used until clearing thebyrinth was made. ¡°Then good. Take good care of it.¡± Hafran, who happily received the ruby, sent a strange gaze to Taesan. ¡°But something has changed. Did you gain something there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Taesan looked at his hand. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of checking it.¡± [Concept Skill: ???] [Proficiency: 20%] [The will''s power ??? descends. ??? gained.] As the proficiency reached 20%, the content ¡°??? was gained.¡± was added. Certainly, something was gained. But what it was was unknown. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan crossed his arms in the middle of the room and felt the power quietly. A power unknown until now was felt. Not only the body but also the walls, floors, and even doors of thebyrinth could be felt. ¡°What is this?¡± [I don''t know.] When in doubt, it was time for an experiment. Taesan broke through the next room. The dark spirit greeted Taesan. After easily fending off the attack, Taesan tried to confirm the change in the power he felt. After about ten minutes of trying, he gave up. ¡°Is this something you can feel or not?¡± There was something. The power changed every time the dark spirit moved. But that was the end. What it meant or how it was used was unknown. The ghost watching in silence asked. [Does it change every time the spirit attacks?] ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know what it is, but.¡± [Then, what if you attack?] ¡°I have to try.¡± Taesan immediately attacked the spirit. At the same time, some movement of power was felt from Taesan himself. ¡°It changes when I attack, too.¡± But still, what it was was unknown. Taesan looked puzzled, but the ghost seemed to have some guesses and sighed. [Did it really happen... Is it true?] ¡°Do you know what it is?¡± [Try attacking once more. And check whether your physical body attacks first or the power... Let''s simply call it willpower. See which one moves first.] Taesanplied willingly. Once again, he took his stance and swung his sword at the spirit. Insight. The spirit fell. Taesan nodded his head. ¡°The will moves first.¡± There was a very small difference just before he moved his body, but the force the ghost called ¡®will¡¯ moved first. [It''s real.] The ghost chuckled mockingly. [You''ve obtained this without eons of training?] ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± [It''s a kind of state. What do you do before you move to attack something?] ¡°I take a stance and choose how to attack.¡± Whether to aim for the head, counterattack or target the vitals. First, he had to decide that and then move ordingly. [Exactly. You read the movement of the sword, the movement of the muscles, and the opponent''s gaze, going beyond that to read their mind. That''s the story thates out when expressing the state.] ¡°Is that the power I¡¯ve gained?¡± [It''s exactly the same as what I''ve heard in stories. Since you''ve taken away the will of the world, you should understand it as reading the will of all things.] That made sense to him. The walls of thebyrinth were also created by the magician for a purpose. Therefore, if the will could be felt from it, then it was valid for the will to be felt from everything that was seen. The ghost grumbled in disbelief. [I can''t believe it. I haven''t even reached that state yet...] ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure how useful it¡¯ll be.¡± There was almost no dy between the movement of the body and the movement of the will. It was impossible to read and move first in the middle of a battle. [Once you get used to it, the story will change. Do you know how absurd the power you''ve obtained is?] It was simr to reading the opponent¡¯s mind. It meant that he could read and counterattack before the opponent even moved. ¡®¡­No. Is it just that?¡¯ The ghost fell into deep thought. Of course, it was an excellent state to be in. It was at least up to the limit that humans could reach. But considering that Taesan had taken the will of the world itself, it was definitely of a lower ss. He had taken the power of a transcendent being and barely reached the limit of mortality. Moreover, if that was all, then it didn¡¯t exin why his proficiency had increased when he had defeated the high god¡¯s monster. If his proficiency became 100%¡­ Then it wasn¡¯t just about reading the will, but also materializing it. ¡®That can¡¯t be.¡¯ The ghost organized its thoughts. That was an impossible task. With will alone, one could directly affect the physical world. That meant that even without a body, mental interference, in reality, was possible. That power was granted only to transcenders. But upon closer consideration, taking something from the world¡¯s will itself didn¡¯t make sense. As the ghost saw it, the ascension of the spirit realm was a skill that infinitely surpassed the rank of mortals. ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯ It was mysterious. He couldn¡¯t know. And he was curious. How far Taesan could go. What kind of existence he would be at the end of his journey. The ghost hid its emotions and urged him. [Shall we go down now?] ¡°Yeah.¡± Taesan nodded his head and dealt with the spirit. He hadn¡¯t been able to go down thebyrinth for a long time. He would go down from the 25th to the 29th floor without stopping, clear the spirit¡¯s quest, and then deal with the Guides on the 30th floor. Having set his goal, Taesan began to break through thebyrinth at a fast pace. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Taesan was descending swiftly. Even before he returned to Earth, the 25th floor¡¯s spirits were no longer a problem. He breezed through them quickly and checked the secret room. The weapon obtained from the secret room was a greatsword. [The Worst Executioner] [Attack Power +33] [A weapon of a mass murderer. It''s stained with the blood of the countless victims he has in.] It boasted high attack power, but correspondingly, it was quiterge. It was so big that it would hinder movements in thebyrinth, so Taesan nned to sell it to the shopkeeper. Then, he arrived at the boss. [A mid-level dark spirit appears.] Crack. [470 damage to the mid-level dark spirit.] He defeated it instantly. The spirit struggled by using division and a veil of darkness, but he saw through it all with the eyes of sympathy, avoiding and defeating it. [Obtained ck Robe.] [Obtained ???] [Used ???] [Obtained Blue Magic Book.] Even though he descended quickly, he checked everything. Taesan took out a staff and a magic book. [ck Robe of Despair] [Dark Magic +4] [Defense +20] [A robe discarded by a demon as a prank on the surface world. Warlocks considered it a divine gift, valuing it more than their own lives.] The robe Taesan was currently wearing was the Robe of Stealth, granting a second of invisibility, a useful robe indeed. However, now that he had learned both invisibility and transparency, it was of no use to him. It was given to rece it since it offered a defense in addition to ck magic power. [Blue Magic Book] [Magic +16] [Casting Speed +15%] [A magic book emitting a blue light. Found deep in the forest, it hasn''t found its master yet.] Though it came with a casting speed bonus, it was still a magic book. For Taesan, who was closer to a swordsman, it wasn¡¯t worth sacrificing a hand¡¯s equipment to wear, so he nned to bring it to Lilis. He broke through the 25th floor and descended. [26th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 26th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Curved Twin Swords] [Secret Reward: ???] He met the shopkeeper and sold the unnecessary equipment. He replenished his gold and immediately broke through thebyrinth. The monsters of the 26th floor were earth spirits. As before, he defeated them and moved on. Taesan didn¡¯t stop. Crack. The boss of the 28th floor fell. A rainbow-colored spirit turns into light. The boss of the 28th floor was a light spirit. It was slightly troublesome as it moved at the speed of light. It would have taken quite some time if he hadn¡¯t figured out its pattern. [Obtained Blue Jade Ring.] [Obtained ???] [Blue Jade Ring] [Strength +15] [Agility +15] [Intelligence +15] [The power of nature endows the wearer with deep and profound strength.] It was a good ring. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say it had the best options for a ring. He removed the Thorn Ring with an attack power of 2 and wore this one, then checked the secret reward. [Bow Made of Drake''s Tendon] [Attack Power +40] [uracy +30%] [A bow with sticity so strong that even the mighty struggle to draw it. If one can pull it, it can unleash immense power, but it''s incredibly difficult.] It was a bow with high attack power. However, its value was minor to Taesan, who had learned magic. He put it in his inventory for now. ¡°Sigh.¡± Taesan caught his breath. [Are you going to rest now? You came down really fast.] ¡°There¡¯s no point in taking it easy.¡± Taesan descended thebyrinth with the ferocity of a storm. He hadn¡¯te down leisurely before, but this time, he quickly cleared all the secret rooms and hidden elements, reaching the 29th floor in just one day. And he was able to gain quite a lot. Some of the equipment he had to sell to the shop as they were simr or worse than what he was currently wearing, but he still obtained significant items. First, he acquired earrings for the first time in a while. [Earrings Soaked in the Blood of a Hundred] [Defense +20] [Recover 20% of maximum health for every 100 enemies defeated.] [A pair of earrings created by a mad noble who summoned a ck magician. He became the owner of thest blood infused into the earrings.] The earrings had high defense and offered a 20% health recovery after defeating a hundred enemies. It was a bit difficult to use intentionally, but it was a nice bonus. And he also got a ne. [White Rune Ne] [Defense +15] [Magic +8] [Intelligence +25] [A ne made from the highest-grade white runes. Coveted by all magicians of the magic towers.] It had high magic stats. Added to that were high defense and intelligence. It was worth more than what he got as a secret reward. And finally, he also changed his bracelet. [Mithril Bracelet] [Attack Power +15] [Defense +30] [A bracelet made of mithril. Excellent for both offense and defense.] Needless to say, it was a neat and superior piece of equipment. Descending three floors, he changed three pieces of equipment, and his level also rose by 4. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 65] [Shield: 371/371] [Health: 4250/4250] [Mana: 788/788] [Magic: 55/55] [Strength: 1485] [Intelligence: 1108] [Magic: 55/55] [Attack Power +188] [Defense +232] [The subject is in the best condition.] Although leveling up was less frequent due to his high levelpared to the floor, overall, he had be significantly stronger. It was a satisfactory change. Taesan frowned. ¡°But why haven¡¯t theye yet?¡± [What hasn''t?] ¡°The ones in the depths.¡± The Guides of Sin. The leaders of that group. It had been well over a month, and there was still no sign of them. The ghost realized what Taesan was referring to and muttered as if it found it strange, too. [It is taking a long time? They would havee right away if they heard the news. Are they taking that long, I wonder?] ¡°Probably stuck on the floor you mentioned?¡± [Perhaps. They''re still floundering about. Such fools.] The ghost clicked its tongue. Its voice was filled with contempt and disdain. ¡°It doesn¡¯t concern me.¡± It was fine if they werete. In the meantime, he could gather everything worth collecting. Now, it was time for the magic and ck magic that had been put off. As he descended the floors, Taesan began taking out the ck magic-rted equipment he had acquired and prayed. Then, as the space split, the figure of the Demon God appeared. [You''ve returned?] ¡°Thanks to you. It¡¯s been very useful.¡± Dark magic, unlike magic, had the advantage of increasing in power the more magic was invested. Thanks to this, he could deal with monsters more easily. [Hearing you say that is not bad. It eased my irritation a bit.] The Demon God narrowed her eyes and murmured. [You called me to obtain new magic, right? For this much... this should be good.] After checking Taesan¡¯s offerings, the Demon God bestowed darkness upon him. [You have learned Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] [It''s a suitable technique for you now.] ¡°Thank you.¡± A skill chosen by the god herself couldn¡¯t be bad. Taesan expressed his gratitude. The Demon God looked down at him with a peculiar expression. [...Quicker than I thought.] ¡°Pardon?¡± [The power within you. Is it because you visited the world of the child hammering on iron? The sprout will shoot up before long at this rate.] ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡± It was a conversation he couldn¡¯tprehend. The Demon God shook her head. [You don''t need to know now. No. It''s better you don''t. Forced growth leads to rot.] ¡°Is that so?¡± He didn¡¯t know what it was about, but it seemed the Demon God was choosing not to tell him for his own good. Taesan didn¡¯t pry further. [You''ve heard the general story from the madbat fanatic, right?] The remark came out of nowhere. After thinking for a moment, Taesan realized its meaning. ¡°Are you referring to Lord Lakiratas?¡± [Yes. That madman. You must have grasped the general situation.] ¡°Yes, well¡­ I found out what I wanted to know.¡± The Demon God narrowed her eyes. [Next time, I wille down. That''s the agreement.] ¡°You?¡± [So win. I believe in you. Kang Taesan.] With those words, the Demon God disappeared. Taesan chuckled at her tendency to vanish after saying what it needed to. ¡°What¡¯s that about?¡± Still, her words weren¡¯t iprehensible. Descending meant that it pertained to Earth. After he won against the B-grade monster, Lakiratas descended and blessed them. Next time, it implied that the Demon God would take on that role. In other words, it meant that stronger monsters would appear next time, just like this time. ¡°Just what I was waiting for.¡± It was nothing but good news for Taesan, who had acquired the Apostle Transformation as a reward. He had tried using the Apostle Transformation while descending the floors. And he was astounded by it. It was a skill on apletely different level. Evenpared to Addition, it was hard to say which was superior. ¡®It¡¯s not without its drawbacks, though.¡¯ To be honest, it was a bit unpleasant. But for such a reward, the challenge was more than worth it. Taesan checked the skill given by the Demon God. [Basic ck Magic: Mephisto''s ck Lightning] [Mana Consumption: 30] [Basic Magic Consumption: 30] [Summon the ck lightning of the demon, Mephisto, to pierce the enemy. If the target is weaker than Mephisto, they cannot evade it. Causes slight rigidity upon hitting the target.] ¡°An unavoidable instant skill?¡± That was exactly what the description suggested. Taesan was astonished by the skill beyond imagination. Although the consumption of magic was quite high, if it was as powerful as Taesan thought, it would be worth it. Satisfied, Taesan ascended thebyrinth. He met Lilis, who was panting and offered the collected offerings to learn new magic. [Basic Magic: Random Blink] [Mana Consumption: 40] [Proficiency: 1%] [Teleport to a random location within a certain distance centered around yourself. This skill cannot be used again for 10 minutes after activation.] ¡°Huh?¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t help butugh at the description of the magic. Random teleportation was another unbelievably good skill. Teleportation was extremely valuable as it momentarily made one disappear from the opponent¡¯s sight. Though random, since it was centered around himself, there was some degree of control over the variables. It could be used to evade attacks, create openings, or even rely on luck in unavoidable situations to turn the odds. ¡®Is this really just basic magic?¡¯ He was newly curious about what intermediate and advanced magic would be like. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Leaving Lilis¡¯s farewell behind, he descended thebyrinth again. [29th Floor Quest Start] [Defeat the boss of the 29th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Ring of Obsession] [Secret Reward: ???] Crack. He progressed, dealing with each challenge. The secret reward of the 29th floor was a longsword. It wasn¡¯t better than the weapon Taesan was currently wearing, so it was destined for the shop. With a decent amount of gold umted, he could consider buying new equipment. Reaching the 30th floor might make it possible. With anticipation, he continued through thebyrinth. Then, he encountered the boss. [A Distorted Homunculus Spirit appears.] The aberrant spirit twisted and contorted its body to attack Taesan. [You activated Random Blink.] Suddenly, his vision cked out, and his body moved. He appeared right next to the spirit. Quickly assessing the situation, he swung his sword. It was challenging. The spirit twisted its body to dodge Taesan¡¯s attacks and retaliated by transforming its flesh into sharp spikes. The boss of the 29th floor. Normally, it was a monster that required risking one¡¯s life to defeat. But that was a story for ordinary adventurers. Taesan, with his superior basic stats and skills, managed to win without significant harm. ¡°Now then.¡± Postponing the reward check, Taesan examined the walls of the boss room. 29th floor. The deranged spirit mentioned a hidden world of spirits here. He was told to enter that ce and bring back the roots of a tree. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Before proceeding, Taesan checked the reward. The clear reward for the 29th floor was an item named the Ring of Obsession. [Ring of Obsession] [Defense +5] [A ring created by someone who did not want to be separated from another.] [In a 1:1 situation, ittches onto the target, increasing all action speeds.] ¡°Oho.¡± An increase in action speed was always a good effect. The 1:1 condition was a catch, but for Taesan, who engaged in forced duels, the presence of multiple enemies was no hindrance, so it wasn¡¯t really a downside. [Used ???] [Obtained Orb of the Abyss.] [Orb of the Abyss] [A bead found deep within the depths. It has a tendency to stick to things nearby.] ¡°A crafting item?¡± He would need to take it to a cksmith. After a general inspection, Taesan lifted his gaze to the walls. The walls looked utterly ordinary, making it hard to find anything unusual. [You activated Reconnaissance.] Reconnaissance. A skill that provided information about visible things, but nothing appeared. ¡°Not even with Reconnaissance. If I hadn¡¯t epted the quest from the crazed spirit, I wouldn¡¯t be able to enter at all.¡± [You activated Natural Consonance.] As soon as the skill was activated, his senses changed. The smell of the grass sprouting between the walls intensified, and they felt oddly familiar. The air moved, whispering sounds. He also sensed a hidden path in the wall. Taesan pressed on that spot. The grass grew and began to wrap around him, slowly pulling him in. What should have been a wall of stone engulfed him like a swamp. And as the grass thinned, a new scenery emerged. ¡°Wow.¡± Taesan marveled. A gigantic tree and flowers filled his vision harmoniously. Transparent dewdrops fell from the tips of the enormous leaves. A natural world that one would only see in paintings unfolded before him. [This is beyond imagination. How did they create such a vast space?] The ghost couldn¡¯t hide its astonishment either. What surprised it was the size of the hidden realm. The ceiling was hardly visible. The area was as vast as a sizable city; despite being indoors, soft sunlight was felt. ¡°Fascinating.¡± Taesanposed his emotions. Indeed, it was an impressive sight, one he could gaze at forever, but his goal was the gigantic tree in this ce. At the center of the space stretched a tree reaching the ceiling. That tree¡¯s roots must be the target of the spirit mentioned. Taesan moved forward. No spirits were visible. However, res from within the bushes were directed at him. Hostility, anger, hatred. All these negative emotions were conveyed in those stares. Taesan ignored these emotions and arrived in front of the gigantic tree. Smirking at the entity guarding the ce, he saw. [A spirit dwelling in bones appears.] ¡°A skeleton?¡± A human skeleton, reduced to mere bones, awaited him in front of the tree. Its jawbone clicked. [Human who killed the beings of nature and destroyed the grace left by the King of Spirits. This is our realm. Go back.] ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t do that. I need the tree behind you toplete the quest I¡¯ve received.¡± Taesan pointed his sword at the huge tree. The skeleton let out a faint groan. [...The crazed white spirit. That must be its quest, right?] ¡°You know about it?¡± [To move ording to such a trivial quest. Foolish.] ¡°Do you know what kind of being it is?¡± [I know.] The skeleton spoke calmly. [That''s a spirit designed to be that way from the beginning.] ¡°Could you exin it in a way I can understand?¡± [Spirits are entities where nature gains self-awareness. But nature is originally an existence that coexists with the world without self. Those unworthy of self-awareness are inherently unstable from birth. Especially those enveloped in negative emotions and falling into corruption. Therefore, there was a need to handle them.] ¡°Is that the crazed white spirit?¡± [An entity was needed to expel negative emotions.] The skeleton continued emotionlessly. [Our king created the white spirit. Anxious and twisted, inherentlycking from the beginning. A terribly ugly existence. We loathed and despised it. By expelling emotions, we could maintain our identity as spirits.] ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Taesan scoffed. ¡°For a spirit, that¡¯s quite an ugly act, isn¡¯t it?¡± [Say what you will. I didn''t expect a human like you to understand our choices as spirits.] ¡°Then why exin it all? I¡¯m not interested.¡± [It is to make you aware of the nature of the being you are obeying.] The skeleton clicked its jaw. The tip of the jaw moved as if mocking. [A twisted and squashed entity, inherently ugly from the start. That''s the identity of the spirit giving you orders. Do you want to follow the words of such a being?] ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± [...What?] ¡°Whatever kind of being it is, it¡¯s not important to me. I epted the quest and have gone through quite a lot of trouble. So I should receive the reward.¡± Taesan¡¯s indifferent attitude made the me in the skeleton¡¯s eye sockets flicker. [Despicable human following themands of a lowly spirit. A fitting pair.] ¡°Let¡¯s stop talking here.¡± [......] The skeleton raised its hand to the sky. [Human. You are strong. I cannot win against you now. So...] ¡°Then just die.¡± Taesan had no intention of just watching his opponent do something. Using eleration, he instantly closed the distance and pierced through the ribs. [534 damage to the spirit dwelling in bones.] [Cough!] He continued to elerate, mming it into the ground. He stepped on the arm and kept stabbing with his sword. Damage numbers scrolled continuously. [E, eek!] The skeleton¡¯s eyes zed with fire. [The spirit dwelling in bones activates a small spark.] A small spark appeared in front of Taesan. It was very small and weak, but Taesan quickly sensed danger and moved away. Boom! The spark exploded, shooting mes like a breath. The mes reached the ceiling without losing momentum. [Human!] ¡°Why are you calling me?¡± Taesan taunted and fired an icy arrow. The skeleton waved its hands roughly, melting the icy arrow with its mes. [An ignorant human,cking in manners and order. I shall grant you a death befitting of you.] The skeleton cked its jawbone. Whoosh. A curtain of mes wrapped around the skeleton. Taesan kept his distance, aware that getting too close would result in significant damage. [This ce is a sanctuary given to us by our king. I was born as a spirit to manage this sanctuary.] Whoosh. The mesbined to form a giant pir. The pir reached the artificial sun, which shone faintly from the ceiling. [I will kill you with the power our king has bestowed upon us.] A blinding sh filled the space. Taesan closed his eyes and covered himself. After a moment, the light faded. The scenery had changed significantly. The sun that illuminated the space was gone, and instead, the skeleton was aze with red mes. ¡°A burning skeleton?¡± Taesan chuckled, but his eyes were serious. A heat that would blind and melt the flesh of a normal person emanated from the skeleton. Not just for a normal person, but even for a typical 29th-floor adventurer, it was a level of heat they couldn¡¯t withstand. [You activated Icy Arrow.] He tried using Icy Arrow to reduce the heat, but it melted instantly, turning into water and then evaporating. ¡°This is serious.¡± [The opponent is a challenging enemy.] The system window appeared as usual, and multiple buff skills were activated. [Die, human.] The skeleton spoke bluntly and clenched its fist. From there, several whips of me appeared andshed out. Boom! mes that melted and burned everything iled wildly. Taesan moved swiftly, dodging the mes that passed close to his head and narrowly missed his thigh. [You''re quick.] The skeleton said calmly andbined the whips into a giant spear of me. Swoosh! Thanks to his quick reaction, he narrowly avoided it. Taesan shook off his hand, heated by the mes. ¡°Hot.¡± [You are strong.] The skeleton was honestly surprised. At this moment, it had enough power to take down adventurers from the 40th floor without a problem. Yet, a 29th-floor adventurer was avoiding it without injury. But that was all. The difference in power was clear. [The sun within me is a grace bestowed by our King of Spirits. The power of the Spirit King dwells within me. You, being merely human, cannot resist.] The skeleton clenched both fists. [So die like that.] [The spirit dwelling in bones activated Artificial Sun.] A small sphere of mes appeared in the skeleton¡¯s hand. It rapidly expanded, engulfing the entire space. Taesan did not try to escape. He calmly watched the expanding sphere. Seeing this, the skeleton sneered. [epting failure and embracing death? A wise choice.] ¡°Hardly.¡± Still, the skeleton¡¯s words weren¡¯t wrong. The power it possessed was beyond Taesan¡¯s current ability to oppose. The skeleton imed the power of the sun it wielded was a blessing from the Spirit King. As Taesan had heard from Lee Taeyeon and the ghost, the Spirit King was a deepyer entity. The attacks indeed had corresponding might. He could possibly cling on with attack nullification and endurance, but his chances of winning were quite slim. However, the opponent wasn¡¯t impossible to beat. Even without information, it was a difficult enemy he could potentially ovee. All thanks to one skill Taesan possessed. The solution was simple. If the opponent used the power of a being from the deepyers, Taesan would use the power of a being managing thebyrinth. [You activated Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas].] Something settled into his body. A presence from a higher, more fundamental level spread through him. His legs, grounded on the earth, became as solid as a rock, and his hand, holding the sword, rxed. The skeleton, calmly waiting for Taesan¡¯s death, faltered. [...This power?] Taesan¡¯s eyes turned red. His muscles activated. Gripping his sword, he swung it fiercely. Boom! The sphere split with an explosion. The sun¡¯s power was erased by the sword strike. The skeleton gasped. [The power of an Apostle!] The grand and lofty power bestowed upon adventurers by gods who took an interest in them. The skeleton knew of this power ¨C its strength and its status. But it quickly calmed its surprise. It knew Taesan was strong. It was entirely possible he had made a pact with some god or apostle. [That''s as far as you go. But you can''t reach me.] The apostle¡¯s pact was a contract that brought down the power of gods. A mortal gaining power and status they would never normally achieve, surely a power beyond reach. Normally, even the skeleton wouldn¡¯t dare oppose a true apostle. However, it wasn¡¯t so threatening now. Because the one receiving the power was still a mortal being. Adventurers of lower levels with weak minds and bodies couldn¡¯t fully utilize the apostle¡¯s power. They needed a certain level of strength and status to even draw out half of it. And that level was a story for those who had descended to at least the 70th floor. An adventurer who had barely reached the 30th floor couldn¡¯t possibly draw even a tenth of the apostle¡¯s status. So, the skeleton had a chance. [You are nothing but a dog of gods, fed by divine intellect!] A low-level adventurer like this would have been overwhelmed by power, losing even their intellect. That wouldn¡¯t be scary at all. As the skeleton expected, several sentences echoed endlessly in Taesan¡¯s head. Enemy! Kill the enemy! Engage inbat! Voices pressing down on the brain, crushing the self. Taesan shook his head. ¡°Shut up.¡± Loud, yes, but he agreed with them. That was the enemy. Enemies must be killed. Slowly raising his sword, Taesan¡¯s action made the skeleton hesitate. [You''re maintaining your intellect?] ¡°Shut up and die.¡± Taesan charged. The skeleton hastily released mes. Dozens of whips of me wildly iled, destroying everything around. Until now, the power of the whip had been evaded. Each whip held the power to turn a vast forest to ashes. Taesan yanked his hand fiercely. Boom! The sword strike exploded. The mes¡¯ whips were torn apart and vanished. [What is this!] Taesan dashed through the exploding mes. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 [How can an adventurer like you wield the king''s power!] The skeleton screamed and harshly raised its bone-formed arm. A red sphere materialized there. The heat clung to Taesan¡¯s cheek. It was literally a miniature sun. It had enough power to instantly turn this narrow space into ashes. But. Daring! To bring such a toy! A lowly power before an apostle of the gods! A voice filled with rage echoed in his head. Taesanughed in response. His self was not consumed by the power engulfing his head, but he somewhat sympathized with it. Information rted to the status of an apostle was in his mind. ¡®Fragment of the Spirit King.¡¯ A power the Spirit King divided from himself and bestowed upon spirits. It was a very strong power. A being that could im to be the king of a race could reach the very edge of mortality. Such a fragment had the power to destroy worlds and entangle them in terror. But that was all. It was woefully insufficientpared to the stature of a transcendent being. Taesan swung his fist towards the exploding me. The me could not defend. The skeleton let out a hollowugh. [Impossible!] It wasn¡¯t ack of power. The adventurer before it had received the apostle¡¯s power, but it shouldn¡¯t be easy to block its mes like this. What wascking now was status. The apostles, the god¡¯s authority, trampled the very status the Spirit King¡¯s fragment held. Boom! The me grazed Taesan¡¯s shoulder. But there was no pain like the heat one would expect. If anything, it felt like sttering hot oil. [You receive 303 damage.] The damage was just at that level. With the activation of Solidification, damage that would normally be in the thousands was reduced to 300. Due to the difference in status, all damage was reduced. The skeleton roared. [I received the king''s power! The power of our king!] ¡°So what?¡± Taesan taunted. The power of the Spirit King was indeed strong. If handled properly, it could be considered reaching the limits of power attainable by mortals. Having obtained that fragment, the skeleton must have reached the level of the 50th floor at least. But that was it. Once reaching the level of a transcendent being, status became much more important than power itself. Taesan raised his hand. [You activated The Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] A gentle breeze blew. A light wind, enough to rustle hair, easily swept away the mes burning the forest. The Deer Walking on the Wind Path was a skill of a high-ranking spirit. Compared to the Spirit King, there was an enormous difference in power. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance and would have been crushed. However, due to the Apostle Transformation, all statuses were elevated, and even the power of a high-ranking spirit could now deflect the Spirit King¡¯s power. [Uneptable! How can a weak adventurer like you!] The skeleton cried out in denial. It knew the apostle¡¯s status was far higher than the Spirit King¡¯s fragment. However, it expected Taesan, being weak, to not fully harness it. But that wasn¡¯t the case. Taesan might not fully understand the apostle¡¯s power, but he was almostpletely drawing out its status. ¡®Surprising, but well, it¡¯s bing the norm now.¡¯ The ghost thought calmly. The existence of Soul Ascension, the skills it had stolen, and the reactions of the gods to Taesan were bing clear. If that was really the case, then it wasn¡¯t strange for a 30th-floor adventurer like Taesan to fully draw out the status of an apostle. It was almost natural. Taesan raised his sword. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t have the luxury of being surprised right now.¡± The duration of Apostle Transformation was 10 minutes. He had to finish within that time. Taesan charged at the skeleton, slicing through the mes with the wind. Soon, he was in front of the skeleton. [But even so!] The skeleton, with me-imbued eyes, swung its arm. Taesan¡¯s sword shed with the skeleton¡¯s bone. A dull sound echoed. The skeleton roughly cked its jaw. [No matter how high your status, your body isn''t on par!] ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Taesan calmly agreed. Maybe due to his low level, aside from the status itself, he hadn¡¯t be much stronger about a 30% enhancement. ¡°But that¡¯s enough.¡± Taesan¡¯s sword resonated. It moved along the bone, striking the skeleton¡¯s neck before it could react. [653 damage to the spirit dwelling in bones.] [You wretch!] The skeleton resisted. Realizing its power from the Spirit King was no longer of much use, it tried to hit Taesan with a piece of bone. And the movement was very clumsy. Like someone who had never fought before, Taesan easily dodged and counterattacked. Crack. [This, this¡­¡­] Unable to properly respond to the second attack, the skeleton faltered. Taesan did not stop and continued his assault. He knew, or rather, came to know it. Various information about spirits settled in his mind with the Apostle Transformation. ¡°You borrowed the bones of an already dead adventurer to receive the power of the artificial sun, but you never moved a body to fight, did you?¡± Spirits were beings of nature. They didn¡¯t possess physical bodies and attacked enemies using their attributes, so it was natural for them to be unskilled in physical movement. [You¡­¡­.] ¡°Then you should die.¡± He dodged by tilting his head and thrusting his sword. The spirit resisted. It was almost a struggle of desperation. Trying to create distance and use mes to blind and counterattack, but all of it was blocked. ¡°This is the end.¡± Taesan turned and swung his sword at the skeleton¡¯s neck. With a cracking sound, the neck bone started to split. Activating Strong Blow, he cut through with even greater force. The head of the skeleton flew into the air. [1563 damage to the spirit dwelling in bones.] [Uneptable! For a lowly creature to defile our world!] ¡°Shut up.¡± Taesan frowned and stabbed the skeleton¡¯s jaw. After a moment of trembling, the me in its eyes faded away. [You have won against the spirit dwelling in bones.] [You have destroyed the world of spirits. You have gained the title [Antagonist of Nature].] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension is activated. Permanently increased Strength by 56, Agility by 65, Intelligence by 54, Health by 350, Mana by 40.] [Your Soul Ascension is activated. Gained the spirit skill [Small Spark].] [You have won against a tremendously powerful enemy without significant harm. Gained the special always-active skill [Giant Killer].] [You have acquired a Burnt ck Seed.] It was a significantly meaningful reward. His level had risen by 3, and the stat increase due to Soul Ascension was quite high. Additionally, he had obtained two skills. He wanted to check the skills, but there was something else to do first. The skeleton, in itsst struggle, used all its power. mes spread around, turning the small world of the spirit into ashes. No more signs of spirits were felt. ¡°How ridiculous.¡± The small world the guardian wanted to protect was destroyed by its own hands. The giant tree at the center was also turned to ashes. Taesan dug through the ash. There, he found a root, ckened but still maintaining its form. [Small World Tree Root] [A root mimicking the World Tree. Provides a sanctuary for spirits and calms their turmoil.] ¡°This should do it.¡± [Probably? It''s not about the outer appearance, but what''s inside that matters.] Then there was no problem. A faint but potent energy was felt from the ckened root. Taesan collected the root and headed outside. Now, it was time to check the rewards. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 68] [Shield: 424/424] [Health: 4780/4780] [Mana: 856/856] [Magic: 62/62] [Strength: 1715] [Intelligence: 1311] [Agility: 1569] [Attack Power + 188] [Defense + 233] [The subject is in the best condition.] His stats had increased by nearly 200 in an instant. Taesan looked at the stat window with satisfaction. ¡°Seems likeing down here has sped up the gains.¡± This was just the edge of the 20th-floor range. He was excited to see what the 30th floor would be like. He had also gained a title for the first time in a while. [Title: Antagonist of Nature] [You have destroyed the world of spirits. Your infamy has spread among them.] [All damage to spirits +20%] [The favor of spirits towards you decreases significantly.] ¡°Nice.¡± Favorability with spirits, who were not NPCs, didn¡¯t matter. At this point, it was like having crossed a point of no return. 20% extra damage to spirits was a low price for that trade-off. [Burnt ck Seed] [A seed that contained the king''s power. Most of its power has been depleted, but it still holds the power to burn everything.] It seemed like a crafting item. The effect was unknown, but it wasn¡¯t ordinary as a seed containing the Spirit King¡¯s power. It might even be a material for the Dragon¡¯s w. He nned to take it to the cksmith first. [Spirit Skill: Small Spark] [Mana Consumption: 30] [Proficiency: 1%] [Duration: 10 minutes] [Summons a very weak spark that spirits have from birth and embeds it within oneself. During the duration, one can exert a significant influence over mes.] The skeleton was engulfed in mes due to using this skill. mes that could easily turn grass and trees into ash. While the proficiency was low, making its power limited, it was clear the skill would still be useful. [Special Passive Skill: Giant Killer] [Proficiency: 1%] [Increases attack power and defense when facing difficult or impossible enemies.] As the name suggested, it was a skill that provided buffs when facing formidable enemies. The effects were an increase in attack power and defense. The exact level was unknown, but considering the boost from other difficult enemy status bonus skills, it was certain to provide at least a 10% effect. For an ordinary adventurer, it was a skill that could enable them to descend at least one floor beyond their limits. It was a satisfying oue. Perfectly fitting as a reward for oveing an enemy that was hard to guarantee victory against. This thought naturally led his attention to the skill that had enabled him to achieve this. [Special Activation Skill: Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas]] [The first power bestowed by the god of struggle and death since his birth. For 10 minutes, you gain a part of the power that the apostles of Lakiratas possess. This skill cannot be used again for one day after activation.] Taesan recalled the moment he activated Apostle Transformation. It was a very peculiar feeling. Along with the power came all sorts of information. If he had been weak-minded, he could have been swept away and lost himself in that tide. Things about gods and spirits he had never known. Worlds he had not perceived. Sceneries never reached by human sight. ¡°So this is the perspective of an apostle.¡± The things one gained in exchange for offering their soul to a god. It was quite appealing. Thanks to it, he learned that the skeleton was originally a me spirit, too weak to receive the Spirit King¡¯s power, and had borrowed the body of an adventurer to reside there, yet it was still vastly insufficient. Even if limited, it provided information about the opponent. Apart from other abilities, this alone had value. Of course, that wasn¡¯t all. The heat of the mes used by the spirit could make the bottom of a river visible and turn a sizable forest into ashes. In terms of damage, it would have been in the thousands. But Taesan only received about 300 damage. Including Solidification, it was nearly a tenth of the damage. [It''s a difference in status. To put it extremely... the moment you used Apostle Transformation, there would be almost no being capable of inflicting proper damage on you.] The ghostmented. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 [It''s either the same apostles or those who have achieved a certain level. Or maybe just strong ones. If not, it''s hard to deal significant damage to you.] ¡°Is it because of the rank?¡± The knowledge gained through apostle transformation vaguely remained in his mind. The transcendent had risen above all mortal constraints to a lofty position. And at that level, they reached a dimension far above mortals where their attacks would not work. Thousands, even tens of thousands of powerful mortals gathered, would fall to a mere gesture ¨C such was the difference between the transcendent and mortals. Apostles who contracted with such transcendent beings received their power. Though diminished, borrowing the rank of the transcendent made mortal attacks ineffective. [Normally, your level would not have allowed you to be this strong... but you are exceptional.] The ghost spoke calmly. Taesan clenched his fist. ¡°But it¡¯s not omnipotent.¡± [It''s not without weaknesses, but it''s not only advantages either.] The level of strength gained through apostle transformation was roughly 30%. It wasn¡¯t low. It was a significantly high level. It could deal with the most formidable enemies. But it wasn¡¯t enough to ovee enemies with overwhelming rank differences. Even if the damage was reduced due to the difference in rank, if there was just a level or stat difference, it wouldn¡¯t mean much. It would just lead to more hits and defeat. [Still, this is enough. What more could you ask for?] ¡°I know that.¡± In fact, that he overcame the skeleton was unbelievable. He would have lost ny out of a hundred times without apostle transformation. With increased levels, the rise in stats would also increase, making it a good skill in the long run. Wanting more was just greed. Having roughly confirmed this, Taesan went down to the 25th floor to find the cksmith. ¡°Can you check these two?¡± ¡°Hand them over.¡± Taesan handed over the Abyssal Orb and the burnt seed. Hafran stroked his chin, looking at the Abyssal Orb. ¡°Obsession¡­ or closer to a curse? It would work on the shoes?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the effect?¡± ¡°The earth you step on bes cursed. Enemies that step on it will suffer from all sorts of curses. Unless they are exceptionally strong, they¡¯ll suffer considerably.¡± ¡°Ho.¡± It wasn¡¯t bad. It meant he could limit the enemy¡¯s movements duringbat. ¡°Then, make it with that.¡± ¡°Give me the shoes, and I¡¯ll make them soon. And this¡­¡± Hafran looked at the burnt seed with an ambiguous gaze. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± ¡°The item exins itself.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Hafran chuckled. ¡°A Spirit King. You caught one who received his power? I can¡¯t tell.¡± He held the seed. ¡°This could be a material for the dragon¡¯s w you gave me. That was fast. You¡¯ve already gathered three.¡± ¡°How many more do you think I need?¡± ¡°One¡­ maybe two more. I thought it wouldn¡¯t be made until you reach at least the fiftieth floor.¡± Hafran muttered in disbelief. Two more. It wasn¡¯t too far away. If he waited a little longer, he could obtain equipment iparable to what he had before. Taesan handed over the shoes with anticipation. ¡°Start with this, then.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll make it after I finish some work.¡± Taesan left Hafran behind and ascended thebyrinth. Back on the 21st floor, the crazed spirit with a gloomy expression was waiting for him. [You''re here?] ¡°Yeah.¡± Taesan handed over the ckened root. The spirit took it with trembling eyes. [You really... did it.] The spirit closed its eyes tightly. [Did you hear about me?] ¡°Roughly. About what spirits are and how you were born.¡± [I see.] The spirit muttered in a somber voice. [Since birth, I was destined to be this way. The first thing I saw was the contemptuous gaze of my kin, and the first sensation I felt was pain and persecution. But I was content, believing I was still one of them, thinking that being together in any form was enough¡­ but it wasn''t.] As the skeleton had said, the crazed spirit was a tool created by the Spirit King to maintain the spirits¡¯ self-awareness. The crazed spirit began to weep. [Everyone abandoned me. I was left alone in the spirit realm. That''s when I realized they never saw me as one of them, that I was no more valuable to them than a leaf by the roadside.] The weeping stopped. ring eyes peeked through the lowered head. [So, I will take my revenge.] ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t say more. The spirit lifted its head, smiling bitterly. [Of course, I know. It''s impossible for someone like me.] The Spirit King was powerful. Descending deep into thebyrinth meant possessing that level of power. Taesan assessed that the small spirit in front of him couldn¡¯t reach the Spirit King¡¯s level even in hundreds of years. The spirit seemed to be fully aware of this, too. [I could''ve chosen to live in the peace I finally found. But... that''s not why I came here. I made a pact for revenge.] Every NPC in thebyrinth made a contract for something. For the spirit, it was revenge. [I may be incapable, but you are different.] The spirit¡¯s fiery eyes turned towards Taesan. [You can do it. You can kill the king.] Crack. The spirit crushed the root in its hand. The power contained in the root entered the spirit. Its body gradually turned into a formless mist. [Sub-questpleted.] A voice echoed from the mist. [They made me a tool. So, I will take revenge as a tool.] The condensed mist rushed towards Taesan. He watched intently as the mist enveloped his body and then seeped into his weapon. [This is the path I have chosen.] With that final voice, the spirit¡¯s presence was no longer felt. [The spirit longing for revenge has inhabited your weapon.] [The effects of the weapon have changed.] The quest overseeing the entire 20th floor had ended. Taesan examined the Artifact of Carvert that was now inhabited by the spirit. [Oh... this is unexpected.] The ghost murmured in surprise. [The contractor itself became the quest reward? This is... quite unique.] ¡°So, what happens now?¡± The crazed spirit wasn¡¯t just a simple NPC. It was an essential NPC at the entrance of the 21st floor, providing adventurers with the skill needed to attack spirits. With its disappearance, adventurers entering the 21st floor would have no means to attack spirits. The ghost uttered a sound of realization. [I''ve never seen this before. I wonder if thebyrinth''s administrators will handle it?] As soon as he finished speaking, the floor of thebyrinth began to rise. It assembled like puzzle pieces, forming a huge mechanism. Balbamba, a servant of thebyrinth¡¯s creator, appeared before Taesan. [It''s been a long time since such liberation, and it''s you, as expected?] [Why are you here?] The ghost was surprised by Balbamba¡¯s appearance. Balbamba calmly replied. [The contractor of the 21st floor has disappeared. I must fill that void.] [You do that too?] [It''s part of my duties.] The floor of thebyrinth shifted. Soon, a small pir appeared where the crazed spirit used to be. [I''ll have to set up a temporary quest line. Take care, human.] Having finished his task, Balbamba disappeared. The ghost chuckled. [Talk about being efficient.] Like lightning, Balbamba appeared and disappeared. But this revealed something. ¡®Thebyrinth is continuously being maintained.¡¯ NPCs, or contractors as they were called, handed quests to adventurers. But contractors weren¡¯t eternally bound entities. Like the spirit and the ghost, they moved and disappeared for their own desires. Balbamba filled the vacancy left by the spirit. This meant that the ghost¡¯s position could also have been filled by something else. It wasn¡¯t crucial information, but still something worth noting. It might prove usefulter. So what had the spirit given him in exchange for its sacrifice? It was time to check. [Carvert''s Relic: Sword Imbued with Ancestor''s Blood] [A relic of a now-destroyed world. It imed the lives of many royals.] [Attack Power + 30] [+ 15 Attack Power against all enemies] [Inhabited by a revenge-seeking spirit. Attack Power + 30] [+ 20% Damage against spirits] [+ 40% Damage against the Spirit King, can activate the spirit skill ''Abandoned de.''] [This effect can be removed and transferred to another weapon at any time.] ¡°Huh.¡± [What?] Taesan was taken aback. The ghost was lost for words. [What''s this?] ¡°Exactly.¡± Taesan focused his gaze, reading the effects, then chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± It had an effect beyond words. The basic attack power value from the effect was 30, higher than Taesan¡¯s current secondary weapon. He understood why, considering that as his level increased, the value of the attack power decreased. Considering that Lee Taeyeon¡¯s attack power was in the thousands in his previous life, 30 wasn¡¯t significantly impactful. If that was all, the equipment would eventually be discarded, but this was a different story. [+20% Damage against spirits] It was a whopping 20% increase. Although limited to spirits as targets, the figure was unbelievable. Moreover, there was a 40% damage increase, specifically against the Spirit King. If stacked with the spirit damage increase, that was a total of 60% increase. This alone signified an increase in power by more than 50%. Additionally, there was a spirit skill attached. While its effect was unknown until used, considering the other options, it was unlikely to be unfavorable. ¡°This is something¡­¡± And perhaps one of the biggest options. [This effect can be removed and transferred to any other weapon at any time.] This effect could be transferred freely. It wouldn¡¯t be discarded even if a superior weapon was equippedter. This was a significantly positive feature. In fact, it was an understatement to say it was good. ¡°I¡¯ll be using this till the end.¡± It was a kind of graduation-level item. And he had obtained it already. Moreover, Carvert¡¯s Relic was already magically enhanced. That the effect applied without any problem suggested that there might be no restrictions in attaching the effect. ¡°It¡¯s hard to find a downside.¡± If anything, a drawback was that its effects were limited to only spirits. Still, as Lee Taeyeon said, spirits continuously appeared as one descended thebyrinth. With the existence of the Spirit King deeper down, there was no issue. ¡°A good result.¡± The effort was worth it. Though it would take time, the crazed spirit¡¯s wish would eventually be fulfilled. Taesan went back up the floors. Upon reaching the 25th, he approached Hafran, who handed him the transformed shoes. [Golem Ore-Made Shoes Sharpened by Spirits] [Attack Power + 15] [Defense + 40] [Agility + 30] [Movement Speed + 15%] [Action Speed + 8%] [Can release all constraints binding oneself. This skill can only be used once a day.] [Creates a dreadful ck swamp where stepped. Except for the shoe''s owner, anyone stepping on it suffers powerful random curses and status ailments.] [Valuable items were crafted by a skilled cksmith.] ¡°It¡¯s better to try them out rather than just read the description.¡± Taesan put on the shoes and flexed his foot. Where he stepped, a ck aura undted. The range was just where he stepped, and repeated flexing showed no sign of disappearance, indicating no duration or limit on uses, or that it was very high. ¡°Not bad.¡± He would need to confirm the extent of the debuffs, but it was an effect that could lead the flow of battle in his favor. Not bad at all. Leaving Hafran behind, Taesan entered the 30th floor. [Start the 30th-floor quest] [Defeat the boss of the 30th floor and pass through.] [Defense + 40] [Reward: Fringe of Oblivion] [Secret Reward: ???] Finally, the 3rd set. ¡°I¡¯ve kept them alive long enough.¡± It was time to deal with the Guides of Sin he had left unattended. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 The monsters of the 30th floor seemed like a collection of all previous encounters, with various spirits like fire, wind, and water emerging. Each one was stronger, faster, and more powerful than those encountered before. However, they still were no match for Taesan. He easily breached thebyrinth, reaching the secret room and its reward. [Ring with an Unknown Aura] [Attack Power + 10] [A ring imbued with an unidentifiable aura that aids the wearer in attacking enemies. While not significantly meaningful, it seemed it could be sold for a good price.] Unless attached to a weapon, attack power alone wasn¡¯t of great significance. It would likely have ended up as an item sold for money. For Taesan, who had learned the Airak Weapon Arts, however, it was hard to find better equipment. Recing a ring with 5 power and 5 defense, his attack and defense power now matched perfectly. [Attack Power + 228] [Defense + 228] ¡°Good.¡± It was a minor but pleasing improvement. He continued to advance through thebyrinth. The 30th floor,cking any special features like a god¡¯s altar or differently colored doors, was quickly navigated. Then, he reached the boss. [The Fire Spirit, Ifrit, has appeared.] The giant of me blocked Taesan¡¯s path, swinging its massive arms and creating a firestorm. Taesan, seeing an opportunity, raised his hand. ¡°Perfect for a test.¡± [You have activated Little Spark.] With the skill¡¯s activation, his senses changed. He felt closer and more familiar with the mes and realized he had gained control over them. Taesan reached out toward the iing punch of Ifrit. Boom! Ifrit¡¯s arm exploded, a result of Taesan¡¯s control over the me. Though the arm regenerated, Ifrit seemed disoriented. ¡°Nice.¡± The boss of the 30th floor could do nothing but be relentlessly beaten up. What followed was a one-sided battle. Ifrit¡¯s attempts at retaliation were effortlessly blocked by Taesan¡¯s slight gestures. ¡°Farewell.¡± Taesan clenched his fist. Ifrit¡¯s entire body exploded, leaving only ashes. An anticlimactic end for a 30th-floor boss. [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have discerned the 30th floor''s hidden element. Reward [???] obtained.] [You have perfectly cleared the 30th floor. Title [Settler] obtained.] [You have perfectly cleared and understood all floors up to the 30th. Title [Seeker of Perfection] obtained.] [You have ascended to a level worthy of pride as an entrant of thebyrinth. Title [Pioneer] obtained.] [Your continuous challenges and value are evident. Title [Persistent Challenger] obtained.] [You have reached a position acknowledged by all. Title [Adventurer] obtained.] [Your footsteps now leave a meaningful change.] As usual, numerous rewards were provided all at once. ¡°Now, then.¡± Before concluding the floor, he had to check. Taesan sat down. The 30th floor¡¯spletion reward, like before, was a title. Expectedly high in terms of stat boost, it was satisfying, but theck of change made it somewhat dull. Thinking this, Taesan checked the title. [Title: Settler] [You have reached a level where settling in thebyrinth is possible. Whether to move forward or stay is your choice.] [Strength +40] [Agility +40] [Intelligence +40] [Attack Power +10] [Defense +10] Taesan was momentarily taken aback. ¡°The values are too different?¡± He had received a title when he cleared the 20th floor. The corresponding title for ¡°Settler¡± was ¡°Advancer,¡± which had boosted each stat by 15¡ªa fairly good title. However, the current title offered iparably better performance. ¡°Stat increase of 40 and attack/defense by 10? What¡¯s this?¡± [Because you''ve reached the 30th floor.] The ghost exined calmly. [If up to the 20th floor was the beginning, from here, it''s different. This ce is no longer considered a lower level. That''s why they''re giving such substantial, clear rewards. It might not mean much to you, but title attack power applies even if it''s not on a weapon, which is very good.] ¡°Interesting.¡± It was not bad, actually, it was good. This suggested that other titles could also be at this level. Taesan, filled with anticipation, checked the other titles, and they met his expectations. In fact, they did more than that. The title ¡°Seeker of Perfection¡± increased all stats by 40, ¡°Pioneer¡± by 70, and ¡°Persistent Challenger¡± by 30. In total, he gained an incredible 180 points in stats just by clearing the 30th floor. And then, thest title, ¡°Adventurer.¡± Taesan paused upon checking it. [Title: Adventurer] [A qualified individual. This title disappears if qualifications are lost.] [Strength +100] [Agility +100] [Intelligence +100] [Attack Power +10] [Defense +10] [Low chance to double the rewards in the Secret Room.] [Skill proficiency increases 20% faster.] Taesan chuckled. ¡°Too good.¡± The numbers were incredibly high, but the special effects were the real deal. Double rewards in the Secret Room at a low chance. Plus, a title that speeds up skill proficiency by 20%. ¡°What¡¯s this? They give such a title on the 30th floor?¡± [It''s not a title easily obtained.] The ghost borated. [Probably, not all who faced the Guides of Sin received it. It''s granted under thebyrinth''s independent judgment to selected adventurers. A kind of qualification.] Gods granted enhanced trials only to those they favored and chose as their apostles. This title seemed to serve a simr purpose. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 69] [Shield: 435/435] [Health: 4890/4890] [Mana: 875/875] [Magic: 66/66] [Strength: 2043] [Intelligence: 1601] [Agility: 1875] [Attack Power: +248] [Defense: +248] [The subject is in optimal condition.] Finally, Taesan¡¯s strength had surpassed 2000. Considering Lee Taeyeon¡¯s stats were over 10,000, it still seemed far off, but he was slowly getting closer. ¡°Very good.¡± He had be stronger than yesterday, and tomorrow, he would be stronger than today. It was an extremely enjoyable experience. Taesanughed happily and struck the wall. Crack. The wall crumbled. Thebyrinth¡¯s walls were extremely sturdy, requiring tens of thousands of attack power to even scratch them. That it broke so easily meant something was hidden inside. Already aware of this from his reconnaissance, Taesan calmly entered the broken wall. After descending briefly, a small space appeared where five figures were seen. ¡°Hello. This is our first time meeting, right?¡± Taesan greeted them. These were the Guides of Sin who had note to him, choosing to preserve their lives over battle. All five of them stood in front of Taesan. ¡°Let¡¯s end this then.¡± Taesan leisurely drew his sword. The thin man, who had been swallowing nervously, hastily raised his hand. ¡°Stop! You can¡¯t kill us!¡± ¡°I think I can.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± The man dered confidently. ¡°Because contact has been made with the deepyers!¡± Taesan paused his sword for a moment. Seeing this, the man brightened up and spoke. ¡°Just a moment ago! We made contact with the leadership! They said they woulde immediately upon hearing our message!¡± Even hidden in this secret room, they could discern the general situation in thebyrinth. Their faces turned pale when they saw Taesan rapidly conquering the 29th and 30th floors. When Taesan defeated the boss of the 30th floor, they almost gave up. But at the same time, the leaders from the deepyers had finished conquering their respective floors and were returning. Whether it was a failure or sess was unclear, but the important thing was they could make contact. The man immediately contacted the deepyers. He reported that the man they thought was dead was alive anding to kill them. As soon as Taesan reached them, they received a message that the leaders would soon arrive. ¡°You can¡¯t kill us! If you kill us, too, you¡¯ll bepletely hostile!¡± The man¡¯s face now showed no fear, confident that Taesan could not touch them. ¡°So what?¡± And then, Taesan shattered that confidence. He moved forward with his sword towards them. The man, panicked, stepped back. ¡°Cra, crazy! Do you want to be hostile against the adventurers from the deepyers!¡± The reason they were sure he had survived was due to this. Taesan was undeniably strong. Even being on the 30th floor, he was able to defeat the five of them. He possessed enough power to conquer typical adventurers of the 40th floor. But that was a story up to the 40th floor. The adventurers of the deepyers were those who had surpassed the 70th floor. They literally possessed power of a different dimension. The gap between the 1st and 30th floors was smallerpared to the gap between the 30th and 70th floors. Therefore, they believed Taesan would choose to preserve his life rather than continue fighting. But Taesan had no such intentions. ¡°I¡¯ve already crossed a river of no return. What difference would killing five more make?¡± ¡°No, no!¡± The man shouted out in a fit of panic. His back was against the wall. ¡°You¡¯re strong! Unprecedentedly strong among us! With your power, you could be weed under the judgment of the leadership!¡± It wasn¡¯t a lie. Something very special, a precedent hard to find since the establishment of the Guides of Sin, but it was certainly possible. In fact, once in the very early days, before they even entered thebyrinth, there was one who opposed the Guides of Sin. He rampaged through the lower floors, and when the leadership found him, he was not punished but became one of the Guides of Sin. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°So, now¡­¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want to. I have no intention of getting along with you guys.¡± Taesan shook his head and approached them slowly. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you adventurers who have risked your lives to descend to the 30th floor? You¡¯ve ovee one or two trials, haven¡¯t you? Choose. Either fight for your life. Or die a pathetic death here.¡± Their eyes changed at Taesan¡¯s murmuring. The man clenched his teeth and let go of the wall. ¡°¡­ You¡¯ll regret this!¡± They stood up. Their powers erupted, violently shaking the small space. They gave their all. Perhaps stimted by Taesan¡¯s words, they used all their hidden trump cards, skills they had learned and honed, and items they had kept until now. They used everything to confront Taesan. This made it a bit tricky for Taesan. He was slightly pushed back by the Guides of Sin, who were desperately creating openings at the cost of their lives. But that was it. Crackle. Taesan blocked an attack and retreated. Seeing this, one of the Guides of Sin, thinking he had gained the upper hand, charged excitedly at Taesan. Then, he stepped on the dark energy that had formed where Taesan had stepped. ¡°What, what?¡± His face was instantly filled with dismay. His body movements slowed, and hisplexion turned deathly pale. Crack. ¡°Kergh!¡± Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through his chest. He used him as a shield to block the skills. [You have activated Decarabia''s Twisted Life.] Rumble! Roots wildly grew, filling the room. Startled by the sudden appearance of the vegetation blocking their vision, they were confused. And Taesan saw it all. Not with his eyes but with other senses. Enhanced sensations, among others. High proficiency in detection skills showed him more than what the eyes could see. Boom! Breaking through the roots, Taesan appeared. The man who had been looking for him was pierced through the neck. ¡°Goodbye.¡± He charged at them. With stern faces, the remaining three Guides of Sin held their weapons. And 10 minutester. They were all annihted. ¡°Well fought.¡± There was a definitive gap between them and Taesan. Yet, they managed to hold out for 10 minutes. It was something they could be proud of. In fact, thest man to fall also wore a satisfied smile. Taesan shook his sword clean. The third tier of the Guides of Sin, there had been five of them. Although there was a level difference, it was enough to trigger the Soul Ascension. He gained levels and a few skills. But there was no time to check that. Taesan lifted his head. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this? Why are they all dead?¡± A young man with a frivolous demeanor was entering the room, looking shocked. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 A man with red hair looked surprised. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± He hade down upon hearing the news, only to find that all those who had called him were dead. And the one who seemed to have killed them was right in front of him. ¡°Did you kill them all?¡± ¡°What if I did?¡± ¡°Huh, impressive?¡± The man eximed in admiration. There were at least five corpses in his vision. It meant that an adventurer from the 30th floor had defeated five of his peers. ¡°Your name is¡­¡± As the man, curious, began to ask, he hesitated. At the end of his gaze was a ghost. ¡°Uh, um.¡± [Long time no see, red-head.] ¡°¡­Hello?¡± The man awkwardly scratched his head. The ghost chuckled. [Not so well, you bastard.] The ghost¡¯s tone was yful, but it was tinged with deep anger. The man gave a vague smile. ¡°This is really embarrassing. Ah. But please don¡¯t misunderstand me. I honestly didn¡¯t intend to do it. It¡¯s quite shameful to exploit such vulnerabilities to kill.¡± [So what are you saying? You want me to spare you?] ¡°There¡¯s nothing to spare. What¡¯s done is done. You are already dead.¡± The man shrugged his shoulders, his gaze shifting to Taesan. ¡°Are you going to interfere?¡± [I have no intention to meddle. Do as you please.] The ghost spoke briefly. The man smiled. ¡°Understood.¡± The man took a step forward. ¡°Wow. Amazing. You really are strong. Even I couldn¡¯t beat five of them when I was here. How did you do it?¡± The man burst out in amazement, yet his eyes were profoundly dark. [You have activated Complete Reconnaissance. Due to the difference in levels with your opponent, some effects of the skill are sealed.] [Ambracia Marin] [Level: ???] Except for the name, no other information was visible. Ambracia stroked his chin. ¡°Honestly, I wanted to bring you to our side¡­¡± It was very regrettable. With such talent, he could have risen to their position. If Taesan had joined their side, it would have been possible to sessfully conquer the 74th floor, which had been a stumbling block so far. ¡°But this is crossing a line.¡± He had annihted not only the second-tier but also the third-tier adventurers. It was rare for adventurers to visit thebyrinth and even rarer for them to reach the second tier. The second tier might be weak, but still, they were part of them. Taesan, who had killed all of them, could not be spared. ¡°Well then, goodbye.¡± Ambracia threw a punch. The air exploded, and a storm swept through the room. It was not a simple gust of wind. It was an attack linked with special equipment carrying physical destructive power. It was an attack that Taesan, in his current state, could not possibly resist. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] It was erased. Ambracia¡¯s pupils dted calmly. Facing the surprised Ambracia, Taesan drew his sword. Ambracia raised his fist in confusion. ¡°What are you?¡± ¡°See for yourself.¡± [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas].] The power of the god dwelled in Taesan. Ambracia hesitated at the changed atmosphere. ¡°Huh?¡± Taesan charged. Ambracia, looking flustered, raised his arm. ng! [0 Damage to Ambracia] The arm and sword collided, and a grim system window appeared. Considering the level difference, it was natural. No damage was expected since he didn¡¯t use aura. However, Taesan kept attacking relentlessly. Ambracia, still puzzled, easily blocked them. ¡°Can¡¯t you wait a moment?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Taesan continued his assault. Though all attacks showed zero damage, he didn¡¯t care and kept attacking. [You have activated Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] Kroong! ck lightning pierced through Ambracia. Again, no damage. Yet, Ambracia was greatly disturbed. ¡°ck magic?¡± A power the demon god granted to demons. Taesan was using a power not permitted to humans. ¡°What are you?¡± Ambracia grabbed Taesan¡¯s arm and threw him. Taesan barelynded on the wall. ¡®Well, it won¡¯t work.¡¯ He knew it. No matter how strong Taesan was, there were clear limits. A 70th-floor adventurer wouldn¡¯t be harmed or threatened by him. Yet, he fought so fervently for one reason. [You have fought against an overwhelming enemy without losing your fighting spirit. You have obtained the special continuous activation skill [de of Fighting Spirit].] A skill obtained when fighting an enemy that is literally out of reach, where even touching a finger means defeat. A skill obtained when fighting such an enemy without breaking one¡¯s own fighting spirit, still aiming for victory. de of Fighting Spirit. Its effect was as significant as its conditions. A skill that he needed to acquire someday. Having obtained what he wanted, Taesan stood up. Ambracia was still looking at Taesan with a confused expression. ¡°Apostle of a god? And an apostle of Lakiratas at that?¡± An offer the gods gave to those they favored. An apostle of a god. Those who epted became bound to the god¡¯s soul and must act ording to his will. However, hardly anyone among the Guides of Sin, including Ambracia himself, had received such an offer. Even if there were any, it wasn¡¯t a proper offer. At best, it was a contract as a disposable toy, not a real apostle contract. That was why none of them ever received the position of an apostle. Let alone an apostle of Lakiratas. An apostle of a god who acted as he pleased, without the dignity and strictness typical of gods. ¡°And ck magic?¡± The demon god was a very particr deity. She cherished her own, but not all demons were cherished. Even among the demons in the Guides of Sin, many had never been addressed by the demon god. But conversely, the demon god cherished her own immensely. That demon god bestowed ck magic upon a human? It meant that the demon god prioritized this human over other demons. The demon god granting ck magic to a human? Unheard of. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡®Well then.¡¯ That was enough. Ambracia hade here to execute him, but now he showed no intention of further provocation. The reason was simple. He didn¡¯t know what would happen if he provoked further. ¡°Will you keep fighting?¡± ¡°Uh, just wait a moment.¡± Ambracia spread his hands, blocking Taesan¡¯s way. He frowned in thought. They also knew. The gods did not favor them, the self-proimed Guides of Sin. They wouldn¡¯t bother unless provoked but were ready to crush them at any opportunity. And here was an adventurer who seemed to have caught the attention of such gods. ¡®If I mess this up, it could be disastrous?¡¯ Ambracia swallowed hard. Especially Lakiratas and the demon god. Both were gods who didn¡¯t follow the rules and showed indifference to mortals but showed infinite attention to those they favored. They were beings who could definitely intervene. ¡®No way.¡¯ Ambracia concluded. He couldn¡¯t kill Taesan. Taesan had been observing this entire process. [I can hear your thoughts rolling around.] ¡°Hahaha.¡± Ambraciaughed awkwardly. No more hostility was shown. ¡°So, friend. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Right, Taesan. I¡¯m Ambracia.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Ah, you already used reconnaissance.¡± Ambracia scratched his head. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention due to the impact of the Apostle Transformation, but upon reflection, learning reconnaissance so early was also an incredible feat. Ambracia made a decision after much thought. ¡°Our friend. How about we stop here?¡± Ambracia raised his hand. ¡°This seems beyond what I can handle.¡± It was not a matter for him alone to judge. Ambracia made that decision. ¡°Then leave.¡± ¡°Sorry, but that¡¯s not possible either. You¡¯ve broken our rules. I can¡¯t just leave you alone.¡± Ambracia spoke lightly, but his eyes were dark. If refused, he would forcibly take him. As expected, Taesan responded without much surprise. ¡°So what do you propose?¡± ¡°I need to see the judgment of everyone, not just me.¡± The anticipated answer came back. Taesan spoke calmly. ¡°Are you telling me to go deeper?¡± He meant the judgment of the other leaders, not just himself. That was Ambracia¡¯s answer. But Taesan had no reason to do so. Descending thebyrinth by bypassing the floors meant foregoing the rewards of the previous floors. He had no intention of going down, even at the cost of his life. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I don¡¯t intend to ruin a promising guy. Whether he bes an enemy or an ally.¡± Ambracia held up a small key. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you see it.¡± [The Labyrinth''s Secret Key] [Leads to the 70th floor. It can be used again to return to the previous floor. Using this key does not affect thebyrinth''s system.] The ghost snickered. [Using the secret key here? So even if they die, they won''te themselves, right?] ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on them. The others whined about not wanting toe up, so I had no choice but toe. This should keep them fromining.¡± Ambracia shrugged his shoulders. The ghost spoke to Taesan, who was quietly holding the key. [It''s a very precious key sold only to those who descend to the deeperyers by the shopkeeper. It''s consumable and expensive, so they can''t use it easily. Don''t worry about any other tricks.] ¡°Good.¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°How do you use it?¡± Ambracia was slightly taken aback by Taesan¡¯s confident question. ¡°Go now?¡± ¡°Why dy? Let¡¯s finish this quickly. I need to go down to thebyrinth, too.¡± ¡®¡­What?¡¯ Ambracia was perplexed. Going down to the 70th floor, into the heart of the enemy¡¯s territory, without knowing anything. Any ordinary adventurer, even a very bold one, would hesitate or show fear, but Taesan showed none of that. Rather, he seemed eager to go down. ¡®Is there something he wants?¡¯ The thought crossed Ambracia¡¯s mind, but he shook his head. Impossible. The information held by the ghost was also known to them. The 70th floor was fully explored. Having sorted out his thoughts, Ambracia spoke. ¡°It¡¯s not difficult. Just think in your mind that you want to go there.¡± Taesan closed his eyes, picturing the ce as Ambracia described. The air around him changed perceptibly. When he opened his eyes, apletely different sceneryy before him. Ambracia spread his arms. ¡°Congrattions. You must be the first to set foot here below level 150.¡± [You have arrived at the 70th floor.] [You have used the secret passage to reach the deeperyers. You have gained the title [Walker of the Gaps].] The walls of thebyrinth were ash-colored. To be precise, it barely qualified as part of thebyrinth. The ce he arrived at was a room asrge as a football field. A room of this size, neither hidden nor a boss room, was unlike anything he had encountered in thebyrinth so far. ¡°For now, just rest here.¡± Ambracia waved his hand, and leather chairs and snacks appeared. ¡°I¡¯ll call the others. Just wait a little.¡± He left the room quickly. Taesan, watching him go, sat down. ¡°Comfortable.¡± It was very plush. Comparable infort to luxury chairs on Earth¡­ ¡°And the snacks are delicious, too.¡± They weren¡¯t just sweet. The ingredients were mixed to create aplex vor. It had a very refined taste. ¡°Is there a chef or something?¡± [Some have taken up cooking as a hobby since they''re stuck here for life.] ¡°That¡¯s rather sad.¡± Taesan crunched into a snack. [So, you''vee this far...] ¡°Now the real challenge begins.¡± Descending thebyrinth was an inevitable path to confrontation. The Guides of Sin woulde after him. He expected it. They couldn¡¯t just overlook him causing havoc and annihting the third tier. There were rules in the organization, and those rules must be followed. Someone woulde down to execute Taesan for breaking these rules. But even if they came down, they couldn¡¯t kill Taesan. Because Taesan was favored by the gods. The gods who resided in thebyrinth. They disliked the Guides of Sin. What Taesan sensed, the main characters surely knew. They wouldn¡¯t easily touch Taesan. At the least, they would gather and hold a meeting. He knew all this would happen. Predicted perfectly through the words of the demon god, the story of Lee Taeyeon, and the ghost¡¯s advice. ¡°So, what should I do now?¡± From here on, it was up to Taesan. His own ability. ¡°Before that.¡± Taesan moved. The 70th floor. There was something to gain here. As he was doing something, the leaders of the Guides of Sin. The rulers of that group began to gather together. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ambracia?¡± A woman with ming hair asked leisurely. ¡°Why have you called us all here?¡± ¡°Just wait. I¡¯ll exin once everyone¡¯s here.¡± Ambracia spoke. The woman with ming hair waited, sitting in a chair. Soon, one by one, people entered and took their seats. ¡°Is this everyone?¡± ¡°All twenty-one of us.¡± A muscr man with lion-like hair spoke bluntly. Ambracia clicked his tongue. ¡°It sure has decreased a lot.¡± Originally, their number was twice this. However, due to duels among themselves and sacrifices in thebyrinth conquest over the years, their numbers had halved. ¡°Then tell us. Why did you call us?¡± An annoyed middle-aged man spoke. The woman with ming hair replied. ¡°There¡¯s only one reason. The adventurer with a ghost that you went up to handle. It¡¯s to deal with him, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. Right. That¡¯s it. He¡¯s here now, you know?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± A moment of silence followed. The man with lion-like hair frowned. ¡°Did he use the secret key?¡± Ambracia nodded. The man¡¯s face contorted in anger. ¡°You wasted a precious key on this? I clearly told you to kill him without talking.¡± ¡°Calm down, Lion King. There¡¯s a reason.¡± Ambracia raised his hands, signaling for peace. The Lion King leaned back in his chair, simmering down. ¡°Exin, Ambracia. Every one of those keys is precious, considering our goal. There must be a reason for using it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to exin, so calm down.¡± Ambracia touched his chin ambiguously. He exined that Taesan had be an apostle of Lakiratas and was even using the demon god¡¯s ck magic. The woman with ming hair, the Fire Spirit King, groaned upon hearing the exnation. ¡°A human receiving favor from the demon god?¡± ¡°And an apostle of Lakiratas? That finicky, self-centered one?¡± Ambracia¡¯s words left them all baffled. ¡°Why would the demon god bestow ck magic upon a human?¡± ¡°How would I know? The whims of the gods aren¡¯t new, are they?¡± Ambracia shrugged. The silent Lion King spoke up. ¡°The ck Veil of Obscurity¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible. How could a rookie from the 30th floor get equipment only avable after the 50th?¡± The Lion King fell silent. ¡°Now you see why I used the key and brought him here? You all didn¡¯t want to go up, so I did, but I¡¯d appreciate no moreints.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Sorry.¡± The Lion King offered an easy apology. They were equals among each other. No one was a leader, and there was no hierarchy. Ambracia waved his hand. ¡°Good, you understand. Now, let¡¯s discuss from here.¡± An adventurer favored by two gods. Someone then spoke. ¡°Is it thanks to the ghost?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± The Fire Spirit King agreed. ¡°The ghost himself is a talented one who has been continuously offered the apostleship by the gods. With his help, it¡¯s not impossible. He could go beyond his own talent.¡± ¡°What a thing. To think he¡¯s clinging to a weak adventurer just to kill us.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you do the same? You faced betrayal in an alliance when your wish was so close. It¡¯s a justified grudge.¡± The leaders concluded that Taesan gained his current strength with the ghost¡¯s help. Rather than a neer adventurer they had never met, their focus was on the ghost whose strength and talent they had witnessed directly. ¡°Really now?¡± Ambracia tilted his head. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t quite seem like it.¡± The Taesan he saw was different. Rather than relying on the ghost, he seemed to act on his own. ¡°But it¡¯s impossible alone. We couldn¡¯t do it either.¡± ¡°¡­Maybe?¡± Ambracia reconsidered his thoughts. They were called the Guides of Sin, and even the heroes stronger than them couldn¡¯t do it alone. ¡°So, what will we do?¡± They returned to the main point but remained silent for a long while. While they were discussing, Taesan was checking each brick on the 70th floor¡¯s wall. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The ghost, unable to hold back any longer, asked. Taesan, feeling the bricks, replied. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a hidden room.¡± [There''s a hidden room here? On the 70th floor? The 70th floor! Surely they have scoured it all? Simple secret rooms may appear, but there shouldn''t be any here.] The Guides of Sin were stuck on the 74th floor. Having spent a long time here, they would have surely found everything that could be found. [And what about Reconnaissance? Use it.] ¡°It won¡¯t show up.¡± [You have activated Reconnaissance.] Reconnaissance. A skill that lets you understand what your eyes can see. It could reveal secret rooms, but nothing out of the ordinary appeared. [See, there''s nothing more here.] The ghost said there was nothing more to find, but Taesan didn¡¯t stop checking the bricks. ¡°There is one.¡± A piece of information unknown to the ghost and the Guides of Sin. Only Lee Taeyeon had discovered it. ¡°It should be around here¡­¡± Taesan touched every crevice of the brick on the bottom right side of the room. Then, something caught his fingertips. Something akin to a small rod was wedged in the gap. Taesan pressed down with force. Click. The brick floor opened. Without any noise or operating sound, a small passage was revealed. [Wha, what?] The ghost raised its voice in surprise, unable to hide its confusion. [What''s this?] Taesan calmly descended the stairs. The ghost, barely regainingposure, questioned him. [Secret room? Seems like it. How did you know about this ce on your first visit?] The ghost couldn¡¯t understand. Taesan¡¯s actions were full of confidence. ¡°I heard about it. From someone.¡± [Someone?] ¡°Someone who is no longer here.¡± Taesan chuckled. Lee Taeyeon¡¯s discovery of this room was not particrly impressive. In her previous life, she had endured various trials and hardships to reach the 70th floor. There, she felt pride, joy, and fear simultaneously. She had barely reached this ce, surviving numerous life-threatening situations. She might have been dead long ago if her luck had been slightly less. The future held only more difficulties. That fear paralyzed her steps. As a result, she stayed motionless on the 70th floor for over a month. Taesan knew this well, as he had been monitoring her in real-time through the Community. With nothing else to do, she eventually started searching every corner of this ce. This was the location she discovered after wasting time. Later, after returning to Earth, she mentioned thebyrinth she had conquered. She had luckily found a secret room hidden in the right wall. I didn¡¯t pay much attention then, not knowing it woulde in handy like this. [Wow. But I''ve never seen such a secret room. A secret room that even Reconnaissance couldn''t find? Is there a reason it remained undiscovered?] Reconnaissance provided information within sight. Naturally, it included secret rooms. Thus, she didn¡¯t struggle to find secret rooms from the moment she learned Reconnaissance. A simple activation in a room revealed everything. But this secret room was undetectable even by Reconnaissance. The leaders, failing to detect it with Reconnaissance, likely concluded it held nothing. ¡®She¡¯s a lucky woman.¡¯ Without luck, she couldn¡¯t have cleared Solo Mode. Taesan smiled and descended the stairs. Soon, a small room appeared. [You have discovered the statue of a nameless goddess.] There was a small statue in the room, light enough to be held in one hand. The statue of the goddess, long neglected, was so corroded that it would turn to dust if touched. Taesan knelt before the statue, sping his hands. The statue disintegrated into dust as he prayed, and its power inhabited him. [You prayed to the forgotten goddess everyone else has forgotten. You have received the goddess''s blessing [Rebirth Blessing of the Nameless Goddess].] [Special Quest: Forgotten Goddess] [You found the statue of a goddess forgotten by the creators of thebyrinth, the gods, and even their followers. The forgotten goddess, awakened by your prayer, wishes for you to save her.] [Those blessed by the goddess can sense the aura of the hidden goddess statues in thebyrinth.] [Find them and pray. Reward: Goddess''s Grace] The ghost, witnessing this process, was astonished. [Was there such a quest?] Even the ghost, who had conquered thebyrinth and the Guides of Sin, knew nothing of this quest. ¡°Good.¡± Taesan clenched his fist and checked his skill. [Divine Blessing: Rebirth Blessing of the Nameless Goddess] [It''s the goddess''s blessing. Your regeneration of all kinds noticeably increases. However, it''s still too weak to be considered a true divine blessing.] Instead of proficiency, it was marked in stages. It meant one thing: the stages would increase as he found more goddess statues and prayed. Recalling Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words, it was indeed a valuable skill. Health and mana regenerated at an excruciatingly slow pace, making natural recovery duringbat almost impossible. But with the Rebirth Blessing of the Nameless Goddess, it was a different story. The recovery speed increased nearly tenfold. While health wasn¡¯t a significant concern, mana was different. Ordinarily, only 10 or 20 units of energy would recover in an hour, but now it meant a tenfold increase. Furthermore, Taesan had additional costs like a protective shield and magic energy. By simple calction, his efficiency was about twice that of Lee Taeyeon¡¯s. [Hold on. But if it''s in stages, does that mean I have to find each one? Then¡­ If I find itte, I can''t evenplete the quest properly.] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The moment you descended a floor in thebyrinth, the rewards of the previous floor almost entirely changed. This applied to quest rewards as well. That was why Lee Taeyeon only obtained the Rebirth Blessing of the Nameless Goddess and the Blessing of Life. There must have been statues of the Nameless Goddess on floors before the 70th. ¡°That¡¯s fortunate.¡± Taesan had the chance to obtain most of the goddess¡¯s blessings. After tidying up the room, Taesan stepped back outside. Despite the considerable time that had passed, there was no one to be seen. ¡°They still haven¡¯t arrived? It¡¯s taking a long time.¡± [It must be a headache.] The ghost chuckled. After about an hour more of waiting, they finally arrived. ¡°Is this everyone?¡± ¡°I intended to bring everyone, but some didn¡¯t want toe. So, I only brought those who agreed.¡± Ambracia said this as Taesan nced at their faces. There were three in total. One was Ambracia. The guide he had been talking to all this while was not particrly special. Taesan examined the others. A man with golden, lion-like hair and a muscr, sun-kissedplexion. He was ring at Taesan with golden eyes that matched his hair. ¡°That¡¯s intimidating.¡± Taesan muttered, casually releasing his energy. The man¡¯s eyes sparkled as he effortlessly absorbed Taesan¡¯s formidable aura. ¡°You¡¯re strong.¡± It wasn¡¯t a full disy of strength, but an ordinary third-tier challenger would have been rendered breathless and unable to control their body. The fact that he handled it without any burden indicated that the rumors about his power were true. ¡°Not as much as you guys.¡± Taesan shifted his gaze. The first thing he saw was ming hair. Not metaphorically, but literally burning like mes. A woman wrapped in mes. ¡°A spirit king?¡± ¡°Do you know me, young one?¡± ¡°To some extent.¡± At the same time, the sword trembled. The power within it stirred and asserted itself. ¡®Quiet.¡¯ Taesan exerted force in the hand holding the sword. Not now. Not yet. The spirit king, who had been silently observing Taesan, wavered. ¡°¡­Why do I feel my energy in you? My children¡¯s power resonates in this boy. The power of the child I cherished and granted a domain to is within you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m making good use of it.¡± [You have activated a small spark.] Taesan flicked his finger, and a me sparked. ¡°¡­You killed them.¡± The spirit king¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°They all entered thebyrinth prepared for death. They knew they might be killed someday.¡± mes surged in the spirit king¡¯s eyes. ¡°But I am angry.¡± Suddenly, the room¡¯s temperature soared. The heat was so intense that it was nearly impossible to breathe. His skin burned red, and his immunity to attacks quickly dissipated. [You have taken 3069 damage.] It wasn¡¯t a direct attack. Merely a change in emotion. The being in front of him could kill Taesan with rage alone. Yet, Taesanughed. ¡°Trying to kill someone you invited. How impressive?¡± Taesan taunted the spirit king amidst the searing pain of burning flesh. ¡°Going to kill me? Do as you wish if you can handle it.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± The lion king grabbed the spirit king¡¯s arm. Simultaneously, the heat subsided. ¡°Restrain yourself. If this leads to death, it cannot be reversed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s too hot.¡± Taesan dusted off his clothes. His nonchnt demeanor caused the lion king¡¯s eyebrows to twitch. ¡°Let¡¯s end this obvious charade.¡± Clearly, they were strong. They could kill Taesan with a flick of a finger. But at the same time, they absolutely couldn¡¯t kill him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste time, so let¡¯s get to the point.¡± Chapter 138 Chapter 138 ¡°Whatever you n to do, I have no intention of following, so let¡¯s drop the pretense.¡± Predictable anger. Predictable pressure. They unted their power to crush the weak. Others would have crumbled under them, sumbing to fear and death, obediently following. It was highly likely Lee Taeyeon did the same, though the details were unclear. She never borated on her encounter with the Guides of sSn. Maybe she found another way. That was her strength. But Taesan knew. They could never kill him. ¡®These are nothing but cowards.¡¯ Extremely powerful beings who delved deep in thebyrinth. But at the same time, they were those who hit their limits and stopped. Afraid that someone might surpass them, they oppressed new adventurers, trying to control them. Hating death but unable to let go of their dreams. That contradiction within the Guides of Sin made them unable to kill Taesan. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate a quick conclusion. I want to descend further.¡± ¡°¡­Fine. Enough.¡± The expression of the Lion King turned nk. The subtle pressure felt till nowpletely vanished. ¡°Hero. You¡¯ve found a decent puppet.¡± [Is it useful?] The Hero chuckled. The Lion King twisted his lips. ¡°A hero once greater than anyone, praised for potentially conquering thebyrinth and receiving the attention of all gods, now clings to a mere adventurer for a trivial reason like revenge. Aren¡¯t you ashamed?¡± [Seeing your pathetic state, this doesn''t seem too bad.] The Hero spoke with a suddenly humorless tone. [Societ. Where is she?] ¡°She did note, Hero.¡± [Not interested in seeing my face? Fine. We''ll meet soon enough.] The Hero spoke softly, sending chills down their arms. Taesan clicked his jaw in annoyance. ¡°Can we finish this quickly?¡± A slight irritation appeared on the Lion-King¡¯s face. Things were not going as nned. He thought Taesan was just a puppet of the ghost. Talented and lucky, but dependent on the ghost. The n was for the Spirit King to pressure him, and by providing protection, they intended to shift his reliance from the ghost to themselves. A carrot and stick approach, but it didn¡¯t work. ¡®Not as expected.¡¯ Taesan was not relying on the ghost. It seemed more like the opposite. Ambracia, who had been silent till now, spoke up impatiently. ¡°I told you. This won¡¯t work.¡± Ambracia was the only one who opposed the carrot-and-stick n. He saw that Taesan was someone who wouldn¡¯t fall for such tactics. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point. We have one thing to confirm with you.¡± ¡°Confirm?¡± ¡°To verify if the gods really granted you their blessing, to see if they are indeed protecting you.¡± Ambracia stated. Taesan, understanding the implication, nodded. ¡®Such a cowardly choice.¡¯ They could not suppress him. Because they feared the wrath of the gods. They could not overpower him. Because they feared the wrath of the gods. They could not kill him. Because they feared the wrath of the gods. Thus, they would summon a god to verify if Taesan truly had the gods¡¯ interest. To see if harming him would bring their wrath upon themselves. ¡°We have no choice. They are rightfully feared.¡± Ambracia spoke bitterly. It was a decision they couldn¡¯t ridicule or argue against. They were undoubtedly strong. Among mortals, it was hard to find anyone stronger. They possessed the power to crush weaker worlds on their own. But they were only mortals, after all. Compared to transcendental beings, they were like insects. ¡°So, we¡¯ll call upon the Demon God.¡± [Why call the Demon God? None of you are demons. Wouldn''t Lakiratas be more convenient?] The ghost asked in bewilderment. The Demon God was literally the god of demons and usually didn¡¯t respond unless summoned by demons. In contrast, Lakiratas, being the God of Struggle and Death, was more responsive than other gods. They remained silent. Realization dawnedte on the ghost, who then sneered. [Of course. Lakiratas hates you. You''re scared he might kill you for no reason.] Lakiratas, the God of Struggle and Death, was the antithesis of everything the Guides of Sin represented. For them, summoning Lakiratas was far too dangerous. On the other hand, while the Demon God disliked them, it wasn¡¯t an entity likely to attack them directly. It was the best choice for verification. ¡°Quiet.¡± The Lion King, unable to hide his wounded pride, spoke harshly as he opened a portal. From it, he retrieved a jet-ck gem. ¡°We¡¯ll use this to call the Demon God.¡± Summoning a god required a sacrifice. The gem he brought out, difficult to find even in the deeperyers, could contain all forms of energy. It was sufficient to attract the Demon God. Crack. The Lion King applied force and shattered the gem. The ck mist within then dispersed towards thebyrinth¡¯s ceiling. ¡°Come forth! Great being! We offer you a tribute!¡± The Lion King bellowed. Simultaneously, the darkness split apart. A massive presence began to coalesce in front of them. The Lion King¡¯s pupils wavered. ¡°An immediate descent?¡± The jet-ck gem was a sufficient offering, but lofty gods typically didn¡¯t descend so readily. He thought it would take two or three more offerings before a god would appear. This was beyond his expectations. [This. This.] A voice mixed with pleasure and irritation was heard. The Lion King, regaining his senses, immediately prostrated himself. Ambracia and the Spirit King did the same. Even the Fire Spirit, who existed since the birth of stars, and the Lion King, once the strongest and mightiest ruler, couldn¡¯t raise their heads before a god. Only Taesan remained upright. [Should I be pleased to see you here, or should I mourn the sight of these losers? Hard to tell.] The darkness parted to reveal the Demon God. Jet-ck hair like the night. A not-yet fully grown girl descended into thebyrinth. Taesan responded calmly. ¡°Do as you wish, isn¡¯t it?¡± [Half and half. I''m annoyed.] The Demon God narrowed her eyes, looking at the prostrate Lion King. [I won''t bother you. Enough. Raise your heads.] ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± They cautiously lifted their heads, looked at the Demon God and Taesan, and swallowed hard. Facing a god without prostrating and speaking one¡¯s mind without inciting the god¡¯s anger. It was certain that the Demon God viewed Taesan favorably. ¡°O Demon God, I have a question! May I, in my lowliness, dare to ask?¡± [I have an idea what it is, but speak. I''ll listen.] ¡°The one before you imed to have learned ck magic with your permission.¡± The Lion King spoke cautiously. ¡°I wish to verify if he is lying. O Demon God.¡± This was precisely why they summoned the Demon God. They couldn¡¯t just leave Taesan be. If they did, he would surely descend further down the floors, killing the Guides of Sin on his way. And if he confronted them after bing stronger, they would be in danger. Thus, they summoned a god for early verification. If the god said no, they could kill Taesan; if yes, they had to form an alliance to prevent interference. And the Demon God had read all their thoughts. [Despicable beings.] The Demon God sneered. [You all are rotting this ce. We, the magician and I, created this ce for adventure and challenge, not to watchcent worms. How did ite to this?] The Lion King swallowed hard while Ambracia forced a smile. [Since we promised to minimize interference... I can''t help it. I''ll give you an answer. Yes, he didplete my quest. I gave him the power my beings can possess as a fitting reward. He is one of my most favored beings.] ¡°Is that so¡­¡± The Lion King barely managed to respond, concealing his shock. It was true. The Demon God had bestowed her power on a human, not a demon. ¡®We have to form an alliance.¡¯ The Lion King quickly concluded. Messing with a god¡¯s favorite was too risky. They had to pull Taesan to their side. That was the only solution. The ghost was present, but a deceased being couldn¡¯t interfere beyond a certain point with the living. With the right reward, Taesan might join them. He was desperately thinking, but Taesan had no such intentions. Taesan addressed the Demon God. ¡°O Demon God, could you officiate something for me?¡± [Tell me. What do you want?] ¡°A duel between them and me.¡± [...Ah?] The Demon Godughed, revealing her white teeth. [I like you. Yes, that''s it. We came here for that. We never wanted beings who only seek safety.] The Demon Godughed heartily, turning around gleefully. [Tell me, child from Earth. What do you desire?] ¡°I have no intention of getting along with them.¡± The Guides of Sin were his enemies. Combining the information from the ghost, they were entities that had to be killed eventually. It wasn¡¯t a prediction. It was a certainty. ¡°But the gap between them and me is quiterge.¡± Despite prostrating before the Demon God, they were still very strong beings. ¡°So, I want to create a rule. Only duels that are either equal or where neither side can be certain of victory should be allowed.¡± [You want to establish a minimum standard?] ¡°I don¡¯t want to die without being able to do anything. But I can¡¯t avoid fighting them either.¡± Battles with the Guides of Sin offered Taesan much to gain. Not just stats and skills but experience inbat was also important. And the most gains could only be achieved when one desperately sought victory and risked their lives in battle. [Not bad. I had no intention of interfering in such fights anyway¡­] Hearing the Demon God¡¯s murmur, Taesan became certain. The leaders were strong. Beings that were so powerful that their mere emotions could kill Taesan. The Demon God would intervene if an enemy of the leaders¡¯ level, someone Taesan absolutely couldn¡¯t handle, attacked him. However, for a fair fight with an opponent of equal standing, it seemed she had no intention of interfering. This was natural. The gods of thebyrinth weren¡¯t there to protect anyone. They wouldn¡¯t react to a legitimate fight. So, Taesan nned to get a clear answer now. To ensure only the most legitimate fights urred. To get rules that would benefit him the most. The Demon God, who seemed to be in thought, turned her gaze. [I''ll set the rules. Losers.] ¡°Yes.¡± The Lion King nodded, swallowing hard. [You can oppose him. But those too strong can''te up. Only losers who can have a fair fight with him, or several losers who together might defeat him. Only under such rules will I permit fights with him.] ¡°If¡­ the line is not respected, what will you do?¡± [You must seek my permission before you act. If you breach that and act on your own¡­ I won''t need to restrain myself, right?] The Demon God smiled slyly, a different cold smile than the one she showed to Taesan. The Lion King prostrated himself. ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll act as you wish.¡± [You''re now on the 30th floor but have far surpassed it. So, as it stands¡­ Several adventurers from the 40th floor, or maybe one from the 50th floor, should be a match for you. If that line is kept, I won''t intervene. Actually, there would be no reason to intervene.] The Demon God murmured, extending her hand. [This contract is sealed in my name.] A darkness-like twilight enveloped the room. [Those who break it will face darkness. Break the contract if you wish for that.] The Demon God chuckled. As the darkness deepened, the girl¡¯s figure slowly faded. [I like you, Kang Taesan.] The god spoke a mortal¡¯s name. The Guides of Sin couldn¡¯t hide their shock at this. The disappearing Demon God¡¯s eyes gleamed darkly. [This is a bonus for making a very satisfying choice.] [You have received the Demon God''s blessing [Victor ording to the Rules].] ¡°Thank you.¡± It was the reward he aimed for. The Demon God had a liking for him and wanted to give him something. So, he thought if he made a choice that pleased her, she would give him something. His prediction was urate. The Demon God smiled. [I''ll be waiting for the day youe to where I am.] With those meaningful words, the Demon God disappeared. The darkness vanished without a trace. Taesan pped his hands. ¡°Is it over now?¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Although Taesan pped his hands, the Lion King was too shocked to pay attention. He was in disbelief. ¡°A god remembered a human¡¯s name?¡± Proud and mighty gods didn¡¯t remember mortals. Even if mortals became apostles and pleased them, gods didn¡¯t usually utter their personal names. Yet, the Demon God had mentioned a human¡¯s name. This fact was deeply disconcerting to the Lion King. ¡°Snap out of it.¡± Taesan pped his hands again, the clear sound bringing them back to their senses. ¡°That¡¯s it for now. Send up whoever you want, of a simr level to me. I¡¯m going back.¡± He had achieved what he came for. There was nothing left to see here. ¡°¡­Do as you like. We have no more business with you.¡± The Lion King spoke more rxedly. This wasn¡¯t bad news for them. Ranks 4, 5, and 6 ¨C the Guides of Sin within thebyrinth could now be mobilized against Taesan. Although there were conditions, they could send opponents of equal rank, even those who would be difficult to beat. Then, killing Taesan wouldn¡¯t be difficult. The Lion King¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°Hope to see you againter. It¡¯ll be tough, though.¡± With those words, Taesan grasped the key. His vision blurred, and soon, he found himself back on the familiar 30th floor. Taesan chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again.¡± He had asked the Demon God to set rules as a safety measure, but also because he was there. In cases where the opponent was at a simr strength or if victory was uncertain for either side. He was confident of winning decisively. ¡°Not bad.¡± He now clearly understood the strength of the leaders, which he had only heard of or vaguely grasped. The power of mortals at their limit. That was Taesan¡¯s next target. [What about you? I''m a bit unsatisfied.] ¡°You knew she wouldn¡¯t show up, didn¡¯t you?¡± Societ, who imed to be friendly with the ghost. It was unlikely she would appear before the ghost. ¡°Just go meet her directly.¡± It wouldn¡¯t take too long. Step by step, crushing the Guides of Sin, he would eventually reach her. [...Yeah. That would work.] ¡°Then.¡± Taesan opened his status window with a pleased expression. He hadn¡¯t yet checked the rewards from defeating the 3rd tier of the Guides of Sin. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 72] [Shield: 545/545] [Health: 5990/5990] [Mana: 933/933] [Magic: 72/72] [Strength: 2263] [Intelligence: 1841] [Agility: 2055] [Attack Power +248] [Defense +248] [The target is in the best condition.] His level has increased by 3. And thanks to the Soul Ascension, arge amount of stats had risen. He also obtained two skills. [Basic Magic: Earth Tremor] [Mana Consumption: 14] [Proficiency: 1%] [Shakes the ground. It''s still difficult to maintain bnce at this stage. The vibration intensifies as proficiency increases.] When the Guide of Sin tried it, the ground shook moderately but was not significantly meaningful. It was uncertain whether this was due to the spatial characteristics of thebyrinth or the limitations of the magic itself. [Special Activation Skill: Mitigation] [Mana Consumption: 3] [Proficiency: 1%] [Reduces the ratio of damage taken. It''s still at a very minimal level.] ¡°I don¡¯t need to use this one.¡± It was useful but had no value for Taesan, who had Resilience. As it did not allow for multiple uses, it was unlikely to be needed. These were the skills obtained by defeating the Guides of Sin. And there were also skills obtained from meeting the leaders. [Special Activation Skill: de of Fighting Spirit] [Mana Consumption: 50] [Damage is tripled. This skill cannot be used again for one hour after use.] [A good skill. I also used it effectively on my way down.] Although it had a one-hour limitation, it tripled the damage for just one use. It was a good skill on its own, but even better for Taesan, who also has Multiply. A skill that doubled any type of damage. This also applies to the de of Fighting Spirit. The damage tripled and was then doubled, resulting in six times the damage in one hit. Despite the one-hour dy, it was a skill of a different level. And the divine blessing that was given directly by the Demon God. [The Demon King''s Blessing: Victor ording to the Rules] [When a legitimate victory is achieved ording to the rules set by the Demon King, additional rewards are obtained.] ¡°A skill exclusive to beating the Guides of Sin?¡± It was a blessing that granted additional rewards upon defeating them. The level of reward was unknown, but considering the effects of previous divine blessings, it would not be insignificant. Given its restrictive condition, it could rival or even surpass the benefits of Soul Ascension. ¡°Good.¡± He could be stronger even faster now. Taesan closed the system window and descended further into thebyrinth. [This is the way to the heart of thebyrinth.] [The darkness here is strong. However, those existing here slightly diminish that darkness.] [Start of the 31st floor quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 31st floor and pass through.] [Reward: The White Sword] [Secret Reward: ???] The 31st floor. The theme changed again. Taesan knew what to expect, having heard from Lee Taeyeon in advance. [The 31st floor, that guy must be there, right? Now that I think about it, you could probably beat him? What might be there?] The ghost mumbled with interest. As he descended the stairs, the shop owner appeared. ¡°Have you made it this far?¡± The shop owner¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Good. Just keep going down. And reach the ce I want.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Taesan entered the first room on the 31st floor. There, an NPC was waiting. ¡°Oh? A traveler, it¡¯s been a while.¡± A knight in golden armor was there. [You have encountered Vargan, the Guide of God.] Vargan was a knight with a rich white beard. His armor,rge shield, and longsword were all golden, dazzling to the eye. ¡°Hmm? The hero?¡± Vargan hesitated upon seeing the hero. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± [Yeah, it''s been a while, right? We met only once and never again.] ¡°So, you being here means¡­¡± Vargan looked at Taesan and smiled. ¡°So you¡¯re the adventurer Lord Ainzhar spoke of?¡± ¡°Did you hear about me?¡± ¡°Yes. He spoke highly of you. Said it was a pleasure to meet a fine adventurer.¡± Vargan looked at Taesan with shining eyes. ¡°I guess you¡¯re not too bad.¡± Shing. He drew his sword. The de of the longsword was pure white. Taesan reflexively drew his weapon. ¡°Don¡¯t be too wary. I am just a kind of examiner. For details, you can ask the ghost behind.¡± [A kind of qualification test? I don''t know what it is. I failed it.] ¡°You?¡± Taesan was surprised. The ghost should have been capable of handling at least two average adventurers on the 30th floor. A test that even the ghost failed. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I test two things. One is the judgment of qualification to descend here.¡± Vargan raised his shield. His entire body was hidden behind it. ¡°This one is quite easy. Just show enough strength. And even if I don¡¯t permit it, there¡¯s no rule that you can¡¯t descend further. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re likely to die, so it¡¯s better to be content here.¡± ¡°And the other?¡± ¡°The qualification to enter the Battlefield of the Gods.¡± Vargan grinned. ¡°I will judge if you are worthy to spread the greatness of this ce. The criteria of judgment, you know, without saying, right?¡± [Subquest Start] [The Guide of God Vargan wants to test you foring this far down. Pass his test to earn a reward and another quest.] [Vargan has challenged Kang Taesan to a duel. In this duel, neither can kill the other.] Taesan took his stance. Qualification for the Battlefield of the Gods. It seemed the ghost had not attained it. And the fact that he failed meant that Vargan was a formidable opponent. There was no reason to refuse. It wasn¡¯t a life-threatening crisis, and if he gained the qualification, there was a high chance of receiving a special quest, as the crazed spirit had. [Duel epted.] ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Vargan assumed his stance. ¡°Then let¡¯s start right away.¡± Boom! A loud sound rang out. It was the sound of Vargan rushing at speed after stomping the ground. An incredibly fast pace. It was a speed iparable to the Guides of Sin that Taesan had seen before but not so fast that it couldn¡¯t be followed with his eyes. [You have activated Mental eleration.] [You have activated Breathless Attack.] He activated all his basic skills and moved his body. ng! The sword collided with the shield, emitting a sharp sound. Taesan frowned at the strength felt beyond his wrist. ¡®He¡¯s strong.¡¯ His strength stat was much higher than expected. As much as Vargan was surprised, Taesan was equally astonished. ¡®Blocked my charge?¡¯ Among the hundreds of adventurers he had tested, none had blocked his charge. Not even the so-called heroes. Taesan created distance. Vargan thundered towards him with thudding steps. Strong and heavy. There was almost no chance of winning in a head-on sh. Then¡­ [You have activated Random Blink.] At the moment Vargan swung his sword, Taesan activated the skill. His body disappeared and then reappeared right above Vargan. Quickly assessing his position, Taesan used gravity to bring his sword down. Vargan pushed up his shield with a huff. ng! Taesan¡¯s body was thrown into the air. Due to the difference in stats, the speed at which he was flying was extraordinary. If this continued, he could hit the wall and suffer significant damage. Boom! Vargan didn¡¯t miss this opportunity. In the air, even the strongest are not free in their movements. He intended to finish it by pressing on. Vargan, who caught up with Taesan in an instant, pushed forward with his shield like a tank. [You have activated Aerial Leap.] Taesan stepped in the air. Vargan¡¯s body brushed past, and Taesan struck at his nape. ng! ¡°Ugh!¡± [Vargan took 64 damage.] ¡®Is this all it does?¡¯ Taesan clicked his tongue. Excluding the damage from Aura, it meant he had not inflicted any real harm. ¡°Gasp!¡± Vargan stopped and struck Taesan. Although Taesan blocked with his sword, the difference in stats was inevitable. His body was thrown into the air again. Vargan rushed in. Aerial Leap could only be used once in the air, and Taesan had not yet touched the ground. But Vargan had no choice but to stop. [You have activated Landing.] Taesan¡¯s body countered the force andnded on the ground. ¡°Landing too¡­ Oh, my.¡± Vargan couldn¡¯t help but marvel. ¡°Now I see why Lord Ainzhar mentioned you. It¡¯s unbelievable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my line.¡± From their short battle, it was clear. He was not an opponent Taesan could defeat. The opponent probably possessed strength beyond the 60th floor. There was a significant gap between him and the leaders of the Guides of Sin, but the current Taesan was far from that level. Yet, Taesan raised his sword. ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± An opponent who it seemed impossible to attain victory over. However, it was precisely in battling such adversaries that one could gain valuable experiences. Taesan stomped his foot. ¡°That¡¯s far enough.¡± Vargan stopped his sword. Taesan¡¯s face, drenched in sweat, shone with determination. ¡°I can¡¯t go any further. If I¡¯m not careful, I might end up using all my strength.¡± Vargan forcibly suppressed his fighting spirit. It had been a battle close to an hour. During that time, Vargan was unable to overpower Taesan. [Duel Ended.] With the end window, Taesan copsed. He had fought with all his might and achieved not a bad result. How long he endured against such an opponent also influenced the proficiency of his skills. Indeed, the proficiency of skills like Fighting Against Strong Opponents or de of Fighting Spirit had also increased by about 1 to 2%. Taesan was satisfied, and Vargan couldn¡¯t hide his admiration. ¡°A neer to the 31st floor¡­ to hold out against me for an hour?¡± It was unthinkable. Even that strong hero could onlyst 5 minutes against him. And even he, being an exceptional adversary, received ample rewards. But an hour? While he wanted to continue fighting, Vargan was the Guide of God. He had his role to fulfill. ¡°You might be able¡­¡± ¡°What might be?¡± ¡°To represent thebyrinth and qualify topete.¡± Vargan grinned. [Subquest Completed] [Vargan intends to give you a suitable reward.] With thepletion, another quest began. [Subquest Start] [Head to the Battlefield of the Gods and achieve victory.] Chapter 140 Chapter 140 After taking a rest to recover stamina and mana, the conversation resumed. ¡°What is this Battlefield of the Gods?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not aplicated story. You know that there are numerous gods in thebyrinth, right?¡± Taesan nodded. He had already encountered more than five gods. As he went deeper, there would likely be dozens more. ¡°The gods who agreed with the wizard¡¯s intentions entered thebyrinth. But conversely, the gods who did not agree with the wizard are still in the outside world.¡± The God of Light born from the earth, Harmon, was like that, existing outside. That was already known. Vargan wrinkled his nose. ¡°Foolishly and weakly, the gods who couldn¡¯t enter thebyrinth are trying to assert their pride. They created their own battlefield, sending their ves to fight there, wanting to im that what you made, they can easily create too.¡± Vargan scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s foolish? Ignorant of thebyrinth¡¯s greatness, just unting their pride.¡± The only god he had seen outside was Harmon, the God of Light born from the earth. But the disparity in power seemed clear. Harmon¡¯s struggle was crushed under the light touch of the Demon God. The gods in thebyrinth were of the highest caliberpared to the outside world as well. As they talked about Harmon, Vargan vehemently agreed. ¡°Yet, the gods outside are acting out of line. Provoking the gods of thebyrinth, they¡¯re saying, ¡®If what you¡¯re doing has any real meaning, prove it to us.¡¯ Ignorant fools.¡± ¡°Why not just squash them?¡± ¡°I wish it were that simple.¡± Vargan shook his head regretfully. ¡°Several gods from the outsidebined their powers and turned their battlefield into their domain. Even for the gods of thebyrinth, there¡¯s significant power loss. They probably don¡¯t think it¡¯s worth the risk.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The Demon God came to mind. As Vargan said, even gods had to endure power loss to destroy another god¡¯s domain. But the Demon God utterly destroyed Harmon¡¯s world, where he massacred the demons. That meant she thought enduring the power loss to crush Harmon was worth enduring, but the battlefield wasn¡¯t worth it. ¡°I can¡¯t stand it. The gods outside daring to mock thebyrinth.¡± His words were filled with undeniable anger and pride for thebyrinth. Taesan nodded, thinking to himself. ¡®A kind of pride battle.¡¯ A battle of pride between the gods of thebyrinth and those outside. That was exactly what it was. ¡°If you¡¯ve heard this much, you might guess.¡± ¡°That I should be thebyrinth¡¯s representative?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Vargan nodded emphatically. Taesan understood the flow of the conversation, but there was something he didn¡¯t grasp. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go?¡± Vargan was stronger than Taesan. But Vargan shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be able to go there anyway¡­¡± Vargan exined calmly. ¡°Beings that are too powerful are blocked by the gods there. But we can¡¯t send someone too weak, either. Someone strong enough to enter their world and powerful enough to defeat their ves. You are just right for it.¡± Vargan¡¯s eyes were filled with intensity as he looked at Taesan. ¡°You can crush the arrogance of those insolent ones outside.¡± Be the representative of thebyrinth and defeat those who follow the gods outside. That was Vargan¡¯s proposal. Taesan stood still for a moment, lost in thought. Observing him, Vargan suddenly pped his hands as if remembering something. ¡°Ah, I haven¡¯t given you your reward yet. Here, take this.¡± Vargan handed over a golden ring. ¡°It might be a bit much for an adventurer on this floor, but you have proven your strength sufficiently. You deserve this level of reward.¡± [Golden Ring] [Health + 200] [Mana + 50] [Strength + 20] [Agility + 20] [Intelligence + 20] [Attack Power + 20] [Defense + 20] [The Golden Ring. Its value is indescribable.] [What is this?] The ghost let out a sound unintentionally. Taesan, having seen the effects, also paused. ¡°Is it okay to give away a ring like this?¡± The effects were unbelievable. Such abilities were not fitting for a mere ring. Even the most stat-boosting armor would be excessive for these effects, let alone a ring of which ten could be worn. The ghost chuckled disbelievingly. [This is equipment that is hard to find even on the 50th floor, right?] ¡°Don¡¯t you know? As you descend deeper, equipment bes worthless. The standards are different down there.¡± [But that''s a distant story, right? Right now, it seems like too much.] ¡°Really? I don¡¯t think so.¡± Vargan looked at Taesan and muttered. ¡°If so, you¡¯ll reach the deeperyers soon enough. So, it¡¯s not a big problem.¡± [Well... that''s true.] The ghost closed its mouth. Taesan wore the ring. It was a gain for him, so he nned to use it gratefully. ¡°So, what will you do?¡± Vargan asked with eager anticipation. Taesan continued to think. A power struggle among gods. He would probably leave thebyrinth and head to the battlefield in the territory of the gods outside. If it involved gods who disliked thebyrinth, there was a high possibility they would show animosity towards Taesan. It was a quest not without risks. Taesan asked. ¡°What¡¯s the reward for the quest?¡± ¡°It will be more than enough.¡± Vargan grinned. ¡°The gods of thebyrinth will generously reward you for removing the thorn in their side. I will as well.¡± If the reward was certain, there was no reason to refuse. Taesan epted. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± [Subquest epted.] Vargan¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Good. Very good.¡± ¡°How do I get to the battlefield?¡± ¡°Once you reach the 33rd floor, head to the room at the far left end. There¡¯ll be a God¡¯s Altar there. You can go through it.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The 33rd floor. It wasn¡¯t far. Taesan would arrive there before long. Vargan, satisfied, sheathed his sword. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll excuse myself now. I¡¯ll be preparing your reward in advance.¡± Vargan left with a smile. Taesan, watching him leave, also gripped his sword. Now, his n was to continue exploring thebyrinth. ¡°You didn¡¯t receive that quest, did you?¡± [I regretted it a bit. Just a little more strength, and I would have made it, but it''s too much for now. That''s why I heard about it for the first time. The gods outside are thinking like that, huh?] The ghost mumbled with interest. [Does that make sense? From their perspective, the gods who entered thebyrinth must be irritating. They left their own worlds behind, after all.] ¡°Can ordinary gods not enter thebyrinth?¡± [They can, but the risk is too high for them. Unless they''re incredibly strong gods, they''d have to sacrifice their domains, which could destroy their godly stature. Most gods in thebyrinth are of the highest order.] The ghost trailed off as if suddenly remembering something. [Ah, maybe not all.] ¡°Are there exceptions?¡± [A few transcendent beings who shattered their stature just to enter here. They''re not particrly benevolent gods¡­ Just be careful, and it should be fine.] ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very reassuring.¡± It felt like an incident waiting to happen. As they talked, a monster from the 31st floor appeared. [A White Knight who lost itself appeared.] The knight, dressed in armor simr to Vargan¡¯s but in white instead of gold, seemed inferior. The knight rolled forward, charging at Taesan. Taesan raised his sword. Crack. ¡°Definitely stronger now.¡± From the 30th floor, it was considered the middleyers, no longer the lower ones. The monsters¡¯ strength had a clear difference from previous floors. While it wasn¡¯t a big problem for Taesan, a regr adventurer would struggle to adapt at this level. This thought made him think of the others. ¡°Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t contacted them since I returned.¡± He had been busy with various things since returning and hadn¡¯t had the chance. Remembering this, he opened themunity and sent a message. [Kang Taesan invited Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: You there?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Oh?] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: Brother. You were here. I thought you went somewhere likest time.] Unlike before, there was a calm tone. It seemed they no longer thought Taesan was dead. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: How are you doing?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: It''s tough but manageable. Almost cleared the 10th floor.] Taesan was slightly surprised at her response. She was progressing faster than he thought. [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: The Divine Blessing? Because of that, it''s gotten easier. I heard from others in different modes that they''re descending faster than before.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: That''s good.] The Divine Blessing given by Lakiratas enhanced the talents for struggle. He, too, had grown stronger thanks to it, and others without a foundation would undoubtedly benefit even more. It seemed that other Solo Mode yers and even those in Hard Mode were making faster progress. It was good news. This meant more people would survive to the end. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: The Trial of Self-Proof was just as you said, Taesan. It''s a bit tougher than my current floor. Got stuck there.] [Kang Junhyeok[Solo]: I finished simrly. Thanks to that, I got stronger and managed to push through.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: That''s great. You''ll gain various things once you clear the 10th floor, making it easier.] Each theme that was cleared granted them various titles. Taesan himself had grown significantly stronger after clearing the 10th floor, so for them, with lower base stats, the improvement would be more noticeable. [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Let me know if you need anything. I''ll at least give you the basic information.] Information like secret rooms or bosses was fine to share. Towards the end of the conversation, Lee Taeyeon seemed to remember something and wrote a message. [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Oh. Taesan, did you check themunity? The Easy and Normal Modes, I mean.] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: Haven''t looked. I haven''t even had time to check yours.] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Right. Um...] [Kang Taesan[Solo]: What''s up?] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: It''s nothing major. Not bad news. It''s a bit lengthy, so you can check it outter.] It seemed like aplex issue to exin. Taesan, not particrly interested in the Easy or Normal Modes, exchanged a few more words and then exited themunity. Taesan resumed his journey through thebyrinth. And when he had cleared about half of the 31st floor, Ambracia appeared with an awkward expression. ¡°Hello?¡± Taesan tensed his grip on the sword without a word. Ambracia hurriedly waved her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t attack, I¡¯m not here to fight.¡± ¡°Then why are you here?¡± ¡°Did I want toe? Those damned ones kept whining about not wanting to go. Sending a fourth-tier wouldn¡¯t work either as it might start a fight.¡± Ambracia sighed deeply. Thinking about it, he seemed more mild-mannered than other Guides of Sin and often got pushed around. ¡°So, what is it?¡± ¡°I came to exin the rules between you and us.¡± Ambracia began to exin. ¡°After reviewing the Demon King¡¯s rules, we decided to act when you reach the brink of the fourth tier.¡± ¡°That¡¯ster than I expected.¡± ¡°Only then can we pour everything into it.¡± Taesan would have to approach the 40th floor before the fourth-tier adventurers could mobilize against him. They nned toplete their preparations by then, thinking this approach would have the highest chance of sess. ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t quite agree.¡± As they prepared, Taesan would also grow iparably stronger by the time he reached the 40th floor. Ambracia shrugged. ¡°Regardless, that¡¯s our n.¡± Taesan nodded. Ambracia¡¯s words implied that the Guides of Sin wouldn¡¯t interfere until he reached the 40th floor. Although he had finished rying his message, Ambracia didn¡¯t leave immediately but kept staring at Taesan. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just, it¡¯s fleeting.¡± Ambracia gave a bitter smile. ¡°Looking at you brings various thoughts. See youter.¡± Leaving a crypticment, Ambracia departed. The ghostmented. [They must have mixed feelings about you.] ¡°Why?¡± [Because you remind them of their past selves. They tried to conquer thebyrinth but ultimately failed and gave up. But you keep going, gaining the gods'' recognition. Sessful versus failed. They must be thinking about this every time they see you.] ¡°I see.¡± It was a matter of little interest to Taesan. He would not be deterred. Having witnessed destruction and returned from death, he had no intention of backing down. He simply moved forward to conquer, to win. Taesan gripped his sword firmly. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 ¡°Huff. Huff.¡± Boom With a loud noise, a monster fell. A smile formed on the face of the man who had fought it. [10th Floor Clear Reward] [Five Blue Potions.] ¡°Oh¡­¡± The man, Kim Yohan, eximed in awe. He had just cleared the 10th floor on his own for the first time. ¡°Yes!¡± He clenched his fist. This was an achievement beyond his wildest dreams. He was a Normal Mode yer. Like others, he was initially panicked but eventually epted the situation and entered the Labyrinth. However, he had been unable to pass the 5th floor for months. Hisck of talent was the reason. He struggled even with light attacks and had barely escaped death from monsters of his level. Others like him who entered the Labyrinth had moved on, but he remained stuck here. Known as a failure in Normal Mode, he struggled alone and couldn¡¯t find a proper party. But that was now over. ¡°This is really¡­¡± He looked at the skill with awe-filled eyes. [God''s Blessing: Struggle and Death''s Harvest] [You gain all talents rted to struggle and death.] The skill that enabled him to clear the 10th floor alone. The effect of gaining talents he didn¡¯t have before was tremendous. He could now easily block attacks from monsters he couldn¡¯t handle before and defeat them without significant damage. This skill made him much stronger. And there was a person responsible for him obtaining this skill. ¡°Kang Taesan¡­ was it?¡± He had been in Busan when the world was ending, and the choices were given. He had never seen Taesan directly, but he had heard stories from other Normal Mode yers. A single person who defeated many yers from Hard Mode. Someone who defeated a monster that others couldn¡¯t even resist. And the one who bestowed blessings upon them all. Thanks to Kang Taesan, Yohan could conquer the Labyrinth. His gratitude towards Taesan was indescribable. ¡°I should thank him if I ever meet him.¡± He had reached a ce he believed was unreachable. His feelings were evolving beyond mere gratitude. And unbeknownst to Kim Yohan, a golden aura was emanating from him. This aura reached out across dimensions to someone. [Divine Power increased by 1%.] Taesan, who had just defeated a monster, paused. ¡°Why did this suddenly increase?¡± [...Indeed?] The increase in divine power proficiency was unexpected. Taesan frowned. ¡°Did this monster possess divine power?¡± [Unlikely...] ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± It was an inexplicable increase. Feeling uneasy, Taesan continued deeper into the Labyrinth. The 31st floor was also nearing its end. Taesan checked the rewards in the secret room. [Sword Infused with Holy Energy] [Attack Power + 25] [A sword blessed by the gods. Now faded, only remnants remain.] It was equipment of the same grade as the weapon he was currently wearing. He thought it would be good to sell it in the store. [Adventurer Title Activated. Rewards from the secret room are doubled.] ¡°Oh?¡± Another Sword Infused with Holy Energy was generated. Taesan picked it up with a satisfied expression. ¡°Not bad.¡± Though it was unnecessary equipment, it would be quite valuable in the store. After collecting the rewards, Taesan continued to break through the Labyrinth and soon encountered the boss. [The Fragmented Self of a Knight Appears.] nk. A white knight wielding a sword simr to those he had faced before. Taesan drew his two swords and charged. sh! He uses Wolf¡¯s Fang and Dance of Swords in quick session without activating a skill. The knight countered with his own swordsmanship. ng! Taesan¡¯s sword smoothly countered the knight¡¯s attack and pierced the armor. He crushed the knee with an attack and struck the head. [You have defeated the Fragmented Self of a Knight.] The victory was not difficult. Taesan swung his swords around. ording to Lee Taeyeon, monsters wielding various weapons appear from the 31st floor. So Taesan focused on swordsmanship, which significantly improved his proficiency. [Advanced Skill: Stormscar Sword] [Proficiency: 39%] [A sword technique passed down from the destroyed world. Only one person now masters it. You can be confident you''ve begun to understand it.] 40% was close. The rise was quick, but Taesan¡¯s expression was not too pleased. ¡°It feels like I¡¯m hitting a wall.¡± His swordsmanship was improving. Now, there was almost no dy in activating Wolf¡¯s Fang and Dance of Swords. But that was it. There was no sign of gaining anything new. The ghost agreed. [You''re reaching your limit. I told you before, right? Beyond a certain level, it''s really hard to self-learn.] ¡°Have I reached that point?¡± [Yes, the fourth stage is particrly tough. It''s a kind of consolidation. The techniques you''ve umted and learned. You need tobine these two to create something new. But that''s...] ¡°Not easy.¡± [It''s actually difficult.] The ghost spoke in an ambiguous tone. [There are a few methods... but they''re difficult to apply here. You need to discover them yourself; I''ve never seen anyone do that. Even with your talent for struggle, swordsmanship is a different realm. What to do.] A way to learn higher-dimensional swordsmanship. He pondered for a while, but the answer didn¡¯te easily. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it over time.¡± [You can take your time. Once you get past that stage, it gets a bit easier.] He checked the clear reward. [White Sword] [A Spotless White Sword. Refined from a mineral not found here.] [Attack Power + 35] ¡°Good.¡± Taesan used dual swords. Aside from Calvert¡¯s Relic, he needed another weapon. The one he was currently wearing had an attack power of 25, so naturally, he thought to rece it. [??? was used.] [Obtained a Golden Sword.] [Golden Sword] [Attack Power + 45] [A spotless golden sword. Refined from a mineral not found here.] [This feels like a tease, doesn''t it?] The ghost murmured sulkily. Taesan changed his weapon again and went down to the 32nd floor. [32nd Floor Quest Started.] [Defeat the boss of the 32nd floor to pass.] [Reward: Bloodstained Armor] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°Seems like no magical items will be given.¡± The rewards were all simr, possibly due to the knights on this floor. Taesan, wishing to learn new magic, felt a bit disappointed. He met the store owner and sold the equipment he had acquired. ¡°Why are there two of these?¡± The store owner looked puzzled as he picked up the Sword Infused with Holy Energy. ¡°This should be worth about¡­ 14,000 gold. Are you selling?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll sell.¡± The amount was satisfactory. He had now umted enough money to buy items from the store owner. ¡°What do you want to buy?¡± ¡°Not now.¡± There was no rush. The deeper he went, the better the equipment for sale, so he nned to wait as long as possible. Leaving the store owner behind, Taesan descended to the 32nd floor. The monsters on the 32nd floor were simr to the 31st, armored and wielding swords. Their movements were more refined and faster. However, that was it. He handled them with his swordsmanship alone and moved on. After a while, he found a shrine of a god. [You have discovered the Shrine of Ehili.] [First Discovery Bonus] [[Strength permanently increased by 10. Health permanently increased by 30.] ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± It was a reward that felt good, even though it wasn¡¯t necessary. Taesan turned off the window and looked at the shrine. The shrine¡¯s appearance was very simple. No, it was too simple to even be called a shrine. A giant sword, reaching to the ceiling, was the only thing piercing the ground. A chilling aura emanated from it. He had a guess. Who the owner of this shrine was. The ghost calmly confirmed his guess. [God of Swords. Ehili.] ¡°Indeed.¡± He had suspected it. With the God of Magic residing in the Labyrinth, there was no reason for the God of Swords not to exist. ¡°This feels strange.¡± He was unsure how the God of Swords would react to him. In a way, Taesan had stolen the Aura bestowed by Ehili on Vekveta through Soul Ascension. It wouldn¡¯t have been strange to interpret it as intercepting the power of a god. Moreover, Vekveta had also perished. Although the Demon God directly crushed it, Taesan¡¯s involvement was a fact, so he felt a bit uneasy. [It doesn''t matter. The most indifferent god in the Labyrinth is the God of Swords. He might not take interest in you, but he won''t show hostility either.] The ghost spoke with certainty. If he said so, it was unlikely Taesan would face hostility. Taesan approached the sword and touched it. Coldness seeped into his hand. Simultaneously, energy flowed from the sword. A calm yet heavy aura filled the room. Within the energy, a few emotions were felt. Curiosity. Doubt. And wee. [Looks like there''s no hostility.] [Sub-quest begins] [The influence of Ehili is reduced.] [Ehili wants to test you, havinge to his shrine. ept, and an enhanced trial wille to you. Ovee it, and a reward follows.] [Reward: Ehili decides based on your performance.] ¡°An enhanced trial from the start?¡± [Even the indifferent Ehili must have heard about you. He''s not nning to take it easy. Here it starts.] The ghost murmured excitedly. [What kind of trial will it be? Ehili, a god who rarely shows emotions. I''ve never heard rumors of him giving an enhanced trial, so what could it be?] ¡°What did you get?¡± [Simr to Lakiratas. I had to defeat a servant of Ehili.] ¡°So, this time, I have to face a real servant?¡± [Most likely.] As they discussed the content of the trial, a system window appeared. [Sub-quest epted] [Ehili''s power infuses into the ghost.] ¡°What?¡± [Huh?] They paused. Massive energy from the sword embedded in the ground began to infuse into the white ghost. The ghost iled in apparent panic. [Wait a minute!] [Condition 1: Strike the ghost in an equal state with a single blow.] [Condition 2: Prohibit the use of any skill unrted to swordsmanship.] [Condition 3: This quest does not end until the conditions are met.] Taesan¡¯s pupils dted as he read the conditions. [Ah, ahh.] The ghost let out a groan-like exmation. His form, which was white like a ghost from a movie, began to change. ¡°¡­Is this possible with the power of a god?¡± Taesan groaned. tinum hair flowed, and a well-built body materialized. Expressions began to form on the previously nk face. The ghost vanished. Instead, a prince from the destroyed world appeared. ¡°Ah, ahh¡­¡± The ghost looked at his own hands. After staring nkly, he eventually let out a smallugh. ¡°This is¡­ quite surprising.¡± ¡°Same here.¡± [The prince of the destroyed world, Bradley, appears.] Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Taesan looked at the ghost, now possessing a physical body. His hair was tinum blonde, straight without a hint of curl, swaying smoothly with every movement. His appearance was that of a standard handsome man, with features neither too sharp nor too blunt. His clothing was of very high quality, befitting his self-proimed status as a prince but practical enough for movement. ¡°This is¡­¡± Bradley, still in shock, continued to groan. Panic was evident in his golden eyes. ¡°Hey, a mirror. Show me a mirror.¡± ¡°You know I don¡¯t carry something like that.¡± But Taesan had something simr. He activated an ice arrow. Seeing his reflection in the ice, Bradley stroked his cheek. ¡°Ha.¡± Laughter escaped Bradley. A mix of emotions - resignation, joy - flickered in his eyes. ¡°This is something.¡± He murmured in astonishment, barely calming down. ¡°Didn¡¯t know this was possible¡­¡± ¡°Is that your body?¡± ¡°Yes. Quite handsome, right? Thedies used to swoon over me, you know?¡± Bradley joked, puffing up. But his smile faded under Taesan¡¯s expressionless gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t be too shocked. I¡¯m surprised, too.¡± ¡°A kind of trial, then.¡± ¡°Probably. Seeing that I¡¯ve been given this form.¡± In Bradley¡¯s hands were two wooden swords that he was lightly swinging. ¡°Probably a temporary body until the trial is over. Once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll return to being a ghost. This is dangerous. I might not want to finish the trial.¡± It could be decades or centuries. Bradley¡¯s expression showed the emotion of finding his lost physical form. ¡°Still¡­ I must fulfill my duty.¡± Bradley pointed his sword at Taesan. Taesan also drew two swords. He checked the trial¡¯s conditions in the system. First condition. Strike the ghost in an equal state with a single blow. ¡°Basically, this body¡¯s stats are perfectly equal to yours. Shabbypared to my prime, but not bad.¡± Bradley swung his swords, each strike bing faster and more precise. ¡°That should do it.¡± Swoosh! His swords cut through the air. Since stats directly affected the body, it usually took time to adapt to sudden changes. However, the ghost adjusted to his physical form in just twenty strikes. ¡°My proficiency¡­ is the same as yours.¡± The ghost¡¯s sword movements were erratic. Taesan, who had learned the same techniques, knew it was the Dance of Swords. But he couldn¡¯t follow them. The erratic movements were hard to track. ¡°I can only use Dance of Swords and Wolf¡¯s Fang, too. Looks like the conditions are indeed equal.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look equal at all.¡± Proficiency and stats didn¡¯t matter. The warrior before him was several levels above in swordsmanship. ¡°That¡¯s what a trial is, I guess.¡± Bradley chuckled. Taesan recalled the second condition: prohibition of all skills unrted to swordsmanship. He had to abandon his strongest tactics and engage inbat. ¡°Confusing, but a good opportunity. As expected of the God of Swords. He knows exactly what you need.¡± Bradley swung the tip of his sword. ¡°I can¡¯t just wait around. Come at me.¡± It was, as Bradley said. Condition 3. The trial doesn¡¯t end until the conditions are cleared. Whether it was sess or failure, the only way forward was to try. Taesan rushed in as soon as he reached a conclusion. His opponent had mastered the sword techniques he possessed. Half-hearted tricks wouldn¡¯t work. Full force from the start. His sword swayed and struck like a wolf. Bradley was impressed. ¡°That¡¯s the right approach.¡± At this moment, techniques were meaningless. He could crush and obliterate everything. So, from the beginning, he poured everything he had. That was Taesan¡¯s choice, and it was the perfect answer. ¡°But the right answer doesn¡¯t always lead to sess.¡± Bradley¡¯s hand moved. Smoothly, yet sharply. His Dance of Swords and his sword trajectory swept away all of Taesan¡¯s sharp movements. Bradley thrust his wooden sword at Taesan¡¯s shoulder. Taesan barely twisted his body to dodge and aimed for the side. Bradley countered simply. He blocked Taesan¡¯s movement by attaching his leg to Taesan¡¯s, restricting his attack, and pushed forward. Taesan, unable to take a proper stance, was pushed back. ¡°This really seems impossible.¡± Taesan grumbled as he waved his sword. Despite having the same stats and proficiency, the man before him was infinitely stronger in swordsmanship. Taesan had faced Malesten, an apostle of Pavshta, with equal stats and skills but overwhelmed him without allowing a single hit. This was simr. The swordsmanship Taesan learned was what Bradley had mastered in the past. Between the master and the learner, the advantage was clear. Without skills,nding a hit was impossible. ¡°So, you¡¯re going to give up?¡± ¡°Hardly.¡± Taesan charged again. He changed his approach, altered his pattern, and twisted his movements to attack Bradley. And Bradley blocked them all. ¡°That won¡¯t work.¡± Bradley swung his sword. The movements were simple, but they easily countered Taesan¡¯s chaotic attacks. ¡°You can¡¯t reach me with that.¡± Bradley jabbed at Taesan¡¯s sr plexus. Taesan was pushed back with a faint groan. Taesan immediately rushed forward again. Bradley weed him with a smile. This time was different. The sword¡¯s movement was shaky. Like a mirage, it was apletely different technique from what Taesan had shown before. ¡°Alteration is fine, but the foundation of that movement is the swordsmanship I taught you. I¡¯ve also tried such variations. Of course, I know how to counter them.¡± Bradley easily blocked it. ¡°Really now.¡± Taesan let out a hollowugh. Whatever he tried, it was perfectly blocked. He realized what Malesten must have felt against him. Bradley, not sweating a drop, casually said, ¡°I told you that won¡¯t work. You need something different.¡± ¡°Be quiet, it¡¯s annoying.¡± Taesan narrowed his eyes, grumbling. ¡®This way won¡¯t work.¡¯ He tried various modifications to the sword techniques he learned from Bradley, mixing them with his own skills. But all were ineffective. Bradley seemed to know all of them, blocking them with light movements. Bradley¡¯s proficiency in Stormscar Swordsmanship was 100%. This meant he fully mastered the technique, including all its variations and derivations. ¡®I need something different.¡¯ Taesan closed his eyes. Bradley smiled at this gesture. ¡®As expected.¡¯ After a hundred attempts, Taesan realized the answer. It might seem slow to some, but it was an incredibly fast realization for Bradley. Taesan¡¯s innate talent wasn¡¯t extraordinary. If asked, Bradley could name dozens more talented than Taesan. Sure, Taesan had talent, but it was not something exceptional that couldn¡¯t be found elsewhere. However, Taesan possessed the ability to organize thoughts and insights umted through experience and derive answers. And that was more remarkable than mere talent. The result right before him proved it. Taesan had said he hit a wall upon entering the 31st floor. It seemed difficult to find a way forward, to progress. That was inevitable. The Stormscar Swordsmanship belonged to Bradley. It was his technique, not Taesan¡¯s. There was a limit to how far Taesan could go. The fact that he couldn¡¯tnd a hit on someone equal to him in stats was proof of that. ¡®But that¡¯s strong enough.¡¯ With proper training and focus on the sword, he could reach a level effective even in deeperyers. But what got Taesan this far wasn¡¯t swordsmanship but the variety of skills he possessed. Swordsmanship was just a supporting area. ¡®I can¡¯t defeat you with my swordsmanship.¡¯ He was a master of Stormscar Swordsmanship. Even if restricted by the system¡¯s proficiency limits, that experience didn¡¯t vanish. Taesan, even after hundreds of attempts, couldn¡¯t reach him. And it would be the same even if Taesan reached 100% proficiency. After all, it was Bradley¡¯s swordsmanship. He learned it, developed it, and perfected it. For someone else to handle it better than its creator was impossible unless they were a one-in-a-continent genius, and Taesan didn¡¯t have that level of talent in swordsmanship. ¡®But I can¡¯t just abandon it.¡¯ Stormscar Swordsmanship was already embedded in Taesan¡¯s movements. Completely discarding it would be harder than starting over from level 1. So, he had to absorb it. Like Malesten did long ago, and like he himself did, he had to internalize what he learned and transform it into his own. Bradley waited patiently. An hour passed before Taesan opened his eyes. His pupils flickered quietly. Bradley greeted him with a smile. ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve got it now.¡± ¡°Somewhat.¡± It wasn¡¯t a perfect answer yet. But it seemed enough to pass this trial. [You have begun the creation of your swordsmanship.] Bradley waited cheerfully. Taesan cleared his mind and grasped two swords. He dismissed the noisy system notifications. Many rewards and information were disyed, but they were not important now. This time, contrary to before, Bradley rushed at Taesan, who responded as if waiting for it. Bradley¡¯s sword whirled erratically. Though Taesan knew Stormscar Swordsmanship, he couldn¡¯t properly block it; there was a subtlety in it he couldn¡¯t grasp. Taesan hadn¡¯t been able to block that. Although it was the same swordsmanship, the difference in level was too great. But now, it was different. ng! The swords of Taesan and Bradley collided. Bradley fluidly moved his sword using Dance of Swords, and Taesan responded in kind with the same technique. However, his sword strikes were different from before. While appearing simr to Dance of Swords, the energy within was entirely different. Dance of Swords was a technique that used curved motions like a dance to deflect the opponent¡¯s sword, but Taesan¡¯s movements were more aggressive and violent. The direction of the force was straight, not curved. This sudden change would usually result in a disadvantage, but it was the opposite this time. Bradley couldn¡¯t easily overpower Taesan as before. ¡®But¡­ it¡¯s not that impressive?¡¯ Bradley tilted his head, puzzled. The change was something he could easily overpower if he chose to. Indeed, when the ghost pushed a little harder, Taesan started to be overwhelmed. ng! Sparks flew. During the time Taesan had his eyes closed, he had thought hard. The Stormscar Swordsmanship was not his. It was undoubtedly an excellent technique, but he couldn¡¯t master itpletely. This was evident from the battles so far. He had used swordsmanship effectively, but it was always as an individual technique, not harmonizing with his other abilities. He was different from a warrior. Swordsmanship was not his main strength. Then, what was his main strength? What did he rely on toe this far? What should swordsmanship be devoured by? The answer was clear. [You have activated eleration.] Chapter 143 Chapter 143 ¡®eleration?¡¯ Bradley was momentarily confused. The reason was that Ehili¡¯s trial prohibited the use of all skills unrted to swordsmanship. eleration, a skill that increased speed and not a sword technique, was not supposed to be usable. To break the trial¡¯s condition, one would need to be as strong as a god, and Taesan wasn¡¯t there yet. So, there was only one answer. ¡®Is that a newly acquired sword technique? It¡¯s unique.¡¯ Since it came from Taesan¡¯s body, Bradley couldn¡¯t immediately discern what Taesan had obtained. He assumed it was rted to skills since Taesan mainly used them. ¡®But.¡¯ eleration was a skill that increased the speed of a charge. He knew all about it. Blocking it was not a problem. Taesan, who had swiftly approached, swung his sword. Bradley, trying to block, was startled. The speed of the sword strikes had changed. ¡°Ugh!¡± Bradley¡¯s hands moved frantically. The sound of shing swords filled the air. Bradley blocked the attacks with a bewildered face. The attacks were twice as fast as before. ¡®How can agility increase this much?¡¯ eleration only affected charging speed, not agility. Taesan kept swinging his sword. [You have activated Strong Blow.] ng! Suddenly, Bradley¡¯s arm was knocked away. Bradley quickly regained hisposure. Strong Blow not only increased damage but also momentarily increased the power behind the sword. Using it along with eleration wasn¡¯t unusual. But Bradley was perplexed again by the nextbination. ng! ¡°Ugh.¡± Bradley¡¯s arm was pushed back again. ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯ Strong Blow¡¯s effect dissipated after one hit. Yet, Taesan struck twice, and the effect of Strong Blow remained. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Taesan¡¯s swordsmanship itself hadn¡¯t changed significantly. With a clear mind and calmness, Bradley could easily block and counterattack. But the unexpected change made his hands erratic, and he could only defend. [You have activated Leap.] ng! Taesan raised his sword. With a heavy sensation, Bradley¡¯s body lifted into the air. Landing at a distance, he let out a hollowugh. ¡°The skills have changed?¡± eleration, Leap, Strong Blow. All these skills were exhibiting effects entirely different from their descriptions. ¡°What exactly¡­¡± Instead of exining, Taesan moved to show directly. ng! Their swords collided. Bradley¡¯s eyes changed. His arms moved erratically, eventually creating numerous afterimages of des. Stormscar¡¯s first sword. Wolf¡¯s Fang. Instead of blocking with Stormscar Swordsmanship as before, Taesan pushed the tip of his sword. [You have activated Flow.] The moment Bradley¡¯s sword was about to touch Taesan¡¯s, it slipped away. The same happened with the next attack. Like eleration and Strong Blow, Flow kept activating. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Boom! Taesan stamped the ground and swung his sword. With a loud noise, Bradley was pushed back. Taesan¡¯s movements, initially awkward, became faster and more precise as the battle continued. The tide had turned. Now Bradley was struggling to block. ng! Taesan brought down his sword. Bradley tried to block. [You have activated Continuous Attack.] ng! The sword vibrated intensely. The violent tremor traveled up Bradley¡¯s arm. He barely managed to hold onto his sword, but the gap was too wide. Taesan didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. He swung both swords at Bradley. Bradley blocked with one hand but couldn¡¯t stop both swords. Shush. Taesan¡¯s sword cut across Bradley¡¯s chest. Staring nkly at his split clothing, Bradley and Taesan gasped for breath. [You have created the advanced sword technique [Ability Sword].] It was neither learned nor acquired nor practiced. It was a sword technique Taesan had created himself. [Condition Achieved] [Ehili is satisfied with the result.] A system notification for clearing the trial appeared. Bradley chuckled. ¡°This is beyond imagination.¡± He had anticipated a change rted to skills. He even considered the possibility of using skills. But this was more than that. The effects of the skills themselves had changed. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ A sword technique that interfered with the Labyrinth system itself. As he pondered this, Bradley¡¯s body suddenly started to disappear into light particles. ¡°Oh. Is this the end?¡± The body he received was temporarily given by Ehili for the trial. It made sense that it was being retracted now that the trial was over. Bradley watched his disappearing hand with a bitter expression. ¡°What a pity.¡± After such a long time, an almost forgotten span, he was able to wield a sword again. And now it was ending, which was deeply regrettable. ¡°But it was quite fun. Now you understand what I meant, right?¡± Taesan nodded. Indeed, this was a realization only obtainable through sparring with someone. It couldn¡¯t be discovered alone. With such high stats and expertise, no monster on the 30th floor could counter his swordsmanship. Naturally, it was difficult to realize its weaknesses and limits, forcing him to keep descending. It was only at the brink of death that Taesan could feel the limits and solutions, which he gained through a duel with the ghost using the same swordsmanship. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Thank Ehili as well. He¡¯s the one who made it happen.¡± Bradley¡¯s physical form was almostpletely disintegrated by now. Only his upper body remained. He smirked. ¡°I¡¯m curious too. What you¡¯ve learned. Let¡¯s see it together.¡± With those words, Bradley disappeared. The scattered light particles in the air began to take the shape of a ghost. Taesan quietly observed this transformation. The ghost returned to Taesan. Despite having lost his physical form again after an immeasurable time, he appeared incredibly bright. Whether it was an act or genuine, Taesan knew he was being considerate. Therefore, Taesan also started to wrap things up without saying anything. [Ehili proposes a contract of apostleship to you.] ¡°I won¡¯t ept.¡± As always, Taesan declined. Ehili didn¡¯t seem to have high hopes and withdrew readily. No more divine presence was felt from the shrine. As the ghost had said, Ehili was an indifferent god. He even remarked it was unusual. [That indifferent god reduced his interference area to give me a body and make you create new swordsmanship. This is... a very rare urrence.] ¡°Really?¡± [He showed more interest in you than in his own apostles.] Though Taesan didn¡¯t know the details, it seemed Ehili had great expectations for his potential. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ehili gave him two rewards: one skill and one essory. [Special Constant Activation Skill: The Sword Wielder] [Proficiency: 1%] [A level recognized by the God of Swords. When fighting enemies wielding weapons, easily discern their vulnerabilities and weaknesses.] A skill effective against weapon-wielding enemies. It was conditionally limited but beneficial in identifying weaknesses and vulnerabilities. And the essory was a pommel to be attached to the handle of a sword. [Pommel Made by Ehili''s Follower] [Attack Power + 10] [A pommel crafted with great care by a follower of the God of Swords. Ehili was quite pleased with the craftsmanship. Contains a hint of Ehili''s energy.] [Helps in bncing the sword] [This effect can be detached and transferred to another weapon at any time.] ¡°Good.¡± What he liked most was the freedom to attach and detach it. Taesan immediately fitted the pommel onto Calvert¡¯s Relic. ¡°These descriptions are getting longer.¡± [It''s a strange feeling as the previous owner.] The moment he attached it, Taesan immediately felt the weight of the sword change. After swinging it a few times to check, he smiled satisfactorily. ¡°It¡¯s good?¡± It made swinging easier. Though a minor difference, it was significant for someone who had to swing the sword thousands, even millions of times. [Then, is everything finished now? Let''s quickly check. I''m dying of curiosity.] The ghost urged Taesan. Taesan opened the system window he had closed. [You have created the advanced swordsmanship [Ability Sword].] [You have created a sword technique. You have obtained the title [Qualification of a Master].] [The advanced swordsmanship [Stormscar Sword] has been integrated into the advanced swordsmanship [Ability Sword].] [You have created a sword technique yourself. Achievement unlocked. Strength + 50, Agility + 50, Intelligence + 50, Health + 200.] The achievement numbers were quite high. 50 was a figureparable to clearing a certain theme floor. Simply for creating a sword technique. [Quickly. Open it. Quick.] Now, it was time to check the skill. The ghost waited excitedly. [Advanced Swordsmanship: Ability Sword] [Proficiency: 7%] [A unique sword technique created by an adventurer in the Labyrinth. It''s based on the Labyrinth''s system. It''s created on the foundation of a sword technique used by a prince of a destroyed world. It can perfectly link several skills with swordsmanship.] [It''s real.] The ghost chuckled in disbelief. [Really... The contents of the skill changed? It''s far beyond advanced level. Is it a skill that barely misses being top-tier?] The top-tier Airak weapon technique allowed the owner to inflict damage with any part of the body, not just the weapon. It was a technique that intervened with the system of the Labyrinth itself. The sword technique Taesan created was no different. Transforming the content of a skill that no one else could touch seemed to the ghost that, with a little more development, it could reach a top-tier level. This was evident even from the change in proficiency. The proficiency of his Stormscar Sword was 39%. When it was integrated into the Ability Sword, the proficiency transferred was only 7%. It meant there was such a difference between the two sword techniques. [Can we know how the content of the skill has changed?] ¡°Looking at it now¡­ I can sort of tell.¡± Upon examining the skills, he noticed a few had additional content. He was curious, but there was something else to check first. [Title: Qualification of a Master] [A person who has created a sword technique. A realm where one can pass on their created sword technique to disciples. Only a very few among numerous swordsmen can reach this realm.] [Strength + 50] [Agility + 50] [Intelligence + 50] [Attack Power + 20] [Defense + 20] [The speed of proficiency increase in sword techniques greatly increases.] [If you wish, you can pass on your sword technique to others.] [Did you also get this?] ¡°I did. I modified the original Stormscar Sword to suit me. It¡¯s a pretty good title. The proficiency increase feels like more than 40%?¡± [That''s... quite advantageous.] Taesan found that there were several more skills and titles that increased skill proficiency. They didn¡¯t know how they would influence each other, but it meant at least an additional 50% increase. And there was also the part about passing on. ¡®Could I pass it on to Lee Taeyeon or Kang Junhyeok?¡¯ He nned to check the next time they met. [But I''m really curious about something.] The ghost spoke with a voice full of excitement. What he wanted was not difficult for Taesan to guess. ¡°But I don¡¯t really know.¡± When fighting the ghost, he didn¡¯t read the descriptions one by one. After getting a rough sense, he relied on his instincts to continue the battle. ¡°Let¡¯s go and experiment to find out.¡± Taesan moved. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 While Taesan was moving to the next room, the ghost asked with curiosity. [You were deep in thought for about an hour earlier, weren''t you? What were you thinking about then?] ¡°Nothing special. Just reconsidering my basics.¡± The foundation of his strength was his skills. Swordsmanship and stats were all secondary. But this trial was about swordsmanship. Skills could not be used. So, Taesan naturally thought he couldn¡¯t use his skills. But soon after, Taesan had a realization. ¡®Skills were initially mine to harness physically. That¡¯s why I could use them.¡¯ All these were used even before he learned the skills. So, there was no need to be fixated on skills. If he couldn¡¯t use skills, he should draw out their effects himself. Thinking this way, he naturally could use a few skills when he started fighting. [That''s quite... an ingenious creation.] The ghost chuckled upon hearing Taesan¡¯s story. It was a kind of paradigm shift. The ghost had never thought in that way. nk. While they were having this conversation, a monster appeared. Taesan faced a knight in armor. nk. The knight drew his sword. The ghost spoke in an anxious tone. [Hurry. It''s so frustrating I feel like dying.] ¡°Let¡¯s check slowly.¡± Taesan drew two swords. He charged towards the knight. sh! Swords collided. Taesan¡¯s movement, as he overwhelmed the knight, was rougher than before. [As expected, even the swordsmanship has changed. It''s rougher and cruder than mine?] The ghost¡¯s swordsmanship was perfect. It had almost no weaknesses and was very precise. However, Taesan¡¯s movements were cruder and rougher, and weaknesses were noticeable here and there. [Still, it''s not bad.] ¡°This is my swordsmanship.¡± It was his own swordsmanship, not something he received from someone else. As he improved his proficiency, its perfection would only increase. Once he reached a certain level, it would be a skill that suited Taesan better than the Stormscar Sword. [This is a problem that can be solved by increasing proficiency.] ¡°That aside.¡± Now was the real deal. The Ability Sword he created was a swordsmanship connected to skills, as its name suggests. Naturally, the contents of a few skills changed. One of them was the first activated eleration. [Special Activation Skill: eleration] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 21%] [elerate faster towards the target.] [Condition: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword]] [It elerates not only the body but also the speed of the sword. If the timing is right, this effect continues to be activated after consuming additional mana.] [Wow.] The ghost couldn¡¯t hide his emotions and burst out in admiration. [You''ve really changed. There''s even a condition called Ability Sword. This is really out of the ordinary.] The ghost, reading the content fervently, read the next sentence. [Does it continue to activate if the timing is right?] ¡°That must be the condition. I roughly grasped what it feels like earlier.¡± ng! Taesan exerted force on his sword. He stomped toward the knight, who was flung backward. [You activated eleration.] His body sped up. And so did the speed of his sword. Taesan swung his sword down at the knight. sh! The knight blocked it. At the same moment, Taesan moved the sword in his other hand. Crunch. It pierced through the knight¡¯s body. [This is really amazing.] The ghost chuckled. Essentially, the speed of swinging the sword doubled, which meant that the agility itself had doubled. Without any specific restriction, it was a skill that defiedparison. Taesan did not stop his hand and continued to attack. The ghost, observing quietly, realized there was a certain interval in his movements. [Do you have to time the sword strikes perfectly?] ¡°It¡¯s quite tricky to activate.¡± The interval when each sword strike hit or was blocked by the opponent. Both had to coincide. Compared to when he learned Multiplication, the judgment was rtively lenient, but unlike Multiplication, the condition changed depending on the opponent¡¯s response, so it wasn¡¯t easy. [Since you need to time it, making any significant changes is hard... The pattern will be predictable.] ¡°Probably.¡± Taesan intentionally slowed the speed of his sword strikes for a moment. Then, the eleration immediately ceased, and his speed returned to normal. Taesan raised his sword towards the knight, who barely managed to regain his stance. [You activated Strong Blow.] Kaboom! The knight was sent flying far away. Strong Blow, like eleration, had a condition of timing. Since the knight was thrown backward and couldn¡¯t be attacked, the interval of attacks was missed, and the activation of Strong Blow ended. The ghost judged coldly. [It''s certainly powerful, but its drawbacks are clear.] Drawing the effects of skills into swordsmanship. Just that was an unbelievable level. Strong Blow and eleration alone meant almost doubling the power and agility. But the restrictions were too severe. [It changes whether you can activate it or not depending on the opponent''s response, right? It''s a passive sword technique. It seems to heavily depend onpatibility.] If the opponent used magic, it could not be properly activated. Simply because approaching in the first ce was difficult. The same was true if the opponent was a monster with strong physical strength, like a giant. It was hard to time the attacks against an enemy whose single blow was powerful. Also, it seemed difficult to use in various situations, like against ghost types or spirits using natural forces. [Are other skills simr?] ¡°They all have one condition or another.¡± Flow was simr. The opponent¡¯s attack had to be swung within a certain cycle to Taesan¡¯s sword for it to continuously activate. Leaping, continuous attacks, etc., also had their respective conditions. [That''s tricky.] ¡°But it¡¯s a useful sword technique.¡± [It''s a good sword technique.] The ghost affirmed. Although it was a tricky and passive sword technique, it was still an excellent one. It was a skill that nearly doubled his stats if the conditions were met. Moreover, the opponent wouldn¡¯t know what skills Taesan had. Just like the ghost, they would be flustered when facing him. That naturally limited their movement, and Taesan could take control of the flow. If things went as nned, meeting the conditions wouldn¡¯t be that difficult. And the stronger the opponent, the harder it would be for them to counter Taesan¡¯s skills. Those with eleration, Leaping, and continuous attacks knew the effects of those skills. They tried to respond based on the information they had, but they would undoubtedly get entangled in Taesan¡¯s skills, which had entirely different effects. ¡°Satisfying.¡± Crunch. Taesan took down the knight and smiled. This was more than what he initially anticipated. It was still immature. His swordsmanship was crude, and the activation of skills was not yet second nature. But it would improve over time. As proficiency increased, the conditions would be more refined. The effects of the skills would grow stronger and influence more skills. As Taesan became stronger, many things would change. Eventually, it had a good chance of bing his main skill, as perfect as Addition and Multiplication. ¡°Good.¡± He was very satisfied. Taesan continued to hone his swordsmanship while breaking through the Labyrinth. Despite therge stat difference with the monsters, he was still quite inexperienced in swordsmanship, so even such light realbat allowed him to gradually improve. Thus, he gradually increased his proficiency while conquering the 32nd floor. [Mana Stone Crushed by Strength] [Magic + 30] [A mana stone crushed by those who despise magic. Yet, the magic power within has not disappeared.] ¡°Great.¡± He received magical equipment as a reward from the secret room. He nned to offer it to Lilis as a tribute and learn magic. Taesan continued forward and reached the boss. The boss was a knight in ck armor. He had the intelligence of a beast, with very aggressive and fast movements. A formidable enemy for those facing him for the first time. ¡°A perfect practice opponent.¡± [You activated Strong Blow.] Kaboom! The knight was flung away, and Taesan immediately followed up with another sword swing. Since the attack interval was matched, Strong Blow was activated consecutively. With several attacks, he defeated the 32nd-floor boss. [Proficiency of Ability Sword increased by 1%.] Taesan seeded in continuously activating Strong Blow until the boss was defeated. [You''re getting used to it quickly. Is it because it suits you well? It''s iparably faster than when you used Stormscar, right?] ¡°Very good.¡± It was a sword technique that only made himugh. Another advantage was that it was fun. The process of meeting the conditions and then activating and maintaining them was enjoyable. It was an emotion he hadn¡¯t felt in quite some time. Taesan checked the rewards for clearing the 32nd floor. [Bloody Armor] [Defense + 40] [Armor worn by a forgotten one until his death. It was brought here after his demise.] Defense 40. A high number. Taesan murmured as he wore the armor. ¡°This isn¡¯t too surprising anymore.¡± 40 was simr to the sum of all the additional effects of the equipment he had when clearing Easy Mode. That a single piece of equipment now gave the same benefitspared to a sum of many. It felt like a long time since he¡¯d experienced such a gap. [Used ???.] [Obtained Red Rose Thorn.] ¡°Is this a material item?¡± It didn¡¯t seem like equipment. [Red Rose Thorn] [A thorn detached from a red rose guarding the witch''s garden. It seems it would be very sharp if attached somewhere.] ¡°It is a material.¡± If he took it to a cksmith, it could be made into equipment. As Taesan was about to collect the thorn, the whip on his wrist pped his arm. ¡°¡­You want this?¡± As if affirming, the whip wrapped around Taesan¡¯s arm. Taesan reluctantly threw the thorn to the whip, which suddenly sprang up and swallowed it. [The wrist guard, with murderous intent, swallowed the Red Rose Thorn. Attack Power + 20] ¡°Wow.¡± With a significant increase in attack power, sharp thorns appeared on the whip. The whip pped his arm as if pleased. ¡°It¡¯s prickly.¡± Though it didn¡¯t damage him, the thorns poked his skin. ¡°What is this?¡± Equipment that swallowed items on its own. He had never heard of such a thing. The ghost also seemed to be experiencing it for the first time and spoke uncertainly. [Self-enhancing equipment? This is new to me. Quite good, isn''t it?] No need to visit a cksmith and a high enhancement level. It was definitely useful. He was just curious about what it was. ¡°I¡¯ll have to askter.¡± The shop owner might know the secret. After finishing up, Taesan decided to head up again before descending the floors. On the 33rd floor was the battlefield of the gods, as Vargan had mentioned. He nned to be thoroughly prepared before going there. Taesan returned to the 31st floor to find Lilis. She greeted him with a bright face. ¡°Came back? I thought you abandoned me since you hadn¡¯te for a while!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t find anything worthy to offer as a tribute.¡± Taesan handed over the mana stone. Lilis, grinning broadly, took it and began to pray. Soon, the aura of the magic god began to be felt. Taesan watched this energy intently. ¡®It feels different from before.¡¯ The ??? skill evolved in the world of Halfran. Its identity was still unknown, but the ghost had said it was possible to feel its intent. Perhaps because of this, the power of the gods, which felt distant before, now seemed a bit closer. While Taesan was gauging this power, Lilis finished and took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± [You have learned the basic magic [Seal].] ¡°It¡¯s still basic magic.¡± ¡°Ah, I have something to tell you about that.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°This is kind of tricky.¡± Lilis looked ambiguous. Her expression was a mix of happiness and fear. ¡°I don¡¯t know if the god was joking or serious, but it seemed like a joke to me? It doesn¡¯t make sense. We¡¯re still on the 30th floor.¡± ¡°Exin properly. What are you talking about?¡± She spoke with a very vague expression. ¡°The god of magic said while epting this offering that soon you¡¯ll be granted more advanced magic.¡± ¡°Magic more advanced than basic?¡± Then, there was only one possibility. Lilis nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve been granted permission for intermediate magic!¡± Chapter 145 Chapter 145 [Intermediate? They''re giving you that already?] ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why I¡¯m not sure. Are they serious?¡± [It''s a god simr to the God of Swords, so it doesn''t seem like a joke... But it''s extraordinary, right? Intermediate magic on the 30th floor?] ¡°Can you exin in a way I can understand?¡± Taesan waved his hand to interrupt their conversation. ¡°What does it mean to learn intermediate magic?¡± [Ah, that''s right. You haven''t seen intermediate magic before. You''ve used magic, so you know what basic magic is like, right?] ¡°I¡¯m well aware.¡± In the Labyrinth, the value of magic was extremely high. Up to the 30th floor, it was possible to clear levels using only basic magic. Outside the Labyrinth, its value increased even more. The magicians in Vekveta who saw the magic he used were astounded. It was something only the best magicians in their world could barely use or not cast at all. And that was just basic magic. So, what level would intermediate magic be? The ghost answered his question. [It''s magic that can even make an impact in the deepyers. Simply put, you know the Guides of Sin you''ve seen? Even they have to avoid this magic.] ¡°Huh.¡± Taesan¡¯s lips curled up naturally. A skill that could deal damage even to those who had reached the deepyers. It was definitely valuable if it could harm those who could cause physical interference with just their emotions. Lilis mumbled with an ambiguous face. ¡°Normally, you wouldn¡¯t get this until you get past the 50th floor¡­¡± [Right. This guy is just special.] ¡°I¡¯m happy, but it¡¯s a bit¡­ odd to be too happy about it.¡± Lilis grumbled. Taesan, still with unresolved questions, asked again. ¡°What about advanced magic?¡± If just moving from basic to intermediate created such a difference, anything beyond would certainly make an even bigger impact. [A few at the top of the Guides of Sin can use it. Magic that makes it possible to conquer the deepyers on its own. Though those idiots can''t do it.] ¡°And what about the highest level?¡± [I don''t know about that.] The ghost shook its white hair. [Never seen anyone use it. Does it even exist? Not sure about that.] ¡°I¡¯m not sure either¡­¡± Lilis scratched her cheek with an uncertain face. If a magician who dedicated her life to magic and a warrior who reached the deepyers didn¡¯t know its existence, it truly meant it was an uncharted territory. ¡°Is there anything higher than the highest-ranking skill?¡± Taesan had the highest skill, the Airak weapon technique. The ghost was surprised about how he got it but wasn¡¯t shocked by the skill itself. Knowing about the existence of the highest skill and not knowing about the highest magic was unexpected. The ghost spoke calmly. [Magic is harder to learn and more valuable than simple skills. Skills and swordsmanship can be approached by anyone, but magic is cut off at the line of talent from the start. And among those, the highest level...] ¡°Beyond the deepyers?¡± [I don''t know. Even the apostles of the god of magic I met, none of them used the highest levels of magic.] Taesan concluded the conversation there. He was curious but not interested enough to delve deeper. ¡°So when can I learn intermediate magic?¡± ¡°Not right away. The god will send a trial when the time is right, and you¡¯ll be granted the ability after passing it.¡± ¡°So, not yet, then.¡± That meant he had to continue conquering the Labyrinth. Taesan bid farewell to Lilis and headed towards the 33rd floor. [Start of the 33rd Floor Quest] [Defeat the boss of the 33rd floor and pass through.] [Reward: Shield of Protection] [Secret Reward: ???] As usual, the quest and reward windows appeared. Taesan cleared the notifications and went down the stairs. The shopkeeper looked puzzled. ¡°Why do you keeping and going?¡± ¡°I had to learn some magic.¡± ¡°That useless girl you¡¯re talking about.¡± The shopkeeper had an indifferent face. To him, who was only interested in conquering the Labyrinth, Lilis, who lived off Taesan, was of no value. ¡°You¡¯re not buying anything this time either?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not buying, but I have something to ask.¡± ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± ¡°What is this exactly?¡± Taesan raised his wrist. The whip with thorns was firmly attached to his arm. The shopkeeper grimaced. ¡°Why did it change?¡± ¡°It absorbed a material on its own and transformed.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you sell this?¡± The shopkeeper seemed unaware as well. He spoke as if making an excuse. ¡°I did sell it, but I didn¡¯t make it. I received it from someone else. Why? It was written there, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Taesan recalled the whip¡¯s description. ¡°It said it was made by a witch¡¯s whim.¡± ¡°Yes. I got it from that woman. It looked normal when I examined it, so I put it up for sale. I don¡¯t know much about it.¡± ¡°Were you close with her?¡± ¡°Not really?¡± The shopkeeper wrinkled his nose. ¡°She wasn¡¯t weird, but she had strong opinions. Some people liked that, but not me. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I wondered if she entered here too.¡± A witch capable of creating such useful equipment for the Labyrinth. If she had such skills, it was likely she could have entered the Labyrinth. The shopkeeper seemed thoughtful at Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°There¡¯s a possibility¡­ Yes. There is a possibility. She said she had no intention ofing, but she was very fickle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to know.¡± The thorn absorbed by the wrist guard was said to be from the witch¡¯s house. The shopkeeper¡¯s ignorance suggested it might have entered the Labyrinth through other means. Taesan left the shopkeeper and moved on. ¡°Now that I think about it, I should check the new magic.¡± Taesan reviewed the magic. [Basic Magic: Seal] [Mana Consumption: 1] [Proficiency: 1%] [Imprints a seal on your location. Subsequent magic will target the sealed location.] ¡°More of a support spell than an attack?¡± Taesan immediately experimented. He activated Seal, moved forward, and then cast a spell. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Swoosh! As soon as it was activated, the spell flew and pierced the spot marked by the Seal. ¡°How should I use this?¡± Originally, spells like Frost Arrow or Fireball could be directed as Taesan wished. Imprinting the Seal could actually be a penalty. Taesan thought for a moment and then came up with an idea for another spell. ¡°Let¡¯s try this.¡± Taesan imprinted a Seal and moved again. After putting some distance, he cast a spell. [You have activated Random Blink.] The Blink activated toward the spot marked by the Seal. ¡°This is good.¡± The downside of Random Blink was the unpredictability of the teleportation location, but this was resolved with just one Seal. There was the limitation that he could only imprint the Seal where he had stepped before, but that was a manageable downside inbat. Taesan moved on, satisfied. The 33rd floor had a knight wielding a hammer. The hammer, cutting through the air, contained a force difficult for an ordinary adventurer to withstand. ng! But Taesan effortlessly deflected the hammer. He then quickly activated eleration and easily took down the knight. ¡°This floor is quite good.¡± It was perfect for practicing his newly learned swordsmanship. Taesan breached the room. He continued to train his swordsmanship, focusing on raising the proficiency of the Ability Sword by dragging out the fights with monsters rather than dispatching them quickly. And the results were clear. [Advanced Swordsmanship: Ability Sword] [Proficiency: 12%] [A unique swordsmanship created by an adventurer of the Labyrinth. It is based on the system of the Labyrinth. Developed from the swordsmanship used by the Prince of the Destroyed World. Several skills can be perfectly integrated with this swordsmanship.] ¡°Already at 12%.¡± He had raised the proficiency by 4% just by passing through one floor. It was a very fast rate, even when facing enemies much weaker than Taesan. The ghost was also impressed. [Is it because it''s your own creation? It''s really fast. At this rate, you might reach 20% by the mid-30s.] But that was not all. A few skills rted to swordsmanship also increased in proficiency and changed. [Special Activation Skill: Aura] [Proficiency: 20%] [A reward given to those who have mastered the sword. You have begun to understand Aura.] An aura flickered around Taesan¡¯s sword. The aura was not like sparks but burned like the mes of a bonfire. It was a result of increased proficiency and stabilization of the aura. ¡°That took a while.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure about the effects, but it likely increased damage as a skill without any mana consumption. And Critical Attack also changed. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Critical Attack] [Proficiency: 20%] [Deals greater damage when attacking the enemy''s weak points. Adds a bit more than half of the usual damage.] Apart from the added damage, there wasn¡¯t much change. Still, it was a useful change, and Taesan happily epted it. The reward for the 33rd floor¡¯s secret room was a golden bow. ¡®Since I have magic, I can sell this in the shop.¡¯ Soon, he reached the boss. [A ck Hammer Knight with only instinct remaining has appeared.] Whoosh! The giant hammer was swung. Despite being on the 33rd floor, the hammer had a weightiness even Taesan could feel. However, its movements were very slow. It seemed like a boss that required dodging rather than blocking attacks. Taesan swung his sword fiercely. ng! The thin sword collided with the giant hammer and knocked it away. Taesan continued to time his attacks against the knight¡¯s hammer or strike its armor. [You have defeated the ck Hammer Knight with only instinct remaining.] [The proficiency of Ability Sword has increased by 1%.] [Your level has risen.] It had been a while since hisst level-up. He thought it wouldn¡¯t happen for a while due to the significant level gap with the monsters, but apparently, he had umted enough experience. [Shield of Protection] [Defense + 50] [A shield crafted with great care but failed to protect its charge. Merely being robust was not enough to guard someone.] [Used ???.] [You have obtained the Ghost-Haunted Hammer of Pama.] [Ghost-Haunted Hammer of Pama] [Attack Power + 70] [A massive hammer that can only just be lifted with two hands. It was created to annihte ghosts, but as a result, countless spirits have taken residence in it.] [Attack Power against Ghost Attributes + 20] ¡°There¡¯s nothing useful here.¡± He didn¡¯t use shields. Though high in attack power, the hammer was a two-handed weapon ording to its description. Taesan, despite his high stats, preferred not to be forced to use two-handed weapons. Thus, it was destined for the shop. Taesan returned to the entrance and sold the umted equipment and misceneous materials to the shopkeeper. ¡°Time to go.¡± Vargan had said to go to the left end of the 33rd floor. A small door appeared as he reached thest room on the left. Entering it, he found a small altar. Two small steles, like a gateway, were set up at a slight distance from each other. [Someone who will let you out of the Tower wille.] As the ghost murmured, power began to descend onto the altar. The gathering energy felt familiar. ¡°Lakiratas?¡± [We meet again, Kang Taesan.] From the dissipating energy, a voice full of interest echoed. ¡°Are you overseeing this?¡± [Doesn''t it seem fitting?] ¡°I suppose so.¡± Struggle and death. It was an area fitting for a battlefield. Lakiratas asked with a hint of amusement. [Have you decided to head to their battlefield?] ¡°It seems I¡¯m the only one suitable for the task.¡± [Indeed. It took quite some time to find a suitable one due to the petty restrictions those outside have imposed.] Lakiratas¡¯ voice was gentle. Taesan could feel the friendliness in his voice. It was a fresh shock for Taesan. Even when theyst met on Earth, Lakiratas seemed to harbor good feelings towards Taesan, but he had not smiled or spoken softly. His voice was always blunt and calm. But now, it was very different. Above all, Lakiratas was addressing Taesan not as a mere mortal but by his name. [I have little interest in the outside. Some may find it bothersome or annoying, but to me, it''s meaningless. Whatever they do, it doesn''t negatively affect me.] Lakiratas was the god of struggle and death. If the gods outside created a battlefield leading their followers to death, it would be satisfactory for him. [However, this is something I look forward to. It''s not just the futile acts of mortals.] Laughing, Lakiratas spoke. [Will you ept it?] [Special Quest Start] [Participate in the battlefield of the gods outside and show them the greatness of the Labyrinth.] [Condition: Conquest of the Battlefield] [Reward: Vargan and the gods of the Labyrinth will give suitable rewards based on the performance.] ¡°I ept.¡± Taesan nodded. Lakiratas chuckled. [This is enjoyable. Very enjoyable. This is an emotion I haven''t felt in a long time since taking this tedious position.] Chapter 146 Chapter 146 [I look forward to another enjoyable fight, Taesan. Enter here.] There was deep goodwill in that voice. As Lakiratas¡¯ presence faded, a passage appeared on the altar. Taesan spoke hesitantly. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lakiratas¡¯ attitude had changed significantly. Even calling him by name and showing emotions was unusual for a god; the voice was full of goodwill. The ghost said, [Perhaps it''s because you chose to fight the Guides of Sin. There was also an option to cooperate with them.] ¡°Why would anyone choose that?¡± A fight with the Guides of Sin was inevitable. Coexistence with them was impossible. [You may think so, but most don''t. The adventurers on the 30th floor find them too strong to handle. The uncertainty of reaching their level, the reality of it, makes the choice to join them not so strange.] The ghost spoke calmly. Opposing the Guides of Sin, who influenced the entirebyrinth, was a risky choice. Forming an alliance with them could seem natural. [I also thought that wasn''t a bad idea, but...] First, form an alliance. Then, as you descend through thebyrinth, umte strength and betray them. That was the cleanest option. [But you chose to oppose them. Struggle and death. Satisfying both.] ¡°So, they show favor towards me?¡± [From now on, your path will be filled only with struggle and death. No rest or respite, just moving forward.] ¡°That has always been the case for me.¡± He never stopped walking. [You''re heading in a direction more pleasing to Lakiratas. Not bad. This way, those guys really won''t be able to do anything.] ¡°There¡¯s no harm in that.¡± The favor of a god always brought benefits. Taesan stood in front of the passage. As he put his hand in, he felt a slight resistance and a sensation as if being scanned. [The Passage to the Battlefield of the Gods] [Level Restriction: 75] ¡°Was there a limit?¡± [Ah. So this is why they were looking for qualified people on the 30th floor? Quite sly.] The ghost chuckled. [The level limit is ambiguously set at 75. Does it mean they won''t ept anyone who''s entered the 40th floor? But it''s clumsy. There''s only a level limit, no restrictions on stats or skills?] ¡°Don¡¯t they know much about thebyrinth¡¯s system?¡± [Probably. This ce is entirely different from the outside. Even gods couldn''t obtain information about here from the outside. They could try extracting it from adventurers who escaped, but they wouldn''t get urate information from those who gave up.] ¡°That works well for me.¡± Taesan put his hand in. An unpleasant sensation enveloped him, and the space twisted. When his twisted vision stabilized, Taesan was in a forest. The first thing he felt was that it wasn¡¯t natural. The vegetation and the earth all seemed artificial. Taesan looked up at the sky and grimaced. There was a huge hole in the sky, simr to one that had appeared on Earth. From there, he felt several unpleasant gazes. ¡°Are they gods?¡± [There will be some kind of rule here, so they can''t interfere with you directly.] In other words, indirect interference was possible. ¡°Is this a created world?¡± [Seems so.] [You have activated Leap.] Taesan soared into the sky, leaving the trees behind. Far away, he noticed a semi-transparent wall. It seemed wider than an ordinary city judging by the distance. Taesannded on the ground and walked leisurely. He pushed through the foliage. ¡°There are several presences.¡± Not far away, he sensed many fighting. His first thought was to head there. ¡°But this is unpleasant.¡± The hole in the sky. Memories of Earth surfaced, souring his mood. Eventually, he arrived at the site of the battle. ¡°Die!¡± Hundreds d in red and blue armor were fiercely fighting each other. It was an intense battle. They smashed each other¡¯s armor, stabbing swords through the gaps. Among them, about five in green leather armor crouched, faces filled with terror. ¡°Can we escape¡­?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it impossible? Unless we get reinforcements, it looks tough.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all we have, right?¡± Despair darkened their faces. Taesan approached and sat down near them. ¡°Hello?¡± A man in green leather looked at Taesan, startled. ¡°Wh-who are you?¡± ¡°A stranger?¡± ¡°I¡¯m new here. Why are you fighting?¡± He needed information first. The purpose here and how to approach it. ¡°First time?¡± The man¡¯s eyes changed momentarily. He asked cautiously, ¡°Are¡­ are you alone?¡± As Taesan nodded, the man¡¯s face broke into a wide grin. ¡°Then die! Heretic!¡± All the people in green clothes rushed at him. With desperate movements, they thrust daggers at Taesan. Then, they returned to their positions before the attack. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Taesan clenched his fist. Crack. All but the man in the front in green clothes were blown away. ¡°Wh-what?¡± ¡°Why attack instead of answering my question?¡± He could have dodged, but the attack was not worth it. Taesan smacked the only remaining man on the head. ¡°Take a nap.¡± ¡°Argh!¡± The man fell with a short scream. Taesan stood up and turned around. The ones in red and blue armor had stopped fighting and were looking at him. ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Taesan leaned against a tree. The man in the most ornate red armor frowned. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I asked. I asked which god you believe in.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t particrly believe in any.¡± Neither Lakiratas, nor Lucifer, or even Maria. Taesan¡¯s rtionship with them was more transactional. The man in the ornate armor shouted at Taesan¡¯s response. ¡°Don¡¯t joke! This is the battlefield for those who believe in gods! Non-believers can¡¯t enter!¡± ¡°But I actually did enter.¡± Taesan shrugged nonchntly, causing the man to grit his teeth. ¡°The followers of the god of green vegetation and foliage¡­ were arrogantly defeated by you! I am a follower of the Sun God, born from the heavens! A high god, different from trivial deities!¡± ¡°Pfft! A sun god born from the heavens, a high god? Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± The man in ornate blue armor, seemingly disagreeing, scoffed. ¡°Our god, born from the earth and the sea, is the true high god!¡± ¡°You believe in a god who has lost its roots, and you talk nonsense!¡± ¡°bbering about a god who can¡¯t even touch the ground!¡± The eyes of those in red and blue armor turned fierce. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Return to your god!¡± They resumed fighting, quickly forgetting Taesan¡¯s presence, intent on killing each other. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°There¡¯s no one sane here.¡± The greens attacked him, calling him a heretic upon learning he was alone. After a brief conversation, the blues and reds started killing each other again. [Fanatics are all the same. Normal people wouldn''t enter such a ce.] ¡°I need to gather information.¡± Taesan eventually pped the man he had knocked out. ¡°Wake up.¡± ¡°Argh!¡± In pain, the green-clothed man immediately got up. He looked around nkly, then yelled at Taesan. ¡°Heretic! How dare you kill a believer of god! Divine punishment shall be upon you!¡± ¡°Really noisy.¡± Taesan hit him again, being careful not to kill him. Even after being beaten, the green man didn¡¯t lose his spirit, continuing to yell. Taesan frowned. ¡°Forget it. Do as you please.¡± If they wouldn¡¯t listen, he had no intention of resolving this with words. Taesan stood up and pped his hands toward the still-fighting reds and blues. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± But his voice was too soft to be heard. Taesan shook his head alone and raised his fist. ¡°Waaaah!¡± Crack. The head of a man who was shouting with bloodshot eyes was crushed. Suddenly, silence fell over the battlefield. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Wh-what?¡± ¡°Would you calm down and listen to me now?¡± Taesan spoke with a calmness, hard to believe, given he had just killed someone. A man in red armor regained his senses and shouted furiously. ¡°You! How dare you¡­¡± Crack. The man¡¯s head was crushed, too. Taesan dusted off his hands. ¡°Just listen to what I have to say.¡± ¡°You!¡± Crack. ¡°How dare!¡± Crack. Everyone who opened their mouths was crushed. After about five were dead, the rest remained silent. Taesan pped his hands with satisfaction. ¡°Alright. Only the one I choose may speak. It¡¯s not hard, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­What.¡± Crack. ¡°I said, only the one I choose.¡± Everyone froze like deer in front of a lion. Taesan pointed a finger. ¡°Let¡¯s start with you.¡± The man in the most ornate red armor twitched. ¡°Speak. I won¡¯t kill you.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m new here. So I want you to exin everything to me.¡± Taesan sat on a rock and gestured to the pale-faced man. ¡°What is this ce? Start from there.¡± ¡°What this ce is¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking why you are here and what you¡¯re fighting for.¡± Taesan had heard the general story from Vargan, but he needed more detailed information. The man¡¯s face trembled at Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°Is this really your first time here?¡± ¡°Yes. Aren¡¯t you going to answer?¡± Taesan raised his fist. The man quickly regained his senses and started talking. ¡°This is the battlefield of the gods. Followers of various gods gather here to prove the greatness and strength of the gods they worship.¡± ¡°So, proving it means killing each other?¡± ¡°The easiest way is that. Killing followers of other gods to widely proim the greatness of their own.¡± The man¡¯s face heated up with excitement as he spoke. ¡°Only those with exceptional strength among believers are qualified to enter this glorious battlefield. No one would refuse such honor.¡± His words were filled with undeniable pride. Taesan eyed the man. [You have activated Complete Reconnaissance.] [Mkas Halban] [Fanatic] Although physical attributes or levels were not visible, as he wasn¡¯t from within thebyrinth, it was still possible to gauge his level from his aura. ¡®Strange.¡¯ ¡°So, what¡¯s your level here?¡± ¡°We are strong,¡± Mkas boasted proudly. ¡°No one can ignore us. We prefer to resolve things through dialogue rather than battle, and no one can block our path.¡± Despite the grand statement, not only those in red but also those in blue armor seemed to agree. Taesan couldn¡¯t help but be puzzled. ¡°You guys?¡± Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Taesan could feel from their aura and energy that they were incredibly weak. Comparing them to thebyrinth, they were at the level of a 20th-floor adventurer, far too weak for Taesan. ¡®The outside level is this low?¡¯ Mkas momentarily showed a surge of anger in his eyes at Taesan¡¯s gaze but kept his mouth shut, not wanting to die. Taesan rested his chin on his hand. ¡°Which god do you believe in?¡± ¡°The Sun God, born from the heavens. The great one who governs the lofty skies.¡± ¡°We believe in the Sea God, born from the earth. The only god who defied fate and ruled the seas.¡± ¡°Like Harmon.¡± All had prefixes to their names, a difference from the gods of thebyrinth. Taesan shifted his gaze. ¡°Who do you believe in?¡± ¡°¡­I believe in the god of blue foliage.¡± ¡°Okay. Green.¡± Taesan ced a hand on the man¡¯s head. The man looked up at Taesan with an anxious face. ¡°Tell me honestly. What level are you and those guys at?¡± The man nced briefly at the red and blue ones. Taesanughed at his gaze. ¡°Who should you really be afraid of?¡± The man regained his senses and spoke. ¡°We¡¯re at the bottom. The weakest three factions here. Even the strongest person here could take us all down.¡± ¡°Yeah. That makes sense. If it¡¯s just this level.¡± There would¡¯ve been no need for him toe down. Even an ordinary 30th-floor adventurer could deal with them all. It meant Vargan had the strength worthy of searching for people. At Green¡¯s words, Mkas¡¯s face reddened. Unable to contain his heat, he shouted angrily. ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate any more insults!¡± ¡°What are you going to do if you can¡¯t tolerate it?¡± ¡°We will stake our lives! And defeat you!¡± The man drew his sword with a ng. Those behind him did the same. They red at Taesan with menacing eyes. ¡°This viin!¡± ¡°We won¡¯t forgive you!¡± ¡°How annoying.¡± Taesan frowned. Not just the reds but also the blues rushed at Taesan, seeing it as an opportunity. Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Crackle. Fragments of ice formed in the air. They pierced the armors with a sharp noise. ¡°Aaah!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± They tried to block with shields and swing swords, but it was futile. The shields were pierced, and the swords shattered. They approached Taesan, stepping over bodies. Taesan pulled back his arm. The sword drew an arc, and all those approaching were shed and fell. Defense, attack, and self-sacrifice, all crushed by overwhelming power. Mkas cried out in denial. ¡°This can¡¯t be!¡± In his world, he was a very strong being. As the great warrior of the Sun God born from the heavens, even kings of nations couldn¡¯t dare face him with his immense power. However, in the Battlefield of the Gods, he was a very weak being. He struggled to ovee followers of other gods, continually defeated, and ended up with only the smallestnd. Still, he never lost his pride. He believed he lost thend not because he was weak but because those who believed in him and followed him were weak. In reality, it wasn¡¯t entirely false. He wasn¡¯t that weak here, possessing an average level of strength. ¡®I am not weak.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not my fault.¡¯ But his feeble mental victory was now utterly shattered. ¡°Haaap!¡± Crack. His sword split in two with a mere gesture. With onest look of disregard, his consciousness faded. Taesan calmly dusted off his hands. All those who rushed at himy defeated. [You have eliminated all the followers of the Sun God born from the heavens. The Sun God born from the heavens has been expelled from the Battlefield of the Gods.] [You have eliminated all the followers of the Sea God born from the earth. The Sea God born from the earth has been expelled from the Battlefield of the Gods.] Taesan looked up at the sky. Two strong and dark energies were sucked into the sky¡¯s rift. ¡®That must be the power of the gods.¡¯ [The gods of thebyrinth are pleased with your achievements. Appropriate rewards will be given upon your return to thebyrinth.] ¡°Killing all the followers is all it takes to end it?¡± His goal was the conquest of the battlefield. It seemed that merely eliminating everyone was enough to fulfill the condition. But that couldn¡¯t be all. Taesan walked towards the copsed green. ¡°I want to ask the rest to you, but¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­What.¡± The voice of the Green was devoid of strength. Speaking with a resigned expression, he said, ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Although the Sun God and Sea God were at the bottom here, the violence of numbers couldn¡¯t be ignored. Combined, they could challenge the middle-ranked followers. Yet, he defeated them all without allowing a single attack. A monster. ¡®Maybe even to those at the very top¡­ He is an unstoppable force.¡¯ The Green had given up on survival. Alone, it was now impossible for him to do anything. ¡°If you promise to send me back to my god¡¯s side, I¡¯ll answer.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that, so talk. Those guys rushed at me earlier, so I couldn¡¯t hear everything. There¡¯s a difference in levels among you, right?¡± ¡°There is. Do you see the giant pir at the far right of the sky?¡± Taesan turned his gaze. As the Green said, a ck pir was visible in the distance. ¡°That is a conduit through which gods canmunicate or exert their power. The closer they are to there, the stronger the groups are.¡± ¡°So, this is the bottom.¡± The ce where Taesan now stood was the farthest from the pir. ¡°What conditions are needed to conquer this ce and drive out the gods?¡± ¡°¡­Not many. Like you just did, either kill all the followers or destroy the statue.¡± ¡°Statue?¡± ¡°In each god¡¯s territory, there¡¯s a statue made in the image of the god. Destroying it expels the god, and the followers lose their god.¡± ¡°A game of capturingnd.¡± The rules were simpler than he thought. Either kill everyone or destroy the statue. Taesan¡¯s quest would probably end with the destruction of all the gods¡¯ statues. Taesan stroked his chin. ¡°Tell me everything you know about the gods here.¡± The Green, seemingly having given up, spilled everything. About the gods present and their positions. ¡°The next god is the God of Self-Proof.¡± ¡°Yes. A god who seeded in proving himself and ascended to godhood. His followers also have strong pride in him.¡± ¡°Sounds familiar.¡± Taesanughed. There was also a god of proof residing in thebyrinth. Pavsha held a very simr domain. A certain solution came to Taesan¡¯s mind. He nodded. ¡°Good. I¡¯ve learned everything I wanted to know.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± The Green closed his eyes. Taesan swung his sword. [You have eliminated thest follower of the God of Blue Foliage. The God of Blue Foliage has been expelled from the Battlefield of the Gods.] [The gods of thebyrinth are pleased with your achievements. Appropriate rewards will be given upon your return to thebyrinth.] Once again, an energy escapes through the rift in the sky. Taesan stands up. [Are we going now?] ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here long.¡± An artificial world. A battlefield created by gods. It was unpleasant. ¡°But I can¡¯t just leave right away.¡± Taesan moved. Approaching the pir, he felt a massive energy. An energy that boasted its presence. It seemed to be the domain of the God of Self-Proof. [Easy. Just destroy the statue, and it''s over. Could be finished quickly, right?] ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not going to end it like that.¡± [Huh? What else will you do? Kill them all?] ¡°I don¡¯t n to do that either. Just something more.¡± [Why?] ¡°For more.¡± Taesan spoke softly. ¡°The gods said they¡¯d reward me based on my achievements, right? I thought of something after hearing about the God of Self-Proof.¡± A way to satisfy the gods as much as possible. A method where they would be so pleased they¡¯d offer more than the initially nned reward. Taesan arrived in front of the domain of the God of Self-Proof. There was a fairlyrge mansion. The surrounding outer wall was very long, and the gate was big enough for a giant to pass through. The building beyond the wall wasvishly decorated. ¡°It¡¯s quite extravagant.¡± Taesan flicked his finger at the jewel-encrusted gate. Kwaang! The gate shattered into pieces with a massive noise, flying towards the building. Fragments of the shattered gate embedded in the building rumbled unsteadily. Taesan walked forward. Soon, numerous people frantically ran towards him. ¡°Intruder! Everyone, gather!¡± They shouted and rushed towards Taesan. Taesan, without stopping, waved his hand. With a light gesture, armors crumbled, a flick of his finger broke necks, and a light kick sent them flying far away, crashing into the building. ¡°We, we can¡¯t stop him!¡± Realizing they couldn¡¯t stop him, they cried out. ¡°Go and bring the Saint! We can¡¯t stop him ourselves!¡± Some entered the building while the rest continued trying to block Taesan. Taesan broke through them all, step by step. As he almost reached the building¡¯s entrance, a man in dignified clothing appeared. Stronger. At least stronger than anyone Taesan had beaten so far. ¡°Are you the Saint?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Saint looked at Taesan with a calm gaze. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Would you know if I said I came from thebyrinth?¡± ¡°Thebyrinth?¡± The man¡¯s eyes wavered. ¡°You seem to know.¡± [It seems like he''s the representative of the God of Self-Proof. You''ve had a talk, right?] ¡°Then it¡¯s easier to talk.¡± Taesan approached the Saint. The Saint, regaining hisposure, raised his mace and cross shield. ¡°Even so!¡± The Saint charged with the shield. The mace, powerful enough to break walls and topple waves, swung towards Taesan. Taesan reached out his hand. Grab. The mace was caught in Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°Wh-what!¡± The Saint¡¯s eyes wavered. The caught mace wouldn¡¯t budge, like a sword stuck in stone. ¡°Just above the bottom? Not much difference, though.¡± Taesan swung his fist. The cross shield crumbled, and the Saint was mmed to the ground. ¡°See youter.¡± Taesan passed the unconscious man. [Aren''t you going to kill him?] The ghost asked in surprise. Taesan hadn¡¯t killed a single follower of the God of Self-Proof. ¡°I told you. I¡¯m going to gain more.¡± [You have activated Repulsion.] ¡°Ugh!¡± The followers were flung away as if the air itself exploded. At this level, Repulsion alone was enough to deal with them all. Walking through, he approached a ce radiating power where a giant statue stood. It was like an ancient Greek statue depicting a man with long hair, like a woman, emanating a divine aura. ¡°So, I just need to destroy this?¡± Taesan lightly tapped the statue, which was solid but not indestructible. ¡°You, you!¡± The Saint, having woken up, rushed over. ¡°Stop! You¡¯ll receive divine punishment!¡± ¡°Why would I?¡± Taesan shrugged. ¡°I came here as your gods wished. I¡¯m just doing my job. Why would I receive divine punishment?¡± The Saint stuttered. He was the Saint of the God of Self-Proof. He had been informed about the conflict between thebyrinth and the outside gods. That was why he knew why Taesan was sent to the battlefield. ¡°If anyone should receive divine punishment, isn¡¯t it you? You failed to protect your god. And you knew this could happen, right?¡± This was the Battlefield of the Gods. Where each god¡¯s followers killed and were killed. Taesan was simply doing what should be done on the battlefield. Taesan ced his hand on the statue. The followers nearby screamed. ¡°But I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± Taesan removed his hand. The Saint, with shaky eyes, asked, ¡°¡­¡­A chance?¡± ¡°Your god is the God of Self-Proof, right? I¡¯m giving you a chance to show that.¡± Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Taesan sat quietly next to the statue, waiting. The followers, fearing he might destroy the statue, watched him with wary eyes, but Taesan had no such intention. After some time, everyone had gathered. So many of them. Hundreds of people crowded in front of his eyes. As you said, I brought them all. The Saint bit his lip. These hundreds were all the followers that had descended to the battlefield. Dont regret it! Everyone! Line up! At the Saints shout, they all responded with a short cheer. The followers quickly formed ranks around Taesan. Their movement ceased, and the Saint held his crushed shield. O God! We are gathered here! Please recognize our worth and manifest in this world! With the Saints shout, a massive energy was felt from the statue behind Taesan. The energy spread to the followers. They mmed their shields into the ground. A barrier-like power was felt, and its target was Taesan. Koooong! A massive force oppressed Taesan. It felt like a giant pressing down on him. These followers believed in the God of Self-Proof. The followers, with the gods assistance, brought their self-proven worth into reality. Individually, they were insignificant, but it was a different story when hundreds gathered. Echoing each other, they created a massive barrier and formed a kind of seal with the gods assistance. The power oppressing Taesan was their worth. Its uniqueness made it impossible to escape with physical strength. Neither magic nor skills worked against it. [I told you, didn''t I? Even if they are weak, they can sufficiently oppress you with a god''s assistance. Why did you give them this chance?] The ghost was still puzzled. The opportunity Taesan spoke of was simple. He would wait here beside the statue. So, go and call the followers of their god. And then try to trample him with the power of the god they believed in. Essentially, he had prepared them to fight at their full capacity. It was apletely different approach from what Taesan had been doing, so the ghost was bewildered. I told you. Im going to take as much as I can. Taesan looked up at the power oppressing him. This wasnt just simple energy or the power of a god. It was the will of hundreds of individual followers. Their power. The umtion of what they had proven was pressing down on Taesan. This is us! The power of the god we believe in! With Taesan immobilized, the Saint, confident of victory, shouted. Proud one! Die before our power! The gods of thebyrinth reward based on achievements. Taesan ignored the Saints words and spoke to the ghost. Then what would be the biggest achievement that would make them give the greatest reward? The ghost paused, then replied after a moment of contemtion. [Breaking the confidence of the outside gods.] Right. The faith of the outside gods. The belief that there was no significant difference between them and the gods of thebyrinth. The belief that thebyrinth was nothing. Breaking that belief. So, I thought of that method. Taesan raised his hand. He touched the statue and slowly rose to his feet. As his resisting figure appeared, the Saint panicked and shouted. Everyone, pull out all your strength! We must defeat this unbeliever! At the Saintsmand, the followers exerted even more power. A stronger force than before oppressed Taesan. Theres also a God of Light in thebyrinth. Asking the ghost, he had said it resided in the depths. Harmon was also a God of Light. The God born from the heavens, whom Taesan had just defeated, was also a God of Light. The God of Self-Proof they believed in resembled Pabrasha, the God of Proof. Many gods held simr ranks. Thats why theyd probably like this the most. Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Self-Proof.] Taesan stood up. The pressure he had felt noticeably decreased. He turned to look at the followers of the God of Self-Proof. They were shaken. This, this! What is that! Dont panic, everyone! The Saint urgently shouted, but he couldnt hide the turmoil in his eyes. Whats this! An aura different from before emanated from Taesan. The Saint, a believer in the God of Self-Proof, immediately recognized it. It was everything he had umted. What Taesan had done, what he had achieved, was materializing into energy. But this is The issue was the sheer amount. The energy flowing endlessly from Taesan held a magnitude the Saint couldnt have imagined. A might unreachable by the most perfect warrior, the most devout Saint, or the highest mage. The subtly spreading energy began to crack their barrier. Everyone! Steel yourselves! Believe in our god! The Saint desperately raised his voice. The shaken followers barely regainedposure and pressed Taesan harder. Its useless. Taesan bared his teeth. He took a step forward. The barrier of proof created by the followers began to yield to Taesans energy. You are nothing. The hundreds of believers in the God of Self-Proof, even whenbined, couldnt stop Taesans individual proof. What youve built is nothing. All trivial. Taesan hummed and advanced again. Cracks began to appear in the barrier. [...Ah. So, this is what it was?] The ghost realized. What would the gods of thebyrinth like? As Taesan said, crushing the pride of the outside gods. Thus, Taesan was proving it. That what they had built was nothing. Hundreds of proofs were trampled by his own achievements in thebyrinth alone. And he was also telling the God of Self-Proof. Your domain was nothing. The status of the God of Proof in thebyrinth was far more exalted. Thud. Taesan advanced again. Cough! Choke! The force oppressing Taesan was equivalent to their own worth. As their worth was mercilessly trampled and crushed, it directly impacted their mental strength. Some couldnt bear it and vomited blood, copsing. This cant be happening! The Saint shouted vehemently. This is impossible! All who hade here were acknowledged by the God of Self-Proof. They were elites, revered in their original worlds. But to be overpowered by just one person? Theirbined worth was less than that of a single individual? Thats impossible! His entire life, everything he had built in faith was being denied. Isnt proving oneself always like this? Didnt you alsoe here the same way? Proving oneself often meant overshadowing others. The Saint must have gone through a simr process, stepping over peers and casting others into the shadows to be a saint of their god. It doesnt matter, though. Bying here, you were prepared, right? This was the Battlefield of the Gods. The condition of victory was the annihtion of other gods followers. Thud. Taesan walked. With each step, dozens more followers spat blood and fell. So, ept it. Taesan approached the Saint and tapped his forehead. The Saints body copsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Taesan looked around. No one was in their right mind. All were foaming at the mouth, copsing, writhing on the ground. Its over. Taesan raised his fist. In front of their own gods followers, the statue of the God of Self-Proof shattered. [You have destroyed the statue of the God of Self-Proof. The God of Self-Proof has been expelled from the Battlefield of the Gods.] [The gods of thebyrinth are satisfied.] [The God of Proof is extremely delighted. He is immensely pleased with your actions.] A system window appeared, stating the God of Proofs satisfaction. This notification hadnt appeared when he dealt with the followers of the three previous gods. As expected. This was the right answer. The way they liked the most, ensuring the greatest reward. Ah, ahhh The Saint, with a world-copsing expression, stared at the shattered statue. A massive force started to escape through the skys rift. Ah, aaaaaah! The Saint screamed. A translucent something was leaving his body. The same was happening to the copsed followers. Soul? [Seems like it.] The translucent entities followed the God of Self-Proof through the skys rift. Their souls belonged to their god. In a way, it was obvious. The followers who had descended to the Battlefield of the Gods had undoubtedly offered their souls to the god. What would happen to the souls dragged away by the defeated god? Would the god take out its anger on its followers? Or, as a transcendent being, show mercy? To Taesan, it was a story of little interest. Lets wrap this up quickly. Taesan immediately moved to meet the followers of the next god. There was also a mansion simr to the one of the God of Self-Proof. Taesan flicked his finger, shattering the door. Intruder! Everyone, gather! Taesan beat them down. He toppled the obstructing enemies and stood before the statue. Show me. Show me what youve built. The worth of what you believe in. And like before, he waited until they were fully prepared. Youll regret this! Ive heard that before. This time, the god was one of Mystery who had climbed from the bottom. As he battered the followers, he saw them use some kind of magical something. The barrage of attacks was met with Taesans cold demeanor. Just magic? I thought it would be something more, given its called Mystery. He repelled the onught of mes and ice. With his fists, he burst gusts of wind and suppressed the trembling earth by stepping on it. No mboyance orplex techniques, just simple movements. This alone blocking everything meant Taesan was on a whole different level than them. However, the Saint, thinking Taesan was helpless and only managing to block, burst outughing. Look! This is the magic bestowed by our god! Chachachak! A shower of ice rained down. It was quite a spectacle, so Taesan just watched. In the midst, a magical arrow flew towards him. Taesanzily swung his sword, knocking it aside. Hahaha! You cant do anything. Heretic! The Saint was very pleased. Having received an oracle from the god, the Saint knew that the followers of the God of Self-Proof had been annihted by the man before him. A satisfied god would bestow even more potent powers upon them. While the Saint indulged in his happy fantasies, Taesan clenched his fist. Low-grade. The magic itself was of a beginners level, as it was directly given by the god. However, the wielders were so weak that they couldnt even draw out the slightest essence of the magic. Not much to gain here. Taesan made his decision. Just to wipe them out. He rolled his foot. [You have activated Earthquake.] Earthquake. A magic of little value in thebyrinth, not particrly impressive. But here, it was different. The ground stirred. Those who were confident in their victory and attack were terrified and copsed. Kururung! The earth creaked. Their building made unstable noises, beginning to shed its ornaments. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Uh, what? The Saint was horrified. He was a magician in his own right. He realized that what Taesan had just done was magic. And he could feel that its level was so high, he couldnt evene close to it. Its quite useful outside. Taesan muttered, stirring the air with his hand. [You have activated zing Orb.] zing mes formed around Taesan. With a gesture, the zing Orb flew towards the followers of the God of Mystery. The Saint, terrified, raised his hands. Barrier! An opaque magical barrier appeared. The followers, who had regained their bnce, reinforced the barrier. Kaang! It shattered against the zing Orb. Fragments of dispersed mes enveloped them. Those directly hit disappeared without even screaming, and those touched by the sparks couldntst long. What, what is this! A me created without chanting or almost any time for manifestation. Yet his barrier was shattered like this. The Saints eyes widened, and Taesan appeared confused. Why so weak? Despite being a transcendent being beyond mortals, even if of lower divine stature, Taesans power was iparable to them. Yet, the magic was too low-grade. [Gods can''t easily bestow their power. Even on their own followers, they require a price. Remember in thebyrinth?] Then they should offer a tribute. [Think of the level of tributes you offered, and you''ll have your answer.] Ah. Taesan nodded, repelling magic as he did. The equipment descriptions in thebyrinth alone made it clear. The value of equipment from the 10th floor was extremely high, even outside. Offering a few such items was necessary to learn magic. By outside standards, offering relics that could be called treasures would not be an exaggeration. Definitely difficult outside. Taesan muttered as he continued manifesting magic. And one after another, they failed to stop the followers. [You have activated Wind Explosion.] A magic rarely used in thebyrinth, at best used to block arrows. Wind Explosion. Aaaaa! Eek! To them, it was like a storm. Unable to resist, they were blown against walls, disappearing into the forest. Taesan indifferently continued to manifest magic. The easily formed magic was a disaster in itself. Ah, ahhh. And all copsed. Taesan triggered Frost Arrow. Crack. The statue of the God of Mystery, who had crawled from the bottom, shattered. [You have destroyed the statue of the God of Mystery, who had crawled from the bottom. The God of Mystery, who had crawled from the bottom, has been expelled from the Battlefield of the Gods.] [The gods of the Labyrinth are pleased.] [The god of magic is incredibly happy. He is utterly satisfied with your actions.] Massive energy disappeared into the skys rift, along with the souls of the followers. Taesan immediately moved to the next one. The next god was the one who moved the twisted cliffs. As the name suggested, this god venerated strength, and his followers were simrly inclined. Aaaaaah! Dozens of men, twice Taesans size, charge at him. They grouped together and started pushing Taesan back. Feel our strength! A particrlyrge man among them shouted heartily. We are those who can push mountains! You do have the strength to say that. Their pressure was quite heavy. With this kind of strength, they really could push mountains. Though it would be more like very small hills. But Taesan actually possessed the power to move mountains. He braced his entire body and stepped on the ground. Crack. Just that motion cracked and depressed the ground. He strengthened his back, pulled his shoulders, and then pushed forward. Wh-what? Woaaah! The bulky men were flung away as if shot from a cannon. The eyes of the particrlyrge man widened in shock. What the! In the Labyrinth, stats directly affected ones physical body. Increasing agility allowed one to easily break the sound barrier. Boosting strength made one unimaginably powerful. And Lee Taeyeon possessed the power to shatter waves and lift mountains. Thats why Lee Taeyeon had to fight somewhere else. At Hard Mode level, minimizing damage by concentrating strength was possible. Still, at Lee Taeyeons level, even that became impossible. Even lightbat could cause destruction at the level of a city, so she, like Taesan, had no choice but to fight from a distance. As he thought about this, another thought naturally came to mind. Thats strange when you think about it? Lee Taeyeon couldnt fight in the city due to the aftermath of battles. So, she must have fought outside, like Taesan. But in his previous life, when he returned to the city after defeating two S-ss enemies, Lee Taeyeon was there. Did shee back after fighting? After winning a fight and returning to the city, she saw more monsters appearing. She nned to use the Ouroboros Stone, but she died without even being able to resist the apostle. This assumption seemed usible, but something didnt quite add up. Even while distracted by these thoughts, the men continued to try pushing Taesan, grunting with effort. However, Taesans feet remained immovable, rooted to the spot. Lets finish this now. Taesan flexed his arms and swung them. The bulky men were sent flying. Crack. Taesan broke a statue. [The god of strength is incredibly happy. He is utterly satisfied with your actions.] Is there a god of strength, too? It seemed like a god yet to be encountered by Taesan. Taesan looked up at the rift in the sky. Into it, the souls of the followers and the energy of what seemed like a god were being absorbed. There are ten gods here, arent there? The green one had told him that. Considering the number of gods Taesan had met in the Labyrinth, ten was indeed a significant number. Thats fine by me. The more gods there were, the more certain the rewards would be. Taesan has already defeated five gods. Now, five remain. Unsatisfactory. Taesan waved his arm. He had just driven away the god of the solitary path of light. That made six gods he had driven away. He had dealt with more than half, and although the god of light was satisfied, Taesan was not. Theyre too weak. There was nothing to gain from them. None of the gods he faced were strong enough to trigger Soul Ascension. I thought they were the bottom of the barrel, but it turns out it was justparing acorns. One could tell just by looking at the weakest ones fighting each other. If there had been a real difference in power, higher-tier followers would have smashed them before even fighting each other. The ghost chuckled bitterly. [Actually, they''re not that weak.] By the ghosts standards, they werent weak. The gods Taesan first encountered here were certainly weak, but from the middle onwards, quite strong ones appeared. Even by the standards of the Labyrinth, they werent that low in rank. Individually, they might be weak, but when a sufficient number gathered, they were at the level of the early 20th or 30th floors. [It''s just that you''re too strong. Probably even the gods here didn''t expect that.] The gods from outside, who didnt know much about the Labyrinth, would have based their judgment on the level. Normally, level and strength were proportional, so that wasnt a wrong assumption. It was just that Taesan was an exception. He possessed strength disproportionate to his level and also had a special skill like Soul Ascension. [It must be confusing for them. So... now you might be able to move on.] The ghost spoke softly. A day had passed. The next day, Taesan defeated two more gods. A smaller numberpared to the previous day, but there was a reason for that. Theyve suddenly be stronger? It wasnt a concept of improved abilities or increased skills. The divine power from the followers felt more intense. Did the gods give them more power? [Probably. Normally, they couldn''t grant more than a certain amount of favor due to the rules of the battlefield, but they must have agreed to do so to kill you.] Taesanughed. Its still useless, though. No matter how much divine power they received, it was not enough to stop Taesan with hastily granted power. Its not like theyre suddenly elevated to the level of apostles, so it only dyed the inevitable. That was how he dealt with eight in total. Only two gods remained. Before dealing with the rest, Taesan decided to fill his stomach first. He cooked some meat he brought from the Labyrinth and ate it. The taste wasnt great, but it was enough to satisfy his hunger. Taesan, who was eating slowly, paused. He turned his gaze. Nearby, a golden light was visible. [Well, it was about time.] Itster than I thought. Both the ghost and Taesan waited calmly. The bushes parted as if they had a will of their own. A being, before whom even nature would bow and worship, had appeared. A being adorned entirely in gold revealed itself. [You.] An emotionless gaze directed at Taesan. [Before you is the brightly decorated god of swords. You''ve encountered Mantra.] Taesan appraised Mantra. At first nce, he looked simr to a human, except for theck of hair, and could be considered a typical handsome man. But every part of his body was made of gold. Fingertips, irises, lips - all were golden. It felt like looking at a giant fortress made of gold. [For a mortal to appraise a god.] Mantra narrowed his eyes. That action alone caused the surrounding grass to die and the ground to dry and twist. [Intimidation Judgment in progress...] [Fear Judgment in progress...] [Confusion Judgment in progress...] Just like when he met Maria before, dozens of judgments shed by. Dismiss it. Taesan shook his head. A notification of sess in all judgments appeared. The judgments of Mantra, a lesser god from the outside, were nothingpared to Maria. Not even the real deal. Taesan knew. The entity before him was not the true form of the god. It seemed like some sort of avatar. Strong, but that was it. There wasnt the sensation of seeing something enormous like when he saw the gods of the Labyrinth. Is it because of the difference in rank? The rank of the gods from the outside was lower than that of the Labyrinth. That might be why Taesan felt no special emotion. Mantras eyes, looking at Taesan, wavered. [Why does someone like you have such a rank] What? [No, it''s iplete. It''s nothing to worry about.] Mantras shaking eyes steadied. [Mortal. Be my servant.] Mantra spoke as if pronouncing a verdict as if a god was giving a decree. [You have a power derived from filthy things, but it''s usable. Be my servant and have the honor of dedicating your soul to me.] Do you think I would ept that? [Then there is only death.] Mantras calm gaze turned towards Taesan. Sharp des pierced Taesans entire body. It was hard to move even a fingertip, and the sensation of death crept up to the back of his head. [Instant Death Judgment in progress...] [Judgment failed! Death descends upon you.] Mantra spoke calmly. [Die, mortal.] Death descended upon Taesan. Taesan looked on emotionlessly. The opponent was a god. He knew long ago that it was an entity beyond resistance. But at the same time, he knew he would never die. [That''s enough.] An interference urred. The absolute death targeting Taesan dissipated. The space split, revealing the presence of a colossal entity in the artificial world. [Instant Death Judgment has been lifted.] The impending death disappeared. Taesan brushed off his clothes. Itster than I thought. [I was aiming for a dramatic timing.] Mantra showed panic for the first time. [You!] [For a god to directly interfere with a mortal is quite shameful, Mantra.] Lakiratas, who appeared on the battlefield, chuckled. Chapter 150: Outside, Battlefield Of The Gods (6) Chapter 150: Outside, Battlefield Of The Gods (6) Mantra was flustered, like a mortal. As if he were a being with a finite lifespan, living a once-in-a-lifetime existence. The appearance of Lakiratas here meant it was a significant event. [You shouldn''t be able to descend to this ce!] [Did you really believe that?] Lakiratas mocked Mantra. [Did you think we couldn''t crush you, that we were only watching because wecked power?] Lakiratas presence overturned the world. The entire expanse of the battlefield became his domain. [It''s not entirely wrong. It has been that way until now. Until now.] [...Divine Expulsion!] Mantra gritted his teeth. Taesan had expelled gods from this ce. As a result, the number of gods had now been reduced from ten to just two. Originally, there wouldnt have been a problem since gods kepting in, but Taesan resolved it quickly in just two days, creating a gap. The power of the gods from outside of the Labyrinth had weakened enough for them to intervene. [But!] Mantras body shone. Simultaneously, his presence extended in all directions. [This is our domain. Even you, responsible for strife and death, won''t win easily!] [Let''s stop this uninteresting act.] Lakiratasughed. Like an adult cating a childs tantrum, Mantras energy scattered. [It''s obvious what the oue of a fight among us would be. It''s not interesting.] [] Lakiratas seemed uninterested in fighting. Mantras vigor also gradually diminished. [What do you propose?] [There is your saint here.] Like the gods Taesan had dealt with, Mantra must have brought his saint to this ce. [Mortals should deal with mortals'' matters. Don''t you think it''s fitting?] [Are you suggesting a duel between your apostle and my saint?] [He''s not my apostle.] [What?] Mantras eyes shook. [For someone who''s not even an apostle, you''vee here ''because''?] [Do I look like a god who cares about such things?] Lakiratasughed. Mantra remained silent in apparent agreement. Lakiratas was a remarkably free-spirited godpared to his rank. Even the gods from outside knew that well. Lakiratas turned his gaze to Taesan. [Of course, we should also consider your opinion.] It doesnt matter to me. Taesan nodded immediately. Toe this far and end it with a fight between gods. There was nothing more anticlimactic. There was still much to gain. He had no intention of ending it before obtaining it all. [He agrees.] [...Fine.] Mantras eyes shone ominously. [I''ll make you regret this. I''ll use your toy as my ything.] [He''s not a toy, but... think whatever you want.] Mantra had disappeared at some point. Lakiratasughed lightly. [He''s quite impatient.] Hes more emotional than I thought. Taesan murmured. Mantra had easily shown emotions like anger and confusion. Thinking about it, the gods of the Labyrinth werent different. They expressed their emotions directly. [We were once mortals. We ascended to a great position and became transcendent beings. To us, emotions are very precious. They are special things that alleviate the tedium of eternity.] Lakiratas spoke calmly. Thinking about it, that made sense. The current gods were all once mortals who rose to the rank of immortals, hidden only by their immense power. The only exceptions were the ancient gods. [I look forward to it. The time when you, too, will ascend to this position.] With those words, Lakiratas vanished. As the epassing power dissipated, Taesan let out a small breath. Im still far off. He never uttered the word impossible. His goal was right there, so there was no need. The gods were once mortals like Taesan, so he, too, could reach that level one day. Taesan clenched his fist. The next day, Taesan headed towards another god. This time, it was a spirit god born from the Source of Spring. Thus, spirits, not humans, warmly weed Taesan. [Die!] [Enemy of the spirits! Be ash!] All kinds of nature fiercely attacked Taesan. It was a clear and different kind of enemy than before. Defending against all of them, Taesan murmured. I wonder how theyll react. There must be a spirit god in the Labyrinth as well. It was uncertain whether they would like or dislike Taesan, who had annihted the spirits. But he couldnt just leave them alone. Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated the Small Ember.] [You have activated the Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] Wind and me rose simultaneously. A storm of mes engulfed the spirits. Despite their desperate resistance, the Small Ember was a fragment of the Spirit King. Ordinary spirits couldnt withstand it. In a few minutes, all spirits disappeared. [You have destroyed the statue of the Spirit God born from the Source of Spring. The Spirit God born from the Source of Spring has been driven out of the battlefield of the gods.] [The Primordial Spirit God remains silent at your actions.] Its scary. Neither joy nor anger, just silence. It was unclear how they would react when they metter. They might not kill Taesan, but their reaction was unpredictable. Now, it was thest one. Next to a giant pir, there was a small building. Unlike before, there wasnt much sign of life. Only one person was waiting for Taesan. As he opened the door and entered, a man in light armor greeted him. Youvee. The representative of the Labyrinth. A middle-aged man with a hearty face and a golden double-handed sword slung over his shoulder weed Taesan. Hes strong. Even his aura alone far surpassed the second-tier Guides of Sin. It was as expected. The limit of the battlefield was level 75. Considering the level of those he had met so far, someone with an ordinary level in the 70s would have been a challenge, but victory was still achievable. So, it was likely that someone would possess power above level 70. The man in front of him seemed to be that being. I am the splendidly adorned Sword Saint. The saint of Lord Mantra. Cain. The man pointed his sword at Taesan. I would like to say a fair fight but you are too strong. Cain let out a wry smile. He was at a level where deciding the odds against an adventurer in the 70s would be difficult. But that also meant he was just at that level. Definitely not enough to stop Taesan. Sorry, but I need to borrow the power bestowed upon me by the god. Go ahead. Just once. Mantra wouldnt just watch silently. He must have done something, something to help Cain defeat Taesan. Cain raised his sword to the sky. O God! Your servant prays to you! Power descended from the rift in the sky. It was a matter of rank. A rank unreachable for mortals descended upon Cain. Taesan grimaced. Cain shouted with wide-open eyes. Please bestow upon me the power to serve you! A golden aura enveloped Cains entire body. Cain took a deep breath. Is this the power of a god? He looked at his hand in awe. A power of apletely different dimension had taken hold of his body. Good. This should make for a decent fight. Cain smiled, lifting his sword. Taesan looked at him ambiguously. Cain had received a power that Taesan could recognize. Because he had experienced something simr. The ghost spoke. [It''s an apostle. That one.] [No loss of power, no degradation of the user''s rank... A real apostle. Is this your first time seeing a proper one?] Probably. The Apostle of the God of Proof. Pavshas Apostle. Malesten. He was the first apostle Taesan had seen. But his power wasnt that great. Because he descended using Taesans body, he didnt possess the rank of an apostle and couldnt use his own swordsmanship. Thats why Taesan could win without much trouble. But Cain in front of him was different. The position that the gods of the Labyrinth continually offered him. Cain possessed that apostolic rank. The worst-case scenario I anticipated. [The opponent is a formidable enemy.] Judgments appeared in a series. [The Desire for Battle is activated.] At the same time, stat-boosting skills were also continuously activated. Come! Onward! The representative of the Labyrinth! Cain, wielding a golden sword, charged. Taesan quickly drew two swords. ng! Sparks flew. Taesan clicked his tongue at the force felt through the swords. Ha! With a short yell, Cain put strength into his sword-wielding hand. Taesan quickly moved his hand to deflect the force and aimed his sword at Cains shoulder. Crack! However, the sword did not prate. Even with aura infused, the sword couldnt prate the light armor and nced off. Just as in the realm of spirits, the rank of the apostle prevented Taesans attacks fromnding effectively. Crack! Taesan swung his sword to create distance. Cain attacked fiercely. The god he believed in, the splendidly adorned Sword God, didnt match Cains swordsmanship, which was rough and aggressive rather than shy. ng! Taesan was busy defending. Using the force of the pushback, Taesan created distance and swung his sword. His arm throbbed, but it didnt hinder his swordy. Is this your level? Lets continue! Alright. Lets see. Crack! Taesan was preupied with blocking Cains sword. Although his swordsmanship was superior, his attacks couldnt reach Cain due to the disparity in strength and the rank of the apostle. ng! Taesan was sent flying back. He regained his stance uponnding. It seems you havent received the grace of a god. Then you cannot defeat me. What a pity, Cain confidently dered this, not considering his own defeat. Taesan got up. I dont believe in gods. Thats unfortunate. To devote oneselfpletely to a god. Theres no greater joy. I hate that. He hade here on his own will. Not because he believed in someone or devoted himself to someone. Cain smirked. Then youll be buried in the ground believing in yourself. Well see. Taesan muttered, putting strength into his sword hand. The recent fight had shown him something. Hes not a proper apostle. [They forcibly infused him with power to kill you, despite him not having the proper rank.] The ghost scoffed. To him, who had seen apostles in the Labyrinth, Cains level was quite insignificant. [If he''s an apostle, then all those Guides are apostles too.] This should be enough. [You have activated Apostle Transformation[Lakiratas].] Power descended upon Taesans body. Red light swirled in his eyes, enhancing everything. Strength, speed, and even his rank. Cain hesitated. What? I got the gist of it. Taesan stamped his foot. He swung his sword as before. Cain hurriedly blocked. ng! Ugh! Cains arm was pushed back, astonishment in his eyes. You said you dont believe in gods! I dont believe in them. This is just something I received. What nonsensical talk! Cain eximed in denial. He swung his sword hastily. The sword, soaring high as if to pierce the sky, then plummeted towards Taesans head. Taesan swung his left arm. The moment it collided with Cains sword, he twisted his arm to deflect it. Hup! Not to be outdone, Cain twisted the arm holding the sword and thrust it straight at Taesan. Taesan tilted his head to dodge and thrust his sword forward. Crack. Argh! [You inflicted 202 damage on Cain.] Cain groaned in pain. Kuh! Unlike before, Cain created distance. Taesan immediately charged in. The duration of Apostle Transformation was 10 minutes. He had to finish within that time. Thats why he had deliberately taken time to understand Cains movements. The assessment wasplete. All that was left was victory. And Taesan still had no intention of ending his n. The God of Self-Proof was trampled with proof, and the God of Mystery was dealt with using magic. Even the spirits were annihted using spirit magic. The opponent was an apostle of the Sword God. So, the choice of what to use was clear. [You have activated Counter.] Chapter 151: Outside, Battlefield Of The Gods (7) Chapter 151: Outside, Battlefield Of The Gods (7) Ugh! As Cain stepped back, his face was twisted in frustration. Didnt you say you dont believe in gods? That youre not an apostle! Im not an apostle. Its just something I received. Dont joke with me! Cain shouted angrily. He couldnt ept Taesans words. In his world, he was one of the greatest warriors. He possessed a power rare to find in any nation, and even emperors would hesitate to speak carelessly before him. Everyone he met bowed in reverence. Even hundreds of excellent warriors couldnt defeat him, and natural disasters seemed to diminish in his presence. He was full of pride. He believed he was unbeatable in this generation and among the strongest in history. But even he had not received the apostles contract until now. An apostle was a lifetime guardian by the side of a god. Even warriors considered greater than him had spent their lives unable to attain this position. It was only as a special case to defeat Taesan that he was barely able to make a contract. But Taesans words were different. He said he didnt believe in gods and that it was just a favor from a god. Cain could never ept that. Thats an insult to us! Insult or whatever. Taesan was indifferent. Cain, showing intense emotion, swung his sword down. It was the strike of an apostle, hard to dodge or deflect, filled with unstoppable power. Taesan swung his sword. sh. As their swords collided, Taesan twisted his wrist. His sword slipped past Cains, targeting his chest. Hmph! Predicting the counter, Cain sneered and withdrew, lifting his sword. Cains hilt aimed at Taesans head. ng! The pommel hit Taesans sword de. Sss. And Cains wrist was cut. What, what? Cain grasped his wrist, stepping back in shock. How? He was sure he had dodged Taesans counter and attacked back. And Taesan had blocked his attack. Yet, suddenly, his wrist was cut. Though it was iprehensible, Taesan seemed to have anticipated it and immediately rushed towards him. Ugh! Cain gritted his teeth and swung his sword again. Their swords collided once more. [You have triggered a counter.] Like before, Taesan deflected Cains sword. Cain smoothly gathered his strength for a counterattack. Taesan was forced into a defensive position. Sss. [150 damage to Cain.] But like before, a slight wound appeared on Cains wrist. Taesan shook his sword. This time a damage window appeared. Until now, it hadnt shown up. Thinking back, a damage window appeared during the fight with the angel in Vekveta, but it didnt with ordinary people. Does a damage judgment ur for those directly involved with gods? This, what is this Cain couldnt understand. It was supposed to be a situation favorable to him, yet he was the one getting injured. His face, already agitated, twisted further. Youre using filthy sorcery! Cain took it as if Taesan was using magic or ck magic, not swordsmanship. For Taesan, it was a frustrating misunderstanding. This is my swordsmanship. Dont make meugh! Is there such swordsmanship? Whether you believe it or not. This was Taesans swordsmanship. Crafted in front of the God of Swords and certified by the ghost. [You have triggered Strong Blow.] Kaaaang! Uh! Cains arm was pushed back. Until now, their strength seemed equal, but with the sudden difference, Cain was inevitably shaken. Taesan immediately closed in and swung his sword again. Cain hurriedly adjusted his stance to block the attack. It was the best action for Cain but also exactly what Taesan aimed for. Kaaaang! Cains arm was pushed back again. Strong Blow, like eleration, could be continuously activated if timed correctly to hit or if blocked by the opponents sword. Kagagak! Cain couldnt resist and was pushed back. It was natural, as the strength difference had suddenly doubled. Ugh! Taesans sword grazed his neck. He grasped his neck and retreated. Blood flowed between his fingers, but Cain was too distraught to notice. This, this kind of thing! [You have activated eleration.] Pabababak! Passing by Cains sword, Taesans attack cut through his entire body. Cains splendid armor was now torn in several ces, looking like trash. Taesan shook his sword. Surprisingly sturdy. It felt like fighting an adventurer from thebyrinth. Normal people would have died from such wounds long ago, but Cain still seemed to have strength left. Is that also the power of an apostle? Above all, the wounds Taesan inflicted were slowly healing. It seemed difficult to defeat him with such minor attacks. [It''s strange that the attacks are affecting him at all.] The ghostughed sardonically. Taesan had received apostle transformation, but he was only using a part of an apostles power. From the ghosts perspective, having seen several apostles, Taesans apostle form wascking in many aspects. Taesan was suppressing Cain with a simple superiority in power. [Still, it''s time to finish this.] I know. He only had 3 minutes left in the duration of the apostle transformation. He would end the battle with a single strike. Taesan assumed his stance. Cain had enough time to prepare, but he was too confused to do so. This, what is this He couldnt resist anything. Powers entirely different from his understanding kept emerging. But there was no time to be lost in thoughts. Even so, Taesan was swinging his sword at him. Ugh! Kagagak! Cain, btedly focusing on defense, hunched like a turtle and started to block with minimal movements. Taesan intended to break through that defense. [You have activated Continuous Attack.] Kaaang! Ugh! A strong vibration traveled up Cains sword to his arm. Cains hand holding the sword momentarily loosened. Taesan dived below and lifted his sword to strike. Cain, unable to hold his sword properly, hastily blocked the attack. [You have activated Leap.] Kwajik. A power iparable to before was contained in the sword. Cain dropped his sword. He watched his golden sword fly far away with a stunned expression. A swordsman without a weapon was worthless. Taesans sword pierced Cains chest. He charged forward, mming him into the wall. Kuh ahk! [1989 damage to Cain.] Simr damage numbers appeared consecutively. Taesan withdrew his sword. Its my victory. The divine aura surrounding Cain was gradually disappearing. It meant his body and soul couldnt withstand the power of a god any longer. Simultaneously, the duration of apostle transformation ended. The immense power that filled his body disappeared, leaving him slightly exhausted. I shouldnt get used to this. Knowledge, information, and power beyond human cognition entered his mind. All of it was attractive. If he got intoxicated, there was a possibility of selling his soul to be an apostle. Probably, Lakiratas had given him the apostle transformation for that reason. Taesan collected his thoughts. The boiling excitement and heat subsided. After calming down, he looked at Cain, who was chuckling weakly. Ha, haha The power that had filled his entire body until a moment ago had vanished without a trace. My end is like this He couldnt continue his words. Cain died like that. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Permanently increases health by 500, strength by 85, agility by 88, and intelligence by 97.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [The proficiency of the Ability Sword increased by 3%.] [The proficiency of Divine Power increased by 4%.] [The proficiency of Woo?? increased by 3%.] In addition, the proficiency of various skills increased. He also acquired a new skill. [You have defeated the apostle of a god. You have obtained the special activation skill [Apostle yer].] Do you get the title God yer if you kill a god? The ghost didnt give a clear answer, trailing off in an ambiguous voice. Taesan, who had asked jokingly, didnt pay much attention and looked at the system window. [You have dealt with thest disciple of the mboyantly decorated God of Swords. The mboyantly decorated God of Swords has been expelled from the Battlefield of Gods.] [The gods of the Labyrinth are satisfied.] [The God of Swords smiles quietly. He is very satisfied with your actions.] Through the crack in the sky, a great power escaped. It must be the mboyantly decorated God of Swords. This marked the end. Only Taesan remained in the Battlefield of Gods. [Special Quest Sess] With the sess window, the world began to crack. Like a shattered mirror world, the space started to crumble. [Returning to the Labyrinth.] As the world fragmented, Taesan entered the Labyrinth for thest time. Finally, it was over. Taesan sheathed his sword. This quest would have been impossible if not for me. [Probably so.] Cain had obtained the power of an apostle. Even if it werent against Taesan, Mantra would have likely granted the apostolic authority to their champion if a being from the Labyrinth threatened the battlefield. Otherwise, he would havee down and killed them himself. It was an enemy that couldnt have been defeated without Taesans apostle transformation. And Cain was strong in his own right. Though he didnt put up much resistance and was defeated by Taesan, his swordsmanship was not to be underestimated. Objectively, Cains strength was at the level of adventurers in the early 40th floors. An adventurer attempting the 30th floor wouldnt have stood a chance. [It must have been Mantra''s swordsmanship. In reality, the level of swordsmanship itself was quite high. It was just that his proficiency was low, making it easier.] The ghost seemed to think the same. [The fact that they didn''t know how to counter your swordsmanship made it simpler.] One of the biggest advantages of my swordsmanship. Opponents facing it for the first time would not be able to find a counter-strategy. That was the characteristic of Taesans swordsmanship. The speed of the sword strike suddenly doubled. The power also doubled suddenly. In the case of a counter, it was even more so. The ghost muttered in amazement. [Did the counter change like that? Isn''t this swordsmanship practically saying, ''Don''t even try to block it''?] [Special Activation Skill: Counter] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 39%] [Counters the enemy''s attack, inflicting greater damage. Counters even attacks that cannot be countered.] [Condition: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword] [Condition 1. When you attempt to block and counter an enemy''s attack but fail.] [Condition 2. If the opponent attempts an attack within a certain time after the counter fails.] [If both conditions are met, you can attack while ignoring the opponent''s attack and defense. However, lethal damage is impossible.] With the effect of the Ability Sword, Taesan could now use counters more actively. The variable of failing a counter, which Taesan could somewhat control, followed by a guaranteed hit, was enough to confuse the opponent. In fact, this happened with Cain. He blocked Taesans counter and attempted an attack. However, when Taesan ignored the attack and struck him, Cain was greatly flustered and couldnt properly execute his attacks. The damage itself wasnt significant, but it was a skill that could create a major variable in battle. Still, its not that easy. The risk of needing to fail a counter was significant. A guaranteed hit also depended on initiating an attack from his side, so it wasnt a 100% sessful condition. But its still good. It feels like ying a card game. Taesan muttered. Meeting conditions and drawing effects. It was simr to a card game. But when do I get the reward? Quite some time had passed since he returned to the Labyrinth, but there had been no changes. However, as soon as Taesan finished speaking, the system window appeared. [Several gods express doubts about the decision of a few gods.] Doubts? Before he could even ponder on that, the window continued to appear. [The God of Choice has listened.] [The God of Proof has listened.] [The God of Victory has listened.] [The Demon God''s interference has lessened.] The interference areas of the gods were being reduced. [The God of Struggle and Death''s interference area has lessened.] [The God of Swords'' interference area has lessened.] [The God of Magic''s interference area has lessened.] Taesan hesitated. Chapter 152: Outside, Battlefield Of The Gods (8) Chapter 152: Outside, Battlefield Of The Gods (8) Looking at the system window that appeared one after the other, Taesan said, What is this? [Why are there so many?] The ghost muttered doubtfully. Taesan felt the same way. He knew the reward wouldnt be just one thing. It was a conflict between the Labyrinth and the outside world. Given itsrge scale, he anticipated various rewards. But this was too much, even considering that. [Several gods respect the opinion of a few gods.] Several gods? [...Ah.] The ghost seemed to have an inkling, speaking in a tone that hinted at realization. [Is that the concept? Interesting. I''ve heard stories, but it''s my first time seeing it in action.] If you know, exin. Whats going on? [It''s not thatplicated. You saw that the interference area of the gods has reduced, right? You know when that happens.] When gods reduce their area of influence to perform some action. Taesan had received rewards for clearing enhanced trials, and such a phrase had always appeared. [The gods whose interference areas have reduced were all those who had given you direct trials. They decided to reward you, and other gods found it puzzling. But they respected the decision.] So thats the concept. It wasnt a difficult story, as the ghost said, but there was one thing bothering him. Then what exactly did they give? [...Right.] A reward that even the gods found puzzling. [It''s good but... a bit scary.] Taesan checked the system window one by one. How many lines are there? Dozens of lines of text filled his vision. Lets clear it first. With so many, he became calmer. He could check them one by one. But first, he nned to open what he had obtained. [Special Activation Skill: Apostle yer] [Proficiency: 1%] [The one who has in an apostle of a god. It forces the apostle into a decline during battle.] A decline in status. From Taesans experience, it had one meaning. Does it mean I can deal proper damage? The power of apostles significantly reduced the damage they received from those without it. This skill seemed to mitigate the issue of attacks not being effective due to the difference in status. Thats good. He had Apostle Transformation, but it onlysted 10 minutes. Having narrowly won this time, such a skill would allow him to hope for a longer battle. What am I supposed to do with this? [Divine Power] [Proficiency: 6%] [The power of a god. It''s the grace given when someone believes and follows. As of now, it seems to have no meaning.] After defeating Cain, his proficiency in Divine Power also increased through Soul Ascension. It was still a skill whose purpose was unknown. [Concept Skill: ???] [Proficiency: 24%] [The power of will summons ???. Harmony with ???. Obtained ???] The phrase harmony was added to the concept skill. It was still hard to find a proper way to use it. It seemed necessary to increase proficiency. Then lets check what I got one by one. First, the God of Choice. The God of Choice. Maria. The first god to have appeared to him directly. Her reward was the special activation skill Freedom of Choice, which allowed the exchange of designated stats. Thinking about it, I didnt really use it much. At best, it was used to avoid a cliff while running in Hafrans destroyed world. If the proficiency increased and the ratio went up, it might be useful, but for now, it was so insignificant that it hardly drew attention. Maria must have thought the same, as her reward was a change to Freedom of Choice. [The special activation skill ''Freedom of Choice'' has evolved into the special continuous activation skill ''Selfish Choice.''] The evolution from an activation skill to a continuous activation skill. It was a very rare urrence. Taesan opened his skill window. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Selfish Choice] [Designate one stat to increase.] A very simple description. There was no need to ponder about the effect. Since he acquired the skill, he just had to use it directly. Taesan designated attack power and checked his stats. [Attack Power + 361] His original attack power was 328. An additional 33 was added. That meant a 10% increase. Surprise appeared on Taesans face. This is useful. If, as Taesan expected, it wasnt a fixed value but a percentage increase skill, it would be valuable even beyond the deepyers. And the fact that it was a continuous activation skill was the most important. Once designated, unless the skill disappeared, it would automatically apply without needing attention, an unconditional advantage. [This is really... unbelievable.] The ghost was at a loss for words, too. Even in the deepyers, he had rarely seen a percent increase skill, except maybe in equipment. It lives up to its name. Selfish Choice. A skill true to its name. Taesan smiled and moved on to the next skill. The God of Proof. Pavsha. Like the God of Choice, he, too, had evolved a skill. [The special continuous activation skill ''Self-Proof'' has evolved into the special continuous activation skill ''Three Proofs.''] [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Three Proofs] [You have proved yourself to yourself, to the gods, and to the world. What you have built bes a phenomenon, staying around you and exerting a material influence.] Although the description changed a lot, the core was one. Material influence. Taesan immediately tried using it. [You have activated the Three Proofs.] Power circled around Taesan. Its effect was clearly different from before. It wasnt visible to the eye, but a physical pressure was subtly spreading out. It was powerful enough to crush and kill someone weak just by being near. Taesan deactivated the skill. This isnt that great by itself. Even if it was a physical influence, it was insignificant against an enemy capable of facing Taesan. It was disappointing for a gift from the God of Proof. [...Really?] However, the ghost thought differently. Just by revealing itself, it had not only a mental but also a physical impact. The meaning behind it was significant. Taesan almost died just from the Spirit Kings anger, but that was because her emotions resonated and caused mes to erupt. As of now, it might not seem significant. But if Taesan became stronger and reached the top echelon This skill could be a disaster. Like Selfish Choice, to the ghost, this wasnt a skill one would normally receive here. But Taesan, unaware of the ghosts thoughts, continued to check his rewards. This time, it was the God of Victory. The God of Victorys previous reward was Victorys Proof, a skill that increased designated stats. It was a useful skill he had been using. Contrary to initial expectations, killing a single monster did not increase his stats by 1. As his mana increased, the increase became progressively slower. Still, thanks to that, his mana nearly reached a thousand. Originally, the rate of mana increase was painfully slow. He had no choice but to obtain additional skills or items or use mana-increasing potions sold in shops. Because of their exorbitant prices, Taesan couldnt use them much. Thats why he always suffered from mana shortage in his past life. But this time, he had never once suffered from ack of mana. It was as good as proven. [Title: Authority of Victory] [Never defeated.] [Strength + 200] [Agility + 200] [Intelligence + 200] [Attack Power + 50] [Defense Power + 50] Oh [Ah....] Taesan muttered ndly. Its easy to understand. The God of Victory, Balthasars reward, was very straightforward. But the numbers were incredibly high. The ghost chuckled. [200... Unbelievable. Really.] Additionally, attack power and defense power increased by 50. Just by the numbers, he was over 10% stronger. [Still, since it''s a fixed value, I can understand this. That''s good.] Of course, 200 was not a small number, even in the deepyers, but the ghost deliberately ignored this fact. The next reward he checked was from the God of Swords, Ehili. [You have obtained the sword of one who is now gone.] [The Sword of the Gone] [Attack Power + 70] [A noble snow mountain. The sword was used by its master. Ity alone in and without an owner.] [A weapon used over a long period acquires a weak self-awareness and harmonizes with its owner.] Taesan held the sword, and a strange sensation was felt. He could sense the swords trajectory, flow, bnce - everything. This is quite good. Each sword had a different bnce and weight, so it usually took time to adapt when holding one for the first time. But Taesan could perfectly handle this sword from the first time he held it. Since Taesan used dual swords, he decided to wield it together with the sword from Carvert. [This is dangerous. I hope my sword doesn''t get abandoned.] The ghost groaned. Carverts relic was a good weapon, but its performance was inherently limited since it was obtained on the 10th floor. He had been managing with various enhancements, but its standing was bing precarious. [I need to get my old swords back quickly.] The ghost muttered, starting to n. While he was thinking, Taesan checked the gift from the Demon God. [Magic permanently increased by 100.] [Proficiency in Dark Magic increased by 10%.] Simple. Simple, but a definite increase. Magic, perceptibly, increased less than mana. Even with a special skill from the Demon God to increase Magic, it was still only in the 70s. But now it has increased by 100. Moreover, Dark Magic was a skill that became more powerful the more Magi it consumed. It made a difference not only in convenience but also in power. The increase in proficiency in Dark Magic was also valuable, as it didnt rise easily. The Demon Gods system window had an additional line, unlike that of other gods. [The Demon God expresses dissatisfaction with the choices of other gods.] Dissatisfaction? It was a difficult-to-understand system window. He passed it over as it wasnt crucial and checked the rewards from other gods. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Frenzy of Struggle] [Proficiency: 1%] [The longer you continue to fight, the faster your movements and the stronger your power bes. The effects disappear when the fight ends.] The reward from the God of Struggle and Death, Lakiratas. It was a battle continuation bonus fitting his domain. It would be a useful skill as he would continue to face strong opponents. And the reward from the God of Magic. [Title: Qualification of Magic] [You have earned the right to learn deeper secrets.] [Mana + 50] The title seemed to exin the qualification for intermediate magic. He also acquired a beginner spell. [Beginner Magic: Realm of Regeneration] [Mana Consumption: 50] [Proficiency: 1%] [Regenerates health and mana of all beings chosen by the user within a certain range.] A recovery spell? Taesan was intrigued. Another means to recover health and mana even outside was now avable. The parts about within a certain range and all beings caught his eye. When returning to Earth, mana and health shortage were the biggest issues. Being able to regenerate not just for himself but for others, too, made it a skill of immeasurable value for him. Ha. Taesan chuckled. Thus, Taesan spent tens of minutes checking his rewards. It was the first time it took this long to check rewards. Beyond imagination. He had believed he would receive substantial rewards. But he hadnt anticipated receiving this much. [That''s why the other gods were questioning.] The achievement was great but not enough to warrant such huge rewards. That must have been the other gods judgment. [But the gods who met you personally didn''t think so.] Adequate but not excessive rewards. That was the judgment of the gods who had met Taesan. [And well, the rewards aren''t entirely iprehensible. Although imperfect, you did kill an apostle after all.] Apostles, being positions appointed directly by gods, require considerable power from the gods themselves. The apostles were almost representatives of the gods. Taesan had killed such an apostle. Considering the significance, the rewards were indeed deserved. Its still not over. The rewards from the gods were individual as they reduced their areas of interference. There was still the special questpletion reward left. Chapter 153: Secret Area, The Forgotten Relics Of The Gods (1) Chapter 153: Secret Area, The Forgotten Relics Of The Gods (1) Taesan checked the reward he received after conquering the battlefield of the gods. What he received was a small gem. [A gem immersed in pitch-ck light] [A gem that has swallowed a dark light. Nobody knows what''s inside it.] A material item? It was an unexpected reward. Considering that it was rted to most of the gods in thebyrinth, he expected a high-grade skill or equipment, but it turned out to be a material. Taesan looked at the gem with curiosity. Inside the gem, something ck was undting. Do you know what this is? [Aside from being high-grade, nothing. I''m an adventurer, not an appraiser. But it seems pretty good, doesn''t it?] Taesan felt it, too. Despite being trapped in the gem, a subtle power was emanating from it. This came at the right time. It was a material received as a reward for a special quest. It would be valuable enough as a material for the dragons w. Taesan pocketed the gem and left the room. Then, Vargan greeted him with a beaming smile. Youre here! Were you waiting? Waiting, of course! Haha! My eyes were right! He grasped Taesans shoulders with glittering eyes. Indeed, you had enough strength! Im so grateful! Very grateful! Ouch. Taesan grimaced and shook him off. Vargan awkwardly raised his hands. Ah, sorry. I was too happy and got carried away. Joy was the only thing evident on Vargans beaming face. Taesans conquest of the battlefield must have been very pleasing to him. You deserve this reward. Take this. He handed Taesan a pair of tinum earrings. They had a simr pattern to the ring he received before but were more luxurious. [tinum Earrings] [Health + 300] [Mana + 70] [Strength + 40] [Agility + 40] [Intelligence + 40] [Attack Power + 40] [Defense + 40] [tinum Earrings. Their value is indescribable.] Oh ho. Taesan smiled. Vargan watched him with satisfaction. It looks like youre satisfied. Definitely. Such stats on a single pair of earrings. As the ghost had said about the ring, it wasnt equipment one could normally obtain at this level. Im d youre satisfied. Then, I must go back down. Vargan groaned as he gathered his equipment. As he was leaving, he said to Taesan, Then, I hope we meet again when the opportunity arises! Young adventurer! With that, Vargan left. Taesan wasnt sure when they would meet again, but he felt it wouldnt be too long. Taesan also started to move. Before going down to the 34th floor, he needed to visit the cksmith. He nned to show him the obtained item and request the crafting of equipment. Are you here? The beardless dwarf greeted him as usual. What brings you this time? Ive obtained a material. I was wondering if it could be used to refine a dragons w. Taesan handed over the gem he received as a reward. Hafrans face, which initially showed no expectation, contorted upon receiving the gem. ..What is this? He looked at the gem. What about it? After staring intently at it, he turned his gaze back to Taesan. His face was filled with surprise. Where did you get this from? Quest clear reward. You received this as a reward? Its something even gods would struggle to obtain. Its not worthless, then. If the battlefields clear reward had been insignificant, Taesan would have been displeased. Hafran stuttered unusually. This is This is How did you get something like this What kind of material is it? Hafran closed his mouth. Looking at the gem with aplex expression, he said, The Origins Light is deep within the gem. The Origin? Its a light known to have existed since the creation of the world. Its a substance that races to the end of the world, surpassing time and reaches the end of everything first. Its value I dont know. Is there anyone who can appraise it? Hafran touched the gem with a dreamy look. Its a fantastical substance thats faster than time and impossible to catch. Even gods can they control such a thing? Thats it. Taesan smiled. Judging by Hafrans reaction, the reward seemed to have been sufficient. Taesan got to the point. Can this be used to refine the dragons w? Hafran closed his mouth. It was uncharacteristic of him, who always responded calmly. I dont know. Eventually, Hafran gave an ambiguous answer. Its the first time Im handling this material. The dragons w and all the materials youve given, and this one, too, are not of low grade. Integrating all of them I cant guarantee it. Then, is there anyone else here who can do it? There isnt. Hafran answered firmly. Theres no cksmith here better than me. I can assure you that. His gaze remained fixed on the gem as he said this. Taesan nodded. Then you do it. Upon hearing Taesans response, Hafrans eyes flickered. Really? Are you sure? This is not ordinary. Personally, the cksmith wanted to handle that gem. Hafran longed to work with the Origins Light, control the power of the Spirit King, and refine the dragons w into something so perfect that no one would dare toment. It was both his dwarven instinct and his deepest wish. But he was also afraid. He feared turning these precious materials into worthless trash under his own hands. Taesan spoke calmly. I have no use for it anyway. He was like a ghost. An adventurer tackling thebyrinth, not a cksmith. So, go ahead. I wont mind whatever the oue. Besides, dont you really want to do it? Hafrans gaze and gestures towards the gem. All of it showed how much he wanted to work with it. Really? Of course. But if it turns out useless, youll have to work for free to the extent of its value. I better put in the effort then. Otherwise, I might end up working for free for a lifetime. Hafran chuckled. Taesan didnt know, but he was the first to let Hafran do as he wished. I must not disappoint. Hafran gripped the gem. First, I must tell you. There are two options. A light was in Hafrans eyes as he spoke. So far, he had seemed powerless and indifferent to everything. Although he appeared to have a goal, he behaved as if he had essentially given up. But now it was different. His voice was filled with energy, and his actions were full of certainty. The first is to use the materials you gave separately. They are exceptional, so theyll make useful equipment. And the downside? Theyll be useful for a while. You wont find better equipment than that. But as you reach the deeper levels, youll need to rece them. Is the deep level that different? That ce is literally of a different league. No matter how precious something is here,pared to the deep level, its just trinkets. A hollowugh escaped, but it made sense. Those who reached the deep level were all capable of easily defeating dragons. Comparing the Golden Dragon of Vekveta and the Spirit King, thetter was superior. Also, crafting equipment doesnt work with just one material. At least four or five materials are needed. In the case of a material too high-grade, like the Origins Light, other materials can even hinder the process. If they dont meet a minimum standard, the value of the equipment greatly diminishes. After some thought, Taesan asked. What if we use all these materials for a single piece of equipment? Then there would be no need to rece that equipment. With a confident face, as if it couldnt be denied, Hafran said, If its sessful, even upon reaching the deep level, it would be difficult to find superior equipment. Then lets go with that. Choosing equipment that could be used till the end rather than something that would need to be reced eventually was obviously beneficial. Hafran seemed to have anticipated this, his expression calm. But theres one problem. A problem? The materials characteristics are too strong. He touched the gem with an uncertain face. The dragons w. The Ember of the Spirit King. The light of the origin each of these materials is unique. Thebination of materials is important in crafting equipment. Of course, they would still be excellent, butpared to their value, it might not be satisfying. Hafran stroked his chin, deep in thought. It wasnt until the forges mes weakened that he spoke. There is one way. But Im not sure how it will turn out. Tell me about it. Taesan had no intention of creating something mediocre. Hafran began to exin. There is a hidden relic I know of. A relic? Taesans eyes sparkled. I dont know whose relic it is. I happened to obtain the key to its passage. Hafran produced a key. Its color was distorted and emitted a dark light, indicating its age. This leads to that ce. Taesan stared intently at the key. The key emanated a subtle aura as if saying this was what he had been searching for. The blessing of a god. The lost goddesss blessing of regeneration. When he obtained it, it was exined to him that he would be able to find the goddesss location in the future. I dont know exactly whats there, but [If it''s a divine artifact, it should be sufficient tobine all the materials.] Thats right. Its risky, but theres a possibility. Whats the difficulty level? From what Ive detected from the outside, its quite challenging. Youd need to reach at least thete 40th floors to get through. For Taesan now, it was just barely possible. Taesan nodded. Alright. [Sub Quest Started] [cksmith Hafran wants you to gather materials for the creation of a perfect piece of equipment.] [Reward: One Perfect Piece of Equipment] If its too dangerous, you cane back. This ce, being a secret area, is not affected by the floor reward system. You can try again after getting stronger. Taesan nodded and took the key. The key disappeared into Taesans body as if it had been waiting for him. Simultaneously, Taesan learned how to open the secret passage. Taesan pulled at the space with his hand. The space opened, revealing the area beyond. Hafran looked surprised. When I had it, it didnt have that effect. Theres a connection on the other side. Taesan immediately stepped into the space. Hafran saw him off. Take care. Taesan stepped into the space. The first thing he saw was a world turned entirely ashen. It was simr to thebyrinth, but everything was faded. When Taesan touched the wall, its surface dried and crumbled away. [The walls of thebyrinth have weathered over time. How old is this ce?] The goddess forgotten even in thebyrinth must have been here from before. [The Genesis of the Labyrinth truly ancient.] Taesan examined the structure in detail. The passage and structure were the same as thebyrinth. The width was also simr. There was enough space to move around, but it wasnt very spacious. Taesan moved forward. Hafran had mentioned that this ce required ate 40th-floor level capability to pass through. Given that, the likelihood of something being hidden here was high, and it didnt take long for Taesan to be greeted. Swoosh! An arrow flew towards him. Taesan immediately activated mental eleration. Its slower than I thought. The speed was such that he could catch it if he decided to. Just as Taesan, thinking the entrance wasnt very difficult, reached out to catch the arrow, its speed changed. It became several times faster than before, aiming straight for Taesans chest. Taesan swiftly turned his body. Swoosh! The arrow grazed past Taesans arm by a hairs breadth. The arrow that had grazed past Taesan turned in mid-air and flew back towards him. Taesan concentrated his mind and read its trajectory. He followed the zigzagging arrow with his eyes and moved his body. Taesans sword cut the arrow in half. It wasnt an ordinary trap. A considerable shock was transmitted to the sword that cut the arrow, something a typical 30th-floor adventurer couldnt have blocked. [Even after so much time, the trap is still intact.] It doesnt seem to wee me. Despite having received the goddesss quest, the relic seemed unwilling to let an intruder pass easily. Chapter 154: Secret Area, The Forgotten Relics Of The Gods (2) Chapter 154: Secret Area, The Forgotten Relics Of The Gods (2) Taesan picked up the broken arrow. [Self-Aware Arrow] [An arrow that moves on its own to protect its owner. Currently broken and unusable.] Taesan stared at the arrow intently. The ghost, noticing his gaze, sensed something. [What are you thinking about?] Doesnt it seem manageable? [Uh... Maybe. It''s possible, but it seems risky.] It looks worth trying. Taesan lifted his head. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] A skill that provides information within the users sight. Reconnaissance. However, nothing appeared. Considering the secret passage of the forgotten goddess didnt trigger Reconnaissance, it seemed rted items were immune to it. [You have activated Trap Disarm.] He activated Trap Disarm, but no window popped up. It was one of two possibilities: either there were no traps, or they were of such a high level that they didnt trigger Taesans skill. Taesan was sure it was thetter. He took a step forward. Simultaneously, an arrow sprung from the wall. Swoosh! The arrow, moving on its own and causing confusion in its path. Taesan focused his mind. [You have activated Mental eleration.] Reading the trajectory of the self-moving arrow was pointless. What mattered was the vision and reaction. Dodging arrows aiming for his limbs with barely any space to avoid, Taesan used his high agility to narrowly evade them all. Then, the movement of the arrows changed. They started flying towards Taesans blind spots. But Taesan was ready for that. His skill, Synchronization of the Eye, allowed him to see even beyond his field of vision. With the help of his enhanced sensory skills, he could block attacks from behind as if he could see them. An arrow flew towards Taesans shoulder de. He waited until thest moment and then swiftly turned. The arrow tried to change its course at thest moment, but Taesans dy prevented it. He caught the arrow in his hand. Then, the arrow started thrashing wildly. It struggled fiercely to escape Taesans grip. As the arrow slowly slipped away, Taesan said, Come. Chk! Whips coiled around his arm rose and engulfed the arrow. The arrow was fixed in Taesans hand. He exerted force and mmed it to the ground. Kwaang! The small passage vibrated. The ghost asked in a worried tone. [Isn''t the arrow going to be shattered?] It wont shatter. The arrow wasnt so fragile as to break from just that much force. Taesan exerted more force on the hand that had mmed the arrow to the ground. After struggling a few more times, the arrow calmed down. [You have obtained a Self-Aware Arrow.] Taesan loosened his grip. As he opened his hand, the arrowy quietly in his palm. The ghost was amazed. [You actually caught it.] Even to the ghost, the arrows movements were quick and unpredictable. Its speed wasparable to Taesans, and the wrong timing could mean not catching it until ones stamina ran out. But Taesan managed to catch it in less than 20 minutes. Taesan smiled. See, it worked. When he first discovered the secret room in Solo Mode, he encountered arrow traps. There, Taesan caught the flying arrows and used them effectively to catch a Giant Rat. The traps of thebyrinth became the property of the adventurer who captured them. Recalling this, Taesan had taken a gamble, and it paid off. Taesan examined the arrow. [Self-Aware Arrow] [Self-Aware Arrow] [Current owner: Kang Taesan] [User''s level is insufficient. Attack power: 1] Taesan threw the arrow. It hovered in the air on its own and began to circle around him. Taesans smile deepened. Not bad, right? An arrow that attacked autonomously without requiring his attention. Fast and powerful enough for Taesan to struggle to suppress. Although its attack power was very low, it was sufficient as a support. Even a slight annoyance to the opponent duringbat could change the oue. I should collect more. Taesan took another step forward. This time, two arrows appeared. As the arrows aimed at Taesan, the one under his control also moved, countering one of them. Thanks to this, Taesan could focus on the remaining arrow. He quickly shattered one and grabbed the other, mming it into the ground. He exerted force on the struggling arrow. After a few attempts, it finally stopped moving. [You have obtained a Self-Aware Arrow.] Good. That made two. Taesan smiled satisfactorily. But the fun wasnt over yet. The passage still had much more to offer. As Taesan proceeded, more arrows appeared. Two and three were the basics, and at the end, four arrows flew at him simultaneously. Ultimately, Taesan managed to capture a total of four arrows. Still not enough. Taesan looked at the arrows circling him with a nonchnt expression. Compared to the number of arrows that appeared, he hadnt caught many. The more arrows there were, the more chaotic thebat, leaving little room to grab and pin them down. [You should be satisfied with this. Look at your greed.] The ghost chuckled at Taesans demeanor. Self-Aware Arrows. They were akin to ego arrows. Self-aware tools or equipment were valuable in themselves. Taesan was currently wielding a whip-like wrist guard, which the store owner selling it had mentioned was equipment not usually found in these lower levels. The fact that he had managed to obtain four of them and stillined of it being insufficient was something the ghost couldnt fathom. [It seems like we''ve finished with the arrow traps?] It appears so. Whirr! In front of Taesan,rge disc-shaped des were moving in a semi-circr pattern. Quite orthodox. Following the arrow traps, there were de traps moving on fixed axes. They were the typical traps that anyone would think of. About ten des were moving at fixed intervals. Upon closer inspection, they were all moving slowly, and the gaps were wide enough that it seemed manageable to pass through them one by one. That cant be right. The arrows were sentient arrows. It was unlikely that the des would be ordinary. Taesan decided to experiment first. He threw himself into the path of the des. As he did, the speed of the des suddenly changed. Anticipating this, Taesan calmly raised his sword. ng! A heavy sensation was transmitted through the sword. He stepped back, but it wasnt an unstoppable force. Crack! The circr des began to rotate wildly. Sparks flew off the sword de as it was pushed back. It couldnt be blocked. Taesan quickly let the force on his sword flow away and leaped backward. Then, the axis of the de moved bizarrely, altering its trajectory. Taesan quickly blocked again but couldnt withstand the rotation and allowed a hit to his chest. [Your First Attack Immunity has been activated.] Hmm. Having escaped the trap, Taesan calmly organized the information. I cant block it. He could block the des force, but the subsequent rotation was the problem. The additional rotation was too quick to respond to, so he had to avoid itpletely. But with both the speed and trajectory changing unpredictably, evasion was not easy. Watching Taesan ponder, the ghost spoke. [Is it a bit risky to rely on attack nullification and charge in?] There are too many variables. Its unpredictable how the des will move. And the value of nullification is reduced in such mechanisms. The biggest advantage of attack nullification was not that the opponent returned to its pre-attack state but that it could be used to cause confusion. During that confusion, Taesans main strategy was to deal significant damage. However, mechanisms didnt have emotions. If they returned to a pre-attack state, they would simply operate again and attack. And its unpredictable anyway. Taesan still hadnt figured out the pattern of the des movements. Relying on attack nullification and charging in could lead to being trapped among the des without proper information, especially if all nullifications were used up. I have a mark, so I can escape using blink, but since attack nullification is limited in number, theres no reason to use it now. The ghost agreed and remained silent. After pondering a bit more, Taesan decided to try one more experiment. He thrust his sword towards the iing des. [You have activated Flow.] Just as the sword was about to touch the des, they twisted. The trajectory shifted in the twist, forcing Taesan to retreat, but he obtained the information he wanted. The des were susceptible to the Ability Sword. The judgment is looser than I thought. Sometimes, skills didnt activate on traps and mechanisms, so he checked, and the result was satisfactory. With this, the solution became clear. Taesan caught his breath. He changed his selfish choice from power to strength and stamped his foot. He had realized it when he used Flow just now. The rotation of the de was triggered when it touched the sword. So, if hepletely deflected the de, it would be resolved. [You have activated Strong Blow.] He swung his arm roughly towards the iing de. ng! Unlike before, where he merely blocked, the de was knocked away. As expected. With Strong Blow activated, he could push it to a manageable level. Taesan charged forward. The des moved chaotically, targeting him, but he avoided what he could and deflected the rest with his sword. What he couldnt avoid, he ignored with attack nullification. Thud. Taesan reached the end of the trap without allowing even a slight damage. It was a satisfying strategy. Taesan had a pleased expression. Its been a while since Ive done something like this. There were traps in the secret rooms on each floor, but with his current stats, they were meaningless. He could easily break the traps themselves. It had been a long time since he had to properly strategize through a trap. Taesan enjoyed such challenges. How far will they go? Taesan moved forward with anticipation. More traps continued to appear after that. Pressure tes that exploded upon touch, walls that crushed anything in their path, etc. Taesan perfectly overcame all of them using skills and items. The next trap was a that would rise and drag whoever triggered it into thebyrinth. Taesan first used an arrow to check the trap. Since being caught wasnt an attack, attack nullification didnt activate. There was no chance that a skill to disable immobility would work on such a. Checking if it could be cut seemed too risky, so Taesan started his strategy slowly. After checking various things, Taesan gathered multiple pieces of information. The ceiling opened, and the fell to the ground. The fallen pressed down hard. After a certain time, the ground would open, disappearing into thebyrinth. The trigger for the trap was impact. Even the slightest impact transmitted to the corridor would cause the to engulf the entire passage. Then, the solution was simple. Just avoid causing any impact. [You have activated The Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] He wrapped his body tightly with wind to prevent any impact from reaching the corridor. After increasing his agility with a skill, he stamped the ground. But the corridor was far. A single leap wouldnt be enough to reach it. [You have activated Mid-Air Leap.] So, one more time. He kicked through the air and flew. But even then, the corridor wasnt over. Almost half of it was still remaining. As soon as Taesans feet touched the ground, the ceiling opened, and the fell. Taesan quickly stamped the ground. He stuck as close to the falling ceiling as possible. [You have activated Mark.] And the moment the engulfed Taesan and touched the ground, he activated magic again. [You have activated Random Blink.] The mark fixed the position of Random Blink. Thanks to the mark on the ceiling, Taesans body, under the, moved above the. Since the was on the ground, stepping on it didnt cause the to fall again. He stamped the ground and used Mid-Air Leap again to reach the end of the corridor. However, Taesan did not pass through the corridor. He continuously triggered the corridor to call forth the. After experimenting with various things, he found that Mephistos ck lightning slightly singed the. Does it get damaged by dark magic? After calling the again, Taesan used all his magic to send another bolt of ck lightning. As a result, he was able to obtain about 1 meter of the. The ghost, seeing Taesans satisfied expression, eximed in admiration. [Isn''t this guy crazy?] Chapter 155: Secret Area, The Forgotten Relics Of The Gods (3) Chapter 155: Secret Area, The Forgotten Relics Of The Gods (3) The types of traps. And their patterns. Methods to solve and strategize ording to the pattern and type. Understanding all of them, he proceeded without a single mistake and broke through. His movements were like those of a skilled thief. Moreover, the Relic of the Forgotten God did not allow for the usage of Reconnaissance. Everything was understood through his own experience and analysis. It was easier than I thought. Taesan himself was surprised. He had never broken through traps this quickly before. There were errors, it took more time, and sometimes he made mistakes. But this time, it was a perfect strategy. Is it thanks to this skill? The skill to feel the will of everything, ???. It was hard to express in words, but he could sense something from the traps. Thanks to that, its likely he intuitively figured out the strategy. Not bad. He felt good about this unexpected help, as it had taken quite a long time to see any real effect. Taesan checked the trap he had collected while breaking through. [Blessed Net of God] [A once used by a god himself. Now a relic of a forgotten god, its value has significantly decreased.] This will be useful. A that was barely cut in half using Mephistos magic. It seemed like it could be useful in various situations. Taesan moved on. No more traps were in sight. At the end of the endless corridor, he found a small door. Upon opening the door, there was a statue of a goddess faded with time and an ashen knight. [You have encountered the Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess.] Apostle? Taesan frowned. As if confirming what he saw was real, a system window appeared. [The opponent is a difficult enemy to defeat.] [Desire for Battle has been activated.] [A Fair Duel has been activated.] [Proof of Limit has been activated.] [Disdain for the Strong has been activated.] [Half-God Theory has been activated.] [Giant Killer has been activated.] Strength filled his body. All speeds increased, and both attack and defense power rose. Why do Apostles appear so frequently? Taesan muttered as he drew two swords. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] As with most things rted to the Forgotten Goddess so far, no information was forting. So much time had passed that the Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess was rotting and crumbling away. The knight, who looked like he would crumble with a touch, lifted his sword. Clink. The sword, like the knight, waspletely corroded. Taesan narrowed his eyes, observing this sequence of events. Does itck intelligence? Only the will to protect the goddess was evident from the silently sword-wielding knight. Boom! The knight stamped his foot. With a sword that seemed like it would crumble at a touch, he struck down at Taesan. ng! Taesans knees buckled, feeling an intense pressure on his arm. Powerful. Even with a significant stat increase due to the challenging opponents skill, there was a clear difference. He possessed a ss and strength iparable to Cain. He probably conquered even the deepyers in his lifetime. There was no time or leisure to dy. Taesan immediately activated Apostle Transformation. After returning from the gods battlefield and resting, the days cooldown had passed. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas].] Divine power filled his body. A flood of various information entered Taesans mind, enhancing his entire body. ng! Taesan pushed the sword away. The corroded knight took a step back. Taesan slightly frowned. Nothing? Even in the overwhelming tide of information, there was nothing about the Forgotten Goddess. But there was no time to ponder. Taesan lifted his sword. [You have activated Apostle yer.] He activated a skill to degrade the status of the Apostle. The aura surrounding the corroded knight weakened slightly. Crack! But it didnt falter. The knight, calmly and without a hint of disorder in his stance, pressured Taesan. Even using Apostle Transformation and Apostle yer to lower its status, Taesan was being pushed back. He clicked his tongue. This is a true apostle. [It''s quite weakened, though. A proper apostle would have killed you without resistance.] Fortunately, as the ghost said, Taesan was managing to hold on and even counterattack asionally. The Apostles power seemed to have greatly weakened over time as its goddess was forgotten. This is manageable. Fwip! Four arrows sprung from Taesans body. They moved in all directions, targeting the knight. The knight did not respond. He just lifted his sword and struck down. Boom! A massive shockwave swept the room. The flying arrows staggered and were repelled. The corroded knight dealt with the arrows without lifting a hand. But that was also within Taesans expectation. The arrows held by Taesan would not be effective against the higher-ss knight. He aimed for a very small gap. Taesan dove under the knight. [You have activated Leap.] ng! Thanks to learning Ability Sword, the effect of Leap also changed. When activating Leap and jumping above the opponent, it could now cause additional significant shock and damage. The corroded knights feet slightly lifted off the ground. Taesan moved his sword directly. With the sword in his left hand, he aimed to stab the shoulder, and with the right, he aimed to sh the thigh. The knight, suspended in mid-air, struck down with his sword. It was an attack with the intent of crushing with sheer weight. Taesan, who was about to ignore it and attack, felt a bad premonition and hastily retreated. [The Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess has activated the Weight of Will.] ng! The sword struck thebyrinths floor, creating a small crack. Taesan let out a hollowugh. Causing cracks in thebyrinth? Boom! The knight immediately rose and charged at Taesan. Taesan clicked his tongue at the bulldozer-like momentum. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesans body moved behind the charging knight. This was possible because he had imnted a mark during the attack. He directly thrust his sword into the nape of the knights neck. The armor scraped, sending ash-gray dust flying. [You have activated Random Blink.] Even though the knight twisted his body at thest moment to reduce the damage, and even with Multiply activated, the damage was only this much. It meant the knights defense was extremely high. He was a challenging enemy like Cain but apletely different opponent. Taesan calmly organized his thoughts, knowing that the gap in the same judgment could vary greatly. The battle was likely to be a long one. Taesan steadied his breath and activated his skills. [You have activated Breathless Attack.] [You have activated The Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] [You have activated Small Ember.] He charged at the corroded knight. First, he focused on attack nullification. Taesan stamped the ground, activating eleration to charge at high speed. [You have activated The de of Fighting Spirit.] [You have activated Multiply.] [You have activated Strong Blow.] The knight did not avoid the reckless charge. He held his sword with both hands and charged head-on. Their swords pierced each others chests. [The Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess has taken 4130 damage.] The de of Fighting Spirit tripled the damage. Add Multiplys doubling effect to that. And then the additional attack power of Strong Blow. Allbined, it resulted in a staggering amount of damage. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] The knights body returned to its pre-attack state. Despite the high damage and sudden change, the knight seemed unfazed and swung his sword again. Taesan did not dodge but attacked. Although The de of Fighting Spirit was unavable due to cooldown, a considerable amount of damage was dealt before the knights counterattack triggered the attack nullification. After repeating this once more, Taesan created some distance. The attack nullification was activated thrice, but the knight showed no hesitation in his movements. It was now clear. The corroded knight had no emotions. He would move without being perturbed by any event. Tricky. Taesan clicked his tongue and activated a spell. [You have activated Thunderbolt.] Lightning pierced the knights body, but the damage inflicted was only 10. It was almost a waste of mana. Boom! The knight charged. Taesan waved his hand. A small ember ignited. The ember, interacting with the wind, grew in size. Soon, a massive storm of mes began to engulf the room. The knight charged through the storm and struck down with his sword. Boom! The storm exploded and disappeared. Piercing through the swirling mes, the knight attacked Taesan. Crack! Blocking the attack, Taesan coolly thought. Spirits, magic. Neither works. Powerful skills indeed, but insufficient against the Apostle. How about this, then? His mana had slightly recovered while moving. [You have activated Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] ck lightning pierced the knight. The knights movement momentarily faltered. It was a very small opening, but Taesan clearly saw it. The damage was not insignificant at 200. ck magic was effective against the Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess. Having confirmed this, Taesan charged. [You have activated eleration.] The speed of the sword instantly increased. Slicing past the swinging attack, Taesan cut the knights arm. Whirr! The knight ignored the attack and thrust his sword. [You have activated Flow.] The moment Taesans and the knights swords were about to collide, the knights sword missed. The knight, undeterred, continued to swing his sword. And all those attacks were diverted. Taesan had timed his own sword movements to match. And when the knights vulnerability was most exposed, Taesan dove into the knights chest. Crunch. Taesans sword pierced the knight once again. The knight struck Taesans chest with his knee. [You have taken 743 damage.] Even though Taesan activated Sturdiness to halve the damage, it was still considerable. However, it wasnt an unbearable level. He could handle this much damage. [You have activated Strong Blow.] ng! The swords collided, pushing the knights body back slightly. Taesan continued to match his timing and attack. The process of deflecting the opponents sword andnding an attack was repeated. As Taesan dove at the knight, he activated ck Lightning. The knights body flinched briefly, and Taesan pierced the knights thigh at that moment. [The Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess has taken 564 damage.] He then lowered his stance and leaped up. [You have activated Leap.] ng! The knights body was lifted. The knight, as before, raised his sword. But this time, before the knight could activate a skill, Taesan rushed in. [You have activated Continuous Attack.] A fierce impact struck the knights sword. The hand holding the sword loosened, revealing an opening. Crunch. Taesans sword pierced the knight again. He poured everything into the fight. Taesan allowed a few attacks, but by avoiding direct hits, the damage was bearable. As the battle progressed, Taesans attacks became faster and sharper. It was thanks to the frenzy of struggle bestowed by Lakiratas. Crunch. Taesan forcefully pushed the knight back. The knight staggered and knelt. Is this the end? [It seems so.] It hadnt been too difficult. The loss of intelligence and the remaining instinct made it easier to predict for Taesan. Notably, the knight had never managed to grasp Taesans swordy. If it had been a normal opponent, they might have recognized a specific pattern in Taesans actions and exploited it, butcking intelligence, the knight showed no such signs. However, the oue had been perilously close. Apostle Transformation had ended a while ago. The battle had taken a long time due to the Apostles incredibly high health despite Taesans relentless attacks. The battle would have been forfeited for another opportunity if it werent for the slight damage inflicted by Apostle yer. It was at that moment that Taesan was assured of his victory. Clink. The knights armor crumbled. The sword corroded into dust. The helmet broke, revealing the knights form. Taesan hesitated. Inside the armor was only an ashen aura. The ashen aura burst out from the crumbling armor, gathering and forming a massive shape. [The Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess has activated Soul Descent.] Chapter 156: Secret Area, The Forgotten Relics Of The Gods (4) [Woohooo!] The ashen monster howled. Just that alone made the room shake uneasily. Taesan quickly ducked down. [You have activated Hardness.] The howl struck Taesan. His body shook violently. [You received 45 damage.] ¡°Ha.¡± Just its howl caused physical damage. Taesan clicked his tongue and raised his head. The monster that filled the room had no proper form. It was just ashen energy, swirling and flickering. [This, this is crazy.] The ghost was astonished, and at the same time, a spear that signified the enemy appeared. [The Fallen Apostle has appeared.] [Woohooo!] The monster continued to howl. It seemed to have no intention of attacking for now, so Taesan quickly drank a healing potion. ¡°What is that thing?¡± [Woohooo!] A terrible power emanated from the howling monster. However, despite the overwhelming force that dominated the space, no specific rank was felt. [...Apostle. Only those of a higher rank could do this. But this, this is¡­] ¡°It was called Soul Descent, right?¡± It caused a descent in the soul¡¯s rank. Just hearing the name, it didn¡¯t sound like a normal skill. The ghost swallowed and said, [I told you, an Apostle offers their soul to God and ascends to a higher realm. You''ve met them, so you should know.] ¡°I¡¯m well aware.¡± Attacks from those not at the rank of an Apostle barely affected them. A realm slightly beyond the wall of mortals. That was an Apostle. [That one has forcibly brought down its own rank. It dragged a soul that had ascended to a great position down to the rank of mortals. And then converted that dragged-down rank into force.] [Oh! Oh! Oh!] The monster incessantly howled. [But this is¡­] ¡°Is it dying?¡± [It''s worse than that. The soul itself is breaking. As long as the soul is intact, one can remain as a spiritual being like me or resurrect like Malesten, borrowing a body by Pavsha''s will. But that one¡­ it''s just the end.] Such a thing was being used to kill Taesan. [The opponent is an unbeatable enemy.] A new judgment appeared. The current fallen state was stronger than when it had an intact apostle rank. Taesan scoffed. ¡°They really do all sorts of things.¡± [Ohhh¡­] The howling started to subside. The monster, made of an ashen color, flicked its hand. The only passage out was crushed and blocked. There was no escape. Taesan gripped his sword tighter. ¡°How long does itst?¡± [I don''t know either. I''ve never seen it before. Since it''s a copsing process, it probably won''tst long¡­] The situation was the worst. Taesan couldn¡¯t activate his Apostle transformation due to cooldown. He had recovered his health and mana with potions, but his magical energy waspletely exhausted. The shield was the same. Facing an unbeatable enemy in such a state was no different from suicide, but Taesanughed. It had been a very long time since he was pushed to the edge like this. His agitation rose. Taesan kicked off the ground and rushed toward the Apostle. He didn¡¯t n to wait quietly until the enemy attacked. Taesan charged at the monster. The monster moved its head slightly and swung its gigantic w. Taesan extended his sword. [You have activated Flow.] Flow was a skill that redirected everything he touched with his sword. The moment his sword touched the w, the trajectory of the w twisted. [Woohoo!] The monster howled. The trajectory, which was about to twist, was forcibly corrected by an overwhelming force. Taesan quickly twisted his arm. Kuwoong! The w struck the wall. Taesan, who narrowly escaped, shook his arm. [You received 1130 damage.] It wasn¡¯t a direct hit, just a graze, and yet such damage. ¡°Even Distract is trampled by force.¡± It wasn¡¯t impossible. Flow was a skill that twisted trajectories. In other words, if you could correct a twisted trajectory with force, it meant that an attack was possible. But until now, there was no one with overwhelming stats enough to do that. [Woohoo!] The monster howled and swung its ws. Taesan moved. [You have activated Mental eleration.] The w barely missed Taesan¡¯s body. But he hadn¡¯t sessfully evaded it. [You received 123 damage.] Even the aftermath of the attack was causing damage. ¡®This won¡¯t do.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t wait for the copse that might happen at any moment. There was a high chance that Taesan would die before that. Taesan decided. He would try to attack. Taesan dashed. [You have activated eleration.] The monster met Taesan with its w. The w, filling the entire room, rushed at Taesan with a rough sound. Kwajik. Taesan stamped on the ground. He leaped into the air, evading the w. [Woohoo!] The monster pulled back its arm. A w flew from behind Taesan. Taesan stamped in the air again. [You have activated Mid-Air Leap.] His body in the air dodged the w. The monster raised its head. The ashen energy became a de and rushed at Taesan. [You have activated Landing.] Taesan¡¯s body forciblynded on the ground. The ashen de hits the wall. But there was still a considerable distance to the monster. ¡®Is this as far as I can go.¡¯ Eventually, Taesan retreated. [Woohoo!] The monster swung its ws again. Just as the ws were about to reach, Taesan activated a skill. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan¡¯s body moved back to the position before he retreated. After getting as close as possible, he marked the spot. Then he distanced himself, waited for the monster¡¯s attack, and activated Blink. The n was sessful. Taesan thrust his sword into the opened body of the monster. [102 damage to the Fallen Apostle.] Taesan¡¯s eyes clouded. Even though his Apostle transformation had ended, the monster, too, had lost its Apostle rank due to Soul Descent. It could no longer block Taesan¡¯s damage. But even after using skills like Aura, Addition, eleration, and Strong Blow, the damage was still only this level. It meant the monster¡¯s defense was unbelievably high. [Woohoo!] The monster moved violently. Just that was a disaster for Taesan, who was close. He swung his sword wildly to distance himself, but he couldn¡¯tpletely avoid the swung ws. Kuuuung! ¡°Keuk!¡± Taesan, struck by the w, hit the wall of thebyrinth. [You received 3012 damage.] [What is this¡­] The ghost was astonished. Taesan gritted his teeth, regained his posture, and dodged the following attack. The monster was attacking relentlessly, leaving no room for using potions. Taesan focused his mind. He avoided attacks as much as possible and looked for an opportunity to counter. But the situation was desperate. Even avoiding attacks, the aftermath still umted damage, and even if he managed to attack, he couldn¡¯t inflict significant damage on the monster. The ghost watched anxiously. ¡®This¡­¡¯ No matter how much he thought of a way, there was no clear solution. The monster was slowly copsing, butpared to Taesan¡¯s rate of exhaustion, it was painfully slow. The ghost started looking for a way to at least save Taesan¡¯s soul. But Taesan had not given up. He had faced desperate situations dozens of times before. Even before clearing thebyrinth, he had faced a Grade B alone. Even in situations where everyone said victory was impossible, he won. Even when facing two S-grades at the end, it was a situation that seemed impossible for him to win, but he did not give up and won once again. He had ovee all kinds of despair and irrationality to get here. If he were to give up in such a situation, he would never have made it this far. ¡®I need to be calm, especially now.¡¯ From his experience, Taesan knew. Panicking in such a situation meant the end. Taesan calmed his heart. He settled his wavering mind and focused on one thing at a time. He began to focus. First, he gathered information about the opponent. ¡®Swordsmanship doesn¡¯t work.¡¯ He was facing an opponent who crushed even Flow with force. Counterattacks or consecutive attacks were obviously ineffective. ¡®There¡¯s no attack nullification.¡¯ But there was endurance. He could withstand a single attack. ¡®The damage is¡­ modest, but not bad.¡¯ It was a good sign. If the damage struck, it meant he could kill it. Just as he did in his past life against an S-grade. He organized his thoughts one by one, creating a path to victory. ¡®So first.¡¯ What should he do first? He didn¡¯t ponder for long. Taesan twisted his body to dodge the swung w. Kuuung! [You received 105 damage.] Even though he dodged perfectly, he still received damage from the aftermath. ¡®Perfect evasion.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know how much health the Apostle had, but it wasn¡¯t an enemy he could defeat quickly. To win a long battle, he first had to avoid taking damage. [Woohoo!] The monster¡¯s arm lifted. Taesan focused his mind. He observed the trajectory of the w. He read the direction in which it was swung and understood the range of the aftermath it would cause. Taesan stamped his foot. Kwaang The w pressed down to the ground. The aftermath reached Taesan. [You received 88 damage.] The damage was slightly reduced. Taesan was not satisfied. To win, he needed to achieve perfect evasion. [Woohooo!] He focused even more. Observing the monster¡¯s movements and the direction of its power. Seeing the arm swung as if to sweep the ground, he stamped his foot. [You have activated Mid-Air Leap.] He soared to the ceiling. And immediately activated Landing tond on the ground. Kuuung! The w struck the ceiling. Brick dust fell down. [You received 54 damage.] [??? proficiency has increased by 1%.] [Hmm?] The ghost realized it. The damage being inflicted was gradually decreasing. While the ghost was realizing this, Taesan was still fully concentrating. He observed the fluctuating movements of power. He figured out the trajectory of the swung w. And read the range of the bursting aftermath. Kwaang! [You received 28 damage.] [??? proficiency has increased by 1%.] Information like increased proficiency or reduced damage wasn¡¯t entering Taesan¡¯s mind at the moment. He just concentrated on dodging the attacks. Kuuuung! [You received 9 damage.] [??? proficiency has increased by 1%.] The damage had been reduced to single digits. The ghost couldn¡¯t hold back and eximed. [Good!] Although it was a loud voice, Taesan didn¡¯t hear it. He was concentrating so much that he didn¡¯t even notice the increase in proficiency. But he instinctively realized it. He could see the monster¡¯s movements more clearly. No, more precisely, he was feeling something before the movement. He could sense the monster¡¯s intention. [Woohoo!] The monster howled. Before the monster¡¯s arm could properly move, Taesan had already stamped his foot. Kuuung! The arm shed in apletely different direction from Taesan. This time, he perfectly dodged even the aftermath, receiving no damage. ¡®Good.¡¯ Taesan smiled slightly. The first condition was cleared. Now, it was time to meet the next condition. Taesan gradually shortened the interval of his evasions. Finally, after adjusting his movements, he perfectly dodged even the aftermath by a hair¡¯s breadth. After dodging the attack, Taesan thrust his sword into the monster¡¯s arm. [86 damage to the Fallen Apostle.] [Woohoo!] The monster swung its arm. Taesan, who had already foreseen the attack, was out of its range. Kuuung! Taesan continued to repeat evasion and attack. A tightrope fight where a single misstep, a slight error in judgment, could cost his life. Taesan was familiar with it. His fights had always been like this, so he moved with concentration as always. [Woohooo!] Whether due to the umted damage or the passage of time, contrary to the ghost¡¯s expectation, the monster¡¯s copse elerated before Taesan fell. And Taesan saw it. The flickering pitch-ck energy in the monster¡¯s head. And he felt it. This energy was suppressing the monster¡¯s copse. He found the answer to win. But there was a problem. How to approach the monster. Sensing the crisis, the monster swung its body more violently and powerfully. It seemed impossible to approach, let alone dodge its attacks and get close. Taesan caught his breath. Gathering the remaining strength in his body, he made a decision. [You have activated eleration.] [Woohooo!] The monster swung its arm violently. The speed was twice as fast as before. It whipped through the room like ash. And Taesan dodged it all. He twisted his arm, ducked his body, and stamped on the ground. [Woohoo!] The monster brought both ws together and stabbed. The speed was unavoidable. And there was no need to avoid it. He had left a mark on the spot where he attacked the monster earlier. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan¡¯s body moved right in front of the monster¡¯s nose. Taesan raised his sword, and the monster didn¡¯t just watch. [Woohoo!] Hundreds of ashen des sprung from the monster¡¯s body, all aiming at Taesan. And Taesan dodged them all. He didn¡¯t allow even a scratch, as if he had foreseen the future. The ghost swallowed hard, and Taesan thrust his sword into the monster¡¯s core. [Ooooh!] The monster¡¯s entire body shook. For a moment, its body contorted, and the ashen energy began to disperse uneasily. But the monster didn¡¯t disappear easily. It stabbed Taesan with both of its ws. Taesan didn¡¯t dodge. [You received 8975 damage.] [Your Endurance has activated. A fatal attack has been nullified. For 1 second, all damage is reduced to 0.] Taesan exerted strength in his legs. The monster¡¯s core engulfed Taesan¡¯s sword. [Oh, ooh¡­] The monster hesitated. Eventually, the ashen energy exploded, scattering in all directions. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have won against an unbeatable enemy. Your health permanently increases by 1000, mana by 300, strength by 120, agility by 100, and intelligence by 90.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your health permanently increases by 1200, mana by 200, strength by 140, agility by 130, and intelligence by 74.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. ??? proficiency has increased by 6%. Sacred Power proficiency has increased by 5%. The rank of Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas] increases by one level.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. You have acquired the special activation skill [Soul Descent].] [The special activation skill [Soul Descent] transforms due to Soul Ascension. You have learned the special activation skill [Soul Conversion].] [You have obtained the Source of Apostle.] Chapter 157: Thirty Fourth Level (1) Chapter 157: Thirty Fourth Level (1) [What the!] The ghost, who had been quiet, suddenly made a fuss. [You won! You actually won!] Taesan sat down on the ground. He had no strength left in his entire body. It was even hard to move a finger. Although his physical condition returned to optimal with the level increase, his mental fatigue remained. [How, how did you] The ghost was a mix of amazement and confusion due to Taesans performance in the battle. Taesan raised his hand. Lets talk about itter. He needed to rest. Realizing this, the ghost btedly closed its mouth. Taesan leaned against the wall. And closed his eyes. Sleep came instantly. When Taesan opened his eyes again, he asked. What time is it? [About twelve hours have passed.] Thats a long time. It was the first time he had slept this long. Taesan first checked his physical condition. He was in perfect shape. After all, the body is restored to its best state when the level goes up. There couldnt be any problem. [Wow, you actually defeated it. Honestly, I thought you''d fail.] What would you have done if I had? [Well, I guess I would have been thrown back for failing the quest. I wasn''t too worried about you.] Many gods showed interest in Taesan. If Taesan died, they would try to capture his soul to make a contract with him and make him their Apostle. Besides, Taesan had a skill obtained by clearing a trial given by the god of proof, Pavsha. [Special Constant Activation Skill: The Proven One''s Soul] [You have won against another version of yourself. When you are on the brink of death, your soul will undergo Pavsha''s trial.] This skill was obtained when clearing Pavshas trial of proof. However, he didnt know the exact effect of the skill. The trial could be almost impossible to clear, and he might not be resurrected in the worst case. Finishing the fight without using the skill was the best option. Anyway, he had won. Taesan looked down at his clenched fist. A stronger power was now residing in his body. A smile appeared on his lips. [Can I ask now?] Unable to contain its curiosity, the ghost spoke. [How did you dodge it? You were moving even before the monster attacked.] The ghost had predicted Taesan would die before the monsters copse ended because it seemed impossible to perfectly avoid its attacks. The aftermath alone was inflicting non-negligible damage, slowly wearing him down. The ghost thought Taesan would fall before the monster copsed due to the slower depletion of his health. However, Taesan gradually reduced the damage and eventually even perfectly dodged the aftermath. Above all, the ashen des created by the monster at the end. Taesan dodged all dozens of des thrust at him simultaneously. [Future prediction? Or did you attain a higher rank?] Its not that. Taesan shook his head. It was fundamentally different. Just I saw it. [What did you see?] The monsters intention. He could sense the intention behind each attack and its location. The ghost fell silent. [Is it that skill?] Probably. Taesan opened the skill window. [Concept Skill: ???] [Proficiency: 36%] [The power of will descends with ???. Synchronize to see and feel the will of all things. ??? is obtained.] The proficiency had increased tremendously. Moreover, seeing and feeling the will of all things was added to the description. This experience and the change in the skill description confirmed it. The ??? skill enabled him to sense the will of all things. I never thought this skill would be so useful. He could sense the will before, but it was almost negligible. The difference between recognizing the will and the speed of action made using it impractical. Even though it had helped a bit in avoiding traps before, it was more of an intuition than a direct perception. But this time was different. He could perfectly dodge the attacks from the middle of the battle by reading the Apostles will before it even moved. The ghost, pondering with a hand on its chin, said. [It could be because it was a Fallen Apostle.] What do you mean? [The Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess you fought transformed its rank into power through Soul Descent. Its strength became incredibly powerful.] Indeed, that was the case. Even though Taesan took a hit on purpose at the end, the damage was close to 9000. Even in his best condition, it was nearly a fatal blow. [Left with only strength and instinct, devoid of intelligence, its will intensified. Plus, your proficiency increased as you focused more during the fight.] So it was abination of various factors. [Seems like it. Such specific conditions had to be met to read it? That''s really hard to use.] If the ghost was correct, it was a skill with demanding conditions and limited applicable targets. Still, thanks to it, he won against an enemy he would never have beaten otherwise. That alone proved the skills worth. Taesan opened his status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 80] [Shield: 1029/1029] [Health: 12220/12220] [Mana: 1915/1915] [Magic: 186/186] [Strength: 3433] [Intelligence: 2973] [Agility: 3298] [Attack Power + 482] [Defense Power + 343] [The target is in the best condition.] Taesan smiled. Thebyrinth provided rewards proportional to the difficulty. The status window before his eyes was proof of that. His health, which had never surpassed ten thousand, had now easily exceeded it due to levels, skill rewards, and victory over formidable enemies. His strength and agility also surpassed the figure of 3000. The ghost couldnt help but marvel. [How can the stats of someone who hasn''t even descended to the 50th floor be like this?] Even the ghost found the stats unprecedented. Lets go back for now. [That sounds good. It''s scary what mighte out next.] The ghost agreed. Before leaving the enemys territory, Taesan approached the statue of the goddess for thest time. Despite the monsters rampaging, the statue remained undamaged. It was unclear if the monsters instinctively protected the statue even in their mindless state. Taesan prayed to the statue of the goddess. The statue crumbled into dust and disappeared. [You have prayed to a forgotten goddess. You have received the divine blessing [Blessing of the Soul of the Nameless Goddess].] With this, everything was over. Taesan got up. Lets return. As they passed through the passage and returned to thebyrinth, Halfran was waiting with an anxious face. Oh! Youre back! Seeing Taesan, he was delighted. I was worried when you didnte back for a while. With your skills, there shouldnt have been a problem. I almost died. Almost died? Halfrans pupils shook. The strength youre feeling from outside you shouldve been able to win easily, right? That was the case until halfway. Neither he nor the ghost had known that the apostle possessed the ability of Soul Strike Drop. Anyway, I found what I was looking for. Taesan took out a materialized ashen aura from his inventory. [Apostle''s Origin] [The core containing the origin of a God''s Apostle. Materialized by the eternal soul.] Ohh. Halfran couldnt hide his admiration. He took the Apostles Origin with trembling hands. This is beyond my imagination. With this, its definitely possible. His eyes shone. Halfran opened a space and put in the Apostles Origin, then asked Taesan with flickering eyes. So, what kind of equipment do you want? Taesan began to think. Normally, one would think of a weapon. It directly affects the damage output. However, Taesan, who possessed the Airak weapon technique, was a bit different. The attack power of all parts was integrated, and damage was dealt with regardless of which part was used to attack. For him, the value of a weapon was lower than for others. Of course, even so, a weapon was one of the priority choices since it was the equipment with the highest attack power. The ghost spoke to the pondering Taesan. [Instead of a weapon, I rmend another part.] [There''s something you can obtain from below. If no one has intercepted it, you''ll be able to get the weapon I used to use.] Influenced by the ghosts words, Taesan made his decision. Make it an essory. Specifically, a ring. It was a safe choice since he could wear it immediately without any loss. What effect do you want for the ring? Obviously, attack power. Make that the top priority. The Airak martial technique its a fascinating skill. Got it. With these materials, I might be able to make a pair. Halfran seemed genuinely excited. How long will it take? At the very least, itll take a month. Given the quality of the materials, it wasnt equipment that could bepleted quickly. Taesan nodded, understanding that it was actually a short time, thanks to Halfrans skill. Ille backter, then. Ill be looking forward to it. Halfran picked up his hammer with a face full of enthusiasm. Leaving the sound of the hammer ringing behind, Taesan left the forge. The quest waspletely finished. Now, it was time to check what he had gained. [Divine Blessing: Blessing of the Soul of the Nameless Goddess] [A blessing of the goddess. Your soul has ascended to a higher status with the goddess''s blessing. It''s still in a very weak state to be called a divine blessing.] Another blessing of a goddess obtained by praying to the Statue of the Goddess. This time, it was a blessing for the soul. Does an ascension in status mean I can damage apostles even without Apostle Transformation? [It''s possible. After all, apostles are entities elevated by gods.] If so, it was a very useful skill. The duration of Apostle Transformation was extremely short, imposing a constraint to defeat the opponent within a limited time. This was alleviated by the goddesss blessing. It would be useful as he faced more high-level enemies in the future. And the proficiency of several skills had improved, changing their content. It was hard to find skills that changed content as their proficiency increased, but several skills changed after one battle. Firstly, the proficiency of the Airak martial technique finally increased. [Top-tier Skill: Airak Martial Technique] [Proficiency: 20%] [A skill in handling weapons and the body. You have be skilled enough to transfer power without loss.] It seems like the restriction on damage is gone. [...It seems so. This is insane.] It meant that whether he used his feet or fists, 100% of the damage would be dealt. Taesan curled the corners of his mouth upwards. The change was significant, with just 20% proficiency, making him excited about the potential changes with higher proficiency. Proficiency became harder to increase as it got higher. Taesan set a goal to reach 40% proficiency before reaching the deeperyers. The Sensory Enhancement skill also changed. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Sensory Enhancement] [Proficiency: 80%] [Senses are enhanced, allowing one to feel even invisible things better. You perceive everything within a certain range centered on yourself.] True to the updated description, Taesan could feel everything happening within 2 meters of himself as if he were touching them. It rose faster than I thought. It hadnt been long since sensory enhancement reached 60%, but it had already reached 80%. It seemed that most of his recent battles relied on sensory enhancement, which was why it increased rapidly. And the proficiency of Ability Sword also increased. [Advanced Swordsmanship: Ability Sword] [Proficiency: 22%] [A unique swordsmanship created by a maze explorer. Based on the maze system, it was created from the swordsmanship used by the prince of a world that has perished. It can be used by seamlesslybining several skills with swordsmanship.] The content was the same as before. However, Taesan could notice the changes. So far, the skills that met the conditions of Ability Sword were eleration, intensity, leap, dodge, counterattack, and continuous attacks. In fact, these skills had the condition Ability Sword in their descriptions. Now, there were even more skills with conditions attached to them. He would have to check the detailed effects himself, but judging by the skills he had used so far, they should be quite valuable. And one more skill. I dont know about this one. The monster had triggered a Soul Descent. Taesan obtained Soul Descent by killing the monster. And that skill had transformed into an entirely different skill due to Soul Ascension. Chapter 158: Thirty Fourth Level (2) Chapter 158: Thirty Fourth Level (2) [Special Trigger Skill: Soul Conversion] [Proficiency: 1%] [Converts the soul''s energy into physical strength. The user loses their life after a certain period following its use.] [What?] The ghost eximed in surprise upon reading the description. [Lose life? Not the soul?] Taesan stroked his chin. The effect seemed simr to what the apostle of the goddess used. It was about converting the souls energy into pure strength. However, the cost was slightly different from what the ghost described. Instead of soul damage, it was simply the loss of life. [Huh? Is it because of Soul Ascension? Can it transform like this, too?] The ghost continued to mutter in confusion. From his perspective, it was an illogical story. Soul Descent damaged ones soul but granted immense power. Taesan, who had easily defeated an active apostle, was nearly killed when facing an apostle who activated Soul Descent. The fall of the soul was a fair price for such power. And now, it had changed to a cost of life. Still, its a hefty price to pay. Whether it was life or soul, losing either meant death. Either way, further exploration of thebyrinth would be impossible. No. Taesan narrowed his eyes. Could it be possible? He recalled a skill he possessed. A skill given to him by Pavsha after clearing his trial. [Special Continuous Trigger Skill: The Proven Soul] [You have triumphed over another version of yourself. When you face death, your soul will undergo Pavsha''s trial.] There was nothing certain. This skill might differ from his expectations. But. It could be enough as his hidden card. Lets think about itter. It was a question with no answer for now. With life at stake, he couldnt test it casually. The first use had to be in a real battle. [...Yeah. Let''s do that.] The ghost reluctantly agreed. Taesan continued his verification. There was a system window indicating that apostle transformation was also upgraded by Soul Ascension. [Special Trigger Skill: Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas]] [The power bestowed for the first time by the god of struggle and death after their own birth. For 20 minutes, gain a portion of the power possessed by Lakiratas''s apostles. This skill cannot be used again for a day after activation.] The duration had doubled from 10 to 20 minutes. Apostle Transformation, a useful skill that boosts both the souls energy and stats, was a wee change. [Apostle Transformation... even that''s transformed.] The ghost moaned. Apostle Transformation was a power directly given by a god. Specifically, a skill bestowed by Lakiratas, who governs two realms. Soul Ascension was even interfering with such a skill. Is this even higher in level than I thought? As the ghost organized his thoughts, Taesan had also finished his analysis. Okay. Taesan clenched his fist. The apostle was a formidable opponent even for Taesan, requiring him to risk his life, but the reward was worth it. Having finished all his checks, Taesan proceeded through thebyrinth. [34th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 34th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Hatulia''s Ring.] [Secret Reward: ???] The monster on the 34th floor was a knight d in ck armor. A Death Knight? [There''s no aura of death.] Just a look-alike, I guess. ng. The ck knight charged at him. Its longsword aimed for Taesans neck, slicing through the air. Taesan lightly swung his sword. His de shed with the knights. Crash. The knight was sent flying far away. Taesan walked calmly forward. The knight, staggering to regain its stance, charged again. nk! This time, the knight didnt get pushed back. It began a power struggle with Taesan. nting his feet on the ground, he channeled strength throughout his body into the sword. The knights sword held a power that a normal adventurer on the 34th floor couldnt easily shake off. But Taesan felt no pressure at all. Lets see how it has changed. The reason he didnt immediately defeat the knight was one: to check the effects of his transformed Ability Sword. Taesan exerted power into his sword. Under the applied force, the knights knees bent, and Taesans sword rose above. [You have activated Landing.] The power to suppress the knight momentarily amplified. The knights knees hit the ground. Despite resisting, its body crouched, and the sword slowly bent. Looking down at the knight, Taesan exerted more strength in his hand. Unable to withstand the force, the knight dropped its sword and split in half. So this is the feeling. The proficiency of the Ability Sword increased, transforming several skills. One of them was Landing. [Special Trigger Skill: Landing] [Mana Consumption: 2] [Proficiency: 5%] [Grounds the body from mid-air.] [Requirement: Advanced Sword Technique [Ability Sword]] [When your sword is higher than the opponent''s weapon, strike them down powerfully.] He realized its meaning through direct use. Simr yet different from Leap. Leap was a skill that allowed a powerful upward strike when below the opponent. The differencey in whether one was below or above, though the descriptions were simr. Taesan moved to the next room to experiment with another knight. This time, he leaped over the knights head and activated Landing. Boom! Even in a situation where proper force couldnt be applied, the skill was activated without a problem. The knights body was crushed under the weight of the striking sword. Observing the entire process, Taesans eyes shone. Unlike Leap or Strong Blow, the skill was activated without Taesan exerting any force. He could deliver a proper attack even in situations without a footing. The condition that the sword must be positioned higher than the opponents weapon existed, but given the nature of the skill, it was a condition that naturally had to be ovee. There was no major issue. Havingpleted his checks, Taesan moved on to find another enemy. The change wasnt just in the Landing skill. In the next room, a knight charged at him. [You have activated Mitigation.] Crack. Taesans sword collided with the knights. He frowned. He exerted force in his sword, repelling the knight and checking the Mitigation skill. [Special Trigger Skill: Mitigation] [Mana Consumption: 30] [Proficiency: 1%] [Reduces the ratio of damage taken. The reduction is still quite minimal.] [Requirement: Advanced Sword Technique [Ability Sword]] [If the swords collide, it slightly reduces the strain on your sword.] Is this really working? [Can you even notice such a difference at this level?] The ghost spoke as if it were obvious. The changed Mitigation skill reduced the strain on his sword. It was a skill that prevented being easily overpowered even when facing a stronger enemy. However, the difference in strength between him and the knight was overwhelmingly in his favor. He couldnt ascertain the skills effect against such a weak opponent. What a waste. Taesan sliced through the charging knight in one strike. Looks like I wont be able to check the other changes either. There were more changed skills. But at this level, it was difficult to verify their proper effects. [Should I check them next time?] That seems like a good idea. Taesan nodded and moved forward. Taesan had be stronger. He had gained numerous powers by passing through the battleground of the gods and defeating the apostle of the forgotten goddess. Already strong, he had be even more formidable. Now, the monsters on the 34th floor were no match for him. Even normal attacks couldnt be blocked, and a mere swing put them in a near-death state. In fact, there was no need to even use his sword. How trivial. An unexpected side effect. The currentbyrinth no longer offered him any thrill. Taesan effortlessly cleared the floor and contacted other yers for the first time in a while. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: We are currently working on the 12th floor.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Oh? That''s faster than I thought.] Thest time they talked, they were raiding the 10th floor. So, he thought they would be on the 11th floor by now, but they were already on the 12th. Much faster than expected. Lee Taeyeon rified the answer to his question. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: It''s all thanks to you, Taesan.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: My doing?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: The Blessing of Struggle and Death. It really made us stronger.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Ah, that?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Yes, it''s been incredibly helpful.] Lakiratas gave them the blessing when Taesan defeated a Grade B monster. The talent of struggle and death. The talent for death was mentioned, but its meaning was hard to understand. The important aspect was the talent for struggle. The process of battle had definitely changed. Taesan, now more skilled and faster, realized that the change must be even more significant for others. Reminded of this, he also contacted Kim Junggeun, who echoed simr sentiments. Thanks to the talent of struggle and death, they could break through much faster than before. [Junggeun [Hard]: Ah, hyung, do you know about it?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Know about what?] [Junggeun [Hard]: About... the people in other modes.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I don''t know. I''m not really interested.] At that moment, Taesan was conversing with Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, and Kim Junggeun, not using themunity, so he wasnt aware of the situation there. [Junggeun [Hard]: You don''t know, huh.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Don''t know what? Exin.] [Junggeun [Hard]: Well... how should I put this? Simply put, people are worshiping you.] Taesan paused. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What did you say?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Huh? You haven''t checked yet?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Why would I watch what they''re bbering about?] He had not paid any attention to themunity as it held no value for him. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Then check it out when you have time. It might not be a problem, but ignorance could lead to issues.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Alright. Oh, right.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Anything else?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: You passed the 10th floor, right?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Yes.] Then, it was about time for her to meet the Guides of Sin. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: If someone iming to be the Guides of Sin appears, it''s better to do as I say.] It wasnt the best method, but it was a way to solve the problem for now. Hearing Taesans exnation, they groaned. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Uhm... do we have to do that?] [Kang Junhyeon [Solo]: I don''t like it, but] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Even if you don''t like it, there''s no other way. You can''t do what I do. So, it can''t be helped.] They reluctantly agreed, though somewhat begrudgingly. After finishing the exnation, Taesan closed the window and opened themunity. He fell silent. [Han Nara [Easy]: Where might Kang Taesan have reached now?] [Kim Sein [Normal]: Maybe he''s passed the 50th floor? He must have at least reached that far.] [Han Nara [Easy]: We just have to wait. He will save us.] After briefly scanning themunity, Taesan turned it off. Looking any further seemed like it would muddle his mind. Whats going on? [What''s the matter?] Nothing much. Taesan exined to the ghost. After listening quietly, the ghost spoke. [It doesn''t seem like anything unusual.] Really? [As you said, if every human obtained the talent of struggle and death, that''s a great feat. People naturally worship those who aplish such feats, especially if it benefits them.] Is that so? This life was certainly different from the previous one. Back then, he was the only strong one, but now, he had helped all humans be stronger. It should be fine. It was just worship, nothing direct. Taesan cleared his mind and continued to conquer thebyrinth. Even moving slowly, he soon arrived at the boss room. Just as he was about to enter. Swoosh. Space split open. ck energy swirled out, forming a shape. Taesan stopped and watched the formation. [Hello, my child.] Its been a while. The Demon God revealed herself. Chapter 159: Thirty Fifth Level, Guides Of Sin (1) Chapter 159: Thirty Fifth Level, Guides Of Sin (1) [I enjoyed watching. Your battles.] The woman sitting in the chair showed a smile. It was a smile like one who was happy to see the growth of their own child. [Although I was slightly disappointed that there was nothing rted to me in those battlefields I was still quite satisfied.] Thats good to hear. He had borne the nuisance and even went into their territory to fight. The Demon God, smiling, looked at Taesan and tilted her head. [You, you''ve changed.] What do you mean? [.] She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Taesan. [What''s this? Where did you get such a strange thing?] She spoke in a puzzled tone. [There''s a power directly intervening with your soul. It''s dangerous but powerful. Strange. Such a thing isn''t easily obtained.] Dont you know, Demon God? [I am certainly a great god. I know a lot and can do much. But I am not omnipotent. Even a god can''t know everything.] The Demon God grumbled. Taesan realized something from her words. The realm of the forgotten goddess. Even gods could not notice what happened there. [But it''s not bad. Dangerous, but... With that power, you can be stronger. And then my power will also grow.] What does my getting stronger have to do with you bing stronger? Taesan was not an apostle of the Demon God. He was not one of her devout followers. Despite no apparent connection, the Demon God spoke as if she and Taesan were rted. Instead of answering, the devil subtly changed the topic. [I''ll exin why I came here.] Before that, about what you just said [The reason I came here is simple.] The Demon God cut off Taesans words. Seeing she had no intention of exining, Taesan also remained silent. She then, with a yful expression, began to speak. [You''ve be strong.] Her ck pupils shone. [Too strong. Faster and stronger than I expected.] She said this with an ambiguous expression. [It''s good, but too fast. I thought you would gain this much power only after more time had passed.] Even Taesan himself thought his growth was faster than expected. The biggest factor was his victory over the apostle of the forgotten goddess. He gained four levels in one battle and obtained rewards through Soul Ascension as well as the rewards for defeating such a strong opponent. [So, it seemed unfair, and I advanced it a bit.] What do you mean? [When you enter the 35th floor, there will be beings called the 4th Order Guides waiting for you.] Taesan realized why she had descended. It was a kind of bnce patch. If Taesan continued to grow stronger and reached the 40th floor, he could deal with the 4th Order Guides without any problem. So before that, she wanted him to fight the Guides at a stage where the fight could still be challenging. That was the Demon Gods judgment. Taesan nodded his head. Understood. It wasnt bad news for Taesan. The sooner he faced them, the more he could gain. Satisfied with Taesans decisive answer, she chuckled. [Yes, be that strong. And someday, I hope youe to my side. There''s someone waiting for you.] With augh, the presence of the Demon God faded away. [Then farewell. I hope to see you deeper next time.] Until we meet again. Taesan spoke his farewell. The ghost, quietly observing, murmured. [It''s the first time she has shown such emotion to a human.] Probably so. When she first met him, the Demon God had said that she was not interested in what was not hers. She didnt ce value on humans. Thinking about it, that was quite a change. Once the gods presencepletely vanished, Taesan moved. He first found a secret room, bypassed the traps, and gathered rewards. [Ancient King''s Robe] [Defense +40] [A robe worn by a great king from an era now only in records. Magical treatments to protect the king are left only as remnants.] It was a fairly useful robe. Taesan then headed to the boss. He swung his sword at the charging knight of pitch-ck. Crunch. The knight blocked Taesans sword but, due to the overwhelming difference in strength, was mmed to the ground. Taesan raised his sword again. The knight hurried to resist, but it was already toote. Crunch. Taesans sword swung several times. [You have defeated the boss of the 34th floor. Basic reward [Ring of Hathuria] obtained.] [You have discovered the hidden element of the 34th floor. Reward [???] obtained.] It was a floor clearance reward he hadnt seen in a while. Taesan checked the ring. [Ring of Hathuria] [Health +100] [Mana +10] [Attack +15] [Defense +15] [Strength +10] [Agility +10] [Intelligence +10] [A ring worn by Hathuria in their mortal days, now a vanished god. The resonance of someone who ascended to greatness remains.] A decent ring that increased all abilities. Taesan reced a dull-colored ring that added 20 to health. Im finally taking off this ring. It was a ring given by Ainzhar when they first met. Since rings took a long time to change one by one due to the many slots, he has been using them until now. He felt removing a gift might upset Ainzhar, but he would understand. [??? used.] [Belt of the Hidden Snake in the Dwelling obtained.] [Belt of the Hidden Snake in the Dwelling] [Defense +40] [Agility +30] [Made from the skin of a snake that was beaten to death while hiding in deep ces. The snake will remember its own death.] The description makes one feel uneasy. Taesan murmured as he put on the belt. Though not exceptionally powerful, belts were hard toe by, making it a decent piece of equipment. Alright. Taesan rxed his shoulders and headed towards the 35th floor. [35th Floor Quest Started.] [Defeat the boss of the 35th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Helmet Filled with Madness.] [Secret Reward: ???] As he descended the stairs, the shopkeeper spoke to him. There are some pests waiting outside. Ill deal with them soon. Good. Get rid of them quickly. Theyre annoying. Taesan passed by the shop. After drawing his sword, he opened the door. Over ten people were waiting for him. The first thing he felt was pressure. Their gazes and aura bore down on Taesan. Not bad. At this level, adventurers from the 30th floor wouldnt even be able to resist and would kneel. But to Taesan, they posed no threat. As Taesan looked at them expressionlessly, the man at the front groaned. Is the story true? Hello? [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Kaziat] [Level: 84] [Health: 6213] [Equipped Weapon: Sword, Magic] His level was four higher than Taesans. However, his health was only about half of Taesans. Move aside. A man with a wolf-like demeanor stepped forward from behind them. Ill go first. Arban. Hes strong. I understand your feelings, but we must proceed as nned. Shut up. The man called Arban growled like a beast. We reached the 40th floor! And now we have to join forces against an adventurer who has just arrived on the 35th floor? Dont make meugh! He roared, his rough voice echoing in the room. I wont ept this! [Arban activated the Red Mane Wolf.] Arban immediately charged at Taesan. Like a beast, he leaped forward on all fours, baring his teeth. Quite fast. Taesan moved his hand and grasped Arbans head. He did this incredibly calmly, as if he was merely drinking water. They all thought for a moment that they had seen wrong. Wha, what! Arban, regaining his senses, roared and swung his ws. The air split with his fierce attack. But Taesan, without changing his expression, blocked all the attacks. Are you done? Taesan swung his sword. Arbans chest was sliced. [Arban took 1060 damage.] What?! The onlookers were astonished. The damage exceeded their expectations. Taesan didnt stop. Seeing a good opportunity, he quickly broke Arbans arm and mmed him to the ground. Kuh! [Arban activated the Beast''s Howl.] An emotional roar engulfed Taesan. Indifferently shaking it off, Taesan thrust his sword into Arbans chest. This, this cant be Arban died like that. [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] Just one down. Taesan murmured as he got up. Kaziat was staring at Taesan, his eyes wide open. Arban died this easily? Arban was strong. Before entering thebyrinth, he boasted of being the most talented among the powerful Red Wolf n, known as warriors. Even stronger now than when he first came to thebyrinth, it was unbelievable that such an Arban died so easily. We should stick to the n. You dont have the luxury to ponder so leisurely. Taesan smiled. If he had decided to kill them, he could have done it immediately. He didnt because waiting for them to prepare would yield more gains. Theyre truly weak. They would likely be stuck on the 40th floor for decades, perhaps even a century. This was the end of those who lost their fighting instincts and tension. Go ahead. What have you prepared? We are strong. Kaziat said. It wasnt a lie. They all had power that even emperors of the outside world couldnt dare confront. But you are stronger than us. Even if we all attack together, we cant beat you. Kuwoong! Thebyrinth trembled. A huge magic circle was drawn on the floor of thebyrinth. Kaziats eyes glowed red. The power from the Guides of Sin flowed out and gathered in Kaziat. Taesan knew. This was a convergence of power. Oh, ohh Kaziat groaned, unable to hide his emotions. The power of ten 4th Order Guides dwelled in him. Hoo. Kaziat exhaled, gathering the power. The Guides who transferred their power to him were all exhausted and copsed. Good. Kaziat gripped his sword. Die! Kaziat charged. His speed was iparable to Arbans and even difficult for Taesan to follow with his eyes. Taesan quickly drew his sword. Kagagagak! Their des shed. Kaziat, who had moved behind Taesan, leaped again, aiming for Taesans back. Tap. Taesan quickly turned and blocked it. Kagagak! Kaziats and Taesans swords collided. In the sh, Taesan was the one pushed back. Landing on the ground, Taesan recalled the power felt through the sword. Hes strong. [The opponent is a formidable enemy.] You cant beat me. I have the power of them all! Kaziat, excited, spread his arms. Around the room, ten Guides of Siny copsed. The magic circle seemed to focus on one person, transferring all the power to him. Simply put, Kaziats power surpassed even the forgotten apostle before activating Soul Descension. But. Thats all. Then theres no problem. Chapter 160: Thirty Fifth Level, Guides Of Sin (2) Chapter 160: Thirty Fifth Level, Guides Of Sin (2) Taesan created a distance and thrust his sword into the magic circle drawn on the ground. ng! The sword scraped the ground. But there was no damage to the magic circle. So this method wont work. This magic circle is etched into the Labyrinth itself. Without the power to damage the Labyrinth, destruction is impossible! Kaziat shouted in anger and charged. Taesan chuckled lightly. A magic circle engraved in the Labyrinth itself. It was impossible for a fourth-tier adventurer to do that. So this much interference is allowed, huh? Taesan quickly twisted his body. Whish. The wind brushed past Taesan. Ha ha ha! Kaziat burst into excitedughter. Great power filled his body. Even the previous five who attacked together wouldnt match this strength. I am strong! With this power, he believed he could kill Taesan. Kaziat attacked, confident in this belief. A stagnating adventurer who had descended to the 40th floor. His movements became smoother, quickly adapting to the newfound strength and agility. Hmph. Taesan gripped his sword with both hands and struck down. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Boom! Taesan, who collided with Kaziats charging sword, was pushed back five steps. And Kaziat was pushed back two steps. Five steps. And then two. That was the difference between Kaziat and his power. Even with Strong Blow, Im being pushed back. As Taesan calmly assessed the situation, Kaziat was in shock, his eyes wide open. Im being pushed back? The strength of ten adventurers from the 40th floor resided within him. Although there was some degradation in the transfer of power, it was still a force far beyond the 40th floor. Yes Thats right. The opponent was an entity that had sessfully dealt with the leaders, even with the Devils direct endorsement. Kaziat calmed his excited heart. With a settled gaze, he charged at Taesan. [Kaziat has activated Frost Arrow.] Sizzle. Extreme cold air drew patterns in the void. Taesan was not flustered by the approaching Frost Arrow. He had already scouted and confirmed that the enemy used both sword and magic. Probably thats why he was chosen. Sword and magic. The ability to use both, allowing him to face any situation, was likely why he was chosen to fight Taesan. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Frost Arrow formed in front of Taesan, colliding with the iing one. Crash! Taesans Frost Arrow shattered the opponents. Kaziat, who couldnt have imagined such an oue, hastily swung his sword. ng! The Frost Arrow shattered upon hitting the sword. Even my magic is being overpowered? Proficiency in magic was usually corrted with time. Kaziats magic proficiency was at 29%, which was not low at all. He was among the top in the fourth-tier adventurers. Kaziats n to dominate using magic crumbled into pieces. Taesan raised his sword. Definitely stronger. His swordsmanship was also not bad. In addition, he also had the ability to use magic and was superior in strength and agilitypared to Taesan. If Taesan hadnt fought the Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess, he would have had a hard time against him. But not anymore. His opponents strength and agility were superior. A regr fight wouldnt do. Having already defeated the Apostle, Taesan knew how to approach this. Deciding, Taesan stomped his foot. The moment Taesan started charging, Kaziat quickly responded. Boom! Sword shed with sword. Naturally, Taesan was pushed back. The absolute difference in strength couldnt be narrowed. However, having strength alone didnt guarantee victory. Whirring! Four arrows sprang from Taesans body. What is this! Kaziat gasped and quickly swung his sword. The arrows dodged skillfully, aiming for his entire body. Ugh! Kaziats agility was superior to Taesans. It would be unthinkable for him not to dodge the arrows that even Taesan could evade. Moreover, with Kaziats strength, he wouldnt be pushed back much. The damage was only 1, so fighting while taking hits wouldnt be an issue. But Kaziat didnt know the arrows only caused 1 damage. Unaware of this, Kaziat had no choice but to dodge the arrows as much as possible. And this restricted his movements. As a result, Taesan was able to pull Kaziat into his preferred range. Taesan focused all his attention on Kaziat. ng. Their swords collided. Kaziat tried to push Taesan away by putting force into his sword. ng. At that moment, Taesan twisted his arm, redirecting the swords path. Kaziats body staggered as he was about to exert force. Taesan didnt miss this opportunity. Crunch. [Kaziat took 753 damage.] Grr! Kaziat gritted his teeth. He tried to push Taesan away with his shoulder, firmly nting his feet on the ground. Just as he was about to make a move, Taesan stomped the ground. His sword dropped towards Kaziats head. Kaziat, who was bracing his shoulder, hastily raised his sword. Boom! Kaziat blocked the descending sword and twisted his mouth. In this situation! He was much stronger in terms of power. Moreover, Taesan was in the air, making it difficult to control his body. Kaziat Kaziat tried to throw Taesan off, exerting force on his sword. [You have activated Landing.] Boom! Ugh! Kaziat groaned. An unbearable weight was transmitted through his sword. The effect of Landing, transformed by the Ability Sword, was to strike down powerfully when above the opponent. Due to the effect of Landing transformed by the Ability Sword, Kaziat was caught off guard. Kaziat eventually had to withdraw. It was a move epting loss, and he had to pay the price. Taesan pierced Kaziats chest with his sword. [Kaziat took 840 damage.] And then shed at his thigh with another sword. Kaziat, enduring the pain, tried to kick Taesan. Crack. But Taesan stepped on Kaziats foot first. No matter how superior in stats, the difference wasnt that immense. If he stopped the force before it was fully transmitted, that was enough. What! Kaziat was furious. Every time he tried to act, he was suppressed and counterattacked. It was as if his thoughts were being read. And it was somewhat true. Taesan could see Kaziats will. Kaziat tried to push Taesan away by mming down his sword. And Taesan could read his movement before it even started. Taesan immediately responded. He approached Kaziat, eliminating any space for him to raise his sword. Kaziat, in confusion, tried to punch, but Taesan dodged and stabbed him. Argh! Eventually, Kaziat had no choice but to retreat with only losses. Taesanughed. Hes stronger, yet at a disadvantage. The concept skill of reading will ??? wasnt perfect yet. When Taesan first met the fourth-tier guide, he couldnt see their will, perhaps due to their lower level. But Kaziat had received the power of ten fourth-tier adventurers at once. In terms of simple stats, he was far beyond the 50th floor. And like the Apostle, the stronger the power became, the stronger the will embedded in it, allowing Taesan to read it. Then, it became simple. If he could predict the actions, he could strategize against them. Taesan continued to attack Kaziat. Of course, Kaziat didnt just take it passively. A rotten fourth-tier adventurer. Realizing that Taesan could read his actions, he changed his approach. ng ng ng! Swinging his sword wildly. He cast magic indiscriminately in all directions. He attempted an unavoidable attack. It was effective. Taesan couldnt block everything and allowed some hits. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] But they werent significant hits. Taking advantage of the moment when nullification was activated, Taesan pierced Kaziats neck. Kaziat clutched his throat and retreated. What is this! How! He yelled furiously. But nothing changed. The guides who had transferred all their power and were lying down cursed. What are you doing! You took our power, and this is what you do? Shut up! Kaziat swung his sword roughly. Taesan dodged and stabbed. After that, it was straightforward. Kaziats attacks, having lost his reason, were very simple. Without needing to read his will, Taesan dodged and stabbed. After a thirty-minute battle, Kaziat fell. My victory. [You have won against Kaziat.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] His stats soared. He also gained new skills. Taesan cleared the system window and moved on. He stabbed his sword into the chests of those who were yelling. You came prepared, right? Then ept it gracefully. After finishing off the rest, his level increased by a total of 3. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 83] [Shield: 1259/1259] [Health: 14520/14520] [Mana: 2105/2105] [Magi: 193/193] [Strength: 3743] [Intelligence: 3373] [Agility: 3505] [Attack Power + 482] [Defense + 343] [The target is in optimal condition.] His health increased by 2000. Stats nearly rose by 400. Altogether, they were much weaker than a single Apostle, but therge number possibly contributed to the high increase. I wish they would keeping. [Still, it wasn''t easy. It would have been much harder if you hadn''t read their will.] Thats true. Reading their will and preemptively suppressing their actions allowed him to gain a lot during the battle. Without that, victory wouldnt have been so easy. [Moreover, you gained stats disproportionate to your skills and couldn''t properly collect their will... Congrattions on your victory, but don''t let your guard down. As you go lower, you''ll meet foes whom you can''t dominate like this.] Of course. Composure was indeed the greatest virtue in the Labyrinth. Taesan calmed his excitement. [You deliberately didn''t use Apostle Transformation, right?] I didnt need to use it. There was no value in using Apostle Transformation. Not using it was more beneficial, as it allowed him to learn and gain more. The ghost watched him with satisfaction. In truth, it was an extraordinary achievement. Even excluding his previous actions, a 34th-floor adventurer defeating a fourth-tier adventurer, especially one with various buffs, without much trouble was remarkable. Although he had ???, skills werent everything. How the person used them was more important. It was a feat worth boasting, but Taesan remained coolly self-aware. [Yes, you keep progressing like that.] The ghost hoped Taesan would tread paths even the ghost hadnt and achieve what it couldnt. Eventually, the ghost found itself wishing for that more than revenge. Unknowingly, the ghost was projecting itself onto Taesan. Taesan checked his newly acquired skills. [Basic Inheritance Skill: Red Mane Wolf] [Mana Consumption: 30] [Proficiency: 1%] [Transform into a noble-blooded red wolf. Currently unable to transform due tock of special blood.] A skill to transform into a werewolf. Like the previously acquired skills, it was currently unusable for him. It was uncertain whether the special blood required could be found in the Labyrinth. After a brief look, he checked other skills. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Power of the Grasp] [Proficiency: 1%] [The power in your fingertips bes stronger.] Was there such a skill? [...I haven''t seen this one either?] Taesan skeptically checked the effect of the skill. Indeed, a bit more power was felt at his fingertipspared to before. How do you get this? Even Taesan, who had acquired skills under various conditions, didnt know about this one. So many different skills. Indeed, the Labyrinth was vast. Perhaps the skills he knew were just a small fraction. What skills could he gain in the future? He also needed to regain the skills he had lost. There was much to do. Taesan continued to check the new skills. Not long after, the news of Taesan defeating a fourth-tier adversary spread to the leadership of the Guides of Sin. Chapter 161: Thirty Sixth Level, The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries (1) Chapter 161: Thirty Sixth Level, The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries (1) I have been defeated. Inside the dark corridor. The gems in front of those gathered in the darkness were all shattered. The shattering of the gems, each connected to someones life, signified someones death. A me that formed the shape of a woman frowned. What happened, Kaleid? What are you talking about? A clear voice rang out. An old man, annoyance etched on his face, mmed his wooden staff on the floor. Are you trying to shift the me to me? Did your magic activate properly? It definitely did. My eyes cannot be avoided. The old man hit the floor again with his staff, sending an unpleasant sound through the room. Its just that the guy was stronger. Even though its a lower floor, the fourth-tier adventurersbined strength of ten men lost? Dont me me. Thats just how it was. The old man scowled unpleasantly. Hes a strong one. My magic activated, but it couldntst long. Hmm They groaned, falling into thought. Could they, who have ovee numerous hardships and reached the deeper levels, defeat an enemy with thebined strength of ten fourth-tier adventures while still on the 35th floor? It was hard to spit out an easy answer. The Lion King spoke. This is troublesome. The fourth-tier adventurers had been annihted. And Taesan was on the 35th floor. It meant that he could descend to the 40th floor without any hindrance. Is there no way, Kaleid? There isnt. The old man answered promptly. The Lion King furrowed his brow. Really? Its not there because I say it isnt. The old man swung his staff with an irritated voice. This is already a loophole. A magic circle established with the permission of the Demon God. The Demon God allowed only minimal interference. An ordinary fourth-tier Guide couldnt stop Taesan at all. But there were limits to that as well. The magic circle the old man spread on the 35th floor was just within those limits. Or are you thinking of finding a way to evade the Demon Gods eyes? A novel way tomit suicide. The old man sneered, and the Lion King closed his mouth. There were things that shouldnt be done even if Taesan was to be obstructed. And one of them was trying to deceive the Demon God. This is very troublesome. If only we had observed the battle, we could have learned a lot The bewitching woman muttered as if regretting. They had not seen Taesans battle with the fourth-tier Guides at all. Theres nothing we can do if the Demon God doesnt allow it. The reason for theirck of observation was because of the Demon God. The Demon God allowed their interference but did not permit them to watch the battle. Therefore, they had no idea how the battle unfolded and how it ended. This was very fortunate for Taesan. After all. Taesans battle style benefited greatly when his opponentscked information about him. Attack Nullification, Ability Sword, and numerous other magic and skills. All of these were unpredictable to the opponents, causing them to panic and be unable to respond. Had the leaders observed and analyzed Taesansbat, they could have roughly understood it. At least, they would have surely recognized the Attack Nullification and Ability Sword. Taesan didnt know, but the Demon God had unknowingly aided him greatly. A legitimate way under the Demon Gods permission The Lion King tapped his fingers on the table. The answer was not easy toe by. The Spirit King spoke. What about calling him? Him? The demon child who is currently descending here. The Lion King realized who the Spirit King was referring to. Quaned, a demon not restricted by rank like others, had been allowed by them to aim for the deeper levels after a long time because they saw potential in him. Empowered by their expectations, he had already broken through the 50th floor and was expected to join them someday. He might be able to. This demon had permission to reach the deepyers. His power was iparable to that of a Guide on the same floor. Would the Demon God allow it? Gods always want to test mortals. And if her own child asks, theres a high chance she wont refuse. They began to converge on the idea of sending Quaned up. Ambracia, who had been quietly listening, spoke up as they watched. Just so you know. If Quaned fails too, there wont be any more methods left. They fell silent. As Ambracia said, Quaned was very strong, having received their permission to reach the deepyers. And thebyrinth granted many rewards for defeating the strong. If Taesan defeated Quaned and gained stronger abilities and new powers. He might be so strong that they could no longer handle him. The opposite is also true. If Quaned wins, he will be stronger. He will rapidly descend to where we are. Chances of sess fifty-fifty. They couldnt make a decision easily as they didnt fully grasp Taesans strength. Someone spoke in the silent corridor. Ive decided. It was the first time this man had spoken. As he spoke, everyone focused on him as if deferring to the most exceptional among them. Ambracia. Me again? I feel like a mere errand boy. Ambracia grumbled. The man spoke indifferently. Call Quaned here.
ng! A knight in red armor charged. Taesan raised his hand. [You have activated the Distorted Barrier.] Space warped around Taesan. The knight swung his sword down and was repelled. The knight continued to disrupt the space afterward. Cracks started to form in the space, but it held up quite well. Not bad. Taesan defeated the knight and checked the magic. [Elementary Magic: Distorted Barrier] [Mana Consumption: 50] [Proficiency: 1%] [Creates a distortion in space around the user to block attacks. Can only block attacks below a certain level.] It was another skill Taesan had acquired while dealing with the Guides. There were limitations, but the results of his experiments showed that it could easily block attacks from monsters on the 35th floor. Even with his current proficiency, it seemed sufficient to use up to the 40th floor. Having finished checking, Taesan continued to move forward. He defeated the knights he encountered, entered secret rooms to im rewards, and headed toward the boss. The boss was no match, either. The knight in crimson armor was faster and stronger than other monsters, but that was it. He couldnt withstand Taesans attacks for even a moment and fell. Too easy. [It wouldn''t make sense if it were difficult.] Now, the floor wasnt the issue. With his current state, it was highly likely that he could reach the end of the fourth tier without any difficulty. Unless it was a trial from a god or another Guide. It was hard to provide any stimtion to Taesan. Itsfortable, but Something feltcking. If it was this easy, it meant it was hard to get a normal reward. I want to learn new magic soon. He wished for something new toe along. [The Guides probably won''t interfere for a while. At least nothing will happen until the 40th floor.] Probably. The Demon God wouldnt allow the sending down of all the fifth-tier adventurers. And it was impossible for one or two to defeat Taesan. They would gather their full strength and exert it when the time came. The ghost thought so, and Taesan agreed. Taesan checked his clear rewards. First was the secret reward. [Ring of Deep Scars] [Attack Power +2] [A ring with a terrible scar engraved. The aura of the one who inflicted the scar curses everything thates close.] The attack power was quite good. In fact, it was an exceptional piece of equipment, but it didnt seem that significant to Taesan. Then the floor clear reward. [Helm of Contained Madness] [Strength +30] [Defense +50] [Action Speed +4%] [A helm once given by the god of madness to his follower. It once drenched the continent in blood. Now, the madness is almost gone.] [Damage increases when consumed by madness.] High strength and defense. And it was a helm. Head protection was hard toe by, so its value was high since Taesan was still using what he got from Death Knight. [??? used.] [Obtained Armor Filled with Hatred.] [Armor Filled with Hatred] [Strength +50] [Defense +80] [Armor once given by the god of hatred to his follower. The wearer was hated by all and died. Now, the hatred is almost gone.] [Damage increases when consumed by hatred.] Its been a while since I changed my armor. The change in armor significantly increased his defense. And there was something unexpected. [You have worn the Armor Filled with Hatred and Helm of Contained Madness simultaneously. Additional Strength 20, Agility 20 increased. When consumed by hatred and madness, [Emotional Outburst] is activated.] A set effect? Taesans eyes sparkled. From what he had seen in the store before, wearing certain items together provided additional effects. The equipment Taesan had obtained this time was of that kind. Do these kinds of sets appear more often the deeper I go? [They''re rare but do appear. There are constraints since wearing more than two items is mandatory, but the effects are correspondingly powerful.] I wonder if there are more sets. With anticipation, Taesan continued down to the next floor. [Quest of Floor 36 Started.] [Defeat the boss of the 36th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Bracelet Containing a Fragment of a Core] [Secret Reward: ???] The monsters on the 36th floor were knights, simr to before. If the 35th floor had red knights, this time, they were blue. It reminds me of the battlefield of the gods. There, too, blue and red armored knights were fighting. Taesan muttered and moved forward. Like before, there were no significant obstacles, and soon he found an altar. [You have discovered the ruins of the Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries.] [First Discovery Bonus] [Mana +50] Mana 50. Not a bad reward. These ruins were different from the altars of the gods seen before. If there was a single structure at the altar, this time, the whole room seemed to be transformed into a structure, fitting the name ruins. The condition of the room wasnt great. Pinkish slime crawled on the walls, and the floor was sticky like a swamp. And the quality of the power felt Different. The power of the gods was clear and distinct, even though it felt different. Perhaps because they each had a domain, there was an absolute will that did not tolerate anything else. But there was no such sense here. Instead, it was filled with a greedy aura that wanted to engulf everything and make it its own. [The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries. An immortal.] Immortal? [Didn''t I tell you before? There are transcendents who manage their domains and those who don''t.] Was that so? It was too long ago, so he couldnt quite remember. The ghost said with a wry smile. [Back then, we weren''t meant to meet for long.] Originally, the ghost was an NPC who would part ways after capturing the sage on the 10th floor. So, naturally, Taesan hadnt expected to take on a new quest and journey this far with it. [And I thought we wouldn''t meet immortals for a while since you need to go quite deep. But here we are.] Whats the difference? The ghost spoke with a hint of nostalgia, and Taesan asked. [What''smon among the gods you''ve met so far?] Each had their own domain. The god of strife and death, Lakiratas. The god of victory, Balthasar. The god of choice, Maria. All had their own domains. [Transcendents are thest stage a mortal can reach. It''s a position hard to attain even over hundreds of years. And those who reach such a position all have their own caliber they''ve built up.] Those who became transcendents all had exceptional talents. However, talent alone was not all that was needed to ascend to the status of a god. [If you consider the gods you''ve met so far, you''ll understand.] Taesan recalled his experiences. The god of victory wanted Taesan to seek victory. The god of choice desired Taesan to ovee the opposite of choice, and the god of strife and death wished for strife. The god of the sword demanded proof through the sword, and the god of proof required Taesan to prove himself throughbat. Each had demanded achievements in their respective domains from Taesan. Taesan realized something. So, thats the path that made them gods. [Right. A being that transcends from mortality, taking charge of the very domain they''ve excelled in. That''s what a god is. But... immortals are different. They are beingscking that stature.] The ghost exined calmly. [They may have the power to reach transcendence, but theyck the necessary stature. Unable to build it up, they don''t receive a domain. Hence, they don''t reach the position of a transcendent. That''s what immortals are.] Chapter 162: Thirty Sixth Level, The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries (2) Chapter 162: Thirty Sixth Level, The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries (2) [Unlike the gods, who manage domains and thus have a clear purpose, theyck one. They move solely ording to their desires.] It doesnt seem much different from the gods. [It is different. Gods'' desires are rted to their domains, but these beings'' desires are only for themselves.] Gods were bound to their domains, whether they liked it or not. Their actions, therefore, were restricted and somewhat predictable. But immortals were different. They were free. Therefore, their actions were hard to predict, and foreseeing what they might do was difficult. How do theypare to Lakiratas? [Compared to immortals, Lakiratas is quite merciful. He may act independently, but at least he operates within the realm of strife and death. That makes him predictable and manageable. These beings, however, are different.] During the trial, there were beings even more unpredictable than the gods who changed the content of the trial. The ghost continued to speak. [They are free-spirited beings. Some dislike you, and some like you.] This time, its the former, isnt it? Taesan felt a gaze on him. It was filled with annoyance. A massive will descended on the ruins. [The power of the Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries has diminished.] [The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries proposes an enhanced trial for you.] Taesan stared quietly at the system window. A quest unlike any he had faced before and unpredictable. Taesan nodded. Ill ept it. [Sub-quest started.] [The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries tests you.] [The Labyrinth Transformation Begins.] [The Twisted Will covers the 36th floor.] Suddenly, a cold sensation wrapped around him. Taesan instinctively knew. The spreading aura was a kind of grace. Simr to the blessings gods bestow, it enhanced the power of mortals and granted them new strength. [The power of the Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries manifests. The Distortion of Twistedness is activated.] The power faded, and thebyrinth returned to its normal state, just as it had been when Taesan first arrived. But Taesan frowned. This isnt good. [Uh... what''s this?] The ghost seemed puzzled as well. Regardless, they had to check. Clutching his sword, Taesan moved forward past the ruins. Then, he encountered a monster. Whats this now? The monster on the 36th floor was a knight d in blue armor, brandishing a sword. Its movements were swift, and its refined swordy would have posed quite a challenge for an ordinary adventurer. But what stood before Taesan now was something entirely different. The blue knights body was grotesquely twisted. The sword had melded with its arm, and the armor was pitted with rust, dripping in ces. [The Blue Knight, blessed by the Twisted Mysteries, has appeared.] Is this supposed to be a blessing? The power radiating from the knight had indeed intensified. But that was all. In exchange for power, the knight had lost its normal form. [Because it''s not a god.] The ghost sighed. [Unlike gods, immortalsck the necessary stature. They can force their power onto mortals, but they cannot bestow a stable blessing like gods. Many sought the power to be apostles of immortals, but...] So, thats the result. A beingpletely distorted and deteriorated. Such was the fate of those who received the power of immortals. [This isn''t good.] As the ghost murmured, the knight sprang into action. With its sword fused to its arm, the knight charged at Taesan aggressively. Simultaneously, a piercing cold emanated from the knights entire body. The chill, potent enough to freeze ones lungs, was imbued with a magical aura. ng! Their swords collided. However, the knight managed to block Taesans sword. A typical monster on the 36th floor would have been sent flying by the mere sh of swords, but this knight held its ground against Taesan, albeit being pushed back. [What''s this?] Taesan parried the knights sword and lunged at its chest. ng! [The Blue Knight Blessed by the Twisted Mysteries takes 222 damage.] Taesan stepped back after seeing the damage window. The ghost muttered, not understanding the situation. [Why only this much damage?] Isnt it strange? It was an attack amplified by Addition and Strong Blow. Given Taesans attack power, it should have caused damage exceeding a thousand. At a nce, its a physical enhancement and reduction of physical damage. Even if its from an immortal, a blessing like that? Even to the ghost, the knight seemed too strong. [This is strange. Really strange.] The ghost murmured. Taesan focused on the knight. The previous attack had barely inflicted any damage. An attack enhanced by Addition and Strong Blow, yet so little damage indicated extreme resistance to physical attacks. The grace came from the Immortal of the Twisted Mysteries. And, as Taesan knew, Mysteries often implied magic. Thud. Taesan stomped his foot. [You have activated Fireball.] mes appeared next to Taesan, who rushed forward. He blocked the knights sword and detonated the fireball. Boom! [The Blue Knight Blessed by the Twisted Mysteries takes 201 damage.] As expected. It was clear now. The knight had a high resistance to physical attacks but was vulnerable to magical attacks. Taesan stepped back again. The ghost, now understanding the situation, spoke incredulously. [This is a bit too much.] The nature of the trial had be clear. The intent seemed to be to pass the floor using only magic, not swordy or skills. A challenging trial, indeed. Taesan had primarily used magic for support, not as his main approach. He wasnt highly skilled in it. Moreover, passing would not be easy since all the floors monsters likely received the same blessing. But its not impossible. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Ssshh. An arrow of ice that froze space materialized. Taesanunched it directly at the knight. As the knight swung its sword to deflect the arrow, Taesan activated another spell. [You have activated Magical Explosion.] Boom! The Frost Arrow exploded, scattering shards. The knight failed to block in time and was pierced all over. Taesan, seeing the staggering knight, used his magic again. [You have activated Lightning Strike.] Crack! Lightning pierced the knight. The knight shook it off and rushed toward Taesan. Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated Wind Explosion.] Wind exploded in front of the knight. The knights body shook momentarily, halting its charge toward Taesan. After confirming that Wind Explosion could block the charge, Taesan repeatedly activated it. The knight was shaken and pushed back. It seems theres a misconception. Taesan didnt primarily use magic because he was strong enough without it, not because his magic was weak. Thanks to the points he had spent on magic from his Earth Return rewards, his proficiency in magic exceeded 40%. Considering the power of the guides who used magic, this was quite high for the 30th floor. This works out well. It wasnt that he couldnt handle the situation with his sword. It would take longer than usual, but he could definitely defeat it. But since he was about to learn intermediate magic, he nned to increase his proficiency with this opportunity. The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries was forcing Taesan to use magic with all its might. Then Ill do just that. He decided to pass the trial using only magic. Taesan equipped the items he had saved to enhance his magic and continuously cast spells to defeat the knight. The massive will observing Taesan momentarily wavered. It was subtle, but Taesan sensed a mix of disturbance. Whats this? Taesan wondered as he moved on. In the next room, another twisted knight awaited him. Taesan used various spells to defeat it. The magic itself didnt deal high damage, so it took some time, but defeating it wasnt a significant problem. Once again, the observing will wavered. The emotions it contained were intense enough for Taesan to recognize. Anger and irritation. This is strange. The gods Taesan had encountered so far expressed rich emotions, but they always maintained a transcendents serenity andposure. But the Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries was different. It reacted to Taesans actions with irritation, like an ordinary human. Such behavior was uncharacteristic for a being of higher stature. The ghost exined the reason. [It''s simple. Immortals are twisted beings.] Twisted? [I mentioned before, right? They possess the power to reach transcendence butck the necessary stature. It''s like giving a precious sword to a foolish child. They''re monstrously strong, but mentally weak at the same time.] Is that even possible? Immortals were supposed to be far stronger than mortals. The leaders of the Guides Taesan had met had unimaginable power, yet they hadnt prated the deeperyers, affirming this belief. However, the concept of being mentally weak and unstable was difficult for Taesan to grasp. [There are typically two types of immortals. Those who have legitimately built up power butck the stature to be transcendent, and those who have gained power through shortcuts from the outset. Thetter, in particr, are incapable of reaching the status of a transcendent.] The ghosts voice was dispassionate, devoid of any awe or respect. [Shortcuts have their limits. That''s the fate of those who''ve umted power in such a manner. The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries is likely one of those beings.] The voice wasced with disdain. [Let me tell you something about those who used shortcuts, like the Guides of Sin. They dislike them because they see a reflection of themselves. And they resent beings like you because you tread a path they couldn''t.] Bad memories? [I''ve had my fair share of troubles. I didn''t dissuade you from taking the trials because there''s something to gain; frankly, I don''t like them.] The ghosts tone was tinged with irritation. [Immortals who have gained power through shortcutsck both the stature and the mindset appropriate for their strength. They are merely powerful. They wield their power recklessly and often resort to violence against those with genuine talent. Just observe our current predicament.] A knight materialized in front of Taesan. Taesan summoned his spells and repelled the knight. [The grace that endows your power and mitigates physical damage has permeated the floor? For an immortal, that is an excessive favor. They likely sought to kill you, not merely test you. They are probably panicking because things are not proceeding as nned.] Why would they go to such lengths? [Because it''s the Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries. They have probably despised you ever since you were granted the privilege of learning intermediate magic from the god of magic.] Taesan hesitated. He had indeed been granted the privilege of learning intermediate magic from the god of magic. All this just for that? [Those who take shortcuts often respond with violence, even when gods show a modicum of interest in a mortal.] The ghost clicked its tongue. [Those who gained power through shortcutsck the necessary stature. Yet, they allow jealousy and envy to consume them, venting their anger on mortals. You must be wary. There are likely many immortals who harbor ill will towards you.] As the ghost concluded its warning, a golden wave enveloped the space. [The might of the Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries has significantly waned.] [The influence of the Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries manifests. The Distortion of Twistedness intensifies.] Chapter 163: Thirty Sixth Level, The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries (3) Chapter 163: Thirty Sixth Level, The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries (3) [What a hassle.] The ghost clicked its tongue. The difficulty increased in the middle of the trial. It wasnt the first time this had happened. The same was true for Lakiratas. Thinking about it made himugh. It suggested that even gods or immortals would stoop to such measures. Theres a lot I received, but a thug is still a thug. Taesan muttered and then set off to find the next monster. The transcendental power emanating from the next knight he encountered was stronger and more intense. The knight swung his sword with a twisted arm. Taesan parried the attack and thrust his sword forward. Crash! Taesans sword bounced off as it struck the corroded armor. Taesan quickly created some distance andposed himself. Now itpletely ignores physical attacks. This was distinctly different from the challenges posed by the gods. Although it was called a trial, it didnt seem to test Taesan like the gods did; instead, it seemed genuinely intent on killing him. A huge aura roaming the floor was evidently filled with murderous intent towards Taesan. [Immunity to physical attacks? What is this? Even an immortal should suffer considerable power drain at this level, right? Why go to such lengths to kill?] Didnt you have any trouble? Taesan asked while dodging the charging knight. [I managed okay. I felt some annoyance, but nothing as lethal as this. But with you, it seems different.] Is it because of the magic? Taesan had already received intermediate magic from the god of magic. Being an immortal who pursued mysteries, it seemed they wanted to nip Taesans growth in the bud, even at the cost of great power. But this wont do. Click. Dozens of frost arrows formed around Taesan and surged towards the charging knight. Crack! The knight swung his sword to deflect them, and Taesan raised his finger. [You activated Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] Boom! The pitch-ck lightning pierced through the knight. Mephistos ck Lightning had the power to momentarily freeze the opponents actions. The knight flinched as dozens of frost arrows buried into him. [You have defeated the Blue Knight blessed with Twisted Mysteries.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your magic resistance proficiency increased by 2%.] Its been a while. It was a nearly useless skill as he hardly encountered magic-using enemies, and even if he did, he defeated them without getting hit. Still, the slight increase in proficiency was not an unwee feeling. As Taesan defeated the Blue Knight, the aura engulfing thebyrinth changed its tone. This time, it was of joy. As if it was waiting for Taesan to self-destruct. Taesan thought about the beings intense emotional changes and continued forward. Knights kept appearing. All of them were immune to physical attacks, so Taesan had to rely on magic, dark magic, and spirit skills. But this was no problem for Taesan. With just these three, he could easily defeat such monsters. Taesan thus defeated ten knights. The joy-filled aura gradually waned, and confusion and denial began to take its ce. Was it beyond your expectations? Taesan murmured as he suppressed the knight with sessive thunderbolts. What were you expecting? [Maybe they thought you''d run out of mana?] Through the ghosts words, Taesan realized why the immortal had such extreme emotional fluctuations. Mana was one of the basic attributes that increased the most. No matter how much one leveled up, there was a limit to how much it could increase without special items, so considerable effort was needed to use magic. Even Taesan, in his previous life, couldnt use skills properly due to ack of mana. A normal adventurer would have exhausted all their mana fairly quickly. But Taesan was different. [You have activated Thunderbolt.] Lightning struck the knight continuously. Despite using magic over twenty times, Taesans mana had hardly decreased from its original amount. Thanks to the skill for designated stat increases received from the god of victory, Taesans mana had already surpassed 2000. With the mana consumption reduction effect of the intelligence stat and the mana recovery skill, using low-level magic hardly consumed any mana. Until he cleared the floor, he wouldnt run out of mana. The immortals n had note to fruition. Through this conversation, Taesan realized something else. His mana was incredibly high. Due to various skills and high intelligence, depleting it was nearly impossible. However, the immortal was trying to kill Taesan by depleting his mana. If they knew about Taesan, they would never have chosen this method. Boom! [You have defeated the Blue Knight blessed with Twisted Mysteries.] [Your level has increased.] [Your magic proficiency has increased by 1%.] The knight could not withstand any more and copsed. As the knight turned into ashes, Taesan said, They dont know about me. They would have chosen a different trial method if they knew the battles Taesan had fought, what he had received, and how he had grown stronger. In other words, unlike the gods, the immortal did not fully understand Taesanwhat he had done, what he had obtained. [The immortal does not have the right rank or domain. They do not possess almost omniscient abilities like the gods. They probably know roughly from rumors but not the details.] Is that so? Less impressive than I thought. The difference from the gods was clear. Taesan continued forward, dealing with the monsters. With each step, the agitation in the aura intensified. Finally, Taesan arrived in front of the boss. [A Silver Knight engulfed in Twisted Mysteries has appeared.] The knights form was no longer recognizable as that of a knight. The armor was dry and twisted, and the helmet had grotesquely fused to reveal a hideous face. Only the sword retained its original form. [Roar!] The knight roared like a beast, and a storm swirled around it. Taesan chuckled. Now, using magic too? But there was more. A fragment of great rank emanated from the twisted knight. It signified one thing. The knight before him had transformed into an apostle of the hunchback who pursued twisted mysteries. Of course, itcked the usual power and rank, but it was definitely much stronger than any of the knights he had encountered thus far. The ghost clicked its tongue in disbelief. [To give such a thing to a monster? How badly do they want to kill you?] It doesnt matter. The sheer desperation to kill him only spurred his motivation. The opponent is a formidable enemy. You have activated Apostle yer. The Desire for Battle has been activated. A Fair Duel has been activated. The Proof of Limits has been activated. You have activated Contempt for the Strong. Giant Killer has been activated. You have activated Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas]. Divine power surged through Taesan. With it, a flood of rted information entered his mind. Taesan now understood what an immortal was and even the state of the enemy before him. There were several intriguing pieces of information, but the most crucial objective at the moment was to secure victory over the adversary. Taesan gripped his sword firmly and charged at the knight. sh! The swords collided, creating a resounding noise. Perhaps due to the Apostle Transformation enhancing his spirit strike, he did not recoil but matched his opponent. [Roar!] The knight roared again, and at the same time, magic materialized. A blizzardden storm began to sweep through the chamber. The apostle of the immortal, the hunchback in pursuit of mysteries, wielded magic of a rank higher than Taesans. Yet, to Taesan, this mattered little. Taesan thrust his sword while activating a skill. [You have activated Forced Duel.] Forced Du skill that creates a one-on-one situation with the target. In the current situation with just the two of them, it seemed meaningless, but not for Taesan. As soon as Forced Duel activated, the raging storm and blizzard hurtling toward Taesan began to dissipate the moment they reached him. It was as if their approach was not permitted. sh! Taesan, excluding magic, swung his sword. Though the knight was strengthened and essentially was far beyond a 30th-floor boss monster, it was immune to physical attacks and used magic. However, both were neutralized by Apostle Transformation and Forced Duel. Then there was no problem. Taesan activated Ability Sword and continued tond sessful attacks. The knight resisted by swinging its sword, but it was no match for Taesan. [The Silver Knight engulfed in Twisted Mysteries took 2028 damage.] The battle was one-sided. Then, as if in a hurry, the aura violently shook. The aura, which had been contemting something, made a bted decision. [The influence of the hunchback pursuing Twisted Mysteries has diminished.] [The manifestation of the hunchback''s power. The distortion of Twisted Mysteries has been more strongly activated.] Its toote. Crack. Taesan pierced the chest of the knight, which was beginning to be imbued with power. He twisted the sword to erge the wound and then mmed it to the ground. Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have permanently increased your Health by 540, Strength by 132, Agility by 98, and Intelligence by 12. Your magic resistance proficiency has increased by 2%. Your Apostle yer proficiency has increased by 1%. Your Ability Sword proficiency has increased by 1%. Your level has increased. Your level has increased. The life force escaped from the body of the knight, which had been imbued with immense power. If youre going to do it, you should have done it quickly. Taesan scoffed. The decision of the Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries hade toote. He had probably weighed the desire to kill Taesan against the considerable consumption of his own power for quite some time. Ultimately, he chose thetter, but by then, everything was already over. The aura that had engulfed the floor trembled quietly. It was better than I thought. Forced Duel was also one of the skills transformed by the Ability Sword. Special Activation Skill: Forced Duel Mana Consumption: 1 Proficiency: 11% Engage in a duel with the target. For 10 seconds, nothing other than the target can inflict damage on you. Condition: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword] If the opponent uses a sword, both parties cannot use anything other than swords. The skill had a penalty: if the opponent used a sword, Taesan could also only use his sword, making it a challenging skill to use. He had expected it to take some time to use, but luckily, an ideally suitable opponent appeared, allowing him to defeat it without much trouble. Taesan had triumphed in the trial. Now, it was time to receive the rewards, but the immortal showed no sign of movement. Youre not nning on withholding them, are you? [That''s impossible. This is aw of the Labyrinth. No matter how powerful the immortal, even if they were gods, once they are in the Labyrinth, they cannot escape it.] Assured that he would receive the rewards without issue, Taesan was then struck by curiosity. The gods had granted Taesan skills rted to their domains after he passed their trials. However, the immortal did not possess a domain of his own. Taesans question was quickly answered. Initiating Forced Settlement. You have obtained the 36th-floor secret room reward: Thunderbolt Struck Old Tree. You have obtained the 36th-floor clear reward: Bracelet Containing a Fragment of the Core. You have obtained the 36th-floor clear reward: ???. The Hunchback Pursuing Twisted Mysteries increased your health by 800, mana by 200, and attack power by 80. You obtained the Withered Staff of Cmity. Chapter 164: Forced Return (1) Chapter 164: Forced Return (1) Is this how things are settled? The power of the Immortal changed the structure of the monsters and floors in thebyrinth. Since the floor was still technically the 36th, Taesan received all the usual rewards upon clearing it. Not bad. There would have been no issue if he hadnt received the rewards, but fortunately, he did. Taesan browsed through the system window, item by item. My level has increased more than I expected. The monsters on the 36th floor were originally no match for Taesan, making it difficult to expect any growth from clearing it. However, the trial of the Immortal had boosted his level by three steps. First, Taesan started to check the rewards for clearing the 36th floor. A small spark of lightning flickered in Taesans hand. [Lightning Struck Dead Tree] [Lightning struck a dead tree and took form. It seems meaningful changes could ur when used as a projectile.] Its not a lightning-struck dead tree. It was the opposite. Taesan mused over the origin of the item as he drew an arrow. When he attached the lightning-struck dead tree to an arrow he had acquired from disarming a trap, the lightning enveloped the arrow with a crackling sound. [Self-Aware Lightning Arrow] [An arrow that moves on its own to protect its owner. It possesses a consciousness and can move independently. It cannot travel beyond a certain range.] [Current Owner: Kang Taesan] [User''s rank is insufficient. Attack Power: 1] [Contains the essence of the lightning-struck dead tree. Attack Power +50] [Inflicts an electrified state on the enemy it hits.] Oh? The attack power had increased by 50. It was a significant boost. Additionally, the value of the arrow was enhanced by the electrified state it could impose. Taesan possessed a total of four arrows. They were useful but nearly harmless tools that had offered little assistance. Even against the apostle this time, they had not been very effective. However, if he could obtain three more like this, they would truly be useful. [Nuclear Fragment Bracelet] [Attack Power +35] [Defense Power +60] [Bracelet refined with materials from the deepest part of the.] [Obtains additional stats when fighting entities rted to nature.] The bracelet boasted high attack and defense power, along with additional effects. Taesan reviewed the secret rewards with a sense of satisfaction. [??? was used.] [Obtained the Rough Grasp Gauntlet.] [Rough Grasp Gauntlet] [Attack Power +50] [Made from a portion of a gauntlet that once crushed everything. The former owner''s power still lingers.] [Mysterious power is sealed within.] Whats this? The attack power seemed too low. He had expected it to be in the 70s or 80s, but it was just 50. That was a mere 20 more than the gauntlet he had acquired earlier. Could this be the cause? [Mysterious power is sealed within.] Perhaps unsealing it might reveal additional abilities. For the moment,cking a method to unseal it, Taesan put the matter aside and donned the gauntlet. His level had increased, and he had gained valuable equipment. The oue was more rewarding than he had anticipated. Then there was the reward from the Immortal. It differed from what the gods had bestowed upon him so far; it was purely a boost in stats. [A manifestation of the hunchback who delved into twisted mysteries. Your health increases by 800, mana by 200, and attack power by 80.] Quite straightforward. [Can''t help it. Since the Immortal doesn''t possess a domain, he can''t grant power specific to one. But it''s not bad, right?] An increase of 800 in health, 200 in mana, and an 80-point boost in attack power. Just by considering the numbers, it was akin to wielding an extra weapon in terms of added attack power. Given that, the skill was quite valuable. And finally, the staff. [The Twisted Staff of Cmity] [Magic +40] [This staff caused the world''s destruction due to personal greed.] [Every time you kill an opponent using magic with this staff, magic increases by 1. In exchange, attack power decreases by 1 and health by 10.] A progressive type of equipment. The magic was an impressive 40. If it increased by 1 with each kill, given the right conditions, it could soar into the hundreds. Certainly, a valuable item. Difficult for a magician to find anything superior. Yet, the penalty rendered it impractical. Was this the staff used by the Immortal? The description seemed to suggest so. Taesan stored the staff. It was unusable for him now but too precious to throw away. He intended to have a cksmith modify it. [Immortals are beings who failed to be Transcendents. As such, they vary greatly. Some, like this one, attempt to kill you, while others might be amicable.] The Immortals possess stronger personalities than the gods. Taesan nced towards the floors end before departing. An Immortal. Beings who fell short of godhood. And the distinction was in attaining power that matched their rank. It was a thought that he couldnt shake. Which side was he on? Whether he was consciously working towards it or not. Just as Taesan was about to dismiss his deep thoughts and start down the stairs, Ah. He halted. A powerful force from the floor above made its presence known. That force was beckoning Taesan. Finally. [Is it time already? This feels somewhat premature.] The ghostined. Taesan, who was previously headed to the 37th floor, changed direction towards the source of the force. It was a secret chamber on the floor. Have you arrived? Lilis awaited Taesan there. Her aura seemed more refined than when hest saw her. She hadnt grown stronger, but it appeared she had discovered a way to progress to the next stage. I see your skills have improved. Thanks to you. Liliss smile was subdued. You dont like unnecessary chatter, so Ill get straight to the point. The god of magic has summoned you. Her eyes shone. Specifically for intermediate magic, Taesan nodded, understanding. He had anticipated this. If the god of magic had gone out of his way to call him, there was no other reason. The ghost, still skeptical, groaned. [Too much... He''s strong, but it''s too soon for him to receive intermediate magic.] Maybe the god of magic has something in mind? I dont think he would do anything harmful to adventurers. [That''s true, but...] So, how do we proceed? Taesan cut in. From his perspective, regardless of being too much or not, any opportunity to be stronger was the right choice. Lilis calmly raised her finger. Sit in front of the beads. She pointed to the small beads arranged at specific angles. Close your eyes and pray, and the god of magic will call you. Taesan sat in front of the beads. Lilis hesitated before speaking. If possible please tell the god of magic that I am always grateful. Taesan nodded and closed his eyes. Prayer. He realized he had never genuinely prayed before. Even at the statue of the forgotten goddess, he had only posed to pray and received skills, and the skill for praying to the demon god was just a one-off activation. It had been the same in his previous life. He didnt believe in gods. If there are gods, why must we endure this? Why must we die like this? Such feelings had dominated him. The more he saw people dying while calling out to the gods, the firmer his disbelief became. And it was the same now. He still didnt believe in gods. But a formal prayer that he could manage. Taesan sped his hands. Lilis swallowed hard. Then, the space opened. It was the moment an alien space tried to engulf Taesan. [Special Quest Initiated] [Return to Earth.] [Immediate return willmence.] [This quest cannot be refused.] Taesans pupils dted. His body underwent a forceful transition. The alien space faded, revealing glimpses of Earth. [What? At this timing?] The ghost panicked. A return to Earth just as he was about to meet the god of magic seemed too deliberate to be coincidental. Damn. Taesan clicked his tongue. His past experiences told him that he couldnt refuse special quests involving a return to Earth. Ill have to meet the god of magicter. Just as the space of Earth was about to engulf him, [How dare they.] A voice tinged with amusement yet filled with anger, resonated. [Such audacity. To do this just as he''s about to meet me?] With chucklingughter, the pathway to Earth closed. Sensing the shift in energy, Taesan looked around. Countless gxies became visible. It was a scene Taesan had once seen through a telescope at an observatory during his childhood but was now unfolding before him. [Impressive, isn''t it?] Taesan turned toward the source of the voice. There stood a young man with eyes shining like starlight, his arms spread wide. [I made it. What do you think?] Its beautiful. Hispliment was genuine; the sight was truly beautiful. The man grinned. [Thanks.] The man snapped his fingers, and a leather chair materialized behind Taesan. [We won''t need long, but let''s sit and have a chat.] Taesans body crackled uneasily as if immense powers were shing within him. The man settled into his chair. Taesan leaned back into his own chair obediently. [You probably know already, but introductions are still necessary, right?] The man lifted a finger. Starlight lingered on it before exploding like fireworks, scattering in all directions. Taesan could feel it. The brilliant light of the fireworks literally contained the power of stars. [I am the one involved in the design of thebyrinth, the one who established and created the skill called magic within it. I am the god who governs the domain of magic.] The man allowed a slight smile to cross his face. [The god of magic, Zelbando.] It was Taesans fourth encounter with a god of thebyrinth. The first had been the god of choice, Maria. Her power was violently strong, yet it didnt feel oppressive. She allowed one to make choices freely. Next came the demon god, Lucifer. Her power was profound and restrained. She embraced what belonged to her but rejected all else. Then there was the god of struggle and death, Lakiratas. His strength was sheer and undeniable. He possessed the power to crush and dominate everything. And now, with the god of magic, Zelbando, no distinct power was apparent. More precisely, it was entirely self-contained. Sensing Taesans awareness, Zelbando muttered discontentedly. [You''ve only encountered foolish gods until now. A god should preserve their dignity and respect mortals. Just appearing out of nowhere, making offers. What''s that about?] Thats true. Indeed, he was unlike any god Taesan had met before. The god of magic nced at the ghost. [Hello?] [...Greetings.] [It''s regrettable. I had hoped you might eventually reach it. Even if you couldn''t ovee it.] [I acknowledge my shorings.] [Really?] Zelbandos eyes, twinkling like stars, narrowed. [Then what decision will you make?] [...I don''t understand.] [A conversation for another time. You will need to choose from three options. Be careful not to err.] The ghost fell silent at the significant statement. Zelbando shifted his attention back to Taesan. [Shall we proceed to the matter at hand? You''re here for one reason, correct?] Taesan nodded. He was seeking intermediate magic; that was his purpose here. Zelbandos mouth twisted into a wry expression. [I had nned to present a trial to you. Upon itspletion, I intended to grant ess to intermediate magic. But... annoying interferences have urred.] With a snap of his fingers, the god of magic restored some bnce to Taesans body, which had been fizzing with instability. However, the newfound steadiness was short-lived and began to tremble once again. [Those rat-like beings, always meddling, sneaking between thebyrinth and my territory.] The god of magicugheda cold, angryugh. [Dare they interfere when I''m about to give a trial?] A calm yet furious energy spread, and the ghost swallowed hard. [So, I''ll change the quest content slightly. Kang Taesan. This quest is separate from intermediate magic.] The god of magics voice echoed. [Return to Earth. There, trample the pride of the ancient gods who dared to interfere with our meeting, and destroy their creations. Afterward, I''ll give you a rewardmensurate with your achievements.] [Sub Quest Initiated] [The god of magic, angered by the ancient gods'' interference, desires for you to crush their pride.] [Reward: The god of magic will determine it based on your performance.] Chapter 165: Forced Return (2) Chapter 165: Forced Return (2) I ept. Taesan nodded. There was no reason to refuse the additional reward. Above all, Taesan felt anger. This event seemed like a deliberate attempt to interfere with his meeting with the God of Magic. It came across as a petty tactic to prevent him from gaining strength through the God of Magic. [Subquest epted.] The God of Magic smiled contentedly. [Good. When you return, seek out the pitiable, miserable child. Then, I will grant you the trial of intermediate magic.] Understood. The God of Magic clenched his fist, intensifying the tremors in Taesans body. Just before he was about to return to Earth, the God of Magic spoke. [They will try to kill you.] There was no need to ask who they were. Soon after, Taesan was back on Earth. He gasped for air first. He noted the distinct quality of Earths atmosphere, so different from the Labyrinths. Taesan shifted his gaze. Wait, just a moment. Whats this? Why so suddenly? The return to Earth usually entailed a long dy, so the abruptness startled everyone. Taesan surveyed the crowd for Kang Jun-hyeok, Lee Taeyeon, Kim Hwiyeon, and Geum Junggeun. Amidst the confusion, someone recognized Kang Taesan and shouted. Kang Taesan nim! Nim? Taesan frowned at the title, and all eyes turned to him. Its Kang Taesan nim! Taesan nim! Please grant me salvation! They swarmed toward Taesan like zealots drawn to their prophet. Taesan nim! Taesan nim! Please! Just let me touch you once! Bewildered by their manic behavior, Taesan stamped his foot. He moved swiftly, scaling building walls as people below him cheered. The voices that echoed around him made Taesan click his tongue. What is this, really? [Your Divine Power has increased by 1%.] Why is it increasing? He grumbled and moved to the tallest building to activate his reconnaissance. He quickly located Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, Kim Hwiyeon, and Geum Junggeun. Whoa! He grabbed them and brought them to the rooftop of a building. They couldnt resist, were dragged along, and looked at Taesan with dazed expressions. Brother, youre really like lightning. Why are you so fast? Geum Junggeun let out a hollowugh. He was proud of having be stronger, but he couldnt even react. The forgotten gap in their abilities came back to mind. Forget that. Whats with those people? Taesan frowned and looked down from the building. People were cheering towards Taesan. Did you see the Community? I did, but I didnt expect it to be this extreme. Their feelings for him were not just simple admiration or gratitude. It was literal worship. Thats the thing, Kim Hwiyeon spoke with an ambiguous expression. Originally, it wasnt like this. ording to her, people initially saw Taesan as a benefactor. Having received the talents of struggle and death, they could clear floors they normally couldnt. It was something anyone would be grateful for, and Taesans name started circting among people. Then, at some point, followers of Taesan began to emerge. At first, there werent many. The following wasnt too extreme either. However, the number of Taesans followers rapidly increased. The trend that started in Easy Mode was now spreading astonishingly fast, regardless of Normal or Hard Modes. Because of that, Im in trouble too. They ask what Taesan nim talked about with me. What guidance did he give? Things like that. In our Solo Mode, we dont have such issues. But isnt the Community noisy? Others were in a frenzy, right? Ah. Thats true. Kang Jun-hyeok nodded reluctantly. People in the single-digit floors of Solo Mode who were struggling were asking a lot from Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. Its too much. Its a nuisance to both Taesan and us. But theres no way to stop it. Cant you say something, hyung? Tell them to ease up a bit. They wished people wouldnt worship Taesan so much. Junggeun, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. Do we really need to do that? Huh? Theres no need to stop the worship, I think. Arent you annoyed? Its a disturbance. But thanks to that, theyve found peace of mind. At Junggeuns words, Kim Hwiyeon paused. He continued with a bitter smile. For strong-willed people like hyungnim, noonim, Taeyeon, or Jun-hyeok, maybe its different. But ordinary people need a ce for mental refuge. Im not strong Lee Taeyeon mumbled, but everyone ignored her. Kim Hwiyeon spoke again. God is. Have wee to believe in God in this situation? Monsters covered the Earth. The Labyrinth. The asional forced returns and a broken Earth. All this could not have happened if a god had been protecting them. Those who believed in religion either died or harbored disbelief as they descended into the Labyrinth. Taesan was the same. At first, he called out to God. But eventually, he erased the existence of God from his mind. People wanted to believe in God, but they couldnt. Taesan muttered to himself. So, Ive be the object of their belief. Probably. Youve been a source of strength for us. People had found a ce of mental refuge in the existence of Taesan. Taesan looked down at the people gazing up at him from below. Their faces showed no signs of despair or gloom. Only admiration for Taesan was visible. The expressions of people during his third return in his previous life werent like this. When the return quest appeared, many left suicide notes on the Community and took their own lives. Considering that a high proportion of deaths among those who descended into the Labyrinth was due to suicide, it was evident that people had found mental stability, and Taesan was very likely the reason for this stability. Theres no need for hyungnim to intervene on their behalf. Just pretend you dont see it. Let them have their ce of sce, something to depend on. Junggeun spoke with a bitter expression. The others couldnt muster a word after that. Of course, its a bit heartless. Everyone already leans on hyungnim, it would be burdensome to add this responsibility Do as you wish, hyungnim. Forget it. Taesan shook his head. Ignoring it? Thats not so hard. No worries. Junggeuns face lit up.
After that, Taesan didnt actively engage with the people but didnt shun them either. He epted their veneration with equanimity and acted ordingly. Consequently, their devotion to him intensified. [Your Divine Power has increased by 1%.] Once more, his proficiency in Divine Power improved. By this time, it was clear. Whenever people worshipped him, his Divine Power grew. Nevertheless, its utterly useless. At present, Divine Power holds no value. It appeared to be an ability that required linkage with another skill to be effective, but he had no idea what that skill was. Yet, watching it consistently increase wasnt an unpleasant sensation. As Taesan epted their worship without fuss, the people gradually began to focus on their tasks. Atst, their temporary cultivation bore fruit. Wow! The people were amazed at the vegetables that grew rapidly. In just five minutes, the corn matured perfectly. The taste is good too! This means The people rejoiced at having solved their food problem. They regarded Taesan, the introducer of the temporary cultivation technique, with increased esteem. A new special quest emerged, disrupting their tranquil life. [In one week, head towards Seoul City Hall.] Finally, Seoul. The people started to make preparations. They collected weapons and provisions. With Taesans presence, there were few who felt fear or apprehension. And Taesan had his own tasks to attend to. He swung his sword. Come on. Lee Taeyeon, with a frightened face, picked up her sword. You learned swordsmanship, didnt you? My proficiency is zero percent Im trying to raise that. Come here. Ive set our stats equally, so why are you scared? Urged by Taesan, Lee Taeyeon hesitantly made up her mind and rushed toward him. Yahp! Taesan swung his sword, smoothly deflected hers, and struck her shoulder. Ugh! Thats not how you do it, Taesan spoke with frustration. You learned Flow Skill and Strong Blow, right? Bring out the sensation you felt when you learned those and then apply it to the sword. Even if you say so Lee Taeyeon looked uncertain. Taesan stroked his chin while the ghostughed mischievously. [Difficult, isn''t it?] I dont think I can be a good teacher. He had created the swordsmanship known as Ability Sword. The title of Sword Master suggested that it was possible to transmit the technique. One of his goals for this return was to teach swordsmanship. Given the effectiveness of Ability Sword, if one could master it, the possibility of clearing levels would significantly increase. Therefore, Taesan was currently instructing Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok in Ability Sword. Skills couldnt be learned outside the Labyrinth, but since Taesan had created Ability Sword, it seemed there was no issue in teaching it. However, that wasnt the problem. When Taesan first learned Stormscar swordsmanship, his proficiency also started at zero percent. The ghost had told him that raising proficiency would require a great deal of effort, which Taesan had ovee with a proficiency increase potion. But Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok didnt have special items like proficiency increase potions, so they had to improve their proficiency on their own. Next, its your turn. Kang Jun-hyeok approached, his eyes gleaming. Taesan blocked his sword and offered advice. You learned Flow Skill, Strong Blow, and Counter, right? Yes! They had descended beyond the 10th floor. It was high time they acquired at least one or two useful skills. Remember when you acquired the skill. Then unfold that feeling with the sword. Taesans sword moved fluidly. He deflected Kang Jun-hyeoks sword and struck his chest. Ugh! Kang Jun-hyeok fell. Taesan muttered without emotion. Its not easy. Even if you say to release it with the sword Kang Jun-hyeok grumbled as he rose to his feet. Kim Hwiyeon, who had been observing, chimed in. Still, Im envious. We cant even learn it. Taesan had attempted to impart the Ability Sword to Kim Hwiyeon and Geum Junggeun, but the transmission itself failed. Is it because were on Hard Mode? Its not only that. Other Solo Node yers couldnt learn it either. He had tried to teach yers still on the single-digit floors of solo mode, but the transmission had failed just the same. The only ones who managed to learn were Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. Regardless, you two must learn it. Taesan picked up his sword with a calm demeanor. Thats the only way to prevent deaths. He couldnt manage everything by himself. He could save a few, but not the masses. That was why he needed Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeoks assistance even more. Both clenched their jaws and lifted their swords. And with that, time slipped away. A week went by, and they began their journey towards Seoul. Chapter 166: To Seoul (1) Chapter 166: To Seoul (1) Is everyone ready? Kim Hwiyeon asked with a calm face. Everyone nodded their heads with resolute expressions. Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. Then lets all go. Lets protect each other as we move forward. Dont die. They started heading towards Seoul. Lee Taeyeon looked distressed. Uh I havent learned it yet. She and Kang Jun-hyeok had learned the Ability Sword from Taesan. However, even after a week of intense training, they still couldnt master it. Well have to learn as we go. Theres no time to rest for you guys. Taesan spoke calmly as he walked. Not long after leaving Yongin City Hall, monsters burst out. [Monster 599894 has appeared.] Numerous E-ss monsters and even two D-ss monsters appeared. These were the monsters they had risked their lives against during their previous return. Especially the D-ss monsters, which even Hard Mode yers had to struggle fiercely to defeat. But now, it was different. Everyone, move! The Hard Mode yers coordinated and swiftly moved. They dodged the monsters attacks and avoided fatal injuries. Their movements were faster and more precise than before. The Hard Mode yers joined forces to defeat the D-ss monsters. Yap! Haaa! Normal and Easy Mode yers also fought valiantly. They rushed towards the E-ss monsters and began to defeat them one by one. When they had defeated all the monsters, their expressions were extremely bright. We won! Woah! Kim Hwiyeon quickly asked the jubnt group. Any casualties? None! Kim Hwiyeons face finally brightened. The six-digit monsters during the previous return had caused many casualties. Fighting them without any deaths meant they had definitely be stronger. Taesans eyes also shone. Everyone has indeed be stronger. Thanks to their talent for struggle and survival, their movements had be faster and more refined. Even recalling his memories, this was a different levelpared to his previous life. They could now effect change in the forting challenges. Their faces lit with hope as they pressed on. Monsters kept appearing, and they battled for survival. Taesan focused only on the monsters charging at him, doing nothing more. The reason was straightforward: the people needed to grow stronger. Taesan could have taken on all the monsters by himself, but there would be times when he wouldnt be able to. Thats why it was crucial to gain experience now while they could confront monsters without facing significant risk. Still, he intervened when the situation was truly perilous. Grrrr. [Monster 122124 has appeared.] Monsters numbered from the end of five digits to the beginning of six were C-ss. Their power far surpassed that of D-ss monsters, representing a wholly different tier. A few reckless individuals, mistaking these beasts for the moremon six-digit ones, attacked and were promptly knocked down. It was then that Kim Hwiyeon recognized the disparity in the monsters rank, and her face paled. Everyone, steer clear! Luckily, the monsters initial blow didnt kill anyone, but it left them all in a critical state, disoriented. As the beast lifted its arm for a finishing blow, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok dashed forward. However, Taesan had already reached the monster. Crash. Taesan brought his fist down from above, smashing the monster into the earth with a resounding crash. Wow! The ground quivered as if from an earthquake, causing others fighting nearby to falter. [Monster 122124 received 1621 damage.] Kang Jun-hyeoks eyes bulged in amazement. The monster tried to counter by moving its limbs, yet Taesan deftly blocked and drove his sword in. [Monster 122124 received 2012 damage.] After several more attempts to fight back, the monster was steadily overpowered by Taesan, who kept shing with his de. Soon enough, the monstery defeated. A bewildered Kang Jun-hyeok inquired, Whats that? What? No, the damage Kang Jun-hyeok groaned. Two thousand damage. It was an unheard-of amount of damage. Considering that he couldnt even deal 40 damage no matter how hard he tried, the difference was more than fiftyfold. Youll be able to do it too if you keep working hard on your descent. It seems difficult Indeed, it wasnt going to be easy. Without the Airak Weapon Technique, Kang Jun-hyeok had to depend solely on his weapons attack power, and it would require a deep descent to deal 2000 damage. But not impossible. Kang Jun-hyeok was a Solo Mode yer as well. He would eventually reach that level if he continued to descend without dying. Taesan had no intention of letting him die. The battle of the people had somehowe to an end. As the monsters grew stronger, those who suffered a significant loss of stamina became apparent. Taesan called out to them, Those whose health has fallen below half,e this way. People hesitated before gathering around Taesan. He then invoked a spell. [You have activated the Regeneration Field.] A green sphere enveloped them. The health of those within the sphere began to recover rapidly, and they burst into exmations of wonder. Wow! My health is increasing! Observing their reactions, Taesan murmured, The recovery speed isnt too bad. A spell that increased the health and mana of people within a certain area: Regeneration Field. He had been curious about its efficiency, but judging by their response, it seemed to recover health quite quickly. It appeared it would be useful in many situations. Wow Taesan-nim The people inside the sphere looked at Taesan with eyes filled with admiration. Taesan brushed off their admiration calmly. The group continued to advance toward Seoul. Their pace was at least five times faster than when they had been heading to Anyang City Hall. Their expressions were brighter, as they seemed to be aware that the situation had improved since before. Then night fell. The people began to settle down and rest. Come and get your rations! Thanks to temporary farming, there was no shortage of food. Everyone took as much corn and vegetables as they wanted. In his previous life, Taesan had experienced a food shortage, clutching his hungry stomach and digging for tree roots to eat. Compared to that, the current situation was significantly better. Even though others hadnt experienced it directly, like Taesan, they understood how significant it was not to worry about food. It was all thanks to Taesan. The peoples reverence for Taesan grew stronger with each passing day. Meanwhile, Taesan was training Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Taeyeon on the outskirts of their shelter. Oooh. Still not getting it today. Taesan clicked his tongue. Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Taeyeon were both not making progress in their mastery of the Ability Sword. Lets continue the rest tomorrow. He hadnt expected it to be quick, but at this rate, they might not improve at all, even by the time they reached Seoul. Lee Taeyeon stood up shakily. Can I go rest then? No. Taesan shook his head, causing Lee Taeyeons face to turn pale. What else do I have to do Its not about doing something. I just realized I havent asked you yet. Taesan sat on a nearby rock and asked, The Guides of Sin. Did you meet them? Both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok had descended beyond the 10th floor. The Guides of Sin existed from the 10th floor onwards. Taesan had encountered the Guide of Sin on the 12th floor. If Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeoks Labyrinths also had the Guides of Sin, they might have already met them. Lee Taeyeon nodded. Yes. I met them too. Damn them. Who do they think they are, giving orders? Kang Jun-hyeok grumbled. Taesan stroked his chin at their responses. The Guides of Sin existed in the Labyrinths of both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. This suggested that there was a high probability they also existed in other Solo Mode yers Labyrinths. Taesan gathered his thoughts and asked, Did you do as they said? What Taesan told them was simple: if they encountered the group, they should not fight but join instead. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok, though hesitant, agreed. Lee Taeyeon nodded again. Yes. I said I would join the Guides of Sin, as Taesan instructed. It sucks, but we dont have a choice. We cant fight them since they dont take damage. You did well. If you had tried to confront them recklessly, you would surely have been killed. Unlike Taesan, they didnt have the power to confront and defeat the group, nor the aid of untouchable gods at the top. So, their best option for now was to join the Guides of Sin. Additionally, joining them came with almost no penalties, unlike other groups. What floor did they permit you to reach? The Deep Layer? Up to there. They instructed you toe as far as where they are? Taesan nodded. Thats good enough. Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Taeyeon were strong. Of course, they were still weak andcking in power, but that was just for the moment, not their future selves. Lee Taeyeon, in particr, had managed to clear the Labyrinth, albeit by a shortcut. This was an achievement even the leaders had not managed. If they were the leaders, they would recognize the talent and potential of these two. They would allow them to advance to the Deep Layer for their own purposes. That was Taesans prediction, and it turned out to be correct. Continue descending the Labyrinth under their protection. Reaching the Deep Layer was still a far-off goal. In the meantime, they had to be strong enough not to be easily manipted by the leaders. It was the only way to address their immediate problems. Curious, Kang Jun-hyeok asked during the conversation. What about you, Hyung? Did you join them like we did? I killed them. Really? How? To Kang Jun-hyeok, the Guides of Sin he had seen were true monsters. Even those of the second hierarchy were not ones he could resist. The leaders he had metter were literal monsters. The moment Kang Jun-hyeok met the leaders, he instinctively sensed death. He felt that no matter how strong he became, he could never ovee the power they possessed. And Taesan had survived against such monsters? Kang Jun-hyeok was astonished. Taesan shook his head. Im different from you guys; I have various backers. Backers as in gods? Even they cant go against the will of the gods. Wow Kang Jun-hyeok was amazed again. He, too, had faced several trials from the gods. He had thought he had done well, but the gods showed little interest in him. Youre really amazing, Hyung Its not that important. Go rest. You need to rest now to train tomorrow. Lee Taeyeon groaned and staggered away. Kang Jun-hyeok followed her. After they left, Taesan, now alone, murmured, Just as I thought. [This is fascinating. Does that mean I''m also in that Labyrinth?] Probably. It was now certain that the Guides of Sin were stationed in all the Labyrinths. This meant they were also copied during the Labyrinths duplication process. What could be the reason? Was the Labyrinth copied because of the Solo Mode yers, or were the Solo Mode yers put into an already copied Labyrinth? If so, what had caused the Labyrinth to be copied? He still knew nothing. Taesan recalled the words of the Demon God. Next time, it would be her turn, she had said. Ill just ask when I meet them. Taesan muttered. And the next day, they set off again toward the city hall. At the same time, Taesan could feel it. The power lodged in the cracks of the sky was unusually writhing. The high gods were about to unleash something again. Taesan calmly quickened his steps. Chapter 167: Seoul (1) Chapter 167: Seoul (1) As they moved forward, more and more monsters emerged. However, people gradually became ustomed to dealing with the monsters, skillfully handling them and coordinating attacks to take them down. For monsters of ss C or higher, which the people couldnt handle, Taesan stepped in to defeat them. Thus, they advanced without significant harm Except for the two who overestimated themselves and lost their lives in recklessbat with the monsters. Hope was evident on everyones faces, with a spreading expectation that they could drive out the monsters. Kim Hwiyeons typically tense face even brightened a little. If we keep this up, we might actually be able to reim Earth! They were filled with hope. Well And Taesan, rolling a stone in his hand, smiled. He had already experienced this pattern before. The gods would throw unreasonable quests at the people, and death ensued if they failed to clear them. However, there was no danger of death in thebyrinth if one did not descend. The choice between the inherently dangerous Earth and thebyrinth, where safety was assured if the challenge was abandoned, was stark. Worn down, the people gradually became fearful of returning to Earth. Many decided to live in thebyrinth, abandoning the quest halfway. But at some point, the current atmosphere was created. The reason was simple. There was no significant change in the strength of the monsters. Over time, the yers grew stronger, gaining skills and new equipment as they descended into thebyrinth. Their growth was, literally, explosive. But not for the monsters. Of course, the monsters grew slightly stronger with each return, but their pace couldnt match the yers growth. Even the strongest monsters could not surpass a B-ss level. As casualties decreased, the peoples territory expanded. They harbored hope. A false hope of defeating the monsters and reiming Earth. In hindsight, it had been an obvious trap. How could a being powerful enough to swallow Earth only send monsters of B-ss? Yet, they were intoxicated with hope and failed to see the truth. To reim Earth. To rebuild civilization anew. Holding that belief, everyone banded together. Then, during thest special quest and the subsequent return, people from all over the world united to defeat the monsters and seal the rift in the sky. They believed they had won. Afterward, no more returns urred. People thought it was because they had triumphed. The ones who had cleared thebyrinth dered they would first till thend and rebuild civilization, urging everyone to return quickly, and they went back to Earth. But that wasnt the case. Taesan clenched his fist. The stone turned to dust and slipped through his fingers. What Taesan saw when he returned to Earth, dreaming of the future, was the rift in the sky, open once again. The monsters were now iparably stronger. And the world was dead and deste. By the time he emerged, there were hardly any survivors. Those who had cleared thebyrinth and returned first were all from the Easy and Normal Modes. Even when gathered together, they were no match for A-ss monsters. Though he hadnt checked in the rush to survive after clearing, it was likely that the situation was the same in countries other than Korea. Since Lee Taeyeon was the only one worldwide to have cleared Solo Mode, their downfall was likely. Taesan twisted his lips. The anger and hatred from that time still lingered in his body. This time, it wont end the same way. Taesan looked up at the sky. Power was pulsing from the rift in the sky, just like before. The high gods were trying to kill Taesan. They had even been ready to strike in the brief moment he was heading toward the space of the magic god so they wouldnt just watch quietly this time. But Taesan was waiting, too. Waiting for the high gods to make their move. And for the time to crush it. And he had to prepare for that. If this was the third return that Taesan remembered, he couldnt do everything alone. After the move ended and everyone was resting that night, Taesan sparred with Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. Ugh! The result was unchanged. Despite the duel having all abilities set equally, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok couldnt even touch him. Getting the hang of it? Kang Jun-hyeok stared nkly at Taesan. Taesan clicked his tongue at that look. Is it hard? Ugh. Kang Jun-hyeok hung his head low. He still hadnt managed to increase his proficiency with the Ability Sword. This is troublesome. Taesan narrowed his eyes. After all, the Ability Sword was a swordsmanship technique ranked just below the highest ss, even higher than the Stormscar Sword. He had anticipated it wouldnt be easy to master. But neither Lee Taeyeon nor Kang Jun-hyeok were even getting a feel for it. At this rate, they wouldnt learn it even after years. Kang Jun-hyeok suffered in his own way. He had confidence in his strength and overflowing talent, even if it was inferior to Taesans. He had descended thebyrinth without much trouble, and even the monstrously strong leaders acknowledged his talent, allowing him to strategize to the deepest levels. Yet now, he couldnt even raise his swordsmanship proficiency by 1%. It was a moment of shattered pride. You guys learned Strong Blow and Flow Skill, right? How did you learn them? Even if you ask how I dont remember They had acquired them unconsciously during life-threatening battles with monsters. Taesan clicked his tongue after hearing the exnation. Lets call it a day and try again tomorrow. Okay Understood. They left with sullen faces. Watching them go, Taesan stroked his chin. Is this how it usually goes? [You used proficiency-boosting potions, so you wouldn''t know. This is normal.] I didnt have this issue with the Airak Weapon Technique. The moment he learned the Airak Weapon Technique, his proficiency increased. [The guy teaching the Airak weapon technique had 100% proficiency, right? Your situation is different. It''ll be easier to pass on once you reach 100%, too.] Hmm. This was a problem. He needed to pass on the Ability Sword at least before they reached Seoul and the first Wave began. The ghost opened its mouth. [There is one way.] I also thought of one. It was a dangerous method. But the risk was worth it. Taesans eyes deepened. The next day, they advanced again, defeating monsters and moving in formation. And they managed to reach the Seoul City Hall. Were here! Hooray! People shouted and celebrated joyously, with Kim Hwiyeons face especially bright. Only two people had died during the journey, a number far less than initially expected. Thank you, Taesan! It was all thanks to Taesan. Whenever there was danger, he quickly intervened and handled it, limiting the casualties to just two. Enough of that, lets go inside. Yes! The people rushed toward the city hall, but confusion spread across their faces as they approached. Huh? The building Seoul City Hall was half-destroyed. A man was waiting for them as they hesitantly approached the city hall. Are you here? A weary-looking middle-aged man greeted them at the entrance of the city hall, scanning them with an extremely tired face. There are more than I thought. I expected only about half of this number. The man directed his gaze at Kim Hwiyeon, who was at the forefront. Youre Kim Hwiyeon, right? Yes. Kim Hwiyeon nodded calmly. You must be Choi Baram. Ive heard a lot about you. Then you must have heard that I hate that name. Choi Baram frowned. Id like to wee the rare survivors but were not in a good situation ourselves. Choi Baram gave a bitter smile. So, I need to test you first to see if you have the right to enter Seoul. Kim Hwiyeon wasnt surprised. In Gyeonggi-do, each region fought for dominance. Seoul would be no different. It was natural to be wary of outsiders rather than weing. Choi Baram turned his gaze. Are you Kang Taesan? Taesan affirmed. Hello. Choi Pung. ..You know me? Choi Baram was slightly taken aback. Choi Pung was a nickname his old friends used. It surprised him that someone he had never met knew it. I heard about it asionally on the Community. There must be someone alive who knows. Theyre tough ones. Choi Baram chuckled. Of course, that wasnt true. Taesan knew because he had been directly asked by Choi Baram to call him Choi Pung. A yer of Normal ModeChoi Baram. The ruler of Seoul. He was one of those who had survived until the middle stage and led the others. Choi Baram was a very selfish man. His own life was always his priority, and he wished to be thest survivor. Thats why he became the master of Seoul. He believed that leading people directly increased his chances of survival more than anything else. He wasnt a bad person. He managed people to the best of his ability to ensure his own survival. And regardless of his motives, many people survived because of him. Ive heard a lot about you too. The strongest yer, Kang Taesan. Choi Baram scratched his cheek with an ambiguous expression. I want to rify this first, dont misunderstand me. Im very grateful to you. Not just me, but most people in Seoul are. Choi Baram could descend deeper thanks to the imbued talents of struggle and death. Therefore, he was also grateful to Taesan. But there were always those with different intentions. I couldnt suppress them forever. Choi Baram stepped aside, and two men appeared behind him. Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. You guys They were Hard Mode yers she knew, always harboring doubts about Taesan. Sorry, sister. But we need to verify for ourselves. The two men drew their weapons, their faces serious. To see if he really has that much power. They couldnt believe there was a human capable of defeating hundreds of them. Kim Hwiyeon turned her gaze to Taesan. He gestured with his chin. Its okay, step back. Sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for. [Kang Taesan has initiated a non-lethal duel.] Come at me if youre curious. The two men lunged. They soared in different directions, their swords swinging at Taesan, who extended his hands. He caught the swords at their tips between his fingers. Eh! [Kim Min-su has activated Flow.] As Flow activated, the trajectory of the sword twisted, trying to slip from Taesans grasp. Taesan applied more strength to his hand. He forcibly corrected the swords evasive trajectory. Uh Taesan threw a punch, and the two men were sent flying, crashing down. [Kim Min-su takes 1,843 damage.] In a lethal duel, it would have been fatal damage. Choi Baram swallowed hard. Just like the rumors. Are you satisfied now? Taesan smiled faintly. A chill ran down Choi Barams spine. He hadnt stopped the two men from attacking Taesan, not out of deceit, but there was a degree of intention behind it. Having never witnessed Taesans power himself, there were many who doubted it. Some even mocked those who revered Taesan, questioning how they could worship someone they had never seen. So, by bringing the two most doubtful as representatives and demonstrating Taesans power, he aimed to quell the unrest and confirm Taesans abilities. And it seemed Taesan smiled as if he knew Choi Barams thoughts. Dangerous. Choi Baram swallowed. If he had acted with malice, he wouldnt have let this slide. There will not be such incidents next time. For now, wee. But do not expect Seoul to be what you hoped for. Choi Baram smiled bitterly. This ce ispletely ruined. Chapter 168: Seoul (2) Chapter 168: Seoul (2) Choi Baram led the way. While the rest of the people took a break inside city hall, Kim Hwiyeon, Geum Junggeun, and Kang Taesan toured the building under Choi Barams guidance. Not long after they began inspecting city hall, Taesans group noticed something. Almost no buildings are intact. Most of the structures, city hall included Lay in ruins. Monsters destroyed half; people destroyed the other half. People? Choi Baram chuckled. Even in a crumbling world, the struggle for power persists. Kim Hwiyeon shut her mouth. On reflection, they had faced a simr situation. The one who had first stirred up trouble was the Easy Mode yer, Choi Junghyuk. He had incited rivalry between yers by leading the Easy and Normal Modes. Had Taesan not intervened early on, the conflict might have led to numerous deaths. Then there was Seo Jangsan from Hard Mode, who had dered that Easy Mode yers should serve as shields for those in Hard Mode. Taesan had also dealt with him, but had he not, the resentment in Easy Mode could have boiled over into a riot one day. Without Taesan, their circumstances would have been no different from those in Seoul. Didnt you have any such issues? We had Well, with the strongest human around, who would be foolish enough to rebel? Choi Baram spoke as though he had anticipated the response. The man Taesan knew wasnt a weak-hearted phnthropist but a ruthless individual who did what had to be done and severed what had to be severed. Such a person would never just stand by and watch conflicts unfold. Im envious. If we had someone like that, perhaps fewer lives would have been lost. Choi Barams words carried a touch of sorrow. He showed them everything up to the perimeter of city hall and then inquired, Is there anything else youd like to know? How many survivors are here? At first nce, it appeared that far fewer people were in Seoul than those who hade from Yongin. Choi Baram replied calmly, Perhaps around twenty thousand survived? About fifty thousand had survived from Yongin. Kim Hwiyeon closed her mouth at the number, which was less than half of what they had. Please. Help us. Really. Choi Barams face, though chuckling, was filled with desperation. After the tour ended, everyone dispersed. The reaction of the people from Gyeonggi-do who saw Seoul was not much different from theirs. Im hungry The people of Seoul were starving. Seeing this, people used portable cultivators to quickly produce food. The Seoulites who received the food hurriedly filled their stomachs. Wow! This is the portable cultivator! The rumors were true! Although they didnt know the exact numbers, those from Yongin could tell that the survivors in Seoul were significantly fewer than them. They also heard that most people died either fighting each other or were unable to fend off the invading monsters. Without Taesan, they realized they would have been no different from these people. At that moment, Taesan was looking over the horizon from the half-destroyed city hall rooftop. A lot died here. Twenty thousand starving people from Seoul and a handful of survivors from Gyeonggi-do. Even if they joined forces, they were far from enough to fend off the monsters. Literally fighting for their lives, only about ten thousand had managed to survive and return to thebyrinth in their previous life. This time, they wouldnt just leave things as they were. To prevent a repeat, there was a problem that needed to be solved. The next day, people from Uijeongbu also arrived. Their number was much smaller than Seouls, only fifteen thousand. As they arrived, a quest window appeared. [Special Quest Start.] [Stop the First Wave. The wave will start in two days.] [Condition: Deal with the monsters trying to enter the safe zone.] [Reward: Vehicle provision upon return to thebyrinth.] People who saw the quest window despaired. Some even went crazy at the thought of having to fend off monsters again to survive. However, most people from Yongin calmly prepared to face the monsters. Taesan is with us. As long as we trust and follow Taesan, we can survive. With Taesan as their pir of strength They were not easily shaken. However, Choi Baram, who was inspecting the safe zone, did not look relieved. Its too wide. This quest was about preventing monsters from entering the safe zone. In other words, they had to patrol the entire safe zone to keep the monsters out. Naturally, a smaller safe zone would be more advantageous for defense, but the designated safe zone this time was excessivelyrge. The safe zone stretched about 1 km in all directions from Seoul City Hall. Considering the strength of the monsters, even eighty-five thousand people surrounding it couldnt guarantee its safety. This is troublesome. Choi Baram scratched his head. He wasnt the only one thinking this. Kim Hwiyeon, realizing the size of the safe zone, also struggled with the arrangement of personnel. If Taesan hadnt stopped the five monsters during the previous return, they all would have been annihted. Realistically, they heavily depended on Taesan. But even for Taesan, this vast area would surely be challenging. He was as strong as a monster but still alone. There were limits to what he could defend. Taesan was aware of this fact. The system was trying to kill him. It wouldnt issue an ordinary quest. Clearly, it aimed to wear him down and prevent him from using his full strength. So, he called Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok again. Is something wrong? Lee Taeyeon cautiously asked Taesan, sensing a different atmosphere. Taesan shook his head. Its not that. Time is running out. You both know what this quest entails, right? The two fell silent. The area was too wide for Taesan to handle alone. This meant they had to be as strong as possible to assist Taesan. But they still hadnt learned the Ability Sword. To be precise, they couldnt even sense it. Its too difficult, Kang Junhyeok grumbled. I tried practicing alone, but I just cant get the hang of it. How am I supposed to do it Kang Junhyeok didnt sit idly by. Apart from sparring with Taesan, he continuously practiced swordsmanship, trying to learn the Ability Sword. But he didnt get even a hint of it. He began to doubt whether it was really a technique that could be learned. But Taesan thought differently. He believed that Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were capable of learning it. After a moment of contemtion, he asked, How did you learn Flow and Strong Blow? Im not sure about that either Just by fighting monsters, I got it. Both made ambiguous faces as they spoke. With that response, Taesan was convinced. Taesan raised his sword. This time, both of you,e at me together. What? Up to now, Taesan had been dueling with Lee Taeyeon, and when she became tired, he would duel with Kang Junhyeok in a repeating cycle. But this time, he nned to duel with both at the same time. And the style of the duel will change, too. Taesan removed some of his equipment and switched to a weapon with lower attack power. This should be enough to not kill you quickly. [Kang Taesan challenged Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok to a duel.] Huh? Lee Taeyeon hesitated. So far, the duels had been equal and non-lethal. But this time, both conditions were absent. Mr. Taesan? Ive been thinking, and there arent many reasons why you couldnt learn the skills. One reason might be a genuineck of talent. Or the method itself could be wed. To Taesan, it wasnt the former. Therefore, it had to be the method. You said you learned Flow and Strong Blow unconsciously. Everyone had learned them in extreme situations where they fought monsters, risking their lives. It wasnt unusual. Taesan himself had obtained some good skills by fighting for his life. People tend to bring out everything in extreme situations. So, Ill try something simr. Um, Taesan It was when Lee Taeyeon tried to say something. A killing intent enveloped her. Her face turned pale. She quickly raised her sword. Try to dodge it. Otherwise, youll die. Taesan stomped his foot. Lee Taeyeon sensed it as Taesan rushed at her with killing intent. If she didnt block, she would die. But even if she did block, she would die. She swiftly moved her sword. Seeing the trajectory of Taesans iing sword, she twisted the de to deflect it as much as possible. The movement was much cleaner than anything she had done before. But thats still not enough. The swords shed, and Lee Taeyeon was thrown back. Kyaa! You too. Taesan rushed at Kang Jun-hyeok. Dazed, Kang Jun-hyeok hastily reacted. But Taesan easily dodged his movement and stabbed with his sword. Ugh! [Kang Jun-hyeok took 123 damage.] It was serious. Taesan was seriously trying to kill them. Kang Jun-hyeok gritted his teeth and created distance. Lee Taeyeon, too, gripped her sword with a pale face. Taesan, satisfied with their noticeably different reactions, lunged forward. First was Lee Taeyeon. As Taesan approached her, she moved her body with a short shout, then swung her sword to block his attack. Taesan skillfully turned his body, dodged, and struck at her nape. Ugh! The harsh recoil almost mmed her body to the ground. However, using her feet to brace against the earth, she barely managed to stay upright and used the recoil to swing her sword. Taesan raised the corners of his mouth and lifted his sword. With the sh, Lee Taeyeons arm was flung back. Ah Taesan kicked her away and immediately turned to deflect Kang Jun-hyeoks iing sword. Lee Taeyeon, having been kicked, quickly charged in again. Together, theybined their strength to attack Taesan, who defended against all their assaults, wounding them in the process. Crack. Taesan tripped Lee Taeyeon and engaged in a sword sh with Kang Jun-hyeok, sending him flying roughly. Kang Jun-hyeok scrambled to his feet, his heart racing. His health had already fallen below half. Hyung. Wait a minute Taesan interrupted him with a swing of his sword, leaving Kang Jun-hyeok no choice but to block it in haste. What the hell! Kang Jun-hyeok swore to himself. No response seemed possible. Every sword sh sent him reeling, and even light blows caused triple-digit damage. Taesan murmured as he brandished his sword. Do you two really think you can conquer the Labyrinth? The Labyrinth was a nonsensical ce where monsters grew stronger much quicker than the adventurers as one descended. This wasnt noticeable to Taesan, who had be exceedingly strong, but from the 30th floor down, every monster demanded a fight for ones life. Even if they were not as formidable as Taesan, life-threatening foes could appear at any turn within the Labyrinth. Lee Taeyeon had conquered the Labyrinth in her past life, but that was due to tremendous luck. She admitted as much, doubting her ability to seed again if she attempted. Both had grown considerably stronger than before, but to Taesans mind, it was still grossly insufficient. With their present skills, their chance of conquering the Labyrinth depended more on fortune than on prowess. At this stage, even a minor unpredictability could spell grave danger for Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. To diminish this uncertainty, they had to grow much stronger. If you cant even master this much, you might as well die here. With those words, Taesanunched another fierce assault on them. Chapter 169: Seoul (3) Chapter 169: Seoul (3) Lee Taeyeon assumed a defensive stance, gripping her sword with both hands and bracing her body firmly. Crack. Taesan forcefully broke through her defense. Lee Taeyeon rolled on the ground as Taesan swung his sword in session. Kang Jun-hyeok, rushing in, managed to block it with his sword but was sent flying far away due to the overwhelming difference in strength. Find the answer. Otherwise, youll die. Taesan stamped his foot. ng! He broke through Lee Taeyeons defense and cut her leg. She created distance with a short cry. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Strength alone wont work. No method, whether speed, swordsmanship, or any other, could counter it. Kang Jun-hyeok had a simr thought. They began to use their skills for the first time. Hup! With a short shout, Lee Taeyeon charged at Kang Taesan. Simultaneously, Kang Jun-hyeok aimed for Taesans back. As both rushed at him from the front and back, Taesan casually swung his sword. Seeing the sword flying towards her, Lee Taeyeon put more strength into her feet. [Lee Taeyeon activated Flow.] A skill that twisted the opponents attack trajectory, Flow. The skills of thebyrinth were absolute. Even Taesan couldnt ignore them. And indeed, it wasnt a wrong assumption. Taesans sword, heading toward Lee Taeyeon, suddenly deviated from its path. But that was all. Taesan exerted more strength in his sword. Like the fallen apostle he had faced before, the deviating trajectory was forcibly corrected by strength. Lee Taeyeon hastily raised her sword to meet the descending de. ng! Ugh! Her knees hit the ground. Shock filled Lee Taeyeons eyes. Flow was ignored? When she first acquired the Flow Skill, she had cried out in joy. A skill that definitively evaded the opponents attack. She believed that with this, she would hardly die and could somehow survive. But now, the skill she had firmly believed in waspletely countered. Ignoring the shocked Lee Taeyeon, Taesan rushed toward Kang Jun-hyeok. As the sword swung down, Kang Jun-hyeok activated his skill in panic. [Kang Jun-hyeok activated Counter.] A skill that automatically retaliated against an opponents attack. It was a skill Taesan also found quite useful. However, there was one w in that skill. Taesan exerted more power into his sword. The de flew with iparable speed to what came before. Sensing something wrong, Kang Jun-hyeok hurriedly moved. Crack. Kang Jun-hyeok was sent flying. Taesan nodded. Thats the right answer. Relying on Counter and charging in would have killed you. Counter automatically retaliated against attacks directed at oneself. But it did not activate properly against attacks too strong to counter or dodge. This was a disadvantage if the opponent was several levels stronger, but such enemies were not rare in thebyrinth. Keep going. Taesan stamped his foot. Drenched in sweat, Kang Jun-hyeok clenched his teeth. His heart pounded. Here was an opponent who rendered even thest skill he trusted meaningless. A being with insurmountable power. Such an opponent was now attempting to kill him. His health had already dropped below 20%. Taesan was truly attacking them with murderous intent. The fear of dying if this continued shed through his mind. Despite being faster and more precise than usual, he was now unknowingly pushing his limits. Kang Jun-hyeoks mind raced. He couldnt rely on skills. Neither blocking nor countering were options. There was only one answer. He had to be even faster and more precise than now. Kang Jun-hyeok focused his mind. Lee Taeyeon was in a simr state. With sunken eyes, she kept her distance while Taesanughed with satisfaction. Taesan charged at Lee Taeyeon. Seeing the swinging sword, she raised her own. ng. The moment their swords touched, she twisted her arm, diverting the forces trajectory. Just as Taesans sword nearly struck the ground, he flicked it away with a forceful motion of his arm. ng! Lee Taeyeon was sent flying but quicklynded, her gaze steady. Kang Jun-hyeok attempted the same maneuver, trying to deflect Taesans sword with all his might. Although countered like Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok did not relent. Teaching a skill is really hard, Taesan muttered, persisting in his sword swings. The movements of Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok grew increasingly precise. Thus, they continued theirbat for another hour. Finally, their efforts bore fruit. [Kang Jun-hyeok''s Ability Sword proficiency increased by 1%.] [Lee Taeyeon''s Ability Sword proficiency increased by 1%.] Haa. Kang Jun-hyeok gasped for breath. They both stared at the system window that materialized before them with dazed expressions. Observing their reactions, Taesan halted his sword. Now youve got it. Despite their exhaustion, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok began sparring. Their high stats notwithstanding, the umted fatigue made them yearn for rest, yet they couldnt resist verifying their newfound skills. Lee Taeyeon charged at Kang Jun-hyeok. [Lee Taeyeon activated Flow.] As Kang Jun-hyeok swung his sword, its path wavered just before shing with Lee Taeyeons. Uh! He scrambled to correct its course but ended up conceding a hit. Wow This is Their admiration was unmistakable. Lets try again. They delved deeper into the Ability Sword they had just grasped. With Flow, Strong Blow, and Counter now confirmed, their belief was cemented. This is really great. The skill they had acquired was unlike any they had previously mastered. Taesan, who had silently observed their sparring, spoke up. Now, you probably wont die so easily. [You two are really lucky. Where else would you find someone giving away advanced swordsmanship for free?] The ghost grumbled. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok had learned the Ability Sword too easily, without any cost. Though Taesan had chosen to do so, the ghost respected that decision but felt a tinge of jealousy, knowing the value of the Ability Sword. Thank you, Taesan. Lee Taeyeon bowed her head. Taesan chuckled. Dont thank me too much. If you hadnt learned, I would have really killed you. But even though you say that Lee Taeyeon was aware. Taesan could have killed them several times. From the middle of the battle, Taesan started deactivating his equipment one by one, only attacking just enough not to kill them. She hadnt realized it during the frantic fight, but Taesan had made many considerations for their learning of the Ability Sword. Taesan waved his hand. Enough, go rest. Tomorrow is going to be tough. Yes. Thank you, brother. The two kept bowing as they left. Taesan stared nkly into the air. He had anticipated their learning of the Ability Sword, given their talents. He believed that they would pick it up on their own by throwing them into the right situation. But this was unforeseen. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Authority of the Creator] [Proficiency: 1%] [Those who learn the swordsmanship you created have emerged. As they increase their proficiency, your proficiency in your advanced swordsmanship, the Ability Sword, also increases.] This skill appeared the moment they improved their Ability Sword proficiency. Taesan was astonished, having never heard of such a skill from the ghost. Whats this? [...Hmm? I didn''t know about this either.] Youve never encountered this skill before? [I did create the Stormscar Sword, but I never taught it to anyone, so I had no way of knowing. That such a thing existed] The ghost mused. [Not bad, right? It''s not entirely free. If you teach this well to many people, you could increase your proficiency without doing anything.] Thats impossible. Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Taeyeon had barely learned Ability Sword in the face of death. It seemed unlikely that others could learn it. The ghost seemed to realize this, too, and clicked its tongue in disappointment. [Still, it''s not bad. It would be interesting to see these half-baked ones learn your swordsmanship.] He had achieved what he wanted. Now, all that was left was to wait for the Wave. The next day, Kim Hwiyeon and Choi Baram appeared with tired faces. They seemed exhausted from arranging the personnel, both looking worn out. They began to deploy people widely on the outskirts to prevent monsters from entering the safe zone. Is this enough? I dont know. We cant tell how strong the monsters will be. Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. Even with as many as eighty-five thousand people, the defense wall was quite solid. However, the strength of the monsters was a concern. The defense would be breached instantly if they were so strong that even Normal Mode yers would struggle. To prevent this, they ced Hard Mode yers intermittently, but it was hard to gauge their effectiveness. We cant be sure what will happen. Choi Baram grumbled. There was nothing to do but try to stop the monsters from entering the safe zone. Without information on the consequences of failure, both Kim Hwiyeon and Choi Baram were anxious. Its not looking good for us. We just have to do our best to stop them. Thats true. Choi Baram cast a doubtful nce. But is it really okay over there? His gaze rested on apletely empty outskirts area where not a single person was visible. In contrast to the crowded areas, its emptiness made it stand out. Kim Hwiyeon nodded. Yes, its fine. Since someone who saw it directly says its okay, I guess its alright Choi Baram couldnt help but feel uneasy as he had never witnessed Taesan defeat monsters before. Suddenly, power began to gather in the air. Even yers in Easy Mode could sense the dense concentration of power. Everyone, get ready! Choi Baram clenched his teeth, and at that moment, space split open. Rumble. Monsters poured out of the rift. [Monster 5422422335 has appeared.] [Monster 5422422336 has appeared.] [Monster 5422422337 has appeared.] Simr numbered monsters emerged rapidly, rming the onlookers with their sheer number. There are so many! The monsters filled their entire field of vision. Even a rough count easily exceeded one hundred thousand. As the stationary monsters began to crawl slowly toward the people, they clenched their teeth in anticipation. The battlemenced. The people thrust their swords into the monsters, who retaliated by moving their arms and tentacles. Kim Hwiyeon, having defeated a monster, shouted out instructions. Those who have lost stamina, fall back! Recover with any potions you have, and if not, recover enough through natural healing before returning to the fight! The people fought with all their might and rapidly dispatched the monsters. Kim Hwiyeons expression lightened. The monsters were not as strong as they had feared. It seemed they would soon be able to eliminate them all. Taesan was also vanquishing monsters. Taesan extended his hand. Crack. A monster charging at him was crushed in his grip. After shaking off his hand lightly, Taesan threw a punch. Dozens of monsters charging toward him burst apart. [You have activated Wind Explosion.] Wind explosions ripped through the bodies of monsters one after another. Wow, amazing! Indeed! The spectators eximed in admiration. Taesan alone was dominating hundreds of meters of space. He did so with ease and without any sign of struggle. Taesan dusted off his hands after he burst a monsters head. Too weak. The people had grown stronger. It wasnt just in stats or levels but also in richbat experience. Now, no one was flustered by these trivial monsters. But it couldnt end just like that. As soon as Taesan finished his thought, space split open again. This time, winged monsters emerged with a scream. [Kyaaah!] Seeing the flying monsters, Choi Baram shouted in panic. How are we supposed to stop those? There were hardly any people with the means to attack airborne enemies. Choi Baram urgently called out. Those with bows deal with the monsters in the sky! People btedly noticed the monsters flying toward the safe zone. A few with bows quickly shot arrows, but they were far too fewpared to the number of monsters. [Kiee!] A considerable number of monsters entered the safe zone. Then, their bodies began to twist. Their wings grewrger, and their bodies transformed into more muscr forms. [Kyaaah!] The mutated monsters screamed and plummeted toward the people gathered on the ground. The faces of those directly below turned pale. Dare toe down here? Taesan dropped down onto the head of an iing monster. Crack. He stomped on the monsters head and leaped, throwing a punch. The mutating monsters burst simultaneously. Chapter 170: Seoul (4) Chapter 170: Seoul (4) Having dealt with all the monsters in the sky, Taesan turned his attention to the ground below. Monsters, seizing the moment Taesan had momentarily left his spot, swarmed into the safe zone. Just as the panicked people started to hastily move to block the monsters. [You have activated Landing.] Taesan, who was high in the sky,nded on the ground at a speed that seemed to defy thews of physics. Taesan threw a punch. Monsters were sent flying. He then shot frost arrows into the air. The flying monsters turned into skewers and vanished. Oh, wow! People eximed in astonishment as Taesan single-handedly covered the sky and an area of hundreds of meters. It was an amazing ability, but its limit was clear. Taesan alone couldnt defend the entire safe zone. Monsters were already slowly infiltrating on the opposite side from where Taesan fought. Grrr. The monsters kept pushing with their bodies. Even those who initially fought eagerly began to falter due to the overwhelming numerical difference. Eventually, a few monsters managed to squeeze into the safe zone. Grrr. The entire body of the monster twisted. Its tentacles swelled, and its body grewrger. Eek! Block it! People swung their weapons earnestly, but the monster, mockingly, swung its erged tentacles. People hit by the tentacles were swept away like dominos. A huge hole was quickly made in the defensive wall. Kim Hwiyeon, who was blocking another spot from afar, clenched her teeth and tried to move people. Swoosh. Lee Taeyeon, who had been blocking another direction, quickly charged at the erged monsters. Then, she thrust her sword toward the swirling tentacles. [Lee Taeyeon activated Flow.] The trajectory twisted, and the tentacle that cut through the air crashed into the ground. Lee Taeyeon quickly kicked off the ground and soared over the monsters head. [Lee Taeyeon activated Strong Blow.] Boom! The monster crashed to the ground. Lee Taeyeon continued her assault, and thanks to the effects of the Ability Sword skill, the monster fell without much resistance. Phew. Lee Taeyeon, having caught her breath, moved again. With her joining in, the strengthened monsters quickly fell. People regained theirposure and began to rebuild the defensive wall. This pattern continued afterward. Whenever a few monsters crossed the safe zone and attacked people, Taesan, Lee Taeyeon, and Kang Jun-hyeok dealt with them. Despite the precarious situation, a delicate bnce was maintained. After a few hours, people finally seeded in defending against the first wave. We won! Hooray! People jubntly celebrated the notification of quest sess. Kim Hwiyeon and Choi Baram quickly checked the damage and rearranged personnel. So this is what it means to not let them into the safe zone. Originally, monsters that two or three Easy Mode yers could have easily stopped became significantly stronger the moment they entered the safe zone. Choi Baram let out a groan. The strengthened monsters were tough enough that even a Hard Mode yer would struggle to handle them alone. Still, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok, those two can handle them without a problem. Theyre much stronger than what Ive heard? Im a bit surprised, too. The strength of these two was well known. But what they showed this time greatly exceeded Kim Hwiyeons expectations. She vaguely guessed that their improvement was due to the swordsmanship taught by Taesan. With this, some adjustments are necessary. Only three could perfectly handle the strengthened monsters. The next day, the personnel deployment changed. Kang Jun-hyeok, Lee Taeyeon, and Kang Taesan each took responsibility for three different directions. Once the arrangement wasplete, the second wave began. Grrr. The monsters appeared. Their numbers were akin to the first wave, but they had grown stronger. The Easy Mode yers could no longer effectively block the monsters. The defensive wall began to fall apart. Grrr. The monsters that breached the safe zone mutated. People struck them with earnest attacks, but the monster, seemingly tickled, merely brushed off their assaults with a sweep of its arm. Its hectic. Kang Jun-hyeok muttered and stamped his foot, fixing a serious gaze on the monster. The monsters that infiltrated the safe zone and grew stronger were about D-grade by Taesans standards. The Kang Jun-hyeok of moments before would not have been able to dispatch them so quickly. But now the situation has changed. [Kang Jun-hyeok activated Strong Blow.] Bang! With precise timing, he countered the onught of attacks. He severed each of the monsters arms andnded a heavy blow. The monsters body reeled from the fierce impact. Crack. The monster could not endure the hits for long and disappeared. Kang Jun-hyeok chuckled. This is really too good. Had he not learned Ability Sword, he wouldnt have been able to defeat it so easily. It was truly an exceptional skill. Furthermore, Kang Jun-hyeok realized another benefit that Taesan had overlooked. Taesan had no concerns about mana consumption, but Kang Jun-hyeok did. Using a skill even once demanded mana management. Yet, if timed correctly, Strong Blow from Ability Sword did not deplete mana after the initial activation. This was a substantial advantage for him, who constantly experienced a shortage of mana. Good. Kang Jun-hyeoks eyes gleamed as he tightened his grip on his sword. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok continued to advance, dispatching the enhanced monsters. Taesan, as always, single-handedly covered hundreds of meters on the ground and the sky. Yet they still could not defend every direction. Eventually, the precarious equilibrium shattered. Block with your bodies! Try to hold them off somehow! People sacrificed themselves in desperate attempts to withstand the onught as long as possible, and thus, casualties were inevitable. Thanks to the arduous efforts of the Hard Mode yers, they managed to survive the wave with rtively few casualties. People celebrated their victory and rested. The next day, the third wave began. The monsters that appeared this time were stronger than those before. The Easy Mode yers struggled to inflict any significant damage. The defensive wall was quickly breached, resulting in greater destruction. Many people perished. But the people did not sumb to despair. They grieved and offered each otherfort for the lost lives, yet they did not dwell on their sorrow. Everyone calmly prepared for the next challenge. With thebined poptions of Gyeonggi-do and Seoul at about twenty million, only eighty-five thousand remained. They had witnessed the death of far too many. Yet, they had persevered through these losses, fighting valiantly to reach this point. Their spirits would not break now. And now, there was hope. The hope that they could triumph, that they could survive to see the future. At the center of this hope was Kang Taesan. The one who had single-handedly defeated thousands of monsters. To those who knew the true strength of the monsters, his feats were nothing short of miraculous. Thanks to him, people calmlypleted their preparations. The fourth wave began. Even more lives were lost. There were moments when the defensepletely crumbled, and without Taesans intervention, they would have faced annihtion. But they emerged victorious. They readied themselves once more for battle. [The final wave is beginning.] This is thest one, Kim Hwiyeon murmured, her face contorted with distress. The thought of reducing their deaths to mere numbers for the sake of management pained her deeply. Choi Baram responded with a wry smile. Its better to get used to it. But I dont want to get used to it, Kim Hwiyeonined, lifting her head. The defensive wall was thinner than before, yet their faces did not show despair, only hope that they could prevail. The situation is still in our favor. I wonder how it is in other areas. Choi Baram clicked his tongue, finding it hard to imagine repelling such waves without Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, and Kang Taesan. I hope theyre still alive They must be having a rough time. As Choi Baram murmured, energy began to gather. The space started to crack open with an unstable noise, and people tensed, readying themselves to confront the iing monsters. The breach widened, and monsters surged forth, catching everyone off guard. Whats with their form? Until then, the monsters had resembled giant humans or were mostly tentacled. But this time, the monsters that emerged were shaped like round spheres. People quickly understood why the monsters had assumed such a form. The spheres began rolling toward them at a speed far greater than before. No way. Kim Hwiyeons face nched. Use your bodies to block them! Shemanded. The realization dawned on others toote. The monsters had altered their shape to prate the safe zone by any means. The defenders threw themselves at the spheres, attempting to slow them down by using their bodies, relying on their own defenses and stamina. Theyre relentless, arent they? Taesan chuckled as he engaged the monsters, stomping his foot down. [You have activated Earthquake.] The rolling spheres were suddenly jolted. Seizing the moment, Taesan rapidly dispatched the now-stalled monsters. [You have activated Decarabia''s Twisted Vegetation.] Kugugugung! Roots burst from the ground, sprawling across the area and forming a dome overhead. Oh, wow The people marveled at the sight of roots nketing the sky. However, the limitation was evident. All of Taesans magical power had been expended to conjure the roots, but the area that needed shielding was immense. Aaah! Inevitably, a significant number of monsters breached the safe zone. The people watched, holding their breath, as they anticipated the monsters next mutation. Grrk. The spheres began to twist and rise, taking on a form vastly different from the typical monsters. Insects? They bore a striking resemnce to praying mantises, albeit on a muchrger scale, easily dwarfing an average human. The mutated, mantis-like monsters charged at the people. Eek! Block them! Those engaged in battle with the monsters soon realized something. The mutated creatures were not as formidable as they had anticipated. They were by no means weak; even yers who were in Hard Mode had to maintain a strong defense. However, when yers ustomed to Hard Mode banded together, they found they could defeat the monsters with rtive ease. It was a revtion to those who had braced for even more ferocious adversaries in the final wave. The reason for this soon became clear. Kang Jun-hyeok lunged forward to take down a monster, activating his Flow Skill and driving his sword forth. The monster swung its foreleg down. The Ability Swords Flow Skill was designed to alter the course of any attack that made contact with the de. Kang Jun-hyeok disregarded the creatures foreleg and continued his assault, sessfully warping the trajectory of the monsters limb. Boom! Yet, despite the deflection, the twisted foreleg halted abruptly with a thunderous sound and then struck Kang Jun-hyeok from behind. Ugh! Kang Jun-hyeok groaned as he tumbled to the ground, grimacing in pain and scrambling to put distance between himself and the monster. What? He was certain his Flow Skill had redirected the monsters attack, yet he had been struck from behind. Confusion washed over Kang Jun-hyeok. Lee Taeyeon found herself in a simr predicament. She attempted to leverage her Flow Skill and Strong Blow to gain the upper hand, but to no avail; her efforts were thwarted. [Lee Taeyeon activated Flow Skill.] She deftly redirected the monsters strike and sought to counterattack. But the monsters arm, once diverted, abruptly stopped its motion and hurtled toward her. In the end, Lee Taeyeon was forced to defend herself and retreat. This is Taesan encountered a simr challenge. He unleashed a punch, colliding with the monsters arm. ng! A resonant sound echoed as the force of his blow repelled the creature. Taesans interest was piqued. Despite being hit by his strike, the monster didnt fall. I see. Taesan raised his sword and activated Flow Skill. As it had with Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok, the monster quickly corrected its diverted arm and attacked. He easily crushed it, but now it was clear. A monster that countered the Ability Sword. This monster was specifically designed to kill Taesan. Monsters began to converge on one another. People were confused by the sudden grouping of the monsters during the battle. Whats this? Taesan didnt just watch. He grabbed each one, smashing and crushing them. However, due to the sheer number of monsters, he couldnt crush them all. The monsters began to amalgamate. Their mantis forms merged, making gurgling sounds. Eventually, a pitch-ck mantis-like creature appeared. [Monster 999 has appeared.] Chapter 171: Seoul (5) Chapter 171: Seoul (5) A three-digit monster. It was an A-grade monster. Even yers who had cleared Hard Mode couldnt guarantee victory against it. It was one of the strongest monsters at a general level and had imed the lives of numerous people in a previous life. Ah As the monster appeared, people trembled. In the case of Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok Their faces paled, and they quickly created distance. That, that Others were merely terrified by its overwhelming power. However, having faced many strong foes, these two could estimate the monsters approximate strength. It was a monster they dared not defy. A level of monster rarely seen even in the Labyrinth. To them, the monster seemed like one of the leaders of the Guides of Sin. It wasmendable that they didnt lose their will and still held onto their weapons. Everyone was scared and kept their distance. And Taesan calmly observed the monster. An A-grade monster. He thought it was about time it appeared. A monster capable of challenging even those who had cleared Hard Mode. But now, he is even stronger than before. Taesan walked toward the monster. Kang Jun-hyeok called out to him hastily. Brother. That monster is I know. An A-grade monster couldnt stop him now. The high gods would surely be aware of that, too. So, they must have employed some means. Taesan had a hunch about what it was. [The opponent is a difficult enemy to defeat.] [Desire for Battle has been activated.] [Proof of Limit has been activated.] [Contempt for the Strong has been activated.] [Half-God Theory has been activated.] [Giant Killer has been activated.] Kwoong! As the system window popped up, the monster stomped the ground. In that instant, Taesan drew his sword. The monsters front leg and Taesans sword collided. Kaang! And a storm ensued. The repercussions of the collision spread, pushing people back. Aaah! Save us, someone! Only Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok stood their ground. Even they barely managed to hold on by driving their weapons into the ground. This this is Merely exchanging blows sent people flying, including Hard Mode yers, not just those on Easy or Normal. Taesan clicked his tongue, sensing the disbelief in peoples eyes. An A-grade monster possessed enough power to alter thendscape. Fighting nearby could destroy the city with just the coteral damage. We need to move the fight elsewhere. [You have activated eleration.] Kwaang! Taesan struck the monsters chest. The monster was pushed back, but Taesan winced from the recoil. [Monster 999 took 102 damage.] It was tough. He hadnt used Addition, yet the damage was only around 100. Taesan stomped the ground again. He pounded the charging monsters chest, sending it soaring. The monster didnt get flung away easily but lifted its front leg instead. Taesan dodged the iing leg by tilting his head and delivered a hard kick. This should be enough. Having pushed the monster far from Seoul City Hall, Taesan hurled it even farther. The continually resisting A-grade monster was not an easy adversary to subdue, even for Taesan. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Monster 999] [Target Specialization] Target Specialization. It was a type of monster he hadnt encountered before, but its meaning was clear. Taesan lifted his weapon.
Lets get serious now. People blown away by the impact gathered, struggling to their feet. Where is Taesan? He went to fight the monster. Lee Taeyeon spoke withposure. He must have considered the aftermath for us. Ah Oh, Taesan People sat down, their tears flowing. Kang Jun-hyeok gave a bitter smile. Sorry, but it seems we dont have time to be grateful. Uh! The space cracked open once more. The faces of Kim Hwiyeon and the others turned ashen at the sight of more monsters emerging. Everyone, get up! Return to your positions! The battle resumed.
Taesan charged at the monster that was created specifically to kill him. The monster responded by swinging its leg. [You have activated Evasion.] As the leg neared the sword, its path twisted. Previous enemies had suffered damage because they failed to correct their trajectory against Taesan. This monster, however, was different. Click. The contorted leg halted abruptly and then whipped back, targeting Taesan once more. Forced to defend against the sharp onught, Taesan evaded the vigorously swinging leg and struck with his weapon. [You have activated Strong Blow.] With the skills activation, the monsters color shifted. Now ash-colored, it hunched down like a turtle. Taesans sword struck the monster repeatedly, but no other harm was evident except for the aura-inflicted damage. [The attacks aren''t being ignored. Does it have an extremely high defense?] Hmm Kwoong! The huddled monster mmed its foot onto the ground. Like a mantis poised to strike, Taesan instantly activated Evasion, altering his charges direction. Kkigigik! The monsters legs iled, shattering everything in their vicinity. Taesan widened the gap between them and unleashed his magic. Frost arrows bombarded the monster but inflicted negligible damage. Magic is useless, too. The ghost snickered. [A monster made solely to kill you.] Flow and Strong Blow were easily countered by it. Its defense was imprable, rendering bothnding and aerial attacks ineffective. Its resistance to magic was just as formidable. A tough adversary, yet Taesans expression remained stoic. His skills held the upper hand because the enemy was ignorant of them. He had foreseen that the high gods would employ such strategies. Taesan reviewed the information he had gathered. The monster was countering his Ability Sword. It also neutralized magic, which suggested that spirit skills would probably be ineffective. Even ck magic wouldnt provide much of an advantage, as he had nearly drained his magic. He had to save the Apostle Transformation until he fully understood his opponent. And the damage isnt significant. He could inflict only about 100 to 200 damage. Taesan recalled that an A-grade monsters health was roughly between two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand. This monster, specialized in defense, might have even more health. A simple calction indicated the need for thousands of sessful attacks. Its not impossible, though. Taesan had defeated an S-grade monster with over a million health while possessing only 50 attack power. Given enough time, it was possible. That was probably why it was ssified as a difficult enemy, not an impossible one. The real problemy elsewhere. Taesan nced around. Intense fighting sounds came from the direction of the city hall, where people battled the newly appeared monsters. Considering the strength of the monsters, they wouldntst long. This was literally a battle against time. Would he defeat the monster first, or would the people be annihted by the monsters? Taesans eyes darkened. The monster was clearly created to counter everything about him. But that didnt mean he couldnt win. Taesan began slowly analyzing the monsters information. The mantis-shaped monster appeared wless. Its defense against Strong Blow was imprable, and its magic resistance was unbelievably high. The monster was A-grade. Yet, so far, its demonstrated abilities, except for strength and speed, were beyond that of A-grade. Those two attributes were rtively low but not too low. In a word, the monster was perfect. That was what bothered Taesan. A perfect monster couldnt exist. Even the most versatile offensive monsters had a clear weakness: low health. Therefore, this monster must also have a weakness. The only question was what it was. The monster charged. Kakak! Taesan blocked and continued to think. He amalgamated the numerous pieces of information and strategies he had gathered to find the answer. The monsters form. It resembled a mantis. The one weakness shared by the hundreds of insect-shaped monsters he had faced was always the same. Having finished his thoughts, Taesan immediately stomped on the ground. The monster swung its leg. Taesan raised his sword. Kaang! A heavy sensation flowed through his sword. Taesan grabbed the end of the monsters leg. He was stronger than the monster. He pulled the monsters body towards himself. Then, Taesan struck the reverse joint of the monsters leg. Kaang! It was the loudest sound yet. The monsters body staggered greatly. [Monster 999 took 702 damage.] Seeing the significantly increased damage, Taesan was certain: The monsters joint area was its weakness. Every insect-type monster Taesan had faced had been like this. Despite their tough exoskeletons that resisted most attacks, their joint areas were vulnerable and easier to target. This monster was no exception. Taesan dove between the monsters legs and swung his sword. The monsters joint buckled, and it fell. The monster swung its forelegs wildly, trying to grab Taesan. He deflected them with his sword, then stepped on and yanked the hind legs joint. Puddeuk. The hind leg made an unstable sound as it began to bend. Taesan exerted more force to tear apart the monsters joint when suddenly, immense power descended upon the mantis. Taesan immediately responded. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas].] [You have activated Apostle yer.] Great might and power filled Taesan. He exerted even more strength into his hand, holding the monsters leg. But the monster violently shook its leg. The strength was iparable to before, and Taesan had to back off. He looked intently at the monster. A different level of might emanated from it. [Ah... really doing everything.] The ghost muttered in disbelief. It wasnt hard to guess what had happened. [The high gods have bestowed might upon this monster to kill you. And it''s of a considerable level.] The might that descended upon the monster wrapped around its joint areas like a barrier. Can it be used in such a way? [This is new to me, too. Is it because they are high gods? The usage of might is quite unique.] But something looks off. The monster kept shaking its head as if it had a tic. Its leg movements became awkwardly unnatural, as if it were wearing clothes that didnt fit. [It''s because the might was forcibly bestowed. Unlike you, it doesn''t have the rightful qualifications, so maintaining it must be a struggle.] Taesan stomped the ground. The monster responded by swinging its forelegs. However, the movement was awkward. Taesan easily dodged the slightly dyed attack and dove between its legs. He stabbed at the joint area as before. Kaang! But the sword did not prate. It felt like hitting a solid iron shell. Taesan realized why the gods might was concentrated in the joint areas. The monsters might was simr to Taesans Apostle Transformation. They both gained equal power, so attacking the joints would normally work. However, with all the might concentrated in the joint areas, Taesan could not break through. The monster attacked Taesan with its legs. But the attack was too clumsy. It was easy to dodge just by shifting his body slightly. The ghost chuckled. [It''s half-ruined. They probably made it like this just to buy time, right? What will you do now? Attacking the joints seems difficult.] Taesans expression remained unchanged. Compensating for weaknesses wasnt umon. He had faced numerous monsters. And dozens of different types of creatures. All had their own weaknesses. Among them, some had concealed orpensated for their weaknesses. And Taesan had defeated all of them. If one weakness disappeared, he just had to find a new one. Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated The Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] Chapter 172: Seoul (6) Chapter 172: Seoul (6) The wind enveloped the monsters entire body. Unable to resist, the monster charged forward. Taesan dodged the swinging forelimbs and continued to spread the wind. This spirit skill was not originally intended for attack. Unlike magic, spirit skills expanded the senses themselves. It was used to gather information about the monster. Information about the monsters entire body flowed through the wind to Taesan. He could now understand what he had not known before. Seams covered the monsters entire body. They were too small to be seen with the naked eye, but the seams densely covered the monsters body. Were they formed bybining several creatures? The pitch-ck mantis was made up of dozens, if not hundreds, of monsters fused together. Despite this, its size was not much different from the monsters before the fusion. They had been forcibly condensed during the fusion. That seemed to have created the seams. Taesan kept thinking. Having been forcibly given a rank, the monster moved awkwardly and seemed about to fall at any moment. It was likely that it could not maintain the defense of its rank, particrly at its joints. Targeting these seams was the only way to deliver a strong impact to the monster. But the seams were too small to be seen with the naked eye. Even though the monsters rank had weakened, there was no room to target them with a sword. Neither sword nor magic could target the seams. The same was true for ck magic. Then, an idea struck him. [You have activated a small spark.] The spreading wind carried the mes. Taesan charged at the monster. As the monsters forelimb swung down to split Taesans head, he raised his sword. ng! Two legs collided with Taesans sword. In the midst of their struggle, Taesan brought his free hand to the monsters seam. Whoosh. A me-imbued wind flowed from his fingertips, racing along the seam and beginning to burn the monsters entire body. The monsters body shuddered. [Monster 999 takes 504 damage.] The increase in the spirit skills rank through Apostle Transformation made this possible. Identifying the weakness, Taesan moved. He dodged attacks and pressed his hand against the monsters body, releasing me wind through the seams. The monster trembled in pain and resisted. Since Taesan needed to touch the monsters body, he couldnt evade all the attacks. But that was eptable. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] He touched the monsters body again, and the me followed the seam, invading its interior. The monsters body trembled once more, and at that moment, the rank protecting the joints of its forelimbs wavered. Taesan didnt miss the opportunity. He swiftly moved his sword, driving it into the joint. The sword pierced through with a crunching sound. Then he pulled at the forelimbs end. Ignoring the monsters thrashing, he applied more strength to his hand. Crack! [Monster 999 takes 2045 damage.] The monsters leg came off. It twisted its body in agony. Taesan thrust his hand into the wound, now oozing ck fluid, and spread the me directly inside the monsters body. The insectoid monster had weak joints and soft flesh despite its hard outer shell. This one seemed no exception, thrashing madly. Perhaps the pain overwhelmed its mind, causing the ranks protecting the joints to shake unsteadily. After that, Taesan took over the flow of battle. He thrust his sword into the remaining forelimb joints and yanked them out. Crack. The remaining forelimbs were ripped off. With the enemy unable to attack, there was no longer anything to fear. Taesan proceeded to shatter each of the remaining legs. Soon, the monster was writhing on the ground, incapable of rising. Taesan thrust his sword into the monsters mouth. The thrashing monsters body stiffened for a moment. He sent mes through the sword, burning the monsters entire body. Thousands of damage points appeared, and before long, the monster copsed. [You have defeated Monster 999.] [You have perfectly understood the essence and weakness of your opponent and have achieved victory. You have learned the special activation skill [Essence Understanding].] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. The proficiency of ??? has increased by 1%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have learned the special continuous activation skill [Twisted Soul Tuning].] Taesan pulled out his sword. The monster had been created merely to dy time, so there was no joy in the victory. Instead, he was concerned about how much time he had spent and what might have happened to the others. Just as Taesan was about to close the system window and run to hispanions Space split open, and darkness burst forth. Taesan halted his steps. A vast darkness nted itself on the ground. [Hello?] A young girl appeared. Hello. The Demon God, Lucifer. Her appearance was not too surprising. In their previous encounter, she had mentioned that it would be her turn next time. The Demon God looked at Taesan with a gaze filled with goodwill. [You did wonderfully this time, too, Kang Taesan.] Im sorry, but I have something else I need to attend to first. People were still fighting the monsters. He needed to address that before he could converse with her. Taesan braced himself. [There''s no need for that.] The Demon God murmured and pped her hands. With the sound of the p, darkness spread out. People who had been gritting their teeth and fighting monsters stopped instinctively. Whats happening? The vast darkness enveloped the whole world like shadows absorbing the remaining light. And the monsters, consumed by that force, vanished without a trace. People, suddenly without their adversaries, looked bewildered and stared nkly into the void. The Demon God smiled thinly. [I''ve taken care of everything. You don''t need to go now.] Is this really okay? The Demon God had directly eliminated the monsters. Considering that previously, Lakiratas descended only after all quests werepleted, this was clearly not normal. It wasnt right. [It doesn''t matter. They also used tricks.] The Demon God twisted her lips. [They''re trying to cross the line with such tricks. Seems like they really don''t like you, huh?] Seems so. The cohesion of the monsters was unexpected. And the enormous rank imbued in the monster was too much for it to handle. It was clear that this was not a normal course of events. If they couldnt kill Taesan, they seemed determined to kill everyone else. [You''ve ovee it brilliantly. I''m very satisfied.] The Demon God extended her hand, and darkness began to spread from her, branching out. [So, I should give you a reward.] Darkness engulfed the world. People gasped as the light suddenly disappeared. Some thought monsters were reappearing and grabbed their weapons, while others screamed. [Manifestation of God''s Authority.] [Blessings descend.] Huh? The Demon God beamed a smile at Taesan. [You can be proud. I''ve never given such a blessing to mortals, especially not to so many, other than to demons.] [You have received the divine blessing [Lamb Entering the Darkness].] [And this is a bonus for you.] Darkness enveloped Taesan. [You have learned the basic ck magic [Seir''s ck Wind].] [You have learned the intermediate ck magic [Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave].] [You have learned the intermediate ck magic [Leraje''s Territory Detection].] [You have acquired the title [Saint of the Demon God''s Second Seat].] [Your magical power has increased by 100.] A basic ck magic spell, two intermediate ck magic spells, a title, and a 100-point increase in magical power were bestowed upon him. Taesan bowed his head. Thank you. [No need to thank me. It''s a fair trade.] The Demon God chuckled. [Now, it''ll be even harder for them to kill you. What will they risk, and what burdens will they bear? The more they struggle, the stronger you be.] She seemed very pleased. [I wonder what their faces look like now? Just thinking about it brings me joy.] There was a deeper emotion than mere pleasure at outsmarting the high gods. [Well, that''s enough about the rewards. Don''t you have something to ask me?] Yes. Taesan nodded. The separatedbyrinth and the Guides of Sin that existed there. He believed the gods would know the answer. Just as Taesan was about to ask, the Demon Gods body began to shake unstably. As if she couldnt stay here any longer, a tremendous force began to drive her away. [This is as far as I can go.] The Demon God clicked her tongue. [They crossed the line, but they make a fuss when I try. Hypocrites, aren''t they?] She grumbled and began to sink into the darkness. [Sorry, but it looks like you''ll have to get the details from someone else.] Understood. It wasnt urgent, so Taesan nodded. Returning to thebyrinth meant he would encounter another god waiting for him. [Ah. Onest thing.] The departingdy spoke. [The Guides of Sin will target you again.] Taesan nodded. With his strength, conquering the 40th floor would be quick. He expected there would be another move. The Demon God wore an ambiguous expression. [Sorry, but next time, I won''t be able to involve myself as deeply as before. That child is also one of my unfortunate children. ording to thews of thebyrinth, the winner takes all.] Her words were cryptic. Without saying more, she submerged into the darkness. [Then, I''ll wait for our next meeting. Let''s have a more leisurely chat next time.] With those words, she disappeared. The darkness that engulfed the world faded, and light returned. Taesan headed toward where the people were. Kim Hwiyeon approached with a pale face. Ta, Taesan. That power just now She instinctively felt it. The transcendent being that had descended earlier resembled the one she had seen before. An entity that shrouded the entire world in darkness. A being that could, if it wished, annihte the Earth in an instant. At least its not hostile to us, so dont worry. Taesan calmed her anxiety and looked towards the others. There were injured people. Though some writhed in pain, there seemed to be few deaths. It looks like we fared well here. Ah, yes. Kim Hwiyeon, having just regained herposure, nodded. People fought without descending into panic. We managed to hold them off it would have been perilous if it hadsted any longer. It had been a narrow escape. Her strength had nearly run out, pushing her to the brink of danger. But they had triumphed. [Special Quest Sess] [Return to the Labyrinth in two days.] They assessed the damage. Eighty-five thousand in total had returned. Twenty thousand had perished. Just sixty-five thousand had survived. The loss of life was substantial. But they epted it withposure. They grieved for the deceased,id them to rest, and prepared to advance. What about the other areas They must have survived, too. In the end, we took care of everything. The darkness, unleashed by the Demon God, had exterminated the monsters. It had not only enveloped Seoul but had spread across the entire globe. Likely, all the monsters worldwide had been obliterated at that moment. That was a god of thebyrinth, wasnt it? Kim Hwiyeon had learned about the being that descended upon Earth. They were the architects of thebyrinth, adversaries of the invaders of Earth. Yes. This time it was the Demon God. Wow. Kim Hwiyeon shook her head in amazement. Entities beyond her imagination continued to emerge, causing her head to throb. But at least theyre not our enemies. Right? If there are those who wish to kill us, there should be those who assist us. Her face did not betray any darkness. Nor did the faces of all who had survived. The reason was simple: the skill bestowed by the Demon God affected their very survival. Lamb Entering the Darkness. The effect was straightforward. Everyone had gained magical power. I never imagined gaining such power Nor did I. Taesan also wore an ambiguous expression. He had not expected the Demon God to bestow magical power upon humanity. She had always favored demons over humans. Nor had he anticipated receiving such authority. What does she expect from me? [Title: Saint of the Demon God''s Second Seat] [This position is granted by the Demon God to those she acknowledges. Possessing magical power allows one to exert significant influence over humans with magic, and additional rewards are granted as they grow stronger.] Chapter 173: Return To The Labyrinth (1) Chapter 173: Return To The Labyrinth (1) The Saints Seat. As one experienced in the battlefield of the gods knew, the Saint was a position that managed all believers who had faith in the god. It was less significant than an Apostle, but still an important role chosen directly by a god. Such a position was being granted to a human, not a demon. What did the Demon God expect from him? He knew she had a liking for him. But it wasnt just liking that had granted him such a favor. There must be something she expected from him. I dont know. Taesan shook his head. The sure thing was her favor toward him. Then, it was something to be gratefully epted for the time being. Taesan called Kim Hwiyeon, Geum Junggeun, Kang Junhyeok, and Lee Taeyeon to check. Did you all get Magic Energy? Yes. About 10? I saw it appeared right below Mana in the status window. Did you learn ck magic? Having Magic Energy alone was useless. It could only be used with ck magic given directly by the Demon God. To Taesans question, they shook their heads. No. We havent learned anything like that. Hmm. Taesan read the description of the title. He could exercise great influence over humans with Magic Energy. An idea suddenly struck Taesans mind. Just stay still. Taesan skillfully handled the Magic Energy and enveloped them with it. It was as if he had known how to do it all along. Huh? Suddenly, their pupils dted. Taesan, what is this? Is that so? Taesan clicked his tongue. The influence written in the title was the ability to impart ck magic to humans. What did you all learn? I learned the basic ck magic Seirs ck Wind and the beginner-level ck magic Decarabias Twisted Vegetationtwo in total. Why are these names so long? Huh? You learned two? How many did sister learn? I only learned Seirs ck Wind. Same here. Listening to their chatter, I discovered that Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok had learned one basic and one beginner-level ck magic, while Kim Hwiyeon and Geum Junggeun had only learned one basic ck magic. It seems theres a limit to what you can learn based on your strength. The result was natural, as the Demon God wouldnt want those unworthy to wield her power. Teaching ck magic to everyone seems impossible. Taesan scattered the darkness. The spreading darkness enveloped the survivors. Some of the resting survivors eximed in surprise. Realizing what Taesan had done, Kim Hwiyeon muttered in disbelief. This is unbelievable The only being who could impart ck magic to humans was a power that seemed beyond human. But could you have taken it back if you gave it? Probably. Taesan clenched his fist, and the power that had dwelled in Kim Hwiyeon was suddenly withdrawn. Its real. Its a power given by you, brother, so its natural. Geum Junggeun nodded in agreement. Taesan then re-granted the skill to Kim Hwiyeon. It might not be used often due to theck of Magic Energy, but it will be quite useful. Of course, unlike Taesan, those without the means to increase their Magic Energy wouldnt reap significant immediate benefits. However, given the uniqueness of ck magic, it would be a formidable power in conquering thebyrinth. Having experienced the effects of the ck magic used by Taesan, all of them nodded in agreement. Thank you so much. Enough of that. Now, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Junhyeok, follow me. Taesan picked up his sword. The two nodded earnestly. The fastest way to improve the proficiency of a sword skill was to spar directly with someone who possessed that skill. Once they returned to thebyrinth, it would be extremely difficult for Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok to increase their proficiency on their own. Therefore, for the two days until their return to thebyrinth, Taesan continuously pushed them in sparring. As a result, the proficiency of Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeoks Ability Sword increased by 2%. With the effect of the title Authority of the Saint, Taesans proficiency also increased by 1%. Not a bad oue. Thats it. Only one hour remained until their return. When Taesan stopped his sword, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok finally sat down. Huff, huff. They were too out of breath to speak properly, while Taesans breathing remained unfazed. Youre surprisingly obedient. I thought youd ask for a break at least once. During the dozens of sparring sessions they had, they alwaysined. But in thest two days, they followed without a word. Lee Taeyeon, having caught her breath, spoke up. I realized how big the gap is. Its toote to whine now. Both held a certain pride in themselves. They could easily defeat ordinary monsters, and, apart from Taesan, no one couldpare to them. It wasnt an overstatement. In reality, no monster had been able to stop them. The gap with the Hard Mode yers had widened, reaching a level where they could win even in 3-to-1 battles. However, that confidence shattered with the appearance of a three-digit monster. A monster with the power to blow them away with just the aftermath of a collision. They had a premonition that they would be killed helplessly. The gap between them and the monster was that significant. But Taesan had defeated such a monster without a scratch. What floor are you on now? The 36th floor. The 36th floor Kang Junhyeokughed bitterly. Already on the 36th floor. They would have to reach there someday, but it still seemed too far away. Their inted confidence deted like a balloon pricked by a needle. Taesan shook his head. Dontpare yourself to me. If you count by the strength of the floors, Im an adventurer above the 50th floor. A-grade monsters wereparable to yers who had cleared Hard Mode. Such monsters could not be easily defeated, even in Solo Mode. A typical adventurer on the 36th floor would have been defeated without a chance to fight properly. Theres no need to rush, Taesan spoke calmly. Youre already doing well. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok had descended to the 13th floor faster than Taesan had anticipated. Build up your skills slowly but steadily. Then, someday, youll reach where I am. The eyes of Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok settled down. Finally, the remaining time ended. The return to thebyrinth began. [Monster Hunting Bonus +351] [First Wave Bonus +54] [Second Wave Bonus +55] [Third Wave Bonus +52] [Fourth Wave Bonus +61] [Fifth Wave Bonus +65] [Special Victory Bonus +641] [Domination Bonus +84] [Victory Bonus +115] [Totaling Completed] [1,478 points will be awarded.] One thousand four hundred seventy-eight points. Simple calctions showed that this could increase skill proficiency by close to 150%. Of course, due to the skill proficiency limit, achieving that much effect was difficult, but it was still a considerable reward. However, Taesan did not use the points immediately. During this return, he had acquired several skills. He needed to check them first. I didnt expect to learn this already. [Special Activation Skill: Essence Detection] [Proficiency: 1%] [Identifies the essence of the target.] It was a very simple skill with no borate description. In his previous life, he had acquired this skill after surpassing the 70th floor, but he had not fully understood its effects then. In Easy Mode, there werent enough challenging enemies to necessitate understanding their essence. However, the true value of this skilly in its ability tobine with other skills, like the Vital Point Attack skill, which targeted the opponents weak points. Once the proficiency of this skill reached 100%, it transformed into the Vital Point Designation skill. This excellent skill allowed targeting and attacking the opponents weak points. When the proficiency of Vital Point Designation reached 100% while possessing Essence Detection, one could acquire a new skill called Essence Strike. This skill hits the essence of the target, ignoring any form of defense. It was the skill that had allowed Taesan to defeat the Apostle. In his previous life, he had realized the value of Essence Detection toote and never achieved 100% proficiency. But now, he knew well the value of Essence Detection. He wondered what changes would ur if he achieved 100% proficiency in Essence Detection, which he hadnt in his previous life. He was very curious. Taesan immediately worked on increasing the proficiency of Essence Detection. Considering the enemies he would face were rted to gods or higher beings, it was a worthwhile investment. [Special Activation Skill: Essence Detection] [Proficiency: 50%] [Identifies the essence of the target. It can determine where the power originates and its weaknesses.] Like with Mana, the consumption of points significantly increased after reaching 50%. It seemed there were restrictions on skills of a certain level. Taesan immediately turned his attention to the ghost. [You have activated Essence Detection.] [Ghost] [The Ruined Prince of Calvert.] [One at a crossroads of choice.] What? Why are you looking at me like that? Whatsing out? Its nothing. It was simr to Reconnaissance but allowed him to see more in-depth information rted to the target. He was curious about the effects it would have on monsters. Taesan continued to examine other skills. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Twisted Soul Ascension Tuning] [Proficiency: 1%] [Twisted beings can manipte their Soul Ascensions in a twisted manner. They can control the Soul Ascension residing within them by taking on a great burden.] Tuningif the skill description was to be believedseemed to offer the possibility of tuning a soul that had ascended to an Apostle level. Monsters employed it to shield their vulnerabilities, yet it held the potential for offensive use as well. The extent of the burden it would impose remained a mystery. Still, given its potential impact on battle, it was adequately valuable. Remaining points: 988. No deep contemtion was necessary. Given the worth of Essence Strike, the choice of skill to enhance was obvious. Taesan promptly increased the proficiency of Vital Point Attack. [The proficiency of Vital Point Attack has reached 100%. The special activation skill [Vital Point Attack] has evolved into the special activation skill [Vital Point Designation].] [Special Activation Skill: Vital Point Designation] [Proficiency: 1%] [Designates a part of the target as a vital point and inflicts double damage when attacking it. Once a vital point is designated, it cannot be changed on the same target until a day has passed. Only very small parts can be designated as vital points.] This was a skill that allowed for the designation of vital points. If an opponents weapon was a fist, simply targeting the fist as a vital point could thwart the attack. Although the area that could be designated as a vital point was limited, making it seem less useful than one might expect, the skills value increased significantly with proficiency. Taesan invested all the remaining points into ck magic. Consequently, the proficiency of ck magic rose by roughly 30%. [ck Magic] [Proficiency: 36%] [Allows control over the magic of the Demon God. Uses Magic Energy to cast ck Magic. The power and range vary based on the Magic Energy expended. Basic power is essible.] ck magic, much like other forms of magic, proved even more challenging to master. With the acquisition of new ck magic spells, enhancing its value, investing in it was justified. Taesan checked the effects of the newly acquired ck magic. It might take a bit longer, but theyll understand. The God of Magic had instructed Taesan to return to him after his return. However, uncertain of the trial he might face, Taesan nned to meet him only after verifying everything he had acquired. He made his way to the 37th floor. Chapter 174: The God Of Magic - Zelbando (1) Chapter 174: The God Of Magic - Zelbando (1) [Start of the 37th-floor quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 37th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Ankle Protector submerged in the Abyss] [Secret Reward: ???] A familiar system window appeared. Taesan passed the shopkeeper and arrived at the area with monsters. Instead of moving immediately, he began to check his newly acquired skills. Taesan ced his hand on the ground. [You have activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] Wooong. A thick, dark energy swept across the floor through the ground. At the same time, Taesan was fascinated by the numerous pieces of information about thebyrinth that entered his mind. The distances between corridors linking rooms. The sizes of each room. And the numbers of monsters upying each room. He could know all that information. This is pretty good. [Basic ck Magic: Leraje''s Territory Detection] [Mana Consumption: 18] [Basic Magic Power Consumption: 10] [Proficiency: 1%] [This skill sends out the wavelengths of the demon, Leraje, that read all things. It allows one to know a lot of information within a certain range.] While Insight lets you know things within your sight, this skill allows you to understand things within a certain range even if they were not in sight. Although it didnt provide as detailed information as Insight, its exceptionally efficient for reconnaissance. Following the information provided by the territory detection, Taesan entered a room. Inside the room, a knight wielding two purple-colored swords awaited Taesan. As soon as the knight spotted Taesan, it charged at him, and Taesan responded with a skill. [You have activated Vital Point Designation.] After designating the knights wrist as a vital point, he dodged the swinging sword and stabbed his own sword into the designated spot. Kaang! [2450 damage to the knight with double swords.] The knights body staggered significantly. Taesan continuously struck at the vital spot. The knight copsed without much resistance. Nice. Though he had used it in his previous life and already knew its effects, it was indeed a highly useful skill. The ability to designate a vital point wherever he wanted exerted pressure on the opponent. Taesan continued moving forward. Soon, he discovered a monster in the next room. Taesan waved his hand toward the charging knight. [You have activated Decarabia''s Distorted Vegetation.] Koogooong! Roots burst forth, engulfing the room. Their color was darker, and their thickness was much greater than before. The skill had been enhanced due to his increased proficiency in ck magic. The knight struggled against the roots, but they remained unyielding. Taesan smiled at the unexpected power. With only 30% proficiency, it was this powerful. He became very curious about how much stronger it would be with higher proficiency. After dealing with the struggling knight, Taesan moved to the next room. It was time to experiment with the newly learned offensive ck magic. [You have activated Seir''s ck Wind.] Suddenly, a ck storm erupted. Though it was not big enough to fill an entire room, the power within was not to be underestimated. The knight hit by the storm was flung against the wall. Taesan repeatedly activated the ck wind as the knight struggled to stand. The wind took the form of des and storms, depending on Taesans intent. Not bad. [Basic ck Magic: Seir''s ck Wind] [Mana Consumption: 1] [Basic Magic Power Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 1%] [This skill summons the ck wind that the demon Seir wielded.] Without much exnation on how to use it, it seemed he could manipte it as he wished. The wind could be shaped into a spear or used defensively. It could also be turned into a storm to blow away projectiles. Though not very powerful, it was a versatile skill that could be used in various ways. I wonder if it can bebined with The Deer Walking on the Wind Path. Both were wind-rted skills. Although they were of different systems, it seemed like it could be quite useful if possible. And then thest skill. It was the one Taesan was most looking forward to. [Basic ck Magic: Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Basic Magic Power Consumption: 45] [Proficiency: 1%] [This skill summons the pitch-ck wave that guards Marbas'' territory. The deep, dense wave of darkness seems to devour everything, likely even trivial barriers.] The strongest ck magic Taesan had obtained so far was Mephistos ck Lightning. An attack from Mephisto or a weaker opponent was unavoidable and came with a stunning effect. It was a very useful skill, but it consumed a lot of mana and magic power. However, the consumption for the Pitch-ck Wave was even higher. With anticipation, Taesan headed to the next room and activated the magic towards the monster there. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Suddenly, a rift opened next to Taesan. A pitch-ck wave gushed out from a rift connected to a deeper dimension. Whoosh. The wave violently swept the room. Seemingly sentient, it began to crash toward the knights rushing at it. Koong. The knight tried to withstand the attack, stamping the ground and swinging his sword. But the wave, almost mockingly, split and engulfed the knight. The knight swept away by the wave disappeared from sight, followed by sounds as if it was being chewed by teeth. Crunch. Crunch. [350 damage to the knight with double swords.] [532 damage to the knight with double swords.] As the damage indicators vanished and the wave subsided, leaving no trace, nothing remained where it passed. The ghost spoke in ackluster tone. [Quite useful... huh?] Does the wave itself have a consciousness? The monsters of the 37th floor literally vanished without any resistance. The magic seemed powerful enough to be effective even beyond the 40th floor, perhaps even at the 50th. [It''s a good skill, but something feels off. It''s too directly connected to that side. It''s not good if the demons take an interest.] Is that a bad thing? [It''s not a good thing. Demons, although under the Demon God, are not exactly docile creatures.] What exactly do these demons do? All the ck magic skills were rted to demons. However, Taesan did not fully understand the difference between demonkind and demons. The ghost exined. [They are beings simr to the High Gods.] Taesan frowned. Simr to the High Gods? [You know that the power of the High Gods is immutable and infinite from birth, right? Of course, they have their limits.] Taesan nodded. He had heard this exnation before. [Demons are simr beings. Much weaker than the High Gods, but still possessing considerable power. They lend their power to demonkind through ck magic in exchange for a contract with the Demon God.] A contract, huh. [I don''t know the details. They might have obtained freedom as a trade-off for lending ck magic, not wanting to be sealed away like the High Gods. But they''re not friendly to humans, so it''s best to be careful. It''s unlikely that a demon would mess with someone the Demon God is interested in... but there''s always a mad one out there.] The ghost muttered. Keeping the ghosts words in mind, Taesan continued moving forward. He discovered a secret room, bypassed traps, and secured a reward. The reward was an ordinary sword, so he nned to sell it to a shopkeeper. Without resting, Taesan soon faced the boss. Crack. With a swing of his sword, he shattered the knights helmet. Another swing broke the knights breastte. Taesan then overpowered the knight, mming him to the ground. He struck down with his sword. The knight offered little resistance as he fell. [That was easy.] Time to go down. He had spent too much time on the 30 range of floors for various reasons. Once he finished this task, he nned to focus on conquering thebyrinth. [Ankle Protector submerged in the Abyss] [Strength +50] [Agility +50] [Defense +45] [An ankle protector submerged for countless years in the deep, uncharted abyss. It contains power from a ce yet unreached by humans.] The equipment boasted high strength, agility, and defense. Taesan quickly put it on. [You have used ???] [You have obtained the Aegis Shield.] [Aegis Shield] [Defense +150] [The shield used by the great saint Aegis throughout his life.] [If you be immobile for 1 second, you be immune to all damage. This effect has a one-month cooldown.] Oh? Taesans eyes sparkled. Immunity to all damage was an effect he had never encountered before. The immobility penalty seemed manageable. Considering its potential in various situations, Taesan decided to take the shield with him. After clearing the 37th floor, Taesan ascended the stairs to meet Lilis. On his way to the 36th floor, he made sure to dispose of the unnecessary equipment at the shopkeepers. When will you buy something? It wont take long. By now, Taesan had umted a substantial amount of gold. He could afford a decent piece of equipment. Nevertheless, aiming for higher-quality gear, Taesan intended to save as much as possible. He sought out Lilis once more. Ah, you! Where have you been! She greeted Taesan with a mix of exasperation and relief. From Liliss perspective, it was understandably rming for Taesan to vanish suddenly after going to meet the God of Magic. I had some matters to attend to. Taesan replied calmly. May I go to meet him again? Yes, yes. God said toe back after you return. Taesan prayed as he had previously done. The space split open, and Taesan was summoned to the realm of the God of Magic. This time, he arrived in a space filled with gxies without any hindrance. [You''re here?] The God of Magic greeted Taesan, assuming the same posture as before. [Did you have a good meeting?] Yes, but it was a bit strange. The interest and reward the Demon God showed him. It was more than mere kindness. Zelbando smiled faintly. [We have expectations of you. That child probably does too. You''ll find out soon enough.] Zelbando pped his hands. [Now, you''ve done as I wanted with those guys. So, I should give you a reward. What would be good...?] His gaze, which had been fixed on Taesan, shifted to Taesans gauntlet. [That gauntlet went to you?] Do you know about it? [It was a glove I once used. I miss it.] A glove directly used by a god. That in itself was not so surprising. Taesan had seen equipment used by mortals who became gods before. However, meeting a god who had directly used the equipment he wore was a first, giving him a somewhat novel feeling. [This should do it.] Zelbando murmured, waving his finger. [The seal of mystery in the Rough Grasp Gauntlet has been released.] [You have obtained the Rough Grasp Gauntlet.] [Rough Grasp Gauntlet] [Attack +50] [Magic Effect +30] [Made from a part of the gauntlet of a being that crushed everything. His power still remains.] Taesans eyes widened at the changed description. The magic effect boost broadly impacted the power of magic. An increase in magic by 1 meant a 1% increase in all effects of magic, a very useful effect, but there were hardly any equipable items that significantly utilized it. In simple terms, it meant a 30% increase in the power of magic. [This should suffice as a reward.] Thank you. [No need to thank me yet. It''s not a free gift.] Intermediate magic. And the trial to obtain it. Zelbando scratched his cheek. [In fact, I was a bit worried. It seemed too hasty. Excess can be worse than scarcity. But... with you as you are now, it seemed enough.] Zelbando smiled. [Actually, it''s a bit insufficient, but I should give it since that poor and admirable child wants it so badly.] Thank you. Taesan recalled something Lilis had said, which he had forgotten. And she asked me to convey her thanks to you. [Really?] Zelbandos lips curled into a smile. [A pitiful and cute child. It''s rare to find someone who enters here and survives just to learn magic.] He chuckled. Unlike the gods Taesan had met before, Zelbando seemed like a lighter-hearted deity. Taesan waited for Zelbandos next words. Zelbandosughter faded. [The trial I will give you is the Demon God''s. Simr to what that young child gave you.] The trial from the Demon God was to rescue the demonkinds princess from a world where demonkind was persecuted. Zelbando raised a finger, and countless stars whisked past them. [The world of the arrogant giants. Bahuliya.] Zelbando pointed to a. That was noticeablyrger than the others, appearing to be at least ten times bigger. [Once, the giants, who delved into the mysteries of magic more than anyone, have now forgotten me. So, your task is to make them remember me. Call my name and make them recognize me again. That is the trial I give you.] [Start of Sub Quest] [The God of Magic, Zelbando, wants to imprint the existence of magic on the giants who have forgotten his presence.] [Reward: Intermediate Magic] Chapter 175: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (1) Chapter 175: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (1) Intermediate magicLilis and the spirits had said it was dimensionally different from elementary magic, effective even in the depths. Finally, he had obtained it. When he thought of intermediate magic, naturally, the hunchback who pursued twisted mysteries came to mind. He had disliked Taesan learning intermediate magic and had tried to kill him. As if understanding Taesans thoughts, Zelbando spoke softly. [Poor child. He pursued twisted mysteries. That is a path too, but he became too distorted. Above all, he was jealous despite using shortcuts. How pitiful. And ugly.] What do you think of him? [Nothing.] Zelbando shrugged his shoulders. [I ce no value on him. The magic he obtained is charming but not that great. Above all, I have no hobby of observing a twisted and broken child. It''s not fun.] His voice, seemingly genuine, was indifferent. Zelbando smiled and asked. [Do you have any questions before receiving the quest? I''ll answer what I can.] There are a few things. Since he had offered to answer, there was no reason to refuse. Taesan asked. What will happen to the hunchback who pursued the twisted mystery? The ghost had told him. As an immortal, it was too much of a blessing. The umtion of power expended would be enormous. Above all, the power that had descended before thest knight fell. The total amount and level contained in it were extraordinary. If the timing had been slightly off, it could have been a very dangerous power. The god of magic, Zelbando, answered. [He exhausted a lot of power to reach his position with mere strength. He won''t be able to do anything for a while. You can rest easy.] Is that so? Zelbando smiled. [They will take interest in you, Kang Taesan.] They must be the immortals. [Hostility and favor. There will be more hostility among them. They are jealous of the talented. If it''s a fair condition, we have no intention of intervening. You''d better be prepared.] Understood. Taesan nodded, and Zelbando smiled at his calm demeanor. Immortals, far surpassing mortals in status, harbored hostility towards Taesan. What Zelbando had just said wasnt something that one could easily ept. A weak person would have trembled in fear, and even a strong person wouldnt have been able to overlook such words lightly. But Taesan remained unshaken and quietly prepared to wait. Zelbandos smile grew deeper. [Interesting. Anything else you''re curious about?] Taesan nodded and posed his question. There was a curiosity that only a god could satisfy. Why are we separated? Easy Mode, Normal Mode, and Hard Mode. yers from the three modes could meet each other, helping and forming parties to break through thebyrinth. But Solo Mode was different. Each yer had to break through their ownbyrinth alone. In his previous life, he hadnt paid much attention to this. He had been too engrossed in obtaining skills and not very interested in gods, so he simply epted it as the way things were. But now that he had entered Solo Mode and gained various pieces of information, he couldnt help but ponder it. Too many. In Korea alone, there were over ten thousand yers who had chosen Solo Mode. Globally, the number could even reach a hundred thousand. And in Solo Mode, there were gods and Guides of Sin. There were also NPCs like the ghost. Since Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok had met Ainzhar, it was certain that they too existed in their own separatebyrinths. The Guides of Sin would likely be the same. Labyrinths divided into hundreds of thousands for the yers. And the NPCs and adventurers who popted all thosebyrinths. Taesan found it hard toprehend. Zelbando smiled. [Are you asking about that?] Im curious. Has it always been this way, or did something happen? [I can give you a rough answer now. To your question, it''s thetter.] Zelbandos voice was gentle. [Thebyrinth was duplicated and separated because something happened.] Is such a thing possible? Ainzhar. The Guides. They were all formidable beings, those who had reached the brink of mortal limits. The thought that such beings had been replicated into hundreds of thousands was unbelievable. [It''s not impossible. Because their power, though finite, never diminishes. It is constant and boundless. Quite an exhausting reality.] For the first time, a look of irritation crossed Zelbandos face. [They ought to concede and vanish, yet they persist in meddling and wreaking havoc. When will I get to wring their necks?] Beings endowed with constant and boundless power. Taesan had learned of such beings from the ghost before. Are they the High Gods? [Thats enough.] Zelbando, instead of replying, merely waved his finger. [Thats all the answers youre allowed to have. If you seek more, delve deeper.] Understood. Taesan nodded, content that he had gleaned at least some insight. The division of thebyrinth was not of its original design but stemmed from the High Gods meddling as they trespassed into it. Then Ill ept the quest. [Subquest epted.] [Good.] Zelbando, with a look of satisfaction, clenched his fist, and space began to unfold before them. [Travel there and seek their king. The sole sage among the presumptuous ones. He shall provide you with the answers.] Taesan stepped forward into the newly opened space with a nod of acknowledgment. As he vanished, Zelbando whispered, [This journey will be of great significance to you.] With those final words, Taesan entered the realm of the giants. The domain of the haughty giants, Bahuliya. Upon his arrival, an unsettling sensation wormed its way into his consciousness. What is this? [Spirit possession judgment underway......] [Judgment sessful!] With the appearance of the notification, the disconcerting feeling dissipated. Taesan raised his head to survey his surroundings. He found himself in a forest where the undergrowth loomed as tall as he was and the trees spanned a massive area, forming walls around him. It certainly lives up to its reputation. Realizing he must move swiftly lest he remain trapped in the forest, Taesan summoned strength into his legs and scaled a tree. Although he climbed quickly, it took him some time to reach the top of the tree. Perched atop the tree, he spotted a road not far in the distance. And at the end of that road, there appeared to be a city. Taesan leapt from the tree toward that destination. It required about five minutes of running to arrive at the road. Its wide. Before himy a road as vast as a in. Movement here will be more challenging. In the world of giants, everything was sorge, buildings included. Yet they seemed very small, indicating they were still quite far away. This is going to take some time. Taesan began to walk. He ran toward the city he had seen from the tree. He wasnt going at full speed. To conserve energy, he maintained a moderate pace. Of course, moderate for him; for an ordinary person, it would be an unfathomably fast speed. However, he still couldnt reach the city. Even after running for more than an hour, he had only gotten slightly closer. During his run, Taesan came to a realization. Everything is gigantic. Animals and nts alike appeared to be at least ten timesrger. While traversing the road, he had encountered an animal resembling a deer, asrge as a vi. The giants would be at least twice asrge. With these thoughts, Taesan, who had been persistently running, suddenly halted. He looked up, deep in thought. As expected, theyre enormous. Three giants sat in the middle of the road, seemingly unaware of Taesans presence, engrossed in their conversation. Brother, are you sure this is okay? Were too close to the city. Yanma, if someonees, we just run away. Whats the problem? Are you scared, ck Looter? Still, you know, right? The lord of that city is a monster. Isnt it better not to take risks? Really, you guys. The giant who appeared to be the leader scowled. Taesan called out to them. Hello? Huh? Didnt you hear something? Were the only ones here, what could we possibly hear? Still unaware of Taesans presence, they looked puzzled. Annoyed, Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated Wind Explosion.] The wind exploded near the giants faces, and they reeled back with grunts. Whats this? Ma-magic? Astonished, Taesan tilted his head in confusion as well. [Spirit possession judgment underway......] [Judgment sessful!] Every time he used magic, a notification popped up for judgement. It was annoying, though it had no effect. What is this? Taesan muttered. The giants finally noticed him. ..Huh? The giant tilted his head. What are you? A human. Human? Whats that? Brother, brother. The previously dumbfounded one hurriedly grabbed the other giant. Isnt that what I think it is? Whats its name? I saw it in a book once. Arent there creatures like beans in other worlds, right? A book? You read books? Well, Ie from a fairly well-off family. The problem started when I knocked out my sister-inw and ran away. So, what? A creature from another world? Seems like it? The giant trailed off, unsure. Taesan nodded. Right. Ooh They marveled, examining Taesan with curious eyes. Really the size of a bean. If I blow on him, will he fly away? Isnt he smaller than a bug? Quiet, Im new here and need information. Thats why I wanted to ask you something. Hmm. Instead of responding, the giants eyes lit up. Boys, how much do you think we can get for this? Wouldnt it be expensive? Seems perfect for decoration. Right? The giantughed, his yellow teeth striking. Alright. Human, get caught. The giant reached out his hand, and its shadow covered the sun. Taesan caught the giants finger. The giant, trying to lift Taesan, hesitated. Brother? What are you doing? The other giants, with puzzled faces, asked. From their perspective, the giant was just holding Taesan, doing nothing. But the giant holding Taesan was sweating coldly. What? Those words of panic were not heard. It felt like trying to pull a sword firmly nted in the ground. How can this be? It meant the human, the size of a bean, possessed greater strength than the giant. Taesan was equally surprised. Strong. From what he had heard, they werent that impressive. At best, they had seemed like bandits or thieves. Yet they were exerting significant force on Taesan. Does size matter that much? Taesan put more strength into his hand holding the giants finger. The giants face turned pale. Taesan then swung his foot, throwing the giant. Woah! Br-, Brother! The giant flew through the air. The remaining giant, startled, swung a club at Taesan. Taesan raised his arm. Koong! Feeling the weight on his arm, Taesan grimaced. It was quite heavy. Not enough to feel pressured, but it was a strength he couldnt sense from an adventurer of the same level. Taesan gripped the club, shattering it into fragments with the strength of his grip. He then punched the giant in the abdomen. Kuhuk! The giant exhaled and fell. After a few twitches, he stopped moving. This is interesting. Taesan tilted his head. In thebyrinth, at where he had been on the 30th floor, he would beparable to the strongest in the outside world. Yet such strength was possessed by this seemingly unimpressive giant. A being with such power should have already entered thebyrinth or been known, but there was no such information. [Giant tribe... I''ve heard a lot about them, but they really do have this much strength.] Do you know about them too? [Not much is known. Theyre a reclusive race and don''te out much. But there are known legends.] The ghost said. [These beings are said to be capable of facing transcendents.] Chapter 176: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (2) Chapter 176: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (2) You, you! I have something to ask. This piece of shit! The flying giant returned, grinding his teeth. Tiny human! You are dead! They charged at him. Taesan clicked his tongue; it seemed he would have to knock them all down to get an answer. As he clenched his fist, a huge sound echoed in the distance. It was the sound of horse hooves, apanied by the shing of iron armor. The faces of the charging giants turned pale. Damn it. Its the knights! Lets run away! Bu-but, brother! Their gaze shifted to the fallen giant, but only for a moment. The giant they called brother nodded. Leave him! Yes! They fled in a hurry. Taesan calmly waited for the sound of the horse hooves to draw closer, and soon the source of the sound appeared. It was a giant wearing medieval armor, like in the movies. From his neat appearance and well-maintained armor, he seemed to be a high-ranking giant. Did those guys abandon their brother? The armored giant looked puzzled at the fallen giant, then his gaze settled on Taesan. Taesan waved his hand. Hello? The giant looked at Taesan with confusion. A human? How does a being like you exist in our world? Lucky he recognizes me. It seemed there was no need for a lengthy exnation. The giant looked back and forth between Taesan and the fallen giant. Did you bring him down? Taesan nodded. The perplexed giant smiled. Impressive. Lord! Soon, with the sound of shing iron, dozens of soldiers arrived from the direction the giant hade from. Are you alright? Im fine. The giant they called the lord clicked his tongue. Tie him up. And be careful not to step on him. What? The soldiers gazes turned to Taesan and the fallen giant. Whats that? Why is it so small? They murmured among themselves, bound the fallen giant with ropes, and dragged him away. The mounted giant spoke. Thank you. These pests have been quite a headache. Annoying guys, huh? They were thieves who robbed people passing by. Their skills werent great, but they were adept at running away, which had be a nuisance. It worked out well. The giantughed heartily and extended his hand. What is your name? Kang Taesan. Thats an unusual name. I am Umberak. It may not be much in return for the trouble youve taken on my behalf, but how about visiting my territory? Ill receive you grandly. Okay. Taesan epted. Taesan needed to find the king of the giants here. To do that, he first required information about what this ce was, and what he had to do to achieve his goals. The giant before him, Umberak, appeared to be of a considerably high rank. There was a good chance he possessed the information Taesan sought. When Taesan agreed, Umberakughed contentedly. A precious guest. I should throw a festival. Pleased, he soon adopted an ambiguous smile. But how to The size difference between them was too vast. A giants casual step covered more ground than a humans full sprint. Moreover, he was on a horse, making the speed difference even more pronounced. Its okay, dont worry. Taesan stamped his foot and climbed onto the back of the horse, securing his position. Umberak watched in admiration as Taesan reached a height ten times his own in an instant. Impressive. No need to worry, then. Umberak kicked the horses side. With a neigh, the horse started running towards the distant territory. The horses speed was incredibly fast. It was slower than Taesans full sprint, but Lee Taeyeon or Kang Jun-hyeok could never catch up. A race that could rival the transcendents. After riding for several minutes, they arrived at the territory. It resembled a medieval city from the movies. Open the gates! Your lord has returned! Soon, the gates opened. Soldiers hurried to their positions. You have arrived! Let everyone rejoice! Umberak smiled broadly. Finally caught the pesky ck plunderer! The soldiers erupted in cheers, and the lord raised his fist. Today is a festival! Let the residents know! The soldiers responded briefly and dispersed. Taesan followed Umberak into a huge room andy down to rest. The bed was the size of a small hill. Lying there, Taesan closed his eyes for a rest, but that night, Umberak entered the room. The festival is about to start. Will you join us? Taesan got up. They were in a giant vige. At its center, numerous giants gathered, chatting andughing. In the middle, a bonfire roared, with all sorts of food and drinks being passed around. And there was the ck plunderer, tied to a pir. Throw stones! The thief who stole our property! The giants threw pebbles. To them, just pebbles, but to Taesan, they were like falling rocks. The pelted giant screamed. Dont throw! Everyone, look here! Umberak shouted loudly, and all eyes turned to him as he pointed at Taesan. This small being is the one who subdued the ck plunderer! Whats that? Is that a human? So small. I might identally step on him. They murmured among themselves. Their reaction was natural. It was impossible for them to calmly ept a beingpletely different from themselves. But their bewilderment was short-lived. In less than five minutes, they resumed chatting and offered food to Taesan. How do we feed someone so small? Chef! Make a special dish for him! As he epted their offerings, Taesan realized something. This was a world of giants, and he was a human. That made him an outsider. And in any world, outsiders were usually shunned. History on Earth proved this. People were discriminated against for having a different skin color, let alone being from a different species. So Taesan had expected it would be difficult to gather information. But it wasnt. The giants weed him without showing any fear. Their boldness and confidence were evident. Despite his status as an outsider, they did not regard him as a threat. To them, he was merely a guest. Umberak, who was enjoying the festival, approached withughter. Are you having fun? Sort of. Taesan put some food in his mouth. It was a tiny dish, crudely prepared by a drunk chef, but it was the first time in a while that he had enjoyed such a meal. Thats good. Weve never hosted such a small human before, so I wasnt sure what to do. Umberak took arge gulp from his enormous cup. So, let me ask. What brings you to our world? Umberaks expression turned serious. I wee you, but as a lord, I have to inquire for the sake of ournd. Its been nearly five hundred years since a human visited our world, as far as Im aware. For magic. Taesan saw no reason to hide his purpose, so he responded candidly. The god of magic sent me to spread magic throughout your world and to make his name known. The god of magic? Umberak appeared intrigued and stroked his chin thoughtfully. Magic Its been ages since Ist heard of it, not since the ancient texts I read in my youth. It seemed that magic had indeed be apletely forgotten power in thisnd, just as the god of magic had imed. To establish that here Umberaks expression was ambiguous as he contemted. Thats impossible. Why? We have no use for magic. His words conveyed unwavering certainty. Furthermore, such matters would require the attention of our king. But Ick the authority to make such arrangements. How can I meet the king? Its difficult. Umberak gave a bitter smirk. Even I cannot see the king without a legitimate reason, much less an outsider like you. The situation was as expected. It would be impossible for an outsider, especially one not even of the same species, to easily gain an audience with the king of another race. He would need some notable aplishment or something of equal significance. Of course, as an outsider, you might meet someone rted to the king, but its unlikely youll meet the king himself. However, if there is any possibility Umberak paused, lost in thought before he continued. We are giants. We revere strength and worship the strong. If you can prove your own strength, it might be possible. Proving strength. That was the problem. As Taesan mulled over this, Umberak interrupted his thoughts. Did youe from thebyrinth? You know about it? Its well-known even to us. A ce where talented and exceptional beings from different worlds gather. But none of us go there. Umberaks voice remained even as he spoke. Because we are naturally strong. We have no need to venture into thebyrinth to grow stronger. The same applies to magic. Strong as we are, we find no use for such things. Boooooom. As Umberak finished speaking, a horn sounded. The reveling giants halted their festivities, a fiery look igniting in their eyes. Theyvee today too. Umberak grinned and stood up. Want to see? Taesan nodded. An unsettling power emanated from the outskirts of the city, a power Taesan had encountered several times before. Theyvee this far. These are the beings invading our world. Repulsive and worthless creatures. Umberak bared his teeth in disgust. Everyone, stand up! Our enemy has arrived! With a rallying cry, Umberak charged forward, the other giants at his heels. Once the giants had all moved out, Taesan set off in pursuit. He sprinted, his feet kicking off the walls of the buildings, as he made his way toward the source of the sinister power. Before the giants stood a rift. A purple rift shimmered atop arge mound, and as it tore open, monsters began to emerge. Krrrrr. Vile, dense creatures spilled forth. A system window popped up before Taesan. [Monster 182851 has appeared.] A monster with a six-digit number, indicative of the lower ranks. Several C-grade monsters materialized. The monsters that had trampled Earth appeared in the giants world as well. But this wasnt particrly surprising. The Demon God had said it: The High Gods have trampled countless worlds, more than 250, in fact. Earth was not the first world they destroyed. They had shattered many worlds and nned to destroy more. It wasnt odd that the giants world was among them. Everyone! Umberakughed boisterously. Let the battle begin! The giants roared and charged at the monsters. The monsters began their attack. The monsters were asrge as the giants, rivaling their size. This wasnt surprising since Taesan had seen such sizes on Earth before. What was astonishing was the strength of the giants. C-grade monsters were something that yers who had cleared Normal Mode could defeat. They were weakpared to Hard Mode but not absolutely so. If they had possessed such power before thebyrinth appeared, they could have overturned a nation alone. Haaaa! Umberak swung his sword with a shout, and the struck C-grade monster staggered. The monster counterattacked, swinging a giant tentacle at Umberak. He scoffed and swung his fist. The tentacle was sent flying. Umberak plunged his sword into the monsters body. It wasnt just Umberak who was active. The giants, previously enjoying the festival in their everyday clothes, also swung fists and clubs, bringing down C-grade monsters. They didnt subdue them as easily as Umberak did, but bybining their strength, they defeated them. With that power, they could probably defeat B-grade monsters. The giants were as strong as they imed. Taesan watched from a distance. Umberak, having defeated thest monster, shouted with a relieved face. We have won! Lets all raise a toast to victory! They resumed their festival. By the time it ended, it was quitete. Taesan returned to his room andy down on the huge bed. Looking up at the ceiling, he said, A race that could rival the Transcendents. They dont seem like it, though. Chapter 177: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (3) Chapter 177: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (3) The giants were strong. Even those who had not undergone special training could easily defeat C-ss monsters. But Taesan couldnt be certain. Whether they had the power to fight transcendents like those in legends was unknown. The God of Magic had told him that the giants once delved deeply into the mysteries of magic. But now, they could not remember themselves. This was evident from the Lords reaction. The city, even by the standards of the giants, was quiterge. Assuming the giants civilization level was simr to Earths medieval era, it was a solid territory. Even the Lord of such a ce did not properly understand magic. That was strange. At first, Taesan thought these giants were suppressing magic and denying the god of magic. So he thought it was a quest like in the battlefield of the gods, where he had to confront those who were hostile to the god of magic. However, the giants were not hostile towards magic. They had simply forgotten about magic itself. Taesan stretched out his hand into the air. [You have activated a Frost Arrow.] As the frozen arrow materialized, a judgement was made. [Mental Control Judgement in progress.] [Judgement Sessful!] This judgement always came when using magic. Is it because of this? The reason the giants, who once deeply researched magic, had forgotten it. It was just a theory, but it seemed highly usible. Taesan canceled the Frost Arrow. Finding out why magic was forgotten seemed important, but he had to address the immediate issue first. The most important goal was to earn the right to meet the king. And as a foreigner, he had to achieve a feat to meet the king. After pondering for a moment, Taesan stood up. There was a limit to thinking while sitting quietly in a room. Such matters required action to find a solution. The night passed, and the next day, Taesan went out to the fortress and waited for someone. Soon, he met Umberak, who was sweaty and had a relieved expression. Phew. It was an enjoyable fight today as well. Hello. Hm? A human? Upon discovering Taesan, Umberak looked concerned. I wont stop you from wandering, but itd be better to be careful. If youre unlucky, you might get stepped on. That wont be a problem. Indeed. Youve already defeated the ck Plunderer, so being stepped on shouldnt kill you. Umberak grinned. His armor was roughly beaten, and his hair was disheveled. Taesan asked. Youve been fighting? Ive been dealing with the monsters from the rift you saw yesterday. Those annoying creatures. Enjoyable fights are satisfying, but theyre tiring. Umberak narrowed his eyes. It was problematic for him, the territory lord, to deal with them every day despite being able to defeat them without issue. There was no telling when another problem might arise. Hearing this, Taesan realized something strange. Cant you block the rift itself? Taesan had already blocked a purple rift on Earth. But upon hearing Taesans words, Umberak shook his head. Temporary measures are possible, but weck the power topletely block it. Only the kings great warriors can do that. And they are too busy toe to a remote territory like this. From Umberaks words, Taesan realized what he needed to do to meet the king. When will the next rift open? It opens twice a day on a regr schedule. It seems like it will open again tonight. Ill go with you then. At Taesans words, Umberaks eyes widened. Are you serious? Yes. Its not impossible, right? Its not impossible, but are you sure? Worry filled Umberaks gaze. There was no trace of disdain or insult, just a look truly concerned for Taesans safety. Taesan smiled. Theres no need to worry. That night, Taesan arrived at the site of the rift following the giants. Many giants at the rift site looked at Taesan with worried eyes. Taesan felt an emotion simr to what he had sensed from Umberak but calmly ignored the giants gaze. The rift will open in a few minutes. Sigh. Since you insist, I cant stop you. Umberak sighed. He had nned to continue the festival with the foreigner for a few days, but now he worried about the foreigners life. Naturally, he was concerned. Unfazed, Taesan asked a question. Thats a rift of the ancient gods, isnt it? Hm? Do you know about it too? I came from the Labyrinth. Ah, now that I think about it, gods reside there. That makes it easier to exin. Umberak said. As you said, the ancient gods opened this rift to ruin our world. They continually send monsters to attack us. Quite annoying creatures. Umberak snorted in derision. He seemedpletely ustomed to it now. When did this start happening? I dont know. What I do know is that it has been there since before this territory was established. Theyve been a constant nuisance for over a thousand years. Annoyance was evident on Umberaks face. Theyre not a significant threat, but theyre relentless and bothersome. Are rifts only here? Theres at least one rift near every territory. That was strange. The giants were undoubtedly strong. The fact that they would be able to clear Normal Mode without special training or risking their lives, was remarkable in itself. But their power wasnt that extraordinary. For instance, they could defeat a B-ss monster, but they would also have to fight for their lives. It wasnt a matter to be brushed off as merely annoying. Is there some kind of limitation? At that moment, the rift split open. But the opening of the rift was odd. It seemed as though something was forcing its way through a narrow space, causing the rift to shake violently. Umberak, too, had never experienced this before. And then, monsters started to emerge one by one from the twisting rift. With a crackling sound. Some of the monsters, having forcibly squeezed through the rift, were mangled or severed. However, some crossed the rift intact and stood up. Hmm? Watching the emerging monsters, Umberaks eyes flickered. Something was off. The power emanating from these huge monsters was qualitatively different from the usual ones. And then, a system window visible only to Taesan appeared. [Monster 91221 has appeared.] [Monster 45441 has appeared.] [Monster 51125 has appeared.] Five-digit numbered monsters. They were B-ss monsters. The monsters were exuding a killing intent towards Taesan. Quick to respond, these creatures. Realizing Taesans presence, they seemed to have sent down stronger monsters than usual to kill him. Hmm? Umberak, sensing the unusual aura of these monsters, hesitated to charge in. Impatient, some giants rushed towards the monsters with a battle cry. Uaaaah! The monster moved its gigantic arm. It shattered the giants clubs and struck their chests. Kuhack! Giants screamed and fell. Those who rushed inter, seeing the different scenario, involuntarily stopped. The monsters began to slowly advance. The giants eyes turned red. How dare you! Exiled beings like you! These mere monsters had defeated the great giants. The giants burst into rage and charged at them together. Umberak joined in btedly. Huup! He swung his sword fiercely. The monster, with its square-shaped arms, deflected the sword. ng! They were repelled from each other. Umberaks eyes wavered. The monsters he had encountered until now could not properly block his sword. However, this one had almost equal strength. The monsters had be stronger. But Umberakughed heartily. As a lord, the existence of the rift was annoying, but he was a giant who revered strength and loved battle. The enemy bing stronger was a reason for joy, not panic. Not just him, but the other giants felt the same. They fought against the monsters, shouting battle cries despite bleeding. They were not afraid of death. But there were clear limits. The opponents were several B-ss monsters. The only one who could fight a monster one-on-one was the strongest, Umberak. The other giants also attacked the monsters together but continued to sustain injuries, big and small. Seeing this, Taesan started to move. Umberak, who was enjoying the battle, became rmed. Human! Back off! Its dangerous here! Unlike the usual monsters, there was no room to protect him. He urgently shouted, but Taesan did not stop his steps. As soon as Taesan appeared on the battlefield, the monsters behavior changed. Pushing away the giants they were fighting, the monsters rushed towards Taesan. Three monsters, rivaling the giants in size, charged at Taesan. Umberak tried to help Taesan but couldnt shake off the monster in front of him. The monsters attacked Taesan. Taesan lightly thrust his fist forward. With a crushing sound, the monsters were sent flying. Umberaks eyes widened in shock at this sight. Now B-ss is just routine. He had already defeated A-ss monsters during his previous return. Even if several B-ss monsters attacked him, it wouldnt pose a significant problem. Did they think this would be enough, or was this the best they could do? Considering the forced way the monsters had entered through the rift, thetter seemed more likely. Taesan kept moving. Drawing his sword, he dived into the midst of the monsters. With a crushing sound. [Monster 91221 took 2285 damage.] He plunged his sword in. Dodging the descending arm of the monster, heunched a frost arrow, piercing through it. At the same time, an unpleasant sensation crept into his mind, but he shook it off. So its these things after all. The difort he felt every time he used magic had intensified. But it wasnt significant enough to hinder him, so Taesan continued to confront the monsters. Umberak and the other giants watched Taesans battle with dumbfounded expressions. What is this They knew Taesan was strong, but they thought he was just at the level of a weak foreigner, far below that of a giant. They believed he had defeated the ck Plunderer by exploiting its carelessness due to its small size, not in a serious fight. That wasnt just his own thought. All the giants believed so. They were the strongest beings in the world. The Labyrinth, where gods resided, was of no importance to them. Magic was nothing to them. They looked down on the outside world, devaluing its level. With no interaction with the outside world, their prejudices gradually became their reality. But now, right before their eyes, that perception was being shattered. [You have activated Thunderbolt.] Lightning pierced through the monsters. The very magic they had disdained was dealing effective damage to the monsters they struggled against. With a crushing sound. One monster fell like that. Umberak, snapping back to reality, clenched his teeth. We are giants. They couldnt just stand by and let a human handle everything. Shaking off his shock, he shouted. Giants! Are you going to just watch this small human handle everything? The giants eyes lit up. Their pride lifted them. After that, it was simple. Even Taesan alone could have defeated them all, but with the giants joining in, the monsters were swiftly eliminated. [Your Soul Ascension has activated. ??? skill proficiency increased by 1%.] Thanks to defeating several B-ss monsters, his total proficiency increased by 4%. It was a decent harvest. Umberak looked at Taesan with wavering eyes. You are Before that. Taesan stood in front of the purple rift. Umberak had said that only the kings great warriors could stop the rift. Taesan thrust his sword into the rift. The rift twisted wildly, resisting Taesan. It was an eerie sight, as if the rift itself screamed, but Taesan overpowered it with his strength. Eventually, the twisting rift surrendered to Taesan and vanished. The giants, watching this, were struck with astonishment. Is this enough to meet your king? Chapter 178: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (4) Chapter 178: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (4) Thats enough. Umberak nodded his head btedly. That should be sufficient. Then its settled. Taesan returned to the vige. Umberak, having taken care of the injured, returned to his domain with the soldiers. Due to the sudden increase in the strength of the monsters and the ensuing aftermath, Umberak stayed up all night with wide-open eyes. When everything was somewhat settled, he sought out Taesan. Hmm. I apologize. I was too flustered at that time. Therefore, I couldnt show proper manners. Umberak bowed his enormous body. Thanks to you, no one had to die. I express my gratitude. Considering the strength of the monsters, it wouldnt have been strange if some giants had died on the battlefield. However, thanks to Taesan, everyones life was saved, which was very grateful for a lord. However, his eyes wereplex when he looked at Taesan. May I have a moment to talk? Feel free. The giant sat down. Nevertheless, due to the difference in their sizes, Taesan had to lift his neck to face him. We are giants. We believed that there was no one stronger than us in the world. Taesan was strong, but they thought his strength couldnt match theirs. Thats why they thought they had to protect him when taking him to the rift. But it was a vain thought. A foolish judgment. Umberak chuckled bitterly. Firstly, your strength qualifies you to meet our king. As I said before, closing the rift is impossible without the strength of a great warrior. You have shown that strength, so now its my turn to help. Taesan nodded his head. Umberak continued. However, it might take some time. The royal pce is far, and the king is busy. Thats fine. He had anticipated waiting a few more days from the start. After a moment of silence, Umberak spoke. How did you be so strong? By continuously fighting and winning. Taesan answered. Umberak, with aplex look, asked again. Outside are there many as strong as you? There arent many, but there are quite a few stronger than me. Umberaks eyes shook greatly. Stronger than you? For now. He would catch up eventually, but at the current moment, the leaders of the guides were beyond his power to contend with. Umberak let out a hollowugh. What are we even fighting for? A sense of futility and the shock of his known and believed world crumbling overwhelmed him. Staring nkly at the ground, he spoke. In the distant past, there was a giant who headed to thebyrinth. A warrior stronger and bigger than anyone. He went into thebyrinth, and for a long time, there was no news of him. We thought he had conquered thebyrinth but Umberak smirked bitterly. If what you say is true, then thats not the case. He must have fallen in thebyrinth. I was surprised too. I heard that you fought with gods. Compared to that story, the current giants seemed too weak. We know that story too. Its about how giants from all over the world gathered to defeat a transcendent being who tried to trample the world. The level of power Taesan knew about the transcendent beings made it seem nearly impossible. The idea that the descendants who achieved such a feat couldnt even handle a B-ss monster wasughable. Everyone thought that story was just a legend. No one really believed it. But if its true it means we have forgotten something. Umberak, stroking his chin, asked, You said you were brought to our world by the god of magic. Thats right. But we dont know anything about magic. Not just me, but most giants dont. When you think about it, its strange. Umberak furrowed his brow. A long time ago, I read an almost decayed ancient text. It mentioned giants who practiced magic. It was something he had forgotten until he heard Taesans words and managed to recall. Umberak realized something was amiss. The existence of such a text suggests that we once dealt with magic. But now, no one knows about it. Why? Umberak was puzzled, but Taesan had a guess. Every time magic is cast, it has some negative effect. Knock knock. At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Come in. A very flustered maid entered the room. Umberak stood up. Whats the matter? My Lord The maid swallowed and said, The great warriors have arrived. Hmm? Umberak looked noticeably confused. Its only been a day since I contacted them, and theyre already here? It was too fast. The messenger wouldnt have even reached the royal pce yet. The speed was iprehensible. The maid nodded. Yes. And not just one, but four of them. Umberaks eyes widened. Umberak hurriedly ran out. Following him to the reception room of the lords castle, Taesan saw four giants. All the giants were blindfolded. Seeing them, Umberak hurriedly knelt. Great warriors! The blindfolded giants looked at Umberak for a moment and then turned away. Although they were blindfolded, there was no difort in their gaze when looking at Taesan. Human. Our king has summoned you. Taesan nodded. The great warriors, leaving behind Umberaks hospitality, prepared to leave for the royal pce immediately. Umberak had no choice but to calm his regret. Im sorry. I couldnt even properly treat a great warrior like you. With a regretful face, Umberak handed Taesan a small ore. Of course, it was small from his perspective, but it was the size of Taesans torso. This is a precious ore that can only be found in our world. It can be alloyed with any ore and is harder than steel, yet stic. Take it. Can I ept this? You saved our lives. This is a small price to pay for that. Umberak smiled warmly. He saw off Taesan as he departed. I wish I could see you again, little warrior. The great warrior and Taesan left the city behind. How long will it take to get to the royal pce? It doesnt matter. The blindfolded great warrior extended his hand, and a mystical aura began to envelop them. It was magic. The great warrior clenched his fist, and their bodies leaped through space. We have arrived, human. The surrounding scenery hadpletely changed. Taesan found himself inside a building so vast, he felt like an ant. Taesan frowned. I heard you had forgotten magic. ording to Umberak, the royal pce and his domain were quite far apart. Yet, they had leaped that distance in an instant. It was a spatial leap iparable to Taesans Blink. The great warrior casually responded. We paid a price for that. We blindfold and limit our senses to prevent interference. The great warriors began to retreat one by one. Before they disappeared, they left Taesan with a final message. Our king is waiting for you inside. Taesan was left alone in the vast corridor. The ghost muttered. [That was fast. Seems quite urgent, doesn''t it?] Its not bad for me. Taesan approached the massive door and pushed it gently. Creak. The door, making a noisy sound, opened to reveal a vast hall inside. At the end of the hall, on a throne, sat an aged giant. The giant, appearing very weary, still radiated an undeniable powerful aura that filled the hall. Taesan instinctively knew. The giant before him was an immortal. Naturally, Taesan took abat stance. Having bad memories associated with immortals, it was a natural precaution for him. Seeing his stance, the giant king spoke softly. There is no need for caution. I have no intention of harming you. He leaned his chin tiredly. Rather, I am thankful to the god of magic for this opportunity. The giant king showed no signs of hostility. As Taesan rxed, the king continued. That gauntlet looks familiar. His gaze turned to the gauntlet Taesan was wearing. The gauntlet, which the god of magic said he used himself, had its mystical seal unlocked. Long ago, there was the strongest being in our world. He was more brutal than anyone, but no one dared to stand against him. The giant king spoke as if he were an old man recounting an ancient tale. And there was one among us, the weakest and the size of a human. Everyone ignored and mocked him. But he didnt give up and grew stronger. Eventually, he overthrew the tyrant, shattered his gauntlet, and forged it into his own trophy. Now, its all an old story. Who the strong one was remained unclear. But it was possible to guess who the weak one was. The god of magic. The god of magic was a giant. The giant king, gazing intently at Taesan, murmured. Indeed, you are an agent of the gods. Otherwise, the god of magic wouldnt have sent you here. Agent? The gods each have their own domains. Even for gods, its not easy to interfere in other domains, especially those who reside in thebyrinth. Taesan was aware of this fact. Until he conquered the gods battleground, the gods of thebyrinth left the gods of the outside world alone. I heard they disappeared after urring once a long time ago. To reappear now, those fastidious beings must really approve of you. The giant king stood up. Are you curious? Why we became so weak. Once we even defeated a transcendent being, but now we are so frail. Taesan nodded. The giant king left the hall and headed somewhere. Taesan followed. Despite the immense height difference between them, Taesan could easily keep up, perhaps due to some magical adjustments within the castle. The giant king spoke. We were mighty beings. Not only physically strong but also close to the mysteries. This reached its peak when the smallest giant became the god of magic. The magic possessed by the god of magic was of a different caliber. This was evident from the magicians of Vekveta who imed to use magic. Their most advanced magic was merely elementary in thebyrinth. We were strong. We even repelled a transcendent being who tried to trample us and make us his subjects. But you know well how we are now. Quite. Barely able to defeat B-ss monsters. Certainly not weak, but nowhere near their past glories. We lost our magic. Only those born with it can sacrifice all senses and receive my protection to block interference. You must guess why. The High Gods. Taesan muttered. The advancing giant king gave a bitterugh. The High Gods are cunning. Judging it difficult to destroy us with power alone, they made us forget our strength over the span of a thousand years. Soon, they arrived in front of a transparent curtain deep within the royal pce. Look at this. Inside the curtain was a massive ck sphere. Numerous tendrils writhed on the sphere, creating a repulsive sight. [A monster??? has appeared.] The monster itself isnt very strong, the giant king said. But the problem is the wave it emits. The giant king furrowed his brow in pain. A faint power seeped through the transparent curtain from the writhing monster. Thousands of years ago, this monster descended into our world. Since then, it has exerted influence over the entire, hindering our use of magic. The giant king suddenly turned his gaze to Taesan. The closer you get to this monster, the stronger the wave it emits. Even the strongest and most exceptional giants, except for me, would copse approaching this far. But you seem fine. It doesnt bother me much. The giant kingughed at Taesans words. Our ancestor sealed this monster with magic and built the royal pce over it, managing the monster generation after generation. But even in its sealed state, we couldntpletely eliminate the monsters wave. Even I, an immortal, can only suppress it with power. Yet, you, a human, still a mortal, are unaffected by these waves. Dont you find that strange? Chapter 179: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (5) Chapter 179: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (5) I dont know about that. He had always been like this. Even when he encountered an Apostle or met a god, he wasnt greatly shaken mentally. The Giant Kingughed. What an amazing ability. It seems you dont fully understand it either. The Giant King spoke softly. Anyway, its fortunate that we can get help from such a being. Otherwise, we are doomed to destruction. The Giant King turned his gaze towards the flickering monster. You must have realized something strange about the monsters on your way here. They were too weak. At best, they were C-ss. Even ordinary giants could easily defeat them. They werent capable of destroying the world. Taesan guessed the reason. Is it because of that monster? The High Gods have a limit on how much they can interfere in a world. Most of that was used on that monster. Thats why they cant send monsters above a certain level. The Giant Kingughed bitterly. But we are getting weaker. Even for me, its overwhelming just to suppress the monsters waves to let the great warriors use magic. The Giant King was immortal. He transcended the limits of life, but he looked so aged. Taesan asked. Why dont you just kill it? The monster certainly had a terrifying presence, but Taesan thought the Giant King could kill it. However, the Giant King shook his head. If I could, I would have done it several times. The Giant King raised his hand and clenched his fist. Crack! Then, thousands of magic arrows were driven into the monster inside the barrier. The Giant King calmly watched the arrows that were piercing the monster so much that its form was unrecognizable. This monster is designed to be unkible by giants. The monster writhed and stood up. Its damaged flesh began to crawl and merge back together. The monster is making us forget magic, but it cant be killed by a giant. Over time, it will even corrode our bodies. It exists solely to kill us. Taesan realized why the god of magic had sent him here. Thats why Im asking you. Please kill it. The Giant Kings flickering eyes turned to Taesan. You are not affected by the monsters waves. Youre not a giant, so you can inflict effective damage on the monster. Thats probably why the god of magic sent you. Please, human. Taesan nodded. Alright. He hade here for that very purpose. Though different from his initial expectations, defeating the monster seemed like it would clear the quest. So, there was no reason to refuse. Above all, his opponents were the High Gods. The thought of giving them a hard time, they who were trampling on the earth, made Taesan happy. Taesan agreed. The Giant King smiled. Thank you. I will ensure you are amply rewarded. So, what should I do? Just kill it? That wont do. The Giant King shook his head. This monster is not only killing us but also serves as a kind of limit. The moment you touch the monster, the High Gods will open the space and call forth more monsters. You can stop them, cant you? The Giant King was immortal. He had power iparable even to the leaders of the Guides of Sin. He could easily crush a monster with his fingers, but the Giant King smiled bitterly. I cannot touch the monster. The Giant King pointed at the monster with his finger. Waves were still violently emanating from the monster. If I release the seal suppressing the monster, it will spread its waves more intensely and widely. Then everyone, except for me and the great warriors, will go mad. I must prevent that. So, even the immortals power is not enough? If it were a simple monster, I would have eradicated them all long ago. The High Gods are cunning and sly. Taesan knew this well enough. He had suffered from them in his previous life. So, how do you n to stop the monsters? Taesan had to focus on defeating this monster. The Giant King replied. Thats why we need to gather those who can withstand the monsters. The Giant Kingmanded the great warriors. Except for Habriam, the three of you go to each territory and summon the lords. Tell them their king has summoned them. Tell them to prepare for battle. The great warriors left in silent agreement. It will take some time to gather everyone. Its not much of a reward, but take this. The Giant King waved his finger. A mystical power flowed out and settled in Taesan. [You have learned the beginner rune magic [White Rune Shield].] [Beginner Rune Magic: White Rune Shield] [Mana Consumption: 30] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mystical runes are inscribed on small shields summoned around you. The mystery contained in the shields is quite insignificant.] Taesans eyes shone. The Giant King spoke. Its our magic. It may be inferiorpared to the god of magics, but it will be useful. You can spar with Habriam for practice. Got it. Taesan followed the Giant Kings words. Taesan continued training with the great warrior while the giants gathered in the castle. The warriors power was weaker than his, but the level of magic was significantly higher, making it a decent sparring match. Taesans proficiency in magic slightly increased, and he roughly grasped how to use the White Rune Shield. And then, as time passed, all the giants finally arrived. Everyones here. Umberak murmured as he looked around at the gathered giants. He recognized quite a few faces. All of them were lords of their respective territories. Not just small territories, but even those managingnds ten times his size were present. About a hundred such lords had gathered. What in the world is happening Umberak narrowed his eyebrows. A human hade to his territory, then suddenly strong monsters appeared, and the human defeated them. Following the humans request, he sent a message to the Giant King, but before it even arrived, four great warriors came to take the human away. Just when he thought it was all over, a great warrior returned after a few days, saying the king had summoned him and told him to follow. With so many events unfolding in such a short time, Umberak was still struggling to fully grasp the situation. Taesan, who had personally met and somewhat understood the situation, felt this way; thus, it was even more so for the other giants. They waited in anticipation for their meeting with their king. Creak. The door opened. The Giant King appeared. The giants hastily bowed. We greet our King! The giants shouted in unison. In their eyes, looking at the Giant King, there was only admiration. The strongest giant, who had protected them for hundreds of years, was their king. However, there was also a hint of doubt in the eyes of the giants. Seeing their king in person was a very rare event, happening only once every few years. And now that they all gathered like this, it was natural for them to be curious. The Giant King, looking down at them, spoke. I have something to tell you all. The Giant King began to speak about the monster established in the castle, how they had forgotten magic, and that he was trying to kill the monster. The giants were confused upon hearing the story. Your Majesty? What do you mean by that? We have forgotten magic? That cant be. The giants denied their kings words. The interference had not happened overnight but over a thousand years, and the giants had slowly forgotten the existence of magic itself. Anticipating this, the Giant King turned around. Follow me. The Giant King headed towards where the monster was. As they got closer, the giants faces began to contort. Some couldnt bear it and copsed on the ground. This is as far as we go. Ugh. Some of them even vomited. A terrible force shook their brains and ravaged their bodies. Eventually, they couldnt go any further. The Giant King returned to the battlefield with them. Those who had barely regained their senses gasped for air. Something strange and terrible was inside the castle. The Giant King said. Do you believe it now? Huff. The giants barely nodded their heads. They couldnt be sure about magic, but they understood that something was attacking them. That was enough. You are strong ones. Thats why you became lords. The Giants revered strength. To rule a territory, one had to be at least stronger than any of their subjects. All of them had the power to defeat B-ss monsters. Will you help me fight those who interfere with us? Yes! They all shouted energetically. Their eyes were aze with fighting spirit. The Giant King smiled satisfactorily. Thats right. The Giant King exined one by one. To kill the monster in the castle, the seal must be broken. But if the seal was broken, monsters would pour out. Thats why he called them, to stop it. Upon hearing this, Umberak quietly asked. Your Majesty. Are we the only ones gathered? If I release the seal, the monster will spread strong waves, and I must focus on blocking them. However, those weaker than you will still be affected by the monster despite my protection. They would be of no help. Then, will Your Majesty deal with the monster in the castle? No. I have to concentrate on blocking the waves. Someone else will handle that. The Giant King turned his gaze. Come out. Taesan appeared. The giants were taken aback at the sight of him. A human? Why is a human here? Only Umberak looked calmly, while the rest showed agitation and distrust in their eyes. He will defeat the monster. But Your Majesty, he is a A human? The giant fell silent. His gaze towards Taesan held the answer. The Giant King smiled. Im asking you. Ill need to repay youter. Dont worry. Ill generously repay you once everything is over. Taesan stepped forward and waved his hand at the one who had raised an objection. I dont feel like exining; juste at me. The giant looked at Taesan with an ambiguous gaze. Human. You seem to have some strength, but its not enough to match us. We are the strongest race Be quiet. Taesan frowned and stamped his foot. In an instant, as Taesan charged, the giant was startled and shielded himself with his arms. Taesan swung his fist. Crash. Cough! The defense broke, and the giant flew far away, crashing into a wall. Everyones eyes widened. Taesan spoke with an indifferent face. If you want to check, thene at me, all of you. Ill step back. Umberak withdrew. The giants eyes gleamed. They moved their bodies. And the next day, no one dared to open their mouth about Taesans presence. Umberak approached Taesan with a grin. Nice to see you again like this. Hello. Heh. So theres such a monster inside Surprising. It seems your words were right. Umberak muttered with a strange expression. Then, did the god of magic directly entrust you with this task for our sake? Taesan nodded. Umberak smiled bitterly. We who have forgotten magic. The High Gods. And the god of magic. So many things happening. So, has the god of magic been watching over us all this time? Probably. Taesan had been pondering over this as well. Why couldnt the god of magic descend here? It was likely due to the interference of the High Gods. Then, if the interference of the High Gods disappeared, would the god of magic descend here? Depending on the situation, that could be a strategy. Taesan was assessing the situation. And the next day, all preparations wereplete. Chapter 180: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (6) Chapter 180: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (6) The giants held their weapons with stern faces as a chilling wind passed by them. Are you ready? Taesan nodded in response to the Giant Kings question. The Giant King turned his gaze toward the giants. Giants, we are the strongest race. No one has ever been able to oppose us, not even the great transcendents could withstand our power. His voice, quiet but full of strength, spread among the giants. Their eyes began to gleam fiercely. Prepare yourselves. Lets trample and tear apart the filthy beings who dared to mess with us. Yes! A short shout echoed. The Giant King waved his hand. A massive power dug into the pce, and soon the seal of the monster was broken. nk! The Giant King clenched his fist. A huge barrier formed around the pce, and a strange, dense aura surged wildly. Crack! The aura aggressively pounded on the barrier. The Giant Kings expression became serious. At the same time, the sky split open. A vast space appeared as if a hole had been punched through. From it, a tremendous aura emerged, causing the giants to grip their weapons tighter, and Taesan grimaced. A huge hole in the sky. It was exactly like the rifts that appeared on Earth. Crack! Monsters fell from the sky, stumbling as theynded on the ground. Taesan examined the monsters but found none too strong. They were all around B-grade. The problem was their number, which exceeded hundreds. Squirm. The monsters slowly approached the giants. The Giant King spoke to his warriors. Then, I entrust this to you. Understood, Your Majesty. The warriors stomped the ground. The giants shouted and charged at the monsters. The Giant King turned his gaze to Taesan. Then, human. I ask of you. Please save us. Leaving the Giant Kings words behind Taesan entered the pce. The moment he stepped into the barrier, the monsters aura tried to devour him. Get lost. Taesan effortlessly trampled over it and moved forward. The pce was engulfed by the monsters aura, rendering visibility to less than an inch ahead. Yet, Taesan, with his empathetic eyes and enhanced senses, navigated his way with familiarity. Outside, giants and monsters were locked in fiercebat. Hmph! Umberak shed his sword, bisecting a monster. Hahaha! He erupted inughter. The dormant sense ofbat within him awakened. Not just him, but the other giants too engaged the monsters with maniacalughter. However, their strength was not particrly impressive. The battle between the monsters and giants was evenly matched, with the giants asionally being overpowered. The turning point in the intense battle fell to the great warriors. One great warrior, blindfolded, soared in the sky and gestured with his hand. Like a grand wizard, his movements opened a foreign space, and beams of light descended. Boom! The monsters that were directly hit vanished without a trace. Another warrior unleashed invisible des, slicing through dozens of monsters at once. The observing giants were in awe. Is this magic? They had forgotten this power due to the monsters. And now, they could reim it. Their eyes zed with determination. The monsters were swiftly subdued. Taesan reached the location of the monster. Gurgle. As Taesan approached, the monster reacted. Its writhing tentacles slowly extended towards him. Taesan fixed his gaze on the monster, emanating a dreadful aura. [Mental Domination Judgment in progress] [Instant Death Judgment in progress] [Frenzy Judgment in progress] [Madness Judgment in progress] [All Judgments Sessful!] Such judgments had not urred even when he faced an S-grade before. The strongest monster Taesan had encountered in this life was A-grade. However, the monster before him was far beyond that. S-Grade or higher. Under normal circumstances, this monster would not have been something that Taesan could face as he was now. However, Taesan gripped his sword. [The opponent is an unbeatable enemy.] Skills and mental judgments sharply increased his stats. Feeling the enhanced strength, Taesan gripped his sword tighter. This monster, unlike Earths monsters, specialized in fighting giants. And its most powerful ability, the mental wave, didnt affect Taesan. The condition of not being able to kill giants was as good as nonexistent for Taesan, a human. Then, what remained was the monsters physical ability. That was something Taesan, in his current state, could definitely break through. [You have activated Essential Understanding.] Suddenly, his vision cleared. Information about the monsters came in, crackling like noisy interference in his mind. Exact details were unknown, but he could grasp the general aspects. The monsters health was unbelievably high. It was several times that of the A-grade monster he had faced before. Taesan looked at the writhing tentacles emerging from the monsters body. That was the monsters main mode of attack. Woo. While Taesan was analyzing the monster, it suddenly trembled. Its rippling waves assaulted Taesans mind. The shockwave that had been flipping the giants brains and pounding their hearts now focused on Taesan. It doesnt work. Taesan shook his head, clearing it. Realizing its mental attacks were ineffective, the monster moved its tentacles. Taesan stomped his foot. At the same time, the tentacles struck down. Boom! The tentacles pounded the ground, dominating the space. Taesan swung his sword, slicing through the tentacles, and evaded the unstoppable attacks by leaping off the ground. Swiftly reaching the tentacles, Taesan drove his sword into them. Crunch. The sword stuck into a tentacle. But it didnt prate deeply. Realizing their sturdiness, Taesan maintained a distance, dodging the swinging tentacles, and charged again. Boom! The tentacles struck down. Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Crunch. He cut down the iling tentacles one by one as he advanced. Soon, he stood right in front of the monster. [You have activated Vital Point Designation.] He targeted the junction where the tentacles connected to the monster and drove his sword into it. Crunch! The sword prated deeper than before. Taesan twisted the sword in ce. The tentacle fell away. Taesan backed off. It wasnt difficult. The monster was originally designed to kill giants. Although it surpassed an S-grade in mental aspects, its physical abilities were not much different from those of an A-grade monster. The tentacles, sharp as thorns, aimed directly at Taesan. Taesan didnt dodge. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesans body moved through the air. He had already marked a spot near the tentacles. The moment he teleported, he brought his sword down like an axe. Crunch. The tentacle shook violently. As Taesan continued to strike, the tentacle fell away. Rumble! The tentacles attacked again. Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Flow.] The trajectories of the tentacles twisted, crashing into the ground and walls. He deceived all the attacking tentacles and moved again, swinging his sword. Taesan eliminated the tentacles one by one. As the number of tentacles decreased, facing the monster became easier. And the same was true outside. Uwaaaaa! A giant roared fiercely, gripping a monster tightly. The monster made uneasy noises before being torn in half. The giant flung the monsters carcass aside, shouting. This is nothing! It was an overwhelming victory for the giants. The great warriors help was immensely significant. Their attacks felled dozens of monsters at a time, turning the numerical disadvantage from the giants to the monsters. And so, they almostpletely cleared the monsters. The watching Giant King muttered softly. Is this only the beginning? Boom! A massive wave spread from the sky. Amidst their shouts, the giants hesitated for a moment. From the rift, monsters began to fall again. And the monsters that appeared were clearly stronger than those they had dealt with so far. No matter! One of the giants charged, shouting. A monster in front swung its long arm. The giant confidently held up his shield. Crunch. The shield crumbled, and the giant was thrown back. These monsters were significantly stronger than the B-grade ones. If Taesan had seen them, he would have ssified them as A-grade. Hundreds of A-grade monsters rushed in at once. The giants held their weapons with stern faces. Crunch. Taesan shook off the tentacles. Only three remained now. He was almost done. Whoo. A space opened above the monster. Dark, dense energies poured down like a waterfall, beginning to inhabit the monster. Well, that figures. [Again with this. Again. Again. Aren''t they tired of it?] The ghost muttered in disbelief. The High Gods used every means to kill Taesan. It was no different here. Taesan wasnt flustered as he had anticipated such a change at least once. Crack. The severed tentacles of the monster wriggled, growing back with small thorns on them. Simultaneously, the thorns on the tentacles shot out like arrows. Pffft! The thorns stuck into the ground. Taesan leaped, swinging his sword. Crack! The thorns were sliced all at once. But again, more thorns shot out from the tentacles, targeting Taesan. There were too many thorns to deflect with a sword. Taesan quickly decided there was no need to use two swords. Instead of a sword, he pulled out the Shield of Aegis. Clink! The thorns pounded the shield. There was a rebound, but it was bearable. No damage was taken. Taesan exerted force in his feet. [You have activated the White Rune Shield.] Boom! A bright white shield materialized in front of Taesan. The iing thorns pounded against the shield. It didntst long, but it afforded Taesan enough time to move. Crack! Taesan swung his sword, shattering the thorns like brittle straw. However, the tentacles continued to produce more thorns. Cutting the thorns proved pointless. He needed to sever the tentacles that were producing them. To aplish this, he had to approach the tentacles, just as before. Sizzle! Dozens of tentacles spread out simultaneously. And thousands of thorns hurtled towards Taesan. Taesan exerted force in his feet. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas].] [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Boom. A ck wave surged through the intervening space. The waves rose greedily, rushing towards the thorns. The thorns were engulfed and obliterated by the waves. The ck wave continued unabated. It devoured everything in its path, as if to envelop it all. Taesan directed the waves as he charged forward. The monster gathered its tentacles and fired thorns in unison. The thorns became stuck in the ck wave. The wave hesitated for a moment, then surged forward even more fiercely. Boom! The wave exploded. In an instant, thousands of thorns were annihted. Thud. Taesan stomped his foot. Suddenly, now ahead of the tentacles, Taesan raised his sword above his head. Chapter 181: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (7) Chapter 181: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (7) Kuuung! To block Taesans approach, the monster fiercely mmed down its tentacles. But the disappearing pitch-ck wave clung greedily to the tentacles, creating an opening for Taesan. [You have activated Vital Point Designation.] [You have activated the White Rune Shield.] Targeting the vital point on the tentacles. The white shield once again floated around Taesan, blocking the iing spines. Taesan thrusts his sword. [2405 damage to the monster???] Kwajik. The sword was stuck in the tentacle. Taesan then exerted force. Kwadeuk! The tentacle was crushed and severed. At the same time, the white shields shattered. The tentacles flew at him, but Taesan did not dodge and directly thrust his sword into another tentacle. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] The spines that were stuck returned. In that gap, Taesan also cut off another tentacle. Though he managed to cut off two tentacles at once, there were still dozens of tentacles remaining on the monsters body. Taesan moved calmly. Kwagagagak! Thousands of spines were stuck. As it was impossible to dodge all attacks, First Attack Nullification was activated again. But Taesan was not flustered. He slowly figured out the monsters weakness, and during the process, Taesan realized one thing. This thing relies on sight. Whenever Taesans body was obscured by the debris from the floor and walls or by dust from the battle, the monsters attacks showed a bit of a gap. After experimenting a few more times, Taesan realized that the tentacles had eyes somewhere. If he could just block the view, the attack would be easier. Realizing this, Taesan immediately activated a skill. [You have activated Decarabia''s Twisted Vegetation.] Kugugugung! Roots burst out, consuming the space. The monster began to break the roots by shooting spines. Before the roots werepletely destroyed, Taesan also activated the Deer Walking on the Wind Path along with a small spark. mes spread through the wind, burning the roots. Thick smoke spread out, obscuring the view with the burning roots. The tentacles stopped shooting spines and hesitated, and Taesan seized this opportunity. With his enhanced senses and Eyes of Harmony, such obstacles were no hindrance to him. Kwajik. Taesan dropped another tentacle. The spines were shot toote. [You have activated Random Blink.] The spines split the air. Taesan, who had already marked another spot, dropped another tentacle. As time passed, the number of tentacles decreased. And with that, the number of shooting spines also decreased. Taesan continued to move. The monster was certainly strong. The movements of the tentacles were faster and stronger, and the bursting spines were too numerous to dodgepletely. But finding its weakness, it wasnt a level Taesan couldnt attack. After the battle, Taesan was able to drop almost all the tentacles. The remaining tentacles shot spines. Taesan lifted his shield with a bored expression. The spines fell away. That was closer than I thought. Only one attack nullification was left. Almost all of his magic power was consumed, and the duration of his rage mode was also running out. It might have been dangerous for Taesan if it hadsted a bit longer, but he managed to secure victory within the time limit. Its over. Taesan approached the monster and thrust his sword into it. The monsters body shook violently. Taesan pulled out his sword. The spheres body split in half, spilling ck liquid. Slowly, power began to drain from the monsters tentacles. Sensing the end, Taesan turned his back on the monster and stepped outside the sealed area. And then, he felt a huge power behind him. Taesan quickly distanced himself from the monster. A rift in space appeared above the monster, and, as before, a deep and dense power poured out from there. [Eh?] This is Taesan groaned. The monsters body, empowered, trembled. The body, torn like rags, began to return to its original state. The torn-off tentacles grew back. In a matter of seconds, the monster had returned to its original state. [...What is this?] The tentacles moved again. They rose to the sky like lifting arms, and thousands of spines were shot at once. Taesan hastily stamped his foot. Outside, the situation was not much different. The giants fought for their lives, defeating the monsters. Grade A monsters were tough for them to handle, but with the great warriors, they managed to win little by little. Truly strong. Umberak murmured in awe. Each time a great warrior attacked, a monster difficult for them to handle was taken down. It was a power worthy of awe. Just as the giants were looking forward to victory. Wooung. The waves spread out again. Monsters poured out from the crack in the sky. Again? The giants were taken aback, not expecting the monsters to appear three times. It wasnt just them; even the great warriors were shaken by the current scene. Dozens of Grade A monsters appeared again. And behind them, a monster resembling a slime wriggling on the ground was also seen. That is. The watching giant king frowned. This is too much. Wooung! The slime-like monster trembled. Then, the mucus making up its body was shot out like bullets. The giants quickly took up weapons and shields, but it was no use. Kwadeuk! Ugh! Ugh! The mucus shattered all their defenses and pierced through their bodies. Numerous giants fell without being able to resist at all. A great warrior quickly flew forward. He waved his hand, dropping a pir of light. Kuuuung! The light struck the mucus monster directly. It was an attack that had obliterated any monster it faced until now. However, the monster seemed unharmed and flung mucus at the great warrior. The great warrior created a barrier for defense, but the mucus prated even that barrier, grazing his forearm. Ah! For the first time, the great warrior groaned. A small hole was punctured in his forearm. This is dangerous. Having healed the wound with magic, the great warrior looked at the monster through magical sight. It was significantly stronger than any monster that had appeared until now. He turned his gaze to the other great warriors. Four of them surrounded the mucous monster, raising their hands. Kuuuung! A massive magic force pressed down on the monster. It was a kind of sealing magic that restrained movement and inflicted continuous damage. The four great warriorsbined their strength to suppress the monster, but it did notply easily. Burr! The monster trembled, and mucus poured out again. When the mucus collided with the seal, cracks appeared in it. The great warriors hastily drew more power to strengthen the seal further. While the four great warriors barely managed to restrain one mucous monster, the situation for the giants, who couldnt receive the great warriors aid, was getting worse. Grade A monsters began to trample the giants one by one. Pabababak! Spines were thrust. Taesan flew to dodge. Thest attack nullification had already been used up. The monster shot spines at Taesan again. Quickly, Taesan raised his shield. He felt a strong impact beyond the shield. Uh. Taesan swallowed a groan. The monster had be faster and stronger than before. [This...] The ghost constantly thought about how to defeat this monster and came up with a despairing answer. [Isn''t it impossible to defeat this with normal methods?] Despite being defeated several times, the monster kept regenerating. It was clearly strange. Based on the ghosts experience, there were a few solutions for this type of enemy. Find a weakness that couldnt be solved by physical means. Or its something that literally cant be defeated, like some kind ofw. [Just enduring or finding another weakness seems to be the answer.] A mysterious enemy that keeps regenerating. In the ghosts view, fighting any longer was a waste of time. Moreover, much had been expended in two battles already. Regrouping and fighting againter seemed like the best decision based on the ghosts experience. Well. But Taesan did not back down. He dodged the shooting spines, advancing little by little. Taesan, like the ghost, recalled his experiences one by one. An enemy that wouldnt fall. And at the foundation of this was the power that poured out from that crack in space every time the monster was in crisis. Taesan had faced thousands, if not tens of thousands, of monsters. Among them, there were those that regenerated, and some seemed truly indestructible. However, a monster that regenerated by receiving power from an external source like that did not exist. This meant that the regeneration of the monster involved direct intervention by a higher being. But can they continue to use this? Taesan thought. While higher beings were responsible for sending monsters to Earth, they could not send ones above a certain level. The moment they crossed the line to kill Taesan, thebyrinth gods too gained the right to intervene on Earth, rewarding Taesan. The Demon God had once said during his previous return, Excessive interference is impossible. It goes against thews. And he was here now on a request from the god of magic. Taesan made a decision. He charged at the monster. Through his movements, the ghost realized. Taesan aimed to take down the monster. The ghost said nothing and kept his mouth shut. It was Taesans decision to make. If he had made a judgment, then the ghost had no right or reason to intervene. And he believed. That Taesans judgment was better than his own. Spines were thrusting. Taesan stamped on the ground. [You have activated Leap.] Pabababak! Spines were thrust into the ground. Though he seeded in dodging the attack, it meant little. Thousands of spines flew towards Taesan in the air. He dodged the attack again with an aerial leap. And once more, he dodged the following attack with anding and approached the monster. But he had yet to reach the monster. The spines began to surge towards Taesan again. Taesan did not dodge. He focused more, pushing forward. Kkudeuk. The aura of the apostle wrapping around Taesan twisted. The aura itself came under Taesans control. At the same time, Taesan felt a strong pressure on him. Twisting the surrounding Soul Energy artificially, it felt as if the blood throughout his body was boiling. A massive depletion of energy and fatigue enveloped him. He gritted his teeth and pressed on. Pabababak! The spines pierced Taesans flesh. But they did not prate. It was as if they were blocked by an invisible barrier, merely touching Taesan. That was The ability of a higher being gained as a reward for defeating a Grade A monster, Twisted Soul Harmony. Ironically, the ability of a higher being provided a weakness to their own minions. Taesan, having reached the monsters core, took a breath. [You have activated Mental eleration.] Senses sharpened. He felt thousands of spines flying towards his back. Concentrating all his mind on one point, Taesan thrust his sword deep into the monsters body. Chapter 182: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (8) Chapter 182: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (8) A prolonged battle was out of the question. All his means of nullifying attacks had been depleted, and only half of the health remained. While health could be somewhat replenished with potions, there was no method to restore the expended mana and skills. Yet, the most pressing issue was the nearing end of the transformation into an apostle. Within the dwindling duration of the transformation, the monster had to be vanquished. Papababak! Thorns hurtled towards Taesans back. He focused his mind. Amidst a growing sense of detachment and fatigue, the level of force twisted anew. The thorns that targeted Taesans back failed to prate the condensed force and were repelled. Taesan significantly twisted the sword he had plunged into the monsters body. Crackling. ck liquid gushed out, further tearing the monsters body apart. [You have dealt 4042 damage to the monster.] Taesan ignited mes in the monsters wounds using the tiny spark spirit skill. The monster writhed as if in agony. Simultaneously, thorns wereunched at him once more. [You have activated a random blink.] Crack. Moving counter to the direction of the thorns assault, he thrust his sword again and yanked it out. After thrusting the sword once more, he split it open and spread mes. The monsters body started to burn. Kururung! The monsters body shook violently. The room quaked as though on the verge of copse. At the same time, the thorns resumed their frenzied attack. Taesan concentrated anew on defending against the relentless assault. Simultaneously, Taesans body momentarily faltered under the immense force and fatigue. I cant go on any longer. Taesan barely managed to steady himself. Adjusting the twisted souls power considerably strained his mental fortitude. Continuing its use might lead to his actual copse. Taesan maneuvered past the monster with minimal defense. One by one,rge scars were inflicted on the body. Boooo! The monster cried out in pain. The thorns swirled and charged at Taesan with the force of a storm. Koong! Taesan mmed down his shield. [You have used the Aegis shield. You are immune to all damage for 1 second but cannot move.] Kagagagak! The rough storm of thorns grazed past Taesan. Taesan took no damage and moved again after 1 second, slicing the monsters flesh. ck slime stretched out in all directions like a swamp, trying to grasp Taesans ankles. As the slime touched him, a terrible mental wave prated his mind. It doesnt work. Taesan shook it off lightly. At this point, a mental attack was unlikely to work. Taesan plunged his sword again. Burr. The monsters body trembled greatly. The impact was so great that the tentacles momentarily stopped. Seizing the opportunity, Taesan drew his dual swords and deeply embedded them into the monsters body. ck slime gurgled out unrestrainedly. It was the moment the monster was dying. And, as had been the case so far, space opened above the monsters head, and dark power poured down on the monster. Taesan calmly observed this scene. The moment the monster began to regenerate with the received power, space trembled greatly. The huge force supporting the monster began to shake unstably, like a vessel cracking from being filled beyond its capacity. As expected. The regenerative power the monster received was directly bestowed by high gods. There was a limit to how much one could interfere in realms that were not their own. The high god was walking a fine line at that boundary. And once again, as the monster was revived, that line broke. There was one being that could appear in such a situation. Crackling. The moment the high god crossed the line, a being waiting for this opportunity appeared. A hand emerged from that ce, tearing space apart significantly. With space torn apart, a being with eyes like starlight appeared. Yourete. Taesan murmured as he lowered his sword. The God of Magic had descended. Woahhhhh! A giant swung an axe at the monster with a shout. The monster did not avoid the giants attack. ng! Ugh! It was the axe-wielding giant who was repelled instead. The giant gritted his teeth. What is this They were being overwhelmed by the monsters. They could barely defeat B-ss monsters and had no chance against A-ss ones. Although they realized they were facing a much stronger enemy and tried to hold their formation, it was reaching its limit. The giants fell one by one. Out of the hundreds, already half were dead. In contrast, they had only managed to kill five monsters. That they had managed to take down five A-ss monsters with their power was an impressive feat, but the desperate situation had not changed. The great warriors Their situation was not any better. Their clothes were torn to shreds, and their hair was a mess. The slime monster they had been suppressing rose up violently. At the same time, the slime spread and surged towards the giants like a wave. The great warriors hurriedly gathered and raised their hands. A huge magical barrier was created. Koooong! The slime pounded on the barrier. A cracking sound spread little by little across the barrier. Despite the great warriors pulling more and more power, the emerging cracks did not stop and continued to grow in intensity. Is this the end? The Giant Kingughed bitterly. The gamble had failed. Yet, just as he was about to calmly ept defeat. Wooong! The wave of the monster that had been continuously hitting his barrier slowly began to disappear. The Giant Kings eyes shone. He released the power he was using to create the barrier. The wave that had been spreading throughout the world left only a faint residue and disappeared. Huh? This power It wasnt just the Giant King who realized it. The giants fighting, as well as the monsters, momentarily stopped their attacks and looked towards the castle. Something immense had descended here directly. The Giant Kingughed. Isnt it toote, God of Magic? [This feels good.] The God of Magicughed, setting his foot on the ground. [It''s been a long time since I''ve been on thend of my birth. Toe here because of such a worthless thing. I love it.] Was it the high gods interference after all? The God of Magic was a giant from the world of arrogant giants, a native of Bahuliya. But he had never shown himself here before. Considering the task given to him, the God of Magic had an attachment to his homnd. There was definitely some interference, and Taesan thought it was the high gods. [Right. Those annoying ones kept blocking my return. Seems they really wanted to kill the giants.] The God of Magic swung his hand merrily. [But that''s over now.] The space created above the monsters head closed. [As I expected, Kang Taesan. You did as I wanted. You kept killing the monster, forcing the high god to cross the line. Thanks to you, I was able to descend.] The God of Magic held hisughter, seemingly very pleased. [I''ll express my thanks, Kang Taesan. It''s rare for a god to thank a human, so take it as an honor.] Gurgling. The cracks made by the high god disappeared, but the monster had already regenerated. The monster moved its tentacles,unching thousands of thorns at Taesan and the God of Magic. [This one''s on you.] The God of Magic didnt even nce at the monsters attack. The thorns approaching the God of Magic turned to ash and disappeared. [I have my own things to do.] That may be, but its going to be difficult now. The transformation was undone, and both his physical and mental strength were depleted. Facing the monster now was practically impossible. Upon hearing Taesans words, the God of Magic flicked his fingers. [Don''t worry.] Mana, invoked by the God of Magic, inhabited Taesan. [You are in your best state.] [You have learned the intermediate magic [Frozen World].] [The usage wille naturally to you.] As Zelbando finished speaking, Taesan immediately became aware of all the information about magic, including its effects and power. [It''s quite high-grade, even among intermediate magics, so I hope you like it.] Thank you. Taesan nodded, groaning. [Then I''ll go do what I must.] Zelbando left with a smile. Taesan turned his gaze towards the writhing monster. Until now, it had been a fairly dangerous enemy worth risking his life against, but it no longer posed a threat. Kugugugung! The tentacles moved, and again, thousands of thorns flew towards him. [You have activated Frozen World.] Creaking and cracking! Space froze over. A terrible chill rushed at the monster. Due to the battles aftermath, the copsing space froze over, halting the copse. Instantly, silence enveloped the vast space. The state of the monster, directly hit by the magic, was truly pitiful. All its tentacles were frozen solid, unable to move. The monster tried to fiercely twist its frozen tentacles to shoot thorns at Taesan, but the chill that subdued it blocked even that attempt. Taesan curled the corners of his mouth and approached the monster. While he was dealing with the monster, the God of Magic moved towards the Giant King. All the giants stared nkly at Zelbando. [Are you the king now? Pleased to meet you.] The Giant King, who had been staring nkly at Zelbando, opened his mouth. You are quite small, just like in the books. Zelbandos size was simr to Taesans. It was inconceivable that he was one of the giants. [Right. I was small and weak, always under everyone''s protection.] Zelbando chuckled and raised his hand. [I have received a lot from you. So, I guess it''s time to give back.] His hand unleashed a tremendous power that reached the giants. As soon as his power touched them, all the giants felt an overflowing strength. Oh, ohhhhh A flood of knowledge began filling their minds about the magic that they had forgotten over long and lengthy eons. Swish. Simultaneously, the sky split open, and monsters poured down like rain. Each one wasparable to the slime monsters the great warriors had faced. [They never give up, do they? But it''s toote now.] Zelbando chuckled merrily. The Giant King looked down at his fist with serene eyes. The mental attacks he had been blocking with all his might for a long time were now gone. How long has it been since I fully felt my power? He stood up, waving his hand towards the dozens of S-ss monsters charging at him. The sky opened, and starlight fell. Each starlight possessed the power to crush the earth and twist space. The S-ss monsters were instantly buried in light and disappeared. Some survived the fall of the starlight, attempting to attack, but even they were crushed under the remnants of the light. Dozens of S-ss monsters. Monsters that even the previous lifes Taesan and Lee Taeyeon had carefully dealt with were wiped out in one strike. The Giant Kingughed. He clenched his fist. Disappear. Koong! The Giant Kings power stretched out to all the worlds. The cracks that had been established in each territory were one by one pressed down by the power and disappeared. In just a few minutes, all the cracks that existed in Bahuliya were gone. Kooong! Simultaneously, a massive wave was felt from inside the castle. [It seems that side is finished, too.] Shortly after, Taesan, covered in ck slime, appeared. Taesan said calmly. The quest isplete, God of Magic. [Well done.] The God of Magic smiled faintly. Chapter 183: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (9) Chapter 183: The World Of The Arrogant Giant (9) The God of Magic silently gazed upon thend. Beside him, Taesan asked, Arent you going back to thebyrinth? [I will return. But not just yet. It''s been a long time since I''ve been to my homnd, and I intend to enjoy it.] Longing was evident in Zelbandos eyes as he viewed the scenery. [The annoying high gods kept me away for a long time. It was incredibly irritating, but thanks to you, I could return once again. Let me express my gratitude once more. This is sincere.] What about the high gods then? [Nothing.] Zelbando shrugged his shoulders. [The damage I''ve caused this time isn''t significant enough to deeply affect them. If it were, we would have broken through the seals and shredded their bodies long ago. However They won''t be able to interfere with my world anymore.] The sky, having regained its blue hue, looked very calm. But Taesan knew that an invisible, massive barrier was spread out there. [I don''t n to return immediately... but I can''t hold you back.] Zelbando waved his hand. [Go and meet the king of the giants. Talk to him, receive your reward, and then return. After that, I''ll send you back to thebyrinth.] Taesan nodded and went off to find the giant king. Youvee. The giant king was waiting for him on his throne. You seem to be in good condition. Thanks to you. The giant king let out a smallugh. The constraints that were felt towards him before hadpletely vanished. The presence of an immortal who could subjugate and dominate everyone just by existing was emanating. I express my gratitude, human. Thanks to you, we were able to win. Finally, after thousands of years, a struggle that started before he even ascended the throne, had culminated in the defeat of the beings that coveted the world of the giants. The gratitude he felt was so profound that even as the king of giants, it was difficult to express in words. Of course, the damage was not small. The giant king smiled bitterly. About half of the giants, who numbered in the hundreds, had perished. Considering that each of them was not just any giant but the lord of their respective territories, the loss was indeed significant. But we won. They had seeded in stomping down and driving away the monster. And the damage was much less than what the giant king had initially anticipated. He had expected the monsters to spread in all directions, devastating numerous territories. The deaths of the lords were sad, but sacrificing their lives to protect the inhabitants of their territories was their duty. The names of the lords who fell in the fight against the high gods will be remembered and passed down among the giants. All of this is thanks to you. You have fulfilled your role perfectly. Its only right that I repay you. The giant king raised his hand. Magical power converged there, creating a white stone. [You have obtained the White Rune.] Whats this? Taesan received the rune. The white stone piece was densely inscribed with patterns. Its a magical material. It will be quite useful when used on your equipment. Is this simr? Taesan shook a ne. [White Rune Ne] [Defense +15] [Magic +8] [Intelligence +25] [Ne made from the highest quality white rune. Every mage in all the towers would covet this.] It was the ne he possessed. It was also described as a white rune, just like the one given by the giant king. The giant king frowned. Do notpare our creation to the worthless imitations made by humans. It is iparably superior and perfect. Its better to see for yourself than to exin. Do you have any equipment youd like to embed the rune into? I have one. Taesan took out a staff. [Twisted Staff of Cmity] [Magic +40] [Staff that brought about the world''s destruction through personal greed.] [Every time an opponent is killed with magic using this staff, magic increases by 1. In exchange, attack power decreases by 1, and health by 10.] It was equipment obtained through the trials of a hunchback who pursued twisted mysteries. It was certainly good equipment, but the penalty was significant. Thats why he still had it even after nning to leave it with the cksmith. The giant kings eyes lit up at the sight of the staff. That. It belongs to an immortal. You can tell? I can feel the remnants of its power. It seems like equipment used during the mortal days. Judging by the energy I feel, its a heavily twisted being. The giant kingughed. Hand over the staff. Ill make it usable. There was no reason to refuse the offer to fix it. Taesan handed over the staff. The staff floated gently into the giant kings hand. And the rune. Taesan also handed over the white rune. The giant king held the white rune in one hand and the staff in the other, chanting something. Kaak! A rough surge of power emanated from the staff. A dark and dense energy that twisted the mind of whoever it touched and burrowed into their body. The giant king smiled deeply at the powers struggle, like a trapped beast iling. Pitiful thing. Crack. The surge of power was crushed. The rune merged with the staff. The ominous energy previously felt from the staff disappeared, and only a gentle white power emanated. Take it. Taesan readily epted the staff handed to him. [Purified Staff of Cmity] [Magic +70] [Staff that brought about the world''s destruction through personal greed. Purified with the magic of giants.] [Every time you defeat an opponent using magic with this staff, magic increases by 1.] Taesans eyes shone. The items magic attribute had increased by 30. Not only that, but the penalties of decreased health and attack power were also gone. Are you satisfied? More than enough. Taesan happily secured the staff, but the giant king, seeming a bit regretful, stroked his chin and asked, Your weapon is a sword, isnt it? It seems you wont use a staff. Thats correct. Thats why I was thinking of visiting a cksmith to have it reshaped. Even if it were not a weapon but armor, it would be fine. Even if the effects were to degrade in the process, it would still hold significant value. Hearing Taesans words, the giant king nodded. Give me the equipment you wish tobine with the staff. Ill take care of it all at once this time. Really? Considering what youve done for us, its the least I can do. And no matter how skilled a cksmith may be, with an item of that caliber, degradation is inevitable. I wouldnt like that. There was no reason to refuse the offer. After a moments thought, Taesan took off his cloak. Then, please do it with this. [Ancient King''s Robe] [Defense +40] [A robe worn by a great king from an era only remaining in records. Only remnants of magical treatment meant to protect the king are left.] The giant king fiddled with the robe. A decent robe. With this, we can minimize the loss. He chanted something while holding the staff. White energy began to inhabit the two pieces of equipment, starting theirbination. And when the light subsided, only a pure white robe remained. Not bad. This should be enough for you now. The giant king tossed the robe. [Ancient King''s Robe Enchanted with Magic] [Magic +40] [Defense +50] [A robe worn by a great king from an era only remaining in records. Magical treatment meant to protect the king has awakened with great power.] [If the robe blocks an attack, the damage received is reduced by 20%.] I awakened the power contained within it. Whether it was the better choice, Im not sure, but this way had the least loss. This is enough. The magic stat increased by 40. Defense also saw a slight increase, and most importantly, the robe now had the effect of significantly reducing damage when blocking attacks. Knowing that the equipment would have degraded and not perform to its full potential, this oue was more than satisfactory. Moreover, since it was equipment he had originally used, not having to carry the staff separately was the most satisfying aspect. The giant king muttered as he saw Taesan pleased with the reward. Thats good then. Are you leaving now? Taesan nodded. His goal was to conquer thebyrinth. Come back anytime. Ill wee you personally then. Got it. Taesan turned and left him. While heading towards the God of Magic, he spotted Umberak. Seeing Taesan, he approached with a bright expression. Oh, human. Have you met our king? Yes. Then youre leaving now? I must return to where I belong. I see. Umberak gave a wry smile. Magic We had forgotten about it. Umberak was confused. His mind was now filled with a vast knowledge of magic. It was disconcerting to hear that the power they had been unaware of existing was originally theirs. But still, its our power. And its thanks to you. Come visit anytime. Ill be waiting. Got it. Taesan left Umberak behind. Umberak waved his hand in farewell. I hope you achieve your goal, human. Thus, Taesan reached the God of Magic. [Going back?] Yes. The God of Magic smiled gently. [You''ve done very, very well.] Magic flowed from his hand and enveloped Taesan. [So, this is a bonus.] [Your magic proficiency has increased by 4%.] [You have learned the basic magic [Tracking].] Thank you. Taesan expressed his gratitude for the unexpected reward. The God of Magic waved his hand. [A fitting reward for a fitting effort. Good work. See youter.] Space engulfed Taesan. When his vision returned to normal, Lilis was waiting for him. Youre back? She quietly eximed upon seeing him. Youve be stronger. Can you tell just by looking? I might not know about other things, but in terms of magic Thats clearly intermediate magic. Her eyes flickered intensely. Taesan put some distance between them, sensing her intense gaze as if she wanted to devour him. Then, Ill be going. Yeah. That might be best. Its hard to restrain myself. Taesan left her and descended the floors. [38th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 38th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Ne of Spells] [Secret Reward: ???] It was the 38th floor. Finally, the end of the 30th series of floors seemed to be in sight. Before attempting to break through the floor, Taesan opened his skill window. [Magic] [Proficiency: 56%] [You can properly handle magic. You seem to be able to control fire, adjust coldness, and manipte wind.] The magic proficiency, which had not risen much before, was finally nearing 60%. It was all thanks to the help of the God of Magic. Magic was a skill that brought significant changes, though it was hard to increase proficiency. He was very much looking forward to the change that would ur once it surpassed 60%. The proficiency of the concept skill also increased as he defeated monsters, reaching 40%. As a result, the description changed once more. [Concept Skill: ???] [Proficiency: 42%] [The power of will ??? descends. It allows you to see and feel the will of all things and tune your own will. And ???. You have gained ???.] Chapter 184: 38th Floor (1) Chapter 184: 38th Floor (1) The proficiency of the conceptual skill exceeded 40%. Subsequently, a specific word was added to the name of the skill. However, its meaning remained entirely unclear. Raising the proficiency should solve it. There was, however, a more crucial aspect to consider. As proficiency increased, it became possible to adjust ones will within it. Indeed, as his proficiency grew, Taesan began to experience a peculiar sensation. He had a rough idea of how to use it, but predicting its effects was challenging. Therefore, he decided to conduct an experiment. The monster on level 38 was a knight wielding a spear, which charged at Taesan. Taesan observed the monster and amplified his newly acquired sensation. The sensation enveloped the knight. In that moment, the knight flinched, then raised his spear defensively, as if anticipating Taesans charge. Is this it? Taesan murmured, enhancing the sensation once more. As he directed it towards the knight, the knight quickly retreated. Observing the knights continuous reactions to his actions, Taesan understood the skills capability. The ability of the newly acquired conceptual skill was to manipte will as one desired, exactly as described. When Taesan projected his will to attack, the monster moved to block without Taesan making a physical move. The knight persisted in charging with the spear, but each time Taesan directed his will to pressure the knight, the knight was rendered helpless and pushed back against the wall. A thought crossed Taesans mind. Conceptual skills are about tuning will. Twisted Soul Ascension tuned the soul. And the three proofs materialized and disseminated what one had cultivated independently. What was cultivated was not only the soul but also a form of will. Having concluded his thoughts, Taesan activated the three skills simultaneously. At that moment, a physical pressure radiated in all directions, a force potent enough to crush the weak. Taesan then fine-tuned the force emanating from him. The force materialized and surged forward. Kwoooong! The knight was hurled into the wall with a heavy crash. He seemed to have absorbed a significant impact, struggling to regain his bnce. Could this be something akin to spiritual influence? Using willpower to attack the opponent, a concept familiar from martial arts novels Ive read on Earth. It felt somewhat simr. This is quite impressive. [It appears to be more than just ''quite impressive.''] Merely through the maniption of will, a monster on the 38th floor was controlled without much resistance. Of course, this was facilitated by the vast disparity in strength between him and the monster. It was probable that this technique wouldnt inflict significant damage on much stronger adversaries. However, if the tuning of Twisted Soul Ascension and the mastery over the conceptual skill improve in the future, and Taesan grew stronger, enhancing the influence of the three proofs, the potential oues were unpredictable. The only drawback was the fatigue from tuning Twisted Soul Ascension. Yet, this fatigue was less severe than before, as he had grown ustomed to it after several uses. The evolution of the conceptual skill was gratifying. Now, it was time to experiment with magic. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Crackle. A rush of cold air filled the room, markedly different from before. Its mere presence was enough to chill the skin and freeze the lungs. Barely managing to regain his footing, the knight charged forward, sword in hand, but Taesan unleashed a Frost Arrow. Crrraaack! The Frost Arrow, colliding with the knights sword, sent it flying and pierced through the knights body. [736 damage dealt to the spear-wielding white knight.] A massive hole was sted through the armor. Around that hole, the armor began to freeze slowly, and the knights movements grew sluggish. Eventually, the knight waspletely encased in ice. Taesan nodded in approval. The God of Magic had enhanced his magic proficiency. Furthermore, thanks to the robe, his magic stat had increased by 40. This not only significantly enhanced the damage of his magic but also led to notable improvements in all aspects, including power and speed. Of course, that alone couldnt fully ount for this power. The proficiency of Frost Arrow had also surpassed 40% after repeated use. [Basic Magic: Frost Arrow] [Mana Consumption: 6] [Proficiency: 41%] [Fires a Frost Arrow. The less immune the enemy, the greater the damage. Attempts to inflict the status abnormality [Frostbite] on the target. The intense cold freezes everything it touches.] It took quite a while. Frost Arrow was the spell Taesan used most frequently among the magics he had learned. Its difficult to identify any drawbacks in a spell that performs above average in every situation. Yet, it had only just now surpassed 40% proficiency. It was indeed notorious for its slow proficiency gain. But the power it demonstrated was worth the effort. The knight on the 38th floor was frozen solid by a single Frost Arrow, renderedpletely helpless. With this, I could probably descend to the 50th floor using only magic. This seemed entirely feasible, assuming there were no interruptions from trials or Guides. Crackle. The knight barely managed to break free from the ice. Taesan casually waved his hand at the staggering knight. [You have activated Grain Dispersal.] A basic magic that released numerous ice grains. Until now, it was a spell that hindered the opponents movement with minor damage, but it hadnt shown much effectiveness. Crackle! However, with increased proficiency and the acquisition of new items, the situation had changed. The knight, ensnared by the grains, couldnt break free. Crash! Crash! Taesan approached the knight, who was frantically trying to break through the grains. There was still more to test. [You have activated Tracking.] Beep. A faint magical energy formed on the knights chest. At the same time, the grains scattered around homed in on the magical energy. Crackle! The knights body shook violently, hit directly by numerous grains and seeming about to fall at any moment. Taesans eyes shone as he observed the unfolding events. This is pretty good. [Basic Magic: Tracking]] [Mana Consumption: 40] [Proficiency: 1%] [Designates a specific part of the target. Thereafter, attacksunched by magic spells will head towards the designated location ording to the user''s will.] Marking allowed the user to designate their location for linking with special magics like random blinks, making it a skill that could bebined. However, Tracking was much more convenient for using attack magic as it allowed for designation from a distance away from the opponent. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Crackle. Taesan fired Frost Arrows to both sides. Initially heading inpletely different directions from the knight, the Frost Arrows suddenly changed trajectory and pierced through the knight. The knight could no longer withstand the assault and fell. [You have defeated the spear-wielding white knight.] It was an overall satisfying change. There was a sense of aplishment from the effort put into defeating the monster. But the best was still the intermediate magic Frozen World skill. [Intermediate Magic: Frozen World] [Mana Consumption: 30] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summons cold that freezes everything. It''s not yet able to unleash its full power.] The first intermediate magic that he had obtained. Its power was enough to instantly freeze the tentacles of a monster that even Taesan couldnt underestimate. Yet, it was not at full power. It was a skill that excited Taesan about how strong it would be as the proficiency increased. However, the mana consumption was incredibly high. Even Taesan, who had never suffered from mana shortage, would have to worry about running out of mana if he used Frozen World a few times. But it was a powerful skill that could bring a significant variable to future battles. Thinking of variables naturally led Taesan to ponder another skill. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Twisted Soul Tuning] [Proficiency: 4%] [Twisted beings can twist and control their soul ascension. By bearing a great burden, one can control the ascension of the soul within themselves.] This skill was acquired through soul ascension by defeating divine monsters. The proficiency increased again after defeating the monster from Bahuliya. Its a decent skill. Without this skill, victory would have been much harder. It twisted and defended against the monsters attack through the ascension. Without this skill, victory would have been nearly impossible. But the burden was significant. The exhaustion and fatigue that enveloped his entire body at that time were not something Taesan could underestimate. Although the burden had slightly decreased when used again, the fatigue still hit hard. [You''re lucky that''s all there is to it. Normally, mortals are not permitted such abilities.] The ghost spoke. [Even apostles can''t twist or tune their ranks. Only transcendents and immortals can. A weak person would have been crushed by their soul ascension the moment they tried.] That serious, huh? [That''s the level. Touching the rank.] It was a skill that needed to be used cautiously. But as long as he stayed within the line, it was undoubtedly a useful skill. Having checked everything roughly, Taesan once again broke through the passage. I do need to go down now. Recently, due to clearing the trials of the gods and returning to Earth, among other things, he hadnt properly conquered the floors. It had been quite some time since he entered the 30th floor series, yet he was still on the 38th floor. While he had gained a lot, the feeling of stagnationpared to before was unavoidable. Therefore, he nned to focus on breaking through the floors for the time being. Taesan swung his sword towards the approaching monster. The knight crashed to the floor. Taesan effortlessly shattered the floor beneath him. As usual, the monsters posed no challenge. With each floor he conquered, he found himself rewarded in unexpected ways. [The effect of the Second Saint of the Demon God has been activated. Your magical energy has increased by 2.] Humans on Earth had tapped into new sources of magical energy. As they grew stronger, so did Taesan, benefitting from their gains. [The Authority of the Apostle has been activated. The proficiency of Ability Sword has increased by 1%.] Doing well. His stats improved without any effort on his part. Few things were as satisfying as this. [The proficiency of Divine Power has increased by 1%.] I dont really need this. Muttering to himself, Taesan moved forward. He discovered a secret room and imed its rewarda pair of shoes. They werent an upgrade over his current gear, so he stored them in his inventory. [The effect of the Adventurer Title has been activated. The reward of the secret room is doubled.] Ah-ha. The quantity of shoes doubled. With a chuckle, Taesan ced both pairs in his inventory. Continuing his journey, Taesan soon came face to face with the boss. The boss, a knight armed with two spears, faced him. Taesan extended his hand towards the swirling spears. Snatch. He caught both spears effortlessly. With a swift kick, Taesan sent the knight flying into a wall. Approaching the downed knight, Taesan drove his sword into the knights chest and unleashed a barrage of Frost Arrows. The knight was defeated just like that. [Spell Ne] [Magic +15] [Intelligence +20] [A ne favored by a great magician. This specially enchanted ne can hold spells.] [A magic spell can be stored and used at will. However, too powerful spells cannot be stored.] It was a unique ne with a spell storage feature. He attempted to store an intermediate spell as a test, but it was rejected due to the limitation. Still, since the magic stat was higher than his current ne, Taesan decided to switch to the new one. Then came the secret reward. [You used ???] [You obtained the Simpleton''s Ring.] [Simpleton''s Ring] [Strength +40] [Agility +40] [Intelligence +40] [A ring crafted by a cksmith who had an aversion toplex designs. A more skilled artisan might have achieved greater effects, but the cksmith was content with this result.] The blue ring he had been wearing increased all stats by 15. Given that this new piece of equipment was an upgrade, Taesan opted to switch rings. With this, the 38th floor was conquered. Without dy, Taesan proceeded downward. The challenge of the 39th floor awaited. [39th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 39th floor to proceed.] [Reward: Rune of Lightning] [Secret Reward: ???] Chapter 185: 39th Floor (2) Chapter 185: 39th Floor (2) As Taesan descended the floors, he thought of Hafran. Should I start heading over? It had been quite some time since he had given him amission. He considered checking on the progress, but the ghost dissuaded him. [It might be best not to go. He''s probably at his wit''s end right now. You''d only be a distraction.] Is that so? [He''s never made equipment of that level before. It''s a task that requires him to surpass his limits, so he won''t have the luxury to focus on anything else. It''s better for you, too, to visitter.] With the ghost advising against it, Taesan had no intention of going out of his way to visit. The shopkeeper on the 39th floor asked him. Isnt it about time you bought something? Well? The items youre selling are useful, but they arent exactly necessary. The items the shopkeeper was selling were all top-notch, but none of the equipment Taesan had was of lesser quality. Ill consider it if something betteres in. Understood. Taesan passed the shopkeeper and moved forward. Upon entering the room, he encountered a knight wielding a greatsword. With a more powerful force than any knight he had encountered before, the knight swung the greatsword as if to split Taesans head. Taesan deflected the greatsword with his own and then, seizing the staggering knights arm, swung him around. The knight flew and crashed into the wall. Staggering to his feet, the knight was finally subdued by Taesan with a final blow. The knight fell. Taesan calmly made his way through thebyrinth. No one could stop him. As he dispatched a knights arm, Taesan muttered, I want to learn a new skill. [Even more here?] The ghost spoke reluctantly. [Isn''t what you have enough?] In thebyrinth, the value of skills was incredibly high, but equally difficult to obtain. There were instances where one couldplete an entire area without acquiring a single skill. Considering such cases, the number of skills Taesan had acquired was unbelievably high, even from the perspective of the ghost, who had explored the depths. [Don''t you have like a hundred skills now?] I havent counted exactly, but it should be around that number. [...Well, that''s something.] The ghost chuckled dryly. Now, Taesan possessed many more skills than when he first entered the deeper levels. Yet, he felt it wasnt enough. [Isn''t that too greedy? Being content is also important.] Not for me. Taesan was still not satisfied. The recent ones were all rewards from quests. Intermediate magic. It was certainly excellent, as was ck magic. However, all of these skills were granted after passing the trials of gods. They werent the skills he had newly created while navigating thebyrinth. Skills like Temporary Time Stop, Multiply, and Absolute Judgement, which he had developed in his past life, held absolute value. He yearned to acquire those. But the higher the value of the skills, the more difficult they were to learn. It wasnt just about the difficulty level; meeting the conditions was challenging as well. To learn Addition, one had to swing a sword in the same posture without moving, using perseverance to double the damage. And there was a condition that required facing numerous monsters targeting Taesan, not just ordinary ones. The other skills were not much different. No matter how superior Taesans stats were or how well he knew the method, they were not easily learned. Thats why, despite being much stronger than in his past life, he had yet to learn most of the skills. With a feeling of regret, Taesan continued to conquer thebyrinth. After easily clearing a secret room, Taesan obtained a reward. [Parum''s Ritual Sword] [Attack Power +50] [A sword used to offer sacrifices to the ancient god Parum.] [Due to the ominous energy imbued in the de, wounds inflicted by this sword do not heal easily.] The ability to prevent wounds from healing was attached to it. Since there had been no need to recover amidst battle so far, Taesan, who hadnt felt a great need for it, stored the sword in his inventory. It feels increasingly difficult to obtain useful equipment. [Considering the equipment you currently possess, that''s understandable. Some of them can even be used up to entering the deeper levels.] As they had this conversation, they continued on. And then, they arrived at the boss. [A knight consumed by the deep abyss has appeared.] A knight emitting ck energy appeared. Upon spotting Taesan, the knight let out a fierce war cry. The entire room shook with the roar, and Taesan murmured, So noisy. As if the knight heard him, the shouting stopped abruptly. Then, he charged at Taesan with a leap. The charge was like that of a beast and significantly faster than any knight encountered before But that was it. Taesan struck down the charging knight with his sword. Unable to dodge the attack, the knight was mmed into the ground. [2453 damage to the knight consumed by the deep abyss.] [The damage is unbelievable, as always.] The ghost was amazed. Taesans attack power, linking many skills like Strong Blow, Critical Hit, Addition, was beyond imagination. Hence, the knights boasting solid defense on the 30th floor couldnt withstand a few hits. Despite the fierce attack, the knight got up immediately. Taesan struck down with his sword again. The knight was mmed into the ground once more. But again, the knight charged at Taesan immediately. Taesan tilted his head, watching the knight charge as if it hadnt suffered any damage. This is strange. He parried the knights sword and plunged his own deep into the knights chest. The damage exceeded three thousand. For an ordinary monster, it would have been enough to bring it to the brink of death. However, the knights movement showed no change. Just like the first encounter, it continued to charge. Taesan kicked the knight away. Lets see. Taesan looked intently at the knight. Despite the damage inflicted, there appeared to be no impairment in its movement. [You have activated Essence Perception.] As soon as he activated the skill, he could understand everything about the knight. Knight consumed by the abyss. Deep in the unfathomable depths, the knight was consumed. Upon its return, it had lost its intelligence, transforming into a beast-like existence. Thus transformed, the knight became an indomitable entity that would not stop under any circumstance, nor die. However, even such a knight had a weakness. A small part on the nape of the neck. When it fell into the abyss, something prevented the erosion of its spirit, leaving only the nape untouched. That part seemed to be the weakness of the 39th-floor boss. [It seems you''ve noticed. It''s hard to miss.] The color of the nape was different. It was something anyone could notice with a bit of observation. Targeting that spot alone made the 39th floor not so difficult. The ghost thought Taesan would immediately deal with the knight and move down to the 40th floor. However, Taesan lowered his sword. And began to calmly dodge the charging knights attacks. [What are you doing?] There might be something to gain if I do well. Taesan analyzed the knights movements one by one: the pattern of movement, the type of swordsmanship, speed, and power. He checked everything. Its possible. Taesanpleted the final verification process. [You have activated Vital Point Designation.] He targeted the critical spot on the chest and stabbed his sword there. The knight was knocked back. The knight charged as if it hadnt been hit at all. Even after changing the location of the critical spot with Vital Point Designation, it seemed that except for the nape, no damage was taken. It was possible. Taesan gripped his sword and concentrated. The ghost, seeing Taesans movements, realized. [Are you trying to acquire a new skill?] Having gained skills this way several times before, the ghost could well guess. Taesan nodded slightly. [What''s this time? I''m curious.] Sure Hit. [Sure Hit?] The ghost paused, pondering the meaning contained within. [...Is it what I think it is?] Probably. The knight charged. Taesan quickly deciphered the knights movement. He read the trajectory of the swinging sword and activated the skill. [You have activated Vital Point Designation.] He targeted the critical spot on the knights shoulder. Then, dodging the attack, he precisely hit the designated critical area. The knights body staggered significantly from the thousands of damage inflicted, but as if unaffected, it charged again. Taesan dodged again and targeted a critical spot. And he struck the designated critical spot. The knight was pushed back. Now, three times. Taesan quietly counted the number. The knight charged again, and once more, Vital Point Designation was activated. [Do you have to hit the critical spot?] Yes. [Is it simr to Addition... How many times?] I dont remember exactly, but about a hundred times. The ghost chuckled dryly at Taesans statement that he had to hit the critical spot a hundred times. [What about interference or skills other than attacks?] Of course not. Its the same as failing if you subdue the knight while only aiming for the critical spot. [This is madness. It''s going to take a while.] Taesans sword struck the knight. The fourth time. And so, Taesan quietly recited. A skill that could be obtained by hitting the critical spot a hundred times in a row. Sure Hit. But most enemies died before reaching that number. The critical spot itself dealt significant damage, and no monster could withstand being hit there a hundred times. The only exception would be monsters like the knight before him, which could only be killed under specific conditions. There was no telling when another monster like this would appear. Thus, he was determined to secure Sure Hit this time. Taesan continued to swing his sword. He repeatedly targeted the critical spot and struck it. Since he had to start over if he blocked an attack, he absolutely avoided them. He managed to sessfully hit about ten times quite easily. Then, the knights movements changed. It moved erratically, trying to dodge Taesans attacks or deflect the strike point. Does it have intelligence? [Whatever it is, it seems to have figured out your aim.] It wasnt particrly unusual. Most monsters here possessed some level of intelligence. And Taesan was repeating a visibly obvious action of targeting and attacking the critical spot. The monsters could sufficiently respond to such actions. Taesan targeted the critical spot again, aiming for the abdomen this time. Then, the knight lowered its body as if sticking to the ground. A normal attack couldnt hit the knights abdomen. Even if he targeted the critical spot again, the knight would act the same. If he targeted the arm, it would protect the arm; if the leg, then the leg. It was a clever response that made it difficult to attack. But it didnt matter. If the knight before him had the intelligence to respond to his attacks, he just needed to adapt his strategy ordingly. Determination flowed from Taesan. The knight could feel Taesans intent to target its nape. Instinctively twisting its body to protect the nape, it naturally exposed its abdomen. Taesan struck the exposed abdomen. The knight crashed into the wall with a loud noise. Taesan murmured, Eighty-nine more to go. Chapter 186: Sure Hit (1) Chapter 186: Sure Hit (1) Taesan designated a vital point as he rushed toward the knight. Then, the knight tried to defend that vital point as a priority. Seeing this, Taesan rolled his foot. His willpower surged powerfully toward the knight. The knight flinched momentarily. He sensed that Taesan was targeting the weak spot on his neck. Therefore, he moved to protect his neck, inadvertently exposing the vital point Taesan had designated. Taesan seized the opportunity. Crack. Thirty-three. He muttered as he retrieved his sword. He tuned his willpower with a conceptual skill. This wasnt about physical limitations. It was about projecting his will to attack the knights neck. Since nothing directly influenced it, there was no issue in meeting the acquisition conditions for Sure Hit. Taesan designated the vital point, manifested his will to restrict the knights movements, and then attacked. This sequence of actions was repeated. The observing ghost let out a hollowugh. [That''s rather tricky.] Like the skills Taesan had acquired so far, the condition itself was clearly challenging. First, a forced duel. Against numerous enemies, conduct a duel assuming only one opponent and win. Taesan quickly acquired it through paralyzing arrows to suppress many. However, that was only possible on the lower floors. The deeper you went, the less frequent it became for numerous monsters to appear all at once. Even if they did appear, their numbers were countless, or they perfectly assisted each other, making it nearly impossible to iste just one. In levels below a certain threshold, monsters also resisted states like paralysis, making them hard to incapacitate. Therefore, beyond the early stages, acquisition was virtually impossible. And the same went for Attack Nullification. You had to allow an attack without losing health, and even had to wear no armor at all, making it very tricky. It was a skill that couldnt be learned without the shield stat, and even with one, it could only be acquired by minimizing damage as much as possible. Of course, now that the shield stat was higher, acquiring it might be easier. But the Labyrinth didnt easily grant skills. The ghost thought that no matter how high the shield stat was, there would definitely be additional restrictions. And then, Addition. A skill that doubled the final damage. A skill with an unbelievable effect, its value increasing the deeper one ventured into the Labyrinth. A crazy skill that required one to double damage without using any skills except perseverance. Nobody else but Taesan would have attempted such an experiment, including the ghost. To obtain an overwhelming skill, one had to meet conditions that seemed impossible, that nobody else would dare attempt. The ghost remembered. The administrator had said. Skills were not pre-made but were created and given when specific conditions were met and deemed appropriate. The important thing is the idea and imagination. It must have been the Labyrinths mage who devised such a system. The one who went directly to the gods to trade with them. The one who borrowed their power to create such a vast space. The ghost slowly began to understand what the mage had intended by setting such conditions for skill acquisition. Kaang! Eighty-seven. Taesan muttered, Almost there. Just thirteen more focused attacks, and it would be a sess. The knight stood still for a moment, as if in thought. Then, he charged at Taesan again. Taesan activated the vital point designation. The knight protected the designated vital part with his body, and Taesan, as before, aimed at the neck with his will. A chilling sensation, a whisper of death, flowed down the knights back. But the knight did not change his stance. Kwoong! Taesan frowned. The knight swung his sword at Taesan without protecting his exposed neck. Stepping back to dodge the attack, Taesan moved his will again. But once more, the knight charged relentlessly, showing no intent to protect his neck. Taesan realized the knight no longer intended to guard his neck. His only aim was to block the targeted area and attack. Concluding he couldnt dodge all the swinging attacks, Taesan moved his sword. Kaang! The swords collided. It was back to square one. The ghost chuckled. [Is this another insane repetition like Addition?] In some ways, it was worse. Addition required repeating the same attack, but this required utmost attention to both attack and evasion. It doesnt matter. How long it took was not important to Taesan. What mattered was that it could be obtained. Taesan designated the vital point and charged again. The knight, who had parried Taesans attack before, charged again, tantly exposing his weakness. Taesan watched the charging knight, read the trajectory of the swinging sword, and twisted his body. Sweeak! The knights sword harshly cut through the air. But Taesan, without stepping back, dodged all attacks with just a twist of his body. The knights movements became increasingly faster. ordingly, the well-guarded vital part was exposed. The moment he saw it, Taesan charged like an arrow. The knight hurriedly attempted to defend, but Taesans sword, like a serpent, bent and struck the vital point. This makes the first. Taesan muttered. The knight changed his approach in response to Taesans attack. He stopped guarding his neck and only defended the vital parts. Therefore, Taesan also changed his method. His stats were overwhelmingly higherpared to the knights. Moreover, perhaps due to increased proficiency with conceptual skills, he could faintly read the knights will, making it not difficult to dodge attacks. So, he focused solely on evasion until the vital spot was exposed. Soon, the knight, exhausted from Taesans evasion, inadvertently exposed his vital spot. Kaang! This makes thirty-three. Taesan muttered. When he had seeded about fifty times, The knight changed his movement once again. Swallowed by a deep abyss, the knight possessed a unique swordsmanship. He pressed on Taesan with disciplined but aggressive movements. But suddenly, he abandoned his swordsmanship and began to push forward recklessly with his body. Taesan quickly tried to evade the knights attacks, but the distance was too close. Eventually, Taesan had to allow the knights charge. Sigh. It was back to square one. The ghost shook his head in disbelief. [But I felt the same during Addition. If it were me, I''d have gone insane.] After spending hours and getting close to ny sesses, just when he thought he was almost there, the knight changing his approach meant starting all over again He had to repeat this over and over again. It was a task that seemed to require an infinite amount of time. Really? I think this is better than Addition. [Why? It seems the same to me.] At least this one guarantees I can get it. [...Ah.] The ghost realized what Taesan meant. Addition could only be obtained by blocking out variables. But variables were exactly that because Taesan couldnt control them. The only thing Taesan could do when acquiring Addition was to keep swinging his sword. That was all. His proactive actions were severely limited. Literally, if luck wasnt on his side, Addition was a skill that could take a lifetime to obtain. In contrast, Sure Hit allowed Taesan to manage the variables. The monster only countered Taesans attacks with one or two different approaches. Then the story bes simple. As long as he understood and countered every move the opponent made, sess was just a matter of time. [Well, that''s something.] The ghost chuckled. Taesan kept moving. Around fifty times in, the knight changed his pattern once more. Unable to immediately respond, Taesan had to start over from the beginning again. But Taesans expression remained unchanged. Gradually, the knights patterns started to repeat, following a predictable rhythm. Realizing the opponent had exhausted his repertoire, Taesan seized the opportunity. Crack. One. The knight altered his count, attempting to overwhelm Taesan by switching patterns. However, Taesan had encountered all these maneuvers at least once before. With nothing new to challenge him, responding became effortless. And so, he advanced steadily. Crack. Taesans sword struck a critical point, causing the knights body to convulse violently. This makes a hundred. [You have exclusively targeted the opponent''s vital points. The special activation skill [Sure Hit] has been acquired.] He had finally acquired the skill, impressing even the ghost. [I felt this during Addition too, but your prowess is truly extraordinary. I wonder if there''s anyone else who could seed knowing the method?] Probably not. In his previous life, he had shared the method with many, but only Lee Taeyeon had managed to seed. With Sure Hit now in his possession, there was no longer any reason to engage with the knight. He advanced on the faltering knight. Dodging the knights sword and driving his own into the knights neck. Crack. The knight copsed. [You have defeated the knight submerged in the deep abyss.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained the Rune of Lightning.] [You have obtained ???] Phew. Taking a deep breath, Taesan reflected on the effort. Although familiar, striking vital points over a hundred times and aligning his will with a conceptual skill had been demanding. But ultimately, he had prevailed. [Special Activation Skill: Sure Hit] [Mana Consumption: 5] [Proficiency: 1%] [The next attack on the opponent will undoubtedly hit. This attack cannot be dodged.] True to its name, it was a skill that ensured an undodgeable attack against the opponent. The only options for the opponent were to nullify the attack, block it, or suffer the hit. [This is really... fascinating. Do they actually give out such skills?] The Sure Hit skill, which forced a specific counter from the opponent, could be likened to skills such as Attack Nullification or Forced Duel. And Taesan possessed the Ability Sword. Given the precondition of shing swords, it was a skill that could be endlessly utilized, and pairing it with that could maximize efficiency. However, Taesan was not yet satisfied. There were still many skills to be acquired. He intended to obtain every single one as soon as the conditions were met. All the skills from his past life. And the stats and additional skills from Solo Mode. How strong he could be bybining all of these was beyond even his own imagination. Taesan first checked the reward for clearing the 38th floor. [Lightning Rune] [Infuses the equipment with the energy of lightning.] It was uncertain when he would change his weapon. Since the ghost mentioned that he couldter obtain the weapon he used, Taesan applied the rune to his arrows. Fizz. The arrow shimmered with a blue light. [Self-aware Lightning Arrow: Lightning Rune] [An arrow that moves on its own to protect its master. It possesses self-awareness and cannot move beyond a certain range.] [Current Master: Kang Taesan] [User''s rank is insufficient. Attack Power: 1] [Infused with the Lightning Rune. Attack Power +30] [Applies an electrified status effect to the hit enemy.] An additional 30 attack power was added. Along with a minor but nice effect of applying a status effect judgment with each attack, simr to a lightning strike hitting an old tree. Taesan took out the arrows. Two arrows were flickering with lightning. Not bad. The change was not unwee. However, he was curious about how to increase the attack power, given the only exnation was the insufficient rank. [??? was used.] [Obtained the Dagger of Magic Dispelling.] [Dagger of Magic Dispelling] [A dagger infused with dispelling magic. It can unlock magical seals but cannot unlock seals of magic greater than the dispelling rank infused in the dagger.] A dagger capable of unlocking magical seals, an equipment that could prove handy if kept. Taesan pocketed the dagger and descended to the 40th floor. [40th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 40th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Ne of the Majestic One] [Secret Reward: ???] Finally, it was the 40th floor. The end of the knight-upied 30s series was in sight. It was the moment Taesan was about to move towards the floor. A girl appeared as the darkness parted. Whats the matter this time? Taesan asked, undisturbed by the sudden appearance of the demon god. He had a guess. There werent many reasons she would appear before him like this. The Guides of Sin. They had made their move. Chapter 187: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (1) Chapter 187: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (1) [I came because there is something I need to tell you.] She twirled her hair, her expression ambiguous, and began to speak. [On the 40th floor, at its very end, there''s an entity waiting for you.] Is it the Guides of Sin? [You could say that.] Taesan realized it through the words of the Demon God. It seems to be one person. Taesan had already defeated all the fourth-rank adventurers from the 40th floor. If so, next would be the fifth-rank adventurers, but it was still too much for all of them toe down. So, probably just one person. Someone talented. Someone who has understood many things about thebyrinth, made breakthroughs, and acquired numerous things. Not someone who was simply satisfied with clearing the floors like other ordinary adventurers, but someone who, like Taesan, focused on the skills and strategies themselves. There was a high possibility that such an outstanding person woulde down. The Demon God nodded. [Right. He wille to you. And then he will fight with you and either die or kill.] The Demon God looked regretful. [He is... my child.] A demon? [Yes. He has remarkable talent. However, his experience is verycking, and he made the wrong choice. A pitiful child.] The Demon Gods eyes narrowed. For a moment, the air grew tense. [To be honest... I want to kill them all.] A chilling sensation enveloped Taesan. [But that wouldn''t be right.] The Demon God shook her head. The energy that had engulfed the space disappeared. [The affairs of thebyrinth are for the adventurers of thebyrinth. That''s our rule. Even if that pitiful child was deceived, it was his own choice. There''s nothing I can do about it. So do as you wish. Kang Taesan.] Thats what I was nning to do. Taesan responded. The Demon God disappeared with a bitter expression. It seems youve grown quite fond of him. [The Demon God shows great affection towards her children, especially if the demon possesses talent. However, as she mentioned, she won''t interfere, so there''s no need to worry about any disturbances.] If shes making a statement like that, then the demon must indeed be formidable. Taesan steeled his resolve and advanced to the next level. On the 40th floor, he encountered a Golden Knight wielding a longsword. The knight, gripping the sword with both hands, charged at Taesan. Taesan swung his sword, easily overpowering him. Sure Hit was ineffective against such an adversary. Since the knight had no intention of dodging, it was essentially as if Sure Hit was an inherent ability. The true moment for Sure Hit to prove its worth would likelye when facing the entity at the end of the 4th tier. Taesan, sword in hand, swiftly continued his journey through the floor. The Golden Knight on the 40th floor was considerably stronger than previous foes, but this difference was negligible for Taesan, allowing him to smoothly navigate thebyrinth. As before, he discovered a secret room, overcame its traps, and secured a reward. [Leap''s Boots] [Defense + 40] [These boots belonged to someone who aspired to soar high into the sky. He perished, burned by the sun.] [Allows for a 20% higher leap.] While the boots offered decent defense, Taesans current footwear was superior, so he stored them in his inventory. Taesan pressed on, encountering no special trials from the gods or NPCs on the 40th floor, which allowed him to reach the boss unimpeded. nk. [A resplendently shining Golden Knight has appeared.] True to its name, the boss was a golden knight, its armor casting brilliant light throughout the room. The knight, wielding a longsword, charged at Taesan. sh! Floor 40. As the final boss of this level, it was indeed formidable. For an average adventurer, this would be a foe worth risking their life to defeat. Crack. Taesan brought his sword down, and the knight was mmed into the ground while blocking with its own sword. Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Dozens of arrows formed in mid-air. They pierced through the knight. With a tearing sound, holes began to form in the armor. Thus, the knight fell. With that, the 40th floor was conquered. [You have defeated the brilliantly shining Golden Knight.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have obtained the Majestic One''s Ne.] [You have obtained ???.] [You have reached the 40th floor. You have obtained the title [The Unstoppable One].] [You have perfectly cleared the 40th floor. You have obtained the title [The Unsatisfied One].] [Your level has increased.] [You have perfectly understood and cleared all floors up to the 40th floor. You have obtained the title [The One Who Steps into Perfection].] [You have reached a ce that no one can deny. You have obtained the title [The Recognized One].] [Your footsteps will not only leave many traces but will also serve as a guideline for those who follow.] [You have reached the entrance of the floor desired by the creator of thebyrinth. As a reward, one benefit is given.] The creator of thebyrinth. The level desired by the sorcerer. Taesan had seen such a system window when he reached level 55. Along with it, an entity appeared. The bricks on the floor rose up, starting to form shapes in the air as if assembling a puzzle. The administrator of thebyrinth, Balbabamba, has appeared. Balbabamba moved its brick eyes. [You''vee this far.] Do you remember? [I am a tool. An entity without forgetfulness. I remember everything. Especially since recently, no one but you hase this far.] The sound of bricks cking against each other resonated. [Human. You have reached the floor the magician wanted the adventurers to reach. Let me give you a reward for that. Choose. The highest currency or valuable equipment.] Are there fewer choices this time? [Don''t ask me. It''s the magician''s will.] Currency and equipment. It seemed to be a choice between gold and items. Taesan began to ponder. Up to now, he would have chosen equipment without question. However, the level of equipment Taesan was wearing now was too high. Even if he received something decent, there wouldnt be much difference if he reced it, or he might not even be able to rece it if it wasntpatible. Taesan made his decision. The highest currency. He had just passed the 40th floor. The shops items were scheduled to change, so he nned to buy ording to that. Balbabamba blinked its eyes. [Good. ording to the magician''s will, I will give you valuable currency.] [You have obtained 90,421 gold.] Ny thousand gold. It was more than he had anticipated. With this amount, he could choose and buy the equipment he wanted from the store. Balbabamba spoke to a smiling Taesan contentedly. [Then continue to descend, human. If it''s you, you might be able to reach the ce my master desires.] Thats the n. The bricks scattered again and turned back into the floor. The ghost murmured. [That taciturn one is saying such things] Words filled with expectation. The ghost had never heard such things. To Balbabamba, who had seen countless adventurers since the inception of thebyrinth, Taesan was an exception. Taesan began to check the rewards for clearing the floor. [Majestic One''s Ne] [A ne that is simply ornate and gold-ted, worn by those who adorn themselves with nothing but the most expensive things. Its value is immeasurable.] For sale, huh. It had no stats attached. It seemed to suggest that it should be sold in the shop for an item worthy of the clear reward. [??? was used.] [You have obtained a Colorless Ring.] [Colorless Ring] [Health + 200] [Mana + 100] [Strength + 30] [Agility + 30] [Intelligence + 30] [Attack Power + 30] [A colorless ring with no design or color. It''s impossible to know who the user is or who made it.] Ah-ha. It was a pretty good ring. Overall, it had lower stats than the ring Vargan had given him uponpleting the quest in the gods battlefield. However, that didnt mean this ring wasnt remarkable; it simply meant that Vargan had given him an exceptionally good ring. Considering it could be used until reaching the deeper levels, the stats of this ring were suitable for use until then. Taesan reced a ring with 8 attack power with the Colorless Ring. And then, the rewards for clearing a theme on the 40th floor. [Title: The Unstoppable One] [You havee down to the 40th floor without your heart being broken, and your feet not stopping.] [Attack Power + 30] [Defense + 30] [Title: The Unsatisfied One] [You were not satisfied even after settling and continued to descend thebyrinth, seeing the results.] [Strength + 60] [Agility + 60] [Intelligence + 60] [Attack Power + 20] [Defense + 20] [Title: The One Who Steps into Perfection] [You havee down to the 40th floor without missing anything. It''s an almost impossible feat.] [Attack Power + 50] [Defense + 50] [Title: The Recognized One] [You have reached a ce that no one can deny and must acknowledge your achievements.] [Attack Power + 40] [Defense + 40] [The price of items in the shop decreases by 10%.] [NPCs and gods will have a favorable impression of you.] [You have obtained the special continuous activation skill [Defense Pration].] It really boosts the attack power a lot. [There''s a limit to how much attack power you can gather. But for you, that''s not an issue.] As the ghost said, for Taesan, who had mastered the Airak weapon technique, attack power was not particrlycking. Although gathering it was more challenging than acquiring statistics, it was rewarding to achieve such high figures in this manner. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 88] [Shield: 1599/1599] [Health: 17920/17920] [Mana: 2582/2582] [Magic: 312/312] [Strength: 4298] [Intelligence: 3854] [Agility: 4083] [Attack Power + 809] [Defense + 638] [The target is in optimal condition.] This represented Taesans current status. He had managed to reach approximately a third of Lee Taeyeons level, marking a satisfying rate of progress. But that was not all. The title The Recognized One also bestowed a skill upon him. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Defense Pration] [Proficiency: 1%] [Ignores 10% of the opponent''s defense.] A reduction in defense was somewhat unexpected, yet he surmised the reason behind it. Could it be an advantage when facing adventurers in deeper parts? In thebyrinth, attack and defense calctions were straightforward, based on addition and subtraction. That is, if an opponents defense surpassed ones attack power, it was presumed that inflicting damage was impossible. While not insurmountable with strategies involving critical hits, specific skills, or the dynamics of battle, such a disparity was not easily bridged. Without the Airak Weapon Technique, Taesan would have found it significantly challenging to ovee this hurdle. It was grantedter than I anticipated. [Up to this point, if you exerted enough effort, victory wasn''t out of reach, but moving forward, winning will truly be unattainable. It''s about time for such a disparity to emerge.] A shift from the experience up to the 40th floor. He was filled with anticipation for the items and skills he would acquire in the future. However, there was something he needed to attend to first. Sensing someone ascending the stairs, Taesan murmured, Waiting until I was done checking. Thats considerate of you. Its the most thrilling part of descending thebyrinth. I wouldnt want to interrupt that. The neer was a man with ck hair. He still appeared youthful. To Taesan, he seemed to be around the same age as sha, whom he had met in Vekveta. His expression was listless, as if devoid of any will to fight, and he waved his hand. Nice to meet you. Yeah. Taesan replied calmly and observed the demon. It was different from what Taesan had anticipated. He had expected the demon, like the Guides of Sin before him, to show hostility and charge at him the moment he saw Taesan. So, the moment he sensed the presence, he had prepared to activate all his skills. However, the demon in front of him showed no apparent hostility. I really hate it. I hate it. Instead, a sense of denial was even visible. Chapter 188: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (2) Chapter 188: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (2) What are you doing, Ambracia? The Spirit King frowned. In front of her, Ambraciay sprawled on the ground like a corpse. Ambracia did not move but opened his mouth. What else is there to do? Might as well pass the time this way. I wish you would maintain some dignity in your power. Dignity, my foot. Ambracia grumbled as he got up. How many times have we failed to break through the 74th floor? Ive lost count and cant be bothered anymore. Its all meaningless, so whats wrong with spending our time meaninglessly? Since their arrival, they had never once managed to break through the 74th floor. They had be ustomed to failure. The Spirit King, understanding Ambracias feelings, gave a bitter smile. Dont be like that. Theres a child making their way down here diligently. If that child joins us, who knows what will happen? That guy. Ambracia furrowed his brow. He went to fight that favorite of the Demon God, right? Yes. The Spirit King nodded. He went up to kill the one who opposed us. Its about time they met. Now that I think about it, is it really okay? That guy is also favored by the Demon God, and Quaned is a demon. What if they join forces? Ambracia, worried, received a nonchnt reply from the Spirit King. No need to worry. That guy is dumb. Call it innocence instead. Its too pitiful otherwise. Ambracia spoke with a grimace. But dumb is dumb. And hes obsessed with us for recognizing him. Thats why he made that contract. Well, that is Unable to argue further, Ambracia closed his mouth. Why does someone with that much talent crave affection so much? Those without talent cannot understand those with talent. Itsmon for someone with Quaneds level of talent to be persecuted and not receive affection. The Spirit King spoke calmly. In fact, among the humans Ive contracted with, many were such people. Most of them brought down the countries they belonged to. Is that so? Ambracia looked puzzled. Realizing this, the Spirit King noted, Now that I think about it, youe from a world of utopia. It makes sense you wouldnt understand. Well I came here because I hated it there. Ambracia shook his head. But are you sure betrayal is okay? It ends with death, right? Honestly, we dont even know how this will turn out. How strong had Taesan be? Due to the Demon God blocking information, even the leadership did not know about him. They only assume the Demon God allowed the fight because they were simr in strength. However, even with these words, the Spirit Kings expression remained unchanged. That doesnt matter either. Even if Quaned dies, his power will return to us. Really? Ambracias eyes widened. The Spirit King spoke leisurely. We made a contract. Even if he dies, his power will belong to us.
Are you that adventurer whos opposing us? Taesan nodded. Even as they spoke, his muscles were tensed, ready to respond to any attack at any moment. The ck-haired young demon let out a deep sigh. My name is Quaned. Whats yours? Kang Taesan. Taesan? Thats an unusual name. Quaned showed no signs of hostility. Moreover, he did not assume a stance for battle. Feeling foolish for being on guard, Taesan rxed his fighting stance when he sensed no malice from Quaned. Quaned rubbed his forehead. To be honest, I dont want to fight you. Then dont. Taesan also hesitated to seriously fight the demon before him. The Demon God had granted him many things, showing special favor and offering numerous rewards even at the expense of her own realm. Thus, Taesan felt gratitude towards her. If he could avoid defeating a demon the Demon Godmented over, it wouldnt be a bad thing from his perspective. But I cant do that. Im one of them, much as I hate to admit it. Quaned sighed deeply and drew his sword. Seeing his attitude, Taesan couldnt help but feel puzzled. Why join them if you feel this way? They couldnt have done anything to you if you hadnt. The Demon God doted on her children, especially showing deep affection for Quaned. She didnt care much about the defeat of another demon named Jagan but showed a bitter expression this time. Even if he had refused to join the Guides, the leaders could have done nothing against him. The Demon God imed not to interfere in the affairs of mortals or thebyrinth, but mortals couldnt be reassured. A simple whim of an immortal could kill them all, so if Quaned had strongly refused, they likely would have backed off. Quaned bit his lip, reluctant to answer, and Taesan shook his head. Then just step aside. Even if you refuse to fight, they cant do anything. Sorry, but thats impossible. Quaned spoke gloomily. Ive made a contract. If theirmands are deemed just, I cant refuse. Why would you agree to that? Taesan was incredulous. From his expression, it was clear he hadnt agreed willingly. Quaned protested as if exining, I didnt know. They said joining an organization naturally involves such things. Its impossible for a member to refuse the will of the group. That might be true, but theres no need to be bound by such a contract. Quaned tightened his grip on the sword at Taesans puzzled look. Shut up. Though barely audible, Taesan could hear it. He clicked his tongue. He understood why the Demon God felt pity. [So, even someone like this can make it through with just talent.] Shut up. Quaned said roughly. Even if kindly put, Quaned was a being of mere talent without understanding. The ghostughed hollowly. [I see. You''re an outsider. No, a demon. You weren''t treated as a demon, were you?] Quaneds eyes flickered momentarily. [Others must have feared you. You''ve never had a proper conversation with anyone and lived a life without affection. You believed it was your fault that they feared you, didn''t you?] As if he had witnessed it himself, the ghost began to pinpoint each issue one by one. With every progression of the ghosts story, Quaneds pupils shook violently. Taesan asked, What are you talking about? [It''s notplicated. People fear those who are different from themselves. If it was just being talented to a normal extent, maybe not... but if it''s a talent that could delve deep into thebyrinth, that in itself is alien.] Taesan realized what that meant. Innate, exceptional talent was often shunned. Even the Guides of Sin, who were blocked by each hierarchy, were considered geniuses in their own realms. And the owner of a talent much superior, one that even they could look down upon. [I was simr. Rumors went around calling me a descendant of the Demon King. Being of royal blood, I could suppress it to some extent with power, but if it were someone ordinary or close to the poor, it''s obvious.] The ghost seemed to contemte the persecution Quaned faced. [The uneducated cannot understand talent. Entering thebyrinth with their self-esteem already eroded by their inability topete with talent. And then they realized. They had talent, and it was the outside that was strange. Entering thebyrinth and being praised by the leadership must have felt good. Finally, there were those who recognized them.] The one who believed they were wrong for not having talent realized they did have it. Someone unloved and unacknowledged by anyone found those who recognized them. [Especially since they showed exceptional skill in thebyrinth, it must have felt even better. Being acknowledged by such powerful beings made them feel valued. So, they just listened to what they said? Because it made those who acknowledged them happy. Because it made them feel valuable.] Quaned closed his mouth. His pupils were shaking wildly. From his demeanor, it was clear the ghosts words were true. The ghost clicked its tongue. [Pathetic. I''ve seen a few like you. And those types are good at exploiting such individuals.] Taesan looked at Quaned with a mixture of sympathy. Quaned hung his head low. [It''s not a rare story. It''s rare for someone talented to be mentally perfect. Often, they get caught up and end up ridiculously dying or suffering losses. If they survive, their personality gets twisted.] Shut up. Quaned spoke gloomily. What do you want from me by saying such things? Its all in the past. [Nothing much. Just reminded of the past. If you get a chance, don''t make the same mistake.] The ghosts voice wasced with bitterness. Anyway I have to fight because of the contract. Suddenly, the aura around Quaned changed. Like a rock that has stood firm for thousands of years, his presence became imposing. Taesan adjusted his stance as well. The naive and seemingly innocent young demon was nowhere to be found. [You''d better be careful.] The ghost whispered softly. [Sure, the demon in front of you seems dumb and naive and knows nothing... but that also means something else.] Despite such ws, he had surpassed the 50th floor, received recognition from the leadership, and was allowed into the deepyers. It meant he had enough talent to ovee his deficiencies. The battle began. Quaned and Taesan moved at the same time. Watching Quaned move, the first thing Taesan noticed was how clean it was. The adventurers up to now had been somewhat crude. Strong and fast, yes, but their movements had ample gaps. But the demon in front of him showed no such gaps. Moving like flowing water, he approached Taesan and swung his sword. Kaaang! The sh of swords produced the loudest noise Taesan had heard yet. And he was strong. Very slightly, Taesan was being pushed back. In a swift move, Taesan slid his foot between Quaneds legs and pushed his body forward, restricting Quaneds movement. Quaned did not retreat. Instead, he countered by striking his knee against Taesan. Now, neither could move their swords freely. Taesan attempted to strike Quaneds chin with his elbow. Quaned quickly intercepted with his palm and countered with an elbow of his own. Then, he drew a dagger and aimed for the armpit. Taesan twisted his body to dodge. He moved his other hand to strike down with the hilt. Quaned blocked it with his sword. Kagagak! They countered each others moves solely through physical actions, not utilizing any skills. It was a sort of probing battle. Through this, they both realized something. Strong. As he parried the whirlwind of attacks, Taesan thought to himself that Quaned was indeed strong. None of the vulnerabilities he had sensed with the other Guides were present here. He responded to every one of Taesans moves and even counterattacked. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, leaving no openings. Quaned was several levels above any Guide Taesan had encountered before. And Quaned was equally surprised. He blocked my attack? He had been granted permission by the leadership to descend through theyers, naturally bing a thorn in the side of each hierarchical Guide. Of course, there had been no confrontations. No one dared to touch him since the leadership had directly permitted his passage. Yet, receiving angry and hateful res, Quaned wondered. Why are they angry with me when they possess that level of power? From Quaneds perspective, all Guides except for the leadership seemed weak. If he fought seriously, they would be no match and easily defeated. Thus, he didnt pay much attention when he was sent down to fight by the Guides orders. He simply thought they would be slightly stronger than the rest. But that wasnt the case. Taesan was truly strong. Currently, Quaned was an adventurer on the 51styer. Being on the 51styer and having gained much from navigating and understanding thebyrinth, he was significantly above the average adventurer. However, Taesan, who had just entered the 40th floor, was not being overpowered in their battle. This was a shocking revtion for Quaned, who had previously looked down on all adventurers except the leadership. Their shoulders collided, and they both staggered back. As a momentary lull settled, the ghost whistled. [You''re naive but have the strength to survive. Really strong, huh? Your talent isparable to mine in my prime.] It was dangerous. This was an opponent against whom victory could not be assured. Yet, a smile yed on Taesans lips. Seeing the smile, the ghost nodded. [Indeed.] This is how it should be. Up till now, it was too nd. This was Solo Mode. Abyrinth that summoned the finest heroes and warriors from various worlds. Yet, all adventurers that appeared were too ordinary. By the standards of the outside world, they were undoubtedly strong, but in thebyrinth, they were all weak. They were those who could not descend further and were defeated. Though he had risked his lifeing down thebyrinth, the Guides of each hierarchy had never been part of those challenges. No matter the gap, he could win without much difficulty. For the leadership, the gap was so vast that he hardly gave it any thought. But now, a proper adventurer had appeared before him. An entity advancing towards the deepyers, navigating thebyrinth. A being with the talent and strength potentially capable of conquering thebyrinth was fighting him. But I will be the one to win. Taesan exerted strength into his feet. Chapter 189: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (3) Chapter 189: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (3) The reconnaissance had concluded. Taesans movements elerated. He unleashed his swordsmanship, known as Ability Sword. ng! Quaned countered with his own swordsmanship. His technique seemed uncentered, more akin to erratic swinging. Yet, it was deceptive. Quaneds sword, initially aimed at Taesans head, suddenly shifted direction. Taesan anticipated this change and blocked it. ng! Quaned pressed on, restricting Taesans movements. He twisted his sword, aiming for Taesans shoulder. Taesan contorted his body to dodge, and Quaned swung his sword once more. It was an unstructured street swordsmanship, yet it was challenging. With seamless movements, Taesan found himself gradually being pushed back. Taesan propelled himself backward to gain some distance. Quaned promptly pursued. Indeed, theres talent, Taesan mused. At first nce, Quaneds swordsmanship seemed unconventional. Yet, aside from the connected skills, it was not vastly inferior to the Ability Sword. [I''ve alsopletely overhauled the Stormscar Sword, so creating it myself isn''t out of the question. With that level of talent, it''s certainly feasible.] Quaneds innate talent appeared to surpass Taesans. Winning solely through swordy seemed unlikely. It was time for Taesan to leverage his advantage. He charged forward. Quaned recoiled from the aggressive attack that neglected defense. Taesan advanced on Quaned with a fierce sword strike. At first nce, it appeared Taesan, previously on the defensive, had grown impatient and attempted to overwhelm Quaned with broad movements. It was a scenario where Quaned could have gained the upper hand by simply counterattacking due to therge opening. However, Quaned, after briefly disying a puzzled expression, raised his sword. sh! Their swords met. Taesan continued with broad, aggressive movements, pressing Quaned. Instead of counterattacking, Quaned adopted a defensive posture. He parried the attacks while creating space between them. Taesan clicked his tongue softly and surged forward. Quaneds sword barely grazed Taesan. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] Quaneds body reverted to its state before the sword grazed him, his pupils dting due to the sudden physical movement. Kuk! Taesans sword plunged into his chest. For the first time, he groaned. Twisting his body to minimize the damage, he mmed his elbow down, knocking Taesans sword aside, and created distance. [403 damage to Quaned.] Thud! Distance was created. Taesan frowned, clearly unsatisfied. To grasp even this. Attack nullification was, in essence, a selfish exchange. It negated attacks directed at oneself, allowing one to freely attack the bewildered opponent. He had nned to gain a significant advantage using this, but Quaneds response was quicker than anticipated. Seeing Taesan press on and realizing something was amiss, Quaned avoidedbat and forced his way in to activate nullification, managing to block without much confusion. Although his attacknded, it was a disappointing oue for Taesan, who had hoped for more. What is that? But Quaned was equally astonished. The attack hadnded, yet it vanished. Not only that, but time itself seemed to reverse. Even he, with his myriad of skills, had never encountered such a level of ability. Find out for yourself. Taesan pressed on once more, with Quaned hastily beginning to defend. sh! Quaneds movements were more cautious than before. Instead of aiming for a solid hit on Taesan, his actions suggested he was targeting minor attacks. It appeared he was being careful to avoid triggering the Attack Nullification again. Sigh. Taesan chuckled. This was the first time someone had perfectly understood the concept of Attack Nullification while he was navigating the Labyrinth. He was also adept at avoiding the curse left in the spots where Taesan had stepped. sh! Quaned parried sword strikes and waved his hand. [Quaned activated Ronobe''s Ashen Rain.] The ceiling of the Labyrinth opened, and from it, ck slime began to fall like rain. [You activated Seir''s ck Wind.] Whoosh! The wind scattered the raindrops. However, despite being obstructed by the wind, the raindrops stubbornly began to fall where they were meant to. The raindrops, possessing significant physical force, forced Taesan to focus on bodily protection, and Quaned seized this opportunity. [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] Quaneds body returned to its original state. The moment Attack Nullification was activated, Taesan abandoned defense and thrust his sword into Quaneds back. [602 damage to Quaned.] He sessfully inflicted damage But Taesans expression was far from bright. Excluding the Attack Nullification, inflicting only about 600 damage felt insufficient. Of course, it wasnt a favorable situation for Quaned either. The very notion of having to take damage just to negate one skill was absurd. How many more do you have? Quaned muttered, regaining hisposure. The falling rain had already ceased. Taesan observed Quaned. Theres no particr weakness. The adversaries he had encountered so far each had a vulnerability. But not this demon. His swordsmanship was also of a high caliber. His handling was exceptional, and he coolly assessed the situation. And his proficiency in ck magic was quite advanced. He likely possessed most of the active skills, including Flow. He was nearly well-rounded. Just like Taesan. Youre strong. I wont lose. Quaned dered with vigor. There was undeniable confidence in his voice. The confidence that only someone who had ovee numerous challenges and hardships through their own strength could possess. Taesan grinned. Good. In fact, the strategy to win was straightforward. Use Apostle Transformation. No matter how skilled Quaned was He wouldnt have a means to counter the power of an apostle. He would fall, unable to withstand the elevated status. Even if he somehow managed to endure, he would be defeated by the power exhausted in the process. But that wouldnt be fun. More importantly, it wouldnt serve as training. This is also a form of training. Taesan muttered as he rushed in. [You activated eleration.] Quaned quickly responded to Taesans suddenly elerated movements, raising his sword to block the attack. [You activated Strong Blow.] ng! As their swords collided, Quaneds body was slightly pushed back. However, Quaned was not flustered. Having seen the skill Strong Blow several times before, he regained his stance and blocked the attack. ng! Ha. But this time, he couldnt help but be surprised. Even after the effect of Strong Blow had ended, the force felt as if Strong Blow was still active along the sword. Taesan swung his sword in session. sh! Quaned kept being pushed back, but only for a moment. He began to respond calmly. [Quaned activated Wave Variation.] Whoosh. Rippling waves emanated from Quaned. Even though the sword was swung, its trajectory was forcibly twisted. Is this a continuous dodging skill? It was a skill Taesan had not learned. The trajectory of the attack did not reach Quaned. But Taesan stepped forward. [You activated Sure Hit.] The sword, being bent by the wave, forcibly flew towards Quaned. Quaned, who was preparing to counter, was startled and tried to block it. [You activated Flow.] However, Quaneds sword was forcibly deflected. Ultimately, he failed to block and allowed the attack. [703 damage to Quaned.] Kuk! Quaned groaned, his eyes filled with bewilderment. What? Flow was a skill that only dodged physical attacks. He had never imagined it would apply to the sword as well. Quaned countered, stabbing Taesans chest with his sword. [You activated Counter.] His body moved to block the sword. And Taesan countered, but Quaned blocked it. Quaned swung his sword again. The conditions for Counter were met. Taesans sword disregarded Quaneds attack and struck his shoulder. What, how? Quaned grasped his shoulder and retreated. The oues werepletely different from the skills he knew. He could have tried rushing in again, thinking he had misjudged, but Quaned quickly assessed the situation. The opponent had altered his skills. Quickly determining that he couldnt urately understand the changes made, he created distance. He gave up on closebat and waved his hand. His forte was not just in swordsmanship. [Quaned activated Focalor''s Beast Mist.] The mist stretched out like the ws of a beast, leaving marks everywhere. Quaned also knew that Taesan used ck magic and magic. But Taesan was human, and he was a demon. In handling ck magic, he judged himself to be superior. Quaned decided he could suppress Taesan with ck magic linked together, and it wasnt a wrong decision. In fact, he couldnt beat Taesan in closebat. However, just because it wasnt wrong didnt mean it was the right answer. Towards the creeping mist, Taesan clenched his fist. [You activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Space opened around Taesan, and a dark wave rose greedily. The wave swallowed the mist. The mist howled like a beast in resistance, but the wave trampled everything and absorbed it into itself. What! Quaneds eyes widened, not expecting his ck magic to be ovee by another. Taesan rushed at Quaned with the surging wave. Quaned hastily created distance, waving his hand. [Quaned activated Eligor''s Thorn of Rose.] Sharp thorns fell in droves. The power contained in them was crushing, trampling like the wave. Taesan responded. [You activated Decarabia''s Twisted Vegetation.] Rumble! Roots rose, filling the room. Of course, they couldnt block the thorns. There was a clear difference in the ranks of ck magic, and Twisted Vegetation was on the lower end. It was pierced by the thorns. But it was enough to slightly twist their trajectory. Taesan dashed through the opening created by the twisted trajectory. Quaned had no choice but to raise his sword. Crack. [864 damage to Quaned.] Quaned didnt even groan. He simply continued to think, unflustered, about how to shake off Taesan. He used Flow, Counter, and various skills to create distance. But Taesan wouldnt back down. He too responded with skills and movements, sticking close to Quaned and attacking. Gaining the upper hand in closebat was difficult. The ck magic Quaned thought he had an advantage in wasnt superior either. Despite the desperate situation, Quaned did not give up. Descending the Labyrinth, he faced numerous obstacles and trials. It wasnt once or twice that he thought everything was blocked and it was the end. But he overcame all those trials with his skill and talent, advancing further than before. Quaned firmly believed he would do so again. He focused his mind. Lightly touching the ground, he rose into the air and clenched his fist. [Quaned activated Eligor''s Thorn of Rose.] Once more, thorns scattered down. But the speed and quantity were qualitatively different from before. Each thorn moved at a different speed, and there were twice as many as before. Avoidance seemed nearly impossible. Ha. Quaned unwittingly let out a sigh. The more magic power consumed by ck magic, the more its power could be adjusted. Not just increasing power, but even the minutiae of ck magic could be controlled. But it was too difficult andplex, and until now, Quaned hadnt achieved it. He thought it would only be slightly touched even with long training. The difficult task he believed he couldnt achieve, he now aplished. He reached a new level once again. Taesan quietly watched the falling thorns. The power contained in each was immense, not something that could be easily dismissed. Then, there was only one option: to deflect them. He memorized the trajectory of all the thorns and raised his sword. [You activated the Flow.] Dodging one thorn, he leaped. He shifted the tip of his sword. The trajectory of each touched thorn twisted. Thus, a thorn with a twisted path collided with another. Arrows sprang from Taesans body. They werent strong enough to knock down the thorns but were sufficient to alter their path. One by one, the thorns veered away from their intendednding spots. Like a receding wave, thorns began to disappear one by one from Taesans path. Quaneds pupils dted, snapping him out of his trance. Taesans sword pierced through his chest. Chapter 190: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (4) Chapter 190: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (4) Quaned staggered back with a weak groan, his eyes shaking erratically. What is this Realizing closebat was ineffective, he created distance to utilize curse magic, believing he had the upper hand in this domain due to his demon race heritage. But even his ck magic was thwarted. Thest strategy he believed in crumbled miserably. Quaned bit his lip, grasping at his crumbling spirit amidst the sense of powerlessness. Its not over yet. Quaned moved. sh! Taesanughed coldly at the sight of Quaned charging in. All the Guides he had faced until now had crumbled mentally and became clumsy in their movements when pushed to this point. However, Quaned showed no such signs. This is what an adventurer is. Taesan nned to treat him ordingly. ng! The swords shook as they shed, creating loud sparks in their attempt to pierce each other. [You have activated Flow.] Quaneds sword, attempting to collide with Taesans, shook violently. Quaned didnt just take it; he responded. [Quaned activated Counter.] Quaneds body moved naturally, his wavering sword correcting itself to collide with Taesans. Taesans response was simple. Taesan also activated Counter. Crack. Ugh! Quaned, who was hit after getting his guard bypassed, clutched his shoulder and created distance. What the heck? Normally, Flow was activated only when an attack physically connected with the opponents body. However, Taesans version activated as soon as an attack touched the sword. The Counter was also entirely different from the effects he knew. Thats why he couldnt respond adequately and had to take damage. Uh. Quaned groaned as he raised his hand, the aura of will emanating from him changing simultaneously. Taesan, reading this, activated magic before Quaned could. [You have activated Grain Diffusion.] [You have activated Tracking.] The grains flew towards Quaned in a swarm. Attempting to manifest ck magic, Quaned failed to hit his target and moved hastily. Thud! Quaned was relentlessly pushed back. But he did not give up. He desperately sought means and strived for victory. And Taesan trampled over all of it. Ha. Utterly beaten, Quaned leaned against the wall and let out a hollowugh. It was truly dangerous. Throughout many hardships and trials, he had never been pushed to this extent before. This is the end. Quaned gathered his strength. A massive demonic energy descended. [Quaned activated Belial''s Young Beasts.] Darkness engulfed the entire space in an instant. Quaned, bleeding from the mouth, poured out demonic energy. His body swayed greatly. Barely holding onto his copsing body, he muttered. If this doesnt work, then I guess I have to ept it. Boom! From the darkness, numerous beasts appeared. Mutant-like, they bared their ws and teeth towards Taesan. It was as if hell itself had descended. The beasts that appeared possessed strength that even Taesan could not easily handle. Dozens of them charged at Taesan all at once. Taesan grounded himself. [You have activated Frozen World.] Cold swept through the darkness. Frost began to form on the bodies of the charging beasts. Ice started to ovey the darkness that had engulfed the space. Crack! The beasts howled, struggling not to freeze, but all their resistance was trampled by the cold. Ice covered the room. The beasts froze in ce as they charged. The only ones moving were Taesan and Quaned. Quaned could barely withstand the cold prating his body, unable to counterattack. I lost. Quaned nodded calmly. Taesans sword pierced through him.
It was enjoyable. Taesan muttered towards the fallen Quaned. A fight where both revealed their pure skills and strategies against each other. It was a joy of battle he hadnt felt in a long time. It was a very satisfying fight. Is that so? Thats good to hear. Quaned also spoke without much change in expression. He showed no will to fight, as if he had given up on the battle. Youre not resisting much. I would if I could. Quaned lifted his arm, which trembled like that of an old man. For him, a demon, demonic energy wasnt just a simple number like mana. When all demonic energy was exhausted, its practically a state of copse. He had used all his stored demonic energy to summon Belials Young Beasts. And all of that was blocked at once by Taesans magic. Now, even if he wanted to resist, he didnt have the strength to do so. Quaned looked up at Taesan with admiration. Youre strong. The leadership of the Guides was monstrously strong. All of them had the strength to trample someone like the current Quaned with a single finger. But Quaned thought that was because they had descended the floors first. Their talent, their skill wasnt superior to his. He could tell whenever he encountered them. They werent born with much more than him; rather, he believed he had the upper hand. It was because they went down the floors first and gathered much, that made the difference. He thought that once he reached the deeper levels, he wouldnt fall behind them. However, he didnt feel that way about Taesan. Even though he was on a higher floor, he overwhelmed him. Every strategy Taesan held was difficult to counter, and his greatest strength was trampled helplessly before Taesans power. Youre remarkable. He sent an envious nce towards Taesan. Taesan shook his head. Dont look at me like that. It makes me feel sorry. Quaned was his enemy. He was sent here on a Guides mission. There was no option to spare him and let him live. Well it cant be helped. Quaned gave a bitter smile. Ive lost. I have to sacrifice a lot, but its not bad. So this is how it ends. He was content. He had awakened his talent on his own, living a life devoid of meaning, enduring everyones persecution and disdain. He broke through thebyrinth, gaining everyones recognition. He regretted not being able to advance further, but he had already acknowledged himself as someone of value. That was enough. He closed his eyes. Taesan clicked his tongue at his calm eptance. Quaned hadnte to fight of his own volition either. Taesan, having received much from the Demon God, also felt uneasy. But he couldnt let him live. Taesan raised his sword, and Quaned awaited death. However, the sword did note down. When the anticipated pain did note, Quaned slightly opened his eyes. Taesan was looking down at him, sword in hand. Why? Instead of answering, Taesan looked at Quaneds head. An ominous aura was felt there. I didnt notice it during the fight. It was a very faint aura, buried under Quaneds will, imperceptible until he relinquished all will. Taesan murmured as he vaguely understood the auras intent. A contract? Quaneds pupils shook. Perhaps due to a conceptual skill, Taesan could roughly understand what the aura in Quaneds head was about. It was some kind of contract. Whats this? Taesan carefully read the aura. And he understood. The aura carried the power of the immortal. What does it look like? [This is] The ghost groaned. [Could it be Patricia''s contract?] Whats that? [...A contract scattered throughout thebyrinth by the immortal Patricia. Those who have signed it, their souls and power after death are transferred to the person named in the contract. The soul is bound, unable to escape, and the power umted over a lifetime bes someone else''s sacrifice.] The ghost let out a hollowugh. [I knew the contract was found, but to actually use it? And what about you? Why did you receive it?] The ghost questioned Quaned as if probing. It was something iprehensible to him. And Quaned himself did not understand what was being said. The only recent contract I made was that if I defeated you, my previous contract would be annulled? [Ha. These crazy bastards.] The ghost gritted its teeth, rarely showing such anger. [There''s a limit to deception. Are they insane to deceive with this? Thinking a contract with the immortal wouldn''t backfire on them?] Whats that? Exin in detail. Taesan asked the ghost. Calming its anger, the ghost exined. [Patricia''s contract. A contract created by the immortal to mock and inflict pain on mortals. And this contract is perfectly ovepped in twoyers.] Ovepped means [On the front, meaningless false sentences. And on the hidden back, the real contract is written.] Quaneds eyes widened in shock. The ghost continued to exin. [Why do you think I''m still here even after death?] Because you made a contract with thebyrinths wizard. Thus, the ghosts soul was bound to thebyrinth. [Yes. ording to the contract, the soul can move even after death. An Apostle''s contract is also one of these types. You offer your soul to a god and receive power. The important thing is that a contract involving a soul must have clear conditions.] Conditions? [The soul is not light. It''s about being bound for an eternity close to death. That''s why there must be conditions for the one making the contract.] The ghost continued. [In my case, I agreed knowing everything, and when my wish was fulfilled, my soul would be released. An Apostle''s contract grants great power in exchange for the soul. Such contracts involving souls require the other party to also pay a corresponding price, and only beings with that level of power can make them.] It doesnt seem like the Guides have that kind of power. Quaneds eyes were shaking greatly as he listened to the story. The ghost clicked its tongue. [Patricia herself lent out Patricia''s contract. In exchange for fulfilling the soul''s contract, she collects a significant price. The Guides must have paid a not insignificant price to Patricia.] Anger and disbelief filled the ghosts voice. [So they''ve decided to side with the immortals after falling out with the gods? They''re really something.] Taking all the power, huh? I get the gist. Taesan twisted the corner of his mouth. Thebyrinths system grants a lot when one adventurer defeats another. But if Patricias contract was as the ghost described, even if Taesan killed Quaned, he might not gain anything. The contract already determined the transfer of that power. That must have been the aim of making the contract. How can we screw them over with this? Taesan sheathed his sword. Knowing this, killing Quaned now was meaningless. The contract would transfer all his power to the Guides anyway. Quaned was also confused. So what happens to me? [What can happen? Your soul will be used as they please and then discarded. Once a contract is made, there''s nothing to be done.] Quaneds face paled. [Since the contract with the immortal is already made, even the Demon God can''t interfere. That''s why she must have been distressed.] His soul would not return to the Demon God but would be bound to the Guides. It was a regrettable matter for the Demon God, who did not interfere in the affairs of thebyrinth, but there was nothing she could do. [It''s pitiful, but it has to be dealt with.] The ghost spoke softly. Quaned was already bound by the contract. If he was spared now, he would return to fight again. But Taesan did not move. Killing Quaned would be what the Guides wanted. His soul and power would return to them. Not killing him would also be what they wanted. Then the surviving Quaned would be stronger and benefit them. The contract of the immortal. The binding of the soul. And the transfer of power. And the skill Taesan possessed. Could it be possible? [What?] To screw them over. Taesan stood up and pointed his sword at Quaned. Chapter 191: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (5) Chapter 191: 40th Floor, The Demon Child (5) Taesan approached Quaned, who was shaking, his eyes wide as he gripped his sword. The ghost, discerning the intention behind his movement, quietly asked, [Are you going to kill him?] Theres no other way. If someone with such talent were to grasp Taesans power and return even stronger, it could indeed be dangerous. Just as the ghost had said, letting him go was not an option. But I think there might be a way to curse him. [How will you do that? You''re not nning to summon the Demon God, are you?] Nothing was as certain as the existence of a god to break the Immortals contract. However, the ghost spoke in an ambiguous tone, That would be difficult. No matter how much the Demon God pities him, the contract has already been made. The Demon God said so herself. The matters of thebyrinth are left to the beings of thebyrinth. If she intended to protect, she would have prevented the contract itself. The Demon God was in a position of non-intervention. Taesan calling the Demon God directly would not lead to the contract being broken or nullified. Taesan was well aware of this. What he was considering was a different matter. The contract with Patricia involves the soul and power. [Right?] The condition of the contract was to take the soul and power entirely after death. A contract is a contract only if its conditions are fulfilled. If its shaken midway or fails to take the power entirely, then the contract is notpleted. [How would you interfere with that?] Theres one thing, isnt there? A skill that has been of great help so far. [Ah.] The ghost realized which skill Taesan was referring to. [Soul Ascension] Taesan nodded. Soul Ascension took power when killing an enemy. It included not only stats but also the skills that the opponent had. It was a kind of power plundering. Patricias contract took the power and soul. Soul Ascension also took power. The two powers could sh, preventing the contract from being fulfilled. There was a significant possibility of that happening. [That''s] The ghost trailed off. Patricia was an immortal. It was about seizing power through the contract with a being far surpassing mortals. No matter how desperately mortals struggled and tried, oveing the power gap was impossible. No matter how great their skill, it would be deemed inferior and rendered meaningless. However, the ghost could not provide a definitive answer. Taesan quietly extended his sword toward Quaned. Quaned, having apparently made up his mind, quietly closed his eyes. The Immortals contract. Taking power and soul with the force of a supreme being. There was no room for a mortals skill to intervene. But with Soul Ascension. Against the monsters of the high gods, the angels of Hamon, the followers of the forgotten goddess, the will of Harfrans destroyed world. Despite each being rted to a transcendent being higher in rank than mortals, Soul Ascension was activated. Would it work? Would it not? Taesan judged it would. Taesans sword pierced through Quaneds chest. Quaneds health, already near death, dropped to 0. Ah, ah But Quaned did not die. He groaned, his face pale. Something vague within him rose into the air. Taesan knew it. That was Quaneds soul, everything he had built up until now. The power, having lost its direction, lingered in the air. At the same time, a massive power descended. [Uh-] Ugh. The ghost involuntarily held its breath. An invisible but massive will was overseeing this ce. This will slowly began to absorb the power floating in the air. Just as all of Quaneds being was about to be engulfed and disappear into this enormity, Power surged out from Taesans body. The power was not vast. But without wavering, it clearly targeted Quaneds power being absorbed. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 854, strength by 201, agility by 134, intelligence by 102, and mana by 58.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Mana proficiency has increased by 3%.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. You have acquired the beginner ck magic [Eligors Rose Thorn].] A portion of the power Quaned possessed was stored in Taesan. [...It really worked.] The ghost said with a hollowugh. A skill that overcame the Immortals contract and plundered power. Soul Ascension was a skill that stood superior even to the Immortals rank. Uh Quaned was still not dead. Taesan looked at him with cold eyes. Soul Ascension was not a skill that took all the opponents power. Most of the power still floated above Quaneds head. But the enormity no longer consumed Quaneds power. It just stood still, as if shocked by what had happened, doing nothing. The ghost swallowed its saliva. [This isn''t entirely good news. Isn''t it dangerous?] What will happen now? As soon as Taesan spoke, the will moved. The enormity first showed anger. The very space itself began to twist with the surge of emotions. Through the distorted space, the enormous being showed its eyes. [How dare.] It was suffocating. The ghosts presence flickered as if it would disappear at any moment. It was the first time a being beyond mortal rank descended in anger directly at him. [How dare, my possession.] Emotion flowed heavily in the voice. [Instant death judgment in progress] [Instant death judgment in progress] [Instant death judgment in progress] The continuous attempts at an instant death judgment. [All judgments seeded!] And it seeded. Amidst the terrible pressure, Taesanughed. Patricia grew even angrier at thatugh. [Insolent mortal. You dare disturb my mood because you possess something beyond your station?] Emotions had a physical impact. The outer walls of thebyrinth began to crack and break apart. The eyes sparkled fiercely. [Die.] A gaze that could bring mortals to their death struck down. At that moment, the bricks that made up thebyrinths floor rose. They quickly assembled to block the gaze aimed at Taesan. [That''s far enough.] The entity, assembled like a puzzle, spoke calmly. [You''re breaking the rules, Patricia. You cannot have a direct influence.] [...Balbabamba. The wizard''s tool.] Patricias eyes red with intense emotion. [How dare you block me?] The bricks making up Balbabambas body began to scream. His body crumbled, yet Balbabambas tone remained unchanged. [You made a contract when you entered thebyrinth. Not to directly influence mortals. I turned a blind eye to tampering with the contract, but if you rampage like this, I can''t just stand by.] [What will you do if I don''t stand by? Do you think you can stop me without the wizard?] Patricia scoffed at Balbabamba. From their conversation, Taesan could tell that the wizard was currently absent. Balbabamba conceded Patricias point. [I cannot. So, I must call someone who can.] Suddenly, darkness engulfed the room. The force trampling on Balbabamba was cleanly erased. The space, distorted by immense power, was swallowed by darkness and returned to calm. Patricia was disturbed. [Demon God!] [That''s enough.] A girl with ck hair appeared,ughing. [I''ve been holding back, but I shouldn''t interfere. Mortal matters are for mortals, don''t you know?] Patricias power was swiftly pushed back. She gritted her teeth. [...I made a contract!] Patricia shouted as if a child was throwing a tantrum at an adult. [I was supposed to take power ording to the contract! That worthless mortal interfered! Don''t meddle!] [If it had been a legitimate act, I wouldn''t have interfered. But this is different.] The Demon God chuckled and pointed a finger at Patricia through space. [Your contract was for Quaned''s power and soul. The entirety of it had to be transferred intact. However, Kang Taesan caused a portion of the power to escape. This means the very condition of the contract was altered.] The Demon Gods eyes narrowed. [Your contract is void because it didn''t meet the conditions. Quaned''s soul and power will gain freedom. And you''re attempting to enforce it?] [Nonsense!] Patricia roared. Simultaneously, immense power began to repel the darkness. The Demon Godughed as if the attempt was futile. A silent yet colossal sh of powers ensued. Taesan did his utmost to protect himself. This is noughing matter. It was a confrontation between beings beyond mortality. Had the Demon God not shielded him, the waves of power would have obliterated him countless times. [Disappear, Patricia.] The Demon God gestured with a hand. Darkness eagerly surged, engulfing the space. Patricia summoned her power, but the disparity in strength was overwhelming. [If you persist here, be prepared to be trapped indefinitely.] [You...!] With those words, Patricias presence vanished. The Demon God pped her hands lightly. [Is that all? Balbabamba.] [Yes.] Balbabamba expressed his thanks. [It seems not all immortals are rational. Thank you.] [I could descend without using my power thanks to you, so it''s all good. Farewell.] [I''ll seek your assistance again in the future.] The assembled bricks crumbled away. After Balbabamba departed, the Demon God approached Quaned. [Poor child.] Demon God Despite Taesans level increase and the activation of Soul Ascension due to Patricias contract being disrupted midway, Quaned had yet to perish. But now his face was growing pale, and life was ebbing from him. The Demon God extended her hand to him with a gentle tone. [Come with me. Return to me. My child.] Yes. Quaned smiled and epted her hand. His body was enveloped in darkness and vanished. In the space where tremendously powerful beings had descended, only Taesan and the Demon God remained. The Demon God spoke first. [Thank you. Once a contract is made, even I can''t do anything about it. So, regretfully, I gave up... but thanks to you, he was able to return to my embrace.] Its also beneficial for me. Does this mean Patricias contract ispletely shattered? [Yes. The entire transmission of power was broken thanks to you. The Guides also didn''t gain anything.] Thats good to hear. It really was. Just thinking about their stunned faces was enjoyable. What will happen to him? [He''s alive. Though his soul and power were wounded.] This was quite unexpected. Taesan had anticipated Quaneds soul would be freed, but he hadnt known he wouldnt die. The Demon God said with augh. [Probably, his power floated away in the collision process between your skill and the contract. Healing will take some time... but he may be able to return someday.] If possible, I hope we wont be enemies then. [That won''t happen. Precisely because I will make sure of it.] With those words, the Demon God clenched her fist. [This is my reward to you.] [The Demon God''s interference zone has decreased.] [You have obtained the beginner ck magic [Amon''s Irregr Armor].] The Demon God chuckled. [You received intermediate magic from Zelbando, didn''t you?] Taesan nodded. Intermediate magic. Frozen World. Its power was worth the effort. [Soon, I might give you something simr. Come down diligently.] I understand. The Demon God left with those words. Taesan finally rxed the tension in his body. It was finally over. And he had received a sufficient reward. Taesan descended the floors. [This ce is getting closer to the center of thebyrinth.] [The darkness here is thick and heavy. Most beings here exist without physical bodies and exist as spirits.] [41st floor quest starts.] [Defeat the boss of the 41st floor and pass through.] [Reward: Gem of the Pitiful Soul] [Secret Reward: ???] 41st floor. Reading the description, it seemed that many beings rted to the mind rather than the body were present. Taesan descended the floors. Meanwhile, the Guides of Sin realized something was wrong. Chapter 192: 41st Floor, The Madman Pursuing The Great Spirit (1) Chapter 192: 41st Floor, The Madman Pursuing The Great Spirit (1) Quaned is dead. The sound of voices echoed in the ce where the leaders of the Guides gathered, filled with groans. So he finally died. Its not an unexpected oue, but it still hurts. Their shock was minimal. Quaneds power was undeniably immense, yet the power Taesan had shown, even if only vaguely, was formidable as well. They had recognized that the likelihood of defeat was greater than that of victory. Another reason contributed to their rtive calm. The Spirit King said, Still, that power is ours. Then it doesnt matter. ording to Patricias contract, Quaneds soul and power would return to them upon his defeat. Their attention then turned to a girl with ash-gray hair. You were supposed to receive it, Societ. Yes. Societ responded tersely. The Spirit King asked with a smile, How does it feel? To receive the power of another. This was their first time making a contract for the transfer of a soul and power. They asked out of curiosity, but Societs response was still devoid of emotion, I dont know. I didnt receive anything. What? For the first time, the Spirit Kingsposure faltered, Wasnt it stipted in the contract that you would receive that power? It was. Societs eyes narrowed. But I didnt receive anything. Not his soul, not his power, nothing at all. What does that mean? The atmosphere grew tense. Is it confirmed that Quaned is dead? Yes. The gem connected to his life shattered. It signifies that his body has sumbed to death. An old man wielding a gnarled wooden staff spoke with rity. As the Archmage, he was responsible for creating the gems that linked the lives of the Guides across various ranks. There is no way to circumvent that No. Precisely, its impossible. What now? Just leave thebyrinth. With that, the old man mmed down his gnarled staff. The Life Gem only works inside thebyrinth. If you leave thebyrinth, the light of the Life Gem automatically turns off. However, as long as Patricias contract exists, its impossible to leave thebyrinth. Theres no way to break that An Immortals contract. Breaking it was impossible, at least ording to theirmon sense. So Quaned is dead. And his power did not return to us? With that conclusion, silence fell. We need to check first. Lets call Patricia. Archmage. Damn. I dont want to be a scapegoat. The Archmage crumpled his face and began to draw lines on the ground with his staff. Eventually, a magic circle waspleted, and the Archmage fluttered his robe. Everyone, duck down. Unless you want to explode. They all ttened themselves against the ground. The Archmage chanted something as he struck the magic circle with his staff. And then a powerful force descended. A vast and terrifyingly strong force. A power so immense that they, who considered themselves the strongest among mortals, would appear as mere insects inparison. The Archmage shouted, Descend, Patricia! You who have transcended the mortal coil! Kwoooong! Suddenly, a tremendous pressure weighed them down, and silence ensued. [What is it?] An irritated voice rang out. The Archmage bowed deeply. This lowly being greets the magnificent presence! The Archmage swallowed. The Immortals mood didnt seem very good. Displeasing her over something trivial could potentially provoke the Immortals wrath, so he had to tread carefully. He asked with all due respect, O Immortal, may I inquire about something? [Speak.] We offered sacrifices and made a deal with Patricia. The sacrifices they offered were not insignificant. Even those entrenched in the depths considered them valuable enough. But the power did not return to us. May I ask what happened to the contract? [] The immortal didnt answer. The Archmage quietly waited, his head bowed. After a while, the immortal spoke. [Going forward, I will not ept contracts rted to that person.] Excuse me? Caught off guard by the unexpected response, the Archmage involuntarily lifted his head. Patricia, wearing an annoyed expression, said, [Are you questioning my decision?] No, not at all. [Remember that. If there''s anything rted to that person in my contracts in the future, be prepared.] But, about our sacrifice O.. [Dare you ask for the sacrifice you offered to me to be returned?] Rage filled Patricias voice. Overwhelmed by the imposing force and power, the Archmage cried out, Not at all! The sacrifice belongs to Patricia! [Be careful. Insects. I can crush you anytime.] With those irritated words, Patricia left. The Archmage stood up, wiping the sweat from his back. Damn immortals. So difficult to deal with. The contract did note to fruition. There was no other reason for the immortal to be so annoyed. In the end, they had given the sacrifice and achieved nothing. This is troubling. A man who had been silent until now spoke. He was the one who had decided to send Quanedst time. Whats certain is that the contract has been broken. And its possible that the power has been fully transferred to that person. Their contract with Patricia was not only to obtain Quaneds power but also to ensure Taesan gained nothing. But all those ns had crumbled. Who are in the fifth rank? Uh nothing much. Just ordinary guys. Realizing they wouldnt be able to stop Taesan, their spirits fell. The man said, Find a way. We must kill him by any means necessary. With Quaned dead, they no longer had the luxury of time. They began to move, their expressions grave. No matter what they did, Taesan arrived at the 41st floor with a calm demeanor.
The outer walls of the 41st floor were dry and twisted. It seemed untouched by human hands, with dust piled up thickly. The same was true for the floor, not just the walls; dust rose with every step. The shopkeeper was there. Have you arrived? Yes. Are you going to buy something this time? Taesan nodded. The shopkeepers lips curled up. How much do you have? Close to 300,000. By diligently selling the materials he had collected and keeping all the gold, he had amassed about 270,000 gold. The shopkeeper whistled. Thats a lot. You havent even reached the deep floors, and you have that much? With that, you could buy up to two items. Show me, please. As if waiting for those words, the shopkeeper made space and poured out items one by one. At first nce, the equipment was extraordinary. Take your time to check them out. They are quite useful. Thats the n. Taesan began to examine the items with a smile. [Executioner''s Axe] [An axe that has beheaded thousands. Among its victims were great magicians, kings greater than any before, and sages whoprehended everything.] [Attack power + 130] [When facing enemies of noble lineage, attack power + 30] [300,000G] Wow. The first axe he picked up had unbelievable performance. Its basic attack power was an impressive 130. The sword he was currently using, the Calvert Sword, paled inparison. The only downside was its hefty price. It was still out of Taesans budget. Are these items really for sale? Of course not. The shopkeeper said as if it were obvious. Most of the equipment here cannot be bought by anyone ordinary. Its kind of a showcase for those who can afford them further down. Otherwise, you would have to do a challenge quest like you did before, but I cant offer that to you now. Thats a shame. If a quest had been possible, he could have bought most of the items. Taesan expressed his disappointment, and the shopkeeper waved it off. Its not like its anyones loss. Take your time to check. The next item Taesan picked up was a magical staff, its tip adorned with a blood-red gem. [Gem Staff Containing Star Blood] [It contains blood drawn directly from a star.] [Magic + 70] [Allows the use of the special activation skill: [Curse of Blood].] [290,000G] [Mantra''s Ring] [A ring once wielded by the great Mantra. Its true nature remains a mystery, but a power beyond mortality faintly lingers within.] [Mana + 400] [Intelligence + 200] [Defense + 80] [250,000G] [Earrings Containing the Voice of Everything] [Earrings that encapste the sounds of all creation. Their value is immeasurable.] [Strength + 200] [Agility + 200] [Intelligence + 200] [Allows the activation of the special skill: [Echo of Sound].] [270,000G] How do they look? The shopkeeper, beaming with pride, inquired of Taesan, who was meticulously examining each item. Taesan nodded in response. Theyre very good. In truth, he was barely concealing his astonishment. The prices were steep, yet the capabilities of these items justified their cost. Even a single piece could significantly bolster his strength. Its a tough decision. Which item would yield the most benefit? Weapons were currently of lesser importance, particrly since the ghost had mentioned he could reim the weapon he once wielded. Armor was in the same category. For Taesan at this moment, high defense held little significance. essories, or perhaps an enhancement item focusing on attack power, seemed more appealing. Or even equipment with a unique effect could prove valuable. It was at this moment that Taesan spotted the item he wished to purchase. Lets go with this for now. Taesan selected a flute. [Flute of Silence] [A flute treasured by a minstrel who reveled in silence.] [When yed, it prohibits the use of all magic within its range for 10 minutes. This item can be used only once a day.] [70,000G] He had seen the flute in the shop before. As he descended the floors, he encountered more enemies wielding magic. And asionally, during the trials of the gods in other worlds, there were always those who wielded magic at least once. It was an attractive item that would surely prove useful at some point if he acquired it. Previously, he hadnt been able to afford it due to ack of funds, but now he nned to make the purchase. The shopkeeper seemed to approve of Taesans choice. Thats useful enough. Better to carry something like that to the end than to settle for something mediocre. So, what will you buy next? Ill think about it a bit more. Now with only 200,000 gold remaining, the quality of the equipment he could consider had slightly diminished. As Taesan examined the items one by one, he shook his head. Theres nothing significant enough to warrant a change. There was either no significant difference or no urgent need to rece what he already had. The shopkeeper looked at him with a curious expression. Nothing? What exactly are you wearing that makes you say that? [The equipment he possesses is unbelievable. Having broken through the trials of the gods, understanding all sorts of things, anding down here, it couldn''t be anything but exceptional.] Hmm. Taesan continued his search but failed to find any more items that caught his eye. Amidst this, he noticed a simple leather strap. With no pattern and merely a simple leather strap, it appeared too inpared to the other items, but the subtly contained energy caught his attention. [Leather Strap with a Faint Blessing] [A leather strap designed for wrapping around the handle of a sword. Its previous owner and creator are unknown. The only known fact is that it was crafted for a sword destined to bring death.] [Attack power + 20] [The longer the sword equipped with this strap is wielded, and the higher the proficiency with the sword bes, the more the attack power increases.] [Removes all debuff effects received by wielding the sword.] [This effect can be transferred to another weapon at any time.] [200,000G] The effect itself was nothing extraordinary. Simply put, an attack power of 20 for the price seemed quite low. However, it allowed for continuous growth. Plus, it had the effect of being transferable to any other weapon. After a moment of contemtion, Taesan picked up the band. Ill take this. Not a bad choice at all. A good selection. The shopkeeper looked pleased with Taesans choice. With that, Taesans business in the shop wasplete. He thanked the shopkeeper and headed towards the passageway. The shopkeeper spoke with an ambiguous expression. Now that youre heading to the 41st floor, youll soon see them. Them? Yeah, theres something. A bit annoying and irritating but you should have no trouble. Those words were meaningful. Taesan stored them in his mind as he proceeded through the passageway. [A spirit filled with nothing but rage appeared.] An opaque sphere appeared. The sphere trembled, and Taesan could feel an attack heading towards his mind. [Emotional disturbance judgment in progress...] [Judgment failed!] Taesan shook his head to clear it. Just like what she told me. Lee Taeyeon had said that there were floors in thebyrinth where only spirits appeared. Every encounter with them involved mental interference, making it extremely difficult to break through. But Taesan was unaffected. The sphere tried hard to stimte Taesans mind, but to him, it was hardly moving. The ghost spoke indifferently. [Even the presence and rage of gods have been ovee; there''s no way something from thebyrinth''s existence could affect you.] Taesan swung his sword. The sphere split but no damage window appeared. The split sphere merged again and continued to vigorously stimte Taesans mind. 41st floor. This ce was simr to the floor of spirits he had passed before. Ordinary means couldnt damage a spirit. Not impossible, though. He could use the Apostle Transformation to enhance the spirit strike and could harm even purely spiritual entities. However, this technique was beyond the reach of anyone except Taesan. Thus, simr to the floor of spirits, there existed an entity here that provided quests. Taesan disregarded the spirits and navigated through thebyrinth. He overlooked the intense emotions emanating from every spirit he encountered. [I also struggled to break through this.] The ghost expressed its admiration in a murmur. This was the 41st floor. The assaults from such creatures couldnt be considered weak. The ghost had spent an entire hour just to get through a single room. It was a creature that had a significant impact on the mind. Yet, Taesan remained incrediblyposed. [The proficiency of Reconnaissance has increased by 1%.] Taesan surveyed the entire room. His actions appeared strategic, but the ghost didnt dwell on it too much. By this point, Taesan had demonstrated too much for such a thing to be surprising. After exploring, he found a room. A ck door stood out from the rest, not a speck of dust on it. Taesan opened it. Inside, a man with unkempt hair wasughing hysterically. Hehehe! [You have encountered a madman in pursuit of the great spirit.] Chapter 193: 41st Floor, The Madman Pursuing The Great Spirit (2) Chapter 193: 41st Floor, The Madman Pursuing The Great Spirit (2) Who are you! The man who had spotted Taesan shouted, his face contorted with anger. Is there no need to ask? An adventurer? His expression quickly morphed into one ofughter, a visage brimming with joy that swiftly turned to sorrow. A myriad of emotions danced across the mans face. Observing this, the ghost opened its mouth. [As always. Valencia.] Hero. Valencia, the man, spoke in a somber tone. Have you died? [That''s why I''m here.] Its regrettable. I couldnt fulfill my wish, but I believed that if anyone could, it would be you, reaching the end of the Labyrinth. [A lot has happened. Are you still the same?] I havent achieved it yet. Madness was apparent in Valencias expression. So, I am here. [Do you really think it''s possible? Your wish?] Nothing is impossible. Though weak, I am beginning to see some results. Confidence radiated from Valencias face. While Taesan pondered the rapid shifts in Valencias expressions, suddenly, Valencias gaze fell upon him. You are an adventurer descending into the Labyrinth. What do you seek from me? A bitter smile crept across Valencias face. No, its obvious. Youre here seeking the key to conquer this ce, like all those before you. Exhaustion pervaded Valencias gaze as he looked at Taesan. Will you be the one to fulfill my wish? I doubt it. You, too, will likely just pass through. Valencias voice was tinged with gloom. The beings here are of the mind. To kill them, a special skill is required. Go to the room on the far right and perform the Ritual of Rage. Bring me the core, and I will grant you the skill. [Sub-quest start] [The Madman Seeking the Great Spirit. Valencia seeks something from you. Even if it''s not fulfilling his wish, he promises a worthy reward.] [Condition: Core of Rage.] [Reward: A skill that allows you to attack spiritual bodies.] This quest was reminiscent of that given by the crazed spirit. Taesan nodded in acknowledgment. [Sub-quest epted.] Then go. My expectations arent high, but lets trust you this once. Valencia waved his hand, his expression full of annoyance. Taesan left him behind. What does he want? The crazed spirit had a clear goal: revenge against the Spirit King who had made him this way. This was much like how Lilis wanted to learn magic. But finding such rity in Valencia was difficult. The only evident thing in him was madness. The ghost responded. [Aplete spirit. He seeks the spirit of an existence beyond mortality. For that purpose, he made a contract with the wizard and entered the Labyrinth.] The spirit of an existence beyond mortality. Taesan grimaced as he pondered the meaning. Do you mean he wants to achieve that artificially? Is that even possible? Immortals or transcendent beings. Their power could destroy stars and create life. To be such an existence artificially seemed absolutely impossible to Taesan. The ghost corrected Taesans words. [Exactly, it''s not about their power but their spirit. He desires a spirit that is whole, alone, and close to immortality.] It seems the same to me. [That''s right. It''s impossible. But he believes he can achieve it. That''s why he entered the Labyrinth. In a way, he''s simr to Lilis.] The ghost clicked its tongue. [Valenciacks the talent to transcend mortality. However, he wishes to be a being greater than any other. If he cannot have their power, he at least wants their spirit. So, he swallowed thousands of emotions. That''s the result you see.] Cant he control his emotions either? [Correct. He''s bing more damaged in his pursuit of perfection. That''s why he''s still there. Normally, only those that are damaged would make a contract with a wizard, but he''s exceptional.] As Taesan listened to the ghost, he made his way through the room. Along the way, the spirits of rage touched his emotions, but they had no effect on him. Then, Taesan arrived at the room Valencia had mentioned. [A grudge filled with rage was found.] In the center of the room floated a small pir. And there, Taesan could recognize the terrible emotions lingering inside. Taesan had already heard about what this was from Lee Taeyeon. The pir touched the essential parts of human emotions. Lee Taeyeon also touched a pir to pass through the 40th floor. And she was swallowed by the emotion of rage. The numerous rage-filled posts she left in themunity at that time were practically her dark history. [Give it a try.] Taesan ced his hand on the pir. At the same time, emotions rushed over him. The emotions when monsters suddenly descended on Earth and threw him into the Labyrinth. The emotions when he had to watch people around him die. The rage when he was weak and fragile and couldnt resist even the tyranny of Hard Mode. And the emotions when he was the only one to survive. All those emotions rose up. As if they had just happened, they began to envelop Taesan physically. Hmm. Taesan tightened his grip on the pir with an expressionless face. The emotions burst like a balloon and disappeared. Quite unique. Taesan muttered without much emotion. A mental trial, not a physical one. It was a fresh experience. From Taesan, emotions surged out, and the pir began to form a core. The core shone white, and no speck could be found on it. [You have obtained pure rage.] [As expected, it was easy for you.] The ghost hadnt passed so easily. It struggled with boiling rage and had to calm its emotions here for a full two days. In contrast, Taesan was unaffected by any emotion. As this was somewhat expected, the ghost spoke calmly. [Now, let''s return.] Taesan stored the core and went back to Valencia. Seeing Taesan return so quickly, Valencia was taken aback. Back already? He had expected it to take at least a week. Because that was how long it usually took to control ones emotions. Valencia couldnt hide his bewilderment as his face cooled down. Youve given up ande back. Are you asking for a way to conquer it? He assumed Taesan had returned without interacting with the mysterious pir, seeking a solution. This was amon urrence, so Valencia presumed Taesan was following suit. Get lost. The only thing I can give you is Would this do? Taesan presented the white core. Mid-sentence, Valencia halted, visibly irritated. Staring at the white core, Valencia was momentarily at a loss. Wa, wait a moment. Let me see that. Intending to give it away from the start, Taesan handed over the core. Valencia quickly grabbed it and gently caressed the core. Pure emotion? Could it be? He whispered to himself. After a moment of shock, he clenched the core tightly. Crack. The core shattered. The power within engulfed Valencia. Oooooh His eyes sparkled intensely. A vast wave of emotion surged through him, visibly affecting him. Regaining hisposure after some time, he inhaled deeply, his eyes aze with undeniable excitement. Struggling to calm down, he shifted his focus. How did youe by this? What is it? The emotion of purity. A core filled solely with untainted rage. Many adventurers have tried and failed, yet youve managed to bring this core I dont know. I just did. Valencias eyes flickered, evidently taken aback by Taesans casual reply. Then, he burst intoughter. It was augh tinged with madness. You might just be the one. Do what? Make me great. His eyes gleamed with avarice. Take this. Valencia tossed a key. [Key of Emotion] [A key Valencia received upon making his contract. It is given to others when he truly desires.] Go to the 42nd floor. To the room at the very end on the left. There, youll find a closed door. Use this key, and like before, youll encounter a pir. Touch the pir and retrieve the core. [Sub-quest start] [Impressed by your acquisition of the pure emotion, Valencia wishes to entrust you with the key he holds. Heed his request and ept the emotions from each floor.] [Condition: Core of each floor.] [Reward: The Great Spirit.] The watching ghost spoke. [Was it supposed to be connected like this? Back in my time, I only got a skill thrown at me with a disappointed face.] Youve brought me something worthless. Valenciaughed, showing his teeth. It was better than the others, but it wasnt at the level I wanted. However, this one is different. This one has reached the level I desired. [As if you had a choice.] The ghost snickered. Valencia looked at Taesan with zing eyes. Are you going to refuse? The way he said it, it was as if he would devour Taesan if he refused. Taesan nodded. Ill take it. Regardless of what happened, it was a quest. Andpleting a quest meant receiving a reward. There was no reason to refuse. Valencia visibly brightened. Good. Very good. Then first, take this. [You have acquired the Special Continuous Activation Skill [Synchronization of Mind and Body].] Every time you clear a floor and gain a core,e back to me. Then, I will inform you of your next destination. Taesan epted and left him. Passing through the corridor, the ghost muttered. [You better be careful. Most beings bound in the Labyrinth are friendly towards adventurers, but... there are those who aren''t. There are those who would do anything to fulfill their own desires.] Taesan broke through the Labyrinth. When he swung his sword at the spirits he couldnt touch before, they split with a terrible sound. [1987 damage to a spirit left only with rage.] An effective strike that was previously impossible became possible. It was thanks to the skill Valencia gave at the end. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Synchronization of Mind and Body] [The mind and body are synchronized, allowing attacks on opponents that exist as spirits only.] Taesan continued forward. The spirits that appeared continued to stimte Taesans mind, but he felt no thrill. [It''s not supposed to be this easy to get through.] For the ghost, who had struggled with the conquest of the floor, the feeling was peculiar. As Taesan cleared the spirits, he asked, Is it going to feel like this from the 41st to the 50th floor? [Since there''s a theme of hierarchy, you can assume so.] Then itll end quickly. They were practically sandbags. Unless there was some trial from a god, it seemed he could pass through without any resistance until the 50th floor. However, the ghost contradicted Taesans thoughts. [That might be difficult. It might even take longer than the 3rd room.] Is there something? [If there is, there is, and if there isn''t, there isn''t. You can ignore it if you choose to... but that might be difficult.] The statement was vague. Taesan attempted to probe for a clearer exnation, but the ghost shifted the topic. [I can''t say more. There''s a limit to what I, not being an adventurer, can interfere with. You''ll understand once you see it for yourself.] For the moment, it seemed like there was nothing. So, he just had to continue moving forward through the Labyrinth. Taesan pressed on. And he managed to conquer the 41st floor faster than any floor he had traversed before. Chapter 194: 42nd Floor Chapter 194: 42nd Floor The boss of the 41st floor was a spirit consumed by rage. Yet, as before, it had no effect on Taesan. After clearing everything on the 41st floor, Taesan began to examine each of the rewards one by one. The first was the secret room reward. [Elven Longbow] [Attack Power + 60] [uracy + 60%] [A bow made to protect the realm of the elves] It boasted high attack power and uracy. Not a bad piece of equipment at all. However, it was merely store-bound equipment for Taesan, who does not use bows. [Pitiful Soul''s Gem] [A gem inhabited by the most pitiful of souls. The emotions contained within are not easily endured.] Is this a material item? [It seems so.] I cant use it for a while. The cksmith Hafran was currently crafting top-tier equipment for him onmission. Since the ghost said that he would only got in the way, he had been advised not to visit, so for the time being, it was just another materialnguishing in his inventory. This needs to be dealt with too. A gemstone given to him by Umberak. At first nce, it was extraordinary. If crafted into equipment, it would certainly prove useful. [Just wait a little longer. It''s much more beneficial to go all the way rather than just making something passably useful.] I know. Thats why Taesan also refrained from visiting. And then, the ??? reward. [Gloriously Shining Anklet of Glory] [Strength + 100] [Defense + 70] [An anklet known to shine brighter and hold more value than anything else. Not only does it shine, but its performance is unmatched by anything.] Oh, wow. It was quite impressive. Its defense was a full 35 points higher than the anklet he was currently wearing. Considering he had changed anklets rtively recently, this was a significant upgrade. Is it because the floor series has changed? Thebyrinth altered its grand appearance every 10 floors. ordingly, the performance of the equipment also improved. Having ascended to the 41st floor, the equipment toe would be a step above everything he had obtained so far. And what about this one? A leather strap was wrapped around the handle, continuously increasing the attack power. Upon checking, the attack power had indeed increased from 21 to 1. For every floor passed, there was an increase of 1. Simply put, descending to the 100th floor would yield about 60, but it was likely to be more than that. The further down he went, the greater the increase would surely be. Certainly, it was not a bad effect. This was what he had obtained from the store on the 41st floor. Looking forward to what he would obtain next, Taesan descended to the next floor. [Start of the 42nd floor quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 42nd floor and pass through.] [Reward: Ring of the Distorted Soul] [Secret Reward: ???] The monster on the 42nd floor was a spirit consumed by sorrow. Simr to the spirit filled with rage, it attempted to affect Taesan mentally, but just like before, Taesan remained unaffected. Taesan navigated through thebyrinth with ease. This is the first time its been this easy. [You''ve always breezed through anyway.] The ghost chuckled. To the current Taesan, it didnt matter whether thebyrinths monsters were spiritual or physical beings. Except for the bosses, they were merely beings that would fall with a single touch. I cant even make use of the dark magic Ive acquired. The Thorn of Agony he obtained from defeating Quaned and the irregr armor given by the demon god. He wanted to test their effects at least once, but there was no opportunity to use them. As Taesan defeated the spirits, he asked the ghost. Quaned was taken by the demon god, right? Even though the Soul Ascension was activated upon his defeat, due to some contract, he did not die. Instead, his soul and body were taken by the demon god. I wonder if its possible for him to return? [If the demon god personally heals his soul and body, it''s not impossible. There''s not just one path. Thebyrinth certainly makes those who advance through it stronger, but... this isn''t the only ce like that. You''ve experienced it a few times yourself, haven''t you?] A trial by the gods. Balthasar. Lakiratas. Maria. The demon god. Their trials noticeably strengthened Taesan. The ghost affirmed it. [Quaned might also receive a trial from the demon god. He could be stronger from oveing it and return. But that''s not necessarily a bad thing.] The ghost spoke calmly. [If he doesn''t be your enemy, it could actually be a big help. There are quite a few floors in the deeperyers that are impossible to clear alone.] Lee Taeyeon had said something simr. That it was impossible to clear alone. That one needed the help of someone else. And yet, she managed to clear it through all sorts of means, which was impressive. Crack. During their short conversation, they had nearly cleared half the floor. Taesan continued as he moved on. The difference in power between gods and immortals is bigger than I thought. Immortals are those who have transcended mortality. He thought the difference in power wouldnt be that significant. But the demon god easily subdued the struggling Patricia. It seemed he had gathered power, but it didnt look that great. [Is it just power you possess, or do you also possess stature? That difference is significant. We mortals might not understand, but for those who have transcended mortality, there''s an insurmountable gap. So, it''s better to be careful.] The ghost spoke calmly. [As you know from your experience, most immortals will not take kindly to you. And unlike gods, they''re the ones who will interfere directly. Be fully prepared.] It doesnt matter. The more they tried to kill him, the more Taesan could gain. It was all about oveing it. Even as they conversed, Taesan skillfully navigated thebyrinth, securing the secret rooms reward. This time, it was a shield. Thanks to the activation of his adventurer title, he obtained two, but with the Aegis shield in his possession, they were redundant. These, too, had to be sold in the shop. With the general tidying up out of the way, Taesan proceeded to search for the hidden room. There, as on the 41st floor, floated a solitary pir. [You''ve found a grudge filled with sorrow.] Taesan grasped the pir. Then, the emotion burrowed into Taesans mind. The sorrow of having to survive alone in easy mode. The sorrow of discovering someone he knew dead one moment. The sorrow of having to survive alone, isted from everyone under Choi Junghyuks oppression. Taesanughed. Overall, these were emotions from his immature days. Clear it. He exerted strength in the hand holding the pir. The emotions coalesced into a pure white core. Taesan secured the core. Now, only the boss remained. As he was heading towards the boss, Taesan suddenly remembered something and said, Patricia mentioned that the magician is currently away from his position. Thus, she taunted Balbambamba, questioning if he could help Taesan in a situation devoid of the magician. In other words, if there were the magician present, it implied that they could fend off an immortal. Is the magician a transcendent? [Well? I''m not entirely sure myself. They''re a being shrouded in mystery.] Didnt you say youve seen them directly? [I have, but I felt no aura from the magician. If I hadn''t known who they were, I would''ve thought they were just an ordinary adventurer.] So, what kind of person is the magician? [...It''s hard to put into words.] The ghost spoke in an ambiguous tone. [They seem like a madman but also colder than anyone. They appear steeped in dreams but are also grounded in reality. It would be best to meet them yourself and decide. Eventually, as you descend... you''ll meet them someday.] The magician of thebyrinth. Considering Lee Taeyeon never mentioned the magician, it seemed she hadnt met them. While organizing his thoughts, Taesan arrived at the boss. [A spirit filled with sorrow appeared.] Taesan effortlessly dodged the spirits attacks and swung his sword. The spirit resisted, but it was all in vain under his feet. [You have defeated the spirit filled with sorrow.] [Your proficiency in Reconaissance has increased by 1%.] That was easy. It felt like walking down a leisurely path. At least on the 40s floors, it seemed unlikely he would struggle against the monsters. The ghost grumbled. [It''s not supposed to be like this. You''re supposed to be crying and sniffling your way through.] [Ring of the Distorted Soul] [Attack Power + 30] [Defense + 20] [Strength + 50] [Intelligence + 30] [Once strong, but now a soul more broken than anyone else resides within.] High attack and defense power. Useful strength and intelligence stats attached. Indeed, from the 41st floor onwards, higher-grade equipment started appearing. [You used ???] [You obtained the Piper of the Man.] [Piper of the Man] [A flute of a man who bewitched the children of the vige.] [When yed, attempts to enchant targets within range.] An item with a special effect. The difficulty of the enchantment check was uncertain, but it was a piece of equipment worth having for now. Having cleared the 42nd floor entirely, Taesan returned to the 41st floor. There, he handed the pure core to Valencia, who was waiting. Oooo! He eagerly epted the core and inhaled it. The emotions leaking from it prated Valencias body. Oooo His eyes shook violently. After a while, he calmed down and burst intoughter. Good! Very good! The 43rd floor! The third room on the left. Its there. Bring the emotions from that ce! Valencia burst intoughter. A dangerous gaze was directed at Taesan. Keep going down! Bring all the cores up to the 50th floor. And Taesan collected the core. Valencias words didnt follow after that. Only a twistedugh was audible. Hehehe! If it continues like this if it continues like this, I really Valencia, who had previously shown significant emotional fluctuations, was now even more intense. He was literally going insane. Having received a new quest, Taesan descended to the 43rd floor. [Start of Floor 43 Quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 43rd floor and pass through.] [Reward: Helm of the Broken One] [Secret Reward: ???] The monsters of the 40s floors couldnt stop him. He nned to keep descending non-stop until he reached a Gods altar or a special NPC gave him a quest. Taesan began to break through the 43rd floor. The monster on the 43rd floor was a spirit left with only joy. Positive emotions burrowed into Taesans mind. However, it wasnt just simple joy as one might expect from a monster. If one had weak mental fortitude, they might shake uncontrobly, unable to restrain such a level of joy. Of course, Taesan was unaffected. He breezed through over half the floor in just a few minutes. He collected the secret room reward, a staff imbued with magical power. Not bad, but not the equipment he would use. He nned to offer it as a tribute to the god of magic. Then, he found and activated the pir in the secret room, suppressed the emerging joy, and secured the core. Already? The speed was so fast that it surprised Valencia more than it pleased him. He hesitantly informed him about the secret room on the next floor. After gathering the information, Taesan returned to the 43rd floor to defeat the boss. He collected the clear reward. [Helm of the Broken One] [Strength + 50] [Defense + 100] [Action Speed + 5%] [A helm once belonging to someone great, but who met a more miserable end than anyone else.] It was a helm with high defense, twice as high as the helm he was currently wearing. The downside was that changing the helm would remove the special effects linked with the armor, but the condition was too specific. The special effects would activate in cases of hatred and madness, emotions Taesan was unlikely to be engulfed in. Therefore, it was worth the change. The ??? reward was a magic-infused cloth armor. Equipping it came with a penalty of reduced defense, making it awkward to wear. Ill have to offer this as a tribute too. Having finished checking, Taesan immediately went down to the 44th floor. [Why so fast?] The ghost chuckled in disbelief. Chapter 195: 44th Floor, God Of Despair - Aphrodia (1) Chapter 195: 44th Floor, God Of Despair - Aphrodia (1) Before heading down to the 44th floor, Taesan first visited Lilis. She greeted him with warmth. Did youe? Ive got something to offer. Taesan presented the artifacts he had acquired while descending the floors to the god of magic. Would this be enough for intermediate magic? Uh I dont think so? How much more do I need to offer to get it? The gap in power between intermediate and beginner magic was vast. Naturally, acquiring intermediate magic was a priority. Lilis responded to Taesans question with an uncertain expression. Youll have to offer very, very, very much more? Is that so? The required amount of offerings was so substantial that it was difficult to quantify. Given the potency of intermediate magic, this was to be expected. Ive received permission, but I havent learned it yet. I must work hard. She grunted in response. Her expression was exceedingly bright, perhaps because she had much to learn. Leaving her behind, Taesan proceeded to the 44th floor. The monster on the 44th floor was a spirit of despair. To Taesan, it was inconsequential. As Taesan dashed through, the ghost murmured. [At this rate, you''ll finish up to the 50th floor quickly. Or maybe not? It''s uncertain how it will react.] Whats that? The ghost had suggested that it might be possible to quickly advance through the 40s floors, but there could be obstacles. [You''ll find out soon. If my memory serves right, it should be on the 44th floor.] Is it going to take a long time? [Perhaps?] Then, there was something else to do before proceeding. Taesan opened themunity. [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Wow, really?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Yeah. We''re a bit surprised too. We had a hunch, but never thought it''d actually happen.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Congrattions... I guess?] [Junggeun [Hard]: Shouldn''t we? After all, it''s a good thing.] Themunity was alive with conversation. Taesan invited Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, Kim Hwiyeon, and Junggeun among them. [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Wow, really?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Oh, Mr. Taesan?] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: What brings you here?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Just checking in after a long time to see how you''re doing.] It had been a while since he had contacted other yers. He intended to find out how far they had progressed and what they were up to, offering advice if possible. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What were you talking about?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Well, it''s something... Someone has decided to get married.] Taesan paused. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Someone who was originally dating?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: No. People who met in thebyrinth. They asked me to officiate their wedding. Really, after all that fighting. Some people are living their lives in solitude.] Kim Hwiyeon grumbled. Taesan stroked his chin. People are getting married already? It wasnt that strange. They were trapped in thebyrinth and had to survive here for a long time. Since most people had died, they struggled with loneliness. People who were lonely naturally grew fond of each other. But it took quite a while for that to happen. Initially, everyone was focused on survival, so it was only after three or four years that people started getting married. However, now less than half of that time has passed. This meant that people had more leisure timepared to their previous life. After discussing various things rted to thebyrinth, Taesan asked. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How far have you gotten now?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Floor 15. Junhyeok is probably the same?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: That''s fast.] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: It''s all thanks to you, brother. The Ability Sword and ck magic... it''s unbelievably effective.] The admiration was so strong that it was hard to hide even in text. Indeed, those were skills that would elicit such a reaction. [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Before, even a single monster was a struggle, but not anymore. Mana is a bit scarce, but it''s not a big problem. It''s all thanks to you, brother.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Good to know.] On the 15th floor, Taesan paused to consider his next steps before writing, [Kang Taesan [Solo]: On the 16th floor, there''s a cksmith. If you bring him the materials you''ve collected so far, he''ll make something decent for you. So, make sure to collect them.] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: There''s a cksmith?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: So that''s what we''re supposed to do with the materials. Got it. Thank you.] Then, Taesan shifted the conversation to those tackling the hard mode, inquiring about their progress and any potential issues. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: We''re doing fine.] [Junggeun [Hard]: Seir''s ck Wind? That''s been really helpful. Thanks to it, we''ve been descending morefortably than before.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: There''s been a bit of trouble with ck magic... but it''s nothing big. We''re mostly ignoring it.] Overall, there seemed to be no significant issues. Having finished his check-in, Taesan closed themunity window. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Don''t die. Come down.] Taesan resumed his descent through thebyrinth. At the end of his journey, he discovered what the ghost had mentioned. [You have discovered the altar of Aphrodia.] [First discovery bonus. Mana + 50, Intelligence + 30] The altar was of a metaphysical form,cking a specific shape. The power emanating from it was profound and dark, a power that tampered with emotions themselves. Is this what you were talking about? The thing that consumes time? [Yes.] The ghost confirmed. [Aphrodia. The god of despair. He delights in seeing humans in despair and oveing it. Thus, his trials are somewhat of a perverse hobby. If you''re unlucky, you''ll suffer quite a bit.] The power from the altar began to converge towards Taesan, as if inviting him. He saw no reason to decline. Taesan ced his hand on the altar. [Sub-quest started] [Aphrodia wants to test you for visiting her altar. If you ept, the trial wille to you. Oveing it will earn you a reward.] [Reward: Aphrodia will decide based on your performance.] I ept. [Sub-quest epted.] [Aphrodia''s power manifests. As a price, the interference domain of Aphrodia decreases.] [Aphrodia makes an appearance using the altar.] A colossal entity descended here. [Oh?] The ghost was taken aback, not expecting a god to descend into thebyrinth. Although Taesan frequently received favors from a demon god and might not find this remarkable, it was exceedingly rare for a god to directly descend into thebyrinth. A man with ck hair and a cold demeanor appeared through the space. [Finally meeting the one who''s been the talk of the town.] Taesan bowed. The other was a god. It would do no good for him to make the god find fault in him. As Taesan respectfully bowed, Aphrodias expression softened slightly. [I thought you''d be arrogant because you''re favored by others, but it seems that''s not the case. I like that.] May I ask why you have descended? Like the ghost, Taesan was puzzled. There seemed to be no reason for Aphrodia to descend. But Aphrodias following words rified everything. [Many cherish you. They bestow upon you rewards that we would consider excessive.] The battlefield of the gods. The gods who had put Taesan through trials had awarded him. And many gods had questioned the rewards given to Taesan. While Taesan had achieved what could be considered significant feats, whether they warranted such rewards was debatable. Aphrodia seemed to have descended to verify this. From Aphrodias next words, Taesan could tell his guess was spot on. [So, I will test you. To see if their affection has blinded them, or if you truly possess such value.] [Aphrodia proposes an enhanced trial to you.] [Will you ept?] Taesan nodded. As Taesan readily epted, the corners of Aphrodias mouth lifted slightly. [I''m pleased.] Power began to envelop the room. Aphrodia spoke. [Behold your despair. And ovee it. That is my trial.] [Aphrodia''s power manifests. Aphrodia''s interference domain decreases.] Koo-goo-gung. Power began to engulf the space. Thebyrinth crumbled, giving way to a new space. This was not merely a transition to another world. It was a form of materialization. As the space assembled itself like a puzzle, Aphrodias power intensified. Confusion spread across Aphrodias face. [Wait.] Power erupted explosively. The ghost gasped. In an instant, every being in thebyrinth trembled. Aphrodia groaned. [...This.] [Aphrodia''s power manifests.] [Aphrodia''s interference domain greatly decreases.] Koo-woong! The space flipped. A familiar world started to ovey thebyrinth. Amidst the disappearing world, Aphrodiasughter could be heard. [So that''s what it was. This is interesting.] And thebyrinth vanished. Taesan closed his eyes as the distortion of power washed over him. What will happen now? This wasnt a simple spatial shift. The sensation was distinctly different from anything he had experienced before. It was at that moment, as Taesan was gathering his thoughts. Brother? Hearing a familiar voice, Taesans eyes widened. A massive door appeared. Taesan stared nkly before reaching out his hand. The sensation of the door transmitted through his hand. Taesan looked behind him. Therey a devastated in. Then he looked up at the sky. A gigantic hole was visible there. Brother? Why arent youing in? The man, staring nkly at him, spoke. Taesan chuckled at him. Junggeun? Yes, its me. Whats the matter? You suddenly Junggeun came down, flustered. He looked around Taesan and then asked. What about the guy who ran away? Taesan remembered having this conversation. His mouth opened naturally. Hes dead. The monsters ate all of him. What? Junggeun was startled. That face was also in his memory. That guy was a Hard Mode yer, and hes dead already? Three Grade-A monsters were tearing him apart nicely. Ah Junggeuns expression hardened. Taesan was equally perplexed. Where? We need to hurry Ive handled it, so theres no need. Taesan walked past Junggeun. Lets head inside for now. My head is killing me. Ah, okay. Junggeun closed the door behind them. Inside, Taesan observed the building. The half-ruined structures. People eating potatoes with expressions that he recognized. He chuckled to himself. This was Seoul before he traveled back in time. Just before its destruction. Whats going on here? Taesan quickly racked his brain. Could everything up to now have been a dream? That seemed impossible. The experiences and power he had acquired were still palpable in his body. Status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 91] [Shield: 1899/1899] [Health: 20920/20920] [Mana: 2722/2722] [Magic Energy: 376/376] [Strength: 4693] [Intelligence: 4124] [Agility: 4333] [Attack Power + 858] [Defense + 738] [The subject is in optimal condition.] The status window confirmed it. He wasnt in Easy Mode; he was navigating Solo Mode. Could this all be an illusion? He could feel the firm ground beneath his feet, the cold touch on his cheek, and the ominous aura emanating from the sky. Even if his senses were misleading, the aura and power were undeniable. This was no illusion. Junggeun, who had paused, looked at Taesan curiously. Brother, arent you going to eat? You must be starving? Junggeun. Taesan looked at him for a moment before responding. Block this. What? As Taesan raised his fist, Junggeun, sensing the impending force, raised his arms in shock. Crack. Junggeun was sent flying while attempting to block the attack. Koo-woong! He sprang up from where he had crashed into the trash cans. Brother! Why would you do that all of a sudden! No, just conducting a simple test. Taesan shook his fist. From the brief encounter, it was clear. Junggeun possessed the same strength Taesan remembered. [This is... quite surprising.] The ghost murmured, sounding perplexed. Taesan chuckled, while Junggeun grumbled. A test is a test, but if I had died from Brothers attack Mid-sentence, Junggeun realized something odd. Huh? Brother, you didnt use a skill just now, did you? But you sent me flying? Its a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding. A misunderstanding? Taesan, seeing Junggeuns confused expression, draped his arm around his shoulder. Lets go eat something. They made their way to the dining area, where a few people were already eating. They waved at Taesan. Taesan, youre here? Taesan greeted them warmly and took a seat. Junggeun fetched some potatoes. The fluffy texture was apparent as he bit into them. Taesan chewed on the potatoes, organizing his thoughts. Its not an illusion. Everything was real. The potatoes, Junggeun in front of him, and the people greeting him. This ce was truly Earth before he returned to the past. Chapter 196: On The Brink Of Earth鈥檚 Destruction (1) Chapter 196: On The Brink Of Earth¡¯s Destruction (1) Taesan closed his eyes, organizing the situation. First, this wasnt an illusion. The texture of the potato he was chewing. The rough touch of the table against his rear. The wind brushing his cheek. And the ominous aura emanating from beyond the sky. All of this couldnt possibly be false. This was reality, not an illusion or a lie. But the question was, what kind of reality was it? Taesan looked at Junggeun. Under Taesans intense gaze, Junggeun slightly shrank back, halting his meal. Why are you looking at me like that? Just. Taesans casual response made Junggeuns expression turn bizarre once again. From that reaction, Taesan could tell. This wasnt merely a rey of his memories. Junggeuns reaction was entirely different from before. This world was truly implemented. The world before its destruction. Of course, it wasnt actually that time. Taesan considered each possible exnation. Some kind of implementation? Interfering with time itself. Summoning that era and temporarily implementing all of it. Then, it made sense. Is this what divine power can do? Twisting time itself to summon it. He knew their power was nearly infinite, but this extent was astonishing. However, it seemed not an easy task even for the gods. There was a mention of Aphrodias territory greatly shrinking when he implemented the sliver of time of a previous life. Until now, no gods had shown such a capability. It meant even they had to ept significant losses to make it possible. Taesan watched Junggeun awkwardly pick up a potato. Kim Junggeun had a carefree personality. And he wanted to save people. But as time passed, witnessing too many deaths, he became exhausted. His face was etched with fatigue. I didnt expect to see this face again. Taesan smiled slightly. Nice to see you. Brother. Junggeun reluctantly put down the potato. Did you eat something wrong? Im fine. No. It seems like you did eat something wrong. You didnt eat a monster corpse, did you? Shut up, man. Taesan brushed off Junggeun, who was leaning in worriedly. Seeing Junggeuns aged face after a long time was certainly happy and enjoyable, but Taesan thought coldly, This isnt real. They had already died at that time. The Earth was destroyed just like that. This was just a temporary implementation, the twisting of time by the power of a god. Merely a sculpture. Still, it wasnt a bad feeling. The ghost had been silent for a while now. Taesan thought again as he ate another potato. The reason the gods twisted time to call him here was only one. Humanity had lost. They were annihted by the monsters, and Taesan also couldnt ovee the apostle. They were destroyed, and that was his despair. So, this time, try to win against that despair. It was a trial with such meaning. Taesan gripped his hand. Hmm it seems weird for sure. Junggeun looked at Taesan with a wary gaze. Taesan waved his hands. Anyway, its about time. Kuwoong! Then, amotion was heard from afar. Themotion didnt subside but grew louder. Uh Brother. Looks like a Hard Mode yer has arrived? Yes. Taesan immediately got up and left the tent. Junggeun, who had been watching him nkly, followed btedly. Brother. You alwaysin before leaving, but today youre quiet? Maybe you really ate something wrong Do you want to get hit? Taesan raised his fist. Junggeun flinched and ducked. No, its just weird. Its just a mental change. At the ce where themotion was happening, a man was shouting. Dont joke! How is this Earth! This is a hidden camera, right! Dont y around! Young man. This is indeed Earth. The world has changed a lot while you were in thebyrinth Dont joke! The man swung his fist roughly. The middle-aged man soothing him groaned and stepped back. Taesan. Youre here! The man, pressing his forehead as if gued by a headache, was delighted to see Taesan. I was about to bring you over, but you came first! Whats the asion? Thats what Im saying. Somethings changed about you, Brother. Do you really want to get hit? Junggeun scampered away. Taesan chuckled and passed by them, approaching the fuming man. Young man. Whats your name? Lee Changchun. Right. Lee Changchun. Thinking about it again, the man was pitiful. They had won against the monsters during thest return. They had closed the rift in the sky. Believing that all they had to do was rebuild Earth, they diligently tackled thebyrinth, only to be greeted by an Earth on the brink of destruction. Sorry, but this is indeed an Earth on the brink of destruction. It means the situation has changed. If you cant ept it, well, youll have to get beaten and ept it. Who are you? Kang Taesan. Kang Taesan? The Easy Mode yer who always talked big? Taesan nodded. Changchun sneered at Taesan. Laughable! An Easy Mode yer dares to take on a Hard Mode yer? It was like that until now, but things are a bit different now. Hes no longer an Easy Mode yer. Taesan rolled his foot. In an instant, his body disappeared. At a speed that couldnt even be followed by his eyes, Lee Changchuns pupils widened. But he was a Hard Mode yer through and through. A person who had trained, risking his life. He moved his sword by instinct. Kaang! I blocked it Thats what he believed when Lee Changchun was sent flying just like that. People gasped and dodged out of the way. Kuwoong! Lee Changchun rolled away, colliding with the half-destroyed buildings. People stared nkly at Taesan. Taesan leisurely walked towards where Lee Changchun had flown. Lee Changchun staggered to his feet and, seeing Taesan, cried out and swung his sword. Taesan easily reached out, subdued him, and mmed him to the ground. Eek! Eek! Taesan spoke softly to the struggling Lee Changchun. It must suck. Youd want to deny it. You came here imagining a hopeful future, only to end up like this suddenly. Frustration and aimless anger filled Lee Changchuns eyes. Taesan released the hand that was subduing him. But this is what happened to us. What can we do about it? We have to try to survive, just like weve been doing all this time. Damn it. Tears flowed from his eyes. People who arrivedter cautiously consoled Lee Changchun. Taesan turned away. Junggeun cautiously said, Brother. Youve definitely changed. More nonsense? No, not that. Well, theres also the physical aspect. Junggeun scratched his cheek. Taesan had subdued Lee Changchun with simple movements without using any skills. Taesan was a yer who used skills to gain an advantage. Considering Lee Changchun was a Hard Mode yer that even Junggeun would have difficulty subduing, it was an impossible feat. But what Junggeun was referring to was not that. It just seems youve be more humane. Until now, youd always beat them half to death to make them listen, right? This is the first time youve just subdued and then released someone. Ah. Realizing what Junggeun was trying to say, Taesan let out augh. In his previous life, he was angry at everyone, though he did not show it. Why were you all so weak? Why couldnt you even win against me, an Easy Mode yer? Why do you avoid and not learn even when I taught you how to acquire skills? Wasnt that why we were destroyed? Filled with only those emotions. Until just before his death, he harbored anger towards others. It was the regret of choosing Easy Mode mixed with his emotions, making them sticky. As a result, he always became irritable. Even though he knew it was wrong, he couldnt control himself. It felt like he would go mad if he didnt vent those emotions somehow. Well, now my emotions have cooled off. Really? Relief washed over Junggeuns expression. Seeing that, Taesan realized Junggeun had always been wary of him in their previous life. He had been too filled with anger to notice before. This is new in its own way. It wasnt bad. Indeed. Then, once again, amotion was heard from afar. Another Hard Mode yer? No, thats Lee Taeyeon. Taesan looked towards the noise and said, Sorry, but hide for a bit. Im not sure if youll be seen or not. Me? Not you. I was talking to someone invisible. Taesan entered the only intact house. There, various ornaments and murals were visible. Decorated stylishly, the house was adorned, but in this ruined world, no one cared about decorations. If there was someone, it was either a person with a strange mind. Or someone wanting to hide something. Are you here? A woman sitting in a luxurious red leather chair grumbled. She proudly pointed with her fingers, her ck hair long. Isnt this pretty? I got it from the art museum this time. At the tip of her finger was a giant portrait. The portrait, four times the size of a human body, was without a speck of dust or a scratch. In a world overflowing with monsters, where tomorrow was uncertain, she cherished this portrait and returned here. Taesan nodded. Not bad. Lee Taeyeons face clouded. She asked uncertainly, Did something go wrong? No, I just said its not bad. Uh Really? Lee Taeyeon buried herself in the chair with a squeamish face. Taesan looked at her. Not the clumsy, always screaming Lee Taeyeon, but her older self, matured over time. She wasfortably buried in the chair. But her face was filled with anxiety. Her eyes rolled around as if terrified by something. In his previous life, he hadnt noticed her reactions. Taesan was too pushed to his limits. But now he could tell. She was terrified. She awkwardly changed the subject. You said you scolded a Hard Mode yer? Yeah. Its fascinating. An Easy Mode yer. To a Hard Mode yer She sent a strange look and then said, Status window. [Lee Taeyeon] [Level: 258] [Health: 45810/45810] [Mana: 7020/7020] [Strength: 10152] [Intelligence: 9899] [Agility: 13254] [Attack Power + 5421] [Defense + 8456] [The target is in a state of fear.] High figures. Enough to bring an ordinary Hard Mode yer to the brink of death with a single blow. But the current Taesan knew that those figures werent so high. She missed a lot, indeed. Now, Taesans level was 91, yet his health reached around 20,000. All his stats had reached at least 4000. Considering what one gained deeper in, Lee Taeyeon had missed everything and simply descended. Yet, she possessed a strength simr to his previous life. Show me your status window, too. No. Taesan refused. Lee Taeyeon frowned, not expecting him to refuse. Why? Its not like it wears out. Just show me. Sorry, but I cant. His stats now were not of Easy Mode. Revealing them would bring significant confusion. Lee Taeyeon, quietly looking at Taesan, scowled. Youre strange. Show me your status window. Chapter 197: On The Brink Of Earth鈥檚 Destruction (2) Chapter 197: On The Brink Of Earth¡¯s Destruction (2) Something hard to put into words somethings different. She mumbled with a vague expression. Lee Taeyeon was someone who conquered Solo Mode. Her observational and judgment skills couldnt be poor. She asked with sharp eyes. Taesan. Show me your status window. Sorry, but I cant do that. Why not? Lee Taeyeon was puzzled. There was no reason for Taesan to not show his status window. Theres a good reason for it. But for Taesan, whose stats themselves had changed, it was impossible to show. Its not important, is it? It wont harm anything, so dont worry. Lee Taeyeon quietly looked at Taesan upon his response. Her eyes shimmered with various lights. Really? Yeah. Alright then. That settles it. Lee Taeyeon didnt probe further. It was as if she had guessed something. Lets get to the main point. She said with a calm face. The next Wave is about to start. Taesan nodded. The Wave when the monstersunched a total attack. Every time they returned to Earth, a Wave urred. Humanity lost Seoul in the first Wave after thest return. Half of the Hard Mode yers died in the second Wave. In the third Wave, humanity could only defend a small city. It was now the fourth Wave. And this time, humanity was annihted. Taesan recalled the words he had said at that time. How many are there? Two S-grades. Dozens of A-grades. Hundreds of B-grades. And the Apostle. Lee Taeyeon spoke calmly. Certainly, these were monsters worth saying it was over for. In his past life, everyone died without winning against the Apostle. Defeat was essentially certain. But Taesan had no intention of letting defeat happen. Ill take on the two S-grades. Just handle the Apostle for a bit. Ill quickly finish ande to help. Lee Taeyeons eyes wavered. What are you talking about? Not one but two S-grades. Even for you Theres no one else anyway, right? Lee Taeyeon closed her mouth at Taesans words. Taesan was right. Two S-grades and the Apostle. Only Taesan and herself could face these monsters. So, they had to decide whether to take on the Apostle or the two S-grades. She was summoned by Taesan for this very reason, yet Lee Taeyeon couldnt help but feel bewildered. Surprisingly, you epted it readily. Taesan had always been one toin and express dissatisfaction with every decision. Though he never outright refused, she had expected him to voice hisints this time as well. Its pointless toin at this point. Taesan shrugged his shoulders, prompting a puzzled look from Lee Taeyeon. Youve definitely changed. Yeah? Taesan smiled and took a seat. Then, lets take this opportunity to catch up for a bit. A story? Just casual talk. About Solo Mode that youve mastered, for example. In a previous life, Lee Taeyeon had shared details about Solo Mode with himwhat each floor contained and the items she had acquired. At that time, Taesan was in Easy Mode, so he had listened to most of the stories with forced interest. But now, he was in Solo Mode himself. He intended to revisit the conversation to organize the information. Lee Taeyeons eyes lit up with a smile. You wereining you didnt want to listen, what changed your mind? Now that its alling to an end, I might as well listen to something like this. Good. Ive been frustrated not having anyone else to talk to about this. She began to share about Solo Mode, detailing one thing after another. Perhaps because it was a rare conversation, her expression was exceptionally bright. And then, the 45th floor. The secret room there is a bit special. Special? Yeah. Theres something you cant obtain by normal means. So, from there, I Taesan carefully stored her rambling words in the back of his mind. And in Solo Mode, from a certain floor onwards, the difficulty suddenly increased significantly. Was it the same for you? In Easy too. Starting from the 51st floor, the difficulty spiked at every key floor. Right. But in Solo Mode, it was much worse. Lee Taeyeon shivered. I almost died. Plus, the 51st floor was quite unique. Risking my life to get past it. Ah, but that was good. There was a hidden room on the 51st floor, quite unique, where I got something pretty decent. What could be obtained in the future and what lies ahead. He stored every bit of it in his mind. The casual conversation continued. Lee Taeyeon smiled as if she found it miraculous. We seem to understand each other well. It was never like this before. Strange. Taesan, too, had entered Solo Mode like her, but she did not know. Taesan simply smiled. They talked for a while. And then it was over. Its about time Lee Taeyeon clenched her fist. Her body was trembling slightly. Taesan looked at her and then opened his mouth. Why didnt you go back to the past? Why did you die holding onto that? He wanted to ask, but Taesan shook his head. Lets survive and see. It was not the time to ask. Everything had to end before asking. Yeah. Lee Taeyeon smiled faintly. Really. Junggeun looked over the barrier with a restless face. I knew this day woulde, but this feels really awful. Destruction was essentially certain. Inside the city, all kinds of shouts and screams were echoing. He saw Lee Changchun. His face was pale, but he was holding his weapon with a firm expression. You look surprisingly fine. It wouldnt be strange if you were a corpse by now. Sigh. I have to ept it too. Considering everyones dying, Ive lived quite long. This is a good death. A good death. What good is there in dying? He waited, holding back the words he had swallowed then. And then the monsters cries were heard. It was the beginning of the Wave. Damn it. This is crazy. What did you say we have to face again? Two S-grades. See you in the afterlife. Looks like youll be going first. Wait for me. Dont worry. Taesan waved his hand and tensed his feet. Im not nning to go. Whoosh! His body elerated. Unlike in his previous life, without Great Leap and Complete Reconnaissance, he couldnt pinpoint their locations. But it didnt matter. He still remembered exactly where the monsters were located. Finally, he encountered the monsters. [Monster 5 has appeared.] [Monster 7 has appeared.] Hello. A monster resembling a house-sized jellyfish and another floating in the air, waving its tentacles like an octopus, were seen. This is strange. Really. He encountered the monsters he had once fought for his life against. The monsters turned their gaze towards Taesan. [Monster 5 is hostile towards you.] [Monster 7 is hostile towards you.] [You have encountered terrible things.] [Judgement begins.] [Mental Madness Judgement in progress] [Confusion Judgement in progress] [Fear Judgement in progress] [Instant Death Judgement in progress] [. . .] [All judgements sessful!] [You have activated reconnaissance.] [Monster 7] [Health: 325,842/325,842] [Monster 5] [Health: 105,212/105,212] Taesans eyes darkened. The monsters were much weaker than in his previous life. The reason was not hard to guess. The God of Despair had been taken aback when imposing an enhanced trial on him. It was as if there were things entirely beyond its expectation. Perhaps the High God had interfered in Taesans despair. The monsters were beings born from the power of high gods. There was a high possibility that they were not fully manifested with the power of the God of Despair. Good. Taesans lips curled up. The strength of the monsters now was as weakened as Taesan. This made it clear. The differences between his past life and the current one. The monsters tentacles moved. Taesan stamped his foot as a green light was shot. Kuuguuguugung The light melted the horizon. Taesan assessed the situation with cold precision. I can dodge it. Even without Physical Time eleration, he effortlessly evaded the monsters attack. Taesan charged at the monster, its tentacles moving as green beams fired towards him. Seeing the iing lights, Taesan stamped his foot. Kiiiing! The lights barely missed Taesan as they whizzed by. In his previous life, dodging the lights by merely seeing them was impossible. He had to evade in advance, guided by premonition. Now, however, he could move upon seeing the lights being fired and still dodge them, thanks to his increased stats. Thud. Taesan arrived right in front of the monster. He hadnt even used First Attack Nullification. Kuuuung! In front of Taesan, Defense Type Monster 7 shielded its body. Taesan raised his sword towards Monster 5. [You have initiated a Forced Duel. For 12 seconds, no one except Monster 5 can inflict damage on you.] Ignoring the Defense Type monster, he attacked the Attack Type monster first. In his previous life, hecked even the mana to use Forced Duel and had to eliminate one immediately upon its first use. But not now. He could use Forced Duel dozens of times without any mana issues, so there was no need to prioritize the Defense Type. Kiiiing! He dodged the beams and thrust his sword. [Monster 5 takes 3043 damage.] No Multiplication. No Copying. No Designated Skill Reset. But he had increased base attack power. Chipping away tens of thousands of health wasnt difficult. [You have activated the White Rune Shield.] Small rune shields floated around Taesan. Tentacle beams hit the shields and were blocked. They shattered soon but gave Taesan enough time to dodge. Taesan couldnt help butugh. He knew a lot had changed, but facing the monsters he had encountered in his previous life made it even clearer. In his previous life, the fight involved approaching with First Attack Nullification, activating Multiplication and Copying, and winning by knocking down the enemy in a single hit. If he failed to knock them down, it became an endlessly disadvantageous tightrope fight. In contrast, it was now much more stable. With increased stats, he easily dodged the enemys attacks, slowly but surely whittling them down. [You have activated Frost Arrows.] The arrows pierced through the monster. He used skills freely without worrying about mana. Kiiing! Ignoring the beams with First Attack Nullification, he continuously thrust his sword. Then, all the Attack Nullifications were used up. [You take 18,543 damage.] A damage of over ten thousand. But Endurance did not activate. Taesans health was over twenty thousand. He still had thousands of health left. Taesan quickly repelled the monster and drank a health potion. He recovered all his health and charged again. He wasnt as strong as he was then. The him from his past life was probably still stronger than he was now. But he had gained strengths in entirely different directions. And if he managed to gain the strengths of his past life here, he would truly be perfect. Taesan aggressively pressed the monster. Chapter 198: On The Brink Of Earth鈥檚 Destruction (3) Chapter 198: On The Brink Of Earth¡¯s Destruction (3) Kiiing! A beam was fired, piercing the earth and creating a hole in the sky. Taesan dodged all the attacks and severed the monsters tentacles. The tentacles thrashed wildly. It seemed they were attempting to strike him by maneuvering the tentacles themselves, as the long-range attacks werent effective. However, Taesan didnt allow them to. He swung his sword and fist, repelling all the tentacles. The monsters have be weaker than in his previous life. But the same was true for him. He still hasnt reached Lee Taeyeons level. Since they both weakened, their levels became somewhat simr. However, Taesan was fighting much more efficiently and effortlessly than in his previous life. It was to be expected. Even Lee Taeyeon, who possessed only the Addition skill, would have easily triumphed against two S-rank opponents in a forced duel. It was difficult in the previous life because Taesan was abnormally strong, but with this normal strength, the battle became much easier. The monster appeared to be making a final stand, gathering its tentacles. The beam merged into a massive one, attempting to pierce Taesan. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesans body instantly moved right behind the monster. He thrust his sword into it and mmed it to the ground. He quickly drew another sword and sliced through. The defensive monster tried to block but was thrown off by the forced duel. Gururuk Thus, Monster 5 perished. [You have defeated Monster 5. It will be settled after the trial ends.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your proficiency in Twisted Soul Tuning has increased by 11%.] Taesan immediately rushed towards Monster 7. The defensive monster hunched over and charged. Since it was like a tank, Taesan simply extended his sword. [You have activated Flow.] Kwaang! The charges direction shifted, and the monster crashed into the ground. There was nothing to fear from a defensive type, unlike an offensive type. In his previous life, he had spent days countering more challenging offensive types without allowing a single attack to take him down. Taesan tightened his grip on the sword. What followed was a simple repetition. He avoided the monsters attacks and retaliated. Even with those poor Easy Mode stats in his previous life, he had avoided them all. There was no reason to struggle now. After investing a whole day, Taesan was able to take down even the defensive monster. Kwajik. [You have defeated Monster 7. It will be settled after the trial ends.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your proficiency in Twisted Soul Tuning has increased by 8%.] Ha. Taesanughed. He had taken down the monster he struggled with in his previous life so easily. The monsters might have weakened, but since he hasnt yet gathered everything, he believed that after conquering thebyrinth, he could take down real S-rank monsters much more easily. Good. Taesan muttered. His proficiency in Twisted Soul Tuning through Soul Ascension had also risen quite high. It was a satisfying oue. He had defeated two S-ranks. However, there were no signs of returning to thebyrinth. Taesan stamped his foot and quickly returned to the city, where people were still fighting. Block everything! We can do this! Junggeun desperately shouted and swung his weapon. But it seemed insufficient to block hundreds of monsters. The barrier had been shattered long ago, and people were falling one by one. Have we all weakened together? The monsters were weakened. Originally, a Hard Mode yer would have been able to win without any problem. Yet, the fact that they were being pushed back meant that Aphrodia had imposed restrictions on people as well while materializing. Eeeek! Junggeun rushed to a person who was falling. He seeded in protecting him, but he couldnt block the monsters attack anymore. When he tightly closed his eyes, Taesan charged in. [You have activated eleration.] Kwajik. He pierced the head of a monster trying to strike with its huge w and blew it away. The monster disappeared into the distant sky. Br, Brother? Junggeun btedly realized Taesans presence. How did you get here? Arent you supposed to be fighting the S-rank monsters? Ive dealt with them all. What? Junggeun was flustered. There were two S-ranks. Entities that he couldnt confidently im would be defeated. However, Taesan, who returned in just a day, had no visible injuries. Brother? Sorry, but we need to clean up here quickly. Hundreds of monsters were charging. Taesan touched the ground as he looked at them. [You have activated Frozen World.] Jjeojeojeong! A chill swept through. A vast world of ice descended, beginning to freeze everything beyond the barrier. Woahhh! Uh, uhh! People screamed and retreated. Even though they were outside the skills range, the strong survivors felt their fingers freeze from the cold. Jjeojeojeok! The ice kept spreading. The monsters struggled to escape but were all swallowed up. Taesan lifted his hand from the ground. Most of the hundreds of monsters attacking them were frozen. A-rank monsters showed up, breaking some ice, but they kept staggering, not being okay. As expected, good. Mostmonly activated skills targeted specific entities. Hence, weak enemies had to be dealt with manually, But magic could handle weak enemies all at once. Can you handle them now? Yes, yes. Its possible but Junggeun stammered. The monsters they were desperately fighting were all cleared with just one skill. Brother? Lets talkter. Taesan stamped his foot again. He ignored Junggeuns urgent voice calling from behind. There was something more important now. Kuuuuung A wave of power had been resonating from afar. Despite the world being weakened, it was a sh of forces where victory couldnt be assured. Upon reaching the site of the collision, Lee Taeyeon and an unidentifiable entity were present. Eeeek! Lee Taeyeon, gritting her teeth, swung her weapon. However, she was too preupied with blocking the attacks. Unable to counterattack effectively, she was continuously pushed back by the monster. Thrown far away by the sh of forces, she rolled on the ground and barely managed to stand up. Her fist was clenched tightly, as if holding onto something precious. Haha. What am I doing? Lee Taeyeon let out a hollowugh. Her arm trembled with fear, visible even from a distance. The monster charged again. She gripped her weapon with a face that seemed to bear a heavy burden. A wave of power surged. Lee Taeyeon rolled on the ground once more. She looked at her fist. With a face filled with fear, she pondered over something. But, just like before, instead of opening her fist, she gripped her weapon tighter and red at the monster. When the monster sluggishly charged again, Taesan intervened. He thrust his sword into the side of the monster that was focusing on Lee Taeyeon. Kuuuk. The formless monsters body seemed to repel the de. Taesan exerted more force into his shoulder and foot, driving it further in. Eventually, the monster couldnt withstand the pressure and was thrown far away. Kwaaaaang! Hello. Eh, what? Lee Taeyeon looked up at him nkly. Taesan? How Im finished on my side. Eh, uh? Lee Taeyeon continued to be flustered. Taesan nced at her still clenched fist. Inside, there would be the Ouroboross stone. She had clung to it until death, without using it. Taesan shook his head. Ill handle things here; you go help the others. Eh, what? Hurry and go. [You have activated Amon''s Formless Armor.] A pitch-ck power envelops Taesan. Lee Taeyeons pupils dted. ck Magic? I told you to go, didnt I? She looked very curious but nced at the path and quickly created distance. Make sure to tell meter! Sure. Taesan chuckled. After Lee Taeyeon left, Taesan looked at the path. [The Gaze of !#$!#.] [You are instantly killed.] An absolute gaze without judgment. Taesan countered the gaze that had been directed at him in his previous life. Dismiss. [Resistance sessful.] Kuruk. A formless monster, its shape distorted beyond recognition. And the first monster to defeat Taesan. The direct cause of humanitys destruction. This was the source of his despair. Kururuk. The monster let out a small cry. Then something terrifying began to burrow into Taesans mind. Merely facing the Apostle was enough to break ones spirit and shatter their heart. Of course, it didnt work on Taesan. He shrugged it off with ease and muttered. Its easier than my previous life. Like other monsters, the Apostle, being a divine entity, had weakened significantly. Taesan looked at the formless entity with sunken eyes. Something beyond S-rank. People had named this monster the Apostle. They named it well. At the time, it was called so without much thought, but now it was clear. It was truly an Apostle of the High Gods. And the High Gods were ancient beings expelled and forgotten by the world. Perhaps thats why their Apostles were also distorted entities. Kururuk. The Apostles formless body began to expand. It seemed to growrger as if to swallow the world itself. Taesan tightened his grip on his sword. The formless, slime-like solid began to seep into the world. One by one, they started to dominate the space. Taesan coolly assessed the situation. Despite his defeat after having faced an Apostle in his previous life, he knew what kind of attacks the entity made. The Apostles attacks involved dominating the space itself. Like a tree spreading its branches, the Apostle extended its formless body into the world. Its goal was to engulf the entire space, making evasion impossible, and ultimately to consume everything. Soon, the Apostles entire body was enveloped by the formless entity. It resembled a tree in perpetual growth. It seemed necessary to eliminate it before it expanded further, but instead of charging in, Taesan maintained his distance. The Apostle, targeting Taesan, stretched its formless body even wider and farther. It resembled the World Tree. The spreading formless entities began to encroach upon the space one by one, turning the path to the Apostle into a maze. This situation made defeating the Apostle more challenging, but Taesan was counting on thisplexity. The Apostle utilized its surrounding formless body for both offense and defense. Taesan moved his hand abruptly. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Kuuuung! A ck wave surged forth. It gradually eroded the spreading formless entities. However, the formless entity grew more vigorously, suddenly expanding to block Taesans path. Yet, Taesan remained unfazed. He simply repelled the approaching formless entities, keeping his distance. You cant kill me with this. In that form, the Apostle possessed nearly absolute defense. Even with more power than in his previous life, piercing through the Apostles defense remained uncertain. But the same was true for the Apostle. Witnessing its formless body being scattered and blocked by Taesan meant the Apostle had to devise another strategy. Kukuk. The Apostles formless body twisted momentarily. The spreading entities began to retract towards the Apostle. Simultaneously, the Apostles body slowly distorted and shifted. Forces converged and eventually unified. The Apostles form began to transform. Now the real battle began. Taesan gripped his sword with a grave expression. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas].] Chapter 199: On The Brink Of Earth鈥檚 Destruction (4) Chapter 199: On The Brink Of Earth¡¯s Destruction (4) [You have activated the Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas].] A divine power descended into Taesans body. Simultaneously, the Apostlepleted its transformation. What appeared was a human figure draped in a robe. It was holding a massive scythe. The Apostle, in human form, swung the scythe. Despite the distance, it swung as if Taesan were right in front of it. At the same time, Taesan stomped his foot. Crack! The space where Taesan stood split open. Had he remained still, his neck would have been severed. The Apostle was a shapeless entity. It had no fixed form. Thus, the Apostle transformed into numerous forms, utilizing different abilities. Its uncertain, but it likely appeared in the forms of beings it had devoured while trampling numerous worlds. In his previous life, he was defeated by the Apostle in this transformed state. Taesan bared his teeth. [You have activated Apostle yer.] [The Desire for Battle has been activated.] [A Fair Duel has been activated.] [The Proof of Limits has been activated.] [You have activated Contempt for the Strong.] [Pantheism has been activated.] [Giant Killer has been activated.] Whoosh! He charged. The Apostle slowly moved the scythe. Simultaneously, dozens of spaces split apart all at once. As the severed spaces attempted to cut everything in their path, Taesan clenched his fist. Boom! He hurled a punch filled with soul energy forward. The souls power shattered the split spaces. Crack. Taesan stomped his foot. The ground cratered and copsed. As Taesan approached, the Apostle transformed again. It turned into a knight d in sturdy armor, wielding a sword asrge as a house. Taesan swung his sword. Boom! A heavy sensation traveled up the de. Taesan twisted his wrist on impact. [You have activated Flow.] The pressure of the sword momentarily twisted. Crack! Twisting the de, Taesan moved closer to the Apostle once more. Without changing form, the Apostle swung its giant sword like a tempest. It sliced through the ground and air, dominating everything with its sword force. It was a sword technique perfected to resemble a storms scar. Crack! Taesan moved his hands deftly, drawing arrows to block and deflect all the sword winds as he slowly advanced. Vroom! The Apostle mmed down the handle. Instead of blocking, Taesan twisted his body. [You have activated the White Rune Shield.] The white rune collided and shattered instantaneously. The mmed handle demolished even the shapeless armor surrounding Taesan. Taesan narrowly dodged and thrust his sword into the Apostles neck. Crack! The Apostle tilted its neck. The de shattered the armor encasing the Apostles body. Though the attack failed, Taesan grinned. The Apostle had deliberately dodged his attack. This indicated that Taesan could nownd effective hits on the Apostle. Indeed. The Apostles form changed into myriad shapes. However, that seemed to deplete its energy, rendering its defense rtively weaker. In his past life, he couldnt breach that defense, but now it seemed feasible. Crack! Taesan, closing the gap, continued to swing his sword. The Apostle countered with its giant sword. Groan. The Apostle, slightly pushing Taesan back with its shoulder, transformed again. It morphed into a giant muscr man, swinging his fist wrapped in gauntlets. Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Flow.] The trajectory of the fist momentarily twisted but soon corrected itself. Eventually, Taesan had no choice but to block with his sword. Boom! [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] The force of the punch overpowered Taesans nullification. Taesan clicked his tongue at the pressure felt beyond the handle and increased the distance between them. As Taesan widened the gap, the Apostles form changed once again. This time, it was a woman holding a bow as big as her body. The Apostle, a formless entity, strung an arrow and pulled the bow with great force. Groan. The bowstring was pulled taut. No matter where Taesan moved, the bow kept tracking him, not allowing him any escape. The one with the scythe. The one with the giant sword. The muscr man and the woman with the bow. All of them must have been adversaries of the Apostle at some point. And like the previous Taesan, they would have been defeated. Perhaps, without the Ouroboros Heart, the previous lifes Taesan would have met the same fate. Indeed troublesome. The Apostle, with its ability to freely change its appearance and abilities, was a challenge he couldnt strategize against in his previous life. His stats were too imbnced to handle various situations, while the Apostle unveiled dozens of abilities. But now, its different. Taesan stopped. As he ceased moving, An arrow was shot. Incredibly fast, to the point where dodging or defending was unthinkable. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan blinked beside the Apostle. The arrow flew past him, piercing the horizon. Before the Apostle could change its form, Taesan drove his sword into it. [You have activated the de of Fighting Spirit.] [@#!%[redacted] damage.] The Apostles body twisted momentarily. The Apostle quickly widened the distance. In an instant, it transformed into a barbarian warrior wielding dual axes. Whoosh! The axe was swung violently, crushing everything in its path with ferocious movement. However, the strength itself wasnt that great. Having figured out the attack pattern, Taesan swung his sword. [You have activated Flow.] Using Flow consecutively, he twisted and distorted all the trajectories of the swinging axe des. Taesan then plunged his sword deep into its abdomen once again. Then, the Apostles form changed again. This time, it was an old man with a long beard. The Apostle raised its staff, and ominous magical energy began to gather. Immediately, Taesan took out a flute. [The Flute that Invokes Silence has been activated. For 10 minutes, all use of magic within a certain range is prohibited.] The gathering magical energy vanished. Taesan knocked the staff away and tripped the Apostle. Just as he was about to thrust his sword into its neck, the Apostles form changed once again. It was a young woman, not yet an adult by appearance. She waved her finger while lying on her back on the ground. Then, formless entities arose in the air. They started to rush towards Taesan like mes. Realizing it was a form using elemental power, Taesan immediately responded. [You have activated The Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] [You have activated A Small Spark.] Wind enveloped the mes, rising up. It began to trample and suppress the formless entities. Elemental. Dark Magic. Magic. Swordsmanship. Skills. Now, he had almost omnipotent abilities, able to respond to any situation. No matter how the Apostle changed its form to exploit Taesans weaknesses, he could respond to all. Taesan stabbed his sword into the Apostles body. Groan. The Apostle momentarily transformed into a gigantic form and pushed Taesan away. And again, as the Apostles form twisted, Taesan chuckled derisively. What, are you trying to be an Asura Count? The Apostle, with its left and right forms now different, charged at him. From the left came ferocious swordsmanship, and from the right, rapier-like sharp sword strikes. Taesan concentrated his mind. Boom! With one hand, he deflected the ferocious swordsmanship from the left. And with the other hand, he countered the sharp sword strikes from the right. The appearance was ludicrous but could not be underestimated. Attacks of entirely different types poured in from both sides, necessitating apletely different method of defense simultaneously. Crack! He couldnt block everything. In an instant, his attack nullification vanished, and his body bore slight wounds. Seeing this as Taesans vulnerability, the Apostle intensified its assault. The damage gradually umted, yet Taesan remained unfazed. Now, his physical strength was significantly enhanced. Unlike in his previous life, he could easily withstand a few experiments or errors. He concentrated his mind without end. He broadened his field of vision and differentiated the movements of his body. Taesans sword, too, began to exhibitpletely different maneuvers on each side, mirroring the Apostle. Boom! Taesan, having deflected attacks from both directions simultaneously, thrust both swords forward. The Apostles body convulsed violently. Cracks emerged in the soul constituting its body. Gurgle. The Apostles form contorted severely. Taesan instinctively knew. This transformation was its final form. The transformed Apostle resembled a young man. Adorned in neat armor. Wielding a magnificent double-handed sword. And cloaked in a mboyant cape. He bore the semnce of a hero. The Apostle advanced. Its speed was markedly faster than before. Taesan reacted instantly but failed to block the attack. [You received 3423 damage.] Tsk. Taesan clicked his tongue and tended to the wounded area. This iteration of the Apostle, transformed from its predecessors, was undeniably stronger, a foe of a different caliber. Even with all his resources at his disposal, Taesan couldnt assure victory against this adversary. Taesan summoned his soul energy. Boom! Sword met sword. The Apostle skillfully maneuvered its de, targeting Taesans armpit. Taesan countered with his elbow, deflecting the sword. Crack! He swung his sword. Employing Flow, he parried the opponents de. Yet, the Apostle swiftly regained its posture and blocked. [You have activated Strong Blow.] The swords collided. Taesan, determining that using Strong Blow would prevent him from being pushed back, clenched his fist. [You have activated the Thorns of Eligor.] Hellish thorns rained down from the sky. The Apostle evaded all of them, continuing the fight without showing any openings. Therefore, Taesan decided to create an opening. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Whoosh! A ck wave surged. The Apostle, holding the sword with both hands, lowered its stance as if praying. Then, formless entities, like beams of light, stretched out and suppressed the pitch-ck wave. Taesan didnt stop. [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Particle Diffusion.] [You have activated Tracking.] Coldness surged. Small ice particles formed and rushed towards the Apostle. Crack! The Apostle, moving its sword to deflect everything, seemed slower due to the cold. Boom! Taesan didnt miss the opportunity. He swung his sword, disrupting the stance and pressing forward. The Apostle resisted but began to be pushed back. Screeching. A small formless entity coalesced in the Apostles hand being pushed back. A terrifyingly strong power emanated from there. Taesan didnt evade. Instead, as if he had been waiting, he plunged his sword into the Apostles chest. The Apostle, in turn, stabbed the formless entity into Taesans heart. Crack. [You received 50432 damage.] [Your Endurance has been activated. Attacks that would lead to death have been nullified. All damage bes 0 for 1 second.] He had just 1 second. Taesan twisted the sword. With a strong pull, he yanked it out. Crackle! The Apostle was split in half. The formless entities making up the human shape began to copse. [You have ovee your despair. The reward will be given by Aphrodia upon returning to the Labyrinth.] [Skill proficiency of Ability Sword has increased by 3%.] [Skill proficiency of Prolonged Battle has increased by 4%.] [Skill proficiency of Airak Weapon Technique has increased by 1%.] [Skill proficiency of Clear Mirror Still Water has increased by 1%.] [Skill proficiency of Magic has increased by 1%.] [You have demonstrated entirely different movements as if your body and mind were separated. You have acquired the special continuous activation skill [Mind Separation]. Since you are outside the Labyrinth, the skill is temporarily sealed.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have acquired the special activation skill [Spreading Curse Branches].] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Proficiency in Twisted Soul Tuning has increased by 12%.] Ha. Taesan couldnt help butugh. He had triumphed over the monster that had killed Lee Taeyeon and, in effect, destroyed Earth. Although it was only a replica,cking even a fraction of the originals power, it was a definitive victory. If Taesan could grow stronger and reach the end, it meant he could also defeat the real one. That thought alone made his journey back in time all the more meaningful. Taesan turned and made his way back to the city. There, Lee Taeyeon was staring at him with vacant eyes. Chapter 200: 45th Floor (1) Chapter 200: 45th Floor (1) Taesan looked up at the sky. The sky still bore a huge rift torn open in it. Yet, nothing emerged from there. The unidentified giant monster he had witnessed in his previous life remained absent. This marked the end. Aphrodias trial had concluded. However, he had not yet returned to thebyrinth. What are you doing? Nothing. Lee Taeyeon approached him and inquired. Taesan responded calmly. She offered a faint smile. People are quite noisy. Thats to be expected. The power Taesan had demonstrated was utterly unlike anything he had shown before. It was only natural for people to be bewildered and confused. And that includes me. Lee Taeyeon regarded him with aplex gaze. She understood. The power Taesan had disyed was akin to that of the demons she had encountered in thebyrinth. Do you think What do you think? Taesan interjected. Her pupils dted significantly. I wondered if it was so, and it seems I was right. This was correct. She nodded silently. Yes. That was correct. Her smile was tinged with mncholy. Can I ask which time this is? If youre counting, its the second. Previous life and current life. Easy Mode and Solo Mode. Merely two instances. The second just that. Lee Taeyeonughed, though itcked genuine mirth. For now thank you. I survived because of you. She sat down on the ground, appearing despondent, and hugged her knees. Actually, it was a monster I was supposed to defeat. Taesan had taken down two S-ss, while she was tasked with one apostle. That was their division ofbor. And Taesan, after defeating two S-ss, came to assist Lee Taeyeon. But she failed tounch a proper attack against the apostle. I am a coward. She bit her lip. Her inability to triumph over the apostle stemmed not only from ack of ability but also from a deeper issue. She avoided taking any risks. She always opted to fight as safely as possible. Thats why she couldnt execute the moves she needed to and constantly hesitated. This hesitation eroded her power. I try to pass it on to others. To be honest, I was so d when you came. Because I thought I wouldnt have to fight the apostle. Putting off rewards, not taking what should be mine, and only pursuing my own life. She poured out what she had been holding deep in her heart. What if our situations were reversed? If she had been the one in Easy Mode, receiving no expectations and it being natural to be protected. And if Taesan had been in Solo Mode. If he had been stronger, possessed more exceptional power. It would have been a perfect picture. Indeed, Taesan, who chose Solo Mode, had even acquired ck magic that she hadnt, and seeded in defeating the apostle. There was evidence, so her feelings darkened even more. Everyone expects a lot from me, but I cant meet their expectations. Just look at you. You effortlessly defeated a monster I thought I could never ovee. It means everything Ive done was meaningless. Whats my worth, really? She gave a bitter smile. Sorry. This must be awkward for you. Its just nonsense. Its not really that awkward. I knew it. What? That you have those feelings within yourself. Taesan spoke indifferently. After all, Ive been the one youve talked to the most for the longest time. How could I not know? Ah, what? It seems like you tried to hide it, but thats not something that can be hidden. Lee Taeyeons spirit was weaker than the power she possessed. Her deep-seated self-loathing. The pressure of expectations. Her desire to drop everything and run away, yet being unable to do so. She couldnt confide in anyone because she was considered one of the strongest and most exceptional Solo Mode yers. Everyone had high expectations of her. Likewise, she couldnt tell Taesan. She was afraid he would be disappointed in her, despite the fact that he was strong even though he was in Easy Mode; that he might despise her. She was concealing it behind a collection of shy decorations, as if to dere she was fine, that she had the luxury to amass such items. Yet, those emotions kept surfacing in her conversations with Taesan. Now I understand. Why Lee Taeyeon had handed him the Ouroboros Stone. She was terrified. Returning to the past multiple times to descend in Solo Mode, to meet everyones expectations once more. But she couldnt simply opt for Easy Mode either. Without her in Solo Mode, Earth would face doom. She couldnt be that selfish. She yearned to escape. But she couldnt just abandon everything. Under relentless pressure, Lee Taeyeon made her choice. Not for herself, but for Taesan. She, who feared death, entrusted the serpents stone to the one who could save Earth. Taesan chuckled upon seeing the bewildered Lee Taeyeon. I didnt know I was capable of saying something like this. In his previous life, hecked the leisure. Thus, he wouldnt have recognized her feelings urately, and even if he had, he wouldnt have cared. He couldnt convey this to the current Lee Taeyeon either. Because she was navigating thebyrinth with Taesans assistance, with his guidance. It was different from the outset, so his words wouldnt resonate with her. Only now, to the her present before him, could these words be spoken. The Lee Taeyeon before him now, brought forth by divine intervention in time, might be somewhat artificial, but Taesan still wished to tell her. Youve done well. More than enough. Youve guided us here. Without you, it would have been impossible. That was no fabrication. Taesans exceptional skills were suited for defeating a few monsters but faltered against many. Without Lee Taeyeon, they would have either perished or significantly fewer would have survived. So, have confidence in yourself. Dont reproach yourself. Lee Taeyeon opened her mouth in astonishment. She stammered as she inquired. Do you, do you not resent me? For transferring the responsibility onto you? Not really? Taesan shrugged. Lee Taeyeon burst intoughter. What? I was the only one worrying, deciding by myself, choosing by myself She lowered her head andughed. Then, lifting her head, small tears were in her eyes. Thank you, Taesan. With those words, the world distorted. When he came to, he was back in thebyrinth. [Have you finished what you wanted to say?] Aphrodia asked softly. Have you been waiting for me? [It seemed you had quite a lot to talk about with her. It looks like I was right. Are you satisfied?] I cant say Im satisfied but its alright. He had many questions for her. About how she acquired the stone, which iteration she was on, among other various questions. He had yet to hear the answers to those. [Secrets hold their value when hidden. Those who attain omniscience sumb to boredom and die.] Aphrodia spoke leisurely. [Not knowing can also be enjoyable. Besides, maintaining more than that was difficult. The length of time after capturing the apostle was forcibly extended as a reward for what you''ve shown. Be satisfied with that.] I am grateful for that. [And this may not be the only opportunity. There maye a day when we meet again.] Aphrodia was right. Gods could twist time itself to summon things. It meant he might meet that Lee Taeyeon again. Aphrodiaughed. [That was very interesting.] His voice full ofughter echoed. [So, this is the flow. Good.] Didnt you know, Aphrodia? [I knew you had traveled back in time, that you used what the serpent spat out. But I didn''t know what happened there.] A pleasantugh continuously came from Aphrodia. [I see. That''s why they were interested.] The gaze of the god turned to Taesan. [You are special. Very much so, to a degree that even we are surprised.] Is that so? [First, I should give you a reward.] The power of the god spread thickly throughout the room. [You have perfectly cleared my trial. You have conquered your own despair. So first, I''ll give you this.] Divine power from Aphrodia flowed into Taesan. [It has settled within you, storing itself.] [Your special activation skill [Apostle Transformation [Lakiratas]] has been upgraded to [Apostle Transformation [Myriad Spirits]].] [He might dislike it... but that''s not my concern. I''ve enhanced the apostle power you possess. You will be able to use it for longer periods and with greater strength than before.] Thank you. Taesan bowed deeply. Apostle Transformation was a skill that would be crucial in future battles. The mere extension of its duration justified undergoing the trial. [And take this as well.] A purple core from Aphrodias fingertips flowed into Taesan. [You have obtained the special activation skill [Seed of Despair].] [It has settled within you. When the timees, it will bloom. You will likely be satisfied.] Aphrodia didnt stop there but clenched his fist. When he opened it, there was a small arrowhead. [You have obtained the Arrowhead of Despair.] [Arrowhead of Despair] [An arrowhead that gathers much despair.] [Attack power + 60] [The one struck will be afflicted with a random status abnormality and a mental judgment. Without a certain level of mental strength and power, oveing this judgment is impossible.] The arrowhead seemed perfectly suited for Taesans arrows. The attack power was impressively high, and the additional effects were invaluable. Considering it a reward worthy of a god, Taesan carefully stored the arrow. [This should satisfy you.] Very much so. Thank you. He hadnt anticipated being granted Apostle Transformation. Enhancing just that skill was far more valuable than receiving dozens of pieces of equipment. [I saw something good. It''s the least I can do.] Satisfaction resonated in Aphrodias voice. [Honestly, I was surprised when my domain was drastically reduced... but witnessing something this entertaining, I''ll ept it.] He suddenly chuckled. [The monsters of the high gods possess a level of soul that mortals cannot approach. The level you call ''apostles'' are merely beings who have stepped slightly out of mortality. Amusing. A being who was merely mortal managed to somewhat stand against such beings.] It seemed he was referring to Taesans previous life. He had fought an apostle then but was quickly defeated. [It was enjoyable, Kang Taesan. You''ve got something to brag about to them. It''s a bit odd to call it a reward... but ask something. I''ll satisfy your curiosity.] Several thoughts raced through Taesans mind, eventually narrowing down to one. Where did she acquire the serpents stone? The Ouroboross stone. An item that turned back time. Given that even the ghost didnt know about it, it must be something that could only be obtained from the depths. [You''re asking that?] Aphrodia smiled lightly. [Truly remarkable humans. A human we deemed worthless obtained something we thought impossible to acquire. Honestly, I''m surprised. At your potential.] He was referring to Lee Taeyeon. Aphrodia said, [Floor 91. The world swallowed by the serpent. You''ll find out when you get there.] With those words, Aphrodias presence began to fade. [By the way.] As if suddenly remembering, Aphrodia spoke, [Valencia. The madman pursuing a great mind. You''re undertaking a quest from him?] Taesan nodded. [Madmen always fail to discern and act rashly. Keep that in mind.] Im aware. With those words, Aphrodia disappeared. Taesan gazed at the altar for a moment before sitting down. Aphrodias words raised several questions, but they werent something he could resolve now. Hed have to meet the gods directly. For now, there was something else he needed to do. He had gained and received a lot by breaking the trial. He needed time to organize each one. First was the change in Apostle Transformation. [Special Activation Skill: Apostle Transformation [Myriad Spirits]] [The power bestowed by the god of struggle and death for the first time since his birth. That power was mixed by another god. For 1 hour, you obtain a part of the power possessed by the apostles of the gods. This skill cannot be used again for a day after activation.] Wow. Taesan couldnt help but express his admiration. Previously, Apostle Transformation was only usable for 20 minutes, meaning that for opponents where Apostle Transformation was necessary, the battle had to be concluded within that timeframea significant limitation. However, now the duration of Apostle Transformation has been extended to an hour. This meant there was no longer a need to rush battles due to time constraints. Good. [It seems Aphrodia has really changed it for you. She must have taken a liking to you.] The ghost, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. Taesan quietly observed him. The ghost twirled around. [Well... I have a rough idea. About what happened, how that trial came to be.] The ghost spoke calmly. [But I won''t ask first. Once everything is sorted out, and you feel like you can talk about it, let me know. I''ll wait.] Got it. The ghost surely had many questions. Who Lee Taeyeon was, whether the information she provided about Solo Mode was urate, how time was mixed up. But he refrained from asking. Probably out of consideration for Taesan. Taesan inwardly appreciated it and checked what Aphrodia had given him. He fitted the given arrowhead into an arrow endowed with a will. [Self-Willed Arrow of Despair] [An arrow that moves on its own to protect its master. It possesses a will and cannot move beyond a certain range.] [Current Master: Kang Taesan] [User''s rank is insufficient. Attack Power: 1] [Equipped with the Arrowhead of Despair. Attack Power +60] [Afflicts the struck enemy with a status abnormality and a mental judgment.] Now, three out of four arrows had been enhanced with attack power and effects. With this, significant changes could indeed be brought about inbat. And the activation skill he received. [Special Activation Skill: Seed of Despair] [Mana Consumption: 50] [Proficiency: 1%] [As enemies feel despair towards you, this emotion feeds the seed, allowing it to grow. When the timees, the seed will bloom.] A growth-type skill, huh. It seemed to have no immediate effect. It would be a skill usable after descending thebyrinth and increasing its proficiency. He had checked all the rewards given by Aphrodia. Now it was time to check the skills acquired from clearing the trial. [Special Constant Activation Skill: Mental Separation] [Proficiency: 1%] [Allows for observing, acting, and thinking about many things simultaneously. Currently, there is a limit to the number of tasks.] A multitasking skill. The description was exactly that. He tried moving both hands to do different tasks as a test. The hands moved much more smoothly than before, as if belonging to another body. It seemed like a useful skill to have. [Special Activation Skill: Spreading Branches of Curse] [Proficiency: 1%] [Materializes your soul to spread the branches of a curse that swallows the world. If the level of the soul is too low or the total amount is insufficient, life force is used as coteral for the skill''s activation.] This is unusable. Taesan immediately dismissed the skill. Using twisted soul tuning was already a burden; this skill explicitly mentioned consuming life force. Likely, one would die before seeing any proper effect. If ever used, it would be muchter, after acquiring sufficient spirit strike in the deeperyers. As he overcame the trials, his skill proficiency significantly improved. Skills such as the Ability Sword, Airak Martial Technique, and Magic proficiency saw meaningful increases, with the content of several skills undergoing changes. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Battle Continuation] [Proficiency: 80%] [Allows for prolongedbat without umting fatigue. You can fight in peak condition for much longer. There''s no limit to how long your stamina canst. You can keep moving without stopping.] Battle Continuation reached 80% proficiency. The change was exactly as described by the skill. Now, he would no longer feel fatigue in battle, nor would physical limits hinder him. It was a subtle yet decidedly positive change. The proficiency of Flow was also gradually approaching the 90s. It wasnt long until it would reach 100%. And the content of Counter also changed. [Special Activation Skill: Counter] [Mana Cost: 5] [Proficiency: 60%] [Counters the enemy''s attack, dealing significant damage. Can counter attacks that normally can''t be countered, including projectiles.] Frequent use in various battles allowed it to reach 60% proficiency much faster than expected. Its effect included the ability to counter projectiles. ording to Taesans memory, if a counter was activated against an iing arrow, it would send it back at the attacker with the same speed and force. In itself, it was a useful skill, butbined with the effect of the Ability Sword, it was bound to be an even more superior skill. The content of Continuous Attack and Strong Blow also changed. [Special Activation Skill: Continuous Attack] [Mana Cost: 3] [Proficiency: 22%] [The next attack is used twice. The damage is slightly increased. Not limited by time or space.] [Special Activation Skill: Strong Blow] [Mana Cost: ?] [Proficiency: 23%] [Makes the next attack stronger.] Everything that had been umting exploded into change. He had definitely be stronger than before, having cleared the trials. Taesan, satisfied, continued to explore the floors. He followed the path Valencia had shown him to gather the cores of emotion. Then, he collected the secret rewards and dealt with the boss. Next, he ascended a floor and handed the cores to Valencia. Good, good! Not much left now! Bring me stronger emotions! He eximed, his eyes rolling back in excitement. Valencia seemed to be going mad as Taesan brought him more emotions. [It might be a good idea to be careful.] I know. Taesan answered and descended the floors again. The rewards on the 44th floor were mostly rted to ck magic. Since there was nothing suitable for Taesan to wear, he offered them to the Demon God. [With this, I can give something next time.] Despite the significant offerings, the Demon God did not grant any new skills. However, Taesan remained hopeful. If this was still not enough, it meant that he was expected to receive a really good skill eventually. Taesan arrived at the 45th floor. [Already halfway there.] Despite the divine trials in the middle, his progress was incredibly fast. [45th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 45th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Green Vine Root] [Secret Reward: ???] The monsters on the 45th floor were spirits left with only the emotion of powerlessness. Taesan moved forward. First, he secured the core Valencia had mentioned and found the secret room. Click. He bypassed a trap and collected the secret rooms reward. [A Statue Made Entirely of Gems] [Extremely precious and its value is exceptional. It seems like it would sell for a very high price at the shop.] Although he had collected the secret rooms reward, Taesan did not leave immediately. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] Reconnaissance swept through the room. However, nothing out of the ordinary was visible. It must be true then. Lee Taeyeon had mentioned that there was one secret room on the 45th floor. And inside it, another hidden room existed. She exined that it was concealed in such a unique way that it couldnt be detected, even with skills. Lets see. Taesan recalled her words and examined the walls. Soon, he spotted a small imperfection. He pressed it with the tip of his sword. Click. A clicking sound echoed. Taesan scrutinized the walls once more and discovered another imperfection that had appeared. Click. Upon pressing it, the clicking sound resonated again. After repeating this process more than five times, Taesan let out a hollowugh. How did she even find this? It was undetectable by Reconnaissance, indicating she had meticulously found and pressed every w. Lee Taeyeon might have been considered a coward, but she was exceptionally skilled at uncovering various tricks and methods. Click. The clicking sound was heard once more. At the far end of the secret room, a passage creaked open. Chapter 201: 45th Floor (2) Chapter 201: 45th Floor (2) [Another secret room within the secret room. Fascinating.] Taesan entered. Passing through a passage shrouded in thick dust, he discovered a small room. Inside, therey a decayed skeleton and a small staff. Taesan picked up the staff. [Staff of the Ice Path] [Mana Consumption: 20] [Creates a path of ice in front of the user.] It was a staff imbued with magic he hadnt encountered in some time. Its effectcreating a path of icewasnt particrly impressive. [You have activated Magic Extraction.] [You have learned the basic magic: [Ice Path].] Lee Taeyeon had only managed to retrieve a single staff upon entering this ce. Taesan reached out towards the skeleton beyond the staff. Keeing. However, his touch was thwarted by a barrier. Engraved with numerous magical symbols, the barrier steadfastly protected the skeleton. Its just as the story described. Lee Taeyeon had discovered another secret room within the secret room. And she had acquired the Staff of the Ice Path. There was a skeleton, but it was shielded by something, preventing her approach. Taesan applied more force against the barrier. It vibrated violently, showing increased resistance. It might be difficult to break through with brute force. It wasnt unbreakable. However, given its resilience, the potential consequences of breaking it were uncertain. Taesan opened his inventory. [The Dagger of Magic Dispel] [A dagger imbued with dispelling magic. It can undo magical seals. Seals of a higher grade than the dagger''s dispel level cannot be undone.] The Dagger of Magic Dispel, previously obtained, was now in his grasp. [You have activated Magic Extraction.] [You have obtained the novice magic: [Magic Dispel].] [Novice Magic: Magic Dispel.] [Mana Consumption: 100] [Proficiency: 1%] [It can undo magical seals. Increasing mana consumption can enhance the variety of magic that can be dispelled. Currently, it is limited in the types of magic it can dispel.] The magic imbued in the dagger vanished, turning it into a mere dagger with no effects. Taesan put the dagger away and ced his hand on the barrier again. [You have activated Magic Dispel.] Keening. Waves emanated from the magic circle. Mana, containing the power of dispel, spread across the barrier, breaking through. The barrier fluctuated roughly, as if resisting. Taesans mana drained away, as if leaking out. Slowly, cracks started to form on the barrier. Crash! And the barrier, unable to withstand any longer, shattered. Taesan brushed off the remnants of the magic and picked up the skeleton. A faint magical power was felt from the skeleton. Taesan blew mana into the skeleton through the hand that held it. Brrr. The skeleton trembled. A blue light settled in its empty eye sockets. The scattered bone fragments on the ground began to rise and fit together automatically. [Oh, oh.] The skeletons jaw moved, and a voice sounded. [I didn''t really expect this to work. Should have tried and seen, huh?] The jaw clicked. The skeleton looked at its body as if amazed. Disappointed by its skeletal physique, it shook its head in dejection. [All rotted away. Not even a lich, what a state to be in.] Hello? Taesan spoke up. Only then did the skeleton seem to notice Taesans presence, cking its jaw. [Ah. Sorry. I forgot about the benefactor who revived me. Thank you, really, truly.] There was a deep desperation in the skeletons voice. [To be honest, I thought I''d be stuck here until thebyrinth disappeared. Thought it was all for naught.] The skeleton wrapped itself in a robe that was decaying into dust. It also held a staff, now unrecognizable due to corrosion, in its skeletal hand. [I was almost a great wizard. Akishaya. Pleased to meet you.] [You have encountered a betrayed wizard.] [Do you know how much time has passed since I died?] I dont know. [As expected] Akishaya clicked its jaw, a motion akin to tsking. The ghost, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. [Were you an adventurer too?] [I was. Look at me now. Seems like you''re in the same boat.] [Simr. Haven''t heard of someone like you, though.] The ghost had ventured deep into thebyrinth. If he was unaware, then it narrowed down to two possibilities. A being from before the ghosts time, or after. However, pinpointing the exact time was impossible, as thebyrinth offered no clues about time. Akishaya groaned and inquired. [Do you know Manteyak?] [...Why him?] [Apanion who entered thebyrinth with me. Also, the one who betrayed me.] [You entered with him?] The ghost chuckled, seemingly grasping the situation. [I see. You''re an adventurer from before my time, then.] [Oh? You know of him?] [Of course.] A spark of interest lit up Akishayas face. [What''s he doing now?] [He''s affiliated with something known as the Guides of Sin in the depths.] [The Guides of Sin? What''s that?] [It exists. He lives there under the guise of a great wizard.] Akishaya froze at the ghosts response. [He assumed the title of a great wizard?] [Yes.] [...Ha.] A coldugh resonated. [Yes. If he killed me and took everything, he ought to at least achieve that. Yes. That''s right. That makes the idea of killing him all the more satisfying.] Akishayasugh was eerie. Taesan quickly grasped the situation. Betrayal? [It''s not umon. In thebyrinth, adventurers often gain a lot by fighting each other. The stronger they are, the more this is true. It''s surprisinglymon to betray arade for one''s own gain.] [Right. I was betrayed just like that.] Akishayas voice was heavy with bitterness. [I was an exceptional wizard in the Tower of Magic, superior to all others. Even the master of the tower believed I could attain his position within ten years. In fifty years, I could have reached a realm beyond anyone here.] Akishayas words wereced with suppressed rage. [But I wasn''t satisfied with that. No matter how outstanding or unreachable the realm I could reach was, it still felt far too insignificantpared to the many transcendents and immortals. I yearned to be something greater. And to achieve that, the outside world had its limits.] That ce being thebyrinth? [Yes. This ce allows the strong to ascend to even higher realms. I searched hard and entered here. But what I didn''t know was that someone else had followed me.] That being the great wizard. [Right.] Akishaya nodded. [He definitely had talent. Praised by everyone as a once-in-a-century talent, until I appeared.] Chapter 202: 50th Floor, The Insanity Of A Madman (1) Chapter 202: 50th Floor, The Insanity Of A Madman (1) [Reaching the 50th floor won''t take long.] If theres nothing out of the ordinary, thats likely. Nothing could deter him. Taesan organized the items he had acquired while making his way down to the 48th floor. Excluding those meant for tributes and those destined for sale at the shop, there werent many left. [A wrist guard imbued with murderous intent.] [A wrist guard that seeks to kill everything except its owner. Crafted on a whim by a witch. Yet, something hidden lies within. It has consumed a red rose thorn and a green vine root.] [Attack Power: +75] [Defense: +10] The reward for clearing the 45th floor was a green vine root. Since itcked a specific description, he considered offering it to the shop or using it as a crafting material, but then, the wrist guard suddenly rose and devoured the vine. Hafran had mentioned it. Theres a definite chance that a witch had entered thebyrinth in the past. As he descended further, he might uncover signs of her presence. He also acquired a few more rings. [Ring filled with everyone''s rage] [Strength: +100] [Agility: +100] [Attack Power: +30] [This ring harbors the feelings of rage towards its wearer from everyone. It contains remnants of such emotions.] [Ring of one who embraced silence] [Intelligence: +150] [Defense: +50] [Silence is considered the virtue of the wise. In other words, those who do not keep silent are not deemed wise.] [Somaria''s red ring] [Agility: +100] [Attack Power: +50] [Defense: +20] [Ring of Somaria, who wielded a blood-red sword. The blood of thousands in flowed down the sword, imbuing the ring.] He reced three rings. Now, the rings obtained from the higher floors thatcked any special effects were almost entirely swapped out. He also managed to acquire a belt. [Belt worn by the master of the north] [Strength: +50] [Attack Power: +30] [Defense: +70] [It is said that the wearer of this belt can dominate the entire north. In reality, most who wore it did rule the north. And those who did not, perished without leaving their names in history.] Wearing the belt, his attack power had soared to nearly 1000. Even without substituting it for a proper weapon, the figure was impressively high. The rewards were gratifying. Four items underwent such transformation. The rest, deemed somewhat unnecessary, were either offered up or sold at the shop for gold when they couldnt be presented as tributes. Heheheh! Heek! As Taesan conquered each floor, Valencias madness intensified with every emotion transmitted. Taesan continued his descent, indifferent. With each level, he underwent a verification process. Its be much more usable. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Twisted Soul Tuning] [Proficiency: 35%] [Twisted beings can manipte their own soul in a twisted manner. This allows control over one''s own or possessed spirit energy at the cost of bearing a significant burden.] The S-ss and apostles he encountered on the Earth created by Aphrodia. Defeating them with Soul Ascension significantly increased the proficiency of Twisted Soul Tuning. Most skills evolved and enhanced their effects once they surpassed 20% proficiency. Twisted Soul Tuning was no exception. Taesan focused and energized his fingers. Instantly, he was hit by a wave of fatigue, apanied by a powerful force at his fingertips. Even without resorting to Apostle Transformation, he had be capable of tuning his soul to some extent. Although his soul seemed somewhat limited due to its low level, it indicated the skills potential direction. The burden felt when engaging with spirits had also diminished. This meant that it was now possible to use soul tuning against not just formidable enemies like apostles but also against ordinary foes. Not bad. Taesan reimed his soul and pressed on. He mastered everything on the 48th floor and proceeded, confronting the boss. [Your level has increased.] As Taesans level and the monsters levels had somewhat aligned, his level also rose to a decent extent. Before entering the 41st floor, it was 91, but now it was 97. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 97] [Protection: 2109/2109] [Health: 23020/23020] [Mana: 3002/3002] [Magic: 426/426] [Strength: 5138] [Intelligence: 4474] [Agility: 4758] [Attack Power: +996] [The target is in the best condition.] The rewards for leveling up depend on the actions taken up to that point. Since he had defeated the spirits without a proper battle, he didnt receive asrge a reward as before, but still gained a significant amount. Now, his strength was nearly half that of Lee Taeyeons. It was an incredibly fast pace. There were no special rewards. Thinking of selling everything at the shop, he handed the core of emotions to Valencia and arrived at the 49th floor. [Start of the 49th-floor quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 49th floor and pass through.] [Reward: The Regalia of Those Submerged in Darkness] [Secret Reward: ???] The moment Taesan stepped onto the 49th floor, the darkness split apart. The Demon God appeared. [I''vee to tell you something.] Is it about the Guides? There was only one reason for her appearance. The Demon God nodded. [They won''t be waiting on the 50th floor. On the 51st floor, everyone has finished preparing together.] The 51st floor? I heard its not possible to go any lower than the hierarchy, but it seems youve allowed it. [It would be too one-sided otherwise.] The adventurers of the 5th hierarchy, even if they banded together, could not ovee Taesan as he was now. So, the Demon God must have permitted it. The 51st floor. What Lee Taeyeon had said was true, and if the Guides were indeed gathered there, it could be quite troublesome. Understood. Taesan nodded. The verification wasplete, but instead of leaving immediately, the Demon God gazed intently at Taesan. [What did that one see in you?] What do you mean? [Aphrodia. My curiosity was piqued after hearing that one''s incessant ramblings.] Taesan grasped the meaning behind the Demon Gods words. The gods were aware that he had utilized the Ouroboros stone to travel back in time. However, they were oblivious to the specifics of that process, what he encountered, or the challenges he faced. [I''m intrigued. What you hold and what you''ve endured.] Youll discover in due time. [So it shall be. If not, I shall ensure it.] The Demon Gods smile was faint. [Come down a bit further. I have a request for you.] With those words, the Demon God vanished. Taesan resumed his descent. The 49th floor emanated a spirit of serene emotions. Any average adventurer might lose all motivation and remain motionless like a doll, their emotions dissipating. Of course, this had no effect on Taesan, who swiftly conquered the floor. [Malira-Variya''s Bracelet] [Attack Power + 65] [Defense + 100] [This bracelet belonged to a legendary adventurer who ventured to the world''s end. Adventure entails risks, and only the truly formidable can conquer them all.] Aside from the bracelet, the remaining equipment and items were of no value, destined either for tribute or sale. Taesan collected the core of emotions he had amassed and sought out Valencia. This time, he did not burst intoughter but offered a quiet smile instead. This is the final time. Yes. Do you understand? The eminent ones always demand offerings. They seize life and spirit in return for their magnificence. Valencia showed his teeth. Bring me thest spirit. Then, all will be concluded. Anticipating this, Taesan proceeded to the 50th floor without much sentiment. [Beginning of the 50th-floor quest.] [Defeat the boss of the 50th floor and proceed.] [Reward: Armor of Hephaesia] [Secret Reward: ???] Atst, he had reached the 50th floor. No spirits would appear beyond this point. The monsters on the 50th floor were spirits consumed by nothing but arrogance and pride. He swiftly dispatched them and continued forward. He touched a pir and was flooded with pure emotions. Then, he resolved everything up to the boss. [Your level has increased.] [You have reached the 50th floor. You''ve obtained the title [The One Who Reached].] [You have perfectly cleared the 50th floor. You''ve obtained the title [The One Who Takes Satisfaction].] [You have perfectly understood and cleared all floors up to the 50th floor. You''ve obtained the title [The One Getting Closer to Perfection].] [You have descended nearly half of the Labyrinth. More challenges await you, but it''s a significant achievement that will be remembered in history. You''ve obtained the title [The Strong and Outstanding One]. You''ve obtained the special continuous activation skill [The Strong One].] [Your footsteps will be followed by those whoe after you.] Just like before, numerous rewards arrived all at once. Taesan first checked the clear rewards for the 50th floor. [Armor of Hephaesia] [Strength + 100] [Defense + 130] [Armor created by a cksmith rumored to have inherited the blood of gods. Not even a dent can be made on this ordinary-looking ck armor.] With its high defense and decent strength stats, it was superior to the armor he was currently wearing, so he equipped it immediately. [Used ???] [Gained a Wedge.] [Wedge] [When inserted into the target''s wound, it can cause tremendous damage and pain.] Simple. Simple yet evidently effective. The description mentioned tremendous damage, indicating it could inflict significantly high damage even by the 50th floors standards. Paired with Addition, it seemed like an item capable of dealing instant fatal damage. [Title: The One Who Reached] [The one who has arrived at the halfway point of the Labyrinth.] [Health + 200] [Strength + 100] [Attack Power + 50] [Defense + 50] [Title: The One Who Takes Satisfaction] [You have begun to achieve satisfactory oues for yourself.] [Strength + 100] [Agility + 100] [Intelligence + 100] [Attack Power + 50] [Defense + 50] [Title: The One Getting Closer to Perfection] [You are meaningfully approaching a perfect conquest.] [Health + 300] [Mana + 100] [Attack Power + 60] [Defense + 50] [Title: The Strong and Outstanding One] [You have proven to be incredibly strong and outstanding, enough to ovee many challenges.] [Attack Power + 100] [Defense + 100] The effects of the titles were better than those at the 40th floor. This was somewhat expected, given the trend up to this point. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: The Strong One] [Your resistance to pain has significantly increased. You will not easily fall and can maintain yourposure in any situation. As long as your spirit does not break, your body will not fall.] A skill that provides an advantage to both mind and body. While the mental aspect was not of much use to Taesan, the physical aspect was different. There were moments when his movements would pause momentarily due to pain, so increased resistance was definitely beneficial. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 99] [Shield: 2209/2209] [Health: 24020/24020] [Mana: 3032/3032] [Magic: 535/535] [Strength: 5450] [Intelligence: 4614] [Agility: 4938] [Attack Power: +1315] [Defense: +1177] [The target is in optimal condition.] This is good. Level 100 was within reach. Health, strength, intelligence, and agility all increased significantly, and attack power surged as well. Indeed, he became noticeably stronger with each set theme was cleared. [Now it''s time to deal with that nagging issue.] Taesan collected the core and went down to the 41st floor. There, Valencia, who was waiting anxiously, brightened up at his arrival. How did it go? Here. Taesan handed over the pure core of emotions. Valencia trembled with emotion. Oh, ohhhh OHHH! Unable to contain his emotions, he screamed loudly. Ha, hahaha! The emotions began to materialize. Thousands, tens of thousands of them gathered, forming a massive force in themselves. Yes! This is it! This is my power! This is where I must reach! Valencia eximed, his face twisted in joy. Taesan asked, his face showing no interest. Then, I suppose its time for my reward. Valenciasughter abruptly stopped. Come to think of it, theres something I didnt tell you. He grinned slyly. The emotions I possess are indeed great and varied. However, theyre insufficient to reach a great spirit. Because a spirit needs a corresponding body, and my body is too frail. Valencias smile tore wider. So, youll be the sacrifice! Emotions surged like a wave. Taesan immediately stomped the ground. Boom! With the entire room swirling with force, Taesan calmly drew his sword. I thought as much. It was too obvious. As Taesan collected the quests, it was clear Valencia would attack him. Be devoured by me! Woosh! Emotions turned into des, attempting to pierce through Taesans entire body. Taesan concentrated his spirit. sh! He knocked down all the pouring emotions andnded on the ground, murmuring. I wonder, if I kill you, what happens to the adventurers whoe here after? What, what? Never mind, it doesnt matter. There had been instances where spirits disappeared before. Balbambamba showed up temporarily to fix it then. Then theres no issue. Die, madman. Chapter 203: 50th Floor, The Insanity Of A Madman (2) Chapter 203: 50th Floor, The Insanity Of A Madman (2) Be devoured by me, mortal! Emotions surged, spreading throughout the room. And those spread emotions began to prate Taesan. Hahaha! Valencia was confident of his victory. He had swallowed an immeasurable amount of emotions. Merelying into contact with the fragments of emotions he released could drive a person mad. He unleashed all those emotions at Taesan at once. Its over! Survival was impossible. Even if one somehow managed to keep their sanity, they would be overwhelmed by a wave of emotions that could reduce them to idiocy. Of course, Taesan had been gathering pure emotions without any issue until now. But even with that level of mental fortitude, he couldnt block Valencias power now. He smirked. Now, by using Taesans body as a sacrifice to gather the emotions together, everything would be over. As he expected, a tumult of emotions was raging inside Taesans head. Anger. Pleasure. Regret. Emptiness. All those emotions hammered at his head as if being struck by a hammer. And Taesan calmly epted these emotions. A violent torrent. A wave that would crush and erase everything about the one who had swallowed it. But that was it. Compared to the despair he felt in his previous life, this was infinitely weaker. Taesan threw a punch. Valencia,ing at him, was blown away by the force of the punch. How, how could this be! Because youre weak. Taesan simply answered and charged at him. Valencia hastily gathered emotions andunched them at Taesan. Once again, a multitude of emotions crashed down. But they were easily shaken off with a light shake of the head. Valencia screamed in denial. Why! Whats the use of having so many? Those emotions are utterly worthless. It was, perhaps, an obvious oue. The emotions Valencia had swallowed were all from those who had given up and stopped halfway. The gathering of such emotions could never have any significance. They were just numerous in quantity, nothing more. Eeeek! Valencia gritted his teeth. He kept releasing emotions, but none took effect. Valencias eyes began to shake violently. And then slowly began to calm down. He stopped running away. Taesans sword pierced through his chest. Valencia, with blood dripping from his mouth, looked into Taesans eyes. Holding onto Taesans head, he shouted. Your mind! Show me what youve got! [A Mind Fusion check is attempted.] [Checking] With the judgment window, the world changed. In front of Taesan, a world of ash unfolded. Taesan instinctively realized that this ce was the world of the mind. Is this how it is? They called each other to the world of the mind. And then they captured the mind itself. If thats the case, this ce must be inside Valencias mind. Taesan walked through the world of the mind. There, fragments that seemed to be Valencias memories were scattered. Through them, Taesan could understand Valencias life. He was a person from an ordinary world. Born as the son of a tax officer in the medieval era, he lived his life dealing with tax-rted work. Taesan found it strange. It was literally a smooth life, and he was living it contentedly. Why he went mad, what he wanted the transcenders mind for, Taesan couldnt understand. Then, a fragment of memory caught Taesans eye. The fragment was a dark, murky color. As Taesan approached the fragment, the memory it contained began to reveal itself. Taesan grimaced. There was only destruction. The city was on fire. People were dying, and knights were riding horses. Dragons flew in the sky. A transcendent power. Began scattering towards the horizon. It looked as if it was blocking something. Kooong! And with a wave of a massive power, everything crumbled. Knights were trampled, and dragons bled as they fell to the ground. The world was ending. Immortal? Taesan squinted his eyes. The power that trampled the world felt like an immortals. Valencia frantically ran away from that ce. Something approached him as he ran, consumed by fear and despair. Valencia closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face. Crack. And it was over. The fragment of memory shattered into pieces. This is. Taesan narrowed his eyes. While Taesan delved into Valencias mind, Valencia was doing the same, advancing into Taesans mind. If I just swallow this ce! The one who controlled the body was ultimately the mind. If he swallowed Taesans mind, Taesans body would be his. He spread his mind in all directions, his eyes filled with madness. He would swallow everything to make it his own, Eh, what? But soon, he realized. The power of the mind he was spreading couldnt reach far. Darkness? Then it dawned on Valencia. He was engulfed in darkness. A darkness so pitch ck that he couldnt see an inch ahead, an endless darkness that even swallowed his existence. Valencia advanced in panic. But the darkness did not recede. He scattered his power, but all of it was devoured by the darkness and disappeared. Valencia was horrified. He realized. This ce was Taesans mind and soul. But he saw nothing. The reason was simple. His spirit was infinitely inadequate to interfere with Taesan. He, who had devoured the spirits of tens of thousands, couldnt even touch a fragment. [Judgment Sess!] Crash! The world shattered. Taesan, returning to thebyrinth, frowned. Immortal? The being that trampled over Valencias world and subdued him. It bore the unmistakable aura of an Immortal. Why does this exist? It wasnt merely a fragment. It meant the Immortal had directly crushed Valencias world. And the energy that approached Valencia at the end. Probably an Immortal. But then, There was a question. Why was Valencia here? He wanted to inquire about it, but Valencia was not in a normal state. Ha, haha. Hahaha With a sword embedded in his chest, he offered no resistance. You are that kind of thing. He looked at Taesan, his voice hoarse as he spoke. Yes. You must have brought a pure core. Originally, I possessed a status unaffected by such things more formidable than anyone. I wanted to take revenge on the Immortal who made me this way, but how vain. How utterly vain Years, perhaps decades, centuries passed. The madman, who had settled in thebyrinth dreaming of bing transcendent, died just like that. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have acquired the special always-on skill [Emotional Interference].] [Your spiritual ascent has been activated. You have acquired the special always-on skill [Torrent of Emotions].] [The special always-on skill [Torrent of Emotions] has been integrated with the special always-on skill [Three Proofs].] The skills have integrated. [Special Always-On Skill: Three Proofs] [You have proven yourself to yourself, to the gods, and to the world. What you have built up and your emotions be phenomena, surrounding you and having a material impact.] The aspect that not only what is built up in the Three Proofs but also emotions be phenomena has been added. Its be a bit stronger. Not just in status, but now including emotions. The power of the emotions shown by Valencia was not weak, merely overshadowed by the status of the sage. The Three Proofs have been strengthened. [Special Always-On Skill: Emotional Interference] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can interfere with others'' emotions. Or you can imbue your attacks with emotions to attempt a mental judgment on your opponent. The stronger the mental strength, the less effective it is.] Lets see. Taesan activated a frost arrow. And when he used emotional interference, the torrent of emotions shown by Valencia began to frost over the frost arrow slightly. Its not bad. If one were to argue, every attack could be considered equivalent to inflicting a status ailment. Although this wouldnt work against the truly strong, it would prove quite useful against enemies that relied on sheer numbers. But it didnt end there. [You have reached the destination desired by the designer of thebyrinth. A reward will be given ordingly.] nk. The floor bricks began to rise, fitting together like a puzzle, starting to form a shape. [It''s you again.] Hello, Balbamba. The administrator of thebyrinth, Balbamba, appeared. He murmured as he looked at Taesan. [It''s unusual for an adventurer who hasn''t even entered the depths to meet me so frequently.] Isnt that a good thing? [It depends on how you see it. For now, I must do what I need to do.] Balbambas body clicked. The corpse of Valencia began to descend into the depths of thebyrinth. nk. And in its ce, a small spherical object appeared. It seemed to be a temporary NPC recing Valencias role. [The guides who have been with thebyrinth for a long time on the 21st floor, and also the 41st floor, have both disappeared. And that too, by the hands of a single adventurer.] Should I be sorry? [There''s no need. Their disappearance means that, in some way, their wishes have been fulfilled.] Balbambas body clicked and shed. [We had a contract with them. ordingly, they took their ce in thebyrinth. The fulfillment of that contract and the end of their role is a good thing in itself. The hero behind you would agree.] [...Maybe.] The heros voice trailed off at the end. [My task here is done. Now, it''s time to give you your reward.] Balbambas body shed, and power began to descend. [You have reached the second realm that the magician of thebyrinth desired.] Level 100, huh. [If expressed in numbers, yes. The magician has prepared a reward for you.] At level 55, Balbamba had appeared and offered him choices. What were they? Equipment, skill proficiency, stat increase, knowledge of thebyrinth, hidden truths, and desired information. Thats what he remembered. This time, as Taesan pondered what to receive, Balbamba spoke. [It seems you are pondering, but this time there are only two options.] Its less thanst time. [Do not ask me. It''s what the magician decided.] Balbamba spoke in an annoyed tone. [This time, what you can receive is either precious equipment or a skill. Choose.] The choice was obvious. Give me the skill. Equipment can be reced eventually. But skills, not so much. Balbamba clicked, as if he knew this would be the choice. [Receive it. This is the gift the magician bestows upon you.] [You have acquired the special activation skill [Adventurer''s Will]] [Special Activation Skill: Adventurer''s Will] [Mana Consumption: 50] [Only adventurers who descend into thebyrinth possess the will to endure. A firm will and spirit ignore all judgments inflicted upon oneself for a certain period.] An immunity skill to status ailments? Taesans face lit up with interest. Ignoring all judgments meant everything, including cold or burn judgments, emotional judgments, instant death judgments, confusion judgments, etc., were all included. Although Taesan had never experienced a mental judgment, he knew that being immune felt different from sessfully resisting. [You have descended to a level satisfactory to the magician. Then, a reward fitting your achievement must be given. Are you satisfied?] Taesan nodded. Balbambas body began to crumble away. [Then I must return to my duties due to my busy master. Such is the life of a servant.] Balbamba grumbled as he was about to leave, but Taesan stopped him. Wait. Just one more question. [That is not permitted for you.] Its nothing grand. Just a simple confirmation. Balbambas disintegration stopped. He asked, [Speak. What is it?] Is the floors clearance reward guaranteed upon clearing any floor? [So that''s what you were asking.] Balbamba replied in an annoyed tone. [Of course. That''s the purpose of floor rewards.] Understood. Taesan nodded, and Balbambas bodypletely disintegrated. [Then, let''s meet again next time.] Having confirmed his question, Taesan descended further. [This ce leads to the deeper parts of thebyrinth.] [This is a ce where beings filled with mystery reside. The corrupted and the uncorrupted coexist in harmony.] [51st Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 51st floor and pass through. [Reward: Anklet of the Broken-hearted.] [Secret Reward: ???] The cksmith on the 51st floor greeted him. Youve finally made it here. He looked at Taesan with a sentimental face. Your speed is iparable to others. From here, thebyrinth changes once again. Various beings will appear. How you rte to them is entirely up to you. He briefly advised. Taesan took the advice to heart and turned into the passage. Then. The Demon God had said that the Guides of the fifth order were waiting on the 51st floor. And Lee Taeyeon said that the 51st floor was quite unique. Creak. Taesan opened the door. What appeared was a vast city. Numerous medieval-style buildings were ced along the streets, and one or two expressionless people were walking around. Monsters were nowhere to be seen. It was more like a vige than a floor. Its real. [It''s been here a long time too.] Many adventurers havee to thebyrinth. And among them, some descended to the depths, while some died on their way. However, such individuals were extremely rare. Most who came to thebyrinth gave up descending. The despair of being able to die even with their talent, the skepticism that they couldnt descend any further, etc. Many who faced these emotions gave up on conquering and settled in the midst of thebyrinth. This was the 51st floor. A city where the broken-hearted gathered. Chapter 204: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (1) Chapter 204: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (1) While touring the city, Taesan asked, Who made this? It looked too well-established to have been made by adventurers, no matter how he looked at it. The ghost replied, [Not us. It was here before I arrived, and before Ainzhar. It existed even before that spirit arrived.] So then [It was made by the magician. The reason why is not hard to understand.] As Taesan was conversing, a figure approached him. Are you a new adventurer? A man wearing shabby armor approached him, his face filled with annoyance. The man extended his hand towards Taesan. Its annoying, but work has to be done. My name is Darien. Taesan shook his hand and looked at him. When he had met NPCs before, a system window announcing them would appear. But no system window appeared for Darien. That meant one thing. Darien, noticing Taesans gaze, shrugged his shoulders. As you guessed, Im not one bound by thebyrinth. Im an adventurer like you. [You''re still here?] The ghost said, noticing Darien. Dariens face brightened upon seeing the ghost. The hero? If youre here, does that mean youre dead? [That''s why I''m here. Are you picking a fight?] No, no. Darien suppressed hisughter, his face looking delighted at the prospect of the hero dying and appearing before him as a ghost. Lets get the tour over with quickly so I can rest. Follow me. Darien walked down the road. Taesan looked around again. The scenery didnt seem at all like abyrinth. Numerous buildings. And roads that were damaged but still paved. And beyond the vige, a vast space was visible. This ce felt more like a world of its own than abyrinth. As you can roughly see, this ce is different from before. Whether you move forward or end up stuck here like us. Us? Everyone here was an adventurer. Or rather, used to be. As he said, Taesan saw many people, but not a single system window appeared for any of them. It seems like youve lived quite a long time. The age of the buildings and theyout of the vige indicated that they had been here for a long time. Darien smirked bitterly. This is that kind of ce. A gathering ce for those who have given up. Darien moved on. There are broadly three types of adventurers in thebyrinth. One is the adventurers who die descending thebyrinth. They are the mostmon and numerous. The difficulty of thebyrinth was notoriously high. Even the most talented individuals could die from a moment of carelessness. For example, out of the hundreds of thousands from Earth who chose Solo Mode, only Lee Taeyeon survived, which said a lot. There must have been talented and exceptional ones among them who did not survive. And then theres the adventurer who descends to the end of thebyrinth. Im not sure if such a person actually exists. Even the hero ended up dying. [If I hadn''t been stabbed in the back, maybe it could have been possible, but dead is dead.] That part made him a bit curious. Aside from Lee Taeyeon, was there someone who had cleared thebyrinth? Is there actually someone who cleared it? I dont know. Ive heard rumors that such a person exists, but Ive never actually seen them. Even the leaders of the guides cant go down there, so how could we possibly know? Darien replied nonchntly. Thest one is us. Those whose spirits are broken. Those who gave up on tackling the increasing difficulty as they descended and settled in thebyrinth. Simr to NPCs, but unlike them, they were not bound by any contract. The 51st floor was a gathering ce for such individuals. Its just as Lee Taeyeon said. Long before, even before the Guides of Sin settled here, there were those who lived on the 51st floor. They were like those whose time had stopped. And the Guides of Sin, the Demon God said, were waiting on the 51st floor. Taesan extended his senses while listening to Dariens guidance. This is a residential area. If you save up money diligently, you can live here. Numerous detached houses were in sight, forming the shape of homes yet appearing on the verge of copsing. People from a dying Earth lived in better homes than these. This is a tavern. If you want to eat,e here. Inside the tavern, a woman drinking nced at Taesan and Darien and said, Are you a new adventurer? Yes. Then youre a new resident. Youll end up stuck here anyway. Nice to meet you. That wont happen to me. No. It will. The woman scoffed at Taesan. We all confidently ventured beyond, just like you, but ended up stuck here. Youll be the same. Darien remained silent, as if he found her words to be true. From this series of conversations, Taesan could tell. His values and theirs were fundamentally different. This conversation would definitely not progress any further. Leaving the woman behind, Darien continued to guide him through the vige. This is the church. Those who want to praye here. The exterior of the church was also crumbling, revealing the inside. Theres no one praying. They sleep to meet God. Taesan chuckled. Its just as the story goes. Lee Taeyeon had said the 51st floor was a ce for those with broken spirits. Thats why she believed she could rest here. But the moment she truly understood the 51st floor, she realized that was a vain dream. This ce was thebyrinth. Thebyrinth gave nothing to those who do not brave its depths. And these were the people with broken spirits who did not brave it. Such people building a vige, gathering food, and having enough materials to repair buildings was unlikely. The goods themselves could probably be obtained from shop owners. But gathering the money for it was the problem. If theybined their strength to kill monsters, they could supply themselves with gold, but the amount would not be substantial. After all, they were those whose spirits had been broken. They wouldnt want to risk their lives fighting. Therefore, the 51st floor was always short on food, and the buildings were crumbling. And those whose spirits were broken always envied those who moved forward. Total shut-ins. You too, if you stay here for hundreds of years, youll end up just like that. Maybe. Even Lee Taeyeon seemed like she would go crazy if she stayed here too long, so she quickly left. What do you guys do here? Nothing. Darien answered indifferently. We do nothing. Only I sometimes act as a guide upon the request of thebyrinths manager, but even thats bing too bothersome. Its killing me. Those who despaired at the difficulty of thebyrinth. Those who gave up and sat down. They werepletely consumed by a sense of powerlessness. Its even worse than the Guides. No, perhaps these were what the Guides would be in the future. Those who lost their way. That was the adventurers of the 51st floor. Its really bothersome but I still have toplete the guide I took on. Darien pointed with his finger toward the end of the vige. There, an imprable foresty ahead. You want to go down here, right? Taesan nodded. It might not seem possible, but Ill tell you anyway. Somewhere at the end of that in, theres a unicorn with a blue horn. If you kill it and bring back its horn, you can leave the 51st floor. Lee Taeyeon had said that the 51st floor was very unique, that it waspletely different from anything seen before. Just as she said, it was very peculiar. Finding a unicorn in a wide in instead of the usualbyrinth form as the way to clear the floor. Just in case, but hero. You cant tell anyone the location. [I know. I don''t n to tell anyone about the path itself. The strategy for thebyrinth is to rely solely on one''s own strength, without anyone''s help. ...Well, that''s already been broken.] Lee Taeyeon thought Taesan was in Easy Mode and spilled all the information about Solo Mode. That information was now in Taesans head. Just so you know, you can enter any house to sleep. If you want to eat, go up to thebyrinth and somehow scrounge up something. It might be blocked due to penalties, but if you struggle, you can get a small amount of gold. Thats enough to buy from the shop owner. It was as if he was saying Taesan was bound to fail and return here. Taesan shook his head. I dont n toe back. No, you will. Darien twisted his lips. I was like you too. I descended thebyrinth faster than anyone. I was full of confidence that I could go all the way to the end, that I could clear it. But I ended up stuck here. Not just me, everyone here felt that way. Darien pointed past the forest. Those who can get past there are either supported by the Guides or are beings different from the rest, like dragons. Yeah, like that demon that passed before. Otherwise, no one can get past. Darien spoke as if his view was the absolute truth. The hero beside you is the same. He descended thebyrinth but ultimately didnt clear it and died. [Well... that''s true, so I won''t say anything, but it''s pretty shameful for you to mention that.] Darien ignored as if he didnt hear and continued. So, youll be the same. Come back and try to adapt here. Sorry, but Im different from you guys. Taesan shook his head. I cant just lie down at the bottom and scrape the bottom. Id rather die trying to descend. You. Dariens face twisted momentarily. He retorted with a face hurt in pride. Yeah. Lets see you prove it. Thats the n. Taesan entered the forest. The sight was filled with an incredibly colorful palette. The moment he stepped into the forest, he realized the air was different. Poison? Taesan momentarily held his breath, quickly assessing the texture and properties of the air. Not poison hallucinogens? [Judging hallucinogens...] [Judgment sessful!] The judgment came as soon as he thought about it. Although sessful, the judgment continued toe in periodically. Taesan surveyed the forest. It was incredibly colorful. Orange, green, red, purple - all these colors mixed together to disorient the mind. [You should be careful. The creatures thate out here are quite mischievous.] Taesan slowly moved forward. And then he realized. The forest is moving. Taesan turned around. The trees and bushes of the forest were stealthily moving, blocking the path he hade through. When Taesan looked at them, they hesitated for a moment and then continued moving, finishing their task. With a wry smile, Taesan walked forward. A bit further, Taesan saw a corpse in his field of vision. It was apletely rotten skeleton. He assumed it was the body of an adventurer who had gone ahead, but Taesan clicked his tongue. Whoever it was, they had bad taste. [Did you see through it?] As if a freshly rotting corpse would appear right in front of me just now. And in thisbyrinth? Impossible. He hadnt found a single corpse while descending thebyrinth. It meant there was an entity, perhaps the manager, who took care of the bodies. Therefore, the skeleton must have been deliberately ced there by someone. Click, ck. No sooner had he realized this than the skeleton rose up. Taesan punched towards the skeleton rushing at him with its arms iling wildly. Crack. The skeleton crumbled and did not move again. Simultaneously, he could hear gigglingughter. Theughter came from all around. It was a high-pitchedughter, like that of a child, but it was thick with murderous intent. Feeling a momentary murderous intent, Taesan stamped his foot. Keeng. White light pierced the tree and the spot where Taesan had been. Taesan quickly ran towards the source of the light, but found nothing there. [You dodged it.] [You dodged it.] A voice, filled with lightughter, echoed. [Will you dodge this too?] Keeng. Lights flew in session: two from the left, one from the right, and two from the front. Taesan drew his sword. [You activated Flow.] Keeng. The light collided with the sword and was deflected. Then, twisting his body, he dodged the lights that the sword hadnt intercepted. Koogooogooong. The light pierced through the trees. Taesan concentrated his mind. But he felt nothing. Surprise tinged the voice of the fairy. [You dodged that too.] This is fun, Taesan murmured. The light just now would have been life-threatening for a regr adventurer on the 51st floor. Lee Taeyeon had said that from the 51st floor onwards, the difficulty spikes dramatically, iparable to anything before. A ce where mystical beings lived and sought to kill outsiders. This was the starting point of a newyer. Chapter 205: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (2) Chapter 205: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (2) Light poured down. Taesan kicked off the ground to dodge. Theughter deepened. [This is fun.] [Enjoyable.] [With this, we won''t get bored and send it back.] [No need to worry about dying from not being able to withstand it.] [Let''s y with it.] Those are some fierce ones. Taesan murmured as he continued to move. The lights grazed past him, barely missing. As expected, I cant feel it. These beings wielded such power. He should have been able to sense remnants of their power or aura to locate them, but he couldnt feel anything at all. Taesan made up his mind. Even if it meant using a bit of power, he decided to properly identify his enemies. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] A surge of ck waves burst forth. The ravenous wave engulfed all the trees and bushes around, advancing as the colorful forest began to be covered in deep darkness. Boom! In an instant, the trees and bushes in a wide area were erased, clearing the view. Taesan propelled himself into the air, surveying the surroundings. Then, he saw tiny humanoid beings. With a pair of wings, exceedingly beautiful but only the size of Taesans palm. Fairies? And they were much farther away than Taesan had expected. Even if Taesan ran towards them, they would have enough distance to escape. The fairies widened their distance from Taesan even more. [A fearsome human.] [Let''s be careful.] [Let''s y carefully.] Taesannded on the ground. The trees and bushes trampled by the wave began to slowly take their ce again. Fairies. They do fit the mystery. [Not like the friends of children in fairy tales, though.] While they talked, the surroundings quickly filled with straight trees again. This is tough. Even after using the Pitch-ck Wave, everything returned to its original state. He only managed to identify who was attacking him, without gaining any further information. Certainly, the difficulty level had changed upon entering the 51st floor. What should I do? He had received information from Lee Taeyeon, but even that was uncertain. Taesan began to organize the information, piece by piece. The ones attacking me are fairies. And the distance was quite far. Even a rough calction showed they were kilometers away when shooting the light. Only now did he understand why he couldnt sense anything. From such a distance, these tiny beings using power made it impossible to properly identify them. Swoosh. Dodging the iing light again, Taesan surveyed his surroundings. The forest, once trampled by the Pitch-ck Wave, had returned to its original state. After checking the position of the trees and bushes, Taesan realized one fact. The positions of the trees and the shapes of the bushes are all the same. Before the Pitch-ck Wave damaged it and now, it was perfectly the same. Suddenly, Taesan moved forward, and the forest began to change. Taesan stopped walking. The trees and bushes around him. Their positions were perfectly the same as before he moved. Is it like this? No wonder its hard to find the way. [You noticed? Faster than I thought.] Taesan concluded. The forest is moving with me. The positions of the trees and bushes kept moving in the same way. Naturally, it was inevitable to get lost. The location changed, but the scenery remained the same. This was information Lee Taeyeon didnt know. She mentioned that after wandering around for days, she suddenly found a way out. Taesan would probably find his way out after spending several days here as well. But he didnt n to spend his time like that. The forest adjusted as it followed him. In other words, if he could make the forest stop following him, he could escape. Taesan powered up his legs. He invested his aggressive stats into agility and surged forward. Whoosh! The wind ttened the bushes and struck the trees, scattering leaves. As Taesan surged forward, the forest began to move. [He''s escaping.] [Let him escape.] The fairies pursued, casting beams of light at him. Taesan, while sprinting, deflected them. He poured more strength into his legs. His pace quickened. He didnt stop there but pushed himself to his limit. Gradually, the once monotonous scenery began to shift. The forest trailing behind could no longer match Taesans velocity. Whoosh! He pounded the earth beneath him. The ground fractured, and the surrounding trees trembled. His eleration continued. Thendscape started to blur with speed. As the forest transformed around him, Taesan focused intently. He extended his senses in every direction, taking note of everything he passed. In doing so, Taesan detected an unfamiliar energy from afar. The energy radiating from the forest was enchanting and mysterious. Yet, that specific location exuded a distinctly somber and tangible energy. That was his destination. Taesan veered off course. The fairies yfulughter gradually became distant. Rumble. The forests branches ascended. The trees merged and expanded, forming a massive barrier. A tree, now the size of a small hill, obstructed Taesans path. Heunched a punch. Boom! A vast hole appeared in the tree. It copsed, scattering its branches on the ground. Taesan bypassed the fallen tree and pressed on. As he neared the source of the gloomy energy, the forests hues subtly shifted. From vibrant, almost surreal colors, the trees darkened to brown, and the leaves to green. A forest grounded in reality emerged. This is it. This was the first checkpoint. The ghost exhaled in awe. [You arrived incredibly fast. I expected it to take at least three days. Only possible with your extraordinary stats.] 51st floor. The forest that tailed adventurers. There was but one solution: time. As time psed, the pursuing forest twisted and slowly, a new path would reveal itself. Until then, one had to wait, but Taesan, with his speed, broke free. For a typical journey on the 51st floor, this feat would have been unattainable. [It''s the ugly one''s territory.] [It''s boring there.] [Let''s go back.] The fairies giggled and vanished. Whether they truly disappeared or not, no further lights were directed at him. Taesan observed the transformed forest for a moment before stepping into it. [The deeper you go, the more you''ll encounter unique, typically unsolvable floors. Such floors usually have a guide. You''ll see more of these as you proceed.] The ghost spoke. True to his words, within the forest stood a small wooden house. Taesan rang a bell beside the house. A tinkling sound resonated, and footsteps could be heard approaching the door from inside. These damn fairy brats! If I catch them, theyre dead! The door burst open with a loud noise. The figure that emerged looked up at Taesan and scowled. Who are you? An adventurer. Taesan replied. [You have encountered the grotesque gremlin who has acquired the mystery.] Sorry about that. Those fairy brats keep ringing the bell, so I thought it was them again. The being, having ushered Taesan into the house, sifted through a drawer. He seized a handful of tea leaves, carelessly tossed them into boiling water, and brought it over. It might not look like much, but it tastes good. Its also beneficial for your health. Give it a try. Taesan eyed the tea warily before taking a sip. [You have drunk tea brewed with mandrake leaves. All your health and mana are restored, and your physical and mental states are enhanced to their optimal conditions.] How is it? Tasty, right? The taste is terrible. He couldnt feign appreciation. The face of the being who had offered the tea dropped. I suppose so. Thest person who visited said the same thing. When will I ever master such a skill? But the effects are incredible. What is this? It restored all health and mana. Moreover, it enhanced physical capabilities and fortified the mind. It felt akin to the effects of leveling up. And this was offered not as a quest reward, but simply for partaking in the tea. Adventurers might not find it, but here, such things aremon. Its nothing special. The being sat on a chair made of leaves. Ill give you a few to take with you when youre done here. A non-hostile NPC existing on the 51st floor. There was one reason for its existence. The being spoke. Youre an adventurer. I am a being bound to thebyrinth because I desire something. You know what I might propose to you, right? Taesan nodded. The being smiled broadly. Good. The previous guy was okay, but he couldnt get me what I wanted. Same with the ghost behind you. How about you? The being leaned back in the chair and asked. Be honest with me. What do I look like? Taesan looked at the beings face. It was grotesque. Only half the height of Taesan. Not only was it short, but its proportions were also distorted, making it look bizarre. And its face was hideously twisted. It looked partly reptilian and partly human. A mix of two appearances made it extremely strange. Its ears were wide like a lizards, and its eyes were unnecessarilyrge. Its arms and legs had long, hideous nails and ws. Honestly? Honestly. Youre ugly. Taesan answered. The being nodded as if it expected that response. I look terrible. Its inevitable due to the characteristics of the gremlin race. However, aside from me, all beings here are beautiful and lovely. It was evident just by looking at the fairies. Despite being incredibly cruel, those small beings were as beautiful as the ones in fairy tales. Unicorns, sea serpents, the Ras they all possess enchantingly beautiful forms. Yes, thats why they appear in fairy tales and are objects of human longing. But what about me? His face contorted. Ive been granted the mystery to stay on the 51st floor, but Im here all by myself looking like this. Im the only one who looks bizarre. The fairies always insult me for being ugly, and the sea serpent sends me looks of disdain indirectly. Its irritating. Crunch. The leaves crumbled in his fist. Do you think I wanted to look like this? What am I supposed to do about being born this way? Even if I create my territory and stay there, those fairy bratse to pick a fight almost every day. Just because Im ugly, just because I look terrible! He rose abruptly, unable to contain his anger. I am a being of mystery just like them! I should be a being that receives both the fear and longing of humans! The gremlin, spewing his distorted anger and jealousy, slumped back down. They persecute me because Im ugly. He smirked, revealing his crooked teeth. Then if I be beautiful and they turn ugly, I could persecute them, right? Yes, thats what Ill do. As the gremlin murmured, a quest appeared. [Sub-quest start] [The gremlin is a being of mystery. Although he has settled on the 51st floor, the residents here despise and belittle him due to his appearance. Angered by this, the gremlin wishes to be beautiful.] [Condition: Listen to the gremlin''s request.] [Reward: A method to clear the 51st floor. And treasures from the mysterious forest, as much as he is satisfied with.] Chapter 206: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (3) Chapter 206: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (3) Will you ept it? He red intensely as he spoke. Taesan nodded. Yes. If Lee Taeyeons words were true, breaking through the 51st floor required first clearing the quests given by the Gremlin. Although there might be other methods, this was the standard route, so there was no reason to refuse. [Subquest epted.] The Gremlin smirked. First, its about those damned fairy bastards. Theyre very proud of their wings. Tear them off and bring them to me. Thats brutal. They boasted to me first. Called me a lowly creature that crawls on the ground without wings. Told me to get out of their territory. I wonder what theyll say when their wings are torn off? The Gremlin chuckled and waved his hand. Go. Is there nothing in it for me? Taesan inquired about items or skills for clearing the quest, but the Gremlin responded indifferently. Why should I give you anything? You should figure it out on your own. He pointed at himself. I gave you a quest because I want something from you. This time, his finger pointed at Taesan. The rest is up to you. Bring it, and you get rewarded; fail, and you dont. Simple, right? What if I want to give up on the quest and go back? Then Ill send you back. The Gremlin spoke without showing any emotion. Im not forcing you. Whether you take my quest or leave the forest to go back, the choice is yours. The Gremlin didnt particrly hold onto Taesan. His attitude was as if whatever choice Taesan made, he would have to bear the responsibility. Youll send me back? Yes. If you want, I can send you back to the vige with a simple gesture. Will you do it? No. Taesan shook his head, thinking. So hes giving me a choice. He found it strange. The difficulty of the 51st floor had suddenly increased, yet there was an unseen city. And that city was filled with those who had given up. It all seemed unnatural to him. Having met the Gremlin personally, Taesan realized the reason. The 51st floor was a uniqueyer because it acted as a sort of filter. It determined whether one could proceed further or not. The vigers probably didnt give up right away. They kept receiving quests from the Gremlin, trying to break through the 51st floor. But all those attempts must have failed. And at some point, they must have realized that whaty ahead was not permitted for them, that no matter what, they couldnt proceed. They couldnt pass this filter. Thus, those whose spirits were broken stayed in the vige on the 51st floor, in the sanctuary created for them by a mage. The reason only those with broken spirits were in the vige was simple. Those who didnt break had either died trying to surpass the 51st floor or had passed the filter to head to the 52nd floor. Just like the hero, Quaned, and Lee Taeyeon did. Just tearing off the wings will do? Does it matter how many? The more, the better, but for now, bringing just one is fine. Taesan left the forest. He emerged from the monochromatic trees into a colorful forest, reminiscent of a rainbow garden. Then, the voices of the gold fairies were heard again. [He''s out.] [An interesting human hase out.] [Let''s y.] They giggled and scattered. Light flew towards him again. Taesan began to dodge. Pa-ba-ba-bak! The light pierced through the trees, and other trees started to take their ces. How did Lee Taeyeon do it? Fairies lost interest in attacking adventurers who survived their assaults and did not return for a long time. Lee Taeyeon realized this through several experiences and chose to keep the fairies interested. Like a clown, dancing and singing, expressing emotions vividly. Being an inherently emotional woman, her acting must have been convincing. Fascinated by such behavior, the fairies watched her. Perhaps because it was more amusing to watch than to y with, the fairies did not attack her. Thus, Lee Taeyeon continued her clown act. The fairies wariness of Lee Taeyeon faded, and they gradually came closer. This was the result of Lee Taeyeon acting like a clown for over a month. Once they were close enough, Lee Taeyeon suddenly rushed in and twisted a fairys neck. Perhaps her strategy was also one of the correct answers. However, Taesan had no intention of employing such a tactic. Kiiing. Having dodged all the light, Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Kuuuuung! A ck wave surged, trampling over the entire forest. The attacking fairies were seen in the distance. [Run away.] [Run away.] The fairies screamed briefly as they began to flee. They were too far away. A regr attack would not reach them. If not a physical attack Then it must be done differently. [You have activated eleration.] His body quickly soared towards the fairies. The screams of the fairies grew louder as they began to scatter. Taesan targeted the closest fairy. [You have activated emotional interference.] [Ah, ahh!] The fleeing fairy suddenly clutched its head and twisted its body. Taesan quickly closed the distance to the fairy that couldnt return to the forest fast enough. The fairy tried to stagger into the forest to hide, but it was toote. Taesans sword pierced through the fairy. Kihek! The fairys face twisted. Taesan mmed his sword into the ground. The fairy struggled a few times before finally slumping down. [Doesn''t it feel like you''ve be a viin?] A bit, yes. The fairy had a beautiful appearance, as if it belonged in a fairy tale. Killing such a creature with a sword did feel strange. Taesan tore off the fairys wings from the corpse. Having obtained what he wanted, he returned to the Gremlins territory. The Gremlin, who was blowing on his tea, saw Taesan and was dumbfounded. Already? Or did you give up? Here. Taesan handed over the fairys wings. The Gremlin, who received them absentmindedly, muttered, Right. How did you manage to bring them here so quickly? Even the fastest guy took a week. He looked puzzled. However, he soon attached the fairy wings to his back, his smile brimming withughter. How about this? It looks bizarre. The shining fairy wings on the Gremlins green body indeed looked very odd. Hmm. Maybe its because the sizes are different? I wish I had many fairy wings. What the Gremlin said next was predictable. Bring me more fairy wings. It would be difficult to bring more. The fairies had already been tricked by Taesan. It was likely they would be cautious and not show themselves. You dont need to worry about that. Ill take care of it. The Gremlin grinned. Fairy wings contain a special pheromone. It resonates with the pheromone of their kin, indicating each others locations. Bubbling. Something was boiling in a pot. The Gremlin threw the fairy wings into it. And if I process these He rummaged around and added various herbs and wood chips. And then add this. Finally, he put a ck piece into the pot. Hiss! The boiling mixture suddenly cooled down. Soon, only small crystals remained. The Gremlin pressed the crystals together. This should reveal the dwellings of the fairies. Is that why you said even one would do? Yes. Knowing the location requires only the wings of one fairy. [Mark made of Fairy Wings] [A mark created through advanced alchemy. It seems to be a guide to the fairies'' resting ce.] And since youre now a target for them, take this as well. The Gremlin scraped the remaining crystals, mixed them with something, and sprinkled the finished product over Taesans entire body. [You have obtained the Fairy''s Cloak of Invisibility.] [Fairy''s Cloak of Invisibility] [A cloak made of powder through advanced alchemy. It can erase your presence from the fairies'' detection range for a certain period. The forest will also not recognize you as a mysterious being, preventing it from reacting.] With this, you can reach their dwelling without any issues. Taesan quietly read the effects. Both were noted to be products of alchemy. Interest sparked in Taesans eyes. Can youbine things like herbs with alchemy? Yes, thats possible. Thats how I was able to establish my territory here and live. The Gremlin said with a proud face. Advanced alchemy offers a power different from magic. Its bothersome to prepare, but the effects are certain. The fact that I can endure persecution and live is also thanks to the power of alchemy. Just look at this forest; its my own territory created through alchemy. Indeed, upon entering the Gremlins forest, the environment stopped changing. It meant he used something to prevent external beings from entering. Those damn fairy bastards attacking with light from afar cant be helped, but at least the threat of dying like when you first entered is gone, so Im satisfied. Creating a territory, huh? Yes, I have other abilities, but thats the main one. If handled well, I can make this entire forest my territory. The Gremlin boasted. Taesan asked, Can I learn alchemy too? Alchemy. He was interested. Lee Taeyeon had received a blessing powder made from fairy wings as a reward for clearing the 51st floor from the Gremlin. Its effect was revolutionary: when sprinkled on the body, it allowed for indefinite use of mana without reduction for a certain period. Although he had never seen it used, since she had exhausted it while breaking through thebyrinth, the effect would be significantly meaningful for Taesan if it were real. It meant he could use the Frozen World numerous times in a row. Likely, that too was made through alchemy. Learning it would mean he could create such things not just as rewards but with his own power. And the design of territories. Its value might be ambiguous in thebyrinth, but on Earth, it was extremely high. Acquiring it would be a great help. You? Want to learn alchemy? Disgust surfaced on the Gremlins face, as if he were looking at someone trying to steal a treasure he had desperately guarded. This is something Ive built over my lifetime. Its my only hope, gathered to avoid living miserably with my kin. Thanks to it, I was able toe to thebyrinth and establish this ce. The Gremlin spread his arms. Look at this forest! Its nothing less than a treasure of alchemy. The scattered herbs are worth their weight in gold, and even a single tree root is something that appears once every few decades outside! His face, ecstatic as he shouted, suddenly contorted. I hated my kin. Lowly beings that crawl on the ground, barely surviving each day. Thats why I learned alchemy. By dedicating my life to it, I thought I had reached a position equal to theirs with the mystical power I gained, but nothing changed. To them, I was still just an ugly Gremlin. He chuckled. You want to learn alchemy? His eyes, filled with rage, turned to Taesan. Then kill them. And bring me what I desire. Depending on what you bring and what you do, my mind might change. Fine. Taesan had his answer. He turned to leave, and the Gremlin seemed surprised by the immediate eptance. Youre epting just like that? Why would I refuse? He was in for a perfect reward. Otherwise,ing all this way would lose its meaning. Just need to bring the fairy wings, right? Uh, yeah. The Gremlin stuttered his response. Taesan ran quickly through the forest. Thanks to the cloak made of powder, even entering the rainbow-colored forest didnt reveal the fairies. Taesan took out a bead to read the power waves and their direction. Swiftly, yet quietly, he approached the location. The forest didnt follow Taesan, allowing him to reach his destination faster than expected. There was a smallke. Numerous fairies were ying, sprinkling water over it. Among them, a fairy three times the size of the others was also present. [The Fairy Queen has appeared.] [The Fairy Queen. It seems like they''re out for a stroll, given thepany.] The ghost whispered softly. [She''s much stronger than the other fairies. Not a monster of the 51st floor.] This actually works out. The Gremlin had said his mind could change depending on what was brought. The wings of the queen would likely meet his expectations. Taesan quietly observed the fairies, beginning to devise a strategy for his approach. Chapter 207: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (4) Chapter 207: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (4) Taesan gazed at theke. There were at least eighty fairies, fluttering around their queen as if forming her escort. Theke, though not vast, was spacious enough. Should the fairies decide to flee, capturing them would be impossible. His objective was to capture all the fairies. Lee Taeyeon had also undertaken this quest, armed with the intent to collect fairy wings. However, she failed toplete the quest as required, returning only with wing fragments. The quests that followed saw her barely managing to collect fragments. This frustrated the gremlin. Dissatisfied with her performance, the gremlin awarded her a modest reward. This reward was a powder made from the fairy wing fragments. Despite its modesty, this powder was a remarkable item, capable of continuously restoring health and mana for a set period. What reward, then, would the gremlin offer for fulfilling its true desire? Taesan was not content with mere alchemy. The fairies could not be allowed to escape; they had to be captured. He reviewed his skills one by one, yet none seemed capable of capturing targets across such a broad area. Frozen World is also doubtful. It seemed unlikely the fairies could withstand it, but the queen posed a challenge. Frozen World instantly freezes everything in its vicinity, rather than acting as a barrier. Should they choose to flee, they could easily do so. What could prevent their escape? Twisted Soul Tuning. A skill that manipted and adjusted the soul. Could it bebined with Frozen World? He pondered briefly, but the conclusion was negative. Although his proficiency in Twisted Soul Tuning had significantly improved, its limitations were evident. Frozen World was an intermediate-level spell, demanding in terms of skill level. Attempting to infuse it with spirit, Taesan would be drained before the battle even began. A skill less demanding than Frozen World. And one capable of capturing. A particr skill came to mind for Taesan. Having made his decision, Taesan immediately began his preparations. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Myriad Souls].] The spirit of the divine took residence within Taesans body. A powerful aura seeped through the mantle of powder and dispersed. [Hmm?] [Strange.] [It''s weird.] At that moment The fairies sensed Taesans presence and hesitated. In response, Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Marbas''s False me.] mes erupted. Taesan focused his mind and took control of the me. The fire, originating from theke, rose like a barrier, encircling it. [It''s fire.] [It''s dangerous.] Caught off guard, the fairies were thrown into disarray, unsure of how to react. Even the Fairy Queens eyes wavered, betraying her panic. The first step wasplete. Now, it was time for the next. He infused the power of his soul into the fire barrier he had created. Instantly, he was overwhelmed by a wave of fatigue. This was a natural consequence of tightly binding the spirit to the false mes that now enveloped the entireke. But he could withstand it. During Aphrodias trial, his proficiency in Twisted Soul Tuning had significantly improved. Manipting the spirit became easier, and the strain lessened. This made it feasible to infuse spirit into such a vast skill, something that would have been unattainable before. Sigh. Taesan exhaled deeply. He had expended nearly all of his spirit to sessfully encase the false mes with spirit. [Let''s get out of here.] [Let''s make a path.] The fairies, realizing their predicament toote, attempted to infuse the mes with light. However, the false mes effortlessly consumed their light. [Move aside.] The Fairy Queen stepped forward. She raised her finger, and seven lights converged at its tip before shooting out as one. Keeeeeeng. Her power was on apletely different level from the other fairies. Yet, it failed to prate the false mes. The issue wasnt power, but rather a matter of levels. The Fairy Queens frown deepened. [Come out, insolent one.] Hello? Taesan revealed himself. The fairies, who seemed to have been the ones that attacked him, screamed and clung to the Fairy Queen. [A terrifying human.] [A human who has killed us.] The Fairy Queen sent a murderous nce. [Lowly human. Why do you attack us?] Its pretty cheeky for those who attacked first to say that. Taesanughed. The fairies hidden behind the Fairy Queen huddled even closer. The Fairy Queen scoffed. [That was a joke. A fairy''s joke. A human should ept it graciously.] Youre ying around. Taesan mocked the queens words. [Your Majesty.] The fairies whispered from behind the Fairy Queen. A smirk appeared on the Fairy Queens lips upon hearing their words. [So, you''ve epted that ugly and dirty request? That''s why you''vee to kill us. It suits a lowly human.] Cant you just shut up and fight? [You have activated Frost Arrow.] With a fed-up expression, Taesan manifested magic. The arrows of cold shot towards the fairies. [Despicable creature.] The Fairy Queen flicked her hand. Sparkling powders scattered and collided with the Frost Arrow. Ice formed and drifted like snow along with the powder. The Fairy Queen smiled smugly. [You may have created a curtain of dark magic to capture us, but it will be your noose.] The Fairy Queen wasnt wrong. Almost all of his soul energy had been consumed in creating the curtain of fire. It would be difficult to gain a significant advantage in battle using Apostle Transformation. Its not exactly going to strangle me. But it didnt matter. Even without it, he could win. [Go, my children.] Keeeng. Dozens of lights rushed in. Taesan rolled his foot with a smile. I have no intention of fighting with the riff-raff. [You have activated Frozen World.] The fake mes consumed magic power and soul. Mana was something entirely different. If spirit was added to Frozen World, it would be unbearable, which was why the fake mes were used. But using Frozen World alone posed no problem. Crackling! Extreme coldness strikes within the mes. The lights flying in freeze, extending to the fairies that shot them. [Ahhh!] [Your Majesty!] The fairies screamed as they froze. The Fairy Queen hastily gathered light. Keeeeeeng! A rainbow-colored light shoots out in all directions, breaking through the engulfing cold. The ice only prated halfway across theke. The Fairy Queen shouted in anger. [Human!] Blocked it? [You have activated Frozen World.] Crashing! The coldness striked again. The Fairy Queens face hardened. She gathered light again and shot it towards the iing cold. Crash! But the iing cold was too much and too massive. The unblocked cold started to invade. There, Taesan activated it once more. [You have activated Frozen World.] Crashing! The coldness amplified further. The Fairy Queen ground her teeth and flew into the sky. [Your Majesty!] [Save us!] The fairies struggled but were blocked by the wall of mes and had nowhere to run. They couldnt withstand the iing cold and all froze. Within the wall of mes, only Taesan and the Fairy Queen were moving. Not bad. Taesan turned off the barrier and whistled, he had leveled up by 2 for wiping out the fairies. While he enjoyed himself, the Fairy Queen shouted in anger. [How dare you! My children!] If they were so precious, you should have protected them with your life. Taesan spoke leisurely, but his eyes were colder than anyone elses. As expected, it doesnt work on those above a certain level. Frozen World was undoubtedly strong. Fitting the name of intermediate magic, very few could block it. But it was, after all, area-of-effect magic. It couldnt produce that much power against a single target. For someone like the Fairy Queen, who surpassed a certain level, blocking Frozen World was no issue. [Human.] A gaze zing with anger targeted Taesan. [I will kill you.] The Fairy Queen spread her wings, majestically attacking from the sky as if to judge the human. The powders from the wings scattered, shooting at Taesan like bullets. There were too many to block. Taesan raised a shield. Crackling! A dull impact was felt beyond the shield. Despite being very small powders, the impact felt like he was being hammered. Keeeng. A rainbow light lingered on the Fairy Queens fingertips. Taesan put away his shield and kicked off the ground. Dodging the iing rainbow light, he rushed towards the Fairy Queen. Then, the Fairy Queen flew even higher. [Lowly human. A creature that crawls on the ground. You cannot reach me.] Who says so? Taesan kicked off the trees around him. Stepping from tree to tree, he quickly approached the Fairy Queen. The Fairy Queen, with a sneer, raised her finger. [A creature that crawls on the ground trying to reach the sky.] Keeeng. A rainbow light was shot out in curving branches. The light that could not be avoided came from all directions. It was impossible to dodge in an unstable position from kicking off the trees. [Your first attack nullification has been activated.] The light was erased. The Fairy Queens eyes shook greatly. [What.] Taesan kicked off the trees and rushed even more towards the Fairy Queen. The Fairy Queen ground her teeth and flew higher. She ascended to a height that was absolutely unreachable. The Fairy Queen gathered light with an annoyed face. Taesan gave a final kick off thest tree and exerted his strength. [You have activated Leap.] Crack. The tree could not withstand the force and broke. Taesans body instantly flew towards the Fairy Queen. [Ugh.] The Fairy Queen swallowed her breath and moved her wings. Her body moved to the left, dodging Taesans attack. [You''ve made a decent effort, but this is it. A creature without wings can only fall when trying to fly in the sky.] Taesan, who had no wings, could not move in mid-air. Thats what the Fairy Queen thought. [You have activated Mid-Air Leap.] Taesan kicked off again. The Fairy Queen, gathering strength, found her neck grasped by Taesans hand. Lets y on the ground together. [You have activated Landing.] [Cough!] They crashed to the ground together, making a loud noise. The Fairy Queen gasped for breath. [Human!] Having crashed to the ground, the Fairy Queen burst out in rage. Rainbow light extended from her hands. Sparkling powders poured out like a storm, trying to engulf Taesan. Taesan, without even defending, stabbed his sword into the Fairy Queens chest. [How! Why are my attacks!] The Fairy Queen couldnt understand. Her attacks continued to be erased as they made contact with Taesan. Unaware that he possessed attack nullification, it was an impossible situation for her. Taesan grabbed her wings and exerted force. The wings were torn away. [Human!] She exploded in rage. Undoubtedly strong. Taesan could tell that an enemy of this level was not something youd typically encounter on the 51st floor. But it was the same for Taesan. Crack. Continuously stabbing his sword, he trampled over the Fairy Queens struggle. Soon, she coughed up blood and copsed. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have obtained the Fairy Queen''s wings.] His level increased by 4. It was an unprecedented level increase he hadnt experienced before. Certainly, the rewards from the 51st floor onward had changed. Both the quest rewards and the level increase were much higher than before. Good. Taesan collected the frozen fairies wings and headed back. Oh, oh oh oh! The gremlin waiting in front of his house greeted Taesan with a bright smile. So many! And even the damned queens! Good. Very good! Heughed out loud, hurriedly attaching the queens wings to his back. Fiddling with the wings with a dazed face, he shouted to Taesan. Keep doing this. If you do it till the end, Ill give you not just alchemy but also whatever you want. He said with bloodshot eyes. Next, locate the blue snake deep in the forest river. Tear off its scales and bring them to me. Chapter 208: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (5) Chapter 208: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (5) [Most beings tied here are twisted, but this one is especially so.] The ghost spoke to Taesan, who was searching for the river. [All who are bound here came seeking something. But I still don¡¯t understand the gremlin''s purpose.] A hero who sought revenge. Lilis who sought magic. Ainzhar who was searching for his god. Each had a clear and recognizable goal. However, the ghost could not discern why the gremlin hade to this ce. [They reject all others, immersing themselves in their own world, and desire to be like those who reside in the same ce, even if it means strangling themselves. They won¡¯tst long and will die, won¡¯t they?] There was no restriction against inhabitants of thebyrinth harming each other. For instance, Lilis felt fear and sensed death when she was forcibly moved to a room with an orc. This meant the residents of the 51st floor could very well kill the gremlin. [What exactly does it desire?] ¡°I think I know.¡± The ghost tilted its head at Taesan¡¯s response. [You know? The mind of that madman?] Even though the ghost had cleared the 51st floor and passed the gremlin¡¯s quest, it still didn¡¯t know what the gremlin desired. Taesan muttered. ¡°It¡¯s all about doing it right.¡± Lee Taeyeon. Having cleared the 51st floor, she had learned much about the gremlin. Because she had told Taesan everything in her previous life, Taesan knew why the gremlin hade to this ce. ¡°The gremlin¡¯s alchemy is exceptional, isn¡¯t it?¡± [Well... honestly, there¡¯s no one to match it. With the right materials and intent, it could survive even in the depths. That such a talent belongs to the gremlin, truly it¡¯s the end of days.] The ghost clicked its tongue, its voice subtly filled with contempt for the gremlin. [The gremlin is a lowest-tier monster without any particr intelligence. Worse than a goblin. That''s what makes it quite unique.] ¡°That¡¯s the problem.¡± The conversation came to an abrupt halt when they stumbled upon a vast, endless river. ¡°Is this the ce?¡± [You have activated the Searing Orb.] mes erupted one after another into the river, causing the temperature to boil fiercely in an instant. Kurururu. The water trembled, and soon, a massive being emerged. It was a snake, adorned with sky-blue, luminous scales. [A Blue Snake has appeared from the deep river.] [Human.] The snake flicked its tongue, ring at Taesan. [This is a sacred realm. Not a ce for humans like you to enter. Leave at once.] ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide.¡± Taesan drew his sword, causing the snake¡¯s pupils to narrow. [You hasten your own death!] Kuuuuung! The river surged violently in response to the snake¡¯s anger, threatening to engulf Taesan and break through the forest. [Sha Aaah!] The snake opened its mouth wide at Taesan, who countered with his sword. Kaaaang! With a loud noise, Taesan was pushed back. The snake had enough force to repel him in a direct confrontation. [You have activated Flow.] Dodging the snake¡¯s attack, Taesan swiftly moved his feet. [You have activated Frozen World.] Crackling sound! The overflowing river froze over instantly. The sudden chill unsettled the snake. [How can a mere human possess such power!] Taesan kicked off the ground and charged at the snake. A beautiful snake with sky-blue scales. Its power was immense, and its scales were so hard that the only way to attack was by targeting the reverse scale above its forehead. The snake, aware of this, did its best to protect its forehead. But to Taesan, that wasn¡¯t much of a concern. [You have activated Strong Blow.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Continuous Attack.] Putting force into his sword, Taesan struck the side of the snake. With a loud noise, the massive body of the snake staggered. [The Blue Snake from the deep river takes 503 damage.] [How, how!] The snake¡¯s defense was indeed solid, but only at the level of the 51st floor. Taesan¡¯s power, far surpassing it, could prate it. Kukukung! The snake thrashed about, devastating everything in its path. Taesan, avoiding the attack like a rapid current, thrust his sword into the snake¡¯s tail. [Shaaa!] The snake screamed. Taesan pulled out his sword, splitting the tail and sttering blue blood. [You, human!] Struggling, the snake flew into the river. Taesan followed into the river as well. [Foolish! This is my realm! Ugly terrestrial life cannot survive here!] Thinking it had an advantage, the snake bared its teeth again, but Taesan moved as if he¡¯s not resisting the water, with the same speed as onnd. Crack. [Kyak!] Forced action. And Breathless Attack. With these two skills, being underwater didn¡¯t pose a restriction. The snake desperately tries to survive but is ultimately crushed. Soon after, the snake dies. [Shaaa¡­¡­] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have obtained the Blue Scales of the Snake cradling the river.] The second quest was also cleared. Taesan returned to the gremlin with the scales. The gremlin couldn¡¯t contain hisughter. ¡°That arrogant snake! The one that mocked me every time I fetched water is dead, this beggar!¡± He hastily gathered the scales and the fairy wings together. ¡°With this, I can also be one of them! I¡¯ll be apanion too!¡± [Really?] The ghost smirked. The forest beings wouldn¡¯t like the gremlin who made them kill their own kind. But the gremlinughed. ¡°I¡¯ll be apanion. Because they mocked me for being a gremlin. And theyughed at my wretched appearance. So, when I be like them, they will ept me too.¡± [Madman.] The ghost shook its head as if it couldn¡¯t understand. Taesan, who had been quietly observing the gremlin, opened his mouth. ¡°Do you think they will ept you?¡± The gremlin¡¯s face, which had been smiling, hardened. ¡°You won¡¯t gain anything by doing so.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± The gremlin yelled loudly. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything! What I want! Why I¡¯m here! Why I give quests to you guys!¡± [Oh?] The ghost showed surprise. It had never seen the gremlin explode in anger like this before. It meant that something in Taesan¡¯s words had touched a nerve in the gremlin. The gremlin growled and swung its hand wildly. ¡°Just mind your own business and bring me the next quest. A leaf from a flower settled in deep green. Bring me that.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan willingly backed down. As he left, the gremlin sent aplicated look towards his back. [He reacts like that? It''s a first.] Taesan roamed the forest searching for the location the gremlin mentioned. There, a giant flower was emitting poison and encroaching in all directions. ¡°Rafflesia.¡± [You have activated Breathless Attack.] Taesan stopped his breathing. The Rafflesia moved its stem trying to capture Taesan. Crack. He moved his sword to cut all of it and consecutively activated the searing orb, hitting the Rafflesia. The petals of the Rafflesia began to scorch. The emitted poison became even denser. Not just affecting breathing, but now starting to affect the skin directly. Attack nullification wore off quickly, and health began to slowly decrease. Dragging this out would not be good. [You have activated Adventurer''s Will.] Taesan twisted his body to dodge the flying stems and deeply embedded his sword into the flower¡¯s core. [You have activated Critical Point.] [You have activated Wedge.] He activated Frozen World to hold the stems and harshly drove his sword into the designated critical part. [Rafflesia takes 4589 damage.] The body of the Rafflesia trembled. Taesan crushed the resistance and finished it off. [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have obtained the leaf from a flower nestled in deep green.] Hepleted the third quest at an astonishing pace. Through this series of quests, Taesan came to a realization. ¡°It¡¯s a sort of test.¡± The first quest: Suppress the fairy that attacked from a distance, beyond your reach. The second quest: Obtain scales from a snake moving in water, not on familiar terrain. The third quest: Win against an enemy that continuously inflicted harm just by breathing. Even if they couldn¡¯t defeat them like Taesan, obtaining scales or leaves meant they had to seed in their strategy. It meant strategizing against enemies in various environments, utilizing everything they had built up and the experiences they had gained so far. ¡°Why they stay in the vige, I now understand.¡± Lee Taeyeon also mentioned that it took her nearly a year to clear this ce. As Taesan began his journey back to the gremlin, he muttered, ¡°The Guides were in the vige.¡± [Did you notice?] ¡°There¡¯s no way they could survive here.¡± The Demon God said that the Guides of the 50th floor were waiting on the 51st. So, when Taesan first saw the vige and didn¡¯t find the guides, he assumed they were waiting for him in the forest. It was the optimal environment to target him. But having experienced the forest firsthand, Taesan realized, This was not a ce to hide. For adventurers of the 50th floor, even immediate survival was not guaranteed in such a ce. Meaning, they were hiding in the vige, waiting for Taesan to pass by. Why they were hiding, he didn¡¯t know, but it was something he could find out by going there himself. Upon his return, the gremlin didn¡¯t explode in anger as before. He simply gave aplicated look. ¡°¡­So you¡¯ve caught that damned nt too. Quite fast. Good. It¡¯s over. It¡¯s all over now.¡± ¡°Is it the unicorn now?¡± ¡°Yes. Just that damned beast left to catch, and it¡¯s done.¡± The gremlin said, handing over a small powder. ¡°Take this.¡± [You have obtained the Enchanting Powder of Temptation.] ¡°Sprinkle this on your body and roam the forest; then you¡¯ll be able to find the unicorn.¡± ¡°Do you know when it will show up?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. That beast is too whimsical. But it should be within a few days.¡± Taesan sprinkled the powder on himself. A rainbow hue began to envelop his entire body. ¡°It¡¯s too bright.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what it likes, so there¡¯s no helping it.¡± After handing everything over, the gremlin quietly watched him and then spoke. ¡°¡­You said you know why I came here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. The gremlin asked gloomily. ¡°Then tell me. What should I do? What must I do to achieve what I desire?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know that. But I can tell you this much. What you¡¯re doing now, you won¡¯t gain anything from it. You know that yourself, don¡¯t you?¡± Taesan¡¯s answer made the gremlin¡¯s pupils shake. The gremlin quietly closed his mouth and went inside the house. Taesan watched his back for a moment and then moved. It was thest quest, but there wasn¡¯t much to do. Just roaming around until finding the unicorn and following it was all that was left, so the purpose of going somewhere immediately disappeared. Thus, Taesan began searching for the ce Lee Taeyeon had mentioned. The ghost asked as Taesan meticulously inspected each tree. [Are you looking for the ce that woman mentioned?] ¡°If I find it, I can gain a significant advantage.¡± [Hmm¡­ Is there really such a ce? I passed through the 51st floor too but didn¡¯t know it existed. So, I thought there were no secret rooms here.] ¡°She wouldn¡¯t lie about it. I¡¯ve also seen actual evidence.¡± Lee Taeyeon said, ¡°The 51st floor. There¡¯s a very special secret room here.¡± And she said she obtained something quite good from it. And she had shown what she had obtained. [It seems worth searching for, but it will take quite some time.] ¡°I¡¯ll have to check one by one.¡± Taesan recalled the information Lee Taeyeon had mentioned. ¡®Two trees. They ovep each other, and their color is ash.¡¯ Taesan put strength into his legs and began to search the forest. [You have activated Mental eleration.] The scenery whizzed by all around him. Even though it was too fast for a thorough check, Taesan grasped it all. He discerned the appearance of passing trees, the location of bushes, every single detail. [Mental eleration proficiency has increased by 1%.] [Sympathy of the Eye proficiency has increased by 1%.] He kicked off again, observing everything that passed by like an afterimage. After moving for about 5 minutes, he found trees that matched the conditions. Two ash-colored trees were intertwined with each other. In the colorful forest, it was easy to pass by without noticing anything strange, but for Taesan, who knew how the trees were shaped, it was definitely out of ce. The ghost murmured in amazement. [There it is¡­ How did you find something like this?] ¡°I have a talent for this kind of thing.¡± It was Lee Taeyeon who had discovered the ruins of the Forgotten Goddess. She had a definite talent for discovering things hidden within confined spaces. Taesan touched the tree. He felt nothing. Knowing how to enter from what she had told him, Taesan exerted force with his hand. Mana drained out. Like a thirsty beast, the tree absorbed the mana, regaining its color, and returned to its original form. How much mana had it absorbed? The entangled trees separated from each other, creating a void. A transparent passage appeared there. Taesan stepped into it. [You have found the Secret Realm filled with the mysteries of the 51st floor.] [First Discovery Bonus: Mana + 50, Intelligence + 50] The secret room was very spacious. It was so wide that he could barely see the other end with his eyes. It was distinctlyrger than any secret room he had encountered before. [Sub-quest start] [This ce was created by a dragon that held mysteries as it traversed the enigmatic forest. The dragon wishes to bestow upon you a mystery for visiting this concealed ce.] [Requirement: Use the Fairy''s Wings to cross the chasm.] [Reward: Fairy''s Wings] [A dragon that held mysteries?] The ghost¡¯s voice was filled with astonishment. ¡°Do you know who it is?¡± [I haven''t seen it but have heard about it. It''s known to reside in the depths... But that thing created this ce?] ¡°Probably out of boredom.¡± Whether from boredom or some other purpose, there was a reward to be had. Taesan epted the quest and received a skill. [You have obtained the special activation skill [Fairy''s Wings [Temporary]]] [You have activated Fairy''s Wings [Temporary].] Rainbow-colored wings unfurled behind Taesan. He muttered in dissatisfaction at the vibrant colors. ¡°It¡¯s too bright.¡± [And you''reining about that? They''re giving you Fairy''s Wings?] The ghost let out a hollowugh. [Damn. I should have discovered this.] The ghost grumbled. This secret room was worth that much. No skill allowed for free flight in the air. Although he could potentially acquire it given the skill¡¯s acquisition condition, even Taesan had not managed to obtain it until now. So, during aerialbat, he had to rely on jumps, mid-air jumps,ndings, random blinks, and the like. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t respond, but it was extremely inconvenient and limiting. Even when facing the Fairy Queen, if she decided to flee and fly far away, there was no way to pursue her. Among the monsters, those capable of flight were numerous, leaving yers at a disadvantage against them. But Lee Taeyeon was different. With the Fairy¡¯s Wings, she immediately moved to engage any flying monster. There were times when Taesan dealt with the monsters on the ground, and Lee Taeyeon focused on those in the air. All of this was possible thanks to the Fairy¡¯s Wings she had obtained on the 51st floor. ¡°I have to get this.¡± Considering the ghost made no furtherment, it seemed that even descending to the depths wouldn¡¯t teach one the skill to float in the air. [It doesn''t seem free, though.] The secret room was spacious, with a destination far ahead. Yet, there was no way to reach it. An endless chasm stretched out before them. [First Quest.] [Use the Fairy''s Wings to cross the chasm and reach the next point.] Chapter 209: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (6) Chapter 209: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (6) Taesan pped his wings. With a strange sensation, his body floated slightly into the air. Before flying off the cliff, he needed to get used to this newly acquired sense. Taesan moved his body little by little with his wings. ¡°pping wings isn¡¯t the way to fly.¡± The wings were a kind of power source. By concentrating on the wings and gathering willpower, he could fly through the sky. ¡°It¡¯s tricky.¡± Taesan flew through the air by manipting his wings. However, his movements were awkward. It was like a child riding a bicycle for the first time, seemingly about to fall at any moment. [It''s the power of fairies. It''s different from magic or ck magic. It''s a power never meant for humans in the first ce. So, it would be hard to adapt.] Taesan exerted force on his wings. Suddenly, his body elerated forward. Taesan hastily nted his feet on the ground to avoid crashing into the wall due to the wings¡¯ movement.His body scraped against the ground as he made contact. Barelynding, Taesanughed. ¡°Can¡¯t use skills?¡± He tried to activatending, but it didn¡¯t work, so he had to move his feet manually. This meant there was a possibility that attack nullification wouldn¡¯t activate either. ¡°I need to adapt.¡± Taesan continued to manipte his wings. After repeated practice, he realized that the wings were somewhat simr to a sports car. If he moved slowly and carefully, control wasn¡¯t difficult. However, attempting to elerate beyond a certain speed suddenly made it hard to control. The problem was the sudden change in speed. [You have activated mental eleration.] He moved his wings again. The elerated mind made the movement of objects appear slower. The moment the wings tried to elerate beyond a certain speed, Taesan concentrated his mind. Boom! The direction changed. He continued to concentrate his mind to attempt to control the direction. He turned left before reaching the wall in front. Before hitting the wall to his left, he turned left again. After a series of movements, Taesan found himself back at his starting point. ¡°Is this good enough?¡± It wasn¡¯t entirely satisfactory, but it seemed sufficient to pass the current quest. Taesan spread his wings towards the endless abyss. Whoosh! His body soared through the sky. It wasn¡¯t a leap or an aerial jump. He was literally flying. p! He elerated with his wings. The distant destination grew closer. The moment the destination came into view, Taesan exerted strength into his wings. Boom! Suddenly, his body halted, and the air exploded around him. [First quest passed.] [Second quest.] [Use the fairy''s wings to cross the cliff and arrive at the next point.] Another cliff unfolded before Taesan. And on the cliff, a few walls were erected as if to challenge him. The 51st floor¡¯s hidden room. This ce, created by a dragon harboring mysteries, grants visitors fairy¡¯s wings. And to obtain the fairy¡¯s wings, one mustplete a series of quests. The one who cleared the most quests could obtain superior wings. ¡°Lee Taeyeon made it through the third stage.¡± Judging it impossible to proceed further, she stopped there. The wings Lee Taeyeon obtained allowed unlimited flight distance andsted for one hour. It was quite an achievement for just the third stage. Taesan kicked off the ground. He spread his wings and flew across the abyss. The moment he was about to collide with a wall blocking the way, he changed direction and passed by the wall. Then, another wall hidden behind it came into view. Taesan quickly maneuvered his wings to descend below the wall. Then he surged upwards. Taesannded at the next destination. ¡°This isn¡¯t so hard.¡± [Second quest passed.] [Third quest.] [Use the fairy''s wings to cross the abyss and arrive at the next point.] Taesan gazed at the next abyss. There was nothing there. It seemed as though he could simply fly across like the first abyss. But that couldn¡¯t be all there was to it. Taesan concentrated his mind and kicked off. Thud. He spread his wings and soared at high speed to the next point. As he flew, something began to hurtle towards Taesan. He narrowly twisted his body. ¡°Arrows?¡± They were incredibly fast, making them difficult for Taesan to dodge. Whiz! With the sound of the air splitting, several arrows shot at him simultaneously. Taesan quickly changed direction. Then, arrows targeted the new direction Taesan had moved to. Dodging those, yet another volley of arrows wasunched at him. Taesan realized that the arrows were fired whenever he moved. This meant he had to continuously change direction to dodge the arrows and reach his destination. ¡°This is tough.¡± Taesan focused. His wings, like a supercar, elerated beyond a certain speed, making them challenging to control. Taesan nned to use that to his advantage. Boom! Instantly, his wings spread, and his body surged forward. As he elerated, arrows wereunched at him. Taesan twisted his direction and shot upwards. Just before reaching the ceiling, he dashed forward. Whiz! Taesan turned left like a jet, evading the iing arrows. He moved in a straight line, not a curve. It was a decision to not control the explosive eleration but to change direction and move forward, and it worked well. The flying arrows missed Taesan and vanished into the distance. Thud. Taesan arrived at his destination. [Third quest passed.] [Fourth quest.] [Use the fairy''s wings to cross the abyss and arrive at the next point.] Taesan looked towards the abyss on the other side. Like the previous abysses, it appeared empty. But anyone who hade this far would know better. Invisible dangers lurked. Lee Taeyeon had given up here. She nearly perished at the third abyss. Barely surviving, she concluded that proceeding further would be too risky. He intended to find out whether that was true or not. He flew towards the abyss. The moment he lifted off the ground, a massive sound echoed from behind. It was the sound of something scraping and approaching. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°Damn.¡± Whoosh! He elerated. A chilling sensation rapidly followed from behind. He nced back briefly. A massive wall was charging at him as if to crush him. Crash! And then, giant boulders began to curve through the air from the front, with arrows also interspersed, targeting Taesan. ¡°I made the right choice.¡± If Lee Taeyeon had been greedy, she would have died here. Taesan moved. Like in the third quest, he dodged the projectiles in straight movements, but as his movements were abruptly stopped, the wall was quickly closing in on him. He needed to minimize the loss of movement. Taesan elerated after calcting the trajectory and the number of iing projectiles. He dashed forward, not to the left or right, but straight ahead. Rumble! He narrowly dodged the flying boulders. In cases where he couldn¡¯t avoid them, he raised his arms to protect his body. Crack! [You have taken 2503 damage.] The room sealed off skills, so attack nullification did not trigger. He minimized the damage as he advanced and became even more adept at maneuvering the wings. Boom! He narrowly dodged the barrage of iing boulders. The chasing wall was almost clinging to his back. He exerted force on his wings as if they would tear. Instantly, he elerated to a speed that the projectiles couldn¡¯t follow andnded at the destination. ¡°Sigh.¡± [Fourth quest passed.] [Fifth quest.] [Use the fairy''s wings to defeat the enemy above the abyss.] Taesan shook his arms. He took some damage, but it wasn¡¯t significant. As described by the quest, a small dragon floating in the air was present in the next abyss. Taesan immediately kicked off the ground. The dragon charged at him with a shriek. [Shaaaa!] Crash! The dragon wasn¡¯t strong. It posed no threat to an ordinary adventurer on the 51st floor, let alone to the current Taesan. The intent seemed to be to properly utilize the wings he had adapted to so far in order to defeat the enemy. Taesan fully embraced that intent. Instead of defeating the dragon immediately, he focused on bing more ustomed to the movements of his wings. As the battle progressed, Taesan¡¯s movements grew smoother. Crack. Deciding there was nothing more to gain, Taesan defeated the dragon. [Quest passed.] [You have obtained the special activation skill [Perfect Fairy''s Wings].] Taesannded and examined the skill. [Special Activation Skill: Perfect Fairy''s Wings] [Mana Consumption: 50] [Proficiency: 15%] [Perfect Fairy''s Wings. They can be used indefinitely by the user and have no distance limit. It seems that for now, they can only make linear movements.] ¡°Wow.¡± A smile formed on Taesan¡¯s lips. He had hoped, but by clearing the 5th stage, he had indeed obtained wings with no limit in distance and duration. The proficiency was high from the start, likely because it was honed while clearing quests. As the proficiency increased, the movement of the wings would be freer, and eventually, as Lee Taeyeon did, he would be able to move freely. Satisfied with his reward, Taesan stepped outside. [You have activated Perfect Fairy''s Wings.] The wings unfurled. Taesan crossed the forest directly. It was slightly slower than running, but the difference was negligible. Now, there was only one thing left: finding the unicorn. Taesan began to survey the entire forest. As the gremlin had said, the unicorn did not easily reveal itself. He had roamed the forest for nearly two days without being able to pinpoint its location. Since it was the final quest, Taesan judged it wouldn¡¯t be easy and silently continued his search through the forest. And after another day, he finally found the unicorn. A small spring of blue light. There, a horse with a white horn was drinking water. [The unicorn has appeared.] The unicorn, which was drinking water for a moment, suddenly raised its head. And then it looked exactly at where Taesan was. [Neigh!] The unicorn shrieked and began to run away. Taesan frowned as the unicorn disappeared quickly. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± This was different from the story. Not wanting to let it go easily, Taesan quickly started to chase after it. [Neigh!] The unicorn shrieked. White light from its horn spread through the forest, and at the same time, a rain of light began to fall from the sky. Taesan activated a white rune shield to block it and followed. ¡°Running away?¡± [Of course, it would run away. Did you think it would just get caught quietly?] ¡°That¡¯s what I heard.¡± Lee Taeyeon had said the unicorn was the easiest. It appeared in front of her on its own, not running away but lingering around, allowing her to catch it quickly. However, the unicorn in front of Taesan seemed to have no intention of getting caught. [Neigh!] It seemed to mock Taesan for following it. [Ah¡­ that''s because.] The ghost spoke reluctantly. [That''s because it''s a unicorn.] Taesan chuckled. ¡°Is that so?¡± [Unless it''s that case, it''ll be tough. It took me a whole week just to catch it.] It seemed it wouldn¡¯t be as easy to catch as he thought, but it didn¡¯t matter. [You have activated Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] Crack! The lightning pierced through the unicorn. The unicorn¡¯s body momentarily flinched. [Neigh, Neigh!] The unicorn screamed and shook its horn. The power emanating from the horn affected Taesan¡¯s body. [You have been affected by Slow. All actions are slowed.] [You have activated the Adventurer''s Will.] He dispelled the abnormal state and charges towards the unicorn. The unicorn, terrified, increased its speed even more. [You have activated Decarabia''s Distorted Vegetation.] Roar! Roots rose and advanced. The unicorn began to get blocked by the path. The unicorn charged with its horn to create a path while shrieking. [Neigh!] The cry spread throughout the forest. Soon, the trees rose and started to block Taesan¡¯s path. Taesan simply ran through. [You have activated Forced Duel.] Thud! The trees blocking Taesan¡¯s path bounced off upon collision. [You have activated The Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] [You have activated A Small Spark.] The wind carried the mes, spreading them in all directions. The forest burned, and the ces where the unicorn could hide gradually disappeared. The unicorn neighed and kicked off the ground. [Neigh!] The unicorn, flying high into the sky, started tough towards the ground, knowing that the human, Taesan, couldn¡¯t reach it. [You have activated Perfect Fairy''s Wings.] Wings spread from Taesan¡¯s back. He rushed towards the sky. The unicorn, rmed by the sight of the approaching Taesan, twisted its body. Taesan also maneuvered his wings to pursue the unicorn. [You have activated eleration.] The body elerated again in the sky. Although the unicorn increased its speed, it started to get closer. Realizing it couldn¡¯t escape, the unicorn suddenly started to move freely in the sky. Since Taesan could only move in straight lines, he kept missing. [Neigh!] Then the unicorn mocked Taesan again. Taesan activated his skill expressionlessly. [You have activated Particle Diffusion.] [You have activated Frost Arrow.] [You have activated Tracking.] Numerous ice arrows and grains flew simultaneously towards the unicorn. The mocking unicorn panicked and started to dodge. Having to dodge both Taesan and the pursuing attacks made its movements increasingly erratic. And the unicorn ended up in the ce Taesan wanted. Taesan didn¡¯t miss the moment. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan moved right above the unicorn. While pursuing the unicorn through the air, he strategically cornered it, guiding the creature to a predetermined location. Taesan seized the unicorn by the neck. In a state of panic, the unicorn attempted to flee, but Taesan firmly nted his foot on it, preventing its escape. Crash! They plummeted to the ground, forming a crater upon impact. Taesan delivered the final blow. [You have triumphed over the unicorn.] [Your level has increased.] [Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have acquired the White Horn of the Unicorn.] [Questpleted. Return to the gremlin, who will reward you and direct you to the 52nd floor.] Chapter 210: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (7) Chapter 210: 51st Floor, The Forest Of Mystical Things (7) Havingpleted the quest, Taesan returned to the territory of the gremlin. The forest on the way back was eerily quiet. It was natural, considering Taesan had killed them all. Those who survived were holding their breath, waiting for Taesan to pass by. All the while, they harbored hatred for him and the gremlin. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± The gremlin was waiting silently outside his house. Taesan handed him the white horn of a unicorn. ¡°Ha, haha. You really brought it¡­¡± He fiddled with the white horn,ughing dryly. ¡°With the things you¡¯ve brought¡­ I can finally achieve what I wanted.¡± He gripped the horn tightly.¡°First, I must give you a reward. Take this. It¡¯s the power I¡¯ve gained over a lifetime.¡± [You have learned basic alchemy.] ¡°Find out how to use it yourself. I have no intention of teaching you that.¡± Taesan nodded. The gremlin continued speaking while fiddling with the horn. ¡°And¡­ since you¡¯ve perfectly brought what I wanted, I must give you more rewards. Tell me, what do you want? I assume you¡¯d want the wings of a fairy.¡± ¡°Can you really give me that?¡± Wings of a fairy that allowed free flight through the air. Certainly, it would be a great advantage for an adventurer. The gremlin nodded. ¡°That¡¯s alchemy. It requires a lot of materials, but with the ingredients you¡¯ve brought, it should be enough.¡± ¡°Appealing, but¡­ I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯ve already obtained it.¡± ¡°Already?¡± The gremlin, initially puzzled, then showed realization. ¡°Is it from that ce created by the dragon¡­¡± ¡°Yes. So, I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± ¡°Well.¡± Currently, as he was breaking through the floors, there wasn¡¯t anything inconvenient enough to specifically ask for. The only aerialbat issue had been resolved by obtaining the fairy wings. After a moment of thought, Taesan spoke. ¡°It would be nice if you could increase my attack or defense power. Is that possible?¡± His current attack power was already high. However, most of the beings he faced were from the lower floors, so the reduction in damage due to their defense power was significant. Taesan wanted to solve that problem. The gremlin stroked his chin at Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°Attack power¡­ it¡¯s not impossible.¡± ¡°You mean it¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°But if so, it will be made as equipment. Which part do you want?¡± ¡°A ring.¡± Taesan answered immediately. The gremlin went inside as if he had expected that answer. ¡°Follow me.¡± Taesan followed him inside. The interior was as barren as before, with only a few pieces of furniture necessary for living and alchemy tools visible everywhere else. ¡°Give me one of your rings.¡± Taesan took out a ring. [Ring of Deep Scars] [Attack Power +20] [A ring engraved with an indescribable scar. The aura of its owner, who engraved the scar, curses all that approach.] It was a ring he had used for a very long time. It might be a useless ring for others, but for Taesan, it has been very useful. The gremlin looked at the ring with a puzzled expression. ¡°The ring¡¯s intrinsic value isn¡¯t bad, but it seems utterly useless.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve met Ainzhar.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ that nasty old man. I see.¡± The gremlin epted the ring, nodding in understanding. He ced the ring on a cluttered table. ¡°Alchemy is the art of mixing materials together to create something of great value.¡± He started sprinkling something onto the ring one by one. ¡°However, unlike magic, alchemy isn¡¯t a safe art. It¡¯s unstable and seeks that instability. Strong materials mix and sh, and the power generated from their reaction is what¡¯s captured in the ring.¡± He sprinkled white powder, then green powder. The powders collided, generating heat that melted the ring. The gremlin continued his work. Taesan watched the iprehensible process repeat. About ten minutester, the gremlin sprayed a blue liquid towards the melting ring. And quickly ducked under the table. Boom! The moment the liquid met the sparks, an explosion urred. It was a massive explosion that could have blown away everything inside the house. Debris hit the walls and fell. Only the table, seemingly treated with something, firmly remained in ce. Chiiiik. After the explosion, the ring reappeared, now imbued with the powders. The gremlin peeked out and picked up the ring. ¡°It turned out well. Take it.¡± [Ring of Deep Scars Refined by Alchemy] [Attack Power +150] [A ring engraved with an indescribable scar. The aura of its owner, who engraved the scar, curses all that approach. Petals that engulf everything and living fog havebined with the water from the explosion.] The attack power had increased by an astonishing 130. Taesan was taken aback by the unexpected change. Looking intently at the ring, the gremlin shook his head. ¡°Just in case you¡¯re wondering, you won¡¯t be able to achieve this level if you tried now. Even a slight mistake in the process can lead to failure, and the equipment itself could be destroyed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s tricky.¡± But it also meant that if one could improve their skill, such transformations were possible. ¡°If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. From now on, you figure it out.¡± He rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a few gray pouches. ¡°Take these too.¡± [You have received five pouches of Blessed Powder made from Fairy Wings.] [Blessed Powder made from Fairy Wings] [Continuously recovers health and mana for a certain period. The recovery speed is quite fast.] The effect was simr to what Lee Taeyeon had received, but even better. With five pouches, it looked like they could be very useful in dangerous situations. Taesan epted the powder. The gremlin then handed him apass. ¡°Thispass will guide you to the path to the 52nd floor.¡± Then he started to tidy up. ¡°Now go. I have no more business with you.¡± Taesan, holding thepass, asked. ¡°Do you really think you can be satisfied with that?¡± ¡°I¡¯vee this far.¡± The gremlin smiled, though it was more of a sob than a smile. ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t back down.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan left without saying anything more. Left alone, the gremlin stared nkly at the room before starting to tidy up. Then, he began throwing ingredients into a bubbling cauldron one by one. Lastly, when he added the unicorn horn, thick smoke spread out from the pot. When the smoke cleared, powders stuck to the bottom were visible. The gremlin scraped together the powder. ¡°I am¡­¡± He closed his mouth. ¡®I am.¡¯ Sometimes, he thought that. If he hadn¡¯t possessed a self. If he had a mind worse than animals, like his kin. Maybe then, he could have been happier. Gremlins. An ugly race living in the sewers, unable to properly use tools, monsters among countless others. Among them, he was the only one with intelligence. It was despair in itself. Moreover, being inherently small, he was subjected to the contempt and violence of his kin. Monsters are less than animals. And animals, when survival bes difficult, kill their weakest offspring first. The gremlin barely escaped from his kin and parents trying to eat him. Entering deep into the forest, the gremlin was determined. To abandon the gremlin race. To acquire abilities and live among other races worthy of his intelligence. Entering the boundary of magic, he worked desperately in the forest alone, gathering ingredients and nurturing his strength without anyone¡¯s help. As a result, he obtained alchemy skills unmatched by anyone else. Pleased with his achievements, he ventured out of the forest. With his current self, he could be like humans. He diligently read books left behind by humans in the forest, learning theirnguage and writing. Since he couldmunicate, he could be of help to them and live together. He believed that. Until the first human he met was amazed by a talking gremlin and threw him behind bars. He became a circus animal. He shouted desperately, iming he could use alchemy, that he could be of help to them, that they could be together. But no one listened to his words. They were merely amazed that a gremlin could speak. That¡¯s when the gremlin realized it didn¡¯t matter what he learned or had. Even with whatever power he possessed, he was still just a worthless monster. The same was true when he was released by a group known as the Monster Liberation Group. They regarded the gremlin with curiosity, not as a sentient being. He returned to the forest. And he delved madly into alchemy, gathering information until he discovered the existence of thebyrinth. The Labyrinth. A ce where all the world¡¯s mysteries converged. The gremlin was excited. There, he believed his existence could be epted. He believed he could converse as an equal with others. And so, he entered the Labyrinth. But in the Labyrinth, he remained just a gremlin. Mystical, beautiful beings still scorned him. ¡°It¡¯s the gremlin that¡¯s the problem.¡± He sobbed. No matter his achievements or aplishments, no one recognized him. No one epted him. No one befriended him. He was alone his entire life. Driven to madness, he made a decision. Then it would suffice to no longer be a gremlin. To be like them. He looked at the clumped powder with dangerous eyes. This was the end. Whichever way it went. Picking up the powder, he staggered out. The gremlin headed deep into the forest. [It looked dangerous.] ¡°It¡¯s his own choice. I have no right to stop him.¡± Lee Taeyeon had said this while expressing regret. She wanted to help. But she couldn¡¯t. But Taesan couldn¡¯t stop him either. Whatever he said, the gremlin would react just as he did with Lee Taeyeon. Whatever the oue, it was the gremlin¡¯s own choice. As Taesan returned to the vige, he collected various medicinal herbs and flowers from the forest. Perhaps because he had learned alchemy, he noticed things he hadn¡¯t before. [Flower Bearing Blue Blood] [It carries the aura of cold mes. Its repulsion is strong, making harmony difficult.] [Root Hidden Deep] [It carries the aura of solid earth. Its repulsion is weak, making harmony easier. It easilybines with specific attributes.] ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± Just phrases that were hard to understand. The ghost didn¡¯t seem to know much about alchemy either. [Alchemy. I''ve only heard of it, never seen anyone but the gremlin use it. Learning the basics must be quite hard, right?] ¡°It¡¯ll be difficult alone.¡± Doing it alone seemed like it would require staying in the forest for at least a month unless someone helped. Taesan, after collecting materials, arrived at the vige. At the entrance to the vige, Darien was waiting. His face visibly brightened upon seeing Taesan. A vastly different expression from theirst encounter. ¡°You¡¯re back? How did it go?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason for me toe here anymore.¡± ¡°Did you, did you pass?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Darien¡¯s eyes wavered, but he forced a smile onto his lips. ¡°Congrattions! I knew you could do it!¡± Taesan looked at Darien pensively. ¡°What do you want?¡± Thest time he left, Darien had hurled insults at him. There was no reason to treat him warmly now. ¡°No, I feel sorry for speaking too harshly before. You risked your life to get here, and I didn¡¯t even properly congratte you.¡± He grabbed Taesan¡¯s arm and pulled him into the vige. ¡°Come on in. I¡¯ll celebrate for you.¡± Taesan looked at him expressionlessly. Anxiety showed on Darien¡¯s face. He took a step. Seeing Taesan follow, Darien¡¯s expression brightened. The moment Taesan stepped into the vige, he could feel a chill sensation brushing through him. A force he hadn¡¯t felt before. It was emanating from the bottom of the vige. ¡°Finally ready, then.¡± Taesan muttered. He had thought the Guides would be waiting in the forest. But the forest was a ce they couldn¡¯t live. Meaning, as he passed through the vige, the Guides were inside, quietly waiting for him to pass by, for some reason. ¡°I hope it¡¯s not disappointing.¡± Taesan entered the vige. Chapter 211: 51st Floor, The Wolf That Brought Destruction To The World (1) Chapter 211: 51st Floor, The Wolf That Brought Destruction To The World (1) ¡°It¡¯s already toote.¡± The force emanating from beneath the vige had grown very dense and strong since he had left. Even now, no matter what he did, he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them. So, his first thought was to enjoy it. To see what they had prepared and with what they intended to catch him. Darien led him to the vige tavern. There, adventurers with awkward faces greeted him. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Nice to meet you!¡± They approached Taesan. It was acting so poor that even a three-year-old child wouldn¡¯t be fooled. Taesan barely suppressed a chuckle as he epted their hospitality. ¡°Look. We¡¯ve prepared something special with great care.¡±They brought out the dishes. The food was quite plentiful: roasted chicken legs, a well-prepared vegetable sd, etc. All were foods he hadn¡¯t seen on his way through before. Taesan sat down at a tableden with dishes. Darien urged him with a smile. ¡°Go on, eat up!¡± Taesan started with the sd, chewing thoughtfully. Ptooey. And then he spat it out. ¡°Poison? Not a strong one, though. A slow-acting poison, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, this kind of poison won¡¯t work on me.¡± Darien¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°You noticed.¡± ¡°I thought about pretending to be fooled a bit longer, but the acting was so bad it was embarrassing.¡± Taesan ced his hand on the table. As he exerted force, the table shattered, and the dishes crashed to the ground. ¡°Were thesevish dishes also part of the deal you made with the Guides?¡± Lee Taeyeon hadn¡¯t mentioned thevish dishes. These people wouldn¡¯t have hunted the monsters themselves. It must be one of the things given by the Guides as part of their cooperation. ¡°You¡¯re nothing!¡± Darien shouted angrily. ¡°Even if it¡¯s the 51st floor, it¡¯s just the middle of thebyrinth! It¡¯s nothing! The moment you defied the Guides, you were dead!¡± ¡°Them? Kill me?¡± Taesan sneered. Darien drew his sword with zing eyes. ¡°Just die quietly!¡± Boom. They all charged at once. A woman drew a dagger, and a sturdy knight swung his greatsword. Taesan rolled his foot. He grabbed the greatsword, twisted it out of the way, kicked the owner of the dagger, and narrowly avoided the swinging sword to strike down with his own. Crash! ¡°Cough!¡± ¡°Aaack!¡± In a single breath, all five of them wereid out. Their faces flushed with anger as they rushed in, then halted abruptly. ¡°Uh, what?¡± ¡°Why is this?¡± ¡°It seems you thought I was simr to you guys, having just cleared the 51st floor. That¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± He could handle dozens of them rushing at him without any trouble now. ¡°Indeed. If you knew, you wouldn¡¯t have epted the Guides¡¯ offer for such meager rewards. Did you really want me dead that much?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Shut up!¡± Provoked by the mocking words, Darien charged with a shout. Taesan easily dodged the wildly swung sword and grabbed Darien¡¯s neck. Crash! ¡°Cough!¡± The tavern floor copsed, and Darien was smashed into the ground. ¡°I¡¯d like to y more, but it seems I don¡¯t have the luxury. So let¡¯s end this quickly.¡± [You have activated Addition.] It was one against many. However, a one-sided battle began. Taesan quickly started dealing with them one by one. Despite their resistance, forced duel, overwhelming stats, and dealing with skills they couldn¡¯t even imagine, they had no choice but to die one by one. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± They started to scream and run away. It was unbelievable that these were the people who once risked their lives to descend into thebyrinth. It meant their spirits had beenpletely worn down by time. Crack. [Your level has increased.] He had only taken care of about ten people. However, instead of chasing the fleeing ones, Taesan began to prepare for battle. Rumble! The ground began to crack open. A massive presence began to emanate from that ce. A presence that could lead the weak to death merely by existing. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°They¡¯re serious.¡± [Uh... what is that?] Crackling! The ground copsed, and the heartbroken ones screamed, scrambling away. [Howl!] Rumble! The ground exploded, revealing itself with a cry. It was aze. Surrounded by zing mes, the fire scattered high temperatures in all directions. The moisture in the air evaporated instantly, drying up the mouth. Unfortunately for those nearby, the heat drained their strength, forcing them to flee desperately. [Howl!] It cried out with the mouth of a beast. [The fragment of the wolf that brought destruction to the world has appeared.] ¡°A wolf?¡± A monster, in the shape of a wolf, was burning. Naturally, its size was immense,rger than a typicalmercial building. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Several figures screamed and leaped out from the cracked ground. They were not the heartbroken ones but Guides of Sin. Realizing this, Taesan quickly moved and captured one of them. ¡°Th-thank¡­ ¡­¡­¡± ¡°No need to thank me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­You!¡± The face of the one who recognized Taesan¡¯s identity paled. Taesan pressed down on him and asked. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± The aura being emitted. The sensed level of the soul. Taesan couldn¡¯t easily guarantee his victory against this being. Clearly, it was not a monster that should be emerging from the 51st floor. The subdued figure began to speak with a defeated expression, as if resigning to his fate. ¡°¡­¡­We cannot defeat you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s obvious.¡± Quaned, capable of taking down everyone even beyond the 50th floor, also died by his hand. And Taesan had be much stronger since then. No matter what they did, they couldn¡¯t beat him. That was a fact known to Taesan, them, and even their leadership. ¡°So, the leadership didn¡¯t support us at all. They probably n to have Guides from a deeper hierarchy deal with you. But we didn¡¯t want to disappear like that.¡± ¡°So, you called that thing?¡± ¡°¡­¡­One of us had it. Mentioning it got the leadership to agree to support us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not really important.¡± Their circumstances were none of his business. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s a fragment of the wolf that brought destruction to the world.¡± He bit his lip. ¡°One of us came from a destroyed world. His world was destroyed by a burning wolf. In thest moment, heroes gathered and managed to defeat the wolf, but the world was already burnt to ruins. Before leaving his doomed world, he found the wolf¡¯s corpse and took its fragment.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s what it is.¡± A wolf that burned everything merely by existing. Even as a mere fragment, it seemed to possess part of the power that destroyed that world. ¡°That damned fool. He was so confident he could control it, but as soon as he summoned it, he was devoured¡­¡­ It seemed their n had gone terribly wrong. Gaining the answer to what he was curious about, Taesan drew his sword. ¡°Farewell.¡± Crack. The Guide closed his eyes with a forlorn expression. A Guide from the 50th floor. Outside, he must have been praised as one of the best. Such autonomy, yet such a futile death. Taesan looked at the wolf. [Grrrrr......] The wolf was confused. It was born to bring destruction to the world. That had been its mission since creation, the only purpose it had lived for. Thus, when the time came, the wolf arose and brought destruction to the world. Even though it died in the end, the wolf was satisfied that it had fulfilled its mission. But suddenly, it found itself in a strange ce. And with only a fraction of its former power. [Growl.] The wolf¡¯s pupils dimmed. Much had changed, but nothing was different. Its mission was the destruction of the world. So, it would just have to destroy this world. The wolf, assessing its surroundings, instinctively looked at Taesan. That being was the most threatening thing here¡­ One who could kill it. As soon as it realized, the wolf howled. [Howl!] ¡°Aaaah!¡± Those hiding behind buildings clutched their ears. Unable to withstand it, they vomited blood. Taesan also felt a tingling sensation that shook both his mind and body. With its howling, the wolf¡¯s presence grew evenrger. And along with it, the wolf¡¯s zing mes also intensified their heat. ¡°Uh, ugh.¡± ¡°Save me¡­¡­¡± The vige began to catch fire. Not only did the heat dry out their lips, but it also started to burn their flesh. The barely surviving adventurers began to die one by one. And even Taesan couldn¡¯t remain unscathed by the heat. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] [You have taken 205 damage.] [You have taken 207 damage.] Attack nullifications were quickly depleted, and continuous damage started to pour in at an rming rate. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to use this so soon.¡± Taesan took out the fairy dust given by the Gremlin from his inventory and sprinkled it on his body. [You have used the blessing powder made from fairy wings. Your health and mana will continuously recover for a certain period.] After using the powder, he noticed a significant decrease in the loss of health. Although it was still gradually decreasing, it was not to an extent that would meaningfully affect thebat. The ghost exhaled sharply. [You even summoned that thing. It must have been a close call even in the presence of the Demon God.] ¡°What exactly is it?¡± [I told you before, didn''t I? My world was destroyed by a Demon King.] ¡°Right.¡± [That thing is simr. It exists only to bring destruction to the world. It seems to only have a fragment of that power but... it''s not a weak monster.] A monster on par with a Demon King. ¡°I¡¯vee a long way.¡± Taesan chuckled and prepared for the battle. [The opponent is an unbeatable enemy.] [Desire for Battle has been activated.] [A Fair Fight has been activated.] [Limit of Naming has been activated.] [Giant Killer has been activated.] [You have activated Disdain for the Strong.] As everything about Taesan was enhanced, the wolf¡¯s wary gaze intensified. The wolf howled. [Choking!] The howling overwhelmed Taesan. He rolled his feet to shake it off. Then the wolf kicked off. Despite its size, it moved at an incredible speed towards Taesan. Taesan raised his sword to meet the wolf¡¯s w, which was as big as his own torso. Crash! He barely managed to hold his knees from buckling. Taesan realized the wolf possessed much stronger power than him. The wolf moved its other foot, and Taesan kicked off the ground to dodge it. system_end [Krrrkk!] The wolf howled again. A series of me spheres burst forth from its open maw. ¡°What, does it think it¡¯s a dragon?¡± Taesan muttered. The spheres of me were quiterge and numerous, making them tricky to dodge. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] Flutter! Fairy wings sprouted from Taesan¡¯s back. His body elerated into the sky, dodging the iing me spheres. From the air, Taesan activated a skill. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Frost Arrows continued to activate. Dozens, then hundreds of Frost Arrows materialized above Taesan, beginning to converge. A giant ice meteor formed. ¡°If it¡¯s a me wolf, it should be weak against ice.¡± Taesan lowered his hand. The ice meteor, freezing everything around it, began to fall towards the wolf. Chapter 212: 51st Floor, The Wolf That Brought Destruction To The World (2) Chapter 212: 51st Floor, The Wolf That Brought Destruction To The World (2) The wolf howled towards the meteor falling towards it. [Keuheong!] The howling, carrying heat, shot out. The meteor was instantly shattered, and even its remnants melted away. Not even moisture remained; nothing was left. The howling, not satisfied, flew towards Taesan. Taesan quickly moved his wings. A hot st of heat passed right beside Taesan. The wolf that destroyed the world. It must have burnt the entire world. ¡°Uwaaak!¡± Those who were hiding seemed to realize they couldn¡¯t survive and charged at the wolf. Even staying still, their vitality was gradually eaten away by the heat, so they thought to kill the wolf first.But it was futile. The wolf moved its body with a derisiveugh. Crack. Adventurers charging with afterimages were all crushed and trampled. They disappeared without even a scream. Their foolish deaths were an opportunity for Taesan. He charged at the wolf, which was taking a brief breath after trampling them. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Myriad Spirits].] [You have activated eleration.] [Keuheng!] The wolf responded to Taesan, who approached in an instant. It turned violently and mmed down its ws. Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Flow.] Kagagagak! Flow deflected the opponent¡¯s attack. The path of the ws, which should have been diverted by the sword, did not change. The ws, with force, overpowered and mmed down in their twisted trajectory. Kagagak! Taesan directly deflected the wolf¡¯s ws. The ws grazed Taesan¡¯s forearm and stuck into the ground. [You take 2021 damage.] Despite a slight graze, a high amount of damage was inflicted. Taesan then pulled his sword and shed the wolf¡¯s nk long. [43 damage to the wolf that destroyed the world.] And damage finally appeared. Taesan clicked his tongue, and the wolf swung its ws again. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan¡¯s body moved above the wolf. The ws sliced through the air, missing their target. As he fell, Taesan gathered his strength into his sword, infusing it with Spirit Strike, and plunged it into the wolf¡¯s back. [203 damage to the wolf that destroyed the world.] The damage was noticeably higher than when not enhanced with Spirit Strike. Yet, the damage was still woefully inadequate. It was uncertain how much health the wolf possessed, but it was clear that this amount of damage was far from enough. A wave of heat rushed towards Taesan, who hadnded on the wolf¡¯s back. He quickly dodged the engulfing mes. ¡°Fighting it in a battle of attrition won¡¯t work.¡± [What you received was the Apostle''s Spirit Strike. And that is the wolf that destroys the world. In terms of level... that side is higher. Even if it''s just a fragment.] Attempting to defeat it immediately was overly ambitious. Unperturbed, Taesan activated Essence Understanding. [You have activated Essence Understanding.] [Fragment of the wolf that destroyed the world] [An entity that turns everything to ash.] The health was not visible. This indicated that the enemy¡¯s full scope couldn¡¯t beprehended even with Essence Understanding, leaving Taesan to deduce it on his own. The wolf waspletely engulfed in mes, which served as a sort of barrier, preventing Taesan¡¯s attacks from effectivelynding. This meant he had to consume those mes. Taesan unfurled his wings. ¡°Let¡¯s take it slow.¡± Mana was essentially limitless. The powder derived from fairy wings replenishes not just health, but also mana. The mana expended on dozens of frost arrows was fully replenished in that brief moment. [You have activated Frozen World.] Jeejejejeok! Frost enveloped the world. A piercing winter chill assailed the wolf. [Keuheng!] The wolf howled. The encroaching coldness was shattered into fragments. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it work?¡± Frozen World was a skill effective against many enemies. However, it proved less effective against overwhelmingly powerful foes. Taesan soared into the sky, wielding a variety of magic. Frost arrows, scorching spheres, wind explosions, and more continuously harassed the wolf. [Krrrung¡­¡­] The wolf grew increasingly agitated. It was desperate to defeat its adversary andy waste to the world, yet it found itself constantly thwarted. [Aoouuuuu!] A burst of scarlet mes erupted. Before the wolf, mes began to coalesce. These mes intertwined with the wind, swirling together. Kagagagagak! Several fiery tornadoes formed. These tornadoes consumed one another, merging into a single, massive storm. ¡°For a beast, it certainly employs a diverse array of techniques.¡± Taesan chuckled, pping his wings. The fiery storm pursued the agile Taesan. When he realized he couldn¡¯t dodge the attack, Taesan ceased his evasive maneuvers. [You have activated Frozen World.] Jeejejeok! Ice surged forward. However, the storm hesitated only briefly before resuming its advance toward Taesan. Magic proved ineffective. Taesan infused his entire body with Spirit Strike and lunged at the storm. He brought his sword down upon the storm. Kwagwagang! The storm exploded violently. mes erupted in every direction, attempting to overwhelm Taesan. Taesan fortified himself with more Spirit. Kagagagak! He was met with fierce resistance. The intense heat made breathing difficult and challenged the Spirit enveloping him. Taesan concentrated deeply. He focused all his attention on the sword as it met the storm, confronting the tempest before him. This was no ordinary storm of mes. It was an assault infused with the wolf¡¯s essence. And such an attack always harbored a core. Sensing the storm¡¯s frequency and motion through his sword, Taesan deciphered it. Finally, having identified the heart of the hurricane, Taesan plunged into the storm. [You take 3051 damage.] [You take 2043 damage.] mes engulfed him. His skin began to redden, starting from the fingertips, slowly burning, suffocating. Ignoring the iing pain, Taesan plunged his sword into where the core was. Puueng! The storm exploded outward. And behind the exploding storm, the wolf was revealed. Kaang! Taesan blocked the wolf¡¯s attack and used the recoil to fly far away. He quickly pulled out a health recovery potion and drank it. New flesh appeared on his burnt skin. His health was dangerously low. It was a risky attack for Taesan as well. But there was also something to gain. The intensity of the mes emanating from the wolf was noticeably weaker. Taesan realized the mes wrapping the wolf¡¯s body served both offense and defense. Meaning, if it focused on attack, its defense naturally weakened. Then, the method of attack was clear. Taesan charged at the wolf. The wolf howled and ran towards him, mming down its w fiercely. Kagak! He twisted the sword, deflecting it. The mere aftermath brought damage, but it wasn¡¯t unbearable. Taesan, who had slipped under the wolf, moved his sword. [You have activated Vital Point Designation.] [You have activated Addition.] Kwajik. He shed the wolf¡¯s hind leg. [502 damage to the fragment of the wolf that destroyed the world.] Although still not high, the damage was significantly greater than before. The wolf, attempting to burn Taesan who had dug underneath it to death, spewed mes downwards. Seeing the precursor, Taesan pulled out his shield. [You have activated the Aegis Shield.] Puuung! mes exploded, pressing down on Taesan. However, due to the Aegis Shield, he took no damage. When the shield¡¯s invincibility time ended, so did the outburst of mes. Taesan then wedged into the attacked area and attacked again. [You have activated Wedge.] [1304 damage to the fragment of the wolf that destroyed the world.] Finally, four-digit damage appeared. The wolf attempted to crush him by folding its legs, but Taesan narrowly escaped. Creating some distance, Taesan examined the wolf¡¯s hind leg. A very small wound was visible there. [Krrr¡­¡­] The wolf quietly bared its teeth, its gaze fixed on Taesan with wariness. [Keuheng!] Charging forward, the wolf attacked. In response, Taesan raised his sword. He kicked away the jaw that sought to swallow him and then dodged the iing ws. [You take 4053 damage.] The ws grazed his back. Enduring the pain, Taesan thrust his sword into the wolf¡¯s hind leg once more. [2031 damage to the fragment of the wolf that destroyed the world.] Puhak. Blood spurted from the leg. [Keung!] For the first time, the wolf¡¯s howl was filled with pain. It shook its body violently, scattering mes in all directions like sparks. Taesan utilized his wings, dodging all the sparks with precise movements. He evaded the wolf¡¯s leap that was aimed at catching him. The wolf expelled a sphere of mes from its mouth. Narrowly avoiding it, Taesan plunged his sword into the wolf¡¯s hind leg once again. [Keuuung!] The wolf howled loudly, thrashing its leg. The leg, not fully evaded, struck Taesan¡¯s shoulder. [You take 8053 damage.] The damage was significant. Taesan created distance. The wolf was formidable. Tond his attacks, he had to ept some damage. However, unlike the wolf, he had means to recover health. Until now, there hadn¡¯t been a moment to use potions properly during the battle, but his fairy wings allowed him to float in the air. This enabled him to evade the wolf¡¯s attacks and seize the opportunity to use potions. [You have used a Health Recovery Potion.] Health surged back. Taesan gripped his sword and charged again. Kagagak! As the battle wore on, Taesan¡¯s speed and strength continued to increase due to his sustained battle skills. Meanwhile, the wolf¡¯s mes gradually lost their intensity. Kwajik. The wolf howled as the sword was plunged into its leg once more. It began to limp. [Krrr¡­¡­] Narrowing its eyes, the wolf fixed its gaze on Taesan. It recalled its own demise. As it turned the world to ash, fulfilling its duty, countless lives stood in its way. Among them were formidable magicians and the world¡¯s most powerful swordsman. Hundreds, thousands of individuals with extraordinary abilities converged to y it. They were indeed powerful, capable of killing the wolf. Yet, to the wolf, they held no significance. It was a monster destined to bring about the world¡¯s end. To it, they were merely trivial beings, mere fragments of the world. In truth, even though they managed to kill the wolf, they failed to prevent the apocalypse. However, the entity before it now was different. It wasn¡¯t just an insignificant fragment. Its power, its stature, everything about it surpassed the wolf. The wolf made its decision. Its priority was no longer the world¡¯s destruction, but the elimination of the being before it. The wolf let out a howl. [Aoouuuuu!] Whoosh! The mes engulfing the entire vige were extinguished. The heat devouring the air began to fade. [You take 164 damage.] [You take 123 damage.] The sustained damage gradually lessened and then ceased altogether. But Taesan¡¯s expression remained grim. Until this moment, the wolf had regarded Taesan merely as a hindrance to its mission. But now, recognizing him as a formidable adversary, it was determined to kill him. The world-destroying wolf now personally targeted Taesan. [Krrr.] The mes cloaking the wolf¡¯s body grew denser, now zing a deep crimson. The true battle was about to begin. The wolf crouched on its hind legs, then propelled itself towards Taesan like a bullet. Chapter 213: 51st Floor, The Wolf That Brought Destruction To The World (3) Chapter 213: 51st Floor, The Wolf That Brought Destruction To The World (3) The wolf was incredibly fast, its speed unparalleledpared to before. It charged at Taesan, leaving him no time to dodge. Quickly, Taesan activated a skill. [You have activated Random Blink.] In an instant, Taesan was above the wolf. With his wings, he plunged his sword into the wolf¡¯s back. The damage disyed in the system window was a mere 64. Even with Spirit Strike imbued, the damage was significantly lower than expected. The wolf expelled mes from its back, forcing Taesan to distance himself. [Keuheng!] The wolf howled as it charged again. It swung its ws wildly, demolishing half the vige. The already crumbling vige began topletely fall apart. Kagagagak! Taesan barely managed to block with his sword. However, he couldn¡¯t avoid losing health from the aftermath and attempted to use a potion while flying. [Keuong!] The wolf howled, refusing to watch passively. The howl echoed, spreading through the air. Since the howl contained significant force, Taesan had no choice but to block it instead of drinking his potion. Even after blocking the howl, he didn¡¯t get a chance to drink his potion. The wolf bent its hind legs and then shot towards Taesan like a bullet. Paang! Eventually, Taesan gave up on using the potion. He angled his wings down to dodge the approaching wolf. Then, as the wolf passed over him, he swung his sword at it. Kagagagak! He tore through the wolf¡¯s belly. The recoil almost made him lose his grip on the sword, but he held on with strength. KaeuI! He managed to make a long gash across the belly, but it was only a superficial cut, not deep enough to reach under the flesh. The attack didn¡¯t work properly because it was blocked by mes. [Awooouu!] The wolf howled towards the sky. Then, part of the mes forming the wolf dispersed and began to take shape. Several small wolves made of mes appeared. They charged towards Taesan. ¡°Tch.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and moved his wings. However, the me wolves kicked the air and rushed towards him in the sky. ¡°Are they trying to make it impossible for me to use potions?¡± With a serious expression, Taesan put strength into the swords he held in both hands. Kaang! He struck down at the first wolf that charged at him. However, instead of disappearing with the recoil, the wolf bared its teeth. Each of these small wolves was a me that made up therger wolf. They were not weak beings. Taesan imbued his sword with Spirit Strike and exerted more strength. The smaller wolf was split in half. And other wolves charged at him. His sword moved. He repelled the charging me wolves. But it wasn¡¯t easy. Each of these small wolves possessed a strength that couldn¡¯t be ignored. And the main body of the wolf wasn¡¯t staying still either. The wolf opened its jaws. Spheres of me scattered like sparks and began to rain down like rain. Taesan focused his mind. Kagak! He blocked the attacking wolf¡¯s charge. And then he deflected the sparks falling from the sky. He did both at the same time. The wolf trying to bite his left arm was pierced through the head with his right-hand sword, and the wolf attempting to grasp the sword with its teeth was thwarted by twisting the sword itself. Purbeobeobeong! He swung his sword long to deflect the sparks pouring from the sky. Then, swinging the sword, he struck the head of the wolf trying to w at him with the handle. And blocked the sparks from the sky. Up until now, there was a trade-off assuming he could drink potions, but now the wolf did not give him a chance to drink at all. Fairy dust had been sprinkled, allowing for continuous recovery, but relying on it was difficult as thousands of damage came in at once. So, in reality, he had to block all attacks. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] He charged the wave with Soul Strike. The me wolves disappeared as they collided with the wave. A few that didn¡¯t fall bared their teeth, and Taesan moved his fingers. [You have activated Frozen World.] Jejejeok! A chill rushed in. Most of the wolves charging in couldn¡¯t resist the freeze and disappeared. [Keuheng!] And the wolf moved. It swung a gigantic paw, pressing down on Taesan. Taesan raises his sword to block. Kwaaaang! The ground crumbled like dust, creating a crater. Taesan barely withstood the pressure and twisted his sword. He deflected the ws and shed through the foreleg. Kagagak! However, as before, no significant injury was made. Despite Taesan¡¯s counterattack, the wolf seemed unfazed and mmed its front paw down. Kwaang! Bang! The ground was smashed and crushed. The entire vige became deste. Kaang! Taesan barely swung his sword to create distance. ¡°Hoo.¡± Taesan caught his breath. His eyes sank deeply. He focused more intensely. Taesan charged at the wolf. Kwaaaang! Dodging the descending ws, he burrowed into the wolf. The wolf repeatedly tried to crush Taesan by mming its forelegs down. He narrowly dodged all attacks by reading their intentions with a conceptual skill. However, the damage umted from the aftermath was inevitable. Taesan embedded his sword into the hind leg he had been attacking. Kwajik. As he had been attacking that part continuously, the sword prated quite well, but it wasn¡¯t significantly meaningful. It seemed nearly impossible to target that spot. Though one method was blocked, Taesan moved his body calmly without much disturbance. The wolf shook its body to kill Taesan, who was attacking from its side. mes scattered in all directions like sparks. Dozens, hundreds of sparks. Taesan moved his sword. The smoothly moving sword deflected all iing sparks and changed trajectory. However, the deflected sparks collided with each other and grazed past Taesan¡¯s side. [You take 3452 damage.] Enduring the pain, he swung to widen the distance and avoid the iing foreleg. [Kreung!] The wolf infused its ws with me and swung them directly. des of me charged towards Taesan at high speed. des of me wereing at him, with nowhere to dodge. [You have activated Flow.] He moved his sword to deflect one of the des and squeezed his body into the very small gap created. [Keuheong!] After Taesan dodged, the wolf charged at him again. Taesan raised his sword against the wolf, who was trying to engulf him with its entire mouth. Kagagagak! His body started to be overwhelmingly pushed back. Deciding it¡¯s impossible to withstand, Taesan quickly released his grip on his sword and escaped. His sword flew far away. Seeing that Taesan had lost his weapon, the wolf charged at him. [You have activated Random Blink.] He dodged the charging wolf and shifted his position. Quickly, he kicked off the ground and caught the flying sword. [Keuheng!] Kaaang! And using that interval, he blocked the attacking wolf¡¯s ws. However, unable to withstand the force, the ws deeply grazed his shoulder. [You take 5443 damage.] ¡°Hu.¡± Taesan breathed deeply and created distance. His body was soaked with sweat. There¡¯s no leeway. Most of his mental strength was consumed by blocking and dodging the wolf¡¯s attacks. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Kwaaang! Dodging the charging wolf, Taesan thought quickly. As the battle continued, the mes surrounding the wolf gradually decreased in intensity. Taesan also became faster and stronger with hisbat continuity skills. But it wasn¡¯t a meaningful change. The me of the wolf would only significantly weaken when Taesan¡¯s transformation was about to end, and no matter how fast he became, the basic spec difference was too great, making it meaningless. Continuing this fight would eventually lead to his death. He had to make a decision. Whether it¡¯s a gamble or anything else. The wolf¡¯s jaws opened. me poured out. As he dodged that, it tried to bite and swallow Taesan with its gigantic teeth. Kaaang! Taesan, swinging his sword, barely blocked the attack and continued thinking. The hind legs could not be targeted. That left the inside of the wolf¡¯s mouth. Unlike the outer skin, the protection inside was significantly weaker. Observing while blocking iing attacks, he noticed the flesh seemed much weaker than the exterior. But it couldn¡¯t be considered the right answer. Attacking deep inside the mouth meant Taesan would also be in a vulnerable state. It was essentially a gamble. However, sometimes you have to take a gamble. You couldn¡¯t always make safe choices. Taesan gripped his sword tightly. To gamble, he first needed to prepare. [Keuheong!] The wolf charged in. Taesan blocked the attack and was relentlessly pushed back. The wolf kicked at Taesan, who had been pushed back. Kaaang! Taesan continued to be pushed back. At the end of being pushed, Taesan¡¯s back hit the wall of thebyrinth. [Krrrr¡­¡­.] The wolf was certain. That human couldn¡¯t escape. More precisely, he didn¡¯t even show the intention to try. The wolf gathered its strength, envisioning a certain victory. [Awoooo!] mes erupted, consuming everything around. Curtains of me stretched on either side of Taesan, blocking his escape routes. Only a short path remained open towards Taesan and the wolf. [Kreung.] The wolf scraped the ground with its front paws, readying to sprint. Taesan calmlyid down his weapons. Kwoong. And then, the wolf charged. The movement was too fast for the eyes, leaving only afterimages. Taesan couldn¡¯t respond to this movement either. He could only move in advance, relying on his conceptual skill and senses. As the wolf sprinted, Taesan charged with his dual swords. [You have activated eleration.] With eleration, and even spreading the Fairy¡¯s Wings, he dashed at a speed iparable to before. The wolf¡¯s teeth dug deep into Taesan¡¯s back at the same time Taesan¡¯s sword pierced deep into the wolf¡¯s throat. [You take 16444 damage.] [The wolf that destroyed the world takes 4532 damage.] [Keugh!] The wolf¡¯s breathing halted momentarily. Taesan poured all his Spirit Strike power into the deeply embedded sword tip. A massive force began to imbue the sword. And he unleashed it. The entire Spirit Strike of his Apostle form exploded inside the wolf through the sword. [The wolf that destroyed the world takes 23042 damage.] [Ke, Keuheng!] The wolf howled and mmed its w down. As the sword was deeply embedded, Taesan couldn¡¯t escape either. And Taesan had no intention of dodging. [You take 13232 damage.] [Your Endurance is activated. A lethal attack has been nullified. All damage bes 0 for 1 second.] He gained just 1 second. That was enough. Taesan pushed the sword deeper and pulled. A sensation of flesh tearing and a crackling sound followed. Taesan exerted his strength. The wolf¡¯s entire jaw split. [The wolf that destroyed the world takes 6432 damage.] [Ke! Ke!] The howl of the wolf, with its jaw split in half, could not continue. Before the duration of Endurance ended, Taesan created distance. He took out a potion. The wolf, writhing in pain, wasn¡¯t in a state to pay him any attention. The gamble was a sess. It was time to reap the rewards of sess. Taesan charged at the wolf. The wolf swung its foreleg wildly in resistance, but the attack was clumsier than ever before. Dodging the attack, he plunged his sword again into the split jaw. [Keoooeoong!] The wolf howled. A howling filled with pain hit the entire vige. Even Taesan, who was nearby, couldn¡¯t bear it, and blood trickled from his ears. But he didn¡¯t care and continued to drive his sword in. The wolf started iling wildly. Taesan kept his hand on the sword, deeply embedded in the wolf¡¯s throat. This was essentially hisst chance. If he couldn¡¯t bring down the wolf during its frenzy, he wouldn¡¯t win. Kwadeudeuk. He clung tightly to the rampaging body of the wolf, driving his sword in even deeper. Soon, the wolf¡¯s throat opened. Taesan inserted himself into that spot. [Ke, Keugh!] Trying to expel Taesan, the wolf exhaled. But nothing came out. [Keoooeugh!] The wolf was in agony, something inside it started to stir violently. [Keooo¡­¡­.] Finally, the wolf copsed. As its faint breath slowly faded, the wolf¡¯s belly began to split open from the inside. ¡°Hu.¡± Taesan, drenched in the wolf¡¯s blood, emerged. [You have defeated the wolf that destroyed the world.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Desire for Victory has been activated. Your health permanently increases by 1543, strength by 143, and agility by 111.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your health permanently increases by 3443, strength by 283, and agility by 252.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have acquired the special activation skill [Ember of Cmity].] [Your ??? proficiency has increased by 3%.] [You have defeated a beast embodying the will of the world. You have acquired the special constant activation skill [Opposer of the Great Will].] [You have fought in terrible heat. You have acquired the special constant activation skill [Resistance to Fire Damage].] [You have acquired the Will of Destruction.] [You have swallowed the true blood of the wolf that destroys the world. You have acquired the special activation skill [Kinship of the Wolf].] Chapter 214: 51st Floor, Alchemy (1) Chapter 214: 51st Floor, Alchemy (1) ¡°Sigh.¡± With the level up, all his health was restored. Mental fatigue vanishedpletely, and his body returned to its optimal state. ¡°Are they all dead?¡± [How could they possibly withstand that?] Taesan surveyed his surroundings. Not a trace of life could be felt. Whether it was the aftermath of the battle, being torn apart by wolves, or not being able to withstand the mes emitted, they all perished. ¡°What a waste.¡± If they had managed to take him down, they could have gained much. However, caring for them too would likely have led to defeat due to overreaching. But that didn¡¯t mean he gained nothing. He leveled up quite a bit from those he took down before the wolves appeared.¡°Status window.¡± £ÛKang Taesan£Ý £ÛLevel: 113£Ý £ÛShield: 3469/3469£Ý £ÛHealth: 36520/36520£Ý £ÛMana: 3458/3458£Ý £ÛAgility: 582/582£Ý £ÛStrength: 6851£Ý £ÛIntelligence: 5984£Ý £ÛDexterity: 6344£Ý £ÛAttack Power +1457£Ý £ÛDefense +1177£Ý [The target is in the best condition.] He had reached level 113. And with that, his stats have shown a considerable increase. ¡°With this¡­¡± It won¡¯t be long before he catches up to Lee Taeyeon¡¯s stats. Especially in terms of health, he was nearly there. Without any special incidents, reaching around level 130 should put him at a levelparable to hers. Part of it might be because she gave up many things, but more than that, Soul Ascension was the biggest reason. Soul Ascension plundered what the enemies possessed when killing enemies of a certain level or above. It¡¯s practically like continuously receiving the effects of leveling up. As the level increased, the amount of stats gained increased as well, making a simpleparison difficult. However, his stats were still significantly higher than those of adventurers of the same level. Of course, even if his statse close to Lee Taeyeon¡¯s, reaching her strength was another story. Taesan remembered thest piece of equipment she used. The dark-colored arm guard, which reduces all iing damage by 50%, was possessed by Lee Taeyeon. She had nearly ten of those. Moreover, she obtained skills while descending the floors. Taesan also acquired a considerable number of skills, even more so, but there were skills that only those who ventured deeper could obtain. And then there¡¯s the simple numerical difference between attack power and defense, etc. It was a distantparison in terms of sheer force, not just stats. But still. He possessed Soul Ascension, a skill only he could obtain, and the skills gained through trials. The day he caught up to Lee Taeyeon won¡¯t be too far off. The ghost couldn¡¯t hide its admiration either. [Ha... I anticipated you would win, but you truly did. Against the wolf, a mere fragment that destroyed the world, a being of the same caliber as the Demon King, whom I also could not defeat and fled from...] ¡°The Demon King is that strong? Considering the difference between thebyrinth and the outside world, I wouldn¡¯t have thought so.¡± [Yes, he is. Because when facing beings like the Demon King or that wolf, not only humans but beings of higher realms also join the battle.] Entities as overwhelmingly powerful as dragons. Taesan still doubted he could defeat the dragon he encountered in Vekveta. [And during the time of destruction, we receive the blessings of the gods. We be three times stronger than before. Yet, we were defeated.] A blessing directly from the gods was certainly no small power. Even dragons, along with those blessed,bined their strength and still faced defeat. ¡®The Demon King.¡¯ The name of that being, which I hadn¡¯t paid much attention to before, suddenly felt irksome. [You don''t need to worry. It''s a being you''ll likely never encounter.] ¡°That¡¯s not certain. The gods could intervene.¡± [Ah...] The ghost fell silent. The trial of the gods. It didn¡¯t deny the possibility that they might meet because of it. But, as the ghost had said, it wasn¡¯t something that would happen immediately. Taesan tucked it away in a corner of his mind. Rumble. At that moment, the floor copsed. A being made of bricks emerged from the rubble. It was thebyrinth¡¯s manager, Balbabamba. Balbabamba blinked his eyes. [You again. I thought we wouldn''t see each other for a while.] ¡°Sorry about that.¡± [No need to apologize. It''s a matter between the adventurers of thebyrinth. But what a mess.] Balbabamba clicked his tongue. [A vige created for fools has been ruined.] ¡°So it has.¡± 51st floor. A ce made for those who couldn¡¯t surpass a certain passage point, the city for those whose spirits had been broken. [I don''t think it was a good idea, but the magician decided it, so I just followed.] Power waves emanated from Balbabamba. The copsed buildings were reconstructed, and the shattered roads smoothly reformed themselves. In just a few minutes, the vige returned to its original state. The only difference was that it was now empty. ¡°No one¡¯s here.¡± [It doesn''t matter. The history of thebyrinth is infinite.] Balbabamba spoke indifferently. [Someday, adventurers will arrive here again. Among them, those whose spirits are broken will settle here. Thus, the vige will form again.] The number of adventurers making it down to the 51st floor would be extremely low. At most, once every few decades. Every few decades, one by one, thus the vige would be formed again. It was a statement that gave an idea of how long thebyrinth had existed. [I guess I should set up a temporary guide.] Rumble. The ground copsed, and a pir appeared at the entrance of the vige. [Then, I hope to see youter, muchter.] With those words, Balbabamba disappeared. Taesan wandered around the organized vige and sat down on a chair in a tavern. He began to check the skills he had acquired one by one. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Opposing the Giant Will] [Proficiency: 1%] [You have defeated a being that calls upon destruction, opposing the will of those who have escaped death. When facing a being filled with immense will, all your stats and rank increase.] ¡°Oh?¡± It resembled the status bonus skills gained from formidable opponents so far, yet there was a distinct difference. It was the aspect of ascending in rank. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± The deficiency in rank had always posed a problem in previous fights. Unable to adequately block the opponent¡¯s attacks or ensure their own attacksnded effectively, he was forced to desperately search for openings and weaknesses. In such scenarios, an increase in rank would prove immensely beneficial. It was far superior to any ordinary attack power increase skill. [Special Activation Skill: Spark of Catastrophe] [Mana Consumption: 50] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summons the spark of catastrophe that incinerates everything in the world. If the user''s rank is too low or theyck the necessary qualifications, control is impossible.] An activation skill acquired through Soul Ascension. It appeared to be a skill that summoned the mes that the wolf itself had harbored. Merely reading the description indicated its potential danger. If mishandled, it could potentially incinerate Taesan¡¯s entire body. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll die.¡± [You have activated the Spark of Catastrophe.] Whoosh. A spark materialized at the tips of Taesan¡¯s fingers. Then, it erupted explosively. In an instant, it expanded, threatening to engulf the entire vige. Taesan hastily clenched his fist. The spark extinguished and vanished. [Can''t control it?] ¡°It¡¯s difficult.¡± The mes burst forth momentarily. It seemed feasible to control the direction, but regting the intensity was challenging. [But its power is undeniable. Those residing just above the deepyers would opt to evade rather than defend, right?] It was a potent yet unstable skill. That seemed like an urate evaluation. Considering I¡¯ve been focusing on ice and frost arrows, it was about time to learn some me attack techniques as well. I checked the other skills too. [Concept Skill: ??? Rank] [Proficiency: 45%] [The will''s power of ??? descends. You can see and feel the will of all things in harmony and tune your own will along with it. And in the world, you have gained ???. ???] The proficiency of the concept skill increased as he defeated the wolf. Looking closely at what changed, content was added to thetter part of the sentence. ¡°The phrase ¡®in the world¡¯ has been added.¡± [Still don''t know what it is.] Certainly, the concept skill was changing. So far, it¡¯s known that it allowed seeing the will of the opponent and tuning one¡¯s own will along with the soul strike. However, whaty at the end, Taesan didn¡¯t know either. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Fire Resistance] [Proficiency: 23%] [Resistance to burns. It seems you won''t get burned by not very high fire.] Even though it was the first time obtaining this skill, the proficiency was over 20%. This was indicative of the kind of mes the wolf had. [Special Activation Skill: Wolf''s Kin] [Mana Consumption: 10] [Proficiency: 1%] [Consumes mana and soul to summon the kin of the wolf that brings destruction to the world. If the user''s rank is too low, they cannot summon.] ¡°A skill that consumes the soul again.¡± For an activation skill, this was the first time seeing such a consumption value. [You have activated the Wolf''s Kin.] Suddenly, a sense of powerlessness overwhelmed his entire body, simr to the feeling of using apostasy and infusing soul strike into skills. However, it wasn¡¯t severe. It was at the level of mild dizziness, which he could withstand if he tried. The soul that flowed out soon created a semi-transparent wolf. [Whimper.] The wolf whined softly and rubbed its head against Taesan¡¯s arm. As Taesan stroked its head, it panted happily as if pleased. ¡°A pet, huh?¡± [Looks like a pet.] It couldn¡¯t be summoned for long. Right after the summoning, its existence started to drain away continuously. It seemed that using apostle transformation would be necessary for proper use. Considering the power emanating from the wolf, it appeared to be a useful skill. ¡°I did manage to obtain the werewolf too¡­¡± A heritage skill gained by defeating the Guides: Werewolf. Because he had consumed the wolf¡¯s true blood, the skill was usable. He read the description, but it didn¡¯t seem to have significant merit, so he nned to check it slowly. That was the end of the skills. If there was any significant change, it was that the proficiency of Ability Sword had reached 39%. It was about time for it to change as it approached 40%. And what remained was the ashen aura flickering above Taesan¡¯s hand. [Will of Destruction] [A great will containing the destruction of the world.] That was all. There was no mention of how to use it or what power it held. Having it meant it would eventually be used. ¡°Sigh.¡± That was everything. The tasks on the 51st floor were finished. It was time to go deeper, to the 52nd floor. Taesan moved into the forest. The forest was quiet. The fairies no longer moved or hindered him. Therefore, Taesan could find his way without any disturbance. [By the way, what happened to that guy?] ¡°Gremlin?¡± [Yeah. He seemed quite in danger thest time I saw him.] Taesan stopped in his tracks. Lee Taeyeon had heard muchter, after descending several floors, that Gremlin had made a wrong choice. But unlike her, Taesan had handed over arge amount of materials at once. Enough for Gremlin to achieve his goals. ¡°I should check.¡± There was no need to move immediately under normal circumstances. However, Taesan¡¯s quest-clearing method was entirely different from Lee Taeyeon¡¯s. Gremlin¡¯s choice might have been expedited. Taesan sped up, arriving at Gremlin¡¯s house much faster than before. There was no sign of life there. Taesan burst through the door. Inside, everything was in chaos. It had always been messy, but there used to be some semnce of order. Now, that was no longer the case. It was as if he no longer cared about what happened to him, engulfed inplete disarray. ¡°Tsck.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and exited. He propelled himself off the ground and unfurled his wings. Swiftly flying around, he searched for Gremlin¡¯s whereabouts. Boom! The air exploded, pushing back the trees. Bushes were ttened, and branches snapped. The ghost was perplexed. [Why search like this? Couldn''t you juste backter?] ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Taesan was aware of what Gremlin sought, thanks to what Lee Taeyeon had shared with him. And he also knew the decision Gremlin had ultimately made. Chapter 215: 51st Floor, Alchemy (2) Chapter 215: 51st Floor, Alchemy (2) The gremlin, an NPC who despised his own kind, lived in solitude. He was ignored by all, not recognized as a sentient being. Slowly, he was dying from desation. The mystical beings that had settled in this ce deemed him inferior and repulsive, unworthy of equal treatment. Passing adventurers saw him only as a means to obtain quests. Thus, the gremlin was pushed to his breaking point. To steal what the fairies and mystical beings possessed and be like them was sheer madness, a testament to how far the gremlin had been driven. I didnt believe transforming into them would actually make them ept me. Thats why the gremlin is too smart. [Then why embark on such a quest.] The ghost fell silent. [Could it be?] He must have made his decision. Rather than live as the gremlin, he preferred to die resembling a fairy. The gremlin was desperate enough to actually prefer that. [...Was that it? That''s why I didn''t notice.] Its a choice beyond your imagination. The ghost had ventured into thebyrinth, risking his life with a steadfast resolve to save his own world. For him, the desire for acknowledgment by others was unfathomable. [How did you.] Realize it? The ghost was about to inquire but then realized. [No need to ask.] There are actions only a coward can undertake. Lee Taeyeon,beled a coward, managed to connect with the gremlins heart. She understood his desires and what he ultimately sought. She remarked that the gremlin was simr to her. Initially, she couldnt grasp what that meant, but now she did. Lee Taeyeon, who had conquered Solo Mode yet still felt inadequate and alienated, gued by self-hatred. The gremlin, possessing intelligence atypical for his species, was driven to madness by the discord and the reactions of those around him. In a sense, they were alike. Thats why she wished to aid the gremlin. However, she couldnt. The gremlin refused her help, and she, too, was mentally overwhelmed. Preupied with her own problems, she considered returning to speak with the gremlin when she had more time. But when she returned to the depths and emerged again, the gremlin was already dead. Its merely self-satisfaction. The gremlin was not Lee Taeyeon. They were simr, yet distinct entities. Saving the gremlin would not have impacted Lee Taeyeon directly. Nevertheless, Taesan wanted to save the gremlin for Lee Taeyeons sake. He spread his wings. He enhanced his senses to perceive everything around him. Eventually, Taesan could sense the gremlin. He was in the domain of the fairies. Taesan rushed towards that location. Soon, he could see the gremlin. Taesan frowned. Fairy? There was a fairy covered in wounds, but the aura was unmistakably the gremlins. The ghost caught his breath. [Physical transformation? Achieved through alchemy, which is difficult even with magic?] How he did it remains a mystery, but that fairy was undoubtedly the gremlin. The gremlin eximed, See! As you all said, I have be like you! ept me now! As he shouted, the fairies attacked him. Squeal. Light pierced through the gremlins legs. the gremlin fell to the ground, groaning in pain. [The ugly one tries to mimic us.] [It was a joke.] [He really believed it.] [He became one of us. Disgusting.] The fairies giggled and swung their lights. The wounds on the gremlins body multiplied. Sitting on the ground, the gremlin justughed. Of course. There was no way youd ept me. As he continued tough, the fairiesughter gradually faded. [Boring.] [Let''s kill him.] The lights converged. As the gremlin sensed his impending death and closed his eyes, Taesan acted. [You have activated eleration.] Crack. He pierced through the chest of the fairy in front. The fairy spat blood and was sent flying. You! [Terrifying human!] The gremlins pupils dted. Taesan directed his sword towards the straight line of light flying at him. Squeal! The light collided with the sword and scattered in all directions. The fairies raise their voices. [He''s the one who killed us!] [He''s dangerous!] Taesan raised his finger. Spirit energy started to emanate and materialize from him. [You have activated the Kin of the Wolf] A translucent wolf appeared. Taesanmanded. Bite. [Arrgh!] The wolf howled and charged at the fairies. The fairies screamed and shot light at the wolf. [Arrrooogh!] The wolf howled. The lights warped and grazed past the wolf. The wolf devoured the fleeing fairies. [Run away!] [Run away!] The fairies quickly dispersed. Taesan stomped his foot. He followed the fairies into the forest. The gremlin watched his back nkly. After a while, Taesan returned, covered in fairy blood. Do fairies naturally generate here? [This floor is unique. Killing them all won''tst long; they''ll all reappear. Their revival speed here is much faster than on other floors.] [Growl.] Taesan stroked the wolf that was rubbing against him. The fairies were caught and eaten without any resistance. It performed beyond expectations. Taesan sent the wolf away and looked at the gremlin. The gremlin was sitting on the floor, nkly looking up at him. You areugh! The gremlins body twisted. His wings fell off, and his skeleton grew. In just a few seconds, the gremlin had returned to his original form. The duration has ended, hasnt it? [Since he became apletely different being. It couldn''t havested long. Still, it''s amazing. To achieve actual physical change through alchemy, not just an illusion...] Amazement was unmistakable in the ghosts voice. The gremlin, covered in blood, nkly looked up at him. Why did you save me His words trailed off. The gremlins body copsed. Taesan caught him as he fell. Hes nearly dead. [If we don''t heal him quickly, he''ll actually die.] Taesan took out fairy dust from his inventory and sprinkled it on the gremlin. The gremlins wounds began to heal rapidly. Taking the healed gremlin, they returned to his house. About two hourster, the gremlin woke up. Regaining consciousness, he was puzzled. Am I alive? Did you think Id leave you to die? The gremlin hastily turned his head. Taesan was sitting on a chair, keeping vigil beside him. Only then did the gremlin realize. When he was about to die, Taesan had saved him. Taesan asked the confused gremlin. Did you know you might die when you asked for that quest? The gremlin silently looked at his hands. Ugly fingernails. Realizing he had returned to his original form, the gremlin let out a hollowugh. Its over. Why did you do it? Taesan asked. The gremlin, seemingly having given up on everything, began to talk freely. Nobody epts me. the gremlin shook his head sadly. My own kind despise and reject me. Humans do the same. They treat me as a clown in a circus because Im a gremlin. I thought it would be different here, in the Labyrinth where everything is drawn inbut it wasnt. The gremlinughed. A hollowugh dispersed into the forest. You saw, didnt you? The fairies mock me. The sea serpent despises me as something lowly. The adventurers passing through here dont see me as an individual. They dont see me as a being but only as a tool to give them quests, just like the hero behind you. [That''s... I have nothing to say.] The ghost fell silent. The gremlin snickered. What value does a life thats not recognized by anyone have? [So you became a fairy.] They said it. If you be like us, well ept you. [You believed that?] Of course not. Who would believe the words of such beings? I didnt believe them, but why I did it I have nothing to say. The gremlinughed bitterly. I just thought, what if. I wanted to grasp at straws. Is that how desperate you were? Because nobody wants me. Im just a tool, thats all. The ghost, who had been listening quietly, spoke. [I indeed didn''t see you as an individual. Just as part of a quest. That''s probably true for those who came before me too.] Yeah. Thats how you all were. You saw nothing in me. The gremlins face grew even more sullen. The ghost spoke up. [But this guy seems different.] At the ghosts words, the gremlin fell silent. [If what you say is true, you''re just a tool forpleting quests. Once the quest is over, there''s no reason to see you. But even after everything was finished, this guy came to save you, didn''t he?] Taesan had heard everything about the quests reward and the way to the 52nd floor from the gremlin. He had no further business with the gremlin. Yet, he was here now. The gremlin examined his body. It was smooth, without a single wound. The fairy dust The gremlin realized that it had been used on him, the reward from the quest. Taesan spoke up. I dont harbor any special feelings towards you. Taesan cared for people like Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, Kim Jung-geun, or Kim Hwiyeonthose he had lived with. Having seen too many deaths, he didnt ce much value on most humans. But I dont think of you as just a tool either. If I did, I wouldnt havee to save you in the first ce. He viewed him as a life. At those words, the gremlin was deeply confused. Taesan continued. Cant believe it? A wounded animal feared humans. Lee Taeyeon also said something simr to the gremlin, but he didnt believe her and kept his distance. But Taesan was different. Even after the quest was over, he helped the dying gremlin, used fairy dust on him, and even brought him home. Thats why the gremlin was confused. He had always wanted to be acknowledged by someone. He wanted to be recognized not as a tool but as a living being. He had lived his life solely for that. Me, I didnt do anything? And youre epting me? Suddenly, the being in front of him says he recognizes him. All he did was give Taesan quests without making any effort. Taesan replied indifferently. Of course, there are certainly those who dont deserve respect. Among humans, that is. Easy Mode. Choi Junghyuk. Like him, whose very existence was a bane to the world. But not you. I dont care what your species is. And you have enough ability. I think you, as an individual, deserve to be treated. Ah The gremlin btedly realized he had been epted by Taesan. He let out a hollowugh. For such an insignificant thing. To go through all this trouble, to live such a life So, you feel its all in vain? No. The gremlin shook his head. He chuckled lightly. Its absurd. Nothing has changed, yet it feels like the world has. Theres someone who acknowledged him. Theres someone who epted him as an individual. That very ordinary fact felt incredibly new to the gremlin. The gremlinughed. Whats your name? Kang Taesan. The gremlin had never asked Taesan for his name. He, too, had not viewed Taesan as a living being but as a tool for his purposes. Am I the same? He opened his mouth with a smile. My name isnt the gremlin. I am Bariza. The name I gave myself when I left my kin and entered the forest. But its a name that no one has called me by. Barizas eyes trembled with unease. Can you call me by my name? Its not hard. Bariza. Taesan said. At those words, Bariza smiled brightly. Then dont die and live quietly. Ille by asionally. Ah. Youre leaving? I have my own goals. Bariza wanted to be acknowledged by someone. And Taesans goal was to conquer the Labyrinth. He couldnt be tied down here. Knowing that, Bariza didnt try to stop him but looked regretful. After a moment of thought, Bariza spoke as if he had just thought of something. You saved my life. And the Labyrinth requires a payment in return. You. Youve learned alchemy but dont know how to use it, right? Taesan nodded. Bariza pped his hands as if pleased. Then its good. This is my repayment for saving my life. Alchemy. A power that can even reach the magic created by the great gods. Ill teach you the proper way to use it. Chapter 216: 51st Floor, Alchemy (3) Chapter 216: 51st Floor, Alchemy (3) ¡°Did you go back to the vige? At that time, you must have observed the flowers and weeds around you and seen how they¡¯re described. How was it?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t understand it.¡± After learning alchemy, Taesan had examined the flowers and roots. What appeared in the system window was information about the energy and repulsion, harmony, andbination of these materials. There was no guidance on how to manipte them to achieve a specific oue. Bariza spoke as if he had anticipated this. ¡°Of course. Even with thebyrinth¡¯s system aiding you, it¡¯s not easy. It took me five years to master alchemy.¡± Five years. Even for Taesan, who had lived a long life, it wasn¡¯t a short period. ¡°You, unlike me, have thebyrinth¡¯s assistance to understand the materials, so it won¡¯t take as long¡­ But to reach a proficient level, it¡¯ll still take about six months. Do you have that much time?¡± Taesan nodded. The next return was approaching. He needed to strengthen himself as much as possible before then. Bariza, stroking his chin thoughtfully, made a decision. ¡°Then, there¡¯s a way to learn it more quickly¡­¡± He raised one finger. ¡°Just one thing. Concentrate on mastering alchemy in a specific area. With this approach, it won¡¯t take days. Do you have something in mind?¡± ¡°What¡¯s possible with alchemy?¡± ¡°As I mentioned before, the possibilities vary. You can restore health, torture enemies by administering certain substances, change shapes as I demonstrated¡­ and you can also create a kind of domain.¡± Domain. That was precisely what Taesan wanted. ¡°I want to learn about domains.¡± ¡°Excellent. Let¡¯s get to it quickly then.¡± Bariza led Taesan outside the house. He began to scatter powders and liquids around Taesan. ¡°The domain will be exactly the power you envision. You can define a certain area and weaken enemies within it or bolster yourself. There are various functions, but exining all of them is tooplex, so let¡¯s skip that. For now, I¡¯ll just show you.¡± He scattered materials in the north, south, east, and west directions around Taesan. Once the setup wasplete, he tossed a petal at Taesan, Kwoooong! Simultaneously, an immense feeling of oppression enveloped Taesan. It was as though a giant was exerting its power upon him. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s heavy.¡± Taesan moved his hand. Given this level of pressure, other yers would find movement impossible. Bariza, taken aback, tinkered with the powder. ¡°You¡¯re moving effortlessly. Although I made it hastily, I utilized quite high-quality materials¡­¡± He adjusted the cement of the materials and removed some. The pressure on Taesan vanished, reced by a massive concentration of power. Kwooooong! Power surged into Taesan. His entire body was fortified, and his vision expanded. ¡°How about now?¡± ¡°Physical enhancement?¡± This was no mere clumsy enhancement. It elevated the skills Taesan possessed, which provided bonus stats against formidable opponents, to that level. Bariza clicked his tongue in disappointment. ¡°It¡¯s a temporary concoction, so the effects are limited.¡± ¡°What level could it achieve if crafted properly?¡± ¡°It would be beyondparison to what you¡¯ve just experienced.¡± The effect wasn¡¯t just functional. It had the potential to significantly turn the tide of a battle. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve only given me a rough demonstration of its effects. Now, show me how to create it.¡± Bariza presented each of the materials spread around them to Taesan. ¡°The domain epasses north, south, east, and west. You need to position materials in all four directions. Their powers sh and merge to create a force.¡± ¡°Do I need to ce materials exclusively in those directions?¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s merely the foundation. You¡¯re not restricted to the four directions alone. However, with your current abilities, even managing the four directions would pose a challenge.¡± Bariza proceeded with his exnation at a measured pace. ¡°The domain isn¡¯t a force that emerges from merebination. It¡¯s crafted from the energy produced by the repulsion between materials, directed inward.¡± ¡°Do I have to ce only those that have strong resistance?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit tricky to say. If all materials resist, the force will disperse outward. To gather it inward, at least one of them must not resist too much.¡± Three materials with strong resistance. And one with not so strong resistance. That seemed to be the basis for forming a domain. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too hard.¡± ¡°The problem starts from here.¡± Bariza handed Taesan a crushed petal. £ÛLight-Deprived White Flower£Ý £ÛIt holds a deep and dense energy. Its repulsion is strong, making harmony difficult. It tries to absorb other things.] ¡°What you need to focus on here is the deep and dense energy. And the part about trying to absorb other things. These aspects change the domain¡¯s effect. Understanding the properties of each different material to draw out the desired effect is practically impossible.¡± The number of possibilities originating from four materials easily exceeds thousands or tens of thousands. And that¡¯s just for one domain. ¡°So what should I do?¡± ¡°Memorization?¡± Information about the materials was embedded in the mind, remembering all the effects that arose from it. Bariza grinned. ¡°You know well.¡± Taesan spent some time with Bariza, memorizing the effects of the materials and thebinations derived from them. ¡®Simple memorization¡­ it has been a while.¡¯ Thebyrinth was a ce where one could not advance through memorization alone. Understanding and experience were far more important. That¡¯s why, at some point, he never made an effort to remember anything. It naturally etched into his brain as he tackled thebyrinth. Perhaps that¡¯s why memorizing thebinations of materials felt quite novel. Taesan remembered dozens of materials and embedded the derived effects one by one into his mind. After a full two days, Taesan was able to grasp the general effects. ¡°Faster than I thought? I expected it to take a week.¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough to know the important ones.¡± He excluded all the minor, unused effects and focused only on what he would truly use, so it didn¡¯t take long. Over two days in the forest, he gathered many of the materials he wanted, securing enough for the foreseeable future. ¡°So¡­ that¡¯s it.¡± Bariza saw off Taesan with a bittersweet expression. Taesan waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t die. I¡¯lle backter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nning to die now.¡± Bariza grinned. Bariza had fulfilled his wish by entering thebyrinth. He himself did not know, but this was a very rare urrence throughout the history of thebyrinth. ¡°Before you leave, take this.¡± Bariza handed Taesan a bead. £ÛShape-Shifting Bead£Ý £ÛIt can transform the body into any desired form. The duration is not very long.£Ý Taesan narrowed his eyes after reading the description. Bariza shook his head. ¡°I had more materials than I thought. So, I made two. I have no use for it, so take it. You might find it useful.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± There was no reason to refuse since it was offered. Taesan epted it. Bariza bid him farewell. ¡°Come visit me again. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Taesan waved his hand. He passed through the forest. Now, the long journey through the 51st floores to an end. It was the start of the 52nd floor. At the end of the forest, there was a staircase. Taesan stepped into it. [You have cleared the 51st floor. You have obtained the basic reward [Ankle Brace of the Heartbroken].] [You have identified the hidden element of the 51st floor. You have obtained the reward [???].] [52nd Floor Quest Starts] [Defeat the boss of the 52nd floor and pass through.] [Reward: Ne of the Invisible.] [Secret Reward: ???] He was finally able to receive the rewards of the 51st floor. Taesan checked what he had obtained. £ÛAnkle Brace of the Heartbroken£Ý £ÛStrength + 150£Ý £ÛAgility + 100£Ý £ÛDefense + 100£Ý £ÛAn ankle brace of one who once broke through thebyrinth. He became a guardian after his spirit was broken.] ¡°Is this from the Broken Man?¡± The guardian of thebyrinth, whose spirit had been shattered, was the first NPC Taesan encountered upon entering Solo Mode. Upon reflection, it was intriguing. He was heartbroken yet did not remain on the 51st floor. Furthermore, he possessed a power that even the current Taesan could not ovee. Perhaps he was guarding the entrance due to a contract with the wizard. For what reason? That remained a mystery. The performance itself was significant for the 51st floor. Entering a new tier seemed to be an opportune moment to significantly upgrade his equipment. £Û??? was used.£Ý £ÛBelt of Catastrophe£Ý £ÛStrength + 200£Ý £ÛDefense + 200£Ý £ÛA belt that brings cmity wherever it goes, destroying everything. It''s unclear whether the belt''s power is the cause or if it''s simply a product of coincidence.] ¡°Definitely good, but¡­¡± Taesan cast an uncertain look. The high strength and defense, up to 200, were much higher than what Taesan was currently wearing. However, itcked any attack power. Since attack power was of the greatest value to Taesan now, this was somewhat disappointing. Still, with a defense increase of 130, it was beneficial to switch. Taesan arrived at the shopkeeper, who was always stationed at the entrance. ¡°Took you a while?¡± ¡°I had a lot to do.¡± ¡°That ce is a bit¡­ But it looks like you managed to ovee it without any issues.¡± The dwarf, looking at Taesan, curled his lips. ¡°There was even a strange power wave, but you overcame that too. Very good. Go down to the depths like that. And fulfill my wish.¡± The shopkeeper chuckled, his eyes full of longing. Taesan passed by him. The 52nd floor had begun. And thebyrinth of the 52nd floor consisted of the same brick corridors as before. ¡°Was only the 51st floor unique?¡± [Not all floors are like that. But after the 60th floor, it besmon, and from the depths, it''s mostly like the 51st floor. The normalbyrinth you see is slowlying to an end, so enjoy it while you can.] Hearing the ghost¡¯s words made it feel real anew¡ªthat he had reached the middle or almost the depths of thebyrinth. Taesan broke through the corridor. And in the room that appeared, no monsters were visible. However, the monsters were there. The system window notified him. [A transparent snake has appeared.] Shush. The sound of something slithering on the ground echoed. It quickly rushed towards Taesan. Taesan thrust his sword. The snake jumped away in an attempt to escape, but Taesan urately determined the invisible snake¡¯s position and cut it in half. [Shaaaaa!] The bisected snake screamed. Hiding its form was meaningless. The continuously improving conceptual skills now allowed him to read the will of ordinary monsters to some extent. ¡°An invisible monster, huh.¡± It would be a problem for an adventurer who hadn¡¯t acquired scouting or vision-rted skills, but for Taesan, it was not an issue. Perhaps because the 51st floor was so vast, it felt oddly uneventful. With nothing particrly remarkable, Taesan quickly cleared the 52nd floor. As Taesan was clearing the room, something found him. Park. It was a letter with wings. Fluttering hard, it made its way to Taesan. Taesan, who was intently watching, reached out his hand. Parlak. The letter barely managed tond on Taesan¡¯s hand. And then, as if breathing, it fluttered before stopping. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± [Thebyrinth''s letter delivery.] The ghost answered. [If someone can''te in person, they send a letter through this to convey messages. They''re sold in shops but are quite expensive, so they''re notmonly used. Who sent it?] ¡°It¡¯s not Bariza, is it?¡± Taesan unfolded the letter. He exhaled in admiration as he read the contents. [What does it say?] ¡°Hafran has finally finished the job.¡± [...Ah.] The ghost realized. Taesan had entrusted Hafran with many materials: the Apostle¡¯s core, a dragon¡¯s w, a spirit¡¯s core, etc. And Hafran had said he could make something out of these materials, but it would take some time. The letter was to inform Taesan that the results were finally ready. Chapter 217: 30th Floor, Rings Of White And Dark Green Chapter 217: 30th Floor, Rings Of White And Dark Green The note requested a meeting at thest ce they had met. Taesan¡¯sst encounter with Hafran was on the 30th floor, a significant distance of 22 floors from the 52nd. Ultimately, Taesan had no option but to ascend the floors one at a time. ¡°I wonder what has been created.¡± A vast array of materials was utilized. Each was of a quality that could easily surpass the 50th floor, raising inevitable expectations. [Given the materials, the resulting ring shouldst until thebyrinth is cleared. But even Hafran might not have been able to work with such materials... It''s uncertain.] The ghost appeared doubtful as well. [If anyone has the skills, it might be him... but it''s uncertain.] ¡°How will it turn out?¡± Facing formidable enemies and high-ranking beings ahead, new equipment was absolutely essential. With a mix of anticipation and anxiety, Taesan reached the 30th floor. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± Hafran awaited him there. He appeared significantly more worn than Taesan remembered. His muscles had diminished as if deted, and his skin was cracked like parched earth. Yet, his eyes sparkled brighter than before. [Are you okay?] ¡°Somewhat. Physically, I¡¯m a wreck, but mentally, I¡¯m clearer than ever.¡± Hafran clicked his jaw. ¡°What you seek is over there.¡± Taesan followed his gaze to an anvil. Atop the anvil rested a pair of rings. One was of a purity unmatched, a pristine white, while the other was a ck that seemed to swallow everything in its path. A subtle aura emanated from the rings, signifying their extraordinary nature. As Taesan reached for the rings, Hafran cautioned him. ¡°You should be careful.¡± Taesan lifted the rings. Instantly, a force emanated from the rings. It seemed to repel everything that came near. Taesan instinctively released them. He gazed intently at the rings. From the pair, an aura reminiscent of a hedgehog¡¯s shimmered. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Those damned rings choose their owner. If they don¡¯t like someone, they won¡¯t ept them. Because of that, I couldn¡¯t even get close to the anvil.¡± Hafran grumbled, while the ghost let out a surprised sigh. [Ego rings? Did you make those?] ¡°Not to that extent. But it seems they possess a weak sense of self. Given the materials, I anticipated it, but didn¡¯t expect them to be this fussy.¡± Hafran spoke as he forcefully stuffed dried jerky into his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s hard to overpower the rings with force alone. Wait a bit. I¡¯ll make you a tool to help.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Taesan approached the rings again, and Hafran tried to stop him. ¡°Wait a¡­¡± [No need to stop him.] The ghost spoke leisurely. As Taesan grasped the rings, a force surged. A power that pushed away everything that approached. It was more of an aura than a mere force. ¡®If that¡¯s the case.¡¯ Oveing it was surprisingly simple. Taesan raised his own spirit energy. Whooosh! The surging aura from the rings began to be suppressed by Taesan¡¯s rank. Taesan suppressed the rank with his hand. ¡°Stay calm.¡± Even without using Apostle Transformation, his own rank was enough to easily subdue this level of resistance. ¡°I am your master. As tools, you will be used as I wish.¡± Crack. Taesan gripped the rings tightly. The surging power vanished with a poof. Taesan lifted his hand. The pair of rings quietly rested on his palm. Surprise spread across Hafran¡¯s face. ¡°To do it so easily¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve grown a lot. Became much stronger.¡± If it was him from the 30s range of floors, it wouldn¡¯t have been so easy to overpower the rings. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten quite strong¡­¡± Hafran smiled satisfactorily. ¡°Then check them out. These are the rings I poured my all into creating.¡± Now, he could easily suppress the resistance of the rings. But, if it were him from back then, he would have struggled or needed assistance from something else. For a mere piece of equipment, it possessed the strength to reject adventurers of the 30th and 40th floors. Taesan examined the pair of rings. One was a ck ring. The aura it emitted was fierce. It recognized Taesan but seemed not to have fully epted him, giving off a subtly rebellious aura. [A ckness mixed with majesty] [The wearer''s rank is too low to bring out its proper effect.] [Attack power + 500] [A ring created from the fusion of a dragon''s w and the spirit king''s ember. It is merely powerful. The great auras of each shed to form a single ego. The ego is not whole, is violent, and recognizes nothing but its twin. The one who fully tames it will gain another power.] ¡°Ah.¡± [Huh?] Taesan and the ghost spoke simultaneously. At their reaction, Hafran was pleased. ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± ¡°No¡­ This is.¡± Taesan was at a loss for words. Even he, who rarely gets flustered, found the ring astonishing. The ghost voiced his feelings. [What''s this? Is this really a ring?] ¡°It is. You¡¯d know if you saw the description.¡± [No, that''s not the issue.] The ghost had read the description as well, but even he found the attached abilities iprehensible. [...Attack power 500? Attached to a ring? I haven''t seen this level even in the deepyers?] ¡°That¡¯s because, hero, you haven¡¯t descended properly into the depths. In very deep ces, equipment of this caliber is rare but can be found.¡± [That''s beside the point.] The ghost dumbly repeated the same phrase. Indeed, he had been killed by the Guides before properly descending into the depths. But still, the performance was hard toprehend. Taesan chuckled. ¡°One ring almost adds up to half of my attack power.¡± ¡°Of course. The materials you provided were of that caliber, so it¡¯s only natural this kind of equipment came out.¡± [That''s certainly true.] The ghost groaned. [...Is this really okay?] ¡°Is there a problem? He has merely receivedpensation for what he deserved.¡± Hafran spoke as if there were no issues at all. ¡°Moreover, with the strength he currently possesses, even acquiring this much wouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Unable to argue, the ghost fell silent. What Taesan faced now were apostles of gods and monsters originating from ancient deities, fragments of monsters that had destroyed the world. None were monsters that a 50th-floor adventurer could handle. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t strange for Taesan, who had exceeded the 50th floor, to possess equipment far beyond that level. It was just that the ring¡¯s unparalleled performance had left them speechless. ¡°What about the other one then?¡± The ck ring contrasted with the white one. Like its color, the aura it emitted was theplete opposite. If the ck ring was rough and rebellious, the white ring carried an aura of nobility and elegance. It epted Taesan¡¯s touch without resistance, recognizing him. [A pure white tinged with elegance and mystery] [The user''s rank is too low to bring out its full effect.] [It synergizes with the user by utilizing its own spirit energy and assists. It can also store various powers for use when needed.] [A ring created from the fusion of the origin of light and the apostle''s source. Huge ranks collided to be one. The ego isplete and possesses dignity. It epts others besides its twin. The one who fully tames it will gain another power.] Unlike the ck ring, there were no immediately noticeable effects. However, the written effects alone were enough to elicit a gasp from Taesan. ¡°Equipment with spirit energy¡­¡± A not-to-be-underestimated rank was felt from the equipment itself. That rank was assisting Taesan. Taesan tried to draw out spirit energy as a test. He then twisted the drawn spirit energy, using the twisted spirit energy to tune into three proofs that spread in all directions. Crackle. Materialized power stomped around. Normally, tuning spirit energy like this would lead to significant fatigue. However, Taesan did not feel much of a burden. There was a slight onset of fatigue, but it was manageable. If so, the burden of tuning spirit energy after using Apostle Transformation must have been significantly reduced. He gained a clear advantage in utilizing spirit energy. Like the ck ring, the effect wasn¡¯t overt, but it was equally effective. The other effect of storing power wasn¡¯t fully understood yet, but it was certainly not a simple effect. ¡°This is too good.¡± Taesan marveled. Even these effects were not perfect. There was a note that Taesan¡¯s power was still insufficient to fully harness the ring¡¯s potential. The deeper he delved, the stronger he became, and the performance of the ring would also improve. It was a ring beyond what he had imagined. Hafran, too, was continuously smiling, satisfied with the oue. ¡°I always wanted to create such great equipment. It was an opportunity to fulfill that dream, so I poured my heart into making it.¡± Taesan wore both rings. He had to remove two good rings to equip the new ones, but the performance made it an easy choice. As soon as Taesan wore the rings, the energy contained within them began to swirl around him. [You have equipped a pair of rings dyed in color. Set effect activated. Strength, Agility, Intelligence increase by 5%.] Additionally, a set effect that increased all stats by 5%. It was indeedughable. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 113] [Shield: 3469/3469] [Health: 36520/36520] [Mana: 3458/3458] [Agility: 582/582] [Strength: 7401] [Intelligence: 6281] [Agility: 6788] [Attack power + 1958] [Defense + 1322] [The target is in the best condition.] His attack power was now nearing 2000. He had be iparably stronger in an instant. ¡°It seems you¡¯re satisfied. So am I. It was a pleasant time.¡± He leisurely picked up the hammer. ¡°Bring more next time. I¡¯ll enjoy making them.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll entrust it to you right away.¡± ¡°What?¡± Taesan handed over the ores he had received from the world of giants and the Will of Destruction he had obtained from hunting wolves. Hafran reluctantly epted the equipment, which emitted an extraordinary aura at first nce. ¡°When did you get these?¡± As he examined each item, Hafran gasped upon seeing the Will of Destruction. ¡°This is¡­ Well. You¡¯ve brought back something interesting.¡± ¡°Do you know what it is?¡± ¡°The will that calls for the destruction of worlds. I know it well. After all, my world was destroyed by it.¡± It urred to him that Hafran¡¯s world itself had brought about its own destruction. With a joyful face, he sorted through the materials. ¡°This will be practice forter. I¡¯ll be busy;e backter. I¡¯ll make something else.¡± Leaving Hafran behind, Taesan descended back into thebyrinth. He arrived back on the 52nd floor. He immediately encountered a transparent snake and stabbed it with his sword. [3423 damage to the transparent snake.] The damage had significantly increased. The snake couldn¡¯t withstand the sword strike and disappeared instantly. He was already fast, but now he moved through thebyrinth even faster. He quickly passed through secret rooms and defeated the boss. The rewards of the 52nd floor were all rted to magic. He gathered them and presented them to Lilis as offerings. ¡°You¡¯re fast¡­ Not much left until the next intermediate magic. Keep it up!¡± She encouraged Taesan with shining eyes. And then, Taesan reached the 53rd floor. The monster on the 53rd floor was a human-faced spider. It spat out tough spider silk and lunged with its jaws, but it was no match for Taesan. 50th floor series. New entities appeared, but nothing changed. The power Taesan had built up did not fade even as he entered a new tier. As before, only special entities could stop him. Altars of the gods. The Immortals. Guides. Ancient gods. And then it appeared. [You have discovered the altar of Beatrice.] Chapter 218: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (1) Chapter 218: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (1) [First Discovery Bonus] [Intelligence has permanently increased by 100. Mana has permanently increased by 60.] An altar. A passage connecting gods and thebyrinth. Taesan looked at the altar. It was an altar with a single pir erected without any decorations. From there, a subtle aura of nature emanated. Taesan could guess who the owner of the altar was. And the ghost turned that guess into certainty. [The primordial spirit god, Beatrice.] ¡°So, it is as I thought.¡± [Not a bad god. But... you wouldn''t know.] Taesan had ughtered numerous spirits. In the battlefield of gods, when all other gods were rejoicing, only the spirit god responded with silence. At least, they were not looking at Taesan with any goodwill. In fact, from the altar, a heavy aura slowly emanated. [What will you do? It wouldn''t be bad to not ept and leave... But that''s not like you.] Before the ghost could finish speaking, Taesan approached the altar. The ghost wasn¡¯t surprised, as if expecting it. Taesan ced his hand on the pir. [Sub Quest Start] [Beatrice has a proposal for you for finding her altar. If you ept, trials wille to you. If you ovee them, there will be rewards.] [Reward: Beatrice will decide based on your performance.] Unlike before, the quest description did not mention any specific trials. Taesan nodded. [Beatrice''s interference area decreases.] [Beatrice descends.] The god began to show herself. The entirety of nature seemed to engulf the room with the appearance of Beatrice, different from the gods before. Her form was humanoid, but she had no physical body. She was formed entirely of the wind itself. [Human.] A blunt voice resonated as Taesan bowed. ¡°Greetings, deity.¡± Taesan could feel the god¡¯s gaze directed towards the back of his head. Unlike before, the gaze wasn¡¯t filled with goodwill. However, it wasn¡¯t filled with malice either. The spirit god spoke. [This ce is where warriors and spirits fight for their lives. Although their deaths are regrettable... I do not intend to me you for it.] ¡°Thank you.¡± There seemed to be no reprimand for Taesan killing the spirits of thebyrinth. It was somewhat expected. A god¡¯s pride wouldn¡¯t be so easily hurt. Still, Taesan, who had been tensing his muscles just in case, rxed. [Moreover, if I were to touch you, that young god would throw a tantrum... I couldn''t touch you even if I wanted to.] ¡°What brings you to descend here, then?¡± If it were just for a simple trial, she wouldn¡¯t have descended but would have just given a quest and ended it. But the quest details mentioned that Beatrice had a proposal, which meant, like the gods before, Beatrice too had something she expected from him. Beatrice answered. [You have solved various dilemmas for the gods. I, too, have a proposal for you.] The windposing Beatrice¡¯s body exploded. The space itself began to twist. Taesan closed his eyes against the fierce wind. When the wind subsided and he opened his eyes again, Taesan found himself facing a gigantic star. [What do you see?] ¡°It¡¯s colorful.¡± The star had a variety of colors. Blue, green, and brown ¨C all filled the star, making it incredibly beautiful. [That ce is Arulia, where spirits and humans live together.] Beatrice raised her hand. The world began to distance itself again. In an instant, Taesan was back in thebyrinth. [Your task is to go to that world.] ¡°May I ask why you are making such a proposal to a mortal?¡± He couldn¡¯t ept a quest without knowing anything about it. Preliminary information was necessary. The windposing Beatrice began to coalesce. The wind that came together soon took on a form. A wind spirit was born. The newly born wind spirit quickly hid behind Beatrice, seemingly afraid of Taesan. Beatrice, caressing the spirit, asked: [What do you think about the Spirit King?] ¡°I don¡¯t have a very good impression of them.¡± There was a Fire Spirit King among the Guides¡¯ leadership. Taesan, who had nearly died at her hands, regarded spirits as enemies. [Originally, the Spirit King was not such a being. If anything... a dragon. You must have seen one in the world you visited on that young god''s quest.] ¡°Yes.¡± The dragon had proimed itself the guardian of the world. Despite being overpowered by the Demon God, its power was undeniably transcendent, unreachable by any but the transcendent and the immortal. [The Spirit King is akin to a dragon. A being that protects the world and shields it from external threats. However, the recent state of Arulia is chaotic and perilous. The world is at risk because the lifespan of the Spirit King, who should protect it, has ended, leaving the position vacant.] ¡°Spirits have lifespans too?¡± [You must have heard from the spirits you annihted. You could infer as much.] Taesan remembered. The spirit residing in the hidden skeleton had mentioned this. Spirits were entities where nature had gained consciousness. Yet, by nature, they were entities without a self. Thus, inherently unstable, they created spirits that went mad in an attempt to process that emotion. [The limit of origin. That is the lifespan of a spirit. Those settled in thebyrinth are those trying to live while denying their lifespan. I do not condemn them. Nor do I endorse them.] ¡°So, only the mad spirits ended up pitiful.¡± [I do not interfere in the affairs of spirits.] Beatrice stated bluntly. [The affairs of mortals are for mortals. Whether they try to ovee the limit of origin or abandon their duties to flee, I do not care. It is all their own choice.] ¡°Then why do you need to summon me?¡± If the matter of spirits was to be left to spirits, there seemed no reason to involve Taesan. Beatrice replied: [Normally, yes. When a Spirit King perishes, a newly born Spirit King will just fill the position. The chaos while settling in is not a problem. But¡­ annoying ones have interfered.] Displeasure seeped into the spirit god¡¯s tone. Taesan instinctively realized what Beatrice was referring to. ¡°The High Gods.¡± [Defeated yet meddling in all sorts of ces. Should have crushed them so they couldn¡¯t even approach.] Beatrice clicked her tongue. [They are burrowing into Arulia. That¡¯s why I propose to you. Go and prevent the High Gods from trying to engulf Arulia.] [Sub Quest Start] [The spirit god, Beatrice, wishes to repel the High Gods trying to engulf Arulia. Enter Arulia and protect it until the newly born Wind Spirit King gains proper power and earns its qualifications.] [Condition: Until the Wind Spirit King is qualified, do not fall or die.] [Reward: Beatrice will decide based on your performance.] ¡°Can¡¯t the spirit god descend directly?¡± [I am also overwhelmed with my efforts to block their direct interference. As the god of magic did, no matter how much we try, we cannotpletely block their attacks.] Beatrice continued. [A newly born spirit is fragile and its self is notplete. Once the Spirit King is qualified, it will gain full power to protect the world, making it difficult for the High Gods to interfere. Until then, you just need to protect the Spirit King. Will you ept?] ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. [Sub Quest epted] As Taesan epted, the space began to open. As Taesan was moving to Arulia, Beatrice spoke softly: [It will not be easy. The beings that will hinder you are the High Gods. Not just one.] Koo-woong! Taesan¡¯s body began to be sucked into the gap in space. [I will move you next to the Spirit King. The rest is up to you.] At the moment his body was moving to the other side, suddenly, a massive force interfered. Kwa-jijik. The space began to twist. Beatrice clicked her tongue and exerted force. [Annoying ones, really.] Kwa-ji-ji-jik! The closing gap of space expanded. Beatrice gestured. [Go.] Taesan quickly inserted his body into the space. And the ce he arrived at was in the middle of a dense forest. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look anywhere near the Spirit King at all.¡± [It seems to have gotten messed up due to the High Gods¡¯ interference at thest moment. This has be bothersome.] Taesan extended his senses to examine his surroundings. What he felt was the dense aura of nature. Just one. He couldn¡¯t sense anything like the aura of the Spirit King. His quest was to protect the Spirit King. First, he needed to find the location of the Spirit King. Taesan left the forest and arrived on a road. Judging by how well-maintained it was, it seemed to be frequently traveled by people. Taesan ran along the road. Before long, he saw a carriage. And near the carriage, several people were fighting desperately. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a world where spirits and humans live together.¡± Their opponents in the fight were spirits. But these were not ordinary spirits. Somehow, the spirits, stained ck, were drawing out power and oppressing the people. The people were also summoning spirits to respond, but they seemed to be struggling in power and were mostly on the defense. ¡°The strength of this world isn¡¯t much, is it?¡± The battling spirits really had only meager powerpared to the spirits he faced in thebyrinth. Yet, they could not easily drive away the spirits. ¡°Why are the spirits doing this?!¡± [Master! Hang in there!] ¡°Watch your left!¡± Taesan, who had been quietly observing their fight, kicked off the ground. To figure out the Spirit King¡¯s location, he first needed information from the locals. He dashed forward and threw a punch. Kwa-jik. A ck-stained spirit shattered and flew far away. The eyes of those desperately fighting widened. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Wh-what?¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Taesan dusted off his hands, the humans looking at him with dazed eyes. ¡°Did he just¡­ defeat a spirit with his bare hands?¡± Taesan observed the spirits stained ck. He could feel the power of the High Gods emanating from them. ¡°Is this what they call interference?¡± It seemed they were corrupted by directly influencing the spirits themselves. The ck-stained spirits facing Taesan suddenly swelled up. Faced with their deep and intense malice, Taesan tilted his head. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Wait a second!¡± ¡°Why are you doing this!¡± Desperate cries from the humans could be heard from behind, and the spirits they seemed to bemanding also swelled up greatly. They were showing hostility towards Taesan. Unable to contain it, one of the spirits screamed. [Our enemy!] mes engulfed Taesan. Taesan casually waved his hand to brush them off. Being attacked by those he intended to protect was perplexing for Taesan. ¡°Why are they acting like this?¡± [Isn¡¯t it because of that title of yours?] ¡°Title?¡± Taesan btedly recalled a title. [Title: Antagonist Against Nature] [You have destroyed the world of spirits. This infamy has spread among them.] [Damage to spirits +20%] [The affinity of spirits towards you greatly decreases.] A significant decrease in affinity. It was fair to see him as an enemy. He hadn¡¯t thought it would apply outside thebyrinth as well. The ck-stained spirits and the spirits enved by humans attacked Taesan simultaneously. The humans tried to stop them, but the spirits wouldn¡¯t listen. ¡°Hey, guys!¡± ¡°Really! Listen to me!¡± [Master! Run away! This one is dangerous!] ¡°How troublesome.¡± Taesan frowned. His hand moved. The spirits burst one after another. Chapter 219: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (2) Chapter 219: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (2) All the spirits had vanished, leaving only humans behind when Taesan waved his hand. ¡°Hello?¡± Those who had been staring nkly at him nodded, somewhat reciprocally. ¡°Ah. Yes. Hello¡­ ¡°Where are you heading?¡± ¡°To the Burunian ins¡­ ¡°Can Ie along?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± They answered unconsciously.Taesan climbed onto the roof of their carriage. They hurriedly finished their preparations and set off again. Taesan quietly closed his eyes atop the moving carriage. Whispers could be heard inside the carriage. They were trying to speak quietly so as not to be heard, but Taesan could hear everything. ¡°Who is that person¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ ¡°Then why did you agree?¡± ¡°I, I don¡¯t know. Don¡¯t ask. You nodded too.¡± ¡°That was because I was momentarily surprised. What did he do?¡± ¡°¡­He blew up a spirit with his bare hands. And it was a lower ranked spirit at that.¡± A gulp could be heard. ¡°Have you ever heard of such a person?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even know spirits could be physically de-summoned.¡± They whispered among themselves. The conversation gradually shifted to why Taesan was with them and who he was. ¡°Ask him.¡± ¡°I, I¡¯d rather not. How dare I speak to someone who can blow up spirits?¡± ¡°So you want to go with someone we know nothing about?¡± Their discussion eventually led to deciding to talk to Taesan. There, once again, the conversation moved to who would talk to him, and the person forcibly chosen opened the window with a terrified face. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± A woman with green hair leaned out of the window and spoke with a dying voice. ¡°Isn¡¯t it ufortable there? Would you like toe in?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± Taesan agreed. He had been waiting for them to invite him. He grabbed the wall of the carriage and squeezed his body through the window. A small gasp could be heard. Taesan surveyed them one by one. A group of two men and two women. Judging by the exterior of the carriage and their attire, they did not seem to bemoners. They were adorned with nes bearing the same emblem. ¡®Could they be from a noble family?¡¯ ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± The woman with green hair spoke hesitantly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Our spirits are usually well-behaved¡­ They just suddenly stopped following ourmands.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± If there was a problem, ity with Taesan. He was, in essence, an adversary to the spirits. ¡°Having dispelled your spirits, does this mean you can¡¯t summon them again?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not the case. It was only summoned back; you can summon it again if you wish.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. It would have been regrettable if it had beenpletely destroyed.¡± Upon hearing Taesan¡¯s words, the woman with green hair swallowed. The question he asked was something anyone who lived a regr life would know. ¡°Do you, by any chance, not know much about spirits?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics. I¡¯ve been secluded, practicing.¡± Taesan grimaced as if he was exasperated. Although the expression was an act, since he was indeed trapped in thebyrinth, it wasn¡¯t entirely false. Thus, the expression seemed quite genuine. Taesan bore no hostility towards them. And they realized he was not a strange entity. ¡°If you¡¯re unfamiliar with spirits, where have you been training?¡± ¡°In the depths of the mountains. I don¡¯t know the exact location. I just desperately made my way out.¡± The woman marveled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of such individuals in old tales, but never thought I¡¯d actually meet one¡­¡± Seemingly encouraged to speak, the woman began to chatter. ¡°My name is Akien, the one with red hair over there is Perina, the rough-looking one is Baan, and the handsome one over there is Karuin.¡± ¡°Are you all from the same family?¡± ¡°Yes. We are the proud offspring of the Acacia family.¡± Taesan surveyed them. Their hair colors were all different, yet they imed to be from the same family. Noticing Taesan¡¯s confusion, the ghost spoke up. [In a world where spirits and humans coexist, your hair color changes based on the attribute you''re born with. Fire turns it red; forest, green.] Taesan let out a small gasp of admiration, while Perina, the woman with red hair, grumbled. ¡°Even so, we¡¯re still in a position to be sold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re really being sold, right? Think of it as a good opportunity.¡± ¡°But being dragged somewhere you don¡¯t want to go is the same, isn¡¯t it? I just want to lie in bed. Carriages are ufortable. You can¡¯t even wash properly.¡± ¡°Where are you going that you feel this way?¡± ¡°To the Burunian ins. Something strange has appeared there.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes quietly lit up. ¡°Something strange?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Akien nodded. ¡°A few months ago, a translucent sphere appeared in the middle of the ins. It¡¯s sorge it covers half the ins, and people were sent to check it out. They discovered there¡¯s a girl inside.¡± ¡°A girl inside the sphere?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe, but all my acquaintances say it¡¯s true.¡± Akien continued, his face alight with excitement. ¡°People thought it was just a strange phenomenon and went to see it, but something amazing happened. Near the sphere, the power of nature strengthens, and the power of spirits increases. There are even stories of spirits evolving into higher spirits!¡± ¡°Is that such an amazing thing?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Akien spoke fervently. ¡°Until now, the evolution of spirits was something you¡¯d only hear about in fairy tales! It¡¯s happening just by being near the sphere! This could open a new horizon for spirit magic!¡± From Akien¡¯s words, Taesan realized that the girl inside the sphere they were talking about was the newly born Spirit King. And the fact that the inhabitants of this world were unaware of this. ¡°I¡¯m honestly against it.¡± Baan, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t tamper with that. It¡¯s a being that¡¯s above us. Experimenting and meddling with it might bring the wrath of the angered spirit god upon us.¡± ¡°Again with that talk.¡± ¡°Take a look for yourself. Ever since the sphere appeared, spirits tainted ck have emerged. This all happened because humans tampered with the sphere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­:¡± Akien fell silent, seemingly out of arguments. Soon, she retorted. ¡°What other choice do we have? Honestly, I hate it too. ¡®Let nature take its course.¡¯ That¡¯s our family¡¯s motto. But we can¡¯t refuse when the Bazuk family personally asks us.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± Baan hung his head low. ¡°The Bazuk family?¡± ¡°The only family in the world that has contracted with a high spirit. Not even the mightiest kings can speak before the Bazuk family.¡± Akien grumbled. ¡°As powerful as they are willful, families like ours are dragged around by them. We had no intention of participating this time, but the Bazuk family made a fuss about conducting a big experiment and summoned us. We¡¯re being dragged into it.¡± From this series of stories, Taesan grasped the general situation. The Spirit King had perished, and a new Spirit King had emerged. The new, still not fully self-aware and fragile Spirit King was being protected within the sphere, growing in strength. And the evil spirits seized that moment. Corrupted spirits were born, affecting the world. Humans, unaware of him, gathered around the newly born Spirit King, each with their own desires. ¡®So the enemy isn¡¯t just the evil spirits because of this.¡¯ The carriage slowly headed towards its destination. He had figured out where he needed to go. However, Taesan didn¡¯t rush straight to the destination. Listening to the story, the Spirit King didn¡¯t seem to be in immediate danger. There seemed no need to hurry, and he was thinking of learning something he had been interested in before. ¡°How do you make a contract with a spirit?¡± Walking the Path of Wind, a tiny spark ignited within Taesan. He possessed spirit skills. However, these skills were all forcefully obtained through Soul Ascension. He had never directly contracted with a spirit to gain power. Whether it would be useful or not was uncertain, but it represented a new power. It was worth exploring. ¡°A contract with a spirit?¡± Surprise was evident on Akien¡¯s puzzled face. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t made a contract?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve been too busy training.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve been summoning spirits in reverse with just your physical body, without even using spirit enhancement?¡± Akien¡¯s face was full of admiration. ¡°How is that even possible?¡± ¡°Spirit enhancement?¡± ¡°Ah. I guess I have to start from there.¡± Akien began to exin slowly. ¡°When you contract with a spirit, you can directly draw out and use the spirit¡¯s power. It¡¯s possible to enhance your body, albeit weakly.¡± Blue power surged around Akien¡¯s body. She threw a quick punch, and a gust of wind followed. ¡°Besides, there are many other benefits. Those who contract with the wind spirit can live without ever feeling too hot or cold, and those with the water spirit don¡¯t have to worry about hydration even in the desert.¡± ¡°Sounds trivial.¡± ¡°Right? But it¡¯s incredibly convenient. They say if you reach the level of a high spirit, you can create whirlwinds with a gesture. Honestly, I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s true.¡± Naturally, the stronger the spirit, the more significant the difference in the power one could draw. ¡°And the most crucial thing is that you can summon the spirit itself to apany you.¡± ¡°Like you guys did?¡± ¡°Yes. Spirits are generally stronger than ordinary humans. There are exceptions, but¡­ that¡¯s generally the case.¡± She nced at Taesan as she continued. ¡°When a summoned spirit is linked, you can support each other and further strengthen your power. The stronger the person contracted, the stronger the spirit bes, and if the spirit is strong, the person also bes stronger.¡± ¡°That sounds good.¡± ¡°So, a person who has contracted with a high spirit can even face a mid-level spirit alone. I thought you were one of those, Mr. Taesan.¡± Akien spoke cautiously. ¡°Do you want to learn how to contract?¡± Taesan nodded. Akien pped her hands, pleased. ¡°Then I¡¯ll teach you.¡± ¡°Is that okay?¡± ¡°You helped us, so this is the least I can do. It¡¯s not hard.¡± She spoke earnestly. It was apparent what she wanted: to establish a good rtionship with Taesan, who could subdue spirits with his bare body. However, Akien¡¯s hope would not be fulfilled. Taesan did not explicitly say so. She rummaged through her belongings and took out a small transparent gem. ¡°To contract with a spirit, you first need to know what attribute you possess. Please, take this gem.¡± Taesan took the gem. His energy was being absorbed into the gem. ¡°The color of the gem will change depending on what attribute you have, and the intensity of the color determines which spirit you can contract with. Just wait a moment, and it will change.¡± She watched the gem with eager anticipation. Time passed. ¡°It¡¯s not changing.¡± The gem remained transparent. Akien¡¯s eyes wavered. ¡°Huh? Just a moment. Is this one defective?¡± She took out another gem from her belongings. However, there was still no color change in the gem. ¡°Baan. You have a transparent gem, right? Can I borrow it?¡± She borrowed gems from others and handed them to Taesan. But there was no gem whose color changed. After checking over ten gems, she scratched her cheek. ¡°Uh¡­ this is the first time I¡¯ve encountered this.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Listen without being rmed.¡± She looked into Taesan¡¯s face and spoke. ¡°The color of the gem changes based on the attribute a person has. If it¡¯s fire, it turns red; if it¡¯s water, it turns blue. That¡¯s certain. Even darkness would tint it ck. But if nothing changes, that means¡­¡± Akien cautiously spoke. ¡°You don¡¯t have any attributes. It means you can¡¯t contract with a spirit.¡± Chapter 220: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (3) Chapter 220: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (3) ¡°Ah. Of all things¡­¡± Akien was incredibly unfortunate. In this world, spirits were everything. When judging a person, it wasmon to first look at which spirit they had contracted with, rather than their lineage, focusing on how well one could handle a spirit rather than their physical talents or intelligence. No matter how excellent one¡¯s architectural skills were, how physically superior, or how high their intelligence, if they couldn¡¯t properly handle spirit magic, they were considered half as worthy. ¡°Still, someone like Taesan should be fine.¡± Taesan was strong. He possessed the power to summon lower spirits with his bare body. With that level of power, even without any talent in spirit magic, he could be respected anywhere. It was just that there was always talk behind his back about how he couldn¡¯t handle spirits. ¡°Really?¡±Taesan leaned against the wall of the carriage. The carriage continued to move forward. Taesan quietly closed his eyes, while Akien nced at him anxiously. ¡°Is it true that the color of the gem didn¡¯t change?¡± Perina whispered,ing closer. Akien hastily covered her mouth with her hand. ¡°Be quiet!¡± ¡°So what. He seems to be sleeping. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m teasing, just curious.¡± Akien nodded slightly. Perina let out a smallugh. ¡°A person who doesn¡¯t react to the gem¡­ There really was such a person. It¡¯s not even written in the history books.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about it either.¡± Their world was one where spirits and humans lived together. Every being born inherently possessed a talent for spirits. Perina murmured with a strange look on her face. ¡°Could he be someone from apletely different ce?¡± ¡°A different ce?¡± ¡°You know. The legend we heard when we were kids.¡± Akien realized what she was talking about. ¡°That ce called thebyrinth?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Ah. Impossible.¡± Akien shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s just a legend. There¡¯s no way such a ce actually exists.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Perina agreed, not having been serious with her suggestion. And Taesan heard all their whispers. He continued his thoughts, unconcerned. He couldn¡¯t use spirit magic. He had absolutely no talent for it. Yet, Taesan felt no particr emotion about this fact. It was the same with aura. This divine power was something only those permitted by the Sword God could learn. He had known from the start that spirit magic was a power only beings blessed by a specific world could wield. Just like how people from Earth received the blessing of Rakiratas, the Demon God, to gain power. ¡®What could there be?¡¯ Aura was obtained by defeating swordmasters and activating Soul Ascension to bring about divine blessings. Now, that method was impossible. Soul Ascension does not activate if there is a significant power difference. During his time on Vekveta, his power difference from the swordmasters wasn¡¯t that significant. But now, Taesan had be far too strong. Even if he were to defeat a human contracted with a higher spirit, Soul Ascension wouldn¡¯t activate. Taesan remained calm. There had been countless times when learning something was deemed impossible. Yet, through it all, Taesan had learned skills like Addition, Multiplication, and Copying. Spirit magic would be no different. ¡®I need to start with the basic conditions.¡¯ The carriage stopped. They got off to have a meal and summoned spirits. ¡°Master¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s because of you that I¡¯m in trouble!¡± The spirits were wary of Taesan, unable to understand why. ¡°Could you boil some water?¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± The spirit sighed and summoned its strength. Taesan approached as he watched. The spirit reflexively spread a barrier. ¡°Stop doing that!¡± ¡°I have something to ask. Is that okay?¡± Taesan asked Akien, who was scolding the spirit. Akien nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, yes. Ask away.¡± ¡°This gem is supposed to show if someone can handle spirit magic, right?¡± Taesan held up the gem. It still showed no color. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What exactly does it mean that I can¡¯t make a contract because Ick an attribute?¡± ¡°It means exactly that. Hold this for me.¡± Akien handed off the meal preparation to someone else and picked up a stick. He began to draw lines on the ground with it. ¡°Contracting with a spirit involves summoning a spirit from the spirit world through a specific method and synchronizing with it. That is, the one calling doesn¡¯t actively do something; a spirit from the spirit world has to respond.¡± The lines formed a magic circle. Akien ced his hand over it. Woong. The magic circle reacted. Taesan recognized the energy spreading from the magic circle as mana. He read the pattern, approach, and strength of the force. Then, energy flowed out from Akien, covering the magic circle. Simultaneously, the magic circle began to glow green. ¡°I have the attribute of the forest. So when I call, a spirit of that attribute responds.¡± ¡°So, if a spirit doesn¡¯t answer¡­¡± ¡°Yes. A contract is only possible if there¡¯s a response from the other side, but without an attribute, there¡¯s no spirit to respond.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, then.¡± The fundamental thing that manifested a magic circle was mana, which Taesan also possessed. The attribute that the summoner had dictates which spirit responded. Taesan understood the whole process and smiled faintly. ¡°Good. That¡¯s enough confirmation for me. Thank you.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Akien waved her hand, thinking Taesan had called her to check if there was any way for him to learn spirit magic. ¡®He¡¯ll give up after a little try.¡¯ Without a responding spirit, learning was impossible. That was certain. The meal preparation was finished. They started eating. After the meal, the carriage slowly moved on, and enemies that disturbed them appeared again. ¡°Here theye again!¡± ¡°Master!¡± Darkened spirits unleashed their power, attacking them. Akien managed to fend off the attacks with his spirit magic, but they were gradually being overpowered. Taesan walked toward the ckened spirit. Upon recognizing Taesan, the darkened spirit swelled up. It charged at him with endless malice. Snap. Taesan caught the spirit. mes burst from the darkened spirit, engulfing Taesan in a ze. Akien screamed. ¡°Taesan¡­ sir?¡± ¡°My power has increased a bit.¡± Within the mes, Taesan examined the condition of the spirit, his expression unchanged. ¡°Has its ego been devoured? Perhaps it can be considered corruption. Nothing special.¡± He tightened his grip. The spirit was crushed and vanished. His hand moved swiftly, and all the approaching dark spirits burst apart. Akien muttered in a daze. ¡°You¡¯re really¡­ strong.¡± ¡°Do you know what these are?¡± ¡°No. When the nucleus appeared, these darkened spirits came with it. These spirits don¡¯tmunicate or contract with other spirits. They only show hostility and attack us.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan had a rough understanding. The gods were targeting this world in the absence of the Spirit King. And the Spirit God, Beatrice, was blocking those attacks. But it was unlikely she could stop them all. Simplyparing power, it seemed the ancient gods were even above the current gods. Especially since their power was infinite up to a certain point, giving them an advantage. Even the God of Magic had to wait until they crossed a line, so it must be the same for the Spirit God. That seemed to have resulted in the spirits¡¯ corruption. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to have won, yet they¡¯re still causing trouble.¡± As always, the high gods would interfere when he aimed to achieve his goal. Taesan was preparing for that. The darkened spirits advanced again. The carriage moved slowly, and night fell before they reached their destination. Taesan could easily move without sleep, but the others needed their rest, so they naturally went to bed. Once everyone else was asleep, Taesan quietly left the carriage. A spirit on guard immediately tensed and gathered its strength. ¡°You!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be overly cautious. I could end you with a mere flick of my finger if I wished. However, I have no intention of doing so.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Something that will benefit you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t trust that.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t.¡± Taesan spoke indifferently and walked past the spirit. He ventured deeper into the forest. Perhaps because it was a realm of spirits, the natural energy here was far more potent than on Earth. He unsheathed his sword. Drawing a line on the ground, he created a magic circle simr to the one Akien had crafted, then infused it with mana. He replicated Akien¡¯s actions perfectly, pouring mana into the circle, but the magic circle remained inert. There was no spirit of the appropriate attribute to respond. He was aware of this much. The real challenge was what to do next. ¡°Will this work?¡± Taesan lifted his finger. A pure white ring on his finger illuminated the darkness. [Blended with elegance and mystery, dyed in pure white] [The ring, with its inherent spirit, synchronizes with the user, offering assistance. It also stores various powers for use when needed.] [A ring created from the fusion of the Origin''s Light and the Apostle''s Source. Immense forces merged into one. It possesses a unique identity and dignity, weing those beyond its twin. The one who fully masters it will unlock additional powers.] The ring had two functionalities. It used its inherent spirit to synchronize with and aid the user. And it could hold numerous powers for use as needed. Taesan synchronized with the ring. The ring, endowed with its own consciousness, began to summon power in alignment with its master¡¯s will. Woooung. Energy from the surroundings started to converge towards the ring. However, the energy was faint. The speed at which it was being drawn in was also slow. Taesan couldn¡¯t summon the level of spirit he desired. Taesan focused more deeply. Time passed. The grass scattered on the ground. Leaves fluttered in the wind. Dewdrops formed on the tips of leaves as dawn approached. The power contained in each began to seep towards the ring. The gathered power started to synchronize with the magic circle. The magic circle glowed with brilliant colors. Kiiiing. If one couldn¡¯t contract with a spirit due tocking an attribute, then the solution was to gather attributes and deceive the spirit. The light spreading from the magic circle began to change into a rainbow of colors. Taesan drew more power into it. Kwoong. The concentrated power in the ring exploded and permeated the magic circle. At the same time, nature began to converge. The surrounding energy gathered, starting to form a shape. [I am Barkaza, a supreme spirit of diverse colors.] It was a golem-like green spirit. The power emanating from it was not something Taesan could take lightly. ¡°Who has summoned me¡­¡± ¡°Hello?¡± Taesan waved his hand. The spirit stopped speaking upon seeing Taesan. ¡°You.¡± ¡°I want to make a contract. I¡¯d rather not hear a refusal.¡± Taesan muttered as he drew his twin swords. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it simple. Really simple.¡± He moved. Chapter 221: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (4) Chapter 221: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (4) [You are a killer of our kin!] Barkaza raised his voice and kept his distance. Taesan tilted his head, puzzled. ¡°How does news spread so that the spirits know everything about thebyrinth?¡± Thebyrinth and the outside world were separate entities. Considering the title¡¯s implication to be hostile, Barkaza was urately using him of killing the spirits¡¯ kin. [Why are you here?] Barkaza looked at Taesan from afar. [What do you seek here, human?] ¡°Nothing much.¡± Taesan pointed his sword at Barkaza.¡°I wish to form a contract with you.¡± [A being that has in us desires to form a contract with spirits?] ¡°I hope you can view it as self-defense. Anyway, if you want to make a contract, it¡¯s simple: if you defeat me, do as you please, and if I win, you enter into a contract with me. How about it?¡± [Hoo.] Interest tinged Barkaza¡¯s voice. [That sounds entertaining. Very well. Let''s fight. If I win, you be my ve!] Barkaza pped his hands, and light spread in all directions like the sun. Taesan closed his eyes, but it wasn¡¯t just light that obstructed his vision. It was light that engulfed the mind itself, preventing normal thought. [Behold the power of a great spirit!] Kukukukung! A rainbow-colored beam descended upon Taesan. Taesan stomped his feet. The light shattered the ground and trees, attempting to pierce him. ¡°Kyaaaak!¡± ¡°What, what¡¯s happening!¡± Akien and herpanions, who were sleeping in a nearby carriage, woke up in shock. ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± They had been sleeping peacefully when suddenly a tremendously strong force collided right beside them. Hearing the screams, Taesan stomped his feet. ¡°Let¡¯s keep some distance.¡± [Are you concerned that the lives here will be caught in the crossfire? Unexpectedly considerate.] Barkaza pped his hands. Then, floating, he followed Taesan. Taesannded on a suitable cliff. Barkaza, following, pped his hands vigorously. Kukukukung! Nature empathized. All the power in the surroundings infused into Barkaza, bing his strength. And it transformed into a rainbow-colored light that cascaded down upon Taesan in streams. Taesan attempted to dodge. The light descended like a tempest. Taesan continued to evade, yet the onught persisted. The quality and quantity of this power surpassed any spirit Taesan had encountered before. However, Taesan was perplexed. ¡®It¡¯s not as intense as I anticipated.¡¯ Taesan channeled strength into his legs and directed his sword towards the descending light. [You have activated Flow.] The trembling sword made contact with the light. The path of the light bended. Consequently, the altered trajectory of the light intersected with the descending beams, causing them to fluctuate. Kukukukung! [Uh, uhm?] The rainbow-colored beam misses its target entirely. Seizing the opportunity, Taesan charged at Barkaza through the gap that had formed. Barkaza quickly pped his hands together. Light radiated, vividly illuminating everything around Taesan. [You have activated the Adventurer''s Will.] The light, which had even engulfed the spirit, vanished. Dodging the cascading rainbow-colored light, Barkaza appeared directly in front. [Take this!] Barkaza hastily mustered his strength. The forces of nature began to gather around him. Kukukukung! A formidable defense encased Barkaza. Taesan lunged with his sword. Kaang! The sword rebounded. Taesan¡¯s eyes widened from the recoil felt in his wrist. ¡®It¡¯s solid.¡¯ The spirit¡¯s defense proved to be far superior to the attack. Kukung! Rainbow-colored light descended once more. Taesan moved. He dodged the descending beams of light and thrust his sword at Barkaza¡¯s defense again, but the sword rebounded. [It can''t be prated!] Barkaza proimed confidently. [Even the King''s sword technique cannot easily breach my shield! Your power won''t be able to prate it!] ¡°Let¡¯s see about that.¡± Taesan observed the descending light and shifted his stance. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan reappeared in front of Barkaza. Barkaza, taken aback by Taesan¡¯s sudden appearance,ughs, trusting in his defense. [Try it! Once!] ¡°That¡¯s the n.¡± [You have activated Vital Point Designation.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated Strong Blow.] [You have activated Continuous Attack.] Kaaaang! With a fierce sound, the defense shook. Cracks started to form at the spot where the sword hit. [Uh?] Barkaza was flustered. Taesan wedged into the newly formed gap. And then he thrust his sword in again. Kaaaang! Crack. The crack grew even bigger. Barkaza, in shock, quickly tried to shoot light at the moment Taesan moved his hand. [You have activated Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] Kukukukung! The light prated Barkaza¡¯s defense, ignoring it. The uncontroble rainbow-colored light scatters in all directions, destroying the cliff. In that gap, Taesan swung his sword even more powerfully. [You have activated de of Fighting Spirit.] Kaang! The crack spread, creating a small gap. Taesan inserted his arm into the gap and swung it harshly, breaking the defense. At the moment Barkaza hurriedly tried to p, Taesan grabbed his neck. Kwaang! He mmed him into the ground, creating a crater andpletely copsing the cliff. A sudden wind spread throughout the forest. [Not yet!] ¡°Then, let¡¯s continue.¡± Taesan subdued Barkaza. What followed was a one-sided fight. Taesan, reading Barkaza¡¯s will, suppressed and defeated everything he attempted before he could do it. Barkaza could do nothing but be beaten without a decent resistance. [I have lost!] Eventually, Barkaza conceded defeat in a nearly shattered state. Taesan sheathed his sword. ¡°It was still decent.¡± He had known from the start that the opponent would not stand a chance. Taesan had defeated a high-level spirit on the 23rd floor. He had be iparably stronger since then; it was impossible for a supreme spirit to stand against him. It was rather surprising that Barkaza could create a defense that blocked Taesan¡¯s attacks several times. Barkaza grumbled. [Damn strong. Except for the King''s shield and sword, there seems to be no entity that can fight you. Are you truly a being capable of killing our kin?] ¡°How do you know about what happened in thebyrinth?¡± [We are beings of the spirit world. Wherever there is a spirit, that news reaches us, even if it is abyrinth created by a spellcaster.] ¡°Then I¡¯m curious, aren¡¯t the spirits of thebyrinth your enemies?¡± [Why would you think that?] ¡°Because they have escaped their lifespan and duties, running away to thebyrinth.¡± The Spirit God, Beatrice said that the Spirit King was a being that protected the world. If that¡¯s true, then the Fire Spirit King had abandoned the world he should protect and entered thebyrinth. Barkaza fell silent at Taesan¡¯s words. [Who told you that?] ¡°Someone you also know.¡± [Did a spirit of thebyrinth tell you? It''s not wrong. They are beings who abandoned their duties. But they are still our kin. It would be good to see them as objects of love and hate.] Barkaza snorted. [Anyway... I have been defeated by you. If you wish, we shall make a contract. Do you want it?] ¡°Yes.¡± Woong. The power of nature converged to form a shape. It appeared in front of Taesan and Barkaza like a key. [I am Barkaza, a supreme spirit of various colors. I stake my birth and extinction as a spirit to contract with you, bing your servant. Do you ept?] Taesan nodded and grabbed the key. Power stretched out to both Taesan and Barkaza at the same time. It was a contract and a binding of rules. [You have learned spirit magic.] [You have acquired the Spirit Skill: Spirit Contract.] [You have made a contract with Barkaza, a supreme spirit of various colors.] A new power that Taesan never felt before filled him. Barkaza calmly spoke. [From now on, I am your shield and your sword. I will protect you and trample your enemies; you are my master.] A small symbol of the contract appeared on the back of Taesan¡¯s hand. The contract wasplete. Barkaza grumbled. [A contract after hundreds of years with our enemy. It''s both pleasing and strangely odd.] [Hello?] The ghost waved its hand. Barkaza shut his mouth. [...Who are you?] [So, you can see me too. Is it because of some kind of subjugation state? Interesting.] [Ho. Are you a being from thebyrinth?] While the two exchanged various stories, Taesan was checking his skills. [Spirit Magic] [Proficiency: 1%] [A skill tomand spirits and harness their power. It''s still very clumsy, unlikely to draw even half of their potential.] [Spirit Skill: Spirit Contract] [Proficiency: 1%] [Contract with a spirit to summon them and harness their power. Yet unable to fully draw out the spirit''s power.] [Spirit Contract: Barkaza, a supreme spirit of various colors] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption for Summoning: 30] [You''ve contracted with Barkaza. You can summon Barkaza and givemands. You can also use part of Barkaza''s power.] What Barkaza could do was crucial because it meant using his power. ¡°What can you do?¡± [As the master has seen, my role is protection. My attack itself is not particrly impressive. If you consider sheer power, other supreme spirits are much stronger than me. However, it''s different when ites to defense.] Barkaza pped his hands. The energy of nature started to gather around them. [My defense is something that even other supreme spirits couldn''t properly destroy. The master easily broke through, though.] ¡°Do I need to manage that power?¡± [What do you mean?] ¡°Do I have to be nearby to use that power?¡± [No. Once you summon me, you don''t need to worry much about where you are. As long as I''m not forcibly desummoned, I can mostly do as I please.] ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± There were quite a few instances where Taesan had to be far from others on Earth. It meant Barkaza could protect them when Taesan wasn¡¯t there. [Additionally, I possess the ability to enhance the powers of other spirits, though this may seem inconsequential to the master.] ¡°Assist?¡± [I am a spirit of nature itself. Unlike other spirits, Ick a specific attribute.] Reflecting on it, when Taesan summoned spirits, he would gather all the surrounding powers, unlike Akien who summoned with a specific attribute. [Should the master form contracts with other spirits, I can amplify the power of that attribute. However, for the master, this might be impossible. I wonder if there will be any other spirits the master will contract with besides me.] [You have activated a Small me.] Flurk. A me arose. The power imbued with the king¡¯s strength swirls around Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s definitely stronger.¡± The color of the flickering mes was deeper than before, indicating a significant increase in power. Taesan extinguished the me. Barkaza fumbled. [That power...] ¡°Because there was an opportunity.¡± [You obtained the king''s power simply because there was an opportunity?] Barkaza let out a bitterugh. [Is that even possible in thebyrinth? Fascinating.] Interest was clear in Barkaza¡¯s voice. [So, by contracting with you, do I also enter thebyrinth?] ¡°Probably, that¡¯s what will happen.¡± [Ho.] Barkaza¡¯s eyes sparkled. Taesan was puzzled by his visibly joyful reaction. ¡°I thought you despised me? For killing your kin.¡± [As a spirit, I should seek revenge against one who has killed our kin, but I have already been defeated. To cry out for revenge now would merely be thement of a loser. Besides, there''s something more important to me than that.] Barkaza said,ughing. [How do you view this world, Master?] ¡°Quite peaceful.¡± [Yes. Our god permitted the contracting of spirits in this world, and our king, now deceased, generously facilitated these contracts. Thanks to that, everyone can form contracts with spirits and live without difficulty. I find that displeasing.] Disgust was evident in Barkaza¡¯s voice. In a world where nothing special happened it was always serene. There¡¯s no inconvenience, no disputes among people, just living. That¡¯s boring. Living like this for hundreds of years, even a spirit got mentally drained. He pped his hands together. [I desire a life of intensity. A blood-sttered struggle, a fight wagering extinction. If I could make such with a human like the master, it would be enjoyable.] [A spirit desiring battle. That''s unusual.] The ghost was intrigued by Barkaza¡¯sbative spirit. Spirits were known to love peace and not enjoy disputes with others. That had been the ghost¡¯s observation of spirits so far. Taesan responded. ¡°Then you don¡¯t have to worry. I n to fight till I¡¯m weary.¡± [That''s good to hear.] Barkaza was pleased. [Then let me ask again. Why did you visit this world? Everyone will reject you.] ¡°Your god gave me a task.¡± [...God?] Barkaza paused. [Could it be Beatrice?] ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the detailster and head back for now.¡± Taesan moved. Barkaza, confused, followed him. Chapter 222: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (5) Chapter 222: The World Of Spirits And Humans: Arulia (5) ¡°Ta, Taesan!¡± Akien, huddled close and trembling inside the carriage, burst into tears upon seeing Taesan. ¡°Where have you been!¡± She had been going crazy during Taesan¡¯s absence. She woke up in shock due to a sudden spread of a powerful wave of energy. The force felt near them was strong enough to easily crush them. Feeling threatened for their lives, they frantically searched for Taesan, but he was nowhere to be found. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you run away? Why were you here?¡± ¡°Bu, but without Taesan, I couldn¡¯t¡­¡­ ¡°Did you wait for me?¡±¡°Yes, yeess¡­ because it was dangerous.¡± Akien sobbed and nodded her head. A slight surprise crossed Taesan¡¯s face. ¡®It¡¯s been a long time since someone worried about me.¡¯ Excluding the time when he was a weak Easy Mode yer who hadn¡¯t properly acquired any skills in his previous life, this was a first. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for worrying you, and I wasn¡¯t around because I had something to do.¡± ¡°Such powerful energy was surging, what kind of business did you have¡­ ¡°It was because of me.¡± ¡°What?¡± [Oh ho. Barkaza revealed himself beyond the carriage door. [Are these people apanying the master? They''re weak but good-natured.] ¡°You can tell that?¡± [Spirits are beings of nature. We can read the rough flow of life. Well, for someone as strong as the master, most of it is blocked though.] Akien¡¯s eyes widened upon seeing Barkaza. ¡°Wh, what?¡± [Pleased to meet you. I am a top-grade spirit with colorful hues, Barkaza. Currently, I am contracted to the individual next to me.] ¡°Top, top-grade spirit!¡± ¡°Barkaza? No way!¡± [Lord Barkaza?] They were astonished. The spirits guarding them and sending cautious nces also seemed greatly surprised. Taesan waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s try to get some sleep first. Haven¡¯t you all been awake until now?¡± ¡°Ah, yes¡­¡± Akien absentmindedly nodded. They had stayed up all night waiting for Taesan. They should have been tired enough to sleep, but sleep did note. Eventually, they started moving again in the carriage, half asleep, a few hourster. Taesan walked outside the carriage. It was because Barkaza was toorge to enter the carriage. Inside the carriage, Akien and her group sneakily nced at Barkaza. Their faces were full of curiosity, almost driving them mad. Barkaza murmured with satisfaction. [Good.] He seemed to enjoy that Akien and her group were surprised and showing him respect. The ghost snickered. [Quite a worldly spirit. He''s different from those in thebyrinth in an amusing way.] [Life would be too tedious without such small amusements. Indeed, the human world is more enjoyable than the spirit world.] [...Lord Barkaza.] A spirit quietly following them could no longer hold back and spoke up. [Did you contract with this person?] [What else does it look like?] [¡­This person has killed our kin.] [So?] Barkaza countered. The spirit asked usingly. [To contract with someone who has killed our kin. Everyone will condemn you.] [Condemn me?] Barkazaughed. [Who will condemn me? The King has fulfilled his duty and disappeared. The same goes for the shields and spears. Who, then, will me and punish me in such circumstances?] [But¡­¡­.] [Of course, if he had maliciously killed our kin, I would have resisted. But he won against our kin through a legitimate fight. Then, I have no intention of being hostile towards him.] Barkaza turned his body as if there was nothing more to say. [Conversations with you, who are bound by the notion of being a spirit and willing to forsake your self, are still tiring. Go back.] The spirits had no choice but to shut their mouths at Barkaza¡¯s firm words. Barkaza clicked his tongue. [Spirits are mostly like that. They could afford to be a bit more free.] ¡°No matter how I look at it, you seem to be the peculiar one.¡± [I won''t deny that. That''s why the shields and spears also had a word or two to say to me.] ¡°Since you¡¯ve mentioned shields and spears earlier, are they stronger than you?¡± [Of course. They are directly under the King.] ¡°Do your spirit ranks have a hierarchy, and how exactly is it divided?¡± [It''s not difficult. The weakest among the self-aware spirits are them, the lower spirits. Even though they''re considered weak, they possess considerable powerpared to ordinary humans.] Barkaza continued. [Next are the intermediate spirits. Quite strong. Generally, they are the limit to which spirits can be summoned. Much stronger than the lower ones but still not that impressive. After them are the upper ranking spirits. From here on, it''s decent.] Upper ranking spirits. Taesan had encountered them in thebyrinth. And in this world, he had said there were beings contracted with upper spirits. [Quite strong. It''s safe to say they are at the limit of human power. Thenes me, the top-grade spirit.] Barkaza boasted. [Hard to find across the entire spirit world. Those who have contracted with us have made a name for themselves all over the world. Even they would know about me right away.] Akien, who became the subject of the conversation, was startled. [Tell me, human. Do you know who I am?] ¡°¡­Yes. The spirit of the great king from hundreds of years ago.¡± [That''s right.] Barkaza nodded. [From time to time, there are those born beyond the limits of humans. They contract with us. And next are the spear and shield that protect the King. Directly under the King. Very strong.] ¡°How do youpare with them?¡± [There''s noparison. I wouldn''t be able to resist and would be crushed easily.] ¡°But when fighting me, you said that even the spear and shield wouldn¡¯t be able to easily break through your defense?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct, but¡­ it¡¯s just that. It¡¯s only a matter of time. I¡¯ve sparred with them a few times, but I¡¯ve always been defeated without being able to do anything.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is.¡± Taesan stroked his chin. ¡°How would theypare to me now?¡± [¡­It''s ambiguous.] Breaking the silence, Barkaza said, [I do not know the full extent of the master''s power. But there was a power I felt at the moment of the contract. The master is monstrously strong. Even if the entire spirit world, excluding the spear and shield, were to attack you, I cannot guarantee our victory.] Even as he spoke, Barkaza let out a chuckle. A human against whom all of thembined could not win. Even he could hardly believe such a being truly existed. [But ifpared to them... it would probably be difficult to win.] ¡°That much?¡± [Literally directly under the king. They can''t be weak.] ¡°Then it wasn¡¯t him.¡± The spirit that had dwelled in the skeleton, the one who had pressured Taesan with the power of the Spirit King, seemed not to be the spear and shield but a high-level spirit. ¡°Interesting.¡± Taesan smiled slightly. [And next would be the Spirit King, but... there''s not much to say. I also do not know exactly how powerful the king is. I just think he is infinitely strong.] ¡°I have a rough idea.¡± The Spirit King of thebyrinth nearly killed him just with an emotion. He had be stronger since then, but likely nothing had changed. ¡°The Spirit King, huh.¡± Curious, Taesan asked, ¡°Is it possible to make a contract with any spirit?¡± [In theory, it''s possible. There are even those who have made contracts with the spear and shield.] ¡°Then the Spirit King?¡± Barkaza hesitated at Taesan¡¯s question. [That... I do not know. The king is a being that does not involve himself in the mundane world.] ¡°That¡¯s how it is.¡± [What a waste of thought.] Barkaza dismissed the idea. [Then, master. I have something to ask.] ¡°Go ahead.¡± [What does it mean that our god has requested something of you?] ¡°Quite literally. There¡¯s a Spirit God in thebyrinth. She asked me to enter this world and fill the void left by the Spirit King.¡± Initially, he had no intention of speaking. Since the spirits were hostile and distrustful, speaking seemed pointless. However, since Barkaza had made a contract with Taesan and was not hostile, he concluded that there would be no harm in speaking. [¡­The god herself to the master.] Barkaza let out a hollowugh. [How ridiculous. The more I hear, the stranger it bes. What does this ''void'' refer to?] ¡°Those guys.¡± Taesan pointed. Darkened spirits were rushing towards the carriage. Barkaza apuded. Light poured down, crushing the spirits. A cry of astonishment came from inside the carriage. [The spirits have indeed been acting strangelytely.] ¡°The old gods have been eyeing this ce since the Spirit King vanished.¡± [Aha. The banished ones. The old gods, huh?] ¡°You know about it.¡± [I am a rtively old spirit. After the Spirit King vanished, things felt odd, so it was them. The puzzle is solved.] Barkaza chuckled softly. [Indeed, master was the right choice. Such a fight from the start. Very satisfying.] ¡°If you¡¯re satisfied, then that¡¯s good.¡± Then it was time for a meal. Even while preparing the meal, Akien and her group kept sneaking nces at Barkaza. [If you have questions, ask. I will answer.] At Barkaza¡¯s words, Akien dropped thedle in surprise. She cautiously opened her mouth as she handed thedle to the spirit. ¡°The great king who ruled the world. Barkaza, who stood by Varian, nobler than anyone and carrying the bloodline of the gods¡­ [That''s a misunderstanding. That one did not carry the bloodline of the gods. He was rather of a ve status.] ¡°¡­¡­Huh.¡± It was real. A spirit that existed only in history. ¡®How could it be.¡¯ Taesan himself possessed no special attributes. It should have been impossible for him to form a contract with a spirit, yet he managed to contract with not just any spirit, but a top-grade one. Regaining herposure, she asked, ¡°Great spirit, who is the being in the ce we are heading to now?¡± The girl inside the orb was a mystery. Nobody in the world knew her identity, only spections existed. Barkaza responded to her question. [Not long ago, the Spirit King fulfilled his duty and vanished. A new Spirit King is taking his ce.] ¡°Then that being is¡­¡± [A new Spirit King to protect Arulia.] Akien¡¯s face turned pale, and those listening behind her felt the same way. They had lived alongside spirits, viewing the Spirit King as an object of faith. Especially their family, which believed in the Spirit King more faithfully than anyone else. ¡°Then, we are.¡± [To have an entity to protect you and to conduct various experiments with it.] She bit her lip. [The likes of your power could never affect the king, so the spirits are not paying much attention... It''s funny. Using the power given to you by the king to scheme against him. I always think most humans are too selfish.] Barkaza scoffed, causing Akien¡¯s face to darken. The carriage continued on indifferently. And they arrived in front of the orb. ¡°There are so many people.¡± The crowd was vast. Hundreds had gathered around the orb, setting up tents. Akien spoke in a weakened voice, ¡°The Bazuk family made a personal request, so people from all over have gathered.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s part ways here.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be good for you if it bes known that you were with me.¡± Realizing what Taesan intended to do, Akien said, ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Do as you please. There¡¯s no need for you to take unnecessary actions.¡± Taesan stamped his foot. Ignoring the voices trying to hold him back, Taesan made his way towards the orb, weaving through the crowd. A huge barrier surrounded the orb. ¡°Barkaza.¡± [Just wait a moment.] Barkaza raised his arm towards the barrier. The barrier slowly crumbled, creating a space for Taesan to enter. Taesan arrived in front of the orb without anyone stopping him. Surprisingly, there was nobody by the orb. Everyone was gathered, preparing how to approach the orb. Taesan touched the orb. Wooong. Power flowed through his hand. It was a heavy natural force. Barkaza let out a sigh of admiration. [Indeed, she is the king. Even in an iplete state, this is remarkable.] Beyond the orb was a little girl. With blue hair, the girl, dressed in white cloth, was quietly curling up inside the orb. ¡°Seeing the Spirit King for the second time.¡± The Guides of Sin. One of the leaders of that group was the Spirit King of me. And the Spirit King protecting Arulia. Protecting the being in front of him was Taesan¡¯s purpose foring here. Chapter 223: King Of The Wind Spirits, Minerva (1) Chapter 223: King Of The Wind Spirits, Minerva (1) [You''re quite young.] ¡°How long do I have to wait to be a full-fledged King of the Spirits?¡± [It won''t take too long. Roughly... a week should be sufficient.] Barkazaughed. [This person is going to be the king who will protect Arulia and safeguard the humans. To witness this majestic moment with my own eyes is an honor.] ¡°Let¡¯s wait then.¡± A week. And during that time, Taesan had to ensure that no one could approach this sphere. Taesan leaned against the sphere and closed his eyes. Then a suggestion came. Someone was trying to put Taesan to sleep artificially.Taesan didn¡¯t resist and epted the suggestion willingly. Taesan fell asleep. ¡°Hello!¡± Taesan opened his eyes to the greeting. A white space weed him. And in front of him, a girl with blue hair was tilting her head and smiling brightly. ¡°Nice to meet you! I¡¯m Minerva, the King of the Wind Spirits!¡± Taesan nodded and took the hand that was extended to him. The girl who introduced herself as Minerva waved her hand with a wless smile. ¡°Are you the guardian my parent called for?¡± ¡°If the parent you¡¯re talking about is Beatrice, then yes.¡± ¡°Hehe. Please take care of me.¡± [My king. This is¡­] Barkaza, who followed along, moaned. Minervaughed and opened her arms wide. ¡°I¡¯ve called you all into my domain!¡± [Is that so.] ¡°You¡¯re my servant! Please take care of me!¡± [Yes, I am indeed your servant. You may do as you please with me.] Barkaza bowed deeply. He showed Minerva absolute reverence, something unseen by Taesan. [So not being fully self-aware means this? She''s just a kid.] ¡°Wow! It¡¯s so white!¡± Minerva, seeing the ghost, lit up her eyes and rushed towards it. ¡°Who are you? Why are you so white? I can¡¯t tell you apart from the background!¡± [Go away, kid.] The ghost, being dragged around by Minerva¡¯s hand, seemed annoyed and kept its distance. However, Minerva continued to chase after it. Taesan spoke to Minerva, who was ying with the ghost. ¡°Then why did you call for me? I¡¯m supposed to protect you.¡± ¡°Uhm. There¡¯s still time left. It doesn¡¯t seem like the humans outside will move yet, so I¡¯m bored.¡± Minerva ran towards Taesan with augh. ¡°Let¡¯s y then!¡± ¡®Including taking care of her in protection, I guess.¡¯ Taesan nodded. When Taesan entered Minerva¡¯s domain, Akien was sitting on a chair in the assigned tent, nkly staring at the ground. It wasn¡¯t just her. Perina, Baan, and Karuin were all sitting or lying in their ces, not saying anything. ¡°Akien! Did youe? ¡­Why so gloomy?¡± At that moment, the tent opened, and a middle-aged woman with me-like red hair entered. She looked quite aged but was so splendidly dressed that she caught the attention of many people. Akien forced a smile. ¡°Ah. Mrs. Marianne. Hello.¡± She was a woman who had a close rtionship with her parents. The families were on good terms, and there were even talks of a political marriage. Akien also had a close rtionship with Marianne since childhood. Marianne adjusted the hem of her dress and sat down on a chair. ¡°So, why such a gloomy face? Did you hateing here that much?¡± Akien nodded slightly. Marianne clicked her tongue. ¡°I feel the same. Damned Bazuk family. No matter how powerful, to order us around like this. It took me a whole month by carriage, you know?¡± Most of those gathered here harbored resentment towards the Bazuk family. However, they couldn¡¯t say anything because of the power the family held. Marianne patted Akien¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Still, try to think positively. Since we¡¯re here, we might as well enjoy it. Aren¡¯t you curious about the girl in the sphere?¡± Akien¡¯s face fell at her words. ¡°¡­¡­Mrs.¡± Akien hesitated before speaking. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°What do you think of the girl in the sphere?¡± ¡°Well.¡± Marianne opened her mouth with an ambiguous expression. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve checked nearby myself but couldn¡¯t really understand. Even the spirits are keeping their mouths shut about it.¡± The spirits were not telling humans that the entity within the sphere was a King of Spirits. It was a kind of rule, and also something they were not permitted to do. Lower and intermediate-level spirits could not disclose information about the Spirit King to humans. Therefore, nobody knew about the girl. Except for Akien¡¯s group. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a simr entity in historical records, and there¡¯s no information in the documents.¡± Spirits do have lifespans, but at the level of a Spirit King, it practically doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s a vast amount of time that can¡¯t be contained in human history. ¡°Some say it¡¯s the birth of a supreme spirit, and others say it¡¯s the first spirit born not in the spirit realm but here, and still others say the girl is a bridge between the spirit realm and the human realm¡­ Which one is the correct answer?¡± ¡°If.¡± Akien spoke. ¡°What if we shouldn¡¯t interfere with that being?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a possibility, but¡­ what can we do?¡± Marianne gave a bitter smile. ¡°We have no choice.¡± The tent opened. A man in a suit bowed politely. ¡°Representative of the Acacia family, Akien. Representative of the Baltica family, Marianne. Is that correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°If you could follow me, please. Representative Hazzak of the Bazuk family is calling for you.¡± ¡°The arrogant one is calling. Let¡¯s go, Akien.¡± Akien got up with a gloomy face. ¡°What castle? Why have they decorated a temporary residence like this?¡± Marianne grumbled. A massive building stood before them. Even a notable family couldn¡¯t afford to build such splendor. Entering inside, the interior was even more ostentatious, filled with borate patterns and precious ornaments. They went even further inside. Upon opening the ck door, they found numerous people sitting around a circr table. Most of them were familiar faces, each a distinguished member of their respective noble families, owning their territories. Marianne looked around and spoke. ¡°Where¡¯s Hazzak?¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± ¡°So, he calls everyone and theneste himself. As if he¡¯s some kind of king.¡± Marianne grumbled and took her seat. Shortly after, a man appeared from an inner door. The man with golden hair was quite young, his face barely marking him as twenty. His face was filled with confidence. A belief that he was superior, that no one could approach him. ¡°Everyone¡¯s here.¡± He casually took a seat. Here, Hazzak was the youngest. Despite this, theck of manners in his demeanor made a few frown, but nobody pointed it out. More precisely, they couldn¡¯t. He snapped his fingers. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the tedious greetings and get straight to the point. Exin.¡± A servant stepped forward to start the exnation. ¡°As you all know, a few months ago, a giant sphere appeared on the Brunian ins. And there was a girl inside it.¡± People couldn¡¯t hide their curiosity. It was surprising enough that a giant sphere appeared out of nowhere, but that was not all. ¡°Approaching the sphere, the spirits¡¯ powers intensified. There are even rumors of a lower spirit evolving into a middle spirit.¡± At that, the people at the table showed interest. The difference between lower and middle spirits was vast. Just being near the sphere induced evolution. It was something everyone would covet. ¡°But as with any power gained without a price, it could only lead to chaos. Therefore, my master, the great Hazzak, has personally moved to propose ess to the sphere. It was a wise decision.¡± ¡°He wants it all to himself, what a joke.¡± Marianne muttered under her breath, but her voice was so soft it only circted within her mouth. ¡°Hazzak has conducted various experiments. He called researchers and those with knowledge. But everything before has failed. Thus, Hazzak has made a decision.¡± ¡°This sphere holds a monstrously strong power.¡± Hazzak spoke up. ¡°I¡¯ve tried everything, but couldn¡¯t breach the sphere¡¯s defenses. Weck the power. So, I¡¯m thinking of creating a domain.¡± ¡°A domain?¡± Hazzak gestured, and a servant spread arge piece of paper on the table. Marianne scowled as she examined the contents of the paper. ¡°What¡¯s this nonsensical domain?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a domain I created.¡± Hazzak said without any change in expression. ¡°It gathers the power of hundreds of spirits. And infuse that into my spirit to shatter the sphere¡¯s defenses.¡± ¡°Sounds nice, except for the burden it ces on the spirits assisting.¡± Marianne spoke sharply. ¡°Hundreds of assisting spirits will suffer. Some might not withstand the force and be forcibly desummoned. They might not be able to be summoned again for a long time.¡± ¡°So?¡± Hazzak gave her a look that said, ¡°What do you want me to do about it?¡± Marianne bristled. ¡°So, it¡¯s okay for the spirits to suffer?¡± For them, spirits were not mere tools. Once contracted, they werepanions for life. No one enjoyed seeing the spirits suffer. Especially for something as trivial as an auxiliary role, causing them needless pain was even more uneptable. However, Hazzak¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°So, what do you want me to do about it?¡± Hazzak, the eldest son of the Bazhuk family, was the only human in the world contracted with a high-level spirit. ¡°If you haveints, leave. It¡¯ll just ruin your family.¡± ¡°Mari¡­¡± Marianne gritted her teeth but remained silent. He had power greater than a king. If he truly wished, he could destroy her family at any moment. ¡°So, it¡¯s decided then.¡± Hazzak pped his chin. ¡°I¡¯m off to rest, so get ready.¡± It wasn¡¯t a suggestion. It was a unteral announcement. After he left, sighs and curses erupted from all around. In the midst of this, Akien quietly looked down at the ground. ¡°Weaklings.¡± Hazzak clicked his tongue. Weak ones. Those beneath his feet dared to disobey and resist his words. Hazzak wanted to crush them all. But he had to restrain himself for now. There was still a bit left to achieve his goal. ¡°Once I achieve my goal, I¡¯ll kill them all.¡± [Master.] The spirit beside him sighed. It was a high-level earth spirit contracted with Hazzak. [Stop now. Really. That is not something we should tamper with.] ¡°Shut up. Just follow my orders.¡± [Master¡­] The high-level spirit murmured sadly. [Does the master really wish for that?] ¡°Yes.¡± Hazzak bared his teeth. ¡°I have no intention of being satisfied with such a narrow world.¡± For him, Arulia was too weak a world. He wanted to be greater. He wanted to possess a stronger power. He wished to transcend the limits of humanity, to be stronger than the spirits. ¡°That power is merely a stepping stone. I will devour the sphere¡¯s power and be great! And then I will go there!¡± Hazzak couldn¡¯t contain his passion and shouted. ¡°To the ce where the great ones gather, where gods reside. To the Labyrinth!¡± [Is that your wish, master?] ¡°Yes!¡± The Labyrinth. A ce where heroes and warriors gathered. Where gods, who could lightly tread upon the world, congregate. Hazzak heard about the Labyrinth from a nameless storyteller who visited him years ago. At first, he tried to dismiss it as mere legend, but as the storyteller presented evidence, he gradually realized it was true. Hazzak fiddled with a small de in his pocket. It was a de given to him by the storyteller. Initially dismissed as a rusted piece, the closer he looked, the more he was astonished. The withered de contained a power capable of overturning the entire world. Though now faded and nearly extinguished by the passage of time, leaving only remnants, Hazzak knew that possessing this sword once meant ruling the world. And he was told there were countless such items in the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth. A space created by gods and magicians. Descending deeper made one stronger, and eventually, it was possible to break free from the confines of mortality. Most didn¡¯t survive and died descending into the Labyrinth, but that didn¡¯t concern Hazzak. It was a ce where he could transcend his limits and be stronger. Hazzak wanted to go there. He wanted to be stronger and stronger, to transcend mortality. That was his wish. ¡°With the power of that sphere alone, I can go to the Labyrinth. There, I will descend faster than anyone else and conquer it.¡± Hazzak shouted, his face filled with madness. ¡°And eventually, I will be the great god that the storyteller spoke of!¡± [Master¡­] The high-level spirit remained silent. Hazzak was consumed by power. The uniqueness of being the only one to contract with a high-level spirit had engulfed his ego. He had be a madman, losing the purity he had when he first contracted with the spirit, seeking only strength. But there was nothing it could do. Once a contract was made, the spirit was bound to the human. Until Hazzak died, it must protect him. [May you find peace again.] The high-level spirit silently stood guard. And the next day came. People, with gloomy faces, created the domain. Then, they went out to attack an entity they did not know, an entity meant to protect them. Meanwhile, Taesan was ying catch with the King of the Wind Spirits. ¡°Wow!¡± Minerva shouted, her face drenched in sweat. ¡°This is fun!¡± ¡°Yes. Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. Minerva staggered to her feet. ¡°I want to y more¡­ but it¡¯s not possible now. They areing.¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°They don¡¯t know who I am. So, I intend to forgive them. Because they are the children I must protect. The lives I must guard.¡± The white world fades away. Leaving thest words of the King of the Wind Spirits behind, Taesan returned to reality. ¡°So, give them a proper scolding.¡± Taesan opened his eyes. Numerous people were approaching him. ¡°Time to get to work.¡± He rose and drew his sword. Chapter 224: King Of The Wind Spirits, Minerva (2) Chapter 224: King Of The Wind Spirits, Minerva (2) Hazzak confidently led the people toward the sphere, with the high-ranking spirit following him. The spirit¡¯s power made everyone marvel. A subtle energy spread among them all. It was a power thatmanded respect simply by existing. They all thought that even if they attacked together, victory was not guaranteed against such an absolute being. As they got closer to the sphere, greed appeared on Hazzak¡¯s face. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Even though they hadn¡¯t arrived yet, a formidable power was felt. At least, the high-ranking spirit contracted with him could be considered suchpared to the power within the sphere. ¡®If I just swallow that!¡¯ He could gain power.Suppressing his excitement, he asked, ¡°Is the area prepared?¡± ¡°No. It might take a little more time.¡± ¡°Why is it taking so long?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It needs a bit more tuning¡­¡± Hazzak clicked his tongue. This one and that one, none were useful. He nned to smash everything once he got the power. They almost reached the sphere. And Hazzak¡¯s steps halted. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Hazzak frowned. A human with ck hair was leaning against the sphere, his eyes closed. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Who is that person by the sphere?¡± People were confused. Then Akien gasped softly. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Beside the sphere stood Taesan. Marianne asked at her reaction. ¡° Do you know who it is?¡° ¡°¡­¡­No.¡± Akien shook her head, closing her mouth and looking at Taesan withplex eyes. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Hazzak looked at Taesan with a crumpled face. ¡°¡­¡­I don¡¯t remember that face. Didn¡¯t we set up a barrier to prevent outsiders from entering?¡± ¡°No, we definitely did.¡± The man in charge of the barrier panicked. The barrier was still functioning without any issues. Clearly, no one except those permitted should have been able to enter, yet there was a man looking like an outsider right next to the sphere. ¡°Who is that?¡± Hundreds of people murmured, looking at Taesan. At that moment, Taesan opened his eyes. The murmuring ceased as Taesan slowly rose to his feet. ¡°You! Who are you?¡± Hazzak stepped forward, shouting, his face contorted with emotion. ¡°This is my ce! Get lost! Or I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Taesan¡¯s gaze shifted to Hazzak, who flinched momentarily. It was an indifferent gaze, devoid of any value or emotion. It was as if he saw Hazzak as nothing more than an inanimate object. Hazzak had never been looked at in such a way before. [Master. This person is¡­] The high-ranking spirit groaned. [It''s dangerous. It would be best to retreat for now.] ¡°Shut up!¡± Hazzak shouted roughly, waving his hand in irritation. ¡°Wretched human! Get lost!¡± ¡°Sorry, but that¡¯s not going to happen.¡± Taesan responded. His voice was soft, yet it echoed in their ears as if amplified. ¡°From here on, you are not allowed. Turn back.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Hazzak sneered at Taesan. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re the first of your kind? There have been many like you. ¡®This is a sacred being. How dare a human touch it.¡¯ They raved in front of the sphere.¡± They all believed in their power and resisted Hazzak. But none of them remained in this world. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you broke through the barrier, but I have no time to talk to something as lowly as you.¡± Hazzak signaled to the high-ranking spirit, which groaned again. [Master¡­¡­] ¡°Do it!¡± [Damn.] Finally, the spirit cursed and regarded Taesan with a serious gaze. Power surged from the high-ranking spirit, leaving the onlookers in awe of its strength. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°This is a high-ranking spirit¡­ They couldn¡¯t fathom the magnitude of the power being gathered. The amassed power was unleashed towards Taesan. Everyone expected Taesan to be overwhelmed by the force. Those with weak constitutions looked away. Taesan spoke. ¡°Barkaza.¡± Kooong! A golem materialized in front of Taesan. The high-ranking spirit was taken aback. [Lord Barkaza!] Kaang! The power shed with the golem, unleashing a massive wave. Not a single scratch appeared on Barkaza¡¯s body. [You''ve grown quite powerful. You''ve be useful.] Barkazaughed heartily. The high-ranking spirit swallowed. [Why are you here¡­¡­] [Why? Because I''ve made a contract.] ¡°Barkaza?¡± ¡°That Barkaza?¡± ¡°Could it be¡­¡± The surrounding people whispered among themselves after hearing the conversation between the spirits. Hazzak shouted with a puzzled face. ¡°What!¡± His attack had been blocked. It was something Hazzak had never imagined. Barkaza looked at Hazzak and smiled slyly. [Are you the human who recently made a contract with a high-ranking spirit? You''re quite violent and rude for that. You won''t live long.] ¡°¡­Who are you!¡± Hazzak shouted in denial. He had his suspicions, but he couldn¡¯t believe it. Barkaza dismissed his denial. [I am Barkaza, the highest-ranking spirit with a multitude of colors.] Barkaza unleashed the power he had been harboring. People held their breaths. An immeasurable force enveloped them. Just the energy emanating from him made the high-ranking spirit look pitiful inparison. Barkaza stood in front of the sphere. [Sorry, but this person is under my protection. I cannot allow any closer approach.] People were astonished. Hundreds of years ago, there was a human He contracted with the highest-ranking spirit, which everyone believed was impossible. And with overwhelming power, he advanced towards the world, single-handedly subjugating it. The name of the highest-ranking spirit he contracted with was Barkaza. A great being that could only be seen in history books was before their eyes. ¡°If that¡¯s the case.¡± Spirits could only exist in the human world if they formed a contract. Meaning, someone had contracted with the highest-ranking spirit. Naturally, their gaze turned towards Taesan. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± Hazzak yelled out loud. ¡°A human contracted with the highest-ranking spirit? That¡¯s just a legend!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The power they felt was self-evident. It truly was the highest-ranking spirit, iparably stronger than any spirit they had previously contracted with. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. Attack!¡± syste_start [Master!] system_end ¡°Shut up and attack!¡± [Sigh.] The high-ranking spirit sighed and began to gather its power. Hazzak turned his head abruptly. ¡°You too! Quickly!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± People hesitated. Hazzak¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°Anyone who dawdles will be killed!¡± Proving his threat was no bluff, the power of spirits swirled around Hazzak¡¯s entire body. Reluctantly, people began summoning their spirits and amassing power. Barkazaughed heartily. [Master. What shall we do?] ¡°If talking won¡¯t suffice, we¡¯ll have to teach them a lesson. This is perfect. I need to gauge your power anyway.¡± Multiple spirits. And one high-ranking spirit. It was the ideal scenario to assess the power of spirits. ¡°Go ahead and do as you wish.¡± [That¡¯s exactly what I wanted to hear.] Barkaza pped his hands in delight. [Come at me, my kin. Try to bring me down with your power.] ¡°¡­¡­Die!¡± Hazzak shouted. The power of the spirits was unleashed all at once. [What a spectacle.] Hundreds of lights filled the sky, a scene that demanded admiration. Barkaza pped his hands. Kooong! A massive barrier encased the area. It was one of Barkaza¡¯s defensive powers. Kukukukukung! The spirits¡¯ attacks collided with the barrier. The barrier remained unyielding, effortlessly blocking all the attacks. [My king has granted you mercy, thus I will not harm you.] Barkaza pped his hands. Just like the attack towards Taesan, beams of light began to rain down. ¡°Ah, ahhh!¡± ¡°Run away!¡± They screamed. The descending light precisely targeted the spirits. Unable to withstand the shock, the spirits began to revert one by one. ¡°Can he control every single beam of light?¡± Taesan was impressed. If he could control hundreds of beams, no weak monster, no matter how numerous, could approach. It was a significant advantage, especially considering fights on Earth. [Lord Barkaza!] The high-ranking spirit screamed, gathering power to create a shield. However, as soon as a beam of light touched it, the shield shattered. [Cough!] ¡°This, this¡­¡± Hazzak stood agape. Hundreds of beams of light were erasing the spirits. Even though they were lower-ranking spirits, the hundreds that gathered couldn¡¯t put up any proper resistance. ¡°¡­This is impossible!¡± [...Lord Barkaza!] The high-ranking spirit yelled out. [This person is our enemy! He has killed our kin!] [So what?] Barkaza replied nonchntly. [What do you want me to do about it? Hit my master on the back of his head?] [Why did you make a contract with such a person! And why is he here!] The high-ranking spirit gnashed its teeth. [...Don''t tell me! You''re aiming for the person behind you!] [That''s somewhat close. Though many details are different.] The contract between the spirit god and Taesan was something even Barkaza didn¡¯t know about. Naturally, the high-ranking spirit wouldn¡¯t know either. It misunderstood that Taesan was targeting their king. [Why would you!] [Be quiet.] Barkaza said indifferently. [I was defeated by my master. That''s why I epted him as my master. If you have a problem with that, try to defeat me with your strength.] [...Lord Barkaza!] The high-ranking spirit¡¯s power surged. Hazzak gnashed his teeth. ¡°The domain! What about the domain!¡± ¡°It, it¡¯s ready! But!¡± ¡°Just do it!¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Wooong! The domain created around the high-ranking spirit activated. The power of the lower-ranking spirits, desperately fleeing, was sucked towards the high-ranking spirit. [Master, Master!] [It hurts!] The lower-ranking spirits struggled, but they couldn¡¯t escape the domain¡¯s power. Eventually, all spirits not yet recalled were forcibly summoned back, and their power was gathered into the high-ranking spirit. [Ohhh...] The power of the high-ranking spirit noticeably increased. [From now on, it won''t be easy. For our king, I will defeat you.] [This will be interesting. Give it a try.] Kooong! The powers of the spirits collided. The high-ranking spirit did not get pushed back, as it had said. ¡°Are the spirits gathering their power and amplifying it? Interesting,¡± Taesan muttered. But that was it. Barkaza pped his hands. Hundreds of beams of light poured towards the high-ranking spirit. The high-ranking spirit gathered power and exploded it. The beams of light scattered in all directions. However, the scattered beams of light gathered again and poured down. Kukukukung! [Ugh!] ¡°The difference in ss is clear.¡± No matter how much the high-ranking spirit gathered and intensified its power, it remained a high-ranking spirit. There was an insurmountable gap between it and the highest ss. Barkaza said to the struggling high-ranking spirit. [Don''t worry too much. It''s not what you think. Quite the opposite, actually.] ¡°This is impossible!¡± Hazzak eximed vehemently. ¡°I am, I am the most powerful man in the world!¡± His firmly believed absolute truth was crumbling. ¡°I am the man destined for thebyrinth! The man who will be stronger than anyone there and be a god!¡± ¡°You, of all people?¡± Taesan scoffed. Hazzak was indeed strong. That was undeniable. If he descended into thebyrinth, he could probably reach the 20th floor without issues. But that was it. Others with more talent and experience couldn¡¯t survive or broke mentally in thebyrinth. ¡°Your dream is grand.¡± Then, it was time to show him reality. ¡°Step aside.¡± [Master?] Taesanmanded Barkaza, who stepped back in confusion. [Human...] The high-ranking spirit staggered to its feet. ¡°Come at me.¡± ¡°¡­Ha!¡± Hazzakughed. Challenging a spirit with a human body was impossible. Hazzak thought Taesan had gone mad from the power of spirits. ¡°Kill him!¡± [...Our enemy!] The high-ranking spirit charged fiercely. Powered by hundreds of lower-ranking spirits, the high-ranking spirit¡¯s ss might be unknown, but its power had almost reached that of the highest-ranking spirits. Its power mmed into Taesan¡¯s entire body. Taesan lightly raised his fist. By the time one could see that the fist had moved, the high-ranking spirit¡¯s body had already burst apart. ¡°¡­What?¡± [I, Human!] The high-ranking spirit got up, repairing its lost body, and charged again. Taesan waved his hand lightly, disrupting the spirit¡¯s power. [Grgh!] A light gesture. A light punch. Each of these had the high-ranking spirit trembling as if it would dissipate at any moment. Hazzak couldn¡¯t believe what was happening before his eyes. ¡°How, how can a human¡­¡± The power of spirits was supposed to be beyond human reach. Even lower-ranking spirits, let alone high-ranking ones, had the power to calm floodwaters and temporarily stopndslides. Yet, such a spirit was being pushed back by a seemingly ordinary human. ¡°Your so-called absolute power of a high-ranking spirit means nothing in thebyrinth.¡± ¡°¡­Could it be!¡± Hazzak¡¯s pupils dted at Taesan¡¯s words. Taesan clenched his fist. Sensing the ominousness, the high-ranking spirit surrounded itself with a sturdy barrier, a defense covering its entire being. The fist moved. The defense shattered, sending the high-ranking spirit to being forcibly summoned back. Chapter 225: King Of The Wind Spirits, Minerva (3) Chapter 225: King Of The Wind Spirits, Minerva (3) ¡°Ah¡­¡± Hazzak nkly watched the fading remnants of the spirit. The high-ranking spirit he had contracted with. His absolute power. The world¡¯s strongest power that no one could deny. It had now been shattered to pieces. ¡°¡­Impossible!¡± Hazzak eximed involuntarily. ¡°No matter! No matter! Even if it¡¯s a being from thebyrinth! You can¡¯t easily eliminate a high-ranking spirit like this!¡±¡°That¡¯s not for you to judge. It¡¯s for me to decide.¡± Taesan leisurely approached and grabbed Hazzak¡¯s head. Hazzak red at Taesan with bloodshot eyes. ¡°You¡¯re a cheater! I don¡¯t know what trick you used, but to reverse summon my spirit. Know your ce!¡± ¡°Nice try.¡± It seemed there was something in thebyrinth capable of reverse summoning spirits, and Taesan had utilized it. [Is this a denial of reality due to shock? It happens from time to time, but it''s rare for it to be this severe.] [Such an ugly human.] Hazzak continued to spew insults, denying what Taesan had aplished. Taesan, holding his head, quietly looked down at him. Killing him wouldn¡¯t be a problem. But the King of Spirits said they were beings she must protect. To scold them moderately. ¡°Will this make youe to your senses?¡± Power gathered in Taesan¡¯s body. Those watching from a distance opened their mouths in shock. He activated three proofs. He gathered soul energy through Twisted Soul Tuning. And then concentrated his will with a conceptual skill to unleash it. Taesan¡¯s presence overwhelmed them. ¡°Ah.¡± The faces of the people turned pale. They started to suffocate. The power emanating from Taesan pressed down on them all. It wasn¡¯t just the pressure of power. Its dignity was also elevated. An overwhelming existence they could not approach. ¡°Ah, aaaaaah¡­¡± They bowed their heads. As if worshipping a great deity, they showed reverence towards Taesan. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Taesan reluctantly gathered his power. He deliberately avoided applying physical pressure. If they were subjected to it at this level, they would be crushed and perish the moment they made contact, so he merely made his presence known. He anticipated they would feel overwhelmed and intimidated, yet he did not foresee such an almost worshipful reaction. [Your aura is at that level for these guys now.] Apostle Transformation, conceptual skills, and the abilities of a god were all intertwined, Taesan¡¯s aura neared that of a god¡¯s apostle. In a world where even a high-ranking spirit was deemed the strongest, the presence of an apostle was something they couldn¡¯t withstand. Taesan, having amassed his power, gazed down at Hazzak once more. His face, overwhelmed by the dignity up close, had turned ghostly pale. ¡°This, this can¡¯t be.¡± He stuttered. ¡°It can¡¯t be like this. You, you¡¯re lying.¡± [Oh. Still denying even after being overwhelmed by dignity? That''s impressive, isn''t it?] [The twisted emotions. The misced belief in oneself. Could it be a mix of these things? This is astonishing.] ¡°Annoying.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. This one posed no threat. With merely this level of power, he couldn¡¯t harm him or the King of Spirits. But if left unchecked, he would return day after day to cause trouble. That would be a nuisance. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Taesan narrowed his eyes. As he quietly observed Hazzak, Taesan sensed something within him. ¡®That is.¡¯ It was a connection. Taesan focused his soul energy to determine where the connection led. ¡®A spirit?¡¯ It was linked to another dimension. Taesan realized this was the contract between Hazzak and the high-ranking spirit. ¡®Can it be done?¡¯ [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Myriad Souls].] Taesan¡¯s power ascended further. Barkaza was taken aback. [Master? This power is...] Taesan reached out to Hazzak¡¯s connection. But the connection wavered and eluded his grasp. It was a contract between a spirit and a human. No matter the strength of the power or the height of the power, it remained untouchable. But with the power of a god, the story changed. The power of those perfect from birth, now exiled from this world, was inherently corrupt. He manipted the soul energy with Twisted Soul Tuning. The advanced soul energy made contact with the link. ¡°Huh?¡± Hazzak¡¯s eyes flickered. He couldn¡¯t be certain, but he sensed Taesan was meddling with something far more significant than anything else. ¡°Don¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote.¡± Taesan intensified his soul energy. The link was severed. ¡°Ah, aaaaaah!¡± Hazzak copsed, clutching his head. Something vital to his being was fading away. [What''s this?] [Master. Did you just interfere with the contract itself?] Barkaza was astonished. The contract was a bond directly established by the spirit god with humans. Unless the god herself permitted it, no one could interfere with it. And Taesan had just done so. ¡°So this is how it feels.¡± Taesan stabilized the fluctuating soul energy. He roughly understood how the exiled high gods continued to meddle with this world. Their power was indeed corrupt. ¡°It¡¯s not perfect.¡± The severed link attempted to reconnect. Likely, in about a week, the contract would be reinstated. Interference was feasible, but breaking thews outright seemed impossible. Yet unaware of this, Hazzak merely clutched his head in confusion. ¡°What have you done to me!¡± ¡°Quiet.¡± Taesan flung Hazzak aside. Those observing from a distance were taken aback and caught him. ¡°This is not yours to meddle with. Nor are you the entities to do so.¡± Taesan spoke. Though his voice was gentle, it resonated clearly in their ears. ¡°If you continue to approach, you too will pay a steep price.¡± In the ensuing silence, Taesan¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± In the white expanse, a girl with sky-blue hair. Minerva greeted Taesan. ¡°You did well! As expected of the human chosen by mother!¡± She hugged Taesan¡¯s waist and spun around gleefully. Upon Taesan¡¯s final warning, the people took care of Hazzak and distanced themselves. They didn¡¯t seem to be leaving immediately, but at least most of them had lost the will to do anything about the sphere. Most likely, they would not approach any further. The group led by Akien, distancing themselves, looked at Taesan with a peculiar gaze. Fear, respect, and gratitude. For those who were the only ones aware of the sphere¡¯s truth, they must have been grateful for Taesan protecting it. Minerva spun around cheerfully. She took out the sphere again and smiled. ¡°Then, let¡¯s y again!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Taesan nodded. The game of catch wasn¡¯t anything grand. Taesan threw the ball, and the King of Spirits caught it and threw it back, a simple repetition. However, the King of Spirits was greatly enjoying this simple repetition. ¡°It¡¯s fun!¡± ¡°Yeah. Sure.¡± ¡°It would be nice to have more people to y with.¡± She looked at Barkaza and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s y together!¡± [If the king wishes, as per the king''s will.] Barkaza joined in. She didn¡¯t stop there and also spoke to the ghost. ¡°Let¡¯s y too!¡± [Annoying. And I can''t do that.] The ghost was an entity floating without a body. There was no way he could touch the physical sphere. But the King of Spirits casually waved her hand. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll make it!¡± [What?] A dense energy enveloped the ghost¡¯s spirit. This energy materialized into a form, and the ghost possessed a newly formed body. [...Huh?] The ghost possessed a form that looked like a mannequin. He moved his body around as if puzzled. [A body?] ¡°Now it¡¯s settled? Let¡¯s y together!¡± [Even the King of Spirits can create a body?] The ghost was flustered. He had received a body before, but that was during Pavsha¡¯s trial. In other words, it was an act only achievable through divine power. ¡°This space is to protect me until I grow up. I can do many things here.¡± Minerva smiled brightly. ¡°It¡¯s not perfect, but I can lend a temporary body. Although it¡¯s limited to within this space.¡± [Indeed, that''s true.] The ghost tapped his arm. Then, pieces of the arm crumbled and fell. A very fragile body. But it should be enough to enjoy ying. Minerva eximed, ¡°Then, let¡¯s y together!¡± [Well, I didn''t know I''d be babysitting too.] The ghost grumbled but willingly joined in. He seemed to enjoy having a body for a change. [It''s better than just watching and not being able to do anything.] Barkaza, the ghost, the King of Spirits, and Taesan started throwing the ball. Though it was just throwing the ball, even with the increased numbers, Minerva seemed to enjoy it more than anything. And time passed. The white space gradually began to darken. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy¡­¡­¡± Minerva started nodding off. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep now¡­¡­ See you tomorrow.¡± She waved her hand. The white space receded, and Taesan returned to the outside world. Taesan sat down in front of the sphere. Barkaza spoke up. [Spirits are born alone. That''s why newly born spirits cling to and depend on the beings around them. The King is no exception. Normally, they depend a lot on the spear and shield born after their growth...... But this King seems to have chosen the master as the object of dependency.] ¡°It¡¯s not bad. It feels like seeing a child after a long time.¡± Thebyrinth¡¯s systemic adjustment was fair to both the old and young. Regardless of age, stats were equal. However, children who were not yet mature failed to survive in thebyrinth. Those who survived often died upon returning to Earth. Thus, seeing a pure King of Spirits, like a child for the first time in a long while, provided some mental respite to him, who had lived through struggles and in a devastated world. ¡°AAAAAAAH!¡± During that time, Hazzak was going mad. His office waspletely destroyed. ¡°Come out! Come out! I saide out!¡± He screamed. But nothing happened. ¡°Ah, aaaaaah¡­¡­¡± He no longer felt the presence of the high-ranking spirit that had apanied him throughout his life. ¡°What the¡­¡­¡± The link Taesan had severed was beginning to re-establish itself. In a week, he would be able to call upon the high-ranking spirit once more, but Hazzak, unaware of this development, believed Taesan hadpletely severed the contract. ¡°Ha, hahaha¡­¡­.¡± He sat down, his expression vacant. With his head bowed deeply, he mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± The rumor that his contract with the high-ranking spirit had been severed was already spreading. People would scrutinize the rumor, and they woulde to realize it was true. Then, they would mercilessly abandon Hazzak. He knew it himself. No one had punished him because he was under the protection of a high-ranking spirit. Without that shield, he was worthless. ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s okay.¡± Hazzak tried tofort himself. ¡°Just have to enter thebyrinth, only thebyrinth.¡± There, he could gain power, something akin to a spirit. Merely by entering, he could acquire power rivaling that of a god. Hazzak, who had be obsessed with thebyrinth itself, eventually convinced himself that just by entering thebyrinth, he could gain power. ¡°How do I enter thebyrinth?¡± Then he encountered a problem. He did not know how to enter thebyrinth. After zoning out for a while, his face twisted in realization. ¡°¡­Yes! That sphere is the gateway to thebyrinth! That damned one was blocking it for that reason!¡± Someone who had preemptively seized power from thebyrinth feared Hazzak gaining strength and thus was blocking the sphere. ¡°That damned bastard! Daring to prevent me from bing great!¡± Before long, Hazzak was convinced this was the truth. He began to spiral into madness once again. ¡°Power!¡± Great power! The power to be a god! Hazzak shouted at the top of his lungs. A god answered his wish. But in a twisted manner. Suddenly, darkness enveloped the office. The glowing Hazzak paused. ¡°What, what¡¯s this?¡± He swallowed. The darkness that engulfed the office was all-consuming, like an abyss. From within, a form made of darkness itself emerged. Hazzak caught his breath. It was darkness, yet it had form. At the same time, it wavered like a non-entity, dispersing like smoke. The darkness, with a thousand forms, stretched out. ¡°Ah, aaaaah¡­¡­¡± Instinctively, he closed his eyes. He was terrified to look at the being in front of him. Merely looking at it, he instinctively knew, would corrupt his soul and plunge him into a deep abyss. Hazzak understood. This darkness was forbidden in this world. An entity that would engulf everything and create a world of darkness. The darkness posed a question to him. If he desired power. Hazzak couldn¡¯t respond immediately. He was frightened. Even he, who so desperately craved power, felt an instinctive fear of the darkness. But with a trembling face, Hazzak nodded. He desired power. That was all he had ever wanted. With that nod, the contract was sealed. Something that originally couldn¡¯t remain in this world received the permission of an entity from this world. The darkness engulfed him. Chapter 226: Creating A Dark World (1) Chapter 226: Creating A Dark World (1) ¡°¡­And so, Odin, having concealed his identity, revealed himself and bestowed punishment on those who persecuted him and rewards on those who showed him mercy.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes sparkled. Perhaps tired from ying for days, Minerva pestered Taesan to tell her a story. So, Taesan recounted the tale of Odin, the protagonist of Norse mythology, who disguised himself as a shabby old man and descended to Earth. ¡°Interesting!¡± ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Minerva smiled andid her head on Taesan¡¯s knee, fiddling with the hem of his clothes. ¡°It¡¯s almost over.¡±It had been almost a week since Taesan met Minerva. During that time, Minerva¡¯s appearance and personality hadn¡¯t changed, but the power within her had grown immensely. It was now nearing the end. In a day or two, Minerva would be a perfect spirit king. ¡°It¡¯s over now.¡± Minerva stood up with a lonely expression. ¡°I will be the king who guards this ce. And once I be king, I¡¯ll be bound here and can¡¯t leave. And you, an adventurer descending into thebyrinth, will leave this ce.¡± Minerva tried to smile. ¡°But it¡¯s okay. I have a duty to protect them. I can endure even if you leave.¡± [There is a way.] The ghost spoke. [You just need to make a contract with this one.] ¡°A, a contract?¡± [It''s not like a spirit king can''t make a contract, right? If you make a contract, you cane when called, right?] Minerva¡¯s face brightened for a moment at the ghost¡¯s words. But then it darkened again. ¡°¡­No. If I make a contract with an entity from another world, my power will leak out. It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t protect it, but it¡¯s dangerous. I need to protect this world.¡± Hiding her sadness, Minerva was asked by Taesan. ¡°Do you like the people of this world?¡± ¡°Yes. They are the people I must protect, and it¡¯s the world I must live in.¡± ¡°And that one from the outside?¡± ¡°The human who made a contract with a high-ranking spirit?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hazzak, whose connection was severed by Taesan, came day after day to pound on the barrier, asking for his power back and iming it was his. It was a ludicrous im. The power had never been his to begin with; it belonged to the spirit he had contracted with. Taesan ignored him. No one was there to take care of such a Hazzak. Realizing through a series of events that Hazzak had lost his power, they quickly distanced themselves. Above all, they weren¡¯t approaching because of the power Taesan had shown. Instead, they were offering sacrifices to him from a distance. [Your proficiency in divine power has increased by 1%.] Thanks to that, his unwanted divine power proficiency was increasing. Minerva nodded. ¡°Still, he¡¯s a child I must protect. As long as he is with me, I will protect him.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan replied curtly. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep then. See you tomorrow.¡± The white space receded. Taesan returned to the sphere once again. ¡°How will it end?¡± [It is strange.] Taesan muttered. Sinceing to this world, what he had done was to seek out Minerva and protect her. For a quest given directly by a god, it was too simple. Even if Taesan hadn¡¯t protected Minerva, there wouldn¡¯t have been any problem. He could guess the reason. Perhaps they were gathering power. For their own purposes, to destroy the world, to kill Taesan. So, they would start moving soon. ¡°How will they approach this time?¡± Taesan murmured with anticipation. They couldn¡¯t send down monsters like when he performed the quest for the god of magic. In the world of giants, it had been possible because the high god had created a rift, but Arulia was firmly blocked by the spirit god. They couldn¡¯t send down monsters. So, they would use another method. Taesan quietly waited. Then, the day broke. The spirit king did not call Taesan. Inside the sphere, he could feel a tremendous power slowly being gathered. It was now the end. And then, Akien came to Taesan. ¡°Hello¡­¡± She bowed her head, her face trembling. Taesan nodded in greeting as well. Akien spoke. ¡°We are leaving now.¡± ¡°Have you given up?¡± ¡°We gave up a long time ago. We had no choice but to stay because of Hazzak, but it seems like everyone is tired now. It¡¯s been decided that those who will stay will stay, and those who will leave will leave.¡± Hazzak, who had dominated them and imposed his will, had lost his power and be an ordinary human. Then there was no longer any reason to stay here. Half of those who came here were forcibly brought by Hazzak. The other half were either interested in the sphere itself or wanted to research it, but as long as Taesan was protecting the sphere, there was nothing they could do. Moreover, they were slowly realizing that the natural energy emanating from the sphere was growing stronger day by day, and the existence capable of wielding such power was extremely rare. Such a sphere, protected by an overwhelming power, The one contracted with the highest grade spirit. Someone who could interfere with contracts with high-ranking spirits. Exactly who they could not afford to provoke was something they could not fail to understand. And Akien knew exactly who it was. She bowed her head. ¡°Thank you very much, Mr. Taesan.¡± That was Akien¡¯s sincerity. Akien did not know exactly how much power the spirit king possessed, but it was not difficult to guess that if the spirit king harbored ill will towards them, their world would be greatly shaken. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, they were people who had lived with spirits. The spirit king was an object of worship for them, so for Akien, who sought harmony with spirits, this was the most desired oue. Taesan responded. ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job.¡± ¡°Still, my thanks remain unchanged. Thank you for preventing us from walking the wrong path.¡± With a voice brimming with sincerity, she spoke. Just as Taesan was about to respond, power flowed out from the sphere. The emanating power began to take shape, eventually manifesting as a girl with blue hair. ¡°Hello?¡± She smiled slightly and extended her hand to Akien. Akien, staring nkly, took her hand. ¡°¡­Hello?¡± ¡°Nice to meet you! I am the child you must protect!¡± Minerva waved her hand with a giggly smile. At her words, Akien¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°Could it be, you are¡­¡± ¡°I am the Spirit King of the Wind, Minerva! The being who will protect this world!¡± Akien was astonished and quickly prostrated herself on the ground. ¡°Oh, Your Majesty! A humble being greets a great entity! Please forgive any rudeness¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s all right.¡± Minerva waved her hand dismissively. Taesan, who had been watching silently, spoke up. ¡°Could you alwayse out like this?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t possible before, but it¡¯s almost over, right? A shift of power like this is fine.¡± Minerva chuckled. Akien felt like she was going to lose her mind. The thought of directly facing the great Spirit King was something she had never even imagined. Minerva looked down at her with a joyful gaze. ¡°I was born to protect you all. It¡¯s my duty, but¡­ still, seeing a human like you directly is nice. Someone worthy of being protected, someone who makes me feel that it¡¯s worthwhile.¡± ¡°Th-thank you¡­¡± ¡°Stand up.¡± Minerva helped her to her feet. Akien stood, her face full of gratitude. ¡°Keep liking me from now on.¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± Akien nodded. Minerva was about to say something with a smile when suddenly darkness enveloped the world. Purple streaked across the sky, followed by a massive collision of forces. Light and darkness swirled and shed against each other. A collision of powerful beings that even the creatures of the earth could sense. Minerva¡¯s eyes wavered. ¡°Mom?¡± The powers of the Spirit God and the High God were colliding. And at that moment, shadows covered thend. The light of theing dawn was swallowed by the darkness. A deep, pitch-ck shadow, like a bottomless abyss, swallowed everything in its path. An alien force attempted to devour the Spirit King. [Your Majesty!] Barkaza hastily pped his hands, forming a barrier that encased them. Barkaza¡¯s barrier, a power of the highest grade spirit, was something even Taesan could not easily prate. Crack. The moment it collided with the shadow, it was swallowed. As if the barrier had never existed, it was oveid by the shadow. [Eh!] Barkaza eximed in horror, reinforcing the barrier even more firmly, but it too shattered to no effect. The shadow targeted Minerva. ¡°Ah!¡± Akien hastily wrapped herself around Minerva. Taesan drew his sword and plunged it into the earth. Woong. The might of Taesan flowed through the sword into the ground. The shadow collided with the sword. As the shadow began to swallow it, the sword slowly turned ck from the tip. Taesan shook the sword violently. Fwoosh! The air burst, and the shadow dispersed. The dispersed shadow began to slowly encroach upon thend. ¡°This is.¡± Taesan grimaced. It was dense. He had faced many monsters from the High God before, but this was different. It was fundamentally different, this shadow. ¡°Over there.¡± Minerva¡¯s face was stiff. Taesan grabbed Akien¡¯s nape. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ll have to step aside for a bit, Barkaza.¡± [Understood.] ¡°What, what?¡± Taesan threw Akien far away. Barkaza pped his hands, and a barrier formed around the flying Akien. [Perfect throw. She''ll probablynd in a peaceful part of the forest.] [Oh¡­ this is.] The ghost chuckled. [I didn''t expect this¡­] ¡°You.¡± Minerva¡¯s face contorted. Hazzak, stained with darkness, appeared from afar. ¡°Hi, hihihik! Hihihick!¡± Hazzak burst intoughter, his face full of madness. His entire body was half submerged in darkness, making it difficult to discern his true form. ¡°I, I have gained power!¡± Hazzak eximed. His voice carried the darkness with it. ¡°Thebyrinth no longer interests me! I have be great!¡± ¡°Can being swallowed by power also be considered greatness?¡± Not by Taesan¡¯s standards. ¡°You¡­¡± Fury settled on Minerva¡¯s face. ¡°You! How dare you! Being an element of my world! A subject I must protect! Cutting off the rtionship with spirits! How dare you embrace the power of those viins!¡± Her voice, filled with anger, echoed through the world. Nature roared and rose fiercely. Aroused by the Spirit King¡¯s anger, nature rushed towards Hazzak, who was stained with darkness. The earth shattered, debris flew, and the wind turned into a storm. Hazzak showed a twisted smile. ¡°Pathetic!¡± The shadow spread in all directions. The spreading shadow rose and swallowed everything. The fragments of the earth, the wind turned storm, all swallowed. ¡°Ha, haha! Was this all the power you had! To think I was obsessed with such trivial power!¡± ¡°You, you¡­¡± Minerva gritted her teeth. Taesan pulled Minerva back as she gathered more power. ¡°Don¡¯t stop me! Taesan! He has betrayed us!¡± Minerva shouted fiercely. ¡°Breaking a contract made by mother herself, how dare, how dare he join hands with them!¡± ¡°Calm down first. Is it really okay to draw out power like this now?¡± At Taesan¡¯s words, Minerva trembled. The sphere served not only as a protective barrier for her but also yed a supporting role in her bing perfect. It was nearly finished, but drawing out power from outside the sphere like this was not advisable. ¡°Stay inside. This is something I have to do.¡± His quest, received from the Spirit God, was to protect the Spirit King. It was counterproductive for the Spirit King to step forward in person. [Your Majesty, please protect your body within the sphere. You are notplete yet.] Barkaza also chimed in. Minerva bit her lip. Taesanughed. ¡°I wondered how they woulde at me, and it¡¯s this way. This is new.¡± At his words, Minerva¡¯s face turned pale. I- Please don¡¯t. Kill. Him. ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Taesan dismissed her words. Not killing Hazzak wasn¡¯t the reason the High God intervened. It was simply because Hazzak was closest to Taesan and harbored the greatest animosity towards him. Many humans were targeting the sphere. If it weren¡¯t for Hazzak, another would have been chosen by the High God. ¡°Pay it no mind and go inside. I¡¯ll finish this quickly.¡± ¡°¡­Okay. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Minerva¡¯s form slowly began to disperse. ¡°But be careful. This is very different from what you¡¯ve faced before.¡± ¡°I¡¯m well aware.¡± The dispersed Minerva returned inside the sphere. ¡°Hi, hihihick!¡± Hazzakughed. ¡°Your power! It¡¯s nothing! You are nothing!¡± Taesan did not react to Hazzak¡¯s words. Precisely, there was no need to. He was consumed by power. His self was buried under madness, rage, and power, no longer intact. Engaging in dialogue with such a being was meaningless. Giggle. The darkness hidden within Hazzak showed Taesan augh. A great being turned its gaze towards Taesan. Taesan loosened the muscles throughout his body. The darkness hidden within Hazzak. An abyss that swallows everything. Darkness in every form. This was not a monster. A mere entity of that level could not possess such power. Something else, transcendent, beyond mortals, currently exiled from the world. It was a High God. [Master. That is dangerous.] [Oh. Oh-ho. I''ve heard stories, but this is my first time seeing a contract creature.] ¡°Do you know what it is?¡± [High Gods desire to trample the world. They use all means at their disposal, often sending monsters into your world... And where that''s not possible, they use the inhabitants of the ce.] ¡°A contract with the High God.¡± [Right. An inhabitant of the world makes a contract with a High God, forsaking divine protection to be one of their minions. Once that happens, divine protection means nothing. Because it''s the inhabitants of the world who have epted the High God themselves, acknowledging their existence. That¡¯s why they can breach the Spirit God¡¯s protection and intervene.] The ghost clicked its tongue. [Why would anyone ept such a contract? It destroys the soul, body, and mind.] A contract with a god was not easy. Even those with powers beyond reach in the outside world did not receive their choice. It was more about the conditions than the difficulty of the contract itself. The Apostle¡¯s contract was a granting of divine status upon a human. This meant that the weak, those who could not meet the conditions, even if they epted the contract, their minds copsed, and they lost themselves. Therefore, gods were selective about the humans they entered into contracts with. They evaluated whether the human pleased them and whether they possessed the strength to withstand the Apostle¡¯s status. However, the High Gods were not like this. To them, mortals were merely toys, so it¡¯s not umon for mortals who sought only power to be treated as disposable pawns by them. [It would have been impossible normally... but it seems Hazzak sent the power of the contract, seizing the opportunity of the Spirit King''s absence, who is the guardian of the world. That guy was not without talent. Now I see why the Spirit King was enraged.] The Spirit King was the being that protected this world. She guarded all of Arulia. Yet, a being she was supposed to protect denied her and made a contract with a High God. It was akin to her very existence being denied. [I... don''t even know what to say.] The ghost swallowed its saliva. [Though he contracted with a High God, a human wouldn''t be able to endure a proper contract, so, he wouldn''t even possess a fragment of that power. Yet, it''s a contract with a transcendent being. The power it wields is unlike any monster you''ve encountered before.] ¡°I¡¯ve got a rough idea.¡± Shadows stretched out. A deep color that turned everything to ck. The transformed space was no longer Arulia. It became a space of darkness where everything was obscured. Taesan had encountered such a space on Earth before. A massive rift in the sky. The power emanating from there was the same. This was a being that had directly contracted with a High God. Hence, the power it wielded was that of the High God. ¡°This will be a good experience.¡± [The opponent is an unbeatable enemy.] [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Myriad Souls].] Chapter 227: Creating A Dark World (2) Chapter 227: Creating A Dark World (2) The High God had set his sights on both this world and himself. For Taesan, who sought the status and power of a god, a confrontation with the High Gods was inevitable should he continue on his path. This felt like a rehearsal for that inevitable confrontation. Taesan distanced himself from the encroaching shadows. The darkness that enveloped Hazzak was distinctly alien. Despite having faced numerous monsters before, this was fundamentally different. It wasn¡¯t just about strength, but something entirely otherworldly. Shadows swallowed the earth, the very space itself. The wind and light that were sucked into these devoured ces never returned. The sphere was enveloped by shadows. ¡°Barkaza. Stay away. Or go back.¡±[It''s a blow to my pride... but it can''t be helped. Don''t die, Master. It would be too vain if a contractor like you were to die here.] As Barkaza departed, Hazzak¡¯s face twisted into a distorted smile. ¡°Kahak!¡± With a harsh resonance, darkness rose from the shadows. The spikes that shot up aimed for Taesan. Taesan twisted his body sharply, dodging the spikes targeting his head by a hair¡¯s breadth, and swung his sword, deflecting an attack meant to pierce him. Kagagagak! The darkness collided with the sword, twisting its trajectory. And then the sword began to be consumed by darkness, turning ck. Taesan infused his sword with his force. The darkness was repelled by Taesan¡¯s force, scattering away. While adjusting his force, Taesan clicked his tongue at the burden he felt. ¡®Is even blocking dangerous?¡¯ The ces touched by those shadows be the realm of the High God. It¡¯s a power that expands its domain into the world through Hazzak¡¯s body as a medium, rejecting harmony and ignoringws. Just blocking those attacks nearly caused Taesan¡¯s sword to be oveid with the power of the High God. He was able to push it back by infusing it with spirit and power, but using it even for these minor attacks could put him at a disadvantage. Darkness rose again from the shadows. A tide of ck power rushed in, and Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated the Frozen World.] Jejejejeje! Extreme cold swept in all directions, freezing everything it touched and halting the flow of time around it. Yet, the darkness nonchntly swallowed the cold. The shadow that devoured all the ice charged towards Taesan. Thud. Taesan kicked off the ground, narrowly avoiding the rushing shadow and widening the distance between them. The shadow then stretched out even more fiercely. Spreading widely across the world, the shadow swallowed all of Taesan¡¯s escape routes. There¡¯s nowhere left to escape. The only option left was to break through. Taesan strengthened his legs and ran towards the outskirts, where the shadow hadn¡¯t reached yet. The moment Taesan stepped into the shadow, he strengthened his legs for a leap and pulled out a shield. [You have activated the Shield of Aegis.] The power of the shield enveloped Taesan. For 1 second, the shield made him immune to all damage. The downside was that he could not move during its activation. However, it didn¡¯t prevent movement due to inertia; since he kicked off before activating the shield, Taesan¡¯s body flew out of the shadow. As Taesan flew, the shadow rose towards him. Enveloping Taesan¡¯s entire body, it attempted to dye him ck. The shield¡¯s effect was immunity to damage. The shadow¡¯s attack should not have affected him. ¡®Hm?¡¯ However, Taesan¡¯s eyebrows twitched as he flew. The shadow engulfing him pressed down on Taesan harshly. Crack. Cracks began to form in the power of the shield surrounding Taesan. [Uh, uhhh?] Unable to withstand it until escaping the shadow, Taesan quickly gathered force throughout his body and enveloped himself with it. Kaaang! The shield broke before its duration ended. The shadow lunged at Taesan¡¯s body. Taesan expelled the alien sensation that began eroding him from his toes upwards using force and activated a skill. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan¡¯s body moved far away, rolling his feet to shake off the clinging darkness. [Uh... this is...] The ghost couldn¡¯t continue. Taesan held his sword, expressionless. ¡°As expected.¡± Nothing was surprising. The power of the High God twisted thews of this world, interfering with the power of gods. And thebyrinth had been created by a magicianbining his power with that of a god. It wasn¡¯t strange for thebyrinth¡¯s items to be affected by the power of the High God. ¡°Looks like the skills activate, so does it only interfere with items? Gathering force seems to provide some defense.¡± Spikes of darkness from the shadow tried to pierce Taesan. He kicked off the ground to dodge. ¡°Ha-hahah!¡± Fortunately, Hazzak wasn¡¯t paying attention to the sphere. He was solely focused on gathering power to kill Taesan, so Taesan didn¡¯t need to worry about protecting the sphere. Thus, his focus was solely on killing the enemy in front of him. Taesan moved. Kagagagak! Just dodging wasn¡¯t enough to defeat the enemy. Somehow, he had to get close to Hazzak. Approaching on the ground was impossible. Everything around Hazzak was the realm of the High God. The moment he stepped in, that force would overwhelm Taesan. Then, to the air. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] Rainbow-colored wings spread from Taesan¡¯s back. His body elerated, soaring through the sky. ¡°Ha-ha!¡± Swoosh! The shadow rose, covering the sky. Watching the iing ck force, Taesan maneuvered his wings. Paaang! He moved quickly in a straight line, dodging the shadow that filled the air like brush strokes. ¡°Ha-ha-ha!¡± Hazzak burst intoughter again and again. The mighty one, who had broken his contract, was doing nothing but dodging. This fact delighted Hazzak beyond measure. ¡°The Labyrinth! In the face of this great power!¡± They were nothing. An exhrated Hazzak eximed. ¡°Die there, worm!¡± Taesan did not respond. He had no concern for a being that was being consumed by power, losing even its sense of self. Taesan merely dodged, reading the trajectory of the shadows. Having understood most of its movements, Taesan made his decision. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s time for you to die¡­¡± Hazzak¡¯s mockery was abruptly cut short because Taesan had suddenly flown towards him in an instant. Hazzak hurriedly gathered the shadows tounch spikes. Taesan effortlessly twisted his body. The flying spikes grazed past Taesan. Crack. Taesan¡¯s sword, now dyed ck, pierced through Hazzak¡¯s chest. [$#@! deals 23 damage.] ¡°You, you!¡± Hazzak, taken aback by the attack, contorted his face in rage. His power burst out explosively. The shadow rose, attempting to engulf Taesan. And Taesan moved his wings to twist his body. The shadow cut through the air in vain. Hazzak waved his hand. The shadow surged like a tide in all directions, and Taesan dodged it again, stabbing Hazzak¡¯s neck. [$#@! deals 26 damage.] ¡°Kack!¡± Hazzak screamed and retreated. The pierced part of his neck was enveloped in darkness, leaving no wound. ¡°Tch.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and moved. ¡°How dare you! Thrust a sword into my magnificent body!¡± Hazzak gnashed his teeth, swinging the shadow around. The storm-like shadow aimed for Taesan¡¯s entire body. The wings moved. Taesan¡¯s sword made a long cut across Hazzak¡¯s chest. And that wound was once again enveloped by darkness. ¡°Ha-ha-ha!¡± Hazzak burst intoughter. Initially flustered by the fact that he was attacked, he soon realized. Taesan¡¯s attacks posed no threat to him. ¡°You can¡¯t hurt me with just that level of power!¡± Hazzak was now imbued with the power of a High God. And the status of a High God was, literally, godly. Even though it was just a fragment, it contained a status unapproachable by mere mortals. Due to the difference in status, Taesan¡¯s attacks didn¡¯t properly reach him. Therefore, Taesan couldn¡¯t kill him. Believing so, Hazzak summoned even more power. This power, so intense it masked any lingering emotions, surged in all directions. ¡°Die!¡± Kagagagak! The shadow shattered into fragments, engulfing everything in its path and transforming it all into a wastnd. It was, in essence, a storm. After the darkness was unleashed, nothing remained. Hazzak burst intoughter. ¡°This is the end! I am the strongest!¡± Crack. As he made his promation, Hazzak¡¯s chest was pierced. Emerging from the settling darkness, Taesan stood unharmed. ¡°How, how did you?¡± ¡°How, indeed?¡± Taesan¡¯s hand moved. His sword sliced through Hazzak¡¯s entire body. ¡°Yi-ii-ii!¡± Hazzak contorted his face and swung the shadows again. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve managed to survive by luck, but that¡¯s all!¡± Taesan couldn¡¯tnd a proper hit on him. His overwhelming advantage remained. Hazzak continued to wield his power, while Taesan kept thrusting his sword, enduring through it all. Hazzak rolled on the ground. The shadow momentarily rose, attempting to engulf and swallow Taesan. Taesan swung his sword. The force gathered at the tip of his sword shed with the shadows. Through the small gap that was created, Taesan inserted his body, emerging on the other side and slicing through Hazzak¡¯s abdomen. ¡°¡­Even so!¡± His advantage remained unchanged. Hazzak continued to manipte his power. And Taesan countered it. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] A ck wave arose, heading towards Hazzak. Naturally, due to the level difference, it dissipated before reaching him, but it was enough to obstruct Hazzak¡¯s vision. Taesan seized the moment Hazzak¡¯s offense faltered to seed in his attack. Hazzak kept wielding his power. And all of that broke, shattered, and disappeared. Taesan didn¡¯t allow even a hint of an attack and countered Hazzak with his own. ¡°Ah, ahh?¡± Hazzak finally realized. More than ten minutes had passed since the battle began, and he had notnded a single attack on Taesan. Instead, he was the only one being attacked. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± The difference in power was clear. He had to win, no matter what. The shadow pierced through the ground and rose up. There was no ce to escape the oing attack, but Taesan moved his wings without any change in expression. Pang! He quickly judged the areas where the density of the shadows was low and swung his sword towards the approaching shadows. [You have activated Flow.] Kang! The trajectory of the shadows twisted. The twisted shadows collided with each other, creating space. Taesan roughly shook off the sword being dyed by the shadows and escaped. Taesan parried the attack without any significant loss and stabbed his sword again. ¡°What the¡­¡± Hazzak cursed, continuing to swing his power, but the result did not change. Taesan indifferently dodged Hazzak¡¯s power. ¡®It¡¯s definitely threatening.¡¯ The alien power of the High God, which merely by touching, seeks to erode the entire body and dye it ck. Had someone with legitimate authority wielded this power, even the current Taesan would have been threatened. But if that person wielding the power was Hazzak, it posed no threat at all. Hazzak must have only dealt with the power of spirits so far. All his battles were left to superior spirits, and taking the initiative to wield power in battle must be a first for him. That¡¯s why the movement of his power was too obvious. There was no need to read his intentions; just by observing the movement of his pupils and the fluctuations of his power, one could read all his attacks and targets. He was handling the alien power of the High God as if it were just ordinary spirit power. Having power is useless if you don¡¯t know how to use it. Only those with legitimate abilities posed a threat. Taesan cut off his thoughts and continued the battle. The fight was one-sided. However, that didn¡¯t mean the situation was favorable. Taesan¡¯s attacks still couldn¡¯t inflict proper damage. It was simply a matter of being out-leveled, nothing more. Though he was dealing minor damage, the duration of the Apostle Transformation would likely end before he could defeat his opponent. Regaining hisposure, Hazzak shouted roughly, ¡°It¡¯s useless! You can¡¯t defeat me!¡± ¡°For now, that¡¯s true,¡± Taesan smiled faintly. ¡°But the same goes for you.¡± Taesan¡¯s body trembled. Spikes, pouring out of the shadows, cut through the air in vain. As the battle continued, Taesan became increasingly familiar with Hazzak¡¯s attack patterns. Even if the Apostle Transformation ended, Hazzak¡¯s power wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill him. ¡°And time is on my side.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Hazzak scoffed. His power was infinite. In contrast, Taesan¡¯s power would deplete, and his stamina would slowly decrease. But Taesan was confident. As time passed, he would be the one to win. The battle went on. Taesan dodged all the attacks. ¡°Yi-ii!¡± Hazzak gathered his power roughly. The power exploded with a strong bacsh. It was the moment Taesan kicked off the ground to dodge. Crack. The sphere cracked. Wind poured out from there. Soft and refreshing, the wind began to gently push away the darkness that had eroded thend. The rushing shadows disappeared into the wind. Hazzak¡¯s face stiffened at the presence felt from the breaking sphere. Taesan sheathed his sword. ¡°I thought I¡¯d have to hold out for another day or so, but it¡¯s faster than I thought.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t keep you waiting any longer.¡± Along with the voice of a mature woman, the figure of Minerva appeared from the cracking sphere. Chapter 228: Creating A Dark World (3) Chapter 228: Creating A Dark World (3) She had grown. The appearance of a young girl had vanished without a trace, and she now stood as a mature woman. Her blue hair cascaded down past her waist, and her blue eyes shone brilliantly. Minerva stepped onto the earth. The trembling wind circled around her, and the air itself settled next to Minerva. Nature itself submitted to her. An overwhelming presence engulfed the entire world. She turned her gaze. With a somewhat cold look in her eyes, she smiled faintly. ¡°It seems like a very long time.¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t even been an hour.¡±¡°Is that all? How strange.¡± She examined her fingers. They were slender and beautiful. ¡°It felt like a very long time to me.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Hazzak burst intoughter, inserting himself between the two. He looked at Minerva excitedly. ¡°Spirit King! Spirit King! Once a weak being I believed in!¡± He, too, was a human of Arulia. In his childhood, he worshiped the Spirit King and devoted absolute faith to that being. But not anymore. ¡°To me now, you are nothing! Just die buried!¡± He had contracted with a great being, rivaling gods. In fact, Hazzak had easily suppressed the power Minerva had shown with her fury. Even if the Spirit King had grown, nothing would have changed for Hazzak. He unleashed shadows. The shadows swallowed everything and charged at Minerva. Minerva, with a cold gaze, spoke. ¡°Begone.¡± The wind blew. What started as a small gesture soon became a massive storm that descended upon the earth. Crack! The raging storm blew away and erased the shadows. Hazzak, with a stiff face, wrapped himself in darkness. The wind engulfed him. ¡°Aaagh!¡± For the first time, pain filled his voice. ¡°Hmph.¡± Minerva coldlyughed. When the storm had subsided, the shadows that had engulfed the entirend had vanished without a trace. [Truly a definitive Spirit King.] The ghost murmured. Taesan also realized. Having seen the Fire Spirit King, he could immediatelypare them. Minerva now possessed the perfect power of the Spirit King. A power that could prate even the deepest depths alone, a power that the current Taesan, even if facing her with dozens of himself, could not guarantee victory against. Status, power, and the qualifications that matched that status¡ªall were embodied in the current Minerva. ¡°I¡¯d like to tear you apart right now but¡­¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes narrowed. A murderous intent enveloped Hazzak. ¡°O-¡± Hazzak swallowed his breath. Shadows wrapped around his body for protection. Merely by showing her emotions, Hazzak felt a tangible pressure. ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Minerva looked up at the sky. Thunder! Taesan had been too preupied with fighting Hazzak to notice, but beyond the sky, purple energy and light continued to collide. A power wave that could be felt even from the distant ground. It was the sh between a high god and a spirit god. Barkaza arrived btedly. He bowed respectfully towards the Spirit King. [Your Majesty. Congrattions on bingplete.] ¡°Yes, Barkaza.¡± Minerva, with an affectionate look, stroked Barkaza¡¯s head and spoke. ¡°Taesan. I must go to aid my mother. So, it seems you will have to deal with this one.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make meugh! How dare you ignore me!¡± Hazzak shouted in anger. Not even considering him an opponent worth dealing with and attempting to leave, Hazzak¡¯s pride couldn¡¯t ept that. With emotion, the shadows swallowed the entire earth as they surged forward. Minerva scoffed at Hazzak. ¡°Indeed, the power you wield is a threat to me.¡± The shadows directly contracted with the high god were literally the power of the high god. It¡¯s not something even the Spirit King¡¯s power could take lightly. ¡°But in the end, you¡¯re just a human wielding it.¡± Minerva clenched her fist. The approaching darkness shattered like a mirror. ¡°That iplete power cannot reach me. ¡­But it might reach him. It would be a threat. Without help.¡± Minerva turned her gaze to Taesan. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She spoke softly. ¡°I asked not to kill him, so the high god intervened.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. He would have intervened anyway.¡± ¡°No, this is a matter of my heart.¡± She extended her hand toward Taesan. ¡°I am the king of all spirits and the guardian of Arulia. The Spirit King of the wind, Minerva.¡± Power flowed from the tips of her fingers. That power enveloped both Taesan and Minerva. ¡°Staking my birth and demise as a spirit, I contract with you to be yourpanion in life.¡± It was a contract. Once made, it could not be broken without the consent of both parties, bound by an unbreakable rule. ¡°Will you ept?¡± Taesan looked at her solemnly. ¡°I thought you said you don¡¯t make contracts?¡± Her power was for the world. She had said she does not make contracts because it would result in a loss of power. Minerva smiled bitterly. ¡°The situation has changed. Think of it as my reward and apology.¡± Outside, Hazzak continued to manifest his power, but it was continually blocked by the barrier surrounding Taesan and Minerva. She looked anxiously at Taesan. ¡°¡­What will you do?¡± ¡°Well.¡± There was no reason to refuse. It was clear that the Spirit King¡¯s power was needed to defeat Hazzak. ¡°I¡¯ll ept.¡± Minerva smiled. ¡°Good.¡± The king¡¯s power enveloped Taesan. Taesan involuntarily let out a groan. The quality of power Taesan had obtained until now was different; a new grade began to inhabit his body. [You have made a contract with Minerva, the Spirit King of Wind.] [You have learned the special constant activation skill [Natural Harmony].] [You have learned the special activation skill [King''s Vessel].] [You have acquired the title [One Who Has Made a Contract with the King].] ¡°From now on, I am your shield and sword.¡± Minerva continued. ¡°I will protect you, and your enemies are my enemies, for you are my master.¡± Taesan nodded. Minerva smiled. She waved her hand, summoning Barkaza. ¡°Come here.¡± [...Your Majesty. Are you sure it''s okay?] ¡°It¡¯s my choice. And I have a gift for you, too.¡± She ced her hand on Barkaza¡¯s head. Her power descended upon Barkaza. Barkaza¡¯s status and power begin to noticeably strengthen. Barkaza exims in astonishment. [Your Majesty. To grant me such grace...] ¡°It seems it doesn¡¯t extend to a shield due to the limit of the vessel.¡± [This is enough. I am grateful for your grace, Your Majesty.] ¡°Good. Then my work here is done.¡± Her body began to scatter. ¡°The rest is up to you.¡± With those final words, she flew far into the sky. Taesan clenched his fist. ¡°Ah, Aaaaaah!¡± Hazzak screamed. ¡°Just! Just with the power of the Spirit King!¡± Shadows rose. The darkness, previously suppressed by the power of the Spirit King, targeted Taesan again. Rough shadows. Until now, even touching them had to be avoided. But not anymore. ¡°Barkaza.¡± Barkaza pped his hands with a boom. A barrier formed, encircling Taesan. Crack! The barrier shook violently as it collided with the shadows. But it didn¡¯t break. Despite being cracked and seemingly about to fly away at any moment, it firmly protected its charge. [Ho. It can block attacks of that level.] Satisfaction could be heard in Barkaza¡¯s voice. [This is the power bestowed upon me by the King herself... I am very satisfied.] ¡°Don¡¯t make meugh! A mere high-grade can¡¯t stop me!¡± [It''s actually happening. A human who has sold his soul.] Barkaza mocked Hazzak. While he blocked the attack, Taesan quietly tuned his changed senses. His hand trembled. The wind gathered above his hand in response. The energy of the earth flowed into Taesan through his feet, and the energy of the sky slowly descended. Nature itself was in harmony with Taesan. ¡°Ha.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. He, who had been the enemy of spirits and received their hostility, had made a contract with the Spirit King who protected them. Laughter came out involuntarily. ¡°Just hold on a little longer.¡± [I''ll try. But I don''t think I can hold on for long. Please, finish it as quickly as possible, Master.] ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Hazzak continued to pound on the barrier. The barrier shook as if it would break at any moment, but it held its ground. Taesan quietly tuned the power he felt inside him. The skill he received from the contract with Minerva. He instinctively knew how to use it. [You have activated the King''s Vessel.] Thud! His body shook. A great, mortal extremity of authority began to inhabit him. Taesan groaned. The grand authority swallowed his entire being, shing and colliding with the many powers he had harbored. ¡®It¡¯s foreign.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t the authority he had built up. It was a method of forcibly elevating authority and vessel through the contract. As such, it inevitably shed with the power he had built up and felt foreign. ¡®And too strong.¡¯ Such power violently shook his interior to the point of being aggressive. He could handle it, but his proficiency was far too insufficient to properly tune it with the other powers. The power rose due to the King¡¯s Vessel. The Soul power he had built up. Mana. Magic. Various powers within him shook. Taesan quickly decided. He couldn¡¯t harbor all these powers now. The pure white ring shone brilliantly. Wooong. Tinged with elegance and mystery, the pure white ring shone. Its effects were to assist the inherent Soul and store power. The authority and vessel filling Taesan due to the activation of the King¡¯s Vessel flowed towards the ring. The ring quietly absorbed all that power. Wooong. The power contained in the ring stabilized. Taesan was slightly surprised at the ring epting all powers. ¡°Even this?¡± [Consider the material of that ring. Shouldn''t it be able to ept even the power of the Spirit King itself without a problem?] A good miscalction. Taesan synchronized with the ring. A manageable amount of power began to inhabit his body. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan, havingpleted all his preparations, caught his breath. ¡°What a strange feeling.¡± [Is everything ready, Master? I''m reaching my limit.] Hazzak was manifesting power in a frenzied state. The barrier that Barkaza had been desperately maintaining was starting to crumble. ¡°It¡¯s done now.¡± Taesan stepped forward. ng! The barrier shattered. Hazzak bared his teeth. ¡°Take this!¡± Darkness surged toward him. Taesan clenched his fist. Synchronizing with the ring, he summoned power and released it. Kwaang! A forceful st erupted. The shadows were obliterated by the power. ¡°What, what?¡± Taesan¡¯s lips curled into a smile. He felt satisfaction coursing through his body from the power. ¡°Very good.¡± ¡°This can¡¯t be happening!¡± Hazzak screamed in disbelief. ¡°I, I have been granted the power of gods! I have received the power that defies thews of this world!¡± He believed he had surpassed the limitations of a mortal. He couldn¡¯t ept that his attack, from someone who believed so deeply in his own power, was thwarted by a mere Spirit King, by the human standing before him. Chwararak! Driven by his emotions, shadows surged. Countless forms of darkness in various shapes attempted to engulf Taesan. Taesan drew his sword. Kagagagang! With a swing of his sword, the shadows were repelled. They tried to cling to the sword and corrode it but were driven back by a mere exertion of power. ¡°Ha.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t suppress hisughter. ¡®With this power.¡¯ Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated the Ember of Cmity.] The Ember of Cmity, the darkness wielded by the wolf that had brought destruction upon the world. Taesan had previously been unable to control this me due to insufficient power. Hwaruruk! The me flickered. Taesan moved his hand decisively. The crimson me, destined to lead the world to ruin, obeyed its master¡¯s will and incinerated the shadows. Taesan clenched his fist. The crimson me condensed into the shape of a sphere. Hazzak hastily enveloped himself in shadows. Chiieeek! ¡°Aaaack!¡± The shadows were trampled by the crimson me, engulfing Hazzak¡¯s body in fire. [$#@! took 753 damage.] Taesan¡¯s lips curled up in satisfaction. Finally, normal damage was being inflicted. ¡°You, youuuu!¡± Hazzak, barely extinguishing the me, red with bloodshot eyes. Shadows extended in strands, targeting Taesan. [You have activated the Kin of the Wolf.] Wolves made of his spiritual power materialized. [Keuheng!] The wolves ferociously tore at the shadows. The shadows began to tear apart and disappear. ¡°This, this¡­¡± ¡°Nice.¡± Taesan raised his hand, and darkness began to swirl around him, descending. ¡°Then, will this also work?¡± [You have activated the Spreading Branches of Curse.] A technique used by the apostle of a high god, defeated by Taesan. A power directly bestowed by a high god to the apostle. It was now manifested by Taesan¡¯s authority. Chapter 229: The Darkness That Creates A Black World Chapter 229: The Darkness That Creates A ck World Cursed branches stretched out into the world from Taesan as the center. Hazzak shuddered at the alien power. ¡®That.¡¯ This was not a power that beings of this world could possess. Hazzak realized it was an unpermitted power, just like his own. ¡°¡­¡­But!¡± At the same time, Hazzak realized. That these branches possessed a much lower quality of powerpared to the shadows he controls. Confident in his judgment, Hazzak wielded his own power. The shadow engulfed everything and rushed towards the branches. Crackling.The branches and shadows collided. And the shadow shattered. ¡°What!¡± Hazzak was startled. Taesan continued to spread the branches as if it were natural. ¡°The quality of the power you wield might be high, but the difference in the person wielding it is greater.¡± The difference between his quality and Hazzak¡¯s. This difference was producing such a result. The branches stretched out slowly but surely. The shadows that upied the space broke, creating a path towards Hazzak. Taesan grasped his sword. sh. Hazzak roared like a beast and ran towards Taesan, who was charging at him. Swoosh. The shadows rose. It was trying to engulf Taesan like a maelstrom. No matter how foolish the user was, it¡¯s a divine power. It couldn¡¯t be taken lightly. Thus, Taesan did not take it lightly and intended topletely destroy it. The sword moved. The shadows shattered and disappeared. Dodging and crushing the swirling darkness, he twisted his body and rolled his feet. He arrived in front of Hazzak in an instant. Hazzak, startled, wrapped himself in shadows. Taesan raised his hand. Crack. He forcefully created a space by splitting the shadows. Hazzak¡¯s body was exposed. Crack. Taesan¡¯s sword plunged in. [You deal 253 damage to #$#@!] ¡°E, eek!¡± Hazzak gathered his strength. The shadow ran through the ground. Taesan stepped on the earth. He drove away the approaching shadows. He swung his sword. He cut andpletely destroyed all the shadows. And then he pushed his shoulder. Hazzak was flung away with a pain-filled groan. sh. [You have activated eleration.] Taesan immediately closed in. He smashed and crushed the frantically swinging shadows. ¡°Ah, aaaaah!¡± Hazzak screamed in resistance, but it¡¯s meaningless. He was easily subdued and thrown onto the ground. ¡°Aah!¡± Fear froze over Hazzak¡¯s face. Whatever he did, whatever means he used, everything was being smashed. His confidence that he was strong, that no one could beat him, was shattered. Frightened, he wielded his power. Of course, a power filled only with emotion could not threaten Taesan. Crack. He easily broke through and thrust his sword into Hazzak¡¯s neck. The shadow tried to cover that part, but it kept falling off as if trying to forcibly reattach a part that had already fallen off. Death. That fear clung to Hazzak. The ego that was supporting him began to waver. Whatever maintained the delicate bnce copsed under the weight of fear. ¡°No!¡± Hazzak cried out in fear, but it was already toote. The shadow engulfed all of him. At the same time, Taesan¡¯s instincts warned him. This was dangerous. He needed to create distance immediately. The shadow burst out. It was much denser and deeper than before. The pouring shadow shattered the cursed branches and spilled out in all directions. Taesan stamped his foot. He blocked and struck at the shadows spreading like stains across the world, but it was not easy. ¡°Argh!¡± Taesan shook his head to barely shake off a momentary mental interference that rattled his mind. [You have activated a random blink.] Taesan created distance and observed Hazzak. [This is¡­¡­.] Darkness was flowing out of every hole in Hazzak¡¯s body. [Dangerous¡­¡­] The figure shaped like Hazzak raised its head. It looked at Taesan. [[email protected]#[email protected]$%] {[email protected]@#!#!¡­¡­.} [[email protected]$!$!!!] [Judgement sess!] Attempts were made to pass unknown judgments. Though he managed to shake them off, a difort that ransacked his entire head lingered. Giggle. Itughed. Augh that seemed mocking or perhaps joyful, its true nature unknown. [Ugh.] The ghost¡¯s body trembled uneasily. Even in its reduced state as a mere spirit, it was unsettled by the gaze. ¡°Is this what you were aiming for?¡± Taesan tightened his grip on the sword. He sensed a massive presence deep within Hazzak. However, it was merely a remnant left by a contract, supposedly unable to influence this ce. That¡¯s how it should have been. [Mental copse¡­ Loss of self. As the bnce of the contract copses, the connected channel of power... was forcibly expanded.] The ghost spoke in agony. Now, Hazzak served merely as a conduit in his own shape. And beyond this conduit, a massive presence directly observed the ce. The gaze of a divine being was palpable. ¡°Barkaza. Stay out of this.¡± [Ugh. I''m sorry, master.] Barkaza quickly created distance. His mind couldn¡¯t withstand the engulfing darkness. Giggle. Withughter, power flowed from the passage. Rough shadows engulfed everything as they surged forward. Taesan stomped on the ground. Crack! He shed through the swirling darkness with his sword. Then, like a snake, the darkness coiled around Taesan¡¯s sword. ¡°Ugh!¡± Crack! Taesan roughly twisted his sword, forcibly shaking off the darkness. The shadows that had overtaken the surroundings made his head feel nauseous. Merely observing it was affecting Taesan¡¯s mind. [It''s dangerous. That''s a power directly wielded by a divine being. Even diluted across the passage, it''s exerted by the owner of the power.] The ghost swallowed. [You have to run. That passage won''tst long.] Even now, Hazzak¡¯s entire body flickered as if it would extinguish at any moment. It might close in a few minutes, a result of forcibly wedging and inserting power. If he ran, he could survive. sh. But Taesan put strength into his feet. ¡°No.¡± [Why, why?] ¡°If I run away, what happens to this world?¡± The ghost hesitated. The Spirit King and the Spirit God were still fighting in the sky. There was no spare effort to block the darkness before them. If he ran now, the divine being would spread its power into this world. And when the passage closed, half of the world would be destroyed. ¡°My quest was to protect the Spirit King. If the world falls apart, not even the Spirit King would be safe.¡± That must be the divine being¡¯s strategy. So, he fights. That was Taesan¡¯s decision. [...Do you have a chance of winning?] ¡°Somewhat.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes settled. [I trust your choice.] The ghost said so and closed its mouth. Taesan raised his sword. And at that moment, another massive entity descended from the sky. [You''vee this far.] ¡°Is it alright for you toe here?¡± [Thanks to that guy paying attention here, I got some leeway.] Beatrice looked at Hazzak, who was emitting shadows. [He must have really wanted to kill you. With this kind of interference, he won''t be able to meddle here for a while.] Beatriceughed. [Then I''ll have to destroy it.] Keeng. Light descended upon Taesan. [I''ll give you a part of my power. I don''t have the leisure to give my full strength, but neither does that guy. It should be enough to withstand his attacks.] ¡°Thank you.¡± [Then go and win, mortal.] Beatrice concealed her form again. Taesan began to assess the situation coldly. The passage, as the ghost had said, seemed unstable, as if it could extinguish at any moment. That meant if even a single strike seeded, he could immediately close it. Taesan charged towards the darkness. The shadow rose like a tidal wave. Crack! The sword shed. The intense pressure and the rough texture were felt through the handle. Taesan forcefully exerted his strength. The darkness was repelled. The powering through the passage seemed infinitely diluted. Moreover, because the Spirit God had directly granted him protection, it was possible to push back with force. Then, it became possible. [You have activated the Ember of Cmity.] Whoosh! Wild mes rose, charging towards the darkness. mes capable of destroying the world barely singed the tips of the shadows. But that was enough. Crack! Taesan swung his sword, creating a precarious opening. Suddenly, nothing but darkness surrounded Taesan. He advanced through the deep abyss. Crack! He blocked the descending darkness. The tip of his sword slowly became covered by the shadows. He shook his feet. The shadows, approaching like snakes, were slightly pushed back. The power of Beatrice surrounding him condensed ording to Taesan¡¯s will. The gathered light exploded the shadows, creating a path. Step. Taesan moved forward. The ghost was gone. Even a spirit couldn¡¯t withstand these shadows; only its soul remained. He advanced alone. The shadows began to encroach on his field of vision. The protection of Beatrice around Taesan also slowly started to lose its light. Crack! Taesan drew even more light. Incorporating his own level into it, he struck down with his sword. The shadow cracked open, barely creating a path wide enough for one person to pass through. Taesan entered it. His spirit energy was consumed. The power of Beatrice also gradually faded. But he did not stop walking. He advanced and advanced. Using a skill close to artistry, he shook off the darkness. Step. And beyond the darkness, the figure of Hazzak appeared. Taesan swung his sword fiercely. Crack! The shadow shattered, revealing the figure of Hazzak. It was now the end. But Taesan¡¯s steps halted. In front of Hazzak was a dense and deep darkness. Taesan realized. The shadows filling the area from the passage were merely a deception. What the divine being truly aimed for was himself. The darkness exploded. A deep and powerful force engulfed Taesan. [Uh?] The ghost, anxiously waiting outside, became agitated. He and Taesan were connected through a quest. Naturally, if Taesan were to die or something simr, he would return to thebyrinth. That link was now trembling. [...Surely not.] The ghost¡¯s anxious voice echoed. What Taesan saw in the darkness was an endless abyss. He assessed the situation coldly. Upon arriving in front of the passage, the darkness engulfed him. The divine being had been gathering power to kill him alone. It wasn¡¯t a physical attack. ¡®Mental interference.¡¯ The darkness invaded his mind directly. Taesan lifted his gaze. A massive entity loomed beyond the abyss. The formless entity fixed its gaze on Taesan. Crack. Just that was enough to attempt to crush his entire body. A sensation as if his limbs were melting enveloped Taesan. A constant inner rm urged him to submit, to prostrate before this unstoppable entity and beg for mercy. The pressure sought to engulf his sense of self. ¡®Shut up.¡¯ Taesan shook his head. The interference faded. He took a step closer to the massive entity. The closer he got, the more intense the pressure became. He could no longer feel his limbs or think clearly. But he advanced again. ¡®I am me.¡¯ His mind was his own. His body belonged to him. He existed in this world as himself. Even if faced with a god or a divine being, they could not interfere with his sense of self. Had he been meant to be consumed by such darkness, he would have copsed from the start. An almost absolute sense of self repelled the erosion. Taesan moved again within the darkness. Crackling! Cracks appeared in the shadows that engulfed him. Taesan raised his sword. Crashing! The darkness shattered. When the world became visible again, he stood before Hazzak. This was the end. Taesan imbued his sword with all his spirit energy. Crack. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through the passage. The passage screamed and began to copse. The shadows stretching towards the world started to be sucked back in. The entity beyond the disappearing passage cast a peculiar gaze towards him. Crash! The passage shattered. The resulting fragments scattered, and the dispersing fragments began to settle into Taesan¡¯s body. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. The proficiency of the special continuous activation skill [Twisted Spirit Tuning] has increased by 7%.] [The proficiency of ?? has increased by 5%.] [The proficiency of Clear Mind has increased by 32%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have gained Transcendence [ck].] system_en A strange sensation swept through Taesan¡¯s entire body. It was a power that felt both familiar and alien. [You!] As the darkness faded, the ghost rushed over eagerly. [What happened! Suddenly the connection changed weirdly!] ¡°Calm down.¡± Taesan shook his head. [You, you. What exactly.......] The ghost couldn¡¯t contain his emotion and stuttered. The momentarily shaken connection was strange. It felt as though Taesan¡¯s very existence had been contaminated and twisted. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s over. Let¡¯s talk about itter.¡± Taesan looked up at the sky. The rippling purple power and waves were gradually subsiding. ¡°It¡¯s over there too.¡± Chapter 230: 52nd Floor (1) Chapter 230: 52nd Floor (1) [You. Are you really okay?] system_emd ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m fine.¡± [Hmm¡­] The ghost seemed unconvinced. But Taesan had nothing more to add. He was truly fine, aside from feeling a bit mentally exhausted. [Really? Master. There was a moment when our connection almost got severed.] ¡°There¡¯s no problem. If there were any issues, I would have noticed first.¡± Taesan shook his head, just as Barkaza was about to speak.¡°Is it over on this side?¡± Just then, a wind blew. Minerva appeared, and Barkaza bowed. [Have you arrived, O King?] ¡°Yes, Barkaza.¡± After observing Barkaza for a moment, Minerva turned away. ¡°We¡¯re done here too. As long as I¡¯m here, no god can interfere with this world.¡± She looked at Taesan with a somber expression. ¡°Now¡­ it¡¯s time to say goodbye. It seems unlikely we¡¯ll meet again.¡± [We have a contract, don¡¯t we? You cane whenever you want, right?] ¡°I coulde, but I need to protect this world. Part of my power was transferred to you when we made the contract, weakening my protection. I¡¯ll need to work harder, so I probably won¡¯t be able to visit.¡± Minerva shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the power. The strength from our contract remains with you.¡± She managed a smile and waved her hand. ¡°It was fun, Taesan. And thank you. I pray for blessings on your journey ahead.¡± With those words, the world was enveloped. Taesan closed his eyes as light covered everything. When the light faded and he opened his eyes, he was in the space where he first met Beatrice. [Oh, oh oh.] Barkaza stuttered. Taesan turned his gaze. [Well done, mortal.] Beatrice was there. [My, my lord, this humble body of mine, to, to serve¡­] Barkaza stuttered. Even when meeting the Spirit King, he had expressed his respect calmly, but now he was too flustered to speak properly. [Well done, my child.] Beatrice gently used her power to envelop Barkaza. sysytem_start [You have done well. I praise you.] system_end [Oh, oh oh oh¡­] Barkaza trembled with emotion. Beatrice turned her gaze toward Taesan. [You too have done very well. This was the oue I had hoped for.] Satisfaction was evident in Beatrice¡¯s voice. Taesan spoke. ¡°Was this your intention?¡± [To some extent. I''m blocking the high gods, but they always find another way. I expected them to interfere somehow. The timing was crucial.] Beatrice chuckled. She seemed truly delighted with the oue. [No matter how much they interfere, there are limits as long as I protect it. If the Spirit King besplete, I can handle it. I managed to feed them their own medicine without any problems. The important thing is to hold on until then, but I judged that you could manage it. The result was a sess.] Beatrice¡¯s gaze on Taesan was filled with goodwill. [Even if there''s no loss of power, with this level of interference, I won''t be able to appear for a while. You did very well, human.] The trial was over. Now it was time for the long-awaited reward. [You have perfectly done what I wished. Thus, I will grant you a fitting reward.] A rumble. The divine power of the Spirit God enveloped the entire area. [Originally, the power I intended to give you was to stabilize the vessel. The vessel of the Spirit King is too much for you to handle now, so I was going to assist with that. But that''s no longer necessary.] His pure white ring. The equipment, capable of storing power, could also manage the power gained through the contract with the Spirit King without any issues. [To think that such a thing coulde from the hands of a mortal. It''s surprising. The proper power isn''t manifesting yet due to ack of worthiness... but once all restrictions are lifted, it will be quite useful.] [Mm.] The God acknowledged the ring¡¯s effects. An overwhelming power, making even the Spirit King seem like dust, was evident. The ghost groaned softly at that fact. [So, I''m thinking of changing the n.] The power surged toward Taesan. [First, I acknowledge you. You have helped me ording to my will. Everything that follows my will shall ept you.] The god recognized Taesan, and those words alone stirred the world. [The title [Opponent of Nature] has evolved into [Master of Nature].] [And this is my gift for the cute child.] [You have received the special continuous activation skill [Proxy of the Contract].] A power swirled deep inside Taesan¡¯s chest. It was a kind of conduit, something Taesan instinctively knew. [Poor child, you need someone to rely on. Since I''ve already given you my heart, I can''t just leave you be.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan expressed his gratitude, and the Spirit God spoke indifferently. [Not yet. You have done what I desired, so do one more thing for me.] Beatrice looked at Taesan thoughtfully and then shook her power. [Barkaza. You cannot receive my power. You already received it from that child. If you try to gain more here, your ego will be destroyed.] [That''s too generous of you. I am thrilled just to have met you, my lord.] Barkaza spoke as if the thought had never crossed his mind. Beatrice continued. [So, I''ll take care of the spirit residing in your sword.] ¡°Are you talking about the mad spirit?¡± The mad spirit, who sought revenge against the Spirit King, had sacrificed everything to reside in the sword. [To grant the poor thing''s wish.] Taesan¡¯s sword flew towards Beatrice. She gently stroked the tip of the sword. Then, the entity residing in the sword revealed itself. A white, trembling entity was agitated. To the anxious entity, Beatrice said, [I affirm you.] Her power imbued the entity. The entity trembled. The power and presence emanating from it were on a different level than before. The entity returned to the sword. Taesan, catching the gently arriving sword, asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± The mad spirit¡¯s wish was the death of the Fire Spirit King. [It doesn''t matter. Both are my children. If so, I simply respect them and provide a fitting reward.] Beatrice spoke up. [With this, my reward to you isplete.] Taesan bowed respectfully. ¡°Thank you.¡± He had gained much. The contract alone with the Spirit King had brought more rewards than expected, and beyond that, he had gained even more. The time spent was indeed worthwhile. Looking at Taesan, Beatrice said, [You''ve been swallowed by that fiend.] The high gods were gathering power to kill Taesan, casting shadows around him. And when Taesan approached, they dispersed their power and devoured his ego. [But there''s no problem at all.] It was the high gods who had swallowed Taesan. Beatrice might not know the details, but presumably, the very nature of the high gods was to trample on Taesan¡¯s spirit. The authority of the divine. It was not something that mortals could endure. Even those who are trained experience mental disturbances just from seeing a Transcender directly. Merely witnessing them was enough; to be trampled by them was another matter entirely. Yet, Taesan showed no anomalies. Even from a divine perspective, there were no visible issues with his mind or body. [It seems what they said was true. There is such a point of arrival.] Beatrice muttered as the power gradually receded, and Taesan began returning to thebyrinth. [The high gods must have noticed your abnormality as well. Be careful, as they will approach you through other means next time.] ¡°Thank you for the advice.¡± [Ah. And one more thing.] Beatrice began to speak as if she had realized something. [I have no intention of meddling with the power you have obtained. It''s surprising that such a thing is possible, but since you achieved it on your own, it''s fine for you to keep it.] Unfathomable. But at the same time, it was a statement that could be understood. [However, some might view your possession of their power unfavorably. Keep that in mind.] ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. [Then, adventurer. Delve into thebyrinth. And fulfill both our wishes.] With those words, Taesan returned to thebyrinth once again. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan exhaled and sat down. The beginning had gone smoothly, but suddenly, an incident urred towards the end. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be easy, but it proved to be quite challenging. [Ho. So this is thebyrinth?] Barkaza looked around thebyrinth with keen interest. [...Strong. I can feel the presence of mighty beings just from the fleeting power. Good. Very good.] Barkazaughed with delight. While he was exploring thebyrinth, Taesan also had things to sort out. He had gained a lot. He needed to check how to handle it and what uses there might be. [Title: One Who Contracted with the King] [Guardian of the World. You have contracted with the Spirit King, the king of all spirits. Your control over spirits has increased, and you can exert influence over nature.] The effects of the title had already been felt. When he had contracted with the Spirit King, he could feel nature itself. And this effect became stronger whenbined with the skill he acquired then. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Natural Harmony] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can exert influence by harmonizing with nature. For now, you can only bring about minor changes.] ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem so minor to me.¡± The influence Taesan felt over nature literally involved controlling the weather. If he wished, he could make it rain in a sunny spot or bring sunshine to a foggy area. It seemed miraculous, but for Taesan at his current level, it was no burden at all. [If you''re at the level of a Spirit King, such tasks would indeed be light. They are beings who can create waterfalls and manifest deserts.] ¡°I feel like I¡¯m bing less human.¡± [Only now?] ¡°Maybe so.¡± Taesan continued to verify. [Special Activation Skill: King¡¯s Vessel] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption: 300] [It embeds a part of the Spirit King¡¯s vessel into your body. If you do not possess the appropriate power level, there will be penalties.] ¡°Indeed.¡± It was a skill that essentially lowered the King¡¯s status to make it manageable. Normally, Taesan would have struggled to wield such power, but with the ring, he could do so effortlessly. [I expected as much given the material, but it¡¯s still remarkable that it can harness the King¡¯s power despite being iplete.] That must be the reason Beatrice showed interest in the ring as well. This skill was the ultimate reward for forming a contract with the Spirit King. Whenbined with Apostle Transformation, it allowed him to battle on par with a true high god¡¯s apostle. ¡°I might be ready to fight.¡± Not just any apostle, but a genuine high god¡¯s apostle. The one who had defeated Lee Taeyeon and led him to his downfall. He might not win yet, but he was certainly capable of holding his ground. He was growing stronger. [So, is summoning possible?] The ghost inquired, evidently intrigued. [Last time, Minerva said it was impossible, but I wonder.] Minerva had exined she needed to protect her world and recover the power depleted by their contract. Therefore, she had stated she couldn¡¯t join him. ¡°What do you think?¡± [Spirit Contract: Wind Spirit King, Minerva] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Cost for Summoning: 1000] [You have formed a contract with Minerva. You can summon Minerva to issuemands and tap into a portion of her power.] Summoning the Spirit King. The mana cost, a staggering 1000, reflected its powerful effects. ¡°We¡¯ll know if we try.¡± [You have summoned the Wind Spirit King, Minerva.] Whoosh. Space opened up, and as it did, the power within Taesan fluctuated. [Your Proxy of the Contract has been activated.] Space was torn open by an immense force. And from it, a woman with blue hair emerged. ¡°Uh, what?¡± Summoned to thebyrinth, Minerva sat down on the ground, looking bewildered as she surveyed her surroundings. Chapter 231: 52nd Floor (2) Chapter 231: 52nd Floor (2) "Hello?" Taesan waved his hand. Minerva stared nkly at Taesan. "Uh, uh?" She looked around¡ªa small space made of bricks, with immense powers that could be felt inside. "Taesan?" "We meet again." Taesan nodded. Confusion deepened on Minerva''s face. "I shouldn''t be able to be summoned by you?" She was supposed to protect Arulia. Hence, she had signed a contract that excluded summoning when she made the pact with Taesan. "Is this what they call a gift?" Taesan checked the skill that had been activated when he summoned Minerva. sytem_start [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Proxy of the Contract] [Acts on behalf of the contract with the Spirit King, thereby handling some of the resulting powers.] It seemed like a skill where Beatrice controlled the power used to bring Minerva here. Realizing the situation btedly, Minerva¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°¡­I see now. So my mother has given you this kind of help¡­¡± Her voice was filled with emotion. ¡°Haha. I thought we¡¯d never meet again. Nice to see you.¡± Minerva smiled and approached Taesan. Taesan kept his distance as Minerva opened her arms. ¡°What? Why are you stepping back?¡± ¡°It was okay back then, but it¡¯s a bit awkward now.¡± The previous Minerva had the appearance of a child. But now, she looked like a mature woman, making it awkward to hug her as before. Minerva puffed up her cheeks. Although she had be aplete Spirit King, she hadn¡¯t matured much mentally. Taesan stroked her hair, and she giggled happily. ¡°Good.¡± [Your Majesty.] ¡°Ah. Barkaza. Hello to you too? And the ghost?¡± [Hello. The contract with the Spirit King. And the summoning of the Spirit King. The sight of those deep beings would be interesting.] The ghost chuckled. Only then did Minerva realize where she had been summoned. ¡°Is this the Labyrinth?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± She scanned the surroundings with a hint of intrigue in her eyes, impressed by the powerful forces she sensed momentarily. ¡°Powerful. I cannot underestimate it.¡± A Guardian of the World. In a way, there might be no being stronger than her in the entire universe. However, in the Labyrinth, several forces feltparable or even stronger than hers, sparking her curiosity. ¡°Are there also spirits here?¡± ¡°There are.¡± The Fire Spirit King. She was an enemy of Taesan. Predicting how Minerva, when facing another Spirit King, would react was difficult. Would she show hostility as a renegade, or be confused as kin? It seemed Minerva guessed Taesan¡¯s concerns. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve made a pact with you. No matter who the opponent is, I¡¯m on your side. Except for my mother, that is.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like there would be any problems when fighting the Spirit King. The assessment of the situation wasplete. Now it was time to get to the main topic. ¡°How much power can you use?¡± ¡°Um.¡± Minerva groaned and raised her hand. Wind gathered there. The heavily condensed wind began to take shape and materialize. Minerva clenched her fist. The wind exploded and struck the Labyrinth. Taesan¡¯s hair was wildly tousled. ¡°¡­I can¡¯t use my full power. At best, am I around the highest level of top-grade spirits?¡± [It¡¯s natural since this guy still doesn¡¯t have the power to fully manage a Spirit King level contract. But still, it seems to be the highest among the top-grade.] The ghost spoke in an admiring tone. [With just Minerva and Barkaza alone, you could break through the Labyrinth.] ¡°What about the constraints on summoning time?¡± ¡°My mother handles the power used during summoning. It feels like I¡¯m reverse summoned when all that power is consumed. Conversely, if the power is managed well, I could potentially stay indefinitely?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Taesan nodded. It wasn¡¯t a bad deal. The stronger he became, the closer to her true form the power of the Spirit King would also be. Beatrice had given him a satisfactory reward. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like I¡¯m needed right now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, for now.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be heading back. I think I¡¯ll be quite busy for a while.¡± Minerva had just been born. Naturally, she would have many tasks to attend to in Arulia. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Heh. Taesan. See youter.¡± Minerva grinned and waved her hand. The Wind Spirit King concealed herself beyond the space of thebyrinth. Barkaza groaned. [It feels good to be with the king, but I hope this doesn¡¯t overshadow my own contract.] ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± Barkaza also had plenty of his own matters to attend to. And the verification was not yetplete. [Title: Ruler of Nature] [A Power of the Spirit God. Recognized by Beatrice. All spirits ept your existence and affirm it. You can also exercise vast influence over nature.] [All damage to spirits +30%] There were three skills granting influence over nature. This ovep made it possible to control the weather. Damage had also increased by 10%. It was a favorable change. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Clear Mirror, Still Water] [Proficiency: 58%] [Unwavering mind. Immutable will. Unbreakable spirit. Immortal struggle.] And the Clear Mirror, Still Water proficiency, which had increased tremendously as he overcame the ordeal of the high gods. A few more sentences were addedter, but the overall feeling hadn¡¯t changed much. It felt like the power he originally had was just now being added to the content. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Twisted Soul Tuning] [Proficiency: 42%] [Twisted beings can manipte their own soul by taking on a reasonable burden. This allows them to control the power that resides within or is possessed by them, and also to adjust the soul within a certain range.] The Twisted Soul Tuning also changed beyond 40%. The first change was a reduction in the burden. And it became possible to adjust the spirit power of others, not just one¡¯s own, within a certain range. ¡°It¡¯s not for offense, but for defense.¡± When an attack imbued with this power wasunched, it could be manipted to deflect it to some extent. Both the description and the sensed meaning suggested this. This was a pivotal change. The adversaries against whom he couldn¡¯t guarantee victory all wielded high spirit power, so disrupting their spirit power meant disrupting their attacks as well. And then, there was the transformation in the crazed spirit. [A spirit yearning for revenge has settled within. Attack power +80, +30% attack power against spirits, and +60% against Spirit Kings. Can activate spirit skills [Abandoned de] and [Fury of the Affirmed] against Spirit Kings.] The attack power had increased by 50. Furthermore, the attack power against spirits had risen by 10% and against Spirit Kings by 20%. The skill [Fury of the Affirmed] had also been unlocked. Overall, these enhancements were specifically designed to defeat a Spirit King. He was eager to encounter the Fire Spirit King. The proficiency of the concept skill had increased as well, though it wasn¡¯t a notable change. It seemed to be reaching a point of saturation. ¡°So.¡± This was the conclusion. One skill remained, both eagerly awaited and somewhat disconcerting. [Transcendence: ck] [Proficiency: 1%] [Consumption ??? : ???] [?#[email protected]!! #[email protected]# @#@11. ¡°What could this be?¡± A skill acquired while thwarting the passage of the high gods. The power of the high gods had entered him through Soul Ascension. The consumption was unknown, and the details were not documented. Essentially, it was a skill shrouded in mystery. The ghost groaned. [Honestly, it seems quite ominous, doesn''t it? It might be okay to just leave it be... but that''s not a choice you''d make.] A new card had been drawn. Ignoring it was not an option. Whether it would be beneficial or detrimental, he had to test it first. Taesan activated the skill. [You have activated ck.] Taesan¡¯s shadow flickered. The moving shadow appeared to possess its own will as it advanced. [Master?] [Huh?] The ghost was taken aback. The power emanating from the quivering shadow was equal to the power he had experienced. A shadow that consumes and corrodes everything in its path. This power resembled that of Hazzak, who had forged a pact with the high gods. Taesan slightly furrowed his brow. An unpleasant sensation was surreptitiously creeping into his mind. It felt as though his mind was being tainted merely by wielding it. Taesan extinguished the shadow. The erosion that had been gnawing at his consciousness subsided. ¡°It¡¯s usable, but it¡¯s going to be challenging.¡± While the erosion could be suppressed, in critical battles where a slight edge could determine victory or defeat, its use seemed problematic. Depending on the shadow¡¯s efficiency, it was a skill that could serve as a double-edged sword. [This is¡­] And the ghost was still unable to conceal its astonishment. That shadow was a direct ability from a high god. In essence, it was the power of the high god itself. The fact that Taesan possessed such power without forming a contract was remarkable. Just as the ghost was about to speak, the Labyrinth contorted. Koogooong! The bricks trembled. The floor elevated as power converged. [I don''t know how you entered here.] The entity known as Balbabamba disyed hostility. A fierce murderous intent surged towards Taesan. Barkaza quickly erected a barrier. But it shattered instantly. It was a force and fury beyond his control. [How dare a minion of a high god tread here. I''ll make you regret that arrogance¡­] Balbabamba paused, gathering power, and then saw Taesan. [...You.] ¡°Hello?¡± Taesan waved his hand. After a moment of silence, Balbabamba spoke. [The power of a high god was felt here.] ¡°This?¡± [You have activated ck.] The shadow flickered. Witnessing Taesan wield the power of a high god, Balbabamba was rendered speechless. [...Did you directly form a contract with a high god?] ¡°Hardly. Why would I strike a deal with those beings?¡± [That¡­ makes sense. Just wait a moment.] Balbabamba¡¯s presence intensified. [As the administrator of the Labyrinth, Imand: Reveal yourself.] His gaze swept over Taesan. [This is...] And a groan escaped. [This is¡­ curious.] ¡°I¡¯m puzzled too.¡± Taesan drew his sword. Although the details were unknown, Balbabamba showed hostility towards the ck power Taesan possessed. Balbabamba shook his head. [No need to worry. I understand the situation. I have no ns to interfere.] ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± [The power you just used belongs to the high gods. That''s why I thought their minions hade. It''s confusing.] Balbabamba¡¯s presence faded. The Labyrinth began to return to its original form. [It¡¯s quite strange, but since no contract has been formed, I have no ns to intervene. Continue on through the Labyrinth.] Balbabamba¡¯sst words echoed faintly. [Was this what the wizard hoped for?] His presencepletely disappeared. [That was a close call.] [An existence I can''t handle. There are such beings scattered throughout the Labyrinth.] The ghost spoke up. Barkaza was impressed. [You should be careful using this. Personally, I''d rmend not using it at all.] Balbabamba had shown murderous intent towards Taesan. The gods likely would react simrly. ¡®This must have been what Beatrice was talking about.¡¯ She wouldn¡¯t interfere, but there were those who might view it unfavorably. Taesan was referring to the ck power he had acquired. This was the power of a high god. Unlike the indirectly gained Twisted Soul Tuning, this was the power that a high god itself possessed. Naturally, the beings of this world would view it unfavorably. Taesan nned to seal the ck power unless it was absolutely necessary. Gods were self-centered, and just using it posed a risk of killing him. All checks wereplete. Now, it was time to descend into the Labyrinth again. Taesan moved forward. Barkaza, seemingly a bit excited, followed him. [A transparent snake has appeared.] ¡°Barkaza.¡± Koong. Barkaza pped his hands. Light arose and swirled around. The transparent snake, moving erratically to avoid it, was buried and disappeared under the light filling the room. [He''s gotten stronger too. At this rate, he could handle up to the 60th floor alone.] [It''s a blessing from the king. Also, a transparent snake that can''t be sensed yet has the power equivalent to a high spirit. That''s the kind of entity we''re facing. Exciting. Very exciting.] Joy was evident in Barkaza¡¯s voice. Engaging joyfully inbat himself, Barkaza enabled Taesan to clear the 52nd floor without lifting a finger. They breached the secret room and confronted the boss. The boss of the 52nd floor was a transparent scorpion. [Home.] Koogooong! The light surged. Being a boss, the scorpion did not fall easily. It distorted the light with its pincers and charged at Barkaza. [Hahaha!] Barkaza burst outughing. Taesan did not intervene. Victory was naturally Barkaza¡¯s. However, it wasn¡¯t an easy fight and took a considerable amount of time. [That was fun.] Barkazaughed, his voice more energetic than Taesan had ever heard before. [It was definitely the right decision to follow the master. To think such a ce existed.] ¡°Looks like you¡¯re satisfied. That¡¯s good.¡± Taesan checked the rewards. First, the purplish leaves obtained from the secret room were absorbed by the wrist guards, which possessed murderous intent, enhancing them. [Murderous Intent Wrist Guards.] [Wrist guards that seek to kill everything except their owner. Created by a witch''s whim. There are still hidden aspects. It has absorbed red rose thorns, green vine roots, and cursed leaves.] [Attack Power +125] [Defense +10] The attack power had increased by 50. Now, the attack power had perfectly surpassed 2000. [Ne of the Invisible] [Defense +100] [Ne said to be used by a magician who forever concealed his appearance.] [Wearing the ne grants a weak invisibility state. Invisibility does not break unless the wearer attacks someone or bumps into something.] ¡°Oh?¡± A piece of equipment that granted permanent invisibility when worn. It was a valuable piece of equipment. The enemies Taesan faced could easily detect invisibility, so it was unnecessary for him, but it could prove very useful for various quests. ¡°It¡¯s essential to have this.¡± And then, the secret reward. [You have used ???] [You have obtained the Shoes of Leaping to the World''s End.] [Shoes of Leaping to the World''s End] [Attack Power +60] [Defense +200] [Agility +150] [Movement Speed +20%] [Action Speed +12%] [Shoes rumored to be able to reach the world''s end. Whether this is true or not remains unknown.] [Can leap greater distances.] [Can teleport a very short distance. This effect can only be used once per hour.] ¡°Blink, huh.¡± They were quite impressive. Unlike random blink, he could leap to any ce he desired. The shoes he was currently wearing also had the effect of clearing status abnormalities once a day, which was quite beneficial, but it was worth switching. Having changed all his equipment, Taesan descended to the 53rd floor. ¡®I need to descend quickly.¡¯ A lot of time had passed since hisst return to Earth. From what Taesan remembered, there wasn¡¯t much time left. It was time for the things he had built up to be put to use. It was about time. He nned to gain as much as possible before then. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to do.¡± Taesan murmured as he descended the stairs. Chapter 232: 53rd Floor (1) Chapter 232: 53rd Floor (1) [Level 53 Quest Start] [Defeat the boss of Level 53 and pass through.] [Reward: The Robe harbored by Barvosiga.] [Secret Reward: ???] The monsters on the 53rd floor were transforming shadows. Shadows etched into the floor took various forms to attack Taesan. Of course, they were no match for Taesan, who quickly dealt with them and broke through thebyrinth. Then the quest arrived. [Special Quest Start] [Return to Earth.] [In one week, you will return to thend you abandoned. Survive there and then return. Rewards will be determined based on your performance.] [This quest cannot be refused.] ¡°Finally.¡± [Has it arrived?] Taesan nodded. It was time to return to their homnd, Earth. [What are you talking about?] To the curious Barkaza, Taesan roughly exined what was about to happen. Barkaza chuckled at the story. [It seems your world has not been preserved. A world trampled by the high gods¡­ Are you going to stop their attack?] ¡°If you put it that way, yes.¡± [Interesting. Sorry to say, but I want to leave quickly.] Barkaza muttered with an excited voice. Taesan opened themunity forum. Themunity was as chaotic as before. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How''s the situation?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Ah, Mr. Taesan, you¡¯re here? I was worried because I hadn¡¯t seen you recently.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I had things to do.] [Kim Junggeun [Hard]: The situation isn¡¯t great. But it''s not bad either.] Amid the chaos of themunity, restraint was evident. Everyone was panicked and fearful, yet the will to survive shone through. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: It¡¯s our fourth time, so everyone must be getting used to it by now.] They had seen many deaths. They had endured and continued to survive in thebyrinth. Those who had survived so far were only those whose minds were fortified. They did not sumb to despair or copse in the face of the sudden fear that struck. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Is that so?] Faster than expected. People had be mentally stable since the fifth return. Their minds had matured faster than in previous lives due to various changes. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How about you? Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: We''re going down without any problems. We¡¯ll probably reach the 20th floor soon.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: That¡¯s fast?] When he was on the 44th floor, they were talking about the 16th floor. And now, they were almost on the 20th floor. Their pace had clearly increased. [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: It¡¯s all thanks to you, brother. ck magic and Ability Sword. These skills are really... unbelievably powerful.] Even text could not hide his admiration. For those just breaking into the teens of floors, the value of these two skills was nearly absolute. [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: This time, we¡¯ll produce a different result.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Work hard.] Taesan briefly skimmed through themunity forum. Many people were discussing various things about their return. Among their conversations, a notable story emerged. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: It seems everyone has a guess about what this return quest will be.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Given the pattern so far, it''s obvious.] The first return. People from the city gathered in one ce. During the second return, they gathered around the road. And for the third return, people from Gyeonggi Province and Seoul gathered at Seoul City Hall. Then, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess what the quest for the fourth return would be. It was likely a quest that would gather all Koreans in Seoul. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: We''re preparing for that. So, Mr. Taesan, you might need to help a bit¡­] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: No problem.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Ah. Thank you.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Then there''s no issue?] [Kim Junggeun [Hard]: Uh. Well.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: There might be an issue, but there might not be¡­] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: What is it?] Kim Hwiyeon hesitated to post. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: There''s a bit of a sh of opinions. It''s not a big deal, but you might find it slightly annoying¡­ Maybe it''s a sh of values? There''s a bit of opposition happening among us.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Ideology?] After pondering its meaning for a moment, Taesan realized. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I see. There won''t be any problems, so don''t worry about it. See youter.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Yes.] [Kim Junggeun [Hard]: Brother, see youter.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Whew. I''m going to die. I¡¯m really going to die.] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: I want to go quickly. I want to tear those damned monsters apart.] Taesan turned off themunity forum. ¡°That already happened.¡± It was an event from muchter in Taesan¡¯s memory. The reason was simple. Ideology was only valuable when there was leisure to consider it, hence it only emerged after psychological stability was achieved. During the fourth return in his previous life, people had no leisure. They were overwhelmed just trying to survive. But now, it was different. There was no worry about food, and concerns for their lives had significantly decreased. Therefore, people had be more rxed. They were psychologically stable enough to pursue spiritual values. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter though.¡± Even in his past life, it had never been a problem. It was just annoying. Taesan continued descending through thebyrinth. And he discovered a secret room. [Here it is.] The ghost following quietly spoke. [Remember what I told you before? There¡¯s a ce where you can find the weapon I used.] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± [This is the ce. The secret room on the 53rd floor.] Taesan looked at the secret room. It was noticeablyrger than before. And next to what seemed to be a staff as a reward, there was a grey-colored sword. ¡°That must be it.¡± [Looking at it makes me nostalgic. Just take it. There should be no problem if it''s you.] Taesan stepped into the corridor. Krrrrung! Then, the walls moved, and innumerable traps sprang out. Upon entering the 50th floor, the traps in the secret rooms also underwent significant changes. Even a seasoned adventurer could not easily navigate through these traps. Of course, this posed no problem for Taesan. ¡°Barkaza.¡± Barkaza pped his hands. The barriers unfolded, and the traps were scattered. Taesan strolled towards the reward as if he were merely taking a walk. He grasped the staff. [The Staff of Five Colors] [Magic +80] [A staff adorned with brilliantly shining, multicolored gems. The gems amplify each other to create overwhelming power.] [It contains the mischief of a transcendent being.] [This staff repels the user¡¯s weapon.] Paang! The moment Taesan held the staff, the sword he was carrying was forcibly ejected. ¡°Well, look at that.¡± Krrrung! And at that moment, the secret room began to copse. Walls slowly moved to block the passage, and the ceiling descended. ¡®A trigger, perhaps.¡¯ A trap that activated when the reward was taken. Taesan rolled his foot nonchntly. [You have activated the Shoes of Leaping to the World¡¯s End.] Taesan¡¯s body leaped a short distance. He caught the flying sword in an instant. Paang! He forcefully suppressed the staff that was pushing the sword away and ced it in his inventory. He also picked up a steel-colored sword that had fallen to the floor. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan¡¯s body escaped through the passage outside. [The Sword of a Trained One] [Attack Power +120] [A sword from one who refined and relentlessly practiced with it until death. A hint of their will is imbued in the sword.] ¡°Is this it?¡± [Yes. As expected, you handled it without any issues. I struggled a bit because of this.] ¡°Such a perverse trap.¡± The moment he held the staff from the secret room¡¯s reward, the weapon he was carrying was flung away. Simultaneously, thebyrinth¡¯s walls began to close. The walls and floors of thebyrinth were indestructible to anyone not as powerful as a fighter of Ainzhar¡¯s caliber. The walls closed in so quickly that there wasn¡¯t enough time to retrieve a thrown sword and escape. Essentially, the staff was a trap designed to make one lose their weapon. [Damn trickster deity. Even jokes should have their limits.] ¡°Is there really a deity of pranks?¡± [If you go down, you might meet one. Not exactly a deity I''d want to encounter.] Despite the ghost¡¯s struggles, Taesan managed to escape without any issues. Moreover, he had acquired a decent sword. Its attack power was 120, which was 50 points higher than the weapon given by the deity that gave him his current sword. It was definitely a useful weapon for an adventurer on the 53rd floor. ¡°This is good.¡± The staff would also serve as a fine offering. Taesan wrapped things up and continued his descent through thebyrinth. The boss of the 53rd floor was a long shadow that extended darkness, simr to a high god, but the difference in rank and power was as vast as heaven and earth. He won easily. Both the reward and the secret reward were magical in nature. Indeed, it was a magical object intended for an offering. However, he had no immediate ns to ascend. With only a week left, he intended to maximize what he could obtain and then conclude his journey. Taesan reached the 54th floor. The monsters on the 54th floor were embodiments of wind, materialized from the wind itself. For Taesan, who had a contract with the Wind Spirit King, they were very easy opponents. Without any special attacks, merely by stirring his power, the enemy could do nothing. Taesan continued his descent. And the things he had umted began to show results. ¡°Finally, a lot has changed.¡± The proficiency of skills increases and evolves as they are honed. For a while, there was no noticeable change as they umted, but now the buildup had begun to yield results. [Special Activation Skill: Vital Point Designation] [Proficiency: 20%] [Designates one part of the target as a vital point and deals double damage when attacking this point. Once a vital point is designated, it cannot be redesignated on the same target until a day has passed. Only very small areas can be designated as vital points. The judgment of vital points has slightly widened.] Reaching 20% proficiency, the change in Vital Point Designation was an easing of its judgment. Previously, vital point attacks literally required hitting a tiny dot-sized area. Any slight movement by the opponent would disrupt it. Now, the judgment has expanded from the size of a dot to that of a coin¡ªa significant difference. [Special Always-Active Skill: Bearer of the Sword] [Proficiency: 20%] [Recognized by the deity of swords as reaching a proficient level. When fighting an enemy wielding a weapon, their gaps and weaknesses are easily identified, and proficiency with the sword increases.] Taesan swung his sword. His created ability sword technique unfolded. His movements were smoother than before. It wasn¡¯t a major difference, but in the grand scheme ofbat, it was a change that could block variables. [Special Activation Skill: Essence Understanding] [Proficiency: 60%] [Understands the essence of the target. It can identify where the power originates and the associated weaknesses. The state of the target can also be discerned.] The ability to discern the state was added. Testing it on Barkaza yielded immediate results. [A high-grade spirit with a variety of colors. Barkaza.] [A spirit contracted with Kang Taesan.] [In a state that has reached the very limits of his grade.] [Why are you looking at me like that?] ¡°Just checking something.¡± It wasn¡¯t a bad change. The faster the Essence Understanding reached 100% proficiency, the greater the power he could gain. Aura also changed. [Special Activation Skill: Aura] [Proficiency: 40%] [A reward given to those who have proven themselves with the sword, demonstrating a decent understanding of the aura and the ability to wield it effectively.] Despite its constant use, the increase in proficiency was gradual. He had be more adept at manipting the aura, resulting in enhanced damage and the ability to significantly broaden the attack range by erging the aura. Subsequently, the proficiency of the Ability Sword evolved as well. [Advanced Sword Technique: Ability Sword] [Proficiency: 41%] [A unique sword technique, conceived by an adventurer within thebyrinth and inspired by the system of thebyrinth itself. It was developed from the sword technique utilized by the Prince of the Destroyed World, allowing for the seamless integration of several skills with the sword technique.] [Already at 40%. That''s quite rapid.] Given that the Airak Technique, which he had learned much earlier, was still hovering around the 30% mark, the difference was stark. As a skill he had developed himself, the pace of advancement was notably quicker. With the increase in proficiency, there were new transformations among the skills enhanced by the Ability Sword, along with additional effects being added to the Ability Sword¡¯s capabilities. Chapter 233: 54th Floor (1) Chapter 233: 54th Floor (1) The skill that had evolved further was Continuous Attack. Continuous Attack now added an additional instance of amplified damage. Influenced by the Ability Sword, the sword would strike twice simultaneously. And now, an extra effect has been added. [Special Activation Skill: Continuous Attack] [Mana Cost: 3] [Proficiency: 34%] [The next attack is executed twice. The damage is slightly increased. It is not limited by time or space.] [Requirement: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword]] [1. The next attack will challenge the physicalws twice.] [2. It can simultaneously execute a physical sword strike and a phantom sword strike. The phantom sword strike can be somewhat controlled by the user. This effectsts for a certain period.] [Choose one of the two effects to use.] The first was an effect Taesan had been utilizing so far. The second was a newly added effect. Trying it out directly was the best approach. Taesan moved through the passage and sought out a monster. A clustered form of wind charged at him. [You have activated Continuous Attack.] The sword strikes were executed. And ordingly, a ck sword strike urred. Crash! Taesan¡¯s sword strike and the ck sword strike intermingled chaotically, overwhelming the monster. The monster fortified its defenses but was swiftly prated, ravaging its entire body. [Wind Form takes 5312 damage.] [Wind Form takes 1232 damage.] The monster could not withstand it and fell. Taesan nodded, confirming the effect. ¡°Not bad.¡± The damage was approximately 20% higher. Unlike the previous effect where the sword would shock upon contact, the chaotic sword strikes made defense tricky. Both options had clear advantages, so he could switch depending on the situation. And with the increase in proficiency, additional skills had been added to the Ability Sword. [Special Activation Skill: Stealth] [Conceals the body and hides presence. Still very unskilled.] [Requirement: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword]] [Can be activated when hiding from an opponent inbat. Evades all detection for 1 second. However, being seen directly ends the activation.] ¡°Does it block detection?¡± The exact effect would only be known upon activation, but if it could render Taesan undetectable except by physical sight, it would be quite useful. It meant that even face-to-face, a surprise attack was possible. [Special Activation Skill: de of Fighting Spirit] [Mana Cost: 50] [Damage is tripled. This skill cannot be used again for one hour after activation.] [Requirement: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword]] [Upon activation, any collision with the opponent''s weapon will triple the impact.] The effect of de of Fighting Spirit tranted into a tangible impact. Naturally, it was a beneficial effect. It could introduce significant variables duringbat, potentially making it more useful than the basic effect. The skills that had changed or been added were these three. Additionally, it was noted that the effects of existing skills like Flow and Counters had been enhanced. The ghost marveled. [Although the enemies you''ve faced recently have overshadowed it, it''s definitely a skill of a different caliber.] Beings that heralded the end of the world. The diminished powers of ancient gods. All these opponents were more about their ss and power than detailed skills. The Ability Sword couldn¡¯t fully demonstrate its power against such heterogeneous enemies. But against humanoid opponents, unless they were overwhelmingly strong, they generally found themselves outmatched in many aspects when fighting Taesan. Even the recently changed Continuous Attack made it feel like they were facing two opponents at once. The true effects of the Ability Sword shone against humanoid figures. Namely, the Guides of Sin. ¡°When might theye?¡± [Considering the Demon God is quiet, it doesn''t seem like they¡¯re about to do anything... I''m not sure. There are several adventurers on the 60th floor who could put up a decent fight against you, but since they''re not being sent, perhaps there''s something else being aimed for?] The ghost chuckled as he spoke. [It looks like it''s almost over now.] Adventurers of the 60th floor. Once they were dealt with, the next likely targets were the leaders. Taesan gazed intently at his sword. The power of the crazed spirit within the sword had grown stronger. Preparations were gradually beingpleted. Taesan gripped his sword tightly as he broke through thebyrinth. Taesan had also cleared the 54th floor, discovered the secret room, and defeated the boss. And he didn¡¯t stop there but moved on to the 55th floor. The monster on the 55th floor interfered directly with the mind itself, showing illusions, and tried to break the spirit. Naturally, it had no effect on Taesan. He handled everything up to the secret room and defeated the boss. As he cleared the 55th floor, his equipment changed in two ces. [Ring Encased in Mists of Ruin] [Intelligence + 100] [Defense + 100] [Magic + 30] [The ethereal mists embedded in the ring were originally meant to change the world.] [Hat of the Great Sage] [Defense + 120] [Magic + 40] [Action Speed + 7%] [The hat, once used by a now-forgotten great sage, possesses the value and power befitting a great one.] Both changed pieces of equipment were rted to magic. All other acquired equipment was also magical in nature. ¡°Is it because mystical things are the theme?¡± [That could be it.] Taesan organized the items he had collected. It was about time. People who had finished their preparations were firming up their resolve in themunity. Taesan ascended thebyrinth again. 54th floor. He entered the hidden room there. Lilis was waiting for him. ¡°Yahoo! Long time no see!¡± Lilis greeted him with a joyful face, noticeably brighter than before. ¡°Thanks to you, I even made it to the 50s, and indeed, you never know what life will bring.¡± She murmured, her face alight with fresh sentiment. The 51st floor¡ªa forest full of mysteries. For her, who pursued magic itself, it was like a treasure trove. She couldn¡¯t utilize it properly, but checking each one was a joy in itself. She looked at Taesan cheerfully, but her gaze then shifted to Barkaza. ¡°¡­Hello?¡± [It''s nice to meet you, human. You''re the first human I''ve seen here.] ¡°A spirit?¡± Taesan nodded as he quietly observed Barkaza. Lilis eximed in admiration. ¡°He¡¯s powerful¡­ Just that spirit alone could descend more than 50 floors.¡± [I am a being who has received power directly from the king. Even in abyrinth, its value does not diminish.] Barkaza proudly stated. Lilis turned her gaze back to Taesan. ¡°You came because of the offering, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan took out the magical equipment. There were many, and they were all of high quality. Lilis¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Wow¡­ Only good equipment. This amount and quality should be sufficient, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I was hoping for.¡± ¡°Okay. Just wait a moment.¡± Lilis grunted as she moved the equipment. ¡°Now, all we need to do is pray to the god of magic.¡± Taesan sat in front of the offering. He closed his eyes and offered a prayer. Then, Taesan¡¯s spirit moved ording to the god¡¯s part. The god of magic, Zelbando, was there. He was sitting in his chair at the center of the gxy, as before. Taesan bowed. ¡°I greet the god of magic.¡± [Yes.] Zelbando responded briefly. There was a strange light in his gaze as he looked at Taesan. The reason was not hard to guess. [I do not know what to do with the power you possess.] Zelbando said. [I would like to crush and erase all traces of them... but that power is something you earned with your own strength. I cannot interfere in the affairs of mortals as a transcendent. Use it carefully.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan obtaining the power of a high god was irksome, but it seemed he had no intention of interfering. [For now, Imend you. You have prevailed admirably in a mortal body. Though it was weakened as you crossed spaces, without being a being of a certain caliber, your mind couldn¡¯t have endured it.] Zelbando smiled slightly. [After all, it''s unbelievable that you have obtained their power. And yet, your mind is still unshaken. That must be your unique characteristic.] His cheeks reddened. [I wonder if the magician longed for a being like you? Interesting. We should meet again sometime.] ¡°Even if you say so.¡± Taesan did not know. Zelbando grinned. [Curious?] Taesan nodded. Zelbando leaned back in his chair. [The answer I can give you remains the same as before.] ¡°Is my power still insufficient?¡± [You''ve reached a decent level, but not enough to know the secret. However... since you have entertained me quite well, I''ll tell you one thing.] Zelbando opened his mouth. [What do you think is necessary to be a transcendent?] ¡°Authority and power, isn¡¯t it?¡± The caliber of transcendence. And the power to match it. If one only has power, they be an immortal; possessing both makes one a transcendent. That was the basic understanding Taesan had. [Both are necessary indeed. But your soul must also reach a certain level.] ¡°I consider that obvious.¡± Surely, the spirit of someone that strong couldn¡¯t be weak. They must have reached a certain level. However, Zelbando shook his head. [It''s not merely about being exceptional or aloof. Some immortals carry broken souls, don''t they? Imagine there''s a specific condition one must meet to ascend to either a transcendent or an immortal. What could that condition be?] Zelbando pped his hands. [This is the extent of what I can reveal. The rest, you must deduce on your own. Or grow stronger and seek the answers yourself.] ¡°Understood.¡± [Then, I''ll bestow upon you what you''ve been yearning for.] Zelbando¡¯s power coalesced. A transcendent will enveloped Taesan. [You have acquired the Intermediate Magic: [Starlight Arrow].] [The offering is slightly less than the value of the magic, but consider it a gesture of goodwill.] ¡°Thank you.¡± [Are you prepared to return now?] Taesan nodded. Zelbando smirked. [I eagerly anticipate your future endeavors.] With those words, the world faded away. Taesan found himself back in thebyrinth. ¡°Phew.¡± At his side, Lilis was catching her breath, her face alight with excitement. As Taesan had obtained the Intermediate Magic, so too had Lilis. It was part of their pact. A look of satisfaction spread across Lilis¡¯s face. ¡°This is wonderful.¡± [You can''t even utilize it due to ack of mana, is it truly that significant?] ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s important is that I now possess this formidable power.¡± Lilis grinned. ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan nodded and stepped outside. His next visit was to the cksmith Hafran. Taesan had previously provided him with materials andmissioned the crafting of a new item. Upon reaching the 50th floor to meet Hafran, he was presented with a remarkably useful piece of equipment. And now, it was time to return to Earth. Chapter 234: Fourth Return, Earth (1) Chapter 234: Fourth Return, Earth (1) Taesan fiddled with the dark gloves. The undting ck aura flowed over the entire glove. As Taesan received the ring, he handed over two materials to Hafran: the ore from the world of giants and the Will of Destruction obtained after defeating the me Dog on the 51st floor. Both were used to make one set of gloves. [Gloves imbued with the Will of Destruction] [The ore, unique to the world of giants, Bahuliya,bined with the Will of Destruction. The gloves themselves emanate a faint aura of destruction.] [Attack Power +300] This equipment was purely focused on increasing attack power, and given the materials, it provided a significant boost. Hafran looked visibly older, as if it had been quite a struggle.After Taesan said would be away from thebyrinth for a while, Hafran seemed to understand and wished him a good journey. Taesan replied that he would. Only minutes remained until his return to Earth. Posts on themunity began to diminish one by one. Everyone was anxiously awaiting the return. Taesan was no different, but he was more excited than anxious. Woong. The space opened. It was time to return to Earth. Thendscape of Earth that appeared beyond swallowed Taesan. And what he saw was a broken world. Half-demolished buildings. And a huge hole in the sky. He hade back to this ce. ¡°I¡¯vee back after all.¡± ¡°But this time will be different. We¡¯ve be stronger and more than anything¡­ we have you, Taesan.¡± People were gathering their resolve. Kim Hwiyeon quickly took center stage and pped her hands. ¡°Everyone, pleasee this way! We need to get a rough estimate of how strong everyone has be and how many have died descending into thebyrinth.¡± People quietly gathered around at Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s call. Taesan approached and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°Ah, Mr. Taesan.¡± Her face, happy to see Taesan, suddenly stiffened. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, but what¡¯s that golem next to you?¡± [Hmm. It''s usable but... weak. Strange. Is this all the strength it has for descending thebyrinth?] ¡°It¡­ speaks?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my spirit.¡± Taesan simply answered, causing Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s eyes to waver even more. ¡°A spirit?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be stepping away for a moment, finish up here.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Kim Hwiyeon nkly nodded. Taesan left her behind and headed for the outskirts of the city hall. ¡°Uh, uh?¡± ¡°Monster!¡± People screamed at the sight of Barkaza, showing hostility. Then, realizing Taesan was beside it, they looked bewildered. [There are many.] Barkaza muttered as he looked around at the people. [But they''re weak. There are a few useful ones, but they''re not satisfying. Strange. They wouldn''t survive in thebyrinth I know with that kind of strength.] ¡°They are under different conditions from me.¡± He shrugged. Taesan had reached the outskirts. The hole beyond the sky quietly greeted him. [I''m curious. Can you give a proper exnation?] Taesan shared some basic information with Barkaza. His world had been swallowed by a high god, and during that process, people had entered thebyrinth. However, he didn¡¯t delve into the details. He figured it would be better to discuss it after seeing it firsthand. [You are the contractor of the king of wind spirits. You summoned Minerva.] The wind blew. The materialized wind formed into the shape of a woman. Barkaza bowed. [I greet the king.] ¡°Uh, what?¡± Minerva looked around, confused. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like thebyrinth, does it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Taesan began to exin slowly. They were beings living in one world. Then monsters attacked their world. And they were given a choice. Minerva and Barkaza had made a pact with him. ording to the terms of the pact, as long as Taesan didn¡¯t die, they would be together forever. With that judgment, Taesan decided it was okay to tell them. He exined the overall situation. Minerva frowned after hearing the story. ¡°Damn high gods. It¡¯s their fault in the end.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Upon deeper reflection, they truly were the root of all evil. They assaulted Arulia, targeted the world of the giants, and then obliterated the Earth. Minerva gazed up at the sky. ¡°¡­Thick and strong.¡± The ck hole in the sky was where monsters emerged from. ¡°And it¡¯s directly connected to this world. Closing it would be difficult. But for something directly connected, it seems weak. Perhaps the transcenders intervened?¡± [Master. I have a question.] ¡°What is it?¡± [You mentioned thebyrinth was divided.] ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Easy, Normal, Hard, and Solo Mode. Barkaza inquired. [This division was caused by the high gods, correct?] Taesan nodded. Thebyrinths of Easy, Normal, and Hard weren¡¯t crafted by the Wizard. They were replicas spawned from the intervention of the high gods. Barkaza chuckled. [That''s quite fascinating.] ¡°I roughly understand the situation. So, what do we need to do here?¡± ¡°We just have to wait.¡± Taesan turned his gaze towards the city hall. Kim Hwiyeon was checking on the people gathered there. Not long after returning to Earth, a quest would manifest. And Taesan was aware of what this quest entailed. ¡°Of the sixty-five thousand who survived thest return, fifty thousand¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon frowned as she surveyed the crowd before her. It meant that fifteen thousand had perished descending into thebyrinth. This was no small number. ¡°Still, it¡¯s fortunate that those who survived have grown stronger.¡± Among the Hard Mode yers, some had be about twice as strong as they were during thest return. She, along with Geum Junggeun and Seo Jangsan, were among this group. ¡°By the way, where did Mr. Taesan go?¡± ¡°Did you call?¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Kim Hwiyeon screamed and stepped back, calming her startled heart. ¡°When did you arrive?¡± ¡°Just now.¡± ¡°Brother, hello¡­¡± Geum Junggeun greeted him somewhat reluctantly, ncing to either side of Taesan. [Not bad, but too weak. Is this the limit of a dividedbyrinth?] ¡°There are a lot of people. No, if I think about everyone in this area being here, is that few?¡± A golem-like being and a beautiful woman with blue hair muttered as they looked around. Geum Junggeun asked cautiously, ¡°Um, brother, the two beside you¡­¡± ¡°I am the king of wind spirits, Minerva. Nice to meet you.¡± Minerva grinned. Geum Junggeun nodded his head with a dumbfounded expression. ¡°Uh, yes¡­¡± ¡°Is the checkplete?¡± Prompted by Taesan¡¯s question, Kim Hwiyeon snapped back to attention. ¡°Yes. Not a few died while descending thebyrinth, but everyone has be stronger than before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fortunate.¡± Taesan gathered his strength. A dark aura spread among the people. Those who were watching Taesan in confusion eximed in astonishment. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°It seems like we¡¯ve gained about half.¡± ¡°I just remembered I have this.¡± Geum Junggeun opened the skill window. A ck magic skill that hadn¡¯t been acquired before was now in the skill window. As a reward from the Demon God, Taesan could bestow ck magic on the people of Earth. He had given them the powers they hadn¡¯t been able to obtain due to ack of strength. As people burst out in admiration, Taesan spoke up. ¡°What about Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok?¡± ¡°They went down for a quick spar. They¡¯ll be back soon. But still, brother¡­¡± Geum Junggeun kept ncing at Minerva and Barkaza. Taesan, noticing the curiosity apparent on his face, spoke up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯re on our side.¡± ¡°I trust you, brother. But it seems like others are a bit uneasy.¡± While Minerva had the appearance of a beautiful woman, Barkaza looked like a golem. Perhaps because his appearance resembled that of monsters or beasts from thebyrinth, people sent uneasy nces his way. Taesan responded, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry; you¡¯ll know soon enough.¡± The check wasplete amid the people¡¯s concerns. And then the quest appeared. [The next quest will start in two days.] A two-day grace period was given. People nned to rest and wait until the next quest appeared. But Taesan knew. Since the fourth return, true rest did not exist. Kurrreung! A loud noise echoed from outside the city hall. The guards rushed over, screaming. ¡°Monsters! There are over a hundred of them!¡± ¡°What?¡± Kim Hwiyeon gasped as she got up. She checked outside, and her face contorted. ¡°This is a total wave!¡± During the previous return, there were asions when monsters approached during the preparation period, but their numbers were so small they posed no threat. This time, she had been rxed, thinking it would be the same, but suddenly a hundred monsters had appeared. ¡°Moreover¡­¡± The power of the monsters, felt from a distance, could not be underestimated. asionally, she saw monsters whose strength she could not guarantee. Kim Hwiyeon urgently shouted. ¡°Everyone gather!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Taesan stepped forward. ¡°Barkaza. Minerva.¡± [Good. We trample the monsters of the high gods. There¡¯s little more enjoyable than this.] ¡°I feel the same. I wee any chance to disrupt those damned ns.¡± Both were happy as they stepped forward. The people who had gathered watched them nkly. The strength of the monsters was mostly D-ss. These were creatures that hard mode yers could barely defeat if they risked their lives. Barkaza pped his hands toward the approaching monsters. A giant barrier materialized around the city hall. Ka-kaaang! The monsters banged against the barrier. And the barrier did not shake. Like a wall that had defended against enemies for hundreds of years, it blocked all attacks solidly. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Uh-uh-uh.¡± People groaned, and Barkaza pped his hands again. Light rose. The materialized light advanced. In an instant, it pierced through the monsters¡¯ bodies, reducing their numbers. [They¡¯re weak.] Barkaza now possessed power beyond the 50th floors. D-ss monsters were no match for him. Minerva waved her hand. A light breeze arose. And soon, the wind became a storm. Ka-ga-ga-ga! ¡°Wow!¡± People screamed and ducked as the wind surged forward. The hurricane advanced towards the monsters. Ka-ga-ga-gak! And when the hurricane had passed, there were no monsters left. ¡°How much power was used?¡± ¡°Almost none. If we only use this much, we could stay for years.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Taesan¡¯s expectations were far exceeded. With this level of power, they had be a formidable force on Earth. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Kim Hwiyeon stared nkly. The monsters that they had to risk their lives to defeat were all cleaned up with just two attacks. The power Taesan had shown during the previous return seemed monstrous. Just punching released a powerful force, and just jumping damaged the earth. But still, it was understandable. Because they were simr. As their stats increased, they surpassed human limits. But this. ¡°Oh, wow¡­¡± People bent their knees in admiration as they sent glowing looks towards Taesan. [Proficiency in divine power has increased by 1%.] Chapter 235: Fourth Return, Earth (2) Chapter 235: Fourth Return, Earth (2) ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan caressed the ground. In the parched earth of this, he had nted a flower from thebyrinth. ¡°It felt something like this.¡± Taesan raised his head. There was no change at city hall. Taesan clicked his tongue and pulled out the flower he had nted. Kim Hwiyeon, who had just arrived, tilted her head in confusion. ¡°What are you doing right now?¡± ¡°Creating a domain. I learned something useful in thebyrinth, trying to see if I can use it here, but it¡¯s not working well.¡± Taesan took out another flower from his inventory.¡°A domain¡­ does it affect the entire city hall?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Hwiyeon stared nkly and muttered, ¡°Really, Mr. Taesan, you¡¯re bing less and less human.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± He had thought so himself. But he wasn¡¯t particrly concerned. After all, his goal was to transcend mortality. Kim Hwiyeon smirked at Taesan¡¯s indifferent attitude. The inside of the city hall was in chaos. Theposed-looking man in front of her was the reason. Kim Hwiyeon raised her head. Kuuung! A monster was right in front of her. Its strength was such that even she couldn¡¯t guarantee victory. By previous standards, it was a D-ss monster. There were dozens like it. Kuuuuung! And all of them were stopped by a barrier. The barrier was incredibly solid, without a hint of trembling. ¡°Looking at them like this, these creatures are strangely shaped.¡± ¡°They resemble insects or animals but are different. There¡¯s nothing inside when dissected. They are truly alien.¡± He had already dissected several monsters in a previous life. However, all he found inside was darkness, nothing of substantive information. ¡°Really.¡± Kim Hwiyeon murmured with a strange expression. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be evaluating monsters like this right in front of me¡­¡± After the first attack, monsters continued to appear. At least a dozen, and at most, dozens rushed at them. But before reaching the city hall, they were stopped by a barrier erected by Barkaza. [These are weak.] Barkaza said dismissively. [Probably the bottom feeders of the monsters that the High Godsmand. Even hundreds of thousands like these can¡¯t harm me or my master.] ¡°That¡¯s really¡­ remarkable.¡± If hundreds of thousands of D-ss monsters appeared, the Earth would be doomed. Other countries might be different, but Korea would definitely be annihted. It meant that Taesan was overwhelmingly stronger than any other yer in Korea. It had been true before, but they only truly felt it since this return. ¡°High Gods, huh.¡± Kim Hwiyeon muttered the word. Taesan had exined the general situation to those in charge, including Kim Hwiyeon and Geum Junggeun. The beings attacking Earth were the High Gods, and they were beings defeated by the current gods. They did not ept their defeat and had been destroying numerous worlds. ¡°Earth is one of those¡­ and the gods called us to thebyrinth.¡± The reason for the separation of difficulty levels was not discussed. It was judged that even she would not easily ept that thebyrinth she belonged to was created by the beings they were attacking. ¡°Such despicable things. They tampered with my world and ruined yours too.¡± Minerva grumbled. Kim Hwiyeon chuckled hollowly. ¡°It¡¯s really huge. Too much.¡± The existence called gods. And thebyrinth. Everything surrounding them. She closed her eyes. Her eyebrows quivered for a moment. And when her eyes were visible again, they were more settled than before. ¡°And Mr. Taesan, you have even spoken directly with the gods.¡± ¡°Not often.¡± [That''s enough. There has never been a mortal who formed a rtionship with a transcendent like you since I entered thebyrinth.] The ghost quibbled. However, since Kim Hwiyeon could not hear his voice, she shook her head. ¡°My head is tooplicated. But¡­ I understand. No. Actually, I like it.¡± Kim Hwiyeon giggled. ¡°It¡¯s kind of grand that we ended up like this, right? I thought it might just be someone¡¯s trivial prank, but I¡¯m d that¡¯s not the case.¡± ¡°A prank?¡± ¡°Yes. You know, like the whole world is just the dream of some transcendent being. We are merely remnants of that being¡¯s dream. I had kind of thought that too.¡± Kim Hwiyeon seemed to have had many thoughts of her own. She kicked a stone with her foot. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Taesan, for sharing this.¡± ¡°I was going to tell you from the start, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡± In her previous life, Kim Hwiyeon had tried desperately. And she died without knowing anything. Taesan wanted to tell her the truth. And he had faith. He believed that Kim Hwiyeon and Geum Junggeun would not be mentally shaken even if they knew the truth. Taesan nted a white flower. Then, he sprinkled blue powder around it. Wooung. Synchronization urred. Kim Hwiyeon was surprised as the area around Taesan became distinctive. ¡°Did it finally work?¡± Keeying. A blue domain appeared, centered around the city hall. ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°Monster?¡± People panicked at the sudden change. Thinking that a monster had breached the barrier, they drew their weapons but then realized the anomaly. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°My power¡­¡± The blue domain was enhancing their power. Taesan dusted off his hands. ¡°Barkaza. Send in a monster.¡± [Got it.] Part of the curtain was breached, and a monster that had been pounding came in without any resistance. Startled by the sudden entry, the monster looked around briefly and assessed what it needed to do. Slithering. The monster approached Taesan. ¡°Try it.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Taesan stepped back. Left alone in front of the monster, Kim Hwiyeon hastily drew her weapon. ng! A sudden battle began. Kim Hwiyeon fought earnestly. The monster in front of her was one she could not easily guarantee victory against. sh! But her sword strike made the monster¡¯s body shake significantly. She didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and pressed the monster hard. Crack! Minutester, the monster fell. Kim Hwiyeon caught her breath, astonishment etched on her face. ¡°How could¡­ I won so easily.¡± Her movements were quicker than usual, while the monster¡¯s were sluggish and feeble. Taesan dusted off his hands. ¡°That went well.¡± A domain created through alchemy. It amplified the people¡¯s powers and diminished the monsters¡¯. It was his first attempt at using it, and the results exceeded his expectations. ¡°So this was what Mr. Taesan was working on?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon grimaced. ¡°This is going to cause even more chaos.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± The blue domain surrounding them. Its effects were bolstering them and weakening the monsters. Realizing this, people¡¯s admiration grew, and they began to worship Taesan. ¡°Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!¡± ¡°Lord Taesan!¡± ¡°Please protect us!¡± As Taesan passed by, they clung to his clothes and prayed. Countless hands and wishes were directed towards him. Overwhelmed by their adoration, Taesan spread his wings. As he took flight, their cries intensified. [Your divine power proficiency has increased by 1%.] ¡°Why does this keep increasing?¡± Taesan muttered, annoyed. He nced down towards the city hall. Looking up at him, people knelt and prayed. It was as though they were worshipping a deity. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Brother, you¡¯re here?¡± Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk, who were sparring, greeted Taesan. Lee Taeyeon joked, ¡°How does it feel to be worshipped?¡± ¡°It¡¯s weird.¡± Taesan grumbled. Kang Junhyuk spoke calmly, ¡°It¡¯s a natural reaction. You¡¯ve done more than just one or two significant things.¡± He stopped monsters and empowered people. He delivered dark magic and bestowed divine blessings upon them. At this point, among the people of Seoul, only a minority did not worship Taesan. The vast majority were praying to him. ¡°Everyone needed something to rely on. It just happened to be you.¡± ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s a bit overwhelming for me too. Just how much stronger are you going to get?¡± Lee Taeyeon looked admiringly at Taesan¡¯spanions, Minerva and Barkaza. These spirits wielded powers even stronger than those of Lee Taeyeon herself. She had grown strong in her own right, yet Taesan had be iparably mightier. Being in the samebyrinth, she felt an insurmountable gap between them. Taesan then spoke. ¡°I don¡¯t know about the contract with the spirit, but if I continue, I could be even stronger than I am now. Of course, by then, you will have be stronger too.¡± ¡°Is that even possible¡­¡± ¡°It is.¡± Taesan confidently reassured a doubtful Lee Taeyeon. His words were filled with trust, visibly moving both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk. For Taesan, who already knew about Lee Taeyeon¡¯s future, his statement was obvious. Suddenly, seeing Lee Taeyeon stirred something unusual in him. The Lee Taeyeon that had been created by the God of Despair held vast knowledge. How many times had she returned to the past? What had she witnessed? And what had be of Taesan in those timelines? Lee Taeyeon flinched under Taesan¡¯s intense gaze. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Taesan drew his sword. ¡°Then, after a long time, let¡¯s have a match. Draw your weapons.¡± Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk eagerly prepared themselves. ¡°You¡¯ve be quite mentally resilient.¡± Both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk were quickly overpowered by a single strike from Taesan. In the past, Lee Taeyeon would have found a way to escape, and Kang Junhyuk would have charged in recklessly. But this time, Lee Taeyeon adopted a defensive strategy, seeking Taesan¡¯s vulnerabilities, while Kang Junhyuk attacked aggressively, constantly searching for counterattacks. They fought desperately against an overwhelming adversary, striving for victory. Three hourster, both were soaked in sweat, yet their expressions bore no signs of displeasure. They had learned a great deal from sparring with Taesan. ¡°Not bad.¡± After they went to rest, Minervamented. ¡°They are still frail and delicate, yet they possess talent and potential. Most importantly, they are mentally trained. If fortune smiles upon them, they could grow quite strong.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how I designed them. They can¡¯t just perish easily.¡± [Your divine power proficiency has increased by 1%.] ¡°This is real.¡± Taesan frowned. ¡°What exactly is this?¡± ¡°Divinity. It¡¯s the will and faith of the people who believe in you.¡± Minerva turned her head. Inside the city hall, numerous beliefs were converging towards Taesan. ¡°When life believes in someone, that belief bes a force that flows to the object of that faith. When it umtes sufficiently, it bes divine and transforms into a kind of power. But I don¡¯t recall any mortal gaining such clear divine power¡­¡± Though Minerva was not old, she had acquired all the knowledge necessary to be a spirit king, thanks to the orb. ¡°How can this be used?¡± ¡°That? Unless you possess divinity, you can¡¯t utilize it, think of it like that.¡± Minerva asserted. ¡°You could forcibly twist the level and make it work through a loophole¡­ but the risk is too high. If you¡¯re not a transcendent, you can¡¯t use it. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m more curious about how you even came to possess such a thing.¡± A mortal bing a transcendent. In thebyrinth where the strongest of many worlds gathered, it was nearly an impossibility. But Taesan harbored other thoughts. Handling power itself was not impossible. It was merely near impossible. Then someday, he might obtain it. Just as he had acquired many skills before. Taesan continued training Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk for two days. The worship directed at him did not cease, and divine power continued to umte, but he paid it no mind. And then the time arrived. [Quest Start] [People from various regions are moving to Seoul. They are risking their lives toe here.] [Protect them and ensure their safe arrival in Seoul.] [Additional rewards will be given based on performance.] Chapter 236: Fourth Return, Earth (3) Chapter 236: Fourth Return, Earth (3) ¡°So what are you going to do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep quiet for now.¡± Upon hearing Seo Jangsan¡¯s words, Kim Hwiyeon responded, her brow furrowed in thought. She had seen thising. The next quest involved safeguarding those journeying to Seoul from various regions. She had already sketched out a preliminary n. ¡°First¡­ we¡¯re going to protect them.¡± At this, everyone in the meeting nodded in agreement. The essence of the quest was to safeguard those arriving in Seoul. It wasn¡¯t about passively waiting but about actively venturing out to rescue them. ¡°But we don¡¯t have enough people for all the ces we need to cover.¡± That was precisely the issue at hand.Their numbers were insufficient to safeguard every designated region. Allocating the workforce without increasing risk was proving to be a significant challenge. ¡°Which regions were they again?¡± ¡°Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, Gangwon Province¡¯s Wonju, Daejeon, Jeju. Those six ces.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a lot to handle.¡± ¡°How are we going to distribute our forces?¡± After a moment of contemtion, eyes closed, Kim Hwiyeon spoke up. ¡°We¡¯ve decided to assign the city hall to the Easy and Normal Mode yers.¡± ¡°Before, I wasn¡¯t sure¡­ but now, with Taesan¡¯s support, they should be able to hold their ground.¡± The group concurred. Within the territory under Taesan¡¯s control, even Normal Mode yers could fend off monsters with rtive ease. Thus, only the Hard and Solo Mode yers would be dispatched. ¡°First, me, Seo Jangsan, Geum Junggeun, and half of the Hard Mode yers will head to Daejeon.¡± This n was met with unanimous agreement. The real challenge wouldmence with the appearance of a ss D monster, marking the true onset of the quest. And Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s strategy was sound. Hard Mode yers had been dispatched sporadically, resulting in many unnecessary casualties. ¡°Then, half of the remaining Hard Mode yers will apany Lee Taeyeon to Wonju, and the rest will follow Kang Junhyuk to Gwangju. Does that sound eptable?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk nodded calmly. With each return, the gap between the Hard Mode yers and these two grew, and now even dozens attacking together couldn¡¯t match them. The two of them wouldn¡¯t easily be pushed back, even if a ss C monster appeared. It was a fitting personnel decision. ¡°Then the remaining areas are three¡­¡± Daegu, Busan, and Jeju Ind. These were the ces farthest away. Silence fell, and all eyes focused on one spot. Taesan spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the remaining three ces.¡± ¡°¡­Is it really possible?¡± ¡°No problem.¡± A mix of awe and respect echoed in the response. Kim Hwiyeon looked at Taesan with an apologetic face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± And then they departed. Since the quest had started, there was no time to dy. Those who were ready steeled their hearts and stepped outside the area. Right before Kim Hwiyeon left, she asked Taesan. ¡°Where are you going, Mr. Taesan?¡± ¡°Busan.¡± ¡°Busan¡­¡± A hint of worry appeared on Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s face. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too far? I heard that the situation in Busan is quite dangerous.¡± Most of the Hard Mode yers had died. She heard that thest return ended with only the majority of Normal and Easy Mode yers surviving. ¡°Is there going to be a problem?¡± ¡°¡­No. It was a needless question.¡± Upon Taesan¡¯s response, Kim Hwiyeon backed off, understanding. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go ahead.¡± ¡°Brother, see you aliveter.¡± ¡°Managing people is a bit¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good experience too.¡± They dispersed one by one. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Barkaza, you know what to do, right?¡± [Sigh. I don''t like being away from my master, but if it''s an order, there''s no helping it. Just give me the location. I''ll finish it perfectly ande back.] Taesan flicked Barkaza¡¯s head. Having received the information, Barkaza soared off. Whoosh. Barkaza flew away. Taesan then turned his gaze to Minerva. ¡°Got it. It¡¯ll be a bit troublesome, but it¡¯s yourmand. See youter.¡± Minerva grinned and disappeared into the wind. Taesan, left alone, also moved forward. ¡°Busan, huh?¡± It was practically the edge of the world from Seoul. ¡°Should take about thirty minutes.¡±
¡°Eek!¡± A man, his face marred with scars, desperately swung his weapon. ¡°Aaaah!¡± With a scream, he parried the monster¡¯s attack and drove his weapon deep. The monster writhed and then copsed. In its ce, another monster appeared. Gurgling. ¡°Aaaagh!¡± Screams echoed all around. The man saw one familiar face after another fall, his expression hardening. ¡°The damn bastards!¡± He roughly opened his inventory and hurled a potion. The potion shattered on the monster, releasing its power. Crackling! Frost formed. The monsters¡¯ bodies froze, their movements slowing. But as if it was no big deal, the monster started moving again. The man gritted his teeth. The item he had bought with high hopes had barely any effect. ¡°Everyone! How are you holding up?¡± ¡°Not good!¡± A man with a sincere look shouted through his injuries. The number of monsters outnumbered them. As the people were gradually pushed back, the injured man clenched his teeth. ¡°¡­Break through, everyone!¡± He aggressively advanced towards the group of monsters, and the people desperately followed him. ¡°Aaaah!¡± They barely broke through the monsters. The man, covered in wounds, caught his breath and asked. ¡°How many survived?¡± ¡°Almost all Easy Mode yers died, about half of Normal, and a significant number of Hard Mode yers as well.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± The scarred man grimaced. The quest was unavoidable. They started moving from Daegu to Seoul. And they encountered numerous monsters. Each one was as challenging as Hard Mode, and there were over a hundred of them. The sight was more daunting than they had prepared for. They managed to push through, but there was still a long way to go. ¡°Bro, this¡­¡± ¡°Calm down.¡± The man calmed the anxious people. ¡°You saw the quest details. People are going toe from Seoul.¡± ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s possible?¡± The man with a sincere appearance spoke up, and the other man fell silent. There were too many monsters. It seemed impossible that anyone coulde from Seoul. ¡°There¡¯s no reason toe through this dangerous path.¡± ¡°¡­They wille. You¡¯ve heard about Solo Mode too.¡± ¡°But is that¡­ really true?¡± Doubt was apparent in their eyes, and the man had no answer. He was a Hard Mode yer, a strong leader among Daegu¡¯s yers. Thus, he had heard many stories about Taesan and other Hard Mode yers from Seoul, including Kim Hwiyeon and Geum Junggeun. A monstrously strong human. An entity that had granted a new power called ck magic to everyone in Seoul. He was also told that the other two in Solo Mode were very strong. However, the man was skeptical even while listening to the stories. A Solo Mode yer was by his side right now, but his power was not that impressive. At best, it was just below Hard Mode level. He didn¡¯t believe the power differences within the Modes could be that significant. Moreover, he had never seen Taesan in person and had only heard stories. Fists flying that sent people soaring, leaps that created craters on the ground. ¡®Probably just exaggerated.¡¯ They were desperate and needed something to believe in. He thought the existence of Taesan was created for that purpose. While not weak, he estimated it to be about three to four times the level of Hard Mode. ¡°¡­Anyway, we have to go to Seoul. Everyone, get ready.¡± The people clenched their teeth and got up. They slowly advanced. Monsters appeared again. The number made everyone¡¯s faces turn pale. ¡°This, this is crazy.¡± Hundreds of monsters blocked their path. ¡°Run¡­¡± The man who was turning around to shout quickly shut his mouth. There were dozens of monsters behind them too. Realizing their situation, they were surrounded by monsters. The sincere-looking man spoke nkly. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, kids.¡± The scarred man shook his head. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be helped. You did well, brother.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve survived for quite some time. That¡¯s enough to die satisfied.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯ming to meet you.¡± ¡°We have to kill at least one more before we go.¡± They calmly epted their fate. The scarred man gripped his weapon with fierce determination. ¡°Let¡¯s kill at least one more on our way out!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± As they made their resolute decision and charged forward, Whoosh! With a loud noise, something fell in front of them. ¡°Woah, woah!¡± ¡°What is that!¡± The charging group was startled and stopped. As the dust settled, the figure that made the noise appeared. [I''ve arrived. These pests have been annoying.] Anguid voice sounded. The man¡¯s pupils dted. Someone shouted. ¡°It¡¯s a monster!¡± A green golem appeared. The man reflexively shed with his sword. ng! [0 damage to Barkaza.] ¡°What?¡± [Stop this nuisance. I''m not your enemy.] Barkaza pped his hands. A barrier formed around them. ng! [I came to protect you as per my master''s orders.] ¡°Your, your master?¡± Since there was no sign of harm from him, the man lowered his sword. [Yes. My master. Someone named Kang Taesan asked me to protect you while you travel to a ce called Seoul.] Kang Taesan. At that name, the man¡¯s eyes wavered. Seeing his reaction, Barkaza turned around. [Seems you know him. That''ll make things less annoying.] ¡°¡­Are you his subordinate¡­?¡± [Think what you will.] ¡°That¡¯s fascinating. Even monsters serve him as subordinates.¡± The calm man muttered. It was indeed fascinating, but it made sense for Solo Mode. He thought taming a monster wasn¡¯t strange for that Mode. Those who had been rushing to protect their leader also paused as the conversation unfolded behind them. The man spoke calmly. ¡°Then where is your master?¡± Seeing such a monster tamed, he was sure the master must be much stronger than he had imagined. He thought if his master were here, at least half of them could survive. However, Barkaza disappointed him. [He didn''te.] ¡°What?¡± [I''m here alone. I alone am enough.] ¡°What does that mean¡­¡± The man hesitated to speak further. ng! He hadn¡¯t noticed, but the monster was continuously pounding on the golem¡¯s created barrier. And yet, the barrier showed not even the slightest crack. [Let''s wrap this up quickly.] Barkaza pped his hands. A rainbow of lights poured out. People screamed and closed their eyes. A loud noise and the sound of the earth crumbling filled the air. When they opened their eyes, everything around them had been ttened.
¡°Aaaaaah!¡± A woman in her mid-twenties, beautiful despite her agony, was tearing at her hair by the sea. ¡°Damn this quest! Can¡¯t they give us something reasonable?¡± Sheughed helplessly. Dozens of people behind her sat down just as helplessly. ¡°There¡¯s no consideration at all. Consideration¡­¡± The woman sat down. Her name was Lee Hye-yeon. She prided herself on being apetent career woman. She hade to Jeju Ind for a change of scenery after finishing a long project, ready to enjoy a pleasant trip. Just as she was about to enjoy her vacation, the world started to fall apart. She had entered Hard Mode. And upon her return to Earth, she had returned to her original location in Jeju. It was an ind separated from the maind where 670,000 people lived. With fewer overall numbers, the strong ones were also few. It was a blessing in disguise that there were rtively more Hard Mode yers. However, the continuously emerging monsters gradually reduced their numbers, and by the third return, only a few hundred remained. The next return was almost certain to be total annihtion. Thus, Lee Hye-yeon believed. She held onto the belief that next time, they could make it to Seoul. That somehow, a means of transportation would present itself. But that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± To reach Seoul, they had to cross the sea. She shook her head. It seemed an impossible task. The nes were all destroyed, and even if they weren¡¯t, there was no one to fly them. A few small fishing boats remained, but they were insignificant. Rumbling. The sea beyond was violently churning. Monsters lurked in the ocean too. Attempting to cross by boat would simply feed them to the fish. ¡°Kids, it seems like this is it¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to die, Sis¡­¡± ¡°Me neither. I want to live¡­¡± They embraced each other and wept. The monsters were slowly closing in on them. And then, a breeze stirred. ¡°Hello?¡± A beautiful woman with blue hair appeared. Lee Hye-yeon, who had been sobbing bitterly, recoiled in shock. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°If I say I¡¯m a spirit, would you understand?¡± ¡°¡­A spirit?¡± ¡°Yes. My master sent me to bring you to Seoul.¡± ¡°Master¡­ Seoul¡­ Could it be Kang Taesan?¡± At Lee Hye-yeon¡¯s murmur, Minerva showed a flicker of interest. ¡°You catch on quick? Perhaps you do have the skills to survive?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± A mysterious being offered their help. And it imed to be a spirit. Though not entirely certain, there was only one being known to wield such power. Minerva spoke with a cheerful tone. ¡°So rx, little ones. I will ensure your safe passage across.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± They gazed out over the sea. The monster deep within was stirring. Attempting to cross would mean their doom. But for Minerva, this posed no issue. ¡°Let¡¯s clear those out first.¡± Minerva waved her hand, and the wind transformed into des that soared through the air. All the approaching monsters were sliced into pieces. ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°If there¡¯s no path, we¡¯ll create one.¡± Minerva hummed as she stepped into the sea. Then, the surface split apart. The sea began to part. ¡°Let¡¯s tidy up the nuisances.¡± Minerva rolled her foot. The power spreading through the earth burst the sea monsters apart. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The people stared, dumbfounded, at the miracle before them. On the path that had appeared through the sea, Minerva gestured. ¡°Come quickly.¡± Chapter 237: Fourth Return, Earth (4) ¡°Aaaaah!¡± People screamed and copsed. From the front, a man desperately swung a hammer, trying to clear a path, but the iing monsters made it impossible, pushing him back instead. ¡°Damn!¡± The man¡¯s face contorted in frustration. His name was Choi Taeman. He was a leader in Busan. And at this point, Busan was the next most devastated ce after Jeju Ind. The reason was simple. All kinds of misfortune existed in Busan. Busan, often called the second capital, was populous, but the proportion of Hard Mode yers was significantly lower than in other areas. While the separation into Modes was not fixed and was left to personal choice, the variance was particrly high in Busan.And with fewer Hard Mode yers, the numbers of Easy and Normal Mode yers were high. And with many yers, they began to wield a sort of speaking power. Instead, they started pressuring the Hard Mode yers. They said, ¡°You powerful ones, protect us.¡± The Hard Mode yers expressed their reluctance, but their numbers were too few. Still holding onto Modern societal values, they chose eptance over confrontation. And once in power, people tended to keep wielding it. Rtively few Hard Mode yers. And conflict among yers. Discord. There was no way the quests could progress normally. The result was the death of the majority. By the time the third return ended, the number of survivors could be counted on one hand. Boom! Choi Taeman brutally struck down a monster. In the ruined situation, as the leader elected to somehow save the people, he desperately tried to stop all the Easy and Normal Mode yers from killing each other. Those who chose conflict died, and those who remained chose to be bystanders rather than confront the others. Some even took care to speak up for them, so the Hard Mode yers also calmed their anger. But it was toote. With an absoluteck of numbers, they were too busy surviving the monsters¡¯ attacks. Eventually, their numbers dwindled. He turned around after fending off a monster. The number of people following him had noticeably decreased. Choi Taeman¡¯s eyes wavered. It hadn¡¯t even been twenty minutes since they started, and so many had already died¡­ The word ¡®annihtion¡¯ shed through his mind. Kuuuung! A huge monster moved to strike his head. Choi Taeman barely blocked it. His body was pushed back. His eyes settled. At the moment he was about to make a decision, the body of the charging monster burst open. Puffff! And like dominos, the monsters were crushed. The pupils of those who had been crying and preparing for death widened. ¡°Uh, uh?¡± Among the fallen monsters, a man with aposed face appeared. He surveyed the people of Busan and muttered. ¡°Fewer than I thought. Maybe they couldn¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°You, who are you?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± People shuddered. They, too, had heard about Kang Taesan in themunity. A monstrous figure who had kept the people of Seoul and Gyeonggi alive. Taesan said. ¡°I decided toe down to Busan.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s only been twenty minutes since the quest started¡­¡± ¡°I ran here as fast as I could. For now, I¡¯ll take care of these monsters, so you rest.¡± A hundred monsters were rushing at them. ¡°Danger¡­¡± As Choi Taeman was about to say something, Taesan¡¯s hand moved swiftly. A hundred monsters exploded all at once. ¡°Take this.¡± Taesan handed them well-cooked corn. The people greedily devoured it. Choi Taeman also wolfed down a corn cob in just one minute. ¡°You must be starving. Didn¡¯t you bring some food from thebyrinth?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s true, but it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had corn.¡± The food in thebyrinth was hard and truly tasteless. It could fill the stomach, but enjoying the meal was impossible. Choi Taeman looked regretfully at the corn cob with not a kernel left. Taesan took out another cob of corn. Water beaded on his hand, enveloping the corn, and then it began to boil. ¡°Here.¡± He handed the freshly boiled corn to Choi Taeman. Choi Taeman received it with a bittersweet expression. ¡°Is that even possible?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gained something recently.¡± Thanks to Beatrice¡¯s quest, he could now exert influence over nature, and his power had reached a level where it could interfere with the weather itself. Summoning water and boiling it was no problem. Choi Taeman grimaced, but he gobbled up the corn and then spoke. ¡°Thanks. You saved us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing to thank me for.¡± It was natural for people to save each other. ¡°Still, I have to thank you. In good conscience. We¡¯ve seen a lot of bloodshed because of people who aren¡¯t like that.¡± Choi Taeman smirked. ¡°Do you know what situation we were in?¡± ¡°Roughly.¡± A ce that was annihted due to conflicts among people. That was Busan. While Seoul was precarious in past lives, if it had managed to hold on, Busanpletely failed to endure. ¡°I heard Seoul and Gyeonggi were simr.¡± Easy Mode yer, Choi Junghyuk, and Hard Mode yer, Seo Jangsan. Both created groups for their own purposes and tried to manage others. And all those problems had been solved alone by Taesan. ¡°If you had been in Busan, could you have solved Busan¡¯s problems and helped them survive too?¡± With a gloomy face, Choi Taeman shook his head. It¡¯s all in the past. And it¡¯s a meaningless hypothesis. From his experiences so far, he knew dwelling on such things was no help to survival. Choi Taeman lifted his head with a determined expression. ¡°Still, with you here, we can survive and make it to Seoul.¡± They could survive. Hope dawned on the faces of those taking a break. ¡°Well.¡± Taesan muttered softly. ¡°The High Gods will move. As they always have.¡± ¡®I wonder how it wille this time.¡¯ Taesan led the people of Busan towards Seoul. And slowly, other people also contacted their respective groups. Kang Jun-hyeok met with people from Gwangju, defeated the monsters, and then headed to Seoul with them. They made gradual progress with the help of Kang Jun-hyeok. As night fell and fatigue set in, they took a rest. A woman approached Kang Jun-hyeok, who was keeping watch. ¡°Hello.¡± The woman was the leader of the people from Gwangju. She had been prepared to die when blocked by monsters, but Kang Jun-hyeok had saved her. ¡°Ah, hello.¡± ¡°Are you keeping watch? You can leave it to someone else. We should at least do that much.¡± ¡°No. This is my duty. I can¡¯t just hand it over.¡± Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head. The woman¡¯s face turned slightly red. ¡°Honestly, when I heard about you from Hwiyeon, I thought it was an exaggeration, but you really are strong¡­ If you are like this, then Kang Taesan must be as strong as they say.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Kang Jun-hyeok denied it. The woman was taken aback, and he said, ¡°He¡¯s iparably stronger.¡± He looked into the darkness with a peculiar gaze. ¡°Why he is so strong. And that¡¯s not all.¡± Taesan had told them something before leaving. Kurrrung. A loud noise came from afar. The ground broke, and a monster appeared. [Monster 111026 has appeared.] ¡°Uh.¡± The woman¡¯s face hardened. The monster itself was not surprising. They had defeated hundreds on their way here. But the monster in front of them was different. The power and level felt. Even she could tell the difference. ¡°It really came.¡± Kang Jun-hyeok raised his weapon with a look of fascination. The monster in front of them was strong. But it was not so formidable that they couldn¡¯t defeat it if they risked their lives. ¡°Let¡¯s do this. Damn it.¡± Taesan moved with the people who had rested. Monsters appeared and blocked their path, and Taesan tore each one to death. Crack. He grabbed the head of a charging monster and exerted force. The head crumpled like a crushed can. [You have activated The Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] The wind rose. The technique of a high-ranking spirit, in harmony with the power of the Spirit King, swept violently in all directions. Monsters were sliced through and fell. ¡°Ooooh!¡± The people following burst into exmations. They were witnessing monsters, which were difficult to bring down one by one, falling effortlessly at a mere gesture. Respectful and envious gazes turned towards Taesan. From them, an invisible energy began to flow into Taesan. Based on his experiences so far, Taesan knew that gathering these energies would increase his proficiency in divine power. ¡®Is there no way to use this?¡¯ Minerva had said it was impossible without being of a certain level of authority, but Taesan didn¡¯t think so. After all, it was a power he had obtained. Like an aura, there must be some way to harness it. Finding that method was Taesan¡¯s task. With that thought, Taesan moved forward. The monsters fell before him. ¡®Strong.¡¯ Choi Taeman was amazed. ¡®But not as much as I¡¯d heard.¡¯ If it were as he had heard, Taesan would be akin to a living natural disaster. A st of air from him would blow away Hard Mode yers, and a mere leap would shatter the earth. His mere presence would demoralize enemies, toppling them effortlessly. However, the power Taesan was disying now wasn¡¯t to that extent. Certainly strong, and an invincible power by Normal standards, but within the realm ofmon sense. There was some exaggeration involved. That was Choi Taeman¡¯s judgment. Originally a monster that would frighten Hard Mode yers? He had never heard of such a monster surviving. He thought it was a misconception amidst the chaos. Still, it was definitely overwhelmingly strong. Enough to protect them all. ¡®Stories do tend to grow in the telling.¡¯ As he thought this, Taesan suddenly moved to block in front of him. At the sudden intervention, he asked, Kaang! Taesan¡¯s hand moved. With a rough roar, his hand collided with something. Crack. In his grasp was a purple sphere. ¡°Uh, what?¡± Had Taesan not blocked it, Choi Taeman¡¯s upper body would have been obliterated. Taesan exerted force on his hand, and the sphere shattered, falling apart. A bursting sound resonated. [You have activated Mental eleration.] The surroundings slowed down. He expanded his senses to determine the positions and distances of iing objects. Purple spheres. Ten were flying towards him from different directions. Papapak! Arrows burst forth from Taesan. He waved his hand, and a rough wind arose, sweeping around. The iing purple spheres collided with the wind and arrows, then were flung away. Kwagwagwang! The sphere exploded as it pierced the ground. ¡°Where are these attacksing from?¡± To Choi Taeman, it seemed as if the surroundings were suddenly exploding. He tried toprehend it, but these were not attacks that could be understood with mere Hard Mode power. ¡®A-ss level?¡¯ Quite strong. It was simr to an enemy he had risked his life to defeat during a previous return. ¡®The distance is at least 10KM.¡¯ Quite far. It wasn¡¯t a distance Taesan couldn¡¯t cover alone. If it was that far, he could arrive with a few leaps. The problem was that there were at least twenty or more of them. The purple spheres flew at him again. Taesan swung his hand, and the wind that arose altered the trajectory of the spheres. [You have activated Mark.] He then rolled his feet. A curtain of wind arose, enveloping the people. [You have activated eleration.] Crack. The earth copsed. Choi Taeman was so astounded that he forgot to even react. ¡°What!¡± Taesan reached the monster that was shooting the spheres. The monster resembled a cannon emcement. It was a form solely designed for shooting spheres. Taesan plunged his sword into the monster. [Monster 985 takes 6784 damage.] The monster fell. Simultaneously, other monsters shot their spheres. The spheres collided with the barrier of wind. Kagagagak! The wind sent the spheres flying. An A-ss level attack could be sufficiently blocked not only by the temporarily erected barrier but also by Taesan himself. Kugugugung! At that moment, the ground in front of the people crumbled. From the copsed ground, a giant, ballista-like monster appeared. Kaang! The monster charged. The wall of wind began to scream and wobble. [You have activated Random Blink.] Quadduk. Taesan, now positioned in front of the people, shattered the ballista. He swung the wind again to brush off the newly shot purple spheres. Taesan twisted the corners of his mouth. ¡°Are they aiming to kill the people around me rather than me?¡± This quest was one where everyone scatters. Would it be easier to kill Taesan, or to kill the scattered others? The High Gods would choose thetter. Taesan had assessed this. Likely, in other areas, monsters of ss C or above had appeared one by one. ¡°Quite cunning.¡± Dozens of A-ss monsters. Monsters that even those who have cleared Hard Mode must prepare to die to fight against each one. But that¡¯s all. ¡°Was this given to me anticipating this?¡± [You have activated Starlight Arrows.] A star-formed arrow materialized in Taesan¡¯s grasp. Chapter 238: Fourth Return, Earth (5) Chapter 238: Fourth Return, Earth (5) What the High Gods aimed for was simple. They couldn¡¯t kill Taesan directly. To dispatch a monster capable of killing him, they would have needed to amass a considerable amount of power. Moreover, contracts among the gods introducedplications, making it not an easy decision. Thus, their strategy was to target someone other than Taesan. The current attack seemed to embody that strategy precisely. A monster¡¯s attack,unched from afar, with many attacks scattered in every direction. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad method.¡± Taesan wasn¡¯t particrly skilled at long-range attacks. Although he couldunch attacks up to 10KM away with his bow and magic, this was something the High Gods had anticipated. Should he choose to attack at that range with arrows or magic, they would surely have a counter ready.Of course, he could deal with it. Using abilities like Apostle Transformation, King¡¯s Vessel, ck, and so on¡ªrevealing his cards one by one could have decimated them. But that was precisely what the High Gods were counting on. So, he opted to use a power that was less costly. Whooom. A starlight arrow gathered above Taesan¡¯s hand. It was an intermediate spell bestowed upon him by Zelbando, the god of magic. Choi Taeman, standing nearby, turned pale. He wasn¡¯t alone; others felt simrly overwhelmed. ¡°Gasp.¡± ¡°Huff, huff.¡± They gasped for breath, shrinking back in their ces. ¡®That¡¯s¡­¡¯ Though it was merely manifested, the overwhelming pressure surged forth. Even as only a fragment of power, they instinctively knew it was a force beyond their approach. ¡®Was it no exaggeration?¡¯ Choi Taeman inwardly gasped in shock, while Taesan focused his mind. He expanded his senses, pinpointing the locations of the monsters firing spheres from 10KM away. He stored each location in his mind. He detected a monster crawling deep beneath his feet. He read every variable in his surroundings. Then, the arrow was fired high into the sky. The power, imbued with starlight, ascended into the lofty heavens. ¡°Scatter.¡± The arrow exploded like a firework. Scattered arrows, like meteors, began to pierce down towards the monsters. Simultaneously, the earth shattered, revealing a monster shaped like a shield. It enveloped the sphere-firing monster, forming a massive barrier. It appeared to be a monster specialized in blocking long-range attacks. Its power was likely A-grade, capable of easily blocking something like Taesan¡¯s bow and frost arrows. ¡®As expected, they were prepared.¡¯ The scattered starlight collided with the monster¡¯s barrier. And the starlight shattered the barrier. Focused solely on defense, the A-grade monster¡¯s power was crushed like styrofoam. The impaled starlight then exploded. Boom! Debris flew in all directions with the explosion. ¡°What, what is this?¡± Overwhelmed by the missile-like force, Choi Taeman was at a loss for words. Taesan smiled in satisfaction. ¡°Not bad.¡± The monsters disappeared without a trace. The monster that appeared behind, specialized as it was in defense, wasn¡¯t low on stamina, yet it was taken down in one strike. [Intermediate Magic: Starlight Arrow] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption: 40] [Implements an arrow imbued with the power of the stars. The arrow can split into multiple paths, but its power diminishes with each division.] If the Frozen World was a spell for closebat against multiple enemies, then the Starlight Arrow was for long-range sniping. If the arrow was not split, it could maintain its power even over tens of kilometers. Moreover, Taesan could control its speed. This was his first use, so he handled it slowly, but if he wished, he could shoot it at a speed that even skilled yers could not react to. Its value was not insignificant even in the limited space of thebyrinth, but outside, its value was even greater. It greatlypensated for Taesan¡¯sck of long-rangebat capabilities. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡± Taesan said. People nodded nkly. ¡°The stories were actually understated.¡± ¡°What are you talking about all of a sudden?¡± ¡°About your strength,¡± Choi Taeman smirked. ¡°He¡¯s literally a monster.¡± Monsters continued to appear after that. They tried to kill Taesan and the survivors in various ways, each wielding different powers. And Taesan effortlessly defeated them all. The power Taesan disyed in the process was truly miraculous. It turned out that the rumors he had heard were actually understated. ¡°You thought I was fake?¡± ¡°Most did. Not just me, those who hadn¡¯t met you believed your power was exaggerated.¡± He nced at the others briefly. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t. I see why they worship you now.¡± Just like in Seoul, people in Busan showed respect and reverence towards Taesan. ¡°This could cause problems¡­¡± Choi Taeman frowned. Knowing what he meant, Taesan replied, ¡°It won¡¯t.¡± They continued on. Monsters still appeared, but now finding a different way wasn¡¯t particrly unusual. After dealing with everything and moving forward, they arrived in Seoul. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°We, we survived!¡± People hugged each other, tears of relief streaming down their faces. They expressed their gratitude to Taesan. ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± Taesan nodded and went inside. Inside, there was nobody except the Easy and Normal yers guarding Seoul. It meant that Taesan, who had left Busan, was the first to arrive. As expected. The fewer the numbers, the longer the distance they could travel. Barkaza¡¯s group was slower rtive to Busan because they were more numerous. Kim Hwiyeon, Lee Taeyeon, and Kang Junhyeok were no different. Moreover, they were not as strong as Taesan, so it took them longer to deal with the monsters. Minerva, who had to cross the sea, was inevitably slower. ¡°Rest until the other groups arrive.¡± The next quest would proceed when everyone gathered. After sending people into the city hall, Taesan went back outside. Kim Hwiyeon swiftly moved toward them. Soon, their movements were visible. ¡°Eeek!¡± They were desperately pushing back the monsters. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The monsters¡¯ strength was top-tier, even among D-ss. Despite the challenge, they were managing to handle them one by one. Taesan did not go to help. If it had been a critical situation, perhaps, but if they could ovee it themselves, there was no reason to intervene. Experience was of paramount importance. Taesan continued on his way. He also encountered the groups led by Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok, but they too seemed to have no major problems. ¡®It looks like they¡¯ve managed well.¡¯ From their disheveled appearance, it seemed they had encountered C-ss monsters but had still emerged victorious. With their strength, it was certainly feasible. ¡®Barkaza and Minerva are also fine.¡¯ Then all there was to do was wait. Taesan returned to Seoul. There, people from Busan, including Choi Taeman, were wandering around with dumbfounded expressions. ¡°This ce¡­¡± Was too intact. Most buildings were damaged but still structurally sound. In Busan, even the foundations had been destroyed. The faces of the people were bright. All they showed was the hope of surviving and a future to strive for. Correspondingly, many had survived. Unlike Busan, where only a handful could be counted, here there were tens of thousands. ¡®And then.¡¯ Choi Taeman clenched his fist. His strength had significantly increased because he had received support from the domain Taesan had spread as they entered Seoul. ¡°Ha.¡± He chuckled bitterly. It was both astonishing and sad that a single person could make such a difference. The people of Seoul weed those from Busan. While people of the same difficulty level could meet each other, meeting on Earth felt different. Those who encountered family and acquaintances rejoiced and shared stories. And the more they talked, the more they realized the differences between Seoul and Busan. The people of Seoul believed that if Taesan had not been present, their fate might have mirrored the grim oues they had seen elsewhere. The residents of Busan, having arrived in Seoul, now harbored hope for a future that seemed attainable. As a result, their belief in Taesan grew stronger. The effectiveness of his divine powers had noticeably improved, now exceeding 30%. Time passed. Slowly, a crowd began to form. Thest to arrive was the group led by Kim Hwiyeon. Given the sheer number of people and the time required to deal with each monster, their arrival was inevitably dyed. Eventually, everyone was gathered. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s start the meeting,¡± Kim Hwiyeon announced. Nearly ten individuals were crammed into a small meeting room. Most of them had held leadership roles, overseeing yers from various regions. Kim Hwiyeon surveyed them with a mixed expression. ¡°I¡¯d like to say it¡¯s nice to meet you all¡­ but I recognize all of your faces,¡± Choi Taeman said with a smirk. Being a regional leader meant being a Hard Mode yer, and notably a strong one at that. Kim Hwiyeon, Kim Junggeun, and the others were undoubtedly familiar with each other. Kim Hwiyeon tapped the table lightly. ¡°There¡¯s much I want to discuss, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all eager¡­ Their gazes were fixed on Taesan, and beside him, Minerva and Barkaza. Admiration, inquiries, curiosity, reverence. And a hint of rivalry. [Master.] ¡®Wait.¡¯ Taesan replied to the voice resonating in his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s set aside the questions for now, and first, let¡¯s get organized.¡± Kim Hwiyeon inquired earnestly. ¡°How many of you survived?¡± It was crucial to first determine the number of survivors and those added from each mode. Choi Taeman was the first to respond. ¡°Busan. Ten Solo Mode yers. Twelve Hard Mode yers. Fifty-seven Normal Mode yers. One hundred two Easy Mode yers. A total of one hundred eighty-one survivors.¡± A somber silence fell over the room at the grim tally. Out of approximately 3.5 million residents of Busan, only about one hundred eighty had survived. Choi Taeman spoke somberly. ¡°You can me me. It¡¯s because I couldn¡¯t save them.¡± ¡°No, it was beyond your control.¡± Everyone knew about the situation in Busan. Next, the leader from Jeju Ind spoke. ¡°Jeju Ind. Three Solo Mode yers. Twenty Hard Mode yers. Thirty Normal Mode yers. One hundred Easy Mode yers.¡± ¡°Gwangju. Eight hundred thirty Hard Mode yers. Two thousand five hundred twenty Normal Mode yers. Five thousand three hundred Easy Mode yers.¡± Each location started to report. Daejeon had the highest number of survivors. There, eleven hundred fifty Hard Mode yers, three thousand Normal Mode yers, and six thousand two Easy Mode yers had survived. Pride was evident on the man¡¯s face as he reported the survival numbers. He had saved many under hismand, which was indeed something to be proud of. He nced briefly at Taesan. His look carried a challenge, a slight hostility, and wariness. ¡®It¡¯s been a while.¡¯ A world where everyoneughed and cooperated did not exist. People naturally opposed and fought each other. Choi Junghyuk was a prime example. He fomented discord and killed many for his own survival. Yet, he had a clear purpose¡ªhis will to survive. Although his methods were questionable, the intent itself was not problematic. Thus, while Taesan had dealt with Choi Junghyuk, he understood his motives. Seo Jangsan was simr. He oppressed Easy and Normal Mode yers for rational survival. His methods led to poor oues, but in a crumbling world, his choices were understandable. But the man in front of him. The leader from Daejeon. Taesan could never fully understand this man. The one he remembered as having met the most foolish end. That was how Taesan remembered him. It was Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s turn to speak. She began, ¡°Solo Mode yers, one hundred fifty-two. Hard Mode yers, five thousand seven hundred twenty-two. Normal Mode yers: 25,880. Easy Mode yers: 22,170. In total, 48,525 survived.¡± For reasons different from those in Busan, people were at a loss for words. Chapter 239: Fourth Return, Earth (6) Chapter 239: Fourth Return, Earth (6) ¡°Really¡­ a lot have survived.¡± ¡°Thanks to whom?¡± Kim Hwiyeonughed lightly and nced sideways. Her gaze towards Taesan, filled with respect and trust, grew stronger. And the leader from Daejeon twisted his face as if he was displeased with the current situation. ¡°If this many have survived¡­ it¡¯s even more feasible now.¡± Their faces lit up with motivation as the possibility of survival had increased. ¡°Then who will be the leader?¡± The leader from Jeju Ind asked. They had all been managing yers from their respective regions. But now that everyone had gathered in Seoul, it seemed best for one person to giveprehensivemands to avoid any confusion. All eyes turned to Taesan.Taesan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not my ce. You all know who the leader of Seoul is.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard, but¡­¡± ¡°Still, I never thought it would actually be¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon had heard she was managing people as the leader in Seoul. But it was hard to take at face value, considering Taesan¡¯s overwhelming presence. Kim Hwiyeon was seen as a figurehead, while behind the scenes, Taesan was thought to be the one giving overallmands. However, the reality was different. Taesan stepped back and left the overall management to Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°I¡¯m not good at managing people.¡± His forte was killing monsters. And Kim Hwiyeon was good at managing people and assigning roles ordingly. Everyone should stick to their roles. That was Taesan¡¯s philosophy. Recognizing this, Kim Hwiyeon gratefully bowed her head slightly. Others¡¯ expressions brightened. They realized Taesan was not the type to force his opinions on others because of his strength. After all, no matter what Taesan proposed now, they couldn¡¯t refuse. They had been slightly worried he might push them into a corner, but those concerns had now vanished. The leader from Daejeon also looked happier. He gazed at people with satisfaction. ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°Who is the leader?¡± People¡¯s eyes turned to Kim Hwiyeon. She made a grim face. ¡°Me again?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°You handle everything even in hard mode, don¡¯t you? Just bear with it a little longer.¡± ¡°Ugh. I hate it. I really do.¡± Kim Hwiyeonined, but she did not refuse. She herself believed that it was best for her to take on this role. ¡°Please do your best.¡± ¡°Yeah. Okay.¡± Kim Hwiyeon steadied her breath. It was decided that she would be the leader. The leader from Daejeon opened his mouth. ¡°I object.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± People were startled by the sudden objection. Their gazes shifted. ¡°Lee Juhyeok. You object?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The leader from Daejeon, Lee Juhyeok, nodded. He looked at Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°If Kim Hwiyeon bes the leader, then we¡¯ll have to follow hermands, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Being a leader was just that. It¡¯s about shouldering everyone¡¯s lives, issuingmands, and governing people. It carried power, but also responsibility. If people died, it would be Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s fault. Lee Juhyeok spoke up. ¡°Then I don¡¯t like it. I don¡¯t want to entrust my life to someone else.¡± ¡°You want to be the leader?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lee Juhyeok answered firmly. Everyone looked at him uncertainly. ¡°Umm¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Kim Hwiyeon pressed her forehead as if it hurt. ¡°I had a feeling this would happen, and here it really is.¡± Lee Juhyeok had often shed with Kim Hwiyeon in thebyrinth. Whenever she would propose a strategy, he would challenge it and speak his own mind. Expressing an opinion was not the problem, but Lee Juhyeok¡¯s attitude was. He spoke as if he was the only real leader, and that his opinion was the only correct one. His exclusionary and rejecting tone had led to several conflicts. He was someone who believed only in his own answers and ignored others¡¯ opinions. Someone who wanted to be an absolute king and govern everyone alone. That was Lee Juhyeok. ¡°There won¡¯t be a problem. You¡¯re tired of leading, aren¡¯t you? Just leave it to me.¡± Lee Juhyeok¡¯s eyes gleamed with a greed for power as he spoke. ¡°Umm¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon regarded Taesan with aplex expression. Taesan had only one response. ¡°As I said before, I don¡¯t want to interfere in your affairs. Decide amongst yourselves.¡± Taesan chose to remain a bystander. The decision now rested solely with Kim Hwiyeon. She closed her eyes. Truthfully, it was a burden. Managing people¡¯s lives and assigning them numbers often led to sleepless nights. She had assumed the role because problems would arise if she didn¡¯t, but she longed to relinquish it. That¡¯s when Lee Juhyeok dered his intention to be the leader. If Lee Juhyeok took over, it might not be too bad. His judgments were generally sound. Unlike the safe and rtively passive Kim Hwiyeon, he made bold decisions and had the backing of several Hard Mode yers who appreciated such decisiveness. ¡°Answer quickly. We¡¯re wasting time.¡± Lee Juhyeok urged, confident that Kim Hwiyeon would cede the leadership to him. Kim Hwiyeon nced at Taesan. Taesan was silently observing her. Under his gaze, Kim Hwiyeon made her decision. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Right. It should be¡­ what?¡± Lee Juhyeok¡¯s expression of satisfaction quickly turned to one of disbelief. Kim Hwiyeon spoke calmly. ¡°I refuse, Lee Juhyeok. I should be the leader.¡± ¡°You¡¯re refusing?¡± Lee Juhyeok¡¯s expression contorted. ¡°Do you crave the position of leader that much? To be so stubborn here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not stubbornness. It¡¯s my choice. And aren¡¯t you the one coveting it?¡± ¡°You.¡± Lee Juhyeok¡¯s expression twisted further. Kim Hwiyeon shook her head. ¡°Either way, I have no intention of relinquishing the position of leader. So, what will you do now? Give up? Or¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon grasped her weapon. ¡°Decide by force, ording to thews of thebyrinth?¡± At her words, Lee Juhyeok hesitated. Kim Hwiyeon was strong. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say she was the strongest among the Hard Mode yers. Even if he fought, victory was not guaranteed for him. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s do it by majority vote.¡± Even as he spoke, Lee Juhyeok knew what the oue would be. ¡°Okay. Anyone who wants Kim Hwiyeon to be the leader, raise your hand.¡± Everyone except Lee Juhyeok raised their hands. Kim Hwiyeon said, ¡°Now, anyone who wants Lee Juhyeok to be the leader, raise your hand.¡± No one raised their hand. Lee Juhyeok¡¯s face contorted. The leader from Jeju Ind spoke cautiously. ¡°Honestly, Hwiyeon is doing a good job. Why should we ask someone else?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Juhyeok. You¡¯re not bad, but you¡¯re too radical. That has almost gotten us killed several times.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah. That¡¯s it.¡± Lee Juhyeok twisted his lips. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t agree.¡± He banged the table hard. The table creaked and made a precarious sound. ¡°The person who will be the leader is me. I will be the master of Korea.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s already been decided. You¡¯re not going to challenge that, are you?¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lee Juhyeok stood up. ¡°I can¡¯t ept this. Daejeon will withdraw. We will operate independently.¡± ¡°You!¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s face twisted. Lee Juhyeok smirked. ¡°Why? There¡¯s no problem, right? I¡¯m not particrly resisting or fighting you guys. I¡¯m just going to move independently under my own judgment.¡± ¡°Are those even words?¡± Not following the leader¡¯smand and moving independently could clearly impact other groups. An uncontrolled limb was worse than not having one at all. Just as voices were about to raise, Taesan spoke. ¡°Really?¡± A moment of silence circled. People swallowed their saliva and broke into cold sweats. ¡°¡­Yeah. I¡¯m going to move alone.¡± Lee Juhyeok tried to sound calm, but his eyes betrayed an unmistakable tremor. Taesan nodded. ¡°Then do as you please.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Do what you want. Take the people of Daejeon and do whatever you want; I won¡¯t mind. But if it harms others¡­ you know?¡± Taesan smiled slightly. With a tingling sensation, Lee Juhyeok forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± He stepped outside. Taesan closed his mouth. Finally, the tension eased, and people sat down. ¡°That crazy guy. I knew he was obsessed with power in thebyrinth, but to think he¡¯d be like that outside too¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably even more so because it¡¯s outside. ¡®The master of Korea.¡¯ Sounds grand, right? Would that proud guy not aim for that and give up?¡± Sighs andmentations erupted. Kim Hwiyeon, pressing her temples, said, ¡°First, let¡¯s not worry about that damned guy right now, and deal with the immediate issues at hand.¡± She managed to shift the topic and asked, with a more subdued gaze, as the overall leader of Korea, ¡°Now that all the survivors in Korea have gathered, what¡¯s the mood among the people?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good. Families separated by different modes have reunited, and there¡¯s a sense of unity now that all of Korea is together. There¡¯s hardly any discrimination between the modes. Even Daejeon, well, there are no issues. He¡¯s the only problem.¡± Overall, there were no problems. Kim Hwiyeon lightly tapped the table with her fingertips. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about the quest.¡± All of Korea had gathered in Seoul. This fulfilled the conditions, and a new quest appeared to them. [Special Quest Start£Ý [In one day, numerous rifts will appear around the safe zones in Seoul. Eliminate the rifts before they fully expand and open a passage for monsters.] [Based on performance, rewards will be given upon return to thebyrinth.] ¡°What are these rifts?¡± People muttered in confusion, unfamiliar with the term. Taesan spoke up. ¡°There will be purple rifts appearing around us. Monsters will be guarding them. Just defeat them and destroy the rift.¡± ¡°Oh? You know?¡± ¡°I destroyed one during my first return.¡± ¡°Since the first return, you¡¯ve been dealing with that¡­¡± While they were solely focused on adapting and surviving, unaware of the rifts, Taesan had already noticed and resolved them. This fact impressed the leaders from other regions. ¡°Then Mr. Taesan and those, spirits?¡± ¡°I am Minerva. This is Barkaza. You can call us spiritsfortably.¡± [To be called alongside the king. What an awkward situation...] ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Minerva waved her hand dismissively, while the others cast quite peculiar nces. They were very curious about the identities of Minerva and Barkaza. Taesan exined casually, as it was bothersome to borate. ¡°They¡¯re definitely on our side. There won¡¯t be any betrayal. You¡¯ve seen their power, so you know.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± The leader from Jeju Ind muttered with a vacant expression. He had observed closely as they cleaved through the sea and ughtered monsters like bugs, rejecting any force directed towards Seoul. Kim Hwiyeon spoke calmly, ¡°Then, I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯ll have to rely on Mr. Taesan again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about things you can¡¯t handle; I¡¯ll take care of them. But I won¡¯t handle everything. You know that, right?¡± ¡°Yes. We need to train too.¡± A sense of gratitude washed over everyone¡¯s faces. As the conversation loosely wrapped up, they twisted their faces. ¡°So, what shall we do with that damned guy?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to bring him to our side, but he¡¯s not the type to listen.¡± Taesan said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll fill in where it¡¯scking.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°That type of person is better off not in the group. Even if we somehow persuade him to join, would the conversation proceed smoothly? I don¡¯t think so.¡± They all agreed with this. Lee Juhyeok wouldn¡¯t follow orders even if he was forcibly brought under Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s leadership. He would likely stir up internal discord. Thinking this, it was fortunate that they had separated early. ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s resting. I¡¯ll sort things out properly and tell you about it tomorrow.¡± ¡°Phew. I need some sleep.¡± ¡°Then good work, Hwiyeon.¡± They left. Only Kim Hwiyeon and Kang Taesan remained as Junggeun also bowed his head and leftst from the meeting room. Kang Taesan broke the silence. ¡°That was unexpected? I thought you would yield.¡± ¡°I did consider it initially.¡± The burden of leadership was heavy on her. If possible, she wanted to pass it on to someone else. ¡°But¡­¡± She looked at Taesan. Taesan gave her a questioning look. She shook her head. ¡°Just, suddenly I wanted to take it on. It seems I¡¯ve opened my eyes to power.¡± She joked, but there was a real reason. Taesan trusted her. He believed that she had the capability to govern and lead everyone. That¡¯s why he had entrusted her with the leadership. She wanted to live up to Taesan¡¯s expectations. That was her reason for epting. ¡°But. Hmm. Lee Juhyeok also isn¡¯t without qualifications to be a leader. It might have been fine if he had taken it.¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan said, his voice full of conviction, surprising Kim Hwiyeon a little. ¡°You think not?¡± ¡°That guycks something crucial.¡± In his past life, Seoul had been destroyed. Many people had died due to Choi Junghyuk and Seo Jangsan¡¯s actions. Therefore, Lee Juhyeok, who had naturally be the leader of everyone as the leader from Daejeon where most people survived, knew. That¡¯s why Taesan knew that Lee Juhyeokcked the qualities of a leader. Lee Juhyeok probably thought he could move independently without issues based on his experiences in Daejeon. He must have been nning to prove his capability and seize the leadership. However, Lee Juhyeok was unaware of one fact. The power of the high gods was concentrated in Seoul. The strongest monster he had faced in Daejeon was probably ss C. He must have believed they could ovee it with their own strength. He didn¡¯t realize how foolish that belief was. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. He¡¯ll fall t on his face on his own.¡± Taesan said indifferently. Chapter 240: Fourth Return, Earth (7) Chapter 240: Fourth Return, Earth (7) Kim Hwiyeon wrapped her head around the personnel cement and strategy formtion. After praising her efforts, Taesan stepped outside. ¡°Oooooh!¡± ¡°The great spirit!¡± Then, people bowed their heads in respect to Minerva and Barkaza. A thick aura of reverence and worship emanated from them. Minerva and Barkaza had each safely guided people from their assigned areas to Seoul. The power they demonstrated in the process was literally a marvel in itself. It was no wonder that those who came with them showed such reverence. The aura of worship flowed from Minerva and Barkaza to Taesan. ¡°Since we have a contract, does this mean it¡¯s entering me?¡±¡°Isn¡¯t it? There¡¯s no point in making a contract without such conditions.¡± Taesan passed by the worshiping crowd and grasped the overall situation. As discussed in the meeting, the rtionship among the people was positive. Residents of Seoul were actively sharing the food they had grown in makeshift cultivation. ¡°It¡¯s vegetables. And very fresh.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ I wondered, but it¡¯s really possible¡­¡± The volume of vegetables was sorge that people from other areas couldn¡¯t help but marvel. They had heard about makeshift cultivation in the Labyrinth. However, in the Labyrinth, the minimum conditions necessary for seeds to sprout weren¡¯t met, so they couldn¡¯t learn it. People eagerly devoured the vegetables. Although those who learned makeshift cultivation in the Labyrinth shared their food, various personnel issues prevented them from eating freely. A man skilled in makeshift cultivation pped his hands. ¡°Anyone who wants to learn makeshift cultivation, pleasee this way! I¡¯m not sure if we have the time, but I¡¯ll teach you!¡± People rushed over. The condition to learn makeshift cultivation was to wait for the sprouts after sowing. It took three to four weeks, but it could be learned without much difficulty. More than half of the people received seeds to learn makeshift cultivation. And people from other regions could see it. The atmosphere in Seoul waspletely different from other regions. The atmosphere in other regions could not even be said to be good in jest. Immediate survival was difficult, and there was no guarantee they would survive the next return. That¡¯s why those who returned to Earth were always gloomy, and part of them was facing death. But Seoul was different. Here, everyone was bright. It wasn¡¯t just the foolish hope of those who couldn¡¯t see the future. It was filled with belief that they were aware of reality and still could survive, that they could make it. In fact, Seoul had achieved such results. Many more people were surviving herepared to other regions. The difference was made by none other than Taesan. Reverence towards Taesan deepened further. With divine power rising endlessly, Taesan said grimly. ¡°What happens if this reaches 100%?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I don¡¯t know?¡± Even Minerva, who had said it was impossible, trailed off her words. ¡°It¡¯s not that there are no cases of reaching transcendence just through worship, but it literally needs to be at the level of the world¡¯s worship. Practically impossible, but I don¡¯t know. This is.¡± Unlike at the beginning, she did not give a definitive answer. Taesan passed by the people and went to find Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. The two were sparring with each other. From their looks, it seemed they hadn¡¯t stopped since they arrived here. As Taesan approached, they stopped sparring. They greeted Taesan with sweaty faces. ¡°Brother, you came?¡± ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°You¡¯re working hard?¡± ¡°Still feeling inadequate, huh?¡± Lee Taeyeon smirked. The path they needed to take was still long and high. There was no time for rest if it was for the sake of bing stronger. Taesan looked into their eyes and nodded. ¡°Not bad.¡± At this moment, both were mentally fortified. The days of being weak and fearful were nowhere to be found. [Not bad at all.] ¡°Hmm. These are the two going down into the Labyrinth? Honestly, there were many regrets with the others¡­ but this is fine. They are still weak, but that¡¯s due to ack of experience and time, not because they¡¯re missing any fundamental elements.¡± Minerva and Barkaza seemed to approve as well, as they praised the two. Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Taeyeon bowed their heads in gratitude. Taesan opened his mouth as he looked at the two. ¡°C-ss monster. You met one?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°It was strong.¡± Lee Taeyeon murmured. The monster was stronger than any she had faced before, even stronger than all the monsters she had encountered in the Labyrinth. Each iing attack was a powerful blow that significantly reduced her health, and the monster¡¯s tough skin made it immune to her attacks. But she had won. Lee Taeyeon clenched her fist. Quietly, with flickering eyes, Taesan smiled. ¡°Good. Ambition. And the will to fight. These two things are essential. Don¡¯t forget this mindset.¡± Taesan drew his weapon. ¡°Ability Sword. Are you handling it well?¡± ¡°More than enough. Without it, I would have died long ago.¡± ¡°Both of you, draw your weapons. I¡¯ll train you once more.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The two seriously drew their weapons. Taesan rolled his foot. They did not retreat. Stepping forward, they continued to fight Taesan. As a result, their proficiency noticeably improved. While actual ascension was blocked on Earth, it would be distinctly felt once they entered the Labyrinth. A day passed. The quest had begun. ¡°Has everyone gathered?¡± Everyone waited for Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s words with serious eyes. She frowned as she scanned the people. ¡°Lee Juhyeok¡­¡± ¡°I told you. I¡¯m going alone.¡± Behind him stood yers from Daejeon. Lee Juhyeok raised a finger. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the east. Don¡¯t meddle.¡± ¡°Tch. Damn it.¡± Kim Hwiyeon clicked her tongue but said no more. She turned her attention to the people. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll guide you all to your positions and roles.¡± Kim Hwiyeon began exining one by one to each group. People followed her neat and rational judgments without grumbling. Lee Juhyeok, looking annoyed, walked away. As all arrangements werepleted, Kim Hwiyeon spoke in a calm voice. ¡°Everyone, survive. We can do this. Surviving and seizing the future is our goal.¡± Everyone nodded seriously. [Quest begins.] ¡°Then move out!¡± She shouted. People quickly leaped into action. Kiiiing. Outside, purple cracks appeared rapidly. And monsters assigned to guard the cracks also made their appearance. Kaaaaang! Humans and monsters collided. Taesan watched this scene quietly from inside the city hall. He had assigned the west to Minerva and the north to Barkaza. With those two in charge, there should be no problem handling the monsters. If there were any issues, they would contact Taesan immediately, so he didn¡¯t need to worry about those directions. That left only the east and south to concern him. Taesan looked towards the south. ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s strong!¡± ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± The monsters guarding the cracks were strong. Though they were broadly ssified as B or C grade, there was a clear distinction even within the same grade. The monsters that appeared now were at the top strength of D grade. Even Hard Mode yers had to focus on defense against them, and for those in Easy or Normal Modes, they werepletely outmatched. ¡°Why are they so strong!¡± That¡¯s why people from other regions were astonished. They had never faced monsters this powerful before. While they hesitated and panicked, the people from Seoul stepped forward. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, everyone! Do what you are tasked to do!¡± yers from Seoul¡¯s Easy and Normal Modes rushed to both sides. Leveraging the fact that they wouldn¡¯t die as long as their health wasn¡¯t depleted, they acted as shields. Hard Mode yers seized the opportunity to pressure the monsters with their numbers. And yet, when victory seemed out of reach, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok stepped forward. The people of Seoul had experience¡ªexperience in battling overwhelmingly strong monsters. Inspired by their lead, individuals from other regions began to step forward, one after another. Despite the precarious stability, people fought against the monsters. ¡®I don¡¯t need to step in.¡¯ But what about the people from Daejeon? Taesan looked eastward. A few minutes before the cracks appeared, the people from Daejeon had moved east. A man, following Lee Juhyeok, cautiously asked, ¡°Uh, Mr. Juhyeok, is this really okay?¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± He nced towards the city hall. There, many people were following Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s instructions. Lee Juhyeok, visibly annoyed, responded, ¡°Then go that way if you want.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean.¡± The man quickly shook his head. As he observed the people, they averted their gaze. Lee Juhyeok clenched his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± He had always been a leader, even before the world fell apart. From his high school days as ss president to leading groups in college. Even in the military, he was a leader. Everyone relied on him and trusted his judgment. He wielded power akin to that of a king. This didn¡¯t change even after he entered the workforce. Unable to tolerate any authority over him, he founded his ownpany. With daring and bold strategies, he propelled hispany to notable sess. He had always been a leader; there was never a time he wasn¡¯t. Yet, even as the world changed, this remained unchanged. As he ventured into hard mode, he aspired to be a leader. Through bold decisions, he earned the trust of the people and advanced. However, he did not be a leader. ¡°What good is such a coward?¡± Kim Hwiyeon, unlike Lee Juhyeok, chose stability. She minimized risks and strategically nned her moves. Lee Juhyeok scoffed at her approach. Chasing safety like that, nobody really liked it. People preferred those who were bold and fearless. He believed that. Indeed, he became the leader in Daejeon But in Hard Mode, people trusted and followed Kim Hwiyeon more. Naturally, Kim Hwiyeon became the leader of hard mode. Lee Juhyeok couldn¡¯t stand it. He always had to be the leader, always at the front, leading people. But he wasn¡¯t just a fool obsessed with power. Believing it unprofitable to pick a fight with Kim Hwiyeon, he did not confront her directly. He thought even if he handed over the leadership of Hard Mode, he could still be the leader of Korea. He believed Kim Hwiyeon would find the burden of leadership too heavy and pass it on to him. But that was not the case. She volunteered herself as the leader, and the Hard Mode yers supported her. ¡°Damn it all.¡± Lee Juhyeok spat out in disgust. It was uneptable. He had to be the leader of Korea. So, he nned to prove his worth. ¡°Everyone, get ready.¡± ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Lee Juhyeok frowned and thumped his chest. ¡°I¡¯ve saved more people than anyone else outside of Seoul. It¡¯s only possible in Seoul because they have the monster Kang Taesan. It¡¯s not because I¡¯m any less capable.¡± He would cover the entire east with the people of Daejeon alone. By doing so, he aimed to gain their admiration and trust, and grow his influence to challenge for the leader¡¯s position again. That was Lee Juhyeok¡¯s n. Uoong! Time passed, and the cracks opened. Lee Juhyeok shouted with a serious face. ¡°Everyone, get ready!¡± The monsters appeared. Lee Juhyeok charged. ¡°Haahap!¡± With a shout, he wielded his sword, nning to boost morale by taking down a B-grade monster first. The monster turned to face him. Lee Juhyeok harbored one misconception. He believed he had saved many people due to his superior skills. While not entirely untrue, a crucial piece was overlooked. The High Gods were intent on killing Taesan. Consequently, they were investing significant efforts in Seoul. This wasn¡¯t limited to dispatching formidable monsters; it also involved amplifying the monsters¡¯ overall strength. The monsters in Seoul were noticeably stronger than those in other areas. And now, everyone had converged in Seoul. The High Gods could concentrate all their power there, making the monsters in Seoul far stronger than before. Lee Juhyeok had made his ns based on the monsters he had previously encountered. The monster¡¯s arm swung. ¡®Uh?¡¯ Danger. The instincts that had guided him to the Labyrinth thus far issued a warning. Instinctively, Lee Juhyeok lifted his sword to fend off the monster¡¯s blow. Kaaaaang! ¡°Cough!¡± The impact forced Lee Juhyeok back, the sensation jarring him through the sword¡¯s handle. The monster advanced. ¡°Uh, uh.¡± A yer, dazed and bewildered, was crushed to the ground. Chapter 241: Fourth Return, Earth (8) Chapter 241: Fourth Return, Earth (8) The monsters moved. People panicked as they were attacked, crying out as they fell and crashed. ¡°Eeeek!¡± Lee Ju-hyeok clenched his teeth and charged again. The monster swung its long, ck arm. Lee Ju-hyeok raised his shield. ng! ¡°Ugh!¡± With a violent impact, Lee Ju-hyeok was pushed back, his eyes wavering. Initially, he thought he was pushed back because he was caught off guard.But even after steeling his mind and raising his shield, he was still pushed back. This indicated a significant difference in strength between him and the monster. ¡°Ooooh!¡± Hundreds of monsters charged. With over ten thousand yers present, simple math suggested a hundred yers could take on one monster. Yet, it was the yers who were being pushed back. No one could stop the charging monsters. The people were swept away like ants in a storm. ¡°This can¡¯t be happening!¡± Lee Ju-hyeok shouted in denial as he rushed at the monsters with his sword and shield. He was among the strongest Hard Mode yers. He had never been pushed back in a one-on-one fight with a monster before, possessing the strength and experience to easily take down ordinary D-ss monsters. That¡¯s why he had acted independently, confident in his abilities. Crash! But he couldn¡¯t take down even a single monster in front of him. Instead, as the battle continued, he began to be pushed back. ¡°It¡¯s impossible! The monster can¡¯t be this strong!¡± He shouted, but the reality remained unchanged. He was unable to properly block even one monster, and other yers were being mercilessly pushed back. It was a massacre. Someone shouted desperately. ¡°Ju-hyeok!¡± ¡°Ah, ah.¡± He was their leader. Whether to retreat or attack, he needed to give an order, but he was too shocked to say anything. People began to fall. A monster leaped into the middle of the people, attempting to sweep them away with its long tentacles. ¡°Ah, ah.¡± Just when the people sensed their impending death, the head of the monster was crushed. Crunch. [Monster 157961 takes 6879 damage.] The monster fell with a single strike. People, terrified and trying to flee, forgot their situation in their astonishment. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Six thousand?¡± The damage was beyond their imagination. And they had heard there was one person who could deal such damage. ¡°Taesan!¡± Taesan was in front of them. Grunt. The monsters shifted their target from the people to Taesan. Dozens of them rushed towards him, intent solely on killing him. ¡°Uuuuh!¡± The people were horrified. These monsters were far stronger than any Hard Mode yer. Even with nearly a thousand people gathered, they couldn¡¯t put up a decent fight. Taesanzily clenched his fist. Crunch. The head of the monster in front was crushed. With a fierce swing of his arm, the monster was sliced apart, and his thrusting foot caused several monsters to explode simultaneously. Like a storm, Taesan dealt with the monsters. Overwhelmed by his power, the people just stared nkly. ¡°Oh, ooooh¡­¡± They knelt down. As Taesan cleaned up the monsters, he muttered, ¡°It¡¯s none of my business whether you die or not, but you shouldn¡¯t drag others into this.¡± At Taesan¡¯s words, Lee Ju-hyeok¡¯s body twitched significantly. Hoping that Lee Ju-hyeok might regain hisposure and give proper orders, they waited, but he was still too shocked to do anything. He had been like this in his previous life too. When faced with unexpected situations, he couldn¡¯t adapt and would panic. This had led to many deaths. Crack. The monster in Taesan¡¯s grasp was split in two. Just as the cleanup seemed almost done, a violet fissure trembled. A vast power emerged and expanded. And from there, monsters burst forth. The faces of those who believed in victory paled. The violet fissure served as a portal from which monsters descended. If not sealed within a set time, the portal would open, unleashing monsters upon the world. Countless monsters emerged. The power radiating from these newly arrived monsters was noticeably stronger than that of their predecessors. By Taesan¡¯s assessment, they were at least C-ss. The people instinctively knew that even a single one of these monsters could obliterate them all. Fear engulfed them. Even for Taesan, victory seemed distant. Taesan¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°There are too many.¡± It was a nuisance. Thus, he resolved to address it all in one fell swoop. Taesan lifted his hand. [You have activated the Starlight Arrow.] A piercing sound filled the air. Light coalesced above his hand, drawing the gaze of those quaking in fear. ¡°Ah¡­¡± They momentarily forgot their predicament, exhaling in wonder. The sun of Earth had long been eclipsed by the rift in the sky. It appeared some force was at y. Though distinguishing between day and night remained possible, genuine sunlight was a rarity. In thebyrinth, they relied on torches, their eyes generally ustomed to dimness. In such circumstances, a light akin to the sun now hovered above Taesan¡¯s hand. The warm yet potent sunlight that enveloped them was a pure light, the real sun barely a memory now. With that light in his grasp, calmly facing the monsters, Taesan appeared more than human. Taesan directed the arrow towards the advancing monsters. The light detonated. Those unable to bear the brilliance shut their eyes. ¡°Huh?¡± People engaged in battle to the south inhaled sharply, their attention snapping eastward. The spreading light seemed like the sun¡¯s very descent. ¡°Taesan?¡± Kim Hwiyeon voiced her bewilderment. As the brightness waned, people reopened their eyes. And they stood in awe. Before themy a vast crater. The crater was immactely clean, as if only the area touched by the light had been neatly scooped out of the earth. No monsters were visible. Countless monsters had been incinerated by the light. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that light the master used intermediate magic?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Minerva marveled. ¡°He¡¯s strong. To handle that amount of brightness without any strain. Indeed, it must be magic created by the god of magic himself. If intermediate is this strong, I can only imagine what advanced or the highest might look like?¡± ¡°Will there be a chance to learn it?¡± Even the intermediate magic was effective deep within. As proficiency increased, the power of the magic notably rose, making it highly valuable. As such, advanced magic seemed too far out of reach. ¡°If it¡¯s the master, it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Do you believe that?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Minerva stretched her body, her blue hair flowing smoothly. ¡°If one has made a contract with the King of Spirits, that level is certainly achievable.¡± Minerva grinned, ncing sideways. ¡°For them, it¡¯s a level of magic astonishing enough to feel different.¡± Taesan was now on the roof of a building, surrounded by many people praying. Taesan was the object of their prayers. ¡°Beings seek something to rely on. Just like the people of Arulia believe in my father. It seems you¡¯re that for them here.¡± ¡°It seems there¡¯s one who doesn¡¯t think so.¡± Among the adoring eyes, there was one of dissent. The brief rest was over. The quest had mentioned that the rifts would keep appearing, and indeed, they did. The rifts periodically revealed themselves to them. Therefore, they resumed fighting. ¡°Block them!¡± Lee Ju-hyeok shouted harshly. ¡°Follow mymand! Step forward and defeat the monsters!¡± But the people hesitated and did not follow his orders. They now knew that Lee Ju-hyeok was not qualified to be their leader, that there was no reason to follow hismands. This realization drove Lee Ju-hyeok mad. ¡°I¡¯m the leader! I¡¯m the one leading you!¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan steps forward, his face flushed. ¡°You are nothing.¡± [You have activated the Frozen World.] A harsh winter descended, freezing and shattering all the rushing monsters and the violet rifts. ¡°Ooooooh!¡± ¡°Taesan-nim!¡± People burst out in awe and adoration towards Taesan. ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± And Lee Ju-hyeok waspletely forgotten. ¡°I, I¡¯m the leader. My word is thew¡­¡± He stuttered. Taesan looked at him with cold eyes. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand you.¡± He understood Choi Junghyuk. What he wanted was his own survival. He understood Seo Jangsan. What he wanted was for his group to survive in a rational way. But Lee Ju-hyeok was different. Lee Ju-hyeok was obsessed with the position of leader. It wasn¡¯t about life, salvation, or survival, but solely about that position. Such stubbornness had no meaning in this world. Ideologies, values, desires¡ªall became meaningless upon death. Even Lee Taeyeon, who had been strong, Kim Hwiyeon, who had sacrificed her life for others, and the Hard Mode yers who returned during the destruction and denied everything. All of them had made desperate efforts to break through the Labyrinth. They had crossed the brink of life-threatening crises and became stronger by giving their all. They all died. Taesan, too, would have met the same fate had he not turned back time. That was the reality of the current world. Therefore, Kang Taesan could neither understand nor wanted to understand Lee Ju-hyeok. Whatever a yer of Lee Ju-hyeok¡¯s level did, it wouldn¡¯t affect them in the slightest. But it wouldn¡¯t hurt to preemptivelyy down some groundwork. ¡°You cannot be a leader.¡± Taesan told Lee Ju-hyeok. His body shook significantly. ¡°You are not fit for it. You neither have the strength nor the trust of all yers to follow you. You might manage a small group, but you can never lead arge one. That¡¯s who you are.¡± ¡°Ah. Ah.¡± Lee Ju-hyeok groaned. He had lived his entire life as a leader, never once imagining himself as anything else. Lee Ju-hyeok shook his head. Taesan didn¡¯t know what he would choose, and it didn¡¯t matter what he chose. Taesan passed by indifferently. The battle raged on. Rifts kept appearing. People took turns in shifts to eliminate the rifts. Individuals from other regions and those from Seoul synchronized their efforts, bing more adept at defeating the monsters. The establishment of a new territory by Taesan yed a significant role. The monsters weakened, and the people grew stronger, making it easier to defeat them. And Lee Ju-hyeok continued the battle with a pale face. He no longer issued orders ormands. Even as they were dying, he somehow kept fighting. ¡°Boring.¡± Minerva flicked her fingers inside the city hall. A storm blew and swept all the monsters away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the dead, but honestly, neither you, Barkaza, nor I feel much about it.¡± B-ss, asionally C-ss monsters. They required life-risking efforts from other yers, but for Taesan, they were too weak. Taesan responded, ¡°They¡¯ll be here soon.¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Minerva murmured, looking at the sky rift. ¡°They are getting stronger.¡± The High Gods always aimed for thest wave. The converging forces would form a pathway to send down powerful monsters. ¡°Will it be the edge of A-ss or S-ss?¡± The High Gods had made a pact with a god from thebyrinth. ording to that, if Taesan won, the god would directly grant a reward. The first was Lakiratas, the power of struggle and death, and the second was the ck magic of the Demon God. What would it be this time? One thing was certain: he would win. And he would im the reward. Taesan prepared for the uing battle. Chapter 242: Fourth Return, Earth (9) Chapter 242: Fourth Return, Earth (9) The battle went on for a whole week. Monsters kept appearing, and they erased the rifts. Some had died, but not many. They believed they could win. And after a week, the creation of rifts suddenly stopped. People believed they had won. They celebrated the festival with simple ingredients. But Taesan knew it wasn¡¯t over yet. He quietly waited for the right time. Three dayster. Taesan, who had been sitting in the room, stood up.¡°Master?¡± [Oh ho. Finally here.] Minerva and Barkaza, sensing something odd, also stood up. Taesan left the room and went outside. A tremendous force was felt from the east. People seemed to have felt it too, as they looked towards the east. Taesan arrived at the source of the power first. There was a rift there. But its color was not purple. It was a crimson red, like scarlet. And the shape of the rift itself was strange. While rifts had been concentrations of power before, this one was quivering like mucus. ¡°Hmm.¡± Minerva swung her arm. The wind turned into a de and charged towards the rift. Ka-a-a-ang! The de bounced off the rift. ¡°¡­It doesn¡¯t work.¡± Even the attack Minerva sincerelyunched had no effect. Taesan approached the rift and raised his hand. The rift was pulsing like a heart. Taesan exerted force with his hand. Kooooong! A massive wave surged. He hadn¡¯t used Apostle Transformation or King¡¯s Vessel, but he still gathered his might and struck. But the rift did not even flinch. ¡°Is it preparation time?¡± £ÛQuest Start£Ý [In one hour, thest rift will open.] [Fight and seize victory.] [Condition: Defeat the monsters that appear from the rift.] [If you return to the Labyrinth, rewards will be duly given.] The quest appeared before them. People who realized something was wrong began to gather one by one. ¡°Ah. Brother.¡± Kim Junggeun, who came, reacted upon seeing Taesan. Kim Hwiyeon, Lee Taeyeon, and Kang Junhyeok also showed up. They swallowed as they looked at the rift. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous¡­¡± ¡°What will you guys do?¡± ¡°It seems like it¡¯s not something we can handle, but¡­¡± The people of Seoul, having experienced this before, knew what to expect. At the end of the return, an insurmountable monster always appeared, and it was Taesan who faced it. Kim Hwiyeon spoke calmly. ¡°We don¡¯t know what will happen, so let¡¯s prepare here.¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± Kim Hwiyeon quickly gave orders to the people. They lined up and surrounded the rift at a distance. They gulped. The rift began to expand. And then, the passage opened. Beyond the red-lit passage was a space as dark as pitch. From there, the monster began to show itself. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Even though the monster hadn¡¯t fully revealed itself yet, people groaned. Chills ran through their bodies, and cold sweat began to flow. Instinct sounded the rm. Gruuung. The monster squeezed its body through the narrow passage. The passage was the size of a house, but still too small for the monster to pass through. The monster¡¯s body began to be crushed. Yet, the monster kept forcing its body through. St. Finally, the monster fully emerged outside the rift. Its form was that of a sphere, and it was damaged. As it passed through the passage, half of its body was crushed and damaged. Its very essence seemed to be distorted beyond repair. Yet, despite this, an overwhelming presence enveloped them. ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± People¡¯s teeth chattered. Goosebumps arose. Whirl. The monster¡¯s gaze turned toward them. Instantly, they held their breath. [Instant Death Judgement in progress...] ¡°Ha, haah!¡± ¡°0,0 o ughj¡± People suffered. Their souls and bodies seemed to be separating. ¡°Minerva.¡± ¡°Got it. This is going to be tough.¡± Minerva, with a serious expression, manifested her power. The power of the Spirit King enveloped the people. [Judgement sessful!] ¡°Haaah!¡± ¡°Huff! Huff!¡± Thanks to Minerva¡¯s power, those who seeded in the judgement gasped for breath. ¡°Aah¡­¡± Fear was etched on the faces of the people. Instant Death Judgment. If the judgment failed, one would die immediately. Neither defense nor health mattered. And such a monster was of S-rank or higher. [Monster 10 has appeared.] ¡°Ho.¡± Taesan lifted the corners of his mouth. To think it was really an S-rank. This was beyond his expectations. [What... is that?] The ghost swallowed its saliva. ¡°It¡¯s something like what we encountered during the trial of the god of despair.¡± [But it''s iparable to that time.] ¡°That¡¯s because not even the power of a god can perfectly manifest those things.¡± ¡°One of the best toys of the high gods.¡± Minerva narrowed her eyes. ¡°An entity capable of crushing the world on its own. Merely facing it can make any mortal copse without divine protection, capable of destroying the world.¡± Minerva¡¯s assessment was no exaggeration. Indeed, no one except Taesan and Lee Taeyeon had managed to survive the instant death judgment. yers who had cleared Hard Mode were monstrously strong. That they couldn¡¯t withstand the judgment meant that for most beings, responding was utterly impossible. Dire. Even in his past life, it was an entity he had to stake his life on to defeat. Now he was weaker than before. There was no way he could win in a fight. But there was no fear on Taesan¡¯s face. ¡°Seems like you really wanted to kill it, sending down such a half-ruined creature.¡± The monster had emerged from the rift severely damaged, having been crushed as it passed through. This meant that despite the risk of damage, it had been deliberately sent down. This meant that the S-rank monster was in a weakened state. If it had been in its normal condition, even Minerva¡¯s power would not have been able to block the instant death judgment entirely. Then, Taesan also might have a chance. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [You have activated Essence Detection.] [Monster 10] [Summon Type, Special Type.] [The Great Being''s Tenth Toy.] [Damaged from passing through a narrow ce.] ¡°Keep guard.¡± ¡°Okay. Hang in there.¡± [Understood.] Squeeze. Taesan gripped his sword and leapt. [You have activated eleration.] The ground shattered, sending debris flying toward the people. Minerva erected a barrier to protect them. In an instant, Taesan was before the monster. People gasped at the astonishing speed. Taesan¡¯s sword struck down. Craaash! The monster¡¯s body shook violently. ck sap flowed from the damaged area. [Monster 10 takes 3403 damage.] Due to the difference in strength, the damage was halved. However, effective damage was still being inflicted. If it had been a normal S-rank, the difference in level might have prevented any damage at all. The sphere shook. Monsters emerged from it. Dozens of creatures in the form of tentacles, beasts, and more charged at Taesan all at once. ¡®Summon type, indeed.¡¯ Taesan¡¯s sword moved. He fended off the monsters, attacking their heads. Heunched frost arrows to blow them away and used the Ability Sword to deflect their advance. Kagagagak! Dozens of monsters simultaneously copsed. Those watching burst into admiration. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°As expected!¡± Overwhelmed by their disy, they were convinced of victory. However, Taesan¡¯s expression was not bright. There was no monster he couldn¡¯t ovee. If there were, the gods would not have remained silent. But this was too weak. The summoned monsters were at most B-grade. Even thousands of them could notnd an effective hit on Taesan. Taesan realized. This monster was not meant to kill him. It was meant to hold him. Crack. The mouth of the spherical monster opened. [Inner World has been activated.] Endless darkness flowed out from the mouth. The darkness quickly enveloped the earth, turning everything around it ck. The scattered darkness pulled at Taesan. Taesan exerted force through his feet, gathering his strength to resist the suction. But the darkness overpowered his resistance, attempting to engulf him. ¡®As expected.¡¯ He could maintain his stance using Apostle Transformation, but it was a losing battle against time. Despite the monster being damaged and weakened, its suction power remained at a formidable S-grade level. ¡°Taesan!¡± Kim Hwiyeon gasped, running towards him as she witnessed Taesan being pulled in. As he was engulfed by the darkness, Taesan dered, ¡°Take care of the rest.¡± The darkness enveloped Taesanpletely. First, Taesan checked his senses. Finding them intact, he surveyed his surroundings. Nothing but endless darkness greeted him. A truly eternal darkness, its boundary unseen. ¡°It¡¯s my first time being inside a monster like this.¡± [Are you okay?] ¡°What?¡± [I mean mentally. You''ve entered the interior of a high god''s entity; it might affect your mind... but you seem fine.] The pressure was minimal and easily dismissed. Taesan pressed his hand against the floor. It was solid. He attempted to strike it with his sword, but it left no mark. [Monster 10 takes 1 damage.] ¡°As expected.¡± The monster had sustained more damage than necessary while squeezing through the narrow passage. Likely, it had sacrificed its external parts to protect its core. To capture Taesan. Taesan shifted his focus. Beyond the darkness, thousands of monsters emerged. He stomped his foot, ready for battle. Outside, chaos reigned. ¡°Uh, what?¡± Taesan had vanished. The crowd was stunned by this development. Minerva frowned. ¡°Aha. So this was their strategy? Not bad.¡± ¡°Minerva? What exactly is happening?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡± Minerva gestured towards the monster, now anchored to the earth like a colossal pir. ¡°They realized they couldn¡¯t defeat my master. So, they opted for a simpler strategy.¡± Swoosh. Small monsters began to emerge from therger one en masse. Their numbers quickly soared into the hundreds, causing the onlookers¡¯ faces to nch. ¡°So they n to hold the master inside them and kill you all in the meantime.¡± The monsters moved. Minerva and Barkaza manifested their powers. Light and wind rose simultaneously, sweeping away the monsters. Just as hundreds were swept away, a massive monster charged. The monster swung its heavy arms. Craaash! The powerful collision scattered the wind and light. The massive monster red menacingly. Minerva whistled at the formidable power she felt. ¡°This will be interesting.¡± Even the current Minerva couldn¡¯t underestimate the power emanating from this monster. ¡°Can you handle it? Barkaza and I might have to step away for a moment.¡± [We will join you. My King.] Barkaza and Minerva flew towards the giant monster. Taesan, Minerva, and Barkaza had disappeared. The panic that enveloped everyone was palpable. ¡°Ah, aaaaah!¡± ¡°Save us!¡± ¡°Everyone, calm down!¡± Kim Hwiyeon shouted as she charged at the monster. The monster¡¯s attack swung towards her. Crack! She groaned as she was pushed back. ¡®So strong.¡¯ It was stronger than any monster she had encountered before. Hundreds of such beings existed. Her eyes wavered momentarily, but then she steeled her resolve and shouted. ¡°We can win this!¡± Kim Junggeun stepped forward. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok also quickly attacked the monsters. Crack! Unlike Kim Hwiyeon, they were not pushed back. Their pressure on the monsters slightly alleviated the people¡¯s panic. In that situation, Kim Hwiyeon shouted powerfully. ¡°Everyone, hold the line!¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± People moved frantically. Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. Taesan had entrusted her with this. She couldn¡¯t disappoint his expectations. ¡°Taesan wille out soon to help us! Just hold on until then!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± People calmly held their weapons. Kim Hwiyeon tensely gathered strength in her body. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do this.¡± She charged forward. The people followed her. ¡°Watch over me!¡± ¡°Lend me strength!¡± They charged at the monsters, shouting like people praying to a god, like knights conducting a holy war. Their faith transformed into a power that enveloped someone. [Proficiency in Divine Power has increased by 1%.] Chapter 243: Fourth Return, Earth (10) Chapter 243: Fourth Return, Earth (10) ¡°Hmm.¡± Minerva waved her arm at a giant monster, asrge as a giant itself. The wind transformed into a violent storm. Wooooong! The giant mmed down its arm, crushing the storm and causing it to burst outward. Minerva kicked off the ground, dodging the attack. Koooong! The ground burst open, scattering a tsunami of debris in all directions. ¡°He¡¯s strong.¡± [Are you alright?] ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine. Even though he¡¯s strong, it¡¯s not to the point of worry.¡± Woooong! The monster¡¯s arm moved again. Just the act of swinging caused the wind to rise. Minerva rolled on the ground to evade. Paaaang! The wind shot out like a cannon, colliding with the monster¡¯s arm. As the wind shattered, the arm was repelled. Barkaza pped his hands towards the disheveled monster. Kiiiiing! A rainbow beam was fired at the monster. It stabilized and opened its mouth. Kuh-heung! A beast-like howl spread, swallowing up the rainbow lights with its roar. Minerva and Barkaza, even fighting together, couldn¡¯t easily ovee this foe. They were among the top in ss A. Minerva grumbled as she lifted her body into the sky. ¡°Our master really. How much hatred is there?¡± [What do you n to do, Your Majesty?] ¡°Well.¡± Minerva narrows her eyes. The monster was strong. It wasn¡¯t just physically powerful but also possessed a formidable aura. Knocking it down easily was nearly impossible. ¡°If I draw out all my strength, I might be able to put it into a near-death state¡­ but then I¡¯d be summoned back.¡± Minerva was the king of spirits. By her own power, she was far stronger than Taesan was now. However, she was currently summoned by Taesan, and her limited power was weaker than Taesan¡¯s. Compared to the monster, she wasn¡¯t significantly superior. Moreover, the reason Minerva was present here was due to the spirit god. Beatrice had acted as the agent for her descent. And that power was not permanent but consumable. The more she used it, the less time she could stay here. ¡°Let¡¯s take it slow for now.¡± The monster mmed its arm down, sending wind spreading in all directions. Minerva flicked her finger. She took control of the wind generated by the monster¡¯s movement, concentrating and swirling it right below its arm. And she detonated it just before it reached her. Koooong! The monster was repelled. She was the king of wind spirits. The wind itself belongs to her. She didn¡¯t use her own power but manipted the wind created by the monster to blow it away. ¡°Even if we manage to win, nothing changes, does it?¡± [That''s true. The main actors are different.] Barkaza pped his hands. The monsters charging at them were defeated by a rainbow beam. ¡°Then let¡¯s enjoy this situation. Tormenting these damned things. How delightful.¡± Minerva smiled slyly and raised her hand. A small storm gathered there. The situation for the yers in Seoul was dire. The majority of the monsters they faced were ss C or the lowest of ss B. Considering even Hard Mode yers barely managed to defeat ss D, victory seemed virtually impossible. But they did not falter. Kim Hwiyeon swung her weapon and shouted. ¡°Shield role to the front! Hard yers, fall back!¡± Hermand smoothly coordinated the yers. Easy and Normal yers confronted the monsters while Hard yers pulled back to catch their breath. Crrrrunch! ¡°Cough!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± The Easy and Normal yers who stepped forward vomited blood. But they did not die. Kim Hwiyeon quickly shouted again. ¡°Hard Mode yers, back to the front!¡± Those who had retreated to recover their health with potions now stepped forward again, while Easy and Normal yers staggered back. Seo Jangsan, holding off the monsters, muttered. ¡°This is a good method after all.¡± Easy and Normal Mode yers were not much use. Perhaps they were at the beginning, but by this point, the gap between them and Hard Mode was too vast. Dozens of them together couldn¡¯t take down even one Hard Mode monster. The situation was even grimmer for the monsters. Easy and Normal modes offered little advantage inbat. Thus, Kim Hwiyeon devised apletely new strategy. They were safeguarded by the system. No matter the severity of the attack, they wouldn¡¯t perish as long as they retained some health. Under normal circumstances, they couldn¡¯t survive even a ss C attack and would perish instantly. However, Taesan had now established a domain through alchemy. A zone where monsters were weakened and humans were strengthened, including boosts to health and defense. Most Easy and Normal yers had traded attack power and stats for heavily armored gear that enhanced their defense. It was a risky strategy, but they could survive at least one attack. Consequently, Easy and Normal Modes assumed the role of shields. When Hard Mode yers were fatigued or needed to consume potions, these yers would step in to absorb the monsters¡¯ attacks. Meanwhile, the rejuvenated Hard Mode yers would return to the forefront. ¡°You¡¯ve realized it too. They¡¯re of no use. All we can do is use them as our shields.¡± ¡°No.¡± Kim Hwiyeon countered Seo Jangsan¡¯s view. ¡°Everyone has their role. They understand and have embraced that.¡± She didn¡¯t coerce them. Assuming the shield role was fraught with danger. Although they wouldn¡¯t die from a single hit, the risk remained high. So, she gave them the freedom to choose, and most of the Easy and Normal yers agreed. They desired to contribute voluntarily. That was what set them apart from Seo Jangsan¡¯s approach. Kaaaaang! Lee Taeyeon navigated through the monsters, her sword in hand. [You have activated Flow.] The monsters¡¯ attacks glided off her sword upon contact. She energized her legs. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Kagagagang! She timed her attack perfectly. Strong Blow was triggered multiple times, driving the monsters back. Kang Jun-hyeok exhibited simr prowess. He, too, darted among the monsters, vanquishing them one after another with his Ability Sword and dark magic. Both were undeniably formidable. With umted experience, they could now defeat ss C. But there were hundreds of monsters. They began to be overwhelmed. Potions were not infinite, and mana was alsocking. However, they did not give up hope. ¡°Everyone, hold on!¡± Kim Hwiyeon shouted desperately. ¡°We can win!¡± Crack. Taesan stomped on a monster¡¯s head. The head was crushed. He leapt down, looking over. Hundreds of monsters were charging at Taesan. ¡°So many of them.¡± Coldness gathered at Taesan¡¯s fingertips. [You have activated Frozen World.] Crrrrunch! Extreme cold spread in all directions. The charging monsters froze and shattered. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] A light like the sun formed in Taesan¡¯s hand. He pulled back and shot at the charging monsters. Kooooong! Light burst in the darkness. In an instant, hundreds of monsters disappeared. The monsters were nothing special. At most, they were from ss C to ss B level. asionally, the lowest of ss A appeared, but none were a threat to Taesan. He waved his arm towards the charging monsters. [You have activated Ember of Cmity.] A me exploded. A devastating congration swept away the monsters. But the darkness remained unchanged. Neither the light like the sun nor the me that could destroy the world could dispel this darkness. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Myriad Souls].] [You have activated King¡¯s Vessel.] Thud! Power descended on Taesan. The uncontroble power was synchronized with the ring, making it Taesan¡¯s own. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] Wings appeared on Taesan. Taesan pped his wings. [You have activated eleration.] He leaped upward, reaching the ceiling with extreme speed, concentrating all his strikes and power at the tip of his sword. Kaaaaaang! And he rebounded. Taesan pped his wings to regain bnce. [Monster 10 takes 43 damage.] The damage was minimal, insignificant. It was to be expected. Even if Taesan mustered all his strength, it couldn¡¯tpare to the power he wielded in his past life. The force shielding the monster was of a full S-ss level. There was no way he could deal meaningful damage at this moment. ¡®If only I had Essence Strike or Absolute Judgment.¡¯ Essence Strike required a higher proficiency in essence perception, and Absolute Judgment was still beyond his reach. Taesan ced his hand on the ground. In the endless darkness, an irresistible force was palpable. And that force was gradually weakening. This monster existed solely to restrain Taesan. All the power it required for sustenance was directed inward, meaning it would slowly perish as time went on. Probably within a week, Taesan would be able to leave without any issues. The question was whether the outside world could withstand the wait. Minerva and Barkaza were out there, but the High Gods were also aware of this situation. They would have surely prepared for it. ¡°They aim not at me, but at those around me. Clever strategy.¡± Taesan clenched his fist. He focused mentally, maintained his sense of self, and manifested the darkness. [You have activated Darkness.] Darkness spread in all directions. The monster¡¯s darkness began to waver when it collided with another darkness. The deeper darkness devoured the weaker one. Crrrrunch. The interior of the monster started to split. [Oh?] A ghost made a noise. But the spreading darkness abruptly halted. Taesan grimaced. ¡°Not enough.¡± It wasn¡¯t a matter of quality. The ckness he wielded was of the High Gods. There was no reason it should be inferior to that of an S-ss monster. It was simply that he hadn¡¯t yet mastered the control of the ckness. The power, uncontrolled and scattering aimlessly, was insufficient to carve a passage. [What will you do?] ¡°I¡¯ll have to search further.¡± Taesan moved. ¡°Cough!¡± A Hard Mode yer who couldn¡¯t withstand the monster¡¯s onught fell. Kim Hwiyeon, who moved toote to save him, realized he was already dead and gritted her teeth. ¡°Easy and Normal Modes! Forward!¡± ¡°Hwiyeon.¡± Someone grabbed her shoulder. It was the man overseeing Normal Mode. Seeing his panicked expression, Kim Hwiyeon realized the gravity of the situation. She bit her lip. ¡°¡­Avable Hard Modes! Pleasee forward!¡± The Easy and Normal Mode yers hadpletely run out of health. They had been barely holding on with potions, but even those had run out. The remaining challenge was for only the Hard Mode yers to survive. And that was nearly impossible. ¡°Aaah!¡± ¡°Eek!¡± People started to fall one by one. Unable to watch any longer, Easy and Normal Mode yers stepped forward. But, having no health from the start, they couldn¡¯t even properly perform their shield role. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok might hold out, but both were fully engaged in blocking a ss B monster. The monster that had swallowed Taesan stood unflinchingly there. Monsters continued to emerge. And people kept falling. The situation was dire, but determination did not fade from their faces. ¡°Hold on!¡± They shout, holding onto their faith. ¡°Taesan is watching over us!¡± Even in the face of life-threatening danger, their faith in Taesan did not waver. It grew even stronger. They continued to fight, believing in Taesan. That belief kept growing. [The proficiency of your Divine Power has increased by 1%.] ¡°Hmm?¡± Taesan, who had been sprinting to find the end of the space, paused. As the proficiency of his Divine Power rose, a strange sensation enveloped his entire body. It was not simply power, but something more sublime that had taken residence in his body. Even the ghost seemed to feel it, asking in a surprised tone. [Something suddenly changed about you?] ¡°I feel it too.¡± Crack. Taesan crushed an approaching monster as he opened his skill window. [Divine Power] [Proficiency: 40%] [God''s power. Originally it meant nothing, but the faith of many has turned it into divinity. Though small and frail, it''s definitely powered by belief.] The proficiency had reached 40%. This change was reflected in the description. It talked about how people¡¯s faith had turned into divinity. Taesan raised his hand. Keeng. Light emerged there. A small, frail light. It flickered as if it would go out like a candle, but it clearly illuminated the darkness. Taesan had seen this power somewhere before. It was simr to the power the Demon God had wielded. The ghost mumbled, dumbfounded. [...Divinity? Wait. Really?] ¡°Is it belief?¡± The people of Korea believed in him. Literally, everyone did. Consequently, his Divine Power had been gradually increasing. Now, it seemed that enough faith had gathered to form divinity. [Oh, oh wow... think you can handle it?] Taesan concentrated, attempting to make the divinity take residence in his body. However, the light did not move. It remained flickering, just above Taesan¡¯s hand, as at the beginning. The ghost, having barely recovered from the surprise, summarized. [Exploits and Soul Ascension. And the faith of people. Layered upon each other to gain divinity... This is unheard of. Considering your uniqueness, it seems not impossible. But it seems you can''t wield it yet.] Divinity existed within Taesan but did not move. It was something lofty, something that could not be felt by his will alone. [It seems to be of little significance now. Yes, this makes sense.] The ghost sighed in relief. If a mortal managed to obtain divinity and control it, even the deeply involved ghost might not have epted it. But Taesan continued to gaze intently at the light. A tiny light. Yet, it was clearly driving away the darkness. Something that neither the Seed of Cmity nor the Starlight Arrow had achieved. [Uh... you can''t be.] ¡°The reason I can¡¯t wield this is because my level and power are insufficient.¡± He tried to ce it in the ring, but the ring seemed to reject it, as if it couldn¡¯t amodate it. Then it might be impossible. What if it wasn¡¯t his power, but something he had received, the power of a transcendent that he still couldn¡¯t properly control? [You have activated ckness.] The shadow swallowed the light. Chapter 244: Fourth Return, Earth (11) Chapter 244: Fourth Return, Earth (11) Shadows and light shed. They mixed together, emitting distorted colors in all directions. ¡°Q¡± Taesan groaned. A massive pressure engulfed his entire body. Everything began to distort. Kwoong! Sensing danger, thousands of monsters charged at once. Each one was a B-grade monster. Kyeeng. A very faint wave spread from the mixed entity that Taesan could not control. Quaddeudeuk!The thousands of monsters charging twisted into pretzel shapes, crushed by a force too weak to be fragments. Taesan fortified his body tightly with both spirit and strength. But still, he couldn¡¯t withstand it. Creaking noises began as the intensity wavered. ¡°Tch.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue, trying to bnce the power. He concentrated the power, achieving bnce. But it was rejected. The power of the divine. Divinity. The power that distorted the divine. ck. These opposing forces mixed and distorted again. Kwoong! Cracks began to form in the space. Crumbled fragments fell. The inner world was a domain created with the power of an S-grade monster capable of destroying worlds. All that power was condensed into a tiny space. It was akin to a world unto itself. And that world was copsing. [Uh, this seems quite dangerous.] It was to be expected. Taesan had the divine power but couldn¡¯t fully control it. He also had the ck power but was equally unable to control it. Both were powers he couldn¡¯t control, and he had mixed them together in one ce. Even though they were entirely opposing forces, a reaction urred. There was no way Taesan could control it. Kukuguguk. The mixed divinity and shadow began to transform into something grayish. [Huh?] The ghost watched anxiously and hesitated. The ghost had seen many powers before. In its lifetime, it had gone deep enough to understand and analyze most of the powers it encountered, including their weaknesses, directions, and principles. Without such capabilities, it wouldn¡¯t have reached the depths. That¡¯s why the ghost could immediately recognize that the small light Taesan wielded was divinity. It also easily realized that the overtly foreign power was that of the banished high gods. But now, the gray power in Taesan¡¯s grip was unrecognizable. No matter how much it was observed, analysis was impossible. It truly was a power beyond the realm of the unknown. [What¡¯s this?] While the ghost was flustered, Taesan was calmly assessing the situation. ¡®It¡¯s dangerous.¡¯ Quaddeudeuk. The space began to copse. He couldn¡¯t withstand the force emerging from the S-grade monster. It wasn¡¯t just a simple issue of strength. An S-grade monster, something he had struggled to defeat even in his previous life, could not withstand the gray force. ¡®The repulsion and collision of opposing forces. And their forcedbination.¡¯ The power explosively surged from this instability. The principles werergely understandable. The problem was that it was much bigger than Taesan had anticipated. Kkigigigig! Taesan gathered all his strength into the mixed entity. He was able to control it just barely without it bursting at a very precarious point. But that was all. It was impossible to manipte this power as Taesan intended. It was literally an uncontroble power. [You have activated mental eleration.] He focused his mind even more. How should he handle this power? He tried to put it into a ring, but the ring desperately resisted as if it didn¡¯t want to break, as if it couldn¡¯t handle it. The thoughts continued. All kinds of ideas shed and disappeared repeatedly. And all of them were deemed impossible. Only a very weak power mixed in was the answer. If he had added even a little more, control would have been impossible and it would have exploded. Control was impossible. ¡°Can¡¯t help it.¡± Taesan made a decision. He gave up on control. The ghost was horrified. [You!] The power he couldn¡¯t handle. If so, just don¡¯t handle it. Just let it explode as he wanted. The precariously held gray power began to rampage, seeking freedom. Even monsters far away turned to dust and disappeared, cracking the entire space. Simply giving up control and letting the power rampage was killing the monsters. Booooom! The space trembled. A massive force on the other side imbued the monsters. The breaking space filled up again, and pitch-ck darkness rushed in. The dying monsters revived. They focused their power on Taesan. The darkness that swallowed light charged at Taesan. Kagagak! But it all shattered against the gray. It was as if an earthquake urred; everything crumbled. A power that made even divine intervention meaningless. Taesan injected even more power into the gray entity. The sacred and the shadow mixed together. Taesan gripped it. Recoiling as if in resistance, it felt as though merely holding it contaminated the soul. But he could wield it. [Your Endurance has been activated. Damage leading to death has been nullified. For 1 second, all damage is zero.] Taesan gripped the gray and swung it. The condensed grayish burst exploded. ¡°Eek!¡± Kagagak! Kim Hwiyeon barely managed to take down a monster. She gasped for breath. Her stamina was nearly depleted. Enough people had died that it seemed reasonable to consider the battle lost. But Kim Hwiyeon did not give up. ¡°Fight!¡± She raised her weapon. ¡°We can win this!¡± ¡°Oh, ooooooh!¡± Her words rallied the people, and they got up. At that moment, a small, insect-like monster charged at Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°Ah.¡± Kim Hwiyeon tried to react, but her exhausted body could not move properly. It was when Kim Hwiyeon sensed her impending death. Kagak! An axe struck down the monster. The monster iled under the weight of the axe, but it did not budge. A pale-faced man who had saved Kim Hwiyeon asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°¡­Lee Juhyeok. Thank you.¡± Kim Hwiyeon expressed her gratitude and stood up. Lee Juhyeok watched as she charged back at the monsters. ¡®¡­Is this the difference?¡¯ Having been utterly rejected by Taesan, he quietly observed Kim Hwiyeon, trying to understand what made her different from him. And he learned a lot. He had pursued power, wanting to be a leader. The lives of others or their sentiments were not important to him. And he thought this was natural for a leader. He believed that only those who do not care about others and lead alone can be leaders. But Kim Hwiyeon was different. She moved forward with others. And always, with a steady expression, she boldly proimed. She must have known that the situation was desperate. Yet, she stood up, believing they could win. She had always been like that. Even in thebyrinth, she faced people with a bright expression. He was different. To him, others were merely tools for power. What they thought or hoped for was not his concern. Perhaps that attitude had subtly shown through¡ªthat he did not care about them, that he would not be heartbroken if they died. Could they always be trusted and relied upon? Were they unreliable in danger? That was the immediate difference. A closer look would reveal even more. That¡¯s why people chose Kim Hwiyeon over him. Lee Juhyeok smirked wryly. He still believed in his way. He thought a leader should act boldly. But now, he no longer thought to deny Kim Hwiyeon. He stepped forward. Not as a leader, but as a Hard Mode yer following Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s words. The battle continued. The situation remained desperate. Despite their earnest efforts under Kim Hwiyeon, the number of monsters did not decrease. Only the people were falling. Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. It was the moment the word ¡®annihtion¡¯ shed through her mind. Chajeok. ¡°What?¡± The monsters¡¯ movements suddenly stopped. Behind them, a huge monster that had swallowed Taesan was splitting open. Kwoooong! Minerva, who had been driving the giants with the wind, felt it too. Her face hardened as she sent a giant flying with the wind. ¡°Huh?¡± [What is this power?] Barkaza also gasped quietly. Minerva looked at the S-grade monster. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± Her gaze conveyed her confusion. The power that exists within the gods, the power thebyrinth could possess, was not the divine power. Nor was it the power of the high gods that exists beyond the order of the divine. It was something in-between. Ash-gray energy flowed from the gaps between monsters and exploded. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. [???]''s proficiency has increased by 4%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. The proficiency of the special Continuous Activation Skill [Twisted Soul Tuning] has increased by 3%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have acquired the special activation skill [Inner World].] [The proficiency of Transcendence [ck] has increased by 1%.] [You have acquired [Boundary].] [As you are out of thebyrinth, you could not acquire the skill.] The world became visible. Taesan muttered calmly. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± [You. What are you?] The ghost asked, unable toprehend. [Which head thought tobine those two? If things went wrong, you could have been torn limb from limb, you know?] ¡°It turned out fine, right?¡± [...You.] ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. It was all calcted.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t prate the interior of the S-grade monster as he was right now. That meant he had to draw out something beyond the power he currently possessed. That was precisely the sacred and the ck. He anticipated that mixing the two would cause a reaction. The collision of two opposing, massive forces was expected. The important thing was whether he could control it or not. If he couldn¡¯t control it, what should he do? Dealing with an uncontroble, powerful force, Taesan also had to risk his life. ¡°It was for that endurance.¡± A skill that nullified damage leading to death, just once. There were no boundaries to this skill. Even the most formidable force, no matter how great, could be nullified once. In his previous life, he had even withstood an apostle¡¯s attack. That¡¯s why Taesan stopped trying to control it and unleashed the gray power. [...Did you really think all this through?] ¡°I don¡¯t gamble without a chance of winning.¡± [This crazy guy.] The ghost eximed with a pale face. Taesan looked around. ¡°It seems all the monsters have vanished.¡± [Since the monster that was their master is dead, they naturally vanished.] Taesan looked down at his hand. The gray power was dissipating like mist. The S-grade monster had an inherent w. All its power was focused on trapping Taesan, and it was so unstable that even a minor disturbance could have caused it to burst like a balloon. In such a situation, it couldn¡¯t withstand the internal explosion of power and vanished. But even so, to eliminate it in one strike was more power than he had anticipated. ¡°Oh, ohhhh!¡± People who realized the situation btedly cheered. ¡°Taesan! Taesan!¡± ¡°We believed in you!¡± They sat down, shedding tears of relief. Kim Hwiyeon came running with a bright face. ¡°Mr. Taesan! You did it!¡± ¡°Somehow. How¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not very good.¡± Taesan nced at the people. Their numbers were noticeably fewer than before Taesan had confronted the monster. At least more than half had been lost. ¡°But¡­ still, we haven¡¯t perished. We survived.¡± Despite the significant losses, there was no one left who was weak enough to be broken by that now. They celebrated their survival, praising Taesan. ¡°Master.¡± Minerva and Barkaza arrived btedly. Confusion was evident on Minerva¡¯s face. ¡°What was that gray light just now?¡± ¡°It was a mix of divine and high god powers.¡± ¡°Divine and¡­ high god powers?¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why do you, the master, possess the power of the high gods?¡± ¡°If I start exining that, it¡¯ll turn into a long story. Just think of it as my own power for the sake of simplicity.¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t understand at all. But mixed? What does that mean?¡± Minerva was a spirit king. She possessed vast knowledge about the world. This included information on transcendents, immortals, and even the high divine. However, the gray light power that had just emerged was something she did not possess. It indicated that it was a power unknown even to the guardians of the world. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly either.¡± Taesan shook his head. He had anticipated the creation of power due to the reaction. But he was unsure about the nature of the power itself. ¡°But some beings are aware of it.¡± [Questplete.] [With conditions met, descent is permitted.] Space tore open. Those who had been shouting Taesan¡¯s name paused for a moment. Kim Hwiyeon, standing next to them, turned pale and staggered back. ¡°Oh.¡± Minerva¡¯s face nched. A colossal being emerged from the torn space. [It''s been a very long time since I''ve made an appearance before so many mortals.] A man with ck hair appeared, his voicezy and unhurried. ¡°Ah¡­¡± People instinctively bowed their heads. They felt nothing from the man. To be precise, they were not even at a level to perceive him. Yet, they understood. The man who had appeared was a being beyond theirprehension. [The god of despair, Aphrodia, has appeared.] Chapter 245: Fourth Return, Earth (12) Chapter 245: Fourth Return, Earth (12) Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Is it you, Lord Aphrodia this time?¡± [Yes. I descended here of my own will.] ¡°That¡¯s unexpected.¡± Taesan had anticipated the descent of the Spirit God or the God of Choice. Aphrodia spoke. [Normally, I wouldn''t be interested. The Labyrinth and trivial matters outside it were beyond my concern, but the trials I imposed on you piqued my interest.] Aphrodia turned his gaze. His gaze rested on Lee Taeyeon. Lee Taeyeon flinched and trembled. [To think that such a fragile and weak person has descended to the depths of the Labyrinth. Intriguing. Indeed, potential cannot be ignored.] His voice was not loud enough to be heard by others. Taesan realized. Aphrodia had discerned the end of Earth and the existence of Lee Taeyeon while bestowing his trial on Taesan. It seemed he had be interested and decided to descend here himself. ¡®After all.¡¯ The first god to appear on Earth was Lakiratas, the god of strife and death. When Lakiratas appeared, Taesan was fighting at a distance. Therefore, although people felt the presence of a colossal being, they did not see the god directly. The next to descend was the demon god, and the same happened then. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok felt her power, but had never actually seen her. Thus, Aphrodia was the first god to visibly appear before the people. Aphrodia¡¯s external appearance was ordinary. He was a handsome man with ck hair, but nothing extraordinary. Yet, people could not bear to look at him. As if merely gazing upon him was a sinful act, they averted their eyes on their own. ¡°Ah, uh.¡± The faces of Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok turned pale. The two were adventurers who had descended into Solo Mode. Although merely a fragmentpared to others, they could sense Aphrodia¡¯s presence. ¡°Huh, ha!¡± They gasped for air. Struggling to control their ragged breathing, they bowed their heads. They were afraid. Having challenged the trial of the gods several times, they were well aware of the extent of power the entity before them possessed. If he wished, he could easily crush the Earth. Aphrodia nced at them briefly and raised his finger. [Half-hearted power only binds its wielder. I shall show mercy. Humans.] His finger twirled, and the people vanished. Taesan momentarily expanded his senses. Then he knew. Everyone present had been moved inside the city hall. There was no aura of power, no wave of force. It seemed akin to a divine ability. Aphrodia looked down at Taesan. [First, congrattions. Mortal. You have excellently ovee this trial.] Hemended Taesan. [They changed their methods. You survived, but most others might have died. We anticipated that too.] The grip that consumed Taesan was something he couldn¡¯t escape with his power. And the monsters that were summoned were not something other yers could have ovee. Aphrodia had judged that only a few would survive, but the oue was entirely different. [You have triumphed, nearly perfectly. You may take pride in yourself.] ed ¡°O great Divinity.¡± Minerva bowed her body. ¡°May I dare to ask a question?¡± [Is that Beatrice¡¯s child?] Aphrodia gazed intently at Minerva. [Normally, a mortal daring to speak would be punished, but then Beatrice would show her anger towards me. Be thankful to your mother. Permission granted, spirit.] ¡°What a wonderful mother.¡± Minerva said with a yful smile. Having been granted permission to speak, she looked at Taesan. ¡°The power my master wielded. Could you tell us about it?¡± The grey power that defeated the S-rank monster. Taesan was curious too. He had skimmed over the description of the skill he obtained, but he couldn¡¯t understand what it meant. Aphrodia smiled faintly at Minerva¡¯s question. [The power he wielded. You mean the power tinged with grey.] ¡°Yes.¡± Minerva nodded. Aphrodia looked at Taesan with an interested gaze. [Many gods are interested in you. We have been watching the battles here.] ¡°Is that so?¡± It was unexpected that the gods were watching his battles. Aphrodia continued. [I knew about your exceptional nature. I knew which direction it would take... but... this was beyond expectation.] A power even the gods hadn¡¯t anticipated. [The power you possess is special. You plunder the power of whoever you defeat, even if it''s a high god.] A mix of emotions¡ªinterest, curiosity, slight agitation, and hostility¡ªwere directed at Taesan. [It¡¯s the first time a being of this world uses the power of a high god without a pact. And it¡¯s also the first time such a being possesses divinity. Likewise, you are the first to mix two powers.] Aphrodia raised his hand. A small light appeared there. It was the divinity that Taesan had wielded. However, the level and quality of that power were overwhelmingly high. [Divinity is a power amassed in the process of bing a god. It¡¯s an authority we create with our will.] In contrast, the power of a high god was an immutable power one possessed from birth. Aphrodia waved his hand to extinguish the divinity. [That power is on the verge.] ¡°On the verge¡­?¡± Minerva asked, puzzled, but Aphrodia did not answer. [I suppose I must say so. Since there are no signs of you bing corrupted by wielding that power, I will not interfere. However, I am unsure about others.] Aphrodia murmured softly. [With such power, they might approach things differently. It might bring about a change we haven¡¯t seen in a long time.] He likely meant the high gods. [I will observe. Where you arrive, what lies at the end, how your story will unfold.] Aphrodia chuckled. [Firstly... you did well.] The God of Despair dered. [You have triumphed over beings that invaded your world. You can be proud of that.] The deration of victory spoken by the god himself. Power surged from Aphrodia¡¯s entire form. [I must also give you a fitting reward.] The power began to spread across the world. It enveloped the entirend of Korea, dwelling within the people who resided there. [Receive it. This is the first reward.] [Manifestation of divine power.] [Part of the high god''s domain enveloping the Earth is removed.] [With the domain''s removal, restrictions are lifted.] [Acquiring skills on Earth is now possible.] [Exchanging items obtained in the Labyrinth is now possible. However, equipment cannot be exchanged, only consumables.] Taesan¡¯s pupils dted. From the distant city hall, cheers and voices could be heard all the way here. Aphrodia asked, [Are you satisfied?] Taesan nodded. There were various restrictions on Earth. Among them, the most significant were the inability to acquire skills and to exchange items. The former was the most significant restriction. No matter how desperately one tried on Earth to obtain new skills, they were all sealed and unusable. In his previous life, he had attempted to teach at least the basic skills to those who had returned, but it was futile due to this restriction. Now, it has been lifted. And even the exchange of consumables had been enabled. In his previous life, he was an Easy Mode yer. Naturally, he often ran out of mana and health. Anticipating the need, he had filled his inventory with potions before venturing out, but even those ran out within a few years. That¡¯s why he struggled with mana shortages as he fought monsters. But now, with the restriction on consumables lifted, everyone could trade items like potions and arrows. Although he did not feel a significant shortage of mana now, the situation would be different after clearing the Labyrinth. Unable to return to the Labyrinth, he had to manage limited consumables. Being able to distribute these items among people was directly linked to survival. ¡°So this was possible too.¡± [You would have known. In other worlds, it''s possible to obtain Labyrinth skills, but it was not here. Those things interfered. But now, only in this area where you have triumphed, can it be fully lifted.] ¡°Thank you.¡± The reward was more than he had anticipated. Taesan was thoroughly satisfied. But Aphrodia was not yet done. [Then, I will give you the second reward.] Aphrodia¡¯s power descended again upon the people at the city hall. [Manifestation of divine power.] [Blessings are bestowed.] [You have received the divine blessing [Will of Despair].] [Let¡¯s check.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan opened the skill window. [Divine Blessing: Will of Despair] [It''s a grace. When the mind is pushed to the brink and falls into despair, the blessing activates. It awakens the mind and fills it with the will to win.] A blessing for the mind. It was a good blessing. The Labyrinth was cruel. Even in the easiest Easy Mode, many were broken mentally, bing invalids or dying. It was a blessing that eased the mental strain. It seemed likely to significantly reduce the number of people mentally overwhelmed to the point of death. ¡°Thank you for this grace.¡± [It is a blessing that every mortal desires. But it will be meaningless for you.] Taesan silently agreed. He no longer despaired now. He just moved forward for strength and victory. Therefore, Aphrodia¡¯s grace held no value for him. Aphrodia¡¯s hand shook. [Then, I will give you something else.] His power began to descend upon Taesan. [It seems you haven¡¯t yet utilized the power I¡¯ve given you.] A skill obtained by oveing a trial from Aphrodia, the Seed of Despair. It could grow whenever he sensed the despair of his enemies. It seemed he had umted quite a bit while dealing with the spirit world and the 51st floor, but the skill was still not usable. [It seems to have umted quite a bit, so I will fill the rest.] [The condition for the special activation skill [Seed of Despair] has been lifted. It has transformed into [Branch of Despair].] ¡°Thank you.¡± The god himself had lifted the restriction. Its value was undoubtedly immense. Aphrodia stood up, perhaps signaling that all rewards had now been distributed. [Then, I must conclude it.] Conclude it? Taesan could guess what that meant. Everyone in Korea had gathered in Seoul andpleted the quest. Now, it was time to move on. Aphrodia clenched his fist. Crack! The world began to distort. People in the city hall screamed and copsed. Taesan looked intently towards the horizon. The semi-transparent barrier that had been spread across the edge of thend. It was a barrier that had made it impossible to move until the quest waspleted. Because of it, Taesan hadn¡¯t been able to help people from other regions during his second return. It was now distorting and breaking apart. [Open.] As the god spoke, the barrier shattered. The distorted world returned to its original form. Simultaneously, a system window appeared. [Congrattions. You havepleted thest regional quest.] [The barriers enveloping each country are removed. You can now move to other countries. There are no specific restrictions on movement, but you may face disadvantages in subsequent quests.] [The next return will involve national-level quests. Be vignt and prepare.] [Themunity is expanding. From now on, yers not only from your country but from other countries canmunicate.] ¡®Finally.¡¯ The first restriction was lifted. Aphrodia¡¯s form began to disperse. He soared high into the sky. [Prove your worth, mortals. And survive.] His mighty voice spread across the entire world. Just before disappearing, Aphrodia looked at Taesan. [I look forward to the next time.] Taesan nodded. Aphrodiapletely vanished, and Minerva breathed out heavily. ¡°Talking directly with a God is always nerve-wracking. How can you be so calm?¡± ¡°I¡¯m used to it?¡± Taesan responded as he turned around. The city hall was in chaos. People were probably struggling to understand what the system window that had just appeared meant. Taesan intended to exin it to them. He walked towards the city hall. Chapter 246: Fourth Return, Earth (13) Chapter 246: Fourth Return, Earth (13) When people gathered in Seoul to elect a leader, the conference room was filled once again. There was a gathering there again. ¡°Where is Sayeong?¡± ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Their numbers had dwindled since the beginning. They closed their eyes momentarily to pray for the souls of the departed. ¡°Then, Mr. Taesan.¡± After a moment of silence, Kim Hwiyeon addressed Taesan. ¡°Can we hear a rough story of what happened?¡±¡°I came here specifically to exin.¡± Taesan began his ount. He detailed how the High Gods attempted to capture and kill him. In that ordeal, Taesan emerged victorious. And with his victory, the conditions were met, and a god descended. At the mention of a god, the people reacted with disbelief and shock. ¡°A god¡­¡± ¡°Is it the kind of god we¡¯re thinking of? Like, Jesus Christ?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s different.¡± Taesan shook his head. In his experience, the concept of a monotheistic god was absent. Each was once mortal who had be transcendent, each possessed varying levels of power, and they all maintained reasonably good rtions with one another. They were not adversaries. Instead, it was more urate to view them as allies united against amon foe, the high gods. As Taesan sinctly exined, the people were enthralled. ¡°So, it¡¯s that kind of concept¡­¡± ¡°Thebyrinth was also created by their power¡­ This is really profound.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter.¡± Taesan spoke up. ¡°What¡¯s important is that we survive and prevail.¡± At those words, a spark of determination lit up in people¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Yeah. Winning is what matters most.¡± From the moment they found themselves trapped in thebyrinth, they had anticipated interference from transcendental beings. As Taesan pointed out, their survival was the paramount concern. ¡°Did everyone receive their rewards?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kim Hwiyeon confirmed. The Blessing of the God of Despair. It awakened the mind when one was plunged into despair. Everyone present was at least a Hard Mode yer. They understood the significant advantage this represented. ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Taesan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. You all managed well too. Honestly, I thought more of you would die.¡± Half of them had survived. It was a significant loss, but considering the circumstances, it was rtively small. Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip. ¡°Everyone tried their best. Literally risking their lives.¡± That sacrifice could not be in vain. They had to survive. For themselves and for those who didn¡¯t make it. They slowly checked for any changes. ¡°So the first change is¡­¡± ¡°Can we now obtain skills on Earth too?¡± Seo Jangsan asked. ¡°Is it confirmed?¡± ¡°Yeah. Some people got skills while eliminating the rifts. All of them could now use the skills they acquired.¡± ¡°Is that for real? Now we can learn skills here too¡­¡± Seo Jangsan was captivated. Being able to learn skills on Earth was a huge advantage. Survival on Earth was not easy. Even those who had been through hell in thebyrinth had to risk their lives. And skills were more likely to be acquired in extreme situations. That meant, on Earth, there were not a few cases where people learned skills while clearing quests. Until now, they had to seal the skills until they returned to thebyrinth, but now they could use them immediately upon learning them. It might not seem like a big change right now, but it would definitely be a significant advantage in the long term. ¡°That¡¯s good. The next change has been confirmed too.¡± Kim Hwiyeon took out a red potion from her inventory and tossed it to Lee Taeyeon, who skillfully caught it. Lee Taeyeon made a strange face as she fiddled with the potion. ¡°It really transferred.¡± The exchange of consumables. What was impossible until now had been unlocked. Up until now, whenever they tried to pass potions, they would bounce off and return to the original owner. But the potion, now handed to Lee Taeyeon, had changed ownership from Kim Hwiyeon to Lee Taeyeon. Lee Taeyeon then tossed the potion back to Kim Hwiyeon, who ced it in her inventory. ¡°Honestly, this is the best part.¡± A smile formed on Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s lips. The exchange of consumables. Its value was incredibly significant. ¡°How many potions do you all have left?¡± ¡°One.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve used up all mine. It was a close call.¡± Overall, everyone had one or two, if not none, left. The battles had been that intense. ¡°Potions aren¡¯t cheap. We need to buy other equipment too, and a lot gets used when we descend into thebyrinth, so naturally, we can¡¯t bring much back to Earth. But now¡­ ¡°We can have people from Easy or Normal Modes bring back potions.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Kim Hwiyeon nodded vigorously. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, those ces can supply gold more steadily than Hard Mode. If they bring back consumables each time they return, we can fight much more stably.¡± While Hard Mode dropped more gold from monsters, the difficulty was much higher. In modes like Easy or Normal, yers couldbine their strengths and defeat monsters without using potions, but in Hard Mode, even defeating one or two monsters required using a potion each time. As soon as they acquired it, the gold was spent, making it difficult to umte in Hard Mode. As long as the health system protected them, they wouldn¡¯t die as long as they had a moment to drink a potion. But if there were no potions to use, the benefits of the system were not fully utilized. One of the biggest reasons people died on this return was because theycked means of recovery. That issue had been resolved for the next return. Then someone said, ¡°But is that okay? To be blunt, you¡¯re just asking those in Easy and Normal Modes to bring back potions because they¡¯re no help to you otherwise. Won¡¯t they resist?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought about that too¡­ But it can¡¯t be helped.¡± Kim Hwiyeon spoke coldly. ¡°There¡¯s no way to live together that satisfies everyone. There will be resistance, but they¡¯ll have to ept it.¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be any major problems.¡± Taesan said. The people in Easy and Normal Modes trusted Kim Hwiyeon, who didn¡¯t abandon them. If she said something, they¡¯d ept it. ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°Thest thing¡­¡± Their faces became ambiguous. It was the most crucial information, yet it remained uncertain how it would change things. Kim Hwiyeon was captivated. ¡°Now quests will be carried out by each country¡­¡± Thest system window that appeared. £ÛCongrattions. You have cleared thest quest in your region.£Ý £ÛThe barriers surrounding each country will be removed. From now on, you can move to other countries. There are no restrictions on movement, but you may face disadvantages in future quests.£Ý £ÛThe next return will involve quests at the national level. Prepare and be ready.£Ý £ÛThemunity will expand. From now on, yers canmunicate not just with yers from their own country, but also with yers from other countries.£Ý ¡°What do you think will happen?¡± Kim Hwiyeon asked Taesan. All eyes were on him. Taesan knew the flow of events toe, what they needed to prepare for, and what to anticipate. But that was a story from a previous life. Taesan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Well. Even Mr. Taesan can¡¯t know everything.¡± ¡°If you knew, you¡¯d be a god. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Now that themunity is open, think about it when we return to thebyrinth.¡± ¡°That would be best.¡± It was now possible tomunicate with people from other countries through themunity. Not just Korea, but Japan, China, the United States, and Europe. People from all around the world. They could find out how they were living and what they were doing. Anticipation and anxiety were mixed on people¡¯s faces. ¡°Hopefully, none of them have been annihted?¡± ¡°Ah,e on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a possibility. Because there¡­¡± Taesan wasn¡¯t there. People¡¯s gazes followed thesest words. Leaning against the wall, Taesan moved. ¡°I¡¯m going back tomorrow, so sort out the rest among yourselves.¡± ¡°What about you, Mr. Taesan?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got something to see.¡± He stepped outside. Outside, people were celebrating survival, mourning death, and sharing their hopes and fears for the future. Then they spotted Taesan. They sprang up and ran toward him. ¡°Ooooh;¡± ¡°Mr. Taesan! Mr. Taesan!¡± They shouted at the top of their lungs. They saw Taesan meeting with Aphrodia. They didn¡¯t know his identity, but they could guess he was a being who had bestowed blessings upon them. Naturally, they came to believe they had received these blessings thanks to Taesan. Their faith in him grew even stronger. As Taesan passed by, he noticed a familiar face. ¡°Mr. Taesan!¡± A young man shouted passionately at Taesan. Lee Changchun. A Hard Mode yer who had been beaten up by Taesan during thest return of his previous life. ¡®He¡¯s still alive.¡¯ Taesan smirked and walked out to the city hall. He looked up at the sky. The cracks in the sky were calm, as if waiting for their next turn. ¡°What could it mean?¡± [With this kind of power, they could approach you in different ways.] Aphrodia had said that. Its meaning was still unclear. ¡°So, are we going back to thebyrinth now?¡± At Minerva¡¯s words, Taesan nodded. She chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s been quite a lot going on. I didn¡¯t expect to meet a Transcendent directly, to fight with the High Gods¡­ It was fun. I never thought I¡¯d experience so much so soon after being born.¡± Minerva continued with a satisfied expression. ¡°I don¡¯t fully understand the power my master possesses, but it¡¯s a power that my master directly controls. That¡¯s enough for me.¡± Minerva¡¯s form flickered like TV noise. The power required for her summoning was almost depleted, indicating she was about to be unsummoned. ¡°Will you be gone for a while then?¡± ¡°You¡¯re only going to continue descending into thebyrinth, aren¡¯t you? Not right away though, right? You have things to do, too?¡± Minerva was the guardian of Arulia. She had to protect that world. ¡°Right. I¡¯ll be away for a while.¡± Minerva looked at Barkaza. ¡°Barkaza. Take good care of things even in my absence.¡± [I am not only the king''s servant but also yours. I must protect you.] ¡°I trust you. And you too, ghost.¡± [What can a bodiless one protect?] ¡°Is that so?¡± Minervaughed. Her body began to fade along with some noise. ¡°Then, see you next time, master.¡± [Minerva has been unsummoned.] She disappeared. Taesan spoke towards the void. ¡°See you.¡± And then the time came. [Monster Defeat Bonus +743] [Rift Removal Bonus +587] [Special Monster Kill Bonus +1245] [Merit Bonus +255] [Settlement Complete] [2,830 points will be awarded.] Taesan returned to thebyrinth. The settled points were 2,800. It was not a small amount. There were considerable advantages to be gained with these points. But Taesan opened themunity instead. [Kim Hwiyeon[Hard]: Oh, wow...] [Lee Taeyeon[Solo]: Excuse me. Can you calm down for a moment?] [Adam Smith[Solo]: What. More alive than I thought? Thought everyone had died.] [Rachel Uchitel[Hard]: Um, please, slow down a bit. It¡¯s too fast to have a conversation¡­] [Miyuki Kazuya[Normal]: Wow. People! So many!] Messages in themunity were being posted at a rapid pace. It was impossible to have a conversation. Taesan was slightly surprised. ¡®Much faster than before.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t slow in his past life, but now it was several times faster. ¡®Did more survive in other countries than in my previous life?¡¯ It seemed that the power of the High Gods was more concentrated on Taesan this time, giving the world more leeway than before. Trying to read a conversation was futile due to the speed, so Taesan turned off themunity. He nned to talk once things calmed down a bit. This time too, Taesan did not start using the points. There was something else he needed to check first. [Boundary] [Proficiency: ?] [Between the divine and beyond divine. Something that draws forth the divine and the ck.] [??????] [System error. Please consult thebyrinth administrator for details.] Chapter 247: 56th Floor (1) Chapter 247: 56th Floor (1) It wasn¡¯t the first time Taesan had seen a ¡°?¡± on a skill. However, it was the first time he had seen it apanied by instructions to consult thebyrinth administrator due to a system error. ¡°Balbabamba.¡± Taesan opened his mouth, and shortly after, the floor copsed while bricks rose up. [Again, you?] A voice echoed, tired and weary. [It must be the first time someone has summoned me repeatedly in such a short period. What do you want this time?] ¡°It says I should call you?¡± [What are you talking about?] ¡°How should I show this?¡± Taesan opened the skill window and pushed it towards Balbabamba. ¡°Like this?¡± [A skill? That¡¯s a reason to call me...] Balbabamba fell silent. After a long silence, he finally spoke. [What is... that?] ¡°I¡¯m asking because I don¡¯t know either.¡± There were a few skills thebyrinth couldn¡¯t exin. One was a conceptual skill he obtained from the world of cksmith Harfran. As proficiency increased, more of its content was being unlocked. The next was a ck essence obtained from the high gods. It was written in strange characters, seemingly unexinable. But neither included instructions to call an administrator. Balbabamba groaned. [...There are a few cases where a skill¡¯s description might be missing. The first is when the skill''s level is much higher than the user¡¯s power. As you increase your proficiency or power, a description will emerge. You have such a skill among yours.] The conceptual skill. That¡¯s what he seemed to be referring to. [And the second is when the power is known, but its nature isn¡¯t fully understandable. Such as the power of the high gods.] He was referring to the power of the high gods. [Thest is when the power and its effects are both unknown. In such cases, an instruction to summon me for verification is added.] ¡°Is that what this is?¡± [What is it?] Balbabamba¡¯s voice was full of confusion. [This ce is thebyrinth, created by the magician and the gods. Even if it''s the power of the high gods, its effects might be unknown, but the type of power should be identifiable. However, what you possess is... I can''t understand anything.] A power unknown to both the magician and gods. That was the boundary line. [I need to check it. Try using it.] ¡°It¡¯s hard to predict the aftermath. It¡¯s a power I can¡¯t control either. Can you stop it?¡± [You can''t control it? Even with your abilities?] Balbabamba muttered, baffled. [...Has anyone witnessed you using that power?] ¡°The god of despair was watching.¡± [Aphrodia?] After a brief silence, Balbabamba spoke again. [I should ask Aphrodia directly. Until then, let''s put this on hold.] Kugugung! Balbabamba¡¯s body crumbled to the floor. Barkaza muttered in a captivating voice. [Is that thebyrinth administrator? He''s strong. No one within thebyrinth could likely match him.] There was no issue with the skill he had acquired. It had been confirmed. Now, it was time to check the rest. [Special Activation Skill: Inner World] [Mana Cost: 1000] [Proficiency: 1%] [Expands one''s power and authority into a domain.] ¡°Should I consider it a barrier?¡± [You have activated your Inner World.] Taesan¡¯s presence expanded. His authority and power began to permeate the space, engulfing it. Click! Click! Like a puzzle fitting together, the room was enveloped by Taesan¡¯s power. Secondster, the room became Taesan¡¯s domain. [It''s not just suppression... Is it a skill that forces a fight?] [This ce itself has be a sort of domain. Without considerable power, it would be difficult to escape.] ¡°That¡¯s not bad.¡± Taesan tapped the edge of his domain. Though the power had spread out and weakened slightly, it was still strong enough that an equal opponent couldn¡¯t escape. Using Apostle Transformation or King¡¯s Vessel would solidify the domain further. It was a skill that could enforce a one-sided duel, quite useful indeed. Next, it was time to check the skill evolved by Aphrodia. [Special Activation Skill: Branches of Despair] [Mana Cost: 50] [Proficiency: 1%] [Imnts branches of despair inside the touched opponent. The opponent experiences a terrible emotional turmoil.] ¡°A one-on-one dedicated skill.¡± It seemed to be a skill that allowed him to influence and manipte emotions. Emotional interference skills often became useless depending on the opponent¡¯s level. However, this was an emotional interference skill bestowed directly by the god of despair. Even a powerful individual, even if they were a leader of the Guides, could be affected. If truly so, the value of this skill was quite high. The verification of acquired skills wasplete. Now, it was time to use the points. ¡°What should I do?¡± Taesan sat on the floor, pondering. The points he had gained were 2830. Converted to skill proficiency at a ratio of 1:10, that was 283%. But none of the skills Taesan possessed now would allow him to apply that much proficiency. Each point was very costly because each was incredibly valuable. ¡®Conceptual skills or transcendent skills, and magic are definitely impossible.¡¯ Very high-level skills did not allow for point application. That meant he had to invest in a slightly lower-level skill. ¡®Intermediate magic is also terribly inefficient.¡¯ He had considered raising the proficiency of Starlight Arrow, but it took 100 points to raise 1%. Even if he invested all his points, it would only increase by 28%. Of course, the skill was powerful enough with that increase, but it was still frustrating. Taesan clicked his tongue. In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t acquired skills of this level, so he hadn¡¯t considered these drawbacks. Taesan continued to ponder. And then he decided. ¡°I should use it for the spirits.¡± [Spirit Skill: Spirit Contract] [Proficiency: 2%] [Contracts with spirits are made to draw out their power and summon them. However, the full potential of the spirits'' power has yet to be harnessed.] Barkaza and Minerva were strong, but Taesan was still unable to fully harness their power. Taesan invested points into the Spirit Contract. As his proficiency significantly increased and consumed more points, he began to enhance the contract proficiency with Barkaza and Minerva. Barkaza, observing, was impressed. [Oh, ohhh?] Suddenly, his power was being enhanced. The total amount of power he could handle was increasing, and he was bing smoother in managing it. [What is this?] Barkaza was astonished. He had done nothing, yet his power was increasing. It was an experience he had never had before. After using all the points, Taesan checked the changed details. [Spirit Skill: Spirit Contract] [Proficiency: 40%] [Contracts with spirits to draw out their power and summon them. Can now freely use the power of the spirits and draw out some of their power.] Taesan waved his hand. Wind and light mingled above it. He had be much more flexible in handling power. With a bit more familiarity, he felt he could create a typhoon without using any mana. [Spirit Contract: A top-ss spirit of various colors, Barkaza] [Proficiency: 20%] [Mana Cost for Summoning: 30] [Contracted with Barkaza. Barkaza can be summoned andmanded, and his power can be further drawn upon.] [Spirit Contract: The King of Wind Spirits, Minerva] [Proficiency: 26%] [Mana Cost for Summoning: 100] [Contracted with Minerva. Minerva''s power can be further drawn upon, but she cannot be summoned due to the terms of the contract.] There was no significant change in the content of the spirit contract. However, the change felt by the spirits seemed to be substantial. Barkaza was stuttering in shock. [What in the world...] ¡°It seems you¡¯re really feeling it.¡± [...Is this thebyrinth?] Barkaza groaned. Labyrinth. A space where systems created by transcendents came into y. Barkaza btedly realized what that meant. ¡°Not bad at all.¡± He had be noticeably stronger. The same must be true for Minerva. Given her current state, she could easily defeat any monster that had troubled her on Earth. ¡°Themunity is still a mess.¡± Though the speed had decreased slightly from before, it was still difficult to converse. Kim Hwiyeon and other leaders from different countries were trying hard to control it, but people were not easily listening. Then, a familiar name caught his eye. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Shut up before I kill you all! Let¡¯s talk!] The message clearly showed what kind of person she was. Taesan chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s alive. As expected.¡± Taesan turned off themunity. It should calm down by tomorrow. That was when he nned to talk. It was now time to descend further into thebyrinth. Taesan moved forward. The monster on the 56th floor was a Pegasus. A horse flying in the sky had thrust its horn forward. Taesan mmed his hand down. The Pegasus crashed to the ground, spewing blood. ¡°It feels strange.¡± It was a curious feeling to ughter a mystical creature that seemed like it belonged in a fairy tale. Taesan quickly cleared the 56th floor. The rewards from the secret room, the clear reward, and the secret reward were all items rted to ck magic, which Taesan offered to the Demon God. Unlike before, the Demon God did not appear. It merely collected the offerings with a ck aura. Taesan thought it must be due to some urgent matter and entered the 57th floor. [57th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 57th floor and pass through.] [Reward: A brilliantly shining golden ne.] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°I¡¯m starting to want it.¡± [What do you want?] ¡°A new skill.¡± The ghost was taken aback. [What else is there to obtain?] Taesan had obtained a lot. Compared to the ghost, it was iparable. Conceptual skills, transcendental skills, the boundary line, etc. There were many, and each skill was incredibly valuable. Other adventurers would be grateful for a lifetime to have just one of these skills. But for Taesan, it was still not enough. ¡°I haven¡¯t obtained the skill I want yet.¡± The skills he acquired in Solo Mode were all excellent. But they were not truly what he desired. ¡°I have a different foundation.¡± Taesan has grown stronger here. With this power, he could easily surpass his past self. Yet, he wascking the most important things. Addition, Multiplication, Copy, Temporary Time Stop, Absolute Judgment. These skills made himparable to Lee Taeyeon even in easy mode, skills he had obtained through his own effort and analysis. They were literally the essence of his power. He had not yet obtained even half of them. ¡°There are things I can¡¯t obtain right now¡­ Skills like Temporary Time Stop or Multiplication required very special conditions. Even in his past life, it would have been impossible to reacquire them. But some could be obtained now. Taesan entered the 57th floor. As he passed through the passage, the monster of the 57th floor appeared. The first thing he noticed was that the air was different. A huge flower-shaped monster was emitting an intangible energy. ¡°Found it.¡± Taesan drew his sword. [The intangible Lacia has appeared.] Chapter 248: Absolute Protection (1) Chapter 248: Absolute Protection (1) ¡°Stay still.¡± [Understood.] [You have activated Essence Perception.] [Rafflesia of Formlessness and Transformation.] [Invisible poison scatters from the formless tentacles. The poison''s quality and concentration can vary.] As Lee Taeyeon had exined, I could feel the formless movements fluttering around Rafflesia. Those must be the tentacles described in the exnation. ¡°Let¡¯s see for now.¡±Lee Taeyeon had told him a lot¡ªwhat each floor contained, which monsters were waiting, and what secrets were hidden. Taesan couldn¡¯t remember everything, but he kept the interesting bits in his mind. One of them was the Rafflesia before him, A monster that could enable Taesan to acquire skills. Recognizing Taesan, the Rafflesia scattered its poison. Invisible forces enveloped Taesan¡¯s entire body. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] The attack nullifications were swiftly exhausted. And then the damage starteding in. [You receive 10 damage.] [You receive 10 damage.] ¡°About 10, then.¡± His health began to drain rapidly. But it wasn¡¯t enough to kill Taesan. He approached Rafflesia. Then Rafflesia moved its formless tentacles. The concentration of the scattered poison changed. Taesan focused his gaze. He expanded his senses and read the flow of the changed poison. ¡®I can read it.¡¯ He discerned the trajectory and quality of the poison and swung his sword. Fwoosh! The sword wind caused by the sword strike dispersed the poison. Rafflesia moved its tentacles. The poison attacked like mes in all directions. Taesan didn¡¯t dodge. He moved his sword. Fwoosh! He raised a wind. Creating a fist wind with his punch, he shook the tip of his sword, bewildering the trajectory of the poison. His dizzyingly moving hand scattered all the poison. ¡°It works.¡± He could identify and deflect all the invisible attacks performed by Rafflesia. ¡®And the proficiency of the block is¡­¡¯ [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Block] [Proficiency: 23%] [Blocks damage below a certain value. However, damage of 3 or more cannot be nullified.] The effect of Block was to stop damage below a certain threshold. It¡¯s not about reducing 2 damage from 100; itpletely nullified any damage that was 2 or less. Two. It was possible. Having confirmed everything, Taesan turned away from Rafflesia, who was about to scatter poison. [Huh? Where are you going?] ¡°I¡¯m going to the shop. There¡¯s something I need to buy.¡± When Taesan returned, the shopkeeper asked hesitantly. ¡°You just went down; why are you back already?¡± ¡°I need something. Can I see the potions?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The shopkeeper, puzzled, made space and presented the potions. Taesan examined each one to find what he needed. [Potion of Protection] [Continuously nullifies types of damage by 3.] [1,000G] [Potion of Enhancement] [When mixed with a specific potion, the effects of the potion are enhanced.] [1,200G] [Potion of Designated Enhancement] [After using the potion, designating a skill temporarily increases its proficiency by 20%. However, it cannot be used on skills above a certain level.] [1,500G] While examining the potions, the ghost inquired. [I''ve always wondered why these are sold. They¡¯re just pointlessly expensive and useless, aren¡¯t they?] The Potion of Protection, which reduced continuous damage. The effect itself wasn¡¯t bad, but it could only reduce a meager amount of 3. This was essentially a negligible figure, especially considering its cost of 1,000 gold. [The Potion of Enhancement is also useless because it increases by a fixed amount, not proportionally.] Mixing it with a health potion would only change a 50% recovery to 52%. It was more sensible to buy additional potions for 1,200 gold. [The Potion of Designated Enhancement is also too shy, as the skills you can designate are only of a basic level. Plus, it''s too expensive. The duration is also short, only about 10 minutes. Isn¡¯t it just too useless?] It couldn¡¯t be used on skills that could affectbat. All three were duds in thebyrinth, bought only by adventurers out of curiosity the first time. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me. I received these potions as part of a contract. They¡¯re unseble and a nuisance.¡± The shopkeeper clicked his tongue as he urged Taesan. ¡°What are you going to buy? Choose quickly.¡± ¡°Two Potions of Protection, one Potion of Enhancement, and one Potion of Designated Enhancement, please.¡± Taesan pointed out the Potion of Protection, Potion of Enhancement, and Potion of Designated Enhancement. ¡®All here.¡¯ Fortunately, he was able to obtain everything he wanted. These items could even be obtained in Easy Mode, so naturally, they were expected. [Huh?] ¡°These?¡± The shopkeeper was very puzzled by Taesan¡¯s choice. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but they¡¯re probably useless. But if you want them, I¡¯ll sell them to you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan handed over the gold. As he actually made the purchase, the shopkeeper looked at him with a face as if seeing something bizarre. ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t expect those to sell.¡± Taesan returned to thebyrinth. The ghost, who had been quiet, asked. [Learning a new skill?] ¡°Did you notice?¡± [Whenever you do something strange, you always end up with some unbelievable skill.] [Can I ask what it''s about?] Barkaza answered the ghost¡¯s question. [It''s simple. Thebyrinth is supported by a system bestowed by the gods. Adventurers can obtain skills corresponding to their specific actions.] [...So, the master is trying to obtain a skill?] ¡°Right.¡± [What are you trying to get this time?] The ghost asked with interest. Every time Taesan did something iprehensible, he acquired a skill. Attack Nullification, Forced Duel, Addition¡­ Each skill was at an unreachable level. The skills he had obtained so far were impressive, but it meant there were still more to gain. The ghost was curious about what that might be. Taesan answered. ¡°Nullification of continuous damage.¡± [Continuous damage?] ¡°You must have noticed while watching. What¡¯s the drawback of Attack Nullification?¡± [...It¡¯s continuous damage.] The ghost realized. Attack Nullification was an absurd skill in itself. It erased all iing attacks and reversed time to before the attacks urred. Without exaggeration, even an ordinary adventurer with Attack Nullification could descend three more floors. But the only drawback was continuous damage. As if facing a world-destroying wolf, if the enemy simply standing before him caused continuous damage, Attack Nullification was utterly useless. Just moments ago, with Rafflesia, As soon as the battle started, all the Attack Nullifications were used up¡ªa clear disadvantage. [You can solve that?] The ghost was surprised. [How? A skill for nullifying continuous damage? How do you even obtain that?] The method to obtain the skill involves somewhat invoking its effect. Taesan answered. ¡°Watch.¡± He approached Rafflesia again. [You take 10 damage.] A damage of 10 was registered. Taesan took out a Potion of Enhancement and a Potion of Protection. [You mixed the Potion of Enhancement and the Potion of Protection. The Potion of Protection has transformed into a Potion of Guarding. [Potion of Guarding] [Continuously nullifies types of damage up to 5.] [You have used the Potion of Guarding. Continuous damage up to 5 is nullified.] [You take 5 damage.] The damage from the poison was reduced by 5. Taesan took out another potion. [You have used the Potion of Protection. Continuous damage up to 2 is nullified.] [You take 3 damage.] [Huh?] The ghost was confused by the further reduced damage. [Aren¡¯t you not supposed to stack the same potion?] ¡°That¡¯s true for the same potion. But these are Guarding and Protection¡ªdifferent potions. They can be stacked.¡± The potions mixed, transforming into a different potion. The ghost was astounded by this fact. [Such changes are possible? Interesting. Though it''s not very meaningful.] The ghost showed little interest. There were no potions that, even when stacked, would provide significant benefits, and 1,200 gold was not a small amount for an adventurer before entering deeperyers. It was too much of a burden to handle. Taesan finally took out the Potion of Designated Enhancement. [You have used the Potion of Designated Enhancement. The proficiency of your Block skill has increased by 20% for 10 minutes.] [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Block] [Proficiency: 43%] [Blocks damage below a certain value. However, damage of 4 or more cannot be nullified.] Block could now stop 2 points of continuous damage at 20% proficiency. Now it was 40%. Rafflesia¡¯s continuous attack dealt damage of 10, and the reduced damage due to the potion was 7. The matching damage and Block¡¯s effect perfectly aligned, and the noisy damage window stopped. Continuous damage was perfectly blocked. The ghost let out a gasp. [Block can be used with the Potion of Designated Enhancement too? This is... incredible.] It blocked continuous damage that should have been impossible to block, using potions everyone thought were useless. Taesan quickly charged at Rafflesia and plunged his sword into it. He defeated it instantly and moved to the next room. [A new Formless and Transforming Rafflesia has appeared.] A new Rafflesia appeared. Rafflesia scattered poison, but no damage came through. Boom! Rafflesia moved its tentacles. It undted and then spewed out invisible poison. This was a different type of poison that dealt continuous damage. If hit, the damage would be substantial. Taesan expanded his senses. He didn¡¯t dodge the scattering poison but instead swung his sword to deflect it, twisting its trajectory. ¡°The conditions have been met.¡± Taesan continued to block the dispersing poison. He slowly repelled the invisible, formless attacks. [I''m curious. What exactly are the conditions for acquiring the skill?] The ghost observed and had a rough idea. First, the enemy must inflict continuous damage, and that damage must be avoided. Additionally, the opponent¡¯s invisible attacks must be continuously blocked. But beyond that, it couldn¡¯t specte. While blocking the poison, Taesan spoke. ¡°First. The opponent must inflict continuous damage.¡± Second, this continuous damage cannot be blocked by one¡¯s abilities but must still be intercepted. Third, despite possessing Attack Nullification, it must not be activated. Fourth, the opponent must utilize attacks that are invisible andck physical force. Fifth, these invisible attacks must continually change. Sixth, all these conditions must be met without taking any damage for at least 7 minutes. After hearing the exnation, the ghost fell silent. Taesan kept blocking the poison. [What? That.] The ghost spoke. [Are you sure those are the conditions? That''s nonsensical.] The conditions were excessively strict. Even with the knowledge of how to acquire it, Meeting those conditions seemed nearly impossible. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just thought so because I acquired it when I met those conditions.¡± Perhaps Attack Nullification isn¡¯t necessary. Maybe the attacks don¡¯t need to change. However, Taesan had acquired the Special Continuous Activation Skill, Absolute Protection, under those conditions. ¡°It was also the most difficult skill I ever acquired.¡± Skills like Multiplying or Temporary Time Stop required difficult situations to meet, But those were not hard to satisfy once the special circumstances were met. But not so for Absolute Protection. Meeting the conditions themselves was the challenge. It was likely one of the most challenging skills he had ever acquired. The ghost let out a hollowugh. [How did you even acquire it?] ¡°I didn¡¯t know either.¡± The countless insane acts done to acquire the skill. Decades were literally poured into it, a product of time. Obtained only through a series of coincidences, yet because of the inherent stat limitations of easy mode, it was a skill he couldn¡¯t use at all. That was Absolute Protection. Chapter 249: Absolute Protection (2) In his past life, Taesan yed on Easy Mode. Due to the limitations of his natural stats, surviving until the very end was virtually impossible. The only power capable of solving this problem was skills. That¡¯s why Taesan made an effort for the sake of acquiring skills. He devoted his entire life, to the point of losing even his sense of self. He once invested several years to obtain a single skill. For a week, he didn¡¯t sleep and repeated the same actions, risking his life as if cing it on a knife¡¯s edge. He also sought ways to block continuous damage attacks, also known as DoT (Damage over Time). To ovee the sole real w of attack nullification, Taesan did his utmost. First, he tried to think of a way to avoid receiving any continuous damage at all.The simplest method was to use blocking skills. Not taking damage below a certain threshold was the most suitable condition for blocking weak DoT attacks. However, merely blocking continuous damage with a blocking skill wouldn¡¯t yield any new skills. Even if it did, those skills obtained so easily wouldn¡¯t be very effective. So, he conducted various experiments. First, he attempted to block continuous damage that couldn¡¯t be prevented with blocking skills. The 95th floor of Easy Mode was filled with a variety of monsters. Beasts, nts, insects, etc., would attack all at once, making it the final challenge of Easy Mode. Among them, there was a monster that sprayed poison. The DoT damage from this monster exceeded Taesan¡¯s blocking limit by 6. To reduce this gap of 6, Taesan tried various experiments. First, he experimented with physical methods. He covered most of his body, leaving only a small part exposed to see if it would reduce the damage. He also half-killed the monster itself to reduce its damage. But nothing worked. Even if he exposed only part of his body, the damage remained the same. Half-killing the monster did reduce the DoT damage, but it didn¡¯t yield anything useful. After several experiments, Taesan realized one thing: He needed to block the continuous damage without affecting the monster. This realization was more instinctual than theoretical. Taesan raided the store, buying andbining hundreds of potions, experimenting with various methods. Gold wasn¡¯t an issue. His relentless pursuit of skills had earned him so much gold that he couldn¡¯t spend it all in Easy Mode. Plus, there was almost nothing to buy in Easy Mode except for potions. He spent over a month just experimenting with potions. As a result, he discovered that he could block DoT (Damage over Time) damage with the Potions of Protection, Blessing, and Designated Protection. There might have been other methods, but these three were the most reliable ording to his research. Taesan blocked DoT damage that couldn¡¯t be prevented by blocking skills. And he got nothing out of it. Taesan calmly prepared for the next step. Even though he had wasted hundreds of thousands of gold and a month of effort, he cleaned up quickly. Taesan moved on to obtain other skills. During this time, he decided to keep using potions. They weren¡¯t overly expensive, and he thought they might still be useful in some situations. Taesan continued his potion experiments for a year. He nearly forgot the meaning of using potions, and by the time he used them almost unconsciously, he encountered a monster that used invisible attacks. This monster, in the form of a white cube, shot invisible des whenever its body parts rotated. Taesan attempted to block those attacks. Blocking intangible attacks was something he had tried several times before, but he hadn¡¯t gained anything. However, the cube-shaped monster was one he¡¯d never seen before. It was worth trying that one out. Taesan grasped the patterns of all the monster¡¯s attacks and the shape of its des. This took two months. Then he began to block the attacks. About ten minutester, suddenly, the poison-spraying monster appeared. Taesan ignored it and blocked the cube-shaped monster¡¯s attacks since it couldn¡¯t inflict any damage while he was using the potions. And seven minutester, he obtained Absolute Protection. Effort, experimentation, and luck. Everythingbined to yield a skill. That was Absolute Protection. Paang! Taesan¡¯s sword trembled. He twisted the trajectory of the poisonous spray and blocked it. And seven minutes passed. [You sessfully blocked attacks that inflict continuous damage and invisible attacks at the same time. You''ve obtained the special continuous-action skill [Absolute Protection].] Kwa-jik! Along with the system window announcing the skill acquisition, Taesan took down the Rafflesia. The ghost muttered in a stunned voice. [...It really exists. What kind of skill is this?] The ghost had perished while descending thebyrinth, but it wasn¡¯t due to ack of ability. He had some confidence in himself. He believed he had understood much about thebyrinth and knew enough. However, as he spent more time with Taesan, that confidence waspletely shattered. [I''m speechless. I can see why the wizard said that.] The ghost groaned. [Can you show us quickly? I''m curious.] [I''m also curious. Although I know thebyrinth''s system, I''ve never seen someone obtain it like this.] The ghost and Barkaza urged Taesan, who opened the skill window. [Special Continuous Action Skill: Absolute Protection] [Proficiency: 1%] [An invisible energy surrounds the user, automatically defending against continuous damage and invisible attacks. This intangible energy bes stronger in proportion to the defense, attack, health, mana, and strength stats.] [Automatic defense skill¡­] The ghost chuckled dryly. There were many defense skills in thebyrinth. Some were activation skills, and some were in buff form. Although rare, there were even defense skills that could block a dragon¡¯s attack. These skills consumed a lot of resources, yet they were highly effective. Generally, thebyrinth¡¯s skills demanded significant costs for greater achievements. The more potent the skill, the higher its mana consumption or the more severe its restrictions. The ghost was shocked by Taesan¡¯s learned skills mainly for that reason. The penalty was minimalpared to their effects. And Absolute Protection was at the pinnacle in that regard. It didn¡¯t consume any resources. Furthermore, it was an automatic activation skill, requiring no conscious effort. If such a level of effect could be achieved with low proficiency, it might evolve to automatically defend against all attacks as proficiency increased. ¡°There was a simr spell.¡± Likely a mid-tier spell, and one of the more potent ones. With a mana consumption of 500 per minute, it wasn¡¯t an easy spell to use, even for a seasonedbyrinth wizard. Barkaza chuckled softly. [This is quite amusing.] The ghost appeared to share a simr sentiment and spoke with a hint of difort. [Is this something that can be obtained through the system? I''ve seen my master use skills several times, but¡­ Even upon seeing it again, it''s still strange. I can''t ept it.] Taesan gazed thoughtfully at the skill. Absolute Protection. It was undeniably a valuable skill. In his past life, he had shouted with joy upon acquiring it. But he couldn¡¯t fully utilize the skill. The reason was straightforward. It was because he was in Easy Mode. The effect of Absolute Protection was an invisible energy swirling around him. That energy was proportional to the user¡¯s stats. In Easy Mode, the stats are exceptionally weak. In his past life, the Absolute Protection he wielded was barely more effective than simple blocking. But now, things were different. In Solo Mode, he could wield Absolute Protection in its truest form. Thinking this way felt odd. In Easy Mode, he had deemed Absolute Protection to be a useless skill. He thought he couldn¡¯t rece it with his abilities and that it was worthless. But now, after oveing what hecked in his past life, he could fully use the skill. That fact was somewhat amusing. Taesan advanced through the rooms. Waiting for him, a Rafflesia attacked. An invisible tendril sprayed poison. At the moment the poison tried to reach Taesan, the invisible energy surrounding him moved. It blocked the poison and scattered it away. Without doing anything, Taesan blocked Rafflesia¡¯s attack. ¡°Guess this isn¡¯t an issue.¡± His overwhelming stats allowed him to block the attack of the 57th-floor monster. The invisible energy remained steady, showing no signs of depletion. With this level of strength, Absolute Protection wouldn¡¯t be wasted unnecessarily. Satisfied, Taesan continued down thebyrinth. [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained a brilliant golden ne.] [You have acquired Woo??.] Clearing the 57th floor raised his level to 117. His stats also increased significantly. He acquired good equipment as well. [Anklet of the One who Walked with the Wind] [Agility +130] [Defense +150] [Movement Speed +4%] [An anklet used by a being who lived a free life alongside the wind, imbued with the will of freedom.] Aside from helmets and boots, equipment rarely increased movement speed. This item broke that general rule. Its agility was high, and its defense wasn¡¯t low either. On top of that, it had a valuable movement speed boost, making it an excellent piece of equipment. [Brilliant Golden Ne] [A ne made entirely of gold that shines brighter than anything in the world. Even a sage who has transcended material value would covet it. Its worth is immeasurable.] It was a shop item. Equipment granted only upon reaching the 57th floor, worth well over ten thousand gold. [You have used Woo??.] [A leather armor made from the horn of a mystical deer and filled with ground giant''s leather.] [Strength +200] [Defense +200] [Magic Resistance +5] [Made from the leather of a giant, renowned for its unparalleled durability, and blended with the horns of a deer residing in a deep spring, it boasts formidable defensive power butcks in magic resistance.] ¡°Magic resistance?¡± It was a stat Taesan had never encountered before. The Ghost rified. [It''s exactly what it sounds like¡ªresistance to magic. Just think of it as a magic-rted stat that''s added to equipment, and you''ll understand.] ¡°That¡¯s quite beneficial.¡± It effectively reduced magic damage by 5%. The journey through the 50th floors was nearing its end. This was clear from the quality of the equipment, which surpassed anything encountered previously. Pleased, Taesan made his way to the 58th floor. The Ghost, as if just realizing something, remarked, [Now that I think about it, we''re almost through the 50th floors. I had lost track amidst everything happening.] Returning to Earth. And acquiring the seemingly trivial skill, Absolute Protection. The Ghost had lost sight of the current state of thebyrinth. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡¯ The Ghost regained its focus. It had been an adventurer who had delved into the deeper floors, strong and with a real chance of conquering thebyrinth. Taesan¡¯s abilities were indeed remarkable. The origins of all his skills and how he acquired them were mysteries to the Ghost. Nevertheless, the Ghost took pride in itself. It couldn¡¯t afford to be constantly astonished. He needed to maintain hisposure and stay by Taesan¡¯s side. Taesan stepped onto the 58th floor. [Quest Start for the 58th Floor.] [Defeat the boss on the 58th floor and proceed.] [Reward: Sword that Guards the Border of Life and Death.] [Hidden Reward: ???] Before moving on to the 58th floor, Taesan checked themunity. The previously intense atmosphere had noticeably settled. Though posts were still being made rapidly, the conversations had be more orderly. ¡°Now we can finally have a bit of a chat.¡± Taesan browsed through themunity. Chapter 250: Community, Players Of Earth (1) [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Whew. People have finally calmed down.] She posted a message of relief. Until moments ago, the pace was so fric it was impossible to even pinpoint the person she wanted to address. The fervor had died down somewhat, no longer reaching its previous intensity. Normally, she would have demanded silence, but this time, she had a reason to refrain. [Geum Junggeun [Hard]: Everyone who wanted to talk has had their say. It''s about time things quieted down.] After entering thebyrinth and returning, yers were transported back to their original locations. For an American traveling in Korea, entering thebyrinth meant participating as a Korean yer. There were also a few individuals from other countries among the Korean yers. They fervently reached out in themunity to ascertain the safety of their surviving family members. The leaders of each country weren¡¯t heartless enough to ignore them. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Now that things have settled, shall we start inviting people? If anyone wants to join the conversation, please let me know.] Themunity grew, facilitating conversations with people from various countries. It wouldn¡¯t just end with mere discussions. system_end [Oliver Khan [Hard]: It¡¯s me.] [Daniel Darmon [Hard]: Please include me too.] [Ichijo Eika [Hard]: M-me too¡­] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Invite me too. And all your Solo Mode yers.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Us too? We don¡¯t really talk much about that¡­ but if you want.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Are things sorted out?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Yes, Taesan.] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: I thought you were strategizing quietly. Were you watching?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: It seemed to have calmed down. If there¡¯s going to be a group chat, invite me too.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Sure.] system_end Kim Hwiyeon began organizing the participants. Representatives from other countries also selected and arranged their representatives. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Then I''ll create it.] [Kim Hwiyeon created a group chat. Do you ept the invitation?] Taesan epted. A group chat with dozens of people was created. [Daniel Darmon [Hard]: It''s better now. We can have a rxed conversation.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Indeed. Let me ask you something. Which country are you from? We are from the USA.] The main topic was quickly brought up. Kim Hwiyeon answered. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: We are from Korea.] [Daniel Darmon [Hard]: We are from France.] [Ichijo Eika [Hard]: We are from Japan.] USA, Korea, France, Japan. People from four countries were gathered. Seeing their names, Taesan thought. ¡®As expected.¡¯ The others were all people Taesan remembered. The only ce directly influenced by the High Gods was Korea. Other countries didn¡¯t seem to have changed much. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: This is strange. I expected it, but it''s peculiar to be able to talk with people from other countries while surviving.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Indeed...] Contact with other countries was entirely impossible. They even thought they were the only ones who had survived. But that was not the case. Many people were still alive around the world, and they were descending their respectivebyrinths. That fact gave them great strength. After a brief moment of reflection, they introduced themselves to each other. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: I am the leader of the USA. As you can see, my name is Oliver Khan, and I''m in my forties. The people actively participating in this conversation are the leaders of each country, right?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: That¡¯s correct.] The others from different countries nodded in agreement. Oliver grumbled. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: I don''t know which bastard ruined the Earth, but if they were going to open themunity, they could at least have separated it by country. Why didn''t they do that, unlike the difficulty levels? It''s so confusing.] [Daniel Darmon [Hard]: I agree.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Still, the conversations themselves are happening without issues. I was worried we might have to learn all the othernguages, but fortunately, that¡¯s not the case.] Among the foreign yers bound to Korea, some didn¡¯t know Korean. However, all of them were able tomunicate without any problems. Although they had expected it to be possible, there was still a bit of anxiety about the unknown. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Is this it? Where are the other people from other countries?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Hmm... Let¡¯s try calling them and see if theye.] They left the group and called out to people in themunity. Ten minutester, they returned empty-handed. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: ...More people died than I thought.] As themunity expanded, various channels simr to chat rooms emerged. There was the integratedmunity where all the people of Earth gathered. And there were nationalmunities where people from each country gathered. The absence of a nationalmunity meant that there was no one to use it. In other words, that nation had been annihted. And there were only about a hundred nationalmunities. Earth had a total of 206 countries. This meant that less than half had survived. It was expected. The monsters were strong, and humans were weak. And in the midst of chaos, instead of uniting to survive, people distrusted each other and worked to fulfill their desires. It wasn¡¯t surprising that some nations were wiped out. But the shock of facing the actual oue was different from what was anticipated. [Daniel Darmon [Hard]: It seems that people from other countries are talking among themselves. But... more nations than expected refuse to cooperate, saying they don''t trust us, or they use theirmunity butpletely ignore our questions...] Even among the survivors, not everyone was cooperative. Quite a few nations distrusted other countries. And there were nations thatpletely ignored others. Through the nationalmunity, people from different countries could enter and converse. Daniel Darmon attempted tomunicate within the Chinesemunity. However, no response came. Not a single person from China replied to him. It was as if they were unable to see him. It felt eerie. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Forget about those who don¡¯t want to talk. What I want are people willing to unite for survival.] Oliver¡¯s words were harsh. Taesanughed. It reminded him of the past. Except for Kim Hwiyeon, the other three had also conversed in this manner after themunity expanded in his previous life. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Let''s get serious from now on.] Their conversation began. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Has there been any major change in yourbyrinth?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: No. Thebyrinth hasn¡¯t expanded or altered in structure.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: So we can''t meet in thebyrinth...] Only themunity had opened up. Thebyrinths remained separated by mode and country. [Daniel Darmon [Hard]: It seems we can only meet on Earth.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Then what''s important is our return. Are you and your country willing to cooperate?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Yes.] [Ichijo Eika [Hard]: I have no intention of refusing aftering this far.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Good. Let''s each share the number of survivors and their difficulty levels.] It was a logical request. To unite for survival, understanding each other¡¯s strengths was essential. They began to share their numbers. Korea had a total of 46,000 survivors, with about 4,000 being Hard Mode yers. Japan had a total of 520,000 survivors, with 120,000 in Hard Mode. The numbers for the USA were astonishing. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: 1.5 million Hard Mode yers. A total of 12 million survivors.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: That''s a lot...] Kim Hwiyeon was astounded. The poption of the USA was originally about seven times that of Korea. Yet, the number of survivors was iparable. Taesan was also surprised. In his past life, not that many had survived. ¡®Is it because the focus is on Korea?¡¯ The High Gods¡¯ power was clearly being invested more in Korea than in his past life. It seemed that other countries had rtively more leewaypared to before. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: There are so many of you...] But Kim Hwiyeon, unaware of this, was overwhelmed. Overall, there were far more survivors than in Korea. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Korea has lost many... it must be tough.] [Ichijo Eika [Hard]: Stay strong.] People left messages of sympathy. Kim Hwiyeon had nothing to say, so she remained silent. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Still, the fact that you''ve endured with so few means that those who survived must be strong. How far have your Hard Mode yers progressed? We''re at the 30th floor.] [Daniel Darmon [Hard]: Oh. As expected of the USA. That''s high. We''re at the 28th floor.] [Ichijo Eika [Hard]: We''re at the 27th floor.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Oh?] Kim Hwiyeon was flustered. Oliver Khan asked with interest. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: What floor are you on? 30th? 32nd?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Uh... 38th floor.] There was a brief silence after Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s message. After a long pause, Oliver Khan posted in shock. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: 38th floor...? Is that true? You''re not lying, right?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Why would I lie about this? If it were a lie, we wouldn''t have survived.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: That''s true... but how? No, more importantly, how did only 4,000 survive to the 38th floor?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Ah, that''s...] Kim Hwiyeon spoke ambiguously. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: It''s a bitplicated to exin. Anyway, that''s how it happened.] Kim Hwiyeon also realized btedly that Korea was in a unique situation in many ways. And that Taesan was at the center of it. But it was awkward to mention this. Taesan was too special to talk about with people from other countries. Even if he exined, they wouldn¡¯t ept it, and it would likely cause more conflict. So, Kim Hwiyeon didn¡¯t go into detail. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Maybe it''s because there are fewer people? That could be it. We have so many people that it actually made us safer.] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: If you need help with strategies, just ask. If it''s okay, I''ll answer.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Thanks. Let me ask right away. We''re stuck on the strategy for the 30th floor boss. Can you help?] The conversation continued. People from France and Japan also joined, seeking information. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: So that''s how it''s done. Not bad.] Oliver Khan posted a cheerful message, seemingly satisfied with the information he had received. [Oliver Khan [Hard]: If you''ve already reached the 38th floor, you''ll be a great help when we meetter. I''m looking forward to it.] As the conversation was winding down, a certain woman interjected. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Is it over?] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Ugh, boring and tedious. Listening to it was torture.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Amelia...] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: What? Are you going to say something? At least I recognized your authority and kept quiet until the conversation was over, right?] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Sigh. Do as you please.] Oliver posted wearily. Although he controlled the American yers as a leader, it seemed that the yer named Amelia didn¡¯t follow his words well. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: In the end, only the strong can survive. And the strong onlye from Solo Mode.] Overwhelming confidence. And she had the power to match it. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Surviving with just 4,000 Hard Mode yers means there are strong individuals. Who were the Solo Mode yers invited earlier?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Um... who are you?] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Who are you calling?] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: As expected, they¡¯re here.] She continued. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: The strongest human in the world. The one recognized by a being called a god as strong.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: A god?] Lee Taeyeon was the strongest Solo Mode yer in Taesan¡¯s previous life. The reason was simple. She was the only Solo Mode yer who had survived. She alone had cleared Solo Mode. But there was a time when she wasn¡¯t the strongest. When people from each world were descending into Solo Mode. At the time when others, besides Lee Taeyeon, were making significant progress. When they were still alive. Amelia Aerin. Until her death in thebyrinth, she was the strongest Solo Mode yer. Chapter 251: Community, Players Of Earth (2) Chapter 251: Community, yers Of Earth (2) [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: God¡­¡­.] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Acknowledged you?] Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok express their surprise. Ameliaughed, clearly enjoying their reaction. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: So, you''re aware of the gods? You must be quite strong. But not as strong as me.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Amelia Aerin. They are our allies. We cannot afford to be hostile.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Shut up, Oliver. You made a promise, remember? I will follow your orders as the leader, but don''t interfere with discussions among Solo Mode yers.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: What a troublesome woman.] Oliver posts, sounding exhausted. He seemed to have had a difficult time until now.[Oliver Khan [Hard]: Sorry. I made a promise beforehand. Think of it as dealing with a stubborn troublemaker.] Oliver left after posting that message. Amelia remained unfazed. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: How strong are you guys?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: We''ve just reached the 20th floor¡­¡­] 20th floor. This was when the quest against the spirits was underway. Taesan intended to offer some advice about it. It was not a low floor by any means. Compared to the Lee Taeyeon from his previous life, this was a remarkably fast pace. But Amelia was not surprised. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: 20th floor. Not bad. Much better than the idiots in America.] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: And you?] Kang Jun-hyeok asked impulsively. He was confident in himself, but Amelia¡¯s tone, akin to praising a child¡¯s achievement, angered him. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Me?] Amelia spoke with confidence. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: 35th floor.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: What?] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: 35th floor!] They were shocked. Amelia posted, clearly enjoying their reaction. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: I am strong. Much stronger than you.] Her words were neither exaggeration nor lies. In Solo Mode, the deeper you went, the exponentially stronger you became. The two on the 20th floor were confident they could defeat dozens of their 10th-floor selves. In other words, Amelia was so strong that she could easily defeat both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok if they attacked her simultaneously. Being an adventurer on the 35th floor signified just that. Moreover, Amelia didn¡¯t have Taesan¡¯s support. This meant she had navigated thebyrinth solely with her own strength, discovering everything by herself. Taesan observed their conversation in silence. Amelia Aerin. She was undeniably the strongest Solo Mode yer. No one could match her strength, and no one could defeat her. Furthermore, she was distinct from Lee Taeyeon. She focused not only on breaking through thebyrinth but also on devising strategies. She gained a lot, so in terms of strength on the same floor, she was far superior to Lee Taeyeon. Taesan recalled Amelia¡¯s strength from his previous life. The power to obliterate mountains and copse tidal waves single-handedly. She was a monster. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: A god descended directly and acknowledged my strength, granting me their power.] Taesan scrutinized her message. A god. In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to her words, since he was in Easy Mode and had never encountered a god. But now, his feelings were different. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Which god descended to you?] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Huh? Who are you?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Someone you wouldn''t like. Just answer. It''s not hard, is it?] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: ...Don''t misunderstand. It''s not because you asked that I''m answering. I was going to answer anyway.] She responded with a sulky tone, seemingly upset about being outmaneuvered. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: The God of Descent, Essence.] The God of Descent. Taesan hadn¡¯t encountered such a god while descending thebyrinth. Judging by Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok¡¯s reactions, all the gods¡¯ altars in thebyrinth were in fixed locations. This meant that Amelia had not received recognition by clearing an altar, but that the God of Descent had directly approached her. ¡°Ghost.¡± [Huh? Why?] ¡°Is it possible for a god to directly appear to an adventurer?¡± [Well... it''s rare, but it happens.] The ghost exined. [Gods have very discerning eyes. They don''t approach just because someone is talented. It''s not only about talent; the person''s ideology, values, and personality all must align with the god''s. When a god personally descends, it means they don''t want another god to take that person. It''s extremely rare.] Amelia seemed to be a perfect match for the God of Descent. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Who are you? Which floor are you on?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: I told you, someone you wouldn''t like.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: What kind of nonsense is that?] Amelia was confused. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Judging by the way you talk, you''re around the mid-10th floor. I have no interest in talking to idiots. You said your names were Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok, right?] She lost interest in Taesan. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Weaklings will just end up dead, but you two are different. If you need help, just ask. I''ll share information you don''t know.] She spoke proudly. But Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok¡¯s reactions were ambiguous. [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Uh... thanks...?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Thank you...?] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: ...Why are your reactions like that? Shouldn''t you be grateful and happy I''m offering to help?] Amelia was puzzled. But Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok couldn¡¯t ept it anyway. Because they didn¡¯t need Amelia¡¯s information. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Mr. Taesan. Why aren''t you saying anything?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Is there anything for me to say?] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: What are you talking about?] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Uh, sorry, but we don''t need your information. We already have someone who tells us.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: ...Are you saying this Taesan guy has gone further down than you?] Her message conveyed a sense of caution. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Which floor are you on?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Who knows.] 35th floor. Taesan recalled what was there and posted, [Kang Taesan [Solo]: 36th floor. You should be careful of one area there. It¡¯s something that hates people like you the most.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: ...What?] Amelia seemed not to understand, but she would figure it out once she arrived. On the 36th floor, there was an Immortal. That hunchback who hated talented people would try to kill Amelia. From Taesan¡¯s memory, Amelia didn¡¯t die on the 36th floor, so she would probably manage without any issues. He didn¡¯t provide a detailed exnation, only giving her a rough warning. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Who are you? How far have you gone down? Answer me.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: You¡¯ll find out soon.] She was American. Normally, they wouldn¡¯t be able to meet until at least the next return. However, soon there would be a somewhat unique quest. A temporary space where people from different countries could meet. It was there that Amelia and Kang Taesan would meet. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Well then, I¡¯m off.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Take care.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Hey!] Ignoring her shout, Taesan turned off themunity. There was no need to specify the exact floor. Stories that went beyond a certain level wouldn¡¯t be epted by others. It would be quicker to show them directly when they met. By the way, The God of Descent, Essence. Taesan asked the ghost about that name. The ghost hesitated before responding. [How do you know that god?] ¡°There¡¯s someone connected to him.¡± [Was that what you were asking about earlier? Hmm. Essence¡­ I¡¯ve met him before.] The ghost began to exin. [The God of Descent, Essence. He has an altar on the 83rd floor.] The 83rd floor. A deep level. [Among the gods, he is particrly interested in mortals. If he finds someone to his liking, he provides full support. He¡¯s not a bad god, but... the domain he governs makes him a bit tricky.] Each god had their own domain. The God of Victory, the God of Struggle and Death, the God of Despair. Each acted ording to their domain. Essence was known as the God of Descent. [I¡¯ve undergone his trial before, and it was far from pleasant. If he takes a liking to you, he¡¯ll surely support you, but he¡¯s not a deity you¡¯d wish to encounter.] ¡°Really?¡± Taesan reflected on his past experiences. They were soon to meet. And Amelia was bound to showcase the skills from her previous life. It seemed likely that the God of Descent had orchestrated their meeting. ¡°Interesting.¡± Reuniting with old acquaintances he thought he¡¯d never see again was always a pleasure. Especially since Amelia was exceptional. If he had to choose the human he had shed with the most, it would undoubtedly be her. ¡°Thest I heard from her was on the 78th floor.¡± He was unsure if she had perished or had been made an apostle by a god. Unlike Lee Taeyeon, she hadn¡¯t been forting about her circumstances. He intended to uncover the truth moving forward. Taesanmenced his assault on the 58th floor. The monsters on this floor were deer with golden antlers. One lunged at Taesan, aiming to gore him with its antlers. [You activated Frost Arrows.] Dozens of Frost Arrows appeared instantaneously. The charging deer were impaled and in. Taesan navigated through thebyrinth. As he descended, the monsters became more formidable, but Taesan¡¯s growth outpaced them significantly. He swiftly vanquished the boss of the 58th floor. The reward in the secret room was a magical staff, which he nned to offer as a tribute. [Sword that Guards the Line of Life] [Attack Power +140] [A swordsman who constantly flirted with death. As a result, he wielded a weapon that perpetually straddled the line between life and death.] [When the Line of Life is activated, Attack Power increases by 50 for 10 seconds.] It was a skill linked to the Line of Life, activated in moments of dire peril. Though he hadn¡¯t given it much thought, the Line of Life consistently activated when he faced formidable foes. Given this, the sword¡¯s Attack Power could reach 190 under specific conditions. It proved to be quite useful. [You used ???.] [You obtained the Skull Staff.] [Skull Staff] [Dark Magic +50] [Mana +50] [People spected whether the remains of a great archmage retained magical powers. Upon the archmage''s death, someone stole their remains, crafted them into a staff, and indeed, the magic was real.] A staff imbued with dark magic. Taesan knelt and prayed. A ck space opened, and the staff was transferred into it. ¡®I¡¯ve offered quite a bit now.¡¯ He had made many offerings to the Demon God. It seemed about time for something to ur. Suddenly. As he harbored this thought, the space split open. Taesan observed the splitting space with calmness. [Greetings.] ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Indeed, it had been a long time since hest encountered the Demon God. Despite his offerings, she hadn¡¯t appeared. Normally, gods remained elusive, but the Demon God had always made an appearance, which was intriguing. [I had some matters to attend to.] The Demon God spoke, looking down at him with a troubled expression. Something was clearly troubling her. Taesan could easily surmise what it was. ¡°Is it because of the High God¡¯s power?¡± [That¡¯s part of it... and also because of the grey power you obtained.] She touched her hair, her expressionplex. Chapter 252: Demon Realm (1) Chapter 252: Demon Realm (1) Taesan realized why the Demon God was looking at him with an ufortable expression. [The power of the Ancient God. Although it bothers me greatly that you wield it... I understand. It''s your power now. Even they can''t interfere with it anymore.] The Demon God twisted her hair around her finger. [No, I should actually praise you. Thanks to you, one of the High Gods won''t show up here for a while. But... that''s different.] The Demon God¡¯s eyes narrowed. She gazed at Taesan as if inspecting his insides. [Gray. The power on the boundary. Do you know what that means?] Taesan shook his head. He knew it was a power that could interfere with the High Gods, but he didn¡¯t know more than that. [It''s a power that can distort order. And it can also interfere with things beyond the order. Depending on how you handle it, it could be beneficial to us, or it could be the opposite.] The gray power could actually benefit the High Gods. Taesan frowned at those words. ¡°Is that so?¡± [Being on the boundary means you can go either way. Honestly, I''d like to seal it. But that''s not possible, is it?] ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Taesan spoke sharply. The boundary was a power unique to him, not even thebyrinth system could understand it. He had no intention of discarding such a valuable card just because it was risky. The Demon God, not meaning it seriously, ended the conversation with a grumble. [I respect your opinion. Handle it carefully.] ¡°More importantly, is it possible to seal my power?¡± [If even the High Gods can be banished, what can''t be done? But the consumption of power is considerable. And as long as you are under the protection of thebyrinth system, it requires your consent. No other god will seal your power, so you don''t need to worry about that.] [......] Barkaza was watching the conversation nkly. He couldn¡¯t easily ept the current situation. Barkaza was an old spirit. Although not many, there had been several incidents involving transcendents. So, he knew to some extent what transcendents were. The Demon God in front of him was a transcendent. A god. A mortal couldn¡¯t normally even witness their appearance. The words of transcendents werew to mortals, and if they wished for something, it would inevitablye to pass. In such matters, the circumstances or opinions of mortals were not considered. It was enforced like aw, and mortals had no choice but to be swept along. To transcendents, mortals were insignificant beings swept away by waves. Nothing more. But now, the Demon God was respecting a mortal¡¯s opinion and curbing her will. Moreover, she even made a request close to asking for caution. That fact was extremely confusing to Barkaza. Ignoring the confused Barkaza, the Demon God continued. [You can guess why I have descended, right?] Taesan nodded. The Demon God had always said it. The time was approaching. It was time to grant him something equivalent to mid-level magic. The Demon God spoke. [I will grant you a new ck magic. Of course, there are conditions. I will give you a trial.] ¡°What is it?¡± [I have been very busytely. Truly.] ¡°Is that so?¡± The Demon God had appeared every time Taesan offered a tribute. But recently, she had only taken the tributes without showing herself. It seemed to be due to the Demon God¡¯s circumstances. [The reason I have been busy, you also know it.] ¡°The High Gods?¡± [Yes. They''ve been interfering excessivelytely. It''s been hard to stop them. The trial I will give you is rted to them.] ¡°Most of the recent trials have been rted to them.¡± The trials from the God of Magic, the Spirit God, and even the Demon God were rted to the High Gods. [There''s no choice. Since you became involved, they''ve started moving in earnest. It means that the power you have is unexpectedly significant to them.] The Demon God spread her hand. Thebyrinth receded. Walls flew far away, creating a dark space. [I am the Demon God. The god of the demons.] A ck sphere formed above the Demon God¡¯s hand. There was a deep, dark darkness. [The Demon Realm is the world of demons. Although I rule this ce... there are those who reject my will.] The Demon God spoke with a frustrated expression. [There are demons who believe in the old Demon God, who was banished when I became the Demon God. Deal with them.] [Sub Quest Started] [Demon God. Lucifer wants to deal with the demons who believe in the old Demon God who was banished.] [Condition: Deal with those in the Demon Realm who believe in the old Demon God.] [Reward: Determined by the Demon God based on your achievements.] ¡°The old Demon God¡­¡± [They were a transcendent being from birth. They are called the High Gods. The old Demon God was the same. He was a Demon God from birth. Although he has now been banished and disappeared into the past, those who worship him still remain.] Taesan read the quest window and asked, ¡°The Demon God is directly protecting the Demon Realm, right? Can¡¯t you handle this yourself?¡± [Normally, I could. The old Demon God has lost much of his influence since being banished from the Demon Realm. He isn¡¯t even a High God anymore, and dealing with his followers is not a problem.] The Demon God gave a bitter smile. [But it''s impossible. If I or my apostles, who have directly received my power, sh with those involved with the old Demon God, it will cause problems.] ¡°What kind of problems?¡± [Hmm.] The Demon God pondered for a moment and then snapped her fingers. Instantly, the ghost and Barkaza disappeared. [Don''t panic. I just excluded them for a while. This is a story that''s a bit sensitive for them to hear.] The Demon God scratched her cheek. [The old Demon God was literally the god of demons. The Demon Realm itself was made of his power.] The Demon God spoke in a small voice, like an old man telling a tale. [The demons wanted to banish the ferocious old Demon God. So, they forcibly made a young and small child a vessel for the Demon God.] A young and small child. Taesan looked at the Demon God. With ck hair and a face that still looked youthful, she didn¡¯t seem like an adult yet. [However, since the child was not mentallyplete, problems arose. The old Demon God''s power that spread throughout the Demon Realm couldn''t bepletely excluded. The remnants still remain. If I directly interact with them, parts of the Demon Realm will copse.] ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡± [You haven¡¯t directly received my power.] Taesan could wield ck magic, but he wasn¡¯t an apostle of the Demon God. He was excluded from the targets she mentioned. [They wanted to escape from the old Demon God and made me the Demon God, but now, with time passing, they don''t trust me and instead believe in the old Demon God they themselves banished. It¡¯s quite ironic.] The Demon God grumbled. [So. Will you ept?] ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. The Demon God smiled contentedly and snapped her fingers again. The ghost and Barkaza, who had been banished, returned. [Master?] [......I would appreciate it if you would give a warning before banishing us.] [Too troublesome.] The Demon God responded briefly to the ghost¡¯sint and opened a space. A passage emitting thick demonic energy appeared. [You can go through there.] ¡°Is there no information?¡± He couldn¡¯t go without knowing where to go or who they were. The Demon God replied. [Once you pass through the passage, your helper will be there. Ask them for the answers.] ¡°I understand.¡± Taesan stepped into the passage. The dark, thick energy leapt across space, leading Taesan to the Demon Realm. Tap. Taesan stepped onto the ground. The first feeling Taesan had upon entering the Demon Realm was darkness. It wasn¡¯t just the absence of light; the pervasive energy was thick and damp. It was theplete opposite of the brightly shining Spirit World. He looked up at the sky. There was something simr to a sun, but its color was ck, like the sun during an eclipse. This was the Demon Realm. [As a spirit, it¡¯s my first time in the Demon Realm. Being by your side certainly brings new experiences.] Barkaza chuckled. It wasn¡¯t a dissatisfiedugh; rather, he seemed satisfied with the current situation. ¡°Barkaza, I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ll need to stay hidden.¡± This was the Demon Realm. He didn¡¯t know how they would react to seeing a spirit. Barkaza seemed to understand and nodded. [I suppose I have no choice. Call me if a battle starts.] Barkaza disappeared. Taesan looked around. He saw a small vige. The appearance of the buildings was not much different from those of medieval Earth. Taesan walked toward the vige. The Demon God had mentioned that there would be helpers. As he entered the vige, he saw beings that appeared to be demons. It wasn¡¯t his first time seeing demons. He had seen them several times in Bekweseita and thebyrinth. They didn¡¯t look much different from humans. Except for the qualitatively different energy they exuded, they looked the same. The vigers looked at Taesan and bowed their heads. Taesan also bowed in return. [They must have noticed that you aren¡¯t a demon, but they aren¡¯t hostile. Did the Demon God inform them in advance?] As he walked deeper into the vige, he saw more demons. And they were all old. No matter how young they looked, they appeared to be over seventy if they were human. ¡°Is this some sort of nursing home? Why did they send me here?¡± Taesan muttered as he walked further into the vige. As he did, he felt a strong wave of power from within. Taesan¡¯s expression changed. It was quite strong. It was a level of power that could yield significant results even within thebyrinth. And the wave of that power felt strangely familiar. Taesan realized who the helper the Demon God mentioned was. ¡°Are you the one the Demon God spoke of? You¡¯re much stronger than I expected. Could you be from thebyrinth¡­¡± The approaching demon looked at Taesan¡¯s face and was startled. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°I was wondering where you went, and here you are.¡± Taesan had fought several demons in thebyrinth. And the most memorable one was a demon named Quaned, whom he fought on the 40th floor. He was strong but clumsy. Therefore, he made an unfair contract with the Guides of Sin, binding his soul to Patricia. Taesan broke the contract with Soul Ascension. The Demon God took in Quaned, whose soul was freed and who was dying. And now he stood before Taesan. ¡°¡­Hello?¡± Quaned greeted him with a dumbfounded expression. ¡°Hmm. Thinking about it, it makes sense. If the Demon God were to request help from abyrinth adventurer, it would be you.¡± Quaned scratched his cheek. Thest scar he had seen on the young demon was no longer visible. ¡°¡­Would you like toe inside for now?¡± He gestured towards a building that looked like a cathedral. It wasn¡¯t the best to just stand and talk, so Taesan nodded. Quaned led Taesan into the cathedral and to his office. As he served tea, he spoke. ¡°Come to think of it, I never got to thank you properly back then. Thank you.¡± To Quaned, Taesan was a benefactor. His soul had been bound by Patricia¡¯s contract. If things had continued, he would have lived as a ve to the Guides even after death. Taesan had resolved that. ¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯m living here now.¡± ¡°Have you given up on thebyrinth?¡± ¡°Not exactly¡­ but I failed once, didn¡¯t I?¡± Quaned handed him the tea. As he said, Quaned had failed. He should have died long ago, but he survived thanks to a lot of luck and grace. ¡°I just find it hard to go back in. The Demon God didn¡¯t rmend it either. Living like this isn¡¯t so bad.¡± He sipped his tea and continued. ¡°This vige takes care of demons who are too old to live on their own. I do various things with the princess here, and it¡¯s pretty fun. It¡¯s also fulfilling.¡± ¡°Princess?¡± ¡°Yes, the princess. Oh, not the princess of the Demon Realm. She¡¯s from another world. She should be here soon.¡± A certain demon crossed Taesan¡¯s mind. The office door opened. ¡°Quaned? Is the guest the Demon God mentioned here?¡± ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± ¡°I told you not to call me princess. Hello¡­¡± The girl¡¯s face froze as she lowered her head. The ghost let out a sound. [So, it connects like this. Did the Demon God n this?] Taesan spoke. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, sha.¡± The first time Taesan received a trial from the Demon God, he descended into a world called Vekveta. There, the quest he received was to protect the princess of the demons. The princess of a copsing world, sha. She was now standing before Taesan. Chapter 253: Demon Realm (2) Chapter 253: Demon Realm (2) ¡°Uh¡­¡­¡± Her long, semi-wavy hair, grown down to her waist, swayed. Her eyes moved around restlessly, unable to find their path. sha had grown slightly more since Taesan¡¯sst memory of her. Not much time had passed, but perhaps due to the numerous events, she appeared oddly mature. ¡°The one the Demon God mentioned¡­¡­ was you, Taesan?¡± ¡°Hey, do you two know each other?¡± Quaned asked in surprise. sha nodded, flustered. ¡°Oh ho. How did you find out? Did the Demon God give you a trial or something?¡±¡°Quaned, you know Taesan too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Quaned affirmed. ¡°I told you before, remember? The one who saved me in thebyrinth. That was Taesan.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± sha realized how they were connected. Quaned was also amazed. ¡°So Taesan is the person the princess mentioned. Oh, then¡­¡­¡± ¡°Qu-Quaned. Please be quiet.¡± sha hastily stopped Quaned¡¯s words. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. ¡°Taesan¡­¡­ it¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Nice to see you.¡± She bowed respectfully. Amidst the confusion in her eyes, there was visible joy. sha seemed to have a lot to say to Taesan. But she restrained herself. Suppressing her desires, she sat down across from him and spoke. ¡°First, shall we exchange information? You came to the demon world on the Demon God¡¯s request, right?¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°And that request is to deal with those who believe in the old Demon God?¡± ¡°You know?¡± ¡°The Demon God appeared in our dreams yesterday and informed us as well.¡± ¡°Yesterday?¡± sha confirmed. ¡°Yes, yesterday.¡± If it was yesterday, it was before Taesan received the Demon God¡¯s quest. This meant the Demon God had no doubt that Taesan would ept the quest. ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°The Demon God said a helper woulde for you. We are that helper.¡± She pointed to Quaned. Quaned smiled and raised his hand. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Taesan looked at Quaned. ¡°You. You¡¯ve gotten weaker.¡± It was evident from the first nce. Quaned was once a strong adventurer who had surpassed the 50th floor. But now, Quaned¡¯s strength was only at the 20th-floor level. Outwardly, he appeared immensely strong, butpared to the strength he once had, it was pitifully weak. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. You helped me break Patricia¡¯s contract, but I lost some power in the process. The Demon God said there was nothing she could do since it was stolen.¡± Taesan could guess the reason. Breaking Patricia¡¯s contract involved Soul Ascension. In other words, Taesan had taken some of Quaned¡¯s power. It seemed he lost his strength as a result. ¡®I feel somewhat sorry.¡¯ The strength of someone on the 50th floor had diminished to the 20th-floor level. It must have been mentally exhausting. But Quaned leisurely sipped his tea. ¡°It¡¯s disappointing, but not bad. Living peacefully like this is also nice.¡± Thinking about it, Quaned had been looking for someone to acknowledge him. That¡¯s why he got caught in the ridiculous contract of the guide. In such a situation, the Demon God personally took care of him, and he met sha. Considering sha¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t treat him badly. Since he didn¡¯t desire power, he seemed satisfied with the current situation. ¡°Even though I¡¯m weaker, I can still hold my own in the demon world. Don¡¯t worry. I can survive on my own.¡± ¡°sha, what about you?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me either.¡± sha spoke calmly. ¡°I painfully felt my helplessness back then and have since gained strength. I won¡¯t have any problems without your help, Taesan.¡± In fact, the aura emanating from sha was significantly stronger than thest time he saw her. Although making meaningful progress in thebyrinth was difficult, she seemed capable of taking care of herself. ¡°Those who believe in the old Demon God¡­ there¡¯s been talk about them for a long time.¡± sha continued as if reciting a fairy tale. ¡°A long time ago, there was a tyrannical Demon God. Unable to tolerate his tyranny, a girl led the demons and drove the Demon God away, bing the Demon God herself. They were thus banished from the Demon World. However, those who believe in the old Demon God have not disappeared. They reside in the abandonednd, waiting for their master to return.¡° ¡°The abandonednd?¡± ¡°There is a ce in the Demon World where demons cannot live.¡± Quaned said. ¡°A twisted ce. And a ce where bizarre things exist. A sealed location for us. It¡¯s an old story that they are staying there.¡± Taesan had an idea of where it was. The Demon God had mentioned that during the process of banishing the old Demon God, not all of his powers were expelled. It seemed that the space where the old Demon God¡¯s powers remained was called the abandonednd. ¡°Then we should head there. Where is it?¡± ¡°Beyond the Demon King¡¯s castle.¡± ¡°The Demon King¡¯s castle?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled. sha nodded. ¡°Beyond the Demon King¡¯s castle. The sealed northern end. That¡¯s the abandonednd.¡± Once their destination was set, they began preparing to leave. sha and Quaned gathered the vige elders and spoke to them, while Taesan waited from a distance for their conversation to end. ¡°The Demon King.¡± Taesan muttered expectantly. It was said that the Demon King destroyed the ghost¡¯s world. If he was strong enough to destroy a world, he must have been formidable. And this was the Demon World, the stronghold of demons. How powerful would the Demon King be? Perhaps he was an immortal. Facing a transcendent being directly was an experience in itself, so he looked forward to it. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Princess¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone. I have to leave now.¡± sha apologized to the elders with a sorrowful face. The elders shook their heads. ¡°No, thanks to the princess¡¯s grace, we were able to live in our old bodies. You don¡¯t need to worry about us.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± sha sped her hands together. A pure ck light emanated from her, enveloping the elders. ¡°Oh, oh¡­¡± Vitality returned to the elders¡¯ faces. Their bent backs straightened, and their white hair turned slightly ck. After a bit more conversation, sha approached Taesan. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± sha nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s move now.¡± They began their journey in a carriage. The carriage moved using magic instead of horses, so no coachman was needed. sha, Quaned, and Taesan sat inside the carriage. ¡°How far is it?¡± ¡°It will take about ten hours.¡± Ten hours. It wasn¡¯t a short time. Taesan considered grabbing Quaned and sha and running, but dismissed the thought. The Demon God had called them helpers. It was unlikely that the trial was meant for Taesan to do everything alone. sha, who had been quiet, opened her mouth. ¡°How have you been since then, Taesan?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been descending thebyrinth.¡± ¡°How far did you go?¡± ¡°The 58th floor.¡± ¡°Oh, wow.¡± Quaned eximed. ¡°You¡¯re fast as always.¡± Thest time Quaned met Taesan, he was on the 40th floor. This meant he had descended 18 floors since then. ¡°At that pace, you¡¯ll soon meet the Guide¡¯s leaders. Are you ready?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± He was prepared for it. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Me?¡± sha answered calmly to Taesan¡¯s question. She had settled in the Demon World under the guidance of the Demon God. But she didn¡¯t know what to do. Everyone she knew was dead. In the end, those she trusted betrayed her, and she parted ways without even saying goodbye to the one who protected her until the end. She was confused. She had survived, but it was survival without achieving anything she desired. It felt like walking aimlessly through an endless in. The Demon God cared for her, but this was an issue of her heart that even the Demon God couldn¡¯t help with. So she decided to first find a purpose. While wandering around the Demon World, they arrived at a vige. It was a ce where all the young people had left, leaving only the elderly to slowly die. She settled there. She found meaning in life by taking care of the elderly. In the midst of this, Quaned appeared. She treated and cared for him as he was dying. Once he regained consciousness, Quaned helped sha cultivate the vige. ¡°While living like that, the Demon God gave us an order. He said that soon, a being would descend and that we should help him remove those who believe in the old Demon God.¡± ¡°This makes me feel sorry.¡± In a way, it was because of Taesan that sha¡¯s small peace was broken. But sha shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m actually happy now.¡± She smiled brightly. ¡°Just the fact that I can see you again, Taesan, is a joy.¡± It was a pure and clear smile. Quaned whistled. ¡°The atmosphere is good, but there seems to be something we need to take care of first, Princess.¡± The carriage, moving with Quaned¡¯s magic, stopped. Looking outside, they saw ck beasts approaching the carriage. ¡°They¡¯re monsters.¡± sha said. Monsters were beings simr to animals. They lived in the Demon World and attacked passing demons like beasts. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. Taesan, you can stay put.¡± sha stood up energetically. ¡°Princess, should I stay still too?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll handle it alone.¡± She stepped outside the carriage. The monsters were simr in shape to tigers. They approached sha slowly, baring their sharp teeth. sha waved her hand. A ck wind gathered there. Crack! The wind swirled and shot out in all directions. The monsters leaped to dodge the des. sha calmly controlled the wind. Boom! The wind condensed and spread out, pushing the monsters away. Then, it grabbed and subdued them like a hand. Taesan watched with interest. The ck wind sha controlled was Seir¡¯s ck Wind, a ck magic that Taesan also possessed. However, Taesan couldn¡¯t control that ck magic as well. sha was using the ck wind to manage both offense and defense simultaneously. In terms of pure skill, her proficiency in ck magic seemed higher than Taesan¡¯s. Crunch. The wind split the monsters apart. Having dealt with them all, she took a small breath and turned around with a smile. ¡°Are you alright?¡± She looked like a child wanting to show off her growth. Taesan nodded. The carriage moved on. There was night in the Demon World too. Soon, it became dark. Quaned stopped the carriage. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark, so let¡¯s rest for the night.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They started preparing for a meal. As sha took out a pot, she chuckled. ¡°It reminds me of old times. Back then, we had meals like this with you, Taesan.¡± ¡°The situation is a bit different now.¡± ¡°Although they were terrible and painful memories, I still enjoyed being with you, Taesan.¡± She smiled. Suddenly, sha pped her hands. ¡°Oh right. Taesan, can you use ck magic?¡± ¡°I can now.¡± After clearing the quest on Vekveta, he could use ck magic properly. ¡°Then, to what extent can you control it?¡± ¡°I can use many types of ck magic, but my proficiency isn¡¯t very high.¡± [You activated Seir¡¯s ck Wind.] A wind gathered above Taesan¡¯s hand. Unlike magic, ck magic¡¯s power varied with the amount of magical energy consumed. But he couldn¡¯t do more than that. He couldn¡¯t control the ck wind as freely as sha had just shown. His proficiency in ck magic had reached a bottleneck. It seemed that only by bing more skilled in its use could he increase his proficiency. ¡°As expected¡­ ck magic is originally for demons. It¡¯s hard for a human like you, Taesan, to master it.¡± She brightened as if it were a good thing. ¡°In that case, if you don¡¯t mind, would you like to learn from me? The way you handle ck magic can make a big difference.¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay with it, but are you?¡± ¡°Of course, I am. You saved me, Taesan. Think of it as my way of repaying you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already received a reward from the Demon God.¡± ¡°No.¡± sha shook her head and smiled gently. ¡°This is a personal repayment from me.¡± Chapter 254: Demon Realm (3) Chapter 254: Demon Realm (3) ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Taesan epted. sha joyfully began to exin. ¡°As you might have felt while using it, ck magic is the power that summons the power of demons.¡± sha waved her hand. Seir¡¯s ck Wind formed in her hand. The ck wind gathered and gathered, forming the shape of a bird. sha gently extended her hand. The bird made of wind flew into the sky as if it were alive. ¡°Do you know what kind of beings demons are?¡± ¡°I have a rough idea.¡± He had heard about it from the ghost before. They were beings much weaker than gods but still strong from birth. They were under the demon god and lent their power through ck magic, but they were not docile beings. ¡°Yes, we summon part of the power that demons handle. The more demonic energy we consume, the stronger the power bes, but its limits are clear with just that. Taesan, could you tell me one of the ck magic spells you possess?¡±¡°Decarabia¡¯s Distorted Vegetation.¡± Taesan mentioned one ck magic spell. sha admired it. ¡°Distorted Vegetation¡­ Only a few among the guardians of the royal castle have that ck magic¡­ You possess it. Have you ever used it with the maximum demonic energy?¡± Taesan nodded. Distorted Vegetation was a ck magic spell he used frequently. ¡°How was its power?¡± ¡°It was decent.¡± It wasn¡¯t bad, but it wasn¡¯t that great either. At Taesan¡¯s level, he could break and crush through. ¡°The fact that you call it decent means you haven¡¯t drawn out the true power of ck magic. If you handle it properly¡­ even you wouldn¡¯t be able to stop it easily.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled. If what she said was true, it meant the power would increase tremendously. ¡°What is the concept?¡± ¡°Most ck magic is summoning-type. We create a passage to summon the power of the demon. However, the passages we create are too weak and inadequate for the demon¡¯s power to pass through, so we can only summon fragments.¡± Thinking about it, there was such a description in the Distorted Vegetation spell. [Summons the vegetation handled by the demon Decarabia. It seems only the fragments of the root that swallowed stars can be summoned.] Only fragments of the root that swallowed stars could be summoned. He thought it was a matter of increasing proficiency, but it seemed to be a fundamental issue. ¡°So, we strengthen the passage itself with demonic energy. We weave it densely and implement it firmly to summon the power handled by the demon as closely as possible.¡± ¡°The passage itself?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not difficult.¡± sha waved her hand. ck wind rose. Its color and strength were deeper than what Taesan handled. ¡°Like this.¡± Aplicated magic form of demonic energy appeared where the wind arose. ¡°Try it. You can do it, Taesan.¡± Handling demonic energy. But Taesan couldn¡¯t do it. ¡°How do you handle demonic energy?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± sha was puzzled. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been handling ck magic all this time? Think of it like that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just used it by consuming demonic energy.¡± ¡°¡­Is that possible?¡± sha didn¡¯t understand Taesan¡¯s words. It meant there was a fundamental difference between them. Quaned, who had been quietly watching, intervened. ¡°An exnation is needed. Princess. The author and I descended into a ce called thebyrinth created by the gods. And there, the concept of a system is applied.¡± ¡°System?¡± ¡°Yes. If you obtain power in the form of skills, you can naturally use it even if you don¡¯t know the usage method and rules. When I drove out the monster attacking the vige, I used a strange skill. Think of it like that.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s very interesting.¡± Using power without understanding it. sha couldn¡¯t easily ept it. Quaned turned his gaze to Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s faster if I exin. Can you use magic?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°In the case of magic, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t understand. The system of thebyrinth has set a precise usage method. The skills you handled are simr.¡± Skills and magic. Both had precise effects. The timing of their use was important. ¡°But ck magic is different.¡± Unlike magic, ck magic was a form of summoning the power of demons. It was necessary to learn how to create the passage itself. To do that, one had to control demonic energy perfectly. Taesan, summarizing his words, closed his eyes. He contemted internally to feel the power embedded deep down. But he couldn¡¯t feel anything special. He knew something was embedded deep inside, but that was it. He didn¡¯t know how to handle it. Exining this, Quaned scratched his cheek. ¡°You must be human.¡± Wings were for birds. Even if humans suddenly gained wings, they couldn¡¯t fly without knowing how to use them. Even if they somehow learned how to use them, nothing would change. The human body was specialized for walking and running. Structurally, it couldn¡¯t glide in the sky. Magical energy was the same. Magical energy was for demons. Although Taesan gained strength with the help of thebyrinth, using it was a separate matter. ¡°We need to forcefully open the path.¡± Then the structure should be changed to handle magical energy. ¡°Princess.¡± ¡°Huh. I didn¡¯t understand well, but should we do it like we do with the kids?¡± sha and Quaned approached Taesan and ced their hands on his back. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Very rarely, there are kids among the demons who can¡¯t handle magical energy. In such cases, adults usually raise the magical energy and forcefully open the path.¡± Quaned said with a serious face. ¡°I don¡¯t know how it will work since you¡¯re human, but let¡¯s try it. Close your mouth and focus internally.¡± Taesan closed his eyes. sha and Quaned raised their magical energy. Boom! ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Their magical energy entered Taesan. It was a strange feeling to have someone else¡¯s power enter his body. The magical energy stirred inside and began to descend to the depths. ¡°Huh?¡± sha and Quaned¡¯s faces stiffened. They inserted their magical energy into Taesan, trying to create a path toward his magical energy. Various abilities Taesan possessed were each settled within his body. The magical energy was located at the lowest and deepest ce. As they descended to find the path, they could feel the powers Taesan possessed overall. The sensation they felt was immense. Their magical energy was merely a drifting small boat in a vast ocean. It was an immeasurable gap. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ sha was astonished. It was beyond the realm of mortals. Quaned bit his lip. Creating a path was usually not difficult. A demon of Quaned¡¯s level could create thousands in a day. But this was too vast. Even creating just one path in this immense ce was daunting. sha and Quaned gritted their teeth and inserted their magical energy. Meanwhile, Taesan closed his eyes and focused on the deep magical energy. He felt their magical energy prating inward. It was a faint power, but it certainly descended towards the inside of Taesan. But it was insufficient. With that amount of power, it would dissipate before reaching Taesan¡¯s magical energy. So Taesan assisted. The magical energy was stuck deep inside like a sticky fluid. Taesan began to touch it. Little by little, but surely, he spread the waves as if tapping the water surface with a spoon. The sticky magical energy started to loosen bit by bit. At that moment, Taesan gathered his internal power and struck the magical energy. The magical energy exploded and surged upward. What was deep at the bottom rose up. ¡°Oh!¡± sha involuntarily gasped. The massive magical energy tried to engulf her power like a tidal wave. She instinctively tried to escape in fear but controlled her mind and connected to the magical energy. A faint but definite path was formed. [ck Magic proficiency increased by 1%.] [You have acquired Path Implementation.] Simultaneously, sha and Quaned stepped back. ¡°Gasp!¡± ¡°Gasp, gasp.¡± Quaned coughed up blood. sha¡¯s face turned pale, and her hands trembled. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± sha smiled bitterly. ¡°Taesan¡­ you¡¯re truly a monster.¡± Feeling sorry for overburdening them, Taesan handed over a stamina potion. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Quaned drank the potion with a pleased face. Hisplexion slightly recovered. [You have activated the Domain of Regeneration.] ¡°Take some rest. I¡¯ll handle the carriage.¡± Although he couldn¡¯t control it earlier, he now knew how to operate the carriage. After finishing the meal, Taesan got on the carriage, ced his hand on its wall, and injected magical energy. The carriage began to move swiftly. Remembering the sensation from before, Taesan opened the skill window. [ck Magic] [Proficiency: 40%] [You can handle the magic of the demon god. By consuming magical energy, you can use ck magic. Depending on the consumed magical energy, the effect of ck magic can be somewhat drawn out. It is a state where you can handle the true power of ck magic.] The proficiency of ck magic reached 40%. It seemed that opening the path in this way was the condition to reach 40%. At the same time, like with magic, he gained several auxiliary skills. [Path Implementation] [Proficiency: 1%] [Implements a path to pass the power of demons using magical energy. It seems it still can¡¯t create a proper path.] Seeing was believing, so Taesan immediately tried using magical energy. Wooong. Magical energy materialized above Taesan¡¯s hand. It was apletely different and new sensationpared to mana. Taesan recalled how sha handled magical energy. He followed the implementation sequence and handled the magical energy to open the path. A different ominous sensation emanated from beyond the path. It was looking at Taesan. At the same time, the power of the demon sprang forth. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] Territory Detection. A ck magic that read everything and informed it within a certain range. The range was decent, but the information provided was too insufficient. It was ck magic that he didn¡¯t use, overshadowed by Insight and Essence Grasp. But this time was different. He could feel the swaying of the grass and its scent. The bloodthirsty battle where monsters trampled and bit each other. The direction and roughness of the gusting wind. It was as if he could see everything within the territory detection. It felt as if he were observing the entire world. ¡°This is¡­¡± It was a new sensation. Taesan, with a groan, once again implemented the path. The presence beyond the path recognized Taesan, and power sprang forth. [You have activated Decarabia¡¯s Distorted Vegetation.] Boom! Decarabia¡¯s vegetation used to be a skill that filled the surrounding space with various roots. But this time it was different. A single massive root rose. A root asrge as if it were embedded in the center of a shot up into the sky. sha was astonished. ¡°Huh? So massive?¡± sha had seen demons handling Decarabia¡¯s Distorted Vegetation. They could also create paths like Taesan. But neither the size nor the power came close to half of Taesan¡¯s. ¡°At this size¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t just a part of the root. It could have been the core root itself summoned. Taesan touched the root. It was solid. Certainly, it was hard enough that even his power couldn¡¯t easily break it. ¡°Good.¡± Taesan smiled. The new power of ck magic he had gained was strong. In terms of sheer power, nothing could match it except high-level magic. But its drawbacks were also clear. ¡°It consumes more magical energy than I thought.¡± Too much magical energy was consumed in implementing the path. He had used only two ck magic spells, yet his magical energy was almost depleted. ¡®And the dy is long too.¡¯ Whether it was because Taesan wasn¡¯t familiar with it or because it originally took that long, the implementation of the path itself took quite some time. Using it in the middle of a battle would be quite difficult. Moreover, it required significant concentration, which normally would make it hard to implement during a fight, but it wasn¡¯t a problem for Taesan. [Special Passive Skill: Mental Division] [Proficiency: 4%] [You can see, act, and think about many things at once. The limit on the number of tasks is still defined.] Thanks to Mental Division, which allowed him to do many things simultaneously, he could implement the path even while doing other things. But that too had its limits. When facing an enemy with whom he had to fight for his life, he wouldn¡¯t have the leisure to create a path during battle. ¡®And then¡­¡¯ The gaze that focused on Taesan when he opened the path with ck magic. It was probably the gaze of a demon. Until now, he couldn¡¯t feel it because he only summoned fragments, but now he was handling the full power of a demon. They began to recognize Taesan. Though they were beings under the demon god, the ghost had said they weren¡¯t gentle. Drawing their attention wasn¡¯t a good thing. But it was a significant enough change even with such risks. He was curious about how Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave had changed. Aside from meal and rest times, Taesan continuously practiced implementing the path. His magical energy rapidly decreased, but since they were in the Demon World, the recovery rate was equally fast, so there was no problem with practice. ¡°I should have taught himter¡­¡± sha, who couldn¡¯t talk much with Taesan because of it, murmured. Quaned spoke reluctantly. ¡°Just approach and talk to him.¡± ¡°No. That would be disturbing him.¡± ¡°Princess, you¡¯re quite troublesome.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± The carriage advanced silently. And they arrived at the Demon King¡¯s castle. Chapter 255: Demon Realm (4) Chapter 255: Demon Realm (4) The Demon King¡¯s castle was magnificent. The walls were filled with smooth, jet-ck colors, and the guards at the door seemed quitepetent. Taesan approached with anticipation. The Demon King¡¯s castle. The ce where the Demon King resided. An immortal? Or a transcendent being? Perhaps an endlessly powerful mortal. Whatever it was, it wouldn¡¯t be weak, so he looked forward to it. ¡°Sir Taesan. From here on, I will handle it. I¡¯m sorry, but no matter what happens from here on, please don¡¯t move.¡± sha bowed her head with a regretful look. Taesan nodded as he had no intention of moving first.The carriage stopped in front of the guards. The guards pointed their spears. ¡°Who goes there?¡± sha and Quaned stepped out of the carriage. The guard¡¯s face twisted momentarily upon seeing sha¡¯s face. Taesan frowned. The guard¡¯s face showed difort as he looked at sha. ¡°Princess of the destroyed Vekveta¡­ What business do you have here?¡± ¡°I came to see the Demon King.¡± ¡°The Demon King? Why?¡± The guard questioned sha, his attitude like that of an interrogating officer. sha continued, ustomed to such an attitude. ¡°I came by the order of the Demon God.¡± ¡°The Demon God?¡± The guard¡¯s face wavered. sha gave Taesan a subtle signal. Taesan revealed himself. ¡°¡­Human!¡± Kakakang! The spear moved. The guards looked at Taesan with wary eyes. sha calmed them down. ¡°He came here by the order of the Demon God. He is not our enemy.¡± ¡°¡­Wait. I will call someone to make a decision.¡± One of the guards ran inside. The remaining guards kept their guard up, ring at Taesan and sha. They didn¡¯t treat her like a princess, at least. Soon, the guard returned with what seemed to be knights. Dressed in ck armor, they were strong. Compared to the outside world, they were of great caliber. Simr to Quaned at this point. ¡°sha. You said you came by the order of the Demon God.¡± ¡°Yes. I have a request for the Demon King.¡± sha spoke calmly. The knight in armor clicked his tongue. ¡°Really troublesome. Follow me.¡± The knight turned roughly, showing no courtesy or hospitality. sha smiled faintly. ¡°Now. This way, Sir Taesan.¡± Taesan followed, staring at the knights. Walking inside the Demon King¡¯s castle, he saw quite a few attendants and maids were working. They bowed when they saw the knight and then looked at sha with contempt. After greeting, they whispered. Their voices were very low, but Taesan¡¯s hearing could catch sounds from kilometers away. ¡°Really. Came again to seek favor from the Demon King?¡± ¡°Abandoned those she should protect and came here without shame.¡± At least, the words weren¡¯t favorable towards sha. The knight moving forward spat out. ¡°Should quietly guard the old people¡¯s vige. Using the Demon God¡¯s name to cause trouble.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Quaned smiled at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Do you want to die? I¡¯m holding back because of the situation, but even that has its limits.¡± Suddenly, an aura burst out. The knights responded by exuding their own aura. ¡°Indeed, a lowly bloodline. How dare you reveal your aura inside the Demon King¡¯s castle? What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my line. I understand you dislike the princess, but this is too much, isn¡¯t it?¡± Quaned gritted his teeth. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t lost my strength, you all would be dead.¡± ¡°Talking nonsense. A failure who couldn¡¯t descend thebyrinth.¡± The knight sneered at Quaned. ¡°She is not a demon of the Demon World, but a demon from another world. Originally, she should have been exiled and made a ve. We let her be peacefully because of the Demon God¡¯s grace, but to use the Demon God¡¯s name and keep approaching the Demon King¡¯s castle. Be grateful you¡¯re not in prison.¡± The knight spoke harshly. ¡°You too, Quaned. Be content with the Demon God¡¯s grace. Be thankful you¡¯re here despite your lowly bloodline.¡± ¡°Haha. These bastards, really.¡± Quaned let out a hollowugh. The knight¡¯s gaze turned to Taesan. ¡°You too, human.¡± His fierce ck eyes red at Taesan. ¡°I won¡¯t touch you since you came by the order of the Demon God, but if you cause trouble, I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± Taesan quietly met his eyes. Eyes devoid of emotion. The knight got goosebumps for a moment. He suppressed the instinct to draw his sword and guided the way. They were led to an office. The knight left, saying he would inform the Demon King. Quaned grumbled as he sat on the sofa. ¡°Princess, you could be more assertive. Since it¡¯s the Demon God¡¯s order, they have to follow it unconditionally, so why are you so submissive?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it. What they say is true.¡± sha said bitterly. ¡°Unlike you, I¡¯m not a demon of the Demon World. I¡¯m a foreigner here.¡± ¡°Princess¡­¡± Taesan fiddled with a teacup. It was adorned with all sorts of jewels. Even Taesan, who didn¡¯t know much about value, could tell it wasn¡¯t an ordinary item. It was an unnecessarily luxurious item, even for the Demon King¡¯s castle. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be treated very well.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Quaned nodded with a disgruntled face. ¡°Demons of the Demon World value status. They despise demons from other worlds and look down on those who haven¡¯t inherited noble blood.¡± ¡°Not much different from humans.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trait of those who im to have intelligence. And the princess is in a peculiar situation.¡± Quaned clicked his tongue. ¡°The princess has noble blood. But being a demon from another world, the demons of the Demon World look down on her. No, it¡¯s rather severe. They believe that even such noble blood is inferior to them because they are from the Demon World.¡± Taesan listened to Quaned¡¯s story calmly. ¡°Moreover, she was directly chosen and summoned to the Demon World by the Demon God. Many are jealous because she was chosen by the Demon God.¡± They valued bloodlines and disdained those from other regions. Just like humans. Taesan¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Not very interesting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir Taesan.¡± sha bowed her head deeply, her face filled with regret. ¡°Since you are not a demon, if we try to do something, they might interfere. That¡¯s why I asked you to stay quiet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± They waited. But even after an hour, no one appeared. Quanedughed lightly. ¡°Really, how shameless. Aren¡¯t they embarrassed?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Sir Taesan, Quaned.¡± sha stood up with a flushed face. ¡°Um, may I leave for a moment?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Understanding her intention, Taesan nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± sha left the room. Only Taesan and Quaned remained. Quaned spoke. ¡°Still, it¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen the princess so cheerful.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t know about before I met her, but since I met the princess, she always had a shadow on her face. She smiled in front of other demons, but she looked depressed when she was alone. Honestly, I was a bit worried. But since you came, she¡¯s always seemed cheerful.¡± Taesan, who was quietly listening to Quaned, asked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Demon God intervene?¡± The Demon God. Lucifer personally summoned sha here. Given that she gave Taesan trials, she seemed to care for her a lot. But it didn¡¯t feel like she looked after her afterward. Quaned spoke as if it were obvious. ¡°The Demon God is a transcendent being. We are all her children. Such a being wouldn¡¯t take sides with one existence, right? Unless there¡¯s a physical threat, she won¡¯t directly intervene.¡± It was understandable. The Demon God was literally their god. Even the demons who disliked sha still showed respect for the Demon God. In such a situation, the Demon God wouldn¡¯t favor sha just because she was persecuted. She wouldn¡¯t intervene unless there was a direct threat. Directly, that is. ¡®What does she want from me?¡¯ The Demon God would know that Taesan wouldn¡¯t give up. Yet, to show him this. It was hard to figure out what she wanted from him. Soon, sha returned. Taesan looked at her. In the world she originally lived in, she lost everything due to her god. Family, acquaintances, everyone she knew died. In the end, she was even betrayed by those she trusted. And then she was summoned to the Demon World. Falling here alone, without knowing anyone. And here too, she was despised. For surviving alone, for not protecting those she was supposed to protect. How must she feel? Noticing Taesan¡¯s gaze, sha smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Her eyes, looking at Taesan, were full of trust. ¡°Because Sir Taesan is here.¡± He had expectations of the Demon King¡¯s castle. But what he expected was power and strength. These political issues were not his concern. The door opened. The knight appeared. ¡°Come. The Demon King is calling you.¡± ¡°Enter here.¡± A huge door greeted them. The knight who guided them warned. ¡°The one here is the Demon King. If you do anything foolish, you will be punished. Be careful.¡± Creak. The door opened. At the end of the long hallway, the Demon King sat on the throne. A man with ck curly hair down to his neck looked at Taesan with a displeased face. Dozens of knights surrounded him. They weren¡¯t weak. All of them were at least on the 20th floor level. In thebyrinth, being at the 20th floor level meant having power close to the best in the world outside. There were dozens of such individuals. And the Demon King was far stronger than them. ¡®Even Quaned at his peak wouldn¡¯t be able to win.¡¯ He had power surpassing the 50th floor level. But that was all. Taesan¡¯s eyes grew even colder. The Demon King looked at sha and spoke. ¡°You came here by the order of the Demon God.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± sha affirmed. The Demon King spoke again. ¡°You¡¯re going to the Forsaken Land. You know what kind of ce it is, right?¡± ¡°I know well enough.¡± ¡°Many demons left to destroy the filthy beings who believed in the old Demon God, but none of them returned. How can I believe you won¡¯t be the same?¡± The Demon King¡¯s face showed annoyance. ¡°The Demon God took special care of you. Even though it¡¯s the Demon God¡¯s order, I can¡¯t let you die in vain.¡± The Demon King¡¯s lips twisted. ¡°Perhaps she felt sorry for someone like you and sent someone down personally to take care of you.¡± There was jealousy on his face. It was unpleasant that the Demon God, whom he believed in, cared for a mere demon from another world. Taesan¡¯s face grew even colder. Everything he expected fell short. sha spoke with a calm face. ¡°So, what do you want from us?¡± ¡°Prove your strength.¡± Thud! The knights simultaneously struck their swords down. Theirbined power pressed against sha, Quaned, and Taesan. The Demon King clenched his fist. The Demon King¡¯s power began to cover them. sha¡¯s face hardened, and Quaned let out a hollowugh. ¡°Is this the reason it took so long? To create such a barrier?¡± A barrier that amplified their power by harmonizing with each other. Thebined power of dozens of knights and the Demon King pressed down on Taesan¡¯s group. sha¡¯s face hardened, and Quaned¡¯s body was also being pressed down. ¡°If you can¡¯t withstand this, I¡¯ll tell the Demon God that you will die there. I¡¯ll ask her to have mercy on you.¡± The Demon Kingughed. He disliked sha. She was a demon from another world but was equal to the Demon King¡¯s bloodline. She was a threat to his legitimacy and session. And she was favored by the Demon God more than the Demon King himself. The Demon King couldn¡¯t tolerate that. He believed he was the foremost servant of the Demon God. He was the most favored mortal of the Demon God and believed the Demon God prioritized him over the apostles. In such a situation, for the Demon God to personally save and bring a demon of the Demon King¡¯s bloodline from another world. The Demon King hated that. He wanted to make sha earn the Demon God¡¯s dislike somehow. There was no way sha could withstand his power, and the same was true for Quaned beside her. He didn¡¯t know the extent of the human¡¯s power who hade by the Demon God¡¯s order, but he believed it couldn¡¯t be stronger than the Demon King himself. He nned to crush them. Then he would tell the Demon God. He believed the Demon God couldn¡¯t ignore the words of the Demon King of the Demon World. He intended to make sha earn the Demon God¡¯s disappointment somehow. While crafting his n and feeling pleased, he noticed Taesan. ¡®Hmm?¡¯ The Demon King¡¯s face hardened slightly. In the midst of the pressure of power, Taesan was quietly looking at him. His face looked as if he didn¡¯t feel any burden. The Demon King increased his power and directed it towards Taesan. The power amplified within the barrier was strong enough to be felt as a burden even by the Demon King himself. But Taesan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. The Demon King¡¯s face wavered. Taesan muttered. ¡°Everything is below my expectations.¡± It wasn¡¯t interesting. The demons were no different from humans, and the Demon King was not stronger than his expectations. The ghost spoke. [The Demon King who destroyed my world was abnormally strong. Even at that level, it''s not bad.] To be honest, he wasn¡¯t wrong. Being at the level of the 50th floor in thebyrinth was equivalent to being the absolute ruler of a world. [You just had too high expectations.] ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan looked at the bewildered Demon King. ¡°You said to show my strength, right? I¡¯ll show you.¡± Since he could handle demonic energy properly now, there was something he could do. Taesan drew up his demonic energy. The demonic energy he drew up began to mix with his aura. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Myriad Souls].] [You have activated Raum''s Emotional Disturbance.] ¡°What!¡± The Demon King widened his eyes. The barrier shattered like ss, and Taesan¡¯s aura spread out in waves. Chapter 256: The Believers Of The Old Demon God (1) Chapter 256: The Believers Of The Old Demon God (1) Taesan¡¯s aura spread. The attendants in the Demon King¡¯s castle, who were going about their tasks, dropped their dishes in instinctive fear. The power extended beyond the castle. Step. Taesan moved forward. The knights instinctively retreated. Their faces under their helmets were filled with terror. The Demon King shouted with a pale face. ¡°You! You!¡± His face was full of denial.As the king of the Demon Realm, the Demon King had seen the apostles of the Demon God several times. So he could understand what kind of aura Taesan was emitting now. ¡°Impossible! For a mere human to be an apostle of Her!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not her apostle. This is a different kind of power.¡± But it didn¡¯t make much difference to the Demon King. Taesan stomped his foot. The demonic energy and aura began to engulf the Demon King¡¯s castle. ¡°Ah, ah.¡± Sensing the foreboding aura, the knights raised their shields. They prepared for the impending impact. Taesan clenched his fist. ¡°Explode.¡± Boom! ¡°Aaaaah!¡± The knights fell. They couldn¡¯t withstand the emotional interference carried by the aura. They clutched their heads and started rolling on the ground. Seeing this, Taesanughed. ¡°Not bad.¡± Apostle Transformation was a power granted by a god. It was a skill that epted their aura. ck magic was the power of demons. And demons were beings simr to the high gods, strong from birth. God¡¯s power. And the power of the high gods. Taesan had experiencedbining the two to create a new boundary. So when heading to the Demon King¡¯s castle, he experimented with mixing ck magic and Apostle Transformation and achieved it without much difficulty. The burden wasn¡¯t as severe as he thought, so he wondered if there would be an opportunity to use it. A perfect chance came, so he mixed Raum¡¯s emotional agitation into his aura and spread it throughout the Demon King¡¯s castle. The result was effective. The knights were rubbing their heads on the ground without any resistance. It was a far superior effect than simply scattering aura. Taesan looked at the Demon King. ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± The Demon King screamed. At the same time, ck energy descended upon him from above his head. That was the power of the Demon God. ¡°As expected of the king of the Demon Realm. You received a small amount of power.¡± ¡°Huff, huff.¡± The Demon King exhaled heavily. He barely held on with the fragment of power bestowed by the Demon God, but he couldn¡¯tpletely block it. His head throbbed. Fear rose, trying to swallow his emotions, and a difort like bugs crawling all over his body enveloped him. ¡°This, this¡­¡± Raum¡¯s Emotional Disturbance. It was also a type of ck magic possessed by the Demon King. But it never had such an effect. At best, it would interfere with the mind of the weak and subdue them, or treat those with mental issues. He had never heard of it copsing the mind itself in this way. ¡°You are¡­¡± The Demon King looked at Taesan with trembling eyes. ¡°You!¡± He shouted. Darkness surged. The demonic energy materialized and rushed at Taesan. Taesan lightly waved his hand at the demonic energy trying to bite like a beast. The demonic energy scattered and disappeared. ¡°Ah¡­¡± His power as the king of the Demon Realm was crushed by a light gesture like a child¡¯s tantrum. Taesan murmured. ¡°I came here under themand of the Demon God.¡± Step. He walked towards the Demon King. The Demon King, sitting on the throne, flinched and trembled. ¡°And she said Quaned and sha were my helpers.¡± To put it bluntly, it was strange. The two didn¡¯t have any significant information about the abandonednd. All they could offer Taesan here were the teachings of ck magic and guidance to the Demon King¡¯s castle. And that could have been done by others. The Demon God could have directly sent Taesan to the Demon King¡¯s castle and instructed the Demon King to teach him. But the Demon God specifically introduced sha and Quaned as Taesan¡¯s helpers. ¡°What did the Demon God mean by that?¡± The Demon God didn¡¯t intervene directly. Indirectly, it meant that he could interfere as much as he wanted. Step. Taesan arrived right in front of the Demon King. The king of the Demon Realm cowered on the throne in fear. ¡°This is a warning from the Demon God.¡± Taesan ced his hand on the floor. The Demon King¡¯s throne was located at the highest point of the Demon King¡¯s castle. From here, touching the sky, Taesan unleashed his power. [You have activated Decarabia''s Distorted Vegetation.] Boom! A passage opened from the bottom of the Demon King¡¯s castle. Roots piercing through the stars were summoned and surged upwards. The Demon King¡¯s castle was protected by numerous blessings and barriers. It was the magic of the Demon Realm, fortified over hundreds of years by thebined efforts of great Demon Realm wizards. Breaking through countless barriers and blessings, they ascended to the top. Boom! The roots prated the entire Demon King¡¯s castle like a giant pir. Taesan, touching the end of the root that reached right in front of the Demon King¡¯s throne, opened his mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s get along peacefully. It seems that¡¯s what the Demon God wants. Understood?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± The Demon King nodded nkly. The Demon King slowly came to his senses. He first let out a hollowugh. ¡°¡­Really. It¡¯s absurd.¡± His purpose, ns, values. It was a power that swept all of them away. He gave up everything and told Taesan the destination in the abandonednd. ¡°¡­There is a small door behind the Demon King¡¯s castle. It is a ce protected by a barrier to keep out those who believe in the old Demon God. I will temporarily release the barrier there. Beyond the door is the abandonednd.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Taesan descended the Demon King¡¯s castle, leaving the Demon King behind. In the room remained the fallen knights, the Demon King, sha, and Quaned. The Demon King gazed nkly at sha. ¡°I envy you. Truly.¡± ¡°¡­I think so too.¡± sha btedly followed Taesan. Quaned also followed behind. ¡°Sir Taesan!¡± She ran up, panting. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± She bowed her head deeply. Taesan shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. Thank the Demon God. She asked for this.¡± ¡°I should thank both of you.¡± She looked at Taesan with a face full of gratitude. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Are you going to follow?¡± Beyond here was dangerous. Just the aura emanating as the barrier was lifted was enough to risk sha¡¯s life. ¡°Yes.¡± But sha nodded resolutely. ¡°I am your helper, Sir Taesan. I cannot let you go to a dangerous ce alone.¡± ¡°Then get ready. Prepare your gear in advance. I¡¯ll be there first.¡± ¡°Ah. Yes!¡± She hurriedly took Quaned and followed inside the Demon King¡¯s castle. Leaving them behind, Taesan headed to the back of the Demon King¡¯s castle. There was a small door. The barrier that had spread around the door was temporarily lifted. Thanks to that, the power beyond could be sensed. [It''s all engulfed. It''s on a level not much different from the worlds destroyed by the ancient gods. Since it''s originally the realm of the ancient gods, it''s only natural.] The ghost whistled. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°I know you¡¯re watching. Come out.¡± [I''ve been caught?] With augh, a dark space opened. The Demon God appeared, resting her arm on the space. [Well done, Taesan.] The Demon God smiled faintly. [The reason the Demon King dislikes sha is that he thinks I favor her. If I had told the Demon King, he would have hated sha even more. So I left it to you, and as expected, it worked out well. Now the Demon King won''t be able to antagonize sha anymore.] ¡°What are you trying to achieve by leaving this to me?¡± The Demon God wanted Taesan to see sha. She wanted him to see how she was treated in the Demon Realm and to understand how she thought of Taesan. That¡¯s why she introduced her as a helper. [Where will your resting ce be?] The Demon God murmured softly. [After all this is over, where will you settle and live?] She narrowed her eyes. [You are different, Taesan. Even to us, but even more so to mortals. Most will not be able to ept you. They will reject you and fear you.] ¡°I understand that.¡± Taesan knew how Lee Taeyeon was treated just before the end. How he himself was treated. Until just before their final demise, when peopleid everything down, Lee Taeyeon and Taesan were not understood by anyone and were only on the outskirts of people. People did not see them as the same human beings. Even now, people on Earth worshipped him as a god. [Even though I don''t know what lies at the end of your path... it will be hard to find someone who epts you.] The Demon God spoke softly. [But she is different. No matter how you change, she will stand by you. She will always wait for you and want to be with you. Having someone like that is more valuable than you think. This is advice from someone who has walked a simr path before, so listen well.] ¡°Thank you, but¡­ I still can¡¯t give a definite answer.¡± [It''s not a demand. I just like you. I hope you can make many choices on your own in the future, unlike me.] The Demon God smiled. It was a childlike smile. [I''m just presenting one of those choices. My poormb.] ¡°I will think about it.¡± [That''s enough.] The Demon God turned her gaze to the abandonednd. [You have many choices. Not just future choices, but also past choices. Among them, there will be choices like ours... and choices like theirs.] ¡°I don¡¯t think there will be.¡± [Normally, it would be impossible, but you are different. There is a possibility.] The Demon God murmured. [There won''t be a great threat there. They will just present you with choices. Whatever you choose will be up to you, but I hope you choose our path.] The Demon God stepped into the open passage. [Then go. And win.] ¡°Understood.¡± After a while, sha and Quaned returned. Their outfits were different from before. In sha¡¯s case, she now wielded a staff flowing with demonic energy and wore a pointed hat. Her clothes had also transformed into neat ck armor. ¡°Good. This will be enough to help Sir Taesan.¡± ¡°This feels nostalgic.¡± Quanedughed. He had descended into thebyrinth risking his life and had been returned to the Demon Realm by the Demon God. And he had been living a peaceful life since. While that was satisfying in its own way, for someone who had once fought risking his life, he also missed the battles. Taesan spoke to them before entering. ¡°In there, you must survive on your own.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t know what woulde out of the realm of the ancient gods. There were limits to how much he could protect them. If they couldn¡¯t be of help, it would be better if they weren¡¯t there. sha nodded seriously with a determined face. ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t be a burden.¡± ¡°Good.¡± [You have summoned the King of Wind Spirits, Minerva.] [You have summoned the highest grade spirit of colorful light, Barkaza.] Wind and rainbow light formed. The summoned Minerva looked around and was surprised. ¡°What is this? The Demon Realm?¡± [Is it finally my turn?] ¡°Spirit?¡± ¡°Gasp!¡± Quaned was startled and grabbed his weapon when he saw Minerva. ¡°The Spirit King!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± His gaze was full of vignce. Taesan waved his hand. ¡°Rx. It¡¯s not the spirit you think.¡± ¡°¡­Now that I think about it.¡± It wasn¡¯t fire, but wind. Realizing that, Quaned rxed his grip on his weapon. Minerva spoke grumpily. ¡°Why is he looking at me like that?¡± ¡°He has bad memories with the Spirit King. I¡¯ll exinter. For now, let¡¯s go in.¡± Taesan stepped into the realm of the ancient gods. Crack. As he entered the abandonednd, the barrier at the door reformed. It was as if it was afraid. A thick, deep, almost dark energy emanated throughout the realm. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± It was generally dark. The Demon Realm itself had a dense energy, but this was different. It felt more directly rted to the ancient gods. Taesan ced his hand on the ground. Feeling the sensation, Taesan realized. ¡®It¡¯s simr to Earth.¡¯ Earth just before its destruction. The sensation here was simr to that. The difference was that this ce had already been consumed by the power of the high gods. And from that pervasive sensation, Taesan could feel a gaze directed at him. It was probably the gaze of the old Demon God. There was little hostility in that gaze. It was closer to greed. Chapter 257: The Believers Of The Old Demon God (2) Chapter 257: The Believers Of The Old Demon God (2) ¡®Greed, huh.¡¯ Why would the High God give him such a look? First, it was exploration. At a nce, it was an extremely wide area. It was impossible to understand everything just by running around. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the exploration.¡± sha struck the ground with her staff. The staff resonated with her magic, spreading in all directions. Uuuung. The power amplified and amplified. The energy of exploration, which would have been impossible with sha¡¯s strength alone, dispersed. The extended energy of exploration brushed past the aura of the High God and inspected the surroundings.sha infused her magic and spoke. ¡°This is the staff of detection bestowed upon us directly by the demon god. If one¡¯s ability allows, it can detect the entire demon world in an instant.¡± sha, having sensed many things around her, raised her staff and pointed in a direction. ¡°There are five presences felt about thirty minutes from here at my pace.¡± ¡®Good.¡¯ It seemed that the staff, given directly by the demon god, had a considerably wide detection range. Even for Taesan, it would be challenging to explore this distance so quickly. Taesan stomped his foot. ¡°Follow slowly.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Boom! As power exploded, Taesan flew in the direction sha pointed. Taesan arrived at the destination in mere seconds. There, five heavily distorted beings were present. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°What the¡­!¡± They were startled to see Taesan. ¡°Your enemy.¡± Taesan calmly answered, observing them. Their essence was of demonic beings. However, their fundamental nature was so twisted that they could no longer be called demons in form and power. They were closer to Arulia, a human who had contracted with the High God in the spirit world. They were simr to him. ¡°Why is an outsider here?¡± ¡°A human?¡± They were surprised beyond expectation. But soon, they collected themselves and their eyes gleamed. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°To those who don¡¯t believe in the old demon god, % O O éT =¡º*=!¡± They charged. Wielding the power of the High God, they attempted to kill Taesan. Taesan casually flicked his hand, brushing them off and analyzing. ¡®They¡¯re much weaker than that.¡¯ The human who contracted with the High God in Arulia had directly made the contract. In contrast, these beings seemed to have absorbed the remnants of the High God while staying here. They were simr, but their power was vastly different. ¡®But they are not weak.¡¯ Objectively, they were at the level of the 30th floor of thebyrinth. All five of them. Considering that those called the Demon King¡¯s knights were around the 20th-floor level, it was overwhelming strength. ¡°This makes me curious.¡± ¡°Die!¡± With a madugh, one man charged fiercely. ¡°He¡¯s mine!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch him!¡± Others shouted and tried to hinder the man. It seemed they were desperate to be the one to kill him. Taesan moved his hand. Crushing and trampling the energy of the High God, he pierced the man¡¯s chest. Crunch. ¡°Ugh.¡± The man copsed with a sound of swallowed breath. It was a single strike. The others who had been rushing forward hesitated. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] ¡°Interesting.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes gleamed. ck energy from the man¡¯s body was absorbed into Taesan. There was no noticeable change, indicating it wasn¡¯t enough to raise his proficiency, but it meant Soul Ascension had been activated. ¡°Not bad.¡± Taesan turned his gaze to the remaining ones. Their reactions were odd. They were utterly terrified and stepping back. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°The soul has been snatched.¡± ¡°Run!¡± They began fleeing in terror. Taesan frowned, not expecting them to flee without looking back. ¡°Running away?¡± [You have activated Mephisto¡¯s ck Lightning.] Boom! Lightning struck the one running the fastest. The spear prated him. A weak stiffness overtook him. ¡°Kaak!¡± Taesan kicked. He pierces through the chests of the other two who were running away. They died with faces full of terror. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] Crunch. ¡°Kaak!¡± Leaping up, Taesan stomps on the head of the one who was trying to flee in a panic as the stiffness released. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me! Don¡¯t kill me!¡± ¡°Depends on what you do.¡± Taesan replied. After a moment, sha and Quaned arrived. ¡°Sir Taesan. You¡¯re too fast¡­ ¡°Oh. Is that one a believer of the old demon god?¡± Quaned¡¯s eyes gleamed. Minerva also looked at the subdued being with interest. ¡°Completely consumed by the power. Is that what happens over a long period?¡± ¡°Consumed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s literal. The mind and body, everything, twisted by the power of the High God. Once it¡¯s like this, they probably can¡¯t die at will.¡± ¡°Hmmm.¡± Taesan looked at the man in his grip. The man screamed. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± ¡°Quiet.¡± Taesan tightened his grip on the man¡¯s neck. A choking sound echoed. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°First, information.¡± The quest he received was to annihte the believers of the old demon god in the abandonednd. So he needed to get some rough information first. When Taesan asked for information, the man¡¯s eyes rolled nervously. ¡°If I answer, will you spare me?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t kill you right away. Try to escape if you can.¡± The man began to speak hesitantly. ¡°We have been here since the old demon god was banished.¡± ¡°Since he was banished?¡± sha was shocked. The man looked young. He seemed to be in his mid-twenties in human age. But the banishment of the old demon god was a matter of legend, something ancient. ¡°We do not believe in the current demon god. We believe in the one who originally ruled thisnd. So when the great demon god was banished, we migrated here.¡± The High God was banished by the demon god and could no longer exert influence in the demon world. But the demon world was created by the High God. The demon god couldn¡¯tpletely remove all of the High God¡¯s influence, and that ce became the abandonednd. ¡°We have been living here, embracing the power of the old demon god.¡± They were slowly corrupted. Their limbs twisted, and their minds began to copse. Their bodies and minds started to be bound to thend. ¡°We have be unable to die.¡± ¡°Get it straight. It¡¯s not that you became unable to die; you can¡¯t even die.¡± Minerva corrected him. She was right. The mortals twisted and mixed with the power of the High God were eventually bound to thend itself. Even if their limbs were torn and heads split, as long as the power of thend remained, they couldn¡¯t die. They had be part of thend. The moment they tried to escape, their souls would likely vanish. But the man spoke confidently. ¡°This is immortality. It is the grace given to us by the High God. It¡¯s a power that those outside cannot even imagine.¡± Suddenly, the man widened his eyes and shouted. ¡°Yes! This is the grace given directly by the High God! We must embrace this grace and grow stronger! To the point where he will call us, to the point where we can assist the saint guarding the thorn!¡± A fanatical belief in the High God. Minerva clicked her tongue. ¡°Even the mind is ruined. Twisted by the flow of time. Or maybe it was already broken.¡± Taesan asked. ¡°For someone like that, he was begging me not to kill him.¡± ¡°The ones you killed died for real. Not just losing power, but their souls couldn¡¯t return.¡± The man¡¯s face was filled with fear as he spoke. Taesan could easily guess the reason. Soul skill, Soul Ascension. A skill that even stole the power of the High God. They were beings no longer considered alive, bound to thend. But with that power stolen, they met death. ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan had roughly gathered the information. He loosened his grip on the man. ¡°Then, get lost.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Do you want me to kill you?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± The man hurriedly ran away. sha asked. ¡°How are you going to handle this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking.¡± The man said they had been here since the old demon god was banished. If that was true, the n had gone awry. Taesan looked at sha¡¯s staff. ¡°Can I use that?¡± The staff clearly covered a wider range than sha¡¯s power alone couldprehend. With Taesan¡¯s power, it wasn¡¯t impossible to cover the entire area. But sha shook her head. ¡°No. Only demons can use this. It¡¯s not about having magic power, but about where it originates from. No matter how strong you are, Taesan-nim, it would be difficult.¡± ¡°Then what if I sync with your power to use it?¡± A method of channeling power through magic. It was something sha and Quaned had done for him before. ¡°Well¡­¡± sha hesitated. ¡°If I¡¯m the user, it might¡­ be possible.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Taesan approached sha. She shuddered. ¡°Spread out the detection like you did before.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± sha hurriedly grabbed the staff with both hands. After a brief moment to steady her breathing, she struck the ground with it. Uuuung. The wave spread in all directions. Information about the surroundings began to flow to her, and Taesan ced his hand on her shoulder. ¡°O¡­¡± sha let out a weak moan. Magic power started pouring in, more than she could handle. ¡®¡­A lot.¡¯ Even her father, the demon king Vesehta, didn¡¯t have this much magic power. Taesan synced with sha¡¯s magic and opened the channel. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] Kiing. The spreading waves rippled. The power spreading rapidly in all directions brought back all the information. Absorbing the power of the High God from thend, the detection elerated further. As the flood of information came in, sha¡¯s face turned pale. It was too much for her to contain. Taesan, recognizing her limit, lifted his hand from her shoulder. sha copsed, gasping for breath. ¡°Princess!¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± sha steadied her breathing and stood up. ¡°¡­It¡¯s endless.¡± Using the channel, they had utilized Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection, along with the staff that amplified its power by absorbing the High God¡¯s energy. Even using both simultaneously, they had only managed to survey a part of the abandonednd. All they found was that thend expanded endlessly. ¡°This is¡­¡± Rather than just being vast, it felt as if it connected to something beyond. No matter how far they went, there was no end. ¡°And¡­ there are many.¡± She spoke with trembling eyes. ¡°Even with the small detection, the number is uncountable.¡± ¡°Just as I thought.¡± Taesan frowned. The demon world was extremely vast. And the man he had captured said they had been here since the old demon god ruled. They continued to live without dying. Their numbers couldn¡¯t have decreased. And without end. And countless beings who believed in the old demon god. ¡°What should I do?¡± Taesan muttered. Killing them all was nearly impossible. Of course, it would be possible if he invested an infinite amount of time. But that would be meaningless. It would take decades at least, so it was better to give up and descend thebyrinth. So, another method had to be found. Taesan looked at the ground. A thick and deep power of the High God was flowing out. The man had said they were bound to thend. If the power of the High God disappeared, their souls would be freed as well. ¡°Can I erase this darkness?¡± ¡°No.¡± Minerva said decisively. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. This is a domain created by the High God. Even the current demon god couldn¡¯t erase it and left it be, right?¡± To the demon god, thisnd, imbued with the power of the old demon god, must have been extremely annoying. But she had done nothing to interfere with the vast domain and its countless inhabitants. Even the power of a transcendent couldn¡¯t interfere with the domain of the High God. There was no way Taesan¡¯s power could manage it. The demon god must have known this. But she had given Taesan the quest, thinking he had a way. [You have activated Divinity.] Light manifested on Taesan¡¯s hand. The light twisted and affected the power of the High God. But that was all. It didn¡¯t erase or purify the power. ¡®This is impossible.¡¯ The power existing within thews couldn¡¯t erase this darkness. Taesan extinguished the divinity. Then, what about the power beyond thews? [You have activated ckness.] Chapter 258: The Believers Of The Old Demon God (3) Chapter 258: The Believers Of The Old Demon God (3) ckness was the power of the High Gods, opposing divinity. Focusing on controlling the wavering ck energy, he scattered it in all directions. The observers from afar were shocked. [Master?] Minerva barely restrained herself from instinctively attacking. The power of the High Gods was moving under Taesan¡¯s control. ¡°Now that I think about it, you said you could handle the power of the High Gods.¡± Minerva muttered in confusion. Taesan had said the gray power was a mix of divine and High God¡¯s power. It sounded so absurd at the time that she was half-entranced by his words, but seeing it in reality was astonishing. ¡°But did the Transcendents just leave it alone?¡± [It''s all under Taesan''s control. Don''t worry about it. Isn''t he always doing weird things?] ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡± Minerva said with a grimace. For someone in this world to handle the power of the High Gods without distorting their mind or body was beyond Minerva¡¯s understanding. ckness scattered in all directions. The dispersed ckness started to intervene in the power of the old demon god spread throughout thend. Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled. The power permeating thend began to blend into the ck and fall under Taesan¡¯s control. Taesan gathered the ck energy that had absorbed thend¡¯s power and concentrated it to the limit. Boom! Then he exploded it. The concentrated energy scattered in all directions. The dispersed energy spread throughout the entirend again. ¡°Control is possible, but elimination is not.¡± The ck energy could not interfere with the domain. The power of the gods and the power of the High Gods. Both were impossible. Then what about a power that was neither, but straddled the boundary? ¡°Minerva, get back.¡± ¡°Oh, got it.¡± Minerva, guessing what Taesan was about to do, took sha and Quaned and distanced themselves. ¡°Minerva?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a bit dangerous here. You don¡¯t want to get caught up, do you?¡± [You have activated divinity.] Light manifested above Taesan¡¯s hand. Then ck began to ovey it. [You have activated ckness.] Squeak. Light and darkness began to mix and turn gray. At the same time, they started to rampage, refusing Taesan¡¯s control. ¡®It¡¯s manageablepared to before.¡¯ Maybe because he had acquired the Boundary Line skill, it wasn¡¯t as explosively overwhelming as when he first used it. Of course, it wasn¡¯t easy to control either. It was still shaking, as if wanting to escape Taesan¡¯s control. Taesan wielded the gray light. The gray light swallowed everything around it. [Your Endurance has activated.] The gray light subsided, and Taesan looked around. He smiled contentedly. ¡°It works after all.¡± Thend was purified. ¡®Could this work on Earth too?¡¯ The High God¡¯s power that had engulfed this ce was simr to that on Earth. It might be possible to expel the High God¡¯s power that had permeated Earth and reim it. sha, watching from a distance, was astonished. ¡°Huh, what?¡± The power of the old demon god that had engulfed the entirend. The moment that power touched the gray light, it was cleanly erased. It wasn¡¯t merely pushed back by the wave of power or temporarily hidden; it was literally erased. Twisted beings residing in the forsakennd would be freed from their bound souls the moment they stepped into this ce. Minerva clicked her tongue. ¡°Such absurd power.¡± The forsakennd was imbued with the power of the old demon god. Even the demon gods couldn¡¯t handle it. And yet, a mortal like Taesan had cleanly erased that power. A mortal doing what even the Transcendents couldn¡¯t. A mortal interfering with the power of the Transcendents. It was incredibly contradictory. A method had been found. The gray power could erase the domain of the High Gods. But it couldn¡¯t be solved immediately. ¡°The range is too narrow.¡± The range that could be erased with the gray was only about the size of a yground. It wasn¡¯t a small range, but the extent of the forsakennd was beyond measure. Simply erasing the domain was impossible. A fundamental solution had to be found. And he had heard information rted to it from the man he had captured. ¡®Thorns. And the apostle that is guarding them.¡¯ If it was an apostle, it must be referring to the apostle of the old demon god. It meant that such an entity was present in this ce. And the thorns guarded by such an entity were likely very important here. The destination was set. Of course, there were still problems. The forsakennd was extremely vast. It was clear that just identifying where the thorns were would take a considerable amount of time. But it would be much faster than erasing everything without a purpose. ¡°Then let¡¯s walk around. sha.¡± Those who had resided in this ce for an immeasurable amount of time were likely to know the location of the thorns. ¡°Yes.¡± sha calmly raised her finger. ¡°When I sensed it earlier, I felt the presence of several people far away.¡± ¡°How far?¡± ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s about a day¡¯s journey at my pace.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a distance.¡± Taesan began to move. As they quietly moved, they started to talk about their curiosities. ¡°Heh.¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes sparkled. She was now listening to Quaned¡¯s stories about thebyrinth. ¡°Mortal beings that strong. Are you saying they could be stronger than me?¡± Quaned had told Minerva about the leaders of the guides. Most of them were stronger than Minerva. ¡°Thebyrinth sure is interesting.¡± ¡°Yes. Well, I lost in the middle, though.¡± Quaned replied. ¡°There was someone simr to you among them.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± ¡°It was the Fire Spirit King. I think their name was Vishnu.¡± ¡°Vishnu, huh.¡± ¡°Do you know them?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Minerva snapped her fingers. ¡°They¡¯re quite famous in the spirit realm.¡± She hummed. ¡°The one who refused the responsibilities of a Spirit King. The one who wanted to break free from the limits of being a Spirit King. The spirit who wanted to transcend lifespan and be solitary.¡± A cold aura flowed from her eyes. ¡°They¡¯re the Spirit King who destroyed a world and ran away. Hmm. So, they are in thebyrinth.¡± Minervaughed. ¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°¡­It seems that not all spirits get along.¡± ¡°Of course not. There are quite a few spirits who dislike those who entered thebyrinth. I¡¯m not that extreme, but¡­ if it¡¯s a Spirit King, it¡¯s a different story. And my master is Taesan. If they are his enemy, I¡¯ll probably end up fighting them too.¡± A battle between Spirit Kings. Quaned gave a hollowugh at those words. ¡°That sounds exciting. Although I won¡¯t be able to see it myself.¡± [I am only following my master¡¯s orders. Even if the opponent is a king, it doesn¡¯t change.] ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. I wonder when we¡¯ll meet.¡± Quiet conversations continued. And Taesan had his own thoughts. ¡®It was greed.¡¯ When he stepped onto thisnd, the gaze of the High Gods. The light in that gaze wasn¡¯t hostility or anger, but greed. That was quite unexpected. The High Gods showing greed meant that he wanted something from Taesan. Taesan had fought the High Gods many times before, but they had never shown greed, only hostility or curiosity. Why would the High Gods, who were transcendents from birth and now exiled from the world, show greed towards Taesan? ¡°Taesan.¡± Lost in thought, Taesan was interrupted by sha¡¯s question. ¡°Should I sense it again?¡± Taesan nodded. They had moved enough. The opponent would have moved as well, so they needed to locate them again. sha struck the ground with her staff. The magical energy extended from the staff in all directions. Information from the surroundings flowed into sha. She began to organize each piece of information. ¡°¡­Hmm?¡± sha¡¯s face hardened. ¡°What, what is it?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Quaned asked with a puzzled look. sha¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°What is it? What¡¯s going on?¡± Sensing something was wrong, Taesan gathered his magical energy. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] ck waves spread out, and the surrounding information flowed into Taesan. He could also tell. There were beings rushing towards them. And their number was in the hundreds. ¡°Hmm?¡± Minerva also seemed to sense something as her face hardened. Taesan drew his weapon. The approaching figures began to appear. The endlessly twisted beings saw Taesan and shouted. ¡°There he is!¡± Hundreds of twisted beings shouted. ¡°For the Old Demon God!¡± ¡°Capture him!¡± Hundreds of twisted demons. Even the weakest among them seemed to be at the mid-20th floor level of thebyrinth. There were even a few who could reach the 40th floor. ¡°No way. How?¡± sha was bewildered. There was no reason for such a number to gather in one ce without a reason. It meant that all of them knew Taesan was here. ¡°Minerva. Barkaza. Look after Quaned and sha.¡± [Understood.] Barkaza pped his hands. Rainbow-colored light emanated, and wind manifested in Minerva¡¯s hands. Taesan kicked the ground. The faces of the frenzied beings quickly approached. ¡°Capture him!¡± ¡°Subdue him!¡± Taesan¡¯s sword moved. The twisted demons tried to block it, but their defenses were crushed and they were pulverized. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] Messages of Soul Ascension appeared rapidly. Taesan closed the system window that was obstructing his view. He dodged the outstretched hands and stomped his foot. He put strength into his entire body and swung his shoulder. With a thunderous sound, dozens of twisted demons in front of him exploded simultaneously. Those who exploded did not resurrect. Their soulless bodies scattered everywhere. But there was no fear in the eyes of the charging twisted demons. They only tried to grab Taesan with frenzied faces. Boom! Wind burst from behind. Minerva wielded the wind and escaped from the twisted demons. The demons paid no attention to that. As if only Taesan was their goal, they charged at him without even ncing elsewhere. In this situation, it was not bad for Taesan. He could focus on the battle without worrying about others. sh. He swung his sword. He crushed heads and kicked them away. He dodged swinging attacks by moving his entire body. [You have activated the Frozen World.] Crackle! Cold air surged. The surrounding demons froze in an instant. A familiar face was among them. ¡°I spared your life, and you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Gasp. Gasp¡­¡± It was the twisted demon from whom he had extracted information and spared. With half his limbs frozen, he was ttering his teeth in the cold. Seeing Taesan, he shouted. ¡°Human! Our great one calls for you!¡± ¡°Are you talking about the Old Demon God?¡± ¡°Yes! He spoke through the mouth of the apostle! He said to bring you! Those who bring you will have the opportunity to be his apostles!¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s not to kill me but to capture me.¡± The Old Demon God wanted something from him. Crack! ¡°Clear the way!¡± The ice began to shatter. Taesan ced his hand on the twisted demon¡¯s head. ¡°There won¡¯t be a second time.¡± There was no fear in the demon¡¯s face. He shouted with endless obsession. ¡°Great one! Bestow your grace upon me!¡± That was his final words. Taesan gathered his magical energy in the breaking ice. A passage opened. He felt the gaze of a demon beyond it. He released his power as it was. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] A ck wave surged out. The wave that poured through the opened passage was no longer just a wave but a tsunami. Shattering the ice, it crushed and swallowed all surrounding beings. The dense, dark energy shattered everything around. Boom! Thousands of frenzied, twisted demons were swallowed all at once. Some of them were at the 40th floor level of thebyrinth, but it didn¡¯t matter. The demonic wave crushed the believers of the Old Demon God. Hundreds of demons disappeared like that. ¡°It¡¯s definitely useful.¡± Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave was the strongest ck magic Taesan had learned. Opening the passage and drawing out its true power made it incredibly potent. Returning, Minerva grimaced. ¡°Not to kill but to bring me alive. What do they want?¡± ¡°¡­Did the Old Demon God give an oracle?¡± sha muttered with a shocked face. ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡­ This is the Demon Realm. It¡¯s the domain of the Demon God. Even if this is the Old Demon God¡¯s territory, the ruler of the world is the Demon God. It¡¯s impossible to interfere, even in a very small form¡­¡± ¡°It means they paid a price.¡± In other words, the High Gods thought it was worth the risk to capture Taesan. ¡°sha, use your staff again.¡± Taesan ced his hand on her shoulder. sha calmly struck the ground with her staff. Woom. Waves spread out. They resonated with Taesan¡¯s magic, bringing in information over a wide range. ¡°¡­This is¡­¡± sha quietly groaned. ¡°The twisted demons¡­ areing directly towards us.¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± The oracle of the Old Demon God. It wouldn¡¯t end with just hundreds. It must have spread throughout the entire forsakennd. Soon, the twisted demons came into view. ¡°Oh, oh no.¡± Quaned drew his sword with a pale face. Demons were running towards them from all directions. And there was no end in sight. ¡°There he is!¡± ¡°Capture him!¡± The believers of the Old Demon God shouted, ¡°For our god!¡± Chapter 259: The Believers Of The Old Demon God (4) Chapter 259: The Believers Of The Old Demon God (4) ¡°Minerva, how is your strength?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still fine, but I can¡¯t fight all of them at once.¡± ¡°Then take the two and retreat for a while.¡± ¡°Ugh, alright.¡± Minerva took sha and Quaned and leaped away. Before leaving, sha hastily shouted. ¡°Sir Taesan! Be careful!¡± Taesan nodded and raised his sword. As the dozens of twisted beings rushed at him, Taesan kicked the ground.[You activated eleration.] Boom! His body elerated explosively. The twisted demon in front of him was split in half without knowing what happened. ¡°Capture him!¡± ¡°Oh god! Grant me your blessing!¡± As Taesan broke through their ranks, they shouted and rushed at him. Taesan moved both his hands. [You activated Continuous Attack.] As the proficiency of the Ability Sword reached 40%, some skills had changed. One of them was Continuous Attack. Its effect was the simultaneous use of a physical sword strike and an illusory sword strike. The afterimage of the sword was drawn. The afterimages swirled around like a storm. Taesan struck down with his sword. Illusory sword strikes were unleashed in eight directions simultaneously. ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Kahak!¡± All the twisted demons were at least level twenty, and some were at level thirty. Even so, they all died with just one skill, Continuous Attack. The power that flowed out of them gathered toward Taesan. [You activated Strong Blow.] He struck down forcefully with his sword. The ground shattered, and the impact swept away the surviving demons. ¡°Chase him!¡± The few who barely survived struggled to rise and shouted. ¡°Capture him! Offer him to our god!¡± With their charge disregarding even death, Taesan frowned. He looked straight ahead. Dozens of demons were rushing at him from the front. ¡®This is endless.¡¯ [You activated Starlight Arrow.] A light arrow materialized in Taesan¡¯s hand. He shot it toward the demons charging at him. They tried to block it, but it was useless. Boom! Light exploded. The world seemed to flicker with light, covering everything. When the light subsided, no one was left in the area. ¡°Is it over for now?¡± He sensed the presence of others approaching from a distance, but they were still far away. ¡°Master, you¡¯re too fast. It¡¯s hard to keep up.¡± Minervanded with a slightly tired face. ¡°Sir Taesan, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Though he used magic power, it was at a level that he could fully recover from in an hour. ¡°This is troublesome.¡± Although the immediate threat was dealt with, if the god had given a directmand, they would keep appearing. They would try to kill Taesan. They would keeping without end. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to get bogged down by these.¡± It was impossible to eliminate them all. He had to find the core. But Taesan didn¡¯t know where that was. ¡°Let¡¯s look around for now.¡± Taesan ran swiftly through the desertednd. He continued to search, trying to find where the power was concentrated. But he couldn¡¯t find it. The area was so vast that even sha couldn¡¯t detect it all. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if it took months to search. ¡°This is going to be tough.¡± Taesan felt something while kicking off the ground. A fairly strong presence was approaching at high speed. Taesan stopped. ¡°Hahaha! Found you!¡± The demon swung his sword down with a madugh. ng. Swords shed. The opponent didn¡¯t yield easily and swung his sword. He pressed Taesan and bared his teeth. ¡°Very good! It¡¯s lucky you were this close! The great god was indeed watching over me!¡± The demon shouted with an excited face. ¡°I am the tenth finger of the great god! You cannot defeat me!¡± ¡°Finger?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the position given to the strongest demons here!¡± In other words, the demon in front of him was the tenth strongest here. The demon looked at Taesan with joy. Amand had been given, and the news had reached him. He was thrilled to have a chance to be chosen by the great god and even more thrilled that he was the closest to the target. This was the one and only chance to be chosen by the great god. ¡°Surrender quietly, human!¡± The demon charged, baring his teeth. Taesan raised his sword. [You activated Flow.] The opponent¡¯s sword suddenly veered off course. Naturally, the direction of the opponent¡¯s strength twisted, revealing a huge opening. He tried to correct his posture in a panic, but Taesan didn¡¯t let the opportunity slip. [You activated Strong Blow.] Boom! The opponent¡¯s sword was deflected. He hastily tried to widen the distance, but it was useless. Taesan kicked the ground. [You activated eleration.] In an instant, his elerated body pierced the opponent. ¡°Guh!¡± ¡°You are strong.¡± He wasn¡¯t a weak opponent. He would be able to barely make it to the 50th floor of thebyrinth. But that was all. ¡°How¡­ how did¡­?¡± ¡°Just in case, do you know the location of the thorns and the saint?¡± ¡°Guh! Unbeliever! Shut up!¡± The demon shouted as he was dying. ¡°The god has already marked you! Everyone here is after you! You will slowly wither away and die!¡± The demon shouted harshly, his eyes filled with madness, making normal conversation impossible. His mind was already broken. Using an emotion interference skill would hardly affect him. ¡°Then die.¡± Taesan struck down with his sword. He kept moving. ¡°Haha! Found you!¡± A demon shouted, panting heavily. It seemed he had run with all his might, as his legs were shaking as if he could copse at any moment. Despite that, he charged at Taesan with an excited face. Taesan snapped his fingers with an annoyed look. [You activated Frost Arrow.] Thunk. The demon¡¯s head was pierced. Silence returned. ¡°What a nuisance.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. The area was so vast that it took quite a while for the twisted demons to appear after he moved. But one or two demons continuously and endlessly appeared. While handling them wasn¡¯t a problem, there wasn¡¯t a moment to rest. Taesan moved his feet again. [You activated Leap.] [You activated Reconnaissance.] He surveyed the surroundings. The only things visible were the demons charging at him. There was nothing special in sight. ¡®It¡¯s hard to find it like this.¡¯ He needed information. But the demons here were all so mad that they wouldn¡¯t give Taesan the answers he wanted. First, he had to extinguish that madness to make them regain their senses. Taesan moved to find the thorns. As he moved, he saw several demons charging at him. Taesan took care of them one by one. ¡°I-I found him!¡± A demon, delighted at the sight of Taesan, was about to rush at him with a sword when Taesan¡¯s senses warned him. Taesan reflexively moved his sword. ng! With a fierce sh, Taesan¡¯s body was pushed back. A voice filled with admiration came from the midst of the demons. ¡°You blocked that? Even I wouldn¡¯t be able to do that timing again.¡± ¡°I told you I could do it. Why did you interfere?¡± ¡°If it were you, you would have been decapitated by the counterattack.¡± A chuckle was heard. Taesan turned his gaze. Four demons were walking toward Taesan. ¡°Whew. You¡¯re so fast. As expected, the god must have considerable power to give directmands under the name of a saint.¡± ¡°If we hadn¡¯te this way, it would have taken a lot longer to track you.¡± ¡°A, ah¡­¡± The demon who had luckily survived stumbled back. Even those mad with frenzy seemed to recognize the authority of these demons. ¡°The fifth, the third, the first, and the sixth fingers¡­¡± The demons showed reverence and fear. It meant they held considerable positions here. Taesan asked. ¡°Are you fingers too?¡± ¡°Yes. We are the ten strongest demons in the demon realm, excluding the saints. The lower the number, the stronger the power.¡± A muscr man, who seemed to use his fists as weapons, spoke proudly. Taesan gazed at him quietly. ¡°Then you¡¯re the first.¡± He was strong. With that level of power, he would be able to barely reach the 60th floor. ¡®If you invest enough time to be called a legend, you can be that strong outside as well.¡¯ ¡°Ho.¡± The man bared his teeth. ¡°You have the eyes to see that? You are indeed strong.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there ten fingers in total? Where are the rest?¡± ¡°They said they wouldn¡¯t cooperate. They are waiting for their own opportunities. They are foolishly holding onto their pride when the great god has given amand.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s good.¡± The man¡¯s face twisted at Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°¡­Do you think you can win against the four of us? Arrogant.¡± Taesan nodded and stomped his foot. [You activated Apostle Transformation [Myriad Souls].] [You activated Vessel of the King.] Thunk! A massive burden settled on Taesan. He immediately transferred the burden to his ring and harnessed the power. Taesan¡¯s presence violently filled the space. The face of the man who called himself the first finger hardened. ¡°You?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly.¡± Taesan stomped his foot. In an instant, they all lost track of Taesan¡¯s movements. When he reappeared, he was striking his sword down in front of the sixth finger. ¡°Ugh!¡± The sixth finger frantically raised his shield. As soon as Taesan¡¯s sword touched it, the shield was crushed and embedded into the ground. As Taesan was about to finish him off, the remaining fingers, who had regained their senses, moved. They rapidlyunched their own attacks at Taesan. Taesan¡¯s hands moved. The swords drew diagonal lines, distorting and destroying the trajectories of their attacks. In an instant, he trampled the shield. A crater formed on the ground, and the sixth finger vomited blood. ¡°Ugh!¡± [You activated Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] Boom! Lightning pierced the remaining three simultaneously. Their movements momentarily halted. Taesan thrust his sword at the shield. The shield shattered. ¡°I-I can¡¯t believe this!¡± Those were the sixth finger¡¯sst words. ¡°You bastard!¡± The remaining fingers, breaking free from their stiffness, charged fiercely at Taesan. He lowered his stance. [You activated Marbas'' Fake me.] A substance shaped like mes surged, obscuring Taesan. The first finger scoffed and threw a punch. ¡°Do you think you can deceive me with such a petty trick?¡± Boom! The fake me exploded with the punch. But that was expected. Using fake mes without even opening a passage wouldn¡¯t work against someone in the 60th-floor range. What Taesan aimed for was to obscure their vision. [You activated Invisibility.] ¡°Huh!¡± Invisibility changed with the Ability Sword. Its effect allowed the user to escape all detection for one second if they hid their presence from the opponent. [You activated Shoes of Leaping to the World''s End. You move a very short distance instantaneously.] He moved right in front of the fifth finger. The demon, confused by Taesan¡¯s sudden disappearance, opened his eyes wide as Taesan appeared before him and tried to block with his sword. [You activated Strong Blow.] [You activated de of Fighting Spirit.] Crunch. ¡°What?¡± The sword shattered and split in half. The fifth finger¡¯s body was also cut in two. ¡°You, you bastard!¡± In an instant, two were dead. Only the third finger and the first finger remained. The first finger gnashed his teeth and shouted. ¡°Keep your distance! Support from behind!¡± The third finger was the one who borrowed the power of the old demon god that spread across thend. It was a rare power, even in this desertednd. With his support, they could be twice as strong as usual. Taesan leisurely pointed his finger at the third finger. [You activated Forced Duel.] ng! The first finger¡¯s punch bounced off Taesan. The third finger hurriedly tried to gather power, but it was clearly slower than Taesan¡¯s approach. In an instant, the third finger was also dead. ¡°You, you bastard!¡± [There''s no way to deal with him with numbers.] Just one Forced Duel ended it all. No matter how much they tried to show numerical superiority, once Forced Duel was activated, it became a 1:1 fight. [Why didn''t you use Forced Duel from the start?] ¡°I haven¡¯t used the skills I recently acquired enough. I wanted to get used to them.¡± Obtaining a skill wasn¡¯t the end. One had to use it directly to get ustomed to it. Having roughly confirmed it, Taesan approached the remaining finger. The finger stared nkly at the three fallen demons. All those he had spent countless time with were brutally killed. ¡°¡­You bastard!¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Taesan raised his sword. ¡°Ugh!¡± The first finger was strong. The power of someone at the 60th-floor level. Even the demon king couldn¡¯t match him. But Taesan now had the power to see to the entrance of the deepyers. Moreover, with Myriad SOuls and Vessel of the King activated, there was nopetition. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Me! Me!¡± The first finger screamed, denying reality. He had trained for countless hours. He had strived to be stronger for so long that his mind was overwhelmed. He had continuously fought strong opponents without rest. There was no death here, but that didn¡¯t mean there was no pain. He had lived his entire life with pain as hispanion. In the end, he became the strongest here. He thought no one could match him even in the demon realm. He believed he was the strongest, except for the saint. But now, to be killed by someone from outside? He couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. For me to¡­ Agh¡ª.¡± Taesan thrust his sword into his neck. With a futile voice, the light disappeared from his eyes. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan repeatedly clenched and opened his fist. He had turned off the system window, so he couldn¡¯t check, but facing his fingers, he felt a strange sensation continuously. It meant something had changed with the activation of Soul Ascension. He wanted to check it, but there was something he needed to do first. Taesan looked around. The madness disappeared from the faces of the twisted demons watching the fight. ¡°This is¡­¡± Those overwhelmingly strong ones. All four of them were killed without doing anything. The brutal scene shattered their faith in the god that dominated their minds. Now was the chance. With the madness gone and reason returned, fear must have arisen as well. [You activated Raum''s Emotion Disturbance.] [You activated Emotion Interference.] ¡°Ugh!¡± Slimy things spread everywhere. Taesan sensed fear, not madness, on the demons¡¯ faces. ¡°Please! Spare me!¡± It wasn¡¯t a madness-filled scream, but a terrified plea for life. Taesan smiled and grabbed the demon¡¯s neck. ¡°I¡¯ll spare you if you answer one question.¡± Chapter 260: Apostle Of The Old Demon God (1) Chapter 260: Apostle Of The Old Demon God (1) ¡°What, what do you want!¡± ¡°The thorn. And tell me the location of the apostle guarding it.¡± The demon began to babble nervously. Taesan memorized every piece of information and let go of the demon. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Really?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d spare you? Do you want me to kill you?¡± ¡°No.¡±The demon quickly shook its head and started to run away in a hurry. ¡°Good.¡± He identified the location. It¡¯s about a month¡¯s distance north from here. Since it takes a demon a month, Taesan could arrive much sooner. Before heading toward the thorn, Taesan opened the hidden system window. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [The proficiency of Twisted Soul Tuning has increased by 8%.] [You have acquired the special continuous activation skill [Cradle in the Abyss].] Although not very powerful, the proficiency of Soul Tuning increased significantly due to the number of demons defeated, and a new skill was acquired. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Cradle in the Abyss] [Proficiency: 1%] [Those who live in the dark depths perceive it as a sanctuary and gain strength from it. When within the domain of the high god, the power of the domain can be enhanced. Currently, it is very weak and seems to affect the mind when drawing upon this power.] The demons of this ce had lived in the forsakennd for countless years, their lifespans ended, bound to the earth. It seemed to be a skill that could use part of their power at will. Taesan tried gathering the power spread across the ground, and it started to infuse him. As the power was drawn up, his body began to twist. From deep within his mind, an alien transformation began. ¡°It¡¯s hard to use.¡± If he mishandled it, he would end uppletely ruined like them. But if used properly, it could enhance his power significantly. It was not a bad skill. ¡°Found it!¡± Squash. With a cry of joy, Taesan crushed the demon¡¯s head underfoot. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] Wings unfurled. [You have activated The Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] Then, the wind enveloped his body. The distance to the thorn was about a day¡¯s travel. He nned to fly without using too much power. ¡°Minerva. Follow me.¡± He muttered softly and flew in the direction the demon had indicated. He could feel Minerva following quickly. The scenery began to change rapidly. The demons who had been shouting at Taesan from a distance were quickly stunned as he passed by and then hastily tried to chase after him. But the more they chased, the more the distance increased. Minerva, who was following, clicked her tongue. ¡°Too fast. Even I can¡¯t keep up properly.¡± ¡°Hi, hiik.¡± sha, who was in her arms, tightened her grip, her face pale. Minerva¡¯s speed was like a storm. Just passing by caused weaker demons to be torn apart. Yet the distance continued to widen. Though she was conserving power to avoid being reverse-summoned, even as the Spirit King, she couldn¡¯t catch up. ¡°As a king, I can¡¯t afford to whine.¡± With a determined face, Minerva sped up. Taesan was sprinting. The demons tried to catch him, but it was useless. Each time the wind surrounding Taesan flowed out, the demons burst apart. There were still five more fingers. But they didn¡¯t appear, seemingly biding their time. He could guess where and what they were doing. A week passed like that. Taesan reached his destination. ¡°It really is the thorn.¡± A massive jet-ck thorn was embedded in the earth. The thorn, as tall as a mountain, exuded a palpable power even from a distance. ¡®¡­¡­A rift in the sky on Earth.¡¯ The total amount of power felt was overwhelming, but there was a familiar sense to it. ¡°Whew. Master.¡± Minerva, arrivingte, caught her breath. sha slumped down. ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°No¡­¡­¡± sha huddled, trying to regain herposure. Barkaza, arriving eventer,ined. [Isn''t this too fast? If the king hadn¡¯t lent me her power, I¡¯d still be far behind.] ¡°Still, I did adjust for your sake.¡± Minerva would have been reverse-summoned by now if Taesan had truly sped up. Barkaza snorted. [He''s really a monster.] ¡°So, what are you going to do now?¡± ¡°First¡­ I¡¯ll approach. And handle the ones in front.¡± A multitude of demons were waiting in front of the thorn. Among them were five particrly strong demons. One of them saw Taesan and spoke proudly. ¡°See? I told you he woulde this way eventually. Why run around and get tired?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ It¡¯s true. I was half-skeptical, but you were right.¡± A woman with a rapier smiled and took a step forward. ¡°I am the second finger serving the proud and great god. Have you met the other fingers by any chance?¡± Taesan nodded. The woman¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°So,ing here means you defeated them all? Good. Very good. This means I can be the first finger.¡± Sheughed loudly. ¡°Now the great god will pay attention to me!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Taesan nonchntly drew his sword. The woman twirled her rapier. ¡°You must be strong. You must have fought and defeated the other fingers. But they weren¡¯t weak either.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Even though you¡¯re not showing it, you¡¯ve used a lot of power, right? Running here, avoiding fights with demons, you must have exhausted yourself.¡± Taesan realized what she and the other demons were aiming for by waiting here. She stomped her foot in excitement. ¡°I won the gamble!¡± The other fingers targeted Taesan. And Taesan defeated them. In the process, Taesan got injured and exhausted, which they aimed for. ¡°Hyenas.¡± All the demons gathered here must have been aiming for that. The demons, except for the fingers, probably came here gambling on the possibility that the fingers might fail. They came to kill the severely weakened Taesan. ¡°Call it what you will. What¡¯s important is to win.¡± The woman bared her teeth. ¡°So die!¡± The woman rushed at him, her posture incredibly urgent as if she didn¡¯t want anyone else to steal the kill. Fwish! The rapier aimed for Taesan¡¯s head. Taesan raised his hand. Bang! The wind burst and struck the woman¡¯s face. Her expression wavered. ¡°Huh?¡± Her rapier was caught in Taesan¡¯s fingers. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bad n. You aimed well.¡± But the premise was wrong. Taesan wasn¡¯t weak enough to get injured while fighting with his fingers. Crunch. ¡°Keuh.¡± Taesan¡¯s sword pierced the woman¡¯s chest. She coughed up blood and staggered back. ¡°W-Wait!¡± ¡°I have no intention of dragging this out.¡± [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] A severe cold stormed around them. The woman reeled back in horror. Crack! She barely avoided the freezing cold that clung to her. Those around her who couldn¡¯t avoid it froze solid. Taesan fired the arrow in his hand. The light flickered at close range. ¡°Aaaah!¡± The woman¡¯s body burned. The other fingers were no different. Their abilities were toocking to avoid it. Taesan rushed at them as they floundered in the light. His sword pierced their hearts. ¡°Keuk.¡± He swiftly dealt with the other confused fingers. It was much easier than before, probably because they underestimated Taesan, thinking he had weakened. ¡°Hyenas are always like this.¡± Having dealt with them all in an instant, Taesan turned his gaze. The thorn was inside a huge ck wall. It exuded powerful energy from beyond the wall. The waves spread in all directions, creating the domain of the high god. And he could feel someone next to the thorn. ¡°The twisted demons that will rush here now. Please take care of them.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± [Understood. Master.] ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Leaving the approach of the demons to them, Taesan advanced to the wall. He ced his hand on the wall and applied force. The wall shattered with a roar. Fragments flew in all directions towards the thorn. At that moment, darkness rose. The fragments flying toward the thorn were instantly swallowed and disappeared. ¡°You are quite the violent one.¡± A gentle voice echoed. It was a calm voice that seemed unrted to battle. ¡°This thorn is thest thing our god left us. I can¡¯t allow mere fragments to touch it.¡± It was a man dressed in ck. His hair was long, reaching the back of his neck, and his face looked too delicate to harm even an insect. He smiled at Taesan and held the hem of his robe. ¡°Hello. You are a strong one.¡± Bowing, he spoke softly. ¡°I may have a weak body, but I hold the position of the apostle of the great one. My name is in.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Taesan drew his sword. At his ready-to-attack stance, in raised his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t deny your actions. You and I will inevitably fight. But before that, could we have a brief conversation?¡± Taesan looked at in¡¯s face. There was no hostility. However, it was impossible for someone who believed in a high god for countless years to be sane. His expressions could not be trusted, but Taesan lowered his sword for now. The apostle of the high god wanted to talk. And Taesan also had questions. in smiled gently. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not difficult. It¡¯s very straightforward.¡± He looked at Taesan and began to speak. ¡°When you set foot here, the great one showed you an emotion. Do you know what that was?¡± ¡°It was greed.¡± The high god showed Taesan greed. in nodded. ¡°That¡¯s strange.¡± The high god was a perfect being from birth. Their power does not diminish and is formidable. Even transcendents struggle to fend off the gods who interfere in the world. Such a being showed greed towards a mortal like Taesan. Although Taesan was strong, he was still incredibly weakpared to transcendents or immortals. His potential was just that - potential, not yet realized. It was not mere strength that made the high god show greed towards him. Something different. ¡°What do you think the great one desires from you? Why do you think they chose not to kill you?¡± in spoke softly. ¡°You know the answer.¡± There wasn¡¯t much to think about. What did the high god desire from him? It was not mere strength. What he had that caught the high god¡¯s eye was clear. Soul Ascension. The power of the high god he obtained through it. And the boundary that was made by mixing divinity. Chapter 261: Apostle Of The Old Demon God (2) Chapter 261: Apostle Of The Old Demon God (2) ¡°Your power is alien. The being inside is stealing their power. That is impossible.¡± Minerva had said something simr¡ªstealing the power of the High Gods. Not just the power of a mere monster, but the power of the High Gods themselves. Even the gods had called it alien. in continued speaking. ¡°Gods are close to omniscient, but they don¡¯t know everything. They probably didn¡¯t anticipate that your abilities could reach this level.¡± in was smiling. It was a smile that seemed genuinely happy about the current situation, rising from deep within his heart. ¡°I don¡¯t know everything either. Even though the great being imparted all knowledge to me, my mind wasn¡¯t perfect enough to fully ept it. After all, I am just a mortal.¡± in looked regretful, as if it was truly a pity. ¡°But even such a humble me knows one thing.¡±in spread his hand with a twisted smile. Darkness distorted, and a staff appeared in his hand. ¡°The great being desires something from you. And that is to set him free.¡± Freedom. To Taesan, it didn¡¯t have a pleasant ring. ¡°I am his saint.¡± in raised his staff. The aura of darkness spread throughout the destend and began to gather into the staff. ¡°Everything I do is for him. I exist to achieve what he desires.¡± Uuuung. The aura of darkness spread out. Outside, Minerva, who was waiting with the demons, shuddered. An ominous energy radiated. She had seen such an aura in Arulia. ¡°Master, hang in there.¡± She murmured softly. Taesan drew his sword. In response to in, he also began to gather his power. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Myriad Souls].] [You have activated Vessel of the King.] [You have activated Small Ember.] [You have activated Deer Walking on the Wind Path.] The power of the apostle descended upon Taesan. The vessel of the Spirit King synchronized with the ring and conveyed power to Taesan. Control over mes formed, and wind enveloped Taesan¡¯s body. And even more. [The opponent is a difficult enemy to defeat.] [Battle Craving has been activated.] [Honorable Duel has been activated.] [Proof of Limits has been activated.] [Despising the Strong has been activated.] [Antithesis of the Giant Will has been activated.] Various buffs settled into Taesan¡¯s body. Stronger than before, he gripped his sword tightly. in smiled. ¡°Come forth, the one brought here by the Demon God, Lucifer. I will show you who the true master of thisnd is.¡± Tak. Taesan stepped forward. in felt as if his body had disappeared in an instant. So fast that it was almost impossible to perceive. in swung his staff. Wharack. Darkness poured out in all directions. Taesan¡¯s sword, which had moved behind in, was blocked by the darkness. ¡°As expected, you¡¯re fast. I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance if we fought physically.¡± in admired the attack. The speed was iparable, even if the power of all the fingers present here werebined. ¡°But my power does note from physical strength.¡± The staff struck the ground. Power gathered at the head of the staff and soon brought forth a phenomenon. Chwachwachwachak! Dark rain began to fall. The rain, which corroded the body upon contact and stained it with its color, fell heavily. Taesan gathered his power. mesbined with the wind, shaking everything around. The dark rain scattered in all directions. In the meantime, power was gathering again on in¡¯s staff. Gulloong. Power materialized, and a wave of darkness surged. A deep, dense energy that had spread throughout the entirend gathered with the power of the staff and tried to crush Taesan. Taesan spread the wings of the fairy and soared into the sky. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan looked at the power in wielded. ¡®Simr.¡¯ To the noble idiot who fought him in Arulia. The one who directly contracted with the High God. The feeling of the power was simr. But it was much stronger. Both in degree and in quality and power, it was iparable. The staff gathered power again. Pale-colored spikes shot up from the ground, trying to pierce Taesan. Taesan swung his sword to brush them off, but the spikes, as if they had their own will, avoided Taesan¡¯s sword and rushed at him. Kwaaak. Taesan kicked hard, sending the spikes flying. ¡°When the great one ruled the demon realm, his magic existed here.¡± in bared his teeth. ¡°I will show you the greatness of the once pervasive, now forgotten magic of the great one.¡± The staff vibrated. Kuung! The ground copsed, and pirs rose like dominoes, trying to pierce Taesan. Taesan kicked off the ground to dodge, but the pirs continued to rise, aiming at him. Clicking his tongue, Taesan flew high into the sky where the pirs couldn¡¯t reach. Kuuuung! Then, the pirs suddenly rose high enough to pierce the flying Taesan. Taesan struck down with his sword. The pirs crumbled and shattered. As if its job was done, no more pirs rose. The basic framework seemed simr to ck magic. But it was more sinister and alien. in smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you. Thanks to your surprise, I bought some time. Now I can eliminate the most troublesome thing.¡± Power gathered on the staff. Then the air changed. The air turned sticky like mucus and began to press down on Taesan¡¯s entire body. in murmured. ¡°The power to erase the attack itself. That was very annoying.¡± in knew about attack nullification. Having fought the High Gods several times, he was bound to respond sooner orter. As the air tried to cling to Taesan, the intangible energy surrounding Taesan moved. It shattered the air trying to stick to him, not allowing any approach. ¡°¡­¡­I haven¡¯t heard of such a power.¡± ¡°I am not stupid enough to leave such an obvious weakness.¡± This was the absolute blessing he had obtained for this purpose. ¡°This is bing difficult.¡± in calmly struck his staff down. Power rippled and began to envelop his body. ¡®The God-Seeking Flute¡­ is it a gamble?¡¯ A flute that prohibited the use of all magic for 10 minutes. Taesan was also included in the target. in imed it was the magic of the old demon god, but it was unclear if it would be subject to the flute¡¯s effects. If used incorrectly, it could result in Taesan penalizing himself, so he did not take out the flute. Based on the battles so far, Taesan roughly understood the power in wielded. ¡®There is a dy.¡¯ in was borrowing the power of the high gods to manifest his multifaceted power. And the stronger the power, the longer the process of its manifestation. Taesan frowned as if something didn¡¯t sit right with him. He spread his arms. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Magic eleration.] Light arrows manifested in Taesan¡¯s hand. They flew straight towards in. in gathered his power with a determined look. Kuuuung! Light and darkness collided and shed. As in¡¯s body was sent flying, Taesan fired another Starlight Arrow. Kuuuuung! The light burned the darkness. Taesan spread his hand once more. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Magic eleration.] Kuuung! ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°If it were the past me, it would have been rather troublesome.¡± Back then, he couldn¡¯t properly utilize the effects of the absolute blessing. The attack nullification might have been wasted meaninglessly due to the changing air. And he wouldn¡¯t have been able to properly evade the various attacking methods. Even if he somehow managed to win, it would be after revealing all the cards he had. But now was different. The current Taesan possessed a very high amount of mana. His intelligence was also high, greatly reducing the mana consumption of spells. Thus, mid-level magic like Starlight Arrow could be fired without much burden. in gathered power with his staff and then went through the process of manifesting magic. In contrast, Starlight Arrow manifested immediately upon use. Taesan had a rtive advantage in speed. Chojocheok! in¡¯s hands grew frenzied from the barrage of consecutive arrows. Finally, he couldn¡¯t gather enough power to block the Starlight Arrow. Taesan didn¡¯t miss the gap. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Invisibility.] [You have activated eleration.] The Starlight Arrow exploded, blinding in¡¯s vision. Then Taesan activated Invisibility to hide his presence and elerated to rush in. He struck in¡¯s side, who was preupied with blocking the Starlight Arrow. Choeoeoeng! ¡°Ugh!¡± Instead of feeling the sensation of the de piercing flesh, a shing sound echoed. A crack appeared on in¡¯s side. From there, dark energy slowly leaked out. It seemed to be a defense of darkness wrapped around his body. Taesan lunged at in. in swung his staff. Dark des erupted in all directions. Taesan moved his hands. [You have activated Continuous Attack.] Illusionary sword strikes painted in all directions. They shattered and crushed the erupting dark power. Just as in was about to unleash the power of his staff, Taesan grabbed the hand holding the staff. Crack. He twisted the arm and struck the temple with his knee. in¡¯s eyes wavered momentarily. Then Taesan drove his sword in. [You have activated the de of Willpower.] Kwajik. The sword pierced through the dark defense and embedded deep into the chest. With a roar, in¡¯s body was mmed into the ground. ¡°Cough.¡± in spat blood. His entire body was copsing. ¡°You are strong.¡± ¡°Stop babbling and call him.¡± Taesan twisted the sword embedded in his chest. His face showed neither the joy of victory nor the satisfaction of oveing. in faintly smiled. ¡°Did you notice?¡± ¡°I am not such an idiot that I wouldn¡¯t notice that.¡± in was not using the power of the High God spread across the earth or borrowing it from someone else. He was manifesting the old demon god¡¯s magic using his own power. And it was simr to magic. Since he was drawing upon the power within his body, there was no need for long casting times. It meant there was no reason for him to be slower than Taesan¡¯s Starlight Arrows. But in¡¯s casting time was exceptionally long. This meant that while fighting Taesan, in was preparing something with double casting. A skill that allowed the casting of two spells simultaneously, at the cost of slower casting. He had seen it before when fighting S-rank monsters in his past life. ¡°I apologize, great being. This humble body has failed to fulfill your will.¡± in¡¯s words contained an apology. Darkness began to gather around his body. ¡°So please forgive me! To bring you, the great being, down to this filthynd!¡± Kuuung! Darkness burst forth. Taesan kicked off the ground to create some distance. Outside, the demons were preparing for battle as they watched the approaching enemies. sha and Quaned drew their weapons with tense faces. ¡°¡­What?¡± Minerva¡¯s face hardened. A massive wave of power was spreading from the direction of the thorns, covering the entire destend. ¡°Ah¡­ Is that it? This is dangerous.¡± Minerva scratched her cheek as the power of the High God that had been spread throughout the destend was being withdrawn. [Hmm. Is this it?] ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°Oh, Demon God!¡± [Hello, my children.] The demon god greeted them with a smile. sha and Quaned bowed respectfully. The demon god turned her gaze. The demons rushing forward copsed one by one. They were bound by the power of the earth. As the power of the earth was withdrawn, their souls and bodies naturally separated. The destend was vast beyond measure. The domain that had spread across the entire area was now being withdrawn and gathered into the thorns. [Do you want to hold on to it even at the cost of giving up everything?] The old demon god could not interfere in the demon realm. He had been exiled. But the destend was still within the old demon god¡¯s domain. Therefore, even the demon god could not interfere here. The only interference the old demon god could perform was to deliver revtions through the thorns. That was it. But there was one way he could interfere beyond that. He had to give up everything. If he did, even though it was a tiny space, the old demon god¡¯s domain would be formed for a short time. It must be to capture Taesan. [But it won¡¯t be easy.] She chuckled. Kuuung! A tremendous power was being concentrated into the thorns. Taesan strengthened the barrier surrounding his body even more. If he didn¡¯t, his body would be crushed by the sheer force. Before he knew it, a massive ck barrier had formed around the thorns. ¡°I can¡¯t get out.¡± He knocked on the barrier, but it was incredibly solid. Unless he used the power of the Grey, it was impossible to open. This was no longer the demon realm. It was a different dimension. The thorns distorted space and opened a passage. From there, a massive entity appeared. It had a human shape but no head. Its entire body was matte ck and it had eight arms. ¡®It¡¯s smaller than the High God I saw in Arulia.¡¯ But Taesan could feel it. It was an existence of the same rank. An entity that could take life just by existing. ¡°Greetings, old demon god.¡± Chapter 262: Old Demon God (1) Chapter 262: Old Demon God (1) A gigantic presence. With its appearance, the space distorted. Thews of the world crumbled, and everything began to twist. [Ugh.] The ghost momentarily held its breath. Soon, its figure disappeared. The link was not broken. It seemed the ghost had been temporarily ejected outside, unable to endure. Taesan looked at the demon. It, too, turned its gaze towards Taesan. Even without a head, even without visible eyes, Taesan could feel its gaze upon him. As the gaze was felt, its presence also approached.Boom! An overwhelming enormity. An immeasurable font of power. It felt as vast as when one first saw the ocean. It was a power that could not be reached even if one devoted everything at the cost of their life. At the same time, all the despairing emotions a human could be felt rushing in. A torrent that could make even one who had endured asceticism turn into a simpleton in an instant. ¡°Shut up.¡± Taesan gritted his teeth. He gathered his spirit. Rising up, he shook off the overwhelming presence and will. A strange light lingered in the gaze directed at Taesan. Taesan gripped his sword tightly. Oveing the sensation of his body copsing, he looked at the old demon god. [You.] It was not anguage. Language is made to converse with someone. It was not applicable to the old demon god. It was merely a deration containing its will. [Mine.] Boom. The world twisted. To fulfill the will of the great presence, the space itself twisted, and power moved. It was a type ofw. Reality itself changed, phenomena urred to fulfill the old demon god¡¯s will. Taesan¡¯s body approached the old demon god. The space opened, trying to swallow Taesan and invade his mind. ¡°Get lost.¡± Taesan stomped his foot roughly. The spirit gathered within him exploded. Like a beast gone mad, it shattered the distorting reality. The storm of spirit dissipated the twisted reality. ¡°You can¡¯t suppress me with will alone without doing anything.¡± He had broken through numerous trials and gained immeasurable power. Even an old demon god couldn¡¯t suppress Taesan with just its will in an imperfect state. ¡°If you intended to kill me, the story would be different¡­ But you don¡¯t want to kill me, do you?¡± Taesan sneered. The demon wanted to suppress him. ¡°Then this won¡¯t do. I won¡¯t submit to you.¡± The mortal dered boldly in front of the transcendental being. The old demon god¡¯s gaze did not change. [Then fall.] With those words, reality twisted. The changed naturalw rushed to kill Taesan. The distorted space turned into thorns to pierce him, and the air transformed into poison to infiltrate his breathing. Taesan swung his hand roughly. [You have ignited the me of disaster.] The me of the beast that would destroy the world exploded. It surged to burn everything it touched. But the being in front of him was literally an existence trying to break the universe. The surging me was trampled by the twisted reality, extinguishing like a small spark. But he had bought time. Taesan gathered his spirit into his sword. Swinging it roughly, he dispelled the approaching pressure. Just as Taesan was about to push off the ground. Boom! The ground copsed. The foothold crumbled, and his body began to fall. Taesan clicked his tongue and looked down. And his pupils dted. There was no end to the copsing ground. His body began to fall into an endless abyss. ¡°Damn it.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and wrapped himself. ¡°Ah, ahhh!¡± The contract between a spirit and a human was a kind of link. Humans could feel the spirit¡¯s vision and power and sense its movements. And the same was true for spirits. They could see the rough power and vision of the contracted human. That was why Minerva could see now. The gigantic presence in front of Taesan. ¡°No!¡± When the power had first gathered in the abandonednd, she had thought it was merely a level of power to strengthen the presence before her. It was dangerous, but within the realm of mortals. However, this was not the case. The old demon god. A transcendent being. Its main body had directly descended. Minerva gathered the wind. It was a rough cohesion, not considering reverse summoning. She swung it straight at the thorn-covered ck barrier. Paang! But it was the wind that scattered. As the demon stepped on the ground, it spoke. [It''s useless, child of the spirit. That is a concentration of power. Your strength can''t even scratch it.] ¡°Ahhh!¡± Minerva ruffled her hair. Her master, the person who had helped her, was confronting the old demon god. The thought of it made her mind turn upside down. ¡°Oh, great demon!¡± She cried out, looking at the demon. ¡°Please save my master! Don¡¯t you also cherish my master?¡± [Yes, I cherish him.] The demon nodded. [But I will not save him.] ¡°Why!¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why! Why are you letting my master die?¡± [Calm down.] The demon ced its finger on Minerva¡¯s forehead. In an instant, her body copsed. Barkaza quickly wrapped her body. [Great demon...] [I just put her to sleep for a while. I will forgive her rudeness, as her feelings for him weremendable.] She had shouted directly at a transcendent being. If it had been a more ill-tempered transcendent, she would have turned to dust instantly. [...Thank you for your mercy.] [You seem uneasy about him too.] [...Yes.] ¡°Great demon, can you really not help him?¡± sha also asked with trembling eyes. Standing in front of the demon she respected, she barely maintained herposure; otherwise, she would have gone mad like Minerva. [First, one thing.] The demon god ced her hand on the ck barrier. [I am not choosing not to save him, but I cannot save him.] ¡°Demon god?¡± [This ck space is a concentration of energy that pervades the entire abandonednd. Beyond it lies the old demon god''s domain. It can no longer be called the demon world.] The demon god clicked her tongue. [Of course, unlike the abandonednd, it is a temporary cohesion and can be crushed with power... but doing so will erase everything inside.] ¡°Ah¡­¡± If the demon god destroyed the space, Taesan would also die. sha closed her mouth at that fact. [We must leave the rest to him. And even if I could save him, I would not.] ¡°W-what?¡± [You need to trust him more.] The demon god smiled. She couldn¡¯t see beyond the space, but she could guess what was happening inside from the energy she felt. [Not a proper descent, just a trick. Barely managed to insert just the body. He won''t die from just this.] She spoke, her tone confident like a princess waiting for the hero¡¯s return. [He will return victorious. Just like always.] In the state of falling, Taesan spread his wings. He didn¡¯t know what was below, but his instincts warned him. He must not go down. Reaching the bottom would mean the end of everything for him. As he tried to fly up, something sprang up from the abyss. Taesan reflexively raised his sword. [You have activated Flow.] Thunk. The thing that sprang up was repelled, revealing itself. Taesan frowned. ¡°Hands?¡± They were ck hands. Like a curse, numerous hands rose. They reached out to grab Taesan¡¯s arms and legs. Taesan spun around. He infused his sword with aura and swung it. The aura poured out like waves. The rising hands moved, avoiding the aura. ¡°Tsk.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue, focused his mind, and swung his sword. Ka-gak! He cut down the hands one by one. Moving his legs, he kicked away the hands trying to grab his feet and punched. He gathered wind and mes and sted them downwards. Taesan nced upward. The old demon god was quietly watching him. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Frost arrows flew towards the old demon god. But they disappeared before reaching it, as if the pressure below didn¡¯t allow them to exist. He cut down the hands aiming for his limbs again. ¡®¡­¡­Weaker than I thought.¡¯ The power to copse space and twist reality. It was certainly strong, but it wasn¡¯t the power of a transcendent being. In other words, the old demon god was also greatly weakened as it crossed the space. The old demon god descended here using in¡¯s power. There must be a time limit. If Taesan survived until then, it would be his victory. However. ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± Taesan muttered. He wanted tond a blow on the old demon god looking down at him from above. The thought was momentary, and the decision was quick. Taesan twisted his falling body upward. Dozens of hands rose simultaneously. Taesan¡¯s arms and legs were grabbed. The strong force tried to pull Taesan into the deep abyss. [You have activated the Frozen World.] Creeeak! The severe cold surged. The hands were covered in frost. But the hands didn¡¯t stop. Breaking through the ice, they grabbed Taesan. [You have activated the Frozen World.] Once again, the cold surged. The strength of the hands had weakenedpared to before. Taesan didn¡¯t stop. He continuously activated the Frozen World. He invested all the remaining mana. ¡°Hoo.¡± He took a deep breath. The moment the breath was exhaled, it froze and fell. The surroundings were covered in transparent ice. Creeeak. The ice began to slowly crack. The hands moved, gradually advancing towards Taesan. Taesan drew Aegis¡¯s Shield and clenched his fist. [You have used Aegis''s Shield. For 1 second, you are immune to all damage but cannot move.] [You have activated Magical Explosion.] The cold shattered. The Frozen World, which had ovepped more than ten times, exploded all at once, covering the surroundings. The advancing hands couldn¡¯t withstand the explosion, which Taesan had invested all his mana in, and shattered. But from the depths, the hands rose again. Not just from the bottom; this time, they were slowly rising from both walls. The hands came at Taesan from all directions to grab him. Taesan put away the shield and gathered magic. Due to the magical explosion, the cold scattered in all directions, slowing the hands¡¯ charge. He put all the magic he had into the passage. He saw the gaze beyond. It looked at Taesan and smiled. At the same time as the magic ran out, Taesan drew power from the passage. [You have activated Decarabia''s Twisted Vegetation.] Roots sprang up from the opened passage. They were thicker than any roots Taesan had summoned so far. And they were denser and sturdier. Taesan instinctively realized that the roots he had summoned so far were just a part. These were the roots that pierced the world itself. Rumble! The rising roots advanced upward. Taesan flew along the roots. The advancing hands were trampled and crushed by the roots¡¯ momentum. Energy flowed from the old demon god, who was quietly watching from above. The small energy amplified and amplified as soon as it flowed out, bing a gigantic wave. The wave, like a beast, shattered the roots. The roots that pierced the world were crushed and twisted like toothpicks. Overwhelming presence and power. An insurmountable wall for a mortal. The wave didn¡¯t stop and tried to engulf Taesan. Taesan didn¡¯t run. He neither retreated nor evaded but moved forward. [You have activated eleration.] He spread his wings and charged at the old demon god. He drew his sword. He put everything he had into the end of it. Spirit, strength, aura¡ªall gathered. [You have activated ckness.] A color as dark as pitch spread, and a bright light began to mix with it. Gray light gathered in the sword. Enduring the sensation of his limbs twisting, he swung the sword. The wave of the old demon god collided with the gray and was erased. Taesan exerted all his strength and advanced further. The advancing wave twisted his body just by approaching. The overwhelming presence and power made him nauseous and dizzy. But Taesan advanced. Crushing and oveing the transcendent power and presence, he moved forward. He erased and shattered the advancing wave. The presence of the transcendent slowly began to fade under the gray. Rumble! The space began to copse. The abandonednd, formed by the gathering of all its energy, couldn¡¯t withstand the shing power and began to copse slowly. And at the end of it. Taesan arrived in front of the old demon god. ng. A small sound echoed. Taesan¡¯s sword touched the old demon god¡¯s body. Taesan smiled. ¡°I won.¡± Chapter 263: Old Demon God (2) Chapter 263: Old Demon God (2) The attack of a mortal touched the body of a transcendent being. It was a miraculous event, a feat that no one had achieved for thousands of years. Unaware of this, Taesan was quietly satisfied. Although there wasn¡¯t even a scratch on the Old Demon God¡¯s body, the fact that his attack had reached it was enough to please him. One of the Old Demon God¡¯s arms moved. An immense power that even Taesan couldn¡¯t handle began to gather and concentrate. But Taesan smiled without responding. ¡°This time, I win.¡± Boom! The power gathering in the Demon God¡¯s arm dispersed. It didn¡¯t gather again and slowly started to be sucked into the space beyond.¡°Time limit¡¯s up.¡± The Old Demon God had descended here with in¡¯s help, and there was a time limit for the descent. Originally, he could havested longer, but he had used excessive power to attempt to crush Taesan. The wave of energy he used at the end was the greatest. Now, the Old Demon God could no longer do anything here. ¡°So, get lost.¡± The ck barrier surrounding them began to copse. The space expanded and gently enveloped the Old Demon God. The Old Demon God disappeared. [Congrattions.] He offered words of pure congrattions. [You have won. This time.] And then the Old Demon God vanished. As the immense presence waspletely erased, Taesan copsed. ¡®The Soul Ascension didn¡¯t activate, huh.¡¯ It was disappointing, but part of him felt it was for the best. An alien existence. The very body of a transcendent being. If Soul Ascension had activated against such an entity and brought something back, it might have killed Taesan instead. Not yet. He needed to be stronger, to gain power and try again. The tension in his body released. The fighting spirit and will that had filled his mind disappeared without a trace. Although the battle time wasn¡¯t long, he was more exhausted than any fight since his past life. ¡°¡­Phew.¡± Taesan strengthened his legs. As the Old Demon God had said, he had won. Therefore, he should stand proudly as the victor. Crack! The ck barrierpletely copsed. The surrounding scenery came into view. ¡°Taesan¡­¡± A trembling voice called out from sha. Taesan frowned, noticing the demon god next to them. ¡°¡­Were you watching?¡± [Yes.] The demon god nodded. Her face was filled with endless satisfaction and pride. ¡°It would have been nice if you had helped a bit.¡± [I believed you would win. And indeed, you came back victorious, didn''t you?] ¡°That may be true, but¡­¡± Taesan grumbled as he turned his gaze. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± As the ck space disappeared, in, who had been buried within, appeared. He let out a dryugh. ¡°Hahaha¡­ You¡¯re truly amazing. Not only did you survive witnessing such a great being, but your mind didn¡¯t copse either¡­¡± in¡¯s gaze towards Taesan was peculiar. It was as if he was looking at something enormous. ¡°Are you really a mortal? It makes me wonder.¡± ¡°For now, yes.¡± He had not yet reached their level. But one day, he would. ¡°First of all¡­ congrattions. You have defeated a great being.¡± in smiled as he was dying. ¡°But this result is not bad for them either. They¡¯ve confirmed the power you possess and realized even more what they can achieve through you.¡± This meant that the old gods would target Taesan more directly. in, whose limbs were copsing, spoke in a dying voice. ¡°I¡¯m curious¡­ what will be of your path¡­¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be around to see it.¡± Taesan drove his sword into his chest. in¡¯s bodypletely copsed. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ quite a shame¡­¡± [Your Soul Ascension has activated.] [The proficiency of the special continuous activation skill [Cradle of the Abyss] has increased by 6%.] [The proficiency of the special continuous activation skill [Twisted Soul Tuning] has increased by 5%.] [You have acquired the special continuous activation skill [Double Casting].] The Saint of the Old Gods died, just like that. Taesan shook off his sword. The ghost approached him. [Did you win?] ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan replied briefly. The ghost chuckled. [You monster.] ¡°Uh¡­¡± Minerva, who had copsed, began to get up, holding her head. ¡°Why is she down?¡± [The demon god temporarily knocked her out. She was a bit noisy because of you.] ¡°Master¡­¡± Minerva hurriedly looked around. Her pupils widened when she spotted Taesan. ¡°¡­Master!¡± She ran towards Taesan. He patted her head as she hugged him tightly. ¡°I¡¯m alive.¡± ¡°Oh, Master¡­ Master¡­¡± Minerva, her head buried in Taesan¡¯s chest, began to cry. Although his clothes got wet, it didn¡¯t feel too bad. [Though the demon god assured me, seeing it actually happen is peculiar. How did you manage it?] ¡°Now you¡¯re a real monster. I can¡¯t believe I faced someone like you.¡± Barkaza asked curiously, and Quaned grumbled. sha, holding back tears, approached and spoke. ¡°Congrattions. As expected of Taesan.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan briefly looked at her before turning his gaze to the demon god. ¡°Demon God, I havepleted your task. What do you think?¡± [Very, very satisfied. Kang Taesan.] The demon god smiled. The quest was over. It was time to return to thebyrinth. Before that, thanks to the demon god¡¯s consideration, Taesan stayed in the demon realm for a while. [Even you must be quite exhausted? Take a good rest.] It was a considerate gesture. The battle with the Old Demon God was mentally and physically tiring. There was no harm in resting before returning to thebyrinth. Barkaza and Minerva were temporarily summoned back to the spirit world. In Barkaza¡¯s case, he had expended considerable energy while breaking through the abandonednd, and Minerva had exhausted all her power trying to save Taesan during his battle with the Old Demon God. As a result, Taesan rested in the demon realm for a day. ¡°Is it time?¡± There was almost no physical damage. If anything, it was mental fatigue, which had recovered in just one day. It was time to return to thebyrinth. At that moment, the door opened, and sha entered. ¡°Taesan, can I have a moment?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± She sat across from Taesan. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke. ¡°Taesan, you are truly amazing¡­¡± It was pure admiration and respect. The Old Demon God. A transcendent who had ruled the demon realm, seen only in legends. Although expelled by the demon god, he was an equivalent being. Taesan shook his head, having defeated such an entity and returned. ¡°It¡¯s not that amazing.¡± ¡°No, it is amazing. If it were me, I would have epted defeat the moment I saw him.¡± sha smiled slightly. She stopped smiling and asked. ¡°Are you going back now, Taesan?¡± ¡°I should.¡± ¡°¡­Will you evere back here?¡± ¡°Well, if there¡¯s a reason, I might. I can¡¯t give a definite answer.¡± ¡°Then¡­ can I ask you one thing?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± She took Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°If you can, even just once, pleasee back here.¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± sha smiled. After she left, Taesan waved his hand toward the space. The space opened, and Taesan¡¯s body was sucked into it. [Have you rested enough?] ¡°Yes.¡± The demon god was seated on the throne. She smiled slightly. [As I said before, I want you to find a ce to rest your body.] ¡°I¡¯ll keep it in mind.¡± [That''s all I ask. It''s not an obligation, so take it easy.] The demon god crossed her legs. [Well then, it¡¯s time for you to receive the reward for all your hardships.] It was time for the reward. [But before that, it seems you have quite a few questions, don''t you?] ¡°Quite a lot.¡± But the demon god would not answer. Taesan could instinctively tell. The demon god spoke with a vague expression. [You probably have a guess. It¡¯s because of the boundary you possess. That power. But¡­ as you expected, I can¡¯t give you an answer to that question.] She twirled her hair. [Because it¡¯s something beyond what you can handle.] ¡°Even though it¡¯s my power that I obtained?¡± [It¡¯s simple. If you know what you can do with that power, many beings will target you. That includes transcendents and immortals.] ¡°¡­It¡¯s quite a big deal.¡± Not just mortals, but even transcendents wanting to kill him. In other words, even they saw Taesan¡¯s grey power as something alien. The demon god gave a bitter smile. [The old gods, after being banished, have shown nothing but anger and hatred to this world. But greed? Do you know how strange it is for a near-eternal being, unchanged since birth, to want the power you possess?] The demon god sighed. [So I can''t tell you. If you know, you''ll only be more confused.] ¡°Understood.¡± [To think that you could gain something like that through thebyrinth''s system.] She muttered. The demon god, who seemed to be thinking for a moment, pped her hands to change the mood. [Then let¡¯s get to the main point. Taesan. You have done exactly what I wanted.] He had erased the entire bothersome abandonednd. Not only that, he had even defeated the descending Old Demon God. There couldn¡¯t be more satisfaction. [As a reward, be my apostle¡­] ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Taesan refused decisively. The demon god, seemingly expecting Taesan¡¯s refusal, waved her finger without much change in expression. [Well, I figured. You have no reason to be anyone''s apostle right now. But... the power of an apostle itself would be of great help to you. So, I¡¯ll give you this first.] The divinity of the god enveloped Taesan. [The special activation skill [Apostle Transformation [Myriad Souls]] has changed to the special activation skill [Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos]].] [Check it out. You¡¯ll be very satisfied.] The apostle transformation was currently one of his most crucial skills, given the high-level enemies constantly appearing. Therefore, the change in the apostle transformation was one of the most satisfying rewards Taesan could receive. [And¡­ your ring.] The demon god looked at the ck ring. [The white one is too unique and demands too much power, so I can¡¯t touch it, but the ck one is doable.] The demon god¡¯s power infused the ck ring. The ring resisted, releasing power. The demon god waved her finger as if finding it cute. [Stay calm.] Boom! Power concentrated in the ring. The ring made a squeaking sound, and the power it emitted became stronger. [I¡¯ve slightly lifted the restriction due to yourck of power. Its self-awareness has strengthened, but¡­ with your current state, you can handle it without problems.] ¡°Thank you.¡± [It''s still an insufficient reward for what you¡¯ve done.] And it wasn¡¯t over yet. The demon god added softly. The main reward was ck magic. All other rewards were personal gifts from the demon god. [I originally intended to give you a high-tier ck magic. One of considerable quality.] That alone would have been a satisfactory reward for Taesan. Considering the likes of Frozen World and Starlight Arrow, he knew the level of the high-tier ss. But the demon god had an uncertain expression. [But they intervened.] ¡°They?¡± [The demons I¡¯ve contracted with, who lend power through ck magic.] The demon god squinted her eyes. [They''ve taken an interest in you.] ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t sound like good news.¡± Demons. Like the old gods, they wereplete from birth, but their power wasn¡¯t great enough, so they made contracts with demon gods to lend their power to demons. However, while not greatpared to the old gods, they still far surpassed mortal levels. Even the power shown when using beginner ck magic through the passage was evident. [It''s not good news, but at least for now, it¡¯s not bad. Take it.] Darkness enveloped Taesan, materializing and bing part of his power. [You have acquired the high-tier ck magic [Naberius¡¯ Golden Sword].] [You have acquired the high-tier ck magic [Amon¡¯s Pitch-ck Spike].] [You have acquired [Lemegeton].] Chapter 264: Special Activation Skill. Absolute Judgment (1) Chapter 264: Special Activation Skill. Absolute Judgment (1) Taesan was surprised. ¡°Are you giving me two?¡± Of course, Taesan had aplished quite a lot. He had directly faced and defeated a High God, so receiving a substantial reward was only natural. However, the value of mid-level ck magic was enormous, even considering his achievements. Even Zelbando, the God of Magic, who had given him a reward for saving the Giant¡¯s world, had only given one. In addition to this, he received the transformation of the Apostle and the evolution of the ring as rewards for defeating the High God. He never expected to receive one more reward here. [I was nning to give you only one. But didn''t I tell you? They interfered.] Demons. Beings that used ck magic itself.[They have taken an interest in you. And that''s close to goodwill. To be precise, it''s curiosity mixed with goodwill.] The Demon God spoke with a displeased expression. [They want to form a direct rtionship with you, not through me. They want to hand over their power to you.] ¡°So, this is what you meant when you said it¡¯s not bad right now.¡± Whatever the case, he had obtained two mid-level ck magics. This was a clear gain. The Demon God nodded. [One is given by me. The other is a reward directly given to you by the demons. These two ck magics are among the top mid-level ck magics, so there will be no disappointment.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan expressed his gratitude. He was satisfied. But the Demon God had an ambiguous expression. [They will show interest in you. Someday they might approach you. I''ve given a warning, so they won''t show hostility... but they will want to test your strength.] The Demon God leaned back on her throne. [Do as you please. You can show your strength or reject their approach.] ¡°Understood.¡± It was ultimately Taesan¡¯s choice. Therefore, there was nothing to worry about. He could do as he wished. [Then, it''s time for you to go down, right?] ¡°Yes. Recently, the progress of thebyrinth conquest has been quite slow.¡± There had been many instances ofing and going due to the trials of the gods or returns. As a result, the progress in conquering thebyrinth itself had been quite slow. [Before that, let me tell you two things.] The Demon God slowly opened her mouth. [60th floor. They will be waiting there.] ¡°You mean the Guides.¡± [Yes. As always, you just need to win.] Taesan nodded. The Demon God continued. [Soon, there will be interference in thebyrinth. You will meet each other.] ¡°The God of Descent, Essence?¡± The Demon God¡¯s eyebrows twitched at Taesan¡¯s words. [How do you know... No, you wouldn''t be unaware, would you?] The Demon God knew that Taesan had returned from the future. Therefore, everything that had happened in thebyrinth was something Taesan had experienced. [Yes. A party will start for the child he favors. I don''t like such meetings, but... that guy is extremely persistent.] The Demon God grumbled. She didn¡¯t seem to like the God of Descent very much. [It will bemunicated soon, but I''m telling you in advance.] ¡°Thank you.¡± The Demon God stared at Taesan. [It''s good to make it clear.] She said. [If Essence tries to approach you and do something. You can use my name.] ¡°¡­I will remember that.¡± [Then my business is over. It''s time for you to move forward for your purpose, Taesan.] The Demon God smiled and waved her fingers. [I look forward to our next meeting.] As the space flipped, Taesan returned to thebyrinth. ¡°It¡¯s been a while here too.¡± A small space surrounded by bricks that now felt asfortable as home. Taesan sat on the floor. It was time to organize what he had obtained. He first looked at the ring. [Engulfed in ckness mixed with grandeur] [Attack Power +750] [A ring made by mixing Dragon¡¯s w and Spirit King''s Ember. It is simply strong. Each great energy collides with the other to create one ego. The ego is not whole, is violent, and does not acknowledge anything other than its twin. The one who perfectly tames this will gain another power.] Attack power increased by 250. It was a decent reward, which was definitely helpful. The value of 250 was still significant even now. Next, Taesan opened the skill window. The proficiency of Twisted Spirit Tuning was 58%. 60% was just around the corner. Because he often fought beings rted to the High God, its growth rate was overwhelmingly fastpared to other skills. Besides that, the proficiency of several skills, such as Ability Sword, Small Ember, and Disaster¡¯s Ember, had significantly increased. And the Apostle Transformation that had evolved as a reward. [Special Activation Skill: Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos]] [The first power bestowed by the God of Struggle and Death since his birth. Mixed with the power of darkness, only chaos and ckness remain. For 2 hours, you gain a portion of the power possessed by the Apostles of the God. Your magic energy greatly increases, and you gain partial control over ck magic. This skill cannot be used again for one day after activation.] The most noticeable change was the duration. Originally, it had been one hour, but now it was two hours. This meant he could use the Apostle Transformation with more leeway in timing. And perhaps because it was mixed with the Demon God¡¯s power, there was a note that his total magic energy increased, and he gained partial control over ck magic. ¡°Not bad.¡± Through this quest, he had learned the proper use of ck magic. On top of that, he had acquired two more mid-level ck magics. Considering the power of ck magic, it would be of great help in battles. Moreover, the power of Apostle Transformation itself would have increased as a divine rank had been added. It wasn¡¯t bad at all. And then, Double Casting, obtained by defeating the old demon god¡¯s apostle. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Double Casting] [Proficiency: 1%] [When using mana, magic energy, or another distinct energy, you can use two skills simultaneously. However, the speed of manifestation is significantly dyed.] Double Casting. It was once used by a magic-type S-rank opponent he faced in his previous life. He and Lee Taeyeon had barely managed to defeat it together, but even Taesan had braced himself for death against the unceasingly erupting power of the High God. The separate energy mentioned in the description would refer to the High God¡¯s power. Taesan tried it out. [You activated Frozen World.] [You activated Starlight Arrow.] ng! Zzzing! Cold air surged, and Starlight Arrow materialized in Taesan¡¯s hand. The manifestations were almost simultaneous but clearly slower than usual. Up until now, magic had been realized instantly upon activation, but this time there was about a second of manifestation time. At Taesan¡¯s current level, a second was a considerable difference. ¡°I can¡¯t use it like this. Then¡­¡± [You activated Decarabia¡¯s Twisted Vegetation.] A passage began to form, ready to release its power. Before the ck magic was fully realized, Taesan activated spells in quick session. [You activated Starlight Arrow.] [You activated Frost Arrow.] [You activated Grain Diffusion.] Numerous spells were manifested. And Taesan drew power from the passage. Roots harshly tore through thebyrinth. [This is ambiguous.] ¡°It feels like neither here nor there.¡± While it was possible to use magic while manifesting ck magic, the speed of realization was significantly dyed. For now, it was no better than using two powers consecutively. [It¡¯s a matter of proficiency.] It seemed to be a skill that was useless at low proficiency. In other words, if he raised the proficiency, it might be possible to use two skills simultaneously at the usual speed. And the opportunity to raise proficiency woulde soon. Until then, he nned to seal it temporarily. [Mid-Level ck Magic: Naberious¡¯s Golden Sword] [Mana Cost: 300] [Base Magic Energy Cost: 150] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summons the Golden Sword that guards Naberious¡¯s body. The summoned sword disappears after one use.] The description was short. It wasn¡¯t strange. Frozen World and Starlight Arrow were the same. The more powerful the skill, the shorter the description often was. ¡°The magic energy cost is no joke.¡± Taesan¡¯s current magic energy was around 600. If he opened a passage to use it, it would be exhausted in one go. But it would have that much power. Mid-level ck magic. With expectations of its power, Taesan descended further into thebyrinth. The best way to understand its exact power was to use it directly on monsters. [Quest for the 59th floor begins.] [Defeat the boss on the 59th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Echo of the Progressor.] [Secret Reward: ???] The monster on the 59th floor was humanoid but had a bizarre atmosphere, covering its eyes with hands longer than its body. Furthermore, its entire body was covered with something that looked like hard chitin. [The Timid Aberration that Hides Its Eyes has appeared.] As soon as Taesan saw the monster, he swung his sword. Thwack. [1324 damage to the Timid Aberration that Hides Its Eyes.] ¡°Hmm?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyebrows moved. It was tough. Even without using the Addition skill, he had dealt less than half the usual damage. This monster was special. [The Timid Aberration that Hides Its Eyes. A unique monster.] The ghost mumbled. Taesan recalled his memory. ¡®Come to think of it.¡¯ Lee Taeyeon had mentioned this monster before. What did she say about it? Taesan recalled her words and smiled. ¡°Good. I didn¡¯t expect to obtain it right away.¡± [Obtain? What?] ¡°I¡¯ll exinter.¡± First, it was a test. [You activated Naberious¡¯s Golden Sword.] Without opening the passage, he used the ck magic. The Golden Sword materialized above Taesan¡¯s grasp, oveying the sword he was already holding. Taesan¡¯s eyebrows twitched. The power felt from the sword was immense. The amount of power used in Starlight Arrow was condensed into a single sword. Taesan swung the Golden Sword. A sharp golden sword energy was unleashed. sh! Thebyrinth wall was roughly scratched. With a loud noise, the Aberration slowly fell. [9324 damage to the Timid Aberration that Hides Its Eyes.] ¡°Ho?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled. He used only the basic magic energy without opening the passage, but the damage was enormous. ¡°A ck magic that concentrates mid-level power into a single sword strike.¡± It wasn¡¯t suitable for dealing with multiple enemies, but it was enough to create variables in one-on-one situations. ¡®Moreover, with sword strikes.¡¯ Taesan summoned the Golden Sword again and swung it at the monster that was barely rising. [You activated Strong Blow.] [12547 damage to the Timid Aberration that Hides Its Eyes.] Crack! The Aberration, which was barely standing,pletely copsed. [You have defeated the Timid Aberration that Hides Its Eyes.] The damage had significantly increased. Taesan¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile. The Golden Sword allowed attacks to be made in the form of sword strikes. In other words, it could be used in conjunction with the Ability Sword. That meant he could unleash a deadly strike in situations where the opponent couldn¡¯t respond. ¡°It lives up to its mid-level name.¡± Taesan, satisfied, checked another ck magic. [Mid-Level ck Magic: Amon¡¯s Pitch-ck Spike] [Mana Cost: 400] [Basic Magic Energy Cost: 170] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summons a pitch-ck spike made of Amon¡¯s power. The power of the spike, which can shatter continents, seems to have been degraded to a strong explosion.] From the description alone, it was hard to understand its effect. Taesan moved to the next room, focusing entirely on the Aberration that appeared. [You activated Amon¡¯s Pitch-ck Spike.] A ck spike materialized above Taesan¡¯s hand. Taesan rushed at the Aberration. Dodging its attacks, he stabbed the spike into its chest. Boom! The spike exploded. The Aberration¡¯s chest shattered into pieces and crashed into the wall. The Aberration, which was trying to stagger up, continued to copse. [9924 damage to the Timid Aberration that Hides Its Eyes.] ¡°A spike that explodes upon contact.¡± It rendered one hand unusable while it was materialized, but the power was considerable even considering that. Moreover, the fact that it exploded upon contact was an advantage. With this level of power, it could break through and pierce the opponent¡¯s defense. If used through the passage, its power would increase further. The two ck magics obtained this time were both advantageous in dealing with single targets rather than multiple ones. This was beneficial to Taesan. The magic and ck magic he had acquired so far were all based on dealing with multiple targets. Andstly. [Lemegeton] [A contract made with a demon. If you wish and they desire, you can make a direct contract to handle ck magic. It is currently just a right and has no effect.] The Demon God¡¯s mention of the demons¡¯ interest seemed to refer to this. After examining the skills for a moment, Taesan closed the system window. He wasn¡¯t nning to deal with demons yet. ¡°Then, now.¡± It was time to obtain what he rightfully deserved. Taesan organized the remaining Aberrations and broke through the room. Chapter 265: Special Activation Skill. Absolute Judgment (2) Chapter 265: Special Activation Skill. Absolute Judgment (2) ¡°59th floor. If it¡¯s fast, then getting it fast is fine.¡± [......What did you get this time? What is it now?] The ghost asked tiredly. Taesan answered. ¡°Absolute Judgement.¡± [......The name sounds strange. What''s its effect?] ¡°Complete disregard for the opponent¡¯s defense mechanisms.¡± [......] The ghost was at a loss for words. Taesan began preparations to acquire the skill.In this world, there was such a thing as rank. If one possessed a certain level of rank, they would hardly take any damage from those who did not. In his past life, he was in Easy Mode. The concept of rank virtually did not exist. At that time, he couldn¡¯t understand it, but the reason why he couldn¡¯t inflict damage on S-rank or apostles was because he didn¡¯t have the rank. However, he defeated S-rank opponents. He also managed to inflict effective damage on apostles. The skills that made this possible were Essence Strike and Absolute Judgement. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± The abomination focused on defense. Taesan recalled the information Lee Taeyeon had mentioned. A cowardly abomination with covered eyes. ¡®A monster that focuses on defense.¡¯ It defended against anything, whether it¡¯s magic or physical force. It used its high stamina to exhaust its attacker instead. It was a monster that wore down its opponents slowly. Taesan swung his sword. The sound of metal shing against metal rang out. [987 damage to the cowardly abomination with covered eyes.] Crunch. The exoskeleton surrounding the abomination became even harder. When he swung his sword again, it only dealt 500 damage. The recoil was also strong, requiring a considerable amount of force. Crunch crunch. The exoskeleton surrounding the abomination became even harder. It became densely connected, forming a shape that repelled attacks. ng! Taesan swung his sword. With a fierce recoil, his weapon bounced back. This time, it only dealt 300 damage. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± [You have activated Frost Arrow.] An arrow of ice pierced through the abomination. With a loud noise, the exoskeleton shattered. [1087 damage to the cowardly abomination with covered eyes.] This time, the damage registered properly. The abomination¡¯s form changed once again. Its outer skin began to emit heat. When he shot another Frost Arrow, the damage decreased to 700. This time, Taesan used a spirit skill. He used a small me to pressure the abomination. The abomination¡¯s skin turned into a rock-like form. The damage gradually decreased. ¡°It would be troublesome for others.¡± No matter what attack was used, it would respond ordingly. But it didn¡¯t matter to Taesan. He had the power of ck magic, magic, swordsmanship, and spirits. He had four different types of power. Including the powers of high-ranking gods and divine power, which he couldn¡¯t fully control yet, he had even more. For someone like him, opponents that adapted to attacks were meaningless. If they adapted, he could just use a different skill. Or he could simply crush them with raw power, as he did with intermediate ck magic. There were various ways to defeat them. But for those with only one or two types of power, it would be an extremely difficult opponent. ng! [887 damage to the cowardly abomination with covered eyes.] [You have won.] The abomination fell. ¡°About 13,000.¡± With that amount of damage, he was able to bring it down. It had an incredibly high amount of stamina. ¡®I understand why Lee Taeyeon almost died from exhaustion.¡¯ Taesanughed cheerfully and moved on to the next room. He began removing his weapons and equipment one by one. [Are you lowering your attack power?] ¡°It¡¯s too high.¡± He had to meet the conditions for Absolute Judgement. The ghost groaned. [What are the conditions? I should find out for myself, but I can''t stand the curiosity.] ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough.¡± A monster appeared. Taesan, equipped with just a single sword, charged at it. ng! He dealt 98 damage. The abomination that was attacked changed its skin ordingly, bing even harder with scales. Taesan focused his mind. [You have activated Essence Perception.] [You have activated Insight.] He read the information of the abomination. He understood the changed skin, its texture, and how to counter it. Taesan charged again. He read the texture of the changed skin and urately targeted the gaps. Crack. This time, the damage was 97. Crunch. The abomination¡¯s skin changed again. This time it became smooth, appearing slippery even when attacked. ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯ [You have activated Insight.] Information came in. The changed form, its effects, and its approximate appearance were imprinted. As a result, he could see that there were protruding parts between the smooth forms. Taesan ran forward. The protruding parts were as small as a dot. Focusing his mind, he thrust his sword. The tip of the sword precisely hit the protruding part. ng. 99 damage. Through a series of processes, the ghost understood. [Are you continuing to deal simr damage?] ¡°Yes.¡± [What''s the margin of error?] ¡°Based on what I¡¯ve analyzed so far, about ¡À5%.¡± [......Oh.] The ghost¡¯s voice was mixed with admiration and absurdity. Assuming he dealt 100 damage, it meant he had to deal damage within the range of 95 to 105. [How many times?] ¡°More than a hundred times.¡± [¡­¡­It seems like you''re experimenting on the abomination, so it must change its defense method with each attack, right?] ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± The ghost chuckled wryly. [That''s insane.] [¡­¡­Master seems out of his mind.] Barkaza also spoke with a hint of reluctance. Although he didn¡¯t fully understand thebyrinth¡¯s system, he could at least tell what level of task Taesan was talking about. An opponent that changed its defense method with each attack. Against such an enemy, he had to ensure that every attack dealt the same level of damage. In other words, no matter what kind of defense the opponent employed, he had to prate and crush all of it. Barkaza couldn¡¯t even guess the difficulty of that task. Having descended deep into thebyrinth and ovee numerous trials, the ghost who could guess the difficulty was even more astonished. [It''s on par with Addition¡¯s level of craziness.] Addition was a skill that increased damage by repeating the same posture, the same strength, and the same trajectory without any deviation. Absolute Judgement was theplete opposite. Against an opponent that changed its defense method with each attack, he had to prate each method in a different way more than a hundred times. But one thing was certain. Both were crazy tasks. Crunch crunch. The scales spread out like cracked dry ground. Taesan pierced through the changed defense method once again. ng! [96 damage to the cowardly abomination with covered eyes.] [You''re really hitting it urately. What are you?] ¡°I¡¯ve done it. A lot.¡± Hundreds of thousands of times. Maybe even more. He had worked hard to acquire Absolute Judgement. Countless experiences allowed him to estimate how much force to use based on the opponent¡¯s response. Taesan continued to attack the abomination. The abomination, which had been changing its scales, suddenly covered its face with its arms. Woooong. Instead of changing its scales, a bluish barrier formed around the abomination. It was apletely different response from before. When he tried to use Insight, it only described it as a blessing that protected the body, without detailed information. Taesan charged at the barrier. He thrust his sword and applied more force to his feet. The moment the barrier touched the sword, a sudden recoil was felt. It was a force that tried to repel the sword itself. Taesan reflexively applied more force. The barrier was pierced, and the sword stabbed the abomination. [93 damage to the cowardly abomination with covered eyes.] He failed. Taesan sheathed his sword. He wasn¡¯t surprised, as he hadn¡¯t expected to seed on the first try. Taesan applied force to his sword and advanced. While pressuring the abomination with the barrier, he aimed to deal 100 damage. After several attempts, he managed to inflict damage steadily. The abomination continued to alter the repulsive force of the barrier, but it didn¡¯t matter. Taesan calcted the repulsive force he felt when the sword touched the barrier and applied just enough force. By continuously pressuring the abomination, Taesan was able to understand its patterns. ¡®The first is the change of the exoskeleton.¡¯ Next, it created a blue barrier that emits a repulsive force. The third pattern made the abomination¡¯s body itself harden. Unlike the exoskeleton, there were no gaps, so he had to press it down purely with force. The fourth pattern covered its entire body with a slippery liquid. This reduced the damage by making sword strikes slide off. The fifth pattern was chaotic movement. Instead of trying to attack, it rampaged madly, making it difficult tond urate damage as it jumped around erratically. In this way, the opponent disyed a total of five patterns. After that, no matter how much he hit it, the patterns did not change. Taesan dealt with the abomination and moved to the next room. Now came the main part. Taesan charged at a new abomination. ng! He swung his sword. He suppressed the abomination, which tried to block by changing its exoskeleton, in the same way as before. The abomination, continuously beaten, changed its method. Woooong. A blue barrier formed. Taesan swung his sword again and overcame the barrier pattern. Then the abomination made its entire body hard. Next, it covered its entire body with slime, and finally, it started rampaging wildly. Through this process, Taesan realized that if he defeated it in the same way, the abomination¡¯s pattern remained unchanged. What would happen if he defeated it differently? Taesan moved to the next room. He began dealing damage around 100 to the abomination there once again. But this time, his method was different. Until now, he targeted the gaps in the exoskeleton, but now Taesan pressed down on the hardened exoskeleton with pure force. The abomination, which had been continuously beaten, changed again. Crunch. The abomination¡¯s body hardened. It skipped the barrier pattern and went straight to the third pattern. It was not simply showing the same pattern mechanically. The abomination changed its pattern ording to Taesan¡¯s method of attack. In other words, if Taesan attacked in the same way, he could fix the abomination¡¯s pattern. Step by step, he built a path for the strategy. Taesan opened the path with dark energy. [You have activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] Zing. Dark energy spread out in all directions, sweeping through thebyrinth. As a result, Taesan identified the locations and numbers of rooms on the 59th floor. ¡°There are twenty more.¡± In other words, he had to obtain Absolute Judgement within these twenty. Taesan moved to the next room. First, he observed once more. By observing the patterns and moving in the same way, he realized the abomination also responded in the same way. He confirmed that nothing was missed. And then the second abomination. He began to strategize against the patterns. First, he attempted to perfectly understand the exoskeleton. By continuously beating and repeating the same damage, he came close to perfectly understanding the strategy against the exoskeleton. And then came the third abomination. He strategized against the barrier pattern. He realized that if he significantly altered the damage in the middle, the same pattern would be maintained. By keeping the barrier pattern steady, he could figure out the pattern changes and develop a strategy. The fourth abomination. He strategized against the hardening pattern. This was rtively easy. It simply hardened. By understanding the hardening cycle and its hardness, he repeatedly overcame it. He finished understanding three patterns. The fourth pattern: the pattern of covering the entire body with slippery slime. This one was quite tricky. The pattern kept changing in the middle, likely due to the total damage inflicted. As a result, Taesan realized that he had to deal damage even more precisely than ¡À5%. It was already difficult, and it became even more challenging. Not only did he have to adjust his physical force and damage, but he also had to understand the slime pattern, which took quite some time. It wasn¡¯t until the ninth abomination that he finally managed to understand the slime pattern and adjust the damage. And the final pattern: the rampaging pattern. It was the hardest. It was difficult to read the pattern while it was rampaging. At first nce, it seemed to move randomly. At the eleventh abomination, Taesan finally figured out the seemingly random but actually systematic pattern. After that, he began to strategize against that pattern. It took fifteen abominations to understand how to attack to make the next attack easier and at what level to proceed to make the strategy easier. Finally, Taesan finished understanding all the patterns. After that, it was time to repeat. He input the pattern and attacked the abomination. He mechanically repeated the process, reducing the margin of error one by one. [Mmm¡­¡­.] Barkaza groaned at the sight. Taesan, mechanically repeating, did not look human. Taesan continued to repeat. And as a result. Neen abominations, with only one left. [You havepletely broken the opponent''s defense and inflicted the desired damage until the opponent copsed. You have obtained the special activation skill [Absolute Judgement].] Chapter 266: Special Activation Skill. Absolute Judgment (2) Chapter 266: Special Activation Skill. Absolute Judgment (2) [Special Activation Skill: Absolute Judgement] [Mana Consumption: 10] [Upon activation, the next attack will ignore the opponent''s defense power and prate all defense skills and means. However, it does not activate if the attack is offset.] [¡­¡­Well then.] The ghost chuckled dryly. [What is this?] ¡°See for yourself.¡± Taesan immediately moved to the next room. Thest deformed creature awaited. Taesan swung his sword while unarmed.[You have activated Absolute Judgement.] [103 damage to the timid deformed creature with its eyes covered.] Crack. The deformed creature¡¯s exoskeleton changed. Taesan raised his sword again. [You have activated Absolute Judgement.] [99 damage to the timid deformed creature with its eyes covered.] This time, Taesan did not respond at all. He did not target the weakened exoskeleton, just swung his sword normally. Despite that, the damage was simr to before. Taesan continued to press the deformed creature with Absolute Judgement. The deformed creature kept changing its exoskeleton to adapt, but the damage did not decrease. Hum. The deformed creature changed its pattern. A blue curtain formed around it. Taesan struck down with his sword. [You have activated Absolute Judgement.] The sword pierced the deformed creature, shattering the curtain without any resistance. [This is ridiculous.] The ghost murmured. Having apanied Taesan thus far, it thought nothing would surprise it anymore. But that thought was shattered. In thebyrinth, defense was one of the most important stats. Outside, no matter how strong someone was, they could die from the most trivial things. The strongest person in the world could die from tetanus after being pricked by a nail, and a mercenary who had survived countless battles could die from a stray bullet. Health and defense were stats that helped avoid such absurd deaths. They also allowed one to advance safely in situations where they had to risk their life. No matter how dangerous the trap, as long as one had enough health, they could push through it. If defense surpassed attack power, one would only receive 1 point of damage. Therefore, adventurers in thebyrinth invested a lot of time and gold in increasing their defense. And the skill Taesan had just obtained made all that effort and time meaningless. [It doesn''t just ignore defense; it also ignores defense skills and means? Does this even prate fortitude?] Taesan nodded. The ghost couldn¡¯t hold back itsughter. [This is crazy.] Fortitude, which halves all iing damage, was also meaningless before Taesan. The ghost groaned. [This is absurd. Could this be the perfect counter to that guy?] ¡°That guy?¡± [Yes. Among the top brass. The one with the highest defense. Even the top brass can''t prate him. But he wouldn''t be able to withstand you.] [Ignoring all defenses... Can you obtain something like that in thebyrinth?] Barkaza couldn¡¯t hide his shock either. Among the spirits, there were those who poured all their power into defense to protect their master. Their strength was meaningless before Taesan. [And it only consumes 10 mana? That''s ridiculously low. Makes meugh.] Crack. Taesan defeated the deformed creature. He smiled. A skill that had made the Easy Mode yer end up being called the strongest. He had obtained one of them again. ¡°Nice.¡± Taesan shook his sword and moved forward. The boss of the 59th floor was a ck-colored deformed creature. It wasrger and tougher than the previous ones. But it meant nothing to Taesan. [You have activated Absolute Judgement.] Crack. The sword shattered the creature¡¯s body. The creature responded, but all its efforts were nullified before Absolute Judgement. In just one minute, the creature fell. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 120] [Shield: 3899/3899] [Health: 40820/40820] [Mana: 3780/3780] [Magic: 653/653] [Strength: 8461] [Intelligence: 7261] [Agility: 7815] [Attack Power +2745] [Defense + 1622] [The subject is in optimal condition.] He remembered Lee Taeyeon¡¯s stats from when she cleared thebyrinth. He had nearly reached that point. If he reached the deeperyers, he would surely surpass it. The ghost murmured. [These stats are insanely high.] It was because of Soul Ascension. Each time he defeated an enemy, he absorbed their stats, resulting in more than double the increase. Stats weren¡¯t everything in thebyrinth, but they were the foundation. The higher they were, the more advantageous the conquest became. ¡°Are your stats higher than this?¡± [Yes? They''re lower than when I died.] ¡°Really?¡± It seemed that reaching the deeperyers significantly increased the stat growth. This realization amused him. Even in her final clear of Solo Mode, Lee Taeyeon¡¯s stats were not significantly different from Taesan¡¯s current stats. [With these stats, you can handle the equipment of the deepyer enemies. Even the higher-ups will have a headache.] The ghostughed. Having defeated the boss, Taesan returned to thebyrinth and found the secret room. He cleared it and obtained the rewards. He organized the rewards he had obtained. [Belt containing the Echo of Pain] [ck Magic + 20] [Intelligence + 100] [Defense + 150] [A belt made by an excellent ck magician after torturing demons and capturing their voices. If you listen closely, you can hear the screams of the demons from that time.] It was a description that made him reluctant to wear it, but the effects were useful. Equipment that could increase his ck magic stats was always wee. And it wasn¡¯t the only one. [Ne of the Lich residing in the Western Forest] [ck Magic + 40] [Intelligence + 200] [A ne that the Lich, who once ruled the forest, received as a gift during his lifetime. Even after losing his humanity, he couldn''t part with it.] This was also a good piece of equipment. Being a ne, it greatly increased the ck magic stats. With this, the power of ck magic would noticeably increase. [Echo of the Forward March] [A horn for advancing. When blown during battle, it raises the morale of allies.] A horn used in group battles. It might not be useful immediately, but it could be used after returning to Earth. Overall, the equipment was quite practical. ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan descended the stairs. [60th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss on the 60th floor and proceed.] [Reward: Soil of the ck Land.] [Secret Reward: ???] 60th floor. It was the end of the theme where mysterious beings appeared. The next theme would be the final one leading to the deepyers. ¡°We¡¯re finally close.¡± The ce that once felt so distant was now within reach. Taesan steeled himself and descended the stairs. The shopkeeper was, as always, waiting for him at the entrance of the floor. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± He spoke calmly, but an irrepressible yearning flickered in his eyes. ¡°Finally, here. Not much further to go now.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Yes, not much left. Until the day you reach that ce¡­¡± He muttered softly. His eyes were filled with desire. Gathering his emotions, he spoke. ¡°Do you wish to buy something?¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head. Even if he wanted to buy something, it wasn¡¯t now. He nned to save money until the deepyers. ¡°Then go down. Go down and reach that ce.¡± The shopkeeper bared his teeth in a grin. Taesan turned his back on him and proceeded down the passage. What did the shopkeeper desire? The system window that appeared when Taesan met the shopkeeper called him the lost king. He must have entered thebyrinth to retrieve what he had lost. It was likely in the deepyers. Taesan encountered the monster on the 60th floor. The final mysterious monster was an Imoogi (a Korean mythical creature resembling a giant serpent). The Imoogi,rge enough to fill the room, lunged at Taesan to devour him. Taesan drew his sword. The Imoogi was strong. Despite its massive body, it was faster than any monster Taesan had seen. Even those who had descended this far without difficulty would have to fight with death in mind due to its strength. [Shaa!] The Imoogi violently shook its body and lunged its jaws forward. Taesan spread his arms. The golden sword appeared in his hand. [You have activated the Golden Sword of Nevarius.] He drew a diagonal line. The golden line sliced through the charging Imoogi. With a loud crash, the Imoogi copsed. Taesan clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly. As it was intermediate ck magic, it was quite difficult to use. He needed to practice multiple times to get ustomed to it. He cleared the 60th floor without any issues. The Imoogi was certainly strong, but Taesan had already reached the initial level of the deepyers. A meremon monster on the 60th floor could not threaten him. He defeated them one by one and moved forward. And the pace was noticeably slow. [Why are you going so slowly?] ¡°I need to prepare too.¡± [¡­¡­Oh.] The ghost understood Taesan¡¯s meaning and closed his mouth. Barkaza asked in a hesitant tone. [Master. I sense a strong power ahead. And... it seems to be a being close to me.] ¡°It probably is.¡± Taesan cleared thebyrinth. Invitations from themunity had been ringing loudly for him since earlier, but he had no intention of talking now. It was too distracting, so he turned off the notifications altogether. Taesan arrived at the secret room, cleared its traps, and obtained the reward. The reward was a spear. The attack power was decent, but it was not a weapon Taesan, who used dual swords, would use. He put it in his inventory and continued to clear thebyrinth. After dealing with and clearing the monsters, he reached the boss room. [Shaa¡­¡­.] [The Imoogi that could not be a dragon was coiled.] Unlike the Imoogis he had encountered so far, this one had smooth and splendid scales. Its face had also slightly changed to resemble the dragons Taesan had met. Moreover, unlike the other Imoogis he had faced, it also used magic. Kwaaang! He struck his sword towards the charging jaws. The Imoogi crashed into thebyrinth floor with a loud noise. Breaking and cutting through all the magic manifested in the air, he deeply embedded his sword and struck down. [Keieee!] The Imoogi screamed and started thrashing around. Taesan calmly dealt with the Imoogi. It didn¡¯t take long for the Imoogi to copse with a scream. Taesan sheathed his sword. The system window appeared noisily. The rewards for clearing the 60th floor. He wanted to check them one by one, but there was no time. Taesan turned his gaze to the stairs. Thud. Thud. With the sound of footsteps on the stairs, they appeared. One was a knight-like being d in solid armor with a faint glow. It held a massive shield in one hand and a sword in the other. The other was a being holding a quietly flickering me. The me wasn¡¯t wild or shy, but it contained a discernible power and dignity. There were two in total. Taesan looked around. ¡°No matter how I see it, they¡¯re not the Guides of the 6th hierarchy. Who are they?¡± [We killed them all. They had no value whatsoever.] The being with the sword spoke calmly. ¡°Really?¡± Taesan looked at the two. ¡°Then you two are thest ones.¡± The final guardians blocking the path to the deepyers and meeting the higher-ups. The two spoke. [I am the Great Spirit King of Fire. Vishnu''s Shield.] [I am the Great Spirit King of Fire. Vishnu''s Spear.] A fierce energy surged. A violent torrent swept through the room. [Come. Those who dare to oppose the king. Meet your death under our power.] Chapter 267: The Spear And Shield Of The Spirit King (1) Chapter 267: The Spear And Shield Of The Spirit King (1) Power surged. A fierce and strong force. A will that even Taesan couldn¡¯t disregard¡ªa force of those who had reached the peak. The ghost chuckled. [Is it you this time?] [¡­¡­Hero.] [They must have been quite desperate. Bringing in you, the spear and shield of the king. Did they really want to kill this guy that much?] [Do not question us. We merely follow the king''s orders.] The one who called himself the shield spoke calmly. Barkaza let out a small groan at their momentum.[Hmm¡­¡­.] [Are you¡­¡­ a high-ranking spirit?] A peculiar light shone in their eyes as they looked at Barkaza. [So even a foolish one aiming to oppose the king has managed to form a connection. Contracting with a high-ranking spirit, no less.] [Be quiet.] Barkaza spoke indifferently. Although the spear and shield could be considered higher-ranking spirits, there was no respect evident. [Those who abandoned their duty and fled here have no right to speak to me.] [We merely follow the king''s will.] The spirit who called himself the spear responded. [There is no reason for us to take your advice.] [I suppose so.] Barkaza was ultimately a high-ranking spirit. Whatever he said would not reach the spear and shield. Barkaza swallowed his words. Taesan looked around. No matter how he searched, he couldn¡¯t see the adventurers of the 6th rank. ¡®They really killed them all.¡¯ It was unfortunate. Defeating them would have gained him much through Soul Ascension, making him even stronger than now. They must have killed them to prevent that. Though they might not know about Soul Ascension, they would at least know that killing a fellow adventurer yields the most rewards. ¡°Anyway¡­¡­ you are thest ones, then.¡± Taesan drew his sword. They were very powerful beings. There were two of them. [The opponent is a difficult one to defeat.] As always, the system window appeared, informing him of the situation. ¡°Your names?¡± [We have no names to answer a lowly being like you¡­ but I suppose we can grant the dying wish of a soon-to-be dead man.] [I am Hasan.] [I am Kueya.] [We are the spirits guarding the great king.] The one who called himself the shield was Hasan. The one who called himself the spear was Kueya. [ording to the will of the great king, we will kill you, human.] Taesanughed. ¡°Fine.¡± In the end, what mattered was who won. Taesan raised his sword. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the other one to you.¡± [You have summoned Minerva, the King of the Wind Spirits.] The wind blew. Hasan and Kueya, who were about to rush in, hesitated. [This power¡­] [Could it be?] The gathering wind took shape. A woman with blue hair appeared. She waved her hand. ¡°Hello.¡± [Oh, King¡­] ¡°Yes. So it hase to this.¡± Minerva stepped forward with a bitter expression. The opponents were startled by the sudden appearance of the spirit king. ¡°Taesan, who is my opponent?¡± ¡°That one. The one who calls himself the spear.¡± ¡°Got it. Barkaza, let¡¯s go.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Minerva struck the air. The wind turned into a bomb and poured onto Kueya. Kueya panicked and surrounded himself with mes. Boom! [Argh!] Minerva charged at him. Kueya screamed. [Oh, King! Why!] ¡°Are you asking me why?¡± Minerva smiled and pressured him. Taesan pointed his sword at Hasan. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± [...I see. So you are the human contracted with the king.] ¡°You just realized?¡± [But it doesn''t matter.] Hasan calmly raised his sword, asrge as Taesan¡¯s body. He struck the ground with his full-body shield. [We move ording to the king''s orders. It doesn''t matter who you are contracted with. So, die.] The battle began. At the same time, skills against formidable enemies were activated in session. The wind wrapped around his body, and mes filled the area. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You have activated the Vessel of the King.] Taesan focused his mind and stared at the enemy before him. The Shield of the Spirit King looked more like a giant armor than a spirit. It was three timesrger than Taesan. What it wielded was unusual for a spirit, appearing as both a sword and a shield. Hasan lifted his foot. Boom! With a thunderous sound, Hasan¡¯s body elerated. He charged at Taesan, intending to crush him with the giant shield. Though not fast, it was heavy. It was a charge full of intent to smash and destroy everything in its path. Taesan raised his sword toward the charging shield, nning to deflect it using Flow. At that moment, his instincts warned him. Blocking would result in death. Taesan kicked off the ground to avoid the attack. Boom! The charging shield crashed into the wall. The entire floor shook violently from the impact. [You''ve got good instincts.] Bang! Hasan charged again, raising his gigantic sword to strike down. Taesan swung his dual swords. ng! Taesan¡¯s sword was deflected. He grimaced and moved his body, dodging the sword that aimed to tear him apart. ¡®Strong.¡¯ And that wasn¡¯t all. There was a peculiar force emanating from his opponent¡¯s sword and shield. He raised his sword towards the swinging de. [You have activated Flow.] Hasan was indeed strong, but not enough to break Flow with sheer force. The moment Taesan¡¯s sword touched Hasan¡¯s, the trajectory should have twisted, but Hasan¡¯s sword pierced through Flow and shed with Taesan¡¯s sword. ng! Taesan clicked his tongue and created distance. Hasan quickly closed in, thrusting his shield forward. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan, now behind Hasan, drove his sword into Hasan¡¯s waist. [You have activated Addition.] [403 damage to Hasan.] It was a very insignificant amount of damage. Despite the effect of titles rted to spirits and the berserk spirit increasing spirit damage by 60%, only 400 damage was inflicted. [Pathetic!] Hasan roared, raising his golden sword. [Behold, the power of the depths.] [Hasan has activated Golden Destruction.] Kiing. Golden energy seeped out of the sword, materializing and beginning to engulf everything around it. Rumble! Taesan quickly created distance from the overwhelming destructive power. However, he couldn¡¯tpletely avoid it. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] Time rewound. Both Taesan¡¯s and Hasan¡¯s bodies returned to their pre-attack states. [What¡­¡­] For the first time, Hasan¡¯s voice contained bewilderment. Taesan elerated and struck with his sword. Hasan raised his shield. ng! [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] Taesan¡¯s pupils dted. Despite his attack, his attack nullification was activated. He couldn¡¯t understand. Flow didn¡¯t activate, and his attack was reverted as well. [Attack nullification¡­¡­ you have a strange skill.] But Hasan was also bewildered. From the series of battles, he could roughly guess what attack nullification was. It erased the attack itself and also turned back time. It was a skill of an unheard-of level. [Now I see why you have survived until now.] Hasan raised his sword. And Taesan recalled one fact. ¡°Lee Taeyeon had a reason for defeating an S-rank with such stats.¡± Taesan muttered. Lee Taeyeon¡¯s stats weren¡¯t that high. Currently, if he reached the depths, his stats could almost reach a simr level. And at that time, he could possibly defeat a proper S-rank. But that victory would be a precarious, close call. Even with skills far superior to Lee Taeyeon¡¯s, it was the same. The reason was simple. Lee Taeyeon had equipment that could ovee such skills. Equipment from the depths. Each piece had overwhelming performance that was on a different level. The enemy before him was a being who followed the King of Fire Spirits and had descended into thebyrinth. And that king had traversed its depths. Although it wasn¡¯t their own power, they had descended into the depths. Thus, it wasn¡¯t strange if they had one or two pieces of equipment from the depths. Boom! Hasan charged. Taesan focused and moved his body. [Argh!] Kueya exerted his power. mes exploded, scattering in all directions. The power seemed somewhat clumsy. Rather than trying to kill the enemy, it seemed to simply push them away. ¡°For someone who abandoned their duty and left, you still have a spirit¡¯s heart.¡± Minerva muttered, stirring up the wind. des of wind swirled around Kueya¡¯s body. [Hup!] Kueya gathered his strength and burst it out. The wind shed with the mes and disappeared. Minerva clicked her tongue. ¡°Strong. Annoyingly so.¡± She was the Spirit King, but her power was limited due to her contract with Taesan. On the other hand, Kueya had no such limitations. Moreover, he had grown stronger as he descended into thebyrinth. At this moment, Kueya was stronger than her. However, Kueya was not overwhelming her but rather was on the defensive. [Oh, King¡­¡­] The reason was simple. She was the Spirit King, and Kueya was not. Moreover, he was the king¡¯s spear and shield. Even if Minerva wasn¡¯t his king, he couldn¡¯t attack someone in the role of protecting a king. After a moment of hesitation, Kueya made a decision. He surrounded himself with mes. Then he spread them out wide, pressuring Minerva and Barkaza. [I''m sorry. I willmit a sin only until the battle over there ends.] Kiing. A barrier of mes formed, encasing Barkaza and Minerva. Minerva touched it with her fingertip, causing a reaction. [The king is far stronger than such a one, but due to the contract with a human, you won''t be able to escape my power.] ¡°Hmph.¡± Minerva prodded and asked. ¡°Do you believe that boy will win against my master?¡± [I know he is strong. The king wouldn''t contract with a weakling. But still, he cannot win against us.] Kueya spoke with confidence. [We have stepped into the depths. We gained new power there. Those who haven''t reached the depths cannot defeat us.] Minerva nced at Taesan and Hasan¡¯s battle. The power felt from Hasan¡¯s sword and shield was unusual. It wasn¡¯t just a tool; it was somethingplete in itself. Even a strong person recognized by everyone wouldn¡¯t be able to handle that equipment properly. It was simr to the ring Taesan had. Minerva was also surprised. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see.¡± But Minerva smiled. She ced her hand on the barrier of mes. Kueya stared at her nkly. He didn¡¯t think the barrier would break at all. The power of a spirites from the contracted human. And a human couldn¡¯t possibly be stronger than himself. Given that he had descended this far, he must have unique skills. But he had traversed the depths. In terms of pure strength, he was superior. Therefore, he believed his barrier couldn¡¯t be broken. Kueya believed so. Crack! Cracks spread from Minerva¡¯s hand across the barrier. She smiled at the startled Kueya. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± The wind exploded, engulfing Kueya. Kueya hastily gathered his power. Boom! The shield filled his vision. Taesan kicked off the ground to avoid it. Hasan stomped his foot with a roar and charged again. [Avoiding alone will not win you anything!] He rushed in. Golden waves emanated from the sword raised high. [Hasan has activated Golden Destruction.] Kiing! A golden sphere formed around the sword, crushing everything in its path. ¡°You¡¯re like a wild boar.¡± Taesan muttered as he created distance. [You have activated Leap.] He touched the ceiling of thebyrinth, escaping the range of the sphere, and then descended. [You have activated Landing.] The effect of the Ability Sword activated, imbuing his weapon with great power. [It''s useless!] Hasan raised his shield with a roar. As the sword was about to touch the shield, Taesan quickly chanted a spell. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] [You have activated Magic eleration.] The materialized Frost Arrow swiftly flew toward the shield and collided with it. And it bounced back. As if the attack itself was returning, the Frost Arrow flew toward Taesan. He twisted his head to avoid it and struck with his sword. A loud noise echoed. [Ugh!] [103 damage to Hasan.] Using the recoil to create distance, Taesan muttered. ¡°So, it activates in response to timing.¡± He activated the shield¡¯s effect in response to the opponent¡¯s attack. Then the next attack waspletely reflected back at the opponent. He wasn¡¯t sure of the exact effect, but it seemed roughly like that. ¡°I get it.¡± The sword and shield. Those were Hasan¡¯s cards. The effect of the sword was Golden Destruction. It summoned a sphere of destruction centered around the sword. The activation dy was almost non-existent. The time required for reuse didn¡¯t seem that long either. Despite that, its destructive power was just below that of intermediate magic. And the shield that reflected attacks. On top of that, the defense itself barely took any damage. ¡®¡­¡­Is the armor also equipment from the depths?¡¯ The golden armor worn by the spirit. It didn¡¯t seem like ordinary equipment, but he hadn¡¯t confirmed it yet. [You cannot defeat me.] Hasan spoke confidently. [These are weapons bestowed upon me by the king himself, from the depths. You, who have not reached that ce, have no chance of winning. ept your death quietly.] ¡°Let¡¯s see about that.¡± Taesan kicked off the ground. A golden sword appeared in his hand. [You have activated Naberious''s Golden Sword.] Hasan momentarily hesitated. The golden sword materializing in Taesan¡¯s hand exuded a power not easily seen, even in the depths. [But.] That was all. Hasan raised his shield. Taesan did not back down. [You have activated de of the Fighting Spirit.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated Strong Blow.] [You have activated Continuous Attack.] [You have activated eleration.] He charged in even faster and stronger. Seeing Taesan about to strike with the golden sword, Hasan sneered. [Do you think you can break through with force? Foolish.] He probably believed there was a limit to the shield¡¯s power. But the shield had no such limit. As long as the timing was right, it could even deflect the power of the Spirit King. [Destroy yourself, fool.] Boom! Hasan struck with his shield. Seeing the sword swing down, he activated the shield¡¯s effect. [You have activated Absolute Judgement.] Crack. The sword touched the shield. At that moment, Hasan realized something was wrong, but it was already toote. The intense impact engulfed his entire body. [45751 damage to Hasan.] Chapter 268: The Spear And Shield Of The Spirit King (2) Chapter 268: The Spear And Shield Of The Spirit King (2) [Kaaaah!] A tearing scream resounded through the room. It was the first scream Hasan had uttered in hundreds of years. His body flew explosively and crashed into the wall. Rumble¡­ It sounded like thebyrinth was copsing. Of course, not a scratch appeared on thebyrinth¡¯s walls. Thebyrinth¡¯s toughness was such that it could only be barely damaged by an attack from Ainzhar, so it was impossible for Taesan to make any mark. But it was powerful. It was an overwhelmingly powerful force. The ghost let out a hollowugh. [Forty thousand... even I haven''t seen that much damage.] Taesan¡¯s attack power had already reached a deep level due to the Airak weapon technique. With the addition of the absurd skill ¡°Addition,¡± it resulted in damage that even the ghost who had reached the depths couldn¡¯t achieve.Yet, Taesan was dissatisfied. ¡°It¡¯s lower than I thought.¡± [Lower? This?] ¡°If it were normal, the damage should have reached eighty thousand.¡± The base attack power of Naberios¡¯ golden sword was around ten thousand. With the de of spirit that tripled the damage, ¡°Addition,¡± and then ¡°Strong Blow¡± activated. Including additional damage against spirits, it could have reached one hundred thousand, but it stopped at forty thousand. The reason was not hard to guess. ¡°It¡¯s the problem of rank.¡± Absolute Judgement only ignored the opponent¡¯s defense and defensive skills. Prating the rank was the essence of true impact. In the end, to deal perfect damage, one had to learn the true impact as well. Still, it was decent damage. No, it was damage that couldn¡¯t be exined as merely decent. Judging by the sheer numbers, it meant that this strike could take down even Lee Taeyeon. [Kaaak. Cough.] And Hasan staggered and slumped to the ground. Taesan was surprised. ¡°You¡¯re not dead?¡± Forty thousand damage. It wasn¡¯t something a yer who had only reached the entrance of the deepyers could withstand. Yet, although Hasan seemed to be in a critical state, he was not dead. [Because he¡¯s a spirit. Thebyrinth''s system also considers race. Their basic health is vastly superior to humans, and their growth stats are higher. Plus, that guy is a shield.] A shield that protects the king from external threats. His health stat must be exceptionally highpared to others. [Huff. Huff.] But he was far from fine. He staggered as he tried to get up. Taesan kicked his foot forward. Hasan gritted his teeth and lifted his weapon. Buzzzzz. [Hasan activated Golden Demise.] A golden orb swallowed up the space. Taesan clicked his tongue and stepped back. ¡®As expected, it¡¯s tricky.¡¯ He attacked the shield, but as long as that sword existed, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to defeat him. [Aah. Ah¡­] syystem_end Barely regaining his senses, Hasan trembled. He was terrified. At the moment the strikended, he felt the fear of death. The overwhelming fear he felt when he first reached the deepyers was brought by the adventurer in front of him. [Aah...] And that fear confirmed one thing for Hasan. This man was dangerous. This man¡¯s sword could reach his king. [No...] He was the shield that protected the king. Even if it meant burning his own life, he had to protect the king. The fear that had been shaking his body subsided. Instead, his gaze, filled with determination, turned toward Taesan. [Hasan activated Spirit Amplification.] [Hasan activated Twisted Dragon Armor.] Voooong. A colossal force descended upon Hasan¡¯s body. It was a me that consumed life. And his armor began to melt. The golden armor started to permeate Hasan¡¯s entire body, bing a part of him. Hasan grew to about twice his size. And his strength also increased by that much. Hasan put away his shield. Taesan clicked his tongue. He had hoped he would cling to the shield in denial of reality, but it seemed he wasn¡¯t that foolish. [Spirit Amplification. He definitely wants to kill you.] ¡°Even the armor was from the deepyers.¡± As the armor melted, its power infused into Hasan. Since defense was meaningless against Taesan, he seemed to have decided to engulf him entirely. The amplified power and rank of the spirit were depleting at a rapid rate. It looked like a sort of berserk state. The giant Hasan moved his body. Rumble! Just moving shook the room violently. If it weren¡¯t for the absolute protection, it would have nullified the attack just by that. Taesan instinctively swung his sword as he was warned. ng! Taesan¡¯s body was repelled. Hasan moved again. He charged at Taesan at a speed hard to follow with the naked eye. Instead of relying on his eyes, Taesan moved his sword ording to his instincts. ng! [Hasan activated Golden Demise.] A golden orb tried to engulf Taesan. Taesan tried to pull back, but it was toote. The orb swallowed Taesan. As time resumed, Taesan quickly widened the distance. Hasan immediately pursued. ¡®He¡¯s faster and stronger than me.¡¯ A being who had reached the depths was trying to kill Taesan with everything he had. With the armor synchronized to enhance his power, Taesan found it difficult to catch up. And the special power of the sword also made it hard to counter. Speed. Power. And the sword. These three cards were being used to kill Taesan. ¡®Is that all?¡¯ Taesanughed. Lee Taeyeon was faster than Hasan. And she was stronger than Hasan, and her equipment was superior to what Hasan was wielding now. And she wore such equipment all over her body. But even Lee Taeyeon, facing his Easy Mode stats and modest gear, could not hold a definite advantage over him. ¡°In the end, battles are about card games.¡± Who had more cards. And who had stronger cards. Taesan muttered as he deflected Hasan¡¯s attacks. Despite being pushed back by the overwhelming force, none of the attacks hit Taesan. Thud! Every time Hasan charged, Taesan¡¯s instincts warned him. The line of death also activated. All his senses focused, predicting Hasan¡¯s movements. ng! The swords collided. All the opponents Taesan faced in his previous life were fast and strong enough that he couldn¡¯t catch up. He had defeated such opponents. Mere speed could not pressure Taesan. [You activated Starlight Arrow.] Arrows of light materialized and flew. As Hasan dodged with a leap, Taesan triggered a spell. [You activated Magic Explosion.] Light exploded and spread everywhere. Even Minerva, who was fighting from a distance, was caught in the explosion. She waved her hand with an exasperated expression. [That''s impressive.] [Ugh!] Hasan¡¯s voice was filled with pain. No matter how fast he was, in this confined space, he couldn¡¯t avoid the explosion of the Starlight Arrow. Ignoring the pain, Hasan charged with his sword. [Hasan activated Golden Demise.] As the golden orb tried to engulf Taesan, he activated a skill. [You activated Forced Duel.] Forced Duel was a skill that designates a single target, making both parties able to attack only each other. No outsiders can interfere. So Taesan used Forced Duel on the King¡¯s Spear fighting Minerva. Although the golden orb engulfed Taesan, he emerged without a scratch. Hasan, bewildered by the situation, hastily swung his sword, but all attacks were deflected due to the effect of Forced Duel. As soon as the duration of Forced Duel ended, Taesan slipped under Hasan and ced his hand on him. [You activated Branch of Despair.] [Aargh!] A torrent of horrible emotions overwhelmed Hasan. The skill given to Taesan by the God of Despair, Branch of Despair, nted despair in the opponent it touched. It was his first time using it, but it was quite effective. As Hasan writhed in pain, his movements noticeably slowed. [You activated Amon¡¯s Pitch-ck Spike.] A ck spike materialized in Taesan¡¯s hand. He swung it against Hasan¡¯s sword. Thud! Hasan¡¯s sword was repelled. Hasan was taken aback, not expecting to be overpowered when he had an overwhelming advantage in strength. Taesan didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and thrust his sword. [Aaargh!] Hasan was on the verge of madness. With each sh, Taesan brought out new techniques. Hasan felt like he had only five cards, while his opponent kept drawing an endless number of cards from somewhere. The fear of the unknown made Hasan hesitate. Warily anticipating what Taesan might bring out next, he became passive, which created opportunities for Taesan. Taesan gathered his magic, confirming that Hasan¡¯s power and rank had somewhat diminished. [You activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] A ck wave engulfed the surroundings. Hasan, suffering from the effects of Branch of Despair, protected himself with Golden Demise. Meanwhile, Taesan activated Invisibility. Losing sight of Taesan for a moment, Hasan remained on high alert. And Taesan was now far away. A ck portal appeared above his hand. A portal leading to the demon¡¯s domain. Hasan sensed he had to stop it, but it was already toote. In his overly cautious state, he was excessively wary of the vanished Taesan. [You activated Naberios'' Golden Sword.] The golden sword materialized, iparable to anything Taesan had used before. It emitted a bright golden light, like the sun. A demon. The power of a being beyond mortals was there. Hasan, who was about to retreat, stopped in his tracks. He was here under the king¡¯smand. Killing the enemy before him for the king was his duty. He couldn¡¯t retreat. Hasan raised his sword. Taesanunched himself forward. Hasan trusted in the power of the deepyers. The ce where he first felt fear and believed he could never ovee, where even their king could not break through. If it was the weapon of that ce, it could kill the enemy before him. [Hasan activated Golden Demise.] The golden orb engulfed the space. And the moment it collided with the golden sword, it shattered like ss. A golden diagonal line swallowed Hasan. ¡°It was somewhat enjoyable.¡± Taesan said, plunging his sword into Hasan¡¯s fallen body. The opponents he had faced so far were all rted to the High Gods, so it had been a long time since he fought a proper battle, disying each skill one by one to defeat his opponent. [My king, I am sorry. I could not protect you...] Hasan spoke gloomily before disappearing. The power he possessed began to infuse into Taesan. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Desire for Victory has activated.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Permanently increased Health by 5200, Strength by 320, Agility by 401, and Intelligence by 350.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Gained the special passive skill "Guardian''s Solidity."] Hasan wasn¡¯t an easy opponent. If he hadn¡¯t learned Absolute Judgement, it would have taken a considerable amount of time to defeat him. The demon god had told Taesan that an enemy would be waiting on the 60th floor when he was on the 58th floor. Taesan had learned Absolute Judgement on the 59th floor. Even the demon god wouldn¡¯t have expected him to gain such a game-changing skill in just one floor. Anyway, he won. And it wasn¡¯t over yet. ¡°Should I help?¡± Taesan moved towards Minerva. She smiled. ¡°That would be appreciated.¡± [Aah, aah¡­] The King¡¯s Spear let out a despairing groan. Taesan gripped his sword. From the beginning, Minerva alone couldn¡¯t defeat this opponent. As Taesan joined, Quya was overwhelmed by the sheer difference in power. Quya also seemed to have equipment from the deepyers, but it didn¡¯t matter much. Ignoring it with attack nullification, Taesan slowly killed Quya. And before long, Taesan won again. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Desire for Victory has activated.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Permanently...] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Gained the special active skill "Guardian''s Barrier."] At that moment the 60th floor was perfectly cleared. Chapter 269: The Spear And Shield Of The Spirit King (3) The process of organizing the rewards began. There were numerous things to confirm. Besides the rewards for defeating the King¡¯s Spear and Shield, the 60th-floor clear rewards had yet to be checked. First, the changes in stats. Defeating the spear and shield increased Taesan¡¯s level by 5. With the effects of Soul Ascension and Desire for Victory, the increase was substantial. Detailed checks would be postponed. The first focus was on skills. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Guardian''s Fortitude] [The power possessed by the guardian protecting the king. Reduces all damage received by 20%. This skill activates after defense and defense skills are applied.] ¡°Ho?¡± A 20% reduction. It was a significant number. It now made sense why damage only registered in triple digits when the Absolute Judgement was not used against Hasan. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Absolute Judgement, it would have been really difficult.¡±There was a reason it was called the King¡¯s Shield. And the skill obtained from the spear. [Special Activation Skill: Guardian''s Barrier] [Mana Consumption: 200] [The power possessed by the guardian protecting the king. Creates a barrier with one''s power to subdue the opponent.] It appeared to be the barrier made of mes witnessed during the battle. It seemed that if the opponent had a certain level of strength, they could break the barrier. In other words, it was a skill useful only against weaker opponents. ¡°This one is just okay.¡± It wasn¡¯t a bad skill. If the opponent was weaker than Taesan, it meant avoiding the battle itself. ¡°No equipment¡­¡± The armor Hasan wielded. The sword. The shield. And the mysterious power wielded by the spear. None of it was obtained. Although disappointing, it was as expected, so he epted it calmly. The drop rate for equipment was very low. Moreover, they were equipment from the depths. It was normal for the current Taesan not to obtain them. But soon, he would obtain them with his own power. Taesan then began to confirm the rewards he hadn¡¯t properly checked due to dealing with the shield and spear. [You have reached the 60th floor. You have obtained the title [One Who Advances into the Depths].] [You have perfectly cleared the 60th floor. You have obtained the title [One Who Sees New Realms].] [You have perfectlyprehended and cleared all floors up to the 60th floor. You have obtained the title [Impossible Achievement].] [You have reached the threshold of the deep ces. This is a rare achievement in the long history of thebyrinth. Thebyrinthmends your achievement and wishes you to achieve what you desire.] [You have obtained the title [One Who Arrived at the Entrance].] [You have obtained the special activation skill [Transformation].] [Title: One Who Advances into the Depths] [Aims for the deeper ces.] [Health + 400] [Strength + 200] [Attack Power + 70] [Defense Power + 70] [Title: One Who Sees New Realms] [Advances further. Has faced the impossible.] [Strength + 200] [Agility + 200] [Intelligence + 200] [Attack Power + 70] [Defense Power + 70] The other two titles were generally simr. Although not much different from the titles obtained upon entering the 50th floor, the increases in abilities were noticeably higher. Even with just this, his stats had increased significantly. Thebyrinth rewarded those who seeded in their conquests, and titles were one of those rewards. ¡°Status Window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 125] [Shield: 4199/4199] [Health: 53820/53820] [Mana: 4280/4280] [Magic: 659/659] [Strength: 9651] [Intelligence: 8361] [Agility: 9115] [Attack Power + 3175] [Defense Power + 2022] [The target is in optimal condition.] His Health had finallypletely surpassed Lee Taeyeon¡¯s. Attack power also exceeded the 3000 mark. Slowly but surely, he was catching up. And he had obtained one more skill. It seemed to be a kind of reward granted by thebyrinth itself for reaching the 60th floor. [Special Activation Skill: Transformation] [Mana Consumption: 1000] [The values of attack and defense can be adjusted. The maximum adjustable value is the sum of attack and defense. This skill can only be used once a week, and the values return to their original state immediately after the attack.] Taesan, who was reading the skill description, paused. Taesan, staring nkly, asked, ¡°Is this what I think it is?¡± [I don''t know what you''re thinking, but it''s probably simr.] The ghost replied. [You can change the values of your attack and defense as much as you want. For you now... your attack power could go up to 5197. But your defense would be 0.] ¡°Ha.¡± Taesanughed. ¡°They even give such a skill?¡± [This is the 60th floor. The deep area is right in front of you. It''s not strange to give something like this.] The ghost replied nonchntly. Taesan tapped his wrist with his finger. ¡®Transformation of attack and defense.¡¯ The limit was the sum of his attack and defense. It wasn¡¯t a skill without restrictions. It consumed 1000 mana, and it couldn¡¯t be used again for a week after one use. Furthermore, even if the values could be freely transferred, having defense be 0 was a significant issue. It was practically the same as cing an Absolute Judgement on oneself. But for Taesan, the story was different. He had Absolute Nullification and Endurance. ¡°Hmm.¡± Lee Taeyeon hadn¡¯t mentioned such a skill. The reason was easy to guess. Transformation wouldn¡¯t be a significantly meaningful skill for her. She didn¡¯t have Absolute Nullification. Moreover, being timid, she wouldn¡¯t have felt a great merit in raising her attack by reducing her defense. It was likely that she didn¡¯t consider it important and therefore didn¡¯t tell him. But for Taesan, it was an excellent skill. Simply put, 5197. With Addition, de of Will, Strong Blow, he could potentially produce damage close to 40,000 without using the Golden Sword. And that wasn¡¯t all. ¡®With this¡­ I could obtain it more easily.¡¯ Transformation of attack power. The best part was that this was an activation skill and would reset with just one attack. This characteristic could greatly help in acquiring specific skills. In obtaining the special activation skill, Multiply. It was still a long way off. Considering the conditions for Multiply, there were still many skills to acquire. But thanks to Transformation, it could be obtained faster than before. Even if fast meant it would be after the deep areas, the possibility was visible. That alone was enough. And now it was time for the 60th-floor clear reward. [Anklet Blessed by an Unknown God] [Strength + 200] [Agility + 200] [Intelligence + 200] [Defense + 200] [Action Speed + 5%] [An anklet blessed by an ancient, now-forgotten god who bestowed it upon those who believed in him.] It was useful equipment that generally enhanced abilities. [Soil of the ck Land] [The soil of and where no sunlight reaches, feared by all beings. The soil itself contains power, having never seen the light since its creation.] Material item. As he thought about taking it to Halfran, the anklet moved. Swoosh! It moved like a whip and stirred the soil. The soil touched the anklet, and the power within it was slowly absorbed. [An Anklet with a Killing Intent.] [An anklet that tries to kill everything except its owner. Made by the witch''s whim. Something hidden still exists. It has devoured Red Rose Thorns, Green Vine Roots, Cursed Leaves, and the Soil of the ck Land.] [Attack + 225] [Defense + 100] ¡°Ho¡­¡± Attack power increased by 100. Defense power increased by 90. It was a decent change without having to change the existing equipment. The anklet was equipment created by the witch¡¯s whim. And the Soil of the ck Land was a reward given on the 60th floor. It devoured such a reward without any issue. It meant the witch¡¯s power was quite strong. ¡°Is she an immortal?¡± Taesan became curious anew. The rewards were confirmed. Minerva, who had been waiting quietly, raised her hand. ¡°Can I go back now?¡± ¡°Take a rest. You¡¯re at your limit, right?¡± Minerva nodded. The King¡¯s Spear was strong. She couldn¡¯t save her strength either and had exhausted most of the power needed for her descent. It was time to return to recover her strength. ¡°Unfortunately¡­ I am epting it. They made their choice. I made mine too.¡± Minerva stood up, dusting herself off. ¡°And since they are here, it means we will meet their master soon, right?¡± Taesan nodded. The spear and shield. Direct subordinates of the king. There was nothing in between. So, from now on, it was the king¡¯s turn. ¡°Indeed¡­ I wonder what will happen.¡± Minerva smiled gently. ¡°Still, I¡¯m on your side. Good luck.¡± With those words, Minerva departed. Taesan, who had been gazing at the ce where she had been, moved his feet and descended the stairs. [This is the entrance leading to the depths of thebyrinth.] [This ce is getting closer to the abyss. Those who have dered themselves as gatekeepers guard this ce and intend to test those whoe.] [61st Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 61st floor and pass through.] [Reward: Emperor''s Ring.] [Secret Reward: ???] Finally, he had reached this point. ¡°Not much left.¡± Taesan walked toward the deep and profound ce. ¡°We lost.¡± The Guides of Sin. The conference room of the leaders. The light from the two gems in the center of the table vanished. The face of the Spirit King of mes contorted. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate. Olddy.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Ambracia¡¯s words were sharply rebuked by Vishnu. Her fist, ced on the table, tightened. Her spear and shield. They had been with her since she entered thebyrinth. They had sworn unwavering loyalty, risking their lives for her, and had been with her for an immeasurable amount of time. Those two had died. Her mes wavered in anger. The great mage clicked his tongue. ¡°This is unexpected for us too.¡± The King¡¯s Shield, Hasan, had been given three pieces of deep equipment. They had asked the demon god for permission, but they weren¡¯t sure if it would really be granted. Therefore, they had expected victory. The deep equipment had that much power. They believed that those who had not reached their level would not be able to ovee it. But they had been defeated. Moreover, the time it took for the battle to end was too short. It meant he was much stronger than they had anticipated. ¡°Now I understand why sheughed.¡± The demon god had shown a peculiar smile when granting permissions for the deep equipment. They didn¡¯t understand it then, but now they did. It was a mocking smile, as if asking if that would be enough. The Lion King spoke. ¡°Anyway¡­ he ising here. And we have no more cards left.¡± It was now their turn to step forward. The one who had risen from the bottom had chased them up to their throats. ¡°The one fortunate thing is that we are no longer stuck either.¡± 74th floor. How many years had they invested? There were leaders who had died trying to break through. They had finally pierced through that floor. They too now had the possibility of growth. ¡°But the best thing would be to kill him before he gets here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Vishnu spoke roughly. The mes flickered. ¡°I will go up and kill that guy.¡± ¡°Calm down, Spirit King. We have no choice in the matter.¡± The Lion King spoke. Ultimately, the decision was up to the demon god. If she did not grant permission, they could not even fight him. ¡°For now¡­ we should start moving our heavy butts.¡± The leaders of the Guides. Those who could be called the strongest among mortals. They began to take action directly against Taesan. Chapter 270: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (1) Chapter 270: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (1) As Taesan entered the 61st floor, the shopkeeper looked at him and grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve ovee it. What will you buy?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Taesan shook his head. The 61st floor marked the beginning of a new theme. The equipment in the shop must have also upgraded a level. But Taesan had no intention of buying anything. The deeper floors were approaching, and considering the price of the deep-floor equipment, he needed to start saving up now. The shopkeeper nodded as if he had expected this. ¡°This is the ce right before the deep floors. It¡¯s a unique ce. From here on, thebyrinth starts to change gradually.¡± He gestured with his chin. ¡°You¡¯ll see when you get there. Ovee it and win. See you on the lower floors.¡±Taesan answered with silence and left the shop. He headed towards the passage. Just as he was about to open the door ahead of him, a system window suddenly appeared, stopping him in his tracks. [Special Quest Start] [Trial of the Gods] [One week from now, all adventurers in thebyrinth will move to the Colosseum.] [There are as many Colosseums as there are countries, and if desired, you can choose and meet in each other''s Colosseums.] [This quest cannot be refused.] [After moving to the Colosseum, proceed with the quest and receive rewards ording to your performance.] ¡°So it¡¯s starting.¡± Taesan muttered as he read through the quest window. Colosseum. It had only one meaning. An arena. Battles between yers. Taesan opened themunity. Just then, an invitation for a conversation came from Lee Taeyeon. When Taesan epted, familiar voices were chattering noisily. [Geum Junggeun (Hard): Uh... I don''t get it. What exactly does this mean?] [Kim Hwiyeon (Hard): Wait a minute, Junggeun. My head hurts too. Let''s think for a bit.] People were groaning and holding their heads. There were no people from other countries, probably everyone was trying to grasp the situation first. [Kang Taesan (Solo): What are you doing?] [Geum Junggeun (Hard): Ah, hyung.] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Taesan, do you know about this? Suddenly, a quest called ''Trial of the Gods'' is given. It''s so abrupt.] They focused on Taesan¡¯s words. They seemed to expect Taesan to know since he had shown direct connections with gods before. But Taesan responded with a denial. [Kang Taesan (Solo): I don''t know. I do know a few gods, but there''s no reason for them to do this without exining anything to me.] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): Not even you, hyung? Then who the heck is this?] Of course, Taesan knew what it was. How it would proceed, who he would meet, and what kind of quest he would receive. But that was because he had turned back time. He couldn¡¯t talk about it. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): ...Is it just a trial from the gods to the entirebyrinth?] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): That''s possible. Predicting the actions of gods is one of the most meaningless things.] [Geum Junggeun (Hard): Anyway... let''s check it out.] They began to discuss. [Geum Junggeun (Hard): It''s a forced quest.] [Kim Hwiyeon (Hard): And since it''s called the Colosseum, does that mean we have to fight someone?] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): It''s highly likely. The problem is who we''ll be fighting...] A moment of silence followed those words. Lee Taeyeon posted an ambiguous message. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Maybe we''ll have to fight among ourselves...] [Kim Hwiyeon (Solo): But there''s no mention of separating by mode in this quest. It''s too one-sided, isn''t it?] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Hmm. I don''t know either. Logically, it should be separated by mode...] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): Gods aren''t beings that pursue logic.] Having experienced gods and their trials, Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon knew. Gods held no value for the weak. They only paid attention to those they favored. In the end, there was no answer. In a week, when the quest started, they would find out. It was more productive to talk about things that could be confirmed immediately. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): What does it mean that you can choose and meet in each other''s Colosseums?] [Kim Hwiyeon (Hard): Doesn''t it mean exactly what it says? You can meet with the countries you want and proceed with the quest together.] [Geum Junggeun (Hard): Then we should talk. It would be good to meet if possible.] They could meet people from other countries. The fact that they weren¡¯t the only survivors swayed their emotions positively. Knowing it and seeing it directly were different matters. [Kim Hwiyeon (Hard): I''ll contact them first. Let''s confirm the details after talking to them.] [Kang Junhyeok (Solo): Okay.] The discussion was slowly getting organized. Just as Taesan was about to turn off themunity, Lee Taeyeon called him. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Ah, Taesan. Nothing special happened after that?] [Kang Taesan (Solo): In thebyrinth?] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): No, I mean that Amelia woman.] [Kang Taesan (Solo): She made some noise. I ignored it all.] She had sent several conversation invitations. He had turned off notifications because it was distracting, but now he saw dozens of invitations piled up. [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): She kept asking about you, so I gave her a proper answer. Maybe that''s why she''s fixated on you...] [Kang Taesan (Solo): We''ll meet soon anyway. Just focus on getting down here.] [Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Yep.] Taesan turned off themunity. From what he remembered, the countries that would meet in this Colosseum were Korea, the USA, France, and Japan. Other countries either refused tomunicate or only met among themselves. ¡°I wonder how it will turn out.¡± The result would be entirely different from his past life. He was very much looking forward to it. After finishing his thoughts, Taesan opened the door. It was very spacious. It was the size of about four gymnasiums put together. Beyond that, stairs leading downward could be seen. This one room was the entire 61st floor. Taesan instinctively realized. He turned his gaze. In the corner of the room, a man was sleeping against the wall. ¡®Just as expected.¡¯ Taesan approached the man. Sensing his presence, the man slowly opened his eyes. ¡°¡­A new face.¡± The man stood up sluggishly. Wearing a tattered robe and a wizard¡¯s hat, he was about a head shorter than Taesan. His whole body was so frail that he looked like he would copse with a push. ¡°Are you an adventurer?¡± Taesan nodded. The man opened his mouth. ¡°Nice to meet you. I am an adventurer who once reached the deep floors. And now, I test adventurers here.¡± The man pulled out a staff. It was a dried-up wooden staff. ¡°I am a wizard who couldn¡¯t fulfill his duty. I am Veldencia. I look forward to working with you.¡± [You have encountered the wizard who failed to save the princess.] The wizard who failed to save the princess, Veldencia. Taesan looked at Veldencia. Veldencia, sensing a ghostly presence, noticed it btedly. ¡°The hero?¡± [It''s been a while, Veldencia.] ¡°¡­I see. The one who was betrayed and killed made a deal with the wizard, right? So you¡¯re attached to this adventurer now?¡± [No need to exin, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m bound to thebyrinth to take revenge on those wretched ones.] ¡°How unfortunate. I thought you would reach the end of thebyrinth. Even if it was a meaningless clear, at least you could regain some honor.¡± Veldenciaughed. It was a hollowugh, tinged with a hint of madness. He pped his hands. ¡°Then.¡± He looked at Taesan. ¡°You want to move forward from here, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Taesan. Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Then Kang Taesan. When you entered here, you checked the system window, right? What was written there?¡± ¡°It said this ce is guarded by gatekeepers.¡± Thebyrinth changes its theme every 10 floors. The theme for floors 61 to 70 was gatekeepers. ¡°Exactly.¡± Veldencia tapped the floor with his staff. ¡°I am a gatekeeper. I test whether the adventurers who reach this ce can proceed or if they should stop here.¡± Veldencia smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s better to prevent futile dreams if they are going to despair and sit down anyway?¡± ¡°Does that mean I have to fight you?¡± Taesan looked at Veldencia quietly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste my strength on futile things.¡± ¡°¡­Oh?¡± A small light shed in Veldencia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Impressive. You realized it right away despite me holding back my power. Even the hero next to you didn¡¯t notice and charged at me.¡± [Quiet.] The ghost grumbled. Taesan shook his head. ¡°Why is an adventurer like you volunteering as a gatekeeper here?¡± Veldencia was a monster. He could feel it even from his restrained power. The wizard in front of him was strong. Neither the Lion King nor the Fire Spirit King would be a match for the wizard. Even if they all came at him, he would crush and trample them. ¡®Perhaps.¡¯ He could be an adventurer on par with Ainzhar. ¡°The reason is simple. I am a wizard who couldn¡¯t fulfill his duty and achieve his desire.¡± Veldencia said with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s why I made a contract with thebyrinth¡¯s wizard. Think of it as a simple pastime.¡± He raised his staff. His robe fluttered. ¡°This is a story you don¡¯t need to know yet. Anyway, you want to go down, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. Veldencia looked at him for a moment and then spoke. ¡°I won¡¯t stop you. It¡¯s your choice after all.¡± He tapped the floor with his staff. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin the trial.¡± [Sub Quest Start] [Gatekeeper of the 61st Floor. The wizard Veldencia tests those whoe to this ce. If you pass his test, you will receive a reward.] ¡°I will exin the contents of the trial now.¡± Taesan waited quietly for the exnation. He had heard roughly from Lee Taeyeon, but she hadn¡¯t told him everything. ¡°Those who are weak have no reason to go down from here. Below this is a harsher and scarier ce. Rather than facing a futile death, it is better to stop and settle here. I am the examiner for that.¡± Veldencia pointed his staff at Taesan. ¡°So I will test you. It doesn¡¯t matter how long it takes. You just need to pass my test once.¡± ¡°What is the content of the trial?¡± ¡°You have gained many things while descending thebyrinth.¡± Veldencia began. ¡°It could be swordsmanship or skills. What I will test is the variety of powers you possess.¡± Veldencia continued. ¡°I will test how perfectly you can handle those powers. How far you have reached. If you pass, that will be it. You can pass me and go down.¡± [Veldencia''s Trial] [You can choose one power.] [All other powers and stats except for the chosen power will be sealed.] [You must pass Veldencia''s trial in this state. The trial has stages.] [If you clear the trial, you will receive a suitable reward.] [You can challenge the trial as many times as you want.] [You can continue to challenge by selecting different powers, and the value of the reward increases the more you seed.] [The trial can only be challenged once a day.] Chapter 271: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (2) Chapter 271: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (2) ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to go further down if you¡¯re weak.¡± Veldencia said. ¡°My trial is a kind of minimum threshold. If you can¡¯t surpass it, you¡¯ll only meet your death further down.¡± Deep floors. The first obstacle to get there. That was the 61st floor. ¡®How long did Lee Taeyeon say it took?¡¯ She said it took her three months. When she barely passed, Veldencia looked at her with an incredulous gaze. ¡®Passing is passing, but¡­ How could someone pass like this?¡¯Veldencia, who had faced countless adventurers for an immeasurable amount of time, let out a snort when seeing Lee Taeyeon. She didn¡¯t say how she managed to pass, so Taesan didn¡¯t know. He only knew that a coward like her wouldn¡¯t have passed in a normal way. ¡°Will you ept?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan answered. ¡°Then I¡¯ll exin the general rules.¡± Veldencia fidgeted with his hat. ¡°As you¡¯ve seen through the system, you can choose one power. This power can be something you obtained in thebyrinth or something you acquired outside.¡± Veldencia tapped the ground with his staff. Magic spread across the floor, and a magic circle began to engrave itself. ¡°Swordsmanship,byrinth skills, magic¡­ Choose one of the powers you have. I¡¯ll seal all the other powers.¡± ¡°Ovee it with one ability?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a test to see how you use that ability and how proficient you are with it.¡± Numerous geometric patterns were engraved on the magic circle in front of Veldencia. ¡°You can challenge the trial once a day, and it has levels of difficulty. If you measure it in stages, it¡¯s from 1 to 10. 1 being the easiest and 10 the hardest.¡± ¡°How difficult is it?¡± ¡°Did you meet those strange things called Guides of Sin whileing here?¡± Taesan nodded. Veldencia spoke. ¡°Level 1 is about the level of the boss monster on the 60th floor.¡± The level of the 60th floor boss monster. That wasn¡¯t an easy opponent. Adventurers who reached the 61st floor had all defeated the boss, but they had used everything they had. If you fought with only one ability, you would lose every time. It was understandable why Lee Taeyeon took over three months. ¡°Can I die in the trial?¡± ¡°You can get close to death, but you won¡¯t die. I told you, it¡¯s a trial. If you die, it defeats the purpose.¡± It meant you could challenge infinitely without dying. ¡°What about level 10?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about that. It¡¯s not a difficulty intended to be cleared in the first ce. Will you ept?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then wait a moment.¡± Veldencia¡¯s staff pointed towards Taesan. [Veldencia has activated the Labyrinth Authority: Target Identification.] ¡°It¡¯s a skill I gained by being bound to this ce. It allows me to identify what kind of power an adventurer has when theye.¡± Veldencia said as he examined Taesan. Soon, his face distorted. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why do you look like that?¡± ¡°Magic? That¡¯s fine. ck magic? How does a human like you have that?¡± ¡°I received it from the Demon God.¡± ¡°¡­The Demon God?¡± Veldencia was very confused. He barely opened his mouth. ¡°You can challenge with¡­ swordsmanship, magic, ck magic, and spirit arts. Alchemy is stillcking, so you can¡¯t challenge with that.¡± After a brief thought, Taesan spoke. ¡°Then I¡¯ll start with swordsmanship.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Veldencia lightly tapped thepleted magic circle. The magic circle lit up. ¡°For swordsmanship¡­ This guy seems suitable. What difficulty will you choose?¡± ¡°Please make it level 10.¡± At Taesan¡¯s words, Veldencia calmly manifested his power. ¡°Experiencing reality and then giving up isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡± [Veldencia activated Realization.] The magic circle was realized. A knight in crimson armor holding ance appeared. nk. [All abilities except swordsmanship have been sealed.] ¡®This is¡­¡¯ It was strong. It was at the level of the Spirit King¡¯s Shield. It wasn¡¯t an opponent you would expect to face on the 61st floor. ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? You can¡¯t clear it.¡± Veldencia raised his staff. ¡°First, getting beaten and realizing it isn¡¯t bad. Let¡¯s begin.¡± Thud! The knight stomped the ground. The air burst as thence aimed to pierce Taesan¡¯s head. Taesan stood still, unable to follow the knight¡¯s movement. Veldencia watched the scene calmly. Many had chosen the same path as Taesan. Those who risked their lives and overcame all adversities to descend to this point had immense confidence in themselves. The first thing they did after hearing Veldencia¡¯s exnation was to attempt the 10th level of the trial. The only adventurer who didn¡¯t choose the 10th level and started from the 1st was Lee Taeyeon in her previous life. In other words, every adventurer Veldencia had seen up until now had chosen the 10th level. And they all got destroyed in an instant. This one would be no different. He wasn¡¯t weak, considering he had the hero¡¯s ghost by his side¡­ but the 10th level possessed power beyond the 61st floor. After challenging the 10th level and being crushed miserably, they would gradually lower the level. Ultimately, they would barely clear the 1st level while struggling. And they would go down, feeling satisfied and pleased with their meager achievement. Nothing ever changed. It was always the same. It was detestable. Their weakness. The fact that they could feel confident with such paltry power. ¡®When will I ever¡­¡¯ There was nothing more to expect. Veldencia sighed and raised his staff to heal the soon-to-be shattered Taesan. ng! The sound of metal shing echoed. Veldencia¡¯s pupils widened. Taesan had deflected the knight¡¯s charge with his sword. Taesan¡¯s sword moved. As afterimages were drawn, the knight¡¯snce wobbled roughly. ng! Sparks flew. Movements faster than sound collided. Taesan¡¯s sword came down. The knight swung hisnce to deflect it. ng! Taesan created distance. He looked at the knight with a calm gaze. And Veldencia watched the scene nkly. ¡°What?¡± ¡°As expected, it¡¯s fast.¡± The level of the Spirit King¡¯s Shield. Judging coldly, it surpassed the 70th floor. But without the equipment from the deep floors, it wasn¡¯t a big problem for Taesan. Currently, he had higher stats due to Soul Ascension. However, Veldencia, who didn¡¯t know this, couldn¡¯t understand the scene before his eyes. ¡®¡­Is he overpowering with strength?¡¯ Veldencia was a mage. He was someone who judged the principles andws of things and tried to understand their nature. He had learned and observed many things as he descended thebyrinth. The stats of a knight at level 10 were beyond the reach of anyone who perfectly obtained everything up to the 60th floor. It was an existence beyond the norm. In other words, the 10th level was never meant to be cleared. The only possibility was to perfectly understand and strategize against the knight¡¯s actions after countless challenges. But no one had seeded so far. It was easier said than done. It required almost years of investment. And even then, it was uncertain whether it would seed. So, everyone lowered their expectations after a few attempts, realizing it was impossible. But. This. ng! Thence and sword shed. Both weapons were repelled. The difference in power was barely noticeable. It was an unreasonable sight that even Veldencia, who had ovee numerous hardships and adversities, couldn¡¯t ept. And it didn¡¯t stop there. Thud. Taesan stomped the ground. [You activated eleration.] ¡°What?¡± Veldencia was even more astonished. It was clearly a swordsmanship trial, but a skill? Iprehensible. Veldencia hastily checked, but the trial was proceeding normally. ¡°What the hell?¡± He was bewildered. It was the first time in hundreds of years that he felt such confusion. Meanwhile, the fight continued. Taesan¡¯s rapid attack was btedly blocked by the knight. However, as the response was dyed, the knight¡¯s body was pushed back. [You activated Strong Blow.] ng! The sword swung with power. The knight¡¯s body was gradually pushed back. Thud! The knight didn¡¯t just take it. He braced himself with his back foot and thrust hisnce. Taesan moved his sword to deflect thence aiming for his head. [You activated Flow.] The trajectory of thence twisted. Taesan plunged his sword deep into the exposed body of the knight. The knight¡¯s body shook violently. He swung hisnce like a whip in all directions. Taesan dug in deeper. [You activated Leap.] Thud. The knight¡¯s body was lifted into the air. Taesan stomped the ground again. It was a one-sided fight. Taesan¡¯s stats had increased after passing the 60th floor. Even if the level of the opponent was at the 70th floor, it couldn¡¯t overwhelm Taesan now. Moreover, Taesan possessed the top-tier swordsmanship, Ability Sword. With superior swordsmanship and stats, the opponent was not challenging. Veldencia watched the scene nkly. Thud. Ten minutester, the knight with a sword in his chest turned to dust and disappeared. [Your proficiency with Ability Sword increased by 1%.] It was a good experience. Recently, other abilities had been so overwhelming that he hadn¡¯t used Ability Sword often. Using it as a main skill like this helped him get a feel for it. ¡°Is this the end?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Veldencia nodded slowly. His gaze on Taesan was peculiar. Astonishment. Disbelief. And anticipation. After staring at Taesan for a while, Veldencia spoke. ¡°Congrattions. You¡¯ve passed the trial. You¡­¡± Veldencia seemed to want to ask something. Probably about how Taesan used skills in the swordsmanship trial. Before he could ask, Taesan answered. ¡°This is my swordsmanship.¡± ¡°Swordsmanship that uses skills?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a swordsmanship I created in thebyrinth, unique to me.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s unique.¡± Veldencia¡¯s face showed intense curiosity. But he didn¡¯t ask and changed the topic. ¡°Are you going down now?¡± Passing the trial allowed one to descend to the 62nd floor. But Taesan shook his head. ¡°No. I¡¯ll take all the trials I can.¡± The more trials one cleared, the greater the rewards. He had no intention of being satisfied with just this. Veldencia groaned. ¡°Of course. Then there¡¯s a problem. You can¡¯t do anything for a day.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I take the trial immediately?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a rule of thebyrinth. And so far, it hasn¡¯t been an issue.¡± The trials were never easy. Even the easiest 1st level required most adventurers to sustain hours ofbat to barely achieve victory. As such, time was needed to recover the stamina and mental strength consumed in battle. No matter how much Veldencia helped, rest was necessary unless one leveled up. Therefore, there was a day¡¯s respite. However, that respite was useless for Taesan. The only thing consumed during the swordsmanship trial was a small amount of mana. Just one. His stamina and mental strength were intact. While Taesan was contemting what to do, Veldencia sat down and asked. ¡°Then why not have a chat?¡± ¡°A chat?¡± ¡°Yes, a chat.¡± Veldencia smiled. ¡°You have to rest for a day anyway. Spending it idly is pointless, so let¡¯s talk.¡± Veldencia continued. ¡°I¡¯m a creature bound to this ce, the 61st floor. Adventurers who reach here are extremely rare. Maybe one in a hundred years. The asional Guide of Sin that passes by is too foolish to talk to¡­ so I¡¯m very lonely.¡± A century of solitude. Veldencia looked at the ghost. ¡°What about you, Hero?¡± [I''m only aware when someonees near my tomb. I never felt loneliness like you.] ¡°Damn. Am I the only one feeling lonely?¡± Veldencia grumbled. ¡°Ainzhar, that old man, unlike me, can move freely instead of being bound to one ce. I should have made such a contract too.¡± Veldencia straightened his back. ¡°I¡¯m extremely bored. I have to live alone in a ce with nothing. So, tell me some stories.¡± Veldencia¡¯s gaze turned to Taesan. ¡°Let¡¯s share some trivial stories. That¡¯s fine, right?¡± [Huh?] The ghost was puzzled. [When you met me, you didn''t talk at all. You just frowned and got annoyed when I tried to talk. So, why now?] ¡°Shut up, Hero.¡± Veldencia said with a smile. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± Veldencia¡¯s gaze was on Taesan. There was a flickering me in his eyes. Unlike when they first met, he was now very proactive. Thebyrinth NPCs. They all had their own desires and were bound to this ce. And most of those desires were ones they couldn¡¯t solve on their own. Taesan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine with me.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Veldencia pped his hands. He sat down in front of Taesan and asked. ¡°Then let¡¯s have an enjoyable chat. Let¡¯s talk about our experiences.¡± Chapter 272: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (3) Chapter 272: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (3) ¡°First, the reward.¡± [You have passed the first trial.] Veldencia threw a potion to Taesan. [You have obtained the [Superior Strength Enhancement Potion].] [Superior Strength Enhancement Potion] [Permanently increases Strength by 200.] Strength 200. It was quite a decent reward. Unlike equipment, the fact that it was permanent once used was a significant advantage. ¡°Not bad.¡±¡°It¡¯s a reward for the 10th stage. You deserve at least this much. The more trials you pass, the better the rewards you will receive.¡± Veldencia tapped the floor with his staff. A small magic circle was drawn, and a bottle of alcohol and dried snacks popped out. ¡°First of all¡­ I¡¯m curious about you.¡± Veldencia asked while sipping from the bottle. ¡°The adventurer who came here after a hundred years. What are you hoping for and how did you get here?¡± Taesan¡¯s background. Since there was nothing to hide, Taesan spoke frankly. About Earth. About the High Gods who invaded it. And about how they were invited to thebyrinth. Of course, he hid the fact that thebyrinth was separated and that he had returned to the past. Even so, Veldencia found it quite interesting that the entire Earth was invited, listening with a serious expression. It was a rather long story. Every time Taesan talked about the trial of the gods, Veldencia asked various questions. Taesan answered what he could and did not answer what he couldn¡¯t. By the time the story ended, a whole day had passed. ¡°So the High Gods did such a thing.¡± Veldencia muttered, shaking the empty bottle. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what was happening outside, but such things were happening. Interesting. Are they really trying to trample the world?¡± [It''s not really your concern, is it?] ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s true.¡± Veldencia smiled wryly. He was an existence bound to thebyrinth. No matter what happened outside, it had nothing to do with him now. ¡°The most interesting thing is that all the beings of one world entered thebyrinth. Fascinating. Is there any chance they will reach here¡­ I suppose not.¡± ¡°Some might reach it¡­ There¡¯s a big possibility.¡± Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were the ones showing potential to clear it. They were currently stuck around the 20th floor, but with consistent effort, they might reach it someday. But the rest were the problem. Most Solo Mode yers had not yet broken through the 10th floor. Even if Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok made it, could the rest survive and break through Solo Mode? It was difficult even with Taesan¡¯s help. What should they do to survive? Seeing Taesan contemting, Veldenciaughed. ¡°You¡¯re different from me. Very kind. Just like her.¡± ¡°Her?¡± Instead of answering, Veldencia stood up. ¡°A day has passed. Ready for the next trial?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. Veldencia asked with a deep smile. ¡°What will you use this time?¡± ¡°ck magic.¡± ¡°Difficulty level 10, of course?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good.¡± [All abilities except ck magic have been sealed.] Veldencia drew a magic circle. From there, a gigantic monster sprang out. [GRRAAAH!] It was the size of a mythological giant. The giant swung its enormous arm. The strength contained in it was stronger than Taesan¡¯s. Taesan kicked off the ground. Thud! He dodged the swinging arm. Veldencia, watching, was quietly astonished. Even in a state where he could only use ck magic, Taesan was not being overpowered by stats alone. And the following scene astonished Veldencia even more. [You have activated Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] Rumble! Lightning pierced through the giant. Not missing the moment the giant¡¯s movement slightly halted, Taesan linked his ck magic. [You have activated Eligos'' Rose Thorn.] The rose thorns entangled and restrained the giant¡¯s movements. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Then the ck wave surged ravenously. The giant punched to shatter it, but the wave giggled and swept over him. While the giant staggered, unable to get up, Taesan opened a passage. Veldencia¡¯s pupils dted as he watched. ¡°No way!¡± [You have activated Naberius'' Golden Sword.] The golden sword manifested. ¡°What is this?¡± Veldencia let out a hollowugh at the descending power. He knew Taesan possessed ck magic, but he didn¡¯t know its level. He did not think it was high. ck magic required the permission of a demon god to obtain. It seemed that Taesan, as a human, had somehow acquired it, butpared to the demons, it was thought to be insignificant. But this¡­ Veldencia realized. This was a powerparable to mid-level magic, a power not easily bestowed even upon the favored demons by the demon god. In other words, the human before him was more favored by the demon god than the demons. Thud! The light collided with the giant. The giant flew away hideously. Veldenciaughed. It was a smile of satisfaction. ¡®If it¡¯s someone with this power¡­¡¯ It might be possible. To achieve his wish. The nails of his clenched fist dug into his flesh. He watched the battle. The giant continued to resist but fell before long. Thud! Taesannded on the ground. There wasn¡¯t a single wound on his body. Veldencia greeted him with a smile. [The proficiency of Naberius'' Golden Sword has increased by 1%.] [The proficiency of Mephisto''s ck Lightning has increased by 1%.] [The proficiency of Eligos'' Rose Thorn has increased by 1%.] [You have passed the second trial.] [You have obtained the [Superior Magic Power Enhancement Potion].] [Superior Magic Power Enhancement Potion] [Permanently increases Magic Power by 100.] An increase in magic power. And by 100 at that. Considering his magic power was only 600, it was a significant boost. ¡®Good.¡¯ Taesan was satisfied and used the potion. Veldencia sat down again. He tapped the floor, and alcohol and dried snacks appeared. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk once more.¡± But this time, the conversation ended quickly. Taesan had already said everything he could. ¡°Hero, do you want to speak?¡± [Why should I?] The hero refused. Veldenciaughed as if he had been waiting for this. ¡°Then shall I tell my story?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you aiming for that all along?¡± Since Veldencia suggested talking, he probably wanted to share his own story. Veldencia chuckled. ¡°You figured it out. Sorry, but for my purpose, you need to listen to my story.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious as well, so go ahead.¡± NPCs residing in thebyrinth each had their own reasons for being there. Lilis sought the secret of magic, and the hero sought revenge. What did Veldencia want? Veldencia spoke as he drank. ¡°What I want is simr to the one in charge of thebyrinth¡¯s shop. That dwarf deep inside.¡± ¡°With your ability, shouldn¡¯t it be possible?¡± Although Taesan didn¡¯t know Veldencia¡¯s exact level, he could easily surpass the 80th floor. He might even reach the 90th floor. It would be faster for Veldencia to do it himself rather than asking Taesan for help. ¡°No.¡± But Veldencia denied it. ¡°I can¡¯t do it. It¡¯s impossible for me.¡± Heughed as if sobbing. ¡°That¡¯s why¡­ I need you.¡± Hisughter abruptly stopped. With a vacant expression, he began to speak. ¡°Hemrodia. A world that was once beautifully shining with magic.¡± This was the story of Veldencia before entering thebyrinth. A past from thousands of years ago, barely remembered. ¡°But it was a world that was slowly dying.¡± nts withered and springs dried up. The sun lost its light, and ck clouds covered the sky. No one knew the reason. Their world was dying just like that. ¡°I was the greatest magician there. Although I was young, even those who had devoted decades to magic knelt before my talent. No one could catch up to me. They said I could save the world, but¡­ how could that be possible?¡± The destruction of the world. No matter how great, Veldencia was just a mortal who couldn¡¯t solve it. And Veldencia himself had no intention of solving it. ¡°Though the world was dying, it wouldn¡¯t happen before I died. So it had nothing to do with me, right? I just did whatever I wanted.¡± Researching and experimenting with magic. Recognized for his outstanding talent, hecked nothing in support. He lived as he pleased. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just me. The world was clearly dying, but their generation could survive. Extravagance and pleasure filled the streets, and no one stopped it.¡± They were the end of the world. There would be no descendants. That fact drove people to madness. Their world was like a city from myth, filled with greed. ¡°But¡­ only the princess was different.¡± The only royal bloodline of the empire. The only royalty who could continue the dying world. ¡°She dragged me out from my room where I was holed up researching. Do you know what the princess said?¡± ¡®Let¡¯s go save the world, you decadent genius magician.¡¯ She said that, with her brilliantly shining golden hair, eyes more radiant than anyone¡¯s, and a bright smile. It was as vivid as yesterday. Veldencia chuckled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a funny story? Though she was strong as a princess, she was still human. And so was I. But she said we¡¯d save the world, just the two of us. She was serious. Thinking back, she was a foolish woman.¡± Veldencia¡¯s eyes were filled with longing and memories. At least, it seemed the events of that time were not entirely bad for Veldencia. ¡°Of course, I refused¡­ but she followed me around all day, nagging me to join her. So I got annoyed and told her I¡¯d help if she found a way. And she brought information about thebyrinth?¡± Abyrinth created by magicians and gods. If they conquered it, one wish would be granted. If it were the gods, solving the world¡¯s destruction wouldn¡¯t be difficult. So they entered thebyrinth. ¡°I was already annoyed at being dragged in, and the princess told me to protect her. That we could fulfill our wish. I was annoyed. I didn¡¯te here willingly; I was dragged. Why should I care about a wish? I didn¡¯t care if the world was destroyed. But since I was here, I did my best.¡± Veldenciaughed hollowly. ¡°For about two hundred years.¡± He lived a life in thebyrinth much longer than outside. And he was not alone. He was always with the princess. ¡°The annoying girl eventually became the meaning of my life. I thought I could die for her. But¡­ I couldn¡¯t.¡± Veldencia clenched his hand. The dried snacks in his hand turned to dust under the pressure. Mana, responding to his emotions, began to oppress the surroundings. ¡°I¡¯m a coward. In front of an overwhelming presence, I could do nothing. I begged for my life with my head on the ground. I¡­ I can¡¯t.¡± Veldenciaughed. ¡°So please.¡± With a sorrowful but desperate face, he spoke to Taesan. ¡°Save the princess who is suffering in the depths.¡± [Sub Quest Start] [A magician who failed to save the princess. Veldencia hopes to rescue the princess whose soul is trapped by the gods.] [Condition: Encounter the God of Descent. Make a deal with him.] [Reward: Determined by Veldencia and the God of Descent based on your performance.] Chapter 273: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (4) Chapter 273: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (4) Taesan stared nkly at the quest window. The ghost, reading along with him, spoke up. [¡­¡­Are you kidding?] ¡°No. I¡¯m serious.¡± [Then you must have lost your mind. They gave you this as a quest?] The ghost spoke sharply. There was a clear sense of caution and hostility directed towards Veldencia. [The condition is to encounter and trade with Essence? Are you insane? Do you know what that means?] Veldencia remained silent. The ghost spat out harshly.[Do you n to kill him? You¡¯re requesting a deal with a god?] sytsem_end Taesan had made deals and received quests from gods before, but this was different. Previously, the gods had shown favor to Taesan first. They were fond of Taesan and wanted to give him a lot. Thus, deals with Taesan were made. But the God of Descent was different. It was unknown whether he liked or disliked Taesan. Asking for a deal with a god who might hate you was a suicidal act in itself. [Moreover, if it¡¯s the God of Descent...... I can roughly understand the situation. Ha. Do you know how insane it is to ask to return a god¡¯s possession?] ¡°No.¡± Veldencia denied it. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m asking without any n. Kang Taesan. You are favored by the Demon God. It¡¯s not an ordinary favor. They might be favoring you enough to make you an apostle.¡± Handling demonic power as a human. Not stopping there, he freely wielded intermediate ck magic, a power even demons could hardly obtain. The Demon God had a deep interest in Taesan. ¡°The Demon God¡¯s authority is high among many gods. Even if it¡¯s the God of Descent, he can¡¯t easily touch someone favored by the Demon God.¡± [Do you really think so?] But the ghost sneered at Veldencia¡¯s words. [The opponent is a god. They don¡¯t act ording to the ns of mortals. What if the God of Descent decides to kill him and confronts the Demon God?] Veldencia fell silent again. He lowered his head with a troubled face. He knew it too. This n was full of problems. There were countless issues to resolve. ¡°But!¡± Veldencia clenched his fist fiercely. ¡°What do you want me to do? I tried my best too! I did everything to save the princess and change the God of Descent¡¯s mind!¡± He shouted with bloodshot eyes. ¡°I prepared offerings to exchange for the princess¡¯s soul. I descended into thebyrinth, risking my life! I tried for hundreds of years! But nothing worked! That damn god never returned the princess! I even tried to offer myself, but the God of Descent didn¡¯t even respond!¡± He sobbed. Despair was evident in his voice. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t give up. I have to save the princess.¡± For that one reason, he made a contract with the magician of thebyrinth. For countless years, he settled on the 61st floor, quietly waiting. Waiting for someone who could save the princess. The ghost clicked his tongue. [Well... I understand. I was the same.] If not for Taesan, he would have been simr. He might have waited buried in a tomb for hundreds, maybe thousands of years¡­ Even if he finally met a worthy adventurer, the top leadership of the Guides might have already been dead by then. Most of those bound here were simr. They made a contract with the magician for what they couldn¡¯t achieve on their own. All they could do was pray for a strong adventurer toe. To Veldencia, Taesan would seem like his first andst chance. He wouldn¡¯t let go easily. [For now, that¡¯s the risk of the quest. The decision is yours.] The ghost stepped back. Taesan, who had been quietly watching the conversation, spoke. ¡°Veldencia.¡± ¡°Y-yes?¡± Veldencia quickly raised his head. His gaze at Taesan was filled with anxiety. ¡°I have one question. How did the God of Descent approach you?¡± ¡°¡­We were descending thebyrinth. It was tough and difficult at first, but we slowly made progress together.¡± Veldencia was the greatest magician in his world, and the princess was the best swordsman in the empire. Unlike Taesan, who came from Earth, they had power from the beginning. Although it was challenging, they didn¡¯t find thebyrinth too difficult to break through. ¡°When we reached about the mid-ten floors¡­ the God of Descent descended directly before the princess.¡± The descent of the God of Descent. It was exactly like Amelia Aerin. Taesan¡¯s eyes darkened. Veldencia continued. ¡°He praised the princess, saying she was an excellent and outstanding human, and provided all kinds of support. Thanks to that, the princess was able to descend thebyrinth more easily. Until then, both the princess and I were deeply grateful to the God of Descent.¡± Veldencia bit his lip. ¡°And then, we reached the ce where the God of Descent resided.¡± Floor 83. That was around the time Amelia¡¯s contact was cut off. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you more than that now. But the princess¡¯s journey ended there.¡± Veldencia muttered gloomily. Taesan closed his eyes and thought. Opposing a god. Confronting an existence that could disrupt and copse the world itself. The princess¡¯s soul was in the hands of the God of Descent. Rescuing it would never be easy. It wasn¡¯t a decision that could be made lightly. Veldencia waited with an anxious face. A few minutester, Taesan opened his eyes. ¡°Alright.¡± [Sub Quest epted.] ¡°R-really?¡± Veldencia¡¯s eyes widened as if he hadn¡¯t expected Taesan to ept it. [Are you sure?] ¡°It¡¯s a god we¡¯re likely to confront anyway.¡± Taesan answered the ghost¡¯s question. Amelia Aerin was probably in the same situation as Veldencia¡¯s princess. The God of Descent approached her, praised her, and ended it when she reached him. And Taesan intended to crush Amelia Aerin¡¯s pride. The God of Descent wouldn¡¯t like that. The chances of them confronting each other were high. ¡°And I knew this day woulde someday. It¡¯s just sooner than expected.¡± From the beginning, he knew not all rtionships with transcendents would go smoothly. Some transcendents would definitely oppose and try to crush him. The God of Descent was likely one of them. If it was something that would happen eventually, it was better to ept it now when there was something to gain. [Well, that¡¯s true.] ¡°Really?¡± Even after checking the system window indicating eptance, Veldencia asked in disbelief. ¡°Really, you¡¯re epting?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t deny it aftering this far. But the reward must be sufficient.¡± ¡°Haha, hahaha! Hahahaha!¡± Veldencia burst intoughter. His face, twisted with emotion, was filled with joy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even I, Veldencia. Though I¡¯ve stepped into the higher ranks, I couldn¡¯t save the princess.¡± He mmed his staff on the ground. Mana took the form of a contract and pierced into Veldencia¡¯s heart. ¡°This cursed life of mine holds no meaning. Once youplete the quest¡­ I will leave everything to you.¡± The quest was epted. They chose to confront the God of Descent. But nothing changed immediately. ¡°We need to go deeper first.¡± ¡°Since the God of Descent resides there. Unless the god directly appears, we can¡¯t solve this immediately.¡± And that was impossible. Veldencia added. ¡°The God of Descent is a god who shows himself to those he¡¯s interested in from the beginning of thebyrinth. But since he hasn¡¯t appeared before you, you¡¯ll have to enter the deeperyers and find the altar yourself.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Taesan replied doubtfully. There was also the possibility of encountering him before that. He would soon meet Amelia anyway. For now, what he had to do was the same as always: get stronger. The next day, Taesan challenged the trial again. ¡°This time, it¡¯s a trial of magic.¡± A magic circle was drawn, and a lich-like being appeared. When it gestured, dark magic manifested and scattered in all directions. [You activated the Frozen World.] [You activated the Starlight Arrow.] And the dark magic shattered into pieces due to light and ice. ¡°Intermediate magic?¡± Veldencia was once again impressed. Although magic was easier to obtain than ck magic, it was still rtive. Intermediate magic was a power that those who reached the deeperyers barely acquired. Yet, an adventurer on the 61st floor possessed such power. Moreover, judging by his proficiency, it seemed he had acquired it long before. This indicated that the God of Magic also favored Taesan. Veldencia¡¯s certainty and expectations grew even more. Boom! [Starlight Arrow proficiency increased by 1%.] [Frozen World proficiency increased by 1%.] [You passed the third trial.] [You obtained the Elixir of Supreme Mana Enhancement.] [Elixir of Supreme Mana Enhancement] [Increases mana by 1000 permanently.] From the third trial onward, the rewards seemed to have increased significantly, with an elixir that raised mana by 1000. Now, unless he used intermediate magic dozens of times in a row, he wouldn¡¯t feel the mana consumption. Though he wanted to move on to the next trial immediately, there was a one-day restriction. With nothing else to do, Taesan continued his conversation with Veldencia. ¡°So, the princess felt sorry for the mad spirit on the 21st floor. She wanted to help it, but¡­ unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°She couldn¡¯t deal with the golem?¡± ¡°Yes. We tried magic, and the princess aimed for its weak points, but it was all in vain. So while she confronted it, I quickly fetched the spring water.¡± Lee Taeyeon took advantage of the golem¡¯s inactive time, and Taesan took down the golem itself. Since they had two people, they could employ such methods. The conversation wasn¡¯t bad. It provided an opportunity to learn how other adventurers descended thebyrinth. Veldencia¡¯s stories made Taesan think of methods he hadn¡¯t considered. ¡°It was tough, but it was very enjoyable.¡± Veldencia murmured quietly. His eyes were filled with memories. The 21st floor. For Veldencia, it must have been something from hundreds of years ago, yet he remembered. That meant the memories with the princess were precious to him. Taesan, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about.¡± ¡°What is it? Ask anything. I¡¯ll answer.¡± ¡°You said you wanted to save the princess.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s my wish, which binds me here.¡± ¡°Then why did you give up the conquest and make a contract with the magician?¡± Taesan asked. The ghost, finding it curious as well, opened its mouth. [Come to think of it, unlike me, you¡¯re not dead, right? And it¡¯s not like youcked the ability to conquer the deeperyers.] Taesan still remembered the system window that appeared before him when he entered thebyrinth. [This ce was created by a great magician long ago. It is said that those who conquer it will have one wish granted.] Fulfillment of a wish. It certainly wasn¡¯t of trivial value. ¡°¡­¡­That¡¯s quite close to the answer.¡± Veldencia nodded. ¡°If you conquer thebyrinth, the magician of thebyrinth will grant you one wish. Since it¡¯s stated in the system, even the god residing in thebyrinth can¡¯t refuse that wish.¡± [Then you could save the princess¡¯s soul with that, right? Though you¡¯d have to risk your life, that¡¯s always a given.] ¡°Yes. At first, I thought so too. To conquer thebyrinth and save the princess.¡± But Veldencia shook his head with a bitter smile. ¡°But¡­ it was impossible.¡± [The conquest?] ¡°No. It¡¯s a problem before that. Even if I reached the end of thebyrinth¡­ I wouldn¡¯t be able to make a wish.¡± [¡­¡­What do you mean? Are you saying it¡¯s a lie?] ¡°It¡¯s not a lie. It¡¯s just that we all misunderstood.¡± Veldencia spoke softly. ¡°The system said ¡®conquest of thebyrinth.¡¯ Simply reaching the end and¡­ conquering are very different matters.¡± He smiled bitterly. Chapter 274: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (5) Chapter 274: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (5) [Conquering and reaching are different issues? So, even if you reached it, you wouldn''t have achieved your wish?] ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I never reached the end of thebyrinth. But¡­ I¡¯m sure.¡± Veldencia spoke in a calm tone. ¡°Even if I had cleared thebyrinth, I wouldn¡¯t have achieved my wish. Because I didn¡¯t conquer thebyrinth.¡± Conquering and breaking through. The ghost began to understand that concept btedly. [...So simply breaking through isn¡¯t enough?] ¡°Right. Hero, you¡¯re remarkable. You might even clear thebyrinth. But you would have been the same as me.¡± [Hmm.] The ghost crossed its arms, seemingly deep in thought. But there was no confusion or denial in its voice. [So that¡¯s how it is.] ¡°Were you expecting it?¡± [To some extent. If it¡¯s about achieving a wish, the gods would have to grant it directly. I thought they wouldn¡¯t grant such an enormous reward just for breaking through.] A wish wasn¡¯t a simple matter, especially if it was granted directly by a god. If a god granted a wish, it could impact the universe itself depending on the conditions. Thebyrinth was undoubtedly difficult and life-threatening, but the risk for such a wish was too light. Nevertheless, the hero descended into thebyrinth with a faint hope and the belief that if he could clear it, he would gain the power to save the world. [Then what is the standard for conquering?] ¡°That I don¡¯t know. Whether you have to solve everything in thebyrinth or fulfill specific conditions¡­ One thing is certain, it¡¯s now impossible for me.¡± [In that case...] The ghost¡¯s gaze turned to Taesan. [What about you?] Taesan had identified and solved everything in thebyrinth so far. He was closest to the meaning of the word ¡®conquer.¡¯ ¡°Well.¡± It might be possible given what he had aplished, but he couldn¡¯t say for sure because he didn¡¯t know the exact conditions. Talking about wishes naturally made him think of Lee Taeyeon. ¡®She seeded in breaking through thebyrinth.¡¯ She never said she achieved her wish. In hindsight, it was strange. If a cowardly person like her could have achieved her wish, she would have asked for monsters not to invade Earth. But she returned, left a legacy to Taesan, and died. Either she didn¡¯t achieve her wish, or she did it in a way Taesan didn¡¯t know. Taesan couldn¡¯t tell. Lee Taeyeon never mentioned it. ¡®Who knows.¡¯ Taesan thought quietly. Another day passed as he pondered various thoughts. Now it was time for the final trial. ¡°Summon the spirit.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± [All abilities except for the spirit have been sealed.] [You have summoned the highest-level spirit, Barkaza, with diverse colors.] [You have summoned Minerva, the King of the Wind Spirits.] ¡°Woocha.¡± Minervanded on the ground. Veldencia chuckled at the sight of her. ¡°A Spirit King¡­ Really, this is absurd.¡± A contract with a king. Even Veldencia, who had seen numerous spiritists, had never witnessed such a sight. Veldencia struck the magic circle. With a roar, a golem emerged. [Uwooong!] The golem charged. Taesan gave the order. ¡°Defeat it.¡± [Engaging in battle as soon as I¡¯m summoned. Not bad.] ¡°Ugh. What a hassle.¡± Unlike the delighted Barkaza, Minerva grumbled about the sudden battle. Both charged at the golem. Boom! As the battle began, the golem was relentlessly pushed back. The stronger Taesan became, the stronger Minerva also became. It was sufficient without him stepping in, so Taesan simply observed the fight. ¡°Clearing the 10th stage with just a spirit, without the master¡¯s assistance.¡± Veldencia smiled with satisfaction. The more power Taesan disyed, the more he enjoyed it. And soon, the golem copsed. [You have passed the fourth trial.] [You have obtained the Water of Harmony with the Spirit.] [Water of Harmony with the Spirit] [Increases affinity with the spirit, significantly extends the summoning duration, and raises the maximum power the spirit can manifest in the world.] ¡°What is this? I feel a very familiar power.¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at the water in the bottle. Taesan drank the water. Wooong. Then Taesan¡¯s body began to change. A mysterious power spread throughout his body. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh of admiration. He could feel the vitality of the weeds scattered on thebyrinth floor. He could smell the breeze softly flowing from Minerva. The world became closer. Minerva also widened her eyes, sensing the change. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°What do you feel?¡± ¡°I feel a strong aura of nature from the master. And the power required to maintain the summoning has decreased?¡± Minerva swung her arm. The wind gathered into a small hurricane and swirled. ¡°The power consumption has decreased by more than half.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Minerva was undoubtedly powerful, but there was a restriction on her summoning duration. Because of this restriction, she couldn¡¯t achieve significant results despite having powerparable to Taesan¡¯s. Since that restriction was reduced, it was a very useful reward that would greatly help in the future. However, Minerva couldn¡¯t ept it as calmly as Taesan. ¡°Master. This isn¡¯t something that can be simply resolved like this?¡± She was a Spirit King. The power consumed when she was summoned was something that even hundreds of excellent spiritists couldn¡¯t handle. Originally, she couldn¡¯t descend due to the power consumption, but the spirit god directly lifted the restriction, allowing her to barely descend. Such a restriction was reduced by half just by drinking a bottle of water. ¡°This is the 61st floor. It¡¯s a fairly deepyer even within thebyrinth. And what he aplished was an impossible feat.¡± Veldencia spoke as if it were obvious. ¡°It¡¯s only natural to give such a reward. And this isn¡¯t the end.¡± Veldencia raised his staff. ¡°Originally, I would give you the final reward here. A reward that sums up everything you¡¯ve done so far. This is where my role ends.¡± Mana spread from the staff. A massive amount of mana began to swirl in the room like gentle waves. ¡°But¡­ the merciful magician has granted one exception.¡± Veldencia smiled faintly. [Veldencia has challenged Taesan to a duel. In this duel, both parties can use everything.] At the sudden duel challenge, Taesan nced at the system window. ¡°I believe in you. With the power you¡¯ve shown so far, I believe you can achieve my wish.¡± Risking his life would undoubtedly be dangerous, but there was a chance. That one possibility was enough. ¡°But this is me putting everything on the line in my own way.¡± What would happen to Veldencia if Taesan failed? There were very few merciful gods who would let a mortal opposing them go unpunished, and of course, the God of Descent wasn¡¯t among them. Of course, Veldencia might be untouchable due to being bound by a contract, but that didn¡¯t apply to the princess. ¡°I want to see your true strength without any restrictions. Use everything you have and fight me.¡± Wooong. Mana waves surged. [Hidden Quest. The fifth trial begins.] A trial only avable to those who receive Veldencia¡¯s quest, something others couldn¡¯t obtain. ¡°What should I do by fighting you?¡± Winning was impossible. Even the top brass of the Guides would lose one hundred out of one hundred times if they fought Taesan now, let alone the stronger Veldencia. Veldencia shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to win. Just reach a satisfactory level in my eyes.¡± ¡°In that case.¡± Taesan drew his sword. In a fight against an overwhelmingly strong opponent, there was always something to gain. ¡°Come. Adventurer. Prove your strength.¡± [Veldencia activated the Frozen World.] A frigid cold surged. It was intermediate magic handled by Taesan. But that cold couldn¡¯tpare. The air froze, and coldness surged in all directions. [You activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You activated the Vessel of the King.] [You activated the Ember of Cmity.] mes that could destroy the world burst forth. mes flickered in the world frozen by the extreme cold. ¡°Damn.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. Even so, the cold did not disappear. The walls of thebyrinth were entirely frozen. [Veldencia activated Starlight Arrows.] [Veldencia activated Magic Separation.] Starlight arrows formed. Then the arrows split into dozens, hundreds, and fired all at once. ¡°Damn.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. Judging that he couldn¡¯t dodge, Taesan instead rushed toward Veldencia. The arrows struck Taesan, and Attack Nullification activated. [Your First Attack Nullification activated.] ¡°What!¡± Veldencia, who was staring nkly at Taesan, was shocked. Not only did his attack disappear, but the magic he had materialized vanished as well. But he was a mage who had traversed the depths. His hands moved faster than his surprise. [Veldencia activated Resonating Mana Wave.] An invisible mana wave surged, pushing Taesan away. Even though it was simply the manifestation of mana, it contained power Taesan couldn¡¯t withstand. ¡°Minerva.¡± ¡°Oh no. This is tough even for me.¡± Minerva broke out in a cold sweat and gathered all her strength to unleash a burst of wind. Boom! It was her full power. She used all the extended summoning time granted by the spring water, leaving no energy to maintain the summoning. Even so, she couldn¡¯t block all the resonating waves. Minerva was astonished. ¡®What kind of power is this?¡¯ Even if she fought with the full power of the Spirit King herself, she had no chance of winning. It was hard to believe this was the power of a mortal. ¡°Grr!¡± Barkaza also provided support, but eventually, the wind was pushed back. However, it reduced the mana wave to some extent. At this level, it could be blocked with Absolute Protection. Taesan strengthened his stance. [You activated eleration.] He charged. The surging mana wave was blocked by Absolute Protection. Veldencia swung his staff with admiration. ¡°What exactly do you possess?¡± [Veldencia activated the Guardian of the Blue World.] A bluish barrier surrounded Veldencia. It was intermediate magic. The power contained in it was nearly absolute, something even the leader of the Guides couldn¡¯t easily prate. ¡®How will he break through this?¡¯ Veldencia watched with expectation. He believed Taesan could break through this level of protection. And Taesan met his expectation in an entirely different way. [You activated Absolute Judgement.] The moment his sword touched it, the barrier vanished. Veldencia¡¯s eyes widened to their limit. Taesan seized the opportunity and stormed in like a hurricane. [You activated Naberios¡¯s Golden Sword.] He swung his sword fiercely. The moment the sword was about to strike Veldencia, his body disappeared. [Veldencia activated Blink.] ¡°Hah.¡± Veldencia panted heavily from a distance. ¡®I almost got hit by a single strike?¡¯ Even the Guides wouldn¡¯t be able to get close to him, but an adventurer who hadn¡¯t even reached the depths yet almostnded a hit. ¡°Damn.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and activated ck magic. [You activated Mephisto¡¯s ck Lightning.] [Veldencia activated Pirs of the Earth.] Pirs rose. The ck lightning struck the pirs and dispersed into the ground. ¡°ck Lightning is unavoidable, but it¡¯s not without countermeasures.¡± Veldencia¡¯s face was full of delight as he spoke. ¡®At this level.¡¯ He could truly fulfill his wish. He released his power with anticipation. ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± The battle went on. After more than an hour of fighting, it finally ended. Of course, Taesan lost. But Taesan¡¯s face was calm. It was a battle where he gained a lot. He learned much about how to respond to a high-level mage. ¡®This is good.¡¯ When he first entered Solo Mode, Taesan couldn¡¯t even block a light attack from Ainzhar. But now, he fought a mage who seemed on par with Ainzhar and held his own. ¡°Haha. Good. Very good, Kang Taesan.¡± Veldencia was also satisfied. Of course, if he had tried to kill him for real, Taesan wouldn¡¯t have survived. A barrage of dozens of intermediate spells would have ended it. But he didn¡¯t go easy. Even while responding to the opponent¡¯s attacks, he tried to seize victory, and Taesan endured. ¡°If it¡¯s you now, the Guides? Even those fools wouldn¡¯t let their guard down. Yes. With such power, it¡¯s possible.¡± Veldencia waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯m fully satisfied.¡± [You have obtained the Potion of Superior Attack Increase.] [You have obtained the Potion of Superior Defense Increase.] ¡°And this is an additional reward from me.¡± [You have obtained the Singing Jewel and the Echoing Steel Ring.] [You have obtained the Magician¡¯s Music Box.] Chapter 275: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (6) Chapter 275: Floor 61, The Hall Of Trials (6) [Special Attack Power Increase Potion] [Permanently increases attack power by 200.] [Special Defense Power Increase Potion] [Permanently increases defense power by 400.] Taesan¡¯s lips curled into a smile. The increase in attack and defense was overwhelmingly high. For Taesan, with his Airak weapon technique, the effect was slightly diminished, but for other adventurers, the attack power increase would be significant. Even for Taesan, although the effect was slightly reduced, the potion was still far superior to most equipment. Other equipment needed to be reced over time, but this potion¡¯s effect was permanent. Once used, it required no further attention. And then there was the ring. Taesan caressed the steel ring iid with a blue gem.[Singing Gem and Echoing Steel Ring] [Health + 300] [Mana + 300] [Strength + 100] [Agility + 100] [Intelligence + 100] [Magic + 30] [Attack Power + 80] [Defense Power + 80] [The gem sings, and the steel echoes. The harmony between the gem and the steel amplifies and strengthens each other.] [When using basic or beginner magic, there is a 50% chance of activating it twice consecutively.] Taesan¡¯s expression grew even more satisfied. Rings could be worn on ten fingers. Therefore, the abilities of each ring were rtively lower than other equipment. While there were excellent rings, most were specialized in enhancing only one attribute. The pair of rings created by Hafran was an exception. They could be used even beyond the depths. In contrast, this ring excelled in all attributes. It was on par with equipment from other parts. Additionally, the special effect of having a 50% chance to activate beginner magic twice was included. Although Taesan now used intermediate magic for attacks, it was different for auxiliary magic. Since there were no restrictions on magic, it was possible to use mobility spells like Random Blink or Air Leap consecutively. This was a significant advantage. ¡°You can use this for quite a while, even in the deeper levels. I used it up to the 85th floor myself.¡± Veldencia said. Since rings were changed slowly, such performance could be useful until then. [You have obtained the Wizard''s Music Box.] [A music box made with the emotions of a wizard who couldn''t save a princess.] [It now contains the song of a destroyed world. It brings peace to the soul.] Simple exnation. Taesan looked at Veldencia, who opened his mouth with a bitter expression. ¡°I made it. The princess is probably not in her right mind, so if you meet her, y it for her.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan used the potion. He wore the ring and stored the music box. Veldencia looked at Taesan with a wistful face. ¡°You¡¯re leaving now. Please, don¡¯t die and go down thebyrinth¡­ and help the princess.¡± ¡°No.¡± But Taesan denied it. Veldencia¡¯s face hardened for a moment. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying I won¡¯t save the princess; I¡¯m saying I have no intention of leaving immediately.¡± This ce was extremely beneficial. The monsters in thebyrinth were no longer a match for Taesan. Thebyrinth¡¯s system required opponents to be somewhat equal for proficiency to rise smoothly. Naturally, Taesan¡¯s proficiency growth had slightly stalled. But the 61st floor was different. The ten stages of trials were not something Taesan could take lightly. In other words, it was optimized for increasing proficiency. ¡°You can challenge the trials multiple times. That¡¯s what it said.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true, but there are restrictions too.¡± ¡°You said some overstepping was possible, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± Realizing what Taesan wanted, Veldencia stammered. Taesan spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll be in your care for a bit longer.¡± Taesan continued to challenge the trials every day. Since he focused on raising proficiency rather than defeating them, it took quite some time, but he gained a lot as well. First, he began by increasing his magic proficiency. Using all kinds of magic, he passed the trials. After investing about three days, his magic proficiency reached 60%. [Magic] [Proficiency: 60%] [You can handle magic confidently. You can control fire, ice, and wind, and adjust their power to achieve the desired result.] ¡°It¡¯s finally increased.¡± It had been stuck in the high 50s for a while, but it finally reached 60%. Veldencia couldn¡¯t hide his amazement. ¡°You¡¯re not even a mage who focuses on magic, and you¡¯ve already reached 60%? That¡¯s impossible¡­¡± ¡°I had several opportunities to increase my proficiency.¡± Returning to Earth. The points gained there were usable. During the first return, he invested many points in magic. Although he didn¡¯t invest much after proficiency increased because of the low trade ratio, it helped significantly initially. As soon as it reached 60%, the manifestation of magic became freer. The implementation speed became faster, and the power noticeably increased. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Crack. The manifested Frost Arrow flew towards the lich. The lich, staggering from the barrage of magic, couldn¡¯t block the Frost Arrow. Crack! [1332 damage to the lich.] The damage increased by about 30%pared to before. The speed was also remarkably faster. Considering Taesan could deal tens of thousands of damage at once, it was rtively modest, but the advantage of Frost Arrow was its low consumption and fast implementation speed. If dozens were created and fired simultaneously, it would be difficult for the opponent to counter. And with proficiency at 60%, he gained new magic-rted skills. [Magic Separation] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can separate magic.] [Magic Concentration] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can focus magic that affects a wide area in a specific direction.] The Magic Separation skill was simr to what Veldencia had used. Taesan activated Star Arrow and then Magic Separation. The arrows split into dozens of fragments. While not as diverse as Veldencia¡¯s, there were plenty. Boom! The split arrows were fired simultaneously. Although the lich deployed a magical barrier, it shattered instantly. The power of the magic weakened due to the separation. However, it covered a wide range, giving an advantage in terms of spatial control. The effects of consecutive magic were very simple. [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Magic Concentration.] Frozen World was activated. The cold spread forward. Crack! A wave of ice surged, filling the area in front with ice. Taesan confirmed the effect and concluded. ¡®It¡¯s good.¡¯ Frozen World was a spell that spread in all directions. While that wasn¡¯t bad, it was difficult to see significant effects in a one-on-one situation. The skill somewhat resolved that drawback. The cold concentrated in the front was noticeably stronger than before. Not only did his overall magic proficiency rise, but the proficiency of each individual magic also increased significantly. There was a noticeable change of about 3 to 4%, and considering how difficult it was to raise the proficiency of magic-rted skills, it was no small amount. And Veldencia watched that scene with a peculiar look. ¡®This is what makes him different from me.¡¯ If it were him, would he have tried to raise his proficiency repeatedly like this? No. To him, thebyrinth was just something to break through. As a wizard, he tried to analyze and understand it to some extent, but he had never gone this far. Whether one saw it merely as a ce to conquer or analyzed and understood the whole thing, aiming to gain everything one could, the difference was clear even to Veldencia. ¡°Then.¡± Taesan wrapped things up. He drank a potion to replenish all the mana he had consumed. ¡°Will you go now?¡± ¡°Can I do more than this?¡± ¡°No. You can¡¯t.¡± Veldencia shook his head firmly. ¡°Allowing more trials to raise your magic proficiency was already an overstep. This is thest favor I can do because I am a wizard. I can¡¯t allow any more.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He had hoped to raise his proficiency in ck magic or swordsmanship as well, but that didn¡¯t seem possible. He expected as much. If it were possible, he could continue raising the proficiency of all his skills on the 61st floor. ¡°It¡¯s time to go down. But before that, I need to leave thebyrinth.¡± ¡°Leave? Is it a trial?¡± ¡°Something simr.¡± Taesan looked into the air. Themunity was extremely noisy. Expectation, anxiety, excitement, and other emotions mixed, and posts were rapidly increasing. A week ago, they announced that a colosseum would be opened. And a week had passed. ¡°I¡¯ll be away for a while.¡± The space split open, creating a passage. Taesan stepped into it. What he saw was a vast space. It wasn¡¯t outside, as it was enclosed by enormous walls and a ceiling, but it was incredibly wide and high. An ordinary person wouldn¡¯t be able to see the end. The height of the ceiling was immense, considering it had to amodate tens of thousands of people. Taesan looked around. Others started appearing one by one. ¡°Whoa, whoa.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯m in a ce other than thebyrinth and Earth. Where is this?¡± They began to gather and murmur. Some recognized Taesan and brightened up. ¡°Taesan!¡± As they hurried to bow their heads, Taesan stopped them. The call drew people¡¯s attention to Taesan. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s Taesan!¡± They gazed at Taesan with awe and reverence. But unlike before, they didn¡¯t try to grab or rush at him. Although the attention was burdensome, it was morefortable than before. [Your proficiency in Divine Power has increased by 1%.] He brushed off the proficiency increase and moved. Before long, he spotted Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°Ah, Taesan.¡± ¡°People are less aggressive now. Did you say something?¡± ¡°Yes. I told them it would be a nuisance to Taesan if they were too aggressive. I didn¡¯t expect them to follow so well, though.¡± Though overshadowed by Taesan, she fought for her life, and thanks to her leadership, many people survived, earning her a lot of respect. ¡°Taesan, do you have any idea how this will proceed?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Since it¡¯s a colosseum, it will probably involve duels. How did the nations decide to meet?¡± ¡°France, Japan, the USA, and us. Other countries ignored it or met among themselves.¡± As soon as Kim Hwiyeon finished speaking, a system window appeared. [The quest will begin in one hour.] ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered, can¡¯t they fix this informal tone? It annoys me every time I see it. When we return to Earth, it¡¯s in formalnguage, but why is it like this here?¡± Kim Hwiyeon grumbled as she began gathering people. Taesan moved to find Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. ¡°Hyung. You¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded and asked. ¡°How far have you gone down?¡± ¡°We¡¯re around the 23rd floor.¡± ¡°You progressed quickly.¡± ¡°Since the colosseum was opening, we put in some effort beforehand. Which floor are you on, Hyung?¡± ¡°61st floor.¡± They were at a loss for words. ¡°¡­You¡¯re almost clearing it.¡± ¡°I doubt it.¡± It might take longer to clear the deeper levels than reaching the 70th floor. Lee Taeyeon experienced that herself. From afar, Kim Hwiyeon, who was distributing something to people, approached them. ¡°Taesan, please tie this around your arm. You too.¡± She handed them yellow cloths. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°To distinguish levels by difficulty since we don¡¯t know what will happen. Green is easy, blue is normal, red is hard, and yellow is solo. Honestly, Taesan doesn¡¯t need this¡­ There was no one who didn¡¯t know Taesan. At least in Korea. ¡°But we might meet people from other countries. I¡¯ve already talked to the representatives of each country about pre-tying the cloths by mode.¡± Taesan took the cloth. She resumed distributing the cloths. An hourter, a system window appeared. [Special Quest Start] [This is the Colosseum. Prove your abilities and show your strength.] [Various quests will be carried out here.] [Points are awarded for clearing quests, with the amount varying based on performance.] Points. Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up at the word. Points to increase stats and proficiency were extremely valuable. [First Quest Start] [Participating Countries: USA, France, Japan, Korea.] [During this quest, if your health reaches 0, you will be incapacitated instead of dying.] [yers from all countries are randomly separated into specific spaces.] [A certain number of yers are assigned to each space.] [The assigned space shrinks at regr intervals until a final winner emerges.] [The more enemies you defeat and the longer you survive, the more points you receive.] [The final winners will be assigned to new spaces to determine the ultimate winner.] [This quest repeats until a certain number of yers remain.] Chapter 276: Colosseum (1) Chapter 276: Colosseum (1) ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a simr game? It¡¯s been so long, I barely remember.¡± People who saw the system window started talking. Kim Hwiyeon, who read the exnation, muttered. ¡°Determine thest survivor¡­ The yers assigned are random¡­ Luck is important.¡± Kim Hwiyeon quickly made her judgment. It was unclear how many ¡°random¡± yers there were, but it wouldn¡¯t be a small number. At least over a hundred. And only thest survivor among them could receive the next quest. The strongest person among the hundred would likely advance. And strength was rtive.¡°Unless I¡¯m incredibly unlucky, I should be able to rack up quite a few points.¡± Kim Hwiyeon was strong. Especially in Korea, thanks to Taesan¡¯s help, they had descended deeper than other countries. She hardly ever lost in one-on-one battles with Hard Mode yers from other countries. So unless she unluckily encountered someone as strong as Taesan or Lee Taeyeon, or got overwhelmed by numbers, her chances of continuously earning points were high. ¡°How many people are there in total?¡± ¡°About¡­ sixteen million?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot.¡± ¡°Most of them are from the United States, though.¡± The number of survivors from the United States was overwhelming. Most likely, if they were assigned to a space, they would mostly encounter Americans. ¡°But the bnce ispletely broken. Is it usually like this?¡± In Easy and Normal Mode, it was nearly impossible to win unless you were extremely lucky. All they could do was survive as long as possible to earn some insignificant points. Taesan answered. ¡°Do you think the guy who made this ce cares about that?¡± ¡°True. That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Hwiyeon nodded in agreement and gave Taesan a peculiar look. ¡°In the end, you¡¯ll be the one to win, Taesan.¡± It was a given. Taesan¡¯s defense was at such an exceptional level that their attacks didn¡¯t even affect him. That wouldn¡¯t be different even for Amelia. There was no chance of victory if she couldn¡¯t deal any damage at all. As Kim Hwiyeon prayed not to meet Taesan, a new system window appeared. [Special rules added.] [1. Health is fixed at 100, and defense is fixed at 0.] [2. Additional points are awarded to the country with the most yers remaining when the quest ends.] [3. Additional rewards are given to thest survivor.] [4. All health recovery skills are sealed.] ¡°Huh?¡± Kim Hwiyeon, who saw the btedly appearing system window, nodded. ¡°These rules make it somewhat fair.¡± With health fixed at 100 and defense at 0, even Easy or Normal Mode yers had a chance. If they worked together or caught their opponent off guard, they could win with just two or three sessful attacks. ¡°But isn¡¯t the second condition too favorable for the United States? Though the guy who made this probably doesn¡¯t care.¡± Kim Hwiyeon grumbled. Taesan squinted his eyes instead of answering. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ Such special rules didn¡¯t exist in his previous life. The reason was simple. The Colosseum was originally a ce designed solely for Amelia. There was no reason to allow a possibility where she could lose. Therefore, special rules didn¡¯t exist, and Amelia won with overwhelming power alone. But this time, special rules existed. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess why. ¡®They must really want to take me down.¡¯ Taesan smirked. Special rules were more disadvantageous the stronger you were. And the most disadvantaged, of course, was Taesan. ¡°What a petty god.¡± It wouldn¡¯t just end with this. There would be more tricks toe. Wooong. [The quest begins.] [Random yers are assigned to the space.] ¡°Oh.¡± People murmured. Light began to envelop them. ¡°See youter.¡± Taesan said briefly and closed his eyes. As the space leaped, he opened his eyes to find himself on a vast in. Looking around, it was quite spacious. At least, he couldn¡¯t see the end from his perspective. [This is a space created by a god. Though it will copse soon, creating thousands of such spaces in an instant, a god is truly a god.] The ghost murmured in admiration. Taesan gathered demonic energy and opened a passage. Feeling the gaze of the demon, he gathered his strength. [You activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] The demonic energy spread out in all directions. The number of people moving. Their strength. Information about the terrain. All the information flowed into Taesan. He closed his eyes and calmly organized the information. Soon, the detection reached the edge of the space. ¡°It¡¯s not that wide.¡± The total number of assigned yers was one hundred. If he moved decisively, he could end it all in a few minutes. Taesan decided to deal with the closest one first. He moved his feet. As he ran at high speed, he soon saw the face of a startled man. Taesan stood in front of him. ¡°W-what the!¡± The man, who spotted Taesan, stepped back in fright. Taesan looked at the man¡¯s forearm. A red cloth. Hard Mode. The man cautiously asked while observing Taesan. ¡°Japanese?¡± ¡°Korean.¡± ¡°Ah, sorry. It¡¯s hard to tell East Asians apart.¡± The man apologized, raising his hand. Distinct features. Blond hair and blue eyes. Taesan spoke. ¡°You¡¯re American, right?¡± ¡°Yes. My name is Gustar. I¡¯m a proud American Hard Mode yer.¡± Gustar spoke proudly and then curiously observed Taesan. ¡°Even though you¡¯re not speaking English, I can understand you. It¡¯s not just themunity, then.¡± Gustar smiled contentedly. ¡°No need to bother studyingnguages. Very good. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Taesan.¡± Gustar¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Are you the one Amelia talked about?¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯ve confirmed it, right?¡± Taesan stepped forward. Gustar¡¯s expression changed. With a serious face, he grasped his sword and charged. [Gustar activates Strengthened Strike.] [Gustar activates Focus.] Watching Gustar charge at him at high speed, Taesan moved. Gustar¡¯s body copsed like a puppet with its strings cut. [Gustar takes 4032 damage.] [Gustar is incapacitated.] The fallen Gustar let out a hollowugh. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± Realizing he couldn¡¯t win against Taesan the moment they met, Gustar diverted attention by making small talk, trying to gather the information he wanted before starting the battle. Then, he quickly changed the atmosphere to catch Taesan off guard. His judgment was quick, and his actions were precise. He had the skills to survive in Hard Mode. But that was all. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly.¡± Taesan stomped his foot. His figure disappeared. Gustar thought of himself as strong. It wasn¡¯t that he was delusional or overestimating himself. Objectively, he was a powerful person. Among the many Hard Mode yers in thebyrinth, he was in the upper ranks. When he first received the quest, he was confident he could make it. Even if he couldn¡¯t reach the end, he thought he could win two or three times. But that thought was shattered. When he opened his eyes, he was back where he had started. ¡°Oh.¡± Gustar scratched his head. A few minutester, a man with a dazed expression was summoned. He looked around and spotted Gustar. ¡°What the¡­ Gustar. You¡¯re back already?¡± ¡°Seves.¡± Seves was an Easy Mode yer. Quite different from the Hard Mode Gustar. But the two were very close. The reason was simple. They had been friends even before thebyrinth opened. Gustar asked Seves. ¡°What happened to you?¡± ¡°Of course, I lost. Even without defense, it didn¡¯t work out.¡± Seves shrugged. Even without defense, if you couldn¡¯tnd a hit, it was meaningless. Moreover, Easy Mode¡¯s attack power was so low that it couldn¡¯t even reduce 100 health in one go, making victory nearly impossible. ¡°You made it through, right? You¡¯re the pride of our vige, after all.¡± ¡°No.¡± Gustar shook his head. Seves looked surprised. ¡°You lost?¡± ¡°¡­Seves. You know the guy named Taesan, right?¡± ¡°The Solo Mode yer from Korea? Of course, I know.¡± Seves nodded. ¡°Amelia. That woman pretends not to care but keeps paying attention to him.¡± Amelia was the strongest Solo Mode yer in the United States. Everyone who survived had witnessed her monstrous strength. So they all knew about the yer Taesan, whom Amelia was concerned about. But they didn¡¯t pay much attention. ¡°Isn¡¯t he weaker than Amelia? I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s anyone stronger than her.¡± Amelia was literally a monster. She could crush the sea with a single strike and make the earth scream with a stomp. Her power was more like a natural disaster than a human. They couldn¡¯t believe another human had such power. So even though Koreans kept praising Taesan in themunity, they filtered most of it out, thinking it was an exaggeration. ¡°¡­I thought so too.¡± But. Gustar closed his mouth. He was particrly strong even among Hard Mode yers. He had fought many times beside Amelia and sparred with her several times. Each time, he felt an insurmountable wall. But this. The power of Taesan he encountered. Moreover, he didn¡¯t use any skills. Yet it was 4000 damage. Gustar didn¡¯t often read themunity, but from what he heard, Taesan had quite a few damage-increasing skills. If that¡¯s the case, how high could Taesan¡¯s damage go? Gustar imagined for a moment and let out a hollowugh. Just imagining it was absurd. ¡°Should I be happy about this?¡± Gustar was puzzled. Having a strong human was beneficial for their survival, so it was certainly good. But he couldn¡¯t be purely happy because he didn¡¯t know how Amelia would react. Amelia, whom he had seen, was obsessed with being the strongest. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when people gather. It¡¯s important. Very important.¡± ¡°Ah, right.¡± Seves seemed to remember something. ¡°Oliver mentioned something like that too.¡± ¡°Oliver Khan? Was Oliver in your space?¡± ¡°Yes. He told me to think of it as bad luck.¡± ¡°Really unlucky.¡± Oliver was stronger than Gustar. Except for Amelia, he was probably the strongest in the United States. Seves opened his mouth. ¡°Oliver said he had a good idea that could benefit us, so don¡¯t be too disheartened.¡± [Quest Complete] [You are the winner.] [Calcting...] [You earned 20 points.] [Returning to the winner''s ce.] Taesan arrived in a vast space. Twenty points. It was probably the maximum he could earn. Taesan looked at the system window and reminisced. In his previous life, he had entered the Colosseum too. And he had lost in the first battle. He only started gaining proper skills after surpassing the 60th floor in Easy Mode. Back then, he was strong for Easy Mode but still an Easy Mode yer. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t win against Normal or Hard Mode yers. Taesan looked around. As he was the first to win, there was no one else around. As time passed, other winners began to appear one by one. ¡°Phew. That was tough.¡± Kim Hwiyeon appeared, wiping sweat. Without defense and with health fixed at 100, she couldn¡¯t let her guard down. She fought and won against an American Hard Mode yer at the end. She wasn¡¯t the only one who won. Kim Hwiyeon, Geum Junggeun, Kang Junhyeok, and other top yers from Korea began to appear, and soon the system window showed up. [All winners have been decided. Moving to the next battlefield in one hour.] One hour. There was time. During that time, Kim Hwiyeon began gathering people to organize information. ¡°There were 3,900 Hard Mode yers from Korea, right?¡± How many survived? She counted the survivors. After confirming, she murmured with a surprised face. ¡°3,343? How did so many survive?¡± Chapter 277: Colosseum (2) Chapter 277: Colosseum (2) It was more than she had expected. Kim Hwiyeon had thought it would be fortunate if even half of the yers survived. If there were 100 people, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if two or three of them were Hard Mode yers. This meant that the Hard Mode yers of Korea had defeated and won against them. ¡°I was also surprised. yers from other countries are strong too¡­ but it wasn¡¯t that difficult.¡± Those who had won were equally bewildered. They had thought the Hard Mode yers from other countries were on par with them in terms of strength. But after actually fighting, it wasn¡¯t the case. There was a clear difference in strength between them and the Korean yers. Kim Hwiyeon realized itte. ¡°Oh, right. We had Taesan¡¯s help¡­¡± The Grace of the Gods. Each one of those was never a small thing. Immediately, the Grace of Struggle and Death increased talent for struggle, and the focus in battle itself changed.Due to that, Korea was about two or threeyers ahead of yers from other countries. In hard mode, that kind of difference was very noticeable. ¡°Not bad.¡± Looking around at the people, she asked, ¡°Just to make sure, has anyone met Amelia?¡± There was no answer. As expected, Kim Hwiyeon was not surprised. For someone to be here after meeting her meant they had defeated her, which was close to impossible. ¡°How strong could she be?¡± Amelia Aerin. The woman descending the Solo Mode. They were also very curious about her strength. They would find out once they reached the end. Kim Hwiyeon changed the topic. ¡°How was the ratio of countries?¡± ¡°America was overwhelming. I barely saw anyone from other countries.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s expected¡­¡± America had 1.5 million Hard Mode yers. The difference in numbers was on another level. Kim Hwiyeon made a vague expression. ¡°The special rule. The second one¡­¡± ¡°Why, noona?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. There¡¯s no point in talking about it. And it might not be.¡± She shook her head. Taesan could tell what she was thinking. With a quick mind and judgment, it was easy to guess. And her guess was correct. But as she said, there was no need to say it. Even if they knew, they couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Kim Hwiyeon looked at the faces of those remaining one by one and asked. ¡°More importantly, what about the ones who dropped out? Minsoo. Where did he go?¡± ¡°Oh, I met him. He was panting after fighting another Hard Mode yer, so I knocked him out immediately.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll try to kill you when we get back.¡± They spent time talking about random things, and soon it was time. The light began to envelop them. Their faces became serious again. ¡°See you at the next ce.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan moved to the vast in again. He opened his magic. [You have activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] The magic spread out in waves in all directions. Information began to enter his mind. There were a hundred people again. After this battle, only 1,600 out of 16 million would remain. Taesan didn¡¯t move right away. He walked leisurely through the in. He could feel the presence of those moving around him. And their movements were clearly different from the first battle. They were systematic. They began to group together and eliminate those who were alone. Before long, dozens of people were moving in groups, and Taesan was the only one left alone. And they started approaching Taesan. Sensing the movement, Taesan sat on a rock. Soon, he waved at those who appeared. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± They surrounded Taesan. Taesan checked their faces one by one. ¡°You¡¯re all Americans, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The muscr man at the front nodded. ¡°We¡¯re using the best method for our victory. Don¡¯t me us.¡± The man said that and drew his sword. Dozens of people behind him also took out their weapons. Taesan smirked and looked at them. ¡°Of course. There¡¯s no way Oliver would miss this opportunity.¡± Special rule. The second one. Additional points were given to the country with the most yers remaining when the quest ends. In other words, the more they eliminated yers from other countries, the more beneficial it was. And America had the most yers in the world. Even if they were randomly assigned, it was natural for most of the battlefield to be filled with American yers. And the majority of Americans joined forces to eliminate yers from other countries first. ¡°You¡¯re really smart. There¡¯s a reason you survived until the end.¡± What happened after the Rift? Did Oliver survive? Taesan didn¡¯t know. After clearing thebyrinth, he couldn¡¯t know about other countries¡¯ situations. Surviving the present was hard enough. Sitting on the rock and mumbling indifferently, the muscr man, Liam, frowned. Too calm. The yers from other countries they had met so far were either dumbfounded by their cooperation or yelled with red faces. They said it was unfair. That this couldn¡¯t be allowed. All those who had survived the first battle were Hard Mode yers. Dozens of such Hard Mode yers joined forces. No matter how much one struggled, it was impossible to win. Liam had no particr thoughts about it. Numerical superiority was also a clear strength. There was no problem in using it to win. If they hadints, they should have survived with more people too. After dealing with everyone, they nned to fight among themselves to determine the final winner. The man in front of them was thest to be defeated. But something was strange. Only then did Liam see the yellow cloth hanging on Taesan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Who are you¡­?¡± ¡°What are you talking about! Just kill him!¡± Three men who had been holding back rushed at Taesan simultaneously. They shouted with bloodshot eyes. ¡°Be a stepping stone for the great America!¡± Three Hard Mode yers¡¯ attacks. Fast and precise. With his current health at 100, even one hit would mean instant elimination. But Taesan did not move from his sitting position. Watching his approaching opponents, at the moment their swords were about to strike his head, his hand moved. Kwajik. The three who charged were crushed in an instant. Liam¡¯s pupils widened as he watched silently. He couldn¡¯t see the movement of the fist at all. And then the damage windows appeared. [Jackson took 4355 damage.] [Lucas took 5332 damage.] [Grayson took 4123 damage.] ¡°You are¡­¡± ¡°I am Kang Taesan.¡± Taesan smiled and stood up. His answer caused a ripple of murmurs. ¡°Show me what you are proud of, your numerical violence.¡± Taesan stomped his foot. At that moment, they lost sight of Taesan¡¯s movement. Kwakjig. Taesan descended from the sky and stomped on the head of a Hard Mode yer. The yer whose head was stomped disappeared. It was a defeat from being incapacitated. Liam shouted btedly. ¡°Everyone, move!¡± Pababak! They all distanced themselves from Taesan at once. The woman next to Taesan hastily turned to flee, but her head was caught by Taesan. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Taesan mmed her into the ground. The woman¡¯s movements stopped. Taesan did not stop. Clenching his fist, he pierced through the backs of those trying to distance themselves. In an instant, more than ten yers disappeared. ¡°What the!¡± Liam was shocked. To see more than ten people fall with just one move. And each one of them was a Hard Mode yer! Taesan dusted off his hands. He could have knocked them all down the moment they tried to distance themselves. Taesan had the speed and power to do so. He didn¡¯t do it to gauge their level. They gritted their teeth. Moving in all directions, they started pressing Taesan. ¡°Not bad.¡± Taesan murmured. Nearly eighty of them, all Hard Mode yers. Their level was lower than that of Korean Hard Mode yers, but it wasn¡¯t bad. But that was it. There was no need to draw his sword. There was even less reason to use a skill. Just with overwhelming strength and speed. He brushed aside the charging man¡¯s spear. Unable to withstand the force, the man¡¯s hand bent, and the spear flew far away. Kwakjig. Taesan¡¯s fist pierced the man. He then turned and kicked. The man aiming for his back rolled across the in in a defensive posture. Kooong! Taesan stomped his foot. The ground exploded. Those charging lost their footing momentarily and staggered. And then a gale arose. Unable to withstand the wind, they were blown away. [Logan took 934 damage.] Liam was dumbfounded. ¡°What is this¡­!¡± It wasn¡¯t even a direct hit from a fist. It was a simple gale. Yet the damage was 1000, a number he couldn¡¯t even imagine. It was happening despite being something he couldn¡¯t ept. Taesan was knocking them down one by one as they were bewildered. ¡°Just once!¡± Liam shouted desperately. ¡°If we seed in attacking just once!¡± Even if it was just the tip of a sword or a graze from a fist. They were Hard Mode yers. Using a skill, they could easily draw out 100 attack power. Their confused faces showed calmness. Their movements changed. Even if they became incapacitated, they moved to kill Taesan. ¡®It¡¯s useless though.¡¯ Even if an attacknded, the nullification would activate. There was no possibility for them to defeat Taesan. He parried and kicked away the swinging swords. He countered the fists flying toward his face. Dozens attacked Taesan simultaneously, but not a single attacknded on him. Experience, stats, everything was overwhelming. Even with dozens of Hard Mode yers gathered, they couldn¡¯t do anything against Taesan without him using a single skill. ¡°I have roughly gauged your level.¡± Taesan spread his hand. A chilling cold began to form. Sensing the ominousness, Liam shouted urgently. ¡°Everyone, back off¡­¡± [You have activated Frozen World.] Jjeojeojeok! The cold swept through. The yers responded to Taesan¡¯s power. Some tried to protect themselves with skills, some called forth mes with their staves to melt the ice, and others tried to distance themselves and escape. But it was futile. The cold froze them all equally. Liam was the only one left. Liam looked at Taesan with a dazed expression. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ Liam thought Taesan was strong, but still within reason. He believed Taesan could never reach Amelia. But this was beyond the norm. He continuously drew out ridiculous damage in the thousands. It meant that this was really Taesan¡¯s normal damage. Stronger than Amelia by far. Liam realized this. ¡°Are you really¡­ human?¡± Those were hisst words. Taesan¡¯s fist aimed for his head. When he came to his senses, he was summoned to the za of the defeated. [Quest Complete] [You are the winner.] [Calcting...] [You have earned 380 points.] [Returning to the winner''s ce.] 380 points. Unlike the first area, the opponents were all Hard Mode yers, so the points were quite high. Looking around, there was still no one. Taesan waited quietly. After a long time, Lee Taeyeon appeared. She was panting and catching her breath. ¡°Whew. I barely won.¡± Following her, Kang Junhyeok appeared. He looked as exhausted as Lee Taeyeon. [All winners have been determined. Moving to the next battlefield in one hour.] ¡°Taesan-ssi. Something¡¯s strange. The American guys seem out of their minds¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon murmured and then looked around, her eyes widening. ¡°Huh? Why are we the only ones here?¡± ¡°They all got knocked out.¡± Taesan replied. Realizing the meaning, Lee Taeyeon¡¯s face twisted. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Look around and see?¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± Lee Taeyeon muttered nkly. She knew why this happened. ¡°Damn special rule. Why did they even make that?¡± ¡°The reason is obvious.¡± Taesan smiled. Why were there special rules that didn¡¯t exist in his past life? The reason was simple. The God of Descent didn¡¯t want Taesan and Amelia to meet. He probably wanted to take Taesan down somehow before that. So he made his health 100 and removed his defense. He added the rule that gave extra rewards to the country with the most remaining yers to make the American yers team up to eliminate Taesan. ¡®But it¡¯s a bit disappointing. Do they think they can stop me with just this?¡¯ Trying to catch Taesan off guard with Hard Mode yers. It was a clumsy n for something orchestrated by a god. ¡®Are they aiming for something else?¡¯ There was a possibility they were aiming for the time when he met Amelia directly. If Amelia took him down herself, she would be even more arrogant. But it wasn¡¯t a bad story for Taesan either. If a god directly did something, it also meant he could gain a lot. It was the first time an exalted being tried to crush him like this. So he was looking forward to it. The time to meet Amelia. Chapter 278: Colosseum (3) Chapter 278: Colosseum (3) The God of Descent would choose one talented adventurer and bestow favor upon them. Taesan didn¡¯t know the details, but if a god showed up in person, it certainly wasn¡¯t a minor support. Perhaps the adventurer received a rewardparable to his own. And when that supported adventurer arrived before him, the god would reveal his true nature. He made them believe they were the chosen one of the god, only to shatter their expectations. It was fitting for a god whose domain was Descent. And being such a god, he would choose adventurers based not only on talent but also on character. A heart that believed oneself to be the strongest. He would choose an adventurer with arrogance.Amelia would be no different. So, Taesan nned to break Amelia¡¯s belief first. ¡°Those Americans are too much. Can¡¯t they take it easy?¡± ¡°Well, they¡¯re desperate too. They can¡¯t guarantee they¡¯ll survive the next return.¡± Kang Jun-hyeok answered Lee Taeyeon¡¯s grumbling. Their conversation broke Taesan¡¯s reverie. ¡°It¡¯s not really a problem. There¡¯s no rule against teaming up.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t think the Americans¡¯ method was wrong. They were in a situation where they might not be alive tomorrow. It was natural for them to prioritize themselves over others. ¡°Ah, this means next time it¡¯ll be all Americans¡­ This is going to be tough.¡± ¡°Stop whining.¡± Kang Jun-hyeokughed at Lee Taeyeon¡¯s distressed look. And soon, they were summoned back to the battlefield. Lee Taeyeon, who arrived in a vast, empty in, walked gloomily. ¡°Huh?¡± She spotted a yer walking across the in. A big nose and sunken eyes. They were Americans. When they saw Lee Taeyeon, they were startled. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know any Asian yer in Hard Mode who looks like you. Are you from another country?¡± Lee Taeyeon nodded. They started whispering among themselves. ¡°What? Didn¡¯t we eliminate them all?¡± ¡°Did one luckily survive? It¡¯s hard to find someone who¡¯s determinedly hiding using invisibility, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Or is it that guy? Kang Taesan?¡± ¡°That guy¡¯s a man. Does she look like a man to you?¡± ¡°Hey. I can hear you.¡± Lee Taeyeon grumbled. The Americans¡¯ expressions darkened. ¡°¡­Should we eliminate her now?¡± ¡°We were told to wait until everyone gathered, remember?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just one person. As long as she¡¯s not Kang Taesan, we can handle her, right?¡± ¡°That¡­ is true.¡± They drew their weapons against Lee Taeyeon. She sighed deeply and drew her sword. One Americanughed. ¡°Unlucky for you.¡± They rushed at her. One aimed at her head, another at her stomach, and thest one at her legs. Lee Taeyeon moved her sword with an annoyed expression. ¡°Ugh.¡± The sword aiming at her head was deflected, the spear aiming at her stomach was repelled, and the double-edged sword aiming at her legs was stomped down into the ground. Lee Taeyeon swung her sword. One Hard Mode yer vanished instantly. ¡°Wha- what!¡± The Americans were shocked. Although they had teamed up to eliminate other countries¡¯ yers, the final victor was decided purely by skill. The three who made it through were among the top Hard Mode yers. Even if Oliver joined in, he would have struggled to defend against their simultaneous attack. Yet not only did she block all their attacks, but she also counterattacked! And they couldn¡¯t even see her move. While the two were flustered, Lee Taeyeon quickly slipped between them. The American yers tried to respond hastily, but she didn¡¯t allow it. [Lee Taeyeon activated Flow Skill.] The trajectory of the American yer¡¯s sword was skewed. Lee Taeyeon brushed past them, and they copsed. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of something like this.¡± ¡°Damn it. Have we been forgotten too much?¡± Lee Taeyeon grumbled at theirst words filled with shock. She and Kang Jun-hyeok had entered the mid-20s floors. Their strength now far surpassed Hard Mode. Currently, she felt confident she could win even if a hundred Hard Mode yers attacked her. However, the presence of Kang Taesan meant she received rtively less attention. Even after days of monitoring themunity, there was hardly any talk about her. Ironically, in her previous life, she had felt burdened by the attention she received. But now, with Taesan around, all expectations were focused on him. Thus, Lee Taeyeon found herself wanting recognition more than in her previous life. ¡°If I stay till the end, maybe I¡¯ll get some recognition.¡± She murmured. She had confidence. As long as it wasn¡¯t Amelia or Taesan, she could win against anyone. She thought so and moved. Although she was strong, it would be difficult if all of Hard Mode gathered. She nned to find and eliminate them one by one before that happened. But her steps halted. Her pupils shook as she looked ahead. ¡°¡­Taesan?¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Taesan waved leisurely. ¡°Just my luck.¡± Understanding the situation, Lee Taeyeon muttered gloomily. ¡°Out of 1,600 people, I had to meet Taesan¡­ What is this¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re not the only one.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Noona. Nice to see you.¡± ¡°¡­Jun-hyeok? You¡¯re here too?¡± Lee Taeyeon let out a dryugh. ¡°This is too unlucky.¡± Her confidence for victory had vanished without a trace. ¡°Amelia isn¡¯t here too, right?¡± ¡°Probably not.¡± Taesan replied. ording to his domain detection, there were a total of 50 yers in this space. Out of 1,600 people, 50 were selected, and among them were Kang Taesan, Lee Taeyeon, and Kang Jun-hyeok. It might have been just bad luck, but Taesan didn¡¯t think so. ¡®It¡¯s crude, but it¡¯s certain.¡¯ From the beginning, it was never said to be assigned randomly. It was stated to be arbitrarily assigned by the system. It meant that the God of Descent could divide the space as he pleased. And Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok were ones who could potentially reach Amelia. Although it was nearly impossible given the more than ten-floor difference, it wasn¡¯t entirely out of reach. In the current situation, where health was at 100 and defense was gone, there was a slight chance of victory. So, Taesan decided to take them down. As his thoughts concluded, several presences approached them. Dozens of American Hard Mode yers had gathered. ¡°What? There are three of you? Didn¡¯t we eliminate everyone except that guy Taesan?¡± ¡°Sorry, but we don¡¯t have time to y with you.¡± Taesan raised his hand. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Magic Separation.] Arrows of light split and rained down on the Hard Mode yers. They panicked and tried to flee, but the arrows of light flew faster. Boom! ¡°Ugh!¡± Lee Taeyeon covered herself in shock. Each exploding arrow of light contained unimaginable power. When the light subsided, no one was left. Dozens of Hard Mode yers had all vanished in one strike. ¡°Perfect timing. This time, you two have a chance to defeat me.¡± Taesan smiled and drew his sword. ¡°Come at me together.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°No way we¡¯ll win.¡± Despite their grumbling, determination was etched on their faces. They began to strategize seriously to defeat Taesan. Taesan was satisfied with their attitude. Facing an overwhelming enemy, believing it was impossible to win, yet not giving up and striving for victory. It was an essential mindset in Solo Mode. ¡®They¡¯ve met the standard.¡¯ Taesan walked toward Lee Taeyeon. She lowered her stance and charged at Taesan. [Lee Taeyeon activated eleration.] Kang Jun-hyeok didn¡¯t stay idle either. He quickly moved to Taesan¡¯s back. One from the front, and the other targeting the rear¡¯s gap. It was textbook. Taesan raised his sword against the charging Lee Taeyeon. She gritted her teeth and tried to defend. [Lee Taeyeon activated Flow Skill.] The sword came down. As Taesan¡¯s sword shed with Lee Taeyeon¡¯s, it was diverted. Lee Taeyeon tried to exploit the gap, and Kang Jun-hyeok kicked off the ground. Taesan applied strength to his hand. The sword, diverted by Flow, was forcibly corrected by his strength. Lee Taeyeon rolled on the ground in shock. Taesan pulled his sword back. The charging Kang Jun-hyeok hastily blocked with his sword. Crack. He was shocked by the difference in power. He barely managed to block without taking damage, but his hands were trembling. A few more shes and he might lose grip of his sword. It wasn¡¯t even Taesan¡¯s full strength. He was moving his sword very slowly. ¡°Flow of the Ability Sword is indeed strong, but it¡¯s not omnipotent. If the opponent¡¯s strength is significantly higher, it can be ovee.¡± Taesan raised his sword. ¡°Come again.¡± Taesan taught Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok how to deal with an overwhelming enemy through physical demonstration. As a result, although they were overwhelmingly pushed back, their expressions were bright. ¡°Well then, Taesan. Please take care of the rest.¡± ¡°Hyung, teach them a lesson. I¡¯m too angry to stand it.¡± Taesan waved and finished off. [Quest Complete] [You have be the winner.] [Calcting results...] [You gained 760 points.] [Moving to the final location.] This time, the location he was summoned to was different from before. Taesan was summoned to a room painted blue. It wasn¡¯t veryrge. At most, it was the size of a school field. Taesan looked around the interior. There were several Americans gathered. [All winners have been determined. Moving to the next battlefield in one hour.] Taesan took quite a long time training Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. Because of this, Taesan was thest one to arrive. Counting them one by one, there were a total of 31. Including Taesan, there were 32. Among them, a blond man approached Taesan. ¡°Um¡­ nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Taesan responded. He recognized the man in front of him. Blond hair and blue eyes. A stereotypical Westerner. Always steadfast and confident. When Kim Hwiyeon died, this man gathered and led the Korean yers. And he survived to the end. Oliver Khan. The leader of the Americans and the leader of the world. Oliver spoke. ¡°Your name must be Kang Taesan.¡± Taesan nodded. Oliver groaned. ¡°¡­I heard rumors, but you¡¯re really strong. But it seems it took you quite a while.¡± ¡°There were two particrly strong ones here.¡± ¡°¡­The Solo Mode yers of Korea. You mean those two.¡± Oliver¡¯s eyes gleamed. He seemed to have a misunderstanding, but that didn¡¯t matter to Taesan. He felt gazes boring into him. Taesan turned his gaze. He saw blue hair. Brown eyes were staring at Taesan. A beautiful woman resembling a fierce cat was gazing intently at him. She said nothing, but her entire aura was revealing herself. -I am the strongest. -No one can surpass me. It was an aura that made such a im. Amelia Aerin. The strongest Solo Mode yer. And probably the yer buried in thebyrinth by the God of Descent. Taesan smiled and spoke to her. ¡°Hello?¡± Her gaze, full of many emotions, was directed at him. She finally spoke. ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°That you cleared over 50 floors.¡± Taesan smiled. ¡°What do you think?¡± Amelia¡¯s face twisted at his non-answer. Her aura responded to her emotions. Oliver¡¯s face hardened. She had reached a level where she could control people with just her emotional outburst. But that was all. Taesan couldn¡¯t help butugh at the aura directed at him. Amelia Aerin. The strongest Solo Mode yer. The yer he once believed he could never surpass. But not anymore. Chapter 279: Amelia Aerin (1) Chapter 279: Amelia Aerin (1) Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah. I will find out soon.¡± Amelia controlled her emotions. The ghost, curious, approached her. [This is fascinating. Strong, but¡­ something artificial. Should I say manufactured strength?] ¡°You?¡± Amelia¡¯s pupils shook as she saw the ghost. ¡°Why are you here?¡± [Hmm? You know me?] ¡°Didn¡¯t you end at the 10th floor?¡± Amelia seemed to know the ghost. Seeing the ghost still sticking by Taesan, she looked flustered. Seeing her reaction, Taesan realized something. Amelia also received the ghost¡¯s quest. If one thought about it, it was only natural. The ghost wouldn¡¯t have let go of Amelia, who possessed talents acknowledged by the gods. They must have given her the quest first. But the fact that they parted ways on the 10th floor meant that Amelia hadn¡¯t received the quests beyond that point. Defeating the Ogre Sage, obtaining information, and confronting the Guides¡¯ leadership were quests she missed. The ghost seemed to realize this too and spoke in an amused voice. [Oh. I roughly guessed it, but this is interesting. So, the me from that side parted ways at the 10th floor¡­] [I understand the reason.] The ghost smiled broadly. [It seems the me from that side judged you couldn''t reach the Guides¡¯ leaders. So, they ended it there to avoid a meaningless death.] ¡°You.¡± Amelia¡¯s face twisted. Ignoring her, the ghost flew to Taesan. [Interesting. The aura of the gods is very strong. They support her in such a way?] The ghost said that the other him judged Amelia couldn¡¯t reach the leadership, but that probably wasn¡¯t it. Amelia had enough talent to reach the depths. More likely, the ghost, who knew the essence of the God of Descent, was wary because she was too close to that deity. ¡°¡­Fine.¡± She turned her body. Her movement was like a cat throwing a tantrum. ¡°Let¡¯s talk after the battle.¡± She closed her eyes with sharp words. Amelia had a very strong sense of pride. But that pride wouldn¡¯t be perfect. It looked solid but would crumble like a sandcastle. That¡¯s why the God of Descent chose her. Taesan nned to break that. Oliver, who had been quietly listening, tilted his head. ¡°Why is Amelia talking to herself?¡± He was in Hard Mode. He couldn¡¯t see the ghost. To Oliver, it looked like Amelia was muttering to herself and then suddenly twisted her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°Solo Mode has many secrets. Anyway, nice to meet you. I¡¯m Oliver Khan, the leader from the USA.¡± He extended his hand for a handshake. Taesan reached out. The grip was firm. Oliver asked with a stern face. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re cowards?¡± Taesan understood what Oliver was asking. The method of winning by overwhelming numbers with only Americans. It could certainly be seen as cowardly. But Taesan shook his head. ¡°Many might think that way. I don¡¯t.¡± Anyone would be desperate to survive. It was only natural for Oliver, the leader of America, to use methods advantageous for their survival. Oliver¡¯s face rxed slightly at Taesan¡¯s answer. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. It¡¯s really reassuring to hear one of the strongest humans say that.¡± Hearing this, Amelia, who had been closing her eyes, opened them. She briefly looked at Oliver with a betrayed expression and then quickly turned her gaze when Taesan looked at her. ¡°Taesan.¡± Oliver spoke calmly. ¡°You said we weren¡¯t cowardly. So¡­ you won¡¯t think that way about what¡¯s going to happen, right?¡± ¡°Whatever you do, I don¡¯t care.¡± It didn¡¯t matter anyway. Oliver smiled broadly at Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°Good. I¡¯m relieved to hear that answer. Amelia.¡± ¡°Do as you please. It doesn¡¯t matter anyway.¡± Amelia spoke bluntly. Taesan looked at the remaining yers. They were filled with vignce and curiosity towards Taesan. And among them, the only one with a yellow cloth on their arm was Amelia. ¡°There¡¯s no other Solo Mode.¡± ¡°Not everyone is as strong as Amelia. Of course, they are stronger than most Hard Mode yers¡­ but they haven¡¯t reached our level yet.¡± The growth potential of Solo Mode was certainly great, but that was a story for after reaching a certain point. In the beginning, Hard Mode yers who could coborate and clear quickly had the upper hand. While talking with Oliver, it became time. They all started to be summoned to the battlefield. A vast in. Taesan, summoned in the middle of it, sat on a rock. One by one, presences began to gather from afar. Except for one presence, all of them gathered and surrounded Taesan. Seeing the faces of the people who appeared, Taesan murmured. ¡°Amelia isn¡¯t here.¡± ¡°She said she would rather withdraw than fight together. She¡¯s a very proud woman. This isn¡¯t the time to worry about such things.¡± Oliver spoke bitterly. They were fighting for their survival. Pride had no value. ¡°Taesan. You said we weren¡¯t cowardly.¡± Oliver gave a signal with his eyes. Thirty yers simultaneously took out a potion from their arms. Clink! And threw them to the ground. Thick poison began to spread. [Oliver has been poisoned.] System messages notifying of poison appeared in a row. Oliver, his face turning purple, drew his weapon. ¡°Considering how far you¡¯vee, you must be very strong. But you¡¯ve surely exhausted a lot.¡± Taesan was a Solo Mode yer from Korea. He fought and came up against Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. It wasn¡¯t clear exactly how strong they were. They were overshadowed by Taesan¡¯s presence, so urate information couldn¡¯t be obtained. But from the asional information, it was clear they were far stronger than Hard Mode yers. Taesan fought against such people. Oliver assumed that Taesan must have used considerable power. His assumption was based on the fact that Taesan appeared thetest. He thought Taesan must have exhausted some health or mana after fighting them for over an hour. So, they used poison to deplete the little remaining health. The poison they used wasn¡¯t that strong, depleting 1 health every 5 seconds. But right now, his health was fixed at 100. In such a situation, it was extremely threatening. Poison Taesan and escape as much as possible. Slowly whittle away his health. And when his health reached zero due to the poison, or if he fought Amelia with barely any health left and lost, either way, Amelia could win. The poison touched Taesan. It was the moment Oliver was sure of his victory. [Poison judgment in progress¡­] [Judgment seeded! Poison resistance activated.] ¡°What?¡± Oliver¡¯s pupils dted. Despite being buried in the poison, Taesan¡¯s face didn¡¯t turn purple. ¡°Is that how the judgment works? This is something new.¡± Against continuous damage like poison, did absolute protection activate first, or did poison resistance activate first? The answer was thetter. It seemed that resistance judgment was attempted first, and if it failed, absolute protection would activate. ¡®Could be useful.¡¯ Taesan stored the information in a corner of his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Thest remaining presence. Taesan walked toward it. Soon, Amelia¡¯s figure came into view. As she looked at Taesan, she opened her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± Amelia said. ¡°I¡¯m the strongest. Even if you went deeper than me! My skills are superior!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Taesan smiled. ¡°If that¡¯s what you think, fine.¡± Taesan took a step closer to Amelia. At that moment, a tremendous force crushed the battlefield. At the same time, the system window appeared crazily. [Forced rules are added.] [1. Kang Taesan''s shield bes 1.] [2. Kang Taesan''s health bes 1.] [3. Kang Taesan''s mana bes 1.] [4. Kang Taesan''s magic bes 1.] At that moment, the system window distorted. It felt like a sh and offsetting of great powers. Taesan opened his status window. From health to magic, everything was 1. But strength, agility, intelligence, and attack power were at their original values. Taesan, who had been looking up at the sky for a moment, spoke briefly. ¡°Thank you.¡± After leaving a word of thanks to the being who helped him from afar, Taesan approached Amelia again. ¡°Amelia Aerin. I dere here.¡± Taesan said, as if stating an absolute truth, as if it would surelye true. ¡°I won¡¯t use any skills. And I will defeat you in one strike.¡± Amelia¡¯s face crumpled. She gritted her teeth and drew her sword. ¡°Try it!¡± [Amelia has activated Rage.] [Amelia has activated Honorable Duel.] [Amelia has activated Higher than Anyone Else.] [Amelia has activated the Weak God''s Blessing.] Numerous powers enveloped Amelia. Some of them were skills Taesan had not obtained. Skills directly given to her by the God of Descent, skills only Amelia could receive. Taesan nodded. ¡°Not bad.¡± She was certainly much stronger than Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. But that was all. Taesan took another step closer to Amelia. Amelia, raising her fighting spirit, tried to respond to Taesan¡¯s movement. She had confidence. She was strong. Even if her opponent was stronger, she could respond and win. In fact, the losers of the Labyrinth, called the Guides of Sin, couldn¡¯t block her attacks despite being on higher floors. Taesan was no different. He seemed to have gone deeper, but the difference wasn¡¯t that big. She was strong enough to skip floors. She believed so. And she had enough skills to support that belief. [Amelia has activated the Path to Victory.] The Path to Victory. A skill she obtained after passing the trials of the God of Descent. This skill found possibilities of victory even in the most desperate situations. Even in extreme situations where no one thought she could win, the Path to Victory always brought her triumph. Amelia, who activated the skill, focused on Taesan. And she realized. Taesan was walking toward her in an ordinary manner. There were plenty of openings to attack. But her mind warned her. Attacking those openings would lead to her own defeat, a near prophetic certainty. Amelia¡¯s eyes shook. ¡°Will you stay still?¡± Step. Taesan had already reached right in front of her. Sweat trickled down her cheek. No answer came. Despite seeming leisurely and full of openings, she couldn¡¯t exploit them. Taesan raised his fist. ¡°Block this.¡± His fist moved. The movement was very slow. Even an ordinary person could easily dodge it. [Amelia''s Line of Death has activated.] She had to dodge. And counterattack to win. As she had always done. But it was impossible. The Path to Victory, which always brought her certainty, didn¡¯t activate. As if, no matter what means she used, no matter how many times she fought, she couldn¡¯t win. Dozens of strategies shed through Amelia¡¯s mind. But all she could envision was their destruction. ¡®¡­Move!¡¯ Just before the fist touched her, Amelia barely moved. She shifted her entire body to roughly dodge the fist and lowered her posture to dive at Taesan like a wave. The sword drew dozens of afterimages. A movement above her own level, something she had never achieved. In an extreme situation, she surpassed her limits. But Taesan casually adjusted the trajectory of his fist. All the sword¡¯s afterimages were destroyed by the approaching fist. Amelia, shocked, raised her sword. The fist collided with the sword. Crack. The sword bent. The fist broke through her defense and touched Amelia¡¯s face. ¡°Lie down for now.¡± Her consciousness was cut off there. Chapter 280: Amelia Aerin (2) Kuuuuung! Amelia crashed to the ground. Taesan dusted off his hands. ¡°You¡¯re useful¡­ but that¡¯s it.¡± Amelia was certainly strong. With this level of power, she surpassed the 40th floor. But Taesan now possessed the strength to reach even the deeperyers. No matter how much Amelia struggled, she couldn¡¯t withstand even a single blow from him. Taesan looked indifferently at the fallen Amelia. Her limp body disappeared. [Quest Complete] [You have be the winner.] [Calcting results...] [You gained 1,250 points.] [Forced invitation activated.] [You are being moved to the realm of gods.] Suddenly, the space around him distorted. A massive force crushed everything and forcibly moved Taesan¡¯s body. Phwoosh! Under the immense pressure, Taesan surveyed his surroundings. Dark, muddy darkness spread everywhere. It quivered, emitting sounds akin to screams. Taesan frowned. He could feel it. What this mud-like darkness was. It was human souls. Not just one. Thousands of them. And the emotions of these souls were filled with despair and betrayal. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ Mortals. A ce mixed with their souls and emotions. Taesan quietly looked around and saw a glowing darkness. The soul hadn¡¯tpletely copsed yet, as it wasn¡¯t ck. It was closer to gray. But the gray soul was being eroded by its surroundings, trembling as if it could be tainted at any moment. ¡®That is.¡¯ [You.] As Taesan approached the gray soul, a booming voice echoed. A massive presence began to press down on Taesan. [How dare you, insignificant being.] It was shining more brightly than anything in the mud-like darkness. Souls touched by the light screamed and fled. The enormous being bared its teeth at Taesan. [How dare a mere mortal disrupt my ns.] An emotion of rage directed at Taesan. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t breathe. His whole body was engulfed in fear. [You activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You activated the Vessel of the King.] A barrier enveloped his body. His breathing returned, and the trembling of his body subsided. Taesan spoke. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re doing this. God of Descent. Essence.¡± He smiled. ¡°I won by following your rules. I haven¡¯t done anything to offend you.¡± [Wretched being.] The voice of the God of Descent was filled with annoyance. [A mortal with no worth or meaning dares to believe in their petty power and rampages. Die.] With the deration, power flew towards Taesan. The power of a transcendent aimed to kill Taesan. ¡°No.¡± Taesan denied his words. ¡°I¡¯m not acting because of my own power, but because I believe in something else. Demon God.¡± As soon as Taesan finished speaking, the space cracked. A small, white hand appeared. [That¡¯s enough.] [How?] There was astonishment in the God of Descent¡¯s voice. The Demon God appeared with a slight smile. [Hello, Essence.] [...Demon God. Young god.] The God of Descent spoke with a voice mixed with annoyance. [This is my domain. How did you enter here?] [Yes. It was quite difficult to prate your domain. But... I have a fated mortal here.] The Demon God nced at Taesan. Anger spread across the God of Descent¡¯s face. [Are you saying you¡¯ll confront me to protect a mere mortal?] [Such words are disheartening.] The Demon God smiled. [We¡¯ve never been on good terms from the start, have we? And he has far more value than someone like you.] [Demon God!] [While I have no intention of interfering in another god¡¯s affairs... isn¡¯t this too disgraceful?] The Demon God¡¯s face was full of ridicule. [You supported her openly just to toy with a mortal, and now that it¡¯s failed, you¡¯re taking out your frustration? I know actions of transcendent beings are meaningless, but still, you¡¯ve gone too far.] [Silence, Demon God.] The God of Descent growled. [You¡¯ve also given everything to the mortal you favor.] [No. What I gave him was a fair reward for his efforts. I didn¡¯t create excuses to give rewards like you.] The Demon God continued. [And I merely observe. Unlike you, I don¡¯t move directly to y tricks.] The Demon God¡¯s power began to envelop Taesan. [I don¡¯t intend to speak at length. Essence. He is a mortal I cherish. I won¡¯t let you touch him.] The Demon God smiled. The God of Descent seethed with anger. Responding to it, his power went berserk. The powers of the two transcendent beings began to collide. A force capable of destroying the world multiple times surged. And it was the Demon God who showed superiority. The mud-like darkness began to retreat before the pure ckness. In the trembling space, the Demon God waved her hand. [Then, I hope we don¡¯t meet again. Farewell.] [You!] The space closed. The pure ck darkness appeared in the world. [Be careful. Gods don¡¯t just favor those with abilities. There are also gods who, like immortals, act on their whims.] ¡°Thank you, Demon God.¡± The Demon God said to use her name, but Taesan never imagined she would descend directly to protect him. The Demon God smiled. [Then, will you be my apostle?] ¡°No, I won¡¯t.¡± Taesan cut her off sharply. The Demon God seemed to ignore his words, not taking it seriously. [I just moved first. Even without me, there are many gods who would have stopped him.] There were not only a few gods who favored Taesan. They would have moved to block the God of Descent. [It¡¯s something you built up in thebyrinth. So, there¡¯s no need to thank me. It¡¯s an achievement you earned.] The Demon God spoke while looking at Taesan. The Demon God waved her hand. The space began to distort. [Then, farewell. I look forward to seeing you again.] ¡°Before you go, may I ask one thing?¡± [What are you curious about?] ¡°If I approach the God of Descent, how will he react?¡± [He will dislike it greatly and impose harsh trials on you... but he won¡¯t avoid giving you the trial itself. Trials of the deepyers are necessary even for gods. And he won¡¯t be able to openly try to kill you. I have dered that I am protecting you.] The Demon God lifted the corners of her mouth. [Is it because of that poor child on the 61st floor?] ¡°I received a quest. I can¡¯t ignore it.¡± [You don¡¯t need to worry. There won¡¯t be any issues rted to that. And it¡¯s the same for the girl named Amelia.] Taesan looked at the Demon God. ¡°Did you know?¡± [The actions of the God of Descent are quite well known on our side. He doesn¡¯t have a good reputation.] Thinking about it, it was unlikely that other gods would like him. Reaching the deepyers of thebyrinth meant possessing significant talent and strength. To use such a mortal as a toy and discard them¡­ Given the reasons why gods resided in thebyrinth, it would be strange if they did not reject him. [The God of Descent values talent and ideology. The moment either of these fails, he loses interest. So, depending on what you do, she could be abandoned by the God of Descent.] The Demon God smiled with her eyes. [Destroy him. I¡¯ll enjoy watching.] ¡°Thank you.¡± As the space mixed, Taesan¡¯s feet touched solid ground. He also heard the surrounding noise. Looking around, he saw countless people gathered together. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± ¡°Of course, they must be desperate to survive. But so are we. With so many people, what¡¯s the point?¡± Oliver, making excuses, and Kim Hwiyeon, criticizing him, came into view. Not only her but other countries also looked unfavorably at the American yer. America openly joined forces to eliminate yers from other countries to secure their victory. It was a situation where a fight could break out at any moment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Oliver raised his hands and apologized. Quietly listening, Lee Taeyeon spoke. ¡°Where is Taesan?¡± ¡°Wha-?¡± ¡°Where did Taesan go?¡± Her voice was devoid of emotion. At her ice-cold tone, Oliver hesitated. ¡°Well¡­ we don¡¯t know.¡± A sudden surge of energy emanated from Lee Taeyeon. Startled, Oliver waved his hands frantically. ¡°We asked the returned Amelia, but she was in a daze and couldn¡¯t answer. We think he¡¯s receiving some sort of reward since he was the final winner.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t know despite causing such trouble?¡± Lee Taeyeon tightened her grip on her sword. Oliver¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lee Taeyeon turned her head in surprise. Seeing Taesan, the coldness from before was nowhere to be found. ¡°Taesan!¡± Her voice drew everyone¡¯s attention to him. [Colosseum Ended.] [Final Winner: Kang Taesan] [Country with the most surviving yers: USA] [Rewards are given to those who achieved results.] [Quest Ended. Adventurers from Korea, USA, France, and Japan gather at the meeting za.] [After two days, return to your respectivebyrinths.] The quest ended. But if it had ended like this, everyone would have been dissatisfied. In the end, they had met people from other countries for the first time, only to fight and determine a winner. So, after the quest, two days were given for people to talk. They could see each other¡¯s faces and exchange information for two days. ¡®Originally, this ce was meant to boost Amelia¡¯s pride.¡¯ Not anymore. Everyone¡¯s attention was on Taesan. A young man with gray hair approached. With clear features like a model, he greeted Taesan. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Daniel Darmon?¡± ¡°Huh? You know me?¡± Daniel¡¯s eyes sparkled. Taesan responded. ¡°Roughly.¡± ¡°Right. There were discussions about me in themunity. So, you know about me.¡± Daniel concluded, nodding alone. But that wasn¡¯t it. Taesan knew him because they had talked quite a bit in a previous life. ¡°Oh. Hello.¡± A woman with short hair to her shoulders, looking somewhat older, approached with a bow. Kim Hwiyeon, seeing her, eximed, ¡°Are you Ichijo Eika?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± She scratched her head shyly. Among the many people, the leaders from each country had gathered. ¡°You look much younger than I heard. Is it because you were an idol?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t mention age.¡± Eika, startled, waved her hands. Quietlyughing, Daniel spoke, ¡°Anyway¡­ we came to question you.¡± Their gaze turned to Oliver. Oliver spoke hesitantly, ¡°Can I exin?¡± Daniel smiled, ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk in detailter. Right now¡­ there¡¯s something we need to check immediately.¡± ¡°¡­Right.¡± Daniel and Eika¡¯s gaze turned to Taesan. There was awe in their eyes. ¡°We knew you were strong, but this¡­¡± He defeated dozens of Hard Mode yers. And even Amelia, who was called the strongest in Solo Mode in the USA. In their countries, there were Solo Mode yers, but most were simr to Hard Mode. Rarely did anyone surpass it. Taesan and Amelia were stronger, but they didn¡¯t think the gap was that big. But from what they heard, it was more than that. Oliver shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m also surprised.¡± Taesan was stronger than Amelia. By arge margin. Overwhelmingly so. Even the speed at which the final winner was decided after his elimination showed that Amelia couldn¡¯t even be his opponent. ¡°How strong are you?¡± It was pure curiosity as a fellow yer. Except for the Korean yers, everyone¡¯s eyes sparkled at his words. Taesan turned around, ¡°You¡¯ll see soon.¡± He got permission from the Demon God. Taesan started walking. The people watching made way with awe. Amelia, who was on the other side, saw Taesan approaching and shrank back. She gave him a cat-like re, ¡°¡­What? Did youe to mock me?¡± Taesan answered with action instead of words. [Kang Taesan has challenged Amelia Aerin to a duel. This duel will be fought under perfectly equal conditions.] Chapter 281: Amelia Aerin (3) Chapter 281: Amelia Aerin (3) His goal was to crush Amelia¡¯s pride. She was a strong woman. Amelia¡¯s pride was the only pir that supported her. One defeat would not shake it. So he decided topletely break it. For her sake. ¡°..You?¡± Amelia frowned. Taesan spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s do it again. Honestly, aren¡¯t you still dissatisfied? You yourself think that you didn¡¯t lose because of your skills.¡± Amelia¡¯s eyes wavered.It was as Taesan said. She had been defeated by Taesan. And it was an overwhelming defeat. But she believed it was because Taesan had higher stats due to descending deeper, not because he was better than her. Strong but a force she could catch up to someday. That was Amelia¡¯s assessment. And Taesan intended to shatter that belief. ¡°So let¡¯s do it. On equal terms, to see who is better.¡± ¡°Conditions?¡± ¡°With your stats. Only basic skills like Strong Blow and Flow.¡± ¡°¡­¡­You¡¯ll regret it.¡± [Amelia epted the duel.] Amelia drew her sword, her eyes shining. The people around them moved back. They watched with interest. Taesan and Amelia. The fight between the two who were known to be the strongest in the four countries. Even with conditions, it was a fight worth looking forward to. ¡°Come on.¡± Taesan drew his sword, and Amelia charged. ng! Their swords shed. Gasps arose from the crowd. They moved so fast that they were hard to follow with the eyes. Amelia¡¯s eyes burned fiercely as their swords shed. ¡®At this level!¡¯ It was possible to ovee. Aiming for victory, she moved her body. Her sword strikes created sparks. And Taesan swung his sword indifferently. ng! He deflected her descending sword. He lowered his stance and dug in. When Amelia tried to shake him off, Taesan stepped on her foot. ¡°Ugh!¡± Amelia¡¯s voice trembled with surprise. Taesan grabbed and twisted her wrist. Amelia tried to hit Taesan¡¯s chin with her elbow, but he leaned back to avoid it. He tightened his grip on her wrist. Twisting the sword to cut her tendons. ¡°Grk!¡± What followed was a one-sided battle. Having lost the initiative, Amelia slowly sumbed. [Duel ended.] [Victory: Kang Taesan.] Amelia sat down, dazed. Taesan pointed his sword at her. [Kang Taesan challenged Amelia Aerin to a duel. The duel was fought on perfectly equal terms.] ¡°Again.¡± Amelia gritted her teeth. [Amelia epted the duel.] The fight began anew. Amelia gained experience from the recent defeat. She prepared to counter Taesan¡¯s unconventional moves. Tap. She charged. When Taesan swung his sword, she lowered her stance and stepped on his foot. She had talent. She remembered what had happened to her and adapted it to her own movements. But the same was true for Taesan. Instead of retreating when she stepped on his foot, Taesan charged at her. For a moment, Amelia¡¯s face showed surprise, but she quickly reacted. ng! Their swords shed. Taesan moved his free foot to trip Amelia. Thinking she had restrained his movements, Amelia lost her bnce. ¡°Ugh!¡± Her sword strikes became unsteady. She barely managed to regain her stance, but it was toote. Given the equal conditions, losing that much stamina made victory nearly impossible. In the end, she lost again. ¡°Stepping on my foot means you also restrict your movements. From there, it¡¯s a battle of strategy. Again.¡± [Kang Taesan challenged Amelia Aerin to a duel. The duel will be fought on perfectly equal terms.] Amelia gripped her sword roughly. Their swords shed. This time, Amelia focused on using skills. She used Flow and eleration to press Taesan. But it was the wrong judgment. There was no one who could surpass Taesan in the utilization of skills. She lost. She had focused too much on skills and failed to notice Taesan¡¯s movements. ¡°Again.¡± Kang Taesan spoke indifferently. Amelia grabbed her sword again. Her hand was trembling slightly. She lost again. ¡°Why¡­¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re weak. Again.¡± The duel began again. And she lost. This time, even she didn¡¯t understand the loss. ¡°This, this¡­¡± She was driven mad. It was supposed to be perfectly equal stats. The skills were the same. And in such a situation, she believed she couldn¡¯t lose. She judged her talent to be superior to anyone in the world. But she couldn¡¯t ovee it now. ¡°Again.¡± A cold voice echoed. She gripped her sword, trembling. The crowd, once filled with admiration and gasps, began to grow quiet. She lost again. And the time shested grew shorter. Thus, she could not ept it all the more. She prided herself on understanding her opponent better with each fight. So she thought that as she fought more, she would grasp Taesan¡¯s movements and habits and ovee them. She believed that if she fought many times, she would win. Although it was her own movements and habits that were being identified, not Taesan¡¯s. Her confidence in being able to win began to fade. ¡°Again.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± And that indifferent word started to scare her. ¡°You have talent.¡± Taesan said as he swung his sword. Amelia was busy defending. Amelia had talent. Otherwise, the God of Descent wouldn¡¯t have approached her in the first ce. ¡°But it¡¯s not that outstanding. To put it bluntly, it¡¯s on the same level as Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok.¡± ng! But she was mistaken. She spoke as if she was better than anyone else in the world. The God of Descent made her that way. ¡°Again.¡± Taesan said. Amelia was on the verge of madness. But even so, she couldn¡¯t let go of her sword. The only pir supporting her wouldn¡¯t allow it. ¡°Again.¡± But the repeated defeats began to make her pir wobble. More than ten duels. And Amelia lost every single one of them. In thest battle, she iled around and lost without doing anything. It meant her spirit was at its limit. [Kang Taesan challenged Amelia Aerin to a duel. Kang Taesan uses only one skill.] [Kang Taesan activated the Three Proofs.] A tremendous force pressed down around them. The spectators gasped and sat down, bowing their heads to the ground. What Taesan achieved exerted a physical pressure. The power spread, affecting more than ten million yers. ¡®What in the world¡­¡¯ Lee Taeyeon was astonished. What Taesan was spreading now was the power he had achieved. The power contained within was beyond her imagination. And Amelia, who was facing it head-on, looked very pale. Even with just the manifestation of momentum, she lost her will to fight. [Duel ended.] [Victory: Kang Taesan.] With her will broken, the duel ended. Taesan challenged her again. ¡°Again.¡± ¡°¡­Stop.¡± Amelia barely managed to speak. ¡°Stop¡­ please.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Taesan asked, as if he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°You think you can beat me if you keep trying, right? Then why give up? Keep going. You can do it.¡± ¡°I lost.¡± Amelia said, almost vomiting the words. ¡°Please stop¡­¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. [Amelia''s skill. The condition for the special activation skill [The One Who Stands Above All] was not met. The skill was lost.] The skill¡¯s condition and its loss. It was his first time seeing it, but he could guess what happened. The skill [The One Who Stands Above All] was likely given by the God of Descent. The condition might be that she believed she was better than anyone else and was overconfident in her talent. The fact that the skill broke meant her confidence had copsed. Taesan sheathed his sword. Taesan¡¯s battle was over. But people were still in shock. The Three Proofs used by Taesan. Its effect had spread to everyone. Overwhelming power. A being stronger than anything they had ever seen. The Korean yers spoke excitedly. ¡°We told you on themunity! His power is real! He is the modern god we should serve!¡± No one could deny their words. Taesan had shown such power. And the strongest or the leaders from each country were gathered in one ce. ¡°It¡¯s overwhelming.¡± Daniel spoke up. ¡°Really¡­ overwhelming.¡± He was too strong. If all the yers in France fought Taesan, they would be one hundred percent certain to lose. That was the extent of the power Taesan showed. ¡°How in the world did he get that strong¡­¡± ¡°Through hard work, done well.¡± Taesan replied as he looked around. Every time his gaze met Amelia¡¯s, she flinched. Daniel gave a wry smile. ¡°Well, it¡¯s good for us. If there¡¯s someone this strong, our survival rate will go up significantly.¡± ¡°But¡­ I have a question.¡± Eika murmured quietly. ¡°Why did so many yers die in Korea?¡± The number of yers in Korea was only a few tens of thousands, clearly less than other countries. So they didn¡¯t pay much attention to Taesan¡¯s strength. If there was someone truly that strong, they thought most of them would have survived. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon also closed his mouth. ¡°Even if you say that, I don¡¯t know either.¡± Kim Hwiyeon was also puzzled. Certainly, by Korean standards, without Taesan, they couldn¡¯t have survived. But other countries had many survivors despite being generally weaker than Korea. ¡°I called you here to exin that.¡± Taesan spoke. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you everything, but I¡¯ll give you a rough idea.¡± About the gods. And about thebyrinth. The situation was very different from his previous life. The High Gods would try to directly interfere with Earth. They needed to know about it. ¡°And there¡¯s something I need to tell you about skills too.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t handle everything alone. These people needed to get stronger. ¡®The timing is good.¡¯ The High Gods were focusing their power on Korea to kill Taesan. Because of that, the threats to other countries were less than in his previous life. If these people got stronger, many more could survive and join forces. ¡°Skills¡­?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve obtained various skills, right? How do you think you acquire skills?¡± There was a brief silence at Taesan¡¯s question. Lee Taeyeon spoke up. ¡°When we brought about a certain effect, we gained skills corresponding to it. You mentioned it before, Taesan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Most of you would have obtained skills like Flow Skill, Add, Breathless Attack, and Continuous Attack.¡± What Taesan was about to tell them went beyond that. Chapter 282: Amelia Aerin (4) Chapter 282: Amelia Aerin (4) ¡°I¡¯ll tell you more than that.¡± Lee Taeyeon asked Taesan in surprise. ¡°Are you going to tell others too?¡± ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you like it?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that¡­¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon nced uneasily at Oliver. Oliver flinched and stepped back. ¡°I can¡¯t have goodwill towards that guy at least. Is it okay?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I won¡¯t tell everything anyway.¡± Honestly, Taesan wasn¡¯t interested in what kind of tricks the U.S. pulled in this quest. The important thing was survival.¡°If conflicts continue, I¡¯ll move, but not yet. Our goal is survival, not conflict.¡± Survival. Surviving and returning to Earth. At those words, their expressions became serious. Lee Taeyeon also turned away from Oliver as if agreeing. ¡°Before that, let me ask first. Will you cooperate with us to deal with the monster?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Coming this far, there¡¯s no thought of refusing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better tobine our strengths than to be alone.¡± Each nodded affirmatively. Taesan tapped the table with his fingertips. ¡°Then let¡¯s make one contract before that.¡± [Kang Taesan proposes a Silence Contract to everyone in the space.] [Condition: Silence on specific information from this ce.] [eptance and rejection. Two choices are avable.] A Silence Contract. One of the few rights yers had, like dueling. Taesan spoke up. ¡°If the contents I¡¯m about to share get out, it could be troublesome. So, make sure to keep it secret.¡± About the gods. And about thebyrinth. One day, everyone would need to know, but not yet. At least until people reached the stage where they could guess. If the truth was revealed all at once, it would only cause chaos. Oliver asked cautiously. ¡°What happens if we break it?¡± ¡°Nothing. It just notifies me that it¡¯s been broken. And you¡¯ll pay the price when you return to Earth.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I see.¡± With a calm response, Oliver swallowed and spoke. ¡°I ept.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Finally, Amelia nodded quietly, and everyone epted. Taesan spoke up. ¡°What do you think about how we entered thebyrinth?¡± About the gods. About the high gods. And about thebyrinth. Taesan exined the information he had discovered to them. These people had risked their lives, leading others and surviving until the end, or died before that. Everyone here had done their best to survive. They had the right to know the truth. Of course, he didn¡¯t reveal everything. He didn¡¯t exin the reason for thebyrinth¡¯s separation and difficulty. It would only reduce their morale. But he exined most of the important core. By the end of the conversation, their faces were filled with shock. ¡°¡­¡­I had vaguely guessed.¡± Daniel spoke with trembling eyes. ¡°Really¡­¡­ there was the involvement of gods.¡± ¡°The sudden destruction of the world. And thebyrinth. If it happened by coincidence without the interference of transcendental beings, that would be scarier.¡± ¡°Amelia had talked about gods, so I knew there was something like that¡­¡­ I thought it was only rted to Solo Mode and didn¡¯t pay much attention. But it is directly rted to us.¡± Oliver murmured quietly. Everyone was in shock. For Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok, who had already experienced the trials of gods in Solo Mode, the shock was rtively less, but it wasn¡¯t absent. They also didn¡¯t know that Earth was being invaded by high gods. ¡°The gods said they were opposing the high gods. So, are they friendly to us?¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head at Eika¡¯s question. ¡°They don¡¯t care about each mortal individually. They only favor those they like.¡± Taesan nced at Amelia. ¡°The god of descent doesn¡¯t favor as much as they look for toys¡­¡­ they don¡¯t even give that much attention to other humans.¡± At Taesan¡¯s words, Amelia flinched. But she didn¡¯t refute or show anger. She just quietly thought about something. ¡°By now, you should understand why Korea has be like this.¡± Taesan, overwhelmingly strong. But very few survived in Korea. Oliver spoke with a trembling voice. ¡°¡­¡­Are the high gods trying to kill you?¡± ¡°Yes. They are giving me more attention than I deserve. I wish they would just leave me alone.¡± Everyone was in awe at Taesan¡¯s grumbling. Beings that could crushs. Immortal transcendents far beyond human perception. And the human who had their attention. They realized anew how amazing Taesan was. ¡°This¡­¡­ we definitely can¡¯t spread this.¡± Kim Hwiyeon spoke with a sigh. It was too big a secret. If revealed now, uncontroble chaos would ensue. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s best to prepare. The quests on Earth have expanded from countries to the world, and now the high gods will also be interested worldwide.¡± Everyone nodded with determined faces. Taesan pped his hands. ¡°The information that can¡¯t be shared ends here. Now, I¡¯ll share information that can be spread freely. It¡¯s about skills.¡± The heavy atmosphere dissipated. Everyone eagerly awaited Taesan¡¯s words with bright eyes. No one underestimated the importance of skills. Survival chances vary greatly depending on the skills one has. Taesan, the strongest yer on Earth. It was important to memorize every word he said about skills. Taesan began his exnation. Unyielding Will, Counter, Vital Point Attack, Breathless Attack, Continuous Attack, Mitigation, etc. He first exined skills that anyone could acquire with effort. Those who already had them but didn¡¯t know how to acquire them marveled, and those who hadn¡¯t obtained them eagerly absorbed the information. ¡°Breathless¡­¡­ it sounds really good. How long do you have to endure?¡± ¡°Until just before you die.¡± Just because he exined it didn¡¯t mean everyone could understand it. Anyone could acquire it with effort, but that effort was not easy. However, if it was shared with all yers, some would obtain it. Seeing them, others would think they could get it too and would challenge themselves. People would gradually be stronger that way. That was what Taesan wanted. ¡°It seems difficult, but it¡¯s worth the effort. How did you find all this out?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious too. You told us right after we first entered thebyrinth.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Right after entering?¡± Amelia muttered quietly. Her voice was so low that no one but Taesan heard her. Taesan ignored her and continued. ¡°Next is Leap and Landing. The effect is that you can jump high and take no damage from any fall, no matter how high.¡± ¡°How do you obtain it?¡± ¡°You need tond on the ground from a height that would normally be fatal.¡± Everyone fell silent. Taesan spoke. ¡°That¡¯s all for skills that anyone can obtain.¡± Oliver was taken aback by Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°Anyone can obtain them? It sounds like only a few people could get these.¡± ¡°Anyone can get them, as long as they put in the effort.¡± From here on, the skills were ones that couldn¡¯t be easily obtained. Taesan made a gesture. ¡°Then, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, and Amelia.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Me too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°Everyone else, please leave. The skills I¡¯m going to talk about now are not for everyone.¡± Originally, he had considered sharing skills like Attack Nullification and Endurance. What Taesan wanted was not the strength of an individual, but the survival of as many people as possible. There was no reason to hoard skills. But he didn¡¯t trust individual humanspletely. Skills like Forced Duel and Absolute Judgement could cause significant trouble if learned by someone with a malicious disposition. Taesan remembered. When he returned to Earth, there were those who tried to satisfy their desires by killing other yers. Of course, it was almost impossible for them to obtain these skills. Even in his previous life, he had shared this information with everyone through themunity, but only Lee Taeyeon had obtained them. Just one person. And even she had only obtained Addition and Sure Hit. But there was always a possibility. There was no reason to leave room for potential trouble. Moreover, considering the conditions for obtaining these skills, many might die trying to get them. The harm of sharing them outweighed the benefits. ¡®Besides.¡¯ Unlike in his previous life, quite a few Solo Mode yers were still alive. If they learned skills like Endurance and then encountered the Guides, what would happen? At the very least, it wouldn¡¯t be a good oue. There was also the possibility that they might reveal all the skills Taesan had taught them to the Guides for their own benefit. Or they could be captured, tortured, and killed for their skills. Power not suited to one¡¯s abilities was always a poison. Even though the space was separated, he didn¡¯t know what kind of impact it would have. He nned to release the core skillster, after further filtering. ¡°Ah. Okay.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Just before they left, they bowed to Taesan. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± They knew too. The information Taesan had shared was invaluable, worth more than gold. It wasn¡¯t strange at all for Taesan to keep it to himself. He had given it to all of them without anypensation. They all knew how tremendous the opportunity was, regardless of the conditions to obtain it. Taesan replied. ¡°If you¡¯re grateful, survive to the end. That¡¯s the only way you can repay me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I guess we can¡¯t afford to die.¡± They left. Taesan spoke to the three who remained. ¡°First, Endurance. Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Taeyeon, you should know this.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± ¡°Yes, we know it. But we couldn¡¯t get it.¡± Both spoke reluctantly. Taesan addressed Amelia. ¡°The effect is immunity to all damage for a certain period when you receive a fatal blow.¡± ¡°¡­¡­There really is such a skill?¡± A skill that gave you a chance when you were about to die. It was incredibly valuable. Taesan replied. ¡°You need to perfectly block multiple fatal attacks without taking any damage.¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± ¡°And next is Attack Nullification. The effect is that it erases the attack itself at the moment it hits. To obtain it, you must avoid all damage in a situation where you¡¯re guaranteed to take damage, without wearing any armor.¡± ¡°Can you use defensive skills?¡± ¡°No. You must purely avoid the damage through movement. The only allowable aid is the Powder of Blessing that increases luck.¡± You had to respond to an attack, deflect it as much as possible through movement, and nullify the reduced damage entirely using the Powder of Blessing. With a protective shield, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult, but that was a trick only Taesan could use, having passed the enhanced trials. These people couldn¡¯t. The ghost, listening quietly, grumbled. [They¡¯re unbelievably lucky. There are countless people who would give everything for just one of these skills you¡¯re talking about, and they¡¯re getting it for free.] The skills of thebyrinth were absolute. Nullification could erase any attack, no matter how strong the opponent, and Forced Duel was something even the Spirit King couldn¡¯t interfere with. If he told the Guide leaders about Attack Nullification, they would literally give up everything to get it. The skills Taesan was talking about were that valuable. Getting them for free was certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ¡°I¡¯ve heard this before, but aren¡¯t these skills impossible to obtain?¡± ¡°Is it really possible to get them? No matter how I hear it, it sounds impossible.¡± Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Taeyeon looked confused. They trusted Taesan, but the conditions he mentioned sounded absurd. Amelia was the only one staring at Taesan with a shocked expression. A fire began to burn in her eyes. Taesan, noticing this, spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m not forcing you to learn. But keep the conditions in mind. The difference between knowing and not knowing the conditions is significant.¡± Taesan continued his exnation. Addition, Absolute Judgement, Forced Duel, Sure Hit. Each one was as valuable as a main skill. He shared this information. ¡°Ugh¡­ My head hurts¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon held her head, trying to memorize the information. Amelia looked at Taesan with a shaken gaze. ¡°Lastly, the de of Determination. Its effect is tripling the damage. Cooldown is one hour.¡± ¡°That sounds unbelievable¡­¡± ¡°To obtain it, you must fight to the death against an unbeatable opponent and survive.¡± Lee Taeyeon was startled by the condition. ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t Jun-hyeok and I have met the condition? We fought Taesan.¡± ¡°Did you get it?¡± ¡°No. Jun-hyeok, you?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get it either.¡± Taesan looked at Amelia. ¡°Amelia, you?¡± ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t get it either.¡± She said quietly. After thinking about the conditions for a moment, Taesan spoke. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a proper battle.¡± In the trial of the god of descent, they didn¡¯t die but became incapacitated. Since the premise of risking their lives was broken, it was natural they didn¡¯t get it. ¡°Then when we fought to get the Ability Sword¡­¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t fighting to win then.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Lee Taeyeon muttered nkly. ¡°Getting these skills is really hard¡­¡± ¡°Did you think it would be easy? But as long as you know the conditions, you¡¯ll have a chance to get them as you go down thebyrinth.¡± Taesan stood up. ¡°That¡¯s all I have to tell you. The rest you can discuss among yourselves. Amelia.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Come with me; I have something to tell you.¡± Chapter 283: Amelia Aerin (5) People¡¯s gazes were drawn to Taesan and Amelia. Their eyes held various emotions: admiration, curiosity, and doubt. ¡°This spot should do.¡± Taesan, who had reached the outskirts, unleashed his power. [You have activated the inner world.] Taesan¡¯s power and aura expanded into a domain. The people who had been watching from afar with curious eyes were startled by the sudden appearance of the ashen domain. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°This is my domain. Although it¡¯s my first time using it, no one outside can see or hear us.¡± Taesan leaned his back against the ashen wall. ¡°You must have guessed by now. The presence of the god that supported you is gone.¡±Amelia bit her lip. Just as Taesan said, she could no longer feel the presence of the immense being that always descended upon her. It meant that the God of Descent had left her. ¡°I¡­¡± She barely opened her mouth. Amelia had always considered herself the strongest. And the God of Descent had been supporting such a self-assured person. But she was not the strongest. And so, the god who had always watched over her also disappeared. Everything she believed in had been shattered by Taesan. Amelia had now been abandoned by the god. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°What will you do?¡± Taesan asked her. ¡°You have be weak.¡± The God of Descent had turned away. Of course, the Guides of Sin would not touch her. They were cowards who wouldn¡¯t dare harm Amelia, not knowing when the god might show interest in her again. But the god¡¯s protection was gone. The skills bestowed by the God of Descent also vanished, and she could no longer receive assistance while descending into thebyrinth. Descending thebyrinth as she had before was now impossible. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. Taesan felt a bit troubled. The Amelia he knew was always confident, calling herself the strongest and full of self-assurance. He knew that confidence pushed her to her limits, but he didn¡¯t know whaty beyond that. Without her confidence, she was like a lost child. This shaken state was something Taesan had never seen before. Breaking her confidence was necessary. Only then would the God of Descent lose interest, allowing Amelia to properly descend thebyrinth. But how to lift her up from this state? As Taesan pondered, a ghost approached him. [How about trying this?] The ghost whispered to Taesan. He frowned slightly. ¡°Will that work?¡± [You''ve got nothing to lose. Give it a try.] ¡°Hmph.¡± Amelia, mentally disturbed, didn¡¯t hear Taesan and the ghost¡¯s conversation. Eventually, Taesan made a decision. ¡°Amelia.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± She looked at Taesan with teary eyes, and he drew his sword. ¡°Huh!¡± Reflexively, Amelia moved as Taesan charged at her. ng! She swung her sword, deflecting his strike and pushing his shoulder away. Despite being mentally cornered, Amelia responded to Taesan¡¯s movements. She twisted her body, deflecting the impact and counterattacking Taesan with her sword. ng! Their swords shed and bounced off each other. Amelia, having gained some distance, looked at Taesan with cold eyes. ¡°¡­What are you doing all of a sudden?¡± ¡°You blocked my attack.¡± Taesan sheathed his sword. ¡°Even when mentally cornered, you easily blocked an attack that Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok would struggle with.¡± It wasn¡¯t his full power, but it wasn¡¯t a casual strike either. Though it was an attack Amelia could block, he intended to pierce through if she responded carelessly. ¡°You have talent.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Amelia¡¯s eyes wavered. ¡°You¡¯re not as strong as I am, but you¡¯re the second strongest. Even without the God of Descent¡¯s help, you have the power to clear thebyrinth.¡± Taesan spoke with certainty. ¡°I guarantee it. You are strong.¡± ¡°Really?¡± She asked back. Taesan nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t lie.¡± Her eyes, once dark and lifeless, began to shine. Confidence returned to her face, as if they were meeting for the first time. ¡°I know, even if you don¡¯t say it.¡± She said confidently, just as she had in the beginning. ¡°I am strong. I will definitely catch up to you someday.¡± ¡°Do your best.¡± Taesan deactivated the inner world. She leaped away. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± She said softly and started to leave. She almost left. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Taesan grabbed her by the back of her neck. Amelia, looking at him in confusion, listened as he spoke. ¡°I still have something to teach you. You haven¡¯t properly learned swordsmanship, have you?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Then this is perfect. Draw your sword.¡± Taesan let go of her and drew his sword. Amelia¡¯s face turned pale. After shing swords for a while, she learned the Ability Sword. Only then did Taesan release her. She trudged away through the crowd. The Ability Sword, a swordsmanship technique that could reach the highest levels. With that, Amelia, who had lost the God of Descent¡¯s interest, would have her power greatly supplemented. She might even be stronger than before. Taesan knew Amelia well. Confident and believing herself to be the strongest, she was fundamentally a good person. She always acted to save people¡¯s lives. That¡¯s why he taught her many skills and showed her the Ability Sword. ¡°By the way, it was true.¡± The ghost¡¯s words to Taesan were simple. Attack Amelia moderately and acknowledge her talent. At first, he wondered if that would be enough, but Amelia noticeably changed. [I know a type like that. Someone with talent but unsure of themselves. They always try to prove their worth through the reactions of those around them.] The ghost continued. [The God of Descent must have filled her with confidence. An overwhelming entity like a god acknowledged her. When you shattered that and the god''s interest disappeared, she broke down. In other words, for someone like her, the one who shatters their confidence holds a significant ce.] ¡°So she gets ted or depressed by my words?¡± [Something like that. To that woman, you must be close to an absolute being. You acknowledged her. It''s no wonder her shattered confidence was restored.] ¡°You know well.¡± [I told you, I know someone like that.] The ghost spoke gloomily. [She was pushed into thebyrinth by others. She seemed very fragile and insecure. Because we shared noble blood, I felt a kinship and helped her a lot, boosting her confidence.] Who was the ghost talking about? It wasn¡¯t hard to guess. ¡°Societ.¡± A woman who inherited the cursed kingdom¡¯s bloodline. The Ashen Lady, Societ Garudentia. She had a special rtionship with the ghost, a Guide of Sin in thebyrinth, and then eventually betrayed him. [I believed I had a good rtionship with her... but I guess it wasn''t the case. I want to hear why she betrayed me. And it''s almost time.] The ghost¡¯s voice was filled with lingering emotions. [Oh, but you don''t have to worry about that woman. Although their dispositions are simr, I think they''re different in fundamental ways. She will grow and be a great help to you.] ¡°Indeed.¡± Taesan had told her there was not much difference between her, Lee Taeyeon, and Kang Jun-hyeok to break her confidence, but that wasn¡¯t true. Her skills were certainly above Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Taeyeon. She truly had the talent to be the second strongest after Taesan. He had given her the stepping stone for growth. The rest was up to her. Taesan moved. Taesan had his own tasks. The Demon God had given him the qualification to learn ck magic. He had tried to teach ck magic to yers from other countries, but it was impossible. Every time he tried to impart dark energy, a massive force blocked it. Taesan could easily guess the reason. This ce was a space created by the God of Descent. It was his domain. Probably because the Demon God had interfered, there were such hindrances. ¡°How petty.¡± It wasn¡¯t a crucial matter, so it didn¡¯t bother him much. He could teach them directly when they metter. Taesan approached the leaders of various countries who had gathered. ¡°Oh, Taesan.¡± Kim Hwiyeon greeted Taesan. Taesan asked, ¡°Have you chosen a representative?¡± Each country trusted their leader and followed theirmands. But when united, a representative to oversee everything was necessary. Kim Hwiyeon nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve decided to do it.¡± Taesan was slightly surprised by her answer. ¡°You?¡± ¡°Yes. Is there something strange about that?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± In his previous life, Oliver had been the representative. Taesan had thought it would be Oliver again this time. ¡®On second thought, it makes sense.¡¯ In the previous God of Descent¡¯s trial, Amelia had dominated alone. Oliver had yed the role of a stopper, preventing her from going wild. With Oliver being worn out from managing Amelia, the leaders of other countries had willingly handed over the representative position to him. But not this time. Amelia was in the background, and with special rules added, Oliver had proactively united the American yers. There was strong resentment against America overall. If Oliver became the representative, many would have objected. Thus, it was logical for Kim Hwiyeon, the leader of Korea, where the strongest Taesan was, to be the representative. ¡°Oliver, you know, right? Next time we return, America will have to do a lot.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ it¡¯s our fault, so there¡¯s nothing to say. We¡¯ll try our best.¡± Many things had changed from the previous life. There would be even greater changes ahead. Taesan intended to make that happen. One day left. During that time, Taesan trained Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. He also dragged Amelia, who was watching from afar, forcing her intobat. The three grew stronger by fighting against an overwhelming force. And then the time came. [Trial over.] [Final winner: Kang Taesan] [Country with the most yers left in the final battlefield: USA] [Reward for the final winner: Obtained the ''Ne of Abominable Baseness''. Special activation skill ''Forced Descent''] [Reward for the country with the most yers left in the final battlefield: 100 points] [Obtained 2,410 points.] [Obtained the ''Ne of Abominable Baseness''.] [Obtained special activation skill ''Forced Descent''.] [Returning to thebyrinth.] ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back?¡± Veldencia weed Taesan. ¡°This is fascinating. You disappeared from thebyrinth entirely. Where did you go?¡± ¡°I cleared a god¡¯s trial.¡± ¡°A god¡¯s trial?¡± Veldencia looked at Taesan with curious eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t encounter an altar or a domain, yet you cleared a god¡¯s trial here? Which god¡¯s trial?¡± ¡°The God of Descent. It was Essence¡¯s Trial.¡± Veldencia¡¯s face stiffened at Taesan¡¯s answer. Taesan spoke to him. ¡°In the process of clearing his trial, I found what seemed to be the princess¡¯s soul.¡± Chapter 284: 62nd Floor (1) Chapter 284: 62nd Floor (1) ¡°¡­Did you say you found the princess¡¯s soul?¡± Veldencia spoke in a trembling voice. Taesan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s exactly the princess. I entered the realm of the God of Descent, a ce where the souls of suffering mortals gather.¡± Only tormented souls existed there. Hundreds of souls. They were all souls that had been betrayed after expecting something from the God of Descent. ¡°Most of them seemed to havepletely lost their identities and were ckened, but one soul was still gray. Despite being corroded by the surroundings, it seemed to still retain its identity.¡± Veldencia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the princess you¡¯re looking for. But if the God of Descent hasn¡¯t interfered with mortals since the princess, it¡¯s likely that the princess was captured by the God of Descent rtively recently.¡± ¡°Ha, hahaha.¡±Veldenciaughed. His eyes were full of hope and expectation. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s probably it. As far as I know, the God of Descent hasn¡¯t shown himself since the princess.¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Because since I¡¯ve been here, no adventurer chosen by the God of Descent hase here!¡± Veldencia stood up, unable to contain his emotions. He wept and sobbed. ¡°Oh¡­ Princess. Even while being consumed by a transcendent being, you haven¡¯t lost yourself. Please wait a little longer. I will move to save you¡­¡± Taesan waited for him to calm down. After thirty minutes, Veldencia finally calmed down and scratched his head with an embarrassed look. ¡°Sorry. I got a little excited.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Veldencia had been trapped in thebyrinth for hundreds of years, solely to save the princess. It was unknown if it would be possible even after hundreds of years. Considering the purpose of opposing a god, it might take thousands of years. And if so much time passed, there was a high possibility that the princess would bepletely destroyed. Veldencia had probably given up deep inside while hoping for the princess¡¯s salvation. But now, he saw hope. He confirmed that the princess hadn¡¯t lost her identity yet. It was something to be very happy about. ¡°But it seems her body has already been lost.¡± ¡°I knew that. To a god, a mortal body is worthless, so they probably separated the soul. It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ve prepared for that.¡± Veldencia grinned. ¡°Have you tried using the music box?¡± ¡°No. I was right in front of the god, so I didn¡¯t have the chance.¡± ¡°Then it can¡¯t be helped. You faced the god directly and came back in one piece¡­¡± Veldencia looked at Taesan with eyes filled with awe. He soon grinned. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll look forward to it.¡± [You have cleared the 61st floor.] [You obtained the Emperor''s Ring.] [Secret room reward, you obtained the Staff of the Lazy Mortal.] [You obtained the ???.] It seemed the secret room reward was automatically given when clearing the 61st floor. Veldencia stepped aside. ¡°Take your time to check.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan sat down and checked the rewards he obtained. This was the 61st floor. The rewards had changed to a higher level. [Emperor''s Ring] [Health +1000] [Mana +200] [Attack Power +80] [Defense +80] [A ring used by the emperor who ruled over all continents. No one could oppose him, and everyone knelt before him. Until the immortal broke the world, the emperor was truly an absolute being.] ¡°Ohho.¡± Taesan¡¯s lips curled into a smile. It wasn¡¯t a secret reward or a quest reward. Despite being just a floor clear reward, it had excellent performance. It was equipment worth looking forward to. [Staff of the Lazy Mortal] [Magic +200] [Mana +1200] [Intelligence +500] [The staff of azy and idle mortal. Though he had the talent to be a transcendent if he trained his whole life, he chose to die as a mortal.] A magic stat of 200. It also had 1200 mana. It was an unimaginable staff. Considering Taesan¡¯sbat style, he didn¡¯t have much use for a staff. It would make a good offering for mid-level magic if dedicated to the god of magic. ¡®If the staff is this good.¡¯ What about the sword? Taesan soon found out. [You used the ???.] [You obtained the Sword of the Best in the World.] [Sword of the Best in the World] [Attack Power +250] [Supreme above all. The sword of a swordsman that no one could surpass.] The effect was very simple. The description was also simple. But it was a very powerful weapon. An attack power of 250. It was 100 points higher than the weapon he was currently using. ¡°Nice.¡± Taesan swung the weapon to get a feel for its bnce. After a few swings, he got a rough sense of it. Although the 61st floor rewards ended here, there was still more to check. The God of Descent. The points and a piece of equipment obtained by clearing that trial. And a skill. It was probably prepared by the God of Descent for Amelia, but now it belonged to Taesan. [Ne of Abominable Baseness] [Strength +100] [Agility +100] [Intelligence +100] [In battle, continuously reduces all the opponent''s stats by a certain percentage.] [Those at the bottom would rather pull others down than climb up themselves.] As expected from the God of Descent, it was quite a unique piece of equipment. Taesan wore the ne and handed a sword to Veldencia. ¡°May I spar with you for a moment?¡± ¡°Huh? I can¡¯t give you any more rewards.¡± ¡°I know. I just need to check the equipment effect.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Alright. Considering what you¡¯ve done, that¡¯s the least I can do.¡± Veldencia waved his hand. Taesan kicked the ground. Avoiding the flying magic, he swung his sword at Veldencia. Having experienced Absolute Judgement, Veldencia chose to evade instead of blocking. And as the battle continued, Veldencia¡¯s expression grew puzzled. ¡°Huh?¡± His movements gradually, yet noticeably, slowed down. The speed at which he cast spells also decreased slightly, though it was hardly noticeable. ¡°Is this equipment that curses the opponent?¡± ¡°It seems so. By how much did your stats decrease?¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Veldencia made a gesture as if opening a status window. Looking into the air, he spoke. ¡°About 5%.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Taesan sheathed his sword. If that was the case, it was quite a decent piece of equipment. The opponents Taesan would face next were the Guides of Sin, their upper echelon. The deeper he went, the closer their stats would be to his, or even higher. Reducing an opponent¡¯s stats by 5% would definitely have significant meaning in such battles. [Special Activation Skill: Forced Descent] [Mana Cost: 20] [Proficiency: 1%] [Reduces the opponent''s stats by a certain percentage for a set duration.] A simple description. It was easy to understand. Taesan asked for Veldencia¡¯s permission and activated the skill. [You have activated Forced Descent.] ¡°Ooh.¡± Veldencia groaned. He swung his arm and spoke. ¡°My stats have definitely dropped. This level of impact would certainly be significant inbat.¡± ¡°Good.¡± It was a skill that could be activated at the start of a battle. Both the equipment and the skill were focused on weakening the opponent rather than strengthening oneself. Veldencia looked a bit reluctant. For someone who opposed the God of Descent, using a skill given by the God of Descent must have felt unpleasant. However, since it was a power Taesan obtained, he didn¡¯t interfere. ¡°Then.¡± It was time to use the points. 2,410 points. Quite arge amount. The first ce to use them was already decided. [Special Passive Skill: Double Casting] [Proficiency: 1%] [When using powers that consume mana, magi, or other energies, you can use two skills simultaneously. However, the implementation speed of the powers significantly slows down.] He immediately consumed the points. As the proficiency approached 50%, the point consumption increased exponentially. Only then did Taesan stop increasing the proficiency. [Special Passive Skill: Double Casting] [Proficiency: 49%] [When using powers that consume mana, magi, or other energies, you can use two skills simultaneously. The implementation speed of the powers has significantly increased.] [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] Two spells were implemented simultaneously. Ice surged, and an arrow of light formed in Taesan¡¯s hand. Veldencia, watching, opened his mouth in surprise. ¡°Simultaneous casting of spells? Could it be Double Casting?¡± Veldencia was a wizard who had descended to the deepyers. Naturally, he possessed Double Casting. Therefore, he was even more astonished. Double Casting was something that even wizards who delved deeply into magic could barely acquire. And even if they did, it held little value until they increased its proficiency. But once a certain level was reached, it became extremely valuable. Being able to implement more than two spells simultaneously was a crucial power needed in the deepyers, where one had to respond to various situations. And now, Taesan¡¯s Double Casting proficiency had increased to the point where casting speed was significantly faster. It was practical enough for realbat. Taesan was satisfied and smiled. Even when he cast two spells simultaneously, there was no significant difference in speedpared to when he cast one. Then how about this? Taesan simultaneously used both magi and mana. [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Naberious'' Golden Sword.] Frozen World was activated. A golden sword was summoned through the created portal and swung. A golden diagonal line was drawn in thebyrinth. To properly handle ck magic, a portal needed to be opened with magic. Creating the portal took a considerable amount of time, so he had to create an opportunity to use it. But now, thanks to Double Casting, he could create that opportunity as he wished. The utilization of ck magic had be much more convenient. The results were better than expected. Now, the issue was how to use the remaining points. There was nothing particrly appealing. Most of the skills he could upgrade had already reached a certain level, and further upgrades consumed too many points, reducing efficiency. Taesan spent the remaining points on various misceneous skills. Thanks to that, several skills reached just before the level where their content would change, and Leap and Landing reached 20%, changing their content. [Special Activation Skill: Leap] [Mana Cost: 30] [Proficiency: 20%] [You can jump very high with the next leap. You can also jump farther.] [Condition: Advanced Swordsmanship Ability Sword] [You perform a powerful upward sh from a lower position than the opponent.] [Special Activation Skill: Landing] [Mana Cost: 20] [Proficiency: 20%] [Allows you tond on the ground from an airborne position.] [Condition: Advanced Swordsmanship Ability Sword] [When your sword is in a higher position than the opponent''s weapon, you perform a powerful downward strike.] In the case of Landing, increasing proficiency didn¡¯t bring significant changes, but Leap was different. Depending on the proficiency, Leap could really allow one to jump to the sky¡¯s limit. Landing also gained meaning in increasing proficiency thanks to the effect of Ability Sword. ¡°Then, farewell. I look forward to seeing you again.¡± It was all over. Veldencia waved his hand. Taesan descended thebyrinth. [Quest for the 62nd floor has started.] [Conquer the maze of the 62nd floor and defeat the master of the maze.] [Reward: Athena''s Crimson Bracelet.] [Secret reward: ???] Chapter 285: 62nd Floor (2) Chapter 285: 62nd Floor (2) [Kang Taesan [Solo]: So, how is it going?] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Everyone is trying. But... it¡¯s not easy.] After Taesan informed the leaders of each country about the skills, they spread the word to the yers on how to acquire them. Skills such as the Breathless Attack, which allowed movements ignoring breath for a short time duringbat, and Unyielding Will, which allowed one to continue fighting even after getting injured, were among them. Each skill held great value, and many yers strived to obtain them. But it wasn¡¯t easy. [Ichijo Eika [Hard]: We have barely learned anything.] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Same here. There are rumors of a few people obtaining them, but it¡¯s a rare feat. The prestige of America is no joke.] As expected, Taesan looked at themunity without much expression.Even the Breathless Attack was obtained by only a handful. No matter how many death-defying experiences they had gone through, choosing death was apletely different matter. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: ¡­I learned it.] Amelia chimed in. Taesan chuckled. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Really? That¡¯s quick. As expected of Amelia.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Shut up.] A short message, but it carried undeniable emotions. Taesan was beginning to understand how to deal with Amelia. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: It¡¯s good to descend thebyrinth quickly, but it''s more important to understand it thoroughly. Once you descend, you can¡¯t obtain what¡¯s only avable there. Get everything you can before descending.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Got it. ¡­Thanks.] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Ah, hyung. I have a question. Does the skill you mentioned include one that transforms with the Ability Sword?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Yes. Leap and Landing transformations are included.] Taesan shared information while Lee Taeyeon also joined in, gathering details about Solo Mode and skills from Taesan. As the conversation wound down, Amelia, who had been listening quietly, asked. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: How far have you descended?] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Floor 62.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: ¡­Have you almost reached the depths?] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Wow¡­.] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: That¡¯s unbelievable.] [Junggeun [Hard]: Wait. Hyung, when did you get that far?] Themunity buzzed with noise. Taesan answered briefly and closed themunity. ¡°By the way, there seems to be a bit of a problem with the speed.¡± Taesan was too fast. At this rate, he could clear thebyrinth by the time Lee Taeyeon reached the depths. It was an unnecessary worry for now. No one knew how long it would take in the depths. But it seemed wise to prepare in advance. Taesan moved his feet. As he passed through a narrow path blocked by walls on both sides, he saw multiple branching paths. ¡°As expected, the 60th floors are unique.¡± The quest on the 62nd floor was different from other floors. There was a sentence to conquer the maze and defeat its master. And it was true. The 62nd floor was a maze. [You have activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] Magic flowed through the narrow paths, providing Taesan with information about the maze. Multiple branching paths, which further split into dozens and then hundreds of paths. Taesan checked the blocked paths and moved forward. He had been conquering the maze for two days. ¡°It¡¯s ridiculously vast.¡± It wasn¡¯t a slow pace. Although there were no enemies during the maze breakthrough, it was still taking a long time. Taesan was again faced with dozens of branching paths. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Blocked path] [Blocked path] [Possibly blocked path] [Unblocked path] [Blocked path] The maze wasn¡¯t revealing all its information through reconnaissance alone. So, hebined it with Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection to find the way. [Reconnaissance proficiency increased by 1%.] [Leraje''s Territory Detection proficiency increased by 1%.] ¡°Not bad.¡± The proficiency of reconnaissance, which had been stagnant, increased considerably. The 61st floor tested the overall strength of adventurers. The 62nd floor seemed to test their perception, reconnaissance, and identification abilities. system_tsart [The depths are truly diverse. They require many skills. Even I, who hasn¡¯t set foot on the 80th floors, can tell. The 60th floors assess those skills.] system_end The ghost spoke. [Not every floor in the 60thyers is like this, but there are quite a few unique ones.] [You have activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] He deciphered the paths. Eliminating the blocked paths one by one, he advanced and significantly increased his reconnaissance proficiency. [Reconnaissance proficiency increased by 1%.] [Special Skill Activation: Reconnaissance] [Proficiency: 60%] [The evolved form of perception. Provides much information about the target.] As proficiency increased, the text evolved, now providing much information. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Blocked path] [Blocked path] [Blocked path] [Path to the passage] ¡°Found it.¡± Taesan walked towards the passage. The ghost marveled. [Reconnaissance already at 60%.] The ghost had also evolved perception to obtain reconnaissance but had only reached 50% proficiency by the end. Even considering the assistance of points, Taesan¡¯s speed was remarkably fast. ¡®Indeed, few attempt to fully understand and conquer thebyrinth like this guy.¡¯ Skill proficiency didn¡¯t just increase by using the skill frequently. It depended on how effectively and efficiently one used the skill. Thinking about it, it was inevitable. Taesan advanced through the maze without interruption. He continued to activate reconnaissance, discovering secret rooms. The reward was a ck magic staff intended for the Demon God. After obtaining the reward, Taesan broke through again. [At this level, even if he falls into the Infinite Maze, he could escape without much trouble.] The ghost recalled a floor in the depths, one he could only conquer just before his death. Taesan soon reached the front of the passage. ¡°Uoooh!¡± [You have encountered the master of the maze.] The maze master was a monster with a bull¡¯s head. Taesan drew his sword and charged. ¡°Uoooh!¡± The bull-headed monster swung its axe with both hands as it charged. Taesan swung his sword. ng! The monster, several timesrger than Taesan, was repelled by his strength. Taesan continued charging, deflecting the axe and piercing its chest. ¡°Uoooh!¡± Even on the 60th floor series, nothing had changed. The ordinary monsters of thebyrinth were no match for Taesan. The monster fell withoutsting more than a few minutes. [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [You have cleared Floor 62.] [You have obtained Athena''s Crimson Bracelet.] [??? obtained.] [Athena''s Crimson Bracelet] [Strength +200] [Attack Power +120] [Defense Power +200] [A bracelet used by the goddess of war when she descended to earth. It carries a slight divine blessing.] Decent strength stats, high attack, and defense. It was good equipment. [You used ???.] [You obtained the Pure Magic Spellbook.] [Pure Magic Spellbook] [Magic +50] [Mana +2500] [Intelligence +700] [The magic itself has taken form and created a spellbook. The magic contained within is beyondprehension.] ¡°Oh-ho.¡± It was satisfactory. Perfect for offering as a tribute. Taesan ascended to the 61st floor. Since he had cleared the 62nd floor, the maze had disappeared, leaving only a wide-open space. There, Veldencia and a flustered Lilis were waiting. ¡°Oh, Taesan!¡± ¡°Huh? Do you know him?¡± Seeing Lilis light up at the sight of Taesan, Veldencia asked. Taesan replied. ¡°We help each other as we descend thebyrinth.¡± ¡°¡­Aha. So that¡¯s the arrangement? I wondered how such a weak one got this far, but now I understand.¡± Realizing the situation, Veldencia lost interest in Lilis. However, Lilis looked at Veldencia with sparkling eyes. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a mage who has learned intermediate magic and descended to the depths. He¡¯s my idol!¡± Lilis smiled with satisfaction. ¡°As expected, making a contract with you was the right choice.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Then handle this for me.¡± Taesan handed over a staff and the spellbook. Lilis quickly epted them and prepared to offer them as tributes. She closed her eyes and prayed. The god of magic took the tributes. Veldencia, who was watching from a distance, gleamed with interest. After a while, Lilis opened her eyes. ¡°These are significant tributes¡­ If you bring one more piece of equipment like this, I can learn intermediate magic.¡± Taesan nodded. As he was about to descend thebyrinth again, Veldencia spoke. ¡°I was wondering how you learned intermediate magic. So, it was by creating a passage through that girl?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, the god of magic is merciful to those who believe in him. That girl must have shown such faith¡­¡± Veldencia¡¯s gaze towards Lilis was filled with interest. He approached Lilis and spoke to her, and though flustered, Lilis responded. At least, it didn¡¯t seem like an ufortable rtionship. Taesan descended thebyrinth again. [Quest on Floor 63 begins.] [Defeat the boss of Floor 63.] [Reward: Magubania¡¯s Red Shoes.] [Secret Reward: ???] Taesan began his conquest of the 63rd floor. Unlike the previous floors, there was nothing particrly special about the 63rd floor. It was a typicalbyrinth, except slightlyrger. The appearing monster was a giant purple crow. Though it wasn¡¯t clear how it was rted to the gatekeeper, it obscured vision with its feathers and attacked with its beak. Crack. It wasn¡¯t difficult to deal with, so Taesan advanced. As he moved forward, Taesan found an altar. [You have discovered the Altar of Oman.] Oman. It was a familiar name, a god who had tested Taesan on the 8th floor. The god of trials, Oman. From the altar, power spread out as if weing Taesan. ¡°We meet again.¡± [You¡¯ve arrived? It¡¯s rare to move an altar.] The ghost murmured as if it wasn¡¯t amon urrence. As Taesan approached the altar, a system window appeared. [Sub Quest begins.] [Oman wants to test you, who hase to his altar. If you ept, trials wille your way. Ovee them, and rewards will follow.] [Reward: Determined by Oman based on your performance.] A familiar system. Taesan nodded. [Sub Quest begins.] [Oman prepares for your challenge.] Feeling the descent of immense power, Taesan pondered. ¡®What will it be this time?¡¯ Oman was the god of trials. The trial he had given when they met was to test his strength to a certain level. Taesan prepared, expecting something simr this time. Boom! [Thebyrinth is undergoing transformation.] [A great will overturns thebyrinth.] Boom! Thebyrinth trembled. Taesan lowered his stance. It shook like an earthquake. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ Taesan narrowed his eyes. Thebyrinth was turning over. A massive force began to twist everything. Rumble! Like a copsing building, everything broke and crumbled. Taesan lowered his stance even more to maintain his bnce. Rumble¡­ Finally, themotion subsided, and Taesan lifted his head. The scenery of thebyrinth had changed. The bricks had disappeared, leaving only a space filled with sticky ck mucus. The floor was also covered with mucus. Taesan strengthened his footing. Squish. The mucus made an unpleasant sound and repelled Taesan¡¯s foot with strong recoil. ¡°It¡¯s going to be hard to move.¡± Taesan took a deep breath. The air had also changed. The damp air was pressing down on him. ¡®It¡¯s definitely different.¡¯ He had experienced changes in thebyrinth before during the trials of Balthazar, the god of victory. But Balthazar¡¯s trial was about changing the structure of thebyrinth floor. The floor itself remained the same. This was different. This wasn¡¯t the 63rd floor. [Oh... No way...] The ghost trailed off, his voice filled with disbelief. [I didn¡¯t expect him to bring something like this...] ¡°Where are we?¡± Taesan pressed against the wall. The mucus quivered. Seeing the movement, Taesan muttered. ¡°It seems like the inside of a living being.¡± [Correct.] ¡°What?¡± [I¡¯ve heard of this. I¡¯ve never seen it myself, but it remains in my memory. I heard it disappeared...] ¡°Where is this?¡± [The previous foundationalyer.] Taesan paused. The ghost let out a hollowugh. [Bringing something like this... As expected of a god.] ¡°Exin in detail.¡± [It¡¯s exactly as it sounds. You know I was conquering the depths, right? From the depths, each floor is distinct and clearly distinguishable. It¡¯s definite.] The ghost spoke with conviction. [This is the previous foundationalyer. It¡¯s the depths.] Chapter 286: Previous Depths, Flesh Of The Giant King (1) Chapter 286: Previous Depths, Flesh Of The Giant King (1) Taesan frowned. ¡°Exin in detail.¡± Taesan urged the ghost to answer. If it was an ordinary change, Taesan would figure it out himself, but if the ghost¡¯s words were true, it was a different story. The deepyers. Commonly referred to as the deepyers of thebyrinth. Taesan had entered the 63rd floor. He couldn¡¯t move easily without information. [Hmm... Hold on.] The ghost hesitated. After organizing his thoughts, he slowly began to exin. [If my memory serves me right, the 71st floor was the Flesh of Life.] Taesan had two questions about the ghost¡¯s words. ¡°What do you mean by it being the foundation of the previous 11th floor?¡± [Can I really exin this?] The ghost spoke uncertainly. [Unlike the upper levels of thebyrinth, the deepyers have periodically changing clear quests. Although it''s only one or two floors changing every few hundred years... it''s not fixed.] ¡°Why is that?¡± [I don¡¯t know that much. If I were to guess, it probably holds some significance even to the gods. It changes whenever something is aplished on a floor.] ¡°So, this isn¡¯t the current deepyers?¡± [At least when I cleared the deepyers, it wasn''t like this.] One question was resolved. Taesan asked again. ¡°The Flesh of Life? Is it not abyrinth?¡± [It is. Starting from the deepyers, each floor is strangely twisted. It¡¯s recognized as a floor, but the interior ispletely different. Sometimes it¡¯s an entirely different world, sometimes it¡¯s just a single room. Think of it as apletely different ce.] Taesan recalled Lee Taeyeon¡¯s words. She had said something simr. Thebyrinth changed from the deepyers. From then on, it was real hell. ¡°So whose flesh is it?¡± [The ancient king who was said to have fought against the gods. It¡¯s the remnants of the Giant King.] ¡°Abyrinth floor, huh? That¡¯s quite a scale.¡± Taesan looked around. All he could see were masses of red slime. ¡°So, is this a blood vessel?¡± [Probably, yes?] It was Taesan¡¯s first time entering the interior of a living being. He walked through the undting slime. The ground moved as if it were alive, making it hard to walk. ¡°This is ufortable.¡± It seemed it would interfere withbat. As he moved forward, he came to a fork in the path. Taesan looked at the system window that had been visible for a while. [Quest Conditions] [In the depths of the heart of the deceased Giant King. Defeat the centipede that has infested the apex.] The apex. That seemed to be the objective. The problem was not knowing where he was. [I only know from information. I don¡¯t know the details. From what I¡¯ve heard...] Before the ghost could finish his sentence, his figure distorted. Like static on a TV, the ghost flickered. ¡°Hey?¡± [Uh, hmm.] After a while, the ghost returned to normal. He murmured awkwardly. [They told me not to speak?] ¡°Who?¡± [The god of trials.] Taesan frowned. [I''m allowed to convey information, but I was told not to mention anything that directly affects the clear. I won¡¯t be much help.] ¡°Tsk.¡± It was a natural stance from the god¡¯s perspective. They wouldn¡¯t allow an external interference to make clearing the trial easy, consuming their intervention domain. Taesan clicked his tongue and surveyed his surroundings. First, he needed to understand where he was. [You have activated Essence Understanding.] [The corpse of the deceased Giant King.] [A ce where parasites live.] Parasites. It seemed to refer to the parasites mentioned in the quest conditions. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [The Giant King''s Blood Vessels] He used it both front and back. He could roughly guess where he was. [Blood vessel leading to the right ventricle.] [Blood vessel leading to the left atrium.] He was already in the heart. Considering that the size of the blood vessel alone was as big as an ordinarybyrinth, if he had started from the legs, it would have taken days to clear. It didn¡¯t seem like they intended to take up that much time. Taesan slowly advanced through thebyrinth. Even near the heart, it wouldn¡¯t be easy. This was the deepyer. If it were simply a matter of advancing, it wouldn¡¯t have been given as a trial. There was definitely something, and Taesan¡¯s guess was correct. Kagak. A rough sound was heard. The sound grew closer and finally reached Taesan. ¡°An ant?¡± It was a red ant the size of a person. It cked its giant jaws while looking at Taesan. [A worker ant that eats internal organs has appeared.] It was the first monster of the deepyer. Taesan took his stance, and the ant moved its legs. Tat. Tat. Tat. It bounced off the slime, lunging at Taesan. Even with the unfamiliar movement, Taesan wasn¡¯t flustered. He read its trajectory and swung his sword. Kwachik. ¡°Keeek!¡± The ant screamed. Taesan frowned. [You dealt 1104 damage to the worker ant eating internal organs.] ¡®It¡¯s tough.¡¯ Given his current attack power, he should deal over 4000 damage, but he only inflicted a fraction of that. The ant¡¯s body showed no damage, indicating extremely high defense. It felt like hitting a turtle shell with a sword. ¡°Keeek!¡± The ant bounced its legs again, thrusting its jaws. Kwaduk. Taesan blocked the jaws with his sword. The ant grabbed and pulled the sword with its jaws. The ant¡¯s pulling force was quite strong. If Taesan were a typical adventurer on the 63rd floor, he would have been dragged away. [You have activated Flow Skill.] ¡°Kieek!¡± In an instant, the sword twisted and slipped out of the jaws. Taesan quickly stabbed the ant¡¯s neck. ¡°Kieek! Kieek!¡± The ant struggled. Its wildly iling legs hit Taesan. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] Taesan pushed the sword in deeper. This time, he activated Strong Blow, Absolute Judgement, and Addition. However, the ant still iled its legs and shed its jaws. In the end, Taesan had to swing his sword several more times. ¡°Kieek¡­¡± [You have defeated the worker ant eating internal organs.] [The rewards will be settled after clearing the trial.] ¡°The health is almost 20,000.¡± The ghost spoke as if it was obvious. [It''s the deepyers. This is considered quite low. In the past, there were hundreds like this.] As soon as the ghost finished speaking, there was a ttering of jaws. Dozens of red ants appeared at once. Taesan clicked his tongue and stomped his foot. Dozens of ants rushed towards him. The ants cked their jaws aggressively as they bounced towards him. It took quite some time to deal with just one, so the number seemed quite challenging, but it was no problem for Taesan. Because he had a skill that rendered numbers meaningless. [You have activated Forced Duel.] He cast Forced Duel on the ant at the back. All the ants that were rushing at him were suddenly flung away. Kwachik. Taesan quickly dashed forward and stabbed his sword into the ant¡¯s chest. The ant ttered its jaws and screamed. Taesan dodged the jaws by tilting his head back and thrust the sword in deeper. The ant resisted a few more times before it died. Taesan quickly cast Forced Duel on another ant and moved. The ghost, watching, muttered. [Now that I think about it, you have that, don''t you? Numbers don¡¯t matter to you at all.] Forced Duel, which designates a target and makes it so no one else can interfere. This eliminated the numerical advantage, providing a huge advantage in thebyrinth. Therefore, the ants were not a problem. Taesan was thinking about something else. The ground was covered in slime, and the slime had very strong sticity. It felt like fighting on a trampoline. Properbat was difficult. ¡®But.¡¯ It was manageable. At this level, he could ovee it. The power Taesan had gained so far from descending thebyrinth was effective even in the deepyers. Tat. Taesan stomped his foot. ¡®Can this work?¡¯ The ground here was very unstable. It¡¯s simr to how it¡¯s difficult to maintain bnce with just a small force on a trampoline. But there was a skill that could only be obtained in such situations. Taesan moved his feet while blocking the ant¡¯s attack. ¡°Kieek!¡± He pulled his foot back to avoid the jaws. The moment his foot touched the slime, the strong rebound force was felt through his leg. For a moment, his body bnce was shaken. But Taesan quickly moved his other foot. His foot brushed the ground, stabilizing his body bnce. Taesan gripped his sword tightly. As his arms exerted strength, his legs also exerted strength to maintain bnce. At the same time, the slime¡¯s rebound force tried to shake his bnce. Taesan adjusted the bnce of strength. The force in his arms and legs, and the transmitted rebound force, he understood it. Then, he distributed the strength and swung his sword. Kwachik. ¡°Kieek!¡± The ant flew backward. And Taesan¡¯s body maintained a stable bnce. Tat. Taesan stomped his foot again. This time, using the rebound force, he quickly dashed towards the ant. Swinging his sword, he corrected his unstable bnce. He had to do both tasks simultaneously, and both were difficult. It was like dancing on a trampoline as if he were on solid ground. But it wasn¡¯t too difficult for Taesan. He had already attempted it thousands, tens of thousands of times. Though the situations and conditions were different, it wasn¡¯t hard to adjust. As the battle continued, Taesan¡¯s movements became more refined. By the time he had dealt with about ten ants, he was moving as if he were fighting on solid ground. Kwachik. Finally, after defeating the ant, a system window appeared. [You have perfectly maintained bnce in a difficult situation and finished the battle. You have acquired the special passive skill [Bncing].] Tat. Taesan cast Forced Duel and leaped again. Unlike before, the footing was now very stable. The strong rebound force was still felt through his feet. However, the bnce of strength automatically adjusted, allowing him to continue fighting without any problems. ¡°Nice.¡± Taesan smiled. He raised his hand. [You have activated Frozen World.] Crack-crack-crack! A severe cold swept through. The rushing ants all froze at once. As the ants tried to resist and struggle, Taesan activated Frozen World once more. Crack-crack. All the ants froze. There were dozens of enemies that required two uses of intermediate magic to bepletely neutralized. [This is still just the beginning. Go a bit further, and you''ll easily surpass a hundred.] ¡°Troublesome.¡± [That''s why they are monsters of the deepyers. By the way, you finally got Bncing. There hadn¡¯t been a situation to get it before.] ¡°You got it too, huh?¡± [It''s necessary. And as you pass through the deepyers, you¡¯ll be forced to acquire it.] Skills were acquired by fulfilling conditions. Naturally, if the conditions for obtaining a skill were not met, you could not acquire it in the first ce. That¡¯s why Taesan had not acquired many skills he had obtained in his previous life, including Temporary Time Stop. Bncing was one of them. Chapter 287: Previous Depths, Flesh Of The Giant King (2) Chapter 287: Previous Depths, Flesh Of The Giant King (2) £ÛSpecial Continuous Action Skill: Bncing£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛThis skill ensures that the body does not lose bnce in any situation.£Ý The effect was simple. As described, it kept the body bnced. While it didn¡¯t defy physicalws, it provided stability in any situation, ensuring thatbat was not hindered. For now, this was all, but as proficiency increased, the effect would be on a different level. It was also a skill that greatly contributed to Taesan¡¯s survival until the end. ¡®By the way, Soul Ascension is not activating.¡¯ Although the reward was to be settled after clearing the trial, Soul Ascension was a power he possessed. It should have activated when he defeated an enemy, regardless of the trial. It wasn¡¯t strange that it didn¡¯t activate. The strength of each ant was not that significant.As Taesan stepped forward to move on, he heard a noise. The noise was approaching Taesan. Taesan clicked his tongue. Dozens of ants appeared, shing their jaws. They spotted Taesan and rushed at him, their red legs moving swiftly. At first, Taesan responded with Frozen World. Though it consumed quite a bit of mana as an intermediate magic, his high intelligence and mana allowed him to use it dozens of times without issue, enabling him to break through. He also summoned Minerva and Barkaza to advance with him. But as Taesan observed the approaching ants, he realized something. Breaking through with force was impossible. If it were just a few hundred, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. But this was different. It was literally uncountable. It far exceeded thousands. No matter how many he defeated, they kepting. Fighting all of them was a waste of time. Since Soul Ascension wasn¡¯t activating, there was no need to persist. Taesan chose to break through, unsummoning Minerva and Barkaza, and started running. [You have activated Forced Duel.] Taesan initiated a Forced Duel with the foremost ant and struck it down. The ant screamed as it was mmed into the ground. ¡°Kiiik!¡± It didn¡¯t die, but he didn¡¯t intend to kill it in the first ce. Taesan passed the ants. They tried to attack him with their jaws and legs, but all were nullified by Forced Duel. ¡°Kieek!¡± ¡°Kiiiiek!¡± The ants cried as they charged. They were quite fast. Despite Taesan running quickly, their cries did not fade easily. ¡°Kiiiiek!¡± The ants howled fiercely. The howls echoed throughout the entire space. Taesan clicked his tongue as he ran. ¡°Again.¡± ¡°Kiiiik!¡± Uncountable ants moved their legs, crawling on the walls and colliding with each other as they charged towards Taesan. [You have activated Forced Duel.] Kwajik. He swiftly crushed the ants he dueled with and broke through the waves of ants. ¡°Kiiiik!¡± The ants were pushed back by Forced Duel. He continued to run without any obstruction. But the wave of ants didn¡¯t end. No matter how far he went, all he could see were ants. ¡®How many are there?¡¯ He saw several split paths. Taesan used a skill. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [A vessel leading to the inferior vena cava.] [A vessel leading to the apex.] The destination mentioned in the quest conditions was getting closer. Taesan ran towards the apex. He kept activating Forced Duel as he advanced. After running for about ten minutes, he finally saw spaces filled with red mucus. Finally out of the wave of ants, Taesan sprinted forward. The ants screamed and chased after him. Taesan muttered in a weary voice. ¡°How many are there?¡± There were easily over a thousand. It might have even reached tens of thousands. Escaping itself was a torment. He activated Invisibility at intervals, but it was meaningless. Since the vessels were filled with ants, he was physically bumped into, revealing his presence. Taesan pondered. If an ordinary adventurer had been here, could they have passed through like he did? The answer was no. Without Forced Duel, it was impossible to fight this many ants. Even Taesan, who was much stronger than a typical adventurer, struggled. An ordinary adventurer could only choose to flee. Besides, they wouldn¡¯t have had Reconnaissance. Taesan could immediately find the path to the apex by activating Reconnaissance, but they couldn¡¯t. They would likely get lost and fall in this maze-like ce. Taesan finally realized. Clearing this ce wasn¡¯t about breaking through with force like he did. One had to find a way to avoid the ants¡¯ attention or their attacks, whether by reaching the stomach or brain. And slowly advance towards the apex to defeat the parasite at the heart. That was the strategy for an ordinary adventurer. ¡®So this is the deeperyer.¡¯ ¡°Kirik!¡± The ants¡¯ cries were heard again. Hundreds of ants started charging towards Taesan. Taesan started running again, activating Forced Duel. As he ignored all attacks and advanced, the ghost muttered. [This really is a ridiculous skill.] The ghost had felt this before, but seeing Taesan clear the deeperyer made it hit home even more. Forced Duel was a skill that changed the paradigm of clearingyers. In the deeperyers, there were many fights where one had to defeat countless monsters, not just one. Forced Duel allowed one to clear all suchyers without any problem. If not for Forced Duel, even Taesan wouldn¡¯t have dreamed of breaking through this way. No, this trial wouldn¡¯t have been given in the first ce. ¡®Was the condition to fight a single monster among many?¡¯ The ghost recalled. To fulfill that condition, Taesan had prepared paralysis arrows to paralyze all but one and then continued the battle. ¡®It¡¯s surprisingly simplepared to its performance.¡¯ He had practically gotten it for free. The ghost also realized why Taesan had obtained Forced Duel back then. ¡®It would be too difficult to get itter.¡¯ After a certain floor, most monsters resisted paralysis arrows. On many floors, multiple monsters didn¡¯t even appear, and even if they did, it was challenging to meet the conditions for Forced Duel. One had to obtain it in the early stages, and Taesan had done so. ¡®But it¡¯s understandable.¡¯ It was a matter of the skill¡¯s acquisition conditions. Many monsters interfere except for one monster and win the battle. This type of experiment was something that yers descending to the deeperyers did not do. Taesan aplished it from the loweryers and earned the reward. Thebyrinth did not simply look at force alone. It considered various factors such as strategy and tactics. One such example was a skill. ¡°Kiiik!¡± The ants screamed. Taesan pressed harder with his foot. Since earlier, he had been feeling a tremendous force. And the closer Taesan got, the more intense it became. The passage widened, revealing a vast space. Taesanughed hollowly at the unfolding scenery. ¡°What is this now?¡± The space was roughly the size of arge baseball stadium. Ants were crawling everywhere inside. It wasn¡¯t in the hundreds. It far exceeded thousands. It was a volume that could make one dizzy, but the ghost was calm. [There are fewer than expected. Are they still in the process of hatching?] Taesan realized from the ghost¡¯s words. There was one ant with wings in the center of the other ants. That ant, twice the size of the others, was white. Numerous ants were rubbing their bodies against the winged ant. [The queen ant that eats the innards has appeared.] Taesan knew immediately. The monster he had to capture was that white queen ant. Taesan stared at the queen ant, and the queen ant recognized Taesan as well. The queen ant let out a rough scream. ¡°Kiiiiik!¡± Then the ants started to rampage. They rushed at Taesan as if to protect their queen from the intruder. Thousands of ants charged. It was like a wave. Taesan calmly raised his sword and pointed it at the queen ant. [You have activated Forced Duel.] The ants rushing towards Taesan scattered. He put more strength into his steps. [You have activated eleration.] He sprinted towards the queen ant at high speed. The queen ant spread its wings and screamed wildly. Taesan¡¯s sword brushed past the spot where the queen ant was. When he looked up, the queen ant was pping its wings and ascending. The ceiling of the baseball stadium-sized space was incredibly high. The ascending queen ant was still visible to Taesan, but to an ordinary person, it would appear as a mere dot. The queen ant flew to a ce out of reach. ¡°Kiiik!¡± ¡°Kiiiik!¡± Thousands of ants extended their jaws. But they couldn¡¯t touch Taesan. Due to the effect of Forced Duel, the ants couldn¡¯t attack Taesan except for the queen ant. Taesan quietly looked up at the sky. ¡°Kirrk. Kirrk.¡± The queen ant cried from above. It was a sound full of ridicule, as if asking if he could reach her up there. Taesan strengthened his stance. [You have activated the Wings of a Perfect Fairy.] [You have activated Leap.] His body soared into the sky with wings. The queen ant, which had appeared very small, grewrge in an instant. Startled by Taesan who had chased it to its chin, the queen ant hurriedly pped its wings. He moved the fairy wings to chase the queen ant and clenched his fist. [You have activated Mephisto¡¯s ck Lightning.] The pitch-ck lightning pierced through the queen ant¡¯s body. The queen ant momentarily flinched, and Taesan closed in. The queen ant, barely recovering from its stiffness, twisted its body. Taesan raised his sword. Kwajik. ¡°Kiek!¡± The queen ant¡¯s leg was severed. It screamed and flew away. As Taesan tried to activate Mephisto¡¯s ck Lightning again, the queen ant cried out. ¡°Kiiiiiiik!¡± A powerful will filled the space. Taesan could tell the queen ant was calling for something. The worker ants, which had been wandering around, stopped moving. ¡°Kiiiiik!¡± The ants cried out and began to rise. They climbed the walls, bumping into each other, and started to form a tower. Taesan nced sideways. The worker ants outside were also flooding inside. ¡°Kiiiik!¡± ¡°Kiiiiik!¡± The ants filled the space. Without a gap, densely, perfectly. The queen ant was no longer visible. [You have activated Forced Duel.] He activated Forced Duel on a nearby worker ant to buy himself some time to think. ¡°Smart.¡± Realizing that the queen ant could only target him, it changed its strategy. It filled the space with worker ants to avoid his attacks. It was simple but effective. Forced Duel could only be used when the opponent was visible. Blocking the path and hiding meant he had to search for her one by one. But was that possible? Taesan expanded his senses. The ants were constantly trying toe in from outside. Tens of thousands of ants. With so many, even magic or ck magic would have limited effect. Even if he cleared them once, new worker ants would fill the ce. It might be possible if hebined Apostle Transformation, but it would take a very long time. And he couldn¡¯t afford to use Apostle Transformation before meeting the parasite. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Thinking of a strategy, Taesan recalled one thing. How does the queen ant control the worker ants? The answer was clear. It spread its will through its cries. The will in the queen¡¯s cry was so intense that even Taesan could feel it. And Taesan had a skill to read wills. The worker ants had no will. They followed the queen ant¡¯s orders. Among these countless lives, only the queen ant and Taesan had a will. Taesan closed his eyes. He focused his mind and expanded his senses. He read the will embedded within the countless lives. Soon, Taesan found the moving will at the end of the space. As Taesan identified the queen ant¡¯s position and was about to charge, he hesitated. ¡®Will.¡¯ The queen ant controlled the worker ants with its will. He had already grasped the manifestation and wave structure of its will by observing it once. Taesan could also manipte will to influence his surroundings. Then. ¡°Ki, Kii?¡± The worker ants, which had been pushing their jaws towards Taesan, hesitated for a moment. Taesan focused his mind. He imbued his will with power and spread it in all directions. ¡°Kiiiii!¡± The worker ants were in agony. Two conflicting wills were tearing at their minds. The queen ant, which had been slinking away, once again exerted its will to control the worker ants. Taesan responded to this. Mimicking the manifestation of the queen ant¡¯s will, he too exerted his will. The two wills shed and shattered. ¡°Kiiiii!¡± The worker ants that had been trying to attack Taesan fell into confusion and stumbled. [You have activated Amon¡¯s ck Spike.] A ckened spike appeared in Taesan¡¯s hand. As the duration of Forced Duel ended, Taesan struck the spike at the ant in front of him. Boom! An explosion urred. With a deafening roar, the surrounding ants were sent flying. Normally, the worker ants would quickly fill the empty space, but without orders, they were flustered and confused. Taesan immediately kicked off. He moved his wings and chased the entity with the will. The queen ant, startled by Taesan¡¯s precise tracking, moved among the worker ants in a panic, but it was no longer of any use. [You have activated Forced Duel.] He thrust his sword. ¡°Kiiiii!¡± The sword pierced the queen ant¡¯s abdomen. As the queen ant screamed, Taesan climbed on top of it and muttered. ¡°Fall.¡± [You have activated Landing.] With the queen ant pinned beneath him, his body fell. The queen ant pped its wings and moved its legs wildly, but all were subdued. ¡°Kiiiik!¡± Boom! The queen ant, which had been flying in the sky, crashed to the ground. Taesan moved his sword. Finally, the worker ants, realizing their queen was in danger, desperately tried to protect her. They pushed their jaws and swung their legs. But as soon as they touched Taesan, they were all repelled. It was the effect of Forced Duel. ¡°Kiek! Kiek!¡± The queen ant¡¯sbat power itself was not that great. It was no stronger than a single worker ant, so it was easily defeated. [You have defeated the queen ant that eats innards.] [Rewards will be settled after clearing the trial.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 1030, strength by 204, and agility by 255.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. ??? proficiency has increased by 1%.] The increase was smaller than expected. It was only natural, considering the queen ant¡¯s individual strength was not that great. And with the increase in ??? proficiency, something in his senses changed. He couldn¡¯t pinpoint what exactly had changed. His physical strength remained the same, and his aura was unchanged. But he could do more than before. Taesan pulled his sword from the queen ant. The worker ants were bewildered by the death of their queen. With no one to give them orders, they were confused. Watching the worker ants nkly, Taesan exerted his will. The confused worker ants gradually calmed down. ¡°Kiii¡­¡­¡± The worker ants lost interest in Taesan and began to leave. The ghost asked in surprise. [Did you control them?] ¡°Control? Not really. I imitated.¡± He remembered the way the queen manifested her will and mimicked it. Taesan pressed his forehead. His head throbbed. Enduring the pain, Taesan opened the skill window. [Concept Skill: Will ??? Attack] [Proficiency: 60%] [The power of will ??? descends. You can see and feel the will of all things and adjust your own will ordingly. You can project your will onto the world. You have obtained ???.] ¡°Just as expected.¡± The proficiency of the concept skill had reached 60%. And a new phrase appeared: ¡°You can project your will onto the world.¡± [Huh... So it¡¯s like that. It¡¯s not just the realm of the sword.] The ghost admired the skill. Taesan, having read the skill window for a moment, moved on. Beyond the vast space, there was another narrow passage. Taesan passed through it. At the end of the short passage, he saw a heart. A small heart within the giant¡¯s heart. Considering the size of the giant, it was small. The heart, muchrger than an ordinary building, had marks of being gnawed at here and there. Nearly half of the heart had been eaten away, and it had stopped beating. Blood vessels were flowing between the heart chambers. And among them, he saw wriggling centipedes. [The centipede that eats the heart has appeared.] Chapter 288: Previous Depths, Flesh Of The Giant King (3) Chapter 288: Previous Depths, Flesh Of The Giant King (3) ¡°Kiii!¡± A centipede visible between the flesh cries out. Then, the heart started beating. Thump. Thump. The fierce heartbeat made the mucus tremble. The blood, which was slowly trickling out, started to pour out like a waterfall in sync with the beating heart. The flowing blood wetted the ground and filled the surroundings. And then, the blood rose. ¡°Kiii.¡± The centipede cried. Its intent to kill Taesan was clear. ¡°Easy to understand.¡±Kill or be killed. It was either one or the other. There was no need for conversation. The rising blood floated in the air, taking a solid shape. And the blood rushed towards Taesan. It turned into sharp thorns aiming to pierce his entire body. Taesan raised his sword. Kagak! He deflected and blocked the blood thorns, bouncing them off. The blood shattered and scattered in all directions. But before the scattered blood even touched the ground, it rose again and rushed at Taesan. As the waves of blood tried to bind his entire body tightly, Taesan threw a punch. Kuuung! A gust of wind followed his fist. And the blood split even before the gust reached it. The blood, avoiding his attack, lunged at Taesan. Taesan stepped back to increase the distance. The blood moved as if it had a will of its own. [You activated Essence Perception.] [The blood of the dead Giant King. A centipede is controlling it with its will after eating the heart.] ¡®Troublesome.¡¯ The centipede¡¯s power itself wasn¡¯t that significant. In his current state, which surpassed the level of mere strength, Taesan could win without difficulty. But the movement of the blood was tricky. There was no sign of power. It was almost impossible to read its movements in advance. In a way, it was natural. That power belonged to a dead being. There was no change or movement anymore. The centipede was forcibly moving it, so it was impossible to read its trajectory or grasp the manifestation of its power. ¡°Kii.¡± The centipede made a small cry. At that moment, Taesan sensed a will from the centipede. Taesan immediately stomped his foot and distanced himself from the blood that was engulfing the ground. Chwajajak! As Taesan stomped, the blood on the ground rose violently. If he hadn¡¯t moved in advance, he would have been skewered. Taesan spread his wings and watched the blood from above. There were no signs in the blood¡¯s movements. It was almost impossible to read in advance. But Taesan dodged by reading it in advance. ¡®Concept skill.¡¯ The fallen world of Hafran. A skill obtained there, reading and adjusting the will. Perhaps because the centipede controlled the blood with its will, the centipede¡¯s will felt stronger than any other enemy Taesan had faced. And Taesan¡¯s concept skill had reached 60% after defeating the queen ant. Now, Taesan could project his will into the world. ¡°Kiii!¡± The centipede cried. The blood flowed even more violently. It filled the surface, forming a whirlpool trying to engulf Taesan. Taesan reached out his hand indifferently. ¡°Stop.¡± Then the blood exploded. The exploding blood fell on Taesan¡¯s face. It was a very dangerous situation. The centipede could control the blood in any way. It could make the part of the blood touching Taesan sharp, causing damage. ¡°Kiii!¡± The centipede didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. It tried to control the blood touching Taesan to inflict damage. But nothing happened. ¡°Kii? Kiii?¡± The centipede was confused. Taesan muttered. ¡°I can¡¯t control itpletely as I want yet.¡± Taesan looked at the blood spread on the ground and raised his will. Then the blood started to rise in response to Taesan¡¯s will. Taesan stomped his foot. The blood shot sharply towards the centipede. ¡°Kii!¡± The centipede cried. The shing wills caused the flying blood to burst. The ghost realized what Taesan was doing. [¡­¡­Controlling the blood?] It wasn¡¯t mana or demonic energy. Nor was it physical force. Taesan was controlling the blood purely with his will. ¡°Kiii¡­¡­¡± The centipede couldn¡¯t understand. It had been here since it first gained consciousness. Though its consciousness was cut off a few times, it had lived its whole life buried in the flesh lump. Whenever it was hungry, it ate the flesh of the heart and drank the blood. Over countless years, the Giant King¡¯s remains gradually became part of the centipede. In the end, the centipede gained the ability to control the Giant King¡¯s blood. The centipede used this power to make many who came here part of itself. None could resist its power. At some point, no one came anymore, but the centipedecked the intelligence to understand that. As time passed, the centipede came to believe it was absolute. As long as this ce was filled with blood, it was invincible. But now, that invincibility was breaking. ¡°Kiii!¡± The centipede thrashed, bursting its will. At the same time, Taesan looked at the blood beneath his feet. The blood, which seemed to rise, calmed down. The centipede, which tried to use the blood beneath Taesan¡¯s feet to pierce him, couldn¡¯t understand. The blood, which always moved ording to its will, didn¡¯t move. It felt like someone was blocking it. [It¡¯s certain.] The ghost muttered in admiration. [Will adjustment¡­¡­ to be precise, materialization? Moving things with will alone?] ¡°It¡¯s not that grand. I can¡¯t do anything great. But¡­¡­ it¡¯s enough for now.¡± His will moved. The blood shook. The centipede thrashed, and the blood burst everywhere as its will shed with Taesan¡¯s. Taesan rushed towards the centipede. The centipede tried to resist, but its power was only in the blood. Its own power wasn¡¯t weak, but it wasn¡¯t enough to ovee Taesan. Kwajiik. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Taesan¡¯s sword pierced deeply into the heart. The centipede, with the sword embedded in its body, screamed. Taesan then shoved his hand deep into the heart. He felt a wriggling sensation on his hand. Taesan clenched his fist. With a cracking sound, the long body of the centipede began to emerge from the heart. ¡°Kiii!¡± Taesan mmed the centipede down. The blood on the floor sttered violently. He trampled on the wriggling body on the ground, driving his sword into it, and shed it lengthwise. The centipede struggled a few more times. It moved its countless legs to escape and tried to bite Taesan with its jaws. Taesan calmly trampled down all its resistance. ¡°Kiii¡­¡­¡± Before long, the centipede went limp. [You have defeated the centipede that devours hearts.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your health has permanently increased by 1021, strength by 150, and intelligence by 300.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. The proficiency of ??? has increased by 2%.] [Subquestpleted.] [Starting calction¡­] The ghost asked, [Exactly how did you do it?] ¡°Hold on a moment.¡± Taesan focused on the blood as he looked at it. The blood started to rise. Swish. The blood whirled around Taesan. Taesan closed his eyes. The whirling blood fell to the ground. ¡°So, this is it.¡± [Ha.] The ghost marveled in awe. Manipting objects and affecting reality with sheer willpower. Taesan was now demonstrating the power that transcendents possess. But Taesan assessed the situation calmly. ¡°It¡¯s not that impressive.¡± The only reason he could suppress the queen ant¡¯s will was that the difference in power between him and the queen ant was enormous. Moreover, the worker ants had no self-awareness, so it was easy to influence them. The centipede was not much different. The blood the centipede controlled wasn¡¯t its power. It was manipting the existing power of the Giant King. In other words, it was a matter of how and who interfered with the masterless power. That was why it easily crumbled under Taesan¡¯s will. He couldn¡¯t interfere with those who wielded normal power. His power was far from that of the transcendents. [Even considering that, it seems like an unbelievable power¡­] But the ghost was still astonished. In other words, it meant he could exert almost absolute influence over masterless power. ¡°We¡¯ll have to check the details. I¡¯ll have to find Haphran.¡± Taesan muttered. Simultaneously, a system window appeared. [Calctionpleted.] [You have received the clear reward of the 63rd floor, [Magubania''s Red Shoes].] [You have received the secret room reward of the 63rd floor, [Dark Magic Orb].] [You have received the clear reward of the 63rd floor, [???].] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [The Domain of Arrogance has diminished.] [Arrogance invites you to its domain.] Taesan nodded. ¡°I ept.¡± Kuuung! Then the world changed. Everything warped as Taesan¡¯s body began to move into the realm of the god. And where Taesan arrived was before a gigantic door. A door so massive it seemed impossible to open,rger than any mountain. In the dark space, only the door with an odd color could be seen. [Are you interested?] A voice echoed behind Taesan. It was a light voice, neither serious nor heavy. [You are not qualified to open that door yet. That¡¯s a story for muchter. I won¡¯t stop you if you want to try, but do you want to open it?] ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head and turned around. The man standing there had ck hair. A smile spread across his face. The young man, dressed like an adventurer, opened his mouth. [Nice to meet you.] ¡°I greet the great god.¡± Taesan knelt. Arrogance waved his hand. [You don¡¯t need to do that. Just befortable.] Arrogance snapped his fingers, and two wooden chairs appeared. [Sit.] Arrogance sat on a chair and spoke. Taesan followed his words. [It¡¯s been a while for you too, hasn¡¯t it?] [¡­¡­I greet the great one.] The ghost, who had been quiet, spoke hesitantly. Arrogance, who had been looking at the ghost for a while, muttered. [I¡¯m sorry about what happened to you. I thought you would reach the end someday.] [Thank you for your words.] The ghost spoke bitterly. He had already failed. Knowing that even if he had reached the end, he would not have achieved his wish was nofort to him. But Arrogance continued. [How will you respond to the opportunity that hase to you now, having failed?] [¡­¡­What do you mean?] [Didn¡¯t Zelbando tell you?] [¡­¡­] Zelbando had told the ghost. The ghost would have three choices. He told him not to regret making the wrong choice then. [The time is approaching. So, I¡¯m telling you not to regret it.] [¡­¡­Thank you.] The ghost closed his mouth. Taesan asked. ¡°Did you see the future?¡± [It¡¯s not that grand. Some of those who hate you are making moves. It¡¯s not hard to predict what they¡¯ll do.] Arrogance shook his head and opened his mouth. [The reason I gave you this trial was to confirm one thing.] Chapter 289: Previous Depths, Flesh Of The Giant King (4) Chapter 289: Previous Depths, Flesh Of The Giant King (4) [The first thing I wanted to check was your strength.] Arrogance cast a peculiar look towards Taesan. [The other gods were making a lot of noise, so I was curious if you really had that much power. You had exceptional strength when you cleared my trial on the lower floors, but there have been a few like that.] Those who were strong outside. Those who reached the peak of their original world could descend to the 20th or 30th floors without any problems. The important thing was what came after that. The forefront of the deepyers. While approaching the limit that a mortal can reach, do they possess strength superior to the current floor they are on? [The reason I summoned you to a currently unused space and gave you a trial was because of that.] ¡°Did it satisfy your curiosity?¡± [Enough.] Arrogance gave a bitter smile. [I thought you could clear it, but I didn''t expect you to do it so easily.] He murmured. Even to the transcendent, what Taesan did was unexpected, and his voice was tinged with admiration. [Your current strength is overwhelming even throughout the long history of thebyrinth. No one has ever gained the strength to reach the deepyers from the 60th floor.] Arrogance¡¯s eyes sparkled. [Furthermore, the type of power you have is also unusual. A mortal who has not yet reached the end possesses such power. I understand why they are interested.] Arrogance spoke quietly. [You are exceptional among the mortals I''ve seen.] ¡°Thank you for your words.¡± [Don¡¯t die and keep descending. You might reach a ce no one else has.] Arrogance pped his hands. [Another reason I called you was to propose a contract with a follower, but you won''t ept it, right?] ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. Arrogance spoke nonchntly, as if he had expected it. [If you were at the level of thebyrinth''s entrance, it might have been different. But now, there is no reason for you to ept a contract. It would be a loss for both us and you.] Taesan looked at Arrogance nkly. He was telling him so much. Even information that Taesan did not know, Arrogance exined it freely. It was a good thing for him, but it was somewhat surprising since the gods had always been restrictive with information. Noticing Taesan¡¯s expression, Arrogance spoke. [You are now in front of the deepyers. There is no point in controlling information any further.] ¡°What exactly is the deepyer?¡± Taesan asked with curiosity. He had heard rough exnations from the ghost and Lee Taeyeon. But he still could not know precisely. He only knew that it was extremely difficult and unusual. Arrogance answered Taesan¡¯s question. [The second reason we settled in thebyrinth.] ¡°Second reason¡­?¡± [There are those who settled here to witness the adventures and challenges of heroes and wizards. But do you think so many gods would abandon their worlds and make thebyrinth their residence for that alone?] [You will understand when you reach the deepyers. Let¡¯s leave that for a future pleasure.] Arrogance smiled. [Then, it was enjoyable.] Arrogance waved his hand. His power began to envelop Taesan. [You have obtained the Ring of the One Who Passed the Trial.] [You have obtained the title [One Who Proved Their Ability].] [Goodbye. Let''s meet again in a deeper ce.] Arrogance waved his hand. As the distance grew, Taesan¡¯s body began to return to thebyrinth. [Ah. Onest thing.] Arrogance¡¯s voice was heard. [I am quite close with the Demon Goddess. So I heard from her. Soon, those who call themselves Guides wille to you.] With that voice, Taesan returned to thebyrinth. Thebyrinth her returned to was the 63rd floor, not the body of the Giant King. Right in front of him was the staircase leading to the 64th floor. Taesan sat down. Initially, the fact that he had moved to the deepyers was surprising, but he resolved it without major problems. The rewards were also abundant, so it was actually a good thing. [Red Shoes of Magubania] [Attack Power +100] [Defense Power +300] [Strength +300] [Agility +300] [Action Speed +14%] [Movement Speed +14%] [The red shoes worn by Magubania, who held the name of an Apostle, at the time of death.] These shoes had high attack and defense power, and even additional stats. Although there were no special effects, it was still excellent equipment. [Orb of Deep Darkness] [Dark Magic +150] [Magic Power +400] [Intelligence +1000] [An orb containingpressed deep darkness. The darkness is so strong that it seems capable of corrupting even a powerful dark magician.] This was equipment for dark magic, suitable for mid-level dark magicians. [Used the ??.] [Obtained a brown staff made from the remnants of a meteor.] A magical staff. It was a tribute. Taesan¡¯s eyes shone. With this, he could obtain another mid-level magic. ¡°Not bad.¡± Overall, there was only good equipment. This time, Taesan checked the rewards given by Arrogance for clearing the trial. [Ring of the One Who Passed the Trial] [Attack Power +200] [A ring given by the God of Trials to those who passed his trial. It has effects suitable for the recipient.] ¡°Oh-ho.¡± Taesan¡¯s lips curled up. It was a very simple effect, but it was exactly what Taesan wanted. The most important thing for him now was not defense or stats but attack power. With this, the title would likely have a simr effect. Taesan checked it with anticipation, and his prediction was correct. [Title: One Who Proved Their Ability] [Health +1000] [Mana +300] [Magic Power +70] [Attack Power +100] [A title given by the God of Trials to those who proved their ability.] It even added to attack power and magic power. Although the numbers were rtively low, considering that titles were not something you could change like equipment but something you kept forever, it was a reasonable reward. Taesan was satisfied. All his stats had now surpassed ten thousand. At this rate, he might surpass Lee Taeyeon¡¯s stats by around the 70th floor. ¡®Then, now.¡¯ It was time to verify. The biggest change that came with clearing the trial was the conceptual skill. He needed to understand its exact effects and limitations. Arrogance had said that those who called themselves Guides woulde to him soon. The remaining Guides were the leadership. It was time to fight those who had reached the end of mortality. Before that, he needed to understand and organize the power he had gained as much as possible. Taesan wandered around the 63rd floor. Since he moved to the loweryers during the attack, the monsters remained as they were. Although he couldn¡¯t get much from the monsters as he had already received the clear reward, it didn¡¯t matter since his purpose was experimentation. ¡°Kkiruk!¡± A dark crow discovered Taesan and rushed at him. Taesan focused his mind on the crow. He spread his will to oppress the crow. The charging crow shuddered and trembled. ¡°Kki kkiik!¡± The crow, facing its enemy, was in agony, unable to handle the situation. Inside the crow¡¯s head, two emotions were shing: the feeling of needing to kill Taesan and the feeling of needing to obey him. ¡°Kkiiik¡­¡± In the end, the crow quivered and lowered its posture. A monster of thebyrinth, which was supposed to kill adventurers, was now in a posture of submission. Taesan, who had been watching the crow for a while, turned his gaze to the sword in his hand. He began to focus his will on the sword. As his will enveloped the sword, it flew out of his hand and towards the crow as he willed it. Thunk. ¡°Kkiiik!¡± The crow, pierced through the chest, screamed. It writhed in pain and charged at Taesan. ¡°This is the limit.¡± Taesan subdued the charging crow and conducted a few more experiments. As a result, he could roughly grasp his abilities. Projecting his will onto the world. The meaning of those words was simple. It meant that he could physically and mentally influence the world with his will. The monster on the 63rd floor submitted to Taesan with just his pressure. And the sword he wielded also moved ording to his will and pierced the crow. If taken to the extreme, he might be able to issue a death sentence with just his will, like the gods. At least, it wasn¡¯t a power a mortal should possess. ¡®But the limitations are clear too.¡¯ The crow that submitted to Taesan charged at him after being pierced by the sword. It meant that the suppression would break when emotions peaked or when in pain. The physical impact of his will on reality wasn¡¯t that strong either. A skilled person could block it without much trouble, at the level of an arrow containing Taesan¡¯s will. And there was a bigger problem. Every time he spread his will, his head throbbed. It felt as if he was forcibly handling a power that wasn¡¯t yet permitted. Even Taesan, who was used to pain, found it hard to ignore. It seemed to be a kind of restriction, not just simple pain. Unless it was a peculiar case like the centipede, it seemed difficult to use meaningfully in battle yet. [Concept Skill: Will ??? Strike] [Proficiency: 62%] [The power of will ??? descends. Synchronizing with it allows you to see and feel the will of all things and adjust your own. You can project your will onto the world. You have obtained ???.] Taesan looked at the concept skill. He had obtained the concept skill in the ruined world of themander Haferan. ¡°Shall I visit after a long time?¡± He had obtained material items just in time. Taesan moved his feet. Taesan returned to the 60th floor with a satisfied expression. After offering another tribute, he was able to obtain another mid-level magic. [Mid-Level Magic: Earthquake] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption: 500] [It copses the ground. It can only cause localized damage for now.] A skill that copsed the ground. Its effects were hard to see inside thebyrinth. The floor of thebyrinth was a ce that even deepyer adventurers couldn¡¯t scratch. But for Taesan, who often wandered outside, it wasn¡¯t a big problem. Satisfied with the magic, Taesan visited Hafran. ¡°Oh? It¡¯s been a while.¡± Hafran was still there. In a ce where mes flickered, he was hammering something on an anvil, forging something. ¡°What brings you here this time?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to entrust these.¡± Taesan took out the materials. [Remnants of the Heart of the Dead Giant King] [Remnants of the heart of one who once rivaled gods. It holds immense power within itself.] [Blood of the Dead Giant King] [Blood of one who once rivaled gods. It holds immense power within itself.] ¡°Oh-ho?¡± Hafran¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°No matter how I see it, these aren¡¯t materials you should have brought. How did you get these?¡± ¡°During the process of clearing a trial. Can you make equipment out of it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s sufficient. What do you want?¡± ¡°An offensive piece of equipment that I can move with my will.¡± ¡°With your will? I can make it, but forgive me for saying this, but it¡¯s going to be hard for you to handle with your current abilities.¡± Hafran looked puzzled. ¡°Influencing something with just your will is something only those who look above can do. Even with the support of equipment, it¡¯s difficult for a mortal to interfere.¡± Hafran reached out his hand. ¡°I¡¯m a cksmith, so I¡¯ll make it if you want¡­ but I want to dissuade you. If you insist, hand over the materials.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t hand over the materials with his hands but focused his will. ¡°Oh?¡± Hafran¡¯s face stiffened. The blood and heart remnants floated in the air andnded on Hafran¡¯s hand. ¡°That power is¡­¡± ¡°You noticed immediately.¡± Hafran¡¯s world was destroyed by the will of the world itself. There was no way Hafran wouldn¡¯t notice. Taesan was moving objects with just his will, not with magic or anything else. ¡°Your ruined world. I want to enter it once more.¡± Chapter 290: Projection Of Will (1) Chapter 290: Projection Of Will (1) Hafran mumbled nkly. ¡°That¡¯s a type of power that a mortal cannot possess¡­¡± ¡°I got this from your world.¡± Taesan replied. ¡°So, I want to go back and check it out once more.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hafran stroked his chin. He touched his smooth skin without a beard and spoke. ¡°When I send you back to my world next time, I was thinking of after you have entered the depths. Because if you don¡¯t have that level of strength, it¡¯s clear you¡¯ll meet your death.¡± The star itself recognized Taesan. It was definitely trying to kill him with certainty.Without the strength to step into the depths, survival was impossible. ¡°With that power, it might be possible¡­¡± Hafran said after a moment of contemtion. ¡°But it¡¯s dangerous. It¡¯s amazing that you can wield your will, but you still can¡¯t handle it perfectly. You could die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s always been the case.¡± There were hardly any memories of safety while descending into thebyrinth. The reason he gained this much power was always by risking his life in battles. This time would be no different. Hafran chuckled at Taesan¡¯s answer. ¡°Indeed. Then I will do what I must as a resident of this ce for an adventurer.¡± [Sub Quest Start] ¡°At the deepest part of my world, there is a spring of purity in a cave. Go there and bring back the pure water.¡± [Hafran wants the pure water from the spring existing in his destroyed world.] [Condition: Retrieve the water from the spring at the deepest part of the world.] [Reward: Equipment made from the pure water.] Taesan nodded. The quest was epted. ¡°If you bring it properly, I will make equipment with the giant king¡¯s materials you brought.¡± With Hafran¡¯sst words, Taesan¡¯s body moved. He arrived in Hafran¡¯s destroyed world. He set foot on the vastnd. At the same time, the world began to tremble. Boom! The sky roared and the ground creaked. The definite intent began to aim at Taesan. Taesan stomped his foot. Simultaneously, the ground rose up. Like a tidal wave, it tried to engulf Taesan. Taesan punched at the wave of earthing at him. The ground shattered into pieces and scattered. Boom! The sky pressed down on Taesan. A huge pressure enveloped his entire body. The remaining air gathered weakly, forming dozens of storms. They all rushed at Taesan. It was time to test whether the power of will he had acquired could indeed affect the will of the star itself. Taesan focused his mind. The concentrated will projected into reality. Taesan willed the storms to copse. At the same time, followed by a massive headache, one of the storms distorted. The distorted storm wobbled unstably. Taesan shouted with his will. ¡°Explode.¡± With those words, the storm scattered. This confirmed it. He could interfere with the will of the world itself. But the cost-effectiveness was poor. Even though he only eliminated one of the dozens of storms, his head felt like it was splitting open. It was hard to use it immediately. At least, it was a matter for after his proficiency increased or Taesan reached a higher level. Taesan ran through the gap in the storms. ¡®In the end, it¡¯s about strength.¡¯ He had to escape using physical strength, not willpower. He couldn¡¯t win. Even if he held out for a while, he would eventually face death. So, he had to avoid the fight itself. The most reasonable method was to run continuously to the quest¡¯s destination. The star was now seriously trying to kill him, but he was much stronger than before. It was possible to endure until he reached his destination. However, Taesan was considering another method of breaking through. [You have activated Essence Perception.] [Will of the Star. It seeks to kill the living.] Essence Perception. It revealed the essence of the opponent and also showed their weaknesses. [The star seeks to find and kill those with will other than itself.] The star was not directly observing and chasing Taesan with its eyes. It was reading Taesan¡¯s will and tracking it to kill him. An opponent with will. And Taesan could project his will into the world. ¡®Could this work?¡¯ He dispersed his will. He hid his will that maintained self-consciousness while influencing the world. It was an extremely contradictory statement: to maintain self-consciousness while abandoning the will to do something. Normally, it was impossible. But Taesan could do it now. Taesan spoke. ¡°Scatter.¡± With those words, the will gradually became concealed. Then, a change urred. Boom! The storm still raged. The sky pressed down on the ground, and the ground rose like a tidal wave. But the direction of that force no longer pursued Taesan. The tidal wave of earth passed right by Taesan. The storm raged at quite a distance and then disappeared. As if it couldn¡¯t pinpoint Taesan¡¯s exact location, it only circled around him without targeting him. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes glowed. The star was failing to track his exact location. To confirm it, Taesan stomped his foot and ran across the ground at high speed. Boom! The world still targeted him. The ground exploded, and the air burst. But it didn¡¯t hit him urately. Taesan realized the star was estimating his location, but it couldn¡¯t pinpoint his exact position. ¡®That¡¯s right.¡¯ Taesan smiled. Dispersing his will didn¡¯t seem to have a direct impact on the world, so the headache was less severe. He could endure this much. And he started to understand how to use concept skills. ¡®Deration of Will.¡¯ Simply gathering and concentrating will was not enough. A deration to finalize it was necessary. Upon reflection, all the gods did not simply resolve things with power alone but often dered their intentions verbally. This was true when the Demon God destroyed Vekveta and when that other god tried to kill him. At that time, he didn¡¯t give it much thought, but it seemed to be a necessary process. Thanks to dispersing his will, the world¡¯s will could not track him. Thus, he decided. Taesan stomped his foot. His direction was not towards the deepest part of the world. It was towards the forest spread out in the distance. The forest where he first visited Hafran¡¯s world and brought back the root of chaos. Taesan reached near the forest, but still, the star could not target him urately. He joyfully entered the forest. [Soaked Wooden Fragment] [An item from the destroyed world. It is useless alone. If nted in the ground, it seems it will grow into a distorted tree.] [Dried Soil in Decay] [An item from the destroyed world. It is useless alone. If something is nted in this soil, it seems it will grow distorted and lose its original form.] Taesan happily collected the materials. He didn¡¯t know how to use them, but Hafran would. He would make excellent equipment from the materials Taesan brought. ¡°Good.¡± Boom! As Taesan chopped the trees and collected the soil, the force that swelled became stronger. Taesan dodged the surging force and gathered the materials. After collecting enough, Taesan moved again. This time, he did not head towards the depths. He headed to the ruins of the dead king, which he visited on his second visit. At that time, he was only focused on the Crimson Jewel, but recalling it again, there were several items that seemed to be materials. He intended to check and collect each one. Taesan sprinted. The star manifested its power, chasing him. Boom¡­ The ground split in half. The sky drew closer to the earth, and the air swirled even more violently. The star clearly recognized Taesan and intended to kill him, but it could not pinpoint his exact location. ¡°Do you know why?¡± Taesan asked. The answer did note immediately. ¡°Hey?¡± [Oh?] The ghost responded btedly. [Were you talking to me?] ¡°Who else is there?¡± He had unsummoned the spirit since its position would be revealed in this ce. It was just Taesan and the ghost now. The ghost seemed somewhat absent-minded. ¡°Since meeting Arrogance, you¡¯ve been quiet without any answers. Do you have something to think about?¡± The reason was easy to guess. Arrogance had told the ghost about the three choices. The time was approaching. [I am a dead being. It¡¯s over for me.] The ghost quietly affirmed. [I''m tied to thebyrinth by a contract with the wizard, and I will leave this world once my wish is fulfilled. That¡¯s all I am. But the fact that I have three choices, what does that mean?] The ghost¡¯s voice was filled withplex emotions. [And the things that could be called choices for me are already decided.] The ghost¡¯s wish was simple: revenge against the one who killed it. For such a ghost to make a choice meant something more important than revenge had arisen. There was only one such thing. Resurrection. Escaping death and returning to thebyrinth. If his assumption was correct, it was something the ghost never wanted¡ªto be resurrected and to descend thebyrinth again. Depending on the type of resurrection, the ghost could attack thebyrinth and achieve his original wish. To attack thebyrinth and save his destroyed world. [But the gods have no reason to do such a thing.] Resurrection of the dead was something the gods seldom did. Even if Taesan died right now, no god would try to resurrect him but rather im his soul. So, the one who would try to resurrect the ghost must have substantial benefits to gain from it. Then, what was that entity aiming for? That thoughtplicated the ghost¡¯s mind. Taesan spoke. ¡°It¡¯s a matter forter. Worrying about it now is useless. Just keep it in mind and choose what you want when the timees.¡± [Yes, I will.] The ghost sighed deeply. He knew it too, but he just couldn¡¯t make a conclusion on his own. As the worry faded slightly, he spoke brightly. [By the way, that¡¯s quite an incredible power. It prevents the world itself from recognizing you properly.] ¡°Still, it seems to know my approximate location.¡± Boom! The ground still trembled around Taesan. While it didn¡¯t know his exact position, it seemed to understand where he was roughly. [To put it simply, what you¡¯ve hidden now is akin to a human''s vision. It''s like trying to catch a fly with closed eyes. You can hear the fly buzzing around and know its location, but urately targeting and catching it is difficult, at least for ordinary people.] ¡°Is that so?¡± [I can''t be sure, but seeing that it can''t target you urately, it seems to be the case. Of course, if it gets really angry, things could change, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be that way yet.] Then there was no problem. Taesan arrived at the ruins of the dead king. As he entered, he saw things he hadn¡¯t noticed before. [Mask of Paranoia] [An item from the destroyed world. It was used by a legendary dancer. No one, not even the king, saw her face. Her face became a mystery known to no one due to the destruction of the world.] He collected each of the material items. Though they weren¡¯t directly requested by Hafran and thus were less valuable, they were essentially free materials, so he was quite satisfied. [This quest wasn¡¯t originally designed this way...] The ghost chuckled. The quest for Hafran¡¯s destroyed world required strength surpassing theyers. The rewards were equipment made from materials existing in Hafran¡¯s world. Each one was difficult to obtain even in thebyrinth. They were rewards matching the difficulty. The deeper he went into Hafran¡¯s world, the more equipment he could make. But the deeper he went into Hafran¡¯s world, the stronger the star¡¯s killing intent grew. If one couldn¡¯t withstand the star, they had to barely escape with only the quest materials. In other words, the materials that could be obtained in Hafran¡¯s world, excluding the quest materials, were rewards that could only be gained by defeating the will of the star itself. Rewards that could be obtained only by reaching a level where one could face and win against the will of the star. Taesan was obtaining them through an underhanded method. Chapter 291: Projection Of Will (2) Chapter 291: Projection Of Will (2) Of course, it wasn¡¯t a proper reward. Even though there was a time limit to disperse the will, and direct attacks from the star could be avoided, the star had already recognized Taesan. If he stayed any longer, the star would try to overturn the to kill him, so the materials he could bring back were only those he had obtained before. It was a level of reward he could understand. However, it was still a reward he wouldn¡¯t have been able to obtain originally. Taesan took all the materials he could from the ruins. As he came out, the world was violently shaking. The waves of power carried growing annoyance and anger. ¡°I should wrap this up soon.¡± His headache was getting worse. It was time to end it.When annoyance towards bugs reached its peak, you tended to turn the entire house upside down to kill them. Now was the limit. Taesan moved. He headed towards the quest¡¯s target location. He descended to the deepest part of the world and discovered a transparent-colored spring. [Water of Purity] [Water that has existed since the conception of the star. This liquid, which existed with its birth, wasplete in itself.] Taesan collected the water. The quest condition was fulfilled. However, Taesan did not return immediately. Taesan looked at the earth. The ghost asked. [What are you doing?] ¡°You don¡¯t feel it, do you?¡± The giant will he felt since stepping into the destroyed world of Hafran. He could feel it now, with his concept skill proficiency at 60%, which he couldn¡¯t sense during his previous visit. It was strong enough to be felt from a distance. The will from it was wrapping around the world. And it was what he felt right below. ¡°If it¡¯s the owner of the will that wraps the entire world, it¡¯s probably the star itself.¡± [That... seems likely.] The ghost trailed off. After a moment of contemtion, Taesan made a decision. [You activated Earthquake.] The cave floor copsed. Everything crumbled as Taesan¡¯s body began to fall. There was nothing below the copsed cave, only a deep abyss. [You activated Landing.] How far did he fall? After several minutes of freefall, Taesan reached the bottom. It was a pitch-ck passage. Even for Taesan, who surpassed human limits, it was darkness where he couldn¡¯t see an inch ahead. [You activated Scorching Light.] He used magic for light, but the passage remained dark. This darkness existed as if it had been there before light itself, swallowing even the light. And at the end of the passage, he sensed something huge. [Uh... dangerous.] The ghost seemed to sense it too, swallowing nervously. [What will you do? I would rmend turning back immediately.] ¡°I¡¯vee this far.¡± Since he was already here, he should at least take a look. Taesan walked through the dark passage. And at the end of the passage, a huge za appeared. There was a pure white sphere. A sphere emitting light like the sun. What he felt from it was the will and power that enveloped the entire. This was the core of the star that destroyed Hafran¡¯s world and was trying to kill Taesan. [You have encountered the World.] [This is...] The ghost let out a groan. As Taesan arrived at the za, a gigantic killing intent was directed at him. Unlike before, it was a gaze that recognized Taesan urately. It was not sensed through will, but witnessed directly. What it contained was extreme hatred, anger, and hostility. How dare you. It spoke. Pure will, notnguage, prated Taesan¡¯s mind. How dare you. In my domain. The star dered. Die. A deration filled with will echoed. [Instant death judgment in progress...] [Judgment failed!] [The deration of death engulfs you.] It was a deration of death. The World, like a god, rejected the judgment itself. [Ah...] The ghost was astonished. Death itself caressed Taesan¡¯s neck. system_sart [You activated Mental eleration.] system_end Taesan concentrated his will. Gathering the scattered energy, he enveloped his entire body and dered: ¡°Disappear.¡± It was a deration of denial. A deration with an absolute will, like that of the world, influencing reality. [Deration of Denial activated.] [The deration of instant death disappears.] [You have influenced the world by dering your own will. You have acquired the special continuous activation skill [Word of Power].] Death, which had been caressing his neck, departed. Taesan drew his sword. [The opponent is an unbeatable enemy.] An unbeatable enemy. It was the world itself, so it was natural. He didn¡¯t mind. However, what happened next was unexpected. The system window started to distort slowly. [The opponent is @##@#!.] The copse of the system window. It was the first time since facing the Apostle of the High Gods. [You activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You activated Vessel of the King.] [Battle Craving activated.] [You activated Disdain for the Strong.] [Anti-Divine activated.] [Giant Killer activated.] [Opposing the Great Will activated.] A strong annoyance lingered in the gaze directed at Taesan. The power contained in the sphere began to gather. The power spread across the entire world started to concentrate. Die. With the deration, the white power was shot at Taesan. That was the power of the star itself. The power that had targeted Taesan so far was merely local, a small fraction from a global perspective. That¡¯s why Taesan could block it. But this was the source of the power held by the world itself. The manifestation of power alone began to distort everything around it, making things lose their shape. Creak. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] [You took 1230 damage.] [You took 1101 damage.] [You took 1023 damage.] Even with absolute protection against the formless power, it was useless. Absolute protection was a skill that blocked the opponent¡¯s attack in proportion to Taesan¡¯s stats. The enemy in front of him possessed power that couldn¡¯t be blocked with just those stats. Boom! The world itself was trying to crush Taesan. Despite his resilience, Taesan momentarily prepared for death. Time slowed down, and mental eleration urred. Could he block it? Magic was impossible. Intermediate magic was powerful, but ultimately it was a power meant for mortals. That thing¡¯s power exceeded that category. It wouldn¡¯t even buy time. ck magic was not much different. If he poured all his mana into opening a passage, he might buy some time, but that would be the limit. Moreover, opening the passage required time, and the immense power would engulf him before ck magic could activate. Swordsmanship was also impossible. This was not a power that something like Flow Skill could activate. The power attacking Taesan now was the power of the world itself. It was closer to transcendence rather than being something mortal. Such a being was manifesting its power to kill Taesan. Therefore, what was needed was a power of a higher rank, surpassing the category of mortals. Light enveloped Taesan¡¯s hand. It was divinity. Then it was covered with ck. It was the power of the High Gods. The mixed power created something grayish. Taesan grasped it and swung. White power and gray power shed and mixed. Boom¡­ Space copsed. Everything distorted and lost its form. Only gray ashes engulfed everything around. And Taesany within the copsing space. [You took 49532 damage.] [You blocked a strike from @!##. You have acquired the special continuous activation skill [Last Chance].] [You have acquired a fragment of Will.] The damage that could have rendered Taesan on the brink of death from a single strike had struck him. But Taesan smiled. The world¡¯s attack just now was a kind of instant death strike where damage was meaningless. He had reduced such an attack to mere damage, which he could endure without even triggering resilience, due to his arrogance. ¡°Not bad.¡± Taesan endured the shock and stood up. The white sphere stood loftily as before. However, a tiny part of the sphere¡¯s edge, so small it couldn¡¯t be seen clearly with the naked eye, had turned gray. No damage window appeared. It meant it wasn¡¯t even a significant wound. However, he was satisfied that his power had made even a small scratch on a being beyond mortals. And the world seemed to be very displeased with that, as its anger deepened further. Materialized emotions began to influence reality. As if it could easily do so, the same power that attacked Taesan gathered instantly. ¡°See you next time.¡± Taesan muttered as he took out a marble. As the power shot towards Taesan, his body moved to thebyrinth. ¡°You¡¯ve returned safely¡­ is what I¡¯d like to say, but I can¡¯t.¡± Hafran¡¯s face was filled with confusion and astonishment. ¡°What was that just now?¡± Hafran seemed to have felt the power beyond the space. Taesan spoke as he drank a potion. ¡°It was the core of the world. Did you know?¡± Taesan exined. At the deepest ce Hafran had requested through the quest. There was a space below it, and when he fell down, he saw a giant sphere containing the will of the world itself. Hafran¡¯s pupils widened. ¡°Something like that¡­ exists?¡± ¡°So, you didn¡¯t know either.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know. I knew the world was trying to kill us, but I had no idea there was something that gathered such will¡­ Not only me, but no one in my world knew.¡± It wasn¡¯t strange. Taesan wouldn¡¯t have noticed either if his concept skill proficiency hadn¡¯t risen. Hafran¡¯s gaze towards Taesan was filled with astonishment. ¡°So, you faced the world itself and returned?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°How?¡± There was a question contained in it. ¡°How did you survive?¡± It wasn¡¯t something one would say to a survivor, but it was a reasonable question. Taesan was undoubtedly strong. But his strength was still within the realm of mortals. Even if Taesan possessed some extraordinary powers, that fact didn¡¯t change. And the opponent was the world itself. A transcendent existence, beyond mortals. It was an impossible opponent. Even just a gaze could have overwhelmed him. Yet Taesan had returned alive. Without any particr abnormalities. ¡°I have a card that works even on such an opponent.¡± The gray power. The power that even the High Gods coveted, seen as alien even by transcendent beings. With that, he had confidence that he wouldn¡¯t die, which was why he approached the world. After a moment of collecting himself, Hafran¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s a good thing. You brought the Water of Purity, right? Give it to me. I¡¯ll make what you want.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Taesan handed over the Water of Purity. Then he opened his inventory. A pile of materials from the destroyed world fell out. Hafran¡¯s pupils stopped at the sight of over ten materials. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°With these materials, what level of equipment can you make?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°Heh.¡± Hafran, staring nkly at the materials, chuckled. He then looked at Taesan with a genuinely joyful gaze. ¡°I didn¡¯t give you a quest to bring these.¡± ¡°I brought them along the way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s interesting. Not bad¡­¡± Hafran¡¯s eyes sparkled as he mumbled. ¡°With this, I can make something more useful.¡± After contemting, he made a decision. ¡°I¡¯ll use the Giant King¡¯s material you gave me and all these materials to make one piece of equipment. Is that alright?¡± Taesan nodded. Soon it would be the deep floor. It was meaningless to make multiple pieces of equipment. Hafran happily gathered the materials. ¡°Great. Come backter. I¡¯ll make something very useful for you.¡± ¡°Before that, I want to ask you something. You said you could make higher-level equipment with materials from that world?¡± ¡°Yeah. I was a resident of that world. I can handle items born and raised there the best.¡± Hafran spoke confidently. Taesan opened his inventory. There was still one material he hadn¡¯t given him. ¡°Then, can you use this as a material too?¡± [Fragment of Will] [Will of the World. The tiny remnants.] A white flickering mirage. Hafran hesitated. He stared at the mirage nkly and then chuckled. ¡°You really¡­ keep surprising me.¡± ¡°Can you handle it?¡± Taesan was also uncertain about this. Hafran was undoubtedly remarkable. The fact that he made the pair of rings Taesan possessed was proof enough. But what Taesan showed now was the will of a world itself. A power beyond mortality. Even Hafran¡¯s capability to handle it was uncertain. Hafran shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t touch that. The materials I used to make your rings were remarkable, but they were within my handling capability. Even the Light of Origin was just a material without consciousness.¡± Hafran said as he looked at the Fragment of Will. ¡°But that¡¯s different. That¡¯s a being beyond mortality. It has its own will. If I tried to handle it, the will remaining in the fragment would try to devour me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± Then there was no use for it. He was considering trading it with gods when Hafran spoke. ¡°But I know someone who can handle it.¡± He spoke with a subtle expression. ¡°A cksmith at the entrance of the deep floor. A madman pursuing beyond mortality with a mortal body. The dwarf Kosrun. He can process what you have.¡± Chapter 292: Projection Of Will (3) Chapter 292: Projection Of Will (3) ¡°I create ordinary equipment that anyone can use. I am the cksmith of thebyrinth, essible to everyone. That is the position given to me by the mage.¡± ng. Hafran struck the hammer. A clear sound echoed. ¡°But I am not the only cksmith here. Thebyrinth is a ce where gods reside. The rewards given to adventurers are treasures that cannot be made or seen outside. Numerous cksmiths have headed to thebyrinth.¡± And most of them disappeared without a trace. Thebyrinth did not permit ordinary adventurers. The same went for cksmiths. Only those with talents at Hafran¡¯s level were epted. ¡°In the depths, there is a mad dwarf residing at the entrance.¡± ¡°Should I go to him?¡± ¡°He is a being who makes unconventional equipment, unlike me.¡±Hafran said. ¡°He is obsessed with creating weapons that surpass mortality, to the point of madness. He is not a proper cksmith. He is third-rate when ites to handling normal materials. But¡­ he is first-rate when ites to handling things like what you have.¡± Hafran frowned. ¡°He will dly ept the will that tries to consume him. Since he is already mad and broken, he will be able to make what you want. The problem is, he is also mentally deranged¡­¡± Hafran clicked his tongue. His expression seemed irritated just by recalling the memory. ¡°Most of thebyrinth is already broken, but he is particrly worse¡­ No, you might be fine.¡± Hafran looked at Taesan with a peculiar expression and spoke. ¡°If it¡¯s him, he will be able to handle it.¡± ¡°The depths, huh.¡± What had once seemed distant was now right in front of him. Taesan ced a fragment of will into his mind. ¡°Alright. When should Ie back then?¡± ¡°That, I can¡¯t say for sure.¡± Hafran fiddled with the materials with a vague expression. ¡°There are too many. And they are diverse. The equipment you want is not easy to make. It might take as long as it took you to make the ring.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Even though it seemed like it would take a long time, Taesan didn¡¯t appear displeased. From his experience, the longer it took to make equipment, the higher its quality. ¡°Then I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± ¡°Wait patiently. It¡¯s going to be a busy time.¡± Hafran organized the materials with a face full of enthusiasm. Taesan descended thebyrinth again. He arrived at the stairs leading to the 64th floor. The space split open as the demon god appeared. The demon god, who was looking at Taesan, opened her mouth. [Even though the meddler already told you, I still have to inform you. The 64th floor. The top leaders of the Guides are waiting at the end.] ¡°It¡¯s faster than I thought.¡± [It can¡¯t be helped. You have grown too strong too quickly.] It was unprecedented in the long history of thebyrinth for an adventurer on the 64th floor to face those who reached the 74th floor. [Do your best to win.] ¡°Thank you.¡± [And the power you have obtained¡­] The demon¡¯s words trailed off. There was something ambiguous in the demon¡¯s expression as she looked at Taesan. [No. It might not matter now.] ¡°Are you talking about the will?¡± [Yes. It is undoubtedly a powerful and formidable force, but it will be difficult for you to handle it right now. It will shine once you have descended far enough into the depths.] The demon god began to hide in the darkness. [Let''s talk about it againter. Keep descending. I will be waiting for you in the deep.] Taesan nodded. After the demon god left, he descended the stairs. [Quest for the 64th floor starts.] [Defeat the boss of the 64th floor and pass.] [Reward: Broken One. Helm of Bahm.] [Secret Reward: ???] The monster on the 64th floor was a massive slime. Once you passed through the corridor and reached the room, the returning corridor closed. Then the slime that filled the room slowly approached. Before being crushed by the slime, you must defeat it. That was the nature of the floor. For Taesan, it was not a problem. With strength far superior to the floor¡¯s level, he could defeat the slime with just a few swings of his sword without even using his skills. As he cleared the floor, he checked the new skills he had obtained. system-start [Special Continuous Action Skill: Last Chance] [Proficiency: 1%] [When you receive a fatal attack, it will block the attack once. It can only be used once against the same opponent and has a cooldown of one hour after use.] system_end ¡°Ho?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled. He had somewhat anticipated it from the skill¡¯s name, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this level of a skill. This was a skill simr to Endure. Of course, in terms of standalone value, it was lower than Endure. Endure ignored the opponent¡¯s attack and transformed, making it so he wouldn¡¯t take any damage at all for a certain period, giving him a very wide range of responses. On the other hand, Last Chance had the part where it blocked the attack. Since his action was fixed as defense, it looked difficult to act immediately. The certainty of blocking also had its own applications, but it wasn¡¯t as absolute as Endure, whichpletely ignored it. However, it was still a safety-like skill that could save his life. Its value was iparable to other skills. For a skill obtained by blocking a single hit, it was extremely good. But it was understandable. [The opponent is @!## @#!.] It was the system window that appeared when he encountered Hafran¡¯s world. A copsing system window. It was the first time since the Apostle of the High God. The reason wasn¡¯t hard to guess. ¡®A being that has transcended mortality.¡¯ A being that has dipped into transcendence. When dealing with such beings, thebyrinth¡¯s system couldn¡¯t properly express it, leading to errors. Blocking the strike of a being that had transcended mortality with a mortal body was undoubtedly significant. And this led to something to confirm. Endure and Last Chance. Which of the two would activate first? Taesan moved to the next room. He started to be slowly crushed without touching the approaching slime. Squelch. [Your First Attack Nullification has activated.] [Your Second Attack Nullification has activated.] [Your Third Attack Nullification has activated.] [You took 1043 damage.] The damage came in slowly. Taesan didn¡¯t move. Endure would activate in a life-threatening crisis anyway. And since Endure didn¡¯t have a cooldown if the activation target was different, there was no problem. His health slowly decreased, falling to triple digits. At the moment of near-death, Taesan¡¯s body moved. There was no will of Taesan in it. It was close to an automatic movement. He put strength into his whole body. He moved his legs and arms to push roughly. Bang! The slime was flung away. ¡®It activates before Endure.¡¯ This was an unexpected gain. It was like having two extra lives. Even the ghost eximed. [This doesn''t make sense.] For Taesan, who had Endure, it was rtively less valuable, but for other adventurers, it was a skill difficult to find one better than. Thebyrinth was a ce where one had to risk their life in challenges. Skills that added safety to that challenge had high value, and Last Chance was the best among them. Having understood this, Taesan defeated the slime and recovered his health. The confirmation was done. Now it was time to check the other one. [Special Continuous Action Skill: Word of Command] [Proficiency: 1%] [Materialization of will. By uttering words infused with will, you can make a deration that affects the world.] Word of Command. The concept skill¡¯s proficiency had increased and this was a skill obtained through the Projection of Will. Taesan moved to the next room. He spoke with will to the slime running towards him. ¡°Stop.¡± Boom. The approaching slime stopped instantly. The slime creaked. It looked like it couldn¡¯t do anything as Taesan¡¯smand and its own will shed. ¡°My headache has lessened.¡± It was less than before, probably because he had obtained a concrete skill. At least it wasn¡¯t a pain that would prevent him from using it more than once or twice. Taesan, watching the creaking slime, opened his mouth again. ¡°Burn.¡± With the deration, the slime started to burn. The mes greedily devoured the slime. The headache worsened. Taesan endured the pain and watched the burning slime. The slime burned and eventually disappeared. [You have defeated the slime guarding the door.] ¡°The damage itself is fine.¡± The slime¡¯s health was quite high. The fact that he could defeat it like this meant that the power used by will was somewhat proportional to Taesan¡¯s attack power. [It''s closer to Dragon Speech.] The ghost murmured. Dragon Speech, thenguage used by a species that wielded a different kind of magic from the god of magic, a single word could overturn the heavens and earth. It wasn¡¯t bad. The problem was the headache. The stronger the influence exerted, the worse the pain. Taesan calmed his headache and experimented with various things. As a result, he found out that using Word of Command on himself caused less headache. And now he could utilize things he had half-abandoned. ¡°Move.¡± tter! Arrows leaped out and attacked the slime. Arrows with their own will. They weren¡¯t bad when he first obtained them, but at some point, he stopped using them. The reason was simple. The damage was too insufficient. The arrows required the wielder¡¯s authority, and the required authority¡¯s standard was extremely high. Even Taesan, who had be considerably strong, couldn¡¯t draw meaningful damage from them. And having a will of their own meant that Taesan didn¡¯t need to worry about them, but it also meant that he couldn¡¯t exert any influence over them. It wasn¡¯t bothersome enough to use against strong enemies, so Taesan hadn¡¯t utilized it much until now. However, things were different now that he had gained willpower. [Arrows with a Will of Their Own] [Arrows that move on their own to protect their master. They move with a will of their own and cannot go beyond a certain range.] [Current Master: Kang Taesan] [Current Attack Power: 521] Perhaps because he was directly controlling them with his will, their attack power had increased significantly. Their speed and power had also noticeably risen. ¡®They were arrows that could only be used by someone at the level of a transcendent.¡¯ Arrows that could only be used if one could control them with willpower. If left to the arrows¡¯ own will, their attack power would drop drastically to two digits. As Taesan used the arrows to defeat the slime, his head throbbed momentarily. Taesan retrieved the arrows. ¡°They are usable, but¡­¡± It was still difficult to handle them. Even though he had learned the Word of Command and the headaches had lessened, they were still at an unbearable level. Now he understood why the demon had said it wouldn¡¯t matter much right now. Taesan¡¯s abilities were still insufficient to handle it. ¡®But.¡¯ The stronger he became and the higher his rank, the more valuable it would be. It was definitely a usable ability. With the confirmation done, Taesan resumed his progress through thebyrinth. He cleared a secret room and collected the reward. The reward was a ck magic-enhancing robe, an item to offer to the demon as a tribute. Taesan moved forward and reached the boss. The boss was a slime with sharp spikes. Taesan raised his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly.¡± [You have activated Addition.] Crunch. The slime was crushed. After a few more swings of his sword, the slime waspletely destroyed. [64th Floor Clear.] Floor cleared. However, Taesan didn¡¯t lower his sword. [You have summoned the highest-grade spirit of multiple colors, Barkaza.] [You have summoned the King of Wind Spirits, Minerva.] ¡°Hello!¡± [Long time no see, master. Summoning even Lady Minerva means an enemy has appeared, right?] ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan replied curtly. Barkaza spoke in an excited tone, anticipating the uing battle. [Who is it? Another being rted to the High God?] ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon.¡± [Hmm?] Barkaza, who had been curious, stiffened. Minerva¡¯s face mirrored his concern. She murmured in a hesitant voice. ¡°What the¡­?¡± Taesan looked at the stairs leading to the 65th floor. Boom! A massive rumbling sounded. The noise, as if an earthquake had urred, was slowly approaching. ng. With the sound of iron, it appeared. Covered in dark purple armor, a figure that looked gigantic next to Taesan appeared. On its back was a greatsword as big as Taesan¡¯s torso. What could be felt was overwhelming heaviness. Its mere presence silenced everyone around it. And strength. Taesan had seen a being with such strength before. The King of Fire Spirits. And Ambracia. The Guides of Sin. Its upper echelon. The ghost spoke. [Is it you first? Appropriate.] The knight said nothing. It simply raised its greatsword and pointed it at Taesan. [The Iron Wall that Protects the World, Shaman has appeared.] Chapter 293: The Impenetrable Wall Protecting The World. Shaman (1) Chapter 293: The Imprable Wall Protecting The World. Shaman (1) nk. The knight moved, carrying a greatsword. A chilling murderous intent filled the air. [Are we going to fight right away? Let''s talk first.] ¡°I have nothing to say to you, hero.¡± His attitude was blunt. He outright refused to engage in conversation, but the ghost seemed amused. [Is this bastard angry?] Shaman halted at the ghost¡¯s words. [I get it. You''re honestly pissed off, aren''t you? Why, out of all the people, do you have to face this guy? You think you''re so weak that you have to deal with him yourself?] ¡°Shut up.¡±Irritation seeped into Shaman¡¯s voice. Thinking about it, it made sense. Shaman was a deep-level adventurer. He had pride in himself for reaching the deep levels. But now, he had toe up from the depths to face an adventurer on the 64th floor. Leaving behind the other members of the leadership toe himself. Shaman, who had pride in his power, was angry. But standing before Taesan, Shaman¡¯s emotions slowly calmed. He pointed his sword at Taesan and spoke indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m annoyed, but¡­ that¡¯s not the point.¡± To be honest, he was angry at first when the demon god sent only him up. The opponent was the demon god. She wanted to see a life-risking battle, not a one-sided ughter. In other words, it meant that Taesan was chosen because he could somehow win, and the demon god thought Shaman was the weakest of the leadership. ¡°I am an adventurer who has treaded the deep levels.¡± A burst of power. Countless skill windows appeared and disappeared around Shaman. With calm eyes, Shaman looked at Taesan. ¡°I know you defeated the spear and shield, but those two did not reach the deep levels on their own. Let me show you the power of the deep levels here.¡± Thus, by killing Taesan, he would prove his strength once again. Shaman¡¯s determination spread intensely. [The opponent is an impossible enemy.] ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Taesan responded in kind. He activated numerous buff skills, then pointed at his opponent with his finger. [You activated Forced Descent.] ¡°Huh.¡± Shaman let out a low groan. After briefly observing himself, he took his stance. ¡°You have quite the variety of skills.¡± [You activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You activated King''s Vessel.] Taesan¡¯s aura expanded and intensified. ¡°Come. Our enemy.¡± Shaman raised his sword. ¡°Let¡¯s see which of us is stronger.¡± With those calm words, Taesan stomped his foot. As Taesan charged, Shaman swung his wrist. The greatsword spun. Though it was a light attack, barely a flick of the wrist, the power contained in the greatsword was immense. A blow meant to crush Taesan enveloped him. ng! Swords shed. The massive impact hit the walls. Feeling the weight through the sword, Taesan chuckled. ¡®Strong.¡¯ At this moment, his stats were not much different from Lee Taeyeon¡¯s. It meant he was equal to an adventurer who cleared thebyrinth, even if it was through various tricks. However, Shaman seemed to have no problem handling Taesan. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of stats. It was the deep-level equipment and the power of auxiliary skills that shed with the sword. Shaman¡¯s eyes darkened as he felt the power. The stat difference between an adventurer who reached the deep levels and one who hadn¡¯t was immense. When swords shed, one would be driven into the ground and unable to keep up with the speed. But Taesan was overwhelming him with both strength and speed. He had a skill that increased his stats by a certain percentage when his opponent¡¯s stats were superior to his own. Yet, he was still being pushed back by Taesan. ¡°Indeed, I cannot be careless.¡± In a quiet voice, Shaman flicked his wrist. The greatsword shredded everything in its path, pressing on Taesan. Ka-ga-ga-gak! Taesan roughly swung both hands. He deflected, parried, and dodged the attacks. ¡°A monster.¡± [Fighting is what I desire, but this level of opponent is unexpected.] Minerva clicked her tongue. Barkaza grumbled and unleashed his power. Light rose with a p, and Minerva¡¯s gesture summoned a storm. Shaman, who was pressuring Taesan, nced over. ¡°The King of Wind Spirits.¡± Minerva was the Spirit King. Even an adventurer from the deep levels couldn¡¯t ignore her power. But Shaman responded lightly. By slightly adjusting the trajectory of his sword, he split Minerva and Barkaza¡¯s powers. ¡°What?¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes shook as she saw her power split so effortlessly. Ka-ga-gak! Without paying attention to Minerva, Shaman continued to press Taesan. ¡°Hah, hahaha.¡± Anger filled Minerva¡¯s face, having beenpletely ignored. ¡°Then try to block this! Barkaza!¡± [As the kingmands.] Barkaza was a support-type spirit. He pped his hands. Minerva drew upon her power. Wind intensified with light, creating a storm that tore through thebyrinth. Shaman retreated slightly to avoid the storm. The wild winds rushed towards him. Taesan couldn¡¯t underestimate this force either. If that power hit him, he would struggle to defend. But Shaman raised his sword. He charged at the raging storm and struck down with his sword. With a roar, the storm disappeared. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°A newly born Spirit King, huh.¡± Shaman shook off the shock from his sword and spoke. ¡°I have fought countless battles with Spirit Kings like you.¡± The leadership was stuck in the deep levels for an unimaginably long time. They had made every effort to break through the deep levels. One of those efforts included sparring with each other. They fought each other, analyzing their strengths and honing their abilities. To Shaman, Minerva seemed extremely clumsy. With power at that level, he could crush anything no matter how strong it was. Boom! Shaman stomped his foot. In an instant, he reached Taesan and swung his sword down. Taesan clicked his tongue and responded. ng! Sparks flew. The fierce pressure made Taesan frown. ¡®Strong.¡¯ Despite having superior stats, the fight was even. This was purely because Shaman had the upper hand in experience. Taesan had also been through many battles, but Shaman, as he said, had trained with the leadership for an immeasurable amount of time. In terms of pure experience, Taesan couldn¡¯t catch up. Minerva and Barkaza tried their best to support him, but it was of no help. After realizing he was of no help, Barkaza made a decision. After all, he was a spirit. There was no death for him, and even if he fell here, he would only be resummoned. Barkaza charged at Shaman. Shaman¡¯s face wavered slightly, perhaps not expecting Barkaza to attack physically. Though weak, he was still a high-level spirit. He couldn¡¯t bepletely ignored. Barkaza approached Shaman and pped his hands. Light violently shook. It crushed everything around it, targeting Shaman. And Shaman responded to all those attacks. He spun his greatsword, blocking the light and piercing Barkaza¡¯s body. [Argh] Barkaza endured the shock and exploded with light. As his body was banished, the world flickered for a moment. The overwhelming light made Shaman close his eyes. It was a small gap, but a definite gap. [You activated eleration.] Taesan rushed quickly. He aimed his sword at Shaman¡¯s waist. ng! [Shaman''s Guardian activated.] [Shaman''s Fortitude activated.] [Shaman''s Immortal Shield activated.] [Shaman''s Unyielding Armor activated.] [Shaman took 0 damage.] Whoosh! Shaman brought his sword down as if he had been waiting. [You activated Random Blink.] Taesan¡¯s body moved backward. Shaman clicked his tongue. ¡°Too bad.¡± Shaman had intended to allow the attack, confirm that he took no damage, and then exploit the gap when his opponent was shocked. But due to Barkaza¡¯s sacrifice and Taesan¡¯s quick response, he had only gained information without any real result. Shaman calmly adjusted his stance. ¡°Do you use magic too? I heard you can use ck magic as well; you use various powers.¡± Taesan stared nkly at Shaman. His current attack power was around 4000. Even without skills like Addition or other attack-boosting skills, attacking the gap would have yielded 5000 to 6000 damage. Yet, the damage was 0. In other words, the opponent¡¯s defense was higher than Lee Taeyeon¡¯s. Even with several defense-piercing skills, if no damage was dealt, it meant the opponent also had skills that reduced damage to absolute zero. ¡°You¡¯re quite something.¡± ¡°I am a Guide of Sin. Among them, the adventurer with absolute defense. Die, our enemy.¡± Boom. Shaman charged. It was a charge without any consideration for defense, unlike before. Knowing he wouldn¡¯t take any damage, he moved without any restraint. Boom! Taesan focused on defense. Minerva tried to help by summoning a storm, but even that was blocked. [Shaman''s Spirit Negation activated.] [Shaman took 0 damage.] ¡°What is this?¡± Minervaughed dryly. The damage was notnding at all. While blocking Shaman¡¯s attack, Taesan observed him. Shaman¡¯s eyes were calm. Even though he was overwhelmingly dominating Taesan, his face showed no excitement. ¡®It can¡¯t be helped.¡¯ Taesan made a decision. He began to attack fiercely. As Taesan¡¯s momentum suddenly changed, Shaman immediately responded. They swung their swords at each other at a distance where their arms could reach. Ka-ga-ga-gak! Dozens of collisions urred in a second. In the midst of the fierce shes, Taesan suddenly twisted his body and lunged at Shaman¡¯s sword. [Your First Attack Nullification activated.] Shaman¡¯s body was pushed back. Taesan stomped his foot. The air burst. Taesan drew his swords with both hands. Shaman immediately responded. He swung his sword down to push Taesan away. [You activated Flow.] ¡°Ugh.¡± Shaman¡¯s sword trajectory twisted. His stance crumbled. For the first time, his eyes wavered. Taesan didn¡¯t miss that gap. [You activated Conversion.] [You activated Addition.] [You activated de of Will.] He put all his strength into one sword. Shaman could tell. With the power contained in Taesan¡¯s sword, it could break through his defense. Shaman smirked and activated a skill. [Shaman activated the Blessed One.] Keeng. A golden curtain surrounded Shaman. A very solid, absolute curtain that even someone at the brink of mortality couldn¡¯t easily prate. [Shaman activated Reconstitution.] And Shaman¡¯s stance changed. As if time had reversed, the twisted trajectory turned into a perfect counter-stance. ¡°Attack nullification. It¡¯s unique and hard to deal with, but if you know about it, it¡¯s not a problem.¡± Shaman muttered. Taesan had fought Ambracia before. The presence of attack nullification had been revealed to them. A trump card that nullifies attacks and rewinds time. It was natural for Taesan to use it in battle. Therefore, they decided to target it instead. To counter the attack nullification, he prepared a deadly strike. And the n worked. Shaman stepped forward and swung his sword. A strike that could shatter mountains and cleave the sky flew towards Taesan. [Shaman activated Conversion.] [Shaman activated de of Will.] The skill to increase attack power was activated. The sword reached Taesan. Shaman was certain of his victory. [Your Second Attack Nullification activated.] Shaman¡¯s body reverted to its pre-attack state. Seeing the system window before him, he was shocked. ¡®Second!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t believe that Taesan had two of those high-level skills! Taesan¡¯s dual swords charged at him. Shaman quickly calmed his panic. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ The Blessed One he had activated was his absolute defense. Even if all the leadership of the guides attacked, they couldn¡¯t easily break through it. This amount of power couldn¡¯t break it. [You activated Absolute Judgement.] And that belief was shattered. The golden protection that touched Taesan¡¯s sword was destroyed. Before Shaman could do anything, the sword pierced his armor. ¡°Ugh!¡± With a scream of pain, he was violently thrown back. Boom! [Shaman took 52,154 damage.] The damage was astonishing, but Taesan did not look satisfied. ¡®As expected, this is tough.¡¯ Even while taking no damage, the opponent hadn¡¯t let his guard down. Knowing that he was chosen to face Taesan meant there was a slight chance of Taesan winning, so he never showed any gaps. Absolute Judgement was a trump card. The first time it was used, it had to reduce the opponent¡¯s health as much as possible. Now that the existence of Absolute Judgement was known, the opponent would not allow any attacks. Originally, he should have raised his attack power further before using it, but he couldn¡¯t. The opponent¡¯s response was too fast. Moreover, he had used up two attack nullifications. It was a gain, but not a satisfying one. Taesan immediately sprinted towards the fallen Shaman. But Shaman pulled out a gem from his pocket. Crash! The gem shattered, expanding the space around them. system-start [Shaman activated Amoles¡¯s Forced Spatial Expansion. This itemsts for 10 seconds.] system_end The space expanded instantly. Visually, the distance remained the same, but no matter how much he moved, he couldn¡¯t get closer to Shaman. ¡°This is absurd.¡± Shaman staggered to his feet. Even after taking over fifty thousand damage, he hadn¡¯t fallen. [Shaman took a hit exceeding his total health. The Unyielding One activated. Survives with 1 HP. The cooldown of this skill is one year.] He let out a dryugh. The Unyielding One, a skill that only activates when he takes damage exceeding his total health. It was a skill he had never activated since obtaining it, and it activated now. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­ I need to change my strategy.¡± [Shaman activated Once-Only Recovery. Health restored by half.] Shaman coolly assessed the situation and raised his sword. Seeing him quickly regain hisposure, Taesan clicked his tongue. He had often gained an advantage when opponents were flustered by skills they had never seen before, but this time it seemed impossible. ¡°Right. You¡¯re also an adventurer.¡± This opponent was different from any Guide he had met before. One who did not give up. One who strived to move forward. One who had traversed the deep levels purely by their own skill. He never let his guard down or gotcent. He anticipated and responded to everything. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± They had shown most of their cards. Now, the real fight began. Taesan gripped his sword tightly. Chapter 294: The Impenetrable Wall Protecting The World. Shaman (2) Chapter 294: The Imprable Wall Protecting The World. Shaman (2) Their swords shed. The greatsword tore through the air. The twin swords moved to deflect the explosively swinging greatsword. Ka-ka-ka-kang! Taesan pressed Shaman with superior stats, while Shaman countered with his immeasurablebat experience and honed skills. ¡°Grrr.¡± Minerva watched the ongoing battle with a sullen face. ¡°Nothing I can do¡­¡± Her power waspletely ineffective against Shaman. She asionally tried to interfere, but he didn¡¯t even turn his gaze. There was no need to be cautious if it couldn¡¯t harm him. ¡°Is that an adventurer of thebyrinth?¡±It was astonishing. Even though she was not in perfect condition and still somewhat unskilled, to be able to overwhelm a Spirit King like this. And it was awe-inspiring. Both Taesan and Shaman. Ka-kang! The swords collided. What could be seen was extreme movement, perfect and wless. Minerva was a Spirit King. She somewhat believed that the power of spirits was the greatest in the world. But even for her, the battle in front of her was beautiful. Ka-ang! The swords shed and bounced back. Taesan adjusted his posture and charged at Shaman. Shaman hesitated as he was about to swing his sword against the attack that disregarded defense. ¡°Click.¡± He clicked his tongue and pulled back the greatsword to defend against Taesan¡¯s attack. Taesan broke through the defense forcefully. [7034 damage to Shaman.] ¡°Annoying.¡± Taesan¡¯s skill. First Attack Nullification. He was wary of a potential third one. Shaman thought the First Attack Nullification was the end. It made no sense to have multiple such skills. But there was a second. There was no reason there wouldn¡¯t be a third. Shaman decided to confirm the existence of Attack Nullification, and Taesan¡¯s goal was simple. To pressure Shaman as much as possible before he confirmed it. [You activated Absolute Judgement.] [You activated Frozen World.] [You activated Magic Concentration.] Jjeojeojeok! A wave of cold rushed forward. The contained power was frost that could freeze everything. Shaman frowned and struck down with his sword. [Shaman activated Crushing Blow.] Kuuuuung! A massive explosion urred. The Frozen World shattered from the sword strike. ¡°It can even be used against magic. Ridiculous.¡± [You activated Sure Hit.] [You activated Absolute Judgement.] [You activated Starlight Arrow.] Taesan activated Absolute Judgement again and used Starlight Arrow. Shaman tried to dodge, but the Starlight Arrow pursued him with certainty. Shaman¡¯s pupils dted. He raised his sword to shield himself. As the Starlight Arrow was about to touch the sword, Taesan clenched his fist. [You activated Magic Separation.] The split light arrows pounded Shaman¡¯s entire body. [1032 damage to Shaman.] [932 damage to Shaman.] [1023 damage to Shaman.] ¡°Grr!¡± Shaman, impacted, wavered. Taesan didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and activated eleration. Shaman barely managed to swing his sword against the descending strike. Jjeoong! ¡°Ugh!¡± Shaman was pushed back again. His stance broke, revealing a gap. Just as Taesan aimed for it. [Shaman activated Reformation.] [Shaman activated Mountain Splitting Strike.] Shaman¡¯s greatsword struck down. It was far faster than any movement Shaman had shown so far, and Taesan twisted his body to avoid the sword strike. Shaman struck down at Taesan, who was focused on defense. Ka-ka-kang! Taesan was pushed back. Shaman, instead of charging immediately, frowned silently. He couldn¡¯t attack recklessly due to the existence of Attack Nullification. ¡°It¡¯s a waste to use it, but I have no choice.¡± Shaman murmured. He opened a space and took out a small arrow. ¡°Go.¡± With a calmmand, the arrow shot towards Taesan at supersonic speed. [You activated Essence Identification.] [Sure Hit Arrow] [This arrow will definitely hit.] A very simple exnation. But the content was not simple. The arrow made a ping sound as it targeted Taesan¡¯s weaknesses from all directions. Taesan focused his mind. Kuuung! Shaman didn¡¯t stay idle. He charged at Taesan. Ping! The arrow rushed towards Taesan. Blocking Shaman¡¯s attack, Taesan activated ck magic. [You activated Absolute Judgement.] [You activated Mephisto''s ck Lightning.] Kuurung! Lightning pierced through Shaman¡¯s entire body. Just a little, beyond what could be followed with the eyes or targeted at weaknesses, but Shaman hesitated. Taesan swung his sword at the iing arrow. As the sword was about to split the arrow, the arrow leaped through space. It passed the sword and pierced Taesan¡¯s shoulder. [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] The arrow, having finished its job, disappeared. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°A sure hit, huh.¡± It couldn¡¯t be avoided. An arrow that would definitely hit. Such things seemed to exist in the depths. Shaman let out a dryugh. ¡°Ridiculous. There¡¯s another one, isn¡¯t there?¡± Then the third wasn¡¯t the end. There¡¯s a good chance there were more. Taesan had only made three nullifications, but Shaman couldn¡¯t help but think there might be more. Ka-kang! Continuing the battle, Taesan remained wary of the Sure Hit Arrow. However, Shaman didn¡¯t pull out any more arrows. There was no reason not to use them. For Shaman, the most important thing was confirming the existence of attack nullification. Not pulling out any arrows meant there were no more Sure Hit Arrows. What Taesan didn¡¯t know was that the Sure Hit Arrow was a one-time use reward from the depths. Shaman had obtained it and saved it until now. Without the worry of the Sure Hit Arrow, Taesan pressed Shaman. [You activated Absolute Judgement.] Ka-kang! Their swords shed. Every single strike used Absolute Judgement. The mana consumption was only 10, making it easy to use continuously. Kirik! The sword twisted, scraping against the greatsword and altering its trajectory. Shaman allowed a hit. [6943 damage to Shaman.] [Shaman activated Mountain Splitting Strike.] The greatsword struck down. Taesan raised his sword to block it. Kaaaang! The fierce force pressed Taesan down. His knees slightly bent under the pressure. ¡®That¡¯s tricky.¡¯ Shaman swung the greatsword with incredible power. It seemed to be a skill attached to his depths-based equipment, simr to the skills used by the Spirit King¡¯s shield. The cooldown was short, allowing continuous use, which prevented Taesan from gaining much advantage. ¡°Huh.¡± Shaman was astonished. No one in the Guides¡¯ leadership could easily break through his defense. Though he had never won against them either, he had never lost a battle. His defense was literally absolute. As he descended thebyrinth, normal monsters couldn¡¯t deal any damage to him. Bosses were no different. He only took damage when epting divine trials. He was confident in himself. He focused everything on defense, acquiring and mastering defensive skills. But all that meant nothing now. ¡°Ridiculous. Truly.¡± Everything he had built was being broken by a single skill. It wasughable. All his current equipment, except the sword, focused on health and defense. This gave him significantly more health than other Guides. Even so, he almost died in one strike. If it weren¡¯t for the skill ¡®Unyielding,¡¯ he would have truly fallen. An opponent where defense was useless. He had to abandon his best card to fight. But he was an adventurer who had reached the depths. He calmly assessed his chances. ¡®My skill proficiency is superior.¡¯ And it wasn¡¯t the worst situation. He still had cards to y. [Shaman activated Infinite Regenerative Wind.] [Shaman activated Whisper of the Green Vegetation.] [Shaman activated Conversion of Protection and Regeneration.] Kaang! Their swords shed. Unlike before, when Shaman fought defensively, wary of attack nullification, he now charged at Taesan aggressively. [Shaman activated Mountain Splitting Strike.] Taesan responded by swinging his sword and activating Ability Sword. [You activated Flow.] Flow deflected the opponent¡¯s attack when it touched the sword, but the force shattered it. Taesan quickly twisted his body. Kuuung! The greatsword struck the ground. Shaman showed a gap but quickly regained his stance. [Shaman activated Reformation.] ¡®That¡¯s annoying too.¡¯ He regained his stance in any condition. Mountain Splitting Strike revealed Shaman¡¯s own gaps due to its power and speed. Reformation removed that weakness. But it didn¡¯t matter. It wasn¡¯t imprable. Taesan closed in. [You activated Strong Blow.] Ka-kang! The swords shed. The effect of Strong Blow pushed Shaman back. Off bnce, he allowed an attack. [8343 damage to Shaman.] Initially, the increased power of the sword¡¯s attacks pushed Shaman back. But after taking several hits, Shaman realized there was a timing to the sword¡¯s impact. He disrupted the timing, resetting the Strong Blow. Adventurers at this depth could respond to the Ability Sword. Taesan confirmed this. Jjeojeok! A close-quarters battle ensued. Shaman moved his greatsword. With a twist of the wrist, the sword wavered. The greatsword moved with mystical precision, as if it had no weight. The ultimate mastery of swordsmanship. Only those who perfectly controlled their swordsmanship could disy such wonder. Pook. Taesan¡¯s and Shaman¡¯s swords pierced each other¡¯s shoulders. [7543 damage to Shaman.] [2043 damage to you.] Both took damage. After more than ten exchanges, Shaman finally managed to deal damage, baring his teeth. ¡°No more.¡± He charged. [Shaman activated Gale Dash.] His sword stormed like a whirlwind. Taesan activated Flow to deflect, but it had little effect due to Reformation. Kwaak. Their swords shed once more. [You activated Frozen World.] [You activated Starlight Arrow.] Two spells surged simultaneously. Shaman swung his sword. [Shaman activated Crushing Suppression.] Kugugugung! The force bore down on Taesan. The iing Starlight Arrow and frost shattered. Shaking off the pressure, Taesan focused his will. ¡°Come out.¡± Pivik! Several arrows shot out, guided by his will, targeting Shaman¡¯s entire body. Shaman made a quick decision. He couldn¡¯t handle Taesan while blocking everything, so he ignored them. Pabak! Arrows pierced through Shaman¡¯s entire body. Individually, the damage wasn¡¯t significant, but cumtively, it was hard to ignore. Despite being in a favorable position, Taesan frowned. He had dealt over a hundred thousand damage to Shaman. A normal adventurer would have fallen long ago. Even a deep-level adventurer would be no different. Taesan had raised his health to nearly twice that of other adventurers through Soul Ascension. Even Lee Taeyeon had a limit to her health, and it was unlikely that Shaman could have a hundred thousand health. There was no chance to use a potion. It was improbable for his health to be purely a hundred thousand. Moreover, Shaman¡¯sbat style had changed. Shaman no longer properly blocked Taesan¡¯s attacks. It was as if he believed that even if he was attacked multiple times, as long as he seeded with a single Mountain Splitting Strike, it was worth it. It was indeed troublesome. The Mountain Splitting Strike, used with a greatsword, was not easy for Taesan to counter. ¡®A health recovery skill.¡¯ Recovering health proportionate to the damage taken. Or a skill that recovered health as the battle progressed. There were several usible scenarios. Shaman had activated various skills when he first faced Taesan. And some of those seemed to be recovery skills. [Shaman activated Crisis Regeneration.] [Shaman activated Forced Damage Conversion.] [Shaman activated Distorted Regeneration''s Blessing.] While the exact effects were unknown, they were likely recovery skills. He probably also had passive skills. It was highly likely he had over ten health regeneration skills. And the skill activated during the battle. ¡®Conversion of Protection and Regeneration.¡¯ Based on the skill¡¯s name, it likely converted defense or its effects into health regeneration. Reducing his health by normal means was nearly impossible. Exchanging damage to win was not an option. He needed to pour everything out in an instant. As soon as Taesan made his decision, he gathered his dark energy. system-start [You activated Wolf Familiar.] system_end A wolf formed from Soul Ascension rose. Shaman swung his sword to shake it off, but the wolf persistently bit down. [You activated Seed of Cmity.] A fire demon containing cmity erupted. Shaman pushed the wolf away and swung his sword in proper form. The fire demon was split. With the time bought, Taesan drew out his power through the open path. [You activated Naberius''s Golden Sword.] ¡°Minerva.¡± ¡°Got it. At least this much for the end!¡± Minerva gathered her strength with the wind. The wind condensed and formed into a single sphere. A sphere of wind that contained all her remaining strength. Shaman prepared to respond, wondering if he could withstand even this. ¡°As a Spirit King, I can¡¯t just leave.¡± With a smirk, Minerva disappeared. Taesan dashed at Shaman. Shaman¡¯s pupils dted for a moment. Instinctively, he swung his sword behind him. ¡°Ugh!¡± The greatsword pierced Minerva¡¯s chest. But she didn¡¯t disappear. Smiling through the pain, she said, ¡°Impressive. But¡­ The victor is my master.¡± She swung the wind in her hand at Shaman. A gale surrounded Shaman. The wind enveloping Shaman threw him away. It shattered everything it touched and blew him away with the Spirit King¡¯s remaining power. Shaman couldn¡¯t withstand it and was flung towards Taesan. Taesan swung the golden sword at Shaman flying towards him. [24103 damage to Shaman.] The damage was rtively low due to the cooldown of Spirit Strike Enhancement and Conversion, but it was enough. Shaman¡¯s body shook from the impact. ¡°Grr!¡± [Shaman activated Reformation.] Gritting his teeth, Shaman activated Reformation. Returning to abat stance, he attempted to counter Taesan. Paang! But the wind surrounding Shaman exploded again. Caught off guard by the second explosion, Shaman couldn¡¯t respond. Twin swords pierced Shaman¡¯s chest again. Kwadeuk. [9103 damage to Shaman.] He didn¡¯t retreat. Taesan closed in and began swinging his sword. Shaman¡¯s face hardened. In an instant, nearly thirty thousand damage had been dealt. His total health was forty-five thousand. Two-thirds had disappeared immediately. The situation was dangerous. Although his health regeneration was extremely fast, it still required some time. Taesan was certain from Shaman¡¯s sudden reaction. This was the correct approach. Kakakak! He continued to press. Avoiding the swung greatsword, Taesan ced his hand on Shaman¡¯s armor. [You activated Branch of Despair.] Suddenly, all kinds of despairing emotions flooded Shaman¡¯s mind. He quickly activated Adventurer¡¯s Will to withstand it but allowed another strike. Shaman grew desperate. He rushed to shake off Taesan. [Shaman activated Gale Dash.] Charging like a storm, he pushed Taesan back. But Taesan didn¡¯t take a single step back. Instead, he closed in further, exchanging damage with Shaman. [8534 damage to Shaman.] [1532 damage to you.] Until now, Shaman had willingly exchanged damage because he quickly recovered, but Taesan did not. But now the situation was different. Taesan gave him no time to recover. Shaman swung his sword wildly. [Shaman activated Mountain Splitting Strike.] [You activated Amon''s Pitch-ck Spike.] Jeooong! The sword and spike shed, bouncing off each other. Shaman, not expecting his strike to be repelled, hurriedly activated Reformation but allowed another hit. [You activated Frozen World.] [You activated Starlight Arrow.] Cold and light arrows exploded. Magic burst continuously. Mana drained quickly. Shaman, realizing he couldn¡¯t endure, kicked Taesan to buy time. Taesan kicked off the ground and floated in the air. [You activated Landing.] Kakakak! ¡°Ugh!¡± Shaman¡¯s stance crumbled under the stronger-than-ever strike from Taesan¡¯s sword. Landing, Taesan shed upwards at Shaman. Kwadeuk. [You activated Leap.] Shaman¡¯s body was lifted into the air. Taesan activated dark energy: Marbas¡¯s Pitch-ck Wave. The ck wave engulfed the surroundings. Shaman¡¯s vision was blocked, but it didn¡¯t matter. At this level, he could sense his opponent¡¯s position and actions even with his eyes closed. [You activated Stealth.] But all traces of Taesan vanished. Shaman quickly realized he couldn¡¯t detect his opponent¡¯s location. ¡®Still!¡¯ He was a deep-level adventurer. He had arrived here by oveing all hardships and trials. He closed his eyes and swung his sword instinctively. The sword cut through empty air. Kwachik. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through Shaman¡¯s back and emerged from his chest. Chapter 295: The Impenetrable Wall Protecting The World. Shaman (3) Chapter 295: The Imprable Wall Protecting The World. Shaman (3) ¡°Urgh!¡± Shaman coughed up blood. Taesan twisted the sword and stepped on him. Shaman crashed to the ground. ¡°Grrr!¡± He didn¡¯t give up. Desperately, he swung his sword and activated his skill. But the battle was already heavily tilted. Taesan crushed Shaman¡¯s struggles with sheer force, subduing him. ng! The fiercely swung sword knocked away the greatsword. It shattered the armor and crushed the helmet.Crack. As if it were thest move, the sword pierced through his chest once more. [Shaman has received fatal damage. The created immortality is activated. He is immune to all damage for 10 seconds, but will die afterward.] ¡°¡­Ha.¡± Shaman exhaled. ¡°Monstrous bastard¡­¡± His eyes hold shock and disbelief as he looks at Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s truly absurd. Someone who hasn¡¯t even reached the depths has defeated me¡­¡± Heughed. ¡°Ridiculous¡­¡± He was the imprable guardian of the world. In the outside world, no one could break through his defense, and he alone could face entire armies. That didn¡¯t change even after entering thebyrinth. Adventurers who first settled in thebyrinth were in awe of his defense. After being recognized by them and bing theirrade, no one could easily prate him. He thought he had a bright future ahead. He knew there were adventurersing down from above, but he didn¡¯t believe they could match him. Just as he seeded in breaking through the blocked floor, he thought that only reaching the end of thebyrinth remained. But to meet his death here, like this. It was empty and futile. ¡°But¡­ I have been defeated.¡± A defeated person must ept their loss gracefully. He suppressed his emotions and spoke. ¡°Congrattions. It is your victory, our enemy.¡± With those words, Shaman¡¯s body copsed. An adventurer of the depths. Shaman, who had lived in thebyrinth for countless ages and boasted near-absolute power, died here. [You have defeated Shaman.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Health increased by 8021, Strength by 721, Agility by 832, Intelligence by 843 permanently.] [Victory Desire has been activated. Health increased by 1023, Strength by 322, Agility by 310, Intelligence by 200 permanently.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Special activation skill [Gale Run] acquired.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Reconnaissance proficiency increased by 5%, eleration proficiency increased by 4%, Leap proficiency...] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Special permanent skill [Forced Health Drain] acquired.] [You have defeated an adventurer who stepped into the depths. Special permanent skill [Enemy of the Depths] acquired.] ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan exhaled deeply. He leaned against the wall. His opponent had not been easy. Even though he fought whilepletely ignoring the opponent¡¯s strongest card, his defense, there were dangerous moments. The skills of the greatsword were threatening in themselves, and the continuously regenerating health made it feel like he was facing a monster rather than a fellow adventurer. But he had won. He overcame it and was now here. [You havee this far.] The ghost was also impressed. He knew that with Taesan¡¯s strength, he could sufficiently defeat Shaman. Even if the opponent had stepped into the depths, the match-up itself was overwhelmingly in Taesan¡¯s favor, so the possibility was sufficient. But even if you knew, seeing it directly was a different feeling. The fact that Taesan defeated Shaman meant that his revenge was really within reach. [Well, it won''t be that easy.] ¡°This time, I had too much of an advantage.¡± Shaman boasted absolute defense, but Taesan had Absolute Judgement. But the other leaders would be different. They wouldn¡¯t focus on defense like Shaman. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ There was still a slight difference with the leaders of the Guides. But it wasn¡¯t far off. And with this victory, he got even closer. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 134] [Shield: 5909/5909] [Health: 71320/71920] [Mana: 6560/6560] [Magic: 878/878] [Strength: 12239] [Intelligence: 11041] [Agility: 12995] [Attack Power +4158] [Defense +2882] [The subject is in optimal condition.] Taesan smiled. In just one fight, all his stats increased by nearly 2000. And now, perfectly, he caught up with Lee Taeyeon¡¯s Strength, Agility, and Intelligence stats. Even though he hadn¡¯t yet stepped into the depths. It was a monstrous growth. Stats weren¡¯t the end. He also acquired several skills and equipment. [Broken One. Bahm''s Helmet] [Attack Power +150] [Defense +300] [Action Speed +10%] [The helmet used by Bahm during his mortal days, broken and worn out, but the value contained within remains.] And the perfect clear reward. [The hardest armor in the world, forged in the deepest part of the world.] [Strength +600] [Defense +600] [Magic Resistance +10] [The deepest of the deep. Armor made by hundreds of cksmiths who gave their lives in the Abyss. Its value does not fade even within thebyrinth where gods gather.] Overall, the equipment had high stats. It was not bad. And with Soul Ascension, Taesan gained Shaman¡¯s skills by defeating him. [Special Activation Skill: Gale Run] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption: 100] [Swing the sword like a storm and charge forward. The movement can be somewhat controlled.] Shaman had pressured Taesan with this skill. Due to the difference in stats, it wasn¡¯t very threatening, but if the stats were simr, it could have been quite powerful. [You have activated Gale Run.] Thud. Taesan dashed forward, his sword swings cutting through the air like a storm. ¡°Not bad.¡± The speed and power increasedpared to not using the skill. Although it was not a significant increase, it could be advantageous in long battles. £ÛSpecial Permanent Skill: Forced Health Drain£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛWhen inflicting damage on an opponent, recover health by a certain percentage of the inflicted damage.£Ý ¡°He had a skill like this.¡± The exact percentage was unknown. However, Shaman had been an adventurer in thebyrinth for a very long time. His proficiency in this skill must have been 100% or close to it. Based on Taesan¡¯s experience, when a skill¡¯s proficiency reached 100%, its performance changed drastically. Even if it restored 20% of the inflicted damage, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising. Moreover, Shaman possessed more than ten health recovery skills. The proficiency of those skills must also have been very high. Now it made sense why he boasted such incredible health recovery. £ÛSpecial Permanent Skill: Enemy of the Depths£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛWhen facing an adventurer from the depths, all stats increase. The deeper the opponent has ventured, the greater the increase in stats.£Ý It was a skill that would make it easier to fight the Guides¡¯ leaders. Additionally, the proficiency of many other skills increased. Altogether, the increase in proficiency amounted to several dozen percent. ¡®Indeed.¡¯ The higher-ups. Adventurers of the depths. Since they were powerful figures who had settled in the depths for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, defeating them would bring substantial rewards. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan caught his breath. He had won. Now it was time to descend further into thebyrinth. [Quest for the 65th floor starts.] [Uncover and break through the secrets of the Witch''s Domain on the 65th floor.] [Reward: Green Witch''s Staff] [Secret Reward: ???] The 65th floor was filled with green nts covering the walls and floor. The appearing monsters were nt-based. They swung their stems, trying to grasp Taesan. Taesan subdued the monsters. With much higher stats than before, he could defeat them without much effort. As he broke through the floor, Taesan thought. ¡®The leaders of the Guides.¡¯ How to deal with them. And where their strength came from. After facing one of them, he now had a better sense of it. It wasn¡¯t the stats. At this point, Taesan¡¯s stats were higher than Lee Taeyeon¡¯s, who cleared the depths. Of course, Lee Taeyeon was a peculiar case who missed out on many things and cleared thebyrinth using only shortcuts, but even so, if she cleared thebyrinth, her stats should be higher than those of the Guides in the 70th-floor range. In fact, Taesan overwhelmed Shaman in stats. And he had overwhelming skills that Shaman did not possess. But he didn¡¯t overwhelm Shaman. Of course, he didn¡¯t use Last Chance or Endurance, nor did he use the Power of Gray, so he had some leeway, but it wasn¡¯t an easy victory. ¡®Equipment.¡¯ The only piece of equipment Shaman used meaningfully in their battle was the greatsword. The skill of the greatsword was a blow that could split mountains. Even Taesan, with his superior stats, had difficulty blocking it. The superiority in stats could be offset by equipment. And there was one more thing. ¡®Skill proficiency.¡¯ It was an obvious realization in hindsight. The Guides of Sin had been residing in the depths for a long time. Long before the ghost entered thebyrinth. Had they remained idle during that time? Certainly not. They would have honed their skills by crossing swords and fighting each other. In the process, they would have acquired numerous skills, and their proficiency in those skills would naturally increase. ¡®It¡¯s obvious.¡¯ Taesan had overlooked it. Because the only Solo Mode clear he had personally fought was Lee Taeyeon, who didn¡¯t match that pattern. Herbat skills weren¡¯t particrly remarkable. Most of herbat skills were basic, so even with high proficiency, they weren¡¯t extraordinary. And Lee Taeyeon, who always sought nonbat solutions, had many special skills rted to avoidingbat and few that aided inbat. Even Taesan, who had high proficiency for his level, could see that the Guides of Sin had perfected nearly all their skills. Just by looking at Shaman, it was evident. He possessed more than ten health recovery skills. Each of them was a skill obtained after spending an immeasurable amount of time in thebyrinth. Their effects were of a different magnitudepared to basic skills like Holy Light or Strong Blow. Thanks to these skills, Shaman didn¡¯t fall even after taking tens of thousands of damage. Instead, he pressured Taesan. Could Taesan achieve such near-infinite recovery even if he possessed those skills? The answer was no. The change in skill performance with proficiency increase is significant, and the proficiency gap bes more pronounced as it rises. At 1% proficiency, Forced Duelsted 10 seconds, but at 100%, itsted 1 minute. There was such a significant difference. The leaders of the Guides he would meet in the future would be no different from Shaman. No, they would be even stronger. Shaman fought without his core defense skills. He needed to prepare for that. Taesan gripped his sword and broke through the floor. Shaman¡¯s defeat. And Taesan¡¯s victory. The news reached the higher-ups as well. They gathered once more. Chapter 296: The Green Witch (1) Chapter 296: The Green Witch (1) ¡°Dead.¡± A cold voice echoed, but within it was an undeniable tremor. ¡°Dead.¡± The Archmage grimaced while staring at the extinguished jewel. ¡°Shaman is dead.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°The jewel does not lie. You should know that. Shaman no longer exists in thebyrinth.¡± Groans erupted from all sides. Ambracia scratched his head with a bewildered look. ¡°Should we hold a funeral?¡±¡°We are adventurers who risk our lives descending into thebyrinth. We decided not to have moments of silence for each other¡¯s deaths.¡± ¡°Well, yes, but that¡¯s when we die while descending thebyrinth. But this¡­¡± Ambracia couldn¡¯t continue his sentence. The King of Fire Spirits closed his eyes. The Lion King¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t understand. How?¡± His voice was tinged with confusion. ¡°No, it¡¯s one thing for Shaman to be defeated. But it hasn¡¯t even been a day since Shaman descended. Did someone break through his defense in just a day? Is that really possible?¡± The Lion King looked around and asked. ¡°Is there anyone among us who can break through Shaman¡¯s defense in a day?¡± No one among them raised their hands easily. Societ spoke up. ¡°I might have a chance.¡± A cold, yet beautiful voice echoed. ¡°And Lion King. You also have a chance. Both of us are focused on offense. The Archmage might be able to if fully prepared. Isn¡¯t it also possible for the King of Spirits?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. Shaman¡¯s defenses are specialized against spirits.¡± The King of Spirits spoke quietly. Shaman had acquired many defensive skills against spirits through duels with her. Even she couldn¡¯t break Shaman¡¯s defense. ¡°And even if you have a chance, it¡¯s practically impossible.¡± Societ nodded quietly. If Shaman didn¡¯t respond and purely endured their attacks, it might be different. But the moment Shaman responded seriously, he could hold out for days. A Guide of Sin. One who boasted absolute defense. The weight of that title was not light. But now, Taesan had defeated Shaman in less than a day. ¡°This is troubling.¡± A voice mixed with groans echoed. ¡°Very troubling¡­¡± They hadn¡¯t thought Shaman would lose, unlike other Guides before. Shaman was theirrade, with whom they had sparred thousands, tens of thousands of times, and tackled the depths together. Having watched Shaman¡¯s strength closely for a long time, it was hard to believe he¡¯d be defeated by an adventurer who hadn¡¯t even reached the depths. Ambracia scratched his head. ¡°Um¡­ let¡¯s regain ourposure. It¡¯s already happened, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­Yes. We should.¡± Their eyes quickly regainedposure. In thebyrinth, unimaginable things could happen. Rapidly regainingposure in unexpected situations was a virtue anyone who reached the depths should possess. ¡°We pay our respects to Shaman. I won¡¯t stop anyone who wants to personally mourn. Especially you, King of Fire Spirits. You were fairly close to Shaman, weren¡¯t you?¡± The King of Fire Spirits nodded. Her eyes were darkened. They had spent an immeasurable amount of time here. Even if they weren¡¯t close enough to risk their lives for each other, they had formed bonds to some degree. ¡°Then let¡¯s start the investigation.¡± They stillcked information about Taesan. The Demon God had blocked information acquisition to ensure a fair fight. But now they could guess. Shaman, not another Guide, had been defeated. That itself was information. ¡°Even though none of us could defeat Shaman, he was chosen.¡± The Demon God did not like fights with no chance of winning. She wanted to see bloodshed between those who were somewhat equal. In other words, only Shaman among them was a suitable opponent that Taesan could defeat. ¡°Does he have a defense-prating skill?¡± ¡°But simple defense pration wouldn¡¯t be enough. Shaman has skills to counter even defense pration.¡± ¡°Besides, Shaman was equipped with multiple defensive gears. No matter how high the pration rate, could an adventurer who hasn¡¯t reached the depths break through in just a day?¡± The silent Societ asked the Archmage. ¡°Is it possible with magic?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. Magic is a great power. But it requires a lengthy preparation process.¡± The Archmage shook his staff. ¡°Creating a magic circle, dominating the space, preparing for the magic¡¯s manifestation. It takes at least a few days of preparation. He should have met him immediately after clearing the 64th floor. Then it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Shaman also had recovery skills. So, he might also have skills to reduce recovery.¡± ¡°Ambracia. Didn¡¯t you say he had a skill that nullified attacks when you fought him? Tell us more about it.¡± They started to discuss. They began to uncover information about Taesan.
¡°They must be talking loudly about it now.¡± [About what?] ¡°The leaders.¡± [¡­Aha.] The ghost realized. He chuckled. [Of course.] Taesan had defeated Shaman. The Guide with absolute defense. Even if the Demon God blocked information, that itself was information. They would be discussing how Taesan broke through Shaman¡¯s defense and how he won. And in that process, they would guess that Taesan could break through their defenses. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ Anyway, if Taesan fought the higher-ups, they would know eventually. He had anticipated this. What mattered was that Taesan would be stronger faster and more certainly than they expected. Taesan conquered the 65th floor. He quickly cleared the monsters and reached the boss room. [A part of the vines covering the world has appeared.] The boss room was entirely covered in vines. The vines thrashed wildly, trying to engulf Taesan. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Burn.¡± mes started at the tips of the vines and began to burn them entirely. Ignoring the throbbing pain, he cast magic. Light and cold swirled around. Rumble¡­ [You have defeated a part of the vines covering the world.] [You have obtained the Green Witch''s Staff.] [Green Witch''s Staff] [Magic +160] [Mana +1500] [Intelligence +1000] [The staff used by the Green Witch who ruled the northern forest of the world during her mortal days.] [Greatly enhances power when handling the witch''s magic.] ¡°Witch¡¯s magic?¡± It was a term he had never seen before. To him, magic only meant the magic of the god of magic. The ghost spoke. [Considering it mentions her mortal days, she must be a being that has transcended mortality. There are quite a few beings who have created their own magic after transcending mortality. However¡­] ¡°Is it inferiorpared to the magic of the god of magic?¡± [Most likely, yes. The god of magic is the god of magic itself. Still, the magic of a great being holds significant value, but this is thebyrinth. Its rtive value is diminished.] The clear conditions were met. The path to the 66th floor was open. However, the secret reward was not obtained. The reward ??? that could be gained by identifying the hidden elements of the floor. Something he had never missed before, he failed to find this time. ¡°There was no secret room visible.¡± Taesan frowned. As he broke through the floor, he meticulously examined thebyrinth. But the secret room was nowhere to be found. He thought there might not be a secret room on this floor, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. ¡°I need to find it.¡± [What are you doing?] ¡°Searching for secrets.¡± Taesan wandered around the cleared 65th floor. At first, the ghost remained silent, but after an hour, two hours, three hours, and eventually a whole day passed, it had to speak. [I understand your intention. It''s a shame to miss the secret reward when you''ve been collecting everything so far.] The secret reward was obtained when the entire floor was cleared. The secret reward was superior to the simple floor-clear reward. Moreover, perfecting the floor¡¯s exploration and clearing thebyrinth awarded a title. Taesan would not give up easily. He would persistently search for it. That¡¯s why the ghost had remained silent. But with so much time passing, it had to speak. [Isn''t it a type of secret reward that can''t be obtained?] Taesan¡¯s reconnaissance and essence perception. Both were detection skills difficult for adventurers on this floor to possess. Moreover, Taesan had detection skills in ck magic and magic. It was virtually impossible for him to miss anything, but it wasn¡¯t showing up, meaning one of two things. Either the system itself was lying. Or it was impossible to identify it in the usual way. [The system doesn¡¯t lie.] Skills were absolute. The system only spoke the truth, and stats could not be denied. It was the trust in thebyrinth that those who descended it naturally had. [In other words, it¡¯s a secret room that must be found in an entirely different way. If that''s the case, you might never find it.] It might require a special bloodline. Or a rtionship with someone within thebyrinth. Or possession of a special skill. There were quite a few rewards in thebyrinth that required certain conditions to be met. Taesan finding and gaining rewards from the Forgotten Goddess¡¯s room was such a case. [You can''t obtain everything.] The ghost said. The secrets of thebyrinth were unfathomable. This ce created by transcendents and mages was beyond mortalprehension. In other words, some things had to be given up. [Of course, it''s difficult to miss without knowing the conditions for conquest¡­] Simply clearing thebyrinth was not enough. To achieve one¡¯s wish, thebyrinth must be conquered. So what did conquest mean? Taesan, not knowing this yet, couldn¡¯t miss the secret reward. [However, if it truly requires certain conditions to be met, obtaining it might be impossible. If so, even missing it might not affect the conditions for conquest.] A type of secret literally impossible to obtain. Could one truly say thebyrinth was conquered only if all such secrets were obtained? The ghost didn¡¯t think so. The mage he had seen didn¡¯t seem to desire such things. ¡°No.¡± But Taesan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s only been a day.¡± It was too early to give up. Taesan continued his search, and the ghost respected his choice. For an entire week, Taesan stayed on the 65th floor. ¡°It¡¯s not appearing.¡± Taesan waved his hand. Despite meticulously examining each brick, nothing appeared. The fact that Taesan, with reconnaissance and essence perception, couldn¡¯t find it meant it truly wasn¡¯t there. As the ghost said, it likely required a special condition to be met. However. Though he couldn¡¯t express it in words, he felt something was there. It was intuition and instinct. The sense of possibility Taesan had developed through acquiring numerous skills. ¡®The witch¡¯s domain.¡¯ This ce was said to be the witch¡¯s domain. Then who was this witch? A being involved with the floor. Most likely the owner of the wrist guard Taesan possessed. Then how strong would she be? Could she create equipment useful even now, just before reaching the depths? [You have activated Apostle Transformation: Chaos and Darkness.] [You have activated the King''s Vessel.] [Oh?] The ghost was surprised as Taesan suddenly activated his skills. Taesan, elevating himself to a higher level, observed his surroundings. Nothing had changed. It was still the same ordinary, foliage-covered 65th floor. He gathered his will. It became words, influencing reality. ¡°Open.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Release.] Boom! The space split apart. A hidden ce within the floor began to reveal itself. [Reconnaissance proficiency increased by 4%.] [Essence Perception proficiency increased by 3%.] [Word of Command proficiency increased by 2%.] [Oh?] ¡°This is what a secret means.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. A ce that could only be reached with the Word of Command. Indeed, it was a secret that no one but Taesan could know. The floor began to change. Bricks disappeared, and various vegetation filled the space. A thick, deep scent permeated. At the same time, a force enveloping the entire domain was felt. Before long, Taesan found himself in the middle of a deep, dense forest. [You have arrived in the Green Witch¡¯s Domain.] [You have identified the hidden elements of the 65th floor. Obtained reward [???].] Chapter 297: The Green Witch (2) Chapter 297: The Green Witch (2) [What kind of secret domain is this?] The ghost¡¯s voice was incredulous. [No way. A ce that can only be understood with a certain speech? Isn''t this telling other adventurers not to find out?] ¡°It¡¯s quite special.¡± In fact, other adventurers wouldn¡¯t be able to im the secret reward from here at all. Even Taesan, who had acquired ranks through Soul Ascension, almost had to leave without obtaining it. ¡°What on earth is here?¡± Taesan murmured as he checked the reward. [You have used ???.] [You have obtained the Liquid of the Cursed Swamp.] [Liquid of the Cursed Swamp] [A liquid from the swamp in the deep forest, where all life forms sink. It contains poison and resentment that can destroy the world.] Item material. And Taesan had a piece of equipment that consumed such items. The whip wrapped around Taesan¡¯s arm rose and absorbed the liquid. The color of the vine began to turn dark. [Bracelet of Malice.] [A bracelet that tries to kill everything except its owner. Created by the witch''s caprice. It still has hidden potentials. It has absorbed red rose thorns, green vine roots, cursed leaves, ck earth soil, and the liquid of the cursed swamp.] [Attack Power +325] [Defense Power +200] Attack power and defense power increased by 100 each. It was gradually bing superior to a mere bracelet, almost weapon-like. Taesan gazed at the bracelet absentmindedly. This bracelet was made by the witch. The condition to clear the 65th floor was to break through the witch¡¯s domain. And this ce was the domain of the Green Witch. It meant the owner of the bracelet was here. ¡°Unsettling.¡± Taesan murmured as he walked through the forest. What did the shop owner say about the creator of the bracelet? Taesan tried to recall. ¡®She wasn¡¯t entric but had a very strong sense of self. Some people liked that, but not me. But why do you ask?¡¯ ¡®I wondered if she had entered here too.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s a possibility¡­ yeah. There¡¯s a possibility. She said she wouldn¡¯te, but she was very capricious.¡¯ A resident of the same world as the shop owner. Capricious and strong-willed, the shop owner didn¡¯t like her. Such a person had now created her domain in thebyrinth. Rumble¡­ Roots shook in front of Taesan as he advanced. A giant tree rose and red at him. In the face of unwavering hostility, Taesan drew his sword. Rumble! The roots plowed the ground and advanced. Taesan stomped his foot. [You have activated Earthquake.] The ground copsed. The advancing roots were crushed and trampled by the copsing ground. Taesan rushed toward the tree, which was swinging its branches wildly. Crack! He pushed forward, cutting down the branches swung at him. The heavy weight was felt through the handle. Thud, thud, thud! Avoiding and countering the storm of attacks, Taesan cut down the tree. The wounded tree began to rampage. He avoided all the attacks and slowly inflicted damage, delivering the final blow. Rumble¡­ [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your health has permanently increased by 1,430.] ¡®Strong.¡¯ Taesan shook the handle. The debris left by the god of trials. The ants in that ce. This was stronger. It wasn¡¯t an opponent expected on the 65th floor. Taesan looked up at the sky. Through the dense vegetation, a green sky was visible. [You have activated Essence Detection.] [Domain of the Green Witch.] All of this was created by the witch. Taesan ventured deeper. As he knocked down the advancing vegetation and grass, Taesan discovered a hugeke. As he approached theke, it began to ripple violently. Rumble¡­ Theke rose, forming a giant shape. The giant,parable to a mountain, red at Taesan with eyes full of hostility. [The Giant of the Lake has appeared.] [...Intruder.] ¡°It speaks?¡± Taesan murmured. The giant growled like a beast. [How dare you dirty your feet in the domain of my master. Die.] Theke exploded. The giant¡¯s body copsed, and the water surged. Taesan swung his sword. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Boom! The water exploded, and Taesan was pushed back. Despite using Apostle Transformation, he was overpowered. ¡°Tsk.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and raised his hand. [You have activated Frozen World.] Crackle! Theke began to freeze, but with a rough roar, the coldness quickly dissipated. [Using another god¡¯s power in my master¡¯s domain! Unforgivable!] ¡°You intended to kill me anyway.¡± Taesan murmured. With a voice filled with rage, theke surged as a tidal wave towards him. Taesan spun his sword. [You have activated Storm Rush.] [You have activated Flow.] sh! Rushing like a storm, he swung his sword. The tidal wave split, creating a path. Beyond the wave was a small water sphere. [You!] The giant was flustered by Taesan approaching him. That was the core. Taesan, quickly realizing this, swung his sword. The sphere hastily gathered water and exploded. Rumble! The explosion engulfed the entire forest. Taesan quickly grasped the type of power. An instantaneously exploding type of power. The duration is very short. Taesan made a swift decision. [You have activated Random Blink.] [You have activated Aegis'' Shield. You are immune to all damage for 1 second.] He widened the distance and took out the shield. The waves harshly hit his entire body. [Hoo, hoohoo... this should have killed him. Death to the intruder who dared to step into the master''s domain.] The giant breathed heavily. The waves subsided, and Taesan appeared unscathed. [...How?] ¡°Strong.¡± Taesan put away the shield. This was not just a casual remark; the strength of the giant was indeedparable to that of a high-ranking Guide. [You...!] The giant growled and began to gather power again. Theke started to rage and rise. Taesan took his stance and held his sword. At the moment the giant was about to unleash its power again, a small voice echoed. ¡°What is going on here?¡± A very soft voice. A rxed and gentle voice pierced their ears. Although it was a powerless voice, the giant was startled. The rising power halted. ¡°Just when I felt the power surging¡­ it was you, kid?¡± [No, no. Master. This is...!] ¡°No?¡± The owner of the voice appeared, parting the foliage. She had lush green hair that reached down to her ankles. Her face, devoid of a single wrinkle, was smiling, but her green eyes were calm. On her head was a witch¡¯s hat. She wore a witch¡¯s robe. In one hand, she held a broom-shaped staff. She appeared just like a traditional witch. [The Green Witch has appeared.] ¡°Now, kid.¡± The witch lifted her staff. ¡°Can you tell me what happened that caused you to destroy my forest? I¡¯d like to hear the reason.¡± Taesan looked around. The forest was devastated by the power unleashed by the giant. If it were to naturally recover, it would take at least a hundred years. The giant started to shrink back. [The enemy appeared... so I tried to defeat it...] ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you five hundred years ago to wee any visitors?¡± [No? You said to kill all intruders...] ¡°That was a thousand years ago.¡± [...] The giant fell silent. The witch sighed. ¡°It¡¯s understandable to be confused since there haven¡¯t been any visitors in a thousand years, but this is too much, don¡¯t you think?¡± [I''m, I''m sorry.] ¡°Then you must be punished.¡± The witch waved her staff. A gentle swing. The power that flowed out was just a fragmentpared to the power the owner of the staff possessed. But at the same time, theke was buried deep into the ground with a loud noise. [Kk, kkuooook!] ¡°I¡¯ll take you outter, so reflect on your actions.¡± The witch tapped the ground with her staff. The forest, damaged by the power, started to regrow and within a few seconds, it regained its previous appearance. Each movement of power was something Taesan could not reach. It was a ripple that touched the world itself. A being beyond mortal. The witch looked at Taesan. ¡°Sorry for such poor hospitality. I will give you a generous reward.¡± ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s fine. There seems to have been a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°You are a polite child.¡± The witch smiled with her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no need to refuse. I have something I want from you as well.¡± She waved her staff again. The trees twisted and began to form the shape of a house. Soon, a hut was created. ¡°Come in.¡± The witch entered the hut. As she disappeared, the ghost groaned. [Why is such a being on the 65th floor and not in the deeperyers?] Taesan followed her into the hut. Without her hat, she was pouring tea from a small kettle. ¡°Take it.¡± She ced a teacup on the table as she sat down. Taesan sat opposite her and sipped the tea. Unexpectedly, it was just in tea. It didn¡¯t raise his stats or elevate his spirit. The witch noticed Taesan¡¯s expression and blew on her tea. ¡°I¡¯m tired of unique things. Sometimes, it¡¯s good to go back to what was always ordinary.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The witch looked at the ghost behind Taesan. She smiled softly. ¡°You are the noisy one these days, aren¡¯t you?¡± [...Are you talking to me?] The ghost, not expecting that she would address him instead of Taesan, asked cautiously. The witch nodded. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m curious what choice you will make.¡± The ghost¡¯s choice. There were a few beings who spoke of it. All of them were transcendents. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°May I ask you a question?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Are you an immortal?¡± The witch¡¯s hand, holding the teacup, paused. She looked at Taesan for a moment and then smiled with her eyes. ¡°Bold. I like it.¡± The witch put down her teacup. At that moment, a massive ripple of power was felt. Everything outside the hut was distorting. The earth was shaking, and the world itself began to turn upside down. Taesan realized something while breaking through the forest. This forest was as vast as a decent-sized. And the witch in front of him was lightly adjusting the entire forest from her seat. The world itself was in her hands. ¡°As you guessed.¡± Twisting the world, the witch spoke. ¡°I am one who has transcended mortals but has not reached transcendence. But I have grasped immortality. The witch of the cursed forest, the one who reaches for what she cannot touch. The Green Witch.¡± An immortal. A being that had not be a transcendent. Therefore, they hated and tried to kill mortals with potential. Taesan had already encountered such a being once. Even though he knew it was useless, his body instinctively took a defensive stance. But Taesan slowly calmed his tension. The witch was sitting quietly as she did before revealing her identity. Seeing Taesan¡¯s reaction, the witch looked intrigued. ¡°Impressive. No mortal has been so calm in front of me.¡± ¡°I have quite a bit of experience.¡± And he knew. Unlike the immortal he had seen, the witch did not seem to intend to kill him. She had said so when they met. He was a guest. She had something she wanted from him. The witch began to sip her tea again. Chapter 298: The Green Witch (3) Chapter 298: The Green Witch (3) ¡°The reason the immortals want to kill you is because you have a potential theyck. It means they have given up. But¡­ I haven¡¯t.¡± The witch smiled forlornly. ¡°I haven¡¯t given up yet.¡± Srrk. A whip that had wrapped around Taesan¡¯s wrist slithered towards the witch. The witch, who was sipping tea,ughed at the sight of the whip. ¡°Come here.¡± The whip rubbed against the witch as if it were a child reuniting with its long-lost parent. ¡°That child sold this to you, didn¡¯t he? How nostalgic.¡±¡°Are you talking about the shop owner?¡± ¡°The Dwarf King. He lost everything but didn¡¯t have the power to reim it, so he made a contract with a magician. Poor child.¡± The witch from the same world as the shop owner, and the owner of the wrist protector made by Taesan. The witch, who had been stroking the whip, stood up. ¡°For now, rest. We¡¯ll talk moreter.¡± Taesan stared nkly at the forest. This ce, where all sorts of vegetation grew and moved, was simr to the forest where the mystic of the 51st floor lived. [Shaking and Trembling Weeds] [They have the strength to move on their own and shake the earth. Their repulsion is very strong, and they do not easily harmonize. They can only be controlled under specific conditions.] He could see information about many of the nts here. And this information was something he had seen before. ¡®Alchemy.¡¯ A power different from magic that the gremlin of the 51st floor had used and taught him. Most things here were simr to that. Alchemy was certainly useful, but it had the prerequisite that you must set up an area in advance. So, unless he returned to Earth, it was practically impossible to use. Could he raise his proficiency enough to use it in thebyrinth as well? Taesan fiddled with a leaf. ¡°What do you think?¡± The witch, who was now standing behind Taesan, asked. ¡°This is my domain. My world.¡± ¡°It¡¯s vast. And strong.¡± Taesan let go of the leaf. It wasn¡¯t an emptypliment. This forest was more powerful than any world Taesan had seen. A being that created a world itself¡ªthat was an immortal. It was truly a feat of a god. Even though mortals couldn¡¯t even hope to achieve it, the witch looked dissatisfied. ¡°This is my proud world, created with an immeasurable amount of time. But you, who are receiving the gods¡¯ attention, would know.¡± The witch smiled bitterly. ¡°My domain is different from theirs, isn¡¯t it?¡± Taesan nodded quietly. Transcendents. Beings who had their own domains. Their domains wereplete in themselves. No one could intrude or interfere, and the concept of the gods held absolutews. Having been invited to many gods¡¯ domains, Taesan knew. Their domains were a universe in themselves. Domains that operated solely on theirws and rules. In contrast, the witch¡¯s domain, while certainly strong, was merely a simple world. It was iplete, without thews that marked it as the witch¡¯s domain. ¡°Transcendents have domains that they govern themselves. They are akin to absolute beings within their domains.¡± The witch knelt and brushed the ground. The weeds followed her will and were swept away. ¡°In contrast, immortals are just strong and beyond mortality. That¡¯s the end. They haven¡¯t seen a higher world.¡± The witch muttered. ¡°What is the difference between me and them? What makes them transcendents and keeps me an immortal?¡± The witch, muttering quietly, looked at Taesan. ¡°I entered here by making a contract with a magician to find that out.¡± The immortals Taesan had seen. The hunchbacked man who pursued twisted mysticism was driven mad by jealousy. Unable to be a transcendent, he sought to kill mortals with that potential. The witch was different. She wanted to transcend her immortal status and be a transcendent. ¡°Do you think you could know?¡± The way for an immortal to be a transcendent. Taesan shook his head. He had no way of knowing such a thing. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°No. You will know.¡± The witch spoke with certainty. ¡°Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have been able toe here. Even if you don¡¯t know it yourself, what you have built up will know the answer.¡± The witch, who had risen, waved her staff. The forest began to shake and tremble. The world itself began to move in her grip. Even if she wasn¡¯t a transcendent, she was still aplete immortal on her own. ¡°So let¡¯s make a deal. You¡¯re quite an extraordinary child.¡± Leaving the shaking world behind, she smiled. ¡°Show me what I want. In return, I¡¯ll give you what you desire.¡± [Sub Quest Start] [The immortal Green Witch wishes to transcend and have her own domain. She wants you to tell her how to do it.] [Quest Condition: Key to Bing a Transcendent] [Reward: The Witch''s Magic.] ¡°Will you ept?¡± Taesan nodded at the quietly smiling witch. [Sub Quest Start] ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like I had a choice.¡± If he refused, she would force him toply. The witch smiled awkwardly. ¡°Sorry. But I¡¯m desperate too.¡± She pped her hands. ¡°Now. Let¡¯s start right away.¡± [¡­¡­So, you came to me?] ¡°Because you can have a decent fight with this child.¡± The giant of theke said reluctantly. [I will follow the master''s orders. So, do I just fight as it is?] ¡°Yes. Fight hard. With the intent to kill each other.¡± The witch stepped back and began to watch leisurely. ¡°Though I said that, I don¡¯t know exactly what separates an immortal from a transcendent.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re going to try various things.¡± ¡°Right. Battle is a simple criterion.¡± [Hmm¡­ if that''s the master''s wish.] The giant of theke gathered its strength. Taesan drew his sword. Kugugung! Power exploded. The Giant of the Lake aimed to kill Taesan with all its might. Taesan, too, began to confront the giant seriously. And the witch watched the scene quietly. ¡°As expected, he is strong.¡± She quietly admired him. Although she never left her domain, she had various eyes and ears, so she knew the overall story within thebyrinth. Therefore, she also knew about Taesan, the adventurer who had garnered the gods¡¯ interest. An adventurer in whom the arrogant and strict gods took a personal interest. And an adventurer whom the immortals hated and wanted to kill. She was intrigued by his strength and power. Seeing Taesan¡¯s power in person was awe-inspiring. The Giant of the Lake he was facing now was a creation she had put considerable effort into, possessing the greatest strength among mortal beings. Such a being was being confronted with ease by an adventurer who hadn¡¯t even set foot in the deepyers yet. ¡°The level that attracts the gods¡¯ interest is more than sufficient.¡± But it was not enough. He was certainly remarkable, but not to the level the witch desired. What she sought was the power to be a transcendent. The strength Taesan disyed was something she had possessed during her mortal days. But she hadn¡¯t be a transcendent. Such power alone was insufficient. ¡°Is it a problem other than strength?¡± When she settled in thebyrinth, she told the magician as a condition of their contract to invite any adventurer who could provide the key to the path of transcendence to her domain. The magician agreed. Thus, the witch and the magician made a contract. However, it was nearly impossible. The way for an immortal to be a transcendent was unknown to anyone. If it were that simple, there wouldn¡¯t be so many immortals driven mad by jealousy. The witch fully understood that. Nevertheless, the reason she made the contract was due to a faint glimmer of hope. The witch intended to stop the fight. She was at a moment where she wanted to gauge Taesan¡¯s power through means other thanbat. The Giant of the Lake unleashed a fierce power. [Block this if you can!] A swirling vortex of water. A strike that could crush mountains and split seas. Facing such a vortex, Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Disperse.¡± Boom! The vortex exploded, and water scattered in all directions. The giant was astonished, and the witch¡¯s pupils widened. ¡°Word of power?¡± The power Taesan had just shown was one the witch also knew. The power to influence the material world with mere will. It was a power that mortals couldn¡¯t possess, only those who had transcended mortality could obtain. ¡°How?¡± It was a question. And she became interested. If a mortal could wield a word of power, then perhaps truly¡­ The witch calmed her excitement and waved her staff. With a loud noise, the Giant of the Lake was flung away. [Master?] ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± The witch, who had stopped the fight, looked at Taesan. The flushed witch spoke in an elevated tone. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve found a clue. Let¡¯s talk slowly now.¡± The witch began to interrogate Taesan. She asked how he had obtained the word of power and how he wielded it. Taesan provided an answer. ¡°Soul Ascension?¡± The witch looked puzzled. ¡°What kind of skill is that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the details either.¡± In his previous life, it was a skill he had obtained while facing S-ranks. The effect was certainly remarkable. It activated against the monsters of the ancient gods and had helped Taesan gain many things. But it was too extraordinary to fully understand. He didn¡¯t know where Soul Ascension originated from or its limitations. He didn¡¯t know everything about it. ¡°Do you not know either, Witch?¡± She was an immortal, and Taesan was a mortal. Unlike the gods who met Taesan andprehended his powers overall, the witch seemed unaware of what exactly Taesan possessed. ¡°I am an immortal.¡± The witch said calmly. ¡°I am certainly powerful and immortal, but that¡¯s it. I can grasp the general extent of your power, but unlike the transcendent, I can¡¯t understand everything. It¡¯s a truly insignificant position.¡± The witch smiled bitterly. ¡°So, I have to check everything individually. Let¡¯s try again.¡± As the witch instructed, Taesan continued to use the Word of Power. He used it under various conditions, continually gauging its intensity and the extent of its influence. ¡°Try to block it. Kneel.¡± [The Green Witch has activated the Deration of Subjugation.] The deration, imbued with will, tried to trample Taesan. It forcibly bent his knees and made him want to surrender to the witch from the depths of his mind. But Taesan gathered his will and spoke. ¡°No.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Denial.] The will that had been trampling Taesan disappeared. Taesan pressed his forehead. It was painful, but he could endure it. [The proficiency of the Word of Power has increased by 1%.] ¡°A mortal resists the deration?¡± The witch¡¯s face showed admiration. ¡°Amazing.¡± ¡°Is that such an extraordinary feat?¡± ¡°It is. To transcend mortality means to exist in apletely different realm from mortals. For example, if you tried to kill an ant trapped in a cup, could the ant resist?¡± Impossible. If a human crushed the cup, the ant would die without being able to do anything. There was that much of a power gap between a mortal and a being who had transcended mortality. ¡°What you just did is akin to that.¡± As an ant in a cup, he withstood and endured the murderous intent of a human. To resist the Word of Power of a being who had transcended mortality had that kind of significance. ¡°Does your head hurt whenever you use the Word of Power?¡± The witch, thinking for a moment, spoke. ¡°Probably because your status isn¡¯t sufficient to handle the power contained in the will. The higher your status rises, the less it will hurt, but it won¡¯t bepletely resolved. The power of will is something that only those who have transcended mortality can handle.¡± The idea of a mortal handling the Word of Power was absurd. But Taesan was indeed handling the Word of Power. The witch thought quietly. ¡°Soul Ascension, huh.¡± Taesan had obtained the Word of Power because he had faced the world with Soul Ascension and acquired conceptual skills. The witch listened to Taesan¡¯s exnation and pondered over Soul Ascension. The more she understood, the more astonishing it was. Soul Ascension plundered the power contained in the soul. Up to that point, it wasn¡¯t particrly impressive. It wasn¡¯t umon to kill an opponent and steal their power. But plundering had clear limits. No matter how extraordinary, it was extremely rare to plunder the power of someone stronger than oneself. In contrast, Soul Ascension had no such limits. Whether it was someone who had reached the edge of mortality, monsters trying to destroy the world as tools of the ancient gods, or the will of the world itself. It plundered power without distinction. ¡°What is that?¡± Even the witch, who had lived for eons, couldn¡¯tprehend it. She had even brought monsters from within her domain and watched Taesan use Soul Ascension directly, but she still couldn¡¯t understand the flow of power. An immortal like herself couldn¡¯tprehend the skill a mortal possessed. And that wasn¡¯t the end. The witch¡¯s pupils widened at the gray power Taesan wielded. Taesan roughly swung the gray power. A part of the forest was crushed and disappeared. Rumble¡­ The power contained within it was something beyond mortality. The witch asked in a trembling voice. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Taesan dusted off his hands as he spoke. He only knew that the ancient gods were targeting him because they could do something with this power. The gods hadn¡¯t provided a clear answer about the gray power. ¡°¡­Incredible.¡± Her eyebrows trembled thinly. The powers she couldn¡¯t understand. Those would be the clues to the path of transcendence. The witch smiled. ¡°Was this the answer all along?¡± Thousands, tens of thousands of years. She had been searching for longer than that, to transcend immortality and walk the path of transcendence. The path she had half given up on was finally appearing. The witch calmed her excitement and spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s keep confirming.¡± Chapter 299: The Green Witch (4) Chapter 299: The Green Witch (4) A week passed after that. Though it was a mere speck of timepared to the witch¡¯s long life, she had been more diligent than ever since bing an immortal. She tried to understand the power Taesan possessed and find clues to transcendence. However, the answers were elusive. The witch tousled her hair. She hadn¡¯t slept at all this week. Being an immortal, sleep wasn¡¯t important, so her hair was still soft and her skin wless, but her expression showed unmistakable fatigue. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± She muttered. The past week¡¯s efforts had yielded nothing. She knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to be this difficult to find any answers. ¡®Soul Ascension is the key.¡¯Both the gray aura and the words of power originated from Soul Ascension. It was a power that no mortal could possess. Perhaps it was the one pure power that only Taesan could wield in the world. Experience, knowledge, ideology, values. It was the culmination of everything an individual had built up. But she could learn no more. How a mortal could acquire such power, what processes were involved, nothing could be figured out. ¡®What in the world?¡¯ She clenched her fist. She was an immortal. Though not a transcendent, she had surpassed mortality. Thus, she had confidence in analyzing the power of the mortal Taesan. She wanted to fully understand the activation conditions of Soul Ascension and find out what ¡°plundering¡± meant. She wanted to analyze how exactly the gray aura¡¯s power worked and draw out that power. But she failed. She couldn¡¯t understand anything about the power Taesan possessed. The one thing she could grasp was that the power was perfect. Pure and absolute, it was a power that no one could interfere with or change. ¡®¡­¡­Is the gap this wide?¡¯ Even seeing the answer, she couldn¡¯t find the path; the distance between immortality and transcendence was vast. The witch gave a bitter smile. Though it was daunting, she did not despair. She had experienced despair countless times. She hade too far to fall now. She couldn¡¯t find the answer now. So how could she find it? Lost in thought, she stood up. Approaching Taesan, who was resting, the witch spoke. ¡°It¡¯s over now.¡± ¡°Did you find what you wanted?¡± ¡°No. I couldn¡¯t find it. But I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any point in analyzing further.¡± The witch shook her head. It was impossible to understand. Continuing to experiment on Taesan wouldn¡¯t yield anything. ¡°But the situation is much better than before.¡± The mortal Taesan had a power that she, as an immortal, could not understand. This meant there was something different in what Taesan had built up as a mortalpared to what she had built up as a mortal. That difference created the immortal and the transcendent. So the witch intended to confirm it. ¡°Let¡¯s make a contract, child.¡± ¡°A contract?¡± ¡°Yes, a contract of observation.¡± The witch began to exin. ¡°You will continue to descend into thebyrinth, won¡¯t you?¡± Taesan nodded. His goal was to conquer thebyrinth. He had no intention of stopping. ¡°That will be the contract. You will descend into thebyrinth. I will watch over everything you see and experience from behind you.¡± And the witch would confirm it. The difference between them. What it was. ¡°And when I realize the answer¡­ we¡¯ll talk again about the power you hold and the path to transcendence.¡± ¡°Is this an extension of the quest?¡± ¡°Yes. Right now, I cannot analyze your power.¡± The witch pointed at Taesan with her finger. ¡°And you, too, do not fully understand the power you hold.¡± Taesan did not deny it. Soul Ascension, the gray aura¡¯s power. Taesan also did not fully understand what exactly those two powers were and how they originated. He thought the immortal witch could figure it out, but she seemed unable to as well. ¡°So let¡¯s postpone it. Until I can analyze your power better than you. Until you can understand the power you possess.¡± The witch asked quietly. ¡°Will you ept?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you wish.¡± Taesan nodded. The gods were already watching his battles one by one. It wouldn¡¯t change anything if one more observer was added among the many beings already watching. The witch smiled in relief. ¡°Thank you. Then let¡¯s form the contract.¡± The witch raised her staff. Her power enveloped Taesan. A link began to form, connecting Taesan and the witch. [Contract of Observation] [The Green Witch can observe all your actions through the contract.] ¡°I ept.¡± Taesan epted the contract. Simultaneously, a strange sensation overcame him. It felt as if someone was watching from behind. And Taesan had felt this sensation many times before. ¡®Is it the gaze of the gods?¡¯ The sensation he had felt until now but never understood; it seemed to be the gaze of the transcendent beings watching him conquer thebyrinth. ¡°Then I should reward you for this.¡± The witch waved her staff. A powerful torrent of energy began to envelop Taesan. [The Green Witch¡¯s Authority is manifesting.] [You have learned the Green Witch¡¯s magic.] The witch¡¯s expression turned colorful as she granted him power. ¡°Though I don¡¯t know who taught you, you have knowledge of alchemy?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The alchemy he learned from the gremlin was still within him. The witch smiled quietly. ¡°But you can¡¯t handle it properly yet, can you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s tricky.¡± It wasn¡¯t useless. Thanks to alchemy, he was able to prevent sacrifices on Earth. But it was rarely used in thebyrinth. Since setting up the domain took time, it was impossible to use it in thebyrinth, where immediate response was necessary. ¡°That¡¯s fortunate. My magic is quite simr. It will be easy to understand.¡± The witch pped her hands and pointed her staff at the wrist guard on Taesan¡¯s arm. ¡°Come here.¡± The roots wrapping around Taesan¡¯s forearm crawled toward the witch. She tapped the roots with her staff. ¡°Alchemy is a power that creates a favorable space by establishing a domain. But because it requires a foundation made from materials, creating a domain takes considerable time. So I changed my thinking.¡± Creak. The roots twisted, changing color from dark red to a neutral hue. Various powers were infused into the roots. ¡°By embedding the core that generates the domain into one of my weapons.¡± [The wrist guard with murderous intent has transformed into the wrist guard of World Alteration.] ¡°This is a magic I created. Where I walk bes my domain, and my world, a magic that devours the world.¡± The witch smiled and returned the wrist guard. ¡°Check it out.¡± [Wrist Guard of World Alteration.] [A wrist guard created by the witch with her power. It has the power to alter thews of the world around the equipment using certain conditions and catalysts.] [Attack Power + 500] [Defense Power + 400] [If you have learned the Green Witch¡¯s magic, you can use [Partial World Alteration].] Both attack and defense power had greatly increased. Additionally, a special skill called Partial World Alteration was attached. ¡°That wrist guard is a catalyst that can use my magic. The more mysterious things it devours, the more its effect increases and the more of my magic it can handle. So even if you go deeper, there will be no problem using it.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± It seemed to be equipment he would use until he cleared thebyrinth, like a pair of rings. He had noints about its performance. He didn¡¯t know its full potential, but it was magic of an immortal. Its value would certainly not be small. Taesan epted it gratefully. ¡°So, what do you n to do now?¡± ¡°Originally, I would have stayed here to find the answer, but now it¡¯s different.¡± The witch sat down leisurely. ¡°For now, I need to watch you descend into thebyrinth. I also need to travel around various ces. And if I find the answer¡­ I might be able to trade with the mage again.¡± She smiled brightly. ¡°Then you might help me again.¡± The world began to fade away. As the witch¡¯s domain closed, they began to return to thebyrinth. ¡°See youter, precious child.¡± With those words, Taesan returned to thebyrinth. Taesan began to descend into thebyrinth again. The witch¡¯s gaze was felt behind Taesan¡¯s back. It seemed like one more observer was added to those who hadn¡¯t been there before. From Taesan¡¯s perspective, it wasn¡¯t a bad experience. Although he didn¡¯t fully understand his power, he had learned new magic, and above all, he had gained more knowledge on how to handle the words of power. Since the witch could uniquely understand the power of words, she provided various experiments and advice. The advice from an immortal who mastered the words of power was immensely helpful to Taesan. Although he still couldn¡¯t fully handle the gray aura, he was able to significantly improve his proficiency with the words of power. Now he could use it meaningfully even in battles against the Guides. Taesan opened his skill window. It was time to check what exactly the witch had given him. [Green Witch¡¯s Magic] [Proficiency: 1%] [A magic built up since her mortal days,pleted as an immortal. It materializes her domain around the equipment that contains the catalyst, influencing the world.] Materializing a domain. It was indeed simr to alchemy. [Partial World Alteration] [Proficiency: 1%] [Continuous mana consumption: ???] [It can alter thews of the world within a certain range. It can be used in both attack and domain forms, but for now, it seems to only have physical interference capabilities.] To understand the detailed contents, he would have to experience it himself. Taesan descended into thebyrinth. [Quest on the 66th floor begins] [Defeat the shadows on the 66th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Special Attack Power Boost Potion] [Secret Reward: ???] ¡°¡­You. That.¡± As usual, the shopkeeper waiting at the entrance frowned. His gaze was on the wrist guard. ¡°Something¡¯s different. You didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°I met her.¡± ¡°What? She went in here? When?¡± ¡°It seems to have been quite a long time ago.¡± Judging by the story with the giant of theke, it had been at least five hundred years. ¡°The power I feel from that wrist guard is¡­¡± The shopkeeper let out a hollowugh. ¡°Right. You¡¯ve be immortal.¡± He asked with bloodshot eyes. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°She¡¯s on the 65th floor¡­ but I¡¯m not sure if you can enter.¡± To visit the witch¡¯s domain, one needed to have the power of the words. The shopkeeper didn¡¯t seem to possess that kind of power. ¡°I¡¯ll handle that. I have some questions for her.¡± He muttered. It seemed he had something he wanted from the witch, but it wasn¡¯t important to Taesan. Taesan passed the shopkeeper and proceeded to the 66th floor. The monsters on the 66th floor appeared. It was a shadow. A shadow that looked exactly like Taesan was waiting for him. Taesan drew his sword. The shadow also drew its sword. Taesan watched as the shadow mimicked his movements, drawing its sword roughly. Dozens of afterimages appeared in the air. And the shadow mirrored the movements. Its posture was very simr to Taesan¡¯s. ¡°Imitating?¡± A monster that steals the adventurer¡¯s power and mimics their form. [The Shadow Eater has appeared.] [Shadow Eater. A monster that resides in the deep forest. It steals the power of those whoe and mimics their form as if it were the original.] The ghost spoke. [Originally, it¡¯s a monster that can be defeated by a skilled warrior, but it seems the magician has significantly strengthened it. It¡¯s unusual to see such a monster here.] Taesan looked at the shadow before him. A monster that mimicked him. How far did this imitation go? Tap. He stomped his foot. ng! He swung his sword roughly. The shadow followed every move of his sword. Whirl. He twisted his sword, activating Flow and changing its trajectory. He stabbed and activated his magic. The shadow mirrored his movements. But its response was slightly dyed. It wasn¡¯t a huge difference, but it wasn¡¯t a small one either. The shadow began to be slowly pushed back. ¡®A monster that imitates deteriorated movements.¡¯ The strategy was to push it to the limit with strength and skills. It could be quite difficult for other adventurers, but not for Taesan. He understood the strategy roughly. It was time to check the new skill he had acquired. The description of Partial World Alteration mentioned that it could be used for both attack and domain purposes. First, he decided to use it for attack. [You have activated Partial World Alteration.] Scratch. With a scratching sound, the roots of the wrist guard began to shake. Crash! The roots rose and swept through the entire room. They were literally roots of destruction, crushing and breaking everything in their path. The shadow initially responded, but it couldn¡¯t withstand the torrent of roots and was shattered in an instant. ¡°This is¡­¡± Its power was superior to intermediate-level magic. Although it didn¡¯t seem as versatile as the magic of the god of magic, its sheer power was greater. However, it wasn¡¯t without drawbacks. Taesan opened his status window. [Mana: 6130/6560] The skill had been used for less than 10 seconds. Yet it consumed 400 mana. While its power was certainly stronger than intermediate magic, it consumed a lot of mana as well. ¡®I can¡¯t use it for long.¡¯ It seemed suitable for momentary bursts or as a trump card. Still, being able to use such power without any dy was certainly an advantage. Considering that the reason ck magic wasn¡¯t used effectively despite its power was due to the time required to open a passage, there were plenty of situations where this could be useful. And how would it work in terms of domain? Taesan took out the catalysts he had brought from the witch¡¯s domain and created a simple domain. The domain he created was to block the enemy¡¯s approach. [You have activated Partial World Alteration.] Screech. A neutral-colored domain formed around Taesan. Taesan moved, and the domain moved with him. As the witch said, the wrist guard was the basis of the domain. Taesan moved to the next shadow. He approached the shadow. The shadow tried to approach Taesan but was blocked by the domain. The shadow raised its sword and swung it. ng! Even though it was a deteriorated version, the shadow that had taken Taesan¡¯s stats couldn¡¯t break through the domain. The defense was quite strong. Alchemy had been made more convenient to use. This meant that even in thebyrinth, he could handle alchemy meaningfully. Moreover, using the domain didn¡¯t consume much mana, so it could be used continuously. ¡°Not bad.¡± The confirmation was over. Taesan turned off the domain. As he drew his sword, the shadow also drew its sword. Taesan shed swords with the shadow, assessing its movements. ¡®Deteriorated movements.¡¯ But it was still enough to follow him. It seemed impossible to shake off the shadow unless he went all out. In other words, Taesan could fight for days if he wanted to. ¡®Is it possible?¡¯ Taesan had regained many skills he had learned in his previous life. Addition. Attack Nullification. Absolute Judgement. Endurance, and so on. He had acquired most of the key skills. But there were still some skills he hadn¡¯t obtained yet. Most of them were skills he couldn¡¯t acquire because the conditions weren¡¯t met. He was waiting for the conditions to be met as he descended thebyrinth. And that wasn¡¯t all. Balbamba said that the skill acquisition system of thebyrinth created skills when rted achievements were reached. In other words, there were certainly skills that could only be obtained here, which he couldn¡¯t get in his previous life. There were many skills he had tried but failed to acquire in his previous life. Taesan intended to acquire them now. Chapter 300: Skill Acceleration (1) In order to do that, there was a skill that needed to be confirmed. It was the Gale sh. [Special Activation Skill: Gale sh] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption: 100] [Dash forward while swinging your sword like a storm. You can control the movement to some extent.] Gale sh: a skill that slightly increased strength and agility stats and charged forward. [You have activated Gale sh.] Taesan stood in front of the monster and used Gale sh. His feet moved forward, and his sword swung like a storm. The shadow precisely mimicked Taesan¡¯s movements.As he stepped forward and swung his sword, ng! The swords collided. In closebat, both tried to keep moving forward. ng! Taesan took a step back. At the same time, the effect of Gale sh ended. Taesan realized that Gale sh required swinging the sword like a storm and charging forward. If these two conditions were not met, the skill ended. So, under the condition that these two were fulfilled, how long could Gale shst? [You have activated Gale sh.] ng! The swords collided. The shadow, which mimicked Taesan¡¯s power, tried to push Taesan back with simr movements. But the shadow¡¯s movements were degraded. Taesan had a slight advantage. Therefore, Taesan could push the shadow back. ng! Moving forward, Taesan pressed the shadow. The condition of charging forward was fulfilled. The sword also continued to swing like a storm. As a result, Taesan continuously activated Gale sh for several minutes. Taesan noticed something unusual. ¡®The skill isn¡¯t ending?¡¯ Once the skill was activated and the two conditions were met, the effect continued. That seemed to be the nature of Gale sh. ¡®No wonder the Guides favor this skill.¡¯ The description of dashing was ambiguous, but as long as you could pressure the opponent and move forward, the skill would continue. So it was possible. Taesan began to prepare. [What are you trying to gain this time?] The ghost asked curiously. Taesan started experimenting with Gale sh. The ghost realized that Taesan was trying to acquire a new skill, just as he had always done. Endurance, Addition, Absolute Judgement, etc. They were all amazing skills that even surprised the ghost who once conquered the depths. Watching the process and the methods of obtaining them was quite enjoyable. But Taesan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± [Huh? You don¡¯t know?] ¡°I¡¯ve never acquired this one before.¡± Thebyrinth¡¯s skills could be obtained when certain effects are sufficiently drawn out. Addition, Endurance¡ªthey were all skills obtained in this manner. Taesan had experimented and challenged himself many times with various ideas. One of them was doubling the speed of the skill itself. Could you obtain a skill if you increase the speed of skills like eleration and leap that involve moving the body directly? Taesan judged it was possible. So, he challenged himself countless times to acquire the skill. ¡®But it was impossible.¡¯ It was a matter of location and conditions. What Taesan wanted was to increase the speed of the skill itself. But there was no skill to properly experiment with. The theory Taesan came up with was to maximize the effect of skills that affect the body¡¯s speed, like eleration. But eleration was already a skill that maximized speed. It was impossible to increase the speed further in a normal way. The only possibility was to continue running while using Endurance to increase the speed. But eleration was a skill that required visual confirmation and target designation to activate. Endurance increases efficiency by repeating the same action, but it had to be repeated for a very long time. With eleration, you could only quickly reach the target but couldn¡¯t sustain the skill. Additionally, other skills that affect the body¡¯s speed were also experimented with but were blocked by the limitations of the skills. Through various experiments, Taesan figured out what was needed. Unlimited duration, the ability to perform repetitive actions, and skills rted to movement speed. The past Taesan did not possess such skills. Determining it was impossible to acquire, Taesan turned to other skills after several months. But now, he could acquire the skill he gave up on in the past. Thebyrinth¡¯s skills were not pre-existing but were created ording to the adventurer¡¯s actions, ording to Balbabamba. Based on Taesan¡¯s experiences, it was quite possible to acquire it. The ghost chuckled. [You¡¯re really trying everything. Isn¡¯t Ability Sword the same?] ¡°I tried, but it seems like there¡¯s not enough mana.¡± Ability Sword could also be continuously activated if timed right. But even though it consumed a very small amount of mana, it still consumed mana continuously. Taesan had thousands of mana. With high intelligence, mana consumption was very low, and the Forgotten Goddess¡¯s blessing quickly regenerated mana, but it was still impossible. To acquire the skill, it had to be repeated thousands or tens of thousands of times, and mana would run out before that. ¡°Simrly, Fairy Wings is also impossible.¡± Fairy Wings had unlimited duration. Taesan thought about it but quickly gave up. Doubling the speed. Making already supersonic speed even faster. The problem was there was no space to do so. Thebyrinth was too cramped, and outside didn¡¯t meet the conditions for such speed. So Gale sh was the answer. Taesan steadied his breath and raised his sword. ¡®The only thing I can use are continuous activation skills excluding activated skills.¡¯ What he had to do was continuously pressure the shadow to double the speed of Gale sh. The theory wasn¡¯t difficult. But acquiring a new skill, something he hadn¡¯t done before, involved many unknown variables. It was time to figure that out. [You have activated Gale sh.] ng! The swords shed. Pressing aggressively, Taesan made the shadow retreat. Step. Taesan advanced aggressively. Swinging his sword, he pressed the shadow. ng! The shadow responded, but its movements were a bit slow. The shadow was slowly being pushed back. Gale sh continued to be activated. Taesan struck down harshly with his sword. The speed was slightly faster than before. A skill that increased speed through repeated actions: Persistence. And a skill that increased strength and speed as the struggle continued: Madness of Struggle. Thanks to the effects of these two skills, Taesan was getting faster and faster. The shadow was being pushed back to the wall. ng! Taesan swung his sword and pushed the shadow to the side of the wall. Just as he was about to rush towards the bouncing shadow, Taesan¡¯s movements suddenly slowed. ¡°Ugh.¡± The duration of Gale sh had ended. Taesan clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword. ¡®Charging forward.¡¯ In other words, if you didn¡¯t move forward, Gale sh ended. So where was the boundary of moving forward? [You have activated Gale sh.] ng! He pressured the shadow again. This time, instead of pushing the shadow recklessly until it touched the wall, Taesan adjusted his sword strikes so that the shadow was pushed diagonally. As a result, Taesan understood that the condition of charging forward allowed for a certain angle. Realizing this, Taesan moved more delicately. He began to push as if drawing a circle. There was no longer a problem of Gale sh being cut off by hitting the wall. ng! He swung his sword. After dozens of minutes of fighting, Taesan¡¯s movements started to get even faster. And those movements began to go out of Taesan¡¯s control. ¡°Tsk.¡± The uncontrolled sword strike broke through the shadow¡¯s defense and struck it down. The shadow flew away with a loud noise. Gale sh was cut off. Taesan frowned. ¡°When the speed increases, problems like this arise.¡± The description of Gale sh mentioned that you could control the movement to some extent. In other words, Taesan could not control all movements. And the faster it got, the harder it became to control. How should he solve this problem? After thinking for a moment, Taesan came to a conclusion. [You have activated Gale sh.] ng! Learning through repetition. And responding with experience. He advanced while swinging his sword roughly. As the speed increased, the sword strike tried to escape Taesan¡¯s control. Taesan identified the trajectory and intensity, controlled the part he could, and prevented the shadow from flying away. ng! As a result, Taesansted a bit longer than the previous attempt. He repeated the process. Taesan gradually got used to controlling the difficult movements. Then came the limit of his stamina. With trembling arms, Taesan cast magic and ck magic. The shadow was pierced and disappeared. Taesan copsed to the ground. Extremely high strength and agility stats. And a skill for sustainedbat. Despite that, Taesan¡¯s stamina was nearly depleted. With each attack, new variables emerged, and he dealt with them. He twisted the sword and moved his feet to control the shadow without knocking it down. When fighting purely, you only need to focus on defeating the enemy, so it consumes more stamina than fighting a strong enemy. After just two days of swinging his sword, his stamina was exhausted. [This is... this is unbelievable.] The ghost clicked its tongue. Despite Taesan¡¯s stats being at the deep level, his stamina being depleted in just two days indicated the high difficulty. Taesan quietly recovered his stamina and murmured. ¡°This is different from before, but it¡¯s still quite difficult.¡± With Addition, he had to repeat the exact same action without any change in a changing situation. Absolute Judgement required remembering and recording all the opponent¡¯s responses and responding to all those patterns. And this skill required controlling the variables that changed in real-time. Purely consuming stamina, this skill was the most severe. But it was not impossible. Little by little, Taesan was making Gale shst longer without ending. So, the rest was just to keep repeating and gradually increase proficiency. The next day, Taesan, who had recovered his stamina, found a new shadow and started fighting. Taesan sustained the fight longer than the previous day. But as Taesan¡¯s speed increased, the shadow was pushed back faster. Thus, he failed when the shadow hit the wall without drawing a circle. As Taesan¡¯s speed and strength increased, new variables emerged. Taesan moved organically, adjusting the pressure on the shadow, and slowly resolved them. Three days passed like that. Taesan continued to fight with the shadow. He understood the patterns and variables. He continued the fight while responding in real-time. [The proficiency of Madness of Struggle has increased by 1%.] [The proficiency of Persistence has increased by 1%.] [The proficiency of Combat Sustained has increased by 1%.] ng! Taesan pressured the shadow. After 17 days of fighting. When the proficiency of Combat Sustained reached 100%, Taesan acquired a new skill. [You have increased the speed of skill actions through countless challenges. You have acquired the special activation skill [Skill eleration].] Chapter 301: Side Story - The 100th Floor, Lee Taeyeon [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Excuse me. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Is anyone there? [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Heyyyyy. There was no response. Lee Taeyeon, who kept shouting without receiving an echo, let out a deep sigh. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Excuse me. I know there''s someone alive here. Can you answer me? But still, no response. She turned off themunity. She heard a chuckle from behind her. [Are you seeking understanding andfort from others? You don''t seem like an adventurer who hase this far.] ¡°Don¡¯t remind me of what I already know. Can you just be quiet?¡±Lee Taeyeon let out a groan and sat down on the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything better to do? Sticking around with someone like me. It¡¯s been over ten years, hasn¡¯t it?¡± She didn¡¯t know who the owner of the voice was. It was just a presence that had stuck to her since long ago, talking about various things. She guessed it was a divine being, but the voice never revealed its true identity. At first, it was confusing, but now she had gotten used to it. Since it didn¡¯t interfere beyond talking, there was nothing to worry about. [For beings like me, time is abundant. Just like you.] ¡°Of course.¡± She grumbled as she looked up at thebyrinth¡¯s ceiling. A graybyrinth. A small space. She had spent so much time here that she knew every little w in this corner. [What do you n to do, child?] ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon mumbled absentmindedly. ¡°What should I do?¡± She kept mumbling words that had be second nature to her now. She stared at the ceiling. An hour, two hours, and then a day. And then a week. After spending a week in a daze, she stood up. [What do you n to do?] ¡°I can¡¯t just stay idle, so I should give it another try.¡± She started walking. Beyond the passage, an endless maze appeared. She stepped into the maze. It was a maze of despair that even the most skilled explorers couldn¡¯t fully map out after centuries. Lee Taeyeon walked through the maze very skillfully. As if she had repeated it thousands, tens of thousands of times, she walked toward the passage without hesitation. It seemed more like a nuisance to her. ¡°Can we shorten this already? I¡¯m tired of walking.¡± A quietugh was heard at her grumbling. After walking for a while, she reached the end of the maze. There was a dark-colored door. And the gatekeeper was guarding it. Lee Taeyeon smiled and raised her hand. ¡°Hello?¡± [...Again?] The gatekeeper¡¯s voice was filled with irritation. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. Aren¡¯t you fond of me by now?¡± Lee Taeyeon grinned. ¡°Balbabamba. How about weing an adventurer for once?¡± [If it were a new face, maybe. But I have no interest in you.] Balbabamba moved its brick-like body in annoyance. [You came here to clear it, right?] Lee Taeyeon nodded. After a moment of silence, Balbabamba asked, [Do you remember how many attempts this is?] ¡°I don¡¯t know?¡± Lee Taeyeon looked nkly at the air. ¡°How many times? Do you remember?¡± [I don''t. I don''t n to remember such a uselesslyrge number.] ¡°Then why did you ask?¡± Lee Taeyeon tilted her head. Balbabamba spoke. [It''s about your sanity.] ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Lee Taeyeon shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. A very bright future awaits me, so just open the floor.¡± [I don''t think so, but if you insist.] Kugugung! The door opened. Lee Taeyeon took a deep breath and entered. How many times has it been? Just like she said to Balbabamba, she doesn¡¯t remember. She has been here for so long that it¡¯s impossible to remember. But every experience was terrifying. Her breath trembled, and cold sweat flowed. The possibility that everything up to now could disappear became a fear that overwhelmed her. Death. But she gritted her teeth. She endured the fear and stepped inside. Seeing her, the presence watching her was satisfied. [Hang in there.] With a small voice, the door closed. [100th Floor Quest Start] The lights turned on. The inside of the floor was revealed. Countless weapons. Spears, swords, shields, halberds, bows. Thousands, tens of thousands of weapons were embedded in the ground. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do this again.¡± [You activated the Breath of the Hidden Rat.] [You activated the Hidden Story that No One Knows.] [You activated the Invisible Shadow.] Her presence disappeared. Breathing, small movements, the sound of her clothes brushing. None of it could be heard. In this ce, Lee Taeyeon¡¯s presence had literally disappeared. [You activated Ten Thousand Possibilities.] Lee Taeyeon began to move slowly. [Quest Failed] Kugugung¡­ The door opened. Lee Taeyeon appeared in a tattered state. Balbabamba asked, as if ustomed to it by now. [Failed again, huh.] ¡°Don¡¯t ask if you already know¡­¡± [But today took the longest. Yousted two whole days. Congrattions.] ¡°Shut up.¡± Lee Taeyeon grumbled and left Balbabamba behind. She returned to the gray room after passing through the maze. With a tired face, she copsed onto her bed. She opened themunity. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Excuse me. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Can someone answer me? [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Please. [Lee Changchun [Hard]]: ...What? Is there still a Solo Mode yer alive? A surprised response came back. She beamed with joy. [Lee Changchun [Hard]]: Lee Taeyeon. Haven''t you cleared it yet? Didn''t you keep going down unlike me? [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: So someone is still alive! What about the others? [Lee Changchun [Hard]]: There are a few others besides me. But they''re all half out of their minds. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Really? [Lee Changchun [Hard]]: Anyway, themunity is still active. No, to be precise, you''re the only one using it, right? Well, there''s no reason to use themunity now, is there? The remaining people probably only talk among themselves. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: So I''m bored. Can''t you talk to me? [Lee Changchun [Hard]]: I don''t have time for that. Damn it. At this rate, it might take longer than Solo Mode. Lee Changchun roughly typed. [Lee Changchun [Hard]]: I''m going down quickly. I''m going back to Earth. I''m not using themunity anymore. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: Don''t do that, talk to me... But there was no response. She sighed deeply and turned off themunity. ¡°¡­How long have I been here?¡± [Far longer than the lifespan of you humans.] An immeasurable, incredibly long time. The reason there was no response in themunity was simple. Most yers had returned to Earth a long time ago. The remaining ones had managed to survive each return to Earth by luck, but due to the limits of their talent or the fear of death, they had given up on clearing and sat down. Some of them had given up on breaking through thebyrinth altogether, sat down, and became corpses over the long flow of time. And the rest were breaking through thebyrinth without caring about anything else after confirming the victory on Earth. Those who were obsessed with returning had no reason to use themunity. They would focus solely on breaking through thebyrinth as safely as possible. She sighed and closed her eyes. The next day, she woke up with a grunt. As she headed towards the maze, someone asked her. [Where are you going?] ¡°Just doing some grinding. I still have a few pieces of equipment to upgrade.¡± She grunted as she moved forward. In the maze, if you found the correct path, you could proceed without encountering a single monster, but if you took even a slightly wrong turn, monsters would pop out. Lee Taeyeon deliberately took a different path to summon monsters. ¡°Kaah¡­¡± She casually swung at the monster that charged at her with a cry. It was a monster she had defeated tens of thousands of times. She could now handle it with her eyes closed. Crack. She dealt with the monster and collected the rewards. She dealt with the monster again and collected the rewards again. Lee Taeyeon fought monsters continuously for a week. Without taking a single hour¡¯s break. ¡°Still not enough?¡± But it wasn¡¯t enough to buy new equipment. Far from it. She continued to swing her sword at the monsters. ¡°What if our positions were reversed?¡± [Are you talking about that kid you always mention?] ¡°Yes. Taesan. If it were him, he would do well here too. The gods would have liked him a lot.¡± Kang Taesan. He had taught Lee Taeyeon many skills. Although she couldn¡¯t obtain most of them, she got Addition and Sure Hit. Without those two skills, she might have given up on clearing as well. Even though everything had ended, and he could have returned to Earth with everyone else, he stayed in thebyrinth and created many skills. The gods of thebyrinth must want someone like Taesan. [...Probably.] It chuckled. [If what you said is true, the gods here would like him very much. They would favor him and try to make him their apostle. They might even bestow something beyond that.] ¡°Unlike me.¡± Lee Taeyeon grumbled. The gods despised her. They groaned and sighed every time she passed by. She could understand. She wasn¡¯t what they wanted. But she couldn¡¯t help but be annoyed. ¡°Do you think I wanted toe in here?¡± She gritted her teeth and stabbed her sword down. Crunch. The monster was crushed and smashed. She still sometimes thought. What if she had been in Easy Mode? And what if Taesan had been in Solo Mode? If that had been the case, it would have been perfect. She could have left the responsibility to Taesan by being in Easy Mode and just tried to survive normally. She had thought about it hundreds of thousands of times since entering thebyrinth. But it was a meaningless story. They had already made their choices. ¡®Survive and return.¡¯ Years ago, maybe decades ago. It was what Taesan said to her as he left thebyrinth. She gritted her teeth. She had fought monsters for a year. With the gold she gathered, she barely managed to get new equipment. She copsed onto her bed to relieve the umted fatigue. She was extremely tired. How great it would be if she could open her eyes and be back on Earth. She mumbled. ¡°¡­Is Earth happy now?¡± They had closed the crack in the sky during thest return. All that was left was to restore civilization. Many people had died, but those who survived gained superhuman strength. Among them were quite a few technicians. If people around the world worked together, they could restore civilization quickly. Maybe they had already returned to the previous state of Earth. ¡°They haven¡¯t all died, have they?¡± They didn¡¯t know the lifespan of those who entered thebyrinth. Because the moment they entered, they surpassed the human lifespan. But it didn¡¯t seem like their lifespan had ended. They must be alive on Earth. When she cleared the 100th floor, everyone would wee her back. They might scold her for taking so long or tell her to hurry up. But in the end, everyone would greet her with smiles. Under a developed civilization, they could live a peaceful life again. ¡®It must be.¡¯ It had to be. The hope that was barely keeping her shattered mind together was all she had. Lee Taeyeon curled up like a child. And the unnamed presence quietly watched over her. The next day, she challenged the 100th floor again. As always, she failed. [Congrattions. Yousted three days this time. At this rate, you might clear it in a few decades.] ¡°Shut up.¡± Lee Taeyeon grumbled as she returned to her bed. Her expression wasn¡¯t bad. Perhaps because she had changed one piece of equipment, shested longer than before. At this rate, she would surely clear it one day. She heardughter. [The gods and wizards dislike you very much. What they want is not a clear like yours.] What the gods and wizards wanted was a challenge from a great person, a fight for life and steps towards bing stronger. But Lee Taeyeon was not like that. She only sought safe methods. [They want to use thebyrinth''s system to gain power beyond their calctions. But... you are different.] Theughter grew thicker. [You find loopholes in quest conditions through countless attempts and discover errors in the floors. Child, you are a parasite in thebyrinth''s system.] A parasite in the system. If there was one word to describe Lee Taeyeon, that would be it. Lee Taeyeon showed no signs of denial. ¡°I don¡¯t deny it. But it¡¯s frustrating for me too, you know? They should have made it so people couldn¡¯t exploit the system.¡± [That¡¯s not wrong either.] With a voice mixed withughter, it said. [The gods judge you as a parasite and dislike you very much... but I am different. I like you. Rather, I judge them to be foolish.] Lee Taeyeony in bed, listening calmly. [You are incredible.] The voice was filled with undisguised admiration. [This ce was created by gods, wizards, and transcendent beings. No adventurer who found this ce ever found loopholes and reached the 100th floor by parasitizing the system.] There were some who cleared thebyrinth. But Lee Taeyeon was the only one who reached the 100th floor in such a way. [You are the only one with the potential to clear it with an abnormal method. From my perspective, you are much more valuable than a clumsy adventurer.] ¡°What does it matter? No one recognizes me.¡± She grumbled. The voiceughed. She kept repeating. Challenging the 100th floor, changing equipment she thought was insufficient. Hundreds of attempts turned into thousands. Her equipment became perfect with no room for improvement. So she began to purchase countless consumable items. She bought potions and items in suchrge quantities that even the shop owner couldn¡¯t keep track. After repeating and moving forward countless times. Boom! [100th Floor Clear.] [A reward is given.] She reached the end. [...This is absurd.] Balbabamba chuckled. [To think someone like you, not another adventurer, really cleared the 100th floor. It''s almost respectable.] ¡°Shut up.¡± Lee Taeyeon panted heavily and copsed to the floor. Her whole body was in tatters, and she was so exhausted she could barely speak. But she had won. She had cleared thebyrinth. She grinned. ¡°I met the conditions. You know what that means, right?¡± [Ha. The fact that I can''t deny that is sad. Congrattions, mortal adventurer.] Balbabamba dered. [You have cleared thebyrinth and earned the right to meet the wizard. Wait here. I will bring him.] With those words, Balbabamba left. Lying down to recover her strength, she grinned. ¡°I did it.¡± She did it. She cleared this hellishbyrinth. Now she could return to Earth. Now she could live a happy life with everyone, including Taesan and Junggeun. Lee Taeyeon grinned and opened themunity. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: I¡¯m going first. Too much time had passed. She didn¡¯t know if anyone was still left. She hadn¡¯t used themunity since the 100th floor clear was in sight. But if anyone was still there, knowing that she cleared it might boost their morale. [Congrattions, child.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Lee Taeyeon was so happy. Her gratitude even extended to the voice. ¡°Thank you for everything.¡± The voice had spoken to her. Without it, she might have truly gone mad. [What. I had a pleasant experience too. Now, you will return to Earth.] ¡°Yes.¡± She said energetically. A happy life awaited her. She was full of hope, and the voice asked her. [But I am curious, child. Do you desire death?] ¡°Of course not.¡± Lee Taeyeon shook her head. She didn¡¯t want to die. That¡¯s why she endured countless years, the desire to give up hundreds of times, and arrived here. [Then, child. Do you want to clear thebyrinth again from the beginning?] ¡°Why would you ask such a question?¡± Lee Taeyeon replied with a tired face. ¡°Of course not.¡± Even now, she risked her life. She had exploited loopholes in the system but still faced death multiple times. She barely cleared it by a stroke of luck and coincidence. She wouldn¡¯t be able to do it again. To clear such a ce again? She had no intention of doing that. The voice chuckled. [Then what will you choose?] ¡°What are you talking about?¡± [It¡¯s a question for the future. Whatever it is, I will respect your choice.] She tilted her head. She couldn¡¯t understand the voice¡¯s words. The voice often said cryptic things. She thought this time was no different. Sheughed joyfully. Soon, the wizard would appear. And he would ask her wish. What would she say? She continued to dream happily. Return to Earth. And live with everyone. She was full of hope. She realized the meaning behind the voice¡¯s words not long after. Chapter 302: Skill Acceleration (2) Taesan smiled as he looked at the system window. He had finally obtained it¡ªthe skill he couldn¡¯t get in his previous life, the one he had given up on. He cheerfully opened the skill window. [Special Activation Skill: Skill eleration] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption: 100] [elerates the action speed of the next skill activated.] A very simple exnation. It was just as easy to understand. ¡°A skill that influences action speed, huh?¡±This meant it applied to physical skills like eleration or leap. Since he had obtained a new skill, it was time to test its effect. Taesan dealt a finishing blow to the tattered shadow and searched for a new monster. He stepped toward the shadow that drew its sword. [You have activated Skill eleration.] [You have activated eleration.] In an instant, his body left an afterimage. It was a speed even Taesan had difficulty tracking with his eyes, almost impossible to react to. The shadow had no way of perceiving such speed. The shadow that mimicked power couldn¡¯t respond properly and was thrown back. Boom! The shadow mmed into the wall and writhed. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°What is this?¡± [¡­¡­The speed literally doubled?] The final speed, which included the base speed and the additional speed from eleration, was doubled. It was simr to the mechanism of Multiply. He checked another skill. Taesan kicked at the shadow as it staggered to its feet. [You have activated Skill eleration.] [You have activated Leap.] Thud! The speed at which he jumped was incredibly fast. At a nce, it could seem like he had teleported into the air. Taesan, who had moved above the shadow¡¯s head, aimed his foot downward. [You have activated Skill eleration.] [You have activated Landing.] Boom! The speed at which hended was significantly faster. It was as if a rock had dropped and crushed the shadow. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled. It could be applied to all skills rted to actions like leaping andnding. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it might link well with Ability Sword.¡± The leap andnding that had changed due to the effect of Ability Sword involved shing the enemy upwards and then striking them down forcefully. Taesan tested it directly. Once again, he leaped and struck down at the shadow with his sword. The shadow tried to block it with its sword. sysetm_start [You have activated Skill eleration.] [You have activated Landing.] system_end Crunch. The shadow¡¯s defense was crushed. It mmed into the ground with a loud crash. Taesan sheathed his sword and smiled. It was possible to link it with the Ability Sword. ¡°Nice.¡± The shadow no longer seemed capable of fighting, so he finished it off and went to find a new monster. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] He used Skill eleration with Frost Arrow. However, there was no significant change in the magic. It only elerated skills rted to action speed. For magic, there was Magic eleration, so it seemed he would have to use that instead. ¡®Could this work too?¡¯ Skills that affected the sword strike itself, like Strong Blow. Since he had acquired it through Gale sh, it should be usable. Taesan experimented, and his prediction was correct. Skill eleration could be activated for skills like Strong Blow or Counter as well. Taesan continued to experiment. After testing all the skills he had, he confirmed that Skill eleration could be used on most skills involving physical movement. He could double the speed momentarily. It was possible to link it with Ability Sword. [Ha. What a skill.] The ghost let out a hollowugh. The speed doubled. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say it doubled the Agility stat. It was practically impossible to match up against an adventurer of the same level. The value of Skill eleration was beyond words. In terms of advantages, it was on par with Multiply or Absolute Judgement. ¡°But it¡¯s not a skill without drawbacks.¡± [You have activated Skill eleration.] [You have activated Gale sh.] His body moved. The speed of Gale sh, elerated twice over, violently struck the shadow. Crash! The shadow was subdued without much resistance. It was overwhelming in every sense, but Taesan¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t bright. ¡°I can¡¯t control it properly.¡± Stats were assets an adventurer umtes as they descend thebyrinth. The speed and strength increased by the rise in Agility or Strength stats could be handled smoothly, as if they had been possessed from the beginning. But not with Skill eleration. This skill doubled the speed instantly. And it didn¡¯t allow for any control by the user. Taesan could barely control the movement of Gale sh when using Skill eleration. There were parts he couldn¡¯t control even originally, but when it was doubled, only a tiny fraction was controble. The same applied to other skills. The speed that increased in an instant made it impossible for the opponent to respond, but it was also difficult for Taesan to adjust organically to the situation. For other skills, it might be possible to control by increasing proficiency, but since Skill eleration literally doubled the speed, controlling it was difficult. Moreover, the mana consumption of 100 wasn¡¯t small. It couldn¡¯t be used with every attack like Addition or Absolute Judgement. ¡®But.¡¯ Its performance was superior enough to overshadow those drawbacks. In his previous life, it would have been a skill of little use. The mana consumption was too high, and even if he elerated, there wasn¡¯t a big change due to his weak stats. But now it was different. This was a skill perfectly suited for the Taesan of Solo Mode. ¡°Looking forward to it.¡± He eagerly awaited the time when he could properly use the skill against the guide. And that wasn¡¯t all. The 17 days of repetition had also increased the proficiency of various skills. [Special Activation Skill: Gale sh] [Proficiency: 20%] [Consumption Mana: 100] [Wield your sword like a storm and dash forward. The movement can be controlled to some extent.] There were no additions, but something had been removed. It was the part about dashing straight forward. Upon actually using it, unlike before, Gale sh didn¡¯t end even if he changed direction. It was a change that could be effectively used in realbat. [Special Passive Skill: Frenzy of Struggle] [Proficiency: 45%] [As you continue to struggle, your movements gradually speed up, and your strength increases. The recovery speed of stamina and mana also increases. The effect disappears once the struggle ends.] Frenzy of Struggle had also surpassed 40% at some point. The added part was the increase in stamina and mana recovery speed. For Taesan, who had already acquired the Forced Stamina Drain, the more recovery skills of this kind he had, the more they could synergize with each other. [Special Passive Skill: Persistence] [Proficiency: 20%] [Efficiency in repetitive tasks increases further.] Persistence had also changed, but there wasn¡¯t much advantage. Persistence was a skill that couldn¡¯t be activated in normalbat from the beginning. The skill that changed the most was, of course, Combat Continuation. [Special Passive Skill: Combat Continuation] [Proficiency: 100%] [Fatigue barely umtes. The time it takes to reach the limit of stamina is infinitely extended. No matter how close you are to the limit, you can continue to move.] Combat Continuation. The effect obtained when proficiency reached 100% was, literally, the possibility of infinitebat. Even when pushed to the limit, you could continue to move. If you willed it, you could fight for years without rest. Of course, it didn¡¯t literally work that way. The fact that you could move even when your body was at its limit didn¡¯t mean that your muscles wouldn¡¯t wear out or that fatigue wouldn¡¯t umte. It was impossible to move normally in a near-death state. But even considering that, it was an excellent skill. It meant that you wouldn¡¯t be rendered unable to act. Taesan advanced, satisfied, as he cleared the shadows. He checked the secret rooms and cleared the floor, then organized the rewards he obtained. [High-grade Attack Power Enhancement Potion] [Permanently increases attack power by 200.] The attack power enhancement potion that Veldencia gave as a reward on the 61st floor. He obtained it only now on the 66th floor. The reward for the secret room was a bow. It was a bow simr to a ballista, requiring considerable strength to use, but its power was guaranteed. It was so superior that Taesan decided to keep it rather than sell it. And then the secret reward. [Whetstone of Sharp Frost] [A whetstone that can sharpen a sword¡¯s edge to extreme sharpness. However, an extremely sharp sword is just as easily broken. Unless handled by a skilled cksmith and wielded by a proficient swordsman, it would be less useful than a toy.] An item that increases a sword¡¯s attack power. This reminded him that he had equipment entrusted to Hafran. He nned to check if it waspleted before descending to the deeper floors. 67th floor. Thetter half of the 60s had begun. [67th Floor Quest Start] [Break through thebyrinth on the 67th floor and defeat the boss.] [Reward: All Stats Increase Potion.] [Secret Reward: ???] The 67th floor was quite ordinary. The monsters that appeared were knights with shields, and the floor¡¯s structure wasn¡¯t much different. Such floors would no longer be seen once he entered the deeper levels. With a strange sense of nostalgia, Taesan slowly broke through the floor. When he reached about halfway through the floor, Taesan felt a peculiar sensation. It was as if something was calling out to him. He had felt this sensation a few times before. Following the sensation, Taesan pressed a brick that didn¡¯t seem to have any force. The brick began to move inward with a grinding sound. Boom! The space expanded, revealing a long corridor. [You have discovered the domain of the Forgotten Goddess.] The Forgotten Goddess. When he had been taken to the 70th floor with Amracia, he had used Lee Taeyeon¡¯s information to obtain a blessing. At that time, he had received a special quest. [Special Quest: Forgotten Goddess] [The goddess, forgotten by those who created thebyrinth, the gods, and the believers alike, has awakened to your prayer. She hopes you will save her.] [The one blessed by the goddess can sense the presence of the goddess''s statue hidden in thebyrinth.] [Find it and offer a prayer to her.] It hadn¡¯t appeared for a long time, so he had forgotten about it, but it seemed there was one before the deeper floors as well. ¡°What could it be this time?¡± There were no disturbances at the statue of the Forgotten Goddess on the 70th floor, but in the secret domain he visited to obtain crafting materials, he encountered traps full of malice and the goddess¡¯s apostle. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [You have activated Essence Identification.] A vast amount of information about the corridor flooded into Taesan. [A ce filled with numerous traps.] As a result, he learned that there was nothing here but traps. Traps were no longer a threat to Taesan. However, since these were traps guarding the goddess¡¯s statue, they would likely cause significant damage to a mediocre adventurer in an instant. Taesan stepped into the corridor. As he did, the walls opened with a loud noise. Boom! The ceiling opened, and the floor copsed. Beyond the expanded walls, he could see countless bombs, arrows, and mes. Taesan spoke. ¡°Begone.¡± [You have activated Denial Deration.] Boom! The bombs exploded before they could reach Taesan. The trajectories of the arrows twisted, and the mes withdrew on their own. Dozens of traps vanished with just a single word. Taesan nodded in approval. ¡°It¡¯s quite useful.¡± He had obtained the power of words through Soul Ascension. While staying with the witch, he had learned how to use it properly and understand its effects. Language spells were a power that projected one¡¯s will onto the world. Against things like traps that moved ording to design rather than intent, they exhibited near-absolute power. The traps that had just attacked Taesan were by no means light. The bombs could shake mountains, the arrows had the strength to cut through waves, and the mes had the power to dry up a riverbed. They were traps that even Taesan would have to respond to seriously. But there was no master of that power. So they could be solved very simply with anguage spell. Chapter 303: 67th Floor The power without an owner could not reach Taesan. To put it extremely, such traps could never pose a threat to Taesan, and that wasn¡¯t limited to traps alone. Even if a natural disaster urred, where the sea rose to swallow the continent, a volcano erupted to overturn the world, or the earth cracked open to drag everything into the abyss. Like in Hafran¡¯s world, when it¡¯s not an intentional action by the world itself but just a natural phenomenon, it could be calmed down with just a word. The power of words, the ability to project one¡¯s will onto the world, held such meaning. Taesan advanced once again. As he did, the walls opened up, and countless traps sprung forth. ¡°Clear.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Negation.] Kugugung! The traps were crushed under Taesan¡¯s will and disappeared. The ghost whistled.[That''s overwhelming.] Even the ghost was amazed. There was no particr consumption of power for Taesan. The only cost for using the power of words, his mental strength, also seemed unaffected. [So, this is what the immortals or transcendents have... Truly astonishing.] ¡°That¡¯s probably why they created such a ce.¡± [That''s true.] Taesan continued forward and discovered a statue of a goddess. He sat before it and offered a prayer. [You have prayed to the forgotten goddess. You have received the blessing of the Will of the Nameless Goddess.] [Divine Blessing: Will of the Nameless Goddess] [It is the blessing of the goddess. Your will bes stronger and more resolute, making it difficult even for the great ones to subdue you. However, it is still a very weak state to be considered a true divine blessing.] The blessing of will. Taesan tested it by using his power of words to summon mes. As a result, his headache was noticeably reducedpared to before he received the blessing. Taesan, having obtained the blessing he needed, smiled in satisfaction. This made it three blessings from the goddess. ¡°Next is the deepyer.¡± Just as Taesan thought this and was about to leave, a system window appeared before his eyes. [Your repeated prayers have restored some of the goddess''s divinity.] [Special Quest Initiated.] [The goddess who was forgotten by all, even by herself, has regained some of her divinity through your repeated prayers. However, she is still too weak to be considered a true deity and cannot exert any significant influence on the world. The goddess, with a childlike consciousness, desires to recover her power.] [Condition: Find those who worship the forgotten goddess and restore her faith.] [Reward: Complete Divine Blessing] ¡°So this is how it is.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes gleamed. Repeated prayers. Through them, the goddess found herself and sought to regain her power. It seemed that the quest would progress in that manner. Taesan checked the quest conditions. ¡®Someone who worships the forgotten goddess?¡¯ The goddess had said she was forgotten by both mortals and gods. It seemed impossible that anyone would worship such a goddess. The ghost spoke. [It seems like a quest you can''t do anything about for now. It looks like it will proceed once the conditions are met.] ¡°In the end, it¡¯s the deepyer.¡± First, he had to reach the deepyer. It wasn¡¯t far. He was on the 67th floor, just four floors away from reaching the deepyer. Taesan set the quest aside in his mind and stepped outside again. He advanced by defeating the knights. He searched for secret rooms, organizing and confirming there were no hidden elements. Taesan continued to conquer the 67th floor in this manner. And when everything was settled, leaving only the boss, a quest window appeared. [Special Quest Initiated] [Return to Earth.] [In a few days, you will return to thend you abandoned. Cooperate with others to expand your territory. Then, after oveing trials, return to thebyrinth. Rewards will be determined based on your achievements.] [This quest cannot be refused.] The Return to Earth quest. Taesan recalled how long each return quest had taken in his previous life and understood. ¡°It¡¯s faster.¡± [What''s faster?] ¡°The return time.¡± There have been four returns so far. During those four times, they had gathered people, collecting everyone within the country. The speed at which the return quests started hadn¡¯t differed much from his previous life. Because of that, Taesan could predict and prepare in advance. However, the fifth return in his previous life had been significantly dyedpared to the previous ones. Although they didn¡¯t know the reason, they spected it was because the quest was on a world scale. But now, the fifth return quest had appeared much faster than in his previous life. Various variables different from his previous life seemed to have elerated the return to Earth. Taesan opened the Community. As expected, the Community was incredibly noisy. Not only Koreans but also Japanese, French, and Americans were all talking, making it hard to read anything properly. [Lee Taeyeon has invited you to a conversation.] When Taesan epted the invitation, there were familiar faces in the conversation. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: "Ah, Taesan. Hello." [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "Ugh, my head hurts. Isn''t it too early?" [Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: "...Hello." Taesan casually responded to the quiet greetings. The same people who had gathered before were all present. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "It seems everyone is here, so let''s discuss what we should do." [Oliver Khan [Hard]]: "Even so, we have too little information." The quests so far had taken ce within a single country. Predicting how the quests would unfold wasn¡¯t difficult. But now, it was a world-scale quest. Predicting the duration and scope was nearly impossible. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "Still, we need to consider all possibilities. That''s the only way we can prepare." They began their discussion. Taesan watched quietly without participating in the conversation. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "Considering the flow so far, they won''t make all the countries meet at once. They¡¯ll probably have only some countries meet." [Daniel Darmon [Hard]]: "Will it be neighboring countries? Or a specific range?" [Oliver Khan [Hard]]: "I think it will be by country rather than by range. The size difference between countries is too vast to set a specific range." For instance, the size of the United States or China wasparable to that of the entire European continent. [Ichijo Eika [Hard]]: "The quests so far have centered around specific regions rather than size. Won¡¯t it be the same this time?" [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "If that''s the case..." The countries that Korea might encounter were clear. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "We will likely meet Japan." [Ichijo Eika [Hard]]: "Probably so. Please take care of me." The atmosphere was not bad. Kim Hwiyeon had already had some discussions with Japanese yers. There were few elements likely to cause conflict. The problemy elsewhere. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "If we meet, it won''t be just Japan. North Korea or China might also be included." [Ichijo Eika [Hard]]: "The possibility is high." [Geum Junggeun [Hard]]: "Has a Chinese yer ever used an externalmunity? Not even once, right?" [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "No." There were designatedmunities where people from specific countries couldmunicate, as well asmunities where everyone from all countries could talk, andmunities that could only be used by people from that particr country. China¡¯smunity was very active. They exchanged information and talked among themselves. But they never stepped outside theirmunity. [Oliver Khan [Hard]]: "Honestly, it''s creepy." As the quests expanded to a global scale, people were very excited. Realizing that they weren¡¯t the only survivors, they hurried tomunicate with people from other countries. Some countries bannedmunication with the outside world to prevent chaos after the excitement died down, but those were few and not strictly enforced. asionally, people from different countries shared various stories in the unifiedmunity. But China was the exception. Chinese yers had never once left theirmunity. And they ignored all questions and invitations. A yer¡¯s country was determined by where they were when they were summoned. There were many Chinese yers who were born and raised in China but held different nationalities. But even they refused all invitations and conversations. Even from their families. [Oliver Khan [Hard]]: "It''s so alien. If China is involved, it could be tough." [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "Well... we have to try." [Ichijo Eika [Hard]]: "What about North Korea?" [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "There''s no conversation in theirmunity either. I''m sure there are survivors since I''ve seen theirmunity, but there''s nomunication at all." [Oliver Khan [Hard]]: "That sounds like a headache. But we''re not much different. In Mexico, the cartels are still active. It¡¯ll be a challenge to deal with that too." They exchanged predictions and information with each other. A question was directed at Taesan. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "Taesan, do you have any predictions?" [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "Pretty much the same as you. Nothing new." Taesan had memories from his past life. But it was hard to believe things would go exactly as they had before. Too much had already changed. The timing of the return had elerated, and various other changes had urred. Anything he said would likely have little meaning. So Taesan focused on what he had to do. [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "How far have you all gone?" [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: "Jun-hyeok and I just reached the 30th floor." The 30th floor. That was an expected level for Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. But Amelia was a bit different. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: "I''m on the 42nd floor." [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "That''s fast." Taesan was slightly surprised. The deeper one descended into thebyrinth, the more rapidly the difficulty increased. Of course, Amelia was strong enough to skip floors, so it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult, but the story changes when divine trials are involved. Amelia had escaped the clutches of the God of Descent. This meant her soul had been freed, but it also meant she had lost much of her power. He thought her progress would be dyed, but at that level, there wasn¡¯t much difference from before. Amelia puffed up with pride at Taesan¡¯s words. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: "Who do you think I am? I''m Amelia, the strongest yer in America. Even without the god''s support, my power never diminishes." After a brief silence, Amelia added. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: "...Actually, the information and skills you gave me helped the most." Taesan chuckled. What was on the 42nd floor? As far as Taesan could remember, there wasn¡¯t anything special. After thinking for a moment, Taesan realized. The 44th floor. The God of Despair was there. So, what would Amelia¡¯s despair be? [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "Hang in there." [Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: "Huh? Oh, thanks." Amelia responded, surprised by the sudden encouragement. After sharing some more stories, Taesan closed themunity. Divine trials differed from person to person. It wasn¡¯t the kind of information that could be shared. Amelia would have to ovee it on her own. ¡®A few days from now, huh.¡¯ Return to Earth. The trials that awaited there. They would be conducted in apletely different manner from his previous life. Until then, he would gain as much as possible and return. Taesan gripped his sword and began breaking through thebyrinth once again. Chapter 304: 68th Floor Crash. The boss fell to Taesan¡¯s sword. Rewards were given along with the notification of clearing the floor. [You have obtained the Potion of All Stat Increase.] [You have obtained ???.] [Potion of All Stat Increase] [Increases all stats.] [You have used the Potion of All Stat Increase.] [Permanently increased Health by 300, Mana by 100, Magic Power by 50, Strength by 200, Agility by 200, and Intelligence by 200.] He cleared the 67th floor.His level also increased by 2. The secret rewards and secret room rewards were all rted to dark magic equipment. When he offered them to the Demon God, he was able to learn an intermediate dark magic spell for the first time in a while. [Intermediate Dark Magic: Sabbnack''s Pitch-ck Thread] [Mana Consumption: 500] [Base Magic Power Consumption: 150] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summons the pitch-ck thread formed by Sabbnack''s power. Although it''s a thread that can slice through the world, it''s currently deteriorated to the level where it can only slice through the earth.] Without hesitation, Taesan immediately descended. The return to Earth quest was only noted to begin in a few days, without specifying exactly when. Until then, his n was to descend as quickly as possible. [68th Floor Quest Start] [Conquer thebyrinth of the 68th floor and defeat the boss.] [Reward: Bracelet Enchanted by Crimson Blood] [Secret Reward: ???] system_enmd The 68th floor was not significantly different from the 67th. As there was nothing particrly unusual, Taesan quickly cleared thebyrinth. He proceeded towards the boss while dealing with the monsters and raising his proficiency. At some point, the regr floor monsters became insignificant opponents, so Taesan focused more on increasing his proficiency. As a result, upon reaching the 68th floor, several skills showed changes due to proficiency increases. [Top-ss Skill: Airak Martial Technique] [Proficiency: 40%] [A technique for handling weapons and the body. As it became fairly skilled, there¡¯s no longer any loss in the transmission of power, and it can slightly adjust the values of attack power and defense.] One of the skills that changed was the Airak Martial Technique. It was an incredibly difficult skill to increase in proficiency. Taesan had obtained it as soon as he entered thebyrinth, but it had only now reached 40%. Considering that Perception reached 100% and Reconnaissance surpassed 60% proficiency, the fact that this skill barely increased was astounding. However, the changes upon proficiency increase were equally significant. When the Airak Martial Technique reached 40%, an additional effect was added, allowing adjustments to attack and defense values. Taesan experimented directly on a monster. The method of handling the Airak Weapon Technique that changed with proficiency naturally settled into his mind, so there were no problems. The 68th floor¡¯s monsters were dinosaur-like creatures resembling Tyrannosaurus. Taesan focused his energy and swung his sword at a charging monster. sh. ¡°Kaaah!¡± [You dealt 5581 damage to the Guardian of the Deep Lair.] The monster screamed and was flung away. Taesan observed the damage window and assessed the change in damage. His current attack power was about 4900. The recent attack was purely based on attack power without any fluctuations, aside from using the Airak Weapon Technique. Yet, the damage disyed was 5581. ¡°Around a 10% variance?¡± A 10% increase in attack and defense. Taesan chuckled. The proficiency was only at 40%, yet it increased attack and defense by 10%. Indeed, the Airak Weapon Technique was a skill of a different caliber. ¡°With something like this, I was able to deal 35,000 damage.¡± And that was with a casual, not even serious, attack. Even though Taesan had reached the early depths and defeated the leading figures of the guides, he still wasn¡¯t confident he could ovee Ainzhar. ¡®Beloved Goddess, Levynenoff.¡¯ Ainzhar was descending thebyrinth in search of that goddess. In his past life, he had never found the goddess. At least, that¡¯s what Lee Taeyeon had known. But this time, Taesan had informed him of the goddess¡¯s location. The 78th floor, The Library of All Things, the 24th secret room. As he was nearing that ce, he was growing curious. Whether Ainzhar had achieved his goal. And how he would act after meeting the goddess. [Special Activation Skill: Breathless Attack] [Mana Consumption: 2] [Proficiency: 81%] [Allows movements that disregard breathing during battle. Itsts for about 3 minutes, allowing full power movements.] Though small, the proficiency of Breathless Attack had also significantly increased. And the Sensory Enhancement skill had reached 100% proficiency as well. [Special Passive Skill: Sensory Enhancement] [Proficiency: 100%] [Enhances senses. You can perceive killing intent or blind spots. It increases your ability to sense the unseen. It allows you to observe a certain range of space centered around yourself.] The content itself hadn¡¯t changed from when it was at 80%. But upon reaching 100%, a new skill had emerged. [Special Passive Skill: Sensory Synchronization] [Proficiency: 1%] [Your senses synchronize with a certain range around you. You cannot yet grasp a very wide area.] A certain range. Specifically, within a room of thebyrinth centered around Taesan. It was as if everything was directly sensed, touched, and detected, all within his senses. Until now, there had been several skills that allowed him to observe his surroundings, but Sensory Synchronization was much more direct. It felt as if the very range where his body could reach had expanded. Naturally, his already sharp senses became even sharper. Now, it would be impossible for even the upper echelon to approach him unnoticed. ¡®Maybe Lee Taeyeon could manage it.¡¯ Her skills included many evasion techniques. Some of them were not inferior to Taesan¡¯s main skills. Although Taesan often sparred with Lee Taeyeon in his previous life, he had never been able to find her when she deliberately hid herself. She was truly specialized in evasion. However, in her previous life, there were few opportunities for those skills to shine. Since only Taesan and Lee Taeyeon could face the constantly attacking S-ss threats. If she hid herself immediately, many others would die, so she had no choice but to seal most of her evasion-rted skills. ¡°A pitiful woman.¡± Taesan muttered. Apart from that, the proficiency of many minor skills had also significantly increased. As he neared the deepyers, the number of skills reaching 100% was also increasing. Taesan finished clearing the 68th floor. The boss of the 68th floor was a monster resembling a crimson Tyrannosaurus. Taesan focused his magic on the charging monster. [You have activated Sabbnack''s Pitch-ck Thread.] Whirr. A thread formed in Taesan¡¯s hand. Momentster, the thread unraveled and began to shake the surroundings. Taesan quickly drew his shield. [You have activated the Aegis Shield.] ng! The thread split the entire space. Even Taesan was harshly battered, but thanks to the effect of the Aegis Shield, he took no damage. Boom! The charging Tyrannosaurus was chopped into dozens of pieces and copsed. The newly acquired Sabbnack¡¯s Pitch-ck Thread sliced everything around it into pieces. Even the user, Taesan, was not spared. The first time he used it, unaware of this, he lost about 20% of his health. The power was undeniable. It possessed greater strength than any other skill Taesan wielded. However, its stability wascking. If used carelessly, it could be a self-destructive skill. Fortunately, there was a certain amount of time before the bundled thread unraveled and spread. He could escape and avoid damage with random blinks or other means. Having grasped the power and usage of the skill, Taesan began to check the rewards for the 68th floor. [Bracelet Enchanted by Crimson Blood] [Strength +400] [Agility +200] [Attack Power +200] [Defense +200] [A bracelet soaked in the blood of a holy figure. The person who killed this great and merciful saint carried this bracelet throughout their life.] As always, it was a decent piece of equipment. As he approached the deepyers, the performance of the equipment was gradually improving. Both the secret room and the secret reward were rings. [Ring of the ck Witch''s Pitch-ck Magic] [Dark Magic +50] [Magic Power +50] [Intelligence +100] [A ring once used by a ck witch who worshiped a Demon God that ruled over the ckened earth. After her death, the ring was absorbed into thebyrinth.] [Ring of the Ruthless Tyrant] [Strength +200] [Attack Power +100] [Defense +100] [A ring belonging to a tyrant who conquered the world alone. He exterminated the entire family of anyone who opposed him and killed even thest dog of any group that resisted him. Until his death from old age, the world was engulfed in darkness.] Taesan reced his equipment and descended thebyrinth once again. The 69th floor began. Taesan drew his sword. Crash. In the midst of a lush forest, Taesan swung his sword down. The beast charging at him, trying to trample him, was cut in half and disappeared. The quest on the 69th floor was to find a single flower in the dense forest. As he crossed the forest, hidden monsters would leap at him, and the floor was so vast and thickly vegetated that finding the flower was a difficult task. Of course, it posed no problem for Taesan. With his enhanced senses, he could block the monsters¡¯ attacks without even looking. Thanks to his reconnaissance and essence analysis, he could immediately pinpoint the location of the treasure, so he headed straight for it. And Taesan discovered the golden flower. The moment he was about to pick it, the space suddenly split, and darkness appeared. [Hello?] ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Taesan bowed his head in respect. Pitch-ck hair. A youthful face. It was the Demon God. [Do you know why I¡¯ve shown myself?] Taesan nodded. The Demon God revealing herself meant it was time to fight the Guides of Sin once again. [Your next opponent is on the 70th floor. Thest ce before the deepyers. I¡¯ll be waiting there.] ¡°Understood.¡± [And from now on, I¡¯ve changed the rules a bit. Your power has nearly reached theirs.] It wasn¡¯t hard to understand what she meant. Up until now, the Demon God had given Taesan many conveniences in his battles against the upper echelons. It wasn¡¯t because she favored Taesan but to ensure that their fights were worth watching. In other words, Taesan had now reached a level where the Demon God no longer needed to offer him those conveniences. The Demon God spoke. [I¡¯ve made sure until now that your information didn¡¯t reach them.] This was a significant advantage for Taesan. Many of his skills had effects that made a big difference depending on whether they were known. [But from now on, that restriction will be lifted. The Guides you¡¯ll face in the future will understand your skills, and that information will flow to them.] ¡°I understand.¡± Taesan nodded. The Demon God chuckled softly when he epted it so easily. [I thought you mightin a little. This condition is highly unfavorable to you, isn¡¯t it?] ¡°It¡¯s a decision made by you, Demon God. That means it¡¯s necessary for a fair fight between us.¡± If that¡¯s the case, Taesan would simply follow. The Demon God smiled in satisfaction. [You¡¯re returning to your hometown this time?] ¡°Yes.¡± [As always, win and return. I¡¯ll be waiting for your victory report.] With those words, the Demon God vanished. The next leader of the Guides he would face. Who would the opponent be? There was someone who came to mind. Taesan grasped the golden flower. 69th floor clear. At the same time, a system window appeared, announcing his return to Earth. [You will return to Earth in one hour. Please finish your preparations.] ¡°How considerate.¡± One hour. It was an awkward amount of time to descend another floor. It seemed he would have to return to Earth before stepping on the 70th floor. And coincidentally, there was something he needed to do with the remaining hour. Taesan ascended thebyrinth. The 65th floor. There, he found Hafran hammering away. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Hafran looked exhausted. ¡°Is it finished?¡± Taesan hadmissioned Hafran to craft equipment using the materials he had obtained from the destroyed world. Given the nature of the materials, it seemed Hafran had struggled with the crafting. Hafran nodded. ¡°The timing is good. I just finished it a little while ago.¡± ¡°Faster than I expected. I thought it would take longer.¡± ¡°Most of the materials were from my world. But I thought I was going to die. That damn equipment kept rejecting my touch and causing all sorts of trouble.¡± Hafran grumbled. Taesan¡¯s eyes gleamed at his words. Equipment that rejected Hafran¡¯s touch. It might not be on the level of the pair of rings he made before, but it meant this was equipment that could be used even after reaching the deepyers. Hafran handed Taesan a bracelet. ¡°Take it. It¡¯s the equipment you wanted, something that can be controlled by will.¡± [You have obtained the Bracelet of Despair Containing a Fragment of the World.] Chapter 305: The Fifth Return, Earth (1) Taesan looked at the bracelet. A crimson bracelet, as red as blood. It must be because it contained the blood of the Giant King as a material. He could feel the power embedded within it. It was strong. Although it didn¡¯t possess a will like the ring, it had an unwavering power, as if it would move ording to its master¡¯s will at any moment. [Bracelet of Despair, holding a part of the world] [Strength + 500] [Agility + 500] [Intelligence + 500] [Attack Power + 500] [Defense + 500] [Made by drawing out the power contained in various materials from a world that is now destroyed, with the flesh and blood of the Giant King as its base. Contained within it is a part of the world itself.] [Special Activation Skill: Destruction''s Greed can be activated.] Taesan¡¯s lips curled into a smile. He was satisfied with the stats and attack power. Although it was lower than the ring, it was still a sufficiently satisfying number. And there was a special activation skill. That must be the core of this bracelet. Taesan opened the skill window to check. [Special Activation Skill: Destruction''s Greed] [Mana Consumption: 400] [By syncing the user¡¯s will with the power contained in the bracelet, it can devour and nullify attacks imbued with the will of the opponent. However, attacks that exceed the user¡¯s will or the power of the bracelet cannot be devoured.] After interpreting the exnation, Taesan looked at Hafran. ¡°A defensive skill?¡± What Taesan had wanted was an offensive piece of equipment that could be controlled by will. Hafran raised his hand at Taesan¡¯s gaze. ¡°If you¡¯ll allow me to exin.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°At first, I tried to make offensive equipment as you requested. I envisioned controlling space using the blood of the Giant King.¡± That was simr to what Taesan had expected. The Giant King¡¯s blood was powerful in itself. If it could be controlled and enhanced, it would be a mighty force. ¡°But as I used the materials one by one, the cursed bracelet started rejecting my touch. The blood kept spurting out, trying to pierce through my limbs.¡± Hafran raised his arm. A mark that looked like a tight string had been etched into his strong forearm. ¡°I couldn¡¯t create offensive equipment with my skills.¡± Hafran spoke in a dissatisfied voice. On reflection, it wasn¡¯t all that strange. Hafran couldn¡¯t control will. It was only natural that he would be limited in creating equipment that required will to control. ¡°So Ipletely changed the approach. Instead of focusing on attack, I focused on defense. Once I did that, the bracelet stopped trying to attack me.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what happened.¡± ¡°Yeah. Sorry about that.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter much.¡± Taesan had requested offensive equipment to subdue opponents faster, but he didn¡¯t particrly care either way. What mattered was the performance of the equipment. [You have summoned Minerva, the Spirit King of Wind.] ¡°Yo, master! Long time no see!¡± ¡°How¡¯s it going over there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting pretty stable. My adorable kids are working hard.¡± Minerva said with a broad smile. The world of spirits and humans, Arulia, seemed to be slowly stabilizing as the new Spirit King was born, filling the void and chaos. Taesan spoke to Minerva. ¡°Attack me.¡± ¡°¡­Why all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I want to test something.¡± Taesan shook his bracelet at Minerva, who was staring at him with unease. Minerva, understanding the situation, nodded her head. ¡°Ah, that. You startled me by suddenly asking me to attack. How strong should I go?¡± ¡°With all your might.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Boom! ¡°Wait!¡± Hafran, startled, tried to stop her, but it was toote. A violent gust of wind swept through his workshop, sending the tools hanging on the walls flying with a ttering noise. Minerva grinned widely. ¡°Catch this!¡± Boom! The wind shot towards Taesan. Minerva¡¯s power was almost on par with Taesan¡¯s. In other words, this attack was simr in strength to Taesan¡¯s full power. Facing the oing wind, Taesan focused his will. [You have activated Destruction''s Greed.] With a sh, the crimson light of the bracelet shone. Kiiing! The red energy rose up and began devouring the wind. The wind resisted, surging and swirling, but the red energy voraciously consumed it all. The wind slowly died down. Minerva¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°¡­My powerpletely vanished?¡± Taesan had known he would block it. Even if he couldn¡¯t, knowing about the attack nullification would have assured him that there was no damage. But the power Taesan just disyed was different from what she expected. Taesan hadn¡¯t just blocked her power; he had literally devoured it, and without much energy expenditure. ¡°So this is how it works.¡± Taesan shook the bracelet. The crimson hue had slightly diminished. Despite blocking Minerva¡¯s full power, there was barely any mental strain. If he had tried to erase it purely with willpower, without the bracelet, it would have consumed a considerable amount of his mental energy. But the bracelet had used up some of its power; the energy felt from it had significantly decreased. Although it was gradually recovering, the pace was not particrly fast. He could nearly erase an opponent¡¯s attack perfectly. However, the bracelet¡¯s power would be consumed in the process, and if it was fully depleted, Destruction¡¯s Greed couldn¡¯t be activated again until it recovered. Taesan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± Blocking Minerva¡¯s full power meant that he could also block the attacks of the Guides¡¯ leaders. It was equipment that could erase attacks at critical moments and create opportunities. ¡°This is more than sufficient, even if it¡¯s not offensive.¡± Though he had to immediately discard the bracelet he had just acquired, its performance made it well worth it. ¡°That¡¯s good. But next time, I¡¯d appreciate it if you told me before experimenting.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Hafran grumbled as he put the scattered tools back in ce. Minerva circled around Taesan curiously. ¡°Master, did you gain some new power while I wasn¡¯t looking? I feel something strange.¡± ¡°Word of Power.¡± ¡°¡­Word of Power?¡± Minerva hesitated. Taesan handed a whetstone to Hafran. ¡°Can you use this too?¡± The whetstone of Nalsoreum. It¡¯s a secret reward from the 60th floor. An item that would certainly increase attack power. Hafran¡¯s eyes sparkled as he received the whetstone. ¡°This is good. Do you have a specific weapon in mind?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Taesan handed over Calvert¡¯s Relic. He was still using the sword he had found at the entrance of thebyrinth, a weapon once used by the ghost in life. Although it had many special effects attached, it was time to increase its pure attack power. Hafran looked at the ghost as he epted Calvert¡¯s Relic. ¡°It¡¯s that guy¡¯s sword.¡± [That¡¯s right.] ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Hafran started sharpening the sword with the whetstone. During that time, Taesan took the opportunity to further confirm the exact effects and power of the bracelet. After thirty minutes, Hafran handed Calvert¡¯s Relic back to Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± ¡°That was quick.¡± ¡°There was no need to draw out and rbine the power from the materials, just sharpening the de, so there was no reason for it to take long.¡± Hafran spoke indifferently. Taesan checked the increased attack power. [Calvert¡¯s Relic: A Sword Imbued with the Blood of Ancestors] [A relic from a world that has now perished. It took the lives of countless royals.] [Attack Power + 300] [When facing any enemy, Attack Power + 150] ¡°Ho?¡± The attack power had increased more than expected. Hafran exined. ¡°Over time, the inherent power of the equipment had deteriorated, and the cksmith who originally made it couldn¡¯t fully bring out the potential of the materials. But still, it¡¯s a good sword. As a result, its performance has improved significantly.¡± [Of course. This is the sword used by someone important.] The ghost boasted. Satisfied, Taesan sheathed the sword. Taesan waved his hand. ¡°See youter.¡± ¡°Bring materials like that next time as well. It¡¯s hard work, but it¡¯s worth it.¡± Hafran smiled as he saw him off. Everything was now prepared. Taesan waited quietly. [You have summoned Barkaza, the Supreme Spirit of Multicolored Light.] He even summoned Barkaza. Minerva, seeming to understand, asked, ¡°Are you returning to your world again?¡± Taesan nodded. Minerva murmured with interest, ¡°Is it another confrontation with the ancient gods¡­¡± Shwaaak. Space tore apart. Taesan stepped into it. What appeared was a massive hole in the sky. As always, it was a deste Earth. A calm voice echoed from all directions. Among them was a familiar voice. ¡°Everyone, gather around! We¡¯ll do a headcount!¡± The fifth return had begun. Taesan walked in the direction of the voice. ¡°Representatives of each mode! Please count your numbers and report to me!¡± Kim Hwiyeon was shouting energetically. Taesan approached her. ¡°Oh, Taesan.¡± ¡°Are the people okay?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s the fifth time. By now, they should be getting used to it.¡± The people were calmly following Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s instructions. There was no longer any sign of despair or gloom. Kim Hwiyeon spoke quietly, ¡°This time, we don¡¯t know how the quest will proceed, so we need to be prepared in advance.¡± Taesan nodded and spoke to Minerva and Barkaza. ¡°Clear out all the approaching monsters.¡± [As you wish, Master.] ¡°Got it, Master.¡± Minerva and Barkaza took off. Soon, a deafening roar erupted from the surroundings. Taesan looked up at the rift in the sky. From there, monsters were descending to the ground. Perhaps because he had obtained the Word of Power, he could feel the power of the rift more clearly. Taesan chuckled. ¡®Ridiculous.¡¯ Because of that, he could understand. The power contained within that rift easily surpassed mortal strength. The rift itself was a monster. ¡®I still have a long way to go.¡¯ But now he could understand the nature of the rift, something he hadn¡¯t known in his previous life. He was gradually getting closer to their power. Taesan sought out Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok. After sparring with the two for a while, Kim Hwiyeon, who had finished organizing, approached. ¡°Forty thousand in total. Thirty-eight hundred Hard Mode yers survived.¡± ¡°How many were there after thest return?¡± ¡°Forty-six thousand. Over four thousand in Hard Mode.¡± ¡°Low casualties.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve all established a solid foundation.¡± Kim Hwiyeon said proudly. After investing much time, they were now descending thebyrinth stably. Unless someone overestimated their own abilities or got careless, there were almost no deaths. Taesan asked, ¡°What floor are you on?¡± ¡°Thete 40s. We¡¯re almost on the 50th floor.¡± ¡°There, huh.¡± Thete 40s. Taesan spoke to Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°In Solo Mode, the difficulty of thebyrinth changes starting from the base floor. The same might be true in Hard Mode.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Don¡¯t let your guard down just because things were going smoothly. At Taesan¡¯s words, Kim Hwiyeon nodded with a serious expression. ¡°Yes.¡± It wasn¡¯t just idle talk. ording to Taesan¡¯s memory, the difficulty in Hard Mode also changed from the base floor. A clear wall appeared between those who could advance and those who couldn¡¯t. Still, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem for Kim Hwiyeon or the Korean Hard Mode yers. They had already ovee the attacks of the ancient gods on Earth. However, other ces outside of Korea would have a harder time. As the interference of the ancient gods in other countries decreased, some nations might struggle more than in the previous life. The organization wasplete. Then, a system window appeared. [Special Quest Initiated] [This quest is a joint national quest. Designated nations: South Korea, North Korea, Japan, China.] [All yers from the designated nations must gather at one location. Ovee all hardships encountered during the assembly and meet with yers from other nations.] [This quest has no time limit.] [The more influence you exert during encounters with other yers, the more points you will receive upon returning to thebyrinth.] Chapter 306: The Fifth Return, Earth (2) People quickly read through the quest window that appeared. Kim Hwiyeon had a face that looked both happy and ambiguous at the same time. ¡°Hmm¡­ South Korea, China, North Korea, and Japan¡­ But are North Korean yers still alive?¡± ¡°I thought they were all dead since nothing had been posted on themunity.¡± Junggeun murmured. Kim Hwiyeon frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. But¡­ First of all, Japan was included. She had many conversations and exchanged much information with Ichijo Eika, Japan¡¯s leader. Naturally, the rtionship with Japan became close. But China was also included. A country thatpletely ignored other yers, as if they weren¡¯t their allies. ¡°Fortunately, this time, the destination is clear.¡±The ce they had to go was Baekdu Mountain, located between China and North Korea. It wasn¡¯t too far, but there was another issue. ¡°How will they cross over from Japan¡­¡± If the destination was Baekdu Mountain, Japan had no choice but to cross to the maind. The problem was that Japan was an ind nation, meaning they had to cross the sea. And the sea was teeming with monsters. Kim Hwiyeon pressed her forehead, looking troubled. ¡°I¡¯ve discussed it, but what will happen¡­¡± If the quest progressed, it was likely to be centered around the continent rather than Japan, so they had previously discussed having Japanese yers cross over to Korea by sea. But how long it would take and whether it could actually seed was unknown. Taesan spoke up. ¡°I can go and help them.¡± ¡°Mr. Taesan?¡± Kim Hwiyeon, who was momentarily flustered, soon realized something. ¡°Come to think of it, Minerva said she could split the sea¡­¡± The yers in Jeju Ind had been persistently talking about it. Minerva had split the sea. They imed she had god-like powers. But even those who worshiped Taesan as a god didn¡¯t quite believe it. Splitting the sea? It was almost like a divine miracle. Taesan nodded. ¡°I can do it.¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. To actually split the sea. It was unbelievable, even hearing it directly. Taesan continued. ¡°I¡¯ll leave Barkaza and Minerva here and go alone.¡± ¡°What? Without Minerva?¡± ¡°I can do it alone. And the two of them need to stay here.¡± You never know what tricks the High Gods might pull. But Minerva and Barkaza could handle it. If a monster that the two couldn¡¯t stop descended, Taesan, heading towards Japan, would feel the shockwave of that power. He would be able to deal with it adequately. ¡°You said they¡¯re gathering in Fukuoka, right? Just manage people while you rest.¡± ¡°Ah. Thank you, Mr. Taesan.¡± As soon as those words left his mouth, Taesan¡¯s body disappeared. Kim Hwiyeon let out a hollowugh. Even as the strongest in Hard Mode, she couldn¡¯t track his movement. His strength was truly monstrous. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Taesan stepped outside. [You have activated the skill eleration.] [You have activated the skill Leap.] With a thunderous sound, his body soared into the sky. ¡°Phew.¡± Eika wiped the sweat off her brow as she slowly advanced. They would soon reach Fukuoka. After several days of hardships, fighting off monsters, they finally had their destination in sight. But their expressions were not bright. ¡°Ms. Eika. What do we do now?¡± ¡°Well¡­ The destination was Baekdu Mountain. It was ind. They first had to cross Japan and head to Korea as discussed. It was a distance that would take nearly an hour by ne, but they had to cross it relying only on their physical bodies. ¡°What do we do¡­¡± Swimming was out of the question. The deep sea was home to monsters. If they tried to swim across, most would not make it alive. ¡°Damn ind nation.¡± Eika sighed deeply. ¡°Should we try building a ship¡­¡± A sturdy and strong ship that could carry all these people. Eika didn¡¯t know, but in a past life, Japanese yers had indeed crossed over to the maind that way. The fifth return in the past life had a fairly long interval. By then, the yers had gained enough strength to deal with the sea monsters without any issues. Moreover, this quest had no time limit. Although there were a few ships in Fukuoka that hadn¡¯t been destroyed, there wasn¡¯t enough fuel left to carry over 400,000 yers. In the end, they had to chop down trees and melt iron to build several huge ships. And then they sailed toward the maind. The sea monsters that tried to attack the ships were defeated by the Hard Mode yers. It had taken about half a year. Even though they had be superhumans, building ships from scratch wasn¡¯t an easy task. But they had no other option. Eika groaned as she spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s think about it after we reach the port. We¡¯ll slowly proceed after assessing the remaining ships and the situation in the sea. Once.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± People nodded grimly. They headed toward their destination, ready for the hardships ahead. ¡°The sea.¡± Someone murmured. In the distance, the sea began toe into view. Their destination was Baekdu Mountain, but first, they had to reach the port. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± One of the men leading the way suddenly widened his eyes. ¡°That¡­ is that a person?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± At his words, Eika turned her head. As she focused her gaze, she saw someone near the beach. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Wait. Who is it? Was there a yer who arrived first?¡± They rushed towards the figure, surprised. When Eika confirmed who it was, her eyes widened. ¡°Mr. Taesan?¡± Kang Taesan. The Solo Mode yer from South Korea. He was standing on the beach. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived. I¡¯ve been waiting for days.¡± ¡°Why are you here, Mr. Taesan?¡± ¡°I came to help.¡± Taesan answered briefly. Eika asked in astonishment. ¡°Did you cross the sea alone¡­?¡± Taesan nodded. Eika couldn¡¯t help but express her amazement. He had crossed the sea with his own power alone. She could grasp the extent of Taesan¡¯s strength. The Japanese yers, who realized Taesan¡¯s true identity btedly, felt not only reverence but also gratitude. He had crossed the dangerous sea alone to help them. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Taesan.¡± Eika expressed her sincere gratitude. With hope in her eyes, she spoke. ¡°With Mr. Taesan here¡­ we could cross the sea much faster.¡± While Taesan dealt with the sea monsters, they could build a ship and cross to Korea without any interference from the monsters. If everything went ording to n, the time required to construct the ship could be drastically reduced. It was quite possible they could reach Korea within three months. ¡°No.¡± But Taesan said, ¡°We¡¯re crossing right now. Get ready.¡± ¡°Pardon? Right now?¡± Eika was flustered. Crossing right now? There was no way that was possible. A memory shed through her mind, just as she was about to deny it. Japanese and Korean yers oftenmunicated through themunity. Since the distance was close and the cultures were simr, they shared a lot offort in these desperate times. And most of what the Korean yers talked about was Taesan. There was also a story that was so exaggerated she had dismissed it. The story that Taesan could split the sea. Taesan stared at the horizon. The rolling waves. He felt no will within them. They were merely natural phenomena. If that¡¯s the case. Taesan spoke with intent. ¡°Part.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Severance.] ¡°Huh?¡± Eika¡¯s pupils widened. The people who had been quietly murmuring fell silent. ¡°The sea¡­¡± Eika looked at the sea as if bewitched. It wasn¡¯t just her; everyone else was the same. The surface of the sea in front of them was splitting. Beyond the horizon, down to the deep, deep ocean floor, it was splitting, creating a path for them. Fish flopped and jumped into view. No one could speak. They just stared nkly at the split sea. In the silence, Taesan took a step. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Oh, oh¡­¡± The Japanese yers hesitated as they stepped onto the sea floor. They flinched as they looked at the walls of water split beside them. It felt as if the walls would copse at any moment and the sea would swallow them whole. ¡°I never imagined I¡¯d see the bottom of the sea like this¡­¡± Eika murmured nkly. Parting the sea to create a path. It was literally a divine miracle. And the one who performed it was Taesan. ¡®Is this really the power of a human?¡¯ Eika quietly marveled. She knew of Taesan¡¯s power. The momentum he showed at the end, effortlessly trampling Amelia, was beyond her reach. But this was beyond that. Splitting the sea, which stretched from Korea to Japan. ¡°What on earth¡­¡± She knew that the Korean yers worshiped Taesan as a god. She also knew that Taesan had such overwhelming power that he could be mistaken for a god. But this was beyond what she had imagined. Taesan¡¯s power was beyondprehension. The shock was even greater for the other Japanese yers who were experiencing Taesan¡¯s power for the first time. While they had seen Taesan¡¯s power when he defeated Amelia, only a few had witnessed it firsthand. The Korean yers in themunity worshiped Taesan and bragged about his power, but they naturally assumed there was some exaggeration. But that wasn¡¯t the case. If anything, it was an understatement. Rumble! Monsters beyond the sea waved their tentacles to attack, but Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated Decarabia¡¯s Twisted Vegetation.] Boom! Roots rose from the bottom of the sea. They pierced and crushed the monsters, encircling and protecting the tens of thousands of yers. ¡°Lord Taesan¡­:¡± Their reverence turned towards Taesan. Those seeking someone to rely on began to believe in him. [Your proficiency in Divinity has increased by 1%.] They arrived in Korea in just a few hours. Considering it had taken them several days to reach Fukuoka while dealing with monsters, the speed was unbelievably fast. They stumbled as they set foot on Korean soil. Taesan led them up to Seoul. In just one day. The time it took for the Japanese yers to cross the sea and arrive in Seoul. It was natural that Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s eyes widened when she saw them. ¡°You¡¯ve already arrived?¡± Though she was flustered, she guided the Japanese yers to their resting ce. They followed Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s instructions in a daze. A whileter, as they barely recovered from the shock, they shouted. ¡°Lord Taesan¡­!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a god! He¡¯s really a god!¡± They began shouting fervently. Those who already believed in Taesan as a god among the Koreans joined in, and they all started offering prayers of worship. [Your proficiency in Divinity has increased by 1%.] [Your proficiency in Divinity has increased by 1%.] ¡°It keeps going up.¡± Taesan murmured. The number of Japanese yers was ten times that of the Koreans. The speed of Divinity¡¯s increase had elerated as more people worshiped him. It was quite possible that his proficiency in Divinity would exceed 60% in this return. Even Minerva, who was clearing out the monsters, spoke in astonishment. ¡°I¡¯m surprised too, master. Where did you get that word of power? It¡¯s not something permitted to mortals.¡± Minerva was the Spirit King. She knew a lot of information that mortals didn¡¯t. It was only natural for her to have questions about the word of power that Taesan possessed. ¡°Well.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t know either. To understand it, he first had to figure out what Soul Ascension was, but even the Immortal Green Witch couldn¡¯t provide an answer. He wouldn¡¯t realize it until he had descended deep into thebyrinth. Meanwhile, Ichika regained herposure and began to converse with Kim Hwiyeon. She was the leader of Japan. She couldn¡¯t afford to be in awe forever. ¡°There are 450,000 surviving yers in Japan. 110,000 are in Hard Mode.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ten times our number¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon clicked her tongue. She had heard it before, but it was still a lot. Ichika gave a wry smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to be proud of. The situation in Korea was unique.¡± Because of Taesan¡¯s presence, those called the High Gods focused their attention on Korea. In fact, the gap between Korea¡¯s Hard Mode yers and Japan¡¯s Hard Mode yers was quite significant. ¡°Then now¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kim Hwiyeon nodded. ¡°The biggest problem remains.¡± This quest was a joint national quest. Every yer from the designated countries had to gather in one ce. And they had to meet with China¡¯s yers, who had never once responded from Baekdu Mountain. ¡°How many survivors are there in China?¡± How many had survived, what was their atmosphere like, and were they hostile towards other countries? There was no way to know. But still, they had to proceed. Two dayster, after the conversations and some exchanges among the people were over. They headed towards Baekdu Mountain. Chapter 307: The Fifth Return, Earth (3) ¡°Hoo.¡± People caught their breath as they crossed the devastated border. Someone murmured, perhaps to lighten the tense atmosphere. ¡°So this is how I finally set foot on North Korean soil.¡± ¡°I never thought I¡¯d return here¡­¡± ¡°What? Have you been to North Korea before?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a defector.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The person who spoke first awkwardly closed their mouth.They slowly moved forward. Kim Junggeun spoke. ¡°It¡¯s strangely quiet. The air feels different too.¡± It was cold and heavy. The very sensation felt as if it was cutting through. Boom! Soon, a loud noise echoed. As the ground copsed, monsters buried in the earth revealed themselves. [Monster 113454 has appeared.] [Monster 100045 has appeared.] [Monster 100148 has appeared.] Early six-digit monsters. Several C-ss monsters appeared. Taesan took a step back. ¡°Minerva. Barkaza. Stay back.¡± [Understood.] ¡°Okay.¡± The two retreated ording to Taesan¡¯smand. Taesan spoke to the people who were flustered. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to interfere. Try to coordinate while dealing with the monsters.¡± ¡°Oh. Yes!¡± Kim Hwiyeon quickly nodded and shouted. ¡°Everyone, move to your designated positions!¡± yers from Japan and Korea ovepped and moved together. They charged at the iing monsters, kicking off the ground and swinging their weapons. ng! At this point, C-ss monsters could be taken down without much trouble if the Hard Mode yers worked together. Rather than intervening, Taesan prioritized having the Korean and Japanese yers face the monsters to gauge each other¡¯s strength and movement. Initially, their coordination was awkward, but as the battle continued, their movements became more refined. As they began to coordinate, the Japanese yers couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. ¡°Their average strength is much higher than ours¡­¡± The Korean Hard Mode yers had now reached thete stages of the 40th floor. In contrast, the Japanese yers had only just arrived at the early stages of the 40th floor. The difference in power between them was significant. While marveling at the Korean yers¡¯ movements, the Japanese yers couldn¡¯t hide their curiosity. ¡°They¡¯re so strong, so why did only so few of them survive?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± At one yer¡¯s question, Kim Hwiyeon averted her gaze with a vague expression. Her gaze ended at Taesan. Taesan shook his head. Kim Hwiyeon casually changed the subject. ¡°There was some¡­ internal conflict.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The Japanese yer nodded as if understanding. No matter how strong the yers were, if their opponents were other yers, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Japan, too, had lost many people due to conflicts between yers, so they didn¡¯t find Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s words strange. ¡°Is this enough?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan responded to Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s quiet question. He couldn¡¯t tell everyone about the downfall of Earth and the story of thebyrinth. Even if he did, it would be muchter. They were able to defeat the appearing monsters without any casualties. They moved forward without any sacrifices. However, their pace slowed considerably. It was because too many monsters kept appearing. ¡°Why are there so many?¡± Crack. Lee Taeyeon, who had single-handedly defeated a C-ss monster, clicked her tongue. After walking for a few minutes, monsters appeared, and after defeating them, more monsters appeared after a few minutes of walking. It seemed endless. It was as if all humans had been killed by the monsters, and the situation had spiraled out of control. ¡°Are we sure there are still living people here?¡± ¡°ording to themunity, there are¡­ but I don¡¯t sense any presence at all. Are they hiding?¡± Taesan gazed at the horizon. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] The detection linked to reconnaissance brought in information from the surroundings. Taesan sensed the presence of yers gathered in the distance. ¡°Minerva. Bring them here.¡± ¡°No matter how many times I see it, it¡¯s amazing. How do you use the Word of Power?¡± Minerva clicked her tongue and waved her hand. A gust of wind exploded, sending something flying beyond their line of sight. ¡°Waaahhh!¡± Dozens of people were sent flying right in front of them. The people who had been staring nkly at something were suddenly startled by the appearance of these airborne individuals. ¡°What the hell!¡± ¡°Wh-who are they!¡± ¡°Huh, huh¡­¡± About thirty people suddenly flew into Minerva¡¯s grasp. They looked scruffy. While the yers from Korea and Japan hadn¡¯t exactly been keeping up appearances, at least they had managed to trim their hair and wash their faces to maintain some level of cleanliness. However, the people who appeared looked filthy, with unkempt hairpletely covering their faces. Kim Hwiyeon asked cautiously. ¡°By any chance¡­ are you North Korean yers?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Realizing the situation btedly, those who noticed the numerous people surrounding them panicked and grabbed their weapons. ¡°Get up! We¡¯re under attack!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not enemies!¡± Kim Hwiyeon shouted urgently. However, the people who appeared to be North Korean yers did not lower their guard. Instead, their hostility only intensified. ¡°Get lost! Don¡¯te any closer! If you do, we¡¯ll kill you!¡± They shouted fiercely. It was as if they were afraid of human contact itself. As Kim Hwiyeon hesitated, unable to approach due to their strong resistance, Taesan moved. ¡°Let¡¯s calm down and talk first.¡± [Kang Taesan¡¯s Non-Lethal Attack.] ¡°Ugh¡­¡± All thirty yers copsed without being able to resist. Taesan dusted off his hands. ¡°Wake them up one by one and try to calm them down. If they still don¡¯t understand, call me.¡± It was a threat to knock them out again. Kim Hwiyeon muttered. ¡°You¡¯re quite decisive¡­¡± ¡°This is the quickest way.¡± On the previous Earth, people who had cleared thebyrinth and returned, dreaming of a happy future, all went mad, denying reality. Initially, they tried to persuade them with words, but they didn¡¯t listen. It was quicker to knock them out first, cool their overheated heads, and then have them ept reality. Though it seemed violent, it was a method born from countless experiences. The group hastily moved forward, taking the unconscious North Korean yers with them. When the yers awoke, they slowly exined the situation. Some went berserk, while others epted it. Those who went berserk were knocked out by Taesan again and again until they finally listened. And the story that came out of them was enough to shock everyone. At first, the North Korean yers had worked together to survive. The situation was too extreme to think about minor issues. But as the situation settled down and they gained some leeway, they soon reached one conclusion. Who would be the leader? Who would lead the people? They directly confronted the contradictions inherent in North Korea¡¯s hereditary system. The people split. Extremely. They began to kill each other, trying to create the oue they desired. The one with the most power tried to suppress the others with force. But unlike before, those who had been oppressed had also gained power. No, now the oppressed were at an advantage. There were more of them, and this also meant there were more talented individuals among them. Those who had been crushed under oppression and rules rose up. As if they were ready to burn everything to the ground. They didn¡¯t stop. They saw each other as enemies, trying to kill one another like monsters. And so, the oppressed became the new rulers of North Korea. They killed all those who had oppressed them. But the chaos didn¡¯t end there. Those who became the rulers began to oppress others, just as they had been oppressed. Power drove people mad. Those who seized power amidst chaos and battle now wanted to wield that power. They started killing each other again. Even after they returned to thebyrinth, it was the same. Their fight continued even in thebyrinth. Far more people were killed by fellow yers than by monsters as they descended thebyrinth. By the time things had settled down, they had already split into dozens of groups, none of which saw the others as allies. Once they returned to Earth, these splintered groups killed and fought each other, heading north first. The only ones left were thirty Hard Mode yers who didn¡¯t belong to any group. Their story left everyone speechless. It was possible, they thought. Human greed knew no bounds. But hearing the story directly from those who experienced it sent a chill through their hearts. China was a country with many simrities to North Korea. What would China¡¯s situation be like right now? ¡°¡­Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± They swallowed nervously and moved forward. The thirty North Korean Hard Mode yers demonstrated the power they had used to survive the chaotic situation. Now united, they perfectly coordinated to defeat the monsters. They continued to move forward. A weekter, they arrived at Baekdu Mountain. ¡°Wow¡­¡± People couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the breathtaking scenery before them. Even though the monsters had taken over the earth, Baekdu Mountain had not changed much from before. Kim Hwiyeon murmured, ¡°This was on my bucket list, and I¡¯ve finally fulfilled it this way.¡± Baekdu Mountain was covered in snow. Kim Hwiyeon spoke calmly, ¡°There¡¯s a high possibility that this quest will take a long time, so let¡¯s set up a shelter first.¡± Unlike in the city, where they had been so far, they now had to proceed with the quest in a ce devoid of any human touch. At the very least, a simple resting ce needed to be prepared. People began working hard, cutting down trees and clearing thend. Meanwhile, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Taesan, Kim Hwiyeon, and a few others headed towards Cheonji Lake. They intended to survey the surroundings from the highest point to ensure safety. ¡°Wow.¡± Kim Hwiyeon let out a small exmation upon seeing Cheonji Lake. The emotions associated with pure beauty, which had been lost long ago, began to resurface. Ichika and Kim Jung-geun also had their eyes light up. But Taesan remained expressionless. He hade too far to feel emotions such as beauty now. The countless years had taken away several emotions from him. Lee Taeyeon also had a dull expression. ¡°You don¡¯t seem very impressed.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really get it. Is this supposed to be that moving? I¡¯ve never been particrly interested in art or beauty.¡± At her response, Taesan chuckled. In her previous life, Lee Taeyeon had collected artworks. Not because she was interested in them, but as a facade to pretend that she was normal. But now, she no longer needed to wear such a mask. Taesan didn¡¯t think this change was bad. After surveying Cheonji Lake, they descended Baekdu Mountain. ¡°Where did the North Koreans who left first go?¡± Lee Taeyeon asked the North Korean yers, and they answered. ¡°They must have gone to China.¡± North Korea had split into dozens of groups. They were all in conflict, trying to eliminate the other groups. But the risk was too great for them to handle directly. So they borrowed the power of another country. It seemed they were heading to China for that purpose. Lee Taeyeon asked with a perplexed face. ¡°Even in this situation, they¡¯re doing that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t expect rationality. Even in life-threatening situations, many people will throw their lives away for a small profit.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon responded with a troubled expression to Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°Since the Chinese side hasn¡¯t arrived yet, let¡¯s prepare for now.¡± They began to clear out the monsters around Baekdu Mountain. With a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, they waited for the arrival of the Chinese yers. And a weekter. They appeared. ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± Taesan, looking out from the top of Baekdu Mountain, lowered his sword and muttered. Next to him, Lee Taeyeon, who was catching her breath, asked. ¡°Who is?¡± ¡°The Chinese. And there are a lot of them.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Lee Taeyeon stood up and turned her gaze in the direction Taesan was looking. ¡°I can¡¯t see them.¡± ¡°They¡¯re still a few hours away.¡± ¡°¡­You can see that far?¡± After a brief silence, Lee Taeyeon asked incredulously. Taesan stood up. ¡°Let everyone know. They¡¯ll be here soon.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± The news that the Chinese yers would arrive soon spread to everyone. People gathered together, filled withplex emotions, waiting. And soon, the Chinese yers began toe into view. ¡°¡­What?¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s face stiffened. Although her vision couldn¡¯tpare to Taesan¡¯s, it was still quite good. She could read the expressions of people several kilometers away. Her gaze swept from one end of the horizon to the other. Everywhere she looked was filled with people, and even then, it didn¡¯t end. ¡°Wait. How many are there?¡± Others, realizing the number, also started murmuring. Boom! Every time they took a step, the ground shook. When monsters arose and rushed at them, they were literally swallowed by the overwhelming numbers, unable to even slow their advance. People stared nkly as they approached. What caught their attention was an enormous, borate red pnquin at the front of the group. The pnquin was exceedingly ornate. As if they had gathered all the decorations in this broken world, it was excessively extravagant. It had taken the Chinese yers over two weeks to reach Baekdu Mountain. The monsters must have blocked the way, but not a speck of dust had settled on the pnquin. Thud. Dozens of people were carrying the pnquin. It was a sight akin to the procession of an emperor. A gaunt man standing beside the pnquin shouted loudly. ¡°Behold! The Dragon¡¯s Incarnation!¡± He shouted as if he were an attendant following an emperor. ¡°The one who possesses the qualities of a supreme ruler, recognized by Heaven and Earth, who has conquered vastnds and now rules us! The great and noble Emperor has descended upon this ce! All people, bow your heads and worship the Emperor¡¯s majesty!¡± Chapter 308: The Fifth Return, Earth (4) ¡°Emperor?¡± Kim Hwiyeon asked skeptically. An emperor. It was an exceedingly anachronistic term. Yet, all the yers from China bowed at the man¡¯s words. Countless people knelt down and bowed their heads. yers from Korea and Japan looked on in confusion. When they didn¡¯t bow, the desated man scoffed. ¡°Indeed, the lowly ones do not recognize His Majesty¡¯s greatness.¡± He nced around. His face contorted at the sight of the devastatednd and the soils marred by cultivation. ¡°This ce is not fit for the great Emperor to stay! Wait! You lowly ones! First, we will prepare His Majesty¡¯s dwelling farthest from here and then we shall speak again.¡±The man gestured with his eyes. People carrying the pnquin moved their heavy feet towards Mount Baekdu. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± The so-called emperor. People were taken aback by the unexpected situation. Regardless of their surprise, the quest was underway. £ÛSpecial Quest Begins£Ý £Ûyers from various countries have gathered at Mount Baekdu. Those who have not yet arrived at Mount Baekdu within the next week will face severe penalties.£Ý [Prepare your dwellings and brace for monster attacks over the next week. The full quest will begin after a week.] [Choose a representative for each country.] [During this quest, yers from each country cannot harm each other.] ¡°Representative?¡± There were leaders from each country. But it was the first time they were asked to officially choose representatives through a quest. ¡°What do we do about this?¡± ¡°Kim Hwiyeon. You do it.¡± Taesan said nonchntly. ¡°Who else is there to do it if not you? I¡¯m not interested.¡± Kim Hwiyeon had be the leader after oveing all disputes in his region. Now, there was no chance for anyone else to be the representative. If there was anyone, it would be Taesan, but he was not interested. ¡°Ah. Yes.¡± Kim Hwiyeon was chosen as the representative by the people. It was not much different in Japan. Ichijo Eika became the representative without significant dispute. ¡°How will North Korea handle this¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯ll figure it out.¡± It would be difficult for them, divided into dozens of groups, to choose a representative. However, that wasn¡¯t the important issue. More importantly, China. That innumerable number of yers. To Korea and Japan, they appeared as if they were just a handful. Estimating their number was impossible. And they had to proceed with the quest together. yers from Korea and Japan tried to speak to the yers from China, attempting to exchange information and align strategies for battle. But that¡¯s where the problem began. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Could you please respond?¡± The yers from Chinapletely ignored those from Korea and Japan. Even if they were directly addressed or grabbed, they dodged as if they didn¡¯t see them. People were confused. To clear the quest, they needed tomunicate and cooperate. But there was no sign of cooperation from them. ¡°What the heck?¡± Kim Hwiyeon grumbled. ¡°What are they trying to do? Just survive on their own? It¡¯s so strange.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan was puzzled too. The China he remembered from his past life was not like this. Although many yers survived, there weren¡¯t as many as now, and there was no one called an emperor. Instead, it was more like North Korea, with no clear leader and factions fighting amongst themselves. And as the quest progressed and people died, things gradually stabilized. But now, it was totally different. ¡®The guy in the pnquin said he was the emperor.¡¯ And then there was the power he sensed there. Taesan quietly smiled. He had a guess. Just one day passed, and a dwelling was prepared for the emperor. The desated man called them. ¡°His Majesty summons you.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Lee Taeyeon clicked her tongue. The emperor¡¯s dwelling was the epitome of luxury. They used a gymnasium-sized piece of silk to make a tent. Around it were ced luxurious decorations of incalcble value. ¡°Isn¡¯t this something I saw in a textbook?¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s one of the famous beautiful sculptures from China, and it¡¯s here¡­¡± Eika muttered as she absentmindedly touched the sculpture. ¡°What could it be, really?¡± In a situation where humanity¡¯s survival was at stake, where they literally fought for their lives, to bring such a mass of silk and such sculptures was perplexing. ¡°Shall we go in?¡± They still knew nothing about China. How they had survived. The so-called emperor had called for the representatives from each country: Kim Hwiyeon, Eika, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, and Taesan. Only the five of them. The desated man rambled about the precautions to take when meeting the emperor, but they all ignored him. ¡°It looks like they¡¯ve only called us to check out themunity? They never respond though.¡± Kang Jun-hyeok grumbled. Specifically, calling Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, and Kang Taesan meant they knew the three were the strongest in Solo Mode. They passed through the entrance and into the tent. Across from the entrance was a towering throne. Seeing the man sitting on it, Kim Hwiyeon slightly grimaced. ¡°Dragon robe?¡± The man was wearing a dragon robe, attire said to be worn by ancient emperors. The seated man looked down at them and spoke with anguid yet confident tone. ¡°I am Zhenlong. The ruler of Earth.¡± ¡°What nonsense?¡± Kang Jun-hyeok spat out. Zhenlong continued without any change in emotion. ¡°I understand. A crawling insect cannotprehend the thoughts of a flying bird. But I am correct.¡± The arrogance in Zhenlong¡¯s voice was palpable. ¡°You are weak and fragile.¡± Zhenlong dered. ¡°You all need the protection of someone like me, someone great.¡± Zhenlong looked at Kim Hwiyeon. ¡°Chosen representative of Korea, how many yers does your country have?¡± ¡°¡­Forty thousand.¡± ¡°And what about the representative of Japan? How many survivors in your country?¡± ¡°Four hundred thousand.¡± Hearing the numbers, Zhenlong confidently stated, ¡°The yers I lead in China number one hundred million.¡± One hundred million. Overwhelmed by the staggering number, they were at a loss for words. Even considering the originalrge poption of the country, it was an exceptionally high survival rate. Even Taesan was mildly shocked. In his past life, not even a tenth of that number in China had survived. ¡°Forty thousand and four hundred thousand. Truly insignificant numbers without any value.¡± Contemptced Zhenlong¡¯s voice. ¡°As far as I know, both countries had tens of millions of people. And you could only save that many? Are you even qualified to lead?¡± At his words, Kim Hwiyeon and Eika were silenced. ¡°You are not qualified.¡± Zhenlong bared his teeth. The tent began to flutter. The faces of everyone but Taesan hardened. ¡°You are not fit to rule people. That is the limit of your foolish masses.¡± Zhenlong rose from his seat. ¡°Be my subjects. Follow mymands, execute my directives. Then I will save you and protect you as my people.¡± He spoke assertively, like an emperor. Simultaneously, a tremendous power surged from Zhenlong. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon and Eika¡¯s faces turned pale. Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were horrified. ¡®Wait.¡¯ Kang Junhyeok had met Amelia. The power she possessed was monstrous. Kang Junhyeok, who believed he had no equal except Taesan and Taeyeon, thought she possessed a power he could never defeat. But the power Zhenlong now disyed was even more superior. It was untouchable. It was like the power of an absolute being. The power emitted grew even stronger. Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok gritted their teeth and endured, but Kim Hwiyeon and Eika began to bend under the pressure. Zhenlong stated calmly, ¡°ept it. Foolish ones. That is the best choice you can make.¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s lips trembled. It felt like she was being crushed by an overwhelming presence. But she bit her lip. As she remained silent, Zhenlong frowned, about to increase his power. ¡°Thought it was something serious, but it was just this?¡± A quiet murmur was heard. For the first time, Zhenlong¡¯s eyes wavered. Taesan looked at him with a calm gaze, as if he were merely taking a stroll. ¡®What?¡¯ Zhenlong was flustered. Even though Taesan was right beside him, he had not been aware of his presence. Taesan looked at Zhenlong and said, ¡°Interesting.¡± ¡°¡­So you are Taesan, the one who ims to have ventured deeper into Solo Mode than anyone else.¡± Zhenlong showed his teeth. ¡°But you¡¯re still human. You cannot reach me.¡± Zhenlong¡¯s power exploded. All the pressure was directed at Taesan. It was a concentration of tremendous power, pressing down on life itself. Taesan quietly smiled. A very slight power emanated from him. Whoosh! Kim Hwiyeon gasped. The force waves collided, breaking Zhenlong¡¯s pressure. ¡°¡­You?¡± Zhenlong¡¯s eyes shook wildly. Unaware of the circumstances, Kim Hwiyeon and Eika gasped for air and looked on nkly. After a moment of silence, Zhenlong spoke, ¡°¡­The fun is ruined. Get lost. I¡¯ll listen to your responseter.¡± He seemed no longer interested in responding, descended from his throne, and headed out of the tent. As he left, Taesan asked with a smile, ¡°I heard the yers from North Korea went to meet you.¡± The groups, divided into dozens, had moved north to join China. ¡°Where did they go?¡± Zhenlong left without a response. Taesan helped Kim Hwiyeon and Eika to their feet. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ah. Yes¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon struggled to rise. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Taesan.¡± ¡°Ah. Thank you¡­¡± ¡°Brother.¡± Kang Junhyeok asked with a hardened face. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s too strong, isn¡¯t it? Isn¡¯t that like around floor 50?¡± Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were perplexed. While Kim Hwiyeon and Eika only felt immense pressure, the two, who were tackling Solo Mode, directly sensed Zhenlong¡¯s power. ¡°Is there anyone else who has descended to that level?¡± Zhenlong¡¯s power was too strong. Even Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok couldn¡¯t find a way to counter such power. Taesan shook off the intensity and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel it?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t feel it, that¡¯s good enough.¡± Taesan muttered to himself. From the moment he met Zhenlong, he had sensed a massive concentration of power in him. That was not something one could simply obtain by descending through the Labyrinth. Nor was it something one could gain from receiving the attention of a god, like Amelia. The power Zhenlong possessed was a chaotic mix of various forces, so unstable it seemed like it could explode at any moment. And such a type of power was not typically attainable. When Taesan used Essence Detection on Zhenlong, he confirmed it. [ve of a Beast that Craves Life.] Chapter 309: The Fifth Return, Earth (5) ¡°Damn.¡± Inside the luxurious tent, Zhenlong contorted his face in frustration. His n wasn¡¯t supposed to unfold like this. He intended to summon the leaders from Korea and Japan, demonstrate his power, and make even the strongest in Korea submit. He was confident. He had that much power. It almost worked. But Taesan had twisted his n. ¡°¡­Did that guy also make a contract with a great being?¡± Zhenlong frowned. A being had descended to him as he ventured deeper into thebyrinth. This being, filled with endless greed, made a contract with Zhenlong.And with that, he gained a power of a different dimension, albeit at a minor cost. He trusted this power and ventured deeper into thebyrinth. Monsters could not stop him. Nor could the beings iming to be Guides who appeared along the way. Even those who seemed to be leaders among them stepped back, clicking their tongues at Zhenlong. ¡®Just a ve. Leave him be.¡¯ That was what the leaders had said. ¡°Hmph.¡± Zhenlong scoffed. The ugly jealousy from those not chosen by the gods toward him, who was chosen. Though they were indeed stronger than Zhenlong, it was only because they had entered thebyrinth earlier, not because he wascking. He believed there was no one on Earth who could reach him. Even when themunity was buzzing, his opinion did not change. These lowly humans might have power, but still, they couldn¡¯t reach him. However, the power shown by Taesan was astounding. ¡°How dare such a lowly human.¡± He twisted his lips. Unbeknownst to him, a warped aura began to seep out, consuming his mind. Zhenlong exited the tent. Looking down at the world below, all the Chinese bowed, starting to praise his majesty. Zhenlong looked on with satisfaction. ¡°Indeed.¡± He was a god. He was the Absolute. Taesan was undoubtedly strong. But it didn¡¯t matter. After all, he was just a human. Zhenlong examined the skills he possessed. [Life Devouring] This was the skill he had obtained through his contract¡ªa skill that proved his worth. He was the apostle of the great ones, the right hand of the god who came down personally. Taesan might have made a contract with a great being, but he would not receive the same treatment. At least, that¡¯s what Zhenlong believed. Taesan¡¯s power, or that of any other yer, could be overturned by devouring them. Zhenlong smiled contentedly. ¡°A ve.¡± A beast that craved life. The ghost seemed intrigued and muttered. [A beast that craves life. Has this creature made a contract with an adventurer of Earth?] ¡°Seems like you know who it is.¡± [Always starving, a beast that devoured the world and everything in it, making it its own, ascended to immortality through overwhelming power but still couldn''t satisfy its own hunger.] The ghost whispered softly. [It keeps devouring life, trying to satiate its unfible hunger. A being that sees mortal beings as nothing more than prey.] ¡°So such a being made a contract with this guy Zhenlong.¡± The hard mode yers from North Korea had disappeared, and Zhenlong had these mixed powers. It was guessable but not confirmable. He wanted to check by force, but yer conflicts were impossible during this quest. He had no choice but to wait. Meanwhile, yers from Korea and Japan were observing Chinese yers and analyzing them. They refused to talk, but their expressions, attitudes, and nces also gave away their thoughts and feelings. After a day of observing, they noticed something odd. China was divided into four sses: ves,moners, nobles, and the emperor Zhenlong. ves were easy mode yers, doing menial tasks for other groups. The normal mode yers appeared to bemoners. They lived doing what they needed to do. However, they despised the ves and looked down on them with contempt. Nobles were hard mode yers. The ss disparity was clear. ves couldn¡¯t resist whatever themoners did, andmoners couldn¡¯t resist the nobles either. They were bound by untouchable rules. This much was understandable. Even Korea had Seo Jangsan advocating for separation based on difficulty. But they were too violent. Commoners could simply make a dwelling, but ves had to sleep on the ground. Those who defied were taken away and never returned. The separation by mode was also distinct. Easy mode was located on the outskirts where monsters often attacked, while hard mode was safely inside. And theyughed at the easy mode yers being chased by monsters. If Korean and Japanese yers hadn¡¯t intervened, there might have been fatalities. It was very strange. Even though separation by mode was implemented, it couldn¡¯t be perfect. There were plenty of families split between hard mode and easy mode. But such a thing was not at all visible among Chinese yers. ¡°What could it be?¡± Kim Hwiyeon sighed. Cooperation was necessary, but they had no intention of cooperating. It was frustrating. ¡°Shall we eat?¡± It was about time for a meal. Kim Hwiyeon took out some corn. Japanese yers, eyes sparkling, quietly came over. ¡°Just¡­¡± ¡°Feel free toe. We have leftover food anyway.¡± ¡°Ahaha.¡± Eika scratched her head as she approached and was amazed at the spread of vegetables on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s really¡­ impressive.¡± Thebyrinth had preserved food, but it tasted nd and was expensive. If a quest seemed to drag on, it was burdensome to eat carelessly. However, Korean yers had no issues with food. They had various vegetables ready and were eating leisurely. For Japanese yers, who hadn¡¯t eaten proper food in a long time, it was extremely enviable. Korean yers invited the Japanese yers. Thanks to that, Japanese yers who ate fresh vegetables were very happy. ¡°Did you say this was portable cultivation? It¡¯s a really impressive skill.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Kim Hwiyeon nodded as she boiled the corn. It was virtually infinite food. No matter how long the quest went, they wouldn¡¯t starve. ¡°You¡¯ve been growing it from the seeds we gave you?¡± ¡°Ah. Yes.¡± ¡°Try growing it slowly. It just needs to sprout.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Eika expressed her deep gratitude. For Kim Hwiyeon to teach such a skill as portable cultivation without any cost, she shook her head. ¡°I received it too.¡± ¡°Taesan taught you, didn¡¯t he? That person is something else.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Kim Hwiyeon grimaced. Taesan¡¯s power was an unknown even to them. They slowly began to fill their stomachs. There were no seasonings, but the fresh vegetables alone made for a satisfying meal. While continuing the meal, Kim Hwiyeon felt a gaze from a distance. ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t that a Chinese yer?¡± ¡°Huh? Why is he here?¡± Korean and Japanese yers had settled near Mount Baekdu, and the Chinese seemed to dislike being near them so much that they didn¡¯t evene close. But now, a little away from them, a Chinese child seemed mesmerized by their meal. ¡°There¡­¡± As Kim Hwiyeon tried to say something, the child was startled and stepped back but didn¡¯t run away. Instead, he stared intently at the corn in Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s hand. ¡°¡­Shall we finish the meal soon? Let¡¯s not clean up.¡± ¡°What? Oh. Yes.¡± People nodded and left. After they vacated the spot, the child approached stealthily. After that, the child kepting back. Each time, Kim Hwiyeon would finish eating and leave the cleanup undone. With each meal, the child came closer. Now, he was within arm¡¯s reach. ¡°Here, eat this.¡± The child devoured the corn in a hurry. ¡°Th-thank you¡­¡± It took three days before the child spoke. That was the first response they had heard from a Chinese yer. ¡°Afterwards, the child gradually began to talk more. They learned that he was a yer from easy mode who had lost his parents. Kim Hwiyeon stroked the child¡¯s head and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you manage to gather enough gold for food?¡± ¡°Ah, no. I have gold. But as a ve, I¡¯m only allowed to eat once every two days¡­¡± Upon hearing the child¡¯s reply, they fell silent. The child somberly said, ¡°I, I really shouldn¡¯t be talking to you. It¡¯s the emperor¡¯s order. If this gets out, I will¡­ The child trembled like a leaf. Kim Hwiyeon soothed the child. ¡°It¡¯s okay. If anything happens, we¡¯ll protect you.¡± The child¡¯s trembling slowly subsided. Kim Hwiyeon asked in a calm voice, ¡°Can you tell us how China has changed?¡± The child stammered and began to speak. ¡°Zhenlong was a solo mode yer.¡± He was talented. Instead of being stuck at the entrance of solo mode, he meaningfully progressed through thebyrinth. However, he did not possess the one-man army power of someone like Taesan or Amelia. He was undoubtedly talented and strong, but not enough to ovee multiple hard mode yers. Nor did he have the charisma to lead people. In the vast country of China, he was merely a slightly outstanding solo mode yer. ¡°But during the third return, he suddenly became powerful and came back.¡± Literally, Zhenlong returned to Earth with a power that no one could approach. And with that overwhelming power, he began to conquer China. He killed all the monsters that appeared and anyone who disobeyed his orders, along with their families and acquaintances, were all ruthlessly eliminated. There were leaders in each region of China, but Zhenlong killed them all. The mere reason was that they dared to act as if they owned China. There were those who resisted. Those who tried to rise in rebellion. But they all died. A rule drenched in blood and fear was established. People listening to the story were deeply shocked. The child quietly continued, ¡°But¡­ paradoxically, the number of deaths actually decreased.¡± Because an overwhelmingly powerful being had appeared, fewer people died in disputes. Even the monsters could not surpass Zhenlong¡¯s overwhelming power. He alone dealt with the waves, so there were hardly any deaths from monsters. The owner of overwhelming power. Opposition was impossible. The yers of China began to worship him. They believed he was a god, an incarnation of a dragon. ¡°Kind of like Mr. Taesan,¡± Kim Hwiyeon said while rying the child¡¯s story to Taesan. Zhenlong, as if it were natural, epted people¡¯s worship. He established a hierarchy. Even if they were family, if there was a ss difference, they had to follow the rules unconditionally. There were those who resisted or were ufortable, But all were erased by Zhenlong¡¯s hand. People became ustomed to oppressing those from different groups. ves were not treated as humans, and they themselves began to see such treatment as normal. A group formed for just one person. ¡°Knowing that such a world is possible¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon trembled slightly after finishing the story. Taesan too could have done exactly what Zhenlong was doing. Taesan¡¯s power was of that magnitude. However, Taesan had delegated all authority to her and did his utmost for their survival. Thanks to China, they were able to realize anew how altruistic Taesan was. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan quietly sorted out the story. If he truly made a contract with an immortal, an ordinary yer could not resist. ¡°So, it¡¯s dominion by power, is it?¡± Taesan, having sent Kim Hwiyeon back, muttered with a cold expression. ¡°Not much to it.¡± Mind control. Or contamination of thought. He had expected something along those lines, but it was merely worship by power. Trusting such shallow power to rule over people. He could somewhat understand what had happened. Zhenlong, while descending in solo mode. He must have hit his limit, and a beast craving life approached him. Why it had chosen Zhenlong, he couldn¡¯t know. The psychology of immortals was not easy to understand. But what¡¯s certain was that he traded human lives for power through a contract. ¡®A beast craving life.¡¯ And the mixed, innumerable powers Zhenlong possessed. Kim Hwiyeon mentioned that they couldn¡¯t find the North Korean yers who went to China. They must have all been killed by Zhenlong. And that¡¯s not all. A significant number of dead Chinese yers must have been sacrificed to the immortal. ¡°Given that it didn¡¯t exist in my previous life, did my presence allow the immortal to intervene?¡± The gaze of the High Gods was focused on Taesan alone. And to that extent, other countries were able to escape the influence of the High Gods. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say it was the best situation for an immoral immortal seeking life to intervene. ¡°Faith.¡± Taesan looked towards Zhenlong¡¯s residence in the celestial realm. With his divinity, Taesan could see the immense, hundred-million-strong belief converging there. The power contained in that belief surpassed the faith Taesan was receiving. But the power of faith was wavering aimlessly. Zhenlong was not the vessel to receive that faith. That faith was a power without a master. Zhenlong was receiving worship by power. If there were someone stronger than Zhenlong, that object of worship could change. ¡°Is it worth a try?¡± Chapter 310: The Fifth Return, Earth (6) Time passed without any particr events. yers from Korea and Japan tried tomunicate with those from China, but except for a few in Easy Mode from the lower ss, they couldn¡¯t establish any significant rtionships. A week went by, and the quest began. [Special Quest Begins.] [For the next week, monsters will continuously swarm.] [They won''t stop. They won''t rest.] [Protect yourself from the onrushing monsters and defend your territory.] yers from Korea and Japan stood firm in their positions, while those from China also took their ces in readiness for the monster attacks. ¡°There are disgustingly many of them.¡± Kim Hwiyeon eximed as she looked at the ranks of people standing.A hundred million people could not fight on an ordinary battlefield. They created an enormous battlefield centered around Mount Baekdu. With this number, she thought they could ovee the challenge without much difficulty. Just as she thought this, monsters appeared. Koo-goo-goo-gung¡­ ¡°Uh, uhuh.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Faces hardened. Monsters were charging from beyond the horizon. And their numbers were incalcble, fitting for the hundred million yers. A number of monsters they had never seen before. They gritted their teeth. ¡°Everyone, get ready!¡± Kim Hwiyeon shouted roughly. yers from Korea took up their weapons in formation. And Taesan waspleting his alchemy. Kee-ing. A blue light swirled around where the Korean and Japanese yers were, enhancing their physical and regenerative abilities overall. ¡°Fight within this area if you can.¡± Creating a territory for a hundred million to fight in was impossible with Taesan¡¯s current abilities. But at least making one for Korea and Japan to fight in was doable. ¡°Ah. Yes!¡± ¡°Thank you, Taesan!¡± The people thanked Taesan as they prepared for the charging monsters. Unlike the Korean and Japanese yers preparing for the monster attack, all the yers from China were bowing towards Zhenlong. ¡°Emperor, please protect us!¡± In front of the battlefield, Zhenlong stood with a haughty expression. ¡°Ugly monsters are approaching.¡± Zhenlong¡¯s soft voice spread across the entire battlefield. ¡°Behold. My power.¡± Power began to seep out from Zhenlong. People held their breath as they watched him. Zhenlong bared his teeth. ¡°This is the power of an absolute being.¡± Boom. The power exploded from Zhenlong. An overwhelming force surged towards the monsters. Kwaaaang! It exploded as if a meteor had struck. Hundreds of monsters were blown apart at once. No matter how outstanding the yers were, they couldn¡¯t match this overwhelming manifestation of power. The Chinese people were astonished and eximed loudly. Even as monsters charged, they bowed their heads and chanted Zhenlong¡¯s name. They epted his worship as if it were due. ¡®Worship me, you lowly creatures.¡¯ He deliberately appeared near the territories of Korea and Japan. He showed them his power, to make them worship him. Taesan was definitely strong. His power might even be superior to his current self. But when it came to destructive power, it was a different story. In the case of a regr yer, they were strong in a 1:1 but could not exert great power against many due to the narrowbyrinth¡¯s nature and the principle of skill acquisition through experience. And Zhenlong judged that Taesan would be no different. He was strong, sure, but he thought he could never match him in such a vast battlefield. So he showed a different level of power from the start. A wide-reaching power that could simultaneously knock down hundreds of monsters. Zhenlong unleashed his power again. Koo-goo-goo-gung! Hundreds of monsters couldn¡¯t even get close and disappeared. The Chinese people were even more astonished. Zhenlong smiled slyly as he looked behind. He saw the reaction of the Korean and Japanese yers, and his eyes flickered for a moment. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Is there another person as strong as Taesan?¡± They were clearly amazed by Zhenlong¡¯s power. The destruction and might he disyed were beyond their reach. But that was it. They showed no more than admiration. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan quietly watched Zhenlong wield his power. ¡°It¡¯s unstable, as expected.¡± The mixed and intertwined power. By absorbing many powers, Zhenlong had inted his own, but the stability and quality were deplorable. If faced with a suitable opponent, there would be no need to defend against it. That was Zhenlong¡¯s limit. He didn¡¯t realize it himself, but by walking the wrong path, he could no longer grow stronger. And that mixed power would one day escape Zhenlong¡¯s control, leading to his ruin. ¡°So he¡¯s a ve.¡± He merely dispensed lowly power in exchange for lives as sacrifices. An immortal who saw mortals only as prey. Taesan moved forward. As he stepped in front of the people, monsters rushed at him. Opening their jaws to devour him, Taesan raised his fist. Kwaaaang! A roar erupted. The range of his punch exploded all the monsters within it. The range of power Taesan released was much wider than that of Zhenlong. Seeing this, Zhenlong and the Chinese yers were shocked. Then, Taesan rolled his foot. [You have triggered an earthquake.] Grrrung! The ground copsed. As if the ground itself disappeared, massive sinkholes appeared beneath the monsters¡¯ feet. The monsters floundered as they disappeared deep into the earth. Silence pervaded. Amidst the shock, Taesan moved quietly. Crunch. He crushed a monster¡¯s head. Swinging his arm wide, the monsters that came into contact were crushed, and even those untouched burst from the impact. The monsters now visible were at most C and B grade. Taesan could handle them just by moving. ¡°Wow!¡± Overwhelmed by Taesan¡¯s formidable power, yers from Korea and Japan also advanced with cheers. Taesan literally possessed god-like power. And such a being was protecting them. Energized, they began to desperately defeat the monsters. yers from China joined the battle btedly. ¡°For the emperor!¡± However, their criescked strength. Zhenlong too defeated monsters with a stern face. His power was certainly tremendous. But beside him was Taesan. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll return now. You handle the rest.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Ten hourster, as night fell, Zhenlong left the battlefield. With a stern face, he walked towards Mount Baekdu. Even at night, the monsters did not stop appearing. yers, exhausted, took turns defeating them. And Taesan never left the battlefield, continually crushing the monsters. The next day, Zhenlong reappeared. He was noticeably stronger than the day before. His intermingled power had grown but had be more unstable. ¡®Did he manipte it again?¡¯ He fought beside Taesan with this enhanced power. Yet, he still couldn¡¯t match him. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Magic Separation.] [You have activated Magic eleration.] Dozens of split beams of light were fired at the monsters. Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] Light burst forth. The world was enveloped in white light that blinded everyone. When they barely opened their eyes, all the charging monsters had disappeared. ¡°Ooh¡­¡± People¡¯s attention converged on Taesan. Not only yers from Korea and Japan but also those from China. The efforts of Zhenlong, who had been diligently defeating monsters beside Taesan, were gradually forgotten. Zhenlong¡¯s expression became even sterner. The Chinese yers hurriedly praised him, but his expression did not ease. ¡°Mr. Taesan, are you alright?¡± Kim Hwiyeon looked at Taesan with awe. Taesan had been fighting non-stop for two days now. Even Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok had taken brief rests due to exhaustion. But his expression was unchanged. ¡°There aren¡¯t any strong monsters anyway.¡± Taesan replied. They were just C or B grades. At this level, he could literally fight for years. ¡°Huh.¡± Kim Hwiyeon gasped in astonishment. Taesan continued to fight. He moved around the entire battlefield, blocking where necessary and saving lives. But Zhenlong took breaks in between. His power was mixed and intertwined. Once used, it took time for the power to stabilize. A being they believed was a god had appeared, much stronger and absolute. People¡¯s faith began to waver. ¡°Aaaah!¡± A Chinese Easy Mode yer, a serf, let out a despair-filled moan. Right in front of him, a monster was rampaging. Other serfs tried to block it, but as Easy Mode yers, they had no chance against a C grade. All they could do was serve as meat shields. ¡°Gasping!¡± He moved desperately. It wasn¡¯t just him. All those fighting on the front lines were serfs. In China, the ss disparity was distinct. Naturally, the dangerous tasks were the serfs¡¯ responsibility. Serfs fought on the front lines, blocking the monsters¡¯ movements, while the nobles joined the battleter. Naturally, countless serfs died. But no one could resist. After all, they had Zhenlong, an absolute being, their god. Crunch. A friend he had been talking to just yesterday dies right beside him. Child, elderly, woman, man¡ªserfs hoped for salvation in a situation where death spared no one. ¡°Emperor, please¡­ save me.¡± But the words did not continue. Zhenlong had never saved them, not even once. He just ruled them with absolute power. Bang! The front line copsed. A monster swung its whip-like arm. He sensed his impending death. Crunch. At that moment, a monster¡¯s head was crushed. A man with ck hairnded in front of him. The serf stared nkly at him. His hair fluttering, the man with a cold demeanor raised his hand. [Kang Taesan has activated Frozen World.] [Kang Taesan has activated Magic Concentration.] And a harsh cold swept through. An icy wave surged forward. The ground froze, and the air turned frigid. The serf groaned. All the monsters charging at him froze solid. Hundreds of monsters he couldn¡¯t have stopped on his own, not even one. The man who had dealt with the monsters immediately moved on. The serfs, who had narrowly escaped death, struggled to their feet. ¡°¡­Kang Taesan?¡± They knew the man¡¯s name too. Zhenlong had prohibited conversations with people from other countries, but they couldn¡¯t control people watching themunity. They had seen many discuss the strength of someone called Taesan. A strong man. But they thought he couldn¡¯t reach Zhenlong. Such was the absolute power Zhenlong had shown. But. The serf was about to touch the ice that had frozen the front lines when he recoiled in shock. Even without touching it, the tips of his fingers froze. Getting any closer would mean his entire body would freeze, costing him his life. Even with his meager power, he could tell that Taesan¡¯s power surpassed Zhenlong¡¯s. Zhenlong didn¡¯t save them. He just ruled with power. But Taesan saved them. And his power was also above Zhenlong¡¯s. The object of their faith began to waver. Chapter 311: The Fifth Return, Earth (7) Monsters continued to appear. Their numbers were increasing and growing stronger. The number of people dying was rising, and the battlefield was slowly being pushed back. And Taesan, still at the forefront, was crushing the monsters. Kuwoong! He stomped his foot. The earth copsed, and the bodies of the monsters fell underground. He swung his sword to chop them up and then stomped his foot again. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated skill eleration.] Kwaah!Like a ballista, his elerated body pierces through the monsters. Dozens of monsters vanished with a single strike. Cheers burst from around. ¡°Lord Taesan!¡± ¡°Oh! Please protect us!¡± Among those who worshiped Taesan were also yers from China. A significant number showed respect and admiration towards him. [Your divine power proficiency has increased by 1%.] Divine power also began to slowly rise. Already, a significant number of Chinese yers were worshiping Taesan. Naturally, most of them were Easy Mode yers. Chinese Easy Mode yers were given the status of serfs, living practically like ves. They worshiped Zhenlong because of his overwhelming power. But Taesan showed even greater power than Zhenlong and protected his followers, unlike Zhenlong. It was natural that their faith was shifting to him. Serfs talked among themselves about Taesan. The story spread, and even those who had never seen Taesan began to believe in him. And Minerva and Barkaza were also scattered on the battlefield, defeating monsters. The power they showed was monstrous, which strengthened the faith directed towards Taesan, their master. Zhenlong watched this trend and gritted his teeth. ¡°Pathetic creatures.¡± He wanted to kill them all, but he couldn¡¯t. They were still following Zhenlong¡¯s orders not to interact with yers from other countries. It wasn¡¯t a direct vition of the rules; they simply worshiped Taesan. But his anger was boiling. The anger and irritation towards Taesan grew stronger. After defeating the monsters, Zhenlong returned to his abode and called the yers. ¡°What brings you here, Emperor?¡± Following Zhenlong¡¯smand, the Hard Mode yers who came to his abode swallowed their saliva. They were not as strong as Zhenlong¡¯s personal guards, the top Hard Mode yers, but they still took pride in their strength. In fact, Zhenlong¡¯s personal guards could not easily defeat them. However, they were trembling now. There were rumors among the nobility about people who went to meet Zhenlong and never returned. People said it was just a rumor. They must have died fighting monsters, but fear lingered in their hearts. Zhenlong, sitting on the throne, spoke to them. ¡°Be mine.¡± His power exploded. A dense power engulfed the tent. They tried to run away in fright, but it was useless. They were all buried by Zhenlong¡¯s power without any resistance. Gururuk. A sound as if something was being swallowed followed, and the power was retracted. The power of the Hard Mode yers he swallowed mixed inside him. ¡ª-eu. Zhenlong shook his head, storing the power. His head felt like it was going to break. Ever since a certain point, he felt nauseous every time he swallowed a life. Zhenlong calmed his headache and wielded his power. The power that exploded was significantly stronger than before. With this power. Zhenlong bared his teeth. But still, it did not reach. [Kang Taesan has activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] The ck wave that seemed to swallow the whole world trampled and crushed all the monsters. All eyes turned to Taesan. They burst out in astonishment and cheers. Right next to them, Zhenlong, who had been smashing dozens of monsters, waspletely forgotten. Zhenlong¡¯s face hardened. People¡¯s faith was gradually shifting to Taesan. And the proficiency of divine power noticeably increased, reaching 60%. [Divine Power] [Proficiency: 60%] [The power of God. Originally meaningless, but as many people''s beliefs gathered, it became divine. People''s beliefs and faith have be divine, able to exert a meaningful influence on the world.] ¡°Faster than I thought.¡± He didn¡¯t expect it to reach 60% yet, as it had only been four days since the quest began. As expected, the number of Chinese yers was overwhelmingly high, so the rise was very fast. Kim Hwiyeon, who had been resting, approached Taesan, who was checking his skills. ¡°Mr. Taesan, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Checking skills.¡± ¡°Skills?¡± Instead of answering, Taesan raised his hand. Kiing. Golden light materialized over Taesan¡¯s hand. Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Uh¡­ what?¡± The light itself was not surprising. The light of the starlight arrow Taesan showed before seemed bright enough to burn one¡¯s eyes. In contrast, the current golden light seemed fragile, as if it would go out soon. Her surprise was for another reason. ¡°No activation window?¡± Usually, before using a skill, the activation system window must appear. But now, even though Taesan clearly created golden light that seemed like a skill, no activation window appeared. ¡°And¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon was mesmerized by the golden light. A very weak, tiny light that seemed to go out if covered with a hand. But something swelled up in Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s heart as she looked at the light. Pure admiration. And a feeling of faith emerged. She wanted to bow and worship the light. There was nopulsion. It was just what her heart wanted. ¡°¡­What is it? I¡¯ve never seen it before.¡± It wasn¡¯t a typical skill. A sensation she had never felt before wasing from the golden light. Taesan responded. ¡°Your faith. Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not the first time you¡¯ve seen it.¡± Lakiratas and the Demon God also descended on Earth. However, Kim Hwiyeon was too weak to properly feel their divinity, so she thought it was something new. ¡°Huh? What is that¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon, not understanding, was about to ask again but closed her mouth. ¡°¡­people¡¯s faith?¡± ¡°You catch on fast.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Kim Hwiyeon chuckled sarcastically. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe. Was that originally possible?¡± ¡°It would normally be impossible, but I¡¯m an exception.¡± He had gained divine power by defeating a god¡¯s angel in Vekveta. That¡¯s why he was able to receive people¡¯s faith and gather that power together. Otherwise, like Zhenlong, the power of people¡¯s faith would have been scattered without direction. What could he do with this golden light then? Taesan looked at Kim Hwiyeon. Her face looked tired as she trembled slightly from muscle fatigue. ¡°Did youe here to rest?¡± ¡°Ah. Yes. I¡¯m a bit exhausted.¡± She massaged her arms. Kim Hwiyeon and other Korean Solo and Hard Mode yers had been literally fighting monsters with all their might. They must havee to rest after reaching their physical limits. ¡°Just stay still for a moment.¡± Taesan sent the golden light towards her. A faint pir of light enveloped her entire body. ¡°What are you doing now¡­ Huh?¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s eyes widened. Her darkplexion began to turn pinkish. The trembling muscles stopped shaking. Her exhausted mind regained vitality, and her energy returned. ¡°Uh¡­¡± And the stamina she had lost in battle was restored. Kim Hwiyeon was very bewildered. ¡°No way. This.¡± Physical and mental fatigue were almost impossible to recover without leveling up or drinking water from the Labyrinth¡¯s fountain. Taesan watched her transformation with interest. ¡°A recovery of stamina and fatigue. It seems not everything has recovered.¡± It wasn¡¯t like leveling up where all stamina and fatigue were restored. But she was now able to fight again. After observing Kim Hwiyeon for a moment, Taesan manifested his divinity again. The golden light appeared, though it was weaker than before. ¡®I can¡¯t use it too often.¡¯ The total amount wasn¡¯trge. Additionally, the amount consumed seemed to vary depending on the recipient¡¯s strength. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem for a hundred Kim Hwiyeons, but for someone at Taesan¡¯s level, it would almost be depleted with just one use. As long as he continued to receive faith, it would refill over time, but it would take quite a while. However, even considering that, it was a powerful force. During the battles in the Labyrinth, it was not easy to create an opportunity to use potions. But with divinity, he could restore his stamina at least once. The specific effects would need to be checked after entering the Labyrinth, but it was excellent. Even the ghost was astonished. [A level of divinity that should only be permitted to gods, and yet this undeveloped one handles it. Really ironic.] ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Mr. Taesan¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon muttered nkly. ¡°You really are a god of Earth.¡± Even Kim Hwiyeon, who did not regard Taesan as a god, felt a reverential power in him. Seeing her reaction, Taesan stroked his chin. Her response indicated that merely witnessing the divinity evoked awe and worship. What would happen if he used divinity while moving around the battlefield? The contemtion was brief, and his action was swift. Taesan spread the power of divinity while defeating monsters. Those at the front lines, about to copse from exhaustion, regained vitality from the golden power. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°God! Our God!¡± People cried out at the power of the golden light. Stamina was restored, and fatigue vanished. And from the light came an overwhelming sense of awe. Even those who had been skeptical of Taesan¡¯s power bowed their heads in respect after seeing his divinity. Their faith in him strengthened even more. ¡°Master. At this rate, you might as well possess true divinity.¡± Minerva chuckled at the sight as Taesan¡¯s divinity grew stronger. And upon hearing this news, Zhenlong was on the verge of madness. ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhenlong shouted harshly at the one who brought him the news. He trembled violently as he suppressed his anger. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! Please forgive me!¡± ¡°If you havemitted a death-worthy crime, you should die!¡± Energy burst forth. The frightened man was swallowed up on the spot. ¡°Huff. Huff.¡± Zhenlong breathed heavily. No one was around him anymore. Those who always ttered him, and those he had always favored, had slowly distanced themselves as Zhenlong became increasingly violent. His teeth ground together. The respect and worship in the eyes of the people looking at him were fading. Fear and distrust were filling their ce. That made Zhenlong unbearably angry. ¡°How dare they!¡± Foolish beings! They had forgotten who had been protecting them, seduced by such power! The power mixed inside him insidiously eroded his sanity. Zhenlong was going mad. He was still maintaining his sanity by a slim margin, but that was also nearing its limit. He had even swallowed up his own personal guards, whom he had always kept close. The power he had gained swept away the monsters, but the people¡¯s fear of him only grewrger. Just yesterday, his personal guards who had been summoned by Zhenlong to his abode had never returned. Until now, he had managed to keep rumors from spreading, but now he no longer had the sanity to discern. As days passed, rumors about the disappeared yers spread. And so time passed until thest day arrived. No monsters appeared. It was eerily quiet, as if everything had ended. But no one was happy. Instead, they held their weapons quietly in fear. Then a passage opened. Dark, dense passages appeared endlessly beyond the battlefield. ¡°Everyone, get ready!¡± Kim Hwiyeon shouted harshly. The cracked passages expanded, and monsters appeared. [Monster 351 has appeared.] [Monster 121 has appeared.] [Monster 945 has appeared.] Dozens of Grade-A monsters appeared. People¡¯s faces turned pale. They did not know the strength proportional to the numbers, but they could feel the formidable power emanating from the monsters. Kuwoong! The ground trembled. A mountainous ck giant appeared. Holding a club in one hand, the giant looked down at the humans and opened its mouth. Shouts rang out. People covered their ears in pain. Their bodies, tempered in the Labyrinth, couldn¡¯t withstand it and trembled. [Monster 14 has appeared.] Chapter 312: The Fifth Return, Earth (8) ¡°Is it a double-digit monster?¡± Taesan calmly observed the giant. People clenched their teeth. yers from Korea had seen it before, but for Japanese and Chinese yers, it was their first encounter with a double-digit monster. The power emanating from the monster was beyond their ability to handle. Just looking at it threatened to break their spirits, and their bodies trembled. They all knew instinctively that they couldn¡¯t win, even if they attacked together. But it didn¡¯t end there. From the opened passage, countless triple-digit monsters appeared.Each of these triple-digit monsters was too strong to be defeated even if dozens of Hard Mode yers attacked together. Hundreds, thousands of these monsters were surrounding them. However, they did not despair. Their faces set, they grasped their weapons¡ªan existence with absolute power, guarding and defeating monsters for them. Taesan¡¯s presence prevented them from falling into the terror of death. They could win. People sent such a look of belief towards Taesan. ¡°Minerva. Barkaza. You know?¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll go help elsewhere.¡± [Do not die. Master.] ¡°I won¡¯t die to such enemies.¡± Minerva and Barkaza disappeared, and people eximed. And Zhenlong looked on with a face full of displeasure. ¡°Lowly creatures.¡± But at the same time, it was an opportunity. If he could defeat the monsters that the lowly creatures feared, he could regain their worship. Zhenlong moved quickly. He charged at the monster. Bang. An A-grade monster at the forefront rushed at Zhenlong. Zhenlong pulled up his strength, showing his teeth. Kwaang! Power exploded. The full power of the A-grade monster and Zhenlong collided. This was not the mediocre A-grade he had seen before. This was a real A-grade who had killed numerous Hard Mode yers in the dying Earth. Kagagagak! Zhenlong was not pushed back by such a monster. Instead, he was overpowering it. ¡°Heh!¡± Zhenlong, forgetting the surroundings, focused on the fight. The power inside him burst forth, engulfing the monster. The monster tried to resist and counterattack but was slowly pushed back. ¡°Die!¡± Zhenlong clenched his fist. The released powerpressed and crushed the A-grade monster. ¡°Huh.¡± Zhenlong wiped off the sweat flowing down and smiled in victory. He had defeated a triple-digit monster without much difficulty. ¡°Look!¡± He spread his arms roughly, like a ruler. ¡°I am your master!¡± He grinned and turned to see people¡¯s reactions. And then he hesitated. He had been fully engaged in fighting a single A-grade monster. He had no idea what was happening around him. He saw dozens of fallen A-grade monsters in his view. He hurriedly looked around. Taesan had already passed him and was running ahead. Koo-woong! Dozens of A-grade monsters rushed to kill Taesan. Taesan, holding swords in both hands, stepped forward. [Kang Taesan activated Gale sh.] Kwajik. The sword moved. The sweeping sword wind caused a storm, shredding everything around it. Dozens of blocking A-grade monsters were sliced at once. ¡°Ooooooh!¡± ¡°Yeah, as expected!¡± People who were fighting also eximed at the sight. The sight of Zhenlong defeating a single A-grade wasn¡¯t even noticed by them. ¡°This, this.¡± Zhenlong stuttered, unable to contain his rising emotions. Meanwhile, Taesan had reached right in front of the giant. [----!] The giant roared, raising its arms. A club charged with earth-shattering power mmed down. Taesan raised his sword. Zheeeeeeng! ¡°Aaaagh!¡± The ensuing whirlwind sent people flying. Monsters were no different. Just the collision of simple power made all beings nearby roll on the ground. Zhenlong was no exception. ¡°Ah??????¡± Zhenlong, covered in dust from rolling on the ground, nkly watched the fight. ¡°Uh¡± ¡ª ¡ªI. With a groan, Lee Taeyeon swung her sword. The smoothly curved trajectory of her sword deflected the monster¡¯s attack. Kagagagak! In the created gap, Kang Jun-hyeok stabbed. The monster wildly swung its body, responding to their attacks. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok nted their feet with firm resolve. Kagagagak! Sword and monster flesh collided. Minutester, theirbined attack brought down the A-grade monster. ¡°This really makes no sense.¡± Lee Taeyeon caught her breath. She and Kang Jun-hyeok possessed power unrivaled by anyone except Zhenlong and Taesan. They were confident they could win easily, even if ten Hard Mode yers attacked them. However, this triple-digit monster was not easy to bring down, even with theirbined efforts. ¡°This is not good.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Lee Taeyeon muttered, ncing around. ¡°Aaaagh!¡± ¡°Kill it!¡± People and monsters collided. And the only ones falling were the yers. Hundreds in Easy Mode charged at a single A-grade monster. When the monster violently shook its body, they all fell away, never to rise again. Kwaang! An A-grade monster with a massive body charged across the battlefield. A few Hard Mode yers tried to block it but were scattered like dominoes. The situation was dire. With only Easy Mode,bat was not sustainable, and even with Hard Mode¡¯sbined attack, it would take the deaths of at least hundreds to barely bring down one monster. No exchange was possible. Minerva and Barkaza were probably defeating monsters, but the numbers were overwhelming. ¡°Hoo.¡± She steadied her breath. Her body trembled. She wanted to flee and hide right then and there. But she gripped her sword tightly and moved forward. Kaang! Her sword shed with the monster. Pushed back, she quickly moved to counter the monster¡¯s attack. Kang Jun-hyeok supported her from behind. Kagagagak! ¡°Kill it!¡± ¡°Crush it!¡± People shouted. Despite countless people dying, their morale did not decrease; it only grew. Koo-woooong¡­ The earth trembled as if an earthquake had urred. The collision of forces split the sky. ¡°Is that the power of the depths¡­ It¡¯s unimaginably powerful.¡± ¡°We can reach it too, though it¡¯ll be a while.¡± ¡°I guess so. Still hard to grasp, though.¡± Lee Taeyeon shook her head, holding her sword. Though the battlefield with Taesan and the giant was far away, they could still feel the power waves from there. With each vibration of that wave, people¡¯s morale grew even stronger. Taesan was battling a giant that seemed unbeatable, where even all of humanitybined could not prevail. They could win. Shouting Taesan¡¯s name, they charged. Even those who did not worship Taesan began to sing his praises, swept up in the heated atmosphere and extreme conditions. Millions of new believers began to emerge. Taesan continued to sh swords with the giant. Zheeeeng! The vibration spread across the earth. The force felt through the sword made Taesan increase his distance. A-grade monsters ranged from 1 to 99. The monster before him was clearly an S-grade. However, even within the S-grade, the power difference between numbers was significant. From 1 to 9, and then from 10 to 99, there was an insurmountable gap between S-grade monsters. This meant that if it were a two-digit S-grade, Taesan could win quite easily. The High Gods must have known this too. So why send such a monster? Taesan nced back. On the battlefield, many yers were being killed by monsters. And the giant was quietly watching Taesan. Rather than attacking first, it merely countered Taesan¡¯s moves. ¡°Just like before.¡± Tie down Taesan, and meanwhile, target the other weaker yers. It was a simple but very effective method. Then Taesan¡¯s course of action was clear. Faster than anyone, sparing no expense to bring down the giant. Taesan elerated towards the giant. The giant swung its club. Kwaang! It only grazed the ground, but the earth copsed. Still, an S-grade is an S-grade. Taesan had the strength to withstand it head-on. But he was overwhelmingly faster. The giant had no special abilities, only wielding its club. The strategy was simple. Taesan nted his feet. As he charged, the giant swung its club down at him. Taesan nted his feet again. The ground where the club and earth collided copsed. It shattered like a puzzle, revealing its innards. The aftermath spread even to those fighting far away. ¡°Woaaaah!¡± Lee Taeyeon staggered greatly as she blocked a monster, sending a look of incredulity. ¡°What the¡ª¡± A t in had split into cliffs. It was literally a battle that changed the map. Taesan ran across the copsing earth. With his bncing skills, unstable footing was no issue for him. The giant, seeing Taesan charging, swung its club fiercely. A whirlwind swirled, forming a massive storm. Kagagagak! Taesan swung his sword fiercely towards the storm. [You have activated Gale sh.] The wind created by the swinging sword enveloped Taesan. He pierced through the storm. Wind collided with wind, scattering. The giant¡¯s strength was not a special ability but physical power. Meaning, without footing, it struggled to attack properly. [You have activated Earthquake.] Kurung! The already crumbling earth began to elerate its copse. Taesan spoke. ¡°Copse.¡± His deration, filled with will, prated the earth, and the earth obeyed. The ground caved in. Their bodies began to fall. The falling giant moved its arm, but without footing, the swung force was not strong. Taesan spread his wings. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] [You have activated Landing.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] Kwaang! His body elerated, striking the giant¡¯s club. The club shook violently, and the giant¡¯s body began to fall faster. Taesan clung to the giant, swinging his arm. [You have activated Partial World Alteration.] Karak. The root of the wrist guard ruggedly expanded. Everything around was shattered. The debris of the earth turned to sand and vanished as the giant¡¯s club was roughly hewn away. Zheeeeng! The giant¡¯s body opened up. Taesan wielded his sword. [You have activated Vital Point Targeting.] [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Transformation.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated the de of Fighting Spirit.] [Monster 14 takes 105,480 damage.] With a pain-filled scream, the giant¡¯s body was driven even deeper into the ground. Kwaang! How far had it fallen? With a loud crash, the giant hit the ground. The giant rose again, swinging its club wildly. Taesan, who had easily dodged the attack, held a pitch-ck wedge in his hand. [You have activated Amon''s Pitch-ck Wedge.] Kwaang! The giant crashed into the earth again. Taesan wielded his sword against the suffering giant. Kwajik. [Monster14 takes 26,840 damage.] [¡ª¡ª!] The giant, pierced deeply in the chest, let out a roar. The muscles throughout its body hypertrophied, and the giant regained its vigor, starting to attack wildly. But Taesan was no longer there. ¡°Is this the berserk pattern?¡± The giant-type¡¯s berserk mode. When health drops below a certain percentage, power and speed momentarily increase. This meant that the giant¡¯s health had significantly decreased. It seemed to have taken considerable damage during its fall into the depths. [You have activated Sabnock''s Thread of Agony.] [You have activated Random Blink.] Kwaang! ck threads exploded, shredding the giant¡¯s body. Taesan, having moved to the sky through Random Blink,nded and elerated, trampling the giant. [You have activated Vital Point Targeting.] Taesan pierced the sword through the giant¡¯s chest. The giant swung its arms at Taesan with a roar, but it was futile. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] The giant, a monster that attacked using only physical strength, was thus an opponent against whom Taesan could almost perfectly utilize attack nullification. During the three activations of attack nullification, Taesan drove dozens of sword strikes into the targeted vital point. A continuous stream of damage appeared. Frost swept through. Roots that prated the world stopped the giant¡¯s movements, and mes that could burn the world scorched the giant. Mana and magical energy rapidly depleted. But that was no problem. Taesan raised his divine power. Mana and magical energy were replenished. Taesan continued to manifest magic. Once mana and magical energy had depleted again, the giant fell. [You have defeated Monster 14.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Your proficiency in Twisted Spirit Adjustment has increased by 4%.] ¡°Sure has a lot of health.¡± Mana and magical energy werepletely drained. Defeating it wasn¡¯t difficult, but the giant¡¯s health was iparably greater than anybyrinthine entity. However, the giant-type, though high in health, had nothing special otherwise, allowing for a quicker-than-expected victory. With Soul Ascension, the proficiency in Twisted Spirit Adjustment now exceeded 60%. Taesan looked at the fallen giant¡¯s corpse. The giant was certainly strong. In terms of holding Taesan back, the giant had fulfilled its role. But something wascking. The gods showed greed towards Taesan. They targeted Taesan personally. It seemed unlikely that such greedy and powerful beings would hold back from killing people just to target Taesan. Taesan emerged from the copsed underground and headed towards the battlefield. There, people were still risking their lives against A-grade monsters. Taesan stomped on a monster¡¯s head. Those who saw him were brightened. ¡°Lord Taesan!¡± ¡°You have triumphed!¡± Instead of responding, Taesan moved. With Taesan joining, the monsters quickly perished. People also shouted his name as they fought against the creatures. After some time. [Special Quest Cleared.] The questpletion window appeared. They had won. The people cheered joyfully. ¡°We won!¡± ¡°Hurrah!¡± They looked at Taesan with eyes filled with joy. ¡°Lord Taesan! Thank you!¡± ¡°The Great One!¡± Everyone praised Taesan. Even yers from China were loudly calling his name. The strength of the double-digit monster was felt by everyone on the battlefield. They had sensed imminent death, but against such a monster, Taesan returned victorious. And without a scratch. No one doubted Taesan¡¯s power anymore. Without him, they all would have perished. Everyone began to call his name in worship. [Your Divine Power proficiency has increased by 1%.] [Your Divine Power proficiency has increased by 1%.] [Your Divine Power proficiency has increased by 1%.] Divine power surged steeply. Taesan looked at the people. All eyes were on Taesan alone. And looking at that scene, Zhenlong¡¯s face twisted endlessly. Chapter 313: The Fifth Return, Earth (9) They had won. People rejoiced and cheered, hugging each other in celebration of their victory. However, they couldn¡¯t just revel in victory forever. Their victory was not perfect, and there were mountains of things that needed to be sorted out. Kim Hwiyeon looked around with a stern face. Dead bodies were scattered here and there, forming small hills. ¡°Let¡¯s clean up.¡± She said quietly. People also started to collect the bodies, putting the joy of victory behind them. Taesan helped them as well. Besides collecting the bodies, there was much to be done. The number of surviving yers. It was necessary to ascertain how many yers had survived from each mode.Thus, yers from various countries naturally had to converse. ¡°Um, hello.¡± The Chinese yers greeted them nervously. Although they had faced each other countless times and even conquered the Wave together, this was the first time they had spoken. Kim Hwiyeon greeted them with a smile. ¡°Yes, hello.¡± The invisible walls between them began to disappear. Once the ice was broken, they eagerly exchanged stories. And there was someone who was very displeased by this fact. ¡°How dare you!¡± Zhenlong shouted angrily. The yers who were quietly talking shuddered. ¡°I told you! Do not dare to speak with people from other countries! It will corrupt you!¡± Zhenlong trembled with anger. A surge of power enveloped Zhenlong. ¡°Are you saying you won¡¯t listen to me!¡± ¡°But, but¡­¡± ¡°Zhenlong¡­¡± ¡°This time I will forgive you mercifully! But if you mingle your words even once more, I will kill all of you!¡± However, people took an awkward stance at Zhenlong¡¯s outburst, not bowing down to him. They just sent him looks of inconvenience. Zhenlong¡¯s face twisted endlessly. ¡°How dare!¡± How dare they not listen to him, a great being, a ruler! Zhenlong¡¯s power began to boil. Despite the massive wave of power, people¡¯s faces only paled, but they did not follow Zhenlong¡¯s words. They just nced around. ¡°How dare you divert your gaze while I am speaking!¡± Zhenlong also harshly turned his gaze away. There, Taesan was quietly watching him. Zhenlong, who was about to unleash his power for punishment, trembled. Fear was apparent in his gaze toward Taesan. ¡°Get lost!¡± Eventually, Zhenlong could not unleash his power and shouted roughly. He collected his power and vacated his spot. People¡¯s gazes towards Taesan became even more intense. Zhenlong, who had been the ruler of China, was no longer their leader. Zhenlong had been worshiped and ruled over the people because of his power. Without power, he was a being of no worth. But a being far stronger than him, Taesan, had appeared. People no longer worshiped Zhenlong. Zhenlong felt this but could only remain silent, having already lost his influence. And this was slowly twisting Zhenlong. And regardless of him, time kept flowing. Kim Hwiyeon, who was appointed as the temporary representative, and Geum Junggeun, organizing the number of survivors, frowned. ¡°Why isn¡¯t the quest ending?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I wonder. The return window isn¡¯t appearing.¡± Geum Junggeun replied. The Wave had ended. The absence of any new quest indicated that this was the end. But the window to return to thebyrinth was not appearing. ¡°Is this really the end?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t even cleared thebyrinth yet, so that can¡¯t be it.¡± ¡°Then why isn¡¯t anything appearing? It¡¯s making people anxious.¡± Kim Hwiyeon grumbled. Taesan stepped outside. ¡°Take a break.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Stepping outside, Taesan soared to the skies. The Chinese yers bowed down with exmations, their worship deeper and more profound than that of Korean and Japanese yers, perhaps because they had been originally dominated by the being called Zhenlong. Taesan, having reached the clouds, opened his skill window. [Divine Power] [Proficiency: 72%] [The power of the gods. Initially meaningless, it became divine through the umtion of many people''s faith. People''s faith and beliefs have be divine, able to influence the world meaningfully.] After clearing the quest, the proficiency of Divine Power had sharply increased. He had felt that he might reach 100% proficiency during this return. However, the rate of increase in Divine Power¡¯s proficiency dramatically slowed down once it reached 70%. While it¡¯s normal for the speed to decrease with higher proficiency, this was abnormally slow for Divine Power. ¡°Is mere faith not enough?¡± [At 100%, you might achieveplete divinity, but mere millions of ordinary faith are not enough. One of the paths to transcend mortality?] After closing the skill window, Taesan looked down from the heavens. Numerous lives entered his senses. Zhenlong, who possessed the power of immortality, was also there. ¡°What should I do with him?¡± The ve of the immortal. Zhenlong, the ruler of China. Since the start of the Wave, rules likebat restrictions had long disappeared. He could kill Zhenlong at any time. However, he hadn¡¯t done so. Zhenlong still had power, and although he was a coercive ruler, he remained China¡¯s ruler. Killing him recklessly could lead to even greater chaos, so Taesan had left Zhenlong alone. Of course, Zhenlong had lost the people¡¯s trust and faith. Now, if Taesan killed him, no yer would likely object. But even so, Taesan couldn¡¯t bring himself to kill Zhenlong. ¡°Would touching him cause his backer to try and kill me?¡± [Probably.] Zhenlong belonged to the immortals. The immortals had made Zhenlong a ve because they desired something. If Taesan interfered with Zhenlong, it was likely that the immortals would be hostile towards him. [The life-desiring beast is a unique immortal among immortals. It neither desires transcendence nor envies potential mortals. It merely wants to satiate its hunger.] The ghost continued speaking. [As much as that is the case, it might not be targeting you... but if anyone obstructs its desires, even a transcender might be torn apart.] A ravenous beast that was only interested in satiating its hunger, nothing else. For such an immortal, things like the conflict between high gods and gods were of no interest. There was no need to turn the immortal into an enemy. Thus, Taesan had not killed Zhenlong. And the quest had not yet ended. The high gods surely had something in mind. Now was the time to wait until the high gods made their move. Everyone cried out Taesan¡¯s name. Zhenlong¡¯s existence waspletely forgotten by the people. Once worshiped by all Chinese, he was now utterly abandoned. Zhenlong watched the people with a hardened face. Despite being right beside them, they showed no interest in him. ¡®How dare they.¡¯ Who had protected them all this time, these ungrateful beings! His emotions surged. The people around him flinched and distanced themselves, finally noticing Zhenlong¡¯s presence and hesitantly backing away. ¡°Ah¡­¡± There was no faith or belief on their faces, only the appearance of wanting to avoid him. Fury surged within Zhenlong, and he tried to engulf them. But Zhenlong had no choice but to leave silently. He was scared. Taesan¡¯s power made him seem like a child. It was clear what would happen if he carelessly provoked them. Zhenlong himself was now experiencing the emotions others felt towards him. Eventually, unable to do anything, Zhenlong trudged back to his dwelling in the heavens. No one worshiped him anymore. He wanted to kill them all, but Taesan¡¯s presence prevented it. Frustration made Zhenlong clench his fist tightly. This shouldn¡¯t be happening. This was wrong. He needed to be worshiped by the people. They were supposed to follow him. ¡°This is wrong.¡± A gloomy voice echoed. Mixed powers began to erode his brain. Skills contracted with the life-desiring beast. Life Predation. The effect of this skill came from killing lives to absorb their power. Even if the power exceeded what the user could handle. Zhenlong¡¯s power was not that great. However, using Life Stealing, he had continued to absorb powers beyond what he could handle. The unmerged and mixed powers had long been corrupting his mind. Zhenlong had sustained himself with people¡¯s worship until now. But now, their worship has disappeared. Zhenlong had gonepletely mad. He sneered. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡± Zhenlong sprang up. Emerging roughly from the tent, he cried out to the sky. ¡°Great God! My master, the great beast that devours all things!¡± He shouted with bloodshot eyes. ¡°Please grant me greater power! Allow me to be your servant!¡± It was a call. The only permission granted to a ve who had transcended mortality was to call out to his master. Zhenlong spoke harshly. ¡°In return, I will offer all the yers of China!¡± They did not worship him. They were no longer the ones he needed to protect. If so, he could sacrifice them without anyints. After all, they owed their lives to him. Who would dare to object if he used them for his own purposes? With twisted thoughts, the heavens opened. The great one began to assert its presence in response to the ve¡¯s call. People below in the heavens felt a chilling sensation and turned their gaze. ¡°Ohhhhh!¡± Zhenlong trembled with eyes trembling. The great one has descended! The one who makes even Taesan look like a mere bug! Suddenly, the space expanded, and its form became visible. From beyond the fluctuating darkness, the cry of a revered being was heard. ¡°O God!¡± Zhenlong knelt and cried out. ¡°Please give me the power to epass the world and trample that vulgar one!¡± Quietly, the beast beyond the darkness began to creep towards Zhenlong with its power. ¡°Oh, ohhh!¡± Zhenlong shuddered with joy. He was receiving power¡ªthe kind that made even Taesan seem insignificant! As he reveled in his newfound strength, he sensed a presence behind him. Zhenlong turned around with a smirk, finding Taesan staring intently at him. ¡°Hahaha! Look! Mere beings! I will reach a higher ce!¡± He boasted loudly, mocking Taesan. However, Taesan did not even nce at him. His gaze was solely on the beast beyond. Crack. The beastughed. The power reached Zhenlong, and he shuddered at its grandeur. ¡°Oh¡­ I, I am¡­¡± Bing great. At the moment Zhenlong was about to be intoxicated by the power. The power that had reached him was slowly consuming him. The essence within the power was not what he had expected. It was plunder. Taesan watched indifferently. ¡°As expected.¡± There were several constraints if a transcended being tried to interfere on earth. It¡¯s difficult for the life-desiring beast to achieve its desired consumption. Thus, they made mortals their ves. They made a contract with a ve to grant them the power to devour life. Whether the ve was consumed by the power was irrelevant. The ve¡¯s only job was to devour many lives and satiate the beast¡¯s hunger. To the life-desiring beast, Zhenlong was neither more nor less. ¡°Wait, wait.¡± Realizing this, Zhenlong frantically tried to retreat, but the beast¡¯s power firmly held him. Zhenlong cried out with a terrified face. ¡°Don¡¯t do this!¡± The beast quietly devoured Zhenlong. The lives he had devoured. The power he had umted while descending into thebyrinth. All of it was about to be food for the beast. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Zhenlong howled. This couldn¡¯t be happening. He, who had once been the master of all of China, was bing nothing. Despair and fear overwhelmed him. His already distorted mind became even more shattered, no longer human. It reached Zhenlong. ¡°Ah?¡± Even as everything was being taken from him, Zhenlong trembled momentarily. Pure darkness began to erode inside him. It asked if he wanted power. Zhenlong couldn¡¯t muster a response. Even one ced in such a dire situation could not utter ¡°yes¡± due to the pure fear that was consuming him. At the moment of eptance, it felt as if his very existence would disappear. But he was already broken. With no ego or reason left, Zhenlong unknowingly answered the question. Kwoooong! At that moment, a massive force struck the beast that was about to devour Zhenlong. The repelled beast howled fiercely. A roar that shook all things and crumbled the world itself covered the power. Crack. But it was crushed. The immortal¡¯s power distorted and vanished as if it had no value. With the cries of a beast robbed of its prey, the life-desiring beast was chased away. Taesan stomped his foot. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated skill eleration.] Using all sorts of skills, Taesan attacked Zhenlong. At the moment Taesan¡¯s sword aimed for Zhenlong¡¯s neck. Crack. A massive curtain of darkness blocked Taesan¡¯s sword. Taesan stepped back, clicking his tongue. ¡°Still not possible?¡± ¡°Uh, uh.¡± Zhenlong¡¯s body began to twist. Taesan drew his sword. Zhenlong was a ve to the immortal. He was already a twisted and broken being. Taesan thought if the high gods were targeting something, it would be Zhenlong, and indeed it was so. Therefore, he had tried to kill Zhenlong while the immortal and the high gods were in conflict, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated that the high gods would expel the immortal with such force in one go. ¡°Uh, uh.¡± Zhenlong¡¯s body continued to twist. No longer could a human shape be discerned, nor could Zhenlong¡¯s ego be seen. [Ooooooooo!] A shout struck the world. A system window appeared toward the copsing body. [Special Quest Start] [Defeat the monster.] [A distorted being that has ceased to be a life has appeared.] Chapter 314: The Fifth Return, Earth (10) Chapter 314: The Fifth Return, Earth (10) ¡°Sigh.¡± ¡°Good job, Noona.¡± ¡°You too, Junggeun.¡± Finally, the rough sorting was done. Kim Hwiyeonid her body on the table. Hard Mode. Even for her, who had entered thete 40th floors, there was so much to handle that she felt exhausted. But now, the rough sorting was over. All that was left was to rest until she returned to thebyrinth. As she was about to get up to finally catch the sleep she had put off, Whiiiing! A massive wave struck them. Kim Hwiyeon froze in the posture of getting up. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Wait.¡±Geum Junggeun¡¯s face also hardened. They hurriedly rushed outside. ¡°What is that?¡± They looked up at the heavens in shock. The sky was opening above them. The power felt from there was literally absolute power. A pure concentration of force that was impossible to even estimate. Everyone who felt the wave of power froze. Especially Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok, who were in Solo Mode, were hit harder. ¡°Uh¡­ ¡°God? What is this?¡± There had been a few times when gods had descended before. But the feeling now was strange. It was more ferocious, more unnatural. It was when they were staring nkly at the heavens. Kugugugung! Suddenly, a colossal force mmed down on the heavens. The collision of forces distorted space, causing people to scream and copse. Simultaneously, a roar erupted from the heavens. It was the cry of a beast craving life, screaming not to lose what was its own. Everyone covered their ears. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok clutched their heads in agony. ¡°Ugh.¡± Lee Taeyeon covered her mouth. Even though they weren¡¯t the target, their minds felt shaken. Kuuuung! As if the roaring entity was pushed back, the sky that had opened in the heavens began to close. And then the mutation began. [Oooooooo!] A roar struck the world. A twisted, distorted being began to swell and cover the heavens. ¡°What is that!¡± Kim Hwiyeon screamed. She thought everything was over. She couldn¡¯t keep up with the sudden events. Fortunately, the system window informed them of the situation. [Special Quest Initiated] [Defeat the Monster.] ¡°A special quest?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t over yet?¡± They murmured among themselves,ing to a conclusion. ¡°Does that mean we have to defeat that thing?¡± At someone¡¯s mumble, everyone looked up at the twisted monster in the heavens. A monster so broken that its form couldn¡¯t be properly recognized. ¡°Ah¡­¡± People who were staring at the monster grabbed their heads. They staggered back, retching. [Chaos Judgment in Progress...] [Madness Judgment in Progress...] [Mental Copse Judgment in Progress...] ¡°Aaaaaaaah!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± People clutched their heads in agony. Some had already failed the judgment and began to go mad. Kim Hwiyeon gritted her teeth. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t look at it!¡± Just looking at it was enough to copse the mind. But that wasn¡¯t the end. From the heavens, a ck energy was slowly oozing down likeva. They didn¡¯t know exactly what it was, but they instinctively realized it. If they touched it, they would no longer be human. ¡°Get back!¡± Kim Hwiyeon shouted harshly. ¡°What is this¡­¡± In the midst of the chaos, they began to flee from the oozing energy. Taesan, who was ncing down, summoned spirits. [You have summoned Minerva, the King of the Wind Spirits.] [You have summoned Barkaza, the highest-grade spirit of vibrant colors.] [Master, what is that?] ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t that the guy who was supposed to be Zhenlong? Why has it be something that doesn¡¯t belong to this world?¡± ¡°Those guys interfered.¡± As soon as they appeared, Taesan roughly exined to the two who were confused. ¡°Watch over that area down there.¡± Minerva and Barkaza quickly grasped the situation as they saw the oozing ck energy. The two nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± [As you wish, Master.] Minerva¡¯s body disappeared and reappeared in front of the people. Those who had been hastily retreating from the ck energy widened their eyes. Minerva swung her arm. The wind exploded,pletely blowing away the ck energy. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°Lady Minerva!¡± People eximed in awe. But Minerva frowned. It was heavy. Even for a Spirit King, the energy was strong enough that she had to use considerable force to block it. Kim Hwiyeon cautiously approached. ¡°Lady Minerva, that monster is¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± It was a being more foreign than any monster she had ever seen. ¡°Can something like that exist in this world?¡± It was a question that came to mind. Kuuuung! And then, a sh of forces began in the heavens. Minerva looked up at the heavens and quietly muttered. ¡°Win, Master.¡± [Ooooooo!] The monster, which was no longer Zhenlong, howled. With its broken and twisted arm, it struck down towards Taesan. Taesan stomped his foot, narrowly avoiding the swinging attack. Kuuuung! The attack that struck down shattered the heavens. Mount Baekdu began to stir. Intense heat started rising from the cracked earth. Taesan spoke as he looked at the volcano, which had started spewing smoke. ¡°Stop.¡± Kiigik! The volcanic activity halted due to the Word of Command. The smoke ceased, and the heat that seemed ready to pierce the earth began to calm down. [Oooooooo!] Then the monster charged at Taesan. [The opponent is an unbeatable foe.] [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You have activated the Vessel of the King.] He activated skills rted tobat one after another. The monster, having lost its intellect, began rampaging wildly. Everything began to copse, and the mountains started to erode. Kagak! Taesan blocked the monster¡¯s attack. The force was too much for Taesan to bear, and his body was pushed back as if repelled. The monster moved its broken body with such speed that it was difficult to track with the eyes. Taesan swung his sword, relying on instinct and senses. Kaaang! Taesan¡¯s body rolled on the ground again. The monster stomped the ground and leaped into the air, aiming to crush Taesan with its massive body. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan¡¯s body moved right above the monster. He then struck down with his sword, using all eleration in the attack. Kaaang! [You dealt 1233 damage to the twisted being that is no longer alive.] But the sword did not pierce. It was repelled as if it had struck a solid iron wall. The monster shuddered as if in turmoil. Taesan activated Air Leap to avoid the wild, erratic attacks. [Oooooooo!] The monster roared and leaped. ¡®Fast.¡¯ It was difficult to respond by sight; Taesan had to rely on reading its senses and intentions. ¡®Strong.¡¯ Even in terms of pure stats, it was far superior to Taesan. Just shing with it was enough to push Taesan¡¯s body back, making it hard to defend. ¡®And tough.¡¯ Defense wasn¡¯t an issue for Taesan, who had Absolute Judgement. It meant the very nature of the monster was superior to Taesan. [Oooooooo!] With a roar, the monster¡¯s body grewrger. It became as massive as a small hill, violently swinging its broken body. [You have activated Amon¡¯s Pitch-ck Spike.] A ck spike materialized in Taesan¡¯s hand. He hurled the spike at the monster charging to crush everything. An explosion erupted. And the one being pushed back was Taesan. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] ¡°Ha.¡± Taesanughed. Just by shing strength against strength, his attack nullification had been consumed. ¡®This is tough.¡¯ It was the level of a monster that had defeated Taesan in his previous life. ¡°This won¡¯t be easy.¡± The monster leaped again. The force that could copse a mountain range descended upon Taesan¡¯s head. People screamed and fled from the approaching ck energy. Minerva frowned and summoned the wind. The ck energy was pushed back and dispersed. But the energy continued to draw closer. ¡°Tsk.¡± Minerva clicked her tongue. She was the King of the Spirits. She had powerparable to the depths of thebyrinth. But in her summoned state, she couldn¡¯t use her full power. She was barely holding back the spreading energy by gathering all her strength, but she was nearing her limit. ¡®At this rate, I¡¯ll be forcibly unsummoned soon.¡¯ Minerva looked around at the people and made a decision. ¡°Once. I will push with all my strength, so escape immediately when I do.¡± ¡°Wh-What?¡± Minerva began gathering her strength. She braced herself for being forcibly unsummoned and began to concentrate all her remaining power. It was at the moment she was about to unleash it. [There¡¯s no need for that.] A calm voice resonated. A massive presence descended before her. Minerva¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°¡­Mother?¡± [The Spirit God, Beatrice, has descended.] Without a corporeal body, a wavering spirit appeared. The Spirit God had shown itself on Earth. The aura of the Spirit God flowed out. Compared to its true form, it was a very weak, almost insignificant power, but the power of nature perfectly surrounded Mount Baekdu. The ck energy struck the natural barrier, but there was no sign of wavering. [These troublesome things have been meddling, so I¡¯m a bitte.] Beatrice spoke indifferently, gazing at the copsed heavens. [They¡¯ve crossed the line in a very strange way. Thanks to that, we¡¯re also able to interfere.] ¡°¡­Mother, were you able to descend to another world?¡± Minerva was bewildered. On Earth, the concept of spirits did not exist. It wasn¡¯t an area that Beatrice, the Spirit God, could interfere with. Beatrice answered. [This ce is a neutral domain. It¡¯s a world where both they and we have set foot. It¡¯s a very unique and alien ce, so it¡¯s possible.] ¡°O¡­ Oooo¡­¡± The people looked at Beatrice and awkwardly bowed. They did not even have the ability to perceive a fragment of Beatrice¡¯s power. However, the overwhelming reverence that couldn¡¯t be hidden welled up in their hearts. Beatrice turned her gaze to the people. She looked at Lee Taeyeon for a moment and then spoke. [There is another whom you should worship. Offer your prayers to him.] ¡°Ah¡­¡± Only then did people recall who was fighting the monster. The people knelt. They sped their hands and began to pray. ¡°Lord Taesan¡­¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± Until now, the people had believed in Taesan and worshipped him as a god, but that faith had been amon one offered to a strong person. But now it was different. The ck energy that instinctively provoked rejection. The monster in the heavens that would shatter their minds just by being faced. And the battle where Mount Baekdu itself crumbled. It was a sight that could literally drive one insane. Even for those who had be ustomed to various situations, it was an alien sight, as if the veryws of the world were being destroyed. In this extreme situation, people began to believe that Taesan was their only savior. The pure aura of belief, untainted by anything else, flowed towards Taesan, who was in the heavens. Beatrice watched this quietly. [How peculiar.] Faith was the power of human belief. The belief of hundreds of thousands, even millions of people, was not something that a human could typically ept. There were those who had received divinity by epting the belief of people, but most of them were beings who were born with a certain level of divine status, not humans. But Taesan, despite being human, was epting faith perfectly, without any loss. The Spirit God was the god of spirits. She had existed in this world since the time when the concept of spirits first appeared. There might be stronger gods than her, but there were few gods older than her. Even she had never seen a case like Taesan. [Show me, mortal. The power you possess.] [Oooooooo!] The monster roared, thrashing its body wildly. The ground copsed and was destroyed. Taesan swung his sword to block, but he had no choice but to allow the attack. Kaaaaang! [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] Taesan clicked his tongue. All his attack nullifications had been used up. But it wasn¡¯t without gain. He had figured out how to defeat the monster. [You activated Frost Arrow.] An arrow of ice flew out. The monster could easily dodge it, but instead of dodging, it charged at Taesan. The arrow collided with the monster. ¡®A monster that disregards defense and charges forward.¡¯ It was as if the monster didn¡¯t consider Taesan¡¯s attacks to be a threat. It didn¡¯t bother with defense. The pattern of the rampaging monster was readable because it had no intellect. If he focused solely on dodging, he could avoid the attacks. But there was another issue. [You dealt 1320 damage to the twisted being that is no longer alive.] The monster¡¯s level was far too high. Even when Taesan¡¯s attacks hit, they didn¡¯t inflict significant damage. Hecked power. But Taesan continued to move. If hecked power, he would simply have to attack more. Just as he was about to charge at the monster, A colossal force descended. Taesan paused. The monster also hesitated, perhaps sensing the powerful wave. Taesan turned his gaze. A being with great power had descended next to Minerva. ¡°The Spirit God?¡± She manifested her power, creating a barrier around them. The ck energy that had been spreading was blocked. The High Gods had certainly crossed the line by interfering with Zhenlong. He had anticipated that a god would intervene. It was a good thing. Now he could focus solely on the battle. The faith of the people, who had been confused and fleeing, grew even stronger. It was strong enough that Taesan could feel it. [Your proficiency in Divinity has increased by 2%.] The rise in Divinity. [Oooooooo!] The monster charged. Taesan didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, he used the monster¡¯s force to drive his sword into it. [You dealt 2431 damage to the twisted being that is no longer alive.] [You received 44353 damage.] In an instant, his health dropped to below half. Taesan enveloped his body in Divinity. His depleted health rapidly recovered, and his mana and magic power also replenished. But the Divinity quickly ran out. However, Divinity was derived from the faith of people. Now, millions of people were giving all their faith to Taesan. The depleted Divinity quickly replenished. In just a few seconds, his Divinity was restored to its original state. [Your proficiency in Divinity has increased by 1%.] Chapter 315: The Fifth Return, Earth (11) Kaang! He dodged the monster¡¯s attack and thrusted his sword. The monster roared fiercely and swung its arms wildly. The monster was faster and stronger than Taesan. It was impossible to perfectly evade its attacks. But it didn¡¯t matter. The moment his health dropped, it instantly recovered in a sh of golden light. Taesan strengthened his stance and shed with his dual swords. The monster was slightly pushed back by the impact. [Dealt 3631 damage to the Twisted Being that is no longer alive.] Ooooooh! The monster howled.Its entire body thrashed wildly as it swung its arms in all directions. Taesan, who had created some distance, began to gather his mana. The Divinity restored not only mana but also magic. Without the need to worry about the consumption of mana and magic, he could now use a method that was previously impossible. [You have activated the Frozen World.] A storm of frost swept over. The monster roared, shattering the cold with the power contained in its howl. [You have activated the Frozen World.] Taesan invoked the magic again. [You have activated the Frozen World.] He invoked it again and again, casting the Frozen World over a hundred times in an instant. The entire copsing world froze over. At first, the monster shattered the cold, but it couldn¡¯t withstand the continuous onught of the fierce cold and was pushed back. The Frozen World was an intermediate magic. Even for Taesan, using it like this would quickly deplete his mana. Taesan summoned his Divinity. The depleted mana was restored once again. Frost surged as light exploded. A pitch-ck wave engulfed the monster, and roots sprouted. The ck tendrils tore through the earth, carving wounds into the monster¡¯s body. Mana and magic were quickly depleted and then replenished again. [You have activated the Twisted Vegetation of Decarabia.] The passage to the demon was opened. Pouring all his magic, he summoned the roots of the demon to descend upon the world. Ku-gu-gu-gu-gung! The roots pierced through the earth, shooting up and towering into the sky. Rather than roots, they resembled a single tower. The monster, impaled by the roots, let out a roar. It then began advancing, crushing and smashing through the roots. The debris from the roots exploded in all directions but waspletely erased by Beatrice¡¯s barrier. ¡°So damn tough.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and gathered his mana again. ¡°Oooooooh!¡± And the people were watching. Darkness, light, and cold surged together. At the same time, a bright golden light filled their vision. People¡¯s faith deepened. Even Beatrice watched with interest. [Is this the divinity wielded by a mortal?] The Spirit God was the god of spirits. Originally, it was a being that possessed divinity, not one formed by faith. Thus, the sight of a mortal wielding divinity, fueled by people¡¯s faith, was intriguing to the Spirit God. [But this is not all, is it?] Beatrice knew about the power that Taesan possessed. [Show me. Show me what only you possess.] Ka-ga-gak! He swung his sword, widening the distance. Taesan looked at the monster with the same unwavering gaze as before. [Divinity proficiency has increased by 1%.] Along with the proficiency window, his senses changed. As he dodged the iing attacks and checked the skill window, he saw that his Divinity proficiency had reached 80%. ¡°That¡¯s fast.¡± He thought it would only reach that level by the next return, but it was already at 80%. The changed senses taught Taesan how to wield Divinity. Taesan gathered his Divinity. The golden light that radiated from his entire body began to burn everything around like the sun. Ooooooo! The monster¡¯s entire body ignited. The response was more intense than any reaction the monster had shown so far. [Dealt 1631 damage to the Twisted Being that is no longer alive.] [Dealt 2251 damage to the Twisted Being that is no longer alive.] [Dealt 1978 damage to the Twisted Being that is no longer alive.] The reaction was real, as the damage inflicted was considerable. The monster, writhing in pain, lunged at him. Taesan dodged the monster charging to crush him and swung his Divinity. Chiiiiiik! The monster reacted violently when it came into contact with the golden light. Divinity was the power of a god. And the monster was a being that had received the power of an ancient god. The opposing forces burned the monster¡¯s body. [So, I can use Divinity not just for recovery, but for attacks as well?] ¡°Something like that. It¡¯s not just that.¡± As Taesan learned to wield Divinity more intricately and diversely, fighting the monster became easier. But the monster still showed no signs of falling. Even though its entire body was burning, the monster¡¯s movements didn¡¯t slow down at all. ¡®It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t break through.¡¯ The ever-increasing Divinity was also gradually consuming Taesan. As if to say that no more was allowed, as if to say that this was the limit a mortal could handle, it slowly began to swallow Taesan¡¯s consciousness. It was powerful, but the limitations were clear. He had to finish this before the Divinitypletely consumed him. Then. Taesan focused his power. He began to gather the power of the ancient god. A deep, dark force that consumed everything began to flow out from Taesan. Ooooo¡­¡­. The monster, which had been charging with a roar, hesitated. The ck force contained a power that could instill fear even in the mindless monster. At the same time, Taesan gathered his Divinity. Until now, he had only been able to use thebined power of Divinity and the ck force in a limited manner. In reality, it was like a self-destruct device, a double-edged sword that could put Taesan himself in danger. But now, Taesan had learned to wield Divinity properly. Divinity enveloped the ck force that had surged out. The mixed forces turned ashen and began to explode. Taesan gathered even more Divinity. The Divinity was consumed and replenished repeatedly. The ovepping golden light radiated so brightly that it was hard to keep one¡¯s eyes open. Bncing the overwhelming Divinity with the surging gray force, he imbued it into his sword. The sword, epting the unbearable power, let out a scream. Taesan stomped his foot. The monster, realizing it toote, let out a roar and charged. Taesan¡¯s sword moved. A diagonal sh cleaved through the heavens and earth, and the monster¡¯s entire body was crushed. [Dealt #@ damage to the Twisted Being that is no longer alive.] Ooooooh! A howl filled with pain erupted. Taesan gripped his sword and charged again. ¡°Whoa¡­ What is that¡­?¡± Minerva gasped. Taesan was wielding an incredibly alien power as if it were an extension of his own body. [Is that it?] Beatrice quietly analyzed the power that Taesan was handling. [Divinity.] The power of a god. A force that existed within thews. [And the ck force.] The power of a high god. A force that existed beyond thews. The two forces were mixing to create something new. Even Beatrice, who had existed since the dawn of time, had never seen this gray light before. It possessed a power capable of breaking boundaries. [Remarkable.] While Beatrice quietly marveled, Taesan continued to wield the gray light. Kwa-deuk. Each time the gray light struck, the monster let out a painful groan. Kaaang! He mmed his sword down. The monster¡¯s arm was severed. Despite its strength that rivaled a single-digit entity, the monster was being trampled without putting up much of a fight. The gray light that Taesan wielded now held that much power. However, Taesan¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t bright either. ¡®This¡­¡¯ He was continuously consuming Divinity to keep the gray light infused into his sword. But despite the amount of Divinity, the gray light continued to waver. Like a me that consumed everything, it was devouring the Divinity and growing in size. If the battle dragged on, the uncontrolled gray light would go on a rampage. And when that happened, whether it was the gray light or Divinity, the power would consume Taesan. He had to end it before that happened. Taesan stomped his foot. Once again, the gray power violently struck the monster. Ooooooo! The monster rose. It shook its entire body violently, trying to crush Taesan with its arms. Taesan swung his sword. It was different from before. Although the monster possessed overwhelming strengthpared to Taesan, it was repelled the moment it collided with the sword. From the moment the gray light infused into Taesan¡¯s sword, there was nothing the monster could do. Oooooooooh! A roar erupted. The power within the monster surged and began to mutate again. Now, it had grown asrge as a small mountain. Ooooo. With a scream-like sound, the monster raised its arm. Ooooo. The twisted arm was filled with the monster¡¯s full strength. Dodging was impossible. The giant creature seemed ready to crush the entire area protected by Beatrice. If that¡¯s the case, he¡¯ll crush it with power. Taesan stomped his foot. The arm came crashing down. Taesan did not dodge. Instead, he held his sword and drove it deep into the arm. Kwa-deuk-deuk-deuk. The massive pressure pressed down on Taesan. [Dealt 213024 damage to you.] [Your Endurance has activated.] Endurance, the ability to block a fatal attack once. Taesan unleashed the Divinity stored in the sword deeply embedded in the giant¡¯s arm. The suppressed gray light found an exit and began to explode. The gray light exploded, distorting the very space itself. Taesan shed with his sword. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± People covered their ears and copsed. The exploding gray power collided with the barrier that Beatrice had erected. The barrier, created by a transcendent being, trembled violently and began to crack. Beatrice activated her power. The cracking barrier returned to its original form. The explosive power trapped inside began to slowly subside. When people finally managed to lift their gaze, half of the monster had disappeared. The ghost was shocked. [What kind of power is this¡­?] ¡°If Beatrice hadn¡¯t set up the barrier, we might have been caught up in it too.¡± Thanks to Beatrice¡¯s barrier, the people who had barely survived were saved from a meaningless death. A system window appeared, announcing the victory. [Your Soul Ascension has activated. The proficiency of Twisted Soul Coordination has increased by 5%.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. You have obtained the special continuous activation skill [Life Devourer].] [The special continuous activation skill [Life Devourer] has evolved due to Soul Ascension. You have learned the special continuous activation skill [Seed of Life].] [The proficiency of the ck force has increased by 1%.] [The proficiency of ??? has increased by 3%.] [The proficiency of Boundary has increased by ?!#?!%] Taesan looked at the Heavenly Sword, which had held the gray power. The de of the Heavenly Sword was cracked, and the edge was twisted. Thebyrinth equipment, which had never been damaged or broken before, was now ruined to the point where it couldn¡¯t be used anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll have to get a new sword.¡± Taesan sheathed his sword andnded on the ground. He felt the gazes of many people staring nkly at him. ¡°Ooooooooh!¡± They began to unleash the roar they had been holding back. They started to revere Taesan and shout his name. Their faith gathered around Taesan, pressing down on him. [Divinity proficiency has increased by 1%.] People shouted Taesan¡¯s name with all their might. Many were crying and bowing their heads. ¡°Ta, Taesan¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon murmured with a nk expression. Even she, who had not worshipped Taesan, had a hint of reverence in her eyes. [Interesting.] Beatrice murmured towards Taesan. [Now I see why the high gods coveted you. This is getting intriguing.] Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. But rather than capturing Taesan to satisfy her curiosity, she prioritized her duties. [Before satisfying my curiosity, I must do what needs to be done. You have won. Here is your reward.] [Manifestation of God''s Power.] [The blessing descends.] [You have obtained the divine blessing [Affinity with Nature].] The blessing descended upon everyone. Those who had been crying out to Taesan were startled by the sudden surge of power. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What, what is this?¡± The people looked at their bodies, bewildered by the sudden new sensations. [And this is the reward you deserve for your achievement.] The divine blessing was given to all humans. A power meant only for Taesan began to descend. [You have obtained the special continuous activation skill [Direct Contract].] [You have obtained the special continuous activation skill [Grace of the Spirit God].] [You have obtained the Stone of Evolution imbued with the power of nature.] ¡°Huh?¡± The first to notice the change was Minerva. She widened her eyes and looked around at her body. ¡°Mother?¡± [You can check the rest yourself. It was somewhat enjoyable.] With a final voice tinged withughter, the Spirit God disappeared. At the same time, a system window appeared, signaling the end. [Special questpleted.] [Rewards will be given based on your achievements during the quest.] [You will return to thebyrinth after one day.] Chapter 316: The Fifth Return, Earth (12) Taesan was experimenting with Divinity while managing the ruins of the copsed world. [Divinity] [Proficiency: 81%] [The power of the gods. Originally, it had no meaning, but as many people gathered their faith, it became divine. People''s faith and beliefs became divine, which could influence the world in various ways.] As the proficiency reached 80%, it could be used for more than just healing. Taesan gathered Divinity. As the Divinity spread out, it formed a domain enveloped in golden light. [Sanctuary?] The ghost murmured. A domain blessed by the gods. That was what had now spread across the ruins. ¡°Minerva, try hitting it.¡± ¡°Got it.¡±Minerva, standing in front of the domain, gathered the wind and released it. The golden light, struck by the wind, remained unshaken. ¡°I gave it a decent amount of force. It¡¯s sturdy.¡± ¡°The creation of a domain.¡± It was a domain formed by Divinity, with the power to protect those inside and block external enemies. Not bad, but somewhat ambiguous. A domain was only meaningful when it protected many people, but it held little value in thebyrinth. Moreover, the amount of Divinity consumed was significant. On Earth, where people¡¯s faith directly imbued it, it could be handled without much restriction, but in thebyrinth, it would be impossible. At least for now, it seemed difficult to use it for anything other than healing. ¡®Unless it can bebined with another domain.¡¯ A power that spread divine energy to create a domain. In some ways, it was simr to the Green Witch¡¯s magic. It might be possible to link the two powers together to amplify each other. Taesan extinguished the Divinity. He nned to return to thebyrinth and experiment with various things. And from afar, cheers could be heard from all around. Taesan headed towards where they were. There, Kim Hwiyeon was staring at the flickering mes in the air with a nk expression. ¡°Did you summon that?¡± ¡°Ah, Taesan. Yes¡­¡± Kim Hwiyeon nodded. The flickering mes in the air clung to her arm, rubbing against it. Taesan, observing the mes, spoke. ¡°A low-grade spirit?¡± ¡°Seems like it. This feels really strange.¡± Kim Hwiyeon scratched her head. The spirit god, Beatrice, had given a reward for Taesan¡¯s victory. The power she granted to the people was an affinity with nature. syustem_start [Nature Affinity] [Increases affinity with nature, allowing one to form contracts with nature¡¯s entities.] system_end Now, people could make contracts with spirits. Looking around, many people besides Kim Hwiyeon were also summoning spirits. Thousands, tens of thousands of low-grade spirits were being summoned to the ground. It was a decent reward. Having an entity to assist the yer during battles was a significant change that could alter the way they fought. ¡°Uh¡­ but now I understand.¡± Kim Hwiyeon looked at Minerva, who was standing next to Taesan. Not just her, but others around them were also gazing at Minerva in awe. Now that they had formed contracts with spirits, they could finally understand. The power contained within Minerva was, literally, the world itself. The entire world¡¯s nature was condensed within Minerva. The people who had been overshadowed by Taesan¡¯s power were now noticing her. Minerva looked at her hands, feeling the gazes directed at her. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like this before. I¡¯ve also gone through several changes recently.¡± The spirit god had also given a reward to Taesan. Naturally, since the reward was rted to spirits, Minerva underwent more changes than Taesan. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Direct Contract] [A direct contract with spirits. Contracted spirits can use their full power without being restricted by the contractor''s limitations.] [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Spirit God''s Blessing] [The blessing of the spirit god. Contracted spirits will not be forcefully unsummoned even if they exhaust their power.] The effects of these two skills were simple. Now, Minerva could wield the full power of the spirit king without worrying about being forcefully unsummoned due to energy consumption. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to go this far.¡± Minerva, now able to wield perfect power, waved her hand. A gentle breeze spread out around her. ¡°So, no more forced unsummoning?¡± ¡°Not exactly. If I take damage beyond a certain threshold, I¡¯ll still be unsummoned. But that won¡¯t happen easily.¡± Minerva was a spirit king. Despite having powerparable to the deepyers, she hadn¡¯t been able to y a significant role due to limitations. Now that Minerva could fully wield her power, it would be a great help to Taesan as well. Taesan took out a stone from his inventory. [Stone of Evolution Imbued with the Power of Nature] [A stone imbued with the power of nature. It enhances the power of spirits by one level.] ¡°Can¡¯t you use it?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m the spirit king. This is the sort of limit that spirits can reach. It¡¯s not that it can¡¯t be surpassed, but not with that.¡± If not Minerva, there was only one suitable target. Taesan handed the stone to Barkaza. [¡­¡­Is this really alright?] Barkaza asked in a bewildered tone. [This is something our god has personally bestowed. Its value is beyond measure.] The evolution of a spirit was something that rarely urred even in the history of spirits. Even if a high-grade spirit worked for hundreds of years, bing the top-tier was a distant dream, and even after thousands of years of effort, it was nearly impossible to gain the power of a spear and shield. The stone that allowed such a leap in power in an instant¡ªit was literally a reward that only the Spirit God could give. Taesan spoke nonchntly. ¡°Just take it. I have no one else to give it to.¡± [......What a generous master. I¡¯m d I made the contract.] Barkaza chuckled dryly as he epted the stone. The dark-colored stone crumbled as its power began to seep into Barkaza. [Oh...¡­] Barkaza let out a quiet groan. The power within him began to evolve to the next level. ¡°There¡¯s no significant change in appearance.¡± Taesan, watching the process,mented. Barkaza still maintained the form of a golem, but the power contained within him had certainly changed. [I have be stronger... but it will still be difficult for me to directly intervene in my master¡¯s battles.] He wasn¡¯t wrong. Even though Barkaza had be stronger, reaching the level of a spear and shield, the opponents Taesan would face in the future would all be powerful beings surpassing even the Spirit Kings. [The only constion is that I am a support spirit, so I can assist Lady Minerva.] Barkaza pped his hands, causing a rainbow-colored light to appear around Minerva. When Minerva wielded the wind, its power was noticeably amplifiedpared to when she controlled it alone. ¡°Not bad.¡± [Not bad? Really, Master, you¡¯re quite peculiar.] What Barkaza received was not something that could be given away so easily. In human terms, it was an item that could be worth an entire nation, yet Taesan handed it over as casually as if it were a recovery potion. Barkaza was left speechless. In addition, several skills were acquired, and there were changes in proficiency. Taesan began to check them one by one. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Twisted Soul Tuning] [Proficiency: 64%] [Twisted beings can manipte their souls with a twist. By bearing a very small burden, they can control the soul that resides within them or that they possess.] As the proficiency of Twisted Soul Tuning reached 60%, the burden of controlling the soul almost disappeared. It was a small but significant improvement. Among the powers Taesan currently wielded, many affected the mind. The disappearance of one of those burdens meant he could focus more onmands and Divinity. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Seed of Life] [Proficiency: 1%] [Consumes life and seizes some of the power the existence held. It supports Soul Ascension.] sytsem_end Originally, the skill Life Devour evolved into Seed of Life due to Soul Ascension. Life Devour was likely a skill bestowed by the Immortal to Zhenlong. The enhancement of Soul Ascension was a change that, even without much concern, was a great help. The proficiency of the ck skill also rose by 1%, though it was still minimal. The proficiency of the concept skill increased by 3%. And the proficiency of Boundary Line changed. [Boundary Line] [Proficiency: ?] [Betweenws and beyondws. Something in between. Draws power from divine and ck forces.] [??????] [System Error. Please contact thebyrinth administrator for details.] Whether it rose, fell, or how much it increased¡ªnothing could be known. Even the proficiency increase window was written in a strangenguage that could not be understood. Taesan recalled the previous battle. Zhenlong, who had been baptized by the Divine Rite, had a strengthparable to a single-digit monster. Even for the current Taesan, it was a difficult opponent that might require fighting for dozens of hours. But the Boundary Line easily suppressed such an opponent. Despite being a force not fully harnessed, as it was forcibly controlled by Divinity. After using it a few times, Taesan began to grasp its nature. Boundary Line erased the power of the monster itself. There were several skills that erased something. Absolute Judgment that erased defense, and Essence Strike that erased hierarchy were among them. But they all only affected a single concept. Boundary Line erased not just defense or hierarchy, but literally everything. It was a power that could affect reality as if it ignored thews or concepts of the world. If he hadn¡¯t seen it wrong, when hest overused the Boundary Line, it had affected the barrier Beatrice had set up. It shook the barrier created by a being with a power that mortal beings could neither touch nor understand. ¡®What is this?¡¯ It was his own power, yet even he couldn¡¯t understand it. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder the gods are greedy.¡± If he could fully control it, no one in thebyrinth would be able to stop him. But that was impossible. The only reason he managed to control the Boundary Line this time was that people were directly worshiping him as he fought. Therefore, he could barely suppress the gray power with the ever-increasing Divinity. In thebyrinth, where the recovery speed of Divinity was limited, suchbat would be impossible. Moreover, his weapon was shattered. It was fortunate that he only used the Boundary Line on the First Sword. If he had made a mistake, he could have lost both swords. [I''ve never heard of a weapon breaking in thebyrinth.] Even the ghost spoke in disbelief. The risk didn¡¯t end there. Divinity was the power of the gods. Taesan, being a mortal, was not yet qualified to wield it fully. The more he tried to handle it, the more the Divinity attempted to consume him. If mishandled, the Divinity could devour him, turning him into a being with no self, driven only by faith like a machine. The ck power was no different. Neither was a power that Taesan could handle freely at this time. No matter how powerful, it wasn¡¯t something to wield recklessly. ¡°It¡¯s still far off. I¡¯m not ready yet.¡± Taesan muttered. But there was something that could help him. A pair of rings had changed. The ring dyed in pure white had gained a soul, and an exnation that it assisted with Divinity had been added. The change in the ring dyed in ck was simple. Its attack power increased by 250, reaching a thousand. The rings that grew stronger as Taesan did wouldter be a significant help in handling the Boundary Line. The overall check wasplete. The people were busy examining the spirits they had just contracted. Those who were delighted with the newfound power cheered Taesan¡¯s name. However, there was no change in Divinity. The moment it reached 81%, it hit another wall. Taesan, feeling rxed, helped Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok with their training for the remainder of the time. And a day passed. [Bonus for defeating monsters +1343] [Bonus for defeating the twisted beings that are no longer living +2121] [Victory bonus +675] [Settlementplete] [4139p has been awarded.] They returned to thebyrinth. Chapter 317: Side Story - The Earth On The Brink Of Destruction. Lee Taeyeon ¡°That¡¯s quite troublesome.¡± Lee Taeyeon muttered gloomily after meeting the wizard. A wish as the reward for conquering thebyrinth. She had been agonizing over what to wish for. Should she wish to revive all the dead? Or should she turn back time to create a world where the monsters couldn¡¯t invade? But now she learned that she couldn¡¯t make a wish without fully conquering thebyrinth. Lee Taeyeon grumbled. ¡°If that¡¯s the condition, has anyone ever achieved their wish?¡± [No. A wish is not something that can be achieved so easily.] ¡°Getting this far wasn¡¯t exactly easy either¡­¡± [The criteria are rtive. What the wizard desires is beyond that.] ¡°Well, whatever.¡± Lee Taeyeon shook her head, her hair softly swaying. ¡°Being able to return to Earth is enough for me.¡± Finally, she could leave this dreadful ce. She smiled contentedly. ¡°Create the path.¡± [Understood.] Woong. A space opened. Beyond it, a familiar scent wafted through. She took a deep breath. It was Earth. She gazed into the space beyond with a dazed look. ¡°Atst¡­¡± She murmured with a voice full of excitement and looked at Balbamba. ¡°You¡¯ve always been talkative and annoying, but after all this time, I¡¯ve grown fond of you. Farewell.¡± [Take care. I also had a good time. You were the first adventurer to descend thebyrinth like this.] ¡°Thank you as well.¡± [It was nothing.] The voice spoke quietly. [I enjoyed it too. It was a fulfilling time.] ¡°Since it¡¯s thest time, let me ask again¡ªwho are you?¡± Who was the voice? She knew it was a transcendent being. Even though she couldn¡¯t sense its true power. Despite spending countless moments right beside it. She kept asking out of curiosity, but the voice never gave an answer. The voice chuckled softly. [You¡¯ll know when the timees.] ¡°Soon?¡± It was a cryptic statement, but in the end, Lee Taeyeon pursed her lips, knowing its identity would remain a secret. ¡°You¡¯re stingy.¡± The voice stifled augh. [Then let me give you a gift.] Light appeared before her. The light solidified, forming a single orb. [You have obtained an orb that holds something.] ¡°What is this?¡± [You¡¯ll know when the timees.] ¡°Hm¡­ Thank you.¡± An orb she couldn¡¯t discern even with her keen observation. Given that it was handed directly to her, it couldn¡¯t be a worthless item. Lee Taeyeon gratefully epted it. ¡°Then, farewell. I won¡¯t being back.¡± She had no intention of returning to thebyrinth. Toe back to this hellish ce was a horrific thought. But the voice onlyughed quietly. [I see. Then farewell.] ¡°Yes.¡± Lee Taeyeon nodded firmly and stepped forward. She pushed herself through the space. It was Earth. How much progress had been made? There were many technicians, so surely they had managed electricity at least. With her body¡¯s abilities greatly enhanced by clearing thebyrinth, perhaps they had even built some structures. How happy and colorful their lives must be. And what kind of life could she live? She crossed the space with happiness in her heart. Earth came into view. Her pupils trembled. ¡°What?¡± What appeared were half-copsed buildings. A world shrouded in gray. ¡°¡­Have I been summoned to a forsakennd?¡± Her voice quivered. Yes. That must be it. There weren¡¯t many survivors. Thend ravaged by the monster invasion couldn¡¯t possibly have been fully restored. This ce must be one of those. She wanted to believe that. But the cruel world revealed the truth to her. ¡°No¡­¡± Above the sky. A gigantic rift that had swallowed the sun. ¡®Why?¡¯ Lee Taeyeon¡¯s eyes shook. They had surely closed that rift. They had won. Surely, they had. But what was this? Something had gone terribly wrong. Nausea surged up to her throat. ¡°Gasp.¡± She barely managed to exhale. The cold sweat running down her cheeks made her feel the chill in the air. ¡°Oh. A new returnee?¡± Footsteps echoed. A familiar face appeared. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it? Who¡­ Oh? Lee Taeyeon?¡± ¡°¡­Yeongjeong.¡± Yeongjeong. A Hard Mode yer. Someone she knew. Lee Taeyeon barely managed to look at Yeongjeong. Untrimmed beard. Messy hair. Dry skin. Something about that appearance. Doesn¡¯t it look just like the appearance of a survivor living in a world on the brink of destruction? Joy flickered in Yeongjeong¡¯s eyes when he saw her. He shouted loudly. ¡°Hey! Everyone,e over! Look who¡¯s returned!¡± At Yeongjeong¡¯s words, the murmuring crowd approached. ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± ¡°Oh. Taeyeon?¡± ¡°Huh. For real?¡± The eyes of the gathered people lit up. They began to chatter excitedly. ¡°Wow! Lee Taeyeon actually cleared Solo Mode! And this quickly too!¡± ¡°This might actually give us some room to breathe!¡± Lee Taeyeon nkly looked at them. Their unkempt hair, their dirty skin. They all looked the same as Yeongjeong. She parted her dry lips. ¡°¡­Why do you all look like that?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Yeongjeong¡¯s face stiffened. Only then did the others realize it too. They understood what Lee Taeyeon had hoped for upon her return. Yeongjeong scratched his head. ¡°Um¡­ Taeyeon, calm down and listen.¡± ¡°Hahaha. I get it. This is a hidden camera prank, right?¡± Yeongjeong tried to exin slowly, but Lee Taeyeon smiled brightly. She raised her arms. ¡°Right? It doesn¡¯t make sense. We won, so why does Earth look like this? You¡¯re just trying to surprise me, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Yeongjeong shook his head somberly. ¡°We believed that too when we returned to Earth. But what greeted us was a ruined Earth. Taeyeon, we were deceived by the monsters.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me!¡± Lee Taeyeon shouted angrily. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! We won! We imed victory! We survived!¡± Her eyes were filled with nothing but denial. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right? We won! We went through that hellish time! We barely made it through that damnedbyrinth to get here! This can¡¯t be right! It can¡¯t end like this!¡± Her cry was like the tantrum of a three-year-old child, devoid of logic or reason. But no one could argue against her. Yeongjeong opened his mouth gloomily. ¡°That¡¯s how it is, Taeyeon.¡± ¡°Hah, haha¡­¡± A softugh escaped from Lee Taeyeon¡¯s mouth. Then it abruptly stopped. ¡°You¡¯re all fakes.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The final trial. That¡¯s what this is, right? A trial in this form. Fine. I¡¯ll ovee it.¡± Lee Taeyeon drew her sword. People gasped in shock. ¡°Damn, this is bad.¡± ¡°Someone stop her?¡± ¡°Who?¡± At those words, silence spread. There was no problem if it was a Hard Mode yer. All of them were Hard Mode yers here. They could easily subdue her. But Lee Taeyeon was a Solo Mode yer. There was only one person who could subdue her. ¡°¡­Is Taesan here?¡± ¡°Yeah, he came back a few hours ago. I¡¯ll go get him right away.¡± He rushed off, and the others clicked their tongues. They knew he ran off because he didn¡¯t want to deal with Lee Taeyeon. ¡°Uh, Taeyeon? Why don¡¯t you calm down for a bit?¡± ¡®Don¡¯t make meugh.¡¯ She smirked darkly. They were all fakes. There¡¯s no way Earth would look like this. This was a trial created by thebyrinth. A trial that must be ovee. A murderous aura began to creep up from her. The half-destroyed buildings groaned as they crumbled, and the faces of the people paled. ¡°Wait! What is this?!¡± ¡°Oh no, I don¡¯t think we even have time¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon gripped her sword tightly. At that moment, a tired voice rang out. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Lee Taeyeon¡¯s pupils dted. The murderous aura emanating from her dissipated, and the people exhaled in relief. ¡°Phew. I thought I was going to die.¡± ¡°Taesan, we need your help.¡± ¡°I was wondering why you were calling me so frantically. So, it¡¯s her? Makes sense.¡± Sharp features. He looked somewhat indifferent. With a weary face, he gazed at Lee Taeyeon. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Taesan.¡± ¡°Sorry, but this is Earth. This is how things are now.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± That couldn¡¯t be true. It mustn¡¯t be true. She didn¡¯t loosen her grip on the sword. ¡°You¡¯re a fake too. You¡¯re just another fake created by thebyrinth¡­¡± Her murmur was hollow. Taesan sighed. ¡°Yeah. I figured. You won¡¯t listen to reason, huh?¡± [Kang Taesan activated Temporary Time Stop. Time within a 100-meter radius around Kang Taesan is stopped for 2 minutes.] Time stopped. In the frozen moment, Taesan moved alone, approaching Lee Taeyeon. ¡°For now, why don¡¯t you lie down and cool your head.¡± Taesan raised his sword. [Kang Taesan activated Multiply.] [Kang Taesan activated Double.] [Kang Taesan activated Designated Skill Reset.] [Kang Taesan activated Double.] [Kang Taesan¡¯s non-lethal attack.] [Lee Taeyeon received 92,236,816 damage.] Lee Taeyeon stared nkly at the ceiling. It was an old, dpidated building, with cracks through which the sky was visible. It was a structure that could hardly be called a house. Yet, it was the most intact building here. ¡°Have you calmed down?¡± ¡°¡­To some extent.¡± Taesan was sitting on an old, worn-out chair, looking at her. He opened his mouth to speak. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Disgusted.¡± Lee Taeyeon quietly replied. Taesan nodded in understanding. ¡°I get it. I felt the same. I wanted to break everything.¡± ¡°Can you tell me what happened?¡± At her somber voice, Taesan began to speak. The things she heard from him. The events filled with grim experiences made her close her eyes tightly. They hadn¡¯t won. They had been dreaming of a hope that could never be achieved within the illusion of victory. After returning to Earth, countless people died due to the monsters that appeared. It was literally a time of massacre. Most of those who returned first were Easy Mode yers. They were unable to resist the monsters and were all killed. It was only after the Hard Mode yers returned that people could band together and drive out the monsters to im their territory. But after that, despair became a repeating cycle. They would defeat the oing monsters, and many would die in the process. Then, another returnee would fill the void left by the fallen. They were slowly dying atop countless corpses. She quietly asked after hearing his story. ¡°¡­If you had Hard Mode yers, shouldn¡¯t you have been able to handle the monsters?¡± ¡°We did during thest return. But now it¡¯s different. Much stronger monsters than before have started appearing. There are some that we can¡¯t beat, even if dozens of us charge at them.¡± Taesan spoke calmly. ¡°We were deceived. By those things.¡± ¡°¡­Is Choi Junsang still alive?¡± Choi Junsang. He was an Easy Mode yer. He was a professional with expertise in electrical engineering. He said he would return to Earth first and make light bulbs, be the Edison of this era. ¡°He returned before I did, so I don¡¯t know. Given that I haven¡¯t seen him, he¡¯s probably dead.¡± ¡°What about Park Ji-young?¡± She was a Normal Mode yer. She was an excellent cook. She said she would return to Earth and show off the culinary skills she had honed. ¡°She died two days before I returned.¡± ¡°¡­Yoon Se-an?¡± He was a Hard Mode yer and a legal schr. He believed that in the process of rebuilding civilization,ws would be necessary, just as they were in the old Earth. He worked hard to create a legal code to be used on Earth while navigating thebyrinth, and hepleted it right before clearing it. Everyone promised to follow his code. Taesan answered. ¡°He died a year ago.¡± She squeezed her eyes shut. She kept asking about the names of the people she knew, those she remembered. Most of the answers she received were that they were dead. ¡°This is the situation we¡¯re in right now.¡± Taesan pressed his tired eyes with his fingers. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening in other countries. We didn¡¯t have the luxury to find out. But given our situation, they probably aren¡¯t doing well either.¡± The world was truly on the brink of destruction. Now, there was no longer even abyrinth to escape to. Lee Taeyeon stared nkly at the ground. ¡°That¡¯s why we need you.¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± ¡°Yeah. You need to be our leader.¡± Lee Taeyeon snapped her head up at Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°I-I¡¯m not a leader¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head. ¡°You have to be. I can¡¯t do it.¡± Of course, Taesan was strong. He was the strongest Easy Mode yer, and if conditions were met, he could even defeat Lee Taeyeon. ¡°But I can only take down a single strong monster. I can¡¯t protect everyone. I¡¯m like a gun that needs to be reloaded after each shot. In a situation like this, someone purely strong like you has to be the leader.¡± Taesan spoke in a low voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know how strong you are now, but since you cleared Solo Mode, you must be far stronger than when west met.¡± Thest time they met was during the final Earth Return Quest. It was ages ago. Even back then, Lee Taeyeon was incredibly strong. Now, after clearing Solo Mode, she must have be significantly stronger. ¡°I¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon¡¯s voice trembled. Be the leader. Take responsibility for people¡¯s lives. It was impossible. She was already struggling to protect herself. How could she bear the responsibility for others¡¯ lives as well? Her mind couldn¡¯t handle it. But Taesan¡¯s next words stopped her from refusing. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard for you. I know you¡¯ve been rejecting this until now. But we don¡¯t even have the luxury to struggle anymore, Lee Taeyeon.¡± Taesan smiled bitterly. His expression made Lee Taeyeon close her mouth. Despite being in Easy Mode, he had always been confident. Even in desperate situations, he never feared and always found a way to ovee. But now, Taesan¡¯s face was utterly exhausted. That expression made it impossible for Lee Taeyeon to refuse. ¡°I won¡¯t ask you to decide right now. Take some time to cool your head first.¡± ¡°¡­Do we even have time?¡± They were on the brink of destruction. There was no way they had the luxury for someone of Lee Taeyeon¡¯s level to rest. ¡°I know you¡¯re frustrated, but I don¡¯t want to push you too hard. The monsters¡­ it¡¯s like they¡¯re toying with us¡­ they¡¯re giving us some breathing room. The current level of monsters can be handled by me and the others.¡± Taesan left the room. The door closed with a creak. Left alone, she stared nkly at the closed door. She did nothing, just staring at the sky through the cracks. Everything felt empty. Reality didn¡¯t feel real. A day passed like that, and she suddenly snapped back to her senses. She looked at the rift beyond the broken ceiling. ¡®That¡­¡¯ She couldn¡¯t feel it before, but now that she had enough experience and power from descending thebyrinth, she understood. The power emanating from it was beyond herprehension. Beings on par with the gods of thebyrinth. They could not be defeated. To fight them only led to undeniable death. ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± Her body began to tremble. Earth was not a safe ce. Monsters still existed, and she had to fight for her life. Her teeth chattered. Her entire body shook as her mind wavered. Death. It was standing right before her. Just as she was about to fall into panic, the door opened. ¡°Um¡­¡± A young girl cautiously entered. Lee Taeyeon, snapping out of her daze, nkly stared at the girl. ¡°Kim Minji¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, you remember me!¡± Kim Minji. A Normal Mode yer. She was a bright and friendly girl with whom Lee Taeyeon had formed a good rtionship. The girl spoke with a bright face. ¡°I was surprised! I knew you¡¯de back to Earth someday, but I thought it would take longer!¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Lee Taeyeon had thought the same. But her desire to clear thebyrinth had elerated her pace. If she had known this would happen, she would have stayed there a bit longer. Kim Minji clenched her fist. ¡°Now that you¡¯re here! We can expand our territory! We¡¯ll defeat the monsters and live like we used to!¡± She spoke with determination. Lee Taeyeon asked in a trembling voice. ¡°¡­How¡¯s your brother?¡± Kim Minji had an older brother. They often bickered, but they were a typical family who cared for each other. Kim Minji quietly scratched her head. ¡°Haha¡­ He died a month ago.¡± ¡°¡­How did it happen?¡± ¡°He was trying to protect me. Foolish of him. I could have survived just fine.¡± She muttered softly. Her eyes were filled with sadness, but there was also resignation. Lee Taeyeon realized it. These people didn¡¯t even have the luxury to grieve for their lost loved ones. ¡°¡­It¡¯s the life my brother saved. I can¡¯t just let it go to waste. And now you¡¯re here, Taeyeon.¡± Bright, hope-filled eyes turned to Lee Taeyeon. ¡°Taeyeon, who cleared Solo Mode, must be much stronger than before, right?¡± And within those eyes was also desperation. ¡°Please, protect us, Taeyeon.¡± Fear of death, anxiety about the monsters. This young girl, Kim Minji, was entrusting her future to her. Lee Taeyeon felt suffocated. ¡°Should I run away?¡± She quietly muttered to herself in the room after Kim Minji left. It might be impossible to escape from a god-like being, but such beings couldn¡¯t easily descend to the surface. If she was alone, she could hide anywhere. She was confident in that. Even the self-proimed Guides, the adventurers descending thebyrinth, and the NPCs¡ªnone of them could find her if she decided to hide. She had the skills to do so. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± A hollowugh escaped her lips. It was a meaningless thought. The voices of hundreds of people beyond the cramped room continued to reach her ears. ¡°Taeyeon is here¡­¡± ¡°Now we don¡¯t have to die meaninglessly¡­¡± ¡°We can survive¡­¡± The voices were filled with longing and hope for Lee Taeyeon. They were relying on her. Even if she didn¡¯t want to hear it, her enhanced body captured every emotion contained in those voices. Her lips dried up. Run away? Abandon their hopes? Turn her back on their expectations? Ignore the cries of those who would die cursing her, and the despair they would feel as she disappeared, just to survive alone? She couldn¡¯t do it. She couldn¡¯t be that shameless person. Every path was blocked. ¡°Ugh.¡± Nausea welled up. She barely covered her mouth. Her head spun. Even the mental strength she had honed in the long years of thebyrinth seemed like it would shatter if touched. No, it had never been honed in the first ce. She was merely holding onto her worn-out mind, which had reached its limit long ago. She groped around with her hand. If she didn¡¯t grab onto something, she felt she would truly go mad. Grasp. Her hand caught something small. It was a dull, ckened stone. On the outside, it was just an ordinary stone, but within it was the power to turn back time. ¡°¡­Ouroboros Stone.¡± Abyrinth item that could turn back time once. At first, she was overjoyed, thinking she could go back to the past, but soon, she had no choice but to be disappointed. The Ouroboros Stone could only turn back time to just before the invasion of the Earth by the High Gods. Even after checking with Balbamba and the transcendent being who had been watching her, it was impossible to avoid the fate of entering thebyrinth. ¡°¡­Was this what it meant?¡± The voice had asked her. Do you seek death? Lee Taeyeon had answered no. Then the voice asked again. Do you want to clear thebyrinth once more? Lee Taeyeon had said she didn¡¯t want that either. She still hadn¡¯te to a conclusion. ¡®But.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t abandon the people who believed in her and relied on her. Lee Taeyeon struggled to her feet and stepped outside. The people waiting were startled and looked at her. ¡°Taeyeon?¡± ¡°¡­In two hours, monsters will swarm.¡± At her quiet words, the people were shocked. Lee Taeyeon continued. ¡°There will be about twenty-five. Twenty-three of them can be handled by Hard Mode yers, but the remaining two can¡¯t. Taesan and I will have to deal with them.¡± ¡°Huh? I don¡¯t sense anything¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re still outside your range of perception. Everyone, get ready.¡± ¡°Oh. Okay!¡± ¡°Taeyeon!¡± Kim Minji looked at her with a bright face. Lee Taeyeon deliberately ignored her gaze and drew her sword. ¡®First, survive.¡¯ And protect the people. And in the very end, if there was no more room to escape¡­ What would she choose then? Even she didn¡¯t know. Chapter 318: 70th Floor, Spirit King Of Fire - Vishnu (1) 4,139 points. It was truly a lot of points. The points he received from the Fallen God¡¯s quest were about 2,800, but this was 1,200 more. So, what should be raised with these points? ¡°Bncing. Earthquake. Forced Vitality Drain. Enemy of the One Who Stepped into the Depths. Partial World Modification¡­¡± Each one was not an ordinary skill. Therefore, when checking the proficiency and point conversion rate, it was almost around 1:100. This meant that even with 4,139 points, only 40% proficiency could be raised. Taesan had to decide carefully. He reviewed the skills one by one.Skills like Word of Command, ck Magic, and Divinity obviously could not use points. The same went for Skill eleration and Absolute Judgment. There were only limited skills where points could be used. Among those, Taesan had to choose the skill that would bring the most significant change with the limited points. After much thought, Taesan made his decision. He decided to raise the proficiency of the Green Witch¡¯s Magic and Partial World Modification. Since it was the magic of an immortal, the more proficiency he gained, the more its value would rise exponentially. Other skills could easily increase proficiency during battle, but Partial World Modification required preparation, which was a problem. And the fact that the points consumed were reasonable also yed a role in his decision. Taesan used the points to raise the proficiency of the two skills. [Green Witch''s Magic] [Proficiency: 23%] [A magic that the Witch of the Cursed Forest umted during her mortal days andpleted when she became an immortal. It materializes her domain based on an object containing a catalyst and has a significant influence on the world.] [Partial World Modification] [Proficiency: 22%] [Continual Mana Consumption: ???] [Can modify thews within a certain range. It can intervene in not only physical concepts but also magic, ck magic, spirits, and more.] As proficiency increased, additional descriptions about interfering with various concepts like magic, ck magic, and spirits were added. How to handle them naturally came to Taesan¡¯s mind. ¡°Not bad.¡± Taesan nodded. As he expected, once it reached 20%, many things changed. After organizing his thoughts, Taesan didn¡¯t descend further into thebyrinth. Instead, he turned back. He went to see Hafran. Hafran weed Taesan. ¡°You¡¯vee back quickly. What is it this time?¡± ¡°Can you repair a broken weapon?¡± ¡°Repair?¡± Hafran asked back as if it was an absurd question. Instead of answering, Taesan handed over the Supreme Sword. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± Hafran hesitantly took the Supreme Sword. The Supreme Sword was severely damaged. The de waspletely corroded, and its shape was distorted, making it unusable as a sword. Its attack power had dropped to single digits, reflecting its ruined appearance. It had turned into equipment that could no longer be used. ¡°What did you do?¡± Hafran looked at Taesan with a face full of confusion. ¡°The materials and equipment thate from this ce, made by wizards and gods, contain their power. Mortal beings can never corrupt or destroy them¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s what happened.¡± Taesan replied calmly. Hafran frowned. ¡°This gives me a headache. And it¡¯s troublesome.¡± ¡°So, can you do it?¡± ¡°I told you. The equipment in thebyrinth contains the power of gods. Mortals cannot touch it.¡± Hafran examined the Supreme Sword closely. ¡°Unless it¡¯s a few entities like me, who have been granted permission by wizards, it¡¯s impossible. To sum up, it¡¯s possible to restore it to some extent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± ¡°However, since it¡¯s just a restoration, its performance will be lower than before. You¡¯ll also need quite a lot of materials. Do you have them?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan opened his inventory. The materials he had collected while descending through thebyrinth fell out one by one. ¡°¡­You sure have a lot. Wait here for a moment. Good grief, repairing equipment, this is a first for me.¡± He took the Supreme Sword and the materials and began hammering away. Taesan watched the process, though he didn¡¯t understand it. After a series of iprehensible actions, Hafran handed the sword back to Taesan. [Restored Supreme Sword] [Attack Power: +200] [A sword once wielded by the undefeated warrior who stood above all. It was destroyed but restored by a skilled cksmith.] ¡°Not bad.¡± The attack power had dropped by 50, but it was still usable for the time being. Hafran, afterying down his hammer, spoke. ¡°If you want a proper weapon, bring me better materials. By the way, to wield enough power to destroy a weapon like this¡­¡± Curiosity spread across Hafran¡¯s face. ¡°Can you show me? How did you do it?¡± ¡°Sorry, but that¡¯s impossible. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Taesan shook his head. He couldn¡¯t control the gray force either. Once drawn out, it had to explode, so it was difficult to demonstrate. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. If possible, I¡¯d like to see it sometime.¡± Taesan nodded and descended the stairs. [Quest for the 70th Floor begins.] [Defeat the gatekeeper of the 70th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Ne of the One Who Arrived.] [Secret Reward: ???] 70th Floor. Thest floor before entering the deeperyers. The ghost said nothing. The shopkeeper did the same, only raising the corners of his mouth as he looked at Taesan. Taesan passed the shop and arrived at the 70th floor. The 70th floor was incredibly vast. It seemed to be about the size of a football field. Far away, stairs leading down to the deeperyers were visible. Who would the enemy be this time? Taesan gripped his sword tighter. He turned his gaze toward his opponent. ¡°¡­Oh.¡± His opponent smiled quietly. The man with ck hair and sharp eyes looked at Taesan in admiration. ¡°So, you¡¯ve finally made it this far.¡± Taesan frowned. This was a man he remembered. ¡°Broken Man?¡± [The Broken One has appeared.] The man Taesan had met before entering Solo Mode, the one who had guarded thebyrinth. He called himself the Broken Man, saying he had challenged thebyrinth but failed and then became its gatekeeper. Taesan looked around. Besides the Broken Man, there was nothing else in sight. ¡°Are you the gatekeeper of this ce?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The Broken Man smoothly twirled his spear. ¡°Originally, it wasn¡¯t supposed to be me, but something came up, and they suddenly asked me to take over. There¡¯s been no one newing in, and I was bored anyway, so I epted.¡± He looked at Taesan with admiration. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s been that long since I saw you at the entrance, and you¡¯re already here? How is that even possible?¡± The Broken Man had once attempted to conquer thebyrinth himself. Thus, he knew very well what it meant for Taesan to have already reached the 70th floor. ¡°That¡¯s how it is.¡± Taesan answered as he gripped his sword. The Broken Man. When Taesan first saw him, he thought he was stronger than Lee Taeyeon. Seeing him again now, Taesan realized that his initial thought had been an exaggeration. But even so, the man was by no means weak. If he fought seriously, even Lee Taeyeon wouldn¡¯t easily defeat him. ¡°I just need to defeat you, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± The Broken Man swung his spear. ¡°I am a failed one, an adventurer who descended into thebyrinth but gave up and made a contract with a wizard.¡± His aura surged with vigor. It was a pressure like a sharp de that pierced Taesan. The Broken Man bared his teeth. ¡°Anyone who can¡¯t even ovee a failure like me doesn¡¯t deserve to descend into the deeperyers.¡± Taesan calmly gathered his energy. Seeing him organizing his strength with suchposure, the Broken Man smiled in satisfaction. However, instead of starting the battle, the Broken Man slowly began to calm his aura. Taesan watched him quietly as his will to fight faded. ¡°Sorry, but a great one has already made an appointment. The fight with me wille after that.¡± The Broken Man stepped back. ¡°Come on up, my fellow.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your fellow. You¡¯re a failure.¡± ¡°Well, from where I¡¯m standing, you don¡¯t seem all that different.¡± As the Broken Man grinned, footsteps began to echo from the stairs. A being of immense power was ascending. It was fire itself. A figure, her entire body radiating mes, appeared. A woman with flickering hair made of fire descended quietly. [The Spirit King of Fire, Vishnu, has appeared.] The Broken Man leaned against the wall. ¡°You¡¯ll fight me after this. I¡¯ll just watch for now.¡± Taesan looked at Vishnu. Her ming hair and her contrasting white skin caught his eye. Her red pupils focused on Taesan. Within them were rage and murderous intent. ¡°This is troublesome.¡± Taesan muttered. Upon reflection, among the top powers, Taesan had the worst rtionship with the Spirit King of Fire. Taesan had destroyed the domain of the spirit she had fiercely guarded. The twisted spirit that bore grudges against her were embedded in his sword, and even her spear and shield had fallen into Taesan¡¯s hands. Of all the top powers, Vishnu was likely the one who most desired Taesan¡¯s death. ¡°I don¡¯t me you. This is the nature of thebyrinth. It¡¯s a ce where you must kill your opponent to win.¡± Vishnu spoke quietly. ¡°So I, too, will follow the rules of thebyrinth and kill you.¡± Fire exploded. Scarlet mes clung to the walls, heating the air. The heat enveloping Taesan was enough to ignite the body of any ordinary person nearby. An intangible aura moved around Taesan, shielding him from the Spirit King¡¯s fire. Taesan smirked. ¡°For someone who ims not to me me, your emotions seem to be running wild.¡± The Spirit King of Fire. She was different from the previous top powers he had faced. Shaman, whose strengthy in defense, had lost his advantage due to Absolute Judgment and fought Taesan without his primary strength. But it was clear at a nce that the Spirit King of Fire was focused on offense rather than defense. She was probably the first top power Taesan would face at full strength. ¡°Fitting as a gatekeeper to the deeperyers.¡± [You have summoned the multicolored shield, Barkaza.] [You have summoned the Wind Spirit King, Minerva.] A golem appeared, and the wind gathered to form the shape of a woman. [Hmm¡­] ¡°Oh?¡± Barkaza groaned while Minerva¡¯s eyes gleamed. Vishnu scowled. ¡°¡­A King¡¯s Shield and the Wind Spirit King?¡± ¡°Hello, senior?¡± Minerva waved brightly. Vishnu clicked her tongue, clearly displeased with her attitude. ¡°You dare to make a contract with the one who killed spirits? And you call yourself a king of spirits? You should be ashamed.¡± ¡°You do realize that¡¯s not something you should be saying, right?¡± Minerva chuckled. It was rare for her to show such an aggressive attitude. ¡°Someone who abandoned her world and entered thebyrinth to fulfill her desires is in no ce to say such things to me.¡± Vishnu¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Youck manners.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something you should say to yourself. You¡¯re the king who abandoned her mother¡¯s will and fled to thebyrinth.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Vishnu waved her hand as if she had nothing more to say. mes exploded. In an instant, the mes swelled, burning the walls as they rushed toward Taesan. It was a fire that could literally burn the entire world. Vishnu spoke. ¡°Die, you worm.¡± [Good grief. I¡¯m far too weak to be involved in this kind of fight.] Though Barkaza grumbled, he pped his hands. Multicolored light spread in all directions, and Minerva¡¯s wind burst forth. Amplified by Barkaza¡¯s power, the wind blew wildly, scattering the mes. Taesan raised his sword. Numerous skills activated, imbuing him with power. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You have activated King¡¯s Vessel.] Taesan pushed off with his feet. Following the path carved by the exploding wind, he charged forward. Chapter 319: 70th Floor, Spirit King Of Fire - Vishnu (2) Cutting through the wind, Taesan charged towards Vishnu. Vishnu swung her arm. mes erupted, obscuring the view. Taesan infused his sword with spirit power and shed toward the surging crimson mes, cutting them apart and creating a path. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Taesan rushed forward. Vishnu roughly waved her hand,unching a spear of me through the explosion. Taesan swung his sword, altering the trajectory of the spear. Fwoosh. Vishnu continued to unleash mes. The fire, as though intent on burning the world, divided the space between Taesan and Vishnu. Taesan halted his charge, calmly assessing the situation. This was merely a probing match. Both Taesan and Vishnu had many hidden cards. Rather than revealing his hand first, it was more efficient to wait for Vishnu to make her move and then respond ordingly. ¡®A foe who controls mes to dominate the space and press me.¡¯Yet, thanks to the difference in their ranks, it wasn¡¯t difficult to fend off the mes. ¡°Apostle Transformation, and the vessel of a king¡­¡± Vishnu frowned. Taesan¡¯s rank was clearly higher than hers at this moment. Still, she sneered. ¡°I am the Spirit King. The mere rank of a human cannot reach me.¡± [Vishnu has activated Nature¡¯s Incarnation.] Fwoosh. mes began to rise from her body. As if she had be fire itself, her entire form zed. Vishnu waved her hand, causing an explosion of mes. Taesan swung his sword. ng! These mes were different from before. Taesan¡¯s sword couldn¡¯t easily push them away. Crack. Instead, the mes began to press against him as if they carried weight. Taesan kicked off the ground to widen the distance, and Vishnu gathered more power. Whoosh! The mes began to engulf everything around them. The Broken Man distanced himself with an annoyed expression. The entire space was enveloped in fire. ¡°Can¡¯t you do something like that?¡± Taesan asked Minerva, who was trying to push back the mes with the help of Barkaza¡¯s wind. ¡°That¡¯s a method of drawing power by identifying oneself with nature. Sorry, I can¡¯t do that yet. I haven¡¯t lived that long.¡± Minerva groaned. ¡°Spirits usually get stronger the longer they live. And the spirit before us is likely one of the oldest I¡¯ve ever known.¡± ¡°Surrender, human.¡± Vishnu dered proudly. The mes became tangible, trying to devour Taesan and the surrounding space. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Taesan scattered the mes with a powerful sh. Minerva burst through with a gust of wind, creating a path. Yet the mes still pushed back. The space was dominated by fire, and the ze obscured his vision. It felt as if he had fallen into a world made entirely of fire. In a pure contest of strength, Taesan was being overwhelmed. But it wasn¡¯t an insurmountable challenge. ¡°Minerva.¡± [You have activated Frozen World.] A freezing cold stormed forth. Though it melted instantly against the mes, the continuously activated Frozen World began to cool the surrounding heat. And within that moment, Minerva unleashed her power. Wind surged, fiercely pushing the mes away and creating a path to Vishnu. Taesan charged forward. [You have activated eleration.] Vishnu detonated more mes, but this time Taesan did not stop. systeM-start [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Magic Focus.] system_end Shatter! Frost spread ahead, cutting through the weakened mes as Taesan brought his sword down toward Vishnu. Vishnu raised a barrier of mes. Taesan applied more force to his sword. [You have activated Absolute Judgement.] The moment his sword touched the barrier, it disappeared. Vishnu¡¯s pupils widened. Taesan swung his sword fiercely. Just as he was about to cleave her head, Vishnu¡¯s body vanished. [Vishnu has activated Shoes of Spatial Transference.] ¡°Humph.¡± Vishnunded far away, sending a cold re his way. ¡°So that¡¯s why Shaman lost¡­ You have a skill that ignores defenses, huh?¡± She had suspected as much. Given that Shaman, who boasted unparalleled defenses, had been defeated so quickly, it was inevitable. But for her barrier to disappear without any resistance at all? ¡°How does someone like you, who hasn¡¯t even reached the deeper levels, possess such a skill?¡± Clicking her tongue, Vishnu condensed the mes. The red mes gathered, changing color as they did. There was no reason for Taesan to simply watch, so he immediately leaped, intending to pierce Vishnu¡¯s chest with his sword. [Vishnu has activated Shoes of Spatial Transference.] But once again, Vishnu¡¯s body disappeared far into the distance. Taesan frowned. ¡°No cooldown?¡± ¡°The exploration is over. Your power isn¡¯t all that special.¡± While undeniably powerful and formidable, its foundationy within the Labyrinth¡¯s system. Unlike the Spirit Kings or dragons, Taesan didn¡¯t fullymand his own power. In that case, overwhelming force would be enough. ¡°Witness.¡± The condensed mes had turned white. ¡°This is the world granted to the Spirit King¡­ my world.¡± The white mes exploded, consuming the space. [Vishnu has activated King¡¯s World.] The space warped. The veryws of the world twisted, and the air changed. Taesan instinctively realized. This ce. The 70th floor of the Labyrinth had now be Vishnu¡¯s world. [Your opponent is an unwinnable enemy.] Vishnu calmly stated. ¡°Perish.¡± mes rushed toward him. [Your First Attack Nullification has activated.] The nullification was consumed. Taking advantage of the gap, Taesan swiftly gathered demonic energy. [You have activated Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave.] The demonic energy surged. A pitch-ck wave, capable of swallowing everything, rushed toward the mes. Vishnu frowned and snapped her fingers. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the arsenal.¡± The mes opened their jaws and swallowed the pitch-ck wave. The wave dissipated instantly, like fire trying to rise in water, vanishing without a trace. Vishnu¡¯s entire body momentarily became me and disappeared. Sensing danger, Taesan swung his sword fiercely to his left. ¡°You¡¯ve got good instincts.¡± Vishnu descended next to Taesan and grabbed his sword. With her fingers made of mes, Vishnu held onto Taesan¡¯s sword, preventing it from advancing. ¡°But that¡¯s all.¡± The mes erupted, engulfing Taesan. [Your Second Attack Nullification has activated.] ¡°Second? You have multiple skills of that level?¡± Vishnu was baffled. Minerva hastily gathered wind, but with a simple wave of Vishnu¡¯s hand, it dissipated. ¡°You are of no consequence anymore, young Spirit King.¡± Minerva¡¯s entire form trembled. She began to lose her shape, quivering uncontrobly. ¡°This is the domain of mes I created. No other force of nature can exert its power here.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Minerva tumbled to the ground, the wind that had surrounded her body slowly being consumed by the mes. ¡°Surrender, mortal.¡± The mes filled the entire world. ¡°This is the power of a king.¡± After using the King¡¯s World skill, Vishnu became monstrously powerful. Taesan, who had been evenly matched with her earlier, was now being overwhelmed in an instant. And Taesan understood what had caused this shift. ¡®Dominance of the domain.¡¯ The space of the 70th floor itself had be hers. It was simr to Taesan¡¯s partial world transformation. She had turned a certain range of the area into her world, imposing herws onto it. Vishnu was the Spirit King, and spirits are beings of nature. She had forcibly imposed her world onto this realm, twisting nature and turning it into her domain. Taesan gathered his rank to push away the encroaching mes. It was only natural that he was being pushed back. This entire space was her domain. Everything was determined by herws and will. Without his Absolute Protection, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to withstand the depletion of his health. Taesan silently moved his body, focusing on evasion and defense rather than counterattacking. [You have activated Mental eleration.] Unless he could conquer this domain, victory was impossible. So, how could he conquer it? To maintain King¡¯s World, where she oveid her world onto thebyrinth created by the gods, must require a significant cost. There had to be a time limit, but how long it wouldst was unknown. Simply waiting for that time to pass was clearly not an optimal strategy. Even hiding wouldn¡¯t work. The space itself was her domain, so there was nowhere to escape. Word of Command was also ineffective. It worked well against attacks without will, but not in this case. The Boundary Line was his final card. He couldn¡¯t reveal it just yet. What he needed was the most optimal method to counter her, a way to exploit her abilities while maintaining an advantage without suffering losses. He endured the surging mes with the Aegis Shield. As soon as its duration ended, he used Random Blink to escape, but the mes surged once again. Gathering his rank, Taesan spoke as he swung his sword. ¡°Minerva.¡± ¡°Ugh, yes?¡± Despite being relentlessly pushed back by the mes, Minerva and Barkaza managed to hold on. Taesan addressed her. ¡°Can you buy me some time?¡± ¡°¡­How much?¡± ¡°A few minutes.¡± ¡°A few minutes?¡± Minerva gave a bitter smile. She didn¡¯t want to admit it, but the Fire Spirit King was clearly stronger than her. The young Minerva couldn¡¯t handle Nature¡¯s Incarnationbined with King¡¯s World, making it difficult to hold on. Still, Minerva spoke confidently. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Leave it to me. Barkaza!¡± [As the kingmands.] A burst of rainbow light and wind exploded forth. Vishnu gazed indifferently at the charging Minerva. ¡°You¡¯re making a foolishst stand.¡± ¡°I am still a king. I can¡¯t leave without doing anything!¡± Minerva¡¯s wind condensed. The wind, containing all of her power, burst out. The mes were slowly but surely pushed back. Meanwhile, Taesan extended his senses. He analyzed every detail of the domain controlled by Vishnu and the twistedws of her world. With the vast amount of information he gathered, Taesan used a catalyst on his wrist guards. Seeing this, Vishnu swung her mes aggressively. But Minerva wasn¡¯t easily pushed back. ¡®Annoying.¡¯ Even though Minerva was young, she was still the Spirit King. As the ruler of the wind itself, she could hold her ground in the domain of mes when she gathered all her strength. And Taesan was also a thorn in her side. ¡®Why isn¡¯t he taking any damage?¡¯ This ce was her domain. Any unauthorized being should have suffered horrendous damage just by standing in it. Yet Taesan wasn¡¯t taking any damage at all. It was only possible to protect his body through Absolute Protection and the twisted tuning of spirit energy, but Vishnu, who was unaware of this, found it extremely bothersome. ¡®I can¡¯t give him any more time.¡¯ She didn¡¯t know what he was doing, but it wouldn¡¯t be something that would help her. She decided to end it quickly. Vishnu gathered mes. The fire that had been spreading as if it would burn the world suddenly surged, sweeping over everything like a storm. ¡°Ugh!¡± Minerva wrapped herself in wind to protect Taesan and then exploded outward. The violent gusts scattered in all directions. Taesan also activated a skill. [You have activated Greed of Destruction.] system_End A fierce power surged from the bracelet on Taesan¡¯s arm, swallowing the mes. Though the mes couldn¡¯t withstand it and were crushed and broken, they were steadily devoured by the bracelet¡¯s jaws. Vishnu frowned. Despite consuming a considerable amount of power, neither Taesan nor Minerva had fallen. ¡°Ha, haha¡­¡± Minerva slowly copsed. Her entire form began to disintegrate, unable to withstand the overwhelming power, and she was forcefully unsummoned. Barkaza had already been unsummoned. ¡°This should be enough¡­ right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡± Taesan nodded. Minerva grinned widely. ¡°Then that¡¯s fine. Good luck.¡± With those words, she disappeared. Vishnu floated arrogantly in the air, looking down at Taesan. ¡°Is your final struggle over?¡± Although it was impressive that they had endured, her power was still intact. On the other hand, Taesan had lost the Spirit King, Minerva. The situation was still overwhelmingly in her favor. ¡°In that case, die there.¡± The mes rushed forward. Every part of his vision was filled with crimson fire. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯m using this like this, so it was a bit tricky.¡± Taesan muttered as he watched the approaching mes. He had the knowledge in his head. But knowing and using it were two different things. Moreover, analyzing the Spirit King¡¯s domain and activating the corresponding skill took a considerable amount of time. However, thanks to Minerva¡¯s efforts, he was able to finish everything. The roots wrapped around Taesan¡¯s arm squirmed. He swung his arm forcefully. [You have activated Partial World Transformation.] Suddenly, the roots surged. Thews of the world, which had been under Vishnu¡¯s control, began to distort. Vishnu¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± The world she had oveid and the twistedws she had imposed were being pushed back by another world. The mes gradually died down, and her domain started to disappear. ¡°What is this madness!¡± She was shocked. The space she had created was vanishing. ¡°I am the Spirit King! This is my domain!¡± ¡°So what?¡± Vishnu explosively unleashed her mes. Taesan responded ordingly. [You have activated Frozen World.] Crack! A freezing cold stormed forth. The power it contained was clearly different from before. The rushing mes were frozen in their tracks as the cold consumed the space. The walls of thebyrinth froze instantly. Vishnu, sensing the cold approaching her, hastily covered herself in mes and detonated them. The ice couldn¡¯t reach her. However, the air around her froze in an instant. Ice and fire divided the 70th floor. At first, Taesan had to activate Frozen World multiple times to push back Vishnu¡¯s power. But now, things were different. Vishnu, on the contrary, had to expend her strength just to fend off Frozen World. ¡°What is this?¡± Taesan raised his sword. The Spirit King was indeed strong. In terms of pure strength, she surpassed Taesan. But what he had unleashed was, though iplete, the domain of an immortal who transcended mortality. In terms of rank, he was clearly above the Spirit King. Taesan spoke to the bewildered Vishnu. ¡°And there¡¯s someone who holds a grudge against you.¡± He unleashed what had been simmering within his sword ever since he encountered the Spirit King. [You have activated Wrath of the Acknowledged One.] The insane spirit that had long slumbered within began to awaken. Ascension Through Skills [Kee Kee Kee Keek!] Maniacalughter echoed. The deranged spirit that had once dwelled in Taesan¡¯s sword appears. [Aah! You have arrived! I have met my king!] The deranged spirit shouted with crazedughter. Vishnu grimaced. ¡°¡­That thing.¡± Vishnu hadn¡¯t forgotten. The spirit was nothing more than a tool she had created to preserve the consciousness of the spirits when she brought them into thebyrinth. ¡°Did that thing also make a pact with the magician of thebyrinth?¡± [Aah! My King!] The spirit cried out. Its voice, brimming with emotion, reverberated through the floor.Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Go fulfill your wish.¡± [Kakak! Thank you! Thank you!] The deranged spirit flew away. [Aah! My great king! The king I respected and loved! I havee to see you!] ¡°Get lost.¡± Vishnu coldly spoke to the deranged spirit that was wailing. mes erupted and consumed the deranged spirit. The deranged spirit was weak, not even a low-tier spirit. There was no way it could withstand Vishnu¡¯s power. Vishnu sneered. ¡°Is this the trump card you brought?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. The deranged spirit emerged from the mes unscathed, showing no signs of damage. ¡°What!¡± [You despise me! I understand!] The deranged spirit shouted with a distorted face. [Because I feel the same!] The spirit clung to Vishnu¡¯s body, spreading over her and beginning to oppress her. ¡°Urgh!¡± Vishnu groaned. The emotions and madness that the deranged spirit harbored began to stir. The deranged spirit itself started to merge with her. As Vishnu writhed in agony, Taesan raised his sword. [You activated eleration.] His body elerated instantly, moving toward the suffering Vishnu in a sh. Vishnu, startled, unleashed her mes. A wave of fire rushed toward Taesan as if to crush him. Taesan gathered his mana. [You activated Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave.] The pitch-ck wave emerged. Previously, when used against Vishnu, the wave had vanished without doing anything. But this time, it was different. The ck wave collided with the mes and started devouring them voraciously. ¡°Damn it!¡± Vishnu gritted her teeth and intensified her mes. Finally, she managed to push back the pitch-ck wave, but by then, Taesan had already closed the distance. Vishnu was about to escape through the mes. [Kee Kee Keek!] The deranged spiritughed. Its twisted emotions suppressed the mes, halting her movement. In the end, Vishnu allowed Taesan tond a strike. ¡°Argh!¡± [Vishnu activated the Shoes of Spatial Shift.] Vishnu¡¯s body moved. Taesan immediately identified her location and gave chase. Suppressing her dizziness, Vishnu gritted her teeth. mes flickered. Once again, Vishnu unfurled her king¡¯s domain. It was a power that literally altered thews of the world. In this ce, Vishnu was akin to an absolute being. It was only natural for someone like Taesan to be engulfed and copse instantly. Boom! But she was blocked by Taesan¡¯s domain. Unable to devour him, they shed head-on. ¡®How is this possible!¡¯ Vishnu couldn¡¯t ept it. Changing thews of the world was not a power granted to mortals. It was something only possible for her, the Spirit King who had lived longer than any other spirit and held supreme control over nature. Even among the Guides who had reached the brink of mortality, she was the only one capable of it. Yet Taesan had now made the world his own domain. And this world was colliding head-to-head with her, the Spirit King¡¯s domain. Vishnu couldn¡¯tprehend it. The absolute advantage she had was gone. And that wasn¡¯t the end of it. Vishnu red up her mes violently. It was a force that would burn and turn anything it touched to ash, yet the deranged spirit clinging to her remained unscathed. Woosh. mes clung to her body. Normally, mes would be a familiar power to Vishnu, the Spirit King of Fire, like a cradle, but not this time. Now, the mes were trying to harm her. Vishnu violently shook her arm to cast off the mes. The deranged spirit clinging to her was slowly damaging her very essence and power. That was the reason she couldn¡¯t evade Taesan¡¯s attack with her mes, even in her own domain. ¡°How am I bound by such a low-tier spirit?¡± No matter how much the deranged spirit had dedicated itself to taking revenge on Vishnu, the difference in rank and power was clear. There was no way it could influence her to this extent. Vishnu read the power contained within the deranged spirit that was binding her. Her eyes trembled. Within it was the energy of the Spirit God. The Spirit God had imbued the deranged spirit with the power to kill her. ¡®The Spirit God?¡¯ Though it was a reward the Spirit God had given Taesan for rescuing Arulia, Vishnu didn¡¯t know that, and she was shocked. In the meantime, Taesan had reached her. As he swung his sword, she hurriedly countered. She waved her hands frantically. The mes began to take shape. ¡°Burn. Firebird.¡± [Vishnu activated her Fire Familiar.] [Scree!] A phoenix lunged at Taesan. Taesan didn¡¯t evade it. [You activated the Seed of Cmity.] A me capable of burning the entire world rose and collided with the phoenix. [Screech!] The phoenix pressed down on the mes. The Seed of Cmity, crushed by the overwhelming power, gradually began to lose its strength. Taesan gathered his strength and fueled the mes further. [Kii Eek!] The Seed of Cmity that had engulfed Taesan¡¯s aura grewrger and devoured the phoenix. Having eliminated the phoenix, Taesan thrust his sword into Vishnu. ¡°Kugh!¡± mes burst out. Taesan cast a spell to pierce through the mes, carving a path forward. Vishnu was slowly being pushed back. Drip. A fine line appeared on her body. Red blood started to flow. ¡°The blood of the Spirit King is the same color.¡± Taesan muttered as he charged. Vishnu gritted her teeth. As much as she didn¡¯t want to admit it, the situation was not in her favor. The domain was split in half, and she couldn¡¯t control it as she wished. The deranged spirit¡¯s interference further hindered her movements. A decision had to be made. Her eyes settled. She stomped her foot. mes erupted. Faced with a wave of mes filling the space, Taesan had no choice but to dodge rather than charge. With the time she had bought, Vishnu gathered her inner strength. [Aaaah!] The deranged spirit, feeling the immense power directed at it, let out a crazedugh. [You wish to kill me, don¡¯t you, my King! You want to erase me, the one you abandoned! I understand!] The deranged spirit did not evade either. Instead, it violently poured its emotions into Vishnu. [But in return, you must take all of me!] The deranged spirit screamed fiercely. [Human!] Taesan immediately activated a skill. [You have activated Forsaken de.] He activated the second skill, one of the two skills he obtained when the deranged spirit merged with his sword. The emotions stored within the deranged spirit wildly amplified, swirling inside Vishnu. Vishnu bit her lip, gathering more strength. Amid the violent sh of powers, Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Naberious¡¯ Golden Sword.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated the de of Fighting Spirit.] [You have activated Absolute Judgement.] Thud. Taesan charged forward. At the same moment, the condensed power within Vishnu exploded, but Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through her. [Vishnu has activated the Brand of Twisted Recovery.] [Vishnu took 71,040 damage.] [Vishnu has recovered 35,520 health.] [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] Rumble¡­ Even though the attack was nullified, Taesan¡¯s body was pushed back by the series of explosions. The Spirit King¡¯s domain began to shake uncontrobly. As the explosion subsided, Vishnu¡¯s figure reappeared. Half of her body was in tatters. A ring on her finger snapped and fell. ¡°As expected, the deep-floor equipment is a nuisance.¡± A damage amount of 70,000 was enough to defeat Vishnu, but she had survived using deep-floor equipment. Taesan smirked. ¡°You killed the spirit that called out to you like that? That¡¯s harsh.¡± ¡°¡­You.¡± Vishnu¡¯s enraged gaze focused on Taesan. Crash! The space shattered. The king¡¯s domain that Vishnu had unfolded crumbled under the strain. Taesan¡¯s partial world alteration ended simultaneously. Since it was a power triggered by consuming a catalyst, its duration was limited. ¡®I¡¯m out of mana, too.¡¯ His mana was nearly depleted. He wanted to use a potion, but Vishnu wasn¡¯t giving him any opportunity. Wrrrr. Taesan unleashed his divinity. A golden light spread around him, almostpletely restoring his mana and magic power. Vishnu let out a hollowugh when she saw the light. ¡°I was mistaken.¡± She had thought that while Taesan was strong, he was still just a mortal bound by thebyrinth¡¯s system. But she was wrong. Taesan wasn¡¯t bound by the system. Instead, he was using it to surpass his limits. Taesan was a monster. Vishnu¡¯s aura intensified further. Taesan¡¯s eyes grew calm. By altering the world partially, he had erased her advantage. He had inflicted great damage by using the deranged spirit. He had even reduced her stats with the ne of depravity he obtained from the Quest of the Fallen God. But despite all that, the Spirit King had not lost her strength. This was the true power of someone who had reached the deep floors. Vishnu gathered mes. The intensity of the mes was noticeably weaker. Vishnu gave a bitter smile. How long had it been since she had been driven to this point? It was something that hadn¡¯t happened even when she was conquering thebyrinth. Possessing the king¡¯s domain, she had always been one step removed from death. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Vishnu spread her arms. All the mes began to gather in her hands. [Vishnu has activated Agni¡¯s me Sword.] A long sword of me appeared in her hand. The mes contained within it were her remaining strength, burning the air and drying her lips. ¡°I admit it. You are stronger than me.¡± The arrogant and great Spirit King finally spoke. ¡°So I will face you as a challenger.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Taesan stomped the ground. Agni responded. The ming sword shed with Taesan¡¯s sword. The ming sword exploded, trying to burn and melt everything it touched. Taesan stepped forward, twisting his waist as he swung his sword. ng! The swords collided. Taesan activated his Foresight skill. The trajectory of Vishnu¡¯s sword faltered, revealing an opening. Just as Taesan was about to plunge his sword into her, Vishnu¡¯s body shifted. [Vishnu has activated the Shoes of Spatial Shift.] ¡°So annoying.¡± Taesan immediately charged forward, pressing down on Vishnu. Their swords collided, and Vishnu was pushed back. ¡°Kugh!¡± Vishnu was the Spirit King. She wasn¡¯t familiar with wielding a sword or moving her body in battle. She couldn¡¯t help but be continuously pushed back by Taesan. But Vishnu was barely holding on. All thanks to her deep-floor equipment. The most bothersome one was undoubtedly the Shoes of Spatial Shift. With no activation dy and an extremely short cooldown, it allowed her to teleport freely, easily escaping any pressure Taesan applied. Vishnu¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t lost their light. Even as she endured Taesan¡¯s attacks, her determination to find an opportunity was evident. But Taesan was no different. ng! He couldn¡¯t read her intentions. Against an opponent of Vishnu¡¯s level, it was impossible to perfectly conceal one¡¯s will. So he pressed Vishnu, analyzing her behavior patterns, the timing of her spatial shifts, and her location rtive to him each time she activated it. Crash! Taesan swung his sword harshly. Vishnu was pushed back. As his sword aimed for her chest, Vishnu activated her spatial shift. [Vishnu has activated the Shoes of Spatial Shift.] And Taesan had been waiting for that moment. [You have activated Forced Descent.] Whoosh. All of Vishnu¡¯s stats dropped. Caught off guard by the sudden change in her senses, her reaction was slightly dyedpared to before. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] Taesan¡¯s body left an afterimage. Just as Vishnu, who hadnded far away, was about to turn her gaze, Taesan was already right in front of her. As his sword pierced her chest, her pupils widened. Chapter 320 Chapter 320 [Kee Kee Kee Keek!] Maniacalughter echoed. The deranged spirit that had once dwelled in Taesan¡¯s sword appears. [Aah! You have arrived! I have met my king!] The deranged spirit shouted with crazedughter. Vishnu grimaced. ¡°¡­That thing.¡± Vishnu hadn¡¯t forgotten. The spirit was nothing more than a tool she had created to preserve the consciousness of the spirits when she brought them into thebyrinth. ¡°Did that thing also make a pact with the magician of thebyrinth?¡± [Aah! My King!] The spirit cried out. Its voice, brimming with emotion, reverberated through the floor.Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°Go fulfill your wish.¡± [Kakak! Thank you! Thank you!] The deranged spirit flew away. [Aah! My great king! The king I respected and loved! I havee to see you!] ¡°Get lost.¡± Vishnu coldly spoke to the deranged spirit that was wailing. mes erupted and consumed the deranged spirit. The deranged spirit was weak, not even a low-tier spirit. There was no way it could withstand Vishnu¡¯s power. Vishnu sneered. ¡°Is this the trump card you brought?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. The deranged spirit emerged from the mes unscathed, showing no signs of damage. ¡°What!¡± [You despise me! I understand!] The deranged spirit shouted with a distorted face. [Because I feel the same!] The spirit clung to Vishnu¡¯s body, spreading over her and beginning to oppress her. ¡°Urgh!¡± Vishnu groaned. The emotions and madness that the deranged spirit harbored began to stir. The deranged spirit itself started to merge with her. As Vishnu writhed in agony, Taesan raised his sword. [You activated eleration.] His body elerated instantly, moving toward the suffering Vishnu in a sh. Vishnu, startled, unleashed her mes. A wave of fire rushed toward Taesan as if to crush him. Taesan gathered his mana. [You activated Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave.] The pitch-ck wave emerged. Previously, when used against Vishnu, the wave had vanished without doing anything. But this time, it was different. The ck wave collided with the mes and started devouring them voraciously. ¡°Damn it!¡± Vishnu gritted her teeth and intensified her mes. Finally, she managed to push back the pitch-ck wave, but by then, Taesan had already closed the distance. Vishnu was about to escape through the mes. [Kee Kee Keek!] The deranged spiritughed. Its twisted emotions suppressed the mes, halting her movement. In the end, Vishnu allowed Taesan tond a strike. ¡°Argh!¡± [Vishnu activated the Shoes of Spatial Shift.] Vishnu¡¯s body moved. Taesan immediately identified her location and gave chase. Suppressing her dizziness, Vishnu gritted her teeth. mes flickered. Once again, Vishnu unfurled her king¡¯s domain. It was a power that literally altered thews of the world. In this ce, Vishnu was akin to an absolute being. It was only natural for someone like Taesan to be engulfed and copse instantly. Boom! But she was blocked by Taesan¡¯s domain. Unable to devour him, they shed head-on. ¡®How is this possible!¡¯ Vishnu couldn¡¯t ept it. Changing thews of the world was not a power granted to mortals. It was something only possible for her, the Spirit King who had lived longer than any other spirit and held supreme control over nature. Even among the Guides who had reached the brink of mortality, she was the only one capable of it. Yet Taesan had now made the world his own domain. And this world was colliding head-to-head with her, the Spirit King¡¯s domain. Vishnu couldn¡¯tprehend it. The absolute advantage she had was gone. And that wasn¡¯t the end of it. Vishnu red up her mes violently. It was a force that would burn and turn anything it touched to ash, yet the deranged spirit clinging to her remained unscathed. Woosh. mes clung to her body. Normally, mes would be a familiar power to Vishnu, the Spirit King of Fire, like a cradle, but not this time. Now, the mes were trying to harm her. Vishnu violently shook her arm to cast off the mes. The deranged spirit clinging to her was slowly damaging her very essence and power. That was the reason she couldn¡¯t evade Taesan¡¯s attack with her mes, even in her own domain. ¡°How am I bound by such a low-tier spirit?¡± No matter how much the deranged spirit had dedicated itself to taking revenge on Vishnu, the difference in rank and power was clear. There was no way it could influence her to this extent. Vishnu read the power contained within the deranged spirit that was binding her. Her eyes trembled. Within it was the energy of the Spirit God. The Spirit God had imbued the deranged spirit with the power to kill her. ¡®The Spirit God?¡¯ Though it was a reward the Spirit God had given Taesan for rescuing Arulia, Vishnu didn¡¯t know that, and she was shocked. In the meantime, Taesan had reached her. As he swung his sword, she hurriedly countered. She waved her hands frantically. The mes began to take shape. ¡°Burn. Firebird.¡± [Vishnu activated her Fire Familiar.] [Scree!] A phoenix lunged at Taesan. Taesan didn¡¯t evade it. [You activated the Seed of Cmity.] A me capable of burning the entire world rose and collided with the phoenix. [Screech!] The phoenix pressed down on the mes. The Seed of Cmity, crushed by the overwhelming power, gradually began to lose its strength. Taesan gathered his strength and fueled the mes further. [Kii Eek!] The Seed of Cmity that had engulfed Taesan¡¯s aura grewrger and devoured the phoenix. Having eliminated the phoenix, Taesan thrust his sword into Vishnu. ¡°Kugh!¡± mes burst out. Taesan cast a spell to pierce through the mes, carving a path forward. Vishnu was slowly being pushed back. Drip. A fine line appeared on her body. Red blood started to flow. ¡°The blood of the Spirit King is the same color.¡± Taesan muttered as he charged. Vishnu gritted her teeth. As much as she didn¡¯t want to admit it, the situation was not in her favor. The domain was split in half, and she couldn¡¯t control it as she wished. The deranged spirit¡¯s interference further hindered her movements. A decision had to be made. Her eyes settled. She stomped her foot. mes erupted. Faced with a wave of mes filling the space, Taesan had no choice but to dodge rather than charge. With the time she had bought, Vishnu gathered her inner strength. [Aaaah!] The deranged spirit, feeling the immense power directed at it, let out a crazedugh. [You wish to kill me, don¡¯t you, my King! You want to erase me, the one you abandoned! I understand!] The deranged spirit did not evade either. Instead, it violently poured its emotions into Vishnu. [But in return, you must take all of me!] The deranged spirit screamed fiercely. [Human!] Taesan immediately activated a skill. [You have activated Forsaken de.] He activated the second skill, one of the two skills he obtained when the deranged spirit merged with his sword. The emotions stored within the deranged spirit wildly amplified, swirling inside Vishnu. Vishnu bit her lip, gathering more strength. Amid the violent sh of powers, Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Naberious¡¯ Golden Sword.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated the de of Fighting Spirit.] [You have activated Absolute Judgement.] Thud. Taesan charged forward. At the same moment, the condensed power within Vishnu exploded, but Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through her. [Vishnu has activated the Brand of Twisted Recovery.] [Vishnu took 71,040 damage.] [Vishnu has recovered 35,520 health.] [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] Rumble¡­ Even though the attack was nullified, Taesan¡¯s body was pushed back by the series of explosions. The Spirit King¡¯s domain began to shake uncontrobly. As the explosion subsided, Vishnu¡¯s figure reappeared. Half of her body was in tatters. A ring on her finger snapped and fell. ¡°As expected, the deep-floor equipment is a nuisance.¡± A damage amount of 70,000 was enough to defeat Vishnu, but she had survived using deep-floor equipment. Taesan smirked. ¡°You killed the spirit that called out to you like that? That¡¯s harsh.¡± ¡°¡­You.¡± Vishnu¡¯s enraged gaze focused on Taesan. Crash! The space shattered. The king¡¯s domain that Vishnu had unfolded crumbled under the strain. Taesan¡¯s partial world alteration ended simultaneously. Since it was a power triggered by consuming a catalyst, its duration was limited. ¡®I¡¯m out of mana, too.¡¯ His mana was nearly depleted. He wanted to use a potion, but Vishnu wasn¡¯t giving him any opportunity. Wrrrr. Taesan unleashed his divinity. A golden light spread around him, almostpletely restoring his mana and magic power. Vishnu let out a hollowugh when she saw the light. ¡°I was mistaken.¡± She had thought that while Taesan was strong, he was still just a mortal bound by thebyrinth¡¯s system. But she was wrong. Taesan wasn¡¯t bound by the system. Instead, he was using it to surpass his limits. Taesan was a monster. Vishnu¡¯s aura intensified further. Taesan¡¯s eyes grew calm. By altering the world partially, he had erased her advantage. He had inflicted great damage by using the deranged spirit. He had even reduced her stats with the ne of depravity he obtained from the Quest of the Fallen God. But despite all that, the Spirit King had not lost her strength. This was the true power of someone who had reached the deep floors. Vishnu gathered mes. The intensity of the mes was noticeably weaker. Vishnu gave a bitter smile. How long had it been since she had been driven to this point? It was something that hadn¡¯t happened even when she was conquering thebyrinth. Possessing the king¡¯s domain, she had always been one step removed from death. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Vishnu spread her arms. All the mes began to gather in her hands. [Vishnu has activated Agni¡¯s me Sword.] A long sword of me appeared in her hand. The mes contained within it were her remaining strength, burning the air and drying her lips. ¡°I admit it. You are stronger than me.¡± The arrogant and great Spirit King finally spoke. ¡°So I will face you as a challenger.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Taesan stomped the ground. Agni responded. The ming sword shed with Taesan¡¯s sword. The ming sword exploded, trying to burn and melt everything it touched. Taesan stepped forward, twisting his waist as he swung his sword. ng! The swords collided. Taesan activated his Foresight skill. The trajectory of Vishnu¡¯s sword faltered, revealing an opening. Just as Taesan was about to plunge his sword into her, Vishnu¡¯s body shifted. [Vishnu has activated the Shoes of Spatial Shift.] ¡°So annoying.¡± Taesan immediately charged forward, pressing down on Vishnu. Their swords collided, and Vishnu was pushed back. ¡°Kugh!¡± Vishnu was the Spirit King. She wasn¡¯t familiar with wielding a sword or moving her body in battle. She couldn¡¯t help but be continuously pushed back by Taesan. But Vishnu was barely holding on. All thanks to her deep-floor equipment. The most bothersome one was undoubtedly the Shoes of Spatial Shift. With no activation dy and an extremely short cooldown, it allowed her to teleport freely, easily escaping any pressure Taesan applied. Vishnu¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t lost their light. Even as she endured Taesan¡¯s attacks, her determination to find an opportunity was evident. But Taesan was no different. ng! He couldn¡¯t read her intentions. Against an opponent of Vishnu¡¯s level, it was impossible to perfectly conceal one¡¯s will. So he pressed Vishnu, analyzing her behavior patterns, the timing of her spatial shifts, and her location rtive to him each time she activated it. Crash! Taesan swung his sword harshly. Vishnu was pushed back. As his sword aimed for her chest, Vishnu activated her spatial shift. [Vishnu has activated the Shoes of Spatial Shift.] And Taesan had been waiting for that moment. [You have activated Forced Descent.] Whoosh. All of Vishnu¡¯s stats dropped. Caught off guard by the sudden change in her senses, her reaction was slightly dyedpared to before. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] Taesan¡¯s body left an afterimage. Just as Vishnu, who hadnded far away, was about to turn her gaze, Taesan was already right in front of her. As his sword pierced her chest, her pupils widened. Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Taesan gripped the sword lodged in his chest. £ÛYou have activated the Branch of Despair.£Ý ¡°Urrrggh!¡± In an instant, despair engulfed Vishnu¡¯s mind. Vishnu barely held on, swinging her arms. £ÛVishnu has activated Exclusion of All.£Ý Kiiiing. As Vishnu¡¯s bracelet glowed, Taesan¡¯s body was pushed far away. It wasn¡¯t physical force but a maniption of space itself, forcibly widening the distance. £ÛYou have activated Random Blink.£Ý However, the moment Taesan pierced Vishnu¡¯s chest with his sword, he had already branded her. Taesan immediately moved in front of Vishnu. His sword came down, and Vishnu hurriedly blocked it.Boom! Vishnu¡¯s arms were pushed back. As Taesan pressed on to m her into the ground, Vishnu¡¯s body disappeared. £ÛVishnu has activated the Shoes of Spatial Transference.£Ý £ÛYou have activated eleration.£Ý £ÛYou have activated Skill eleration.£Ý Tap. And Taesan arrived directly in front of Vishnu as shended. Vishnu barely twisted her body to avoid the direct hit, letting out a gasp of shock. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s obvious.¡± He had already fully grasped the pattern of Vishnu¡¯s spatial leaps, her estimated location, and the principles of her movements. He could see clearly where she would go in any situation. ¡°You can¡¯t leap anymore, can you?¡± He had also figured out the limitation of the Shoes of Spatial Transference. It was rechargeable equipment, allowing up to three consecutive leaps. Once used three times, it required a cooldown period to recharge. Vishnu had activated the shoes three times in a row. She couldn¡¯t escape anymore. Boom! The sword mmed down, pressing her aggressively. Although Vishnu was being overpowered, she retaliated by swinging her sword to push Taesan away. They exchanged attacks. ¡°Ugh!¡± Their health was depleting, but Taesan had the ability to forcibly drain his opponent¡¯s health. This exchange was in his favor. ng! Taesan swung his sword, deflecting Vishnu¡¯s de. As Taesan counterattacked, Vishnu parried and thrust her sword. £ÛYou have activated Counter.£Ý Taesan¡¯s Ability Sword ignored Vishnu¡¯s sword and pierced her chest. ¡°Gah!¡± He twisted the sword and applied force with his foot. Boom! He activated eleration and mmed her into the wall. Vishnu raised her arm to summon mes. But only a tiny spark emerged, a mere flicker of me. Most of her power had already been consumed. Ahh, haha¡­ Vishnu slumped to the floor, coughing up blood. Taesan sheathed his sword. ¡°You endured well.¡± Taesan praised Vishnu. It wasn¡¯t just ttery. By the time Vishnu could no longer summon mes, her chances of winning had disappeared. She had to fight purely with her body and sword, but there was no way a spirit like her could outmatch Taesan in swordsmanship. Even their stats were heavily in Taesan¡¯s favor. Though it was thanks to the equipment from the deep floors, the fact that she had endured this long proved her strength. ¡°This is humiliating. I was never in a position to receive pity from anyone.¡± Perhaps because she understood this, or maybe because it was all over, Vishnu epted it calmly. ¡°I am¡­ dying here.¡± Vishnu let out a bitter smile. Spirits did not possess a true sense of self. Spirits who gained self-awareness eventually became corrupted as their consciousness decayed. That was the death of a spirit. As a Spirit King, she possessed an immense and immeasurable lifespan, but even she would inevitably face true death one day. That terrified her. She didn¡¯t want to die. That¡¯s why she had abandoned everything and entered thebyrinth, to achieve perfect self-awareness. But she had been defeated by Taesan. Her sense of self was slowly fading. Her very being was dissolving, returning to nature. It was the moment when one of the oldest spirits in existence began to die. It was the moment she feared most, yet surprisingly, she felt no great emotional turmoil. ¡°It¡¯s so quiet.¡± Instead of expressing anger or fear, Vishnu looked at the ghost. ¡°Hero. Do you not resent me?¡± The ghost had remained silent since the moment he encountered Vishnu. The ghost spoke up. £ÛI thought about mocking you... but honestly, we don¡¯t have much of a bad history. So I¡¯ve just been keeping quiet.£Ý ¡°That makes sense.¡± Vishnu and the ghost barely had any interaction, even among the top ranks. They had barely spoken a handful of times. Because of that, the ghost had no real feelings toward Vishnu. £ÛThere¡¯s only one person I truly want to meet.£Ý ¡°¡­¡­Societ Garudentia. The Ashen Woman, huh.¡± Vishnu chuckled softly. ¡°It¡¯s a shame I won¡¯t get to see her.¡± Vishnu leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes. ¡°My god, I return to you.¡± With a quiet prayer, Vishnu¡¯s body burst into mes. The mes dissipated into the air, leaving behind a small orb. £ÛYou have defeated Vishnu.£Ý £ÛYour level has increased.£Ý £ÛYour level has increased.£Ý £ÛYour level has increased.£Ý £ÛYour Soul Ascension has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 5,011, strength by 629, agility by 532, and intelligence by 643.£Ý £ÛYour Desire for Victory has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 1,066, strength by 358, agility by 333, and intelligence by 240.£Ý £ÛThe Seed of Life has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 501, strength by 62, agility by 53, and intelligence by 64.£Ý £ÛYour proficiency in the Green Witch¡¯s Magic has increased by 2%.£Ý £ÛThe proficiency of Partial World Alteration has increased by 3%.£Ý £ÛYour Soul Ascension has activated. You have acquired the special skill Avatar of Nature.£Ý £ÛYour Soul Ascension has activated. Elementalism proficiency increased by 5%, Spirit Contract: Spirit King of Wind, Minerva proficiency increased by 6%, and Natural Synchronization proficiency increased by 4%.£Ý £ÛYou have obtained the Core of the Fire Spirit King.£Ý £ÛYou have obtained the Essence of Ancient Nature.£Ý It was over. Taesan grasped the orb in his hand. The fight hadn¡¯t been easy. When the World Alteration of the King¡¯s Realm was activated, Taesan couldn¡¯t do anything and was one-sidedly attacked. Without the Partial World Alteration, he would have had to risk using his boundaries. ¡°I made the right call.¡± Thanks to it, he had pushed back Vishnu¡¯s realm and faced her on equal footing. Of course, this time, the situation had been special. Vishnu¡¯s trump card was the ability to alter the realm. But Taesan also had the ability to alter realms. And the power Taesan possessed was that of an Immortal. With simr abilities, Taesan, who held the power of an Immortal, naturally had the upper hand. But it wasn¡¯t without its drawbacks. ¡®The consumption of the catalyst isrge.¡¯ In the fight with Vishnu, Taesan had almost used up all the catalysts he obtained from the Green Witch. If he continued using them this way, he would need to acquire more catalysts. The mana consumption was also high. The more rules he added to counter the opponent¡¯s realm, the exponentially more mana it consumed. If it weren¡¯t for the insane spirit, his mana would have been depleted in an instant. ¡®I¡¯ll need to research this.¡¯ He had to find a way to reduce catalyst consumption and understand the criteria for mana consumption in altered realms, among other things. It was a skill well worth the effort. Taesan opened his stat window. £ÛLevel: 141£Ý £ÛShield: 7799/7799£Ý £ÛHealth: 90820/90820£Ý £ÛMana: 7540/7540£Ý £ÛMagic Power: 1128/1128£Ý £ÛStrength: 15939£Ý £ÛIntelligence: 14441£Ý £ÛAgility: 16095£Ý £ÛAttack Power + 5792£Ý £ÛDefense Power + 3942£Ý £ÛThe subject is in optimal condition.£Ý His level had steadily risen as he descended through thebyrinth, and after defeating Vishnu, his stats had surged. Now, there was a significant gap even whenpared to Lee Taeyeon. And he had acquired a new skill as well. £ÛSpirit Skill: Avatar of Nature£Ý £ÛMana Cost: 1500£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛDuration: 1 hour£Ý £ÛTransforms into nature itself, absorbing the surrounding energy as your own power. During this time, you gain dominion over nature, and the caster''s abilities and rank are enhanced.£Ý Avatar of Nature. When Vishnu used this skill, her rank had risen to the point where she rivaled Taesan. £ÛYou have activated Avatar of Nature.£Ý A surge of energy flowed out. The surrounding nature began to move ording to Taesan¡¯s will. Along with that, his speed, strength, and rank¡ªall of them increased. ¡°So this is how it works.¡± Taesan had previously acquired spirit skills such as Deer Walking on the Wind Path and Tiny Ember. Avatar of Nature seemed to be the highest-level spirit skill among them. It was quite useful. Like Apostle Transformation or Vessel of the King, it was a skill that would be a great help in battle. £ÛCore of the Fire Spirit King£Ý £ÛThe core imbued with the power of the Fire Spirit King. It contains absolute dominion over mes.£Ý £ÛEssence of Ancient Nature£Ý £ÛThe condensed essence of natural energy that has existed since the creation of the world.£Ý These were the two material items obtained after defeating the Fire Spirit King. £ÛYou have summoned the Spirit King of Wind, Minerva.£Ý The wind blew, and Minerva appeared. She seemed almost drained, likely due to the aftermath of the battle, and her power was barely detectable. ¡°Ugh¡­ Why did you call me? I was resting.¡± She mumbled in a nearly lifeless tone, then stared at the two orbs in Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°You won. I thought you could win, but still¡­¡± Minerva¡¯s expression became slightlyplicated. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy that you won, but¡­ it¡¯s a bit bittersweet.¡± Although the Fire Spirit King had been Taesan¡¯s enemy, she was still a Spirit King. As a fellow Spirit King, Minerva couldn¡¯t simply rejoice over it. Of course, this conversation didn¡¯t hold much meaning for Taesan. He handed the orbs to Minerva. ¡°Here. Can you use these?¡± ¡°The orbs? Let me see.¡± Minerva took the two orbs and examined them closely. ¡°I can use this one right away.¡± She pointed to the Essence of Ancient Nature. ¡°It¡¯s not the will of something grand, just a pure essence of nature. It¡¯s simply the power that reaches its peak after the passage of time, so I can absorb it.¡± ¡°Then go ahead and use it.¡± ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s an extremely valuable item.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Taesan replied. Minerva wasn¡¯t strong enough to fight against the higher-ups yet. She needed to be even stronger. Minerva obediently grasped the orb and shattered it. The natural energy contained within began to merge with her. She let out a sigh of awe as the power filled her. ¡°Ooh¡­¡± Minerva clenched her fist, the wind swirling around her. ¡°¡­This is incredible.¡± ¡°So now you can use the abilities that Vishnu used?¡± ¡°Not quite, but¡­ I¡¯ve definitely grown stronger. Now I should be able to hold my own even if the World of the King is activated.¡± That was a satisfying improvement. Taesan pointed to the other orb in her hand. ¡°What about that one?¡± Inside the orb, mes flickered. Minerva fiddled with the orb, her expression ambiguous. ¡°This one¡­ even I can¡¯t handle it carelessly. I didn¡¯t even know until now that a fallen Spirit King could leave behind their core.¡± For a Spirit King to be defeated by a mortal and leave behind their core was unheard of. Even with all the knowledge Minerva had gained during her rise to bing a King, she couldn¡¯t provide an answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can absorb the power of a different attribute. And I¡¯m not sure if my father would even allow it¡­ We¡¯ll have to check first.¡± ¡°Then, for now, you hold onto it.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll also take this.¡± Minerva opened her other hand, revealing a very small cluster of energy. It was minusculepared to the Essence of Nature or the Core of the Spirit King. Taesan immediately recognized what it was. ¡°The Mad Spirit.¡± A small spirit bound to thebyrinth, driven mad by its desire for vengeance, and having fulfilled its wish. ¡°I thought it was dead.¡± ¡°Almost, but¡­ there¡¯s still a strong sense of self lingering. Since you helped, I thought it might be useful.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± The Mad Spirit had done more than Taesan expected. Minerva smiled slightly. ¡°Well, I¡¯m off to rest again. See youter.¡± Minerva disappeared along with the Core of the Spirit King. Lastly, Taesan checked his sword. The Mad Spirit had fulfilled its wish and disappeared. Thus, the power rted to spirits that was stored in the sword was also gone. Instead, something new had emerged. £ÛThe Mad Spirit has fulfilled its wish within thebyrinth. A reward has been given to you for helping it achieve that.£Ý £ÛYou have obtained the Aggregate of Negativity.£Ý £ÛAggregate of Negativity£Ý £ÛA collection of emotions filled with hatred and anger. It seems it can be used as material to craft equipment.£Ý Whether it was a personal reward from the spirit or a gift from thebyrinth for fulfilling its wish, it was undoubtedly a valuable prize. Everything was more or less settled. Taesan turned his gaze. The sound of apuse echoed. The Broken Man, leaning against the wall, pped while looking at Taesan with a satisfied expression. Chapter 322: 70th Floor, Broken Man The Broken Man looked at Taesan with a very satisfied expression. Even though he had nothing to do with what had transpired. ¡°So, someone who hasn¡¯t reached the depths managed to defeat someone who has. Hmph.¡± The Broken Man chuckled as he sent a nce over. ¡°The kid I saw back then grew up in an instant.¡± The Broken Man hadn¡¯t expected much from Taesan. Even if he descended thebyrinth, he thought Taesan would hit a wall and eventually copse. But he made it this far. And even defeated Vishnu, the King of Fire Spirits. It was surprising. Admirable. Taesan quietly spoke.¡°So, all that¡¯s left is to defeat you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Taesan raised his sword. Unlike Taesan, who took a battle stance, the Broken Man waved his hand instead of raising his spear. ¡°Let¡¯s take a short break. To be honest, I can¡¯t be your opponent anyway.¡± The Broken Man stabbed his spear into the ground. As if he owned the ce. ¡°I¡¯m stuck here on the 70th floor, unable to reach the depths. Vishnu, who made it to the depths, is naturally stronger than me. And you managed to defeat her.¡± Just being fast and strong wouldn¡¯t guarantee victory. But still, the Broken Man knew he couldn¡¯t defeat Taesan. The gap between them was just toorge. ¡°So, there¡¯s no need to rush. Take your time. You may have recovered from leveling up, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to gather your thoughts, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± There was no reason to refuse the gesture of goodwill. Plus, there were a few things Taesan needed to confirm. He sat down on the spot. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Haven¡¯t cleared the other areas yet?] [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: No. All themunities except Korea, Japan, and China are quiet. They might have been wiped out, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case¡­ It seems like they haven¡¯t returned from Earth yet.] As of now, only Korea, China, and Japan hadpleted the Earth quest. It wasn¡¯t unusual. The designated yers from each country had to gather in one ce, and there was no time limit for that quest. Some countries had to cross oceans, while others had to travel across long ins. Normally, the quest would have taken years toplete. Without someone abnormal like Taesan, it was bound to be a long-term battle. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: ¡­Do you think the High Gods might target other countries?] The idea was that while Taesan wasn¡¯t on Earth, the High Gods might target yers from other countries. It was possible, but Taesan shook his head. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: They wouldn¡¯t have the luxury.] The High Gods had expended a lot of power to kill Taesan. A god had directly descended and intervened in the quest. With that, there would be no resources left to target other ces. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: That¡¯s a relief.] Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s message reflected how much stress she¡¯d been under, fearing that possibility. After that, Taesan exchanged some trivial information with Kim Hwiyeon and the Chinese yers through themunity. Things like the rtions between different countries not being bad. §²? After roughly exchanging information, Taesan called Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: How are things?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Not bad. Thanks to the power we gained on Earth, it¡¯s been easier going down.] Taesan asked as he recalled something. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Did you guys make contracts with intermediate spirits?] [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]: Yes.] [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Are they helping?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Yes! Very much! They¡¯re strong enough to assist in battle, and most of all, they¡¯re so cute! Just hugging them makes me feel so happy!] It was rare for Lee Taeyeon to sound so cheerful and bright. Taesan couldn¡¯t help but smile. Descending thebyrinth without anyone¡¯s help¡­ that was mentally exhausting. Taesan had the ghost to talk to, but Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon had no one. They were truly alone. In that situation, having an absolute ally in the form of a spirit must have made them very happy. [Kang Taesan [Solo]: Hang in there.] Taesan left that message and logged out of themunity. ¡®That¡¯s good.¡¯ Taesan remembered how much Lee Taeyeon had struggled in her past life. How many posts she had written in themunity as she descended thebyrinth. That wasn¡¯t happening now. It was a good thing. Taesan stood up. The Broken Man, who had been waiting from afar, asked. ¡°Is your rest over?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Broken Man tightened his grip on his spear. Taesan drew his sword. They faced each other. The Broken Man opened his mouth. ¡°Do you know why I called those guys my kin? It¡¯s because I could see that they would end up just like me.¡± As they descended thebyrinth, at some point, they would break, sit down, and give up, bing failures. The Broken Man thought that the Guides of Sin were no different. ¡°I just realized it early, and they realized itte. There¡¯s not much difference. But you¡­ you might be different.¡± The Broken Man tightened his grip on his spear. With the sound of the air tearing apart, he elerated. The spear shot forward, aiming to pierce through Taesan¡¯s head, but Taesan deflected it with a swing of his sword. ng! The spear sliced through the air. [You have activated the Vessel of the King.] [You have activated the Incarnation of Nature.] A great force enveloped Taesan. He moved forward, swinging his sword. With a single strike, the Broken Man¡¯s body was flung far away. ¡°Haha!¡± The Broken Manughed. He quickly regained his stance and tightened his grip on the spear. The spear twisted, tracing an arc. The mystery of the spear was indeed an extraordinary skill. Only someone who had dedicated countless years to mastering the spear could reach such a level. But it shattered. The mystery the Broken Man unfolded was crushed by the overwhelming power. As the sword strike rushed towards him, the Broken Manughed. The Broken Man didn¡¯t lose his fighting spirit. Even as he was pushed back by the overwhelming force, he tried to find a way to win. It was likely the same method he used when he descended thebyrinth in the past. But even so, he couldn¡¯t win. After a battle that was short if short and long if long, the Broken Man was defeated. ¡°So this is the power of someone who has the potential to see the end. I¡¯m somewhat satisfied.¡± The Broken Man dropped his spear. He was someone who had failed. Someone who had judged that he couldn¡¯t go further and gave up. The emotions a failure feels when looking at someone moving forward are envy, longing, or jealousy and hatred. The Broken Man was the former. ¡°I may be stuck here, unable to escape¡­ but I¡¯ll be rooting for you.¡± The Broken Man smiled and disappeared into light. He wasn¡¯t dead. He was probably sent back to the beginning of thebyrinth. The Broken Man would resume his role of guiding those who descend further into thebyrinth. Taesan sheathed his sword. A loud system window filled his vision. [Your level has increased.] [You have reached the 70th floor. You have acquired the title: [One Who Arrived at the Entrance of the Depths].] [You have perfectly cleared the 70th floor. You have acquired the title: [One Who Entered a New Domain].] [You have perfectly understood and cleared all floors up to the 70th. You have acquired the title: [March of Conquest].] [You have arrived at the minimum location desired by the Mage. You have acquired the title: [One Who Meets the Mage¡¯s Expectations].] [You have arrived at the deepest of depths. Beyond this lies the ce where the gods reside, where all terrifying things live, and where the secrets of the world can be revealed.] [Whether you move forward or sit here content is up to you.] [A new reward is given based on your achievements as you reached the 70th floor. You have acquired the title: [The Qualified One].] [Simply arriving at the deep depths grants great enlightenment. You have acquired the special passive skill: [Might of the One Who Reached the Entrance].] [Title: One Who Arrived at the Entrance of the Depths] [You have arrived at the entrance of the depths.] [Health +500] [Strength +300] [Attack Power +100] [Defense +100] The titles ¡°One Who Entered a New Domain¡± and ¡°March of Conquest¡± weren¡¯t very different from ¡°One Who Arrived at the Entrance of the Depths.¡± They were titles that increased overall stats and attack power. The differences came afterward. [Title: One Who Meets the Wizard¡¯s Expectations] [A small reward given to the one who reached the location desired by the Wizard.] [Magic +50] [Mana +1000] [Mana regeneration speed increases by 30%.] As expected from a wizard, the reward involved magic-rted enhancements. While the increase in magic and mana was notable, the boost in regeneration speed caught his eye first. [Title: The Qualified One] [A symbol given to one who descended thebyrinth, utilizing many things and obtaining their own strength.] [Attack Power +100] [All skill proficiency growth rate increases significantly.] ¡°This¡­¡± Taesan quietly read the description of the skill. An increase in skill proficiency growth rate. ¡°Did you get this?¡± [Hmm?] The ghost looked at the system window. After reading it for a moment, the ghost responded in a somewhat displeased tone. [...No. What is this? I didn¡¯t get a title like this.] ¡°What did you get then?¡± [I also had the title ¡®The Qualified One,¡¯ but its effect increased swordsmanship proficiency and helped me understand the mysteries of swordsmanship.] The titles had different effects. Taesan understood the reason. ¡°New rewards based on achievements.¡± The titles¡¯ effects varied depending on what one dealt with and achieved while descending thebyrinth. The warrior who focused on swordsmanship gained increased swordsmanship proficiency. In contrast, since Taesan handled almost every type of skill, his title seemed to increase the proficiency growth rate for all skills. ¡°How effective was it?¡± [Quite effective.] The ghost replied. [Since it¡¯s something you¡¯ll figure out as you descend thebyrinth, I won¡¯t go into detail, but you won¡¯t be disappointed.] ¡°So it¡¯s like that.¡± The phrase ¡°significant increase¡± was written. Considering how strict thebyrinth¡¯s system exnations were, it was easy to expect that a ¡°significant increase¡± would indeed be satisfying, as the ghost mentioned. Given the slow proficiency growth for spirit magic, intermediate magic, and ck magic, this title would be very helpful going forward. [Special Passive Skill: Might of the One Who Reached the Entrance] [Simply arriving at the deep depths grants great enlightenment. The user¡¯s might is enhanced.] Once again, it was a skill that enhanced might. It was something Taesan had anticipated. Even the higher-ups hadn¡¯t been overwhelmed by him, who possessed Apostle Transformation and the Vessel of the King. This implied the existence of skills or items that enhanced might. This title appeared to be one of them. He finished his general checks. Taesan descended the stairs. Finally, he had reached the depths. He felt something change in his senses. And instead of the shopkeeper who was always waiting, Balbabamba was there waiting for Taesan. [You¡¯ve arrived.] Balbabamba quietly said. [Wee, adventurer. You have arrived here, in the depths.] Chapter 323: Domain, The Wizard Who Created The Labyrinth (1) [I am the caretaker of thebyrinth.] The bricks collided, creating a loud noise. [And I also serve as a guide for those who seek thebyrinth. Adventurer, as you descend to the deeper levels, there is something I must exin to you. Whether you choose to listen or not is up to you. What will you do?] ¡°I¡¯ll listen.¡± Taesan answered. [You must have experienced many things while descending thebyrinth. You must have a rough understanding of what kind of ce thebyrinth is and the strategies for conquering it. But from the deeper levels, it''s different.] The things Lee Taeyeon had told him. Balbabamba was speaking about that. [Until now, thebyrinth was divided into new themes every 10 floors. But in the deeper levels, each floor is independent. There could be floors as vast as a single star, or floors so small that only one person can barely fit in. You may even be transported to entirely different worlds, or the concept of time might be distorted.] Floors that escaped the concept of confined spaces, no longer even being called abyrinth.[That is what the deeper levels are like. The strategies you''ve used until now will be quite different.] Balbabamba looked at Taesan for a moment and said, [But perhaps, this is all meaningless for you.] ¡°You understand well.¡± Taesan could not be considered an ordinary adventurer. He had been to different worlds through the enhanced trials of the gods, and he had undertaken several quests on Earth as well. If he thought of it as something simr, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. ¡°Is that the end of the exnation?¡± [What I have to say ends here. The rest, you''ll have to discover as you descend thebyrinth.] Taesan brushed past Balbabamba, heading towards the passageway. But Balbabamba¡¯s next words made Taesan stop. [But before that, my master wishes to meet you.] [What?] The ghost hesitated. Taesan turned to look at Balbabamba. ¡°Your master?¡± [Truly?] [I do not speak falsehoods.] Balbabamba spoke bluntly. [The wizard who created thebyrinth. The one who created me wishes to meet you, adventurer.] A meeting with the wizard who created thebyrinth, aided by the gods. However, the ghost spoke in a dubious tone. [The wizard wants to meet an adventurer who has just entered the deeper levels? That¡¯s strange.] [Don''t ask me. I have long grown tired of my master''s whims.] Balbabamba said in an annoyed tone. [Answer, human. What will you do?] ¡°Can I refuse?¡± [If you wish. Then I will simply inform the wizard that you have declined. It''s that simple. Is that what you want?] Taesan thought for a moment. Lee Taeyeon had never mentioned anything about a wizard. He wasn¡¯t sure if she had deliberately avoided it or if she knew nothing, but Taesan knew almost nothing about the wizard. After some contemtion, Taesan spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± To achieve his goals, he would eventually have to meet the wizard. It only happened earlier than expected, so there was nothing bad about it. [Troublesome, but I am his tool. I cannot refuse. Wait here.] Boom! A powerful force surged from Balbabamba. Even Taesan, for a moment, felt the force that could raise his power. The power spread, twisting and distorting the space. Taesan could tell from the power he received. It wasn¡¯t just distorting space¡ªit was interfering with the very rules of thebyrinth. That seemed to be Balbabamba¡¯s ability, allowed as the caretaker of thebyrinth. [Balbabamba activated #000004.] Crack. The space twistedpletely, revealing a warped dimension. [The wizard exists outside thebyrinth. Creating a passage from the inside to the outside is a veryborious task.] Fatigue was evident in Balbabamba¡¯s voice. Taesan looked beyond the space. Balbabamba spoke with a weary voice. [Hero, you are not permitted. Only this human can go.] [Of course. Safe travels.] The ghost, as if expecting this, calmly parted from Taesan. Taesan began to step into the distorted space. [You may be fine, but I have one piece of advice.] Balbabamba spoke in a low voice. [The wizard is the one who created thebyrinth. Keep that in mind.] With those final words, Taesan entered the space. What he saw was an endless, twisted, and distorted space. Countless colors mingled together, creating a dizzying scene. He looked around, but nothing was visible. Taesan slowly began to walk. Eventually, the master would reveal themselves. No matter how far he walked, the space seemed endless. Like a rainbow, the colors continuously shifted, distorting their power. ¡®Different.¡¯ Taesan had visited countless realms and worlds of the gods. And with his ability, which was specialized in observing and identifying the essence of things, he had grasped the characteristics of each realm to some extent. The realm of the Demon God was dark yet peaceful. Pavsha¡¯s realm was intensely powerful, as if showing off its own strength, while the realm of the Spirit God Beatrice was harmonious, with everything working together. But in this rainbow-colored space, the characteristics of the realms Taesan had seen so far were all mixed together. ¡®Can things be mixed like this?¡¯ It was a different issue from mere strength. A being strong enough to have a domain should naturally have something built within themselves, something that would show the characteristics of their domain. But this ce was different. Even though it was clearly the wizard¡¯s domain, nothing about the wizard themselves could be found. ¡°Hello.¡± Suddenly, a voice came from behind him, and Taesan stopped walking. The distance increased in an instant. Taesan, calming his breath, lifted his head. The owner of the voice had gray hair. With an average build and an unremarkable face, he had the kind of appearance that would be forgotten after a single nce if seen on the street. ¡°Nice to meet you, adventurer.¡± He was smiling brightly. And from him, Taesan felt nothing. No human scent, no will that should naturally be felt from a living being, nor any aura of power that those with strength possess. Nothing at all. If one closed their eyes, they wouldn¡¯t even know he was there. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°The wizard.¡± Taesan answered. The wizard who created thebyrinth. The man nodded. ¡°I am the wizard of thebyrinth. The one who created this ce and the master of this vast space.¡± Taesan quietly observed the wizard. But no matter how much he looked, he couldn¡¯t discern anything. Taesan instinctively activated a skill. [You are attempting to discern the essence o#!?#] Like a glitching graphic, the system window distorted. The wizard waved his fingers, smiling. ¡°No.¡± The activation of the system itself was blocked. ¡°I am the wizard. The one who created and designed this ce. Sometimes, there are those who, drunk on their own power, try to kill me and be the master of this ce. Not even knowing where that power originates from.¡± The wizard¡¯s eyes narrowed. Taesan realized why Balbabamba had given him that final warning. The wizard was the creator of thebyrinth. There was no way skills originating from thebyrinth would work on the creator. ¡°Since it wasn¡¯t an attack, I¡¯ll overlook it. Sit down.¡± Two chairs appeared in the rainbow-colored space. The wizard sat down and spoke. ¡°Curious, aren¡¯t you? Why I wanted to meet you?¡± Taesan nodded. Judging from the ghost¡¯s reaction, it seemed the wizard had never met an adventurer who had just entered the deeper levels. ¡°The wizard.¡± ¡°Feel free to speak casually. After dealing with arrogant folks for so long, I¡¯ve grown tired of formality.¡± ¡°¡­Why did you want to meet me?¡± ¡°You intrigued me.¡± The wizard answered. Hezily rested his arm on the chair¡¯s armrest. ¡°Nullifying attacks. Temporary time stop. Forced duels. Addition. Absolute Judgment¡­¡± The wizard listed the skills Taesan had acquired. ¡°You didn¡¯t just strengthen your own abilities. You understood thebyrinth¡¯s system and created skills that could interfere with it.¡± Powers that even the highest-ranked beings had not recognized, which had caused the ghost to exim in admiration. ¡°Many people have descended thebyrinth and gained numerous skills. But there have been almost no others like you who analyzed the system itself and created skills. You know, right? The kinds of skills others possess.¡± Taesan understood the implication of the wizard¡¯s words. Shaman, who prided himself on his imprable defenses, possessed skills rted to defense. The Spirit King wielded skills that influenced spirits and nature. Lee Taeyeon was no different. She descended thebyrinth by avoidingbat and taking detours. Thus, most of her skills were rted to evasion, hiding, and escaping from battlefields. Strong people who descended thebyrinth all had their own unique abilities. But Taesan was different. Nullifying attacks. Absolute judgment. Temporary time stop. These weren¡¯t personal abilities but skills gained purely by analyzing and exploiting thebyrinth¡¯s system. ¡°While others use their skills to supplement and strengthen their abilities, you manipte and utilize thebyrinth¡¯s system itself. You grasp something more fundamental.¡± The wizard¡¯s face lit up with interest. ¡°Is it due to the innate limitations of your world? Fascinating.¡± He spoke again. ¡°There must be other things you¡¯re curious about. Ask. I¡¯ll answer what I can.¡± Taesan gathered his thoughts and spoke. It was a question that could potentially rify everything, leading to the conclusion of the story. ¡°They said that if I conquer thebyrinth, I would be granted a wish. How far does that wish extend?¡± ¡°A wish, huh?¡± The wizard murmured quietly. ¡°I can¡¯t tell those who haven¡¯t cleared the 100th floor, but¡­ you¡¯re an exception. You know the condition for the wish, right?¡± ¡°Conquering thebyrinth.¡± It wasn¡¯t just about clearing it. One had to conquer thebyrinth itself. And now, Taesan was approaching that conquest. ¡°I created thebyrinth. But it wasn¡¯t through my power alone. Numerous gods, immortals, and powerful beings cooperated.¡± The wizard tapped the armrest with his fingers. ¡°After coborating with those who can create and destroy worlds on their own, this ce was finally made.¡± A deep, deepbyrinth. A ce where even those on the brink of mortality couldn¡¯t guarantee a clear, where countless transcendent beings resided. ¡°We made a promise to grant the wish of whoever reaches the end. That¡¯s the agreement.¡± The wizard continued. ¡°The wish can be granted to the extent of the limits of those involved in the creation of thebyrinth.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyebrows twitched. The wizard quietly smiled. ¡°Anything permissible within thews and order. That¡¯s the reward for the conquest.¡± Chapter 324: Domain, The Wizard Who Created The Labyrinth (2) ¡°Everything allowed within thew and order.¡± ¡°¡­What if I desire to escape mortality and achieve eternal immortality?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be eternal. That would be power beyond thew. But you can get close to eternity. To be specific, until the end of this world.¡± ¡°Essentially immortality.¡± ¡°Not quite. It will eventually end.¡± Until the end of the world. It was possible for mortals to live through a time close to eternity. ¡°If you wanted to destroy a gxy, that would be possible. Bing the master of thousands ofs where life resides is also achievable. You can resurrect the dead and travel to any time you wish. If you want to be the master of thebyrinth, I can make that happen.¡± Taesan remained silent.He had somewhat expected it. Not merely clearing thebyrinth, but conquering it. It was an achievement close to impossible, and the reward was bound to be significant. But the wizard¡¯s words exceeded Taesan¡¯s expectations. To think he could be the master of thebyrinth. To destroy gxies and rule over thousands ofs. It was the same as saying he could achieve anything he desired. But Taesan¡¯s eyes grew cold. ¡°I guess intervening with the High Gods is impossible?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± The wizard nodded. ¡°They are beings beyond thew. They distort order. They cannot be the subject of your wish.¡± The creators of thebyrinth were transcendent beings. Gods of this world. But even they could notpletely prevent the interference of the High Gods. That was because the High Gods existed beyond thew. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. It seems it won¡¯t be so easy to save my broken world.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. One of his ways to achieve victory had been blocked. He knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy, but it still frustrated him. The wizard spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t you find them fascinating?¡± ¡°Fascinating?¡± ¡°Their power is limitless within their own boundaries. No matter how much they use, it never diminishes. For transcendent beings, recovering from the use of power is incredibly difficult, making them unique creatures.¡± ?? The wizard murmured with a voice full of heat. ¡°Though they were banished from this world, it wasn¡¯t because theycked power. How far can they go? What is possible for them? By bendingw and order, what phenomena can they create?¡± Taesan looked at the wizard. The gods he had spoken with about the High Gods were filled with annoyance, anger, and hatred. But the wizard was different. His face brimmed with interest and curiosity as he spoke of the High Gods. Taesan couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°For what purpose did you create this ce?¡± The transcendent beings had settled here to witness the fighting spirit and battles of great warriors. Then what was the wizard¡¯s goal? ¡°A wizard is someone who explores the unknown.¡± The wizard spoke calmly. ¡°I simply want to know. The many things I do not yet understand.¡± He pointed his finger at Taesan. ¡°In that sense, you fulfill my desire. Didn¡¯t I tell you? You interest me.¡± The wizard¡¯s eyes sparkled as he looked at Taesan. ¡°When I created thebyrinth, I designed and calcted many conditions. So far, nothing has ever deviated from those designs and calctions. But you are different.¡± The wizard¡¯s excited voice echoed. ¡°Even though you rely on the system, you possess power beyond my design. Soul Ascension¡ªwhat could that be? What enables a mortal body to surpass mortality and hold power beyond thew?¡± Taesan knew little about Soul Ascension. Neither did the Green Witch. And it seemed the wizard was no different. Even the creator of thebyrinth could notprehend the skill Taesan possessed. ¡°The source of the power you¡¯ve gained ultimately lies in Soul Ascension.¡± The holy power, the ck magic, the borderline, the Word of Command¡ªall the skills he had gained were thanks to Soul Ascension. ¡°What could it be?¡± The wizard voiced his question. It was a question he hadn¡¯t uttered in thousands of years. ¡°I called you here because it was better than letting you get crushed. That was all.¡± The wizard had no expectations for adventurers from Earth. Rather than leaving them to be killed by the High Gods, he had called them to thebyrinth to witness even the smallest change. ¡°But you and that woman, both of you. You¡¯re interesting. I would have regretted it if I hadn¡¯t called you.¡± There was only one woman. Lee Taeyeon. The wizard smiled faintly. ¡°That woman is also fascinating. She¡¯s traversing thebyrinth in a direction different from yours. It¡¯s not what I desired, but she¡¯s much better than the others.¡± There were many things Taesan wanted to ask about Lee Taeyeon. But the wizard stood up as if signaling he would ept no further questions. ¡°That¡¯s the end of our conversation. I¡¯m curious about many things as well¡­ but anything beyond this point is against the rules.¡± Taesan¡¯s body began to shake uneasily. It was as if the space was pushing him away, indicating that further meetings were not allowed. ¡°You have many qualifications, but it¡¯s still not enough. Come further down, and we will meet again.¡± The space began to close. Taesan¡¯s body was slowly moving away from the wizard. ¡°Ah, let me ask onest thing.¡± The wizard was no longer visible, but his voice sounded as if it were right beside Taesan. ¡°Is thebyrinth a satisfying ce for you?¡± A question about satisfaction. There was no need to think about it. Taesan answered. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± A satisfied hum echoed. ¡°That¡¯s good enough. Keep going down, and achieve what you desire.¡± Boom. Taesan¡¯s body fell into thebyrinth. The waiting Balbabamba spoke. [Did you have a good meeting?] Taesan nodded and stood up. There was something in Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°This is¡­¡± [A gift from the master. Though the master never interferes with adventurers, it seems you''ve piqued his interest.] Taesan examined what he was holding. It was an orb filled with magical energy. [Magic Orb] [An orb of magic that would satisfy the god of magic if offered as a tribute.] ¡°A tribute, huh.¡± For a single meeting, this wasn¡¯t a bad reward. Taesan clenched the orb. [How was it?] ¡°It was surprisingly ordinary.¡± Taesan answered the ghost¡¯s question. Considering that the wizard had created a ce like thebyrinth, he had thought the wizard would have some issues with his personality, but he was normal. It was easier to talk to him than expected. [Is that so?] The ghost muttered as if something was bothering him. [For someone who created such a crazy ce after ascending to that position, it''s strange how ordinary he is...] [My work here is done. The rest is up to you.] Balbabamba¡¯s body began to crumble. [Good luck, adventurer.] With his final words, he returned to the bricks of thebyrinth. Taesan organized the things he had obtained. Come to think of it, he had not yet checked the reward for clearing the 70th floor. [Reward: Ne of the Reached One.] [+1000 Health] [+500 Mana] [+500 Strength] [+500 Agility] [+500 Intelligence] [+200 Attack Power] [+200 Defense Power] [A ne given to those who have reached the deepest depths.] Taesan paused as he examined the ne¡¯s performance. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Unlike armor, essories like rings didn¡¯t typically have high stats. However, the Ne of the Reached One boasted stats far superior to most armor. [This is because you''re in the deeperyers now.] The ghost spoke as if it were obvious. [From now on, you should understand that the rewards you receive here are of an entirely different level than those you¡¯ve received before.] Taesan also checked the rewards from the secret room and secret quest. [Staff of Dawn¡¯s Call] [+400 Magic Power] [+2500 Mana] [A staff imbued with the sunlight that has illuminated the world thousands of times from within the darkness.] [Sword Close to Immortality] [+500 Strength] [+500 Attack Power] [A longsword forged by one who has transcended mortality. Its power still lingers heavily within the de.] The stats overall were significantly higher than those of the equipment he had received as rewards for clearing previous floors. They were on par with the equipment he had obtained from passing the trials of the gods ormissioning materials from cksmiths. ¡°So, from now on, this is the kind of equipment I¡¯ll be getting.¡± [This is still equipment meant for the entrance to the deeperyers. Compared to the real gear, it¡¯s a bitcking, isn''t it?] Taesanughed. It was only now that he could acquire the equipment that Lee Taeyeon in his previous life, and the guides he had faced, had wielded. Before heading deeper into thebyrinth, Taesan returned upward. He met with Lilis and offered his tribute. The magic orb given to him by the wizard who created thebyrinth held the value of an intermediate-level magic. Thanks to it, Taesan was able to obtain an intermediate magic spell he had been seeking. [Intermediate Magic: Limited Blink] [Mana Cost: 200] [Mastery: 1%] [Allows teleportation to a certain distance. This skill cannot be used again for 10 minutes after activation.] A skill for spatial movement. Unlike random blink, Taesan could leap to any location he desired without marking it. The distance limitation was about 1km, which was more than sufficient. It was a satisfying spell. Then Taesan handed the Cluster of Negativity to Hafran. After briefly inspecting the material, Hapran said it wasn¡¯t enough to create something exceptional. If Taesan wanted something better, he would need to bring additional materials, and Taesan agreed. Afterward, Taesan returned to the lower levels. [Quest for the loweryers begins.] [Break through the territory of the Starving Shadows.] [Reward: Anklet from Myths.] [Secret Reward: ???] After passing through the room where he met Balbabamba, Taesan encountered the shopkeeper. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± The shopkeeper quietly weed Taesan. ¡°From here on, you¡¯re entering the deeperyers. You know what that means, right?¡± ¡°The equipment you sell here must also be from the deeperyers, correct?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± The shopkeeper smirked, murmuring in admiration. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many adventurers, but you¡¯re the first one to descend without spending gold.¡± Taesan had bought almost nothing except for a few materials needed for skills and recovery potions. Other than a ring that increased all stats by percentage and the Witch¡¯s Bracers, he hadn¡¯t spent any money on equipment. As a result, Taesan now possessed an enormous amount of gold. The shopkeeper asked with curiosity in his voice. ¡°How much do you have?¡± ¡°Roughly¡­ around 650,000 gold.¡± ¡°Hah.¡± [You¡¯ve saved that much?] The shopkeeper chuckled, and even the ghost was astonished. 650,000 gold. It was an amount of gold not easily obtainable, even in the deeperyers. Taesan replied. ¡°I haven¡¯t spent much gold since the 40th floor.¡± The only thing he had really spent money on was the potions necessary to obtain Absolute Blessing. All of that had been for this moment. After selling off the Heavenly Sword, Taesan asked the shopkeeper. ¡°Could you show me your wares?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The shopkeeper cheerfully opened the space. Swords, spears, bows, staves, grimoires, whips, armor, and more. Countless and immensely valuable items fell out. Taesan began inspecting them one by one. [Red Whip Soaked in Divine Blood] [+700 Attack Power] [+20% Attack Power against opponents with Divine Blood, activates ¡°Saint-yer¡± ability.] [A whip used to torture saints with divine blood. The blood has soaked the whip all the way to its core.] [600,000G] Taesan stared at the whip in silence. It had an attack power of 700. Moreover, it dealt an additional 20% damage against those with divine blood and came with a special skill. This weapon was on an entirely different levelpared to the ones Taesan had acquired thus far. Next, Taesan examined a bow. The bow was asrge as a human torso and looked difficult to draw. [Guardian Bow Made from the Roots of the World Tree] [+600 Attack Power] [The elves cut the roots of the World Tree and entwined its branches to create this bow to protect themselves. Though they imed to be protecting the tree, no one believed them.] [The stronger the bowstring is pulled, the greater the attack power and range, with no limit on the increase.] [Can activate ¡°Rooting¡± once a month.] [720,000G] The bow¡¯s attack power and range increased the harder the bowstring was drawn, with no upper limit. Though Taesan didn¡¯t know what the ¡°Rooting¡± ability entailed, the fact that its cooldown was one month indicated it was a powerful trump card. Taesan looked around. Over a hundred pieces of equipmenty scattered. None of them were inferiorpared to the two weapons Taesan had just inspected. Chapter 325: 71st Floor, The Shadow That Swallows Everything (1) It was hungry. It repeatedly devoured and devoured again to satisfy its hunger. But even so, the emptiness was never filled. Kiruk. The shadow cried. Ity dormant in the deep, deep darkness, waiting for the day when it could finally satiate its hunger. Taesan checked his equipment one by one. Wrist guards, armor, shoes, helmet. Each boasted impressive performance that made him want to buy them all. Taesan suppressed his desire. He could only afford one item for now unless he gathered more gold. He needed to be careful. After regaining hisposure and reviewing the equipment, he came to a realization.[Shoes of Concealment from the Deep] [Defense +500] [Movement Speed +10%] [For 10 seconds, you can hide deep within the shadows and be immune to all effects, but you cannot move. You can emerge whenever you wish, but there is a one-hour cooldown after use.] [650,000G] Shoes that made you invincible for 10 seconds. Since you could emerge whenever you wanted, there was no risk of being discovered by your opponent. You could use them to dodge a deadly attack or hide and wait for an opening¡ªversatile shoes indeed. However, perhaps due to their powerful special effect, the stats were rtivelycking. It wasn¡¯t just the shoes. [Ring of the Sealed Balrog] [Mana +100] [Attack +50] [Defense +50] [You can summon the sealed Balrog. Once summoned, the Balrog obeys nomands and attempts to destroy everything. If it receives a certain amount of damage, it will be resealed in the ring and can be summoned again after a week.] [500,000G] Balrog. When Taesan first encountered it, Hafran had summoned the Balrog to test him. A demonic beast from the depths, rivaling a dragon. The ability to summon such a creature was certainly impressive. But the stats of the ring itself were pathetic. Evenpared to the equipment Taesan had found in the middle depths, it wascking. After reviewing other equipment, Taesan confirmed his conclusion. Either the stats were overwhelmingly high, Or the stats were decent, but the item had special abilities, Or the stats were low, but it had an exceptionally powerful special ability. These were the three types of equipment avable here. ¡°Is this the best equipment I can get here?¡± ¡°No way. This is just the entrance to the depths. As you go deeper, you¡¯ll find much better gear,¡± Since this was just the beginning of the depths, it seemed impossible to find perfect gear here. So what should he get? Taesan pondered. Honestly, it didn¡¯t matter much what he bought. None of the equipment seemed particrly outstanding. This only made his headache worse. As Taesan continued to review the equipment, he sorted out his thoughts. What was hecking? It wasn¡¯t defense. He had Aegis Shield, Attack Nullification, Endurance, and Destruction¡¯s Greed. He had plenty of skills to block and eliminate attacks. With Absolute Judgment, he could erase the opponent¡¯s defenses, and with Skill eleration, he could close in instantly. He even had Limited Blink, so movement wasn¡¯t an issue either. His attack power wasn¡¯t low either, thanks to the Airak Martial technique. Taesan reached a conclusion. What hecked now wasn¡¯t anything else. It was the power to break through all of the enemy¡¯s pressure and push forward. With his mind clear, Taesan quickly reviewed the equipment. Since he had already decided what to buy, his movements were swift. In the end, Taesan found a pair of gauntlets. [Gauntlets of Constant Amplification] [Attack +500] [Magic +300] [ck Magic +30] [Mana +500] [Dark Energy +100] [These gauntlets were crafted by an unnamed archmage over a lifetime. The magical design and materials imbued within it possess the ability to amplify power to its maximum.] [Once every 10 minutes, you can activate ¡®Forced Amplification.¡¯] [Forced Amplification] [Increases the consumption of mana and dark energy for skills, drastically enhancing their power.] [600,000G] ¡°May I try them?¡± ¡°Do as you wish,¡± Taesan wore the gauntlets and gathered mana. A frozen world unfolded, scattering cold air in all directions. Taesan clenched his fists with the gauntlets on. [You have activated ¡®Forced Amplification¡¯.] His mana drained even faster. And the frosty aura spreading towards the world grew stronger. Zzeojeojeojeong! The ice intensified, swallowing everything. The cold wind pierced through, making Taesan¡¯s skin tingle. ¡°Impressive.¡± The power far surpassed the usual Frozen World he used. With this level of power, he could even pressure Vishnu, who had activated The World of the King. Since it was a form of amplifying power, the stronger the skill, the more the effect would increase. It was a piece of equipment that became more useful the stronger one got. It was certainly useful. Taesan fiddled with the gauntlets. ¡°I¡¯ll take these.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the first person to buy these as soon as they entered the depths.¡± The shop owner chuckled and took the gold. After securing the gauntlets, Taesan headed toward the passage. ¡°Farewell.¡± With a low farewell, Taesan moved forward. The ce he arrived at after passing through the passage was a world of deep, thick darkness. It was a pitch-ck space where nothing could be seen. Taesan expanded his senses. ¡®Break through the realm of the hungry shadows.¡¯ That was the condition for clearing the foundation. He only had to break through without fulfilling any specific conditions. Taesan stepped into the darkness. A sticky sensation crawled up his leg. It wasn¡¯t ordinary darkness; even with Taesan¡¯s sight, he couldn¡¯t properly grasp whaty beyond. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] The waves of dark energy spread in all directions, revealing the information hidden in the darkness to Taesan. But at some point, it was cut off. Something deep within the darkness had swallowed all the power of Taesan¡¯s detection. Taesan quietly drew his sword. Focusing his senses, he slowly moved forward. Swoosh! At that moment, the darkness split, and a monster revealed itself. It was a shadow. A shadow with form, rising from the floor and charging at Taesan. [A hungry shadow has appeared.] Taesan swung his sword. Kwaaang! With a loud crash, the shadow was mmed into the ground. The shadow dispersed across the floor and started clinging to Taesan¡¯s legs, trying to swallow him whole. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan gathered his energy and crushed the shadow. The shadow writhed and rose again, lunging at him. All that was contained in it was greed and hunger. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] The arrow of cold pierced through the shadow. But the shadow did not stop. It swallowed the arrow Taesan had fired and rushed at him. Taesan raised his twin swords and stabbed the shadow. The shadow created a hole in its body, avoiding the twin swords. Swoosh! The shadow turned into sharp des and attacked. Taesan moved his sword. ng! A collision echoed. Right now, Taesan¡¯s stats surpassed even those of the upper ranks. Yet, the shadow wasn¡¯t easily pushed back. Ka-ga-ga-gak! The shadow whirled around, trying to grind Taesan down. Taesan stomped forward and charged. [You have activated Gale Rush.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] A storm raged. The shadow, which had been pushing to grind him down, was suddenly forced back. Taking advantage of the opening, Taesan thrust his sword deep into the shadow. The shadow didn¡¯t copse but instead rushed forward, burrowing into Taesan¡¯s arm. But the formless energy repelled the shadow. It was the activation of Absolute Blessing, preventing continuous damage. Taesan gripped his sword tighter and split the shadow in half. Squelch. Even after being cut in half, the shadow didn¡¯t stop trying to devour Taesan. Annoyed, he kicked and stomped on it. [You have won against the hungry shadow.] Only then did the crawling shadow stop moving. ¡°What is this?¡± The shadow was quite strong. Even Taesan, in his current state, had to put considerable effort into taking down just one. That meant a typical adventurer of the depths would have to fight for their life. Moreover, it was a rather unique monster. The shadow wasn¡¯t trying to kill Taesan. It was trying to devour him and make him part of itself. ¡°Was it like this for you too?¡± [No? Mine was a bit different. Seems like they''ve changed the floor again.] ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± At that moment, Taesan¡¯s senses detected more shadows writhing and rushing toward him. Taesan stomped his foot. He leaped into the air, and the shadows shot up after him. More than ten shadows were charging at Taesan. [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] Zzeojeojeojeong! The extreme cold froze the darkness. The charging shadows were instantly trapped in ice. The power of the Frozen World that Taesan had unleashed now was something even the top brass would have a hard time with. There was no way the foundation monsters could withstand it. Creak. However, the shadows didn¡¯t die. Instead, they shattered the ice encasing them and resumed their charge at Taesan. There was no killing intent in them. Only greed could be seen. Crack! The ice broke apart. The shadows, with their broken bodies, flew toward Taesan, trying to swallow him again. But Taesan wasn¡¯t idle. ck threads gathered in his hands. [You have activated Sabnac¡¯s ck Threads.] [You have activated Limited Blink.] As the ck threads exploded, Taesan¡¯s body moved far away in an instant. The shadows were shredded by the scattering ck threads and fell to pieces. Taesan charged at the shadows that had copsed to the ground. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] Combining magic and his sword, he began dealing with them one by one. After quite some time, he managed to deal with all ten shadows. [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. The proficiency of the Seed of Life has increased by 2%.] Level up. Along with it, the skill of the immortal being that transcended mortality, which had been bestowed upon him by Zhenlong, improved as he defeated the shadows. Taesan frowned. He gathered dark energy. Opening a passage toward the demons, he activated ck magic. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] Kiiiing! Dark energy spread in all directions. It was swallowed up by the darkness but continued to stretch outward regardless. As a result, Taesan understood what this ce was. The darkness was vast. Even with Territory Detection, he couldn¡¯t see the end. And hidden within the darkness were countless shadows. Gulp. The shadows were rushing toward Taesan. Their numbers easily surpassed hundreds. There were thousands of shadows charging at him. Sensing the shadows charging, Taesan spoke with determination. ¡°Disappear.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Concealment.] Word of Command activated. Taesan¡¯s presence was erased, and his momentum vanished. For a moment, the charging shadows halted. Unable to locate Taesan, they wandered aimlessly. Taesan walked through the darkness. His sight was blocked, and his senses were limited, but he could still see and feel enough to move without issue. Taesan passed by the writhing shadows. Not sensing him with their eyes, they didn¡¯t notice even as Taesan passed right by them, thanks to the Deration of Concealment. As Taesan continued forward, he stopped. Two shadows were fighting each other. Gulp. Their powers collided as they tried to devour one another. Taesan watched their fight silently. The battle between the shadows, who were trying to devour each other, soon shifted in favor of one. The dominant shadow crushed its opponent and devoured it. The power of the shadow that devoured its opponent began to amplify. In contrast, the power of the devoured shadow shrank rapidly. The shadow that had absorbed the power leisurely floated away, satisfied. The shadow that had lost all its strength slithered away pitifully. ¡®I see how it works.¡¯ This ce was the realm of these shadows. They tried to devour one another to steal each other¡¯s power and attempted to devour any adventurer who ventured here, making them part of themselves. Taesan realized the strategy for clearing this ce. The quest¡¯s clear condition wasn¡¯t to defeat the shadows but to break through. Hiding and avoiding the numerous shadows and finding the passage to proceed seemed to be the key to clearing the foundation. Though Taesan had used Word of Command, any adventurer who had made it this far would likely have at least one skill to hide themselves. Otherwise, they could just buy a rted item from the shop to break through. Of course, Taesan had no intention of clearing it that way. As he walked through the darkness, he headed deeper into the area. Chapter 326: 71st Floor, The Shadow That Swallows Everything (2) Taesan entered the darkness. The further he went, the more shadows he saw, and these shadows were fighting each other. Kugugung! They collided with force, engaging in battle. The stronger shadows devoured the weaker ones to grow even stronger. And then another shadow would attack. The shadow that had consumed energy during the fight couldn¡¯t properly react to the ambush and was instantly trampled and disappeared. The shadow that seeded in the ambush moved leisurely, having grown even stronger. The two shadows that lost all their strength slowly vanished into the darkness. ¡°Wild.¡±They devoured each other, stealing strength. Taesan observed the process of the shadows consuming each other. The theft of strength and the process. Taesan realized something as he watched. ¡°It¡¯s simr.¡± The method Zhenlong, who had made a pact with a beast that craved life, used to absorb strength by killing other yers was not much different. ¡°Are they the same species?¡± The beast that craved life must have originally been a mortal being. It devoured everything, grew stronger, and ascended to the position of an immortal with sheer strength. [Who knows? There are few who know where that immortal came from. The beast that craved life devoured even its dwelling and homnd.] Leaving nothing behind. It consumed everything that came into its reach, thus gaining the strength to be an immortal. [But¡­ yeah, it seems simr. Like you said, it could be a simr species. Does that mean the beast that craved life originally existed as a species?] The ghost murmured with interest. Taesan continued to move through the darkness. Chwaaak! At that moment, a shadow lunged at Taesan. Taesan swung his sword. With a rough sound, power shed. Kaakak! The shadow pressed its entire body against Taesan, trying to swallow him whole. The strength it radiated was much stronger andrger than any other shadow. Taesan gripped his sword tightly and took a step forward. After quite some time, Taesan managed to defeat the shadow. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated.] [Your proficiency in Seed of Life has increased by 1%.] [Have you broken the Deration of Concealment?] ¡°No.¡± Taesan was still hidden by the Word of Command. He stepped on the fallen shadow. ¡°It seems like it doesn¡¯t work on particrly strong ones.¡± The shadow that had attacked Taesan was noticeably stronger than the others. For an ordinary adventurer of the lower floors, it would have been difficult to win even if they fought with all their strength. The purpose of the lower floors was not to defeat the shadows. The goal was to find a way to avoid the shadows and navigate through the darkness to find a path. This was clear just from the strength of the shadows. Each one was slightly weaker than the Broken Man, but there were more than a thousand of them. Defeating them all wasn¡¯t the correct strategy. But Taesan wasn¡¯t aiming for a normal strategy. ¡®There¡¯s a limit to defeating small fry.¡¯ Experience couldn¡¯t be gained from enemies below a certain level, and the same applied to Soul Ascension. After defeating dozens more shadows, both would reach their limits. Taesan quietly organized his thoughts and spoke. ¡°The strength of the shadows varies.¡± There were some he could defeat easily and some that gave him a hard time. This was because the shadows devoured each other and stole strength. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there must be one that¡¯s the strongest.¡± The shadow that had devoured more shadows than anyone else, possessing immense strength and ruling this ce. The ghost quietly agreed. [Yeah, there should be. But how are you going to find it?] The darkness here blocked vision and senses. Even if he activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection, the shadows would devour the detection¡¯s power. And then they¡¯d charge at Taesan. For Taesan, who had forced duels before, it wouldn¡¯t be a significant problem. However, with over a thousand of them, it would take time to deal with them all. Moreover, he had no idea howrge this area was. For all he knew, it could be as big as a. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Would the detection power be consumed? Then he just had to pour in enough power that they couldn¡¯t consume. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You have activated King¡¯s Vessel.] [You have activated Nature''s Avatar.] The power of the gods enveloped Taesan. The Vessel of the Elemental King descended and merged with nature. The Deration of Concealment was broken as a powerful wave of energy spread in all directions. The shadows slowly began to approach, and Taesan gathered his magic. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] The magic was consumed in an instant. The enhanced detection spread out with a force that could destroy everything in its path. The shadows tried to consume the detection power, but it was useless. With three enhanced skills stacked, and the Forced Amplification greatly increasing their power, the shadows were shaken off as the energy expanded in all directions. Countless pieces of information flowed into Taesan¡¯s mind. The number of remaining shadows, the vastness, and the shape of this area all piled up in his head as if he had walked and touched it himself. And just as the extended detection began to fade, something was caught at its edge. Something massive, with a power that even Taesan couldn¡¯t ignore. He found it. Taesan deactivated the detection. As he turned his gaze, thousands of shadows were rushing toward him. Taesan stomped his foot. Karuk. The massive shadow quietlyy in the depths of the abyss. It was starving. It was unbearably hungry. It wanted to fill its endless hunger. It quietly stirred. The shadow that formed its body split into thousands of strands and began to extend in all directions. The tendrils of shadow tore through the darkness, engulfing the scattered shadows. The shadows resisted, trying to devour it instead, but they were mercilessly trampled. In an instant, more than a dozen shadows became a part of it. Karuk. But it still wasn¡¯t satisfied. There wasn¡¯t even a slight change in its hunger. It had be far too powerful. The shadow born from the depths devoured and devoured until it reached the limit of what its species could achieve. From here, no matter how much it consumed, nothing would change. The shadow instinctively realized this. The shadow was starving. It had forgotten thest time it had satisfied its hunger. It hade here because some strange being said that this ce would fulfill its hunger, but nothing had changed. Yes. The being that summoned it here looked extremely delicious. It felt like it could satisfy its hunger if it devoured it. At the same time, it knew. That was something it could not devour. It had surpassed the limit of what it could handle. That was why it hadn¡¯t attacked the strange being. But if it was going to starve like this, perhaps it should have at least tried. Regretting the past, it tried to sleep again. It had learned through experience that sleep was the best way to forget hunger. Just as its consciousness was fading, it suddenly awoke. Kiiiiing. A massive wave of power swept through the shadow. Something had entered this ce. That in itself was not surprising. Weak and insignificant beings often invaded its domain. They were too frail to satisfy its hunger, so it paid them no mind. But this wave of power was different. With this power¡­ The shadow rose. It shattered its surroundings, devouring the darkness, and rushed toward the source of the power. Chwaaak! Taesan blocked the shadow¡¯s charging attack and plunged his sword into it. Pouring his strength into the sword, he cut it into pieces. [You have activated Forced Duel.] After defeating one shadow, he activated Forced Duel again. Ignoring the thousands of shadows rushing at him, he charged forward. When he used a skill like Apostle Transformation, the shadows were no match for him. He trampled and defeated them one by one as he advanced. How far had he gone? Taesan stopped. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± [Wait.] The ghost groaned in awe. [What... is that?] Kagagagak! A massive roar echoed. A gigantic shadow was rushing toward them from the other side. It was devouring all the shadows that stood in its way. The shadows tried to resist, but they were buried under its overwhelming power, like animals caught in a natural disaster. The shadows that had been charging at Taesan scattered in an instant. It was as if they were terrified of the gigantic shadow. [The Shadow Maw has appeared.] The torrent of the Shadow Maw surged toward Taesan. Taesan gripped his sword and charged forward. Kaaaang! A massive wave echoed. The collision shook the space violently. Both Taesan and the shadow were flung back. Taesan gathered his strength. ¡°It¡¯s strong.¡± In terms of sheer power, it was above the Guides¡¯ leadership. [Isn¡¯t this supposed to be the start of the lower floors? Why is something like that here?] The ghost murmured in disbelief. It was a monster with power far beyond the level of the lower floors. [Karrk.] The Shadow Maw chuckled quietly. The shadow spread and began to devour the space around it. Taesanughed. This was a sufficiently satisfying opponent. [You have summoned Minerva, the Spirit King of Wind.] [You have summoned Barkaza, the Shield of Many Colors.] ¡°Master. What is¡­¡± Minerva, who was about to greet him happily, froze when she saw the gigantic shadow. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± [You¡¯re always fighting peculiar beings. So, I just need to defeat that, right?] ¡°That¡¯s what you need to do, but it won¡¯t be easy.¡± Barkaza pped his hands. A rainbow-colored light poured over the shadow. Kugugugung! The body of the Shadow King shook violently. Barkaza murmured in confusion. [Why isn¡¯t it defending itself?] It was a simple restraint. A being with that much power should have been able to dodge or block it easily, yet the shadow didn¡¯t. It didn¡¯t take long for them to realize the reason. Kadeuk. A chewing sound echoed. The power Barkaza had unleashed on the shadow was gradually being absorbed. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± [Karrk.] With a roughugh, the shadow surged forward. Barkaza, who had been watching in a daze, hurriedly emitted more rainbow light. Minerva used that power to summon the wind. ¡°Go.¡± At her master¡¯smand, the wind turned into des and rushed toward the shadow. Minerva had grown significantly stronger by consuming the essence of nature. Even if she were to fight Vishnu again, she would be able to put up a good fight with Barkaza¡¯s support. Kwa-gwang! Indeed, the body of the shadow, struck by the wind des, was pushed back. However, Minerva¡¯s expression stiffened. ¡°¡­Is it devouring my power?¡± Kudeuk. Kudeuk. The wind des were slowly disappearing into the shadow¡¯s body. [Karrk.] The shadow joyfully swelled its body even more. The shadow filling the space rushed toward Taesan. Chapter 327: 71st Floor, The Shadow That Swallows Everything (3) Kuuung! The wind and light raged. The Shadow Maw opened its gaping mouth, devouring everything greedily. There were no other shadows around. They had long fled in terror. ¡°What kind of thing is this?¡± Minerva waved her hand with an incredulous look. A massive wind gathered and transformed into a storm, hurtling towards the shadow. Kagagak! The massive shadow was shredded by the storm. Its entire body twisted as pieces fell off like y. But the Shadow Maw opened its mouth even wider. Kwaduk.The storm began to get swallowed by the shadow. A great force exploded from within, shaking its entire body, but it did not falter. Instead, it absorbed the storm into its belly. [Kyarrrrrk.] A satisfiedugh echoed. Minerva let out a dry chuckle. ¡°This is really absurd.¡± Kuuung! The shadow charged. Barkaza pped his hands, and Minerva stomped her foot. A barrier of wind and rainbow appeared before them. Kwoooong! The shadow collided with the barrier. Minerva¡¯s defense, supported by Barkaza, was nearly imprable. Even Taesan would struggle to break through it without absolute judgment. The shadow couldn¡¯t destroy the barrier either. Crack. But the shadow rubbed its body against the barrier and opened its maw. The barrier of wind that Minerva had created was gradually being absorbed into the shadow. ¡°Master, that thing seems weird.¡± Minerva frowned. They had dealt a considerable blow. No matter how strong a monster was, it should have been enough to bring it down. But the shadow was fine. Not only that, but its body had grownrger than before. ¡°It¡¯s devouring everything.¡± Attack, defense¡ªit swallowed everything whole without leaving a trace. Even as its health was whittled down, it recovered by devouring, leaving no other options. The shadow, having devoured all of Minerva¡¯s barrier, rushed forward. Taesan extended his hand. Magic materialized above it and took shape. [You have activated Amon''s Pitch-ck Spike.] Kwoooong! The shadow collided with the spike and was thrown back. But it quickly got up and charged again, aiming to swallow Taesan whole. ¡°You two, get back for now.¡± [It can''t be helped.] ¡°This is useless. My pride is taking a hit.¡± Minerva and Barkaza couldn¡¯t deal with that shadow. Instead, their power was being devoured, making them more of a hindrance. Minerva shook her head and retreated. ¡°Unbelievable things keep showing up. See youter, Master.¡± The two of them disappeared. The shadow let out a small cry, disappointed. [Karrk.] Taesan stared at the shadow. A monster that devoured attacks and made them its own. [What will you do?] ¡°I¡¯m thinking about that now.¡± The shadow grew evenrger, covering Taesan like a tidal wave. It filled the surroundings, leaving no ce to escape. [You have activated Limited Blink.] Taesan moved above the shadow and, as he fell, raised his sword. [You have activated Landing.] [You have activated Strong Blow.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated Absolute Judgment.] Kwoooong! A tremendous noise erupted as the shadow crashed into the ground. [You dealt 16,043 damage to the Shadow Maw.] Sixteen thousand. It was a decent amount of damage. But Taesan¡¯s expression remained calm. Gullllk. The scattered shadow began to reform its original shape. It had absorbed Taesan¡¯s attack and mitigated the damage. ¡°Even Absolute Judgment doesn¡¯t work, huh.¡± Since it wasn¡¯t defending but devouring attacks, it made sense. The shadow let out a sinisterugh. Its body split into dozens of parts and rushed toward Taesan. Kugugugung! Taesan waved his hand. [You have activated the Spark of Catastrophe.] ¡°Let¡¯s see if it can devour this.¡± mes exploded like a bomb. The power of the beast that once scorched and devoured the world enveloped the shadow. Perhaps even the shadow couldn¡¯t swallow it properly, as its entire body was consumed by mes, writhing in pain. Taesan was about to charge with his sword when suddenly¡ª The shadow violently expanded. It absorbed the mes that were covering it back into its body. The mes that once destroyed the world vanished without a trace. ¡°It devours everything.¡± [Kyarrrrrk.] The shadowughed. It was happier than ever. No matter how much it devoured, the hunger that had never been satisfied was now being quenched. But it wasn¡¯t enough. There was still more it could devour. Its stomach was still empty. It could devour that thing. If it swallowed that entirely, perhaps its eternally empty stomach could finally be filledpletely. Dark energy dripped from the shadow like saliva from a ravenous beast. The shadow swelled. The dozens of parts split off like rain and poured down. [You have activated Flow.] Taesan moved and swung his sword. The trajectory of the shadow twisted upon contact with the de, scattering in all directions. Kwoooong! The shadow, irritated that Taesan wasn¡¯t being swallowed, grew more ferocious. Thousands of shadow pieces began destroying everything around them. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] He spread his wings and soared. Reading the trajectory of the attacks, he dodged each one. As he endured, he gathered his thoughts. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Taesan thought through each method he could use to suppress the shadow. Partial World Alteration was impossible since he had used all the catalysts to bring down Vishnu. Handling the boundary was dangerous. While it was certainly powerful, it was also a threat to Taesan himself. Without the direct divinity of others, it could only be used once, so it had to be saved for a sure situation. After contemting for a moment, Taesan made his decision. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it simple.¡± [Wung¡®?] Kwoooong! Taesan dodged the swinging shadow and created some distance. The shadowughed, expanding its presence slowly. [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Magic Focus.] Jjeojeojeok! The extreme cold surged toward the shadow. Its entire body froze, but it soon shattered. [Dealt 10,143 damage to the Shadow Maw.] The shadow gleefully began to devour the frozen world. Taesan quietly observed. He had figured it out when he used the Spark of Catastrophe. The Shadow Maw was taking damage normally from the attacks. However, after taking damage, it absorbed the attack to restore its health. Moreover, it took some time for the shadow to devour the attacks. [You have summoned Minerva, the King of the Wind Spirits.] [You have summoned the multicolored shield, Barkaza.] Taesan summoned the spirits once again. Minerva, seeing the same situation as before, was startled. ¡°Why did you summon us again? We won¡¯t be of much help here.¡± ¡°I changed my mind.¡± Taesan gathered both mana and demonic energy. The two forces surged simultaneously. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Decarabia''s Twisted Vegetation.] Kwoooong! The Starlight Arrow pierced through the shadow. Twisted roots arose, pressing down on it. The shadowughed, swallowing the power being poured onto it. And Taesan drew even more mana toward it. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] The maximized Starlight Arrow materialized. Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Magic eleration.] Kuuuung! The elerated Starlight Arrow collided with the shadow and exploded. The shadow¡¯s body shook violently. [Starlight Arrow proficiency increased by 1%.] Kuguguguung¡­ The shadow slowly opened its maw. It started absorbing the power directed at it, but the speed was slower than before. ¡°¡­Ah. It¡¯s a simple but effective method.¡± Minerva finally realized what Taesan was trying to do and grinned. She spread her arms. A storm of wind pierced through and crushed the shadow. The shadow tried to devour the power, but it couldn¡¯t keep up with the sudden influx. ¡°Barkaza, assist me.¡± [As the king wills.] A rainbow-colored light was woven into the wind. With a delighted expression, Minerva began to unleash her power. Taesan also released both mana and demonic energy simultaneously. [You have activated Eligos'' Thorny Rose.] [You have activated Frozen World.] [Magic proficiency increased by 1%.] Jjeojeojeok! A tremendous force enveloped the shadow. Before it could fully digest the power that had already been inflicted, yet another wave of power hit the shadow. The shadow finally realized something was wrong. No matter how much it devoured, the power being inflicted upon it had no end. Taesan unleashed another wave of power. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] [Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave proficiency increased by 1%.] [ck Magic proficiency increased by 1%.] ¡°What is this?¡± The proficiency of both ck Magic and regr magic was rising rapidly. Despite using Frozen World frequently, its proficiency had yet to even reach 20%. But now, with the pressure he was putting on the shadow, the proficiency of both ck Magic and Magic was increasing at an unprecedented rate. It wasn¡¯t because of the shadow¡¯s strength. Before long, Taesan realized the reason. [Title: The Entitled One] [A mark given to those who have descended thebyrinth, using many means and acquiring strength on their own.] [Attack Power +100] [Greatly increases the proficiency rate of all skills.] It was a skill he had obtained upon clearing the 70th floor. Its effect was a drastic increase in skill proficiency. ¡°This much of a difference, huh?¡± The proficiency was increasing at double the previous speed. The ghost spoke up. [It¡¯s a reward for reaching the depths, so the effect isn¡¯t insignificant. But¡­ interesting? I thought the proficiency increase would be rtively slow since it''s affecting all skills, unlike my title, which only improved proficiency in specific concepts like swordsmanship or magic.] The ghost had only obtained proficiency increases for sword-rted skills through the Entitled One title. For a wizard, it would have only affected the proficiency of magic. However, Taesan¡¯s title applied to all skills. Given its versatility, it should have had a weaker effect, but it was nearly as effective as the ghost¡¯s. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Taesan smiled slightly. He gathered his demonic energy. [You have activated Naberius'' Golden Sword.] The golden sword appeared in Taesan¡¯s hand. He charged toward the shadow, which was still slowly absorbing the power. Kwoooong! The shadow shook violently with a thunderous sound. [Naberius'' Golden Sword proficiency increased by 1%.] A proficiency increase notification appeared. The shadow was still holding on. Given its ability to devour power, it wouldn¡¯t fall easily. That made things more exciting for Taesan. [You have activated Frozen World.] [Frozen World proficiency increased by 1%.] Magic surged once more. Taesan unleashed countless spells and ck Magic. When his demonic energy was depleted, he used divinity to recover. When his mana ran out, he used potions. Hundreds, thousands of skills were unleashed, repeatedly striking the shadow. But the shadow did not fall. No matter how much it devoured, it only grewrger. For Taesan, this was a fortunate situation. In the end, the proficiency of many of his skills increased, and their effects evolved. He even gained a new skill. Chapter 328: 71st Floor, The Shadow That Swallows Everything (4) [You have activated Frozen World.] A blizzard raged. The power contained within was of apletely different level from before. Crack! Creak! A massive wall of ice surged up ahead. Pirs of ice raced forward, freezing the shadow in ce. Taesan exhaled. The cold air froze instantly and dropped to the ground. Even without using Forced Amplification, the power he produced was simr. The ck magic was no different. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] A ck wave surged forth. The strength within it was even more intense and fierce than before.Boom! The entire body of the shadow quivered as it shed with the wave. The growth in Proficiency had been slow, but the resulting change was clear. It had already been one of his main skills, but its value had now risen further. Taesan still wasn¡¯t satisfied. This was a rare opponent who could help him easily increase his Proficiency. Ideally, he wanted to bring all his skills to 100%. However, the limit was approaching. The Shadow Maw had grown so massive that it could no longer support its own weight. ¡°If I push it any further, it¡¯ll be dangerous.¡± Taesan continued to attack the Shadow Maw with magic and ck magic. Minerva and Barkaza assisted him. The shadow, after endlessly consuming power, had reached its limit. Left alone, it would self-destruct. It was time to end it. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, but there¡¯s no choice.¡± The ckness on Taesan¡¯s sword thickened, and a golden hue began to ovey it. The gold and ck mixed together, creating a grayish power. Suppressing the power imbued in his sword, Taesan stomped forward. He charged at the bloated shadow, swinging his sword. Boom! The gray light exploded, engulfing the shadow. Even in its overextended state, the shadow instinctively tried to devour the gray light. Crunch. But it was impossible. The shadow couldn¡¯t consume the gray light. It was as if the power belonged to an entirely different dimension, one that it wasn¡¯t allowed to touch. The shadow stared at the small figure that had driven a sword into its body. It had devoured countless powers and transcended its limits. It was infinitely unstable, yet at the same time, it had reached a state it had never attained before. Thus, it could understand. The small figure before it was like the being that had summoned it to this world. It was an entity it could not consume. No, to be precise, it was somewhat different. This being was even more foreign. It was darker, and something about it was different. Though it could not be devoured, the essence was fundamentally twisted in some way. The Shadow Maw finally realized. No matter how much power it consumed and how much stronger it became, it could never reach the level of the small figure before it. With that realization, the entire body of the shadow was engulfed in the gray light. The power that twisted thews of nature swallowed it whole. Boom! [You have defeated the Shadow Maw.] Taesan sheathed his sword. He could now use the boundary somewhat safely. It was still dangerous and unstable, but unlike the first time, Taesan no longer had to risk his life to use it. The power that the Shadow Maw had possessed was absorbed by Taesan. As he silently observed the transfer of power, Taesan¡¯s eyebrow twitched. The Shadow Maw was a monster that devoured and plundered power. In some ways, it was simr to Soul Ascension. Perhaps because of that, Soul Ascension had been triggered in a rather peculiar way. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 6,211.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. The proficiency of Seed of Life has increased by 22%.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. You have acquired the Source of Devouring.] At the same time, Taesan sensed that something had changed. A more fundamental transformation had taken ce. Taesan opened his skill window. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Seed of Life] [Proficiency: 26%] [Absorb a portion of the power contained within consumed life. It assists Soul Ascension, allowing for an extremely delicate adjustment.] sytem_end ¡°¡­Adjustment of Soul Ascension?¡± No matter how many times he checked, it was certain. A new phrase had appeared in the description of Seed of Life, stating that it now adjusted Soul Ascension. ¡°Adjustment, huh?¡± Taesan quietly read the description of Seed of Life after sending Minerva and Barkaza away. Soul Ascension was one of Taesan¡¯s most important skills. It allowed him to plunder an opponent¡¯s stats and acquire numerous skills, including the divine and ck attributes. However, it was also a power that Taesan could not control. Despite the many powers and skills he had umted while descending through thebyrinth, Soul Ascension would activate on its own, as if he wasn¡¯t yet qualified to control it. But now it could be adjusted. Even the ghost seemed puzzled. [You can adjust that? Is that really possible?] From the ghost¡¯s perspective, Soul Ascension was a power not granted to mortals. It didn¡¯t know how Taesan had acquired it, but it seemed to be a skill that couldn¡¯t be controlled until one reached a certain level. Taesan, who had been staring at the skill window, stood up. He began searching for shadows in the surroundings. Soon, he found a wriggling shadow crawling through the darkness. Crunch. Taesan drove his sword into the shadow. The shadow recoiled in surprise and tried to devour him. Taesan easily shook it off and stomped on the shadow. [You have defeated the Starving Shadow.] Upon victory, power began to flow from the shadow. Soul Ascension had been activated. At the same time, Taesan knew. He could now somewhat interfere with that power. Taesan interfered with the activated Soul Ascension. The power that was flowing in became more tangible and was absorbed by him. [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 92.] system-end His stats had increased. Until now, the effect of Soul Ascension, which had only raised the proficiency of Seed of Life when defeating shadows, had just given Taesan an increase in stats. [...You can really adjust it. What is this?] The ghost murmured in disbelief. Seeking further confirmation, Taesan began to walk again. He tracked down and defeated the surrounding shadows one by one. As a result, he was able to grasp the changes in Soul Ascension to some extent. ¡°I can now somewhat adjust the amount of stats I gain.¡± When an enemy is defeated, Soul Ascension activates, allowing Taesan to acquire the opponent¡¯s stats and skills. Among those, it became possible to interfere with stats. If he wished for agility stats, he could acquire more agility; if he wished for strength stats, he could acquire more strength; if he wished for health, he could obtain more health. ¡°It¡¯s probably not too meaningful, though.¡± The amount of stats he could acquire was extremely minor. Furthermore, since it was best to raise all stats evenly, there was no reason to obsess over raising specific stats. However, once he reached 20%, he gained the ability to adjust the stats. What would happen when he reached 40% or 60%? He might be able to steal the desired skills and activate Soul Ascension at will. ¡°What kind of skill is this, anyway?¡± It was a skill he possessed but still couldn¡¯t fully understand. To grasp it more urately, Taesan continued to seek out and defeat shadows. However, it seemed he had hit a limit, as Soul Ascension stopped activating. There was nothing more to gain here. As Taesan searched for an exit, he checked other skills as well. [Intermediate Magic: Frozen World] [Mana Consumption: 300] [Proficiency: 22%] [Summons a cold that freezes everything. Able to manifest a glimpse of its true power.] The Proficiency of some intermediate and ck magic had reached 20%. As a result, the damage and power had noticeably increased. The skills that had reached 20% were Frozen World, Starlight Arrow, Distorted Vegetation of Decarabia, and Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave. These four. It was a satisfying achievement, and he had also acquired a new skill. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Consecutive Incantation] [Proficiency: 1%] [When magic or ck magic is activated consecutively, its power and casting speed progressively increase. Canceled if another action is taken in between.] It was a simple and easy-to-understand but excellent skill. Now that Taesan had obtained high-tier magic and demon magic, he could unleash bombardments of magic and ck magic, and this skill boosted that power even further. ¡°It¡¯s definitely faster.¡± At this rate, the proficiency of other skills would also noticeably increase. The Airak Weapon Technique and Ability Sword, which had been stagnant, could now also start elerating. ¡°And what is this?¡± A flickering shadow hovered over Taesan¡¯s hand. It was imbued with the energy to devour everything and make it its own. [Source of Devouring] [The origin possessed by those born to devour everything.] It was the first time Soul Ascension had brought back material. Taesan pocketed the Source of Devouring. Perhaps showing it to Hafran would yield more information. It had been an unusually unique opponent. Taesan moved forward, using Territory Detection to locate his position. Perhaps due to his defeat of the Shadow Maw, the shadows no longer approached him and instead fled, allowing him to proceed without interference. Eventually, Taesan reached the passage leading to the 72nd floor. ¡°Is there no secret room?¡± As he scouted a wide area in search of the exit, he activated Territory Detection. He had already mapped out most of the floor, but nothing appeared. It seemed safe to assume there was nothing. Taesan¡¯s prediction proved urate, as he even obtained the secret clear reward. Just as he was about to check the clear rewards, bricks crumbled, revealing Balbambamba. [¡­¡­You never cease to surprise me.] He muttered as he stared at Taesan. [What you defeated was the master of this ce. It was the one who regted the number of shadows and controlled their strength. Now that the master is gone, this ce will copse. Thanks to you, I¡¯ll have to rebuild the entire floor.] ¡°Good luck.¡± [The wizard might have wished for someone like you, but¡­ it''s quite bothersome. Finding usable materials is going to be a pain.] Balbambamba sighed deeply and returned to his brick form. Taesan resumed inspecting the rewards. [Mythical Anklet] [Strength +400] [Agility +400] [Intelligence +400] [Defense +400] [Movement Speed +7%] [An anklet said to have been used by a hero from myths. Whether it¡¯s genuine or not is unknown, but it contains considerable power.] [Ring made from metal struck by lightning] [Defense +300] [Electric Resistance +50%] [A ring forged from metal struck countless times by lightning since the beginning of the stars. It boasts absolute defense against electricity.] The stats of the clear rewards were twice as high as any equipment he had obtained so far. Moreover, it had the special effect of resistance. ¡°Specialized for electricity, huh.¡± While it might not have much use generally, it seemed like it coulde in handy in specific situations. After organizing the rewards, Taesan stepped onto the 72nd floor. He moved deeper into the abyss. [Quest on the 72nd floor initiated.] [Pass the Trial of the Gods.] [Reward: A belt created by the master of the ferocious domain.] [Secret Reward: ???] As soon as he entered the 72nd floor, the space split open, and a demon god appeared. [The next battle will take ce on the 73rd floor.] ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan nodded. The demon god, having informed him of the schedule, disappeared with a grin. The 73rd floor. It was sooner than he expected. Just one more floor, and it would be time to face the guide again. After passing the shopkeeper, Taesan arrived at the 72nd floor, where there was a divine altar. The gloomy atmosphere suggested that the altar¡¯s master governed something sinister. [You have discovered Rigrit¡¯s Altar.] [First Discovery Bonus] [Strength permanently increased by 200, Intelligence by 100, Mana by 200.] It was a small but pleasant bonus for a first discovery. The ghost muttered quietly. [Rigrit, the God of Regret.] The God of Regret. Taesan gazed at the altar. The altar had a metaphysical appearance, as if it was rejecting and excluding everything it touched. [Ugh¡­ of all gods, why this one?] ¡°Do you know this god?¡± [I haven¡¯t met them in thebyrinth. But in the outside world, yes.] There was a deep aversion in the ghost¡¯s voice when speaking about the God of Regret. It was the first time the ghost had shown such strong rejection towards a particr god. [It¡¯s personal, so don¡¯t worry about it. Rigrit isn¡¯t a good god, but he¡¯s not particrly bad either.] ¡°Will clearing the 72nd floor be as simple as passing the god¡¯s trial?¡± [From this point onward, there are several floors like that. However, the trials demanded are much harsher. They¡¯re much closer to the essence of the gods.] After gazing at the altar for a moment, Taesan ced his hand on it. Since it was a clear condition, there was no option to ignore it and move on. [Subquest started.] [Rigrit wants to test you after you havee to his altar. If you ept, the trial will begin. Rewards will follow if you seed.] [Reward: Determined by Rigrit based on your performance.] ¡°I ept.¡± Taesan spoke. The power materialized, and the presence of the altar¡¯s master began to manifest. [Rigrit proposes an enhanced trial.] Taesan nodded. He had anticipated this, so it wasn¡¯t surprising. With a quiet chuckle, the world began to shift. In the twisting space, Taesan thought. ¡®The God of Regret, huh.¡¯ The gods each delivered trials that matched their domains. Considering that the God of Despair had simted a ruined Earth for him, the God of Regret would likely do something simr. What would his regret be? If he thought simply, it would be his choice of Easy Mode at the start. Or perhaps it was one of the many events that happened as he descended thebyrinth, or even something from Earth. Taesan steeled himself for any possibility. The twisting space began to target its subject. [Rigrit¡¯s authority manifests. Rigrit¡¯s domain of interference decreases.] [Rigrit designates the target of his authority.] The power began to flow from the altar. Taesan waited silently as the power approached. [¡­¡­Huh?] But the power wasn¡¯t headed for Taesan. Rigrit¡¯s power was aimed at the ghost. [Wait.] The ghost panicked as the power surrounded him. However, the unleashed force paid no heed to his confusion, and the space-time distortion exploded. [Quest condition: Defeat the Demon King and save the copsing world from a memory.] [Quest reward: Depends on the emotions of the owner of the copsing world.] The world changed. Taesan found himself in a small room. He looked around. The room, adorned with various jewels and decorations, was so extravagant that it would seem impossible, even for royalty. ¡°What is this?¡± Taesan turned his head to look at the ghost. Since Rigrit¡¯s power was targeting the ghost, it was likely that this ce was within the ghost¡¯s memory. Then, Taesan froze. There was a man in the room. tinum blonde hair, neither too fine nor too thick. A textbook example of a handsome man. And clothes that were proof of his noble status. Taesan had seen that face before. It was the face of the ghost when he appeared during the Trial of the Sword. But this version looked younger. As if it was the ghost from before he entered thebyrinth. ¡°You?¡± ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± The Prince of the Destroyed World, Bradley, stared at Taesan with a cautious look. Chapter 329: The Destroyed World Of The Ghost (1) Bradley red at Taesan. With hostility and suspicion, he grabbed the ornate sword at his waist. ¡°Remarkable. An assassin who sneaks into my chamber without causing the slightest disturbance! Who hired someone as skilled as you?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t answer. He briefly nced to his side. [Oh...] As always, the ghost was there. He groaned softly as he looked at the prince, who bore his appearance. Bradley, with the body of a human. And Bradley, dead, with the form of a ghost.There were two Bradleys here. ¡°I killed all of my brothers with my own hands¡­ A servant of the gods? It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Bradley drew his sword. ¡°I¡¯ll cut off your limbs and interrogate youter!¡± He charged, the storm-like strike of his sword rushing toward Taesan. ¡°What do you think?¡± Taesan asked as he dodged. The ghost muttered. [...That¡¯s me. Exactly me from the past.] ¡°So, I was right.¡± The quest he had received was to defeat the Demon King and save the destroyed world from his memory. In other words, this ce was already a destroyed world from the past. And the subject of those memories was none other than the ghost. ng! The sword swung wildly, aiming for Taesan¡¯s throat and chest like a wolf. It was simr to the storm-scarred swordsmanship the ghost had shown him, but far more clumsy and full of openings. The ghost clicked his tongue. [What a mess. He should¡¯ve aimed for the legs, not the chest. And he stopped after just two strikes? He should¡¯ve attacked three times in a row.] ¡°You know that¡¯s your past self, right?¡± [Yeah, but it¡¯s still frustrating. Seeing it like this is kind of embarrassing.] ng! Taesan bent his waist to dodge the swinging sword. Bradley¡¯s expression hardened. He nted his feet and poured more strength into his sword. ¡°Still, not bad.¡± For a human who hadn¡¯t descended into thebyrinth, his skill was quite high. Taesan reached out his hand. The swinging sword was caught in his grip. ¡°What?!¡± [Don¡¯t break it, okay?] ¡°Does it matter? This is just a memory.¡± [It does matter. If you break it, you and that guy will be perfect enemies.] Looking closely, the sword Bradley swung was the same as Taesan¡¯s Calvert Relic. Following the ghost¡¯s advice, Taesan pulled on the sword. ¡°Ugh!¡± Bradley didn¡¯t let go. It was a feat only a trained warrior could manage. But the cost of his persistence was his body being flung into the air. Bradley gasped in shock at Taesan¡¯s overwhelming strength. Taesan twisted his hand, seizing the sword. He pointed it at Bradley¡¯s neck as hey on the ground. ¡°¡­You¡¯re strong.¡± Bradley red at Taesan. His entire body was drenched in sweat, but Taesan¡¯s breathing didn¡¯t waver. ¡°To think that someone like you is merely an assassin. What a sad fate. If you were a subject of the Empire, you would¡¯ve been honored.¡± Bradley closed his eyes with a sigh ofment. ¡°Congrattions. You¡¯ve achieved your goal. Kill me.¡± Bradley calmly epted his death, and Taesan stared at him in silence. Naturally, Taesan had no intention of killing Bradley. The quest was to defeat the Demon King, and Bradley was likely an ally. But things had gone wrong from the start. Rigrit had summoned Taesan to Bradley¡¯s chamber, and Bradley had naturally assumed that Taesan was an assassin. The misunderstanding had to be cleared up, but there was no clear way to do so. Bradley opened his eyes when he didn¡¯t feel the sensation of the sword pressing against his throat. R ¡°¡­What are you doing? Do you n to take me hostage?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then kill me. If I am to die by the hand of a strong warrior like you, it wouldn¡¯t be so bad.¡± Bradley closed his eyes again. As Taesan was thinking of a way, the ghost spoke up. [Do as I say.] The ghost had told Taesan how to convince Bradley. After listening quietly, Taesan spoke. ¡°I have no intention of killing you.¡± Taesan withdrew the sword. ¡°I am not your enemy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe the words of someone who has invaded my private chamber.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I intend to earn your trust.¡± Recalling the ghost¡¯s advice, Taesan spoke smoothly. ¡°I¡¯vee to find you to defeat the Demon King, Prince of the Calvert Empire.¡± Bradley opened his eyes at Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°You must know. The Demon King will soon be born and will invade the world.¡± ¡°¡­How do you know that?¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes filled with shock and doubt. What Taesan had just said was information that hadn¡¯t spread to the world, known only to the royal family. Taesan continued speaking. ¡°You must also know of the hero, Kariat.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Hero Kariat. A hero who had appeared long ago in this world. He defeated the Demon King who had invaded the world and became its ruler. But Kariat had fallen into madness during his battle with the Demon King. He killed countless people and sought power for himself. All of humanity hade together to barely defeat Kariat and killed all those who bore his bloodline. Even now, speaking of him was forbidden. ¡°I am a descendant of Kariat.¡± Bradley¡¯s pupils widened at Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°As a prince of the Empire, you must know. The lineage of Kariat has not been entirely extinguished.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, I know.¡± During the purge of Kariat¡¯s bloodline, there were those who managed to escape. It was a fact known to only a select few in the Empire. The details Taesan spoke of were things only the true heir could know. Bradley¡¯s gaze gradually softened. ¡°All descendants of Kariat have ck hair and ck eyes, right?¡± Taesan ran his hand through his hair. ¡°Because of those undeniable traits, we were always persecuted. I came to you to restore the honor that our ancestors tarnished. That is why I sought you out, Prince of the Empire. I have heard that you do not discriminate against our bloodline.¡± ¡°I apologize for sneaking into your chamber. It was the only way I could meet you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The prince muttered as he stood. ¡°If you truly are a descendant of Kariat, there would have been no other way to enter here. I will forgive you.¡± Bradley smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re bold. It¡¯s true that I¡¯ve spoken often about your bloodline, but toe all the way here on that alone? And that strength¡­ quite impressive.¡± There was no longer any doubt in his eyes. Only favor and trust remained toward Taesan. ¡®It worked.¡¯ Every word Taesan had spoken was from the ghost¡¯s advice. Although he had spoken with uncertainty, Bradley had truly begun to trust him. [That guy is me, after all.] The ghost spoke indifferently. [I know exactly what he¡¯s thinking, what he wants to hear, and what he desires. Gaining his trust was never hard.] The most important issue had been resolved. From here, things wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. Bradley clicked his tongue as he nced around. ¡°But this is troublesome.¡± His chamber waspletely ruined. The decorations on the walls and the carpets were cut and shattered from the battle. It looked more like a ruin than a chamber. With this much noise, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if someone came to check. Indeed, there was soon a knock at the door. ¡°Your Highness, is everything alright?¡± ¡°There was a bit ofmotion. Come in.¡± ¡°Pardon me.¡± A maid entered as the door opened. She nced around the ruined chamber once, then looked at Taesan twice in shock. ¡°¡­Your Highness? What on earth¡­¡± ¡°I said there was a bit ofmotion. There¡¯s no problem.¡± ¡°But that man¡­¡± She looked confused as she nced at Taesan¡¯s ck hair and eyes. Bradley straightened his clothes and spoke. ¡°Do not cause a fuss. He is my guest.¡± ¡°W-What?¡± The maid¡¯s eyes widened. She stammered as she stared at Taesan. ¡°Your Highness, who exactly is this¡­¡± ¡°Since when have you been allowed to question my words?¡± Bradley quietly smiled as he spoke. The maid flinched and trembled before bowing her head. ¡°My apologies.¡± ¡°Leave. And guide him to a guest room.¡± ¡°W-What? Yes¡­¡± The maid, flustered, stood straight but quickly bowed again at Bradley¡¯s cold gaze. Bradley looked around his chamber and said, ¡°My apologies. I need to clean up first. We will continue our conversation afterward.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Then, lead him. He is my guest, so if you treat him poorly, I will not forgive you.¡± ¡°As you wish, Your Highness.¡± The maid followed Bradley¡¯s instructions and led Taesan out into the hallway. As she walked ahead, she constantly nced at Taesan. Fear was evident in her expression. Taesan asked her, ¡°What year is it?¡± ¡°It is the Imperial Year 876¡­¡± ¡°I see.¡± Taesan nodded. The maid, trembling, guided Taesan to a room. ¡°If you need anything, just ring the bell at any time.¡± With those words, she quickly left. Taesan sat on the bed and spoke. ¡°What do you think?¡± [The great empire. It¡¯s been 876 years since Calvert established itself here. If my memory is correct, the Demon King shows up in the year 877. From what I saw of the scenery outside while passing through the hallways... there¡¯s about three months left.] Three months until the Demon King¡¯s invasion. The ghost muttered bitterly. [How distasteful. Really.] The ghost¡¯s world had been destroyed by the Demon King. He couldn¡¯t prevent the invasion that happened three monthster, and he ended up in thebyrinth. Now, he was here, meeting his past self and watching the Demon King¡¯s invasion unfold again. [The God of Regret... certainly lives up to his name. I still don''t like him.] After taking a moment topose himself, the ghost began to speak. [The quest is to defeat the Demon King. It probably means you¡¯re supposed to help my past self achieve that.] ¡°The Demon King.¡± Taesan had his own questions about it. ¡°There was a Demon King in the demon realm as well.¡± And that power wasn¡¯t particrly great. Of course, it was strong and formidable, but it couldn¡¯t touch Taesan. If it was at that level, Taesan could take care of it on his own. But the ghost denied Taesan¡¯s assumption. [The Demon King of the demon realm and the Demon King here are different beings that just share the same title. Think of it as a kind of system device.] ¡°A system?¡± [Remember when you fought the fragment of the world-destroying wolf on the 51st floor? How was it?] ¡°It was quite strong.¡± Even though it was merely a fragment, it possessed enough power to make Taesan struggle. [It¡¯s a simr entity. It exists to destroy worlds. It¡¯s hard topare exactly, but... even with your current strength, you¡¯d have a hard time winning.] ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to defeat that?¡± Even Taesan, who was descending the deeperyers, would have trouble winning. It meant it was practically impossible to face such an opponent in the outside world. It was hard for Taesan toprehend such an enemy appearing. The ghost spoke again. [I told you, it¡¯s a system device. There¡¯s a prophecy about the Demon King. Only by fulfilling that prophecy can you im victory.] The ghost began to recite the prophecy. Chapter 330: The Destroyed World Of The Ghost (2) [Receiving the recognition of the Will of the World for having the qualification to save the world, Passing the trials of those who reached the pinnacle at the center of the world, Earning the qualification from the dragon dwelling deep in the valley, Obtaining the roots of the World Tree in the elven territory, Recovering the fragment of a god from the sacrednd, And at the end, obtaining the weapon to defeat the Demon King.] The ghost finished the exnation and continued speaking. [It¡¯s quite a straightforward prophecy. If you meet all those conditions, you¡¯ll obtain the weapon to defeat the Demon King.] ¡°Did you fail to do so, or did you seed and still lose?¡±[The former.] The ghost replied gloomily. Taesan mulled over the prophecy spoken by the ghost. Before long, Bradley came to find Taesan. He sat on a chair and spoke. ¡°Now that I think about it, I haven¡¯t asked for your name. Descendant of Kariat, what is your name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Taesan.¡± ¡°Taesan? That¡¯s an odd name. Is it a name chosen to live in hiding?¡± Bradley tilted his head as he spoke. ¡°I am Bradley Alkerite, rightful heir to the great empire.¡± Bradley was confident, as if proudly boasting of the achievements he had aplished. ¡°Let me confirm once again. Taesan, you havee here to defeat the Demon King, correct?¡± Taesan nodded. Bradley¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, how much do you know?¡± ¡°I know about the contents of the prophecy. And that the Demon King will soon appear.¡± ¡°You know quite a lot. As expected of a descendant of Kariat¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s expression showed surprise, but he quickly spoke with a serious face. ¡°Yes, although I don¡¯t know the exact time, the Demon King will soon show himself. The fools of other kingdoms livezily as if it¡¯s not a big deal, but the Empire is different. We¡¯ve been preparing for this for a long time.¡± ? The training of soldiers, understanding the prophecy, and preparations for the Demon King¡¯s appearance¡ªthe Empire had been ready for it. But the most important part was still missing. ¡°The Demon King is a being that brings destruction to the world. And the one who defeats him is always the chosen hero.¡± Bradley looked at Taesan and spoke quietly. ¡°Originally, I intended to be that hero¡­ but I¡¯ve changed my mind. I will rmend you as the hero to His Majesty.¡± ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Taesan was a bit surprised at Bradley¡¯s words. The ghost he had known so far didn¡¯t seem like someone who would yield such a position to another. He wasn¡¯t someone considerate or understanding enough to entrust his life to someone else. But now, Bradley was offering the position to Taesan. Bradley spoke calmly. ¡°You are stronger than me. Overwhelmingly so.¡± With just one fight, Bradley realized that the power Taesan possessed was something he could never match, even if he fought him hundreds of times. ¡°It is only natural for the strong to obtain the qualifications. Besides, isn¡¯t that what you want? To be the hero, make your name known, and escape the oppression and contempt your bloodline faces?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t deny that.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s no problem. It¡¯s disgraceful for the weak to covet such a position.¡± Bradley grinned and patted Taesan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Stand up. Let¡¯s go see His Majesty.¡± Bradley walked down the hallway confidently. The maids and servants nced at Taesan in confusion before quickly bowing to Bradley. Absolute authority and power were on disy. Bradley epted it as if it were natural. ¡®So that¡¯s the kind of person you were.¡¯ Taesan whispered so that only the ghost next to him could hear. The ghost groaned. [This is kind of embarrassing.] After walking through the long hallway, Bradley arrived at the audience chamber. He spoke toward the throne. ¡°Your Majesty, ruler of the Empire, your bloodline greets you.¡± ¡°Enough with the formalities. Raise your head. The one behind you as well.¡± Taesan raised his head and looked at the throne. Sitting on two chairs were a middle-aged man and a slightly younger woman. Their affectionate gazes toward Bradley made it clear they were his parents. [...I miss this.] The ghost muttered. His voice carried an emotion he couldn¡¯t hide. But his voice didn¡¯t reach the two on the throne. The Emperor looked down at Bradley and spoke. ¡°So, Bradley, you wish to move forward to fulfill the prophecy?¡± ¡°Not exactly me.¡± Bradley turned his gaze toward Taesan. ¡°He will be the hero.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard the story. The former hero, the descendant of Kariat. I knew your bloodline had survived, but I didn¡¯t expect it to still exist¡­¡± The Emperor looked at Taesan in surprise, but soon his gaze settled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Bradley that you are strong. But how can I believe you won¡¯t fall into corruption?¡± Kariat had defeated the Demon King butter fell into corruption. Even now, he was remembered as leaving behind terrible destruction. It was a reasonable doubt if Taesan truly was the descendant of Kariat. Taesan replied. ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to ept my words to convince you. I¡¯ll simply prove myself through strength.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The Emperor stroked his chin. After a brief look at Taesan, he grinned. ¡°I like that.¡± He mmed his palm down on the armrest of the throne. ¡°If you had tried to dress yourself up poorly, I would have refused. Nothing is as crude and worthless as someone else¡¯s words. What matters is strength. Simple but undeniable power.¡± The Emperor, who Taesan thought would refuse, suddenly stopped adjusting the three judgments. The Emperor gestured with his chin. ¡°So, I shall test your strength. Come out.¡± nk. The knights, who had been hiding behind the pirs, all appeared at once. The Emperor clenched his fist. ¡°If you are truly as strong as Bradley says, you should easily win against this. Prove it.¡± Boom! The knights charged toward Taesan. Taesan stomped his foot. ng! Swords and shields rushed at him as if to crush him. Dozens of knights formed a perfect formation and pressed Taesan. ¡®Not bad.¡¯ With this level of power, they might not be able to clear thebyrinth, but they could certainly make meaningful progress. The overall strength of this world was higher than Arulia and Vekveta. But that was all. The Emperor, watching, widened his eyes. Taesan dodged the coordinated attacks of the dozens of knights with fluid movements, not even shifting his footing. Taesan nced at Bradley. He was looking at Taesan with an astonished expression. ¡°You seem closer than I expected.¡± While the Emperor was asking Taesan various questions, Bradley continued speaking beside him. The woman, who appeared to be his mother, also sent gentle nces, suggesting that the family had a good rtionship. This surprised Taesan. ¡°I thought you¡¯d have a cold rtionship, considering you killed all your siblings.¡± [What? You remembered that?] The ghost had mentioned before that he had six siblings, all of whom he had killed. The ghost spoke. [The Calvert Empire reveres power in the extreme. In this ce, those born of noble blood naturally kill their siblings to prove their worth.] ¡°That¡¯s quite fascinating.¡± It was a concept Taesan couldn¡¯t ept from Earth¡¯s perspective. ¡°Was there no resentment?¡± [None. I was overwhelmingly stronger than them. They simply said to me as they died, ¡®Make the empire eternal and wield great power.¡¯] But the empire was destroyed before the ghost became Emperor. The atmosphere around the ghost became even gloomier. An hourter, Bradley came to see Taesan. ¡°Are you holding a ball?¡± Taesan asked. Bradley nodded. ¡°Yes, it will begin in about an hour. You should attend.¡± ¡°¡­Is that really necessary?¡± Taesan had already received the Emperor¡¯s approval. He was eager to proceed quickly with the prophecy. However, Bradley disagreed with Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°It is necessary. What is the first condition of the prophecy?¡± ¡°To receive the recognition of the Will of the World for having the qualification to save it.¡± ¡°That will is buried beneath this pce.¡± Bradley pointed to the floor with his finger. ¡°Because of its immense power, it was sealed a long time ago. It will take time to undo the seal.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Bradley looked at Taesan for a moment, then, as if something crossed his mind, ced a hand on Taesan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You seem concerned.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Are you worried that the people at the ball will look at you negatively?¡± Now that he thought about it, Taesan¡¯s role was the descendant of Kariat. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if he was apprehensive about standing before people. Bradley¡¯s words seemed to address that concern. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You possess great power.¡± Bradley spread his arms wide. ¡°This is the great empire, Calvert. Unlike other kingdoms, we don¡¯t care about petty things and instead worship power. Your ancestry, your bloodline¡ªnone of that matters.¡± He grinned. ¡°Stand tall. Recognize your worth and don¡¯t hide. That¡¯s what you should do.¡± With that, Bradley led Taesan to the ball. There, Bradley spoke. He said that Taesan was of the Kariat bloodline but possessed immense power, and he had personally acknowledged him. Indeed, as Bradley had said, the people at the ball did not ignore or fear Taesan. Rather, he struggled quite a bit to fend off the nobledies who swarmed toward him. Had Taesan truly been a descendant of Kariat who had lived a life of persecution, he would have been deeply moved by Bradley¡¯s actions. Taesan stepped out onto the terrace to take a break from the ball. Bradley approached him. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you for your concern.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. As long as you¡¯re enjoying yourself, that¡¯s what matters.¡± Bradley swirled his wine. ¡°Those with power should be treated with respect. There¡¯s no need to let trivial matters interfere. That¡¯s always been my motto.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Taesan listened quietly to Bradley¡¯s words. At that moment, someone approached. ¡°Prince Bradley, you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Bradley¡¯s expression changed in an instant. It brightened enough for even Taesan to notice. [Ah.] The ghost let out a groan. The approaching figure was a woman. She wore a white dress, her abundant blonde hair shimmering, and her sparkling blue eyes gleamed like jewels. She was a beauty who seemed to radiate light. And when she appeared, the ghost visibly trembled. Even when seeing his family, the ghost had not wavered, but now his emotions were beginning to stir. Bradley chuckled. ¡°Levantia, you attended the ball as well.¡± ¡°How could I refuse when you called for me?¡± The woman, called Levantia, covered her mouth as sheughed. She looked at Taesan with curiosity. ¡°Is he the descendant of Kariat who caused themotion?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Levantia grasped the hem of her dress and greeted Taesan. ¡°I am Levantia Coriezai, of the Duke¡¯s bloodline in the great Calvert Empire, and the fianc¨¦e of the man beside you.¡± Levantia smiled sweetly. And the ghost stared nkly at her. When the ball ended, Taesan returned to his room. Throughout the process, the ghost did not say a single word. He simply stared at her silently until she left. The silence continued. The next day, Bradley came with a somewhat ambiguous expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it will take a bit more time. The imperial magicians are having trouble undoing the seal.¡± ¡°Can you show me the way to the site?¡± ¡°If you wish.¡± Taesan followed Bradley¡¯s lead down to the underground area of the pce. There, many magicians were sweating profusely in front of a massive magic circle. ¡°P-Prince.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°¡­I hate to admit it, but the magicians of the past were far superior to us.¡± One of the magicians bit his lip. ¡°We are stuck at the basic understanding required to undo the magic. I apologize, but it seems it will take quite some time.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Bradley didn¡¯t me them. He quietly epted the situation and moved to address it. ¡°There¡¯s no use in ming ack of ability. We may have to call upon those who dwell at the center of the world.¡± ¡°But will theye to the Empire¡­?¡± ¡°They are also part of the prophecy. Since this is an effort to fulfill it, they won¡¯t refuse. However, it will take considerable time.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Taesan stood in front of the magic circle. He raised his hand. The watching magicians gasped. ¡°If you touch that carelessly!¡± Kiing! A burst of resistance erupted, attempting to repel Taesan. The magic circle tried to reject and eliminate the one approaching it. Dark killing intent swirled toward Taesan. Taesan activated a skill. [You have activated Magic Dispel.] Crash! The magic circle crumbled. Taesan dusted off his hands. The magicians who had tried to stop him stood frozen, eyes wide. Taesan spoke calmly. ¡°It¡¯s done now, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 331: The Destroyed World Of The Ghost (3) ¡°The, how could¡­¡± The wizards stammered. The magic circle created by ancient wizards, which they couldn¡¯t even approach, had beenpletely shattered. Bradley asked with a bitterugh. ¡°You can also use magic?¡± ¡°I have some experience.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem like something that can be exined so simply¡­ Astonishing. To break a barrier that the Empire¡¯s wizards couldn¡¯t dispel, in one strike¡­¡± His face, as he looked at Taesan, was filled with admiration. ¡°With your power, you might actually be able to save this world.¡± ¡°May I go in?¡±¡°Of course. Go, and earn the recognition of the world, hero.¡± Bradley said with a smile. Taesan stepped beyond the magic circle. Whaty within was a massive will. It brushed past him as if testing and observing him. The ghost, who had been silent, finally spoke. [The will of the world is judging whether you have the will to defeat the Demon King and whether you have the rightful qualifications. It will try to reject you, but don¡¯t worry.] As soon as the ghost finished speaking, the will that had been examining Taesan took on an aggressive stance. The force gathered and began to press down on Taesan, attempting to push him back. ¡°Hmph.¡± Taesan looked at the hostility and rejection contained within the massive will. There was only one thing within it. -You are not qualified. It was a force filled with that intent. ¡®Qualification, huh.¡¯ Taesan understood its meaning easily. The Demon King was a device that existed to destroy the world. The prophecy was a condition and trial to defeat such a being. And the hero destined to defeat the Demon King had to be a resident of this world. Only beings from thisnd could receive the recognition of the world. Taesan, born on Earth, was disqualified. But Taesan wasn¡¯t being pushed back. He was letting the will of the world flow over him, feeling no burden whatsoever. ¡°Whenpared to the world of Hafran, this is pathetically weak.¡± [That¡¯s because the will of that world had converged, making it akin to the Demon King. It¡¯s not reallyparable.] At this level¡­ Taesan focused his mind. He gathered his own will and pressed it against the world¡¯s will. Boom! With a wave of power, the will of the world was crushed. Taesan slowly moved forward. The world¡¯s will unleashed its force, but all of it was blocked by Taesan¡¯s will. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of saving the world. You just need to grant me the qualifications.¡± As he advanced, a small sphere came into view. It was simr to the world itself that he had seen in Hafran, but the power contained within it was pitiful. Taesan roughly pressed down on the sphere. The sphere trembled, slowly releasing its power. [How aggressive. I almost feel sorry for it.] The ghost murmured quietly. From the sphere, a single force began to slowly fly toward Taesan. That was one of the powers to oppose the Demon King. [The relic of Calvert. You can draw it out.] Taesan drew his sword. The approaching force was slowly absorbed into Calvert¡¯s relic. [You have received the recognition of the world and earned the right to save it.] The trial consisted of five stages. Once he passed all the trials, he would gain new power. The ghost spoke softly. [I couldn''t fulfill the prophecy... but you¡¯ll be different. You¡¯ll obtain the power to defeat the Demon King.] Taesan emerged outside. Bradley, who had been waiting, widened his eyes. ¡°You came out quickly. I thought it would take more time.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t difficult.¡± ¡°Normally, there¡¯s a lot of explosive power and trembling, like during a battle. It was quite strange.¡± Taesan said nothing. Bradley grinned. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s talk about the next prophecy then.¡± Bradley began to exin as he led Taesan. ¡°The second trial! Do you remember its contents?¡± ¡°Yes, it was about passing the trial of those who reached the pinnacle of power, who dwell at the center of the world.¡± ¡°At the center of this world, there are those who have reached the pinnacle of either swordsmanship or magic. Upon reaching that pinnacle, they are drawn to a small ind at the world¡¯s center. They sever their ties with the mortal world and live their own secluded lives.¡± Bradley sipped his tea. ¡°The trial is to pass their challenge. It won¡¯t be easy. Since they¡¯ve blocked external ess, it¡¯s hard to gather proper information, but the kingdom that once tried to invade the ind waspletely destroyed. That should give you an idea of their power.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Taesan replied calmly. Bradley muttered somewhat regretfully. ¡°When I aimed to be a hero, this was the trial I anticipated the most.¡± Those who had severed ties with the mortal world after reaching the pinnacle. As a swordsman, Bradley had always wanted to meet them at least once. ¡°I wonder how strong they truly are. I¡¯d love to follow you.¡± ¡°No, Prince.¡± Augh echoed from behind Bradley. A woman with golden hair chuckled softly. ¡°The hero¡¯s trial must bepleted by him alone. Besides, Prince, you have the duty to protect the Empire, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, Levancia.¡± Bradley smiled as he turned to look at Levancia. Bradley¡¯s gaze toward her was full of affection. Even without reading his thoughts, it was clear what feelings Bradley held for Levancia. ¡°But I can¡¯t help being interested. Is there really no way?¡± ¡°No, Your Highness. You must also protect me, right?¡± Levancia smiled softly. [It¡¯s best to stay close. Before what seems natural bes unnatural.] The ghost, watching them, spoke gloomily. Although his voice couldn¡¯t reach them, he seemedpelled to say it nheless. As the conversation ended, Taesan asked as he headed toward the center of the world. ¡°Did you love her?¡± [Love? Yes. I loved her.] The ghost¡¯s voice was low and somber. [At first, it was a political marriage. I thought of her as nothing more than an ornament. But the more we met, the more we talked, the more I began to see things I hadn¡¯t before. In the end, I came to love her.] It was a sentiment far removed from anything Taesan had experienced. At least, since descending into thebyrinth, he hadn¡¯t felt anything close to that. [I thought I¡¯d spend my life with her, that we¡¯d grow old together, but¡­] ¡°The Demon King appeared, didn¡¯t he?¡± [Yes.] The ghost replied quietly. He fell silent again. Taesan nced at the ghost for a moment but said nothing and continued walking. Before long, Taesan arrived at the center of the world. There was a small ind in the middle of ake. Taesan crossed the river and reached the ind. As if waiting for him, several old men dressed in ck looked at Taesan. ¡°¡­Are you the hero recognized by the world?¡± Taesan nodded. The elder standing in front frowned for a moment. ¡°Weak.¡± He continued in a disappointed tone. ¡°I feel no power from you. Did the world truly recognize such a person?¡± The elder clicked his tongue and turned away. ¡°Since you¡¯ve passed the first trial, we must follow the prophecy as well. Come with us.¡± The elders spoke as they walked deeper into the forest. Following behind, Taesan asked, ¡°Have you all reached the pinnacle of your respective fields?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve reached the end.¡± An elder spoke in a sharp voice. He held a sword in his hand. ¡°There is nowhere left for us to reach. The mortal world is nothing but a hindrance. That¡¯s why we settled here.¡± He nced at Taesan. ¡°Even if you fail to defeat the Demon King, it doesn¡¯t matter. If we step forward, such an enemy is nothing.¡± His confidence stemmed from the fact that he had no thought of ever being defeated. Taesan followed them silently. They stopped in front of a magic circle. Surrounding it, they pushed Taesan inside. ¡°Enter.¡± They began to unleash their power. Theirbined and amplified force started to weigh down on Taesan. Rumble! The overwhelming force crushed his mind and tried to subdue his body. The elder spoke indifferently. ¡°Give up. I don¡¯t know how you passed the first prophecy, but without any power, you won¡¯t survive this trial. It would¡¯ve been better if the Prince of the Empire hade.¡± The elder clicked his tongue. To them, Taesan was too weak. Even the slightest bit of pressure could have crushed him. They believed he couldn¡¯t withstand their trial. But at that moment, they sensed something unusual. Taesan was enduring their pressure without any change in expression. No, the word ¡°endure¡± didn¡¯t seem right. Their power wasn¡¯t even reaching Taesan in the first ce. The overwhelming gap in power erased their force entirely. ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°So, is this what you call reaching the pinnacle?¡± Taesan muttered. He had hoped to learn something from them, but the power gap was so vast that he couldn¡¯t even feel it. It was deeply disappointing. [You have activated the Three Proofs.] What Taesan had built began to materialize and affect the world. The elders¡¯ power shattered, and their faces turned pale. ¡°A-Ah¡­¡± Even though Taesan had significantly restrained his power, the elders couldn¡¯t withstand it. Slowly, Taesan withdrew his power. [You have gained the recognition of those who reached the pinnacle at the center of the world.] The qualification was fulfilled. Taesan ignored the elders, who were now sitting dazed, and walked out. ¡°If you have time, I suggest you seek out a ce called thebyrinth.¡± This world was created from the ghost¡¯s memories. It was ultimately meaningless, but Taesan left them with a final word. He immediately moved to fulfill the third prophecy. ¡°It wasn¡¯t much.¡± [If even an adventurer from thebyrinth could feel pressured, fulfilling the prophecy would be impossible.] The ghost¡¯s words were urate. The prophecy wasn¡¯t that difficult. Someone like Bradley could easily manage it. However, the ghost had failed. He couldn¡¯t save the world. Taesan moved swiftly and arrived at a deep valley. As he entered, he felt the presence of a powerful being. [It seems we have a visitor.] With a soft voice, the presence within the valley revealed itself. Massive scales and enormous wings appeared in the world. [You have encountered the Blue Dragon, Kareista.] It was a being simr to the golden dragon Taesan had seen back in Vekveta. Back then, Taesan had felt an overwhelming sense of power from the dragon, a sensation that he could never defeat it. But this time was different. ¡®This might be doable.¡¯ Taesan quietly stared at the dragon. The dragon, meeting Taesan¡¯s gaze, quietly let out a breath of admiration. [You... You are strong. I couldn¡¯t possibly not know a being like you.] The dragon, murmuring to itself, nced at the ghost. Then, as if understanding, the dragon nodded. [Ah, I see. This is a world manifested by the gods. Which means this world was destroyed by the Demon King.] Having grasped the situation, the dragon let out a sigh of regret. [Prince of the Empire. You failed to save this world. So, you descended into thebyrinth and met your death.] [...Yes.] [What a pity. With the power I sense from you now... No, even with just half of that power, you could have saved this world.] [You''re wrong.] The ghost denied the dragon¡¯s words. [Even without such power, this country, this ce could have done it. They could have won.] [But you failed.] [That¡¯s because of those!] The ghost¡¯s voice rose in anger. [Those ugly, foolish ones! They ruined everything!] The dragon smiled quietly. [I know. It¡¯s unfair and foolish. But that too is part of the trial. Only those who ovee such absurdities deserve to be called heroes.] [I can¡¯t ept it.] The ghost growled. The dragon acknowledged the ghost¡¯s anger. [I understand. But this is how things are now. There¡¯s nothing that can be done. Time cannot be turned back.] [No.] The ghost murmured softly. [That¡¯s not entirely true.] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter [NaN]: ?? New! Donation Section - Support early translations! Lee Taeyeon tried. She started by cleaning up the city. She single-handedly dealt with all the monsters near their residence. Then, she organized the interior of the city. She led the people, selected those with construction experience, and began building. Up until now, they had no room to breathe due to the monsters¡¯ attacks, but now, there was Lee Taeyeon. As she defeated the monsters, they finally had the chance to tidy up their dwelling. Next, she began managing the people who appeared. She showed hope to those who had returned to Earth and were running wild, ensuring they didn¡¯t fall into despair. She gave them the belief that they could survive on Earth. She gathered those with good eyesight and survival-rted skills to stand guard. She also freely used the items she had. ¡°ce one of these at the edge of each zone.¡± She handed Taesan four small ck stakes. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±¡°It¡¯s an item that forms a barrier to block intruders. If any enemies break through the barrier, it¡¯ll send a warning.¡± The depths were unique. There were cases where one had to survive for months in a jungle overflowing with monsters. It was an expensive item she had purchased for such situations. Taesan took the stakes and drove them into the edges of the zone. The weaker monsters were blocked by the stakes¡¯ power and couldn¡¯t enter. When stronger monsters that could ovee the stakes entered, the warning rang loudly. Thanks to this, the people could prepare in advance. Not only did Lee Taeyeon¡¯s personal strength y a major role, but the numerous items she possessed also greatly contributed. When she returned to Earth, many problems were solved at once. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°Lady Lee Taeyeon!¡± ¡°If Taeyeon is here!¡± The people¡¯s gaze towards her grew even stronger. Lee Taeyeon barely suppressed the nausea rising within her and spoke to them. ¡°I will protect all of you.¡± No. In truth, she wished someone would protect her. She didn¡¯t want to lead the people. She didn¡¯t want to be responsible for their lives. But she couldn¡¯t say that. She always wore a mask ofughter and confidence. All she could do was scream her lungs out when she went to scout the area outside the zone alone. ¡°A She sat down on the broken sofa, entranced by the dying groan. Hearing her voice, a monster broke through the wall and appeared. [Monster 978 has appeared.] ¡°Get lost.¡± Boom! Still seated on the sofa, she swung her arm. The three-digit-numbered monster that rushed at her was smashed into pieces. ¡°No¡­¡± She bit her lip. The monster that had charged at her was already erased from her mind. Her acting was reaching its limit. At this rate, she would eventually show her weakness to the people. That couldn¡¯t happen. Their source of trust must never waver. She always had to be confident and full of self-assurance. Only then would people believe they could win. While pondering how to find a solution, her eyes fell on a painting hanging on the wall. The ce she had entered was the remnants of a high-rise building, a building that once housed fairly wealthy people. Perhaps that was why the decorations and paintings remained rtively intact. It looked like a painting done by a renowned artist. Though she had no particr interest in it, she still took the painting back to their zone. ¡°Taeyeon, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It looks pretty. What do you think? Isn¡¯t it cool?¡± Lee Taeyeon smiled lightly as she held up the painting. ¡°Even in a world on the verge of destruction, these small hobbies are precious. They be a ray of hope in a deste life.¡± ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± People nodded their heads vigorously. Afterward, everyone began to find their own hobbies. Some carved decorations out of concrete with their hands, while others started painting. Just as she had said, those small hobbies had a surprisingly positive effect on the people. The calls for Lee Taeyeon grew louder once again. Everyone worshiped her. Everyone trusted her. They were absolutely convinced she would save them. Only Taesan, staring at her quietly, asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°This is what I¡¯m supposed to do, right? It¡¯s not that hard.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± Taesan responded calmly. She felt a sense of unease. Had she been found out? No, she thought she was good at acting. After all, everyone else fully believed in and trusted her. ?? He must be genuinely concerned for her. That¡¯s what Lee Taeyeon thought. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest now. Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan replied. Returning to her dwelling, Lee Taeyeon buried her face in the pillow. ¡°Huuu¡­¡± She exhaled, stretching her body and releasing the umted fatigue. ¡°It¡¯s hard.¡± She muttered softly. She turned around and looked at the sky through the cracked ceiling. A chill ran down her spine. Just looking at it gave her goosebumps. The power contained within that rift was truly terrifying. She averted her gaze. ¡®No one knows.¡¯ Only she knew that there was no chance of winning. The beings beyond the rift hadn¡¯t moved yet, but one day they would. But even so¡­ Lee Taeyeon clenched her fist. From then on, she continued to save people, putting on her mask of confidence. A year passed like that. ¡°Oh. Taeyeon.¡± A man standing in front of the massive wall greeted her brightly when he saw her. Hisplexion was good, and his hair was neatly groomed. ¡°Are you heading out on another scouting mission? You¡¯ve been going out a lottely.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be backter.¡± ¡°Alright. Stay safe.¡± Lee Taeyeon was seen off as she stepped outside their zone. Once she confirmed she was alone, she muttered to herself.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°I¡¯ve somehow managed to survive.¡± For a year, Lee Taeyeon had done her best. As a result, the people¡¯s situation had improved considerably. Their zone had expanded, and the number of survivors steadily increased. Hope that they could continue to live began to appear on people¡¯s faces. But Lee Taeyeon grew increasingly uneasy. The power within the rift in the sky was bing more violent, as though it would explode at any moment. The time when something enormous would descend was drawing near. Her instincts, honed by clearing thebyrinth, sounded an rm. ¡°¡­Shall I take a look?¡± [You have activated the Breath of the Hidden Rat.] [You have activated the Hidden Story that No One Knows.] [You have activated the Invisible Shadow.] Her presence vanished. Even the Guides of Sin, the leadership of that organization, couldn¡¯t detect the current Lee Taeyeon. Concealing her body, she continued to move. She cleared away all the monsters she encountered as she continued her search. At the end, she arrived right beneath the rift. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Lee Taeyeon absentmindedly looked up at the rift. Now that she was closer, she could sense it more clearly. The power within the rift was wildly fluctuating. ¡°Woo¡­¡± [You have activated the Gaze of Contemtion.] Her field of vision expanded. All the power,ws, and order contained in things came into her view. As she stared at the rift, she suddenly stopped. ¡°Oh?¡± The rift was expanding. Something began to fall from the rift. Boom! With a thunderous crash, the earth shattered. Lee Taeyeon held her breath. What fell from the rift was about ten monsters. It wasn¡¯t arge number. For Lee Taeyeon, who had already defeated tens of thousands of monsters, it was a very small number. However, the moment she sensed the strength of the monsters, her whole body froze. [Monster 3 has appeared.] [Monster 9 has appeared.] [Monster 10 has appeared.] [Monster 43 has appeared.] Two single-digit monsters. Eight double-digit monsters. Monsters of a level she had never seen before. Grooowl. The aura spread in all directions. Everything nearby that was breathing began to die. The monsters seemed unaware of Lee Taeyeon and passed by, ignoring her. Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t do anything. Only after the monsters disappeared beyond the horizon did she finally exhale. ¡°Huff!¡± Sweat trickled down her cheek. Her whole body started trembling in fear. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± She barely managed to speak. They were strong. Especially the single-digit monsters¡ªshe couldn¡¯t guarantee victory even if she risked her life in battle. ¡®This isn¡¯t good.¡¯ The fear of death overwhelmed her. She was about to move, to flee in the opposite direction from where the monsters were heading. Then, she realized. The ce the monsters were moving toward was the zone where the survivors had gathered. A thousand emotions rushed through her mind in an instant. ¡°¡­Aaaah!¡± She roughly tousled her hair, her eyes bloodshot as she stomped the ground. A small gem appeared in Lee Taeyeon¡¯s hand. [You have activated Spatial Leap to a Designated Location.] ¡°Ta, Taeyeon? Weren¡¯t you out on reconnaissance?¡± People were startled by her sudden appearance. Lee Taeyeon brushed off the broken pieces of the gem and shook her head roughly. ¡°¡­Gather everyone. I have something to tell you.¡± Lee Taeyeon gathered the people and spoke. Single-digit and double-digit monsters wereing. Monsters that even she couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against. They would have to risk their lives in battle. When Lee Taeyeon finished speaking, no one could utter a word. Everyone froze in silence. ¡°¡­Is this true? Taeyeon?¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a lie?¡± Lee Taeyeon snapped sharply. The man who had cautiously asked the question flinched and lowered his head. ¡°N-no, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon pressed her hand against her forehead. She didn¡¯t even have the energy to act. Her heart was pounding, and her breath was rough. She barely managed to suppress her emotions and started speaking again. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll handle as much as I can. But I can¡¯t stop them all. You¡¯ll have to deal with a few of the double-digit monsters.¡± ¡°Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.¡± Those who had forgotten the fear of death since Lee Taeyeon¡¯s arrival began cursing under their breath. Lee Taeyeon turned her head. Taesan, amidst the fear-stricken crowd, was calmly watching her. She clenched her fist tightly. ¡°My limit is stopping one single-digit monster. So, Taesan, you¡¯ll have to stop the other one.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± There was no rejection, no frustration, no anger. Taesan epted quietly. The news quickly spread among the people. Though terrified, they gripped their weapons and prepared for theing assault. Lee Taeyeon was no different. Although she tried hard to keep up her confident act, she couldn¡¯t stop her fingers from trembling slightly. To hide that fact, she started talking to Taesan. ¡°Surprising.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d at leastin a little.¡± Despite being in Easy Mode, Taesan had to face a monster that even Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against. He was indeed strong, but his strength was very limited. Depending on the opponent, there was a good chance he could die in vain. Yet Taesan responded calmly. ¡°Who else would do it if not me? You can¡¯t handle it either, so I have to.¡± He had already made peace with risking his life in this fight. Lee Taeyeon stared at him nkly. Taesan was strong. Not just in terms of physical power, but mentally as well. He was so different from her. Rumble¡­ But before she could get lost in thought, a thunderous roar echoed in the distance. A chilling energy swept through, and the faces of the people turned pale. ¡°Haha, they¡¯re here.¡± Lee Taeyeon chuckled dryly and gripped her sword. ¡°Well then¡­ see you on the other side.¡± She kicked off the ground. She clenched her fist as she rushed toward the approaching monsters. [You have activated Veil of Deception.] The world shifted. The monsters¡¯ vision distorted, and Lee Taeyeon¡¯s figure was magnified. Boom! They began charging toward Lee Taeyeon, and she licked her dry lips as she distanced herself from the zone. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be using this skill like this.¡± Originally, it was a skill that concealed her presence and disrupted the opponent¡¯s movements. But this time, she had to be the target. She hid the city and erged her own presence. Once she had gained enough distance, Lee Taeyeon stopped. One single-digit monster. And six double-digit monsters. She muttered gloomily. ¡°What are you?¡± -Why are you tormenting me like this? -Why are you attacking Earth? -Why can¡¯t you just leave us alone? -Why can¡¯t you let us die quietly here? -Why. Why. Why. [Instant Death Judgment in progress...] [You have activated Negate Negative Judgment.] [Judgment Negated!] She gripped her sword tightly. ¡°If you keep tormenting me¡­ just die.¡± She gritted her teeth. Her mind, worn out by extreme stress, focused into rage. Lee Taeyeon furiously opened her inventory. She pulled out equipment she had cherished all this time. It was a in, red staff. At the tip of the staff, a red orb was attached. As soon as the staff appeared in the world, the air heated up. The temperature within a radius of several kilometers shot up by several degrees in an instant. Lee Taeyeon raised the staff. ¡°Burn to death.¡± [You have activated the Red Giant.] Chapter [NaN]: Lee Taeyeon tried. She started by cleaning up the city. She single-handedly dealt with all the monsters near their residence. Then, she organized the interior of the city. She led the people, selected those with construction experience, and began building. Up until now, they had no room to breathe due to the monsters¡¯ attacks, but now, there was Lee Taeyeon. As she defeated the monsters, they finally had the chance to tidy up their dwelling. Next, she began managing the people who appeared. She showed hope to those who had returned to Earth and were running wild, ensuring they didn¡¯t fall into despair. She gave them the belief that they could survive on Earth. She gathered those with good eyesight and survival-rted skills to stand guard. She also freely used the items she had. ¡°ce one of these at the edge of each zone.¡± She handed Taesan four small ck stakes. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an item that forms a barrier to block intruders. If any enemies break through the barrier, it¡¯ll send a warning.¡± The depths were unique. There were cases where one had to survive for months in a jungle overflowing with monsters. It was an expensive item she had purchased for such situations. Taesan took the stakes and drove them into the edges of the zone. The weaker monsters were blocked by the stakes¡¯ power and couldn¡¯t enter. When stronger monsters that could ovee the stakes entered, the warning rang loudly. Thanks to this, the people could prepare in advance. Not only did Lee Taeyeon¡¯s personal strength y a major role, but the numerous items she possessed also greatly contributed. When she returned to Earth, many problems were solved at once. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°Lady Lee Taeyeon!¡± ¡°If Taeyeon is here!¡± The people¡¯s gaze towards her grew even stronger. Lee Taeyeon barely suppressed the nausea rising within her and spoke to them. ¡°I will protect all of you.¡± No. In truth, she wished someone would protect her. She didn¡¯t want to lead the people. She didn¡¯t want to be responsible for their lives. But she couldn¡¯t say that. She always wore a mask ofughter and confidence. All she could do was scream her lungs out when she went to scout the area outside the zone alone. ¡°A She sat down on the broken sofa, entranced by the dying groan. Hearing her voice, a monster broke through the wall and appeared. [Monster 978 has appeared.] ¡°Get lost.¡± Boom! Still seated on the sofa, she swung her arm. The three-digit-numbered monster that rushed at her was smashed into pieces. ¡°No¡­¡± She bit her lip. The monster that had charged at her was already erased from her mind. Her acting was reaching its limit. At this rate, she would eventually show her weakness to the people. That couldn¡¯t happen. Their source of trust must never waver. She always had to be confident and full of self-assurance. Only then would people believe they could win. While pondering how to find a solution, her eyes fell on a painting hanging on the wall. The ce she had entered was the remnants of a high-rise building, a building that once housed fairly wealthy people. Perhaps that was why the decorations and paintings remained rtively intact. It looked like a painting done by a renowned artist. Though she had no particr interest in it, she still took the painting back to their zone. ¡°Taeyeon, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It looks pretty. What do you think? Isn¡¯t it cool?¡± Lee Taeyeon smiled lightly as she held up the painting. ¡°Even in a world on the verge of destruction, these small hobbies are precious. They be a ray of hope in a deste life.¡± ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± People nodded their heads vigorously. Afterward, everyone began to find their own hobbies. Some carved decorations out of concrete with their hands, while others started painting. Just as she had said, those small hobbies had a surprisingly positive effect on the people. The calls for Lee Taeyeon grew louder once again. Everyone worshiped her. Everyone trusted her. They were absolutely convinced she would save them. Only Taesan, staring at her quietly, asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°This is what I¡¯m supposed to do, right? It¡¯s not that hard.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± Taesan responded calmly. She felt a sense of unease. Had she been found out? No, she thought she was good at acting. After all, everyone else fully believed in and trusted her. ?? He must be genuinely concerned for her. That¡¯s what Lee Taeyeon thought. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest now. Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan replied. Returning to her dwelling, Lee Taeyeon buried her face in the pillow. ¡°Huuu¡­¡± She exhaled, stretching her body and releasing the umted fatigue. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°It¡¯s hard.¡± She muttered softly. She turned around and looked at the sky through the cracked ceiling. A chill ran down her spine. Just looking at it gave her goosebumps. The power contained within that rift was truly terrifying. She averted her gaze. ¡®No one knows.¡¯ Only she knew that there was no chance of winning. The beings beyond the rift hadn¡¯t moved yet, but one day they would. But even so¡­ Lee Taeyeon clenched her fist. From then on, she continued to save people, putting on her mask of confidence. A year passed like that. ¡°Oh. Taeyeon.¡± A man standing in front of the massive wall greeted her brightly when he saw her. Hisplexion was good, and his hair was neatly groomed. ¡°Are you heading out on another scouting mission? You¡¯ve been going out a lottely.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be backter.¡± ¡°Alright. Stay safe.¡± Lee Taeyeon was seen off as she stepped outside their zone. Once she confirmed she was alone, she muttered to herself. ¡°I¡¯ve somehow managed to survive.¡± For a year, Lee Taeyeon had done her best. As a result, the people¡¯s situation had improved considerably. Their zone had expanded, and the number of survivors steadily increased. Hope that they could continue to live began to appear on people¡¯s faces. But Lee Taeyeon grew increasingly uneasy. The power within the rift in the sky was bing more violent, as though it would explode at any moment. The time when something enormous would descend was drawing near. Her instincts, honed by clearing thebyrinth, sounded an rm. ¡°¡­Shall I take a look?¡± [You have activated the Breath of the Hidden Rat.] [You have activated the Hidden Story that No One Knows.] [You have activated the Invisible Shadow.] Her presence vanished. Even the Guides of Sin, the leadership of that organization, couldn¡¯t detect the current Lee Taeyeon. Concealing her body, she continued to move. She cleared away all the monsters she encountered as she continued her search. At the end, she arrived right beneath the rift. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Lee Taeyeon absentmindedly looked up at the rift. Now that she was closer, she could sense it more clearly. The power within the rift was wildly fluctuating. ¡°Woo¡­¡± [You have activated the Gaze of Contemtion.] Her field of vision expanded. All the power,ws, and order contained in things came into her view. As she stared at the rift, she suddenly stopped. ¡°Oh?¡± The rift was expanding. Something began to fall from the rift. Boom! With a thunderous crash, the earth shattered. Lee Taeyeon held her breath. What fell from the rift was about ten monsters. It wasn¡¯t arge number. For Lee Taeyeon, who had already defeated tens of thousands of monsters, it was a very small number. However, the moment she sensed the strength of the monsters, her whole body froze. [Monster 3 has appeared.] [Monster 9 has appeared.] [Monster 10 has appeared.] [Monster 43 has appeared.] Two single-digit monsters. Eight double-digit monsters. Monsters of a level she had never seen before. Grooowl. The aura spread in all directions. Everything nearby that was breathing began to die. The monsters seemed unaware of Lee Taeyeon and passed by, ignoring her. Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t do anything. Only after the monsters disappeared beyond the horizon did she finally exhale. ¡°Huff!¡± Sweat trickled down her cheek. Her whole body started trembling in fear. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± She barely managed to speak. They were strong. Especially the single-digit monsters¡ªshe couldn¡¯t guarantee victory even if she risked her life in battle. ¡®This isn¡¯t good.¡¯ The fear of death overwhelmed her. She was about to move, to flee in the opposite direction from where the monsters were heading. Then, she realized. The ce the monsters were moving toward was the zone where the survivors had gathered. A thousand emotions rushed through her mind in an instant. ¡°¡­Aaaah!¡± She roughly tousled her hair, her eyes bloodshot as she stomped the ground. A small gem appeared in Lee Taeyeon¡¯s hand. [You have activated Spatial Leap to a Designated Location.] ¡°Ta, Taeyeon? Weren¡¯t you out on reconnaissance?¡± People were startled by her sudden appearance. Lee Taeyeon brushed off the broken pieces of the gem and shook her head roughly. ¡°¡­Gather everyone. I have something to tell you.¡± Lee Taeyeon gathered the people and spoke. Single-digit and double-digit monsters wereing. Monsters that even she couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against. They would have to risk their lives in battle. When Lee Taeyeon finished speaking, no one could utter a word. Everyone froze in silence. ¡°¡­Is this true? Taeyeon?¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a lie?¡± Lee Taeyeon snapped sharply. The man who had cautiously asked the question flinched and lowered his head. ¡°N-no, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon pressed her hand against her forehead. She didn¡¯t even have the energy to act. Her heart was pounding, and her breath was rough. She barely managed to suppress her emotions and started speaking again. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll handle as much as I can. But I can¡¯t stop them all. You¡¯ll have to deal with a few of the double-digit monsters.¡± ¡°Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.¡± Those who had forgotten the fear of death since Lee Taeyeon¡¯s arrival began cursing under their breath. Lee Taeyeon turned her head. Taesan, amidst the fear-stricken crowd, was calmly watching her. She clenched her fist tightly. ¡°My limit is stopping one single-digit monster. So, Taesan, you¡¯ll have to stop the other one.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± There was no rejection, no frustration, no anger. Taesan epted quietly. The news quickly spread among the people. Though terrified, they gripped their weapons and prepared for theing assault. Lee Taeyeon was no different. Although she tried hard to keep up her confident act, she couldn¡¯t stop her fingers from trembling slightly. To hide that fact, she started talking to Taesan. ¡°Surprising.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d at leastin a little.¡± Despite being in Easy Mode, Taesan had to face a monster that even Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against. He was indeed strong, but his strength was very limited. Depending on the opponent, there was a good chance he could die in vain. Yet Taesan responded calmly. ¡°Who else would do it if not me? You can¡¯t handle it either, so I have to.¡± He had already made peace with risking his life in this fight. Lee Taeyeon stared at him nkly. Taesan was strong. Not just in terms of physical power, but mentally as well. He was so different from her. Rumble¡­ But before she could get lost in thought, a thunderous roar echoed in the distance. A chilling energy swept through, and the faces of the people turned pale. ¡°Haha, they¡¯re here.¡± Lee Taeyeon chuckled dryly and gripped her sword. ¡°Well then¡­ see you on the other side.¡± She kicked off the ground. She clenched her fist as she rushed toward the approaching monsters. [You have activated Veil of Deception.] The world shifted. The monsters¡¯ vision distorted, and Lee Taeyeon¡¯s figure was magnified. Boom! They began charging toward Lee Taeyeon, and she licked her dry lips as she distanced herself from the zone. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be using this skill like this.¡± Originally, it was a skill that concealed her presence and disrupted the opponent¡¯s movements. But this time, she had to be the target. She hid the city and erged her own presence. Once she had gained enough distance, Lee Taeyeon stopped. One single-digit monster. And six double-digit monsters. She muttered gloomily. ¡°What are you?¡± -Why are you tormenting me like this? -Why are you attacking Earth? -Why can¡¯t you just leave us alone? -Why can¡¯t you let us die quietly here? -Why. Why. Why. [Instant Death Judgment in progress...] [You have activated Negate Negative Judgment.] [Judgment Negated!] She gripped her sword tightly. ¡°If you keep tormenting me¡­ just die.¡± She gritted her teeth. Her mind, worn out by extreme stress, focused into rage. Lee Taeyeon furiously opened her inventory. She pulled out equipment she had cherished all this time. It was a in, red staff. At the tip of the staff, a red orb was attached. As soon as the staff appeared in the world, the air heated up. The temperature within a radius of several kilometers shot up by several degrees in an instant. Lee Taeyeon raised the staff. ¡°Burn to death.¡± [You have activated the Red Giant.] Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Lee Taeyeon tried. She started by cleaning up the city. She single-handedly dealt with all the monsters near their residence. Then, she organized the interior of the city. She led the people, selected those with construction experience, and began building. Up until now, they had no room to breathe due to the monsters¡¯ attacks, but now, there was Lee Taeyeon. As she defeated the monsters, they finally had the chance to tidy up their dwelling. Next, she began managing the people who appeared. She showed hope to those who had returned to Earth and were running wild, ensuring they didn¡¯t fall into despair. She gave them the belief that they could survive on Earth. She gathered those with good eyesight and survival-rted skills to stand guard. She also freely used the items she had. ¡°ce one of these at the edge of each zone.¡± She handed Taesan four small ck stakes. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±¡°It¡¯s an item that forms a barrier to block intruders. If any enemies break through the barrier, it¡¯ll send a warning.¡± The depths were unique. There were cases where one had to survive for months in a jungle overflowing with monsters. It was an expensive item she had purchased for such situations. Taesan took the stakes and drove them into the edges of the zone. The weaker monsters were blocked by the stakes¡¯ power and couldn¡¯t enter. When stronger monsters that could ovee the stakes entered, the warning rang loudly. Thanks to this, the people could prepare in advance. Not only did Lee Taeyeon¡¯s personal strength y a major role, but the numerous items she possessed also greatly contributed. When she returned to Earth, many problems were solved at once. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°Lady Lee Taeyeon!¡± ¡°If Taeyeon is here!¡± The people¡¯s gaze towards her grew even stronger. Lee Taeyeon barely suppressed the nausea rising within her and spoke to them. ¡°I will protect all of you.¡± No. In truth, she wished someone would protect her. She didn¡¯t want to lead the people. She didn¡¯t want to be responsible for their lives. But she couldn¡¯t say that. She always wore a mask ofughter and confidence. All she could do was scream her lungs out when she went to scout the area outside the zone alone. ¡°Aaaaah¡­¡­¡± She sat down on the broken sofa, entranced by the dying groan. Hearing her voice, a monster broke through the wall and appeared. [Monster 978 has appeared.] ¡°Get lost.¡± Boom! Still seated on the sofa, she swung her arm. The three-digit-numbered monster that rushed at her was smashed into pieces. ¡°No¡­¡± She bit her lip. The monster that had charged at her was already erased from her mind. Her acting was reaching its limit. At this rate, she would eventually show her weakness to the people. That couldn¡¯t happen. Their source of trust must never waver. She always had to be confident and full of self-assurance. Only then would people believe they could win. While pondering how to find a solution, her eyes fell on a painting hanging on the wall. The ce she had entered was the remnants of a high-rise building, a building that once housed fairly wealthy people. Perhaps that was why the decorations and paintings remained rtively intact. It looked like a painting done by a renowned artist. Though she had no particr interest in it, she still took the painting back to their zone. ¡°Taeyeon, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It looks pretty. What do you think? Isn¡¯t it cool?¡± Lee Taeyeon smiled lightly as she held up the painting. ¡°Even in a world on the verge of destruction, these small hobbies are precious. They be a ray of hope in a deste life.¡± ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± People nodded their heads vigorously. Afterward, everyone began to find their own hobbies. Some carved decorations out of concrete with their hands, while others started painting. Just as she had said, those small hobbies had a surprisingly positive effect on the people. The calls for Lee Taeyeon grew louder once again. Everyone worshiped her. Everyone trusted her. They were absolutely convinced she would save them. Only Taesan, staring at her quietly, asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°This is what I¡¯m supposed to do, right? It¡¯s not that hard.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± Taesan responded calmly. She felt a sense of unease. Had she been found out? No, she thought she was good at acting. After all, everyone else fully believed in and trusted her. He must be genuinely concerned for her. That¡¯s what Lee Taeyeon thought. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest now. Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan replied. Returning to her dwelling, Lee Taeyeon buried her face in the pillow. ¡°Huuu¡­¡± She exhaled, stretching her body and releasing the umted fatigue. ¡°It¡¯s hard.¡± She muttered softly. She turned around and looked at the sky through the cracked ceiling. A chill ran down her spine. Just looking at it gave her goosebumps. The power contained within that rift was truly terrifying. She averted her gaze. ¡®No one knows.¡¯ Only she knew that there was no chance of winning. The beings beyond the rift hadn¡¯t moved yet, but one day they would. But even so¡­ Lee Taeyeon clenched her fist. From then on, she continued to save people, putting on her mask of confidence. A year passed like that. ¡°Oh. Taeyeon.¡± A man standing in front of the massive wall greeted her brightly when he saw her. Hisplexion was good, and his hair was neatly groomed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Are you heading out on another scouting mission? You¡¯ve been going out a lottely.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be backter.¡± ¡°Alright. Stay safe.¡± Lee Taeyeon was seen off as she stepped outside their zone. Once she confirmed she was alone, she muttered to herself. ¡°I¡¯ve somehow managed to survive.¡± For a year, Lee Taeyeon had done her best. As a result, the people¡¯s situation had improved considerably. Their zone had expanded, and the number of survivors steadily increased. Hope that they could continue to live began to appear on people¡¯s faces. But Lee Taeyeon grew increasingly uneasy. The power within the rift in the sky was bing more violent, as though it would explode at any moment. The time when something enormous would descend was drawing near. Her instincts, honed by clearing thebyrinth, sounded an rm. ¡°¡­Shall I take a look?¡± [You have activated the Breath of the Hidden Rat.] [You have activated the Hidden Story that No One Knows.] [You have activated the Invisible Shadow.] Her presence vanished. Even the Guides of Sin, the leadership of that organization, couldn¡¯t detect the current Lee Taeyeon. Concealing her body, she continued to move. She cleared away all the monsters she encountered as she continued her search. At the end, she arrived right beneath the rift. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Lee Taeyeon absentmindedly looked up at the rift. Now that she was closer, she could sense it more clearly. The power within the rift was wildly fluctuating. ¡°Woo¡­¡± [You have activated the Gaze of Contemtion.] Her field of vision expanded. All the power,ws, and order contained in things came into her view. As she stared at the rift, she suddenly stopped. ¡°Oh?¡± The rift was expanding. Something began to fall from the rift. Boom! With a thunderous crash, the earth shattered. Lee Taeyeon held her breath. What fell from the rift was about ten monsters. It wasn¡¯t arge number. For Lee Taeyeon, who had already defeated tens of thousands of monsters, it was a very small number. However, the moment she sensed the strength of the monsters, her whole body froze. [Monster 3 has appeared.] [Monster 9 has appeared.] [Monster 10 has appeared.] [Monster 43 has appeared.] Two single-digit monsters. Eight double-digit monsters. Monsters of a level she had never seen before. Grooowl. The aura spread in all directions. Everything nearby that was breathing began to die. The monsters seemed unaware of Lee Taeyeon and passed by, ignoring her. Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t do anything. Only after the monsters disappeared beyond the horizon did she finally exhale. ¡°Huff!¡± Sweat trickled down her cheek. Her whole body started trembling in fear. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± She barely managed to speak. They were strong. Especially the single-digit monsters¡ªshe couldn¡¯t guarantee victory even if she risked her life in battle. ¡®This isn¡¯t good.¡¯ The fear of death overwhelmed her. She was about to move, to flee in the opposite direction from where the monsters were heading. Then, she realized. The ce the monsters were moving toward was the zone where the survivors had gathered. A thousand emotions rushed through her mind in an instant. ¡°¡­Aaaah!¡± She roughly tousled her hair, her eyes bloodshot as she stomped the ground. A small gem appeared in Lee Taeyeon¡¯s hand. [You have activated Spatial Leap to a Designated Location.] ¡°Ta, Taeyeon? Weren¡¯t you out on reconnaissance?¡± People were startled by her sudden appearance. Lee Taeyeon brushed off the broken pieces of the gem and shook her head roughly. ¡°¡­Gather everyone. I have something to tell you.¡± Lee Taeyeon gathered the people and spoke. Single-digit and double-digit monsters wereing. Monsters that even she couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against. They would have to risk their lives in battle. When Lee Taeyeon finished speaking, no one could utter a word. Everyone froze in silence. ¡°¡­Is this true? Taeyeon?¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a lie?¡± Lee Taeyeon snapped sharply. The man who had cautiously asked the question flinched and lowered his head. ¡°N-no, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Lee Taeyeon pressed her hand against her forehead. She didn¡¯t even have the energy to act. Her heart was pounding, and her breath was rough. She barely managed to suppress her emotions and started speaking again. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll handle as much as I can. But I can¡¯t stop them all. You¡¯ll have to deal with a few of the double-digit monsters.¡± ¡°Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.¡± Those who had forgotten the fear of death since Lee Taeyeon¡¯s arrival began cursing under their breath. Lee Taeyeon turned her head. Taesan, amidst the fear-stricken crowd, was calmly watching her. She clenched her fist tightly. ¡°My limit is stopping one single-digit monster. So, Taesan, you¡¯ll have to stop the other one.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± There was no rejection, no frustration, no anger. Taesan epted quietly. The news quickly spread among the people. Though terrified, they gripped their weapons and prepared for theing assault. Lee Taeyeon was no different. Although she tried hard to keep up her confident act, she couldn¡¯t stop her fingers from trembling slightly. To hide that fact, she started talking to Taesan. ¡°Surprising.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d at leastin a little.¡± Despite being in Easy Mode, Taesan had to face a monster that even Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against. He was indeed strong, but his strength was very limited. Depending on the opponent, there was a good chance he could die in vain. Yet Taesan responded calmly. ¡°Who else would do it if not me? You can¡¯t handle it either, so I have to.¡± He had already made peace with risking his life in this fight. Lee Taeyeon stared at him nkly. Taesan was strong. Not just in terms of physical power, but mentally as well. He was so different from her. Rumble¡­ But before she could get lost in thought, a thunderous roar echoed in the distance. A chilling energy swept through, and the faces of the people turned pale. ¡°Haha, they¡¯re here.¡± Lee Taeyeon chuckled dryly and gripped her sword. ¡°Well then¡­ see you on the other side.¡± She kicked off the ground. She clenched her fist as she rushed toward the approaching monsters. [You have activated Veil of Deception.] The world shifted. The monsters¡¯ vision distorted, and Lee Taeyeon¡¯s figure was magnified. Boom! They began charging toward Lee Taeyeon, and she licked her dry lips as she distanced herself from the zone. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be using this skill like this.¡± Originally, it was a skill that concealed her presence and disrupted the opponent¡¯s movements. But this time, she had to be the target. She hid the city and erged her own presence. Once she had gained enough distance, Lee Taeyeon stopped. One single-digit monster. And six double-digit monsters. She muttered gloomily. ¡°What are you?¡± -Why are you tormenting me like this? -Why are you attacking Earth? -Why can¡¯t you just leave us alone? -Why can¡¯t you let us die quietly here? -Why. Why. Why. [Instant Death Judgment in progress...] [You have activated Negate Negative Judgment.] [Judgment Negated!] She gripped her sword tightly. ¡°If you keep tormenting me¡­ just die.¡± She gritted her teeth. Her mind, worn out by extreme stress, focused into rage. Lee Taeyeon furiously opened her inventory. She pulled out equipment she had cherished all this time. It was a in, red staff. At the tip of the staff, a red orb was attached. As soon as the staff appeared in the world, the air heated up. The temperature within a radius of several kilometers shot up by several degrees in an instant. Lee Taeyeon raised the staff. ¡°Burn to death.¡± [You have activated the Red Giant.] Chapter 333 Chapter 333 At those words, the ghost closed its mouth. The dragon, who had been watching the ghost with a bitter expression, turned its gaze to Taesan. [You must be the one who descended here by the will of the gods. Take it.] From the tip of the dragon¡¯s w, a pure white energy flowed into Taesan. [You have been acknowledged by the dragon who protects the world.] [Then, even if this world is false, I hope you will save it.] The dragon disappeared into the valley once again. Taesan asked as the dragon vanished. ¡°Are you not going to do anything?¡± [I am the guardian of this world. I protect it from external threats. In other words, unless it¡¯s an attack by a being like the Demon God, I cannot interfere.] The dragon spoke sorrowfully as it disappeared into the valley. [It¡¯s amusing, isn¡¯t it? Even though I know of the destruction, my role prevents me from doing anything about it.] Havingpleted the third trial, Taesan returned to the imperial city. Bradley was quite surprised to see Taesan return in just a few days. ¡°Already? That was quite fast.¡± ¡°I¡¯vepleted the third trial.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°How do we proceed with the remaining trials?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om There were two remaining trials: obtaining the root of the World Tree from the elves¡¯ territory and retrieving the fragment of the god located in the sanctuary. Bradley stroked his chin in amazement. ¡°As it happens, we¡¯re already handling the fourth trial. We¡¯ve sent an envoy to the elves¡¯ territory. They should be returning soon¡­¡± No sooner had Bradley finished speaking than a maid ran in, her face pale. ¡°Y-Your Highness, the envoy sent to the elves¡¯ territory¡­¡± ¡°It seems there¡¯s been a problem.¡± The maid frantically guided Bradley to the pce gates, where only a horse stood. The people watched anxiously from a distance, unwilling to approach. ¡°Hmph.¡± Bradley stroked his chin expressionlessly. Atop the horse was a severed ear. ¡°They didn¡¯t harm the horse. So, they¡¯re a race of nature, huh?¡± Assessing the situation calmly, Bradley turned his gaze to Taesan. ¡°It seems they really don¡¯t like our approach. We¡¯ll have to go there ourselves. This time, I¡¯ll be going with you.¡± ¡°Are you sure, Your Highness?¡± ¡°To satisfy those stubborn creatures, I think someone of noble blood needs to step in.¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he spoke. A few hourster, Bradley, having finished his preparations, set out with Taesan. The people of the empire cheered and sent Bradley off enthusiastically as he departed for the elves¡¯ territory. Some trembled when they saw Taesan, but their excitement never wavered. Just from this, it was clear how deeply respected Bradley was by his people. The ghost quietly watched over what it had once possessed. The elves¡¯ territory was nearby. Since it was adjacent to the empire¡¯snd, there was no issue in approaching it. ¡°We don¡¯t really know what kind of race the elves are.¡± As they rode on, Bradley spoke. Taesan slowly followed him, walking beside his horse. Bradley, who had initially scoffed at Taesan, now seemed to have gotten used to him and responded calmly. ¡°They cut off contact with the outside world and live in their own realm. Many things about them are shrouded in mystery. Still, since they¡¯re part of the prophecy, I thought they would cooperate¡­ but they killed the envoy. This won¡¯t be easy.¡± Before long, they reached the elves¡¯ territory. A vast forest stretched out before them. Taesan felt the presence emanating from the enormous tree beyond it. The World Tree. He had seen equipment made from it deep within thebyrinth. ¡°A noisy wee.¡± Bradley muttered. They could sense several presences approaching from within the forest. The prince stepped forward and spoke. ¡°Hear me, elves! I am Bradley Alkeraite, the rightful prince of the Calvert Empire! Ie to speak of the prophecy with you!¡± Swish! Before Bradley could finish his words, an arrow flew toward him. Bradley swung his sword to deflect it. As for Taesan, he casually caught the arrow with a wave of his hand. ¡°I thought showing your face would be the polite thing to do. Do elves have different manners?¡± Bradley spoke leisurely. Perhaps realizing they couldn¡¯t easily drive them away, the elves finally revealed themselves. ¡°Hoo.¡± Bradley let out a small sigh of admiration. The elves were as beautiful as the tales said. They possessed a beauty rarely seen in the human world. But Bradley quickly regained hisposure. ¡°Not as good as Levancia.¡± He muttered indifferently. The elf who appeared red at Bradley, their face twisted in disgust. Looking at the grass under Bradley¡¯s feet, the elf spat out harshly. ¡°How dare a lowly human step foot into our territory?¡± The elf raised their hand. The bowstrings were drawn tight in unison. Bradley raised his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s talk, elf. You know of the prophecy, don¡¯t you?¡± He smiled warmly as he spoke. ¡°The Demon King will soon invade the world. To stop it, we must fulfill the prophecy. I know you despise us humans, but since the fate of the world is at stake, how about cooperating for a little while?¡± ¡°Leave.¡± The elf coldly responded. Bradley¡¯s face contorted. ¡°Is that a refusal?¡± ¡°We do not cooperate with lowly beings.¡± The elf swung their hand. Arrows rained down in unison. Tat-tat-tat! ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Bradley said, deflecting the arrows. ¡°If the prophecy isn¡¯t fulfilled, you won¡¯t be able to stand against the Demon King. Then you will perish as well. Is that what you want?¡± ¡°Do you think the Demon King could destroy us?¡± The elf sneered at Bradley. ¡°We are not so weak as to be destroyed by such a thing. Leave.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s your opinion, so I won¡¯t interfere¡­ But if you don¡¯t cooperate, the world will be destroyed. Couldn¡¯t you at least help with that?¡± ¡°Why should we cooperate? That¡¯s exactly what we want.¡± The elf spoke with cold sarcasm. ¡°There is no need for any race other than us in this world. The disgusting creatures that covet nature and destroy the world¡­ I¡¯d be grateful if the Demon King wiped them all out.¡± Bradley¡¯s face hardened. The elf¡¯s gaze turned to Taesan. ¡°Especially you. With your ck hair¡­ You must be the descendant of the traitor. How dare the dirty blood that betrayed the world invade the territory of the elves?¡± ¡°Quite aggressive for an elf.¡± Taesan muttered. ¡°Isn¡¯t what you¡¯re doing now a betrayal?¡± ¡°Nonsense. The only ones acknowledged by this world are us. The deaths of you humans are exactly what the world desires.¡± Their words were filled with contradictions and hatred. The elf, as if there was no need for further conversation, spoke harshly. ¡°Leave. Otherwise¡­¡± ¡°What will you do?¡± Taesan stepped forward. The emotions emanating from them grew stronger. The elf¡¯s face twisted in rage. ¡°Then you must die. Spirits, rise!¡± Nature responded to the elf¡¯smand. Arrows, carried by the wind, shot forward at speeds far greater than before. The grass rose up to bind Taesan¡¯s feet. The spirits began to reveal themselves. Taesan quietly observed them. As the arrows, carried by the wind, were about to strike him, they all deflected away. The grass that had risen to bind his feet copsed onto the ground, as if terrified. The spirits that had appeared hesitated and, in fear, began to reverse summon themselves out of existence. ¡°S-Spirits! Why?!¡± ¡°Your Highness. It will be fine.¡± ¡°¡­You are the hero. Do as you wish.¡± The prince retreated, his face cold. ¡°What a dull race.¡± Taesan looked at the elves. They were clearly flustered, realizing their attacks were ineffective. The ghost¡¯s emotions resonated with Taesan. The fierce and boiling emotions demanded one thing. This quest involved Taesan moving in sync with the owner of the memories, and the reward would vary based on those emotions. In that case, he would act as the owner wished. ¡°Do you think you can stop the Demon King?¡± Then you should be able to stop this too. The fire that once destroyed the world began to manifest in Taesan¡¯s hand. [You have activated the me of Cmity.] The mes fiercely swept through the forest. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The elves screamed. They desperately summoned spirits and water, trying to extinguish the mes that were consuming the forest. But it was futile. The fire, which burned everything in its path, moved only ording to Taesan¡¯s will. Instead, it consumed the water and the spirits, growing even stronger. ¡°Human!¡± A roar of anger rang out. Hundreds of arrows flew toward Taesan. Taesan did nothing. Tat-tat-tat! The arrows fell before they could even reach him. The elves were too weak to do anything to Taesan. Ignoring them, he walked deeper into the burning forest. [It¡¯s burning well.] The ghost, who had been silent, spoke. There was a rare tone of amusement in the voice. The elves resisted. They fought back desperately, trying to kill Taesan. But instead, they were the ones dying. At some point, there were no elves left to raise a sword against Taesan. Taesan walked deeper into the forest. ¡°Ah¡­ Ahhh¡­¡± In front of the World Tree stood an old elf. The ghost scoffed at the sight of the elf. [It¡¯s been a long time... That disgusting face.] ¡°Ahh¡­¡± The elf¡¯s face twisted as they surveyed the destruction around them. ¡°How dare you! How dare youy waste to the elves¡¯ territory and attack us! You will be struck down by divine punishment! The gods will never forgive you!¡± [Divine punishment? Not forgive?] The ghost¡¯s emotions exploded at the elf¡¯s words. [You dare say such things?! What did I tell you back then? I begged you to open the path just once! I even said I would bow my head and plead! But you never opened the path!] Even though the ghost had long been dead, its emotions took on a physical form. The elf¡¯s face turned pale. [I didn¡¯t ask for much! Just a little! Just enough to fulfill the prophecy! It wouldn¡¯t have been difficult for you! I even promised to give you a part of myself once everything was over! But instead, you mocked me! You clung to your arrogance, and the world was destroyed because of it!] ¡°H-Hah.¡± The elf copsed. Crushed by the overwhelming emotions, the elf¡¯s mind had broken. The ghost gritted its teeth. [I treated you as equals. That¡¯s why I tried to ept your ims. But all you did was mock me. You are... worthless beings.] Taesan stood before the World Tree. Despite the world-burning mes, the World Tree remained untouched, with not a single branch scorched. Thunk. Taesan drove his sword into the tree. He retrieved the roots and the leaves that swayed amidst the mes. [You have obtained the root of the World Tree.] [You have obtained the leaves of the World Tree.] [You have plundered the World Tree, which the elves were guarding.] Chapter 334 Chapter 334 The four prophecies had been fulfilled. Only one remained. Bradley looked around the burning forest. ¡°Elves. Such an ancient race, yet such boring creatures.¡± Bradley turned away with a bored expression. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± They left. The elves¡¯ resentment and hatred could be heard from behind them, but they didn¡¯t care. Back at the imperial city, the ghost spoke softly to Taesan. His emotions had calmed down somewhat, possibly because he had already vented his anger. [ I begged them, risking everything, asking them to concede. But the elves refused. They mocked me and blocked my approach. ] ¡°Did you fail to fulfill the prophecy because of the elves?¡±[ No. In the end, we used the full force of the empire to tten the entire forest. The sacrifices were great, but the prophecy was fulfilled. However, because so much time had passed, the n that followed waspletely derailed. ] The ghost had cleared the fourth prophecy. But thest prophecy remained unfulfilled. It wasn¡¯t long before Bradley came to see them. ¡°Only thest prophecy remains. It¡¯s progressing faster than I thought.¡± Bradley had expected it to take at least a few months. But in just two days, the fourth prophecy had beenpleted. Bradley marveled at the speed. ¡°You remember what the final prophecy is, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°To retrieve the fragment of the god from the Sacred ce.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Bradley nodded. ¡°The God of Regret. The religion that worships Rigrit. Their Sacred ce holds a relic of the god. You need to retrieve it.¡± Taesan fell silent at Bradley¡¯s words. Soon, he spoke. ¡°The God of Regret?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a very old religion. I¡¯ve already sent word. Naturally, they haven¡¯t even responded.¡± Bradley said this without a hint of surprise. The relic needed to fulfill the prophecy was a sacred object fiercely protected by the religion. Though it was for the salvation of the world, they wouldn¡¯t hand it over easily. ¡°I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s a religion with many fanatics. It could take quite some time.¡± Bradley pointed at Taesan. ¡°This time, you must go alone. I wish I could see the Sacred ce myself, but I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Bradley was extremely busy. With the Demon King¡¯s invasion imminent, he had to train the soldiers and knights to prepare. With that, Bradley left. Left alone again, Taesan spoke. ¡°Is this why you seemed uneasy about the God of Regret?¡± [ Yes. I never saw the God of Regret in thebyrinth. The 72nd floor I cleared was different. But I did encounter him outside thebyrinth. ] The target of the fifth trial: the God of Regret, the religion of Rigrit. And the ghost had failed to pass the trial. [ It¡¯s such bad taste, really. ] The ghost muttered bitterly. The next day, Taesan set out for the Sacred ce of the God of Regret. The Sacred ce was far away, located in the exact opposite direction of the Calvert Empire. And the ghost made a request of Taesan. [ On the way to the Sacred ce, can you stop by the ce I mention? ] ¡°A ce?¡± [ Yes. There¡¯s someone I¡¯d like to see. ] It was rare for the ghost to ask Taesan for something. Taesan agreed. Taesan spread his wings and flew toward the Sacred ce. At the end of his journey, he arrived at a towering mountain. So tall that its peak was hidden in the clouds. [ Here. ] The ghost said. Taesan flew to the top of the mountain. At the summit above the clouds, there was a small hut. There was someone inside. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± A sharp voice rang out. An old man, gripping a sword, emerged from the hut. The old man was incredibly strong. In Taesan¡¯s eyes, the old man¡¯s power surpassed those who imed to have reached the peak of the world. [ Master. ] The ghost murmured. The old man squinted at Taesan. ¡°¡­A descendant of Kariat? I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re here, but get lost.¡± The old man moved swiftly, throwing a punch at Taesan¡¯s abdomen. Taesan moved his hand and caught the punch. The old man then kicked at Taesan¡¯s temple. Twisting his head, Taesan dodged and swung his clenched fist. The old man¡¯s body flew through the air. The old mannded quickly, his face shocked. He lowered his stance and drew his sword. As the sword swung, Taesan responded. Kagakak! The swords shed. While blocking the old man¡¯s attacks, Taesan noticed something. The sword technique the old man used was simr to the ghost¡¯s. Kakak! The swords rebounded. The old man steadied his breath and red at Taesan. ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± ¡°I am one who has received the qualification of a hero.¡± The old man¡¯s pupils widened. Taesan lowered his sword. ¡°Are you Bradley¡¯s master?¡± ¡°Listen.¡± The old man handed Taesan a cracked teacup. Inside, there was nothing but ordinary water. ¡°Did you think this decrepit hut would have tea?¡± The old man drank the water inrge gulps, then mmed the cup down and looked at Taesan with interest. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with that guy?¡± Taesan pondered for a moment, wondering how to exin his rtionship with the ghost. ¡°We¡¯re friends.¡± ¡°The prince and a descendant of Kariat, friends? What a strangebination.¡± The old man tilted his head and spoke. ¡°I could see my swordsmanship in your movements. I¡¯ve only taught that technique to one person. So your words aren¡¯t lies.¡± Taesan¡¯s swordsmanship was based on the Stormscar Swordsmanship that the ghost had possessed. And from the old man whom the ghost called Master, there was a simr movement. ¡°Has that brat already reached the level where he can teach someone?¡± ¡°A lot has happened. Did you teach swordsmanship to Bradley?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± The old man replied bluntly. ¡°The young rascal climbed all the way here and asked me to teach him swordsmanship. Although the empire has its own swordsmanship, he said it wasn¡¯t enough. No matter how much I beat him or ignored him, he wouldn¡¯t leave. In the end, I had no choice but to teach him. Ever since then, he stuck to me, calling me Master. Annoying brat.¡± The old man grumbled. The Stormscar Sword was the swordsmanship of the empire. It wasn¡¯t considered exceptional swordsmanship, something any knight of the empire could learn. But the ghost¡¯s Stormscar Sword was refined enough to be recognized as high-level swordsmanship within thebyrinth. It meant that the ghost had met countless people and continuously improved the swordsmanship. The old man before him seemed to be one of those people. ¡°If you¡¯ve taken on a disciple of sorts, you should¡¯ve told me. Ungrateful brat.¡± There was a hint of sadness in the old man¡¯s voice. Taesan asked. ¡°How long were you with Bradley?¡± ¡°About¡­ three years. He left when he couldn¡¯t get permission for more.¡± Three years. It was more than enough time to grow attached to someone. The old man patted his back and continued to grumble. ¡°He left this old man up here in the mountains while he enjoys all the riches of the empire. I ought to give him a good scolding.¡± [ Even though you said you wouldn¡¯t go when invited, you like it here. ] The ghost chuckled softly. They shared small stories after that. The old man, curious about Bradley¡¯s current situation, asked various questions, and the ghost answered. Taesan served as the intermediary, conveying the ghost¡¯s words. ¡°Maybe I should go down once.¡± The old man muttered, seemingly satisfied with the conversation. As the conversation came to a close, Taesan prepared to leave. The old man, who had been quietly watching, asked. ¡°Has Bradley ever spoken of me?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­I figured as much. I wasn¡¯t a good teacher to him. I was never good at taking care of others. I always hit him, didn¡¯t even feed him properly. When the young brat secretly cried out of loneliness, I couldn¡¯tfort him.¡± The old man spoke with a bitter smile. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t be wrong to resent me. He¡¯s probably holding a grudge. To be honest¡­ I¡¯m afraid to see him again.¡± [ Master¡­ ] For the first time, Bradley¡¯s voice wavered, hearing his master¡¯s vulnerability. ¡°You said you were Bradley¡¯s friend. Then I ask you a favor. My disciple is a delicate one. He easily gets swept up in emotions and isn¡¯t good at doubting others. Someday, that could get him into big trouble.¡± The old man grasped Taesan¡¯s hand with his thin fingers, his face full of affection and concern. ¡°So please, look after him.¡± The ghost remained silent. After leaving the mountain, Taesan continued toward the Sacred ce. On his way, he spotted a smallke. The ghost, who had been silent all this time, began to speak. [ When I had lived with my master for about a month, he took me to thatke. Back then, I didn¡¯t understand why¡­ but now I know. He was looking out for me. ] ¡°Did you see him again after that?¡± [ No. After the Demon King appeared, I went to find him, but he had already passed away long ago. ] The ghost fell silent once more. Taesan continued walking and eventually arrived at the Sacred ce. He could feel a faint divine power spreading throughout the Sacred ce. And within it, the priests of the God of Regret, who gazed at him with hostile eyes. ¡°A vile unbeliever hase.¡± In front of them stood a man with a plump figure. Compared to the other priests, his attire was far more extravagant, indicating that he was the leader here. ¡°I am the Pope of the great God of Regret, Lord Rigrit.¡± The pope¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°How dare you! How dare a vile unbeliever like you covet the sacred relic of the great Lord Rigrit! Your arrogance knows no bounds!¡± He continued to denounce Taesan¡¯s sphemy. He also preached about who the God of Regret was, why they worshiped him, how omnipotent he was, and why all humans must follow the God of Regret. Taesan paid him no mind. There was something he needed to confirm. The faint divine power surrounding the Sacred ce. The power of the god that blocked external enemies and protected those within. And the faith emanating from the people living inside the Sacred ce was seeping into the divine power that enveloped it. That faith strengthened the divine power. By the time he reached his destination, he had figured it out to some extent. ¡®I can make something like this too.¡¯ It was enough. The God of Regret had set this up long ago, and the people maintained it with their faith. Taesan could easily replicate it. Taesan ced his hand on the divine barrier surrounding the Sacred ce. A fierce resistance tried to push him away. Though crude, it was still the power of a god. Without the permission of those inside, even with overwhelming power, it seemed nearly impossible to break through. Taesan finally lifted his head and looked at the pope. The pope continued to recite the teachings of the God of Regret. Taesan asked him. ¡°If you refuse me, the world will be destroyed.¡± ¡°That would be better!¡± The pope bared his teeth. ¡°It would be right for this vile world to be destroyed and return to the arms of God, rather than have the sacred relic of our god tainted by human hands!¡± What filled him was the blind stubbornness and twisted madness of a fanatic. Seeing that reasoning would not work with him, Taesan ignored the pope once again. ¡°This is where you got stuck.¡± [ This is the realm of the god. I tried to break through in every way I could, but the divine power never wavered. That guy told me that I was guilty of coveting the god¡¯s sacred relic and that I should watch the world perish in front of the Sacred ce. ] The pope¡¯s words came true. The ghost did not give up. He tried every possible method to break through Rigrit¡¯s Sacred ce. But before he could, the Demon King descended. [ When I returned to the empireter, my family, my lover, they were all dead. The empire had fallen. Everything I wanted to protect... I was stuck here, watching it all copse. It¡¯s¡­ a sad story. ] A sorrowful voice echoed. Taesan raised his hand. ¡°Since this is a trial you gave, I doubt you¡¯d haveints if I broke it.¡± Taesan manifested divine power. A golden aura flowed from him. ¡°Huh?¡± The priests were startled. They felt an immense presence from Taesan that they could not fathom. Taesan¡¯s divine power began to sh with the divine power Rigrit had spread. Cracks began to form in the divine barrier surrounding the Sacred ce. The pope¡¯s face, which had been twisted in a smile, began to falter. The god¡¯s power that protected them was crumbling. With a distinct cracking sound, the divine power shattered, and the pope gasped in horror. ¡°H-How!¡± What surrounded their Sacred ce was the power of a god. Humans could not resist. The pope hastily shouted. ¡°Priests! Show more faith! Disy your devotion to the god!¡± The priests began singing hymns at the top of their lungs. The divine aura became slightly stronger. But that was all. It was the faith of mere mortals, numbering only in the hundreds. Taesan gathered divine power and manifested it in the world. His mighty divine power crushed the divine aura surrounding the Sacred ce and engulfed them. Ka-chang! ¡°Ugh!¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Kuh-huh!¡± The priests vomited blood and copsed. The pope was no exception. He was buried under the overwhelming divine power, his head pressed to the ground. ¡°Kuh, kuh-huh!¡± As he barely managed to rise, his eyes widened. ¡°A¡­ Ah¡­¡± The divine power of Rigrit that had been felt from the Sacred ce was gone. In its ce was Taesan¡¯s divine power. ¡°As expected, it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°W-What is this?¡± Taesan ignored the stammering pope. He moved toward the source of the powerful energy that he felt from within the Sacred ce. Inside a small building, there was a small stone fragment. At first nce, it looked like an ordinary stone one might find on the roadside, but the power contained within it was undeniably that of a god. Taesan grasped the stone fragment. The power within it began to seep into his sword. [ You have retrieved the fragment of Rigrit. ] [ The various powers contained within your sword are being solidified as the prophecy is fulfilled, and they are beginning to take form. ] The Relic of Calvert began to change. Something akin to aw started to dwell within it. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ Taesan was amazed. The power being imbued into the sword was far greater than anything he had imagined. At the same time, the world began to distort. From the far edge of the world, something was descending upon it. Taesan nced briefly in that direction and then left the small building. He felt dozens of gazes upon him. Shock, anger, but above all, fear. They contained many emotions, but none dared approach Taesan. ¡°W-Who are you¡­¡± The pope, his face pale, asked Taesan. The divine power that Taesan had manifested now covered the entire area. He was no longer seen as human. The pope mistook Taesan for a being closer to a deity. He hesitated and began to bow his head. Taesan left without answering. When Taesan returned to the empire, Bradley, who had beenmanding the knights, greeted him. ¡°Did you fulfill the prophecy?¡± Taesan nodded. Bradley let out a cheer. ¡°It¡¯s truly been fulfilled¡­ The world can escape destruction.¡± He clenched his fist and shouted to the knights. ¡°Listen! Knights of the empire! The Demon King will appear! A being who seeks to destroy the world! Rise and fight to protect our empire!¡± A roar of cheers echoed. What followed were incredibly busy days. With grim faces, people prepared for war, and Bradley was also busy negotiating with other kingdoms. Taesan, on the other hand, had little to do. The Demon King would take some time to appear, as if even he needed preparation. So Taesan watched the people¡¯s movements. [ It''s different. ] The ghost muttered as he observed them. [ They''re all passionate... and they have hope. It''s so different from my time. ] The ghost was witnessing a scene that he had failed to protect, a vision he had not been able to bring to fruition. [ Is this what the God of Regret wanted to show me? ] This was the scene he could not achieve. This was the result he failed to aplish because of your shorings. It must have been why the ghost was chosen as the target of the quest. Taesan asked the ghost. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± [ I do. ] The ghost answered bitterly. [ I wish I could turn back time. I haven¡¯t epted it yet. But... I¡¯m already dead. ] The ghost was a dead being. He could no longer influence the world. [ I failed. Twice, even. ] He could have been more cautious and bold, fulfilling the prophecy. He could have cleared thebyrinth without letting his guard down and turned back time. But the ghost had not done any of that. For someone who had already missed their opportunity, to hope for another would only be disgraceful. [ It''s all over. Everything. ] The ghost barely managed to conclude. Time passed, and Levancia came to visit Taesan. ¡°The great hero has arrived.¡± ¡°Lady Levancia. What brings you here?¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s busy. He doesn¡¯t spend time with me, so I¡¯ve been a bit bored.¡± Levancia smiled faintly. The ghost, though slightly shaken at the sight of her, did not waver as much as before, likely because he hade to terms with his feelings. Levancia looked at Taesan in awe. ¡°You truly are incredible. To fulfill the prophecy in such a short time¡­ I suppose it¡¯s because of your heroic lineage?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t too difficult.¡± ¡°Such humility. He told me, you know. If it weren¡¯t for you, the prophecy might not have been fulfilled.¡± Levancia spoke of Bradley, her face filled with affection. Taesan asked her. ¡°Do you love him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Levancia answered immediately, her face unwavering. ¡°I love him. I want to spend my whole life with him.¡± As she spoke, Levancia gently stroked her belly. It was as if something precious was inside, her movements soft and warm. [ Ah. ] The ghost was so shocked that his ethereal form distorted for a moment. Even without facial expressions, his emotions were clear. Levancia, with a bashful expression, said softly. ¡°This is a secret, okay?¡± Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Levancia was carrying Bradley¡¯s child. The ghost was deeply shocked by this fact. [She... had my child...] ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± [...I didn¡¯t know.] The ghost opened his trembling lips. [I wandered around to fulfill the prophecy, but I never returned to the imperial city during that time. I didn¡¯t meet Levancia. And when I finally came back¡­] By then, the empire had already fallen to the Demon King. [I... I¡­] The ghost swallowed his breath. He had epted the destruction of the world. He had alreadye to terms with it. Yet, despite that, his heart was now shaking uncontrobly. [Wait, just... wait a moment.] The ghost barely managed to speak. [Let me be alone for a moment.] With those words, the ghost disappeared. Unlike when he was forced away by the gods, this time the ghost had hidden his form of his own will. Taesan found himself alone for the first time in a long while. ¡®The God of Regret¡­¡¯ The trial was fitting for the domain of regret. The ghost had made a contract with a sorcerer. That¡¯s why even after his death, he could exist as a ghost in thebyrinth. The ghost¡¯s role was to meet adventurers, give them quests, offer rewards, and fulfill his own wishes. And the wish the ghost wanted to fulfill through his contract with the sorcerer was revenge. He wanted to witness the deaths of the Guides of Sin. In other words, once Taesan defeated the Guides of Sin, the ghost would no longer be able to exist as a ghost. The ghost, who was already dead, couldn¡¯t do anything else. Taesan also couldn¡¯t interfere, as it was a contract between the sorcerer and the ghost. Even though the ghost was no longer visible, Taesan could still sense his presence nearby. However, Taesan did not call for him. There was nothing he could do for him right now. Waiting for the ghost to sort out his thoughts on his own was the right decision. Meanwhile, time from the past began to flow again. The people threw themselves even more into their training, preparing for the uing battle. Taesan confirmed the power contained within his sword as the prophecy came true. [Artifact of Calvert: Sword Soaked in the Blood of Ancestors] N?v(el)B\\jnn [Relic of a world now destroyed. It imed the lives of countless royals.] [Attack power +500] [Attack power +150 when facing all enemies] [By fulfilling the world''s prophecy, the power has been infused into the sword. When facing the Demon King, who brings about destruction, the power and stature of the prophecy''s bearer are bestowed.] Even the base attack power had increased by 200. And not only that, a new special effect had appeared. Taesan could feel the immense power radiating from Calvert¡¯s Relic. It wasn¡¯t just simple strength; it felt more like the will to resist destruction. It seemed like the exact effect would be clearer when he met the Demon King. However, the Demon King did not show himself. Since waiting in idleness was tedious, Taesan decided to move. He traveled the world, inspecting various ces. He wasn¡¯t simply sightseeing. He was searching for ces that could meet the conditions to obtain skills. Taesan had acquired many skills, including several that he hadn¡¯t obtained in his previous life. However, he still hadn¡¯t reimed all the skills from his past life. Copy, Temporary Time Stop, Multiply, Designated Skill Reset, and others. Several key skills were still left to recover. The case of Essence Perception wasn¡¯t too difficult. Once Essence Perception and Vital Point Designation reached 100% mastery, they could be learned. The conditions to reacquire it weren¡¯t too hard. But the other skills were different. Especially Copy, Temporary Time Stop, Multiply, and Designated Skill Reset. These four skills were problematic. The conditions to obtain these skills were exceedingly high, befitting their value. Even Taesan, who had acquired many skills, wasn¡¯t confident he could obtain them again. Extreme situations, incredible luck, and momentary insights and reactions¡ªall had toe together for him to acquire them. ¡°No luck.¡± Taesan gave up after traveling across half of the world. He had hoped, but there were no ces in the ghost¡¯s world where skills could be obtained. For now, he would continue descending thebyrinth. And he would search for locations where skills could be acquired. If what Lee Taeyeon had told him was true, and if those floors still existed, there was a chance he could obtain a few more skills. Back in the imperial city, Taesan quietly continued nning for skill acquisition. During this time, the ghost did not show himself once. A week passed like that, and then it descended upon the world. ¡°It¡¯s getting noisy.¡± A man clicked his tongue at the pce. Envoys from the empire had been arriving continuously. They urged cooperation with the empire to prevent the impending destruction of the world by the Demon King. However, the elderly king of the kingdom refused to cooperate with the empire. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a Demon King in this world.¡± The old king sneered. The Demon King was a figure of ancient legend. The idea of such a being descending and destroying the world was absurd. It couldn¡¯t happen. The empire was spreading false rumors about the Demon King to gain control over the world. That was the old king¡¯s judgment, and so he rejected all requests for cooperation from the empire. Even though the citizens of the kingdom grew uneasy, protesting and trying to flee, the king did not change his mind. ¡°Y-Your Majesty!¡± The door burst open. The knightmander entered, his face filled with anxiety. ¡°S-Someone is at the kingdom¡¯s entrance!¡± ¡°Lead me there.¡± The old king clicked his tongue and stepped outside. At the kingdom¡¯s entrance stood a man. He was a young man. His skin waspletely pale, and he wore ck garments while holding arge sword. He radiated a sense of foreboding, as if embodying misfortune itself. The soldiers confronting him trembled, but the old king remained indifferent. ¡°The empire has certainly prepared well.¡± The man in front of him was a decoy sent by the empire to spread these false rumors even further. The old king had no doubt about that. ¡°Kill him and hang his head at the entrance of the pce. That will make sure the empire won¡¯t dare interfere.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty¡­¡± The soldiers hesitantly approached the man. Even as sharp spears neared him, the pale man stood still, vacant. ¡°¡­¡­Why am I here?¡± The man quietly muttered. His small voice crept into the soldiers¡¯ ears. ¡°I should have destroyed this ce.¡± The indifferent gaze of the man made the soldiers flinch. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± They could not approach any further. The old king watching them shouted in frustration. ¡°What are you doing? Stab him!¡± Even with the king¡¯smand, the soldiers couldn¡¯t move forward. An instinctive fear, beyond human authority, stood in their way. The man nced at them and nodded. ¡°This ce is fake.¡± The man instinctively realized. He hadpleted all his tasks. This ce was a fake, created by some external interference. ¡°My job remains the same.¡± As the man muttered, a strong aura began to rise. The faces of the soldiers turned pale. ¡°Uaaaagh!¡± One soldier, unable to hold back his fear, closed his eyes and thrust his spear. The spear touched the darkness surrounding the man and was swallowed whole. ¡°Ah.¡± The soldier was consumed by the darkness and disappeared. The old king, watching, recoiled in terror. ¡°How dare you harm the kingdom¡¯s soldiers! You imperial fiend! I will not stand idly by!¡± ¡°Silence.¡± The man spoke softly. Darkness began to spread slowly. ¡°O-Oh no!¡± The darkness engulfed the entire kingdom. The soldiers panicked, unable to do anything. ¡°The world will turn to silence.¡± With a quiet word, the darkness rose. The walls built over many years, the splendid royal pce, the viges where people lived. All of it was swallowed by the darkness, leaving nothing behind. Even the sound of the wind was absorbed into the silence as the Demon King moved his feet, enjoying the eerie stillness. The Demon King had appeared. Rumors spread rapidly that the nearby kingdom had beenpletely destroyed. The Demon King¡¯s monsters began trampling the world at a rapid pace. The empire moved. The kingdoms that decided to cooperate with the empire also took swift action. Knights and soldiers gathered from all nations. And the Demon King continued his advance. He moved, scattering deep, thick darkness. Since he made no effort to hide, everyone knew where the Demon King was. And in such situations, fools who couldn¡¯tprehend the gravity of the moment always emerged. ¡°Demon King! I am the hero who will defeat you! Face death before my sword!¡± A young man boldly shouted in front of the Demon King. The Demon King, indifferent, swung his darkness. The young man charged with a battle cry, only to be swallowed by the darkness and vanish. The self-proimed hero disappeared from the Demon King¡¯s mind in an instant. Soon, the Demon King arrived at another royal pce. He sensed themotion within the pce. This kingdom, like the previous one, had dismissed the rumors of the Demon King¡¯s arrival as mere nonsense and refused to cooperate with the empire. They were not prepared to fight. The soldiers were panicking, gripped by fear, scrambling to flee. ¡°These are not even worth my time.¡± Darkness swept across the ground. The darkness that spread over thend engulfed the kingdom. Fear, terror¡ªeverything became a part of the Demon King. The Demon King walked through the ruined remains. His face was filled with disappointment. ¡°You truly are foolish beings.¡± Even though they knew he existed as the harbinger of destruction, and even though they were in a situation where they had to unite to stop the world¡¯s destruction, these beings did not cooperate. Even when faced with the colossal enemy that was the Demon King, they refused to set aside their pride and self-interest. They rejected the prophecy and squabbled over petty gains. Truly, they were foolish creatures. The Demon King sighed deeply. ¡°I had hoped for something different¡­ but nothing has changed.¡± Even in this world, made of fakes, they were still foolish. The Demon King once again set out to destroy the world. He arrived at yet another royal pce. Just as he was about to spread his power and devour it, he paused. Within the pce, emotions of fear and terror filled the air. But they did not retreat. They stood in crude formations, gripping their weapons tightly, suppressing their trembling hearts, ready to face him. The Demon King retracted the darkness he had spread. He took a step forward, approaching the gate of the pce. ¡°Everyone! Fire! For the world!¡± With a cry of determination, arrows and stones rained down. Hot oil was poured toward the Demon King. The darkness surrounding the Demon King rose up and devoured all the attacks. Even though their attacks didn¡¯t work, the people of the kingdom did not give up. They continued their fierce assault, desperately trying to harm the Demon King. Watching them silently, the Demon King grasped his sword. In the past, when he destroyed the world, he had never once used his sword. The world had never been worth him drawing his sword. But this time was different. He unsheathed his sword and drew a line. Boom! With a tremendous noise, the walls split. Passing through the crumbling walls, the Demon King entered. ¡°Kill him!¡± ¡°For the world!¡± The soldiers charged at the Demon King with their spears. Unlike the first kingdom, this was not a reckless charge born of despair. These were attacks made with the determination to take down the Demon King, even at the cost of their lives. A small smile appeared on the Demon King¡¯s face. He swung his sword, cutting down the soldiers as he advanced. Even in the face of overwhelming power, the soldiers did not falter. Cutting down all who stood in his way, the Demon King soon reached the one who appeared to be the king. The king stood with a vacant yet resolute face, holding his sword. ¡°You are the Demon King¡­ a monster.¡± ¡°You will die.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I was prepared to die when I came here.¡± The Demon King had appeared sooner than the empire had expected. The warriors from the various nations needed more time to gather. The kingdom had volunteered to hold the line. They had gathered those who were willing to sacrifice themselves to stop the Demon King and save the world. ¡°Even if I die here, humanity will defeat you!¡± With that belief, the king charged at the Demon King. The Demon King quietly smiled and swung his sword. As the king fell, his face was filled with the conviction that they would win. ¡°Something has changed.¡± The Demon King murmured as he sheathed his sword. In the past, there had been those who tried to stop him when he brought about destruction. But none of them had truly understood the concept of the Demon King. They had simply thought of him as a powerful being to be defeated. This time, however, was different. They understood what he was. Yet, they still believed humanity could win. A deep smile appeared on the Demon King¡¯s face. He was the Demon King. He was the harbinger of destruction. But what he desired was not simply the destruction of the world. He wanted to see the will of the world. He wanted to witness them uniting, believing in the hero, and standing against him to truly resist destruction. This was the one wish of the device of destruction that he had be. ¡°I understand your will. But I am the Demon King.¡± His mission was to crush all that will and destroy the world. The Demon King stomped his foot. From within the darkness, twisted beings began to rise. [Uwooooh!] Monsters appeared. Some were asrge as mountains, while others were as small as insects. They were all the Demon King¡¯s minions. They charged forward, trampling the world. Chapter 336 Chapter 336 The Demon King moved. To destroy the world, he trampled the kingdoms and killed anyone who stood in his way. However, those who fell before the Demon King¡¯s power did not just die. They risked their lives to buy time, somehow allowing people to unite. Thanks to that, the front line between humans and the Demon King was formed. ¡°Kill them!¡± ¡°For humanity!¡± ¡°For the world!¡± The knights roared as they charged towards the monsters. Spears pierced through the heads of the monsters. A giant monster swung its arm, sweeping away soldiers like dominos. Humans and monsters were dying. Bradley also stood at the front line, cutting down monsters.¡°Be careful, you fool.¡± An old man next to Bradley spoke gruffly as he swung his sword. Dozens of charging monsters split apart at once. Bradley nced at the old man with a grin. ¡°You¡¯re here, master.¡± ¡°Shut up. Thanks to my foolish disciple, I¡¯m suffering like this in my old age.¡± The old man grumbled, but his expression wasn¡¯t too bad. Taesan moved toward the battlefield. The attacking monsters screamed and charged at Taesan, as if they knew that killing Taesan would end everything. ¡°Protect the hero!¡± Countless soldiers rushed to protect Taesan. But Taesan did not need their protection. Taesan¡¯s sword drew a diagonal line. Dozens of charging monsters were cut in half simultaneously. ¡°Huh?¡± People hesitated. Taesan gathered mana. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Magic Concentration.] Arrows of light formed, heading toward the front. They pierced through all the monsters in their path, exploding in their midst. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± With a deafening roar, light engulfed the world. When people barely opened their eyes, every monster in sight had vanished. ¡°My God!¡± ¡°That, that magic!¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The mages gasped at the power Taesan disyed. Being mages themselves, they recognized that what Taesan had cast was indeed magic, and they also realized that the power contained within it was something they could never reach, even if they sacrificed their lives. ¡°¡­A monster. Is that also the hero¡¯s power?¡± ¡°This is my power.¡± ¡°Is that so? I feel pathetic for trying to be a hero.¡± Grumbling, Bradley looked beyond the battlefield. The monsters were charging once again. ¡°We¡¯ll handle the minions. You go deal with your opponent.¡± A massive force was felt beyond the monsters. Taesan pressed his foot to the ground. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] His body leaped into the air. A gust of wind swept over, and some people copsed on the spot. The monsters tried to block him, but before they could respond, Taesan had already arrived at his destination. There stood a figure d in ck, holding a ck sword. Taesan raised his sword. The man gripped his sword with both hands and swung it down. ng! The swords collided. Taesan exerted force in his arms, attempting to push back his opponent¡¯s sword. Then, darkness wrapped around the opponent¡¯s body. It tried to engulf Taesan¡¯s entire body, attempting to stain him. Taesan gathered his power and swung. He forcibly shook off the darkness. ¡°You¡¯re strong.¡± The opponent muttered quietly, twisting his sword. With the sound of des grinding, they both stepped back. As the darkness scattered, the figure became visible. A man withpletely pale skin, d in ck, wielding a greatsword stood before him. [The one who brings destruction, the Demon King, has appeared.] The Demon King stared indifferently at Taesan. His gaze shifted next to Taesan. ¡°Come forth, hidden one.¡± [...] The hidden ghost revealed itself. The Demon King looked at the ghost for a moment before nodding. ¡°You are the hero of the previous world that failed.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quick to notice.¡± The Demon King was aware that this world was a fake. The ghost spoke quietly. [And you are the Demon King.] ¡°Indeed. I exist to bring about the destruction of this world.¡± [...] After staring at the Demon King for a moment, the ghost hid itself again. ¡°You¡¯re quiet. You seem to be deep in thought¡­ but there¡¯s no need to concern yourself with someone who¡¯s already been defeated.¡± The Demon King raised his greatsword, pointing it at Taesan. ¡°You must be the warrior summoned to defeat me.¡± Darkness began to spread across the world. Taesan sensed the power contained within it. ¡°A monster.¡± The Demon King had transcended mortality. Taesan had seen a power simr to his somewhere before. In the world of Hafran. The will of the world that existed inside it. The being Taesan had to risk his life to block one of its strikes. That same level of power was emanating from the Demon King. ¡°First of all¡­ I should thank you.¡± The Demon King spoke words of gratitude. ¡°Thanks to you, I can once again bring destruction to the world. And this time, it¡¯s not against fools, but a world that risks everything to try and defeat me.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re grateful, it would be nice if you just died quietly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I am the Demon King. I exist as a device to bring destruction to the world. I will act for that purpose.¡± The Demon King stomped his foot. Darkness began to focus on Taesan. ¡°So, hero who dares oppose me, show me your power.¡± [Your opponent is an enemy that victory is impossible against.] Amidst the swirling darkness, Taesan gathered his power. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You have activated Vessel of the King.] [You have activated Avatar of Nature.] [Your action contrary to the giant''s will has been activated.] [Your Giant Killer has been activated.] [You have activated Contempt for the Strong.] [Your Honorable Duel has been activated.] [Your Desire for Battle has been activated.] [You have activated Forced Fall.] An unimaginable number of skills are activated. Force and power simultaneously envelop Taesan. Taesan gathers dark energy, facing the swirling darkness. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] The ravenous darkness surges toward the Demon King¡¯s darkness. The darkness shes with the darkness, each trying to devour the other. [You have activated Forced Amplification.] Using Forced Amplification, Taesan attempts to push back the Demon King¡¯s darkness. But it was not enough. The ck magic Taesan wielded was trampled by the Demon King¡¯s darkness, vanishing without a trace. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of strength. The Demon King was an existence that brought about the world¡¯s destruction, swallowing and crushing everything in the world. A being on par with the will of the world of Hafran. A being that transcended mortality. There was a gap of immeasurable strength and power between Taesan and the Demon King. But Taesan possessed the power to ovee that difference. The will within Taesan¡¯s sword awakened. In ordance with the prophecy, Taesan¡¯s force and power, meant to face the Demon King, swelled rapidly. Taesan swung his sword violently. As the power within the sword exploded, the darkness split and dissipated. Taesan nted his foot firmly. The Demon King¡¯s greatsword shed with Taesan¡¯s sword, and the impact spread in all directions. ¡°Hmph.¡± The Demon King let out a small groan. Now, Taesan¡¯s sword contained a force and strength that even the Demon King could not easily repel. ng! Taesan deflected the sword and adjusted his stance. ¡®So, this is it.¡¯ The will within the sword rose violently, forcibly raising Taesan¡¯s strength and power. A strength Taesan had never felt before began to dwell within him. This was the power of the weapon, gained by fulfilling the prophecy, meant to defeat the Demon King. In this state¡­ Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Magic Concentration.] A st of cold air surged forward. The Demon King gathered his darkness and unleashed a wave. The darkness wielded by the Demon King was the power of destruction, swallowing everything and returning it to nothingness. The waves of ice and darkness collided. Rumble! Shards of power scattered in all directions. Neither side was giving ground; it was a nearly equal situation. A smile deepened on the Demon King¡¯s lips. ¡°Good.¡± The Demon King charged at Taesan with the darkness. ng! The Demon King pushed Taesan back, swinging his arm. Darkness surged, trying to engulf Taesanpletely. [You have activated Gale sh.] Taesan grasped his dual swords and charged like a storm. Cutting through the raging darkness, he pressed the Demon King. ng! The swords shed. The Demon King spun his body and swung the greatsword fiercely. Taesan ducked, dodging the attack, and charged again. The Demon King waved his hand, causing the darkness to explode. Rumble! The darkness surged, attempting to swallow Taesan. [You have activated Limited Blink.] Taesan moved behind the Demon King. He turned his body, aiming to sh the Demon King¡¯s back. But the Demon King responded. In an instant, he twisted his body, avoiding the sword strike, and brought down the greatsword. ng! The swords collided. The Demon King exerted force, trying to push Taesan back. The des twisted, and they found themselves in a contest of strength. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Crack! In that moment, a stronger force imbued Taesan¡¯s sword. The Demon King slowly began to be pushed back. And the will contained within the sword red even more fiercely. The will to defeat destruction and save the world enveloped Taesan. In an instant, Taesan¡¯s strength and power grew to the point of overwhelming the Demon King. ng! The Demon King groaned and was flung back, unable to withstand the power contained within the sword. But Taesan frowned. The power and force contained within the sword surged toward Taesan. It seemed as if facing the Demon King was displeasing, and his power was being forcibly raised to a level capable of victory. If such force were granted, no matter how strong one was, they would not withstand it and would be destroyed. Taesan now understood why it was possible to defeat an overwhelming being like the Demon King. It was quite simple. If you couldn¡¯t win, the force and power would be granted until you could. There was no consideration for the hero. It was only about turning him into a machine to defeat the Demon King. ¡°Not very fun.¡± The Demon King, perhaps realizing this, had lost his enthusiasm. He did not wish to fall by human hands or be defeated by another device created solely to beat him. But now, the force was being granted to the point that nothing could be done. Humans could not resist such forced empowerment. Before long, Taesan¡¯s will would be crushed, transforming him into something meant only to defeat the Demon King. ¡°At the very least, it¡¯s my duty to kill you before that happens.¡± The Demon King gathered the power to destroy the world into his sword. Just as he was about to push off the ground and charge, ¡°Get lost.¡± [You have activated Word of Denial.] Taesan uttered the word. The force and power that had tried to engulf him began to retreat. The will within the sword flickered, resisting, as if to say that if it did not overwhelm him, the Demon King could not be defeated. ¡°Shut up.¡± He spoke with determination. He had no intention of relying on the sword or its power to win. It had always been his will that acted. ¡°Just give me your strength.¡± He crushed the will and force with his own. The will that had erupted from the sword let out a scream and sank. The sword¡¯s will quieted, transforming into a tool that moved ording to Taesan¡¯s will. [Your mastery of Word of Command has increased by 1%.] [Your mastery of ??? has increased by 1%.] The Demon King, having observed the entire process, raised the corner of his mouth. ¡°Impressive.¡± It was a very satisfying sight, seeing a human defy him with his own will. ¡°But what now? You¡¯ve ovee it, but that means your power has diminished as well.¡± Rough darkness erupted from the Demon King. Taesan had forcibly crushed the force and power granted by the sword. Though the effect itself hadn¡¯t disappeared, it was no longer sufficient to defeat the Demon King. ¡°I¡¯m not just relying on that.¡± Taesan responded. His entire focus was on the sword. If he allowed his mind to waver even slightly, it would try to engulf him again. He had little room to use any other power. ¡°So, you and I will fight with just our swords.¡± [You have activated Forced Duel.] Chapter 337 Chapter 337 The Demon King was chosen as the opponent for the forced duel. ¡°Hoo.¡± The Demon King, a being that had surpassed the mortal realm, understood what Taesan had done. An unknown power was enveloping him. ¡°Is this a barrier or a restriction? You¡¯re trying to stop me with such feeble power.¡± The Demon King released a fierce burst of darkness to shake off the force surrounding him. The power, capable of devouring and destroying everything, erupted. However, the power surrounding the Demon King did not waver in the slightest. The Demon King frowned. ¡°¡­What is this?¡±It was a force that even the Demon King couldn¡¯t dispel. Taesan braced himself. ¡°See for yourself.¡± Taesan leapt forward, holding his swords in both hands, rushing to attack the Demon King. The Demon King waved his hand, and darkness rose, engulfing Taesan. And Taesan was swallowed by the darkness without resisting the Demon King¡¯s attack. ¡°What is this trick?¡± The Demon King¡¯s words didn¡¯t continue. It was because Taesan reappeared, piercing through the darkness. Taesan was in the exact same state as before he was swallowed by the darkness. He swung his sword violently. The Demon King btedly grabbed his greatsword. Kaaang! Because he reacted toote, the Demon King¡¯s body was pushed back. Forced duel. Its effect was that no one except the designated opponent could interfere in the battle. However, due to the Ability Sword, another effect was added to the forced duel. If bothbatants were using swords, they couldn¡¯t use anything other than their swords. Kagak! Taesan pressed the Demon King. The Demon King swung his darkness, but Taesan didn¡¯t defend. Everything that touched Taesan transformed into something meaningless the moment it reached him. The Demon King realized toote that Taesan had done something. Now, he couldn¡¯t attack Taesan with his darkness. ¡®What on earth is this?¡¯ The Demon King was quietly astonished. The darkness he wielded was a power granted to him to destroy the world. Until hepleted the task of destruction, he could wield it almost infinitely. But now, that darkness had bepletely meaningless. ¡°Hm.¡± The Demon King gathered the darkness while blocking Taesan¡¯s attacks. A monster emerged from the deep abyss of the dark void. [Uwoooo!] It was one of the powers granted to him for destruction¡ªthe summoning of the monster that followed him. A giant creature rushed toward Taesan. Taesan, just like when the Demon King swung his darkness, did not respond. [U, Uwoooo!] The monster was repelled without being able to do anything. Taesan immediately closed in on the Demon King. The Demon King swung his greatsword to block, but the trajectory of his sword twisted, grazing the Demon King¡¯s arm. The Demon King widened the distance and clenched his fist. Darkness rose and shot toward the distance like a cannonball. It fell where people and monsters were fighting. Kuuuuung! The ground shattered, creating a crater. It was a destructive force akin to a natural disaster. Yet, neither people nor monsters died. People looked bewildered by the sudden attack, but no one was injured. ¡°I see.¡± The Demon King nodded. ¡°You and I. We are in a state where only we can interfere with each other. And interference between us can only happen with swords.¡± ¡®He grasped it quickly.¡¯ Taesan had expected him to show a bit more panic and expose a gap, but the Demon King figured it out after just a few exchanges. Still, the Demon King was sufficiently shocked. ¡°What kind of power is this?¡± He realized that Taesan had done something to him, making everything except swords ineffective. The problem was that he was the Demon King. The only one who could defeat him was a hero who had fulfilled the prophecy. No matter how powerful someone was, they couldn¡¯t kill him by brute force alone. Because that¡¯s how he was made. The prophecy dictated that the Demon King could only be defeated once it was fulfilled. Without fulfilling the prophecy, neither could one kill the Demon King nor seal him. But now, Taesan had imposed restrictions where no one could interfere with them, and they both had to fight using swords. This meant one thing: The power Taesan wielded was superior to thews of destruction that bound him. And those who could intervene at that level of thew were beings far beyond mortality. ¡®A god would grant that much power to a mortal?¡¯ Taesan didn¡¯t appear to be an apostle of anyone. Although he had used Apostle Transformation, it was far from the true power of an apostle. The Demon King, unfamiliar with the existence of thebyrinth, was utterly confused. But the Demon King¡¯s eyes quickly regainedposure. Though he didn¡¯t fully understand what Taesan was, his task remained the same¡ªworld destruction. And Taesan stood before him as the hero. In that case, he would crush him andplete his task. The Demon King gathered the darkness. All his power began to converge into his sword. ¡°Not bad. Let¡¯s have a pure battle of swords.¡± Kaaang! Their swords shed and bounced off each other. Taesan quickly regained his stance and thrust his sword. The Demon King swung his greatsword to block and used the rebound to aim at Taesan¡¯s neck. Taesan took a step back to dodge and brought his sword down. The Demon King pulled his sword to block. Kugugung! The darkness wielded by the Demon King consumed the world. The will contained in his sword surged forward like a beast. Taesan matched his stance in response. Suppressing the will imbued in his sword, he pushed himself to the limit of his ability. [You have activated Forced Duel.] The duration of the forced duel was very short. He had to activate it frequently, but it didn¡¯t consume much mana, so there were no issues. Kaaang! The swords shed. And this time, it was Taesan who was pushed back. The Demon King didn¡¯t miss the opening, diving in low to pierce through Taesan¡¯s shoulder. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] The Demon King¡¯s attack was erased. However, the Demon King didn¡¯t panic and quickly regained his posture. He had already gauged Taesan¡¯s strength to some extent and believed this level of resistance was entirely possible. ¡°How much can you erase, I wonder.¡± The Demon King¡¯s sword moved explosively. Controlling every possible trajectory, he pressed Taesan. The Attack Nullification activated once again. Taesan seized the opening, but the Demon King blocked his attack without faltering. The Demon King was only fighting with a sword, yet he wasn¡¯t weakened at all. In fact, the more he fought Taesan, the more his movements seemed to absorb Taesan¡¯s and grow stronger. Kagak! The final Attack Nullification activated. ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± The Demon King burst into wildughter. His swinging sword shattered the ground and distorted the wind. ¡°This is enjoyable!¡± The one qualified as a hero was trying to defeat him with his own will and strength. The Demon King was truly delighted. ¡°Come! Hero! Defeat me and fulfill your role!¡± The Demon King charged. The force behind his sword strikes, like a rushing chariot, held power that even Taesan couldn¡¯t easily respond to. Kagagak! Taesan was pushed back. The Demon King was purely stronger than Taesan. Even without the burden of suppressing the will imbued in his sword, Taesan was in a situation where he couldn¡¯t fully concentrate on the battle, so it was inevitable that he would be pushed back. Wounds began to appear all over his body. It was clear at a nce that Taesan was being overwhelmed. Kagak! Taesan deflected the sword and widened the distance. His expression was calm. Though his body was covered in wounds, there wasn¡¯t a single fatal injury. All the cuts were superficial. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Up until now, he hadn¡¯t been able to engage in properbat because he was too busy suppressing the wild impulses of his sword. But now, he had more or lesspleted the process. The Demon King had said to defeat him and fulfill his role. Taesan decided to respond to the Demon King¡¯s expectations. The effect of the Forced Duel prohibited the use of any power other than swordsmanship. Only skills rted to swordsmanship could be used. But Taesan¡¯s Ability Sword turned skills into sword techniques. [You have activated eleration.] Kagagak! His sword strikes came in swiftly. The Demon King, surprised by the increased speed, quickly grasped the trajectory and flow of the sword to push it away. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Kaaang! But instead, it was the Demon King who was pushed back. Taesan took a step forward toward the Demon King, who was trying to regain his stance. [You have activated Gale sh.] The sword surged forward, like a storm. Unable to withstand the onught, the Demon King made a decision. Kwajik. Taesan¡¯s sword grazed the back of the Demon King¡¯s neck. The Demon King pressed his body closer, blocking the space for Taesan to swing his sword. Since there was no room to swing his greatsword either, the Demon King aimed at Taesan¡¯s chest with the end of the sword hilt. Taesan barely pulled back in time. The hilts of their swords collided with a ng. He twisted his wrist, aiming for the Demon King¡¯s neck. As the Demon King lifted his greatsword to block, Taesan aimed for the Demon King¡¯s neck. [You have activated Counter.] Kwajik. ¡°Kuhk!¡± Taesan¡¯s sword ignored the Demon King¡¯s defense and pierced his neck. The Demon King barely created distance while clutching his neck. Darkness enveloped the wound. The Demon King grinned, baring his teeth. Despite being injured, he charged at Taesan as if he were enjoying it. Taesan raised his sword to meet him. As their swords shed, system messages began appearing and disappearing. [Your Ability Sword proficiency has increased by 1%.] [Your Airak Martial Technique proficiency has increased by 1%.] n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om [Your Strong Blow proficiency has increased by 1%.] Ability Sword. A swordsmanship technique based on the Ghost¡¯s style, crafted by utilizing the Labyrinth¡¯s system. However, Taesan hadn¡¯t used it muchtely. There were few opponents who fought with pure sword skills. Most battles involved divine power, ck magic, barriers, and other colorful abilities. As he had mastered such a variety of powers, his attention naturally shifted away from pure swordsmanship. But now, with the Forced Duel in effect, he could only use swordsmanship. In this situation, focusing on swordsmanship allowed him to elevate it to the next level. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Kwaduduk. Even though Taesan was holding back, the force and will imbued in his sword were still assisting him. Since they were evenly matched, the activation of Strong Blow forced the Demon King back. Kang! Kang! Their swords shed repeatedly as Strong Blow continued to activate. The Demon King wasn¡¯t easily pushed back. He filled his sword with darkness and swung it. The exploding darkness momentarily obscured the Demon King¡¯s view. [You have activated Stealth.] Taesan¡¯s presence vanished in an instant. The Demon King momentarily lost track of Taesan¡¯s position. Taesan had slipped beneath him and shed upwards with his sword. [You have activated Leap.] Tat. Taesanunched himself into the air. He brought his sword down,nding with a powerful stomp. [You have activated Landing.] ¡°I am the Demon King!¡± Even while being pressed by Taesan¡¯s immense strength, the Demon King endured and tried to push him away. Taesan pressed harder with his sword. [You have activated de of Will.] The de of Will¡¯s effect was to triple the force exerted through the sword. With a loud roar, the Demon King was mmed into the ground. Taesan continued to swing his sword in that position. Kagagak! The force of his sword shing against the Demon King¡¯s body overwhelmed him. [You have activated Endurance.] The impact of the sh on their swords was momentarily reduced. Taesan used the remaining strength to twist the trajectory of his sword, piercing the Demon King¡¯s chest. The Demon King grabbed the hilt of the sword impaling his chest. He gripped it tightly, preventing Taesan from pulling away, and thrust his greatsword toward Taesan. [You have activated Slip.] ¡°Ugh.¡± The Demon King¡¯s hand slipped away from the hilt in an instant. Taesan swiftly pulled out his sword and responded to the Demon King¡¯s attack. The Demon King chuckled darkly. ¡°You possess quite a unique power.¡± The Demon Kingughed, seemingly enjoying the battle. He charged forward once again. Kwoooong! The battle raged on. The Demon King did not fall. Even when wounded or impaled by Taesan¡¯s sword, he wrapped himself in darkness and continued to sh with Taesan. Taesan also had to endure damage. A sword lodged in his arm, and a deep gash formed on his thigh. However, Taesan gradually began to gain the upper hand. Utilizing his Ability Sword, he relentlessly pressured the Demon King and finally delivered the finishing blow. Kwajik. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced the Demon King. He pushed forward, sending the Demon King crashing into a cliff. Kurururung¡­ [Your Ability Sword proficiency has increased by 1%.] Unable to withstand the force, the cliff began to copse. The darkness surrounding the Demon King slowly dissipated. ¡°Congrattions, Hero.¡± The Demon King smiled. ¡°You have seeded in saving the world.¡± Despite failing to fulfill his mission, the Demon King¡¯s expression was not dark. If anything, he appeared pleased. ¡°This is exactly what I had hoped for. Victory doesn¡¯t matter. I wanted to fight a battle of worth between the Demon King and the Hero.¡± The Demon King had achieved his desire. ¡°But¡­ one thing is regrettable.¡± The Demon King clicked his tongue as he looked at Taesan. ¡°The Hero who saved the world is an outsider in the end.¡± Taesan was not a resident of the dying world. He was nothing more than an outsider. The Demon King¡¯s gaze shifted to the Ghost, who had hidden himself. ¡°It would have been better if you had fulfilled the prophecy¡­ but this will suffice. Rejoice, humans. Your world has been saved.¡± With those words, the darkness surrounding the Demon King scattered. And a part of that darkness began to seep into Taesan. [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 7,581, strength by 789, agility by 662, and intelligence by 643.] [Your Desire for Victory has activated. Your health has permanently increased by 1,166, strength by 558, agility by 303, and intelligence by 229.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. ??? proficiency has increased by 3%.] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. You have obtained the special activation skill [Call of Destruction].] [You have defeated the Device of Destruction alone. You have obtained the special permanent activation skill [Opponent of Destruction].] [You have ovee the overwhelming power and force trying to consume you with your own will and maintained your identity. You have obtained the special permanent activation skill [Will of the Spirit].] [You have gained the Will that Calls Destruction.] The people who had been fighting were bewildered. The monsters had suddenly melted and disappeared. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± When Taesan appeared, their eyes began to shine. Their suppressed cheers erupted. ¡°Waaaah!¡± ¡°Hero! Hero!¡± ¡°We won!¡± ¡°We survived!¡± Everyone cried tears of joy. The people who had ovee destruction embraced each other in celebration. Their faces were filled with hope and anticipation for the future. It was a sight the Ghost had never seen before. The Ghost, hidden from view, silently watched their joy. Chapter 338 Chapter 338 They had won. They had ovee destruction. The Empire held a party to celebrate the victory. ¡°We have won!¡± ¡°For the Hero!¡± ¡°For the immortality of the great Empire!¡± People dressed in luxurious clothes enjoyed themselves, drinking and eating. Taesan quietly spent his time among them. ¡°Oh! Our Hero is here.¡±Bradley approached Taesan, his face flushed, seemingly from drinking a fair amount of alcohol. ¡°Once again, I offer my thanks! Thanks to you, our world has been saved!¡± Bradley raised his ss. Others also cheered and raised their sses in unison. The excitement enveloped them all. Taesan waited for themotion to subside and then asked quietly. ¡°What do you n to do now?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Bradley furrowed his brow. Though they had clearly won, it was hard to be entirely joyful about the situation. The damage had been significant. Many kingdoms had been destroyed, and countless knights and soldiers had died. It was certain that it would take a long time to recover from the losses. ¡°But still¡­ we have ovee destruction.¡± There was no need to worry about the future anymore. Bradley leisurely sipped his drink. ¡°For now, let¡¯s enjoy ourselves. We have plenty of time.¡± The doors swung open. The Emperor and Empress appeared, and the people enjoying the party quickly bowed. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Yes, my son.¡± The Emperor looked at Bradley with immense pride on his face. ¡°Well done. There is no one more fitting than you to seed me.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Bradley¡¯s face was filled with emotion. He was the Empire¡¯s prince and its only legitimate heir. Having dealt with all his rivals by his own hand, the next imperial throne was practically his. And now, with the Emperor directly proiming it in front of everyone gathered here, it was as good as officially dered. The Emperorughed heartily and patted Bradley on the shoulder. ¡°Enjoy yourself, my son. Only a bright future awaits us.¡± With that, the Emperor joined the party. Bradley smiled, satisfied. ¡°This is good.¡± He looked truly happy. ¡°You have done much for us. You fulfilled the prophecy and personally stopped the Demon King. From the Empire¡¯s perspective, no amount of reward is enough for what you¡¯ve done.¡° Bradley looked at Taesan. ¡°If you wish, the Empire will prepare a position for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll consider it,¡± Taesan replied quietly. The party continued. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Oh, Levancia.¡± Levancia approached Bradley, her face flushed with embarrassment as she opened her mouth. ¡°I have a confession to make to you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°A confession?¡± Bradley looked at her, puzzled. Levancia began to speak. Upon hearing her words, Bradley¡¯s eyes widened, and soon, joy began to spread across his face. Bradley shouted something loudly and hugged Levancia, smiling with happiness. And then the world began to distort. Everything started to fade away. When Taesan arrived, it was in a ck world overflowing with a sticky, overwhelming force. A ce where the minds of those who touched the power would copse, and their past would resurface¡ªa distorted world. Taesan lifted his gaze. There was a shapeless, distorted being in front of him. Instinctively, Taesan knew what kind of entity it was. ¡°The God of Regret, Rigrit.¡± The shapeless being emitted a faint aura as if confirming his guess. With an emotion thick and heavy, Rigrit asked if Taesan had enjoyed it. Taesan did not answer, but Rigrit¡¯s emotions were spreading out all around. He seemed immensely pleased. [Rigrit¡¯s sphere of interference has decreased.] [Rigrit grants you a reward. You have received the [Robe of the Ruler].] [You have cleared the enhanced trial. Additional rewards follow.] [You have obtained the [Distorted Ring of Regret].] Two rewards were given. The trial had been cleared. But Rigrit did not send Taesan back. Instead, Rigrit looked not at Taesan, but at the ghost standing silently next to him. Rigrit¡¯s presence posed the ghost a question. The silent ghost opened his mouth. [What do you want from me?] The ghost¡¯s voice was stiff, filled with many emotions as he asked the God of Regret. [What kind of answer are you looking for from me?] Rigrit chuckled. As if this was where the real matter began, an immense power surged forth. [Rigrit¡¯s sphere of interference is decreasing.] [Rigrit makes an offer to the warrior buried in thebyrinth.] [1. The warrior returns to thebyrinth and proceeds with the quest contracted with Kang Taesan.] [2. The warrior dwells in the body of his former self in the world of memories created by Rigrit. The contract with Kang Taesan is canceled, and after death, he returns to his grave in thebyrinth.] The ghost¡¯s body trembled as he slowly read the contents. [...You have quite the bad taste. Truly.] The ghost spoke gloomily. Taesan reviewed the contents one by one. The first option was simple. The ghost would stay by Taesan¡¯s side, continuing down thebyrinth and watching as the Guide of Sin was defeated. But the second option was different. The ghost could live again in his own world. There, he could be with the people he loved, continue the Empire he had sought to protect, and watch his child¡¯s birth and growth. He could experience how they lived, what they did, and how they died. Of course, it was fake. The ghost¡¯s world had already perished. What was being shown now was merely a ce created by Rigrit based on his memories. It wasn¡¯t real. It was just a fabricated construct. Even so, the ghost couldn¡¯t make an easy decision. Just once, he wanted to see his world, which hadn¡¯t been destroyed. He wanted a life where he lived with her and their child. If he rejected it as fake, the ghost would never again have the chance to see his world. His wish for revenge in death would only be fulfilled by defeating the Guides of Sin. Once that wish was fulfilled, the ghost would no longer be bound to thebyrinth, much like the spirits before him. There was the possibility of renegotiating with the wizard to alter the terms, but there was no guarantee the wizard would ept, and there was no certainty that a contract to turn back time would be sessful. Moreover, the contract with Taesan would also be severed. He would return to his grave at the entrance of thebyrinth, waiting endlessly for an adventurer who might fulfill his wish. Rigrit was pleased with the ghost¡¯s silence. Taesan understood Rigrit¡¯s intent. ¡®What a twisted sense of pleasure.¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter to Rigrit what choice the ghost made. If the ghost chose the first option, he would regret it. Even if it was fake, he would continue to think about not being able to watch over his world. Choosing the second option wouldn¡¯t be much different. He would be content with the life he lived, but at the same time, he would suffer. The happier he became, the more he would realize it was fake, and he would constantly wonder why he couldn¡¯t achieve it. After death, the ghost would return to his narrow grave. No matter the choice, Rigrit would get the oue he desired. [I...] The ghost¡¯s voice was filled with pain. He looked to Taesan as if grasping at straws. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°I respect your choice.¡± It was a short statement. That was all Taesan could say to the ghost. In the end, it was the ghost¡¯s decision. The trembling of the ghost¡¯s body gradually began to subside. The ghost spoke. As Taesan returned to thebyrinth, the system window appeared. [You have obtained the belt created by the master of the Savage Space.] [You have obtained ???.] ¡°The secret rewardes naturally.¡± Even though he hadn¡¯t found the secret room, the secret clear reward appeared. [From here on, there is no concept of secret rooms. Whether or not you receive the secret clear reward depends on how perfectly you fulfill the clear conditions.] The ghost spoke in a calm but unwavering voice. Taesan, having received the rewards, opened his mouth. ¡°Are you okay?¡± [...I¡¯m not sure.] The ghost¡¯s voice echoed, subdued. [I had a lot of thoughts. I wanted to see my child¡¯s face, hear their voice, listen to theirughter.] His own child. His own bloodline. The fruit of his love. That made it all the more painful for the ghost. [But in the end, it¡¯s fake. It¡¯s not real.] The ghost spoke as if spitting out the words. [Choosing a fake and deceiving myself is an insult to my world and to myself.] His answer was firm and resolute. He possessed both strength and talent. His spirit was unyielding and resistant to any temptation. Even if it meant he would suffer as a result. He was too noble to ept something fake. That¡¯s why the ghost chose the first option. [Besides, you still need my help. You¡¯re still at the beginning of the deep levels, right? There¡¯s quite a bit I can teach you.] The ghost forced a cheerful tone. Taesan spoke. ¡°Thank you.¡± [There¡¯s no need to thank me. It¡¯s the choice I made.] In truth, Taesan¡¯s presence yed a significant role in the ghost¡¯s decision. He had watched Taesan ever since he entered thebyrinth and descended into the deeper levels. While the time wasn¡¯t long, much had happened during that period. As a result, the ghost developed considerable affection for Taesan. ¡®We will part ways eventually, though.¡¯ If it were real, it would be different, butpared to something fake, the ghost wanted to see how far Taesan would go. He wanted to watch over him. For now, things had settled. [You¡¯ve gained a lot, haven¡¯t you? Check them out.] ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± First, the Ability Sword and Airak Martial Technique, along with the rted skills, had significantly improved in proficiency. The effect of the title obtained on the 70th floor was substantial. The Airak Martial Technique, which had barely improved before, rose by 3% in a single battle. While the skills themselves hadn¡¯t changed, it was still a wee improvement. Additionally, defeating the Demon King had granted several new skills. [Special Activation Skill: Call of Destruction.] [Proficiency: 1%] [Cost ???: ???] [It calls forth destruction.] It was an extremely simple description. The cost of using it was also unknown. ¡°What is this?¡± He couldn¡¯t tell if it was an offensive power or something that summoned a destructive force. But one thing was clear. It was immensely foreboding. The power itself instilled a sense of reluctance to use it. ¡°I¡¯ll have to test thister.¡± He decided to test the skill in a more prepared state. That was Taesan¡¯s conclusion. [Special Passive Skill: Opponent of Destruction.] [Proficiency: 1%] [When facing an entity wielding the will of destruction, your rank and power are greatly enhanced.] It was a skill that would help when facing enemies like the Demon King or the wolf that burned worlds. Given that such opponents would likely appear again in the future, it wasn¡¯t a bad skill to have. [Special Passive Skill: Stature of Will.] [Proficiency: 1%] [A soul that has reached a higher state. Your mind resists being easily corrupted by external forces and can ovee them with willpower.] ¡°Oh.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes gleamed. It was a useful skill. Currently, when trying to use divine or dark forces, his mind often became corrupted and consumed. This skill wouldpensate for that. It would be a frequently used skill going forward, making it highly valuable. The newly obtained Will of Destruction seemed like a material item, simr to the fragments of will he had acquired earlier. He thought about visiting Hafran to confirm this.N?v(el)B\\jnn However, there was something Taesan wanted to check first. Taesan gazed at the ring, which was radiating a dark aura. It was the ring Rigrit had given him as a reward for clearing the enhanced trial. The power emanating from it was extraordinary. [Distorted Ring of Regret.] [Health +100] [Mana +100] [Attack Power +100] [Defense +100] [You can designate one skill with a cooldown and reset its cooldown. Skills with a cooldown of over a week cannot be reset. This effect has a monthly cooldown.] Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Taesan, after briefly reading the exnation, murmured. ¡°Designated Skill Reset?¡± It was a skill he had obtained in his past life, allowing him to reset the cooldown of a desired skill and use it immediately. Upon seeing the exnation, that skill came to mind. However, as Taesan carefully examined it, his gaze grew colder. ¡°It¡¯s not at that level.¡± The biggest advantage of the Designated Skill Reset was not just resetting the cooldown. That was merely a secondary ability. The true power of the Designated Skill Reset was to erase the concept of having used the skill itself.For example, skills like Multiply or Strong Blow couldn¡¯t be used multiple times in a single attack. That was an obvious restriction. If one could stack Multiply several times on a single attack, the attack stat would be meaningless. Designated Skill Reset erased such limitations on some skills. After using Multiply once, he could reset it and use it again in the same attack. In his past life, Taesan had used the Designated Skill Reset on Multiply. Thanks to that, he could deal damage in the billions. However, the ring¡¯s effect only reset the cooldown. That was it. It couldn¡¯t remove the restrictions on attacks. Compared to Last Chance, which removed all skill activation conditions, this one fell short. If Taesan had obtained Last Chance now, he could manipte boundaries without any risk. Whenpared to those two skills, its level was quite low. But still, it was a piece of gear of considerable quality. Being able to reset powerful skills with long cooldowns, like Transformation, was an excellent effect by itself. ¡®They¡¯re giving out gear of this level now, huh.¡¯ It was equipment that suited the deeper levels. What made it even more valuable was that he could wear multiple rings. And perhaps, just maybe, there was a chance he could use this to obtain the Designated Skill Reset or Last Chance. The odds were low, but not zero. Satisfied, Taesan inspected the other equipment. [Belt made by the Master of the Ferocious Space] n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [Strength +500] [Attack Power +200] [Defense +500] [A belt made by the one who ruled over the fiercely twisted space. Rivers once ran red with blood for the right to wear it.] [Robe of the Conqueror] [Strength +300] [Attack Power +180] [Defense +400] [A robe made for a forgotten, great conqueror. Though he is forgotten by all, the evidence of worship remains.] [??? used] [Obtained the Final Earring of Brunhilde.] [Final Earring of Brunhilde] [Health +1500] [Mana +200] [Strength +300] [Agility +300] [Intelligence +300] [Attack Power +300] [Defense +300] [The saint. Brunhilde¡¯s earring, barely allowed before his execution.] The equipment was powerful and easy to understand overall. Even without any special effects like the ring, it was more than enough to be satisfying. ¡°Now then.¡± There was only one thing left. Taesan touched the ck gem-like object. [Will of Destruction] [The will of an existence that exists solely for the destruction of the world. A tiny sliver of a permitted desire remains.] The source of Devouring, the collection of Negativity, and the Will of Destruction. Quite valuable material items had emerged. Including this fragment of will, there were now four pieces. It was time to visit Hafran. Taesan moved. ¡°You¡¯vee.¡± Hafran greeted Taesan. As he nced at the ghost, he asked. ¡°What happened? You seem different.¡± [It did happen. It''s personal, so don¡¯t worry about it.] ¡°I understand.¡± Respecting his request not to pry, Hafran stepped back. He returned his gaze to Taesan. ¡°What brings you here this time? Did you bring more materials?¡± ¡°Can you do something with these?¡± Taesan handed him the Source of Devouring and the Will of Destruction. Hafran¡¯s eyes gleamed as he examined the Source of Devouring. ¡°This is¡­ remarkable.¡± Admiration colored his voice. ¡°A pure concentration of greed. The Substratum. Did you defeat its master?¡± Taesan nodded. Hafran chuckled in disbelief. ¡°Your power is superior even in the deeper levels. I expected it, but it¡¯s still astonishing.¡± Even talented adventurers who could easily descend to the 70th floor often found themselves stuck in the Substratum upon entering the deeper levels. The Guides of Sin were an immediate example of this. Despite their exceptional talents, they had been stuck at the 74th floor for a very long time. When considering that, Taesan was certainly a remarkable existence. Finishing his thought, Hafran examined the Will of Destruction. As he studied the ck gem, his face twisted into a frown. ¡°This is¡­¡± He nced at Taesan and the ghost standing next to him. Then, he nodded to himself. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± [Like I said, don¡¯t worry about it.] ¡°I understand. This isn¡¯t something to congratte you on. My condolences.¡± Hafran offered his sympathy, fiddling with the gem. ¡°Didn¡¯t I mention before? I can¡¯t handle equipment rted to willpower.¡± ¡°This one too?¡± ¡°In terms of power and quality, it¡¯s on par with the fragment of will you showed me before. You¡¯d be better off visiting Kosrun than me.¡± Kosrun, the mad dwarf stationed at the entrance of the deeper levels. Hafran had said he was an expert when it came to handling willpower. Inspecting the gem onest time, Hafran turned his gaze toward Taesan¡¯s sword. ¡°There¡¯s a simr level of willpower lingering within that sword as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to use this yet.¡± The will of prophecy that had tried to consume Taesan to defeat the Demon King. It was still imbued in Taesan¡¯s sword. But now, it was extremely quiet, as if it considered its taskpleted after the Demon King¡¯s defeat. The power and force contained within the sword were undeniably remarkable. It had allowed Taesan to defeat the Demon King, who had surpassed mortality. If he could figure out how to handle it, it would be a great asset, but he still didn¡¯t know how. Hafran, inspecting the sword, spoke. ¡°If you take this to that guy, he can solve it.¡± ¡°Even with this level of power?¡± ¡°I told you, he¡¯s a top expert in such matters. I don¡¯t speak lightly.¡± Hafran returned the materials to Taesan. ¡°I don¡¯t know his exact location, but you should meet him soon. Go find him and talk.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Taesan took back the materials. But he didn¡¯t immediately descend to the 73rd floor. He stayed on the 72nd floor, checking the Community. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok were diligently making their way through thebyrinth. Seeing the proficiency of Ability Sword slowly increasing, thanks to the Authority of Labor skill, meant they were using Ability Sword frequently. Some countries had started clearing quests and returning to thebyrinth. Most of them were very small or neighboring countries, but from the stories he heard, it seemed that Earth was not in any significant danger. Taesan spent the day on the 72nd floor. After recovering the skills and stats he had expended in defeating the Demon King, he moved to the 73rd floor. The interior of the 73rd floor wasn¡¯t much different from the previous floors. If he went further inside, there would be something, but for now, it looked like a typicalbyrinth. However, the energy emanating from within was anything but ordinary. The Demon God had told him. On the 73rd floor, at its entrance, the Guides of Sin would be waiting. ¡°So much to do.¡± Taesan muttered as he ran his hand along the wall of thebyrinth. Mana that was so dense that it made him tingle flowed within. Mana spread across the walls, floor, and ceiling in countless patterns. Taesan passed through the corridor and opened a door. The moment he stepped inside, he could feel it. The 73rd floor. Inside, numerous magic circles were drawn. Abination of dozens of spells covered the walls and ceiling. The mana overflowed, amplifying the power within like a waterfall. A talent, unique in the world, that even Taesan couldn¡¯t reach. One who had dedicated their entire life solely to magic, reaching the pinnacle of it. At the center of the magic stood an old man. Wearing a robe and holding a staff made of a gnarled tree, the old man spoke in a sharp voice. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± [You have encountered the Archmage, Shayan.] ¡°So, it¡¯s a mage this time.¡± Taesan murmured as he gripped his weapon. ¡°You¡¯ve made it this far.¡± When he first heard of Taesan¡¯s existence, he thought of him as just another adventurer among the many. He had no doubt that Taesan would either submit to them or meet his death soon. But Taesan had reached this point, empowered by the blessing of the gods and his own strength. He had defeated two of their leaders and stood at their doorstep. ¡°Congrattions, hero. You¡¯ve chosen a fine tool to achieve your goal. We thought it impossible before reaching the end of thebyrinth.¡± The ghost didn¡¯t respond to Shayan¡¯s mocking words. Despite having his nemesis before him, the ghost¡¯s emotions remained calm. Noticing something strange, Shayan¡¯s face twisted in confusion. ¡°¡­What happened? I expected to see hatred the moment youid eyes on me. After all, I yed a significant role in crafting the weapon that killed you.¡± [So you were one of those who made it.] The ghost finally spoke. [It makes sense. That weapon was beyond anything that could be crafted without your involvement.] Even now, the ghost¡¯s emotions did not waver significantly. For Shayan, who didn¡¯t know the full situation, it was briefly bewildering. But he brushed it off. ¡°You don¡¯t even resent me. Why did you bother making a contract with the wizard, then?¡± Shayan clicked his tongue and turned his gaze to Taesan. ¡°I¡¯ll admit it. You are strong. Perhaps stronger than us, and you may descend even deeper than we could.¡± The Guides of Sin had finally broken through the 74th floor, where they had long been stuck. They were descending rapidly through thebyrinth, but Taesan had moved even faster. In terms of growth rate, there was noparison. ¡°But this is as far as you go.¡± Shayan mmed his staff into the ground. The myriad magic circles began to glow. Click. The magic circles activated. Metaphysical arrays began to rotate and interlock with one another. They amplified, connected, and synchronized. In an instant, an enormous power swelled. [Shayan has activated the Fixed Law and Regtion Magic Circle.] [Shayan has activated the Exclusion of Nature Magic Circle.] [Shayan has activated the Free-Flowing Mana Magic Circle.] [Shayan has activated the Forced Twisting of Space.] [Shayan has activated the Master''s Wrathful Vortex.] [Shayan has activated the Magic Amplification Magic Circle.] [Shayan has activated the Convergence of All Magical Power.] None of this could be aplished in a short time. He must have spent days designing and conceiving these magic circles in this spot. ¡°I am the immortal master of the Magic Tower, a seeker of knowledge who betrayed the world and pursued a higher dimension, reaching thebyrinth.¡± Shayan dered. He pointed his staff at Taesan. ¡°As a wielder of great magic, I will kill you.¡± Chapter 340 Chapter 340 A massive force encroached upon the space. The swirling mana materialized, beginning to affect the world. The power contained within was something even Taesan could not confidently im victory against. Taesan inspected the magical circles drawn on the walls and ceiling. Those magic circles were summoning immense power. Crack! Crack! The materialized mana took form and swept through the world. As the sustained damage enveloped Taesan, the invisible energy surrounding him rose up to protect its master. It was the power of the Continuous Action Skill ¡ª Absolute Protection. Seeing Taesan unaffected by the damage, Shayan grimaced. ¡°¡­I confirmed it during your fight with the Spirit King, but you really are immune to sustained damage. How can such a skill exist?¡± Shayan clicked his tongue and shook his head. The staff in his hand began to pulse with power.¡°Die.¡± [Shayan activates the Frozen World.] [You activate the Frozen World.] Crack! Crackle! Cold surged from both sides. The shards of ice smashed and shattered everything in their path. However, the Frozen World that Taesan deployed was being pushed back. Even though its power had greatly increased with his rising mastery, it was being forced out like a campfire struggling in a freezing blizzard. Taesan stomped his foot. Luckily, the 73rd floor was fairly spacious. He could move enough to evade. The bitter cold consumed the spot where Taesan had stood. Shayan swung his staff. Mana gathered, and its power manifested. [Shayan activates The Raging me Cascade.] The space opened, and sparks of fire appeared. Sparks fell everywhere, beginning to encroach on the space. Taesan calcted their trajectory, direction, and speed, evading all of them. He turned his gaze to Shayan. Shayan hadn¡¯t moved an inch from his initial position. The demon had said that from now on, in order to ensure a fair fight, the Guides of Sin would also observe Taesan¡¯s battles. Shayan would already know the skills and abilities Taesan had used in his fight with the Spirit King. Though Taesan had tried to withhold as much information as possible, the Spirit King had been a formidable opponent. Taesan had been forced to reveal most of his trump cards during the battle.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Up until now, Taesan had been the one analyzing and targeting the leaders, but now it was his turn to be targeted. How far had Shayan prepared to counter his strength? [You activate Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] Many buff skills were activated, including The Vessel of the King, The Avatar of Nature, and The Depthwalker¡¯s Foe, a skill exclusive to deep-dungeon adventurers. Taesan gripped his sword tighter. [You activate Flow.] The trajectory of the flying sparks twists. Moving both swords simultaneously, Taesan carved a path toward Shayan. He nted his feet and lunged forward. [You activate eleration.] [You activate Skill eleration.] Sssssssh! Taesan quickly closed the distance to Shayan. His stats were already high, and with Skill eleration activated, even the upper echelon found it difficult to react to such speed. Shayan, too, was briefly impressed. ¡°Impressive. But¡­ that¡¯s all.¡± Shayan lightly tapped the ground with his staff. [Shayan activates Distortion.] Suddenly, the space twisted. Taesan, who had been charging toward Shayan, suddenly found himself running in the opposite direction due to the warped space. Clicking his tongue, Taesan swiftly adjusted his stance. He rushed toward Shayan again, but Shayan once more activated Distortion. ¡°Tsk.¡± Taesan, who had been heading straight, was now veering off to the left. The space around Shayan warped within a certain range. ¡°No matter how fast you are, it¡¯s still just a physical movement. If the space itself is twisted, you can¡¯t approach.¡± Shayan murmured as he raised his staff. ¡°You are undoubtedly exceptional. The power you possess is rare, even throughout the history of the Labyrinth. But I am a mage.¡± Whirrrrr. The magical circles surrounding the floor emitted a bright light. ¡°I am the eternal master of the Great Tower. I have prepared countless spells solely to kill you, designing and constructing this very ce.¡± This was Shayan¡¯s workshop and the domain of a mage. ¡°Surrender beneath the overwhelming force of magic.¡± [Shayan activates Magic Stacking.] [Shayan activates Frozen World.] [Shayan activates Starlight Arrows.] [Shayan activates Rippling and Echoing Waves.] Three different spells activated simultaneously. However, they didn¡¯t surge forward. The magical power was instead concentrated, condensed atop Shayan¡¯s staff. [Shayan activates Magic Release.] And then the power was unleashed all at once. The three intermediate-level spells ovepped and intermingled as they rushed toward Taesan. The cold light engulfed the entire space. There was no avoiding it. Taesan quickly made a decision. [You activate Greed of Destruction.] The power within his bracelet rose and shed with thebined spells. Though Greed of Destruction was pushed back, it greedily tried to devour the magic. While it couldn¡¯t absorb all the power and eventually dissipated, it reduced the spell¡¯s force to a level Taesan could handle. Taesan swung his sword, shing through the magic as he charged at Shayan. He opened his inventory and pulled out a flute. [You activate Flute of Silence. For 10 minutes, all magic within the area is sealed.] [The magical circles of the Free Mana prevent the flow of mana. The Flute of Silence activation is forcibly canceled.] Taesan quickly put the flute away and gripped his sword again. He had tried using it to create an opening, but it wasn¡¯t surprising that equipment obtained from the lower levels wouldn¡¯t work against a Guide. [You activate Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave.] A wave of darkness enveloped the surroundings, obscuring Taesan from Shayan¡¯s view. [You activate Invisibility.] For a brief moment, Taesan vanished from all detection. He moved to exploit Shayan¡¯s vulnerability, but Shayan was already prepared. [Shayan activates All-Syncing Sight.] The mana permeating the space became Shayan¡¯s eyes. With Taesan exposed, the effect of Invisibility was forcibly nullified. ¡°A skill that hides your presence by obscuring vision, huh? The countermeasure is simple.¡± [Shayan activates Magic Stacking.] The umted magic erupted once more. The power¡¯s waves reverberated throughout the entire space. The range of power was too extensive to block. Trying to push through it was costly, as Taesan faced three ovepping intermediate-level spells. Enduring the damage and breaking through seemed like the answer, but that would trigger his First Attack Nullification. Taesan realized that Shayan was trying to force him to expend his Attack Nullification. [You summon the Spirit King of the Wind, Minerva.] [You summon the Shield of Many Colors, Barkaza.] Minerva and Barkaza, the summoned entities, immediately manifested their power. The rainbow-colored winds erupted, dispersing the approaching magic. ¡°The master is so busy!¡± Minerva shouted as Shayan calmly tapped his staff on the ground. One of the previously silent magic circles began to rotate. [Shayan activates Unpermitted Banishment of Nature.] Rumble! Rumble! ¡°Ugh!¡± Minerva let out a sudden groan. The natural energy surrounding her began to tremble uneasily. ¡°The Spirit King is annoying, but if you understand its attributes and prepare in advance, it¡¯s not too difficult.¡± Shayan unleashed magic once more. Minerva raised her power to resist, but she was noticeably weaker than usual. She was slowly being overwhelmed. Taesan made a decision. Even if he had to expend resources, he would search for an opening. ¡°Minerva, clear the way.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Minerva whipped up a gust of wind, and the storm erupted, scattering the mana that had encroached on the space. [You activate eleration.] [You activate Skill eleration.] Once again, Taesan rushed forward, and Shayan activated Distortion. The space around Shayan twisted. Taesan nted his foot firmly. [You activate Limited Blink.] Taesan teleported directly in front of Shayan. Limited Blink was a skill obtained after his battle with the Fire Spirit King. Shayan was unaware of it. For a moment, surprise flickered across his face. But the surprise quickly subsided. [Shayan activates Limited Blink.] As Taesan¡¯s sword swung down, Shayan¡¯s body teleported away. Limited Blink was an intermediate-level spell. There was no way that Shayan, who had reached the depths of thebyrinth, hadn¡¯t acquired it. And Taesan was well aware of this. [You activate Perfect Fairy Wings.] [You activate eleration.] [You activate Skill eleration.] [You activate Forced Descent.] Taesan¡¯s body elerated, while Shayan¡¯s movements slowed. Approaching with Limited Blink to induce surprise, and then immediately using another skill to take advantage of the opening ¡ª it worked perfectly. Shayan was unable to activate Distortion until Taesan was right in front of him. As Taesan was about to pierce Shayan¡¯s body with his sword¡ª Shayan¡¯s staff glowed. [Shayan activates Frozen World.] Frost began to form around Shayan. Taesan nned to ignore Shayan¡¯s attack and push through. Even if his Attack Nullification triggered, as long as his attacknded, the odds were still in his favor. [Shayan activates Forced Magic Regtion.] However, instead of attacking Taesan, Frozen World began to circle around Shayan. The Frozen World didn¡¯t explode but condensed, protecting Shayan. [You activate Absolute Judgement.] Crack! Absolute Judgement attempted to break through, but Frozen World was an offensive spell that Shayan had forcibly regted to act as protection. It was no longer a valid target for Absolute Judgement. Cracks formed in the ice, but it didn¡¯t break. Because Taesan¡¯s attempt to prate the defense took longer, he couldn¡¯t respond in time. Although he twisted his body to avoid the attack, he couldn¡¯t block Shayan¡¯s follow-up magic. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Shayan activates Distortion.] The space warped, and the distance between Taesan and Shayan forcibly widened. In the end, Taesan couldn¡¯tnd any damage on Shayan. Instead, he had merely expended his Attack Nullification. Shayan looked at Taesan with arrogance. ¡°This is my domain. You cannot reach me.¡± The magic circles began to glow. Taesan moved his body to avoid the surging magic. There was no way to approach Shayan. Every time he drew near, Distortion would activate. Even if he managed to break through, the continuous barrage of magic would cause him more harm. Taesan had no choice but to distance himself and defend against the surging magic. ¡®Perfect.¡¯ Taesan admired it. Shayan had prepared countless methods to deal with him, and they were all working wlessly. By blocking the activation of Invisibility and using magic to force the use of Attack Nullification, he was systematically dismantling Taesan¡¯s strategies. He countered Skill eleration with Distortion of Space and turned offensive magic into a defensive tool to counter Absolute Judgement. He even used prepared magic circles to disrupt and suppress the natural flow of the Spirit King¡¯s power. Shayan had blocked every option avable to Taesan. This level of magic usage was impossible for Taesan. Only mages who had devoted their entire lives to magic, and reached the pinnacle of their craft, could employ such methods. He had likely even prepared countermeasures against Partial World Maniption. Seeing the power of the magic circles flowing toward Shayan, it seemed that depleting his mana wasn¡¯t an option either. Even after using dozens of intermediate-level spells, Shayan wasn¡¯t showing any signs of fatigue. It was a perfect preparation to defeat him. ¡®However¡­¡¯ Even so, Taesan would not lose. What Shayan knew was Taesan at the 70th floor after defeating the Spirit King. But now, Taesan was on the 73rd floor. Chapter 341 - 338 They had won. They had ovee destruction. The Empire held a party to celebrate the victory. "We have won!" "For the Hero!" "For the immortality of the great Empire!" People dressed in luxurious clothes enjoyed themselves, drinking and eating. Taesan quietly spent his time among them. "Oh! Our Hero is here." Bradley approached Taesan, his face flushed, seemingly from drinking a fair amount of alcohol. "Once again, I offer my thanks! Thanks to you, our world has been saved!" Bradley raised his ss. Others also cheered and raised their sses in unison. The excitement enveloped them all. Taesan waited for themotion to subside and then asked quietly. "What do you n to do now?" "Well¡­ I don¡¯t know." Bradley furrowed his brow. Though they had clearly won, it was hard to be entirely joyful about the situation. The damage had been significant. Many kingdoms had been destroyed, and countless knights and soldiers had died. It was certain that it would take a long time to recover from the losses. "But still¡­ we have ovee destruction." There was no need to worry about the future anymore. Bradley leisurely sipped his drink. "For now, let¡¯s enjoy ourselves. We have plenty of time." The doors swung open. The Emperor and Empress appeared, and the people enjoying the party quickly bowed. "You¡¯re here." "Yes, my son." The Emperor looked at Bradley with immense pride on his face. "Well done. There is no one more fitting than you to seed me." "¡­Thank you." Bradley¡¯s face was filled with emotion. He was the Empire¡¯s prince and its only legitimate heir. Having dealt with all his rivals by his own hand, the next imperial throne was practically his. And now, with the Emperor directly proiming it in front of everyone gathered here, it was as good as officially dered. The Emperorughed heartily and patted Bradley on the shoulder. "Enjoy yourself, my son. Only a bright future awaits us." With that, the Emperor joined the party. Bradley smiled, satisfied. "This is good." He looked truly happy. "You have done much for us. You fulfilled the prophecy and personally stopped the Demon King. From the Empire¡¯s perspective, no amount of reward is enough for what you¡¯ve done." Bradley looked at Taesan. "If you wish, the Empire will prepare a position for you." "I¡¯ll consider it," Taesan replied quietly. The party continued. "Your Highness." "Oh, Levancia." Levancia approached Bradley, her face flushed with embarrassment as she opened her mouth. "I have a confession to make to you, Your Highness." "A confession?" Bradley looked at her, puzzled. Levancia began to speak. Upon hearing her words, Bradley¡¯s eyes widened, and soon, joy began to spread across his face. Bradley shouted something loudly and hugged Levancia, smiling with happiness. And then the world began to distort. Everything started to fade away. When Taesan arrived, it was in a ck world overflowing with a sticky, overwhelming force. A ce where the minds of those who touched the power would copse, and their past would resurface¡ªa distorted world. Taesan lifted his gaze. There was a shapeless, distorted being in front of him. Instinctively, Taesan knew what kind of entity it was. "The God of Regret, Rigrit." The shapeless being emitted a faint aura as if confirming his guess. With an emotion thick and heavy, Rigrit asked if Taesan had enjoyed it. Taesan did not answer, but Rigrit¡¯s emotions were spreading out all around. He seemed immensely pleased. [Rigrit¡¯s sphere of interference has decreased.] [Rigrit grants you a reward. You have received the [Robe of the Ruler].] [You have cleared the enhanced trial. Additional rewards follow.] [You have obtained the [Distorted Ring of Regret].] Two rewards were given. The trial had been cleared. But Rigrit did not send Taesan back. Instead, Rigrit looked not at Taesan, but at the ghost standing silently next to him. Rigrit¡¯s presence posed the ghost a question. The silent ghost opened his mouth. [What do you want from me?] The ghost¡¯s voice was stiff, filled with many emotions as he asked the God of Regret. [What kind of answer are you looking for from me?] Rigrit chuckled. As if this was where the real matter began, an immense power surged forth. [Rigrit¡¯s sphere of interference is decreasing.] [Rigrit makes an offer to the warrior buried in thebyrinth.] [1. The warrior returns to thebyrinth and proceeds with the quest contracted with Kang Taesan.] [2. The warrior dwells in the body of his former self in the world of memories created by Rigrit. The contract with Kang Taesan is canceled, and after death, he returns to his grave in thebyrinth.] The ghost¡¯s body trembled as he slowly read the contents. [...You have quite the bad taste. Truly.] The ghost spoke gloomily. Taesan reviewed the contents one by one. The first option was simple. The ghost would stay by Taesan¡¯s side, continuing down thebyrinth and watching as the Guide of Sin was defeated. But the second option was different. The ghost could live again in his own world. There, he could be with the people he loved, continue the Empire he had sought to protect, and watch his child¡¯s birth and growth. He could experience how they lived, what they did, and how they died. Of course, it was fake. The ghost¡¯s world had already perished. What was being shown now was merely a ce created by Rigrit based on his memories. It wasn¡¯t real. It was just a fabricated construct. Even so, the ghost couldn¡¯t make an easy decision. Just once, he wanted to see his world, which hadn¡¯t been destroyed. He wanted a life where he lived with her and their child. If he rejected it as fake, the ghost would never again have the chance to see his world. His wish for revenge in death would only be fulfilled by defeating the Guides of Sin. Once that wish was fulfilled, the ghost would no longer be bound to thebyrinth, much like the spirits before him. There was the possibility of renegotiating with the wizard to alter the terms, but there was no guarantee the wizard would ept, and there was no certainty that a contract to turn back time would be sessful. Moreover, the contract with Taesan would also be severed. He would return to his grave at the entrance of thebyrinth, waiting endlessly for an adventurer who might fulfill his wish. Rigrit was pleased with the ghost¡¯s silence. Taesan understood Rigrit¡¯s intent. ¡¯What a twisted sense of pleasure.¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter to Rigrit what choice the ghost made. If the ghost chose the first option, he would regret it. Even if it was fake, he would continue to think about not being able to watch over his world. Choosing the second option wouldn¡¯t be much different. He would be content with the life he lived, but at the same time, he would suffer. The happier he became, the more he would realize it was fake, and he would constantly wonder why he couldn¡¯t achieve it. After death, the ghost would return to his narrow grave. No matter the choice, Rigrit would get the oue he desired. [I...] The ghost¡¯s voice was filled with pain. He looked to Taesan as if grasping at straws. Taesan opened his mouth. "I respect your choice." It was a short statement. That was all Taesan could say to the ghost. In the end, it was the ghost¡¯s decision. The trembling of the ghost¡¯s body gradually began to subside. The ghost spoke. As Taesan returned to thebyrinth, the system window appeared. [You have obtained the belt created by the master of the Savage Space.] [You have obtained ???.] "The secret rewardes naturally." Even though he hadn¡¯t found the secret room, the secret clear reward appeared. [From here on, there is no concept of secret rooms. Whether or not you receive the secret clear reward depends on how perfectly you fulfill the clear conditions.] The ghost spoke in a calm but unwavering voice. Taesan, having received the rewards, opened his mouth. "Are you okay?" [...I¡¯m not sure.] The ghost¡¯s voice echoed, subdued. [I had a lot of thoughts. I wanted to see my child¡¯s face, hear their voice, listen to theirughter.] His own child. His own bloodline. The fruit of his love. That made it all the more painful for the ghost. [But in the end, it¡¯s fake. It¡¯s not real.] The ghost spoke as if spitting out the words. [Choosing a fake and deceiving myself is an insult to my world and to myself.] His answer was firm and resolute. He possessed both strength and talent. His spirit was unyielding and resistant to any temptation. Even if it meant he would suffer as a result. He was too noble to ept something fake. That¡¯s why the ghost chose the first option. [Besides, you still need my help. You¡¯re still at the beginning of the deep levels, right? There¡¯s quite a bit I can teach you.] The ghost forced a cheerful tone. Taesan spoke. "Thank you." [There¡¯s no need to thank me. It¡¯s the choice I made.] In truth, Taesan¡¯s presence yed a significant role in the ghost¡¯s decision. He had watched Taesan ever since he entered thebyrinth and descended into the deeper levels. While the time wasn¡¯t long, much had happened during that period. As a result, the ghost developed considerable affection for Taesan. ¡¯We will part ways eventually, though.¡¯ If it were real, it would be different, butpared to something fake, the ghost wanted to see how far Taesan would go. He wanted to watch over him. For now, things had settled. [You¡¯ve gained a lot, haven¡¯t you? Check them out.] "You¡¯re right." First, the Ability Sword and Airak Martial Technique, along with the rted skills, had significantly improved in proficiency. The effect of the title obtained on the 70th floor was substantial. The Airak Martial Technique, which had barely improved before, rose by 3% in a single battle. While the skills themselves hadn¡¯t changed, it was still a wee improvement. Additionally, defeating the Demon King had granted several new skills. [Special Activation Skill: Call of Destruction.] [Proficiency: 1%] [Cost ???: ???] [It calls forth destruction.] It was an extremely simple description. The cost of using it was also unknown. "What is this?" He couldn¡¯t tell if it was an offensive power or something that summoned a destructive force. But one thing was clear. It was immensely foreboding. The power itself instilled a sense of reluctance to use it. "I¡¯ll have to test thister." He decided to test the skill in a more prepared state. That was Taesan¡¯s conclusion. [Special Passive Skill: Opponent of Destruction.] [Proficiency: 1%] N?v(el)B\\jnn [When facing an entity wielding the will of destruction, your rank and power are greatly enhanced.] It was a skill that would help when facing enemies like the Demon King or the wolf that burned worlds. Given that such opponents would likely appear again in the future, it wasn¡¯t a bad skill to have. [Special Passive Skill: Stature of Will.] [Proficiency: 1%] [A soul that has reached a higher state. Your mind resists being easily corrupted by external forces and can ovee them with willpower.] "Oh." Taesan¡¯s eyes gleamed. It was a useful skill. Currently, when trying to use divine or dark forces, his mind often became corrupted and consumed. This skill wouldpensate for that. It would be a frequently used skill going forward, making it highly valuable. The newly obtained Will of Destruction seemed like a material item, simr to the fragments of will he had acquired earlier. He thought about visiting Hafran to confirm this. However, there was something Taesan wanted to check first. Taesan gazed at the ring, which was radiating a dark aura. It was the ring Rigrit had given him as a reward for clearing the enhanced trial. The power emanating from it was extraordinary. [Distorted Ring of Regret.] [Health +100] [Mana +100] [Attack Power +100] [Defense +100] [You can designate one skill with a cooldown and reset its cooldown. Skills with a cooldown of over a week cannot be reset. This effect has a monthly cooldown.] Chapter 342 - 339 Taesan, after briefly reading the exnation, murmured. "Designated Skill Reset?" It was a skill he had obtained in his past life, allowing him to reset the cooldown of a desired skill and use it immediately. Upon seeing the exnation, that skill came to mind. However, as Taesan carefully examined it, his gaze grew colder. "It¡¯s not at that level." The biggest advantage of the Designated Skill Reset was not just resetting the cooldown. That was merely a secondary ability. The true power of the Designated Skill Reset was to erase the concept of having used the skill itself. For example, skills like Multiply or Strong Blow couldn¡¯t be used multiple times in a single attack. That was an obvious restriction. If one could stack Multiply several times on a single attack, the attack stat would be meaningless. Designated Skill Reset erased such limitations on some skills. After using Multiply once, he could reset it and use it again in the same attack. In his past life, Taesan had used the Designated Skill Reset on Multiply. Thanks to that, he could deal damage in the billions. However, the ring¡¯s effect only reset the cooldown. That was it. It couldn¡¯t remove the restrictions on attacks. Compared to Last Chance, which removed all skill activation conditions, this one fell short. If Taesan had obtained Last Chance now, he could manipte boundaries without any risk. Whenpared to those two skills, its level was quite low. But still, it was a piece of gear of considerable quality. Being able to reset powerful skills with long cooldowns, like Transformation, was an excellent effect by itself. ¡¯They¡¯re giving out gear of this level now, huh.¡¯ It was equipment that suited the deeper levels. N?v(el)B\\jnn What made it even more valuable was that he could wear multiple rings. And perhaps, just maybe, there was a chance he could use this to obtain the Designated Skill Reset or Last Chance. The odds were low, but not zero. Satisfied, Taesan inspected the other equipment. [Belt made by the Master of the Ferocious Space] [Strength +500] [Attack Power +200] [Defense +500] [A belt made by the one who ruled over the fiercely twisted space. Rivers once ran red with blood for the right to wear it.] [Robe of the Conqueror] [Strength +300] [Attack Power +180] [Defense +400] [A robe made for a forgotten, great conqueror. Though he is forgotten by all, the evidence of worship remains.] [??? used] [Obtained the Final Earring of Brunhilde.] [Final Earring of Brunhilde] [Health +1500] [Mana +200] [Strength +300] [Agility +300] [Intelligence +300] [Attack Power +300] [Defense +300] [The saint. Brunhilde¡¯s earring, barely allowed before his execution.] The equipment was powerful and easy to understand overall. Even without any special effects like the ring, it was more than enough to be satisfying. "Now then." There was only one thing left. Taesan touched the ck gem-like object. [Will of Destruction] [The will of an existence that exists solely for the destruction of the world. A tiny sliver of a permitted desire remains.] The source of Devouring, the collection of Negativity, and the Will of Destruction. Quite valuable material items had emerged. Including this fragment of will, there were now four pieces. It was time to visit Hafran. Taesan moved. "You¡¯vee." Hafran greeted Taesan. As he nced at the ghost, he asked. "What happened? You seem different." [It did happen. It¡¯s personal, so don¡¯t worry about it.] "I understand." Respecting his request not to pry, Hafran stepped back. He returned his gaze to Taesan. "What brings you here this time? Did you bring more materials?" "Can you do something with these?" Taesan handed him the Source of Devouring and the Will of Destruction. Hafran¡¯s eyes gleamed as he examined the Source of Devouring. "This is¡­ remarkable." Admiration colored his voice. "A pure concentration of greed. The Substratum. Did you defeat its master?" Taesan nodded. Hafran chuckled in disbelief. "Your power is superior even in the deeper levels. I expected it, but it¡¯s still astonishing." Even talented adventurers who could easily descend to the 70th floor often found themselves stuck in the Substratum upon entering the deeper levels. The Guides of Sin were an immediate example of this. Despite their exceptional talents, they had been stuck at the 74th floor for a very long time. When considering that, Taesan was certainly a remarkable existence. Finishing his thought, Hafran examined the Will of Destruction. As he studied the ck gem, his face twisted into a frown. "This is¡­" He nced at Taesan and the ghost standing next to him. Then, he nodded to himself. "So that¡¯s how it is." [Like I said, don¡¯t worry about it.] "I understand. This isn¡¯t something to congratte you on. My condolences." Hafran offered his sympathy, fiddling with the gem. "Didn¡¯t I mention before? I can¡¯t handle equipment rted to willpower." "This one too?" "In terms of power and quality, it¡¯s on par with the fragment of will you showed me before. You¡¯d be better off visiting Kosrun than me." Kosrun, the mad dwarf stationed at the entrance of the deeper levels. Hafran had said he was an expert when it came to handling willpower. Inspecting the gem onest time, Hafran turned his gaze toward Taesan¡¯s sword. "There¡¯s a simr level of willpower lingering within that sword as well." "I¡¯m not sure how to use this yet." The will of prophecy that had tried to consume Taesan to defeat the Demon King. It was still imbued in Taesan¡¯s sword. But now, it was extremely quiet, as if it considered its taskpleted after the Demon King¡¯s defeat. The power and force contained within the sword were undeniably remarkable. It had allowed Taesan to defeat the Demon King, who had surpassed mortality. If he could figure out how to handle it, it would be a great asset, but he still didn¡¯t know how. Hafran, inspecting the sword, spoke. "If you take this to that guy, he can solve it." "Even with this level of power?" "I told you, he¡¯s a top expert in such matters. I don¡¯t speak lightly." Hafran returned the materials to Taesan. "I don¡¯t know his exact location, but you should meet him soon. Go find him and talk." "Got it." Taesan took back the materials. But he didn¡¯t immediately descend to the 73rd floor. He stayed on the 72nd floor, checking the Community. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok were diligently making their way through thebyrinth. Seeing the proficiency of Ability Sword slowly increasing, thanks to the Authority of Labor skill, meant they were using Ability Sword frequently. Some countries had started clearing quests and returning to thebyrinth. Most of them were very small or neighboring countries, but from the stories he heard, it seemed that Earth was not in any significant danger. Taesan spent the day on the 72nd floor. After recovering the skills and stats he had expended in defeating the Demon King, he moved to the 73rd floor. The interior of the 73rd floor wasn¡¯t much different from the previous floors. If he went further inside, there would be something, but for now, it looked like a typicalbyrinth. However, the energy emanating from within was anything but ordinary. The Demon God had told him. On the 73rd floor, at its entrance, the Guides of Sin would be waiting. "So much to do." Taesan muttered as he ran his hand along the wall of thebyrinth. Mana that was so dense that it made him tingle flowed within. Mana spread across the walls, floor, and ceiling in countless patterns. Taesan passed through the corridor and opened a door. The moment he stepped inside, he could feel it. The 73rd floor. Inside, numerous magic circles were drawn. Abination of dozens of spells covered the walls and ceiling. The mana overflowed, amplifying the power within like a waterfall. A talent, unique in the world, that even Taesan couldn¡¯t reach. One who had dedicated their entire life solely to magic, reaching the pinnacle of it. At the center of the magic stood an old man. Wearing a robe and holding a staff made of a gnarled tree, the old man spoke in a sharp voice. "You¡¯ve arrived." [You have encountered the Archmage, Shayan.] "So, it¡¯s a mage this time." Taesan murmured as he gripped his weapon. "You¡¯ve made it this far." When he first heard of Taesan¡¯s existence, he thought of him as just another adventurer among the many. He had no doubt that Taesan would either submit to them or meet his death soon. But Taesan had reached this point, empowered by the blessing of the gods and his own strength. He had defeated two of their leaders and stood at their doorstep. "Congrattions, hero. You¡¯ve chosen a fine tool to achieve your goal. We thought it impossible before reaching the end of thebyrinth." The ghost didn¡¯t respond to Shayan¡¯s mocking words. Despite having his nemesis before him, the ghost¡¯s emotions remained calm. Noticing something strange, Shayan¡¯s face twisted in confusion. "¡­What happened? I expected to see hatred the moment youid eyes on me. After all, I yed a significant role in crafting the weapon that killed you." [So you were one of those who made it.] The ghost finally spoke. [It makes sense. That weapon was beyond anything that could be crafted without your involvement.] Even now, the ghost¡¯s emotions did not waver significantly. For Shayan, who didn¡¯t know the full situation, it was briefly bewildering. But he brushed it off. "You don¡¯t even resent me. Why did you bother making a contract with the wizard, then?" Shayan clicked his tongue and turned his gaze to Taesan. "I¡¯ll admit it. You are strong. Perhaps stronger than us, and you may descend even deeper than we could." The Guides of Sin had finally broken through the 74th floor, where they had long been stuck. They were descending rapidly through thebyrinth, but Taesan had moved even faster. In terms of growth rate, there was noparison. "But this is as far as you go." Shayan mmed his staff into the ground. The myriad magic circles began to glow. Click. The magic circles activated. Metaphysical arrays began to rotate and interlock with one another. They amplified, connected, and synchronized. In an instant, an enormous power swelled. [Shayan has activated the Fixed Law and Regtion Magic Circle.] [Shayan has activated the Exclusion of Nature Magic Circle.] [Shayan has activated the Free-Flowing Mana Magic Circle.] [Shayan has activated the Forced Twisting of Space.] [Shayan has activated the Master¡¯s Wrathful Vortex.] [Shayan has activated the Magic Amplification Magic Circle.] [Shayan has activated the Convergence of All Magical Power.] None of this could be aplished in a short time. He must have spent days designing and conceiving these magic circles in this spot. "I am the immortal master of the Magic Tower, a seeker of knowledge who betrayed the world and pursued a higher dimension, reaching thebyrinth." Shayan dered. He pointed his staff at Taesan. "As a wielder of great magic, I will kill you." Chapter 343 - 340 A massive force encroached upon the space. The swirling mana materialized, beginning to affect the world. The power contained within was something even Taesan could not confidently im victory against. Taesan inspected the magical circles drawn on the walls and ceiling. Those magic circles were summoning immense power. Crack! Crack! The materialized mana took form and swept through the world. As the sustained damage enveloped Taesan, the invisible energy surrounding him rose up to protect its master. It was the power of the Continuous Action Skill ¡ª Absolute Protection. Seeing Taesan unaffected by the damage, Shayan grimaced. "¡­I confirmed it during your fight with the Spirit King, but you really are immune to sustained damage. How can such a skill exist?" Shayan clicked his tongue and shook his head. The staff in his hand began to pulse with power. "Die." [Shayan activates the Frozen World.] [You activate the Frozen World.] Crack! Crackle! Cold surged from both sides. The shards of ice smashed and shattered everything in their path. However, the Frozen World that Taesan deployed was being pushed back. Even though its power had greatly increased with his rising mastery, it was being forced out like a campfire struggling in a freezing blizzard. Taesan stomped his foot. Luckily, the 73rd floor was fairly spacious. He could move enough to evade. The bitter cold consumed the spot where Taesan had stood. Shayan swung his staff. Mana gathered, and its power manifested. [Shayan activates The Raging me Cascade.] The space opened, and sparks of fire appeared. Sparks fell everywhere, beginning to encroach on the space. Taesan calcted their trajectory, direction, and speed, evading all of them. He turned his gaze to Shayan. Shayan hadn¡¯t moved an inch from his initial position. The demon had said that from now on, in order to ensure a fair fight, the Guides of Sin would also observe Taesan¡¯s battles. Shayan would already know the skills and abilities Taesan had used in his fight with the Spirit King. Though Taesan had tried to withhold as much information as possible, the Spirit King had been a formidable opponent. Taesan had been forced to reveal most of his trump cards during the battle. Up until now, Taesan had been the one analyzing and targeting the leaders, but now it was his turn to be targeted. How far had Shayan prepared to counter his strength? [You activate Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] Many buff skills were activated, including The Vessel of the King, The Avatar of Nature, and The Depthwalker¡¯s Foe, a skill exclusive to deep-dungeon adventurers. Taesan gripped his sword tighter. [You activate Flow.] The trajectory of the flying sparks twists. Moving both swords simultaneously, Taesan carved a path toward Shayan. He nted his feet and lunged forward. [You activate eleration.] [You activate Skill eleration.] Sssssssh! Taesan quickly closed the distance to Shayan. His stats were already high, and with Skill eleration activated, even the upper echelon found it difficult to react to such speed. Shayan, too, was briefly impressed. "Impressive. But¡­ that¡¯s all." Shayan lightly tapped the ground with his staff. [Shayan activates Distortion.] Suddenly, the space twisted. Taesan, who had been charging toward Shayan, suddenly found himself running in the opposite direction due to the warped space. Clicking his tongue, Taesan swiftly adjusted his stance. He rushed toward Shayan again, but Shayan once more activated Distortion. "Tsk." Taesan, who had been heading straight, was now veering off to the left. The space around Shayan warped within a certain range. "No matter how fast you are, it¡¯s still just a physical movement. If the space itself is twisted, you can¡¯t approach." Shayan murmured as he raised his staff. "You are undoubtedly exceptional. The power you possess is rare, even throughout the history of the Labyrinth. But I am a mage." Whirrrrr. The magical circles surrounding the floor emitted a bright light. "I am the eternal master of the Great Tower. I have prepared countless spells solely to kill you, designing and constructing this very ce." This was Shayan¡¯s workshop and the domain of a mage. "Surrender beneath the overwhelming force of magic." [Shayan activates Magic Stacking.] [Shayan activates Frozen World.] [Shayan activates Starlight Arrows.] [Shayan activates Rippling and Echoing Waves.] Three different spells activated simultaneously. However, they didn¡¯t surge forward. The magical power was instead concentrated, condensed atop Shayan¡¯s staff. [Shayan activates Magic Release.] And then the power was unleashed all at once. The three intermediate-level spells ovepped and intermingled as they rushed toward Taesan. The cold light engulfed the entire space. There was no avoiding it. Taesan quickly made a decision. [You activate Greed of Destruction.] The power within his bracelet rose and shed with thebined spells. Though Greed of Destruction was pushed back, it greedily tried to devour the magic. While it couldn¡¯t absorb all the power and eventually dissipated, it reduced the spell¡¯s force to a level Taesan could handle. Taesan swung his sword, shing through the magic as he charged at Shayan. He opened his inventory and pulled out a flute. [You activate Flute of Silence. For 10 minutes, all magic within the area is sealed.] [The magical circles of the Free Mana prevent the flow of mana. The Flute of Silence activation is forcibly canceled.] Taesan quickly put the flute away and gripped his sword again. He had tried using it to create an opening, but it wasn¡¯t surprising that equipment obtained from the lower levels wouldn¡¯t work against a Guide. [You activate Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave.] A wave of darkness enveloped the surroundings, obscuring Taesan from Shayan¡¯s view. [You activate Invisibility.] For a brief moment, Taesan vanished from all detection. He moved to exploit Shayan¡¯s vulnerability, but Shayan was already prepared. [Shayan activates All-Syncing Sight.] The mana permeating the space became Shayan¡¯s eyes. With Taesan exposed, the effect of Invisibility was forcibly nullified. "A skill that hides your presence by obscuring vision, huh? The countermeasure is simple." [Shayan activates Magic Stacking.] N?v(el)B\\jnn The umted magic erupted once more. The power¡¯s waves reverberated throughout the entire space. The range of power was too extensive to block. Trying to push through it was costly, as Taesan faced three ovepping intermediate-level spells. Enduring the damage and breaking through seemed like the answer, but that would trigger his First Attack Nullification. Taesan realized that Shayan was trying to force him to expend his Attack Nullification. [You summon the Spirit King of the Wind, Minerva.] [You summon the Shield of Many Colors, Barkaza.] Minerva and Barkaza, the summoned entities, immediately manifested their power. The rainbow-colored winds erupted, dispersing the approaching magic. "The master is so busy!" Minerva shouted as Shayan calmly tapped his staff on the ground. One of the previously silent magic circles began to rotate. [Shayan activates Unpermitted Banishment of Nature.] Rumble! Rumble! "Ugh!" Minerva let out a sudden groan. The natural energy surrounding her began to tremble uneasily. "The Spirit King is annoying, but if you understand its attributes and prepare in advance, it¡¯s not too difficult." Shayan unleashed magic once more. Minerva raised her power to resist, but she was noticeably weaker than usual. She was slowly being overwhelmed. Taesan made a decision. Even if he had to expend resources, he would search for an opening. "Minerva, clear the way." "Got it!" Minerva whipped up a gust of wind, and the storm erupted, scattering the mana that had encroached on the space. [You activate eleration.] [You activate Skill eleration.] Once again, Taesan rushed forward, and Shayan activated Distortion. The space around Shayan twisted. Taesan nted his foot firmly. [You activate Limited Blink.] Taesan teleported directly in front of Shayan. Limited Blink was a skill obtained after his battle with the Fire Spirit King. Shayan was unaware of it. For a moment, surprise flickered across his face. But the surprise quickly subsided. [Shayan activates Limited Blink.] As Taesan¡¯s sword swung down, Shayan¡¯s body teleported away. Limited Blink was an intermediate-level spell. There was no way that Shayan, who had reached the depths of thebyrinth, hadn¡¯t acquired it. And Taesan was well aware of this. [You activate Perfect Fairy Wings.] [You activate eleration.] [You activate Skill eleration.] [You activate Forced Descent.] Taesan¡¯s body elerated, while Shayan¡¯s movements slowed. Approaching with Limited Blink to induce surprise, and then immediately using another skill to take advantage of the opening ¡ª it worked perfectly. Shayan was unable to activate Distortion until Taesan was right in front of him. As Taesan was about to pierce Shayan¡¯s body with his sword¡ª Shayan¡¯s staff glowed. [Shayan activates Frozen World.] Frost began to form around Shayan. Taesan nned to ignore Shayan¡¯s attack and push through. Even if his Attack Nullification triggered, as long as his attacknded, the odds were still in his favor. [Shayan activates Forced Magic Regtion.] However, instead of attacking Taesan, Frozen World began to circle around Shayan. The Frozen World didn¡¯t explode but condensed, protecting Shayan. [You activate Absolute Judgement.] Crack! Absolute Judgement attempted to break through, but Frozen World was an offensive spell that Shayan had forcibly regted to act as protection. It was no longer a valid target for Absolute Judgement. Cracks formed in the ice, but it didn¡¯t break. Because Taesan¡¯s attempt to prate the defense took longer, he couldn¡¯t respond in time. Although he twisted his body to avoid the attack, he couldn¡¯t block Shayan¡¯s follow-up magic. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Shayan activates Distortion.] The space warped, and the distance between Taesan and Shayan forcibly widened. In the end, Taesan couldn¡¯tnd any damage on Shayan. Instead, he had merely expended his Attack Nullification. Shayan looked at Taesan with arrogance. "This is my domain. You cannot reach me." The magic circles began to glow. Taesan moved his body to avoid the surging magic. There was no way to approach Shayan. Every time he drew near, Distortion would activate. Even if he managed to break through, the continuous barrage of magic would cause him more harm. Taesan had no choice but to distance himself and defend against the surging magic. ¡¯Perfect.¡¯ Taesan admired it. Shayan had prepared countless methods to deal with him, and they were all working wlessly. By blocking the activation of Invisibility and using magic to force the use of Attack Nullification, he was systematically dismantling Taesan¡¯s strategies. He countered Skill eleration with Distortion of Space and turned offensive magic into a defensive tool to counter Absolute Judgement. He even used prepared magic circles to disrupt and suppress the natural flow of the Spirit King¡¯s power. Shayan had blocked every option avable to Taesan. This level of magic usage was impossible for Taesan. Only mages who had devoted their entire lives to magic, and reached the pinnacle of their craft, could employ such methods. He had likely even prepared countermeasures against Partial World Maniption. Seeing the power of the magic circles flowing toward Shayan, it seemed that depleting his mana wasn¡¯t an option either. Even after using dozens of intermediate-level spells, Shayan wasn¡¯t showing any signs of fatigue. It was a perfect preparation to defeat him. ¡¯However¡­¡¯ Even so, Taesan would not lose. What Shayan knew was Taesan at the 70th floor after defeating the Spirit King. But now, Taesan was on the 73rd floor. Chapter [NaN]: Floor 73 Archmage, Shayan (3) Taesan had grown stronger since facing the Spirit King. He continued to move, dodging and blocking the onught of magic. [Shayan activated Magic Release.] The condensed magic exploded, enveloping the surroundings. Taesan activated Naberius¡¯ Golden Sword. He shed diagonally, creating a hole in the wave of power, and thrust his body into it. ¡°Tsk.¡± Shayan clicked his tongue. His expression wasn¡¯t bright. ¡®It wasn¡¯t as effective as I thought.¡¯ He had reviewed Taesan¡¯s records and prepared counters for all his abilities. As a result, he was able to block Taesan¡¯s movements and prevent him from even approaching. Originally, he had nned to exhaust all three of Taesan¡¯s attack nullifications here. But what he had exhausted was just one attack nullification and the Greed of Destruction. Only two things in total.It was because Taesan was faster and responded more quickly than he had expected. ¡®The skills that guy is using must have a time limit¡­ Apostle Transformation, King¡¯s Vessel, Avatar of Nature.¡¯ These were skills that momentarily amplified one¡¯s rank and power. There was no way such skills could be used for long. In an hour or two, all of them would be deactivated. But Shayan wasn¡¯t much different either. The magic circle he had deployed here was immensely powerful, but its duration was also limited. Dragging things out wouldn¡¯t benefit him. It was time to make a decision. Shayan swung his staff to pressure Taesan. Taesan barely blocked Shayan¡¯s magic. ¡®He¡¯s not using Partial World Alteration.¡¯ It was a skill that changed the world itself to summon advantageousws for oneself, capable of countering the King¡¯s Domain. Partial World Alteration. Shayan was still wary of that skill. But Taesan¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t favorable. Although he was managing to block the attacks, he hadn¡¯t even gotten close. While Shayan¡¯s mana was being perfectly restored by the magic circle, Taesan didn¡¯t have such a luxury, putting him at a one-sided disadvantage. Even in such a situation, there was no reason to hold back on Partial World Alteration. Either the cooldown for Partial World Alteration hadn¡¯t ended, or he hadn¡¯t prepared the cost for it. Shayan made his judgment. Now, it was time to use the trump card he had prepared to counter Partial World Alteration and finish this. Kiiiiing. The equipment surrounding Shayan began to glow. Since the attacks had stopped briefly, Taesan stood still, watching Shayan. Shayan was a deep-level adventurer. He also had deep-level equipment. ¡°Behold the true power of magic.¡± [Shayan activated Targeted Immutable Magic Circle.] Boom! The giant magic circle that had been quietly dormant began to operate with a roar. Power flowed from the ring Shayan was wearing. [Shayan activated the Five Shots of Doom.] [The first shot has been loaded.] At the tip of Shayan¡¯s staff, a transparent arrow of light appeared. The power within it distorted space, turning everything in its path to dust. Even Taesan as he was now could be struck down by this force. Taesan realized this was Shayan¡¯s trump card. [Shayan activated Targeting.] Power flowed from Shayan¡¯s bracelet, designating Taesan as the target. [Shayan activated Savage Space Compression.] Power flowed from Shayan¡¯s robe, encroaching on the space. [Shayan activated Mana eleration.] Shayan¡¯s staff began to glow. The power gathered from various deep-level equipment. Taesan gripped his sword quietly, mustering strength to respond. Then, Shayan mmed his staff down. [Shayan fired the first shot.] It was at the moment Taesan saw the system window and moved to respond. Suddenly, time for his body began to reverse. Taesan, momentarily startled, quickly realized. [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] He had already been hit by the arrow. The attack nullification had been activated, rewinding time to before the hit urred. ¡®I didn¡¯t even see it.¡¯ [Shayan loaded the second shot.] Kiiiiing. Another transparent arrow was drawn on Shayan¡¯s staff. It was invisible. Impossible to block. So, he observed. Taesan made a swift decision. [You have activated Mental eleration.] [You have activated Essence Comprehension.] [You have activated Reconnaissance.] Trying to block an invisible attack was useless. Even if it cost him thest remaining attack nullification, he decided to figure out what kind of attack it was. ??? ¡°Foolish.¡± Shayan mocked Taesan and swung his staff. [Shayan fired the second shot.] Taesan focused all his will and rank on his vision. For a moment, the world seemed to slow down. And then Taesan could see it. As soon as the transparent arrow was fired, it bypassed space and appeared directly in front of him. The arrow touched Taesan. [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] All the attack nullifications had been used. But he had gained valuable information. ¡®The arrow jumps through space.¡¯ Space had literally beenpressed. The moment the arrow was fired, it arrived directly in front of Taesan, which is why he hadn¡¯t seen iting. So, could he continue to move fast and dodge? Taesan shook his head. One of Shayan¡¯s skills was a targeting skill. He didn¡¯t know the exact effect, but it was likely a skill that designated Taesan as the target. No matter how he moved, the arrow would hit. An arrow of sure hit. There was only one way to counter it. Overwhelm it with force. Taesan stepped back from Minerva and Barkaza. [Shayan loaded the third shot.] [Shayan fired the third shot.] Taesan did nothing. The arrow jumped through space and arrived in front of him. Taesan¡¯s body moved. [Your Last Chance has been activated.] ¡°What the!¡± Shayan, watching, was astonished. Ka-ga-ga-ga-gak! Taesan¡¯s sword blocked the arrow. The intense sh of forces distorted the space. The power contained within the arrow surged through the sword. Kak! Taesan twisted the sword de. The trajectory of the arrow veered off and embedded itself into the wall. Boom! A thunderous sound echoed through thebyrinth wall. Taesan nced at the wall and chuckled softly. Thebyrinth wall had cracked. ¡®This is the power level we¡¯re dealing with.¡¯ Last Chance was a skill that blocked any attack that would result in death. In other words, this arrow contained enough power to deplete over 100,000 HP. ¡°Y-you¡­¡± Shayan stared at Taesan with a shocked expression. ¡°How¡­¡± The Five Shots of Doom. For those who had reached the deep floors, the cksmiths sold high-value equipment. Among them, one ring had captivated Shayan. It was a ring that sealed an ancient magic. As a magician, Shayan could feel the terrifying strength of the magic contained in the ring. Even in its sealed state, it was far stronger than any magic he could wield. Shayan was a magician. He was willing to sacrifice everything for a higher level of magic. He decided to purchase the ring. The price was exorbitant, far beyond that of any other equipment, but that didn¡¯t matter. He spent all the gold he had earned from conquering the deep floors. However, even after purchasing it, he couldn¡¯t use it for a long time. The reason was simple: he couldn¡¯t break the seal on the ring. No matter how much he tried to dispel the magic, or even with the help of other guides, the seal wouldn¡¯t budge. It was as if the ring was telling them, ¡°You are not yet worthy of this power.¡± Shayan did not give up. From the moment he purchased the ring, all of Shayan¡¯s energy was focused on breaking the seal. After attempting thousands of spells and using the floor¡¯s clearing conditions to try to unlock it, after countless efforts over a seemingly endless period, Shayan barely managed to break the ring¡¯s seal. Thus, he obtained the advanced magic, the Five Shots of Doom. Shayan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Despite dedicating his entire life to magic, he had never surpassed intermediate-level magic. But now, advanced magic¡ªpower beyond mortal reach¡ªwas his. Overjoyed, he immediately used the spell. And he almost died. If the Spirit King of Fire hadn¡¯t instinctively unfolded the King¡¯s Domain beside him, he might truly have died then and there. The power within the advanced magic was far too overwhelming for him to control. However, Shayan somehow found a way to manage the ring. He spent yearsbining and utilizing various deep-level equipment. He even created a magic circle that locked his state into an immune status, investing a vast amount of time into it. Decades passed, and he was finally able to barely wield the advanced magic sealed within the ring. Even so, using it properly required days of preparation, designing the magic circle in a single spot, which was why he hadn¡¯t been able to fully utilize it until now. But its power was undeniable. The arrows contained power that transcended mortals. And now, Taesan had blocked that arrow. ¡®¡­No.¡¯ Shayan quickly regained hisposure. The skill, Last Chance, had been triggered. It must be a skill that blocks attacks leading to death. He wouldn¡¯t have many of those, so he shouldn¡¯t be able to block any more arrows. Believing that, Shayan loaded another arrow. [Shayan fired the fourth shot.] Taesan¡¯s sword turned ck. Then it was engulfed in gold, and it began to turn gray. For the three previous attacks, the arrow had flown straight toward Taesan¡¯s chest. Seeing that there was no deviation, it seemed Shayan couldn¡¯t adjust the position of the arrows. Knowing the attack¡¯s position made it easy to respond. He simply needed to swing his sword where the attack was heading. Taesan swung the boundary line that his sword had created. Kwaaaang! The arrow collided with the boundary line, screaming as it began to shatter. The arrow of doom was being decisively pushed back. Taesan put more strength into his sword and swung it. Kugugugung! A gray light sliced through the air. Shayan twisted his body hastily. ¡°¡­You¡¯re destroying it with brute force?¡± Shayan mumbled in disbelief, and Taesan swung his sword again. ¡°This is as far as you go.¡± With this attack, Taesan confirmed something. He had learned that even an attack that transcended mortal power could be blocked without risk by the boundary line. Even a single blow, like the one sent by the Will of the Destroyed World from Halfran, could now be perfectly blocked. It would take a fair amount of time to use it again, but the fact that he could stably wield it was a huge advantage. ¡°Not bad.¡± A worthy opponent was necessary to test these limits. Shayan had served that purpose perfectly. ¡°No, no!¡± Shayan mumbled, disbelief filling his eyes. ¡°No! You can¡¯t block this power!¡± Shayan furiously raised his staff. The ring that he barely managed to control after pouring everything he had into it when he reached the deep floors¡ªthis ring was as much his pride as anything else. And now Taesan had shattered it. Shayan couldn¡¯t ept this. Once again, a transparent arrow began to form at the end of Shayan¡¯s staff. Taesan drew his sword. He still had stamina to spare. He could charge in and endure physically if necessary. But there was something he wanted to test first. He had confirmed that he could block the arrows with the boundary line. Now, could he block them with his own power, without relying on the boundary? He had gauged the strength of the arrows when blocking them with Last Chance and the boundary line. It seemed possible. ¡°Assist me.¡± ¡°As youmand.¡± [Understood.] Taesan touched his wrist guard. He didn¡¯t have enough materials to create a full-scale Partial World Alteration, but he had enough to momentarily amplify his power for a few seconds. [You activated Partial World Alteration.] For a brief moment, Taesan¡¯s and the spirit¡¯s power swelled. Shayan¡¯s bloodshot eyes red. ¡°Die.¡± [Shayan fired the fifth shot.] As the system window appeared, Taesan swung his sword. Ka-ga-ga-ga-gak! Power shed. With a deafening roar, space began to copse. An intense pressure of power descended on Taesan. Shayan gritted his teeth. ¡°You can¡¯t block it! It¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Minerva gritted her teeth and summoned more strength. Minerva was the Spirit King. Her power was further amplified as she infused the essence of nature. Barkaza also assisted. The power of nature was maximized, pushing back against the strength contained in the arrow, refusing to retreat. [You activated Naberius¡¯ Golden Sword.] [You activated Star Arrow.] [You activated Amon¡¯s Pitch-ck Spike.] Taesan unleashed consecutive spells and ck magic. Thanks to the continuous chanting effect, the power of his attacks continued to grow. ¡°Gather.¡± [You activated Deration of Focus.] Taesan concentrated all his will, channeling every ounce of power into his sword. The arrow began to slowly twist. The power that transcended mortals was being pushed back by a mortal. ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­¡± Shayan mumbled helplessly. Taesan put more strength into his sword, stepping forward and swinging his arm. [You activated de of Will.] Kuooooooong! A tremendous roar echoed. The explosion scattered in all directions, and the force engulfed Taesan. [You took 53,432 damage.] Taesan¡¯s arm trembled. Minerva and Barkaza had been unsummoned, unable to withstand the force. But he had won. Taesan pulled out a potion and drank it. It was a moment that left him vulnerable, but Shayan did nothing. Kiiiiing. With a rumble, the Immutable Magic Circle copsed. ¡°What¡­¡± He mumbled nkly. Advanced magic, A power that was out of his reach, an absolute force. That advanced magic had just been destroyed. ¡°This¡­ This is impossible! This is advanced magic! It¡¯s power beyond your reach!¡± Taesan sneered at Shayan¡¯s frantic denial. ¡°You set your own limits. You¡¯re not worthy of the title of Archmage.¡± He had convinced himself he could never reach the highest level. He had decided that his limit was intermediate. Shayan had settled on that conclusion. Now fully recovered in health and mana, Taesan unleashed his power. Mana began to condense. ¡°Akisha. You know that name, right?¡± At Taesan¡¯s words, Shayan flinched.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°So it¡¯s true. I thought it might be someone else with a different name.¡± Taesan had received a quest for revenge from an NPC named Akisha on the 45th floor. The target¡¯s name was Manteyak. But now, the person he was facing was Shayan. To erase his wretched past and be reborn, Manteyak had changed his name to Shayan. ¡°But your essence hasn¡¯t changed.¡± Shayan was a wretched betrayer, a man who, unable to ovee his inferiority, had made the wrong choices. That was his essence. ¡°This is a gift from Akisha. Manteyak.¡± [You activated Unteral Mana Barrier.] Chapter [NaN]: Floor 73 Archmage, Shayan (4) Shayan was astonished by Taesan¡¯s words. Manteyak. A name buried long ago, forgotten even by the other leaders. It was Taesan, not the hero, who mentioned that name. And Akishaya as well. ¡®¡­No way!¡¯ A contract with the wizard who created the Labyrinth. That thought shed through Shayan¡¯s mind. ¡®He should have just died quietly!¡¯ Just as Shayan gritted his teeth and began gathering mana, he realized something. The flow of mana had changed.The mana that had seeped into Shayan, granting him the ability to wield infinite magic, was now scattering in all directions. ¡®This is¡­!¡¯ Shayan instinctively recognized it as Akishaya¡¯s magic, crafted for revenge. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Taesan nodded. The unteral mana barrier wouldn¡¯tst long. That was why he had saved it until now. This would end here. Taesan gathered his power¡ªthis time, not mana, but darkness. [You have activated the Call of Destruction.] The darkness of destruction began to spread across the world. From within the darkness, something stirred. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Shayan, frozen in shock, trembled. Every living being could instinctively feel the ominous aura radiating from the darkness. It was the force of destruction. Boom! The darkness took form. It engulfed matter, rushing toward Shayan with the intent to annihte. Shayan frantically swung his staff. A wave of fire surged toward the darkness. Boom! The two forces shed, creating a shockwave. The darkness of destruction showed no sign of retreat¡ªit greedily devoured everything in its path. ¡°Damn it!¡± Shayan cursed. He could instinctively sense what the darkness was. ¡°How can someone wield such power?!¡± Though diminished, it was still the force of destruction¡ªno mere fragment, but the genuine thing. Taesan was using it as his own power, not as a tool. Shayan summoned his energy and pushed the darkness back, scattering it in all directions. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Taesan groaned softly as he swung his sword. The darkness wasn¡¯t just trying to engulf Shayan¡ªit aimed to swallow him too. The Call of Destruction was a force that moved independently of Taesan. It sought to devour everything in the world. Taesan gathered his energy and spoke. ¡°Back.¡± [You have activated the Word of Command.] As the Word of Command was activated, the darkness attempting to consume Taesan recoiled. The destructive power sought to consume the world, but itcked a guiding will. With the Word of Command, Taesan could repel it easily. ¡°Arghhh!¡± [Shayan has activated Magic Ovey.] Raw magical energy gathered atop his staff as Shayan swung it. [Shayan has activated Magic Liberation.] Boom! Ice, light, and fire merged, manifesting in the world. The overwhelming force pushed back the darkness of destruction. Taesan tightened his grip on his sword. He pushed through the storming darkness, charging toward Shayan. Shayan swung his staff wildly. [Shayan has activated the Fragments of Radiant Light.] Light rained down across the entire floor, attempting to pierce Taesan without escape. ¡®Even so¡­!¡¯ Shayan gritted his teeth. The Call of Destruction had run its course. The flow of mana, which once replenished infinitely, had been severed. But countless magic circles still supported him. Though the darkness of destruction was overwhelming, it wasn¡¯t impossible to withstand. If he could defeat Taesan before exhausting all his mana, he could still win. That was Shayan¡¯s conclusion.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Taesan shared the same thought. Up until now, Shayan had the upper hand. Taesancked information on Shayan, whereas Shayan had observed Taesan¡¯s battle with the Fire Spirit King. However, they had fought long enough. Now, Taesan had a good grasp of Shayan¡¯s abilities. Now was his time. [You have activated Marbas'' Pitch-ck Wave.] Darkness surged, swallowing the falling light into oblivion. [Shayan has activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] The two Frozen Worlds shed. It was inevitable that Taesan¡¯s Frozen World would be overpowered. The weaker cold was consumed by the stronger one. Taesan had never intended to block it entirely. All he wanted was to slow it down slightly. [You have activated the Spark of Cmity.] A fiery force swept across the space, devouring it. Taesan immediately activated Stealth. With his presence erased, Shayan tried to track him by activating the Eyes of Harmonization. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] Taesan emerged through the mes. He moved a step ahead of Shayan¡¯s reactions. Shayan hurriedly mmed his staff down. [Shayan has activated Distortion.] The space twisted. Taesan immediately responded with his skill. [You have activated the Perfect Fairy Wings.] Shayan had been using Distortion to block Taesan¡¯s approach. But Taesan had learned exactly how and when Shayan used Distortion. Bang! The wings fluttered. Taesan flew in a directionpletely different from what Shayan expected. However, Taesan still closed in on Shayan with perfect precision. He had identified the patterns of space distortion and used them to his advantage to narrow the gap. Shayan¡¯s pupils dted as he realized what was happening. His body leapt through space¡ªlimited blink. Taesan activated his own limited blink and stuck close to Shayan. ¡°Y-You¡­!¡± [Shayan has activated Frozen World.] [Shayan has activated Forced Magical Tuning.] Cold energy enveloped Shayan¡¯s body. Frozen World was being used defensively but was in nature offensive magic¡ªit couldn¡¯t be breached by Absolute Judgement. But that didn¡¯t mean it was an invincible defense. After shing swords once, Taesan had already gauged Shayan¡¯s defensive level. [You have activated Naberius'' Golden Sword.] [You have activated Amon''s Pitch-ck Spike.] [You have activated Sabnac''s Thread of Darkness.] Taesan activated all the intermediate dark magic he possessed and unleashed them simultaneously. Boom! ¡°Argh!¡± Shayan¡¯s ice shield shattered. Although Taesan took damage from Sabnac¡¯s Thread, he ignored it and pressed forward. There was nothing left standing between Taesan and Shayan. Taesan plunged his sword into Shayan. [You have activated Transformation.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated the Ring of Twisted Distortion of the Regretful One.] [The cooldown of the de of Willpower has been reset.] [You have activated the de of Willpower.] [You have activated Absolute Judgement.] Crack. The sword pierced through Shayan¡¯s chest. [Shayan received 112,323 damage.] ¡°Gah¡­!¡± Shayan coughed up blood. His face rapidly paled. He grabbed Taesan¡¯s arm with a firm grip. ¡°Let¡¯s go together!¡± [Shayan¡¯s health has reached 0.] [The Final me has been activated.] mes engulfed Taesan. Shayan grinned, but soon, his eyes widened in shock. [Your Endurance has activated.] [The fatal attack has been nullified.] [For 1 second, all damage will be 0.] Taesan withdrew his sword. In his dying state, Shayan let out a bitterugh. ¡°Haha¡­ so you saved that until the very end¡­¡± The battle had started with Shayan holding a clear advantage. Shayan knew everything about Taesan, while Taesan knew nothing about him. Confident in his strategy, Shayan had applied relentless pressure, believing he would overwhelm Taesan. R? But halfway through, the tide began to turn, and Shayan was the one being cornered. His trump card had been perfectly blocked, and even his final self-destruction attempt had been anticipated and countered by Taesan¡¯s Endurance skill. It was an undeniable andplete defeat. ¡°¡­Damn you, Akishaya. Even in the end, you interfere.¡± Muttering, Shayan closed his eyes. ¡°So this is the end of a traitor.¡± With those words, his soul began to drift away from his body. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Soul Ascension has activated.] [Your health permanently increased by 2,481, mana by 2,342, strength by 489, agility by 362, and intelligence by 1,243.] [The Seed of Life has activated.] [Your health increased by 366, mana by 743, strength by 258, agility by 103, and intelligence by 677.] [Soul Ascension has activated.] [Magic proficiency has increased by 6%.] [Frozen World...] [Soul Ascension has activated, and you have obtained Forced Magical Tuning.] [Soul Ascension has activated, and you have obtained the intermediate magic, Distortion.] [You have analyzed numerous possibilities, calcted them, and arrived at the correct conclusion.] [You have obtained the special passive skill, Swift Judgment.] A series of reward notifications appeared, marking the perfect end to the battle. Taesan lowered his sword. ¡°That wasn¡¯t easy.¡± Honestly, he thought it would have been less challenging. He had already defeated Shaman and the Fire Spirit King and grown much stronger since then. But this fight was different. Up until now, Taesan¡¯s opponents had struggled to counter his skills, leaving them vulnerable. In contrast, Shayan had studied Taesan meticulously and tried to exploit every weakness. Shayan certainly had the power to kill Taesan. This battle reminded Taesan that his strengthy in the unique skills that caused opponents to underestimate him. But in the end, it was Taesan who stood victorious. A ghostly voice spoke. [So, you¡¯vee this far. As Shayan said, dealing with the remaining ones will give you quite a headache.] Shayan had thoroughly prepared for this battle, setting up magic circles and defensive zones. He had been far stronger than in a normal fight. And yet, he had been defeated. That meant the remaining higher-ups now had little hope of victory. [They¡¯ll figure it out.] The ghost muttered, sounding indifferent despite it once being his wish to see the higher-ups fall. Even though the ghost had known that Shayan was Manteyak, he hadn¡¯t mentioned it. To him, the higher-ups no longer held much significance. In any case, Taesan had won. Now it was time to im his reward. The space began to tear apart. As the quest waspleted, its reward manifested. What appeared wasn¡¯t a decayed skeleton. It was a middle-aged man, remarkably handsome, with silver hair. Wearing an ornate robe embroidered with gold and holding a finely adorned staff, the man descended into the Labyrinth. [So, the time hase.] It was Akishaya, the skeleton who had given Taesan the quest to defeat Manteyak. He looked at Shayan¡¯s lifeless body and chuckled. [Manteyak. So, this is how it ends. Time in the Labyrinth stretches toward infinity. You had the talent to reach great heights eventually, but your twisted inferiorityplex led us both to this fate.] After murmuring to himself for a moment, Akishaya fell silent. [In the end, I wanted to ask you onest thing... but I suppose that was never meant to be. Well, I¡¯m satisfied enough. Thank you.] Akishaya twirled his staff with a light flick. His robe swayed with the movement. [Since you¡¯ve fulfilled my wish, it¡¯s only right to grant you a fitting reward.] With that, Akishaya¡¯s quest for vengeance and his battle against the higher-ups came to an end. As promised, Akishaya granted Taesan his most powerful magic and the enchanted equipment he had once wielded. With a sh of light, Taesan felt the power descend upon him. Chapter [NaN]: Special Activation Skill On The 73rd Floor. Copy (1) [First, I''ll give you the most powerful and excellent magic I possess.] [You have acquired Magic Stacking.] [You have acquired Magic Liberation.] Magic Stacking. It was the magic that Shayan used. Akishya spoke proudly. [It''s a magic I created. By separating numerous magic cores and fusing them, you can stack different types of magic and use them at once. Not only does it increase power, but it also brings characteristics from each magic, so it will be very helpful.] ¡°I know.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn Akishya hesitated. [You know?] ¡°Shayan used it.¡± [... I see.] Akishyaughed. [You desired it so much, and in the end, you made it yourself. Then, there''s no need to exin further. Test it out while using it directly.] This time, Akishya handed him the staff and robe he had used. Taesan, who received them, checked the level of the equipment. [The Staff of a Great Mage Who Almost Was] [Magic +300] [Mana +5000] [Casting Speed +12%] [A staff belonging to someone who had the power to be a great mage, but died due to a vile betrayal. The staff is deeply imbued with their resentment and talent.] ? It was equipment of a level that couldn¡¯t have been obtained on the floor where Akishya had died. It seemed the quality of the equipment improved ording to the quest level. The robe was of a simr level. Though Taesan, being a swordsman, wouldn¡¯t wear it, it would serve as a fine offering to the god of magic. [This is where my reward ends.] Akishya¡¯s body began to slowly dissipate. [Though I fulfilled my wish¡­ it feels more empty than I thought.] Akishya muttered bitterly. In the end, he died. He could not be resurrected. All of his talent, ability, and potential ended like that. [Such a shame. Aren''t you bound to thisbyrinth with a simr wish to mine?] In response to Akishya¡¯s question, the ghost quietly nodded. Akishya smiled faintly. [We''re in the same boat, then. You¡¯d better prepare yourself. Such an end¡­ is truly empty.] With those final words, Akishya¡¯s body vanished. His soul no longer remained here. His contract waspleted through the fulfillment of his wish, and he left thebyrinth. [¡­] The ghost silently stared at the spot where Akishya had disappeared. [Magic Stacking] [Proficiency: 1%] [Allows the use of multiple stacked magic spells. For now, it can only stack spells of the same type, and the number of stackable spells is very limited.] [Magic Liberation] [Proficiency: 1%] [Liberates stacked magic.] The skill Akishya handed him¡ªMagic Stacking. Testing it with various spells, Taesan realized. ¡°It can be used simrly to dark magic.¡± Dark magic was the power of demons. By opening a portal and receiving their permission, you could unleash the true power of dark magic. However, opening the portal took considerable time, and it had the drawback of increasing mana consumption. Magic Stacking was simr. You could stack magic to maximize its power, but it also took a considerable amount of time due to ack of proficiency. However, the increase in power was undeniable. With Taesan¡¯s Double Casting ability, he could adjust ordingly in different situations. As his proficiency increased, he would eventually be able to use it without dy, just like Shayan did. It was a useful skill. And he had acquired other skills as well, after defeating Shayan. [Forced Magic Tuning] [Proficiency: 1%] [Forcibly tunes magic.] A very simple exnation. Judging from Shayan¡¯s usage, it seemed like a skill that could turn offensive magic into defensive magic, or vice versa. For Taesan, who had mostly offensive skills, it was quite a useful skill. The ability to handle magic in various ways meant increased versatility, which would be greatly beneficial. Through Soul Ascension, he had acquired intermediate magic. £ÛIntermediate Magic: Distortion£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛMana Cost: 150£Ý £ÛTwists space. Currently, it can only twist a small portion of a very limited area.£Ý Taesan decided to test the skill directly. [You have activated Distortion.] Crack. The space twisted. Though the distortion was small¡ªbarely enough for a fist to fit¡ªit was undeniably altered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have much impact.¡± Unlike Shayan, who had used it to block attacks entirely, this skill only affected a tiny space. It seemed challenging to have a significant impact in battle. However¡­ Taesan stroked his chin thoughtfully. He could twist the space ording to his will. Though he couldn¡¯t change the range, he could determine the position and size. This skill might help him retrieve abilities from his past life that he hadn¡¯t yet regained. He decided to practice more to understand its precise effects. £ÛSpecial Continuous Activation Skill: Swift Judgment£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛAssists in making quick decisions during battle.£Ý Swift Judgment. It was one of the skills he had obtainedst in his previous life. Inbat, one must consider multiple possibilities and quickly find the correct answer to act. Swift Judgment, much like how Sense Enhancement heightened the senses, aided in swiftly making decisions. This skill reminded him of another. ¡®Ten Thousand Possibilities.¡¯ A skill that calcted ten thousand scenarios to find the right answer. It was a skill only Lee Taeyeon possessed, one that even Taesan hadn¡¯t obtained. But now, with his current self, he could acquire Ten Thousand Possibilities. Moreover, his proficiency in magic and intermediate magic had increased significantly. After confirming everything, Taesan moved his body. Before descending further into thebyrinth, Taesan sought out Lilis to offer a tribute. £ÛIntermediate Rune Magic: Shield of the White Rune£Ý £ÛProficiency: 1%£Ý £ÛMana Cost: 700£Ý [Summons three rune shields that guard the body, protecting against iing attacks. The shields remain around the user''s body and respond to iing threats.] This was beginner rune magic, earned as a reward for clearing the world of giants. Taesan had rarely used the White Rune Shield since then, as there were no attacks left that beginner magic could block. The god of magic had strengthened that spell. It had be intermediate magic, and as much as the mana cost increased, the power of protection had surely risen as well. It would be a highly useful skill for Taesan, who constantly fought while on the move. There was a considerable gap between beginner and intermediate magic. He was reminded of the advanced magic Shayan had used. Advanced magic, such as Five Shots of Doom, had enough power to kill Taesan with ease. That attack wasn¡¯t a one-time deal but could be used five times. Taesan had survived by utilizing various skills, but had he been even slightlycking, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to withstand the siege and would have died. It was undoubtedly a skill beyond the reach of a mortal. This encounter reaffirmed that advanced magic was a realm only allowed for those who transcended mortality. Taesan continued his descent into thebyrinth. He had yet to clear the 73rd floor. Beyond the ce where he defeated Shayan was the entrance to a cave. Taesan stepped inside. The scent of damp moss and the thick darkness filled the cave. Taesan recalled the clearing conditions for the 73rd floor. [Quest for the 73rd floor initiated.] [Conquer the dungeon and defeat the dungeon master deep inside...] [Reward: Shoes of the One Who Left Footprints on All Lands.] [Secret Reward: ???] Dungeon conquest. Taesan ced his hand on the cave floor, gathering magical energy and opening a portal. [You have activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] Kiiiing! The wave of detection spread throughout the cave, and the information poured into Taesan. He learned that the cave consisted of five floors and was quite vast. ¡°Another dungeon to conquer within thebyrinth?¡± Taesan gripped his sword and ventured deeper into the dungeon. As he moved further in, monsters began to appear. [The Decayed Swordsman. Drain has appeared.] [The Decayed Spearman. Bayan has appeared.] They were withered skeletons. Each wielded weapons and charged toward Taesan. ng! Taesan swung his sword, deflecting the spear aimed at his head and twisting his body to dodge the sword aimed at his thigh. They were fast. Their movements were as skilled as seasoned warriors. When Taesan counterattacked, they skillfully blocked him. Taesan realized who they were. ¡®Adventurers who died on the 73rd floor.¡¯ The deeper floors were notoriously difficult. Although he had now made it through, many like the Guides of Sin had lingered on the 74th floor for a long time. Many must have died. These skeletons were their remains. ng! Taesan applied more force to his sword. The skeletons tried to block but were sent flying, swords and all. In the end, they were failures. They could not stop him. Taesan dove into them. The skeletons, responding based on the experiences engraved into their bodies, tried to react, but Taesan was faster. Crack. He swiftly dispatched two monsters. Taesan casually sheathed his sword. ¡°Their movements aren¡¯t impressive.¡± Perhaps because their souls had already left their bodies, they weren¡¯t particrly formidable. Though they moved with some semnce of self-awareness, that was their limit. Unlike the Guides of Sin, whom Taesan had faced before, theycked a personal edge. Taesan continued his descent. He quickly cleared the first and second floors, reaching the third floor in no time. Though more dead adventurers appeared, none could stop him. [This ce wasn¡¯t originally designed this way.] The ghost muttered. Compared to Taesan, the ghost had descended thebyrinth with what would be considered normal strength. So, he understood. As Taesan had said, the dead adventurers didn¡¯t retain their full strength from when they were alive, but they were still talented enough to have reached the 73rd floor. Facing so many of them would pose a considerable challenge for an ordinary adventurer. The original design of the 73rd floor likely intended for adventurers to analyze the movements of the dead adventurers one by one, slowly working through the challenge over time. Depending onpatibility and skill, this floor could take an enormous amount of time. But for Taesan, there was no thrill. He was conquering the depths of thebyrinth as if taking a leisurely stroll. Considering the way the depths were structured and their intended difficulty, this should have been impossible. Taesan¡¯s pace did not falter. Since this was a dungeon, there was a hidden room. He quickly located it using Territory Detection and retrieved the secret reward. £ÛShield of Aegis, Now Endowed with Divinity£Ý £ÛDefense +150£Ý £ÛThe shield used by the great saint Aegis when they transcended humanity and ascended to divinity.£Ý [Provides immunity to all damage for 1 second. This effect has a one-month cooldown.] ¡°So, it¡¯s an upgraded version of Aegis¡¯ shield.¡± The Aegis shield Taesan possessed granted immunity to all damage for one second but came with the penalty that the user could not move during that time. This shield had removed that penalty. Taesan, who had experienced the power of immunity while using the Aegis shield, knew just how valuable this shield was. He ced the shield into his inventory and resumed his dungeon exploration. He moved at an incredible pace. A dungeon that would take ordinary adventurers an extended period to clear, Taesan reached the end of in less than an hour. And then, he encountered the boss of the 73rd floor. [The Decayed Lich, Mkas, has appeared.] A skeleton holding a staff, d in a ck robe, stood before him. A lich, a powerful undead creature born from the death of a wizard. ¡°Another wizard, huh.¡± Taesan unsheathed his sword. Mkas rattled his jaw and raised his staff. The empty sockets of his skull were filled with clear hostility directed at Taesan. [Mkas activated Frost Arrow.] Taesan dodged the iing arrow with a swift leap. As he closed the distance, Mkas brought his staff down. [Mkas activated Frozen World.] Crack! A bitter cold surged forward, and frost began to gather in the narrow cave. ¡°You can even use intermediate magic?¡± Taesan murmured in admiration. This was truly the deep floors of thebyrinth. Even monsters could use intermediate magic here. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] However, it was still not particrly impressive. The frost was shattered by the Starlight Arrow Taesan cast. Mkas hurriedly raised his staff. [Mkas activated the Iron Wall of Protection.] ng! A blue barrier collided with the Starlight Arrow, sending a ripple of power through the cave. Taesan quickly closed in on Mkas. Mkas swung his staff in defense. Mkas was not weak. He skillfully wielded intermediate magic, putting pressure on Taesan. But Taesan had just fought Shayan, someone who delved into the secrets of magic. The difference in base power was clear, and Mkas fell to Taesan not long after. Click-ck. Separated bones ttered to the ground. Just as Taesan was about to gather his rewards after sheathing his sword¡­ Click-click-click. The shattered bones began to reassemble. Though Mkas had clearly fallen due to ack of health, he began to form again, eyes filled with hostility once more, turning toward Taesan. [The Decayed Lich, Mkas, has revived.] Chapter [NaN]: Special Activation Skill On The 73rd Floor. Copy (2) ¡°He lost.¡± The Guides of Sin. Their leaders were gathered in one ce. With the permission of the Demon God, they were able to observe the battle between Taesan and Shayan. They had all witnessed firsthand what transpired and how it concluded. ¡°What will you do?¡± Someone spoke. No answer came back. Silence lingered among the Guides of Sin. The Lion King¡¯s face was stiff, and Societ remained silent. Ambracia scratched his head with a grim expression. The others were no different. All were silent, shocked expressions on their faces.¡°For now¡­ let¡¯s sort things out.¡± Ambracia barely opened his mouth. ¡°The first one to go after Taesan was Shaman. His defeat was surprising, but understandable.¡± Shaman, who boasted absolute defense. Even among the leadership, not many could break through his defense. Since Taesan had descended less deeply into the Labyrinth than them, they thought Shaman would return victorious without any issue. However, Shaman lost to Taesan. That fact shocked them all. ¡°It was confusing¡­ but, on the other hand, Shaman¡¯s power was focused solely on defense.¡± If there was a skill that ignored defense itself, it wasn¡¯t so difficult to defeat Shaman. They believed there must have been a reason the Demon God only allowed Shaman to be sent from the leadership. ¡°Next was Vishnu.¡± The King of me Spirits, Vishnu. They believed this time they would win. Vishnu¡¯s attack power was among the top within the leadership. Few could withstand her power when she invoked the King¡¯s World. But Vishnu also lost. ¡°Even then, it was fine. We could understand.¡± They had only been allowed to observe the battle after the fight with Shaman. Vishnu had fought without any information about Taesan. Moreover, Taesan had prepared countermeasures against Vishnu. Even her King¡¯s World was countered with a skill that partially altered the world, so Taesan¡¯s victory wasn¡¯t too surprising. They epted the defeat of the Spirit King. Next to step up was the Grand Mage, Shayan. After the fight with Vishnu, they had perfectly grasped Taesan¡¯s power. Shayan, being a magician, had ascended to the 73rd floor in advance, preparing numerous magic circles while waiting for Taesan to arrive. This time, they were certain they would win. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say Shayan was one of the strongest among them. However, even Shayan was defeated. That meant none of them could defeat Taesan in a one-on-one fight. Ambracia smirked bitterly. ¡°What do we do now?¡± ¡°¡­Do we really need to fight him?¡± Someone spoke, their voice tinged with fear. The Lion King¡¯s face twisted. ¡°He¡¯s already killed three of us. Are we going to just leave him alone?¡± ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re stuck at the 74th floor, and we only joined forces to break through it. We never had a strong bond of camaraderie to begin with. You were the odd ones.¡± ?? ¡°You bastard¡­¡± ¡°Even if we try to fight together, the Demon God is watching. It¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°If one won¡¯t work, we can go in twos. We even have someone specialized in that among us.¡± ¡°If the Twin Whites team up, there might be a chance¡­ but it¡¯s still dangerous.¡± ¡°So, what, you want us all to die together?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s simple. We just hide.¡± They nned to run away. At those words, the Lion King¡¯s aura red. ¡°No pride at all, huh.¡± ¡°We gave up our pride the moment we decided to tackle the 74th floor together.¡± The one opposing the Lion King sneered. ¡°Lion King, you¡¯re no great king right now. Recognize that.¡± The Lion King¡¯s face twisted in anger. Power surged in all directions as tension escted. Voices rose, and the two began to argue fiercely. ¡°This is a mess.¡± Ambracia clicked his tongue as he watched the scene unfold. The Lion King and his opponent had never been on good terms, but they had never shed so openly before. It showed how cornered they were. They had reached the 77th floor of the Labyrinth. Although they were still some distance from Taesan, they knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before he arrived. ¡°Is this the end for us?¡± Ambracia smiled bitterly.
The lich stood there, unchanged from the beginning. The lich¡¯s jaw clicked as it cast its magic. [Mkas has activated the Surge of Magic Crystals.] Shards of mana rained down. Taesan dodged the magic by leaping. ¡°Resurrecting, huh?¡± Taesan murmured briefly, then put strength into his legs. As the shards of mana fell, he deflected them with sheer force and closed the distance to Mkas in an instant. [Mkas has activated the Wave of Liberation.] Compressed mana burst out, pushing Taesan back. As he temporarily widened the gap, Mkas cast magic again, pressing Taesan. Crash! Taesan deflected the frost arrows. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Magic Focus.] Mkas hurriedly deployed the Wall of Protection to block the charging star arrow. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] The Starlight Arrow exploded. Power surged toward Mkas as he tried to deploy the Wall of Protection. Taesan approached the staggering Mkas and swung his sword. Before long, Mkas copsed. But the shattered bones on the ground began to rise again. [The decaying lich, Mkas, has been resurrected.] Click, click. The lich¡¯s jaw moved as it cast magic again, just as before. Taesan dodged and observed his opponent. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [You have activated Essence Perception.] [A lich that has hidden its life force externally.] [Unless its life force is destroyed, the lich will continue to resurrect.] ¡°A life vessel, huh.¡± No matter how many times he defeated the lich in front of him, it was meaningless. The lich¡¯s life force was hidden elsewhere. And before long, Taesan figured out where that was. The cave wall. A very narrow crack. Something was flickering inside it. That was the lich¡¯s life vessel. Now that he had identified its location, Taesan could ignore the enemy in front of him and destroy it, clearing the 73rd floor. But Taesan didn¡¯t do that. He dodged the iing magic and quietly observed Mkas. The enemy in front of him continued to resurrect. It seemed that Mkas retained his memories from before each resurrection, as the way he responded subtly changed. He also seemed to have a degree of self-awareness. ¡°A lich endlessly resurrects unless that thing is destroyed, right?¡± [That''s correct.] If that was the case, it could be possible. Taesan gripped his sword tightly. First, he needed to clearly understand the situation and conditions. He swiftly rushed forward and struck down Mkas once more. [The decaying lich, Mkas, has resurrected.] And once again, Mkas resurrected. It was as if he was mocking Taesan¡¯s fruitless efforts, his jaw ttering together. It appeared Mkas had a certain level of will and self-awareness. [Mkas has activated the Frozen World.] Frost surged forward. Taesan leaped, gauging the power embedded in the Frozen World. The first Frozen World Mkas used. It was exactly the same as before. This meant that Mkas did not lose any strength with each resurrection. Taesan kicked off the ground, avoiding the Frozen World, and unleashed his magic. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Magic Focus.] Starlight Arrow with Magic Focus. Previously, Mkas had tried to respond with the Wall of Protection, so Taesan had countered with a magic explosion. This time, how would he respond? Mkas raised his staff. [Mkas has activated the Frozen World.] Frost surged forward again. The Starlight Arrow shattered the frost, but the sh of forces significantly weakened its power. [Mkas has activated the Wall of Protection.] Boom! Thus, the Wall of Protection was able to block the Starlight Arrow. Now it was certain. Mkas resurrected with all his memories intact. Unless the life vessel was destroyed, Mkas would resurrect infinitely. And in the process, he lost no power. He resurrected with all his memories, and with the will and self-awareness to mock Taesan¡¯s futile efforts. Taesan was now certain. He could obtain the special activation skill, Copy. Click! From that point, Taesan¡¯s movements changed. Instead of focusing on defeating Mkas, he intentionally dragged out the fight, provoking Mkas to use all his powers. In doing so, Taesan began analyzing each of Mkas¡¯s spells one by one. ¡®Frozen World, Wave of Liberation, Wall of Protection, Scorching Orb, Frost Arrow, Surge of Magic Crystals, Earthquake.¡¯ There were eight in total. Even after further pressure, Mkas didn¡¯t reveal any more spells, so Taesan assumed these were all he had. The ghost, who had been quietly observing, asked curiously. [What skill are you trying to get this time?] The ghost had watched Taesan acquire numerous skills. Attack Nullification, Addition, Absolute Judgement, Absolute Blessing, and more. Priceless skills. And not just one, but many. By now, the ghost had reached a state where he enjoyed seeing what skill Taesan wanted and how he would obtain it, rather than being shocked or amazed. [The condition seems to be an enemy that resurrects infinitely. That¡¯s what it looks like so far. After that, I¡¯m not sure. Does the opponent have to be a magician?] ¡°If it¡¯s a magician, that¡¯s convenient, but it¡¯s not strictly necessary.¡± Taesan responded. ¡°Copy.¡± [Copy?] The ghost pondered the meaning of the word for a moment before asking. [¡­You mean copying the attack?] ¡°You got it right.¡± [What?] The ghost let out a hollowugh. [Copying means you also take the skill and power contained in that attack, right? Like copying an attack activated by the de of Determination.] Taesan nodded. The ghost shook his head, realizing his guess was correct. [That¡¯s just ridiculous.] At present, Taesan could achieve over a hundred thousand damage in a single strike using techniques like Transform, Addition, and the de of Determination. Copying that without any conditions or restrictions would mean doubling that damage. While the ghost was impressed by the effect, there was something even more intriguing to him.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om [What condition do you have to meet for that?] Skills in the Labyrinth were obtained by replicating the effects of a skill in some way. Addition required him to double his attack power through sheer persistence, and Absolute Judgement required him to attack an ever-changing opponent¡¯s defense as if it didn¡¯t exist. So what was the condition for obtaining Copy? The ghost couldn¡¯t even guess what it might be. ¡°You¡¯ll understand as you keep watching.¡± Taesan replied briefly and continued to move. He dashed toward Mkas, who was chanting a spell. Chapter [NaN]: Special Activation Skill On The 73rd Floor. Copy (3) [Mkas activated the Echo of the Earth.] Kugugung! The earth trembled in waves. Taesan pushed off the ground, narrowly avoiding the surging tide of soil. As Taesan leaped into the air, Mkas cast a spell aimed at him. Taesan swung his sword, deflecting the iing magic, then kicked off into the air. He activated Spatial Leap, flying toward Mkas. Ka-ga-ga-gak! After a long battle, Taesan finally defeated Mkas. [The decayed Lich, Mkas, has resurrected.] Mkas resurrected again, sneering at Taesan as he began chanting magic.Taesan gripped his sword and dashed forward. The ghost watched the scene silently. [Not sure about this.] Taesan had been fighting Mkas nonstop for a full day. Ka-ga-ga-gak! Barely blocking Mkas¡¯s attacks, Taesan showed a small opening. Mkas seemed to enjoy this, thinking he had the upper hand, clicking his tongue gleefully. No matter how closely the ghost watched, he couldn¡¯t figure out what Taesan was aiming for. Eventually, the ghost gave up. [Exin it to me. What are the conditions, and how do you acquire it?] ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± [Not a clue.] The ghost was undoubtedly strong. He had the talent and ability to conquer thebyrinth. But his strength was focused on swordsmanship. The ghost was less adept at understanding and analyzing the conditions for various skillspared to Taesan. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°The enemy must resurrect endlessly.¡± Ka-ga-kak! Taesan deflected an ice arrow and dodged the iing wave of magical energy. ¡°And when they resurrect, there must be no loss of power.¡± [That much I understand. But beyond that, I¡¯m clueless.] ¡°And they must have self-awareness. Even if they aren¡¯t perfect or extraordinary, they need enough self-awareness to make decisions and change their tactics in battle.¡± [Self-awareness?] ¡°And they must retain the memories from their previous lives upon resurrection. So far, these are the four conditions.¡± There could be other conditions, but Taesan wasn¡¯t sure. Still puzzled, the ghost asked again. [You get the Copy skill with those conditions? How do you meet the acquisition criteria?] ¡°Defeat the enemy once, and then defeat the resurrected enemy with the exact same battle.¡± Taesan exined, and the ghost hesitated. [...The same battle?] ¡°Yes.¡± Kwajik. Taesan defeated Mkas. The shattered bones scattered on the ground began to reassemble themselves. [Not just the final attack, but the entire battle has to be the same?] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± From the start of the fight to the end, everything must be copied perfectly. That was the condition to obtain the Copy skill. [That¡¯s ridiculous.] The ghost chuckled sarcastically. [Is that even possible?] Addition, Absolute Judgement, Absolute Protection. All the skills Taesan had obtained so far were based on nearly impossible conditions. Taesan had ovee those impossibilities to acquire the skills. By now, the ghost was getting used to it and was rarely surprised by anything. But the condition for Copy baffled even the ghost. [Copy the entire battle? How on earth is that even possible?] The reason Taesan had been able to acquire his skills up until now was that he minimized variables as much as possible. In the case of Addition, the opponent barely moved. All he had to do was adjust his sword strikes and hit them perfectly. The timid shapeshifter, blinded by fear, acted like a machine, responding with mechanical precision when taking a certain amount of damage. Timing it perfectly allowed Taesan to acquire Absolute Judgement. The conditions for Absolute Protection were absurd, but once he understood them, all he had to do was use a potion and wait, making the acquisition rtively easy. There were almost no variables, or if there were, they were factors that Taesan could control. But this time was different. Mkas had self-awareness. During the battle, he could react differently depending on Taesan¡¯s movements. That was something Taesan couldn¡¯t control. In fact, Mkas had often responded differently to the same moves Taesan used. [You can¡¯t just defeat him in one hit, right?] ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact condition, but you need to exchange a certain number of blows.¡± [Huh.] The ghost chuckled at the idea of needing to adapt to the enemy¡¯s responses. [You can''t control the variables. Does that mean you can¡¯t obtain the skill?] ¡°Why not?¡± There were certainly more variables, and it was trickier than acquiring the other skills. But it wasn¡¯t impossible to control. ¡°I can obtain it.¡± Taesan calmly replied and moved his body. The ghost said nothing more. In the ghost¡¯s judgment, it seemed impossible. But Taesan had always obtained such skills in the past. So it was best to observe silently. The ghost made that decision. Time passed. Taesan continued to defeat Mkas. And during that process, he gradually adjusted his movements. He intentionally slowed down just enough for Mkas to react, leaving enough gaps for Mkas to exploit. Unaware of what was happening, Mkas attacked the gaps that Taesan created. That was how four days passed. After plunging his sword into Mkas¡¯s chest and defeating him, Taesan checked his overall condition. His mind was clear. His muscles were not fatigued. His stamina was intact.N?v(el)B\\jnn Maintaining 100%bat efficiency meant that a mere four days of battle didn¡¯t deplete his stamina. ¡°Well then.¡± Taesan had fully grasped Mkas after these four days. It was time to begin. Taesan stomped his foot, charging straight at Mkas. It was an obvious move. Mkas¡¯s response was equally predictable. First, block and then assess the situation. [Mkas activated Scorching Sphere.] A ball of fire flew towards Taesan¡¯s head. Taesan lowered his stance, pressed his body to the ground, and continued to rush forward. [Mkas activated the Echo of the Earth.] The ground surged and rippled. Taesan kicked off the ground and leapt into the air. As Taesan ascended, Mkas activated Frozen World. Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeok! (Sound of freezing) [You activated Airborne Leap.] Taesan¡¯s body soared even higher, evading the Frozen World. [You activated Landing.] Taesan¡¯s body crashed down. Mkas braced for impact. [Mkas activated the Iron Wall of Protection.] [Mkas activated the Wave of Liberation.] Ka-a-ang! Taesan¡¯s sword collided with the barrier surrounding Mkas. The ensuing wave pushed Taesan back. Mkas swung his staff at Taesan, who was suspended in midair. [Mkas activated Magic Crystal Surge.] [You activated Frozen World.] Taesan activated Frozen World. Mkas also activated Frozen World, blocking the remaining effects with the Iron Wall of Protection. Ka-ga-gak! The battle continued, both sides searching for openings. Ta-da-dak! Mkas clicked his tongue in excitement. He was exhrated at this moment. The battle was unfolding exactly as he had nned, in a way he had never experienced during his lifetime. He felt as if a higher realm was weing him. Ka-ga-ga-gak! Yet, despite his excitement, Mkas fell. He couldn¡¯t block the Frozen World that Taesan cast after moving back with a Limited blink. Taesan leapt backward to create distance again. [The decayed Lich, Mkas, has resurrected.] Ta-da-dak. The resurrected Mkas clicked his tongue joyfully. He was now confident of his victory. The adventurer in front of him was strong, but he hadn¡¯t figured out where Mkas¡¯s life vessel was hidden. Moreover, with each repeated battle, Mkas was growing stronger. He was perfectly responding to the enemy¡¯s attacks and executing optimal counterattacks. This time, he believed with certainty that he would win. And Taesan thought the same. ¡°Shall we begin?¡± Taesan took a breath and charged forward. The position where Taesan ran was exactly the same as in the previous battle. Mkas raised his staff toward the charging Taesan. [Mkas activated Scorching Sphere.] Taesan lowered his stance and dodged the iing Scorching Sphere. Mkas smirked. The opponent was approaching in the exact same way as before. The previous battle had been incredibly close. If he moved a bit more efficiently, he could win. Thus, there was no need to act differently. He would fight in the same manner as before and make a slight adjustment when the time came. [Mkas activated the Echo of the Earth.] The ground rippled. Taesan kicked off the ground to avoid it. As Taesan flew through the air, Mkas quickly considered what to activate next. Ice Arrows wouldn¡¯t work. Magic Crystal Surge was also unsuitable. The opponent had the Airborne Leap skill. First, he needed to make Taesan use that skill. Thus, activating Frozen World, likest time, was optimal. [Mkas activated Frozen World.] [You activated Airborne Leap.] Taesan rose into the air. Previously, Mkas had used the Iron Wall of Protection and the Wave of Liberation to push him away. This time, he nned to pierce through him by activating Ice Arrows. [You activated Landing.] But Taesan¡¯s descent was elerating. As Mkas prepared to cast Ice Arrows, he realized toote. Taesan¡¯s falling speed was incredibly fast. In the previous battle, Mkas hadn¡¯t noticed because he had been acting on instinct, but now he understood that responding with attack magic at that speed was impossible. Furthermore, the strength imbued in Taesan¡¯s sword was too great for a single spell to block, something Mkas had realized through their prior battles. In the end, all he could do was defend. [Mkas activated the Iron Wall of Protection.] [Mkas activated the Wave of Liberation.] The two spells activated simultaneously. Taesan¡¯s sword shattered the Iron Wall, and the wave pushed him back. As Taesan soared and began to fall again, Mkas considered which skill would best suppress him. Several skills shed through his mind. Ice Arrows or Scorching Sphere weren¡¯t efficient choices. The Echo of the Earth, being a ground-based skill, was meaningless against an airborne opponent. Frozen World wasn¡¯t appropriate in this situation, based on his previous experience fighting Taesan. He reached his conclusion. [Mkas activated Magic Crystal Surge.] Finally, Mkas realized. The battle was unfolding in the exact same way as before. [...Ah.] The ghost realized it, too. Taesan had shown subtle gaps as the battles went on. He narrowly dodged Mkas¡¯s skills and deliberately created openings. [It was all to guide him.] Mkas had self-awareness and remembered their previous battles. Therefore, when responding to Taesan¡¯s attacks, he recalled those memories and moved toward the optimal solution. In other words, Taesan could manipte Mkas¡¯s movements in certain situations based on how he had behaved in their prior battles. [This... This is incredible.] The ghost, who hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the hundreds or thousands of battles over the past four days, now understood. Taesan had analyzed Mkas¡¯s responses in every single battle, meticulously designing his movements to acquire the Copy skill. All four days of fighting had been preparation for this final battle. Mkas realized it, too. Taesan had fought all these battles solely to reach this point. Mkas quickly made a decision. If that was the case, all he needed to do was act differently from what Taesan expected. He was an adventurer who had once reached the depths. Though now reduced to mere bones, his talent and judgment remained intact. Mkas watched as Taesan blocked the Magic Crystal Surge. In their previous battle, Taesan had activated Frozen World in this situation. This time was no different. As if anticipating Mkas¡¯s Magic Crystal Surge, Taesan activated Frozen World. Mkas, determined to alter the course of the battle, raised his staff. But he realized something. There were no other spells. Scorching Sphere, Ice Arrows, Magic Crystal Surge¡ªall of them could not counter Taesan¡¯s Frozen World. The only skill that could respond was Frozen World itself. And the power contained in Taesan¡¯s Frozen World was stronger than Mkas¡¯s own. To counter it, Mkas had to first activate Frozen World and then block it with the Iron Wall of Protection. Only then could he gain the upper hand. Mkas, who possessed the talent to reach the depths, understood this. It was the optimal action¡ªone that could neither be added to nor subtracted from. [You activated Frozen World.] [Mkas activated Frozen World.] [Mkas activated the Iron Wall of Protection.] In the end, the battle proceeded in exactly the same way as before. Mkas was horrified. In the previous battle, he had believed the battle was going exactly as he had designed, that it was unfolding ording to his n. He had been excited, certain that he was seeing a higher realm. Because the defeat had been so close, he thought that just by slightly changing his strategy, he could win. How foolish that thought had been. All of it was the result of Taesan having blocked every other option. There was only one move Mkas could make. Unaware of this, he had deluded himself into thinking the battle was going as he wanted. In reality, he had been dancing in the palm of Taesan¡¯s hand all along. It was Mkas who had been analyzed by Taesan. Every action he took, every skill he used, every decision he made had been dissected and predicted by Taesan. Mkas¡¯s grip on his staff began to weaken. But regardless of that, his hand continued to raise the staff. He was, after all, a monster of thebyrinth. Until he fell, he had no choice but to fight. Taesan pressed against the wall and charged forward. In the previous battle, the spell Mkas had used was Echo of the Earth. Mkas desperately wanted to cast a different spell. But he couldn¡¯t. Over the course of the four-day battle, this scenario had yed out repeatedly. Every spell he had used had been shattered, and the one with the highest chance of sess was Echo of the Earth. Taesan was aiming to replicate the same battle. To break this progression, Mkas would need to use a different spell than Echo of the Earth. But even though he had be a Lich, Mkas had once been a wizard who had reached the depths of power. He had always chosen the correct answer. Now, he could not bring himself to choose a wrong one. [Mkas activated Echo of the Earth.] Taesan had been waiting for that spell. The battle continued. And with everything proceeding in the same way as before, the fight was steadily reaching its conclusion. [You activated Starlight Arrows.] Starlight Arrows flew toward Mkas. He had no room to use any other magic. Even knowing the predetermined oue, Mkas immediately activated Frozen World and the Iron Wall of Protection. But the sheer power shattered the Iron Wall. [You activated Limited Blink.] Taesan blinked behind Mkas. Mkas wanted to counter somehow. He twisted his body and raised his staff with all his might. But even this movement was exactly the same as in the previous battle. [You activated Frozen World.] The freezing air engulfed Mkas. Chapter [NaN]: Special Activation Skill On The 73rd Floor. Copy (4) Mkas copsed. Simultaneously, a system window appeared. [You have won two perfectly identical battles against the same enemy.] [You have acquired the special activation skill [Copy].] Copy. Atst, he had obtained that skill. Taesan rxed the tightly tensed muscles of his entire body. Click-click. Fragments of bone began to rise. Mkas¡¯ empty pupils glowed menacingly. He could not tolerate the fact that he had be someone else¡¯s experiment. Filled with rage, he grabbed his staff. ¡°I have no more business with you.¡±Taesan kicked off the ground. He leaped and struck the gap where the Life Vessel was. With a scream, the Life Vessel exploded. Thus, the 73rd floor came to an end. [Your Soul Ascension has activated.] [Mana has permanently increased by 434, and Intelligence by 112.] [Your Soul Ascension has...] [Magic proficiency has...] [World proficiency has...] [Soul Ascension has activated...] [You have obtained the beginner magic [Mana Crystal Surge].] Taesan sheathed his sword. ¡°It was easier to obtain than I thought.¡± Mkas was the perfect opponent to acquire Copy. He not only resurrected with exactly the same power but also possessed excellent skills, though he still fell short of Taesan. Yet, with the pride unique to one who had stepped into the Deep Floors, he could not bring himself to engage in a suicidal act, like throwing himself at Taesan¡¯s attacks. Even though he knew that the oue would be destruction if Taesan forced the right answer, he couldn¡¯t help but move ordingly. In short, he was an opponent whose variables Taesan could control. Thus, Taesan¡¯s task was exceedingly simple. He just needed to identify the patterns of the eight types of magic Mkas used. What magic did Mkas use when he judged himself to be at a disadvantage? What magic did he use when he judged himself to be at an advantage? What about when Taesan approached, and what when Taesan had already closed in? What about when Taesan wielded certain magic? ?£Á¦­???§§? Taesan grasped and remembered all these conditions. [This doesn¡¯t seem easy.] The ghost muttered quietly. Simply judging by the oue, one might think that all they had to do was analyze and induce the correct answers that Mkas chose. But even if Mkas had died, he was still an adventurer who had ventured into the Deep Floors. Though his body was now a soulless shell, it still possessed remarkable judgment and talent. He could calcte thousands of possibilities in an instant and choose the correct answer. Forcing such a being to select only the correct answers meant that one had to be able to calcte far more possibilities than even a magician who had ventured into the Deep Floors. At least, it was impossible for the ghost. It was only feasible for someone like Taesan, who could calcte and judge the many possible oues from countless skills. Taesan opened his skill window. [Beginner Magic: Mana Crystal Surge] [Mana Consumption: 10] [Proficiency: 1%] [It creates patterns of crystallized mana and surges forward.] He had thoroughly analyzed its usage, power, and range while fighting Mkas. It wasn¡¯t useful against strong opponents, but in terms of dominating space, it had its merits. And then there was the skill he had struggled for four days to obtain. [Special Activation Skill: Copy] [Mana Consumption: 2] [Proficiency: 1%] [It copies the results of a specific action. For now, it can only copy attacks. The skill has a cooldown of one hour.] Three short sentences. Yet the meaning within them was immense. The ghost chuckled. [It¡¯s practically four times your attack power.] Right now, Taesan could unleash an attack power exceeding 100,000 with skills like Addition, de of Will, and Conversion. On top of that, Copy was a skill that added an equivalent amount of attack power. In terms of sheer destructive force in a single blow, even adventurers who had reached the 100th floor could fall shortpared to the current Taesan. [An hour of cooldown is ridiculously short for its performance. Judging from the description, it seems like you¡¯ll be able to copy things other than attackster on. This is...] Copy was yet another skill that defied understanding. The ghost shook its head. [Just out of curiosity, how many useless skills, unlike Copy or Addition, have you acquired?] ¡°I¡¯d say several times as many.¡± The ghost nodded at the calm answer. [Yeah. That makes sense. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t add up.] Thebyrinth¡¯s system granted adventurers skillsmensurate with the oues of their actions. But the results of those actions weren¡¯t always necessarily right. There was a high possibility that the skill acquired after months of effort might turn out to be entirely useless in actualbat. Taesan had experienced this many times himself. After dedicating over a year to obtaining a single skill, it turned out to be apletely worthless skill that he couldn¡¯t use in any situation. Having ovee all that futility and emptiness, he had acquired skills like Attack Nullification and Copy after countless challenges. Just as Taesan was about to descend further into thebyrinth, the contract inside him began to stir. The subject of the contract was calling for him. Taesan stopped in his tracks. [You have summoned Minerva, King of the Wind Spirits.] As the wind swirled, a female figure materialized. She lightly ced her foot on the ground. ¡°Hello, master! Judging by your appearance, you won without any problems?¡± ¡°Thanks to you. What¡¯s going on?¡± Minerva scratched her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s a bitplicated¡­ Could you possiblye to our world?¡± Taesan pondered briefly and then asked. ¡°The Spirit Realm?¡± [You¡¯re inviting him to the Spirit Realm?] Minerva nodded. ¡°Do you remember the mad spirit? I need your help regarding that.¡± Taesan took a step forward. Weing him was the overwhelming power of nature. The air was so thick with energy that it felt suffocating. Even the most skilled spirit summoners could be overwhelmed by this force and copse from its intensity. Taesan turned his gaze. It was vividly colorful. The rainbow hues spread in every direction, and he could sense the presence of spirits wandering around. ¡°This is the Spirit Realm. What do you think?¡± Minerva smiled brightly, raising her arms. The power she exuded now was stronger and more elevated than when he had summoned her. Before long, Barkaza also appeared. [You¡¯ve arrived, master.] [Spirits inviting an outsider into the Spirit Realm... Isn''t this a ce even the King¡¯s contractor can¡¯t enter?] The ghost¡¯s voice wasced with surprise, as if this were a rare urrence. Minerva opened her mouth. ¡°This time, the master is involved. Even throughout the history of spirits, this is something extremely rare, so it seems the other kings decided after much deliberation.¡± She turned her body toward the giant green tree in the distance. ¡°Come this way first.¡± Taesan followed her deeper into the Spirit Realm. Numerous eyes were fixed on him. Most of those gazes were filled with hostility and suspicion. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel great.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°Well, to be honest, master, you¡¯ve defeated quite a few spirits. Even if they understand the circumstances, it¡¯s hard for them not to be hostile.¡± Minerva waved her hand. As the wind swirled, the spirits were startled and fled in a panic. The spirits showing hostility were at most intermediate to advanced level. For the current Taesan, they could be defeated with a single blow, so he wasn¡¯t particrly concerned. Taesan¡¯s attention was elsewhere. He touched a flower that emitted a transparent light. Within it was a power that could be used as a material for partial world alteration. ¡°Can¡¯t I take this with me?¡± ¡°These things? It¡¯s tough. The objects from the Spirit Realm are forbidden from leaving. If it were possible, I would¡¯ve brought some for you myself.¡± He had used up all his materials for partial world alteration. It was unfortunate that he couldn¡¯t replenish them. Looking around, Taesan entered the massive tree at the center of the Spirit Realm. [You have arrived.] [You¡¯re here.] [Are you the human?] There were five Spirit Kings gathered there. Earth, water, darkness, and more. Each possessed various attributes, and they looked at Taesan with curiosity and wariness at the same time. Simultaneously, they exuded a faint aura, as if they were testing Taesan. Taesan didn¡¯t look directly at them. He also effortlessly brushed off the pressure they emitted. They were strong, but not even close to the level of Vishnu, who had stepped into the Deep Floors. They were not Taesan¡¯s enemies. The Spirit Kings who had been observing Taesan quietly spoke. [...A human with such power?] [Vishnu. That bastard had iting. What in the world is this?] Their words were filled with shock and awe. Taesan¡¯s gaze shifted to the bird emitting a bright light from behind them. From that Spirit King, he could feel a power on a different level from the others. At least an immortal level. Taesan couldn¡¯t defeat this opponent with his current strength. [Wee, Contractor of the Spirit King. I am Ariel, the Spirit King of Light, who has existed since the birth of the Spirit Realm.] Ariel gestured to the other Spirit Kings. [Let me speak with him first. Please be silent for a moment.] [If Ariel says so... Minerva,e over here too.] ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Even among the Spirit Kings, Ariel seemed to hold the most authority, and the others obediently followed her words. Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°What have you summoned me for?¡± Minerva had mentioned that the Spirit Kings called for him because of an issue involving the mad spirit. Whether to ept or not was up to him. There was no reason to refuse, so Taesan had epted. Ariel slowly pped her wings. [I have a proposal rted to you.] The space opened up, revealing a pure white aura. Taesan instantly knew what it was. The mad spirit. A broken being that had in the Fire Spirit King and achieved its own desires. Its will and soul were contained within. [A pitiful being.] Ariel¡¯s voice was filled with sympathy. [The Fire Spirit King, Vishnu, who betrayed our mother and left the Spirit Realm. She wished to transcend the limits of her lifespan. The mad spirit was a tool she created to maintain her consciousness.] Ariel continued speaking quietly. [I could not stop Vishnu from leaving. I intend to help the mad spirit live aplete life somehow, aspensation for my failure. But unfortunately, I am incapable.] Ariel was the strongest among the Spirit Kings. But in the end, she was still a spirit. [As a spirit, I cannot touch another spirit without our mother¡¯s permission. That¡¯s why I need your help.] The space split open, revealing a fiery orb. It was the core of the Fire Spirit King, which Taesan had obtained after defeating Vishnu. [I can grant the power of an unowned spirit to the mad spirit. But the owner of this core is none other than you.] The ownership belonged to Taesan. That was why he had been summoned to the Spirit Realm. [What will you do? You can choose whatever you wish. This core ultimately belongs to you. However, if you ept my proposal, I can reward you generously.] After quietly listening to Ariel¡¯s proposal, Taesan finally spoke. Chapter [NaN]: 74th Floor, Battlefield Of The Immortals (1) Taesan epted Ariel¡¯s proposal. The core of the Spirit King might hold great value to the spirits, but to Taesan, it was just a useful material. There was no reason to refuse as long as he received equivalentpensation. [Thank you for epting the proposal, contractor of Minerva.] Ariel expressed gratitude. She slowly moved the soul of the mad spirit and the core of the Spirit King. [There might be a slight impact. No need to step back... though I suppose it won''t be a problem for you.] Ariel, who had intended to challenge Taesan, changed her tone. [Feel free to watch as you like. Then, everyone.] [Understood.] The five Spirit Kings, including Minerva, gathered before Ariel.Taesan, watching from behind, asked them. ¡°So, will it be the King of Fire Spirits?¡± [That would be difficult. While the mad spirit does acquire the power held within the Spirit King''s core, bing a Spirit King isn¡¯t something achieved through mere strength. Moreover, the mad spirit''s condition is far from favorable.] The mad spirit had sacrificed everything to harm the Fire Spirit King. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of burning life away. The soul and essence¡ªthe entirety of its being¡ªwere offered up with a resolve close to abandonment. Only then was it possible. [It will take considerable strength just to restore the broken state. It won¡¯t reach the power of a king.] The soul of the mad spirit and the core of the Spirit King began to slowly spiral towards each other. [We are attempting to merge the essence and core of the Spirit King. A single mistake could be dangerous, so focus.] Boom! The two forces collided, creating a shockwave. A powerful force radiated from the core. It was an intensely condensed energy that even Taesan couldn¡¯t ignore. [Let¡¯s begin.] The Spirit Kings gathered their power to suppress the outburst. An iprehensible flow of energy started to emerge, which even Taesan couldn¡¯t fully grasp. Groan¡­ The Spirit Kings let out strained sounds. Their power was certainly strong, but clearly beneath Taesan¡¯s. They couldn¡¯tpletely suppress the force from the collision. At that moment, Ariel revealed her strength. A bright and gentle light emanated from within the tree. The shing power began to yield to the overwhelming force. Slowly, the energies melded, settling into harmony. Taesan¡¯s eyes gleamed. Ariel was the strongest among the Spirit Kings. Witnessing her reveal her true strength, it became certain. ¡®At least at the level of an immortal.¡¯ She was a spirit with power surpassing mortality. Even without the other five Spirit Kings, Ariel alone could easily suppress the rampaging energy. Screech. The two cores slowly merged into one. White turned to red, and then began to fade into ash. [...It is done.] ¡¯ Ariel withdrew her power. The radiance slowly faded. The soul of the mad spirit had stabilized. [Thank you, contractor of Minerva. Thanks to you...] Ariel suddenly stopped speaking. Whoosh! The soul of the mad spirit suddenly scattered in all directions. The scattered soul spread across the entire spirit realm. A quiet voice resonated in Taesan¡¯s ears as the soul passed him by. [Thank you.] With that final word, the mad spirit disappeared. All that remained were the Spirit Kings and the ash-colored energy between them. [Hmm?] [This is¡­] ¡°What went wrong?¡± [No, nothing went wrong.] Ariel slowly fluttered her wings. [The fusion of powers was sessful. However¡­ the mad spirit only took enough power to sustain itself and discarded the rest.] ¡°Discarded?¡± Whether because it had achieved its desire and no longer cared for power, or because it rejected the power of Vishnu, who had brought it to this state¡ªthe mad spirit had not taken the full power of the Spirit King. ?¨¢No???¨ºs As a result, remnants of power were left behind. [Well then...] [This is...] The eyes of the Spirit Kings gleamed with desire. Stabilizing the mad spirit required considerable power, which was why they had used the Spirit King¡¯s core. However, not all of the core¡¯s power had been necessary. The mad spirit had taken only the minimum amount of strength it needed and left the rest behind. As a result, a substantial amount of power remained. [It worked out well.] Ariel said. [This power was originally yours. You had to receive it all because it couldn''t be separated, but now that the mad spirit has discarded it, the leftover power is yours to im, contractor.] ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan looked at the power, briefly considering how to handle it. He made his decision. ¡°Minerva. Devour it.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°You need to be stronger.¡± At Taesan¡¯s words, Minerva groaned. She couldn¡¯t refute him. Compared to Taesan, her power was significantlycking. ¡°I suppose I should get stronger. Thank you.¡± She ced her hand on the remnants of power. The energy flowed into her. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Minerva let out a breath as she absorbed the power. The force emanating from her grew noticeably stronger. After watching her for a moment, Taesan asked Ariel. ¡°So, what will happen to the mad spirit?¡± [Though the broken soul has been mended, recovery takes time. When it deems the time is right, it will be reborn as a spirit here.] Ariel spoke with satisfaction. Taesan was also pleased with the oue. The mad spirit had been a great help in defeating Vishnu. It was better for it to return to a normal state rather than remain broken. [I look forward to seeing what kind of spirit it will be. Thank you again for yielding the Spirit King''s core. I shall give you a reward worthy of your generosity.] Ariel pped her wings. A radiant light gathered and began to take shape before her. [Take this. It is power at the limit of what a mortal being can handle. With it, you will be able to obtain what you desire.] [You have obtained the Pure Light Crystal.] Just as Ariel mentioned, the Light Crystal contained immensely condensed and powerful energy. [However,pared to the Spirit King¡¯s core, it is of lesser value. If there is anything else you desire, please let me know. I will try to amodate.] ¡°Then¡­¡± Taesan looked around inside the tree. Countless branches bore flowers and leaves. ¡°Can I take some of the materials from here?¡± These could be used asponents for partial world alteration. It was an opportunity he couldn¡¯t afford to miss. After a brief moment of consideration, Ariel agreed. [Normally, this would be forbidden, but I have the authority to allow it to this extent. As long as it¡¯s within reason, it¡¯s fine.] ¡°Thank you. Then, could I ask for onest thing?¡± [Go ahead.] Taesan looked at Ariel and spoke. ¡°May I fight you?¡± [Hmm?] [Human, are you insane?] The Spirit Kings who had been silently observing were taken aback. [Ariel is a spirit who has existed since the dawn of the spirit realm. She¡¯s not someone a human can challenge.] The older a spirit, the stronger they became. Moreover, this was the spirit realm. There were no restrictions on the power of the spirits here. Ariel, after briefly ncing at Taesan, nodded. [If that is what you wish, very well. Follow me.] Ariel led Taesan to an incredibly vast clearing. [This ce is where the Spirit Kings once fought long ago. Afterward, it became this deadnd.] Taesan drew his sword. Ariel possessed power on the level of an immortal. Engaging in battle with such an opponent without the risk of death was an invaluable experience. Taesan wasn¡¯t one to let such an opportunity slip away. The Spirit Kings who had followed to watch spoke. [Go easy on him, Ariel. If Minerva¡¯s contractor is harmed, she won¡¯t sit idly by.] [We¡¯ll see.] Ariel gazed at Taesan, who had taken a battle stance, and spoke. [That won¡¯t be necessary.] Light erupted forth, engulfing the world in its brilliance and burning everything in its path. Taesan unleashed all his strength. He activated every buff skill andunched himself forward. Power shed. Boom! [What!] The Spirit Kings watching were shocked. Taesan was clearly being overwhelmed. He couldn¡¯t mount much of a defense and was fully focused on withstanding the attacks. But in other words, he wasn¡¯t being defeated by Ariel¡¯s power. He was enduring the strength of an immortal with a mortal body. Taesan moved, somehow shaking off the overwhelming light. [How is this¡­] The Spirit Kings were at a loss for words. The battle soon came to an end. As Taesan neared his limit, Ariel withdrew her power. [That should be enough.] Taesan, catching his breath, nodded. It had been a worthwhile experience. He now had a rough idea of how to move and respond when facing an opponent of immortal-level strength. Ariel spoke quietly. [You are walking on the edge.] ¡°The edge?¡± [The edge of mortality.] He was neither fully inside nor fully outside. He was walking precisely in the middle. That was Ariel¡¯s assessment of Taesan. [It is extremely difficult to cross that line¡­ but you are remarkable. I look forward to seeing what path you take.] Afterward, Taesan gathered various materials from the spirit realm. He acquired enoughponents to perform partial world alteration twice. What he gained was Minerva¡¯s enhancement, materials for partial world alteration,ponents for equipment, and the experience of fighting an immortal. Satisfied, Taesan returned to thebyrinth. Upon his return, the first thing he did was seek out Hafran. ¡°This is¡­¡± Hafran stared nkly at the Pure Light Crystal in his hand. ¡°¡­Where did you get something like this?¡± ¡°I got it from a spirit. Can you make something with it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± Hafran grumbled with a displeased expression. ¡°This is exactly at the limit of what I can handle. With material like this, the options are quite limited.¡± ¡°Just make something useful.¡± ¡°Got it. It¡¯ll take some time.¡± Hafran grabbed his hammer. As Taesan left, he checked the rewards for the 73rd floor. [Shoes of the One Who Left Footprints on All Lands.] [Attack Power +200] [Defense +500] [Strength +600] [Agility +600] [Action Speed +20%] [Movement Speed +20%] [One man wished to leave his footprints on everynd in the world. He began his journey from his first steps and achieved his goal the day before he died.] [Helmet of the Iron Wall.] [Attack Power +150] [Strength +300] [Defense +400] [Magic Resistance +10] [The iron wall that guards the world. A helmet forged bypressing that very wall.] The rewards for the 73rd floor were high-stat equipment overall. The helmet, in particr, had both strength stats and magic resistance attached. And so, the 74th floor began. Taesan had arrived at a floor that had been blocked for tens, maybe hundreds of years, only recently cleared by the Guides. [74th-floor quest begins.] [Obtain information from the Battlefield of the Immortals.] [Reward: ???] n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om [Secret Reward: ???] Stepping onto the 74th floor, there was nothing. In cases like this, there was usually only one exnation. Something would soon appear to give the quest. Thebyrinth¡¯s bricks assembled, and Balbabamba appeared. [You¡¯ve arrived. I suppose there¡¯s no need to bore you with too many details.] ¡°You¡¯re going to exin?¡± [The 74th floor is unique. The system alone cannot fully exin it, so I¡¯ve had to appear personally.] Balbabamba began to speak. [The Battlefield of the Immortals. Countless immortals fought and died, and in the end, it became a forsakennd. Valhaluni. To clear the 74th floor, you must go there.] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter [NaN]: 74th Floor, Battlefield Of The Immortals (2) ¡°Land where immortals fought and died?¡± [Yes.] Taesan frowned. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like a ce I¡¯m supposed to clear.¡± Immortals. Beings that had transcended mortality. Taesan, who was said to be on the borderline of mortality, had not yet reached their level. [Calm down. That¡¯s all in the past. Now, it¡¯s merely and of death.] Balbabamba spoke slowly. [A long time ago, a few immortals gathered and started a war. They chose a world called Valhaluni as their battlefield, where they tried to kill each other.] ¡°They even wage war among themselves?¡± [Even though they have transcended, they remain unstable beings. Their personal greed and emotions are not so different from those of mortals.] Balbabamba continued. [What began as a trivial conflict escted as the war dragged on. Their emotions intensified, and they started involving other immortals, moving in earnest to kill one another. Dozens of immortals fought and shed. You can probably guess how it ended.] ¡°They all died?¡± [Correct. All those dozens of immortals fell. The ce became and of death that no one could approach.] ¡°And what am I supposed to do there?¡± [Your task is simple. Although the immortals have died, their remains have not disappeared. Finding those remains is the goal of the 74th-floor quest.] Taesan shook his head at Balbabamba¡¯s words. ¡°That sounds impossible.¡± Though they had died long ago, the remains of an immortal would still hold immense power. Taesan, still a mortal, didn¡¯t believe he could meddle with that. [You don¡¯t need to retrieve the remains. Just locate where they rest.] Balbabamba handed ck banners to Taesan. [Once you find the remains, nt the banners in the ground. That¡¯s all you have to do.] Enter a world called Valhaluni, find the remains of the immortals, and nt the banners. That was the entire quest. At first nce, it seemed quite simple. But Taesan could tell. This quest was precisely why the Guides were stuck here. [The fools before you took a very long time even when they worked together. It was agonizingly frustrating.] Balbabamba¡¯s grumbling confirmed Taesan¡¯s thoughts. He nced at the ghost. [Considering that, you were somewhat decent. At least better than those fools.] [It would be offensive topare me to those who got stuck.] The ghost responded, and Balbabamba continued. [By the way, there is no fixed reward for this quest. The more remains you find, the greater the reward. No one has found more than two remains, but you might be able to.] Taesan quietly epted the banners. Seeing this, Balbabamba spoke. [I suppose I can exin to you. This quest wasmissioned directly by the gods.] ¡°As expected.¡± Finding the remains and marking their locations. It was almost as if the quest was designed to protect the remains of the immortals. [Originally, the gods had no intention of interfering with Valhaluni. They nned to leave it as it was. But, beings from beyond began to take an interest in the abandoned power.] The beings from beyond could only mean the ancient gods exiled from the world. [The ce is unstable, with space itself distorted by the sh of the immortals. If beings at the level of transcendence were to intervene recklessly, it could copse, providing an opening for the high gods to meddle.] Thus, a mortal who could endure the power scattered throughout Valhaluni was sent to locate the remains. That seemed to be the reason behind the design of the 74th floor. [These types of quests will likely increase. You can consider this the starting point. Any other questions?] ¡°How many remains of the immortals are left?¡± [If all the remains were left after a normal battle... there should be five.] Five. Taesan nodded. ¡°Wait a bit.¡± He had used even the Apostle Transformation skill while sparring with Ariel and now needed to wait for the cooldown of that skill. After a day passed, Taesan spoke to Balbabamba. Balbabamba activated his power. The space began to copse and teleport. [By the way, you can return at any time during this quest. Even those who cleared it before repeated countless challenges and returned, so act as you wish.] Taesan nodded. His body was transported to Valhaluni. Taesan looked around. All he could see was an ashen force. There was no sign of living beings, just an overwhelming force drifting in the air. And Taesan was wrapped in a blue veil, seemingly cast by Balbabamba. [You can step outside the veil. I¡¯ll wait for yourpletion.] With that, Balbabamba¡¯s presence disappeared. Taesan stepped beyond the veil. Immediately, a force began to crush Taesan. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Taesan groaned. The distorted space tried to crush his entire body. The fragments of the immortals embedded in the atmosphere trampled on his mortal mind. Simply standing here brought a sense of copse that enveloped his entire being. He couldn¡¯t endure it with just his bare body. Quickly assessing the situation, Taesan gathered his spirit. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] With the gathered force and spirit, the pressure that was crushing his body eased a bit. ¡®It¡¯spletely different from Hafran¡¯s world.¡¯ In Hafran¡¯s world, the very will of the world opposed Taesan, trying to kill him. But the force scattered throughout Valhaluni wasn¡¯t trying to expel him. It was just there. And yet, just its presence exerted tremendous pressure on his mortal mind and body. Taesan gathered his spirit and will, enduring the force. He moved slowly, step by step. Taesan moved. This was where countless immortals had shed, trying to kill one another. As a result, the ce became a space simr to the realm of the immortals. Taesan gathered his magic, opening a path to the demons and activating ck magic. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] Kiiing. Dark energy surged from Taesan¡¯s body, attempting to gather information about his surroundings. But it couldn¡¯t emerge. The moment it tried to leave his body, it was extinguished by the force permeating the space. ¡°Even ck magic doesn¡¯t work properly.¡± The entire area was already filled with a power much stronger than ck magic. Simple dark energy couldn¡¯t spread out. Magic would likely be the same. Clicking his tongue, Taesan gathered his spirit and will once more. The space was filled with the territory of the immortals. But there was no owner of that power. In that case. ¡°Step back.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Exclusion.] With the Word of Command, the force permeating the space receded slightly. Taesan didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and gathered the dark energy once more. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] Only by doing so was Taesan able to finally release the dark energy ording to his will. However, it wasn¡¯t much different. The dark energy could only advance to where the Deration of Exclusion had pushed back, but beyond that, it was crushed and vanished. ¡®This won¡¯t work.¡¯ Even in the depths of the Shadow Realm, he couldn¡¯t use Territory Detection effectively. Back then, he at least managed to learn that the shadows devoured everything. So, he attacked by gathering the shadows and spreading detection beyond what they could consume. This time was different. It was impossible to read the forces embedded in the space without removing them entirely. The Word of Command, which exerted absolute effects on power without an owner, was also less effective due to the sheer difference in force. Even progressing was a matter of life and death. The power of detection didn¡¯t work, and unlike before, it was impossible to exploit any gaps. ¡®No wonder they were stuck here for so long.¡¯ Even though the Guides of Sin worked together, they remained stuck here for tens, even hundreds of years. Given how this floor was, it made sense. They must have cleared it by gradually gathering information through repeated attempts and retreats. Taesan asked the ghost. ¡°How long did it take you?¡± [Me? About¡­ three years, I think? I finished it quickly.] Considering the ghost had done it alone without anyone¡¯s help, it was indeed an exceptionally fast time. ¡°I need to change my approach.¡± Taesan thought. The power was spread without an owner. The territory of the immortals. And the remains of the immortals held great power. Could Taesan read that power? It was worth trying. [You have activated Nature¡¯s Avatar.] [You have activated the Vessel of Kings.] His force and power increased. Taesan even drew the power stored in his ring and wrapped it around himself. And then he observed. He wasn¡¯t trying to spread his power. He aimed to read the force pressing down on him and locate the remains that were emitting power. For a simple mortal, it would have been impossible. But the current Taesan was both mortal and immortal, standing on that borderline. It was entirely feasible. Closing his eyes, he calmly perceived the force pressing from all directions. As a result, he could tell that in the direction to his left, unlike the force that was simply spread throughout the space, there was something actively exerting a direct force. He had found it. Taesan opened his eyes and began to move. The further he advanced, the more intense the pressure of the force became. At certain points, the space twisted and absorbed everything that approached. Taesan managed to fend off the pressure with his power and will, barely reaching the remains of the immortal. It was a decayed, rotted corpse in human form. Even without approaching closely, the poisonous energy it emitted tried to seep into Taesan, while the distorted power of the immortal raged wildly. Deciding it was too dangerous to get any closer, Taesan pulled out a banner. As soon as the banner was nted into the ground, a massive veil formed around it. [Questpleted.] The ghost let out a scoff. [Not even an hour.] This quest had taken the ghost three years, and the Guides of Sin an incalcble amount of time. Taesan hadpleted it in less than an hour.@@novelbin@@ But at the same time, he understood. The Guides of Sin had invested significant time in conquering the 74th floor. Throughout that process, they had grown stronger. Vishnu learned to use the King¡¯s Realm, and Shayan seeded in using the Five Shots of Doom, even if only in a limited manner. As a result, they eventually managed to clear the 74th floor. And the current Taesan was stronger than the strengthened Guides of Sin. Given that he had already reached the borderline of mortality, it was only natural that he could clear the 74th floor with ease. ¡°Hm.¡± The quest waspleted. But Taesan did not return to thebyrinth. Balbabamba had mentioned there were five remains of immortals here. Taesan had found only one so far. And with his current abilities, he was confident he could find all five. But there was a problem. ¡®The duration is too short.¡¯ The duration of Apostle Transformation was two hours. Nature¡¯s Avatarsted one hour, and the Vessel of Kings wasn¡¯t much longer. Without these three skills, Taesan wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the pressure here. To find the rest of the remains, he would need a different approach. After contemting for a moment, Taesan thought of one particr skill. A transcendent skill. The ck. The power of the ancient gods, beyond allws and conventions, that devours everything. ¡®Let¡¯s give it a try.¡¯ Taesan gathered the ck. Chapter [NaN]: 74th Floor, Battlefield Of The Immortals (3) This ce was the domain of the immortals. The fragments of the immortals drifting in the air clearly held power beyond mortality. Taesan, still a mortal, had no means to counter it. He could try to wield divinity to push it back, but the consumption of divinity would be extremely high. It wasn¡¯t an ideal solution. Therefore, he chose to utilize the ck. The ck was the power of the High Gods, a force beyond the concepts of mortality and immortality. It had enough potential to ovee the spatial pressure. However, it couldn¡¯t be tested here. Since he hadn¡¯t tried this method before, he needed practice. With the duration of Nature¡¯s Avatar almost over, Taesan returned to thebyrinth. Balbabamba, who had been waiting, was surprised to see Taesan return after just a few hours. [Already back? Did you give up?] ¡°No.¡±Balbabamba observed Taesan for a moment and understood. [...Ah, I see. Youpleted the quest already. Much faster than I expected.] Though Balbabamba knew Taesan was strong enough to clear it, other adventurers took at least a few years toplete it, so he didn¡¯t expect Taesan to do it this quickly. [The quest''s conditions are met. If you wish, I can acknowledge your clear of the 74th floor.] Balbabamba thought Taesan would end it this way. However, Taesan shook his head. ¡°Not yet.¡± [...You¡¯re going to continue the 74th floor?] ¡°There are still four remnants of the immortals left, right?¡± He wouldn¡¯t return until he confirmed all of them. Balbabamba spoke in a hesitant voice, recognizing the resolve in Taesan¡¯s words. [I admit it. You are strong. Throughout thebyrinth''s history, no one has ever gained as much power as you at the entrance to the depths.] Taesan was undoubtedly powerful. Even Balbabamba could tell that he was on the brink of transcending mortality. But that ce was the realm of the immortals. It was a ce where the remnants of beings beyond mortality remained. No matter how powerful Taesan was, proceeding further in the quest was impossible. [I am a manager. I am not allowed to interfere with adventurers, but I can still give advice. Overconfidence will lead to your death. Sometimes, you must leave satisfied, even if you haven''t gained everything.] ¡°It¡¯s not overconfidence.¡± It was enough. Having acquired numerous skills while descending thebyrinth, Taesan made that judgment. Balbabamba said nothing further. [I understand your resolve. But what will you use to breach the domain of the immortals? There are limits as you are now.] Balbabamba spoke quietly. Taesan answered with action. [You activated the ck.] A surge. Darkness poured out from Taesan¡¯s body. It wasn¡¯t magic. It was a power that ignored thews and principles of the world,ing from beyond it. [This is...] Balbabamba let out a groan. Darkness, as ck as pitch, began to creep across the ground. [It''s unsettling, as always.] He had seen Taesan wielding the ck before, so he was aware of it, but it was still disturbing. For a mortal to use the power of the High Gods¡­ it was truly iprehensible. Balbabamba quietly gathered his power. In case the ck went out of control, he was prepared. Taesan slowly adjusted the flow of the ck. Compared to when he first obtained it, his strength and skill had improved significantly. The ck gradually began to cloak his body ording to his will. ¡®I can control it.¡¯ But there was still a major issue. The ck wrapping around his body tried to devour Taesan¡¯s flesh. It burdened both his mind and body. Despite having acquired a resistance skill against mental corruption, which was the mental strain of will, it was hard to endure. Pushed to his limits, Taesan withdrew the ck. He could control it. The issue was resolving the corruption of body and mind. Taesan slowly sought an answer. With skills like Apostle Transformation and Nature¡¯s Avatar, he could endure the corruption to some extent. But it wasn¡¯t perfect. Even raising his power level with Apostle Transformation didn¡¯t allow him to withstand the corruption of the ck. Partial World Alteration might work, but its duration was too short, so that was impossible too. ¡°In the end, it¡¯s divinity.¡± A power thatpletely opposed the ck. He used divinity to block and withstand the corruption of the ck. But that also posed several issues. When the ck and divinity mixed, the Boundary Line was triggered. With his current skill, Taesan could somewhat control the Boundary Line, but it was still a one-time use. He had to wield both ck and divinity in such a way that they didn¡¯t mix and didn¡¯t trigger the Boundary Line. He had never tried it before and hadn¡¯t even considered it possible. But now, Taesan was certain he could do it. Taesan enveloped himself in the ck. It wasn¡¯t spread outward. He wrapped it very thinly, just enough to be like a sheet of cloth, maintaining a slight distance from his body. What he sought was for divinity and ck to counterbnce each other and maintain equilibrium. He had seeded once before. When he defeated Zhenlong, who had be a ve of the High Gods, he maintained the bnce between divinity and ck. At that time, he forcibly suppressed the ck with divinity, which was infinitely replenished through people¡¯s direct faith. It was possible because of that. Now, it wasn¡¯t. But Taesan didn¡¯t intend to handle it with such overwhelming power. Just cloaking his body would suffice. Moreover, he could now manipte the ck and divinity much more freely than before. Taesan released divinity. Divinity touched the ck. Grind. With a distorted sound, gray began to emerge. Balbabamba clicked his tongue as he gathered his power. [Will it be stopped?] Balbabamba knew the power contained within. A force that could distort order. As a manager, he had near-absolute authority within thebyrinth, but he couldn¡¯t guarantee he could stop it. He prepared for the impact. A powerful force, a power straddling the boundary, began to manifest in the world. Taesan focused his mind. He didn¡¯t want a collision between divinity and ck. He desired them to bnce each other while still repelling one another. If so¡­ Taesan instinctively found the answer. Whirr. A pure white ring glowed. With the ring¡¯s assistance, he manipted divinity. Divinity and ck began to rotate in opposite directions. The two forces, which had been on the verge of mixing, each spun and began to find bnce. Clink, clink. As time passed, the divinity and ck, initially repelling each other, stabilized and separated. Balbabamba, who had been gathering his power, hesitated. [That¡¯s...] ¡°It worked.¡± Taesan steadied his breathing. Divinity thinly cloaked Taesan¡¯s body. And above that, the ck flowed. The ck, blocked by divinity, couldn¡¯t cling to Taesan, thus preventing mental and physical corruption. He had seeded. Simultaneously, a system window appeared. [You have acquired [Boundary Repulsion].] [Your proficiency in Boundary Line has increased by @#.] Taesan opened the skill window after suppressing the ck and divinity. [Boundary Repulsion] [Proficiency: ?] [A force that exists betweenws and beyond them. It draws out by repelling divinity and ck.] Though the description was simr to that of Boundary Line, it was different. Boundary Line involved manipting divinity and ck to draw out power, while Boundary Repulsion drew it out by repelling them. Taesan activated the ck and divinity once again. It was easier to utilize now, possibly because he had gained a new skill. Clink, clink. The divinity and ck rotated in opposite directions, not mixing. It was a sess. Taesan smiled as he suppressed the Boundary Repulsion. The ghost muttered, as if it was no longer surprised. [What will you gain next? Why not try handling the ck alone?] ¡°That¡¯s still impossible.¡± But as time passed and he grew stronger, it might be possible. Balbabamba, who had been silent, finally spoke. [This is absurd.] His voice was filled withplexity. [It¡¯s truly absurd.] Divinity was the power of the gods. The ck was the power of the High Gods. To wield the opposing powers of these two beings and produce a stable result was beyondmon sense. Even Balbabamba, who had encountered countless gods and adventurers as thebyrinth¡¯s manager, found it hard to ept. [Are you going back there again?] ¡°Yes.¡± [This time, I''ll apany you.] Balbabamba intended to verify the power that Taesan had acquired. Balbabamba gathered his strength. As space twisted, Taesan was transported to Valhaluni. This time, Balbabamba was right next to Taesan. Taesan activated Boundary Repulsion. As soon as he stepped out of the blue veil, the fragments of the immortals scattered throughout the world began to press down on him. But it was different from before. The world¡¯s pressure was erased the moment it touched the ck, unable to reach Taesan. Without using Apostle Transformation, Nature¡¯s Avatar, or the King¡¯s Vessel, he managed to withstand the world¡¯s pressure without any significant burden. [...What is this?] Balbabamba muttered in shock. The gap between mortality and immortality was insurmountable. No matter how much one tried to find a way, it was impossible¡ªa kind ofw. But the High Gods existed beyond thosews. It was not strange for them to break the boundary between mortality and immortality. The odd thing was that a mortal like Taesan was handling it. [¡­¡­.] It was dangerous. The power Taesan possessed was incredibly alien. What would happen if someone who could endure the power of immortals with a mortal¡¯s frame gained an even higher level of power? He could disrupt thews of thebyrinth. The manager¡¯s instincts warned of that future. But Balbabamba did nothing. Already, both the sorcerer and the gods had met Taesan and understood his otherness. Yet they had not acted. Therefore, there was no need for him to do anything either. He would leave the rest to them. [Then, I''ll be on my way. Take care.] ¡°Sure.¡± Balbabamba¡¯s presence faded away. Taesan continued forward, erasing the overpowering forces with the ck. This was the realm of immortals. Forces that trampled mortal bodies and shattered minds were spread all around. But they did not reach Taesan. [This is amusing.] Though his perspective differed from Balbabamba¡¯s, the ghost also found it difficult to ept. [So, even against transcendental beings, it means that as long as you have that shroud, mental pressure is impossible, right?] It wasn¡¯t unreasonable to think so. But Taesan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that capable.¡± Taesan, who was using it directly, knew. It wasn¡¯t a force that could be used in such a versatile manner. ¡°I¡¯ve somehow regained stability, but it¡¯s still precarious.¡± He enveloped his body with a thinyer of ck and divinity, rotating them in opposite directions to maintain bnce. Theoretically, it was perfect. But because it required delicate adjustments, he could only extract a minuscule amount of power. ¡°The reason I can hold on now is because the force permeating this cecks will.¡± The power wasn¡¯t specifically targeting Taesan. The remnants of the immortals lingered in the air, crushing everything that existed. The force acted without will. Therefore, it could be erased using Boundary Repulsion. ¡°And it also consumes a lot of concentration.¡± If the bnce of power were to waver even slightly, it would immediately be a Boundary Line that could overwhelm Taesan. Maintaining it required meticulous control throughout. Even so, he could move freely within the realm of the immortals without much burden. As his proficiency increased and Taesan¡¯s power grew, the utility would also increase. Moreover, if he could use it this way, there might be other applications for wielding divinity and ck. ¡®It¡¯s worth experimenting with various things.¡¯ He could gain a different kind of power, distinct from what he had acquired so far. Taesan moved toward where he sensed a strong force. d in Boundary Repulsion, Taesan did not stop. At the end of his path, he found the remains of an immortal. The remains emitted a terrifyingly powerful force, but the ck enveloping Taesan erased it all. Taesan nted a g. Whirr. A massive veil surrounded the remains of the immortal. ¡°Now, three left.¡± Taesan continued moving. He had managed to reduce the consumption, allowing him to use divinity and ck for quite a long time. As a result, Taesan quickly found two more remnants of the immortals. Only one remained. At his current pace, he could clear the 74th floor in less than a day. [Those guys must be dumbfounded if they see this.] The Guides had been stuck here for a very long time. But Taesan was progressing toward clearing it with surprising ease. It indicated the gap between Taesan and the Guides. [Their heads must be hurting by now.] The ghost had some connection with the Guides, so he understood. The sorcerer Shayan had prepared everything and fought against Taesan but was defeated. That meant none of the Guides could defeat Taesan one-on-one. That¡¯s what it meant to be a stationary and stagnant being. Perhaps they were crumbling even now. From the beginning, they hadn¡¯t been united by any specific ideology or mutual affection. They had gathered to clear the floor, and once their objective was achieved, their foundation was bound to crumble, leading to many defectors. ¡®They¡¯ll find a way somehow.¡¯ But from the ghost¡¯s perspective, it was impossible for them. They were getting closer to the ghost¡¯s wish. Before, that had been delightful, but not anymore. The Grey Woman. Societ Garudentia. She was a woman the ghost had cared for and helped a lot, but she was also the Guide who betrayed him. The ghost¡¯s mind was in turmoil.@@novelbin@@ He agonized, while Taesan continued the quest on the 74th floor. Before long, he discovered the distant remains of thest immortal. ¡°A machine?¡± Thest remnant of the immortal was mechanical. It resembled a humanoid robot. [Not all life forms in the universe are organic. There were probably a few mechanical beings that descended into thebyrinth.] He had thought it was possible, but seeing it in person was a first. Taesan opened a portal. ¡°This is thest one.¡± The clearing of the 74th floor was within reach. Taesan drove a g into the ground. Whirr. A blue veil formed. [Questplete.] All the remains of the immortals in Valhaluni were found. Simultaneously, an immense power engulfed the world. Though it didn¡¯t affect Taesan, it was the power of a transcendent being that enveloped the entire world. ¡°Is it all over?¡± Since the powers of the immortals ovepped, even transcendents could not intervene here. Allowing that would give the High Gods a chance to interfere. But now, the locations of all the remains of the immortals were known. The quest wasplete, and the discovery was over, so now the transcendents were intervening. ¡°They seem to be in a rush.¡± [Looks like they''re trying to tidy up quickly because the High Gods are aiming for it. ¡­But isn¡¯t it too rushed? You haven¡¯t even returned to thebyrinth yet.] Taesan observed the power of the transcendents as they retrieved the remains of the immortals. That power had no emotions whatsoever. The world was being purified. The fragments of the immortals scattered across the world were being erased, and one by one, the remains began to vanish. The power within the mechanical remnant in front of Taesan also started to fade. At that moment, the sky cracked. A ck power, from beyond thews, descended like a pir. The power of the transcendents, which enveloped the world, surged. It suppressed the ck pir, crushing it. But a tiny, thread-like sliver of that power reached the remains of the immortals. Whirr. [¡­Huh?] The entire body of the immortal began to glow. The eyes flickered red as if issuing a warning. At the same time, a violent force surged. The Boundary Repulsion enveloping Taesan momentarily distorted. Taesan quickly gathered his strength and backed away. Rumble¡­ A loud noise echoed. The remains of the immortal were rising. ¡°It was certainly dead.¡± There was no sense of life. The soul of the immortal was not here. Yet the body of the immortal stood up. Recognizing Taesan, it identified him as a threat. Whirr! Mechanical parts made a noise as they started to move. An intent to kill, devoid of will, immediately targeted Taesan. Chapter [NaN]: 74th Floor, Battlefield Of The Immortals (4) The Guides of Sin were at odds with each other. Would they fight Taesan? Or would they hide and wait for Taesan to pass? Countless emotions shed beyond that. After a debate apanied by physical force, a decision was made. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ll summon the demon god to speak directly?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The young man with tinum blonde hair and an arrogant expression nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not hard to run from this guy named Taesan who¡¯sing down here. That¡¯s not the main issue.¡± One could use a secret key to jump floors or simply hide in the vast expanse of a floor. Hiding from Taesan wasn¡¯t that difficult. ¡°But my pride won¡¯t allow it.¡±The young man was a descendant of a royal family with a legend that said they inherited divine blood from ancient times. Although his lineage held no divine power, his pride, ingrained through education close to brainwashing, was sky-high. ¡°I cannot flee from something so low. However, I must be realistic¡ªI can¡¯t beat him.¡± ¡°Will your pride allow you to rely on sheer numbers?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to fight seriously against something so low. The advantage of numbers is clearly an advantage too.¡± The young man spoke confidently. ¡°So, we summon the demon god to lift the restrictions.¡± The restriction that only those blessed by the demon god could fight Taesan would be removed. The Lion King gave him a hesitant look. ¡°Do you think the demon god will consider us?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know until you try.¡± The young man spoke up. ¡°Even if she¡¯s the demon god, she can¡¯t kill us. We are adventurers descending through thebyrinth they created. There¡¯s no harm in confirming our chances.¡± It wasn¡¯t incorrect. Although the gods despised them, they could descend through thebyrinth without major incidents because they were adventurers. ¡°Do as you wish. The decision has fallen to your side anyway.¡± The majority sided with the young man. It was a sh between the pride of those who had reached the deepest levels and the reality that they could not defeat Taesan one-on-one. They began preparing to summon the demon god. With numerous offerings and equipment, the young man shouted into the air. ¡°Come forth! Great One! We offer tribute to you!¡± Crack. The space copsed. A powerful entity descended, responding to the proper tribute and call. The Guides bowed their heads. ¡°We greet the Great Demon God!¡± A voice echoed. The manifested demon god waved her hand as if annoyed. [Enough. I know why you called me. Speak your purpose.] ¡°¡­So you do.¡± The young man swallowed and slowly began to speak. ¡°Demon God, you imposed a restriction between us and Taesan, the adventurer you favor.¡± Unless each individual could kill the other, a battle could not be initiated. Because of this restriction, they had to face Taesan one by one. ¡°But we can no longer confront him alone. Demon God, you¡¯ve granted him numerous advantages through this restriction. Thus, we humbly beg of you. Please heed our plea.¡± [You speak well. Go on.] The demon god repliedzily. The young man took a breath before proceeding with his main point. ¡°We earnestly request that you lift the restriction between him and us, Demon God.¡± [Hmm.] The demon god looked at him, silent. The young man¡¯s chest tightened with growing tension. The demon god spoke. [Fine.] ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re granting it?¡± The young man looked up, shocked. Although he¡¯d proposed this, he never expected it to be epted so easily. He had thought it would take countless tributes and desperate pleas to achieve it. [If that¡¯s all you¡¯re asking, it¡¯s not a big deal. It¡¯s not that important anymore. Do as you please.] With those words, the demon god vanished. Relieved of his tension, the young man slumped, a twisted smile appearing on his lips. ¡°¡­It¡¯s done.¡± The restriction was lifted. He sprang to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s over. Now, we just need to kill him.¡± At his words, several Guides¡¯ eyes gleamed. Yet there were those who objected. ¡°I have no intention of fighting him.¡± It was the man who had previously shed with the Lion King. While the majority desired a confrontation with Taesan, there were also many who refused battle and opted for escape. ¡°He¡¯s like a tidal wave. There¡¯s no reason to choose confrontation. All we have to do is hide until the wave passes and then proceed through thebyrinth again.¡± ¡°Do as you like, cowards.¡± The young man sneered at them. ¡°What will you do?¡± He asked the Lion King. The Lion King frowned. ¡°¡­It¡¯s strange. The demon god epted too easily.¡± The demon god favored Taesan. If it were a battle where Taesan¡¯s life was at stake, it would be one thing. But the demon god wouldn¡¯t want him to die pointlessly under overwhelming force. Yet the demon god agreed, which meant that Taesan, as he is now, could win even without the restriction. ¡°Who knows? She may have lost interest in that guy by now. Gods are all fickle, after all.¡± ¡°Perhaps.¡± The Lion King took a step back. ¡°I will not participate in this battle.¡± ¡°Suit yourself. We¡¯ll win regardless.¡± The young man¡¯s face showed not a hint of doubt. This was a joint assault by multiple adventurers who had reached the deep levels. He believed that, no matter how strong Taesan was, he couldn¡¯t win. The Lion King looked at Societ. ¡°What will you do? Will you join them?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do the same as you.¡± She replied curtly. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare my own way.¡± She quietly smiled. It was the first smile she had shown since the hero¡¯s death. ¡°We¡¯vee this far.¡± Murmuring in an excited tone, she asked the Lion King. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I suppose I should find my own method.¡± The Lion King replied, clutching a gem in his hand. Ambracia watched them with a contemtive expression.
Broken machinery began to activate, and the remains of the Immortal started to move. [Why is that moving?] The ghost was also shocked. The Immortal was clearly long dead. Taesan observed the Immortal calmly. ¡®The ck pir that fell from the sky.¡¯ As soon as it touched the Immortal, the Immortal¡¯s eyes opened. A strange power was emanating from the Immortal before him. ¡°High Gods¡­¡± In the process of the power being retrieved, the High Gods had intervened, turning the Immortal¡¯s corpse into their own puppet. Taesan looked up at the sky. Beyond, transcendents and High Gods had begun shing. They didn¡¯t seem to be paying attention to this side. The Immortal, who had opened his eyes, was now targeting Taesan. But within it, there was no will. [Uh¡­!] The ghost groaned. The Immortal was an opponent Taesan couldn¡¯t defeat at his current level. [Maybe we should find a gap and escape to thebyrinth?] It was a reasonable suggestion, but Taesan didn¡¯t back down. He silently watched the Immortal as it rose. ¡°There¡¯s no will.¡± It was already a dead being. The High Gods had simply forced power into it, using it as a puppet to hold Taesan. ¡°And it¡¯s broken.¡± The Immortal¡¯s remains were literally half-destroyed. Finding an intact part was difficult, and the energy it emitted was quite unstable. Just seeing how the boundary shield around Taesan wavered but didn¡¯t shatter proved this. Against an opponent of this level, he could win. ¡°I won¡¯t turn my back on those who only aim for openings.¡± [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] Taesan activated various buff skills. He dismissed the boundary shield around him. In a head-on confrontation with the Immortal, Taesan¡¯s skill level wasn¡¯t yet high enough to manage it. As he erased the boundary shield, a massive pressure threatened to engulf him. Although the transcendents had retrieved the scattered fragments of the Immortal from this world, the Immortal before him was pressuring Taesan. He could hold out, but a prolonged fight would be difficult. He had to finish this as quickly as possible. Tap. Taesan dashed toward the Immortal. The connection High Gods had established with the damaged Immortal was very unstable. A single solid blow should be enough to bring it down. Of course, a normal strike wouldn¡¯t have any effect on the Immortal. Only an attack on the level of divinity, darkness, or a boundary force would work. Bzzzz. The power within the Immortal, in a guarded state, activated to suppress Taesan. The singlemand engraved by High Gods on the Immortal¡¯s remains: Defeat the enemy in front of it. The power erupted. Dozens of beams erased the earth and obliterated space. The speed was so fast that Taesan couldn¡¯t react in time. He threw himself aside as soon as he saw the explosion of power, but one of the beams pierced his leg. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] ¡°So, it¡¯s this fast.¡± Although the First Attack Nullification had been consumed, he managed to gauge the speed of the Immortal¡¯s power. ¡®It¡¯s dangerously close.¡¯ Even seeing the warning signs of the power didn¡¯t guarantee he could evade it in time. Beams began pouring down again, and Taesan spread his wings. [You have activated Selfish Choice.] [You have activated Perfect Fairy¡¯s Wings.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] Taesan elerated. His speed reached an extreme level, even the Guides of Sin couldn¡¯t keep up. But the opponent was the Immortal. The power poured urately toward Taesan. The earth trembled, rising like a tidal wave to block his path, and beams of rainbow light rained down. [You have activated Distortion.] He twisted space, bending the path of the beams in another direction. Crrrrk. The Immortal¡¯s power pierced even the distorted space. The distortion shattered, and the beams rushed toward Taesan. Taesan knew he couldn¡¯t block it with Distortion alone. All he needed was a moment. [You have activated Limited Blink.] [You have activated Aerial Leap.] [You have activated eleration.] @@novelbin@@ [You have activated Skill eleration.] In an instant, Taesan¡¯s body flew toward the Immortal. The Immortal flinched slightly. The power within the Immortal surged as a wave, sweeping across the surroundings. [You have activated Aegis Shield, endowed with divinity, granting one second of immunity from all damage but blocking other actions during that time.] Aegis Shield. With this immunity skill, he intended to ignore the Immortal¡¯s power and approach it. But as soon as he touched the wave, Taesan was flung backward. ¡°Ugh!¡± Quickly retracting the shield, Taesan drew his sword downward. A sword gale erupted and collided with the wave. Landing on the ground, Taesan frowned. ¡°So, it¡¯s a wave meant only to repel.¡± The Absolute Protection, Attack Nullification, and Aegis Shield¡ªall skills activated only when attacked or damaged¡ªwouldn¡¯t activate against a simple, non-damaging repelling wave. Bzzzz! Beams poured down again. Taesan moved his wings, dodging swiftly. There was no room to approach. He had to put all his energy into evading the onught. The Immortal¡¯s entire body glowed. Missiles poured from that ce. Even as Taesan moved to dodge, they precisely aimed at him. Taesan gathered power. Since the transcendents had retrieved the fragments of the Immortal scattered in the atmosphere, there was no problem with the manifestation of power. [You have activated Magic Ovey.] He ovepped Frozen World with Starlight Arrow and unleashed it. Cold and light shed with the missiles. Light exploded, illuminating the world. In the midst of the power sh, a red dot was marked on Taesan¡¯s chest. Instinctively, Taesan activated a skill. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan¡¯s body leaped through space, and in the location where the red dot had been, an explosion erupted. The explosion was immensely powerful. It even chased Taesan as he leaped through space. [You have activated Seed of Cmity.] A fiery spirit of doom erupted, colliding with the aftermath of the explosion, swallowing each other and disappearing. Bzzzz. Beams rushed in again. Gritting his teeth, Taesan moved. Everything was being incinerated, and space began to twist. A raw, overwhelming force that couldn¡¯t be approached. He struggled not just to counterattack but even to evade. There was indeed no will visible in the Immortal. It was moving only ording to the reactions imprinted in its body. But still, the opponent was an Immortal¡ªa being that had transcended mortality. But. ¡®I can win.¡¯ Only one Attack Nullification had been consumed. He still had reserves of magic and mana. The potential was sufficient. Taesan spoke up. ¡°Stop.¡± [You have activated Deration of Stillness.] Chapter [NaN]: 74th Floor, Battlefield Of The Immortals (5) Taesan¡¯s advantage against the Immortal was that the opponent had no will of its own. The Word of Command wielded almost absolute power over targets without a will. nk! Sure enough, as the Word of Command activated, the Immortal¡¯s movements halted. The machinery that had been spinning wildly came to a stop in an instant. At that moment, as Taesan prepared to spring forward¡ª Screech! A tremendous force emanated from the Immortal. The Immortal forcibly broke free from the Word of Command, unleashing dozens of beams of light. Boom!Taesan narrowly dodged and clicked his tongue. ¡°No matter how mindless, an Immortal is still an Immortal.¡± It actually broke free from the Word of Command through sheer force. Taesan activated the Deration of Stillness once more. The Immortal released its power again, breaking free. It was faster than when the Word of Command had first activated. The constraint was so strong that it halted the opponent¡¯s actionspletely, yet it seemed breakable through brute force. In that case¡­ ¡°Slow down.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Slowness.] The Word of Command engulfed the Immortal. The mechanical parts slowed down to a visible crawl. Screech! Beams poured forth again, but this time, they were easy to dodge. Unlike the Deration of Stillness, the Immortal couldn¡¯t break free from the Deration of Slowness. ¡°As expected.¡± It seemed capable of breaking strong restrictions that froze actions entirely. However, it couldn¡¯t ovee partial constraints that affected movement speed. Screech! Beams rained down. Missiles zoomed through the air, barreling toward Taesan. Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Magic Ovey.] He oveid three Starlight Arrows and released them. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] He detonated the Starlight Arrows near the missiles, turning the sky white. Screech. A red dot appeared on Taesan¡¯s chest. Simultaneously, something rushed toward the red dot at a speed too fast to track. It was a force he hadn¡¯t detected before activating the Deration of Slowness. Taesan quickly spread his wings. The red dot¡¯s location exploded, and the shockwave reached him. However, thanks to his previous battles, Taesan had already grasped the explosion radius and had gathered his magical energy in advance. [You have activated Marbas¡¯ Pitch-ck Wave.] A wave of darkness engulfed the explosion. The Immortal swung its arm. The mechanicalponents expanded, releasing tiny particles. Focusing his vision, Taesan realized what those particles were. Screech! The particles freely moved, swarming toward him. They were drones, flying in the air like attackers. There were thousands of them. Taesan swiftly pulled out his arrows. The arrows, imbued with will, charged forward, colliding with the particles. Boom! The Immortal¡¯s chest opened, spilling a massive mass of metal in a wave. Taesan dodged the all-epassing attack with a restricted blink. As he evaded, another red dot fixed itself on his chest. He didn¡¯t have time to dodge, so he tried to block it, but it was impossible. Boom! [Your Second Attack Nullification has activated.] Taesan continued fighting hard. He activated the Deration of Slowness, using every possible means to fend off the Immortal¡¯s attacks. But that was all. A power gap still remained between them that was insurmountable. Moreover, the Immortal¡¯s strength showed no signs of bottoming out. Rays that could scorch the heavens surged toward Taesan, threatening to consume everything. Under the relentless onught, Taesan allowed another hit. [Your Third Attack Nullification has activated.] ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The ghost groaned. All of Taesan¡¯s attack nullifications were used up. Both mana and magic were depleting rapidly. Meanwhile, the Immortal¡¯s power still seemed endless, and Taesan couldn¡¯t even get close. The situation was undoubtedly grim. Yet Taesan¡¯s expression remained as calm as ever. ¡°I¡¯ve roughly figured it out.¡± The Immortal had no will of its own. It was merely a puppet, moving ording to programmed responses. In other words, its behavior pattern wasn¡¯t too different from Mkas on the 73rd floor. This meant he could analyze its pattern, and now, he hadpleted that analysis. All that remained was tond a single decisive blow. He created an opening for it. Taesan prepared materials he had readied beforehand and fitted them into his wrist guards. [You have activated Partial World Transformation.] A defined range of the world transformed into Taesan¡¯s domain. He focused his power toward the barrage of light. [You have activated Naberius¡¯ Golden Sword.] ng! The golden sword shed with the beams of light. Until now, he hadn¡¯t been able to block the beams and had only been able to dodge them, but that was no longer the case. Taesan held his ground. He gripped his sword firmly and took a step forward. ng! The beams splintered into dozens of rays. Taesan kicked off the ground. Screech! The Immortal responded. An immeasurable force poured forth all at once. The Partial World Transformation collided with the Immortal¡¯s power, causing the domain to warp. It wouldn¡¯tst long. The overwhelming force brought his mind close to its limit. This time, he would end it. [You have activated the Greed of Destruction.] [You have activated the Call of Destruction.] Destructive forces surged forth, shing with the beams of light. As they vied to consume each other, a gap opened for Taesan to charge through. The Immortal wouldn¡¯t stand idle. It was pouring all its strength into crushing Taesan. Taesan dodged and blocked those attacks. The closer he got, the stronger and faster the Immortal¡¯s power became, but from the battles so far, he had already figured out the pattern. Thus, Taesan could reach the Immortal without taking any damage. Screeeech! Upon reaching a certain distance, the Immortal¡¯s machinery began elerating wildly, overheating as smoke started to leak out. A power that distorted space itself gathered in the Immortal¡¯s chest. Taesan instinctively realized this was the moment of decision. He dashed forward, disregarding all defenses, flying directly toward the Immortal. A light was fired. A light that could split the world. A concentration of overwhelming power that pierced the sky and affected the cosmos. It was a deadly light that could neither be dodged, countered, nor blocked, and it engulfed Taesan. [1,323,241 damage inflicted on you.] [Your Endurance activated. The fatal attack was nullified. All damage bes 0 for 1 second.] And the moment it touched Taesan, it vanished. Sssst¡ª As the overheated Immortal¡¯s body began to cool, Taesan darted forward. By the time the Endurance duration ended, he was only a step away from the Immortal. Being so close, he could feel the Immortal¡¯s power directly. The concentrated force stifled his breath, and the pressure that could melt space seemed to crush Taesan¡¯s mind. [You have activated Adventurer¡¯s Will.] With the Adventurer¡¯s Will, he overcame the mental pressure, summoning his strength against the barrage of beams. [You have activated Magic Ovey.] Heyered three shields of the Guardian in session to protect himself. The multiple shields collided with the beams. Crack! And then, the shields shattered. The Immortal¡¯s force was about to reach Taesan.@@novelbin@@ [You have activated Distortion.] He adjusted the trajectory of the beam slightly. Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Naberius¡¯ Golden Sword.] [You have activated the de of Fighting Spirit.] [You have activated Copy.] He poured all his strength and authority into the sword and swung down. The sword shed with the light, screeching as its de began to break. But it held. Through the numerous skills Taesan used, the Immortal¡¯s beam noticeably weakened. He poured everything into his sword and doubled its power with Copy. He braced himself and took a step forward. Boom! The light scattered into dozens of rays, pulverizing everything around. The Immortal condensed its power. A shockwave devoid of damage. [You have activated Boundary Shield.] The moment the wave touched the ck sword, it vanished. Then, Taesan shattered the bnce of the Boundary Shield. The mingling power turned gray and embedded itself in his sword. Crack. The boundary pierced through the remains of the Immortal. At the same time, the power of the god of an ancient era residing in the Immortal tried to invade Taesan. You are mine. It was a force filled with that intent. ¡°Get lost.¡± Taesan forcibly detonated the boundary. The invading power of the ancient god vanished as the world turned to ashes. Ã× * Ã× Taesan tossed his sword. The sword had broken, likely because it had reached its limit in containing the boundary. ¡°I¡¯ll need a new sword again.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and put away the sword, forcibly suppressing his trembling mind. With a shaking hand, he pulled out a potion and drank it. Only then did he finally regain some stability. Taesan steadied his breathing and opened the system window. [Your proficiency in Twisted Soul Maniption has increased by 5%.] [Your proficiency in Word of Command has increased by 4%.] [Your proficiency in ??? has increased by 3%.] [Your proficiency in ck has increased by @##%.] [Your proficiency in Boundary Shield has increased by [email protected]#@!%.] [Your proficiency in Boundary Line has increased by [email protected]@%.] Half of the system messages were unreadable. Taesan gave a bitterugh as he read on. [You, a mortal, have defeated an Immortal without a will. You have achieved a feat that no one else could aplish. You have obtained the special activation skill [Immortal Adversary].] [You have acquired the title [One Who Achieved the Unachievable].] [Your Soul Ascension has activated. You have obtained the soul skill [King of Machinery].] [Your authority lies on the boundary line. Whether to proceed or not is entirely your choice. You have obtained the special activation skill [Beyond the Boundary].] [So, you did it¡­ Truly. Against an Immortal¡­] The ghost groaned, filled with astonishment. The Immortal was a lifeless being. The High Gods had forcibly connected with it, controlling it like a puppet. And Taesan had also possessed the powerful trump card of the Boundary Line. But an Immortal was still an Immortal. And Taesan was a mortal. Even transcendents would find it hard to ept the feat Taesan had aplished. Taesan felt various gazes from beyond the sky. Those gazes held astonishment and curiosity, a myriad of emotions. [The gods outside the Labyrinth are showing interest in you.] ¡°Let¡¯s go back for now.¡± Taesan waved his hand, and his body returned to the Labyrinth. ¡°Goodbye.¡± [¡­] Balbabamba opened its mouth quietly. But it closed again, giving Taesan a look filled withplex emotions. [I thought you would run back to the Labyrinth.] Balbabamba had thought that, given his current state, Taesan would be able to escape the damaged Immortal. It fully believed he would put distance between them so the Immortal couldn¡¯t interfere and then summon himself back to the Labyrinth. But Taesan had defeated the Immortal. [Incredible.] In the end, Balbabamba could only say that. [Though you teeter on the edge, it¡¯s truly remarkable.] Balbabamba, barely calming its surprise, spoke again. [Impressive, but¡­ dealing with magic is the wizard¡¯s task. I will continue my duty as the Labyrinth¡¯s overseer.] All quests werepleted. Taesan had perfectly finished the 74th floor. The reward for clearing the 74th-floor quest wasn¡¯t predetermined; it depended on what Taesan had aplished. Now, Taesan had wlessly cleared the quest. It was time to bestow upon him the reward he deserved. Chapter [NaN]: 74th Floor, Battlefield Of The Immortals (6) ¡°Before we continue, I have something to ask.¡± Taesan frowned. ¡°Why did you start reiming power before I even returned?¡± The transcendent beings were in too much of a hurry. If they had waited until Taesan returned to thebyrinth to reim his power, there would have been no issues. However, they began reiming his power before he even returned, giving the High Gods an opportunity to intervene. If they weren¡¯t careful, Taesan could have died. Balbabamba spoke in a hesitant tone. [In regards to that, it¡¯s unjust. To rify, it wasn¡¯t a group that reimed Valhaluni¡¯s power. It was a single transcendent. And that one isn¡¯t one who resides within thebyrinth.] ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± Taesan realized something.While he had the attention and favor of many transcendent beings, that was limited to those who had met and tested him directly. There was no reason for those outside thebyrinth to take an interest in him. To such a transcendent, Taesan was merely a mortal. Whether he lived or died made no difference. [Among the transcendent beings outside, there are some who do not look favorably upon thebyrinth. From their perspective, it¡¯s only natural that they¡¯d be displeased to see someone worthy of bing their servant drawn into thebyrinth.] ¡°I already know that.¡± Even the transcendent beings Taesan encountered on the Battlefield of the Gods disyed hostility toward thebyrinth. It wasn¡¯t strange for them to dislike Taesan, who had the favor of thebyrinth¡¯s transcendents. [A transcendent from thebyrinth tried to intervene, but the High Gods stepped in, and theycked the power to stop him. I pass along their apologies.] ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± With that exnation, he could understand. Balbabamba continued. [However, because of this incident, the gods outside thebyrinth will also take an interest in you. At the very least, you¡¯ll be etched into their minds.] After defeating the remnants of the Immortal, a system message appeared, indicating that the gods outside thebyrinth had taken an interest in him. [Whether that is good fortune or misfortune, even I cannot say. It¡¯s beyond my domain. Still, I hope it brings you fortune.] Now it was time for his reward once more. Balbabamba addressed Taesan. [You¡¯ve solved a problem that has long troubled the transcendent beings.] The quest on the 74th floor had been created at the gods¡¯ request. Even the gods had to rely on the power of mortals to counter the High Gods. Completing such a quest perfectly without any issues was certainly a remarkable achievement. [First, you¡¯ll need a new weapon.] The boundary, close to immortality, had shattered under the strain. Balbabamba gathered his strength. [Balbabamba has activated #000451.] [You have obtained a sword created by the Labyrinth¡¯s Wizard.] [Sword Created by the Labyrinth¡¯s Wizard] [Attack Power +750] [A sword forged during the design of thebyrinth. Though not made with serious intent, it holds tremendous power within.] [A sword made by the wizard as a pastime. It should still be quite useful for you now.] Balbabamba gathered his strength once more. [Additionally, I will provide the materials for your wrist guard.] Balbabamba summoned gray soil. The wrist guard, which had been lying silently, sprang to life and absorbed it. ck. With a pleasant sound, the wrist guard returned. [Wrist Guard of World Transformation.] [Attack Power +600] [Defense +500] [A wrist guard infused with power directly by a witch. Under certain conditions and with a catalyst, it can alter the rules of the world around it.] His attack power increased by 100, and his defense by 100. The wrist guard, usable until he cleared thebyrinth, was certainly a worthwhile gain. [And those rings.] Balbabamba¡¯s gaze fell upon the ck and white rings on Taesan¡¯s fingers. [It¡¯s reached its limit. Consider it a small service. I¡¯ll break through it for you.] Balbabamba¡¯s power enveloped the ck-and-white ring. With a cking sound, the energy within the ring surged violently. The ferocity within the ck ring diminished. It was as if it had finally epted Taesan. [Ring Dyed in Grandiosity and Darkness] [Attack Power +1,250] [A ring created from the fusion of dragon ws and the spark of the Spirit King. It is simply powerful. The mighty forces sh within to create a single consciousness. The consciousness is iplete, unruly, and acknowledges no one but its twin and its owner. Those who tame itpletely will gain yet another power.] ¡°Oh¡­¡± His attack power increased by 250. Originally, the ring acknowledged no one but its twin. Now it included its owner as well. [Ring Dyed in Purity and Mystery] [With its own spirit and divinity, it synchronizes with the user, providing assistance. It can store and unleash a range of powers as needed. It offers slight support when dealing with the ck ring.] [A ring created from the fusion of the Light of Origin and the Apostle¡¯s Essence. The tremendous forces collide to form one entity. The consciousness isplete and exudes grace. It epts beings other than its twin. Those who tame itpletely will gain yet another power.] An additional line in the white ring allowed it to slightly assist the ck ring. This change was certainly useful, as the ck ring was a power he would continue to wield. [Regarding the equipment, that¡¯s everything. Are you satisfied?] @@novelbin@@ ¡°More than enough.¡± Taesan nodded. His attack power alone had increased by 600. This alone was a sufficient reward. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. [What you¡¯ve aplished is far more impressive than that. Wait a moment.] The bricks that formed Balbabamba¡¯s body collided, as if sending a signal. [It¡¯s done.] After a brief pause, Balbabamba spoke. [I received confirmation from the Demon God and the God of Magic. For what you¡¯ve done for the transcendent, I¡¯ll grant you fitting magic and ck magic.] It was unexpected that Taesan would acquire magic and ck magic through Balbabamba. Power and mana flowed from Balbabamba into Taesan. [You have acquired the intermediate magic [Focused Detection].] [You have acquired the intermediate ck magic [Arrow of the Storm of Disregard].] [This concludes the rewards of the 74th floor. Farewell, then.] With those words, Balbabamba¡¯s body crumbled. Taesan examined the magic he obtained. [Intermediate Magic: Focused Detection] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption: 500] [Allows for focused detection of a specific area. Can bypass most detection interference and reveal secrets and seals.] ¡°A detection spell. Not bad.¡± Given the need for extensive information in the depths, the power of detection was highly valuable. Since he hadn¡¯t acquired Complete Reconnaissance yet, the intermediate detection magic would be useful. [Intermediate ck Magic: Arrow of the Storm of Disregard] [Mana Consumption: 700] [Basic Magic Consumption: 200] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summons an arrow containing the storm of disregard. The intense storm is concentrated into a single arrow, piercing and grinding through everything in its path. The arrow, capable of piercing to the world¡¯s end, has slightly deteriorated.] ¡°A ck magic version of the Starlight Arrow, perhaps.¡± [You activated Arrow of the Storm of Disregard.] The arrow of the storm was summoned. Taesan aimed the arrow at the wall of thebyrinth and fired. The arrow collided with the wall, leaving no trace or impact. [It¡¯s a concentration of power.] All the magic was focused into a single arrow. The range was extremely narrow, but the concentration of power in that one arrow would be intense. It was simr to the Starlight Arrow, but with notable differences. It seemed quite useful. This concluded the rewards of the 74th floor. But there was still more to explore. Defeating the remains of the Immortal had granted Taesan numerous benefits. [Special Activation Skill: Challenger of Immortality] [Proficiency: 1%] [When facing an Immortal, raises one¡¯s authority and power to a level capable of opposing an Immortal. However, the strain must be endured by the user themselves.] The description indicated it was an immensely powerful skill. To elevate his authority and strength to contend with an Immortal ¡ª this meant that even Taesan could somewhat challenge aplete Immortal. ¡®But¡­¡¯ The condition was that he had to endure the strain on his own. Even facing it would strain his mind, and he would have to withstand it himself. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to use it recklessly.¡± Still, the skill itself was valuable enough to warrant further study. [Title: Achiever of Unattainable Feats] [You have aplished a feat that no one else in the world has.] [Health +3,000] [Mana +1,000] [Strength +500] [Agility +500] [Intelligence +500] [Attack Power +300] [Achieving what no one else could has elevated your authority.] The overall stats were beneficial, but the most significant part was the increase in his authority noted afterward. Authority would be extremely important in future battles. In some ways, it was even more crucial than simple stats. Authority wasn¡¯t something that could be gained from mere victory; any reward that raised his authority carried significant meaning. ¡°Just because I¡¯m on the boundary doesn¡¯t mean my authority can¡¯t rise.¡± After defeating the remains of the Immortal, the system message indicated that his authority was on the boundary. However, this didn¡¯t mean that his authority couldn¡¯t increase. It seemed logical to assume that merely increasing his authority wouldn¡¯t be enough to transcend mortality. Finding that path would likely be his next goal. After defeating the god¡¯s angel, Taesan had obtained divine power. When he defeated the three-digit monster, he gained the Twisted Spirit Coordination. When he defeated Hazzak, the High Gods¡¯ ve, he gained a transcendent skill ¡ª the ck One. And now, having defeated the remains of the Immortal, he acquired a soul skill simr to Soul Ascension. What he acquired was a soul skill: King of Machinery. [Soul Skill: King of Machinery] [Proficiency: 1%] [King of Machinery. The power possessed by their lord. Currently, the user¡¯s authority and strength are far too insufficient to wield this power.] [This is¡­...] The ghost let out a sigh. Taesan quietly examined the skill. Even after acquiring the soul skill, Taesan didn¡¯t feel any significant change. He hadn¡¯t obtained any new power, nor had his authority or strength increased. This could only mean one thing. As stated in the skill description, Taesan hadn¡¯t yet reached the level necessary to wield this skill. Thus, the skill wasn¡¯t showing any effects. And if it was beyond his current capacity, there could only be one exnation. The Immortal. A power that transcended mortality, possessed solely by those who had surpassed it. Soul Ascension had granted even that power. ¡®I suspected as much from the moment I acquired the ck One.¡¯ The ghost let out a smallugh. Now, he was certain. The soul skill Taesan possessed, Soul Ascension. The power it contained was greater than that of an Immortal¡¯s power. Chapter [NaN]: 75th Floor, Wandering Planet (1) In theory, if one defeated another immortal, they could also seize their powers. It was possible for a mortal to hold multiple immortal powers. It was truly a ridiculous notion. The power of an immortal was the essence of everything they had umted in their life. To seize it, especially as a mere mortal¡ªhow absurd. ¡®Or is it?¡¯ The ghost reconsidered. It wasn¡¯t strange for a mortal to possess a skill like Soul Ascension. What was unusual was that, despite possessing such a skill, this individual still remained a mortal. ¡®Perhaps he¡¯s absorbing power as he seizes it?¡¯In many ways, he was an anomaly. At least, that was beyond the ghost¡¯sprehension. Taesan checked his remaining skills. A skill he acquired while standing at the threshold: Beyond the Boundary. £ÛSpecial Activation Skill: Beyond the Boundary£Ý £ÛCost: ???£Ý £ÛMastery: 1%£Ý £ÛA person at the edge between mortality and the beyond can wield a fraction of the power beyond the boundary. It can be used in conjunction with an attack or skill.£Ý ¡°The power from beyond¡­¡± It seemed like a skill he would understand better if he tested it directly. [You activated Beyond the Boundary.] Suddenly, Taesan was enveloped by a peculiar sensation. It was as if he were floating, drifting in midair. He felt a strange sense of distance from the world around him. Taesan gathered his mana. [You activated Frozen World.] Crack! Cold energy surged within thebyrinth. Frozen World was an intermediate magic spell Taesan often used. He had a perfect grasp of its power and mechanics. But this time, Frozen World felt different. The raging frost began freezing everything. Taesan was no exception. From his fingertips to his arm, the cold spread, freezing his body. His entire body became rigid with frost, and a biting chill pierced his lungs. This Frozen World was qualitatively different from the one he usually used. Taesan canceled its activation and created distance. Crack. Even though Taesan canceled it, Frozen World continued to expand as if it defied his control. [The force contained within this version of Frozen World is entirely different.] Even if he used all his skill oveys and forced amplification, it couldn¡¯t match this level of power. The power was indeed overwhelming. No ordinary mortal could withstand it. But the risk was also clear. ¡°Control is difficult.¡± Because he was summoning power from beyond the boundary, it was challenging to wield it as he wished. If misused, it could backfire on him. ¡°Dangerous¡­ but useful.¡± Though control was difficult, it wasn¡¯t impossible. Thanks to his utmost restraint, he avoided taking damage. It could be considered an ace up his sleeve, slightly more stable than standing at the boundary. That was a reasonable way to interpret it. Finally, everything was confirmed. Just as Taesan was about to descend to the 75th floor¡­ A dark portal opened. Thick, ck energy spread throughout thebyrinth, paving a path for its master. Taesan halted his steps. He addressed the one who appeared. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Demon God.¡± A figure appeared, resembling a young girl. The Demon God smiled as she approached Taesan. [Thanks to you, I saw something quite entertaining again.] ¡°Were you watching?¡± [I didn¡¯t interfere, but I was observing.] The Demon God smirked. [It was an exceptionally rare sight. Even the ones outside were probably astonished. And they¡¯ll be even more intrigued by you.] Although I have no intention of yielding. The Demon God murmured softly. [I appeared this time because I have something to convey to you.] A ck chair materialized behind her. She sat and spoke. [On the 76th floor, the Guides of Sin wille to fight you. And unlike before, their numbers will not be limited to just one.] ¡°Several, then.¡± Taesan nodded. It was an anticipated development, so he remained emotionally unmoved. The Guides could no longer face Taesan alone. Thus, they resorted to numbers. It wasn¡¯t unexpected. However, there was another question. ¡°Even so, they won¡¯t be able to defeat me.¡± [True. In your current state, you¡¯d likely win no matter how many of theme.] The Demon God acknowledged this. [I lifted the restrictions on them because the fights were no longer bnced.] Until now, the Guides were overwhelmingly stronger than Taesan. Watching a one-sided battle wasn¡¯t entertaining, so the Demon God ced restrictions on the Guides. The same would apply to the opposite situation. [Taesan, I intend to ce a restriction on your level-up.] ¡°Level-up?¡± [In thebyrinth¡¯s system, leveling up restores all your states.] Health, mana, even mental power¡ªall were fully restored. Taesan had won several battles using that mechanism. [The restriction I¡¯ll ce on you is that you won¡¯t recover upon leveling up during battles against the Guides.] Leveling up would no longer restore his state. Taesan asked. ¡°Is it mandatory?¡± [No. Unlike those fools, you can choose to ept or decline my restriction. It¡¯s entirely your choice. However, if you ept... I¡¯ll give you an appropriate reward.] Taesan¡¯s decision was quick. He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll ept.¡± For the Demon God to impose such a restriction on him implied he still had a reasonable chance of victory. If he could gain additional rewards, there was no reason to refuse. The Demon God grinned. [Good. Then I¡¯ll look forward to it. Grow stronger. And one day...] With those words, the Demon God vanished. Taesan resumed his steps toward the 75th floor. [75th Floor Quest Started.] [Complete the world in under an hour.] [Reward: A ring forged from the core of the world.] [Secret reward: ???] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The ghost looked pleased after seeing the quest requirements. [So, the 75th floor quest is still this one? It¡¯s been so long, but it hasn¡¯t changed. How nostalgic.] ¡°It must be a quest you¡¯ve cleared before, too.¡± [Yeah, I told you before. There¡¯s a floor that requires you toplete the world in under an hour. This is that very floor.] Taesan stepped onto the 75th floor. In the room on the 75th floor, there was a distorted space that seemed endless. As he entered, the space shifted. Taesan arrived on a deste. [You activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] Dark energy spread across the ground. What he could sense was that there was no one else here. As he looked up, he saw the vastness of space. This had almost no atmosphere. There was nothing visible in space. This was truly abandoned. It was an environment where life could not thrive¡ªa world that had ended, in a different sense than Hafran¡¯s world. ¡°So, I just have toplete it without any specific conditions?¡± The size of the world didn¡¯t seem that vast. Judging by its visible radius, it was much smaller than Earth. Even for other adventurers, as long as they were prepared, it seemed manageable toplete. [It can¡¯t be that easy, can it?] No sooner had the ghost finished speaking than the system window appeared. [Complete the world in under an hour, oveing all obstacles.] Slowly, a presence began to manifest across the entire. ¡°So, this is what they mean by obstacles.¡± Taesan nodded and kicked off. The world¡¯s will rose to block Taesan¡¯s path.
This tiny, wandering had been devoid of anything from the beginning. Abandoned in a corner of the universe, unable to belong anywhere, it was destined to drift through space, cold and fading. Normally, a like that wouldn¡¯t possess any will. But this wandering was unique. As it drifted through space, it passed by countlesss teeming with life, and perhaps because of that, it gradually began to develop a faint will. The first emotions this sentient, wandering felt were anger and hatred. Why was it abandoned like this? Why did it have to disappear, lonely and deste? Why couldn¡¯t it harbor life? Emotions resonated throughout the entire. But there was no life to feel those emotions. Although it had gained a will, it didn¡¯t have the power to sustain life. So, this wandering continued to roam the cosmos, endlessly burning with rage. The fact that it developed a will was the greatest misfortune for the wandering. After countless eons adrift in space, destined to continue like this forever, someone arrived on the. ¡°You really found a ce like this, Balbabamba. I¡¯ll have to praise youter.¡± The man, who appeared by leaping through space, muttered to himself. The eternally enraged paused as it sensed a living being in its world. A living creature. The wizard who would one day create thebyrinth smiled and waved. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± As soon as those words reached it, the showed its intent to kill. The anger umted over eons had long since twisted into hatred for all living things. The ground rose to crush the wizard, and the atmosphere transformed into poison. The wizard sensed all this killing intent, one by one. ¡°So, this much? Not bad.¡± Once he grasped its power, the wizard pped his hands. Instantly, the raging ground subsided. The air, which had turned to poison, quickly calmed. The world had slipped from the¡¯s control. Just as it was about to panic, the wizard spoke. ¡°Do you hate all living things?¡± Although it was spokennguage, the could understand the meaning within. The stirred, affirming the question. Its feelings were severely distorted, having nevermunicated with anything before, but the mage understood easily. ¡°Then, would you like to make a contract with me?¡± The wizard proposed to the. If it connected as a floor of thebyrinth, adventurers would periodicallye to visit it. It didn¡¯t matter what it did with the adventurers. It could kill them or ignore them. But if an adventurer met the conditions, they would move on to another ce. Although the didn¡¯t fully understand the contract, it epted willingly. Life woulde to this abandonednd. And it could do whatever it wanted with those lives. There was no reason to refuse. Thus, the became the 75th floor of thebyrinth. Countless adventurers visited. The tried to kill them. Some couldn¡¯t endure and died, while others barely survived and returned. The wondered about this new life. How much of its power could they withstand? The will of the smiled quietly. At some point, tormenting and killing adventurers had be the purpose that sustained its will. First, gently. The gathered its power.
Rumble! The ground formed a massive wall and surged toward Taesan. Not only did the weight of the earth bear down, but the¡¯s will was embedded within it, making it incredibly difficult to withstand. This wouldn¡¯t kill him. The, now the 75th floor, had an overall grasp of the adventurers¡¯ strength.@@novelbin@@ Sure enough, Taesan emerged from the earthen onught. But it was different from what the had expected. It thought he would emerge but with some wounds. Every adventurer had been that way before. However, Taesan emerged without even a speck of dust on him. Despite throwing various forces at him after that, Taesan took no damage. As things weren¡¯t going as nned, the irritably summoned a gust. The winds swirled into a massive storm. It was the¡¯s ultimate storm, the power that had killed the most adventurers. Normally, it would toy with them for a while, only using this storm just before they reached their goal. But in its frustration, it unleashed it immediately. This time, the was convinced it could inflict significant damage on Taesan. Facing the raging storm, Taesan clenched his fist. Boom! The storm dissipated with a single punch. The paused. Taesan dusted off his hands. ¡°It¡¯s not very difficult, is it?¡± Chapter [NaN]: 75th Floor, Wandering Planet (2) Rumble! A bolt of lightning struck down. The wind transformed into a violent storm, and the earth shattered as if it intended to swallow Taesan whole. Taesan stomped his foot, crushing the crumbling ground beneath him. He dodged the lightning and punched away the storm with his fist. Taesan quickly assessed the situation. Clearing this level wouldn¡¯t be difficult. In that case, rather than obsessing over an immediate clear, the right answer was to identify anything valuable he could obtain. Taesan began to explore his surroundings instead of heading to his destination. [You activated Leraje''s Territory Detection.] [You activated Concentrated Detection.] Using the power of detection continuously, he scanned his surroundings. He gatheredprehensive information, from the depths of the earth to the high heavens. But nothing appeared. This ce was truly empty. ¡°Absolutely nothing here.¡± [It¡¯s a ce where life cannot exist. There are times when you can find something in such a space, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be the case here.] Taesan moved to explore a wider area. And the abandoned became immensely irritated by Taesan¡¯s actions. The, filled with rage, struck down a lightning bolt. Taesan raised his sword. ng! The lightning collided with his sword and scattered in all directions. ¡°Nothing here either.¡± Taesan paid no attention to the¡¯s attack. The grew even angrier at his indifference. With its emotions, a powerful will surged forth. Rumble! The ground split and copsed. A vast city-sized area sank, creating a massive hole. Rumble! Lightning poured down furiously, scorching the ground. The storm hurled the shattered debris of earth through the air. It was, in every sense, an apocalypse. Yet Taesan stood on the crumbling ground without a single tremor. With the help of his special Continuous Activation skill, Bncing, he could maintain his posture with ease, unaffected by this level of tremor. The earth continued to copse under the¡¯s will. The ground, which had been breaking apart, rose with the¡¯s intent, attempting to engulf Taesan. In that instant, Taesan activated a skill. [You activated Earthquake.] The ground, which had been trying to swallow him, was neutralized by the earthquake Taesan triggered. He escaped the copsing terrain in an instant. The was left frustrated, like a dog chasing chickens in vain. ¡°It¡¯s much weaker than the world of Hafran.¡± [That ce is unique. In the first ce, it''s nearly impossible for a star to wield power at an immortal level.] Immortals were, as the name suggested, beings without death. They had no lifespan. They continued to exist until met with physical or mental annihtion. However,s all had a lifespan. From a human¡¯s perspective, it may seem unfathomably long, but, conversely, it meant there was an inevitable end. Thus,s could never achieve the power of an immortal. Hafran¡¯s world breaking that rule is a very rare exception. [Not that this is weak, though...] Floor 75. The fact that this was a quest in the deep floors said it all. Ordinary adventurers would not be able to ovee a¡¯s will. But Taesan was far from an ordinary adventurer. ¡°Let¡¯s keep looking around to see if there¡¯s anything worthwhile.¡± Completing the floor wasn¡¯t an issue. Taesan intended to push the limits of exploration to see if there was anything valuable to obtain. The, watching Taesan, was losing its mind. The ceaselessly tormented the adventurers who gathered here to clear the 75th floor. But the oue was always the same. Either the adventurers seeded and returned to thebyrinth, or they perished and disappeared here. In the end, nothing remained beside the. It was all so empty. Unable to bear it, the developed a particr worldview. Mortal beings. Adventurers were nothing more than toys to it. Living beings were weak and fragile. Even a slight whim from it would leave them broken and defeated. Compared to those insignificant creatures, it was far stronger,rger, and superior. Yes. Life was unnecessary. Life was nothing more than a toy for expressing its perfect self. This was the¡¯s absolute belief. Twisted emotions had even robbed it of the admiration and envy it once felt toward life. This belief became the pir supporting the¡¯s psyche. Yet now, the found itself unable to do anything to Taesan. It was undeniable, no matter how much it wished otherwise. It felt with certainty that Taesan was stronger than itself. The let out a furious roar. The emotions surged, and everything began to fall apart.@@novelbin@@ Until now, the had never unleashed its full power against an adventurer. Cleaning up afterward was also challenging from the¡¯s standpoint. But this time, it had abandoned all restraint, determined to kill Taesan. ¡°What a mess.¡± Yet still, it couldn¡¯t touch him. Taesan murmured, unleashing his power. He blocked the¡¯s attacks of darkness and magic swirling like a storm. The earth, unable to withstand the force, began to copse. At this rate, it would take at least several hundred years to recover. If things went poorly, its contract with the wizards could break, and it could be expelled from the 75th floor. But the only thought of killing Taesan. [This reaction is so different from my time.] The ghost let out a bitterugh. Though he had been strong, he was nothingpared to Taesan now. When he cleared the 75th floor, the had mocked and toyed with him as it attacked, and he had barely survived by risking his life. But against Taesan, the was showing all its emotions, intent on killing him. And Taesan lightly blocked every single one of its attacks. The time was almost up. It was nearly time to finish. Taesanunched himself forward, elerating and using his skills to swiftly break through the. Realizing Taesan was about to clear the floor, the hurriedly mustered even more power. But it couldn¡¯t reach him. It couldn¡¯t respond properly to Taesan¡¯s sprinting speed as he carved a path forward. Taesan was nearing his destination. In the end, the couldn¡¯t hold back. Shriek! With a deafening roar, the ground in front of Taesan copsed, revealing a pure white will within. Having seen it before, Taesan immediately recognized it. That white will was the will of the world itself. The will gathered power and burst forth. The strength of the world itself condensed, intending to crush Taesan. Butpared to the power of the destroyed world of Hafran, it was ridiculously weak. This much could be broken through. Taesan swung his arm. [You activated Magic Ovey.] Heyered the starlight arrow three times. Then he detonated it. [You activated Magic Release.] [You activated Forced Amplification.] The starlight arrow was fired. It collided with the force of will, turning the world white. Rumble! The was shocked. Even after revealing itself and using its power, it was being shattered by Taesan¡¯s starlight arrow. The made a decision. Havinge this far, there was no turning back. Even if it meant copsing, it would kill Taesan. With that resolve, it moved its true form. Boom! The began to disintegrate. Its shell cracked, and its core twisted. The ground rose up. The air trembled, and the atmosphere crumbled. The scale of this attack was fundamentally different from before. Literally everything on the was attacking Taesan. The weight of the continent crashed down on him, and the¡¯s atmospherepressed to swallow him whole. In terms of sheer physical force, it was beyond anything Taesan had ever faced. But it wasn¡¯t something he couldn¡¯t ovee. He braced himself and charged forward. [You activated Gale Sprint.] [You activated Skill eleration.] He moved with the force of a storm, crushing the advancing ground beneath him. Taesan stomped. [You activated Beyond the Boundary.] [You activated Magic Ovey.] Heyered the earthquake and directed it towards the advancing ground. [You activated Magic Release.] The advancing ground shattered like a wall. It scattered like broken pieces of a ruined cube, clearing a path. Thud. Taesan stomped his foot. The¡¯s will exploded in a fit of rage. Taesan swung his sword. Crash! Power shed, and shockwaves spread in all directions. Taesan forced the¡¯s power back with his sword. At the end of his charge, the¡¯s will was directly visible. The will trembled violently. The power surged madly, expressing emotions so intense Taesan could even sense them. How could this be? It was a massive star. A. To it, humans were less than dust. It had unleashed power with the intention of its own destruction. This speck of a human should have been crushed to death under its force. But Taesan had broken through and was now right before it. This was impossible! With an overwhelming wave of denial, it gathered its power. The ripples of its emotions shook his mind, but Taesan easily brushed them off with a shake of his head. ck and golden colors ovepped on Taesan¡¯s sword, forming a shade of gray. The didn¡¯t stop either. And the moment he crossed the boundary line, The¡¯s power warped. Crack. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through the¡¯s will. The gray color burst forth, painting the world.
[You...] Balbabamba could not finish his sentence. Taesan sat calmly in front of him. [If only you had cleared it like everyone else.] Finally, Balbabamba couldn¡¯t hold back and spoke. It was something abyrinth manager should never say, but he couldn¡¯t help but voice it. The core floors, 74th and 75th, had been changed because of Taesan. It was unprecedented for two deep floors to change in such a short period. [It¡¯s me who designs the locations and concepts fitting for each floor. Do you know how hard that is?] Balbabamba spoke in an exhausted tone. He was already extremely busy creating new core floors, and now an additional floor had been added to the pile. Moreover, it was the 75th floor. Since the creation of thebyrinth, it had never changed until now, when Taesan forced them to find a new one. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I couldn¡¯t just go easy on it.¡± [I understand. It¡¯s just aint. I went through so much trouble to find that during thebyrinth¡¯s design phase, and now it¡¯s useless.] ¡°So it was such an old floor.¡± Taesan was a bit surprised. He knew it had been around even in the ghost¡¯s era, but he hadn¡¯t realized it was a quest set up since the design stage. ¡°What will happen to the now?¡± Just before the boundary pierced its will, apletion message for the quest had appeared. Thanks to immediately returning to thebyrinth, Taesan didn¡¯t know the oue. Balbabamba responded. [It wasn¡¯t annihted, but it suffered damage that will be hard to recover from. Its consciousness is likely broken. At the very least, it can no longer function as a floor in thebyrinth.] The abandoned could no longer remain as part of thebyrinth¡¯s floors. This story had little relevance to Taesan. He had only defended himself against the¡¯s attacks. [Well then, good luck. I need to quickly go investigate.] Muttering grumpily, Balbabamba departed. In any case, Taesan cleared the 75th floor. He received his rightful reward for it. [Ring Refined from the Core of the World] [Health +2,500] [Mana +500] [Attack Power +150] [Defense Power +150] [A ring crafted bypressing and refining the world¡¯s core. The craftsman was very inexperienced, so much of its power was lost, but the strength it contains is still immensely powerful.] [Staff of One Who Contracted with the Demon King] [Dark Magic +330] [Magic Power +500] [Chant Speed +15%] [A staff once wielded by one who contracted with the Demon King of the demon realm, who was once one of the mightiest. It¡¯s said those who contract with demons meet a miserable end, though this didn¡¯t apply to the Demon King¡¯s contractor.] The ring simply offered high health, mana, and attack power. Its effects were straightforward, and its performance was solid. The secret reward, a staff for dark magic, wasn¡¯t particrly special. It could be sacrificed as an offering to the Demon God. But these weren¡¯t the only things Taesan gained. Even though there had been nothing on the abandoned, he had acquired something. [Special Continuous Activation Skill: Opponent of the World] [Proficiency: 1%] [One who battled against the world itself. When opposing the will of the world, enhances personal rank and all stats. Additionally, it allows a more direct reading of the will imbued in a¡¯s power.] It seemed like an upgrade of the Immortal Opponent skill he obtained on the 74th floor, applied to a world-level opponent. ¡°I¡¯ll be able to use it in the world of Hafran.¡± Even Taesan couldn¡¯t guarantee he could conquer Hafran¡¯s world yet. But by obtaining skills rted to it and gradually bing stronger, he would one day reach that level. Taesan headed to the 76th floor. The beginning of the 76th floor. And the Demon God had said they would be waiting here. Taesan brushed past the shopkeeper and entered the 76th floor. There, he felt numerous presences. ¡°Why are there so many?¡± Murmuring, Taesan walked toward where he sensed the presences. There, numerous Guides of Sin awaited. [You encountered the ck Twin.] [You have encountered the White Twin.] [You have encountered the Fist Saint, Altiar.] [You have encountered the Lord of the Abyss, Cliff.] [You have encountered the Master of the Echoing Valley, Estevan.] [You have encountered the Starlight sh, Floria.] [You have encountered the Warrior of the Great Saint, Gloria.] [You have encountered the Most Noble One, Helia.] Chapter [NaN]: 76th Floor, Guides Of Sin (1) One. Two. Three. Four. A total of eight Guides stood before Taesan. [Well, well. Familiar faces.] The ghost muttered. The Guides also looked at the ghost. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hero.¡± Two women spoke. Apart from the fact that one had ck hair and eyes while the other had white, they had perfectly identical faces. [The ck and white twins, Cliff¡­ there are quite a few of them.] The ghost, observing each one, soon spoke in a chilly tone.[Societ isn¡¯t here.] ¡°She refused.¡± As if representing the others, a young man with tinum blonde hair stepped forward confidently. ¡°She said she would find her own path.¡± [Helia. Were you the one who led them?] ¡°I couldn¡¯t stand to watch a lowborn creature running wild any longer.¡± Helia cast a disdainful gaze at Taesan. ¡°Even one with a noble lineage like you has fallen so far. You crave revenge, clinging to someone whose origins are unknown.¡± [No Societ, no Ambracia, no Lion King¡­ All the ones I wanted to see aren¡¯t here. Do as you please, Taesan.] The ghost muttered, not paying much attention to Helia¡¯s words. Seeing this attitude, Helia frowned and tried to say something, but a muscr man stepped forward. ¡°It¡¯s enough. As he said, he¡¯s already a dead man. No need to mind him.¡± ¡°¡­Hmph.¡± Heliaposed himself and looked back at Taesan. ¡°Then die, lowborn.¡± At Helia¡¯s signal, the Guides lunged, surrounding Taesanpletely. There was no way out¡ªa perfect encirclement. The muscr man, Fist Saint Altair, opened his mouth. ¡°Gods are fickle beings by nature. Don¡¯t be too discouraged. I, too, have experienced this. To the gods, mortals are mere toys.¡± Taesan understood. The Guides of Sin believed that Taesan had been abandoned by the Demon God. The reason was easy to guess. With an expression not remotely sympathetic, Altair spoke as though he pitied him. ¡°A restriction on recovery¡­ Honestly, it seems a bit harsh.¡± The Demon God appeared to them. At the sudden appearance of the Demon God, they were shocked, thinking she was there to change her decision, but the Demon God¡¯s following words widened their eyes. The Demon God announced that Taesan would not receive any recovery effects from leveling up, even if he defeated them in battle. They couldn¡¯t understand. In battles between adventurers, especially in 1 vs. many battles, leveling up was crucial. By somehow defeating one, leveling up to restore to peak condition, and then defeating another to level up again¡ªwithout this method, victory was impossible. Yet the Demon God had blocked this. At that moment, they were convinced. The Demon God had abandoned Taesan. If not, there was no reason to impose such a restriction. The Guides¡¯ faces were full of confidence. They were certain they could defeat Taesan. ¡°Don¡¯t me us. If you must, me the Demon God.¡± With those words, the various powers of the Guides surged. ¡°Not ming anyone.¡± Taesan muttered. ¡°There¡¯s no point.¡± The gathered powers were difficult even for Taesan to fend off. A frontal confrontation would most likely end in defeat. But, of course, it didn¡¯t matter to Taesan. Watching the surging power, Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Forced Duel. For 12 seconds, no one but Floria can deal damage to you.] As the energy reached Taesan, it vanished. ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The Guides, who had been anticipating and countering Taesan¡¯s movements, paused. Their powers were erased. Taesan responded to only one thing¡ªFloria¡¯s attack. ¡°Forced Duel?¡± ¡°Bring it on.¡± [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].] [You have activated Incarnation of Nature.] [You have activated Vessel of the King.] [Your Enemy of Those Who Tread Upon Your Depths has been triggered.] Taesan stomped his foot. The Guides recoiled in terror, leaping back. ¡°Y-you!¡± A tall man with blue hair, Floria, jumped back in horror. In an instant, his body elerated, putting distance between himself and Taesan. But Taesan followed Floria. Floria was undoubtedly fast, but not fast enough to shake off Taesan. [You have activated Strong Blow.] Kaaang! ¡°Ugh!¡± As their swords shed, Floria let out a groan. An overwhelming weight coursed through his sword, making it hard to bear. Floria shouted desperately. ¡°Do whatever it takes!¡± ¡°Even if you say that!¡± The other Guides were also desperate. Various powers stormed through the 76th floor. Yet none of it reached Taesan. [You have activated Forced Duel. For 12 seconds, no one but Floria can deal damage to you.] Forced Duel activated again, erasing all the other Guides¡¯ powers. Only Floria¡¯s power could reach Taesan. ¡°What kind of skill is that!¡± Altair shouted in disbelief. The effect of Forced Duel appeared as a system message. They understood what was happening. ¡°Impossible! How can such a skill even¡­¡± Attack Nullification, Absolute Judgment, Endurance¡ªthey were aware of Taesan¡¯s unreasonable skills. But they hadn¡¯t anticipated a skill like Forced Duel. What was it? Did it mean their numerical advantage was utterly meaningless? Altair, with an expression of denial, swung his fist. A powerful wind engulfed Taesan. Even Taesan would need to move to block this attack. But it vanished the moment it touched him. In the end, Altair let out a hollowugh. ¡°¡­I see.¡± Helia barely contained his surprise, twisting his face in frustration. ¡°So, he wasn¡¯t abandoned by the Demon God.¡± The existence of a skill like Forced Duel made it possible for him to manage even with the restriction on recovery. They had devised a n to bring Taesan down with the strength of their collective. However, Forced Duel hadpletely disrupted that n. ¡°Change of ns.¡± Helia quickly made a decision. They were adventurers from the depths, who had descended through countless variables and absurdities. Even amidst confusion, they could find solutions. ¡°Group attacks are impossible. Fight him one-on-one, and try to drag this out as long as possible.¡± ¡°Drag it out?¡± ¡°We¡¯re trying to wear him down.¡± The other Guides also understood. Taesan couldn¡¯t recover any strength spent during the battle. They wouldn¡¯t give him a chance to drink a potion. In other words, if they kept attacking, they could exhaust his stamina, mana, and even skills with cooldowns. In this way, they¡¯d force him to use up his resources one by one, increasing the chances of victory for the next one in line. They knew it was the right answer, but none of them were pleased. ¡°¡­How pitiful.¡± Altairughed bitterly. They hade here, discarding their pride, gathering a full group of eight to kill Taesan. And yet, they had to throw away even their pride and almost abandon victory, simply to stall for time. Their pride as those who had ventured into the depths was shattered. Helia¡¯s lips twisted. ¡°Victory is more important than pride. There¡¯s no need to follow my orders. Fight however you want.¡± While they reached this conclusion, Taesan and Floria continued to sh. ¡°Damn it!¡± Floria also realized that no one could interfere except for himself and Taesan. Gritting his teeth, he gripped his dagger tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t mock me!¡± Taesan was undoubtedly strong. But he was also an adventurer who had ventured into the depths. He had arrived here after repeatedly triumphing over unreasonable and unbeatable odds. A system message appeared before Floria¡¯s eyes. [Your opponent is an impossible enemy to defeat.] [Your Fair Duel has been activated.] [Your Battle Lust has been activated.] [Your Relentless has been activated.] As the skills to counter formidable foes activated, Floria¡¯s entire body elerated. Floria ced his hand on the ground. It was the moment when Taesan elerated to drive his sword into Floria¡¯s throat. [Floria has activated Designated Mark eleration.] Floria¡¯s body vanished. It was literal¡ªno warning, no indication of power. Floria reappeared behind Taesan and stabbed at him. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] Taesan quickly turned, swinging his sword. But Floria wasn¡¯t there. [Floria has activated Designated Mark eleration.] Floria moved behind Taesan again. This time, Taesan didn¡¯t allow it. He twisted his waist, swinging his sword at Floria, who was stabbing with his dagger. Floria¡¯s body blurred, leaving an afterimage. [Floria has activated Erased Shadow.] Taesan¡¯s sword barely grazed Floria. Floria¡¯s sword pierced Taesan. [Your Second Attack Nullification has been activated.] [Floria has activated Designated Mark eleration.] Ultimately, Taesan permitted a hit. Floria, who had retreated, bared his teeth. ¡°You are indeed strong, but¡­ strength alone isn¡¯t the answer in a fight.¡± Floria knew Taesan¡¯s abilities. Taesan didn¡¯t know Floria¡¯s. That difference was significant. Against a deep adventurer with unique abilities, it was impossible for Taesan to respond perfectly to him. But that was all. Taesan stomped forward. Floria gritted his teeth and responded. Ka-ka-ka-kang! Floria barely managed to block the swinging sword. He was slower than Taesan. Considering the overwhelming stat difference, this was only natural. Yet, Floria wasn¡¯t easily overpowered. [Floria has activated Designated Mark eleration.] Floria¡¯s body moved to the edge of the room. Taesan kicked off the ground to follow, soaring through the air, and Floria appeared directly below him. [Your Third Attack Nullification has been activated.] Floria quickly widened the distance. ¡®Good!¡¯ He had exhausted all of Taesan¡¯s attack nullifications. Taesan didn¡¯t fully understand his own strength. He could win. At that moment, Floria felt a surge of confidence. ¡°I think I understand.¡± Taesan hadn¡¯t mindlessly used up his three attack nullifications. He had been analyzing Floria¡¯s skill, Designated Mark eleration. ¡®It¡¯s not teleportation.¡¯ There was no cooldown on his movements. The cost didn¡¯t seem significant either. Even limited blink magic had a cooldown of 10 minutes, indicating that spatial movement was exceedingly difficult. It didn¡¯t seem likely that it could be used so freely. Moreover, Floria only moved along the ground. Taesan could tell by how Floria had intentionally appeared beneath him, even though Taesan was in midair. As he continued to fend off Floria¡¯s attacks, Taesan observed closely. [You have activated Focused Detection.] [You have activated Reconnaissance.] The power of detection spread out. Through it, Taesan realized there was something inscribed on thebyrinth¡¯s floor. ¡®Marking for position.¡¯ Movement was possible only to designated locations. Taesan gathered his dark energy. [You have activated Decarabia¡¯s Twisted Flora.] Kuu-gu-gu-gung! Roots pierced through the space, appearing and restricting the area Floria could move to. Floria¡¯s face hardened. Taesan closed in on him in an instant. Kaaang! ¡°Ugh!¡± Floria was unable to escape this time with Designated Mark eleration. ¡®As expected.¡¯ He moved to designated marks. It wasn¡¯t spatial movement, but a form of physical movement so fast it only looked like teleportation. Therefore, as long as the space was blocked, restrictions could be ced on him. Ka-ka-ka-kang! Floria was quickly pushed back. Taesan was also predicting the strategy of the Guides: to stall for time and exhaust Taesan¡¯s resources. Thus, Taesan aimed to quickly analyze his opponent¡¯s hand and counter it, ensuring victory with minimal expenditure. Taesan had countless cards at his disposal. No matter what his opponents used, he had a card to counter it. There was no problem. Taesan infused power into his sword, and Floria was flung far away.@@novelbin@@ Chapter [NaN]: 76th Floor, Guides Of Sin (2) Floria did not retreat. Even knowing he had no chance of winning, he kept moving, searching for an opening to secure victory. But, of course, the impossible remained impossible. Boom! ¡°Guh!¡± Floria was smashed into the ground, his entire body covered in wounds. As he writhed in pain, Taesan brought his sword down upon him. Gritting his teeth, Floria activated a skill. [Floria has activated Designated Mark eleration.] [You have activated Restricted Blink.] ¡°This is getting tedious.¡± As Floria elerated, Taesan teleported above him. He had already figured out the locations and situations where Floria would move. Floria tried to raise his sword toote, and Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through his chest. Crunch. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect¡­ this ending¡­¡± [You have defeated Floria.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [By the terms of the Demon God¡¯s contract, level-up recovery is restricted.] Floria had been defeated. However, it wasn¡¯t easy. Taesan had tried to block Floria¡¯s movement with Decarabia¡¯s twisted flora. And Floria used every piece of equipment he had to break through it. As a result, Taesan had to continuously activate Decarabia¡¯s twisted flora. While he hadn¡¯t lost much health, nearly half of his mana was depleted. Boom! As Floria fell, a surge of force followed, as if determined not to give him any chance to recover. Taesan raised his sword. system-start [You have activated Forced Duel. For the next 12 seconds, only Gloria can damage you.] [Your Forced Duel proficiency has increased by 1%.] system_end The attacks targeting Taesan vanished. Warrior of the Great Saint, Gloria was the next target. Taesan charged at the golden-haired woman d in golden armor, her expression steeling as she raised her sword. ¡°Light, heed me!¡± [Gloria has activated Saint''s Blessing.] [Gloria has activated Chosen One.] [Gloria has activated Holy Avatar.] Light enveloped her. Taesan recognized it as divine power. Gloria, wielding her sword and shield, confronted Taesan¡¯s attack. ng! The impact struck Taesan. ¡®She withstood it?¡¯ Taesan grimaced. His stats now surpassed 20,000, far above even Lee Taeyeon¡¯s. In terms of strength, Gloria shouldn¡¯t have been able to hold her ground. Yet, she was holding her own against Taesan. d in divine light, she swung her sword fiercely. sh! [Gloria has activated Divine Sword''s Retribution.] The air tore as swords of light rained down indiscriminately. Despite Taesan¡¯s attempt to evade, Gloria¡¯s onught triggered his Attack Nullification skill. ¡°I am a warrior of the divine! Creatures crawling on the earth cannot reach me!¡± Gloria charged at Taesan with a cry full of faith. Although Helia had instructed her to buy time, she had no intention of following that advice. Taesan had expended considerable energy fighting Floria. She believed she could win if she poured everything she had into it. sh! Taesan analyzed as he blocked Gloria¡¯s attack. It wasn¡¯t her pure strength. High divine power was enhancing her strength and speed. In that case¡­ How could he counter the divinity of another? Taesan had experienced this in the spirit world. Shing! A radiant light burst from Taesan. It was simr to the golden light surrounding Gloria, but denser and more potent. ¡°Ah?¡± Gloria, who had been charging fiercely, hesitated. Divine power emanated from Taesan. ¡°Why¡­¡± Before she could finish her question, Taesan¡¯s divinity overwhelmed her. Crash! ¡°Ugh!¡± The golden light surrounding her shattered like ss. Divine protection vanished. ¡°How¡­ how¡­¡± She looked at Taesan in shock. The entire room was enveloped in Taesan¡¯s divine power. ¡°It seems it works after all.¡± Taesan murmured as he deduced that divine power could be countered with divine power. And the divinity Gloria wore wasn¡¯t her own; it was given to her by another. In contrast, Taesan¡¯s power was his own divine energy. The quality difference allowed him to break through Gloria¡¯s divine barrier. Taesan leaped forward. Gloria, panicking, raised her shield. Boom! ¡°Gah!¡± Unable to withstand the impact, Gloria slid back. What followed was an overwhelming battle. Without the divine power that had been her greatest strength, Gloria had no means to resist. ¡°What¡­?¡± The other Guides, watching this, let out a groan. ¡°Breaking Gloria¡¯s divinity? How is that possible?¡± Gloria¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t all that extraordinary. Her speed was average, and the skills she had gained while traversing thebyrinth weren¡¯t particrly special. But her faith was unmatched. She believed that no one could match her devotion to the divine, and indeed, none among the devout could rival her divine power. When she d herself in divinity, even the other Guides couldn¡¯t easily break through. She was an imprable wall, a fortress unlike Shaman¡¯s walls. But now, that barrier was shattered by Taesan¡¯s divinity. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s natural that he¡¯s stronger than us.¡± Helia spoke coldly, though a smirk tugged at his lips. ¡°With this battle, he¡¯s used his divine power.¡± With that level of divine power, Taesan wouldn¡¯t be able to use it again. ¡°In the end, we will win.¡± As the battle dragged on, Taesan would continue to deplete his strength, one by one. In the end, he¡¯d be left fighting with all his cards expended. ¡°Grr!¡± Even with precautions against Absolute Judgement, Gloria continued to recover and endure. But that was all. Crunch. Taesan¡¯s sword shattered her armor. She coughed up blood as she fell. ¡°O divine¡­ answer¡­¡± [Your level has increased.] In this battle, he had used divine power. Now he could no longer use Boundary Line or Boundary Repel. His damage potential was considerably drained, having used the de of Resolve and Copy to finish her in a single blow. There was no time to rest. His next opponent was Cliff, the ruler of the dark abyss. Cliff wielded a bottomless darkness. Boom! Endless, deep, dark shadows emerged. Taesan summoned his magic. [You have activated Frozen World.] It was a Frozen World stacked withyered magic. The power it held was undoubtedly at the edge of mortality. However, as soon as it touched the beastly darkness, it was swallowed up and vanished. ¡°Magic and dark magic alike are certainly divine powers, but they are wielded by mortals. They cannot touch me.¡± Cliff, d entirely in ck, spoke as he gathered more strength. Darkness nketed the world. Everything was dyed and devoured. This time, Taesan activated dark magic, but it, too, was swallowed as it approached Cliff. As he withstood the assault through Attack Nullification, Taesan thought. ¡®Neither magic nor dark magic is effective.¡¯ It was a power entirely separate from his own. The force Cliff wielded devoured all of Taesan¡¯s power. After exhausting all three Attack Nullifications, Taesan realized it. The power Cliff wielded was the power of destruction. It was a force simr to that of a Demon Lord, consuming and annihting everything, bestowed upon one tasked with the mission of destroying the world. That was why neither magic nor dark magic worked against it. Taesan didn¡¯t know how an adventurer in thebyrinth had such power, but he had a counter. If his opponent wielded the power of destruction, he could use his own. [You have activated the Spark of Cmity.] @@novelbin@@ A fiery wolf emerged, possessing the power to burn the world. Cliff sneered. ¡°The trivial power of a mortal cannot reach me.¡± Taesan was indeed strong. The process of defeating Floria and Gloria had been remarkable. ¡®But¡­¡¯ In the end, it was still the power of a mortal. Impressive, but nothing more. On the other hand, his power was destruction itself, unreachable by mortal hands. ¡®If he still had his divine power, he might have been a threat.¡¯ Divine power was the strength of the gods. It could certainly contend with his destructive power. But Taesan had already used his divine power in his battle with Gloria. He had exhausted all his cards to block Cliff¡¯s strength. Confident, Cliff unleashed his darkness. The ferocious mes shed with Cliff¡¯s darkness. ¡°¡­What?¡± Cliff¡¯s expression hardened. Taesan gathered his power once more. [You have activated the Call of Destruction.] The Demon Lord¡¯s power, which had annihted the spirit world, manifested. Cliff¡¯s darkness was trampled and vanished in an instant. Frantically, Cliff gathered more strength. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± He was the sole survivor of a world devoured by endless darkness. After wandering through a destroyed world, he absorbed the remnants of the destruction that had swallowed the world. Thus, he possessed the power of destruction itself. To defeat him, one had to either endure until he exhausted his power or target his mind. The high energy cost meant he couldn¡¯t sustain prolonged battles, which was his weakness. But now, Taesan was pushing back Cliff¡¯s power with his own. ¡°How can a mere mortal wield the power of destruction?¡± Boom! Power erupted, tearing open the space. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] Taesan dashed towards Cliff. Cliff quickly gathered his strength, but Taesan used Restricted Blink to appear behind him. ¡°Move!¡± Power surged toward Taesan. Taesan nted his feet firmly and swung his sword. The de pierced through the darkness, striking Cliff¡¯s neck. ¡°Gah!¡± The approach was sessful. Cliff¡¯s movements were unremarkable, likely because he had descended into thebyrinth relying solely on the power of destruction. The moment Taesan closed in, Cliff¡¯s chance of victory vanished, and he began to be pushed back rapidly. ¡°¡­You had the power of destruction too. No matter. You¡¯ve also expended that in this battle.¡± Helia barely managed to suppress his shock. Divine power and the power of destruction. Unexpected, but it changed nothing. Taesan had once again drained his strength. If he continued to deplete his power, they could win. That belief hadn¡¯t faded. Next was Esteban, the master of the Echoing Valley. He moved his hand, his expression grim. The space opened, and countless beasts emerged. [Esteban has summoned a Biting Wolf.] [Esteban has summoned a Dreadful Beast.] [Esteban has summoned a Rat Hidden in Shadows.] A host of twisted beasts charged at Taesan. While Taesan fought with the other Guides, Esteban seemed to have finished all his preparations. The summons were endless, and each beast was incredibly powerful, not ones Taesan could easily defeat. ¡°You¡¯re personally moving to fight. Isn¡¯t that quite a primitive approach?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Then Taesan responded in kind with his own summons. [You have summoned Minerva, the Spirit King of Wind.] [You have summoned Barkaza, the Shield of Many Colors.] A st of wind sent the charging beasts flying. Minerva grinned. ¡°Straightforward enough!¡± Boom! The wind whipped around violently, and Esteban¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°¡­This is beyond expectations.¡± Minerva, now significantly stronger after absorbing the power of the Fire Spirit King, was much more formidable than during the battle with Shayan. Wind and beasts collided with explosive force. Esteban gritted his teeth and reached into the air. [Esteban has summoned the Master of the Valley.] A colossal serpent appeared beyond the space. Its power was on the edge of mortality. Esteban¡¯s lifelongpanion, undefeated and unwavering, it was the very symbol of Esteban himself. ¡°Ho¡­¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes zed with the thrill of the challenge as she gathered more strength. They shed. The body of wind and the serpent collided, sending out immense waves of power. Minerva was undeniably strong, but the Master of the Valley was Esteban¡¯s trump card, reserved for deep-level adventurers. It wasn¡¯t easily overpowered. Boom! Power shed. Minerva and the Valley¡¯s Master gave it their all, while Taesan also didn¡¯t stand idle. Taesan charged toward Esteban. Esteban opened the space. Countless beasts poured out in session. A giant gori struck with its fist, and a wolf-like beast aimed for his throat. There were far too many to take down one by one. [You have activated Magic Ovey.] The stacked Frozen World surged forward. Taesan gathered his power once again. [You have activated Forced Amplification.] Crack! Crack! The entire space was engulfed in frost. The beasts screamed and resisted furiously, but the frost froze their every attempt. In an instant, a frozen space was formed. [You have activated Starlight Arrows.] Arrows shot toward Esteban. Startled, he opened the space again, calling forth more beasts. He incinerated all the endlessly emerging beasts with his magic. Esteban¡¯s trump card, the Master of the Valley, was locked inbat with Minerva. The remaining beasts were strong, but they couldn¡¯t match Taesan. Shreeeek! ¡°Not a chance!¡± The Master of the Valley tried to move in Esteban¡¯s defense, but Minerva unleashed a st of wind, pinning it down. The battle continued. Helia could no longer im that Taesan was depleting his strength and that they could win. He simply watched the fight, his expression hardened and silent. Taesan trampled over the beasts and pierced Esteban¡¯s chest. Esteban spat blood and shouted. ¡°It¡¯s your victory, but I won¡¯t go down quietly! You monster!¡± [Esteban has activated Forced Recall of All Summoned Beasts.] Boom! ¡°Ugh!¡± In an instant, Minerva and Barkaza¡¯s forms distorted. All summoned beasts within the designated space began to be forcibly unsummoned. Minerva spread her power to resist, but Esteban¡¯s final energy, which enveloped the space, relentlessly pressured her. ¡°I can¡¯t fight any longer. I must return. Be sure to win, Master.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Minerva and Barkaza vanished. Taesan raised his sword. ¡°Next.¡± Chapter 358: 76th Floor, Guides Of Sin (3) Four remained: Fist Saint Altair, the twins of ck and white, and the noble one, Helia. ¡°Haha.¡± Fist Saint Altair, a muscr man, let out a hollowugh. ¡°You possess a wide array of powers.¡± Taesan wielded divine power, ck magic, the power of the Spirit King, and the strength of destruction¡ªusing powers of all kinds. And not a single one of these powers was inferior to their own. ¡°How is this even possible?¡± Altair couldn¡¯t ept it. He had spent his entire life with his fists. Since birth, he had wielded his fists and had not rested a single day. He trained and trained, focusing on nothing else.Eventually, he became the Fist Saint. The other Guides here were not much different from him. Only those with exceptional talent, who obsessively focused on their own strengths, could barely reach this depth. That was the nature of the Abyss. No matter how talented, one could not reach this ce if they neglected their own gifts or looked elsewhere. But now, Taesan possessed multiple powers. Ordinarily,pared to those who focused on one path, each of Taesan¡¯s powers should be weaker; but he was different. Each of his powers was either on par with or superior to the powers held by the Guides. ¡®He¡¯s¡­¡¯ He was, quite simply, on another level. Altair realized that such a being was truly worthy of conquering the Labyrinth. ¡°But even so, I can¡¯t give up.¡± Altair clenched his fist. Taesan watched him as he took abat stance. When Taesan did not initiate a forced duel, Altair frowned. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting tiresome.¡± Taesan swung his sword. ¡°Come at me, all of you.¡± ¡°¡­No matter how strong you are, that¡¯s too arrogant.¡± Altair¡¯s expression hardened. The aura from the ck-and-white twins intensified, and Helia¡¯s face twisted. ¡°You may be strong, but you¡¯re not at a level to defeat all four of us.¡± Taesan had only been victorious so far by forcing one-on-one duels. If even one more opponent joined the fray, victory was not assured. Moreover, Taesan had already expended significant energy, while all four opponents remained in top condition. Yet, Taesan did not initiate another forced duel. Altair shook his head. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want. I doubt you¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°I told you. All of you,e at me.¡± ¡°In that case¡­¡± The Fist Saint clenched his fist and shouted loudly. ¡°I am the Fist Saint! Abandoned with nothing, yet I conquered the world with my fists alone!¡± [Altair has activated his First Deration.] The ck-and-white twins raised their hands. ¡°Thedies walk by the hiddenkeside.¡± It was an incantation¡ªa preparatory process to use a special power. ¡°The echoing footsteps merge.¡± ¡°In the end, the two be one.¡± [The ck Twin activated Two-as-One.] [The White Twin activated Two-as-One.] Their bodies began to dissolve. ¡°That¡¯s quite a skill.¡± [It¡¯s a special skill only twins can possess. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen it.] The dissolved bodies merged into one. The left side was ck, and the right side was white. Theiryered voices rang out together. ¡°We¡¯ll kill you.¡± Helia raised her sword and, in a shing motion, cut his own forearm. ¡°I¡¯ll make you regret your arrogance.¡± ash! Instead of red, blue blood flowed out. Taesan muttered. ¡°You¡¯re not human?¡± ¡°Correct. I am not an ordinary human like you. I am one who inherits the blood of a god.¡± Blue blood began to spread throughout Helia¡¯s body. His muscles swelled, and his veins bulged. [Helia has activated Physical Burden Transfer.] [Helia has activated Mental Burden Transfer.] [Helia has activated Forced Divine Blood.] ¡°In the name of the gods, I will kill you.¡± ¡°Your target is me, it seems.¡± The Demon God desired Taesan¡¯s victory. The gods desired their death. Thump. The three Guides charged at once. Taesan raised his sword. Kwooong! Power collided with power. The first to rush in was Fist Saint Altair. Sword and fist shed. A fierce wind grazed past Taesan¡¯s head. Living up to the title of Fist Saint, he was an opponent who put everything into his fists. [You have activated eleration.] Kagakakak! Sword and fist met again. Altair was incredibly fast and strong. He could easily match Taesan¡¯s speed. [You have activated Flow.] Altair¡¯s fist, which collided with the sword, deflected. It wasn¡¯t just once. Every punch he threw twisted off course. Taesan continuously deflected each attack with precise timing. [You have activated Counter.] Taesan¡¯s sword moved to pierce Altair¡¯s chest, ignoring his attack. aash! A sharp sh surged forward. Taesan escaped using Limited Blink. The twins, now one entity, charged forward with sharp ws like a feral cat. Kagakakak! They were fast and powerful. Even though the twins used only their Two-as-One skill, they matched Taesan¡¯s speed. Moreover, their movement was beastly rather than human, making them difficult to counter. With an explosion, Helia¡¯s body leapt forward. Taesan blocked her descending sword. Kaaaang! ¡°Urgh.¡± Taesan let out a small groan. While his continuousbat skill allowed for prolonged battles, it didn¡¯t mean he was immune to fatigue. Fighting strong opponents still took a heavy toll on his stamina. Having battled four Guides, Taesan¡¯s movements were somewhat slowerpared to his peak condition. However, his base stats were high enough that he wasn¡¯t at a disadvantage against the Guides of Sin. Yet, Helia¡¯s power was now slightly surpassing his own. ¡®The buff is extremely high.¡¯ With a buff at this level, there was bound to be a time limit. The duration might be very short, but he couldn¡¯t be certain he would endure until it wore off. [You have activated Magic Ovey.] [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Frozen World.] He condensed his mana and detonated it. [You have activated Magic Release.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] The unleashed magic engulfed the space. Light and frostbined, destroying everything. Fist Saint clicked his tongue and retreated, while the twins also swiftly created distance. Yet, only Helia did not back down, swinging his sword fiercely. Kagakakak! Amidst the thunderous sounds, the frost infused with light was being consumed. However, he couldn¡¯t block them all. The aftereffects washed over Helia. Kiiiiing! The blue blood covering Helia¡¯s entire body grew even thicker. As light and frost shattered, Helia charged at Taesan once more. [You have activated the Arrow of the Storm of Misfortune.] The arrow traced a line, piercing through Helia. Helia hurriedly swung his sword downward. Crunch. ¡°Grrr!¡± The arrow and Helia¡¯s sword shed in a tense standoff. Taesan¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡®She blocked it?¡¯ The Arrow of the Storm of Misfortune was among the highest-tier intermediate ck magic Taesan possessed. He had even opened a pathway to use it, making it nearly impossible to block. But Helia was stopping the arrow. The blue blood enveloping her entire body grew even darker. Kaaanng! With a tearing sound, the arrow bounced away. Helia let out a wildugh. ¡°Weak! Weak! So weak!¡± His eyes were bloodshot as he charged toward Taesan in a half-mad state. [You have activated the Shield of the White Rune¡¯s Guardian.] Kwoooom! The shield shed with his sword and shattered in a single blow. ¡°Haha, hahaha!¡± A burst ofughter escaped him. Taesan blinked away and swung his hand. Numerous spells and ck magic manifested. Even with Magic Ovey, Helia was not brought down. Instead, he charged toward Taesan, piercing through the intermediate spells with his body. The Fist Saint and the twins quickly joined in, pressuring Taesan. [Your First Attack Nullification has been activated.] Using Attack Nullification to create distance, Taesan quickly gathered mana. [You have activated Precision Detection.] Kiiiiing! The power of detection spread over the Guides of Sin. But the moment it touched them, it bounced away. It wasn¡¯t effective. Helia sneered. ¡°Detection can be countered easily if you have prepared measures.¡± It seemed he had prepared a countermeasure for detection by observing Taesan¡¯s earlier battles with other Guides. It didn¡¯t matter much. If detection didn¡¯t work, he would confirm it with his body. Kaakak! The battle continued. He dodged and blocked, gathering rough information about the Guides and identifying their types of powers. ¡®Divine blood, huh.¡¯ The blue blood enveloping Helia didn¡¯t just make him stronger; it repelled most of the force exerted on him, giving him resistance. But it seemed to ce a heavy burden on him. The thicker the blue blood grew, the more his body reddened, and his eyes turned crimson. There were two methods to respond. Endure until he self-destructed. Helia¡¯s skill gave him power beyond what his body could withstand. His mind and body would inevitably copse if sustained too long. But the enemy would know this as well. Therefore, he would likely aim to bring down Taesan before he self-destructed. And he had sufficient power to do so. The three Guides charged at once. Taesan nted his feet. Half a meter. Taesan blocked and endured their attacks. He chanted spells to create openings, even attempting counters. But the sheer number advantage was overwhelming. His Attack Nullification was fully expended. One by one, wounds appeared on Taesan¡¯s body, and his health waned. ¡°You were arrogant. You overestimated yourself and now face death. Such is the limit of amoner.¡± Helia sneered. He was certain of victory. Even as Taesan was pushed back, he hadn¡¯t revealed any other tricks. It meant he had no more aces up his sleeve. Even if he activated Forced Duel now, he was at a point where victory was no longer assured. Altair, however, wore an uneasy expression. From his perspective, Taesan was not someone who would make the mistake of overestimating himself. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly.¡± Altair urged Helia and the ck-and-white twins. Taesan replied instead. ¡°Shall we?¡± Kiiiiiing! With a faint voice, his wrist guard activated. ¡°Ugh!¡± A massive wave washed over them. Altair hastily threw a punch to dissipate the wave. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Honestly, fighting separately could¡¯ve been dangerous.¡± So far, Taesan had defeated four Guides. They had not fallen easily. They exploited every opening in Taesan¡¯s defense, buying time. As a result, by the time all four were defeated, there was little time left for the Apostle Transformation. Since Apostle Transformation boosted spiritual power, he couldn¡¯t guarantee victory once its duration ended. The ring that reset cooldowns had yet to finish its one-month cooldown and was thus unusable. So, Taesan had made a decision. To finish his analysis before Apostle Transformation¡¯s duration ended. The wrist guard, which had absorbed materials, groaned as it expanded. The twins, realizing the abnormality toote, lunged forward. ng! But they couldn¡¯t reach him. The energy emanating from the wrist guard repelled them. ¡°I¡¯ve analyzed everything.¡± [You have activated Partial World Transformation.] Altair¡¯s pupils widened. ¡°This is¡­¡± The power Taesan had used against the Fire Spirit King, transforming the world itself into his domain. ¡°So you could still use it!¡± Until now, Taesan had refrained from activating Partial World Transformation. Though he was being pushed back, he hadn¡¯t used it, leading them to believe it was restricted by a cooldown. ¡°It requires quite a bit of preparation.¡± Partial World Transformation alters thews of the world. For maximum effect, one must analyze the opponent¡¯s power and rank. In battling the three Guides, Taesan had analyzed all their powers and recorded them in his wrist guard. That was why he hadn¡¯t initiated Forced Duel. The world transformed. Thews governing the Guides¡¯ powers weakened, while Taesan¡¯s domain solidified. ¡°What does that matter! I inherit divine blood! A lowlymoner¡¯s domain is no match for me!¡± With a battle cry, Helia charged at Taesan. Taesan flicked his hand. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] It was the Starlight Arrow he had repeatedly used. Until now, Helia had blocked every one of them with his sword. Confident it would be no different this time, Helia swung his sword. aaang! ¡°Gah!¡± With a scream of agony, Helia was sent flying, crashing down. Staggering to his feet, he gasped. ¡°H-How¡­¡± Cracks appeared in the blue blood covering him. He had been struck with more force than his divine blood could withstand. No other Guide of Sin had achieved this. Altair and the twins hurriedly moved. The power in their attacks could not be disregarded, even by Taesan¡ªit was their all-out strength. But they couldn¡¯t touch him. Taesan swung his sword. Altair¡¯s fist split open. He immediately kicked the twins away. ¡°Grr!¡± ¡°Kyaa!¡± It waspletely different from before. Taesan was overwhelming thempletely. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ve recorded too manyws, so I can¡¯t hold on for long. So, let¡¯s wrap this up quickly.¡±@@novelbin@@ [You have activated Beyond the Boundary.] An otherworldly power enveloped Taesan. [You have activated Magic Ovey.] The frostyered. The twins shuddered and backed away. Their fingertips trembled in the biting cold. An adventurer who had braved the Abyss now shivered in the cold. This wasn¡¯t simply due to a drop in temperature. They had to stop him. But how? The twins swiftly lunged at Taesan, thrusting their ws into the frigid barrier. Crunch! But from the tips of their ws, their entire bodies began to freeze. ¡°Kyaa!¡± The twins screamed and retreated. It was a convergence of frost so intense that even those who touched the threshold of mortality could not approach. The world was literally freezing over. Taesan instinctively realized it. This was a spell created directly by the god of magic¡ªthe true power of the Frozen World. ¡°Try to block this.¡± [You have activated Magic Release.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] Taesan flicked his fingertips. The Guides of Sin gasped and lunged away. The condensed Frozen World enveloped everything. Chapter 359: 76th Floor, Guides Of Sin (4) The Guides resisted the oing chill. The ck-and-white twins channeled each other¡¯s powers by holding hands. [The ck Twin activated an Unchanging Bond.] [The White Twin activated an Unchanging Bond.] A powerful wave surged from the ck-and-white twins. It was a force they could wield only together, crushing and trampling everything in its path. ¡°Hup!¡± Altia took a stance and threw a punch. [Altia activated the Primordial Fist.] Though it was an ordinary punch, it contained a power that no one could underestimate. It embodied all the essence of martial arts Altia had gained before and after bing a martial sage, condensed into a single fist.Helia hardened the blue blood encasing his entire body even further. The skills they were activating now were everything they had umted in thebyrinth. It was the power that symbolized who they were. Crunch. But at the moment of impact with the ice, it shattered to pieces. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The severe chill engulfed their emotions. The icy force broke Altia¡¯s punch, filled with everything he had, and overwhelmed him. Crack, crack! And the blue blood surrounding Helia¡¯s entire body began to break. ¡°This can¡¯t be! It can¡¯t be!¡± He shouted in denial, but the chill swallowed him up without a care. Crack. As the chill surged, silence filled the room. Taesan exhaled. The Apostle Transformation and Partial World Alteration ended simultaneously. As the overwhelming power and vigor left his body, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. The freezing air that nketed the world started to pierce through Taesan¡¯s entire body. [What a power...!] The ghost groaned. The domain¡¯s energy had been fully invested in the frozen world. A power from beyond the boundaries of mortality had been summoned, further amplified by magical oveys and forced intensification. As a result, the Guides of Sin engulfed in the frozen world were left on the verge of death. Crack. The ice shattered, revealing the ck-and-white twins. Both copsed with pale faces, no longer capable of continuing the fight. ¡°Hah, haha¡­¡± Altia, frozen from the waist down, let out a hollowugh. He wasn¡¯t much different from the ck-and-white twins. Continuing to fight was impossible. He was, in fact, slowly dying. ¡°You¡¯re a monster. Truly a monster.¡± He alone had defeated the eight Guides of Sin. Even though the forced duel created a one-on-one scenario, it was thanks to Taesan¡¯s strength that he managed it. ¡°With such aplete defeat, there¡¯s nothing more to say. The victory is yours, adventurer.¡± Altia epted it calmly and closed his eyes. Taesan pierced his chest. [You have defeated Altia.] The ck-and-white twins also did not resist. They acknowledged their defeat and quietly met their end at Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°Only one remains.¡± The noblest one. Helia. His condition was even more pitiful than Altia¡¯s or the ck-and-white twins¡¯. The blue blood covering his entire body had gone berserk, leaving his limbs broken. ¡°¡­I cannot ept this.¡± He spoke, staring nkly into the void. ¡°I cannot ept this! I¡­ I¡­¡± He cried out in denial. ¡°I have received the blood of the gods!¡± He was fundamentally different from mere mortals. He poured out the pride he held deep within his heart. ¡°Someone like you! Someone of your kind could never defeat me!¡± Taesan raised his sword. ¡°You¡¯ve lost. Just die quietly.¡± ¡°No! I haven¡¯t lost! I¡­¡± Even as he was dying, Helia continued to deny it to the end. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced his chest. ¡°I haven¡¯t lost¡­¡± And he died. ¡°A case of total denial to the very end.¡± [He was arrogant, more so than any other Guide. Even more than me.] Thest of the Guides had fallen. Taesan had won. It felt as though a satisfied chuckle was echoing from beyond the space. [You have reached the optimal state.] The restrictions on recovery were lifted. The exhaustion and fatigue that filled his body vanished in an instant. Taesan leaned against the wall.
Leveling up restored both physical and mental fatigue. Yet somehow, he still felt tired. Taesan closed his eyes, trying to take a brief rest. [Are you settled?] ¡°More or less.¡± Taesan opened his eyes. The ghost chuckled softly. [As I remember, there were about twenty leaders of the Guides. You¡¯ve defeated eleven of them.] The majority had met their end at Taesan¡¯s hands. [In essence, the Guides of Sin as a group are finished.] For an incalcble amount of time, they had held their ce in thebyrinth, controlling and managing adventurers who entered. Now, they had been obliterated by Taesan¡¯s hand. The rest would either flee from fighting Taesan or find their own way. [I hope she neither runs nor gives up.] The ghost murmured. Taesan had defeated the Guides. Not just one but eight. The reward for that was considerable. [Level: 155] [Shield: 15,800/15,800] [Health: 173,277/173,277] [Mana: 18,641/18,641] [Magic Energy: 1,528/1,528] [Strength: 33,245] [Agility: 34,685] [Intelligence: 30,141] [Attack Power + 8,695] [Defense + 6,052] [The subject is in an optimal state.] ¡°Ha.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t hold back augh. All his stats had surpassed 30,000. He lifted his sword and swung it. The sword, cutting through the air with a sharp whoosh, was clearly much faster than before. It would now be difficult to find an opponent superior to him in terms of speed and strength. With stats like these, there was practically no situation where he¡¯d be outssed physically. Of course, this didn¡¯t mean he was the strongest. Pure stats alone could be overturned by various factors in battle. If there was a significant difference in rank, high stats would mean little. The gap in rank would y an even more crucial role, so it was hard to say he had be purely stronger simply due to increased stats. Still, stats were undeniably an important metric. Since they represented his base physical abilities, the higher they were, the easier it was to gain an advantage inbat. However, the most crucial aspect wasn¡¯t the stats¡ªit was the skills he¡¯d obtained through Soul Ascension. The opponents he had defeated numbered eight. Soul Ascension had granted him eight skills in total. [Special Activation Skill: Designate Mark] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Cost: 500] [Designates a mark at a specific location. Currently, up to three marks can be designated. Once set, a mark cannot be reset until a day has passed, and there are limitations on travel distance.] As a standalone skill, it was useless. However, whenbined with other skills, its value increased exponentially. [Special Activation Skill: Designated Mark eleration] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Cost: 5] [Uses the Designate Mark skill to elerate movement to a designated mark. You can choose which mark to move to. Has a cooldown of 1 minute after activation.] He had acquired Designated Mark eleration, a skill used by Floria. Taesan tried it out himself. He designated three marks and activated the skill. [You have activated Designated Mark eleration.] His body elerated. In an instant, Taesan moved to the designated mark. ¡°It¡¯s pretty fast.¡± Even with a proficiency of just 1%, he moved at a speed that his usual self couldn¡¯t catch up with. To a low-level opponent, it might even appear as though he had teleported. Additionally, the cooldown was only a minute, making it highly useful in multiple ways. Of course, there were limitations. Unlike a random, restricted blink, this was merely a movement skill, so if a space was blocked, movement was restricted. Nevertheless, it was still a decent skill. [Special Passive Skill: Faith Deeper than Anyone¡¯s] [Proficiency: 1%] [An intense collection of near-madness-like faith. Continuously restores one¡¯s divine power.] The skill of the Great Saint¡¯s warrior was obtained by defeating Gloria. Its effect was the recovery of divine power. What Taesan possessed was technically his own divine power, so it was ambiguous to call it ¡°divine.¡± Initially, he wasn¡¯t sure if the skill would activate, but upon testing, it was recovering correctly. ¡°It¡¯s quite fast.¡± Even though the amount of divine power Taesan had wasn¡¯t insignificant, it was recovering at a very rapid pace. With this, he could use divine powers more frequently, even without direct faith. Divine power was a crucial force for future battles. Once expended, it took a long time to recover. This skill, which helped in that regard, was highly valuable to the current Taesan. [Special Passive Skill: Child of Destruction] [Proficiency: 1%] [A fragment of destruction obtained by absorbing remnants of destruction. Allows for freer control over the power of destruction.] Taesan had two skills rted to destruction: Embers of Cmity and Call of Destruction. Both were powerful, but because Taesan hadn¡¯t mastered them, he hadn¡¯t been able to utilize their full potential. This skill allowed him to wield those powers more freely and strongly. That¡¯s how he interpreted it. The next skill was acquired after defeating Esteban. [Special Activation Skill: Forced Recall of All Summons] [Mana Cost: 1,000] [Proficiency: 1%] [Forces all summons within a certain range to return. Doesn¡¯t differentiate between friend or foe, and summons strong enough can resist.] It was the skill Esteban had used to reverse-summon Minerva in the end. For now, with a proficiency of 1%, the effect might be limited, but considering it even reverse-summoned a Spirit King, it seemed worth investing in. [Special Activation Skill: Mental Burden Transfer] [Mana Cost: 300] [Proficiency: 1%] [For 30 minutes, partially transfers mental burden to the body.] It was easy to understand. While his powers rted to darkness and divinity ced stress on the body, the mental burden was even greater. This skill seemed useful for critical moments. The skills used by the core of the Guides would be significant in both quantity and quality. ¡®As expected.¡¯ Each skill of the deep adventurers was immensely valuable. Taesan checked the remaining skills with satisfaction. [Special Activation Skill: Two as One] [Mana Cost: 1,000] [Proficiency: 1%] [Fuses two equal entities into one.] A brief description. That alone was enough for Taesan to realize it was a skill he couldn¡¯t use. The twins had used this skill to fuse and be one. As a result, without needing to use other skills, their strength and speed increased enough to match Taesan. There was no cooldown, risk, or even duration. As pure reinforcement, it was an almost perfect skill. It was undoubtedly an excellent skill, but the conditions were far too demanding. Creating two equal entities was close to impossible unless, like the twins, they were born that way.@@novelbin@@ But Taesan quietly analyzed the skill. Two equal entities. That was the one condition. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. Chapter 360: 76th Floor, Guides Of Sin (5) Taesan stared at the ring. A ring of ck and white. The rings were born as twins from the very beginning, like ck and white twins. If so, could this pair of rings be used by two people as one? Taesan could tell. It was possible. But not at the moment. Although the rings were twins, their power wasn¡¯t equal. The ck ring contained offensive power, while the white ring was imbued with divinity and grace. It was uncertain if the skill conditions were perfectly met. Moreover, Taesan had not yet fully mastered the rings.So, first, he decided to clearly understand the skill conditions. Then, he nned to find Hafran, who created the pair of rings, to seek assistance. ¡°There¡¯s much to do.¡± It seemed that a lot of preparation was needed. The next acquisition was the special Continuous Action skill of the Fist Saint: Fist Saint¡¯s Martial Arts. However, as Taesan was an adventurer wielding a sword rather than his fists, the skill merged into Airak Weapon Technique and Ability Sword. The proficiency of Airak Weapon Technique increased by 5%, finally reaching 54%. It was a skill that was difficult to progress. Despite activating in almost every battle due to its nature, it hadn¡¯t even reached 60%. ¡°Thinking about it now, it¡¯s quite stubborn.¡± He was now on the 76th floor. And Ainzhar¡¯s destination was the 78th floor, the Library of All Things. Only two floors remained. Would he achieve his goal, or would he still wander aimlessly? It wouldn¡¯t be long before he found out. After defeating the Guides, he finished reviewing the rewards he obtained. Overall, they enhanced and supported his existing powers rather than granting entirely new ones. §²???????§¦? It might seem like a minor gain, but it wasn¡¯t bad. Especially since Taesan already possessed an overwhelming variety of powers. Instead of acquiring powers he couldn¡¯t fully utilize, strengthening his existing abilities was far more beneficial. And that wasn¡¯t all. Upon entering the deeper levels, Taesan acquired a title that boosted his skill proficiency growth. While fighting the eight Guides, he used numerous skills. As a result, many stagnant skills underwent changes. The first to change was Ability Sword. [Advanced Swordsmanship: Ability Sword] [Proficiency: 62%] [A unique swordsmanship created by a Labyrinth adventurer, based on the Labyrinth¡¯s system. It is built upon the swordsmanship used by the Prince of the Destroyed World. It allows perfect integration of various skills with swordsmanship.] The proficiency of Ability Sword reached 60%. Although the skill¡¯s description didn¡¯t change significantly, many rted skills were affected. [Special Activation Skill: Reconnaissance] [Proficiency: 82%] [An evolved form of Insight. Provides extensive information about the target.] [Condition: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword]] [If the target uses a sword, their swordsmanship¡¯s traits, weaknesses, and principles can be analyzed in detail.] When Reconnaissance reached 80% proficiency, the effects of Ability Sword were added. Reconnaissance provided general information but couldn¡¯t delve into finer details. Now, against sword-wielding opponents, it could offer even deeper insights. Skills like eleration, Strong Blow, and Flow Skill, which could continuously activate with proper timing, also evolved. An additional effect was added: the more sessful activations, the stronger the effect. Skills already difficult to counter became even harder to deal with. [Special Activation Skill: Conversion] [Mana Consumption: 1,000] [Allows adjustment of offensive and defensive stats. The maximum adjustment value equals the sum of offense and defense stats. This skill can only be used once a week, and stats revert to normal immediately after the attack.] [Condition: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword]] [When attacking with a sword after adjusting offensive stats through Conversion, an additional 20% boost is applied.] ¡°Oh?¡± A skill that enabled a single all-out attack: Conversion. The additional effect from Ability Sword was simple yet powerful, increasing adjustable stats by 20%.@@novelbin@@ This meant that converting 5,000 defense into offense would yield an attack power of 6,000. It was straightforward yet immensely impactful. Taesan was satisfied. [Special Activation Skill: Forced Descent] [Mana Consumption: 20] [Proficiency: 7%] [Temporarily reduces the opponent¡¯s stats by a certain percentage.] [Condition: Advanced Swordsmanship [Ability Sword]] [When shing swords with an opponent, increases the weight of their weapon. This effect can stack.] ¡°Weapons¡¯ weight?¡± The effect didn¡¯t seem particrlypelling. Against beings with monstrous stats, increasing weapon weight felt insignificant. He couldn¡¯t imagine how it might be advantageous. Still, since it was an effect unlocked at 60% proficiency, it was bound to be useful in some way. That concluded the changes brought by Ability Sword. The focus then shifted to regr skills. The proficiency of Frozen World reached 40%. [Intermediate Magic: Frozen World] [Mana Consumption: 30] [Proficiency: 40%] [Summons frost that freezes everything. Brings forth a fragment of the power to freeze the entire world.] The Frozen World skill had already reached 40% proficiency. Repeated use of magic oveys seemed to have significantly contributed to its progression. [You activated Frozen World.] Frost enveloped the world. The power of Frozen World manifested through the conduit of mana. It had certainly grown stronger. Even without using magic oveys, defending against it would be challenging. ¡®But.¡¯ Though it was a potent power, Taesan felt itcked something. The partial world-shifting effect, utilizing boundaries beyond, was included when he activated Frozen World in the fight earlier. Its contained strength was a force surpassing mortality itself, created directly by the God of Magic. Compared to that, it felt far too inferior. Someday, without relying on external assistance, he would fully wield that power. Taesan calmed his emotions and examined other skills. Numerous skills had changed: Vital Point Designation, Synced Eye, Essence Analysis, Counter, Forced Duel, and eleration. Additionally, various Continuous Action skills¡¯ proficiencies had increased. After checking them one by one, Taesan was satisfied. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. The space split apart. Dark, thick yet familiar shadows flowed out, and the figure of a girl appeared. With the sound of apuse, the Demon God appeared. [Well done, Taesan.] ¡°Were you watching?¡± [Of course. With a feast before me, why would I look away?] The Demon God smiled mischievously. [You aplished it more easily than expected, which is a bit disappointing... but it¡¯s all thanks to the strength you¡¯ve built up. I¡¯m satisfied.] The Demon God¡¯s rewards were granted. Darkness engulfed Taesan. [You acquired Intermediate ck Magic [Zepar¡¯s ck Storm].] [You acquired Intermediate ck Magic [Asmodeus¡¯s Chains of Decay].] [You acquired the special Continuous Action skill [Return as Darkness].] [The special activation skill [Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos]] evolved into [Apostle Transformation [Pitch-ck Chaos]].] Two intermediate ck magic spells. Additionally, a Continuous Action skill and an evolution of Apostle Transformation. The exact effects remained to be seen, but this alone justified the effort of fighting while limiting his recovery. ¡°Thank you.¡± [You fulfilled my request. As a god, it¡¯s only natural to reward you.] The Demon God spoke cheerfully. Instead of leaving immediately, she gazed at Taesan. [You know where you are now, don¡¯t you?] ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan stood on the boundary between mortality and whaty beyond. [Until now, I thought you weren¡¯t ready, so I left you alone... but now, they may start approaching you in earnest.] Taesan realized what the Demon God was implying. The masters of ck magic. The demons. They intended to approach Taesan. [I have no intention of interfering. Everything is your choice.] ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan nodded. The Demon Godughed pleasantly and vanished into the darkness. [Special Continuous Action Skill: Return as Darkness] [Proficiency: 1%] [Restores a portion of the magical energy (magi) consumed while using ck magic.] This skill returned some of the magic energy consumed when using ck magic. Magic energy was more taxing to use than mana and harder to replenish. Though minor, this skill was helpful in reducing its consumption. Apostle Transformation also underwent significant changes. Its duration increased from two hours to three, and magi consumption during activation was halved. After reading the descriptions of the two intermediate ck magic spells, they seemed quite useful. He nned to test their actual effectiveness in battle. ¡°Phew.¡± Finally, everything was organized. It felt like the longest time he had spent reviewing skills since entering the Labyrinth. What Taesan had aplished was significant. Instead of standing up, Taesan spoke. ¡°Come out.¡± ¡°You noticed?¡± A frivolous red-haired man appeared from thin air, smiling awkwardly. ¡°I tried my best to hide.¡± ¡°I knew from the moment you snuck in.¡± While Taesan had been reviewing his skills, Ambracia had hidden himself and entered the room. Taesan had considered attacking but decided against it since there was no hostility. ¡°Is that so?¡± Ambracia scratched his head. Despite putting all his effort into hiding, Taesan had known from the beginning. This signified the gap between them. ¡°Wow¡­ so much has changed.¡± Ambracia was the first to meet Taesan. Back then, Ambracia had casually blocked his attacks and thrown him aside without much effort. It wasn¡¯t long ago. Yet now, their positions had reversed so quickly. Ambracia chuckled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt this way before, but you feel like a wall.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Taesan gripped his sword. Ambracia stepped back. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to fight you. Unlike those who died at your hands, I don¡¯t have a death wish.¡± Some had outright refused to engage inbat with Taesan and chose to hide. Ambracia was one of them. ¡°Then why are you here?¡± ¡°I was curious about the oue of the battles.¡± [Boredom and curiosity, I suppose. Well, you were always the most curious of the Guides. You were also the most adventurous among them.] The ghost spoke. Ambracia looked at the ghost with a conflicted expression. ¡°Ghost¡­ well, I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± [I hold no grudges against you, so let¡¯s leave it at that.] The ghost spoke calmly. Ambracia scratched his cheek. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t intend to fight you. But if you try to kill me, I will resist.¡± Ambracia raised his hand. In it was a small key. Taesan stared at him expressionlessly. Ambracia swallowed quietly. ¡°Fine.¡± Taesan lowered his sword. ¡°I don¡¯t n to waste my time.¡± Taesan remembered how Ambracia had used a simr key to transport him from the lower floors to the 70th floor. It meant the reverse was also possible. If Ambracia had multiple simr items, defeating him could take an exceedingly long time. While Taesan was strong, he wasn¡¯t yet at the level to swiftly subdue someone of Ambracia¡¯s caliber who was determined to flee. Starting a chase would likely consume too much time. Ambracia exhaled in relief. ¡°Thanks. Really.¡± Ambracia had confidence in his ability to escape. But if Taesan truly pursued him to the end, he wouldn¡¯t survive. The fact that Taesan was letting him go was something to be profoundly grateful for. ¡°It¡¯s a stretch to call it a repayment¡­ but I¡¯ll give you some information.¡± Ambracia increased the distance between them as he spoke. ¡°Most of the Guides have made the same choice as me. Those who decided to fight you are already dead. However, there are two Guides who have chosen a different path.¡± [Who are they?] The ghost asked. Ambracia answered. ¡°The Lion King and the Ashen Lady, Societ. Both are waiting for you deeper in the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°Just two, huh.¡± Their numbers had significantly dwindled. Taesan felt a bit bored, but the ghost clearly did not. [They haven''t fled, Societ.] ¡°It didn¡¯t seem like they ever nned to.¡± Ambracia muttered. The ghost chuckled softly. [Good. Very good.] ¡°Well then, goodbye.¡± Ambracia raised the key. ¡°Let¡¯s hope we never meet again.¡± With those words, his body disappeared. He had used the key to move to another floor. With just two more to defeat, no more Guides of Sin would block Taesan¡¯s path. This also meant the day the ghost¡¯s wish would be fulfilled was approaching. Taesan stepped forward. A previously ignored altar came into view, one he had overlooked while battling the Guides. Clearing Maria¡¯s trial. That was the quest for the 76th floor. [You have discovered Maria''s Altar.] The Goddess of Choice, Maria. It wasn¡¯t their first meeting. As Taesan ced his hand on Maria¡¯s Altar, a powerful presence began to descend upon the Labyrinth. [It''s good to see you, child.] Maria¡¯s presence filled the Labyrinth. Facing the voice filled with a hint ofughter, Taesan replied. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± [A while, you say. Not enough time has passed to justify those words. But it was a fruitful time nheless.] Mariaughed. [Watching your choices was delightful. You brought life to dull moments.] ¡°Do I need to pass Lady Maria¡¯s trial?¡± [Yes. For someone like you, I shall grant a trial.] Maria¡¯s power enveloped Taesan. [Sub-quest initiated.] [Maria wishes to test you as you stand before her Altar. If you ept, the trial wille to you. Ovee it, and you shall be rewarded.] [Maria¡¯s area of influence has diminished.] [Maria offers you an enhanced trial.] Taesan nodded. [Sub-quest initiated.] [A being of divine blood wishes to be an offering for the Emperor amidst despair. Assist his journey and allow him to choose for himself.] [However, physical interference with the being of divine blood is forbidden.] [Reward: Maria will determine your reward based on your performance.] Chapter 361: 76th Floor, The Child Of Divine Blood (1) Maria spoke. [Your destination is the God of Order, Horai. He is in a world ruled by his apostle, called Arbosea. Stay by the side of the one who bears divine blood and make your choice there. That is your task.] ¡°Can transcendents intervene?¡± A world with the apostle of the God of Order. It was possible that a transcendent might directly intervene. Maria shook her head. [They will not. Horai¡¯s order binds even himself. That¡¯s why he hasn¡¯t entered the Labyrinth.] Maria¡¯s voice carried a hint of mockery. [I respect the choices of all beings. Even if it leads them to death, as long as it¡¯s their own will, that¡¯s enough. But sometimes, there aren¡¯t even choices to be made. That is something I cannot tolerate.] Maria smiled and waved her hand. Taesan¡¯s body began to move against his will. Taesan closed his eyes and prepared for the transition.The sensation of the world turning upside down engulfed him. When it settled, Taesan opened his eyes. A vast forest stretched before him. The rustling grass tickled his ankles, and the scent of greenery filled the air. The God of Order. The world ruled by Horai¡¯s apostle: Arbosea. He was now there. First, reconnaissance. Taesan gathered magic energy and activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection. Information about his surroundings flooded in. He sensed countless small lives. And nature. ¡°This isn¡¯t a particrly special world.¡± It seemed Arbosea was just an ordinary world found anywhere. The first objective of the quest was to find the one with divine blood. [She ced you right next to them.] By a tree, a small child was curled up, sleeping. The child looked to be no older than twelve. Though they seemed exhausted, there were no visible injuries. The childy without any shelter, sleeping on the forest floor. They asionally shivered from the cold, likely because their campfire was dying out. ?????¨¨S Taesan tended to the fire, rekindling its embers. This quest offered little information. The state of the one with divine blood, the nature of the trial, and the identity of the Emperor¡ªall these were things Taesan had to uncover himself. Instead of waking the child, Taesan asked the ghost. ¡°What exactly is divine blood?¡± The first thing to understand was what divine blood actually was. The only person Taesan had seen wield divine blood was Helia. He had forcibly activated his divine blood to gain overwhelming speed and strength. It wasn¡¯t an ordinary power. The ghost spoke with a vague tone. [I don¡¯t know much about divine blood either. Those born with it are so rare, and most are persecuted to death.] ¡°Persecuted?¡± [I¡¯ll tell you what I know. Rarely, some are born with blue blood instead of red. This is called divine blood, and those born with it are called the bastards of gods.] ¡°Are they really descendants of gods?¡± [Probably not.] The ghost wasn¡¯t confident. [I can¡¯t be sure. After all, the bastards of gods cannot pass on their powers. On the contrary, even if their parents are ordinary humans, they might suddenly be born with blue blood.] ¡°So it¡¯s unclear.¡± [The only certainty is that there¡¯s no consistent rule for the birth of godly bastards.] In other words, it couldn¡¯t be definitively proven whether they inherited divine blood from gods. Taesan asked the ghost another question. ¡°Why are they persecuted? Don¡¯t they gain great power from having divine blood?¡± [Not necessarily. Divine blood isn¡¯t as convenient a power as you might think.] The ghost refuted Taesan¡¯s assumption. [Of course, they¡¯re extraordinary. They¡¯re born with talents that defyparison. But that¡¯s it. They¡¯re no more special than that. They¡¯re still fundamentally human. That¡¯s why they¡¯re often killed as demon spawn or exiled for being cursed. Only a rare few who understand their abilities live revered as noble beings.] ¡°Helia was one of thetter.¡± Now that he thought about it, his skill also forcibly activated his divine blood. It was a power so difficult to control that even adventurers of the deep levels struggled with it. Taesan looked at the child sleeping fitfully. ¡°Then was this child also persecuted?¡± [Most likely. It¡¯s a sad story. To think that just being born this way would lead them to choose death.] The boy seemed to have despaired from suffering inflicted by others and had given up on life. That¡¯s how it appeared. But something felt off to Taesan. He couldn¡¯t put it into words, but he had a gut feeling that wasn¡¯t the case. Taesan stoked the fire. Hourster, the child woke up. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The child rubbed their eyes, looking groggy. As they dusted the dirt off themselves, they noticed Taesan sitting by the fire. ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± Still half-asleep, the child asked in a dazed voice. Taesan replied. ¡°An adventurer.¡± ¡°¡­Oh. A mercenary?¡± The child nced between the fire and Taesan before bowing their head. It was a gesture of respect that had likely been taught to them. ¡°Thank you for tending the fire. But please leave.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Taesan asked. The child looked downcast as they answered. ¡°I¡¯m a cursed child.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± The child was startled by Taesan¡¯s response, as if they hadn¡¯t expected such a reaction. ¡°¡­I¡¯m a cursed child.¡± ¡°So?¡± Taesan looked at the child with a questioning gaze, as if to say, ¡°What of it?¡± The child grew even more flustered. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m a cursed¡­ child, so¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Taesan had to stay close to the child anyway. The child¡¯s face was filled with confusion. They seemed to want to say something but couldn¡¯t find the words. The child began to walk. Their shoes were so worn that they were practically barefoot. Watching them for a moment, Taesan raised his hand. Creak! A tree by the path twisted. The tree began reshaping itself into something smaller. The child¡¯s eyes widened in shock as the transformation unfolded. Soon, the tree had turned into a pair of shoes perfectly fitting the child¡¯s feet. Taesan handed the shoes to the child, who epted them in a daze. ¡°¡­Are you a magician? I didn¡¯t hear you cast a spell¡­¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Of course, it wasn¡¯t magic. Taesan hadpleted the Spirit God¡¯s quest and, through a contract with the Spirit King, could exert a strong influence over nature. If it were an unresisting typhoon, he could quell it with a mere gesture. Carving a tree into shoes was a simple task. But the child couldn¡¯tprehend this. They assumed Taesan was a remarkable magician. ¡°Thank you. But even so, you must leave me. I am a cursed child.¡± ¡°I told you, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Taesan responded nonchntly. The child hesitated before putting on the shoes. Walking again, the child seemed noticeably morefortable. ¡®This won¡¯t be an easy quest.¡¯ The God of Choice always presented him with trials involving the most challenging situations for him. While Maria favored him, she wasn¡¯t the kind to coddle him like the Demon God. The condition of the quest was for the one with divine blood to make a choice. What that choice would be, even Taesan didn¡¯t know. Moreover, the child showed no visible injuries. They were dirty but physically unscathed. If they had truly been persecuted, as the ghost mentioned, it seemed unlikely. ¡®For now.¡¯ Gather information. Taesan followed the child. The child asionally nced back at him but continued moving forward. ¡°Stop!¡± A group of bandits blocked their path. The bandits grinned as they shouted. ¡°This is the territory of the Kleiden Bandit Gang! If you want to pass, pay the toll!¡± The bandits drew their swords. The child cautiously stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have nothing. May I pass?¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve got nothing, offer up your body! Where do you think¡ª!¡± The leader of the bandits, a rough-looking man, shouted angrily. However, a burly bald man behind him hesitated and whispered. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that kid¡­ you know?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You know¡­ the cursed child¡­¡± The bald man whispered something further. The leader, who had been silent, spoke quietly. ¡°The cursed child?¡± ¡°They look just like the rumors¡­¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± The leader waved his hands in panic. ¡°Everyone, move aside! Let them pass! Don¡¯t touch them!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The bandits immediately obeyed the order, as if they feared being cursed by touching the child. They scrambled out of the way, creating a clear path for the child to walk through. With a bitter but ustomed expression, the child passed them. ¡°See? This is why you shouldn¡¯t follow me. You¡¯ll be cursed.¡±@@novelbin@@ The child spoke softly to Taesan. Taesan didn¡¯t follow further. The child seemed relieved and staggered forward again. Once the child disappeared from view, the leader let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Whew. That was close. Do you think we¡¯ll be cursed just for that?¡± ¡°I heard slight contact is fine¡­ but it still feels unsettling.¡± ¡°Damn it. Should we go to a temple and ask for a blessing?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s the cursed child, even they might refuse in fear.¡± ¡°If we bribe them, they might do something. But¡­¡± The leader hesitantly nced at Taesan. ¡°What about you? Who are you?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t answer his question. He simply watched the departing child and muttered to himself. ¡°Does divine bloode with traits like that?¡± [Hmm... I don¡¯t know either. There¡¯s so little information on divine blood. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if it had traits I¡¯m unaware of.] ¡°I¡¯ll have to figure out exactly what it is.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think this one¡¯s cursed too, right?¡± ¡°They said there¡¯s only one cursed child, so it¡¯s probably just a coincidence we crossed paths.¡± ¡°Then this works out.¡± The leader raised his sword again, his greedy eyes scanning Taesan¡¯s attire. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve got some money. Pay the toll, or I¡¯ll take your arm.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my line.¡± There was no need to use magic. Not even the slightest manifestation of will was required. A minuscule fraction of his power was more than enough. Taesan snapped his fingers. At that moment, a massive pressure crushed the bandits. ¡°Guh, urgh¡­!¡± They couldn¡¯t even scream. They couldn¡¯t exhale the breath they had inhaled, and their entire bodies began to tremble. Taesan spoke leisurely. ¡°Answer my question, and I¡¯ll let you live.¡± Chapter 362: 76th Floor, The Child Of Divine Blood (2) The bandit struggled to stand somehow. He tried to shake off Taesan and flee. But it was impossible. Forget fleeing¡ªhe couldn¡¯t even get up. Even breathing properly was difficult. ¡®What on earth!¡¯ The man was horrified. They weren¡¯t weak. The fact that they openly demanded tolls in broad daylight meant they had the skills to escape even if someone came to subjugate them. But against Taesan, such strength was meaningless.¡°Don¡¯t be too scared. If you answer properly, I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Taesan spoke leisurely. To them, that rxed voice sounded like the voice of death. Taesan began questioning them. They answered his questions with great enthusiasm. As a result, Taesan gained quite a bit of useful information. ¡°So, they call you the Cursed Child.¡± A bastard child of divine blood. The child was widely known as a being that was cursed by all things. The reason was simple. Everything around the child would break and deteriorate. If the child stayed in a vige, the vige would copse. Buildings would crumble, and people would die without a trace. If the child stayed in a forest, the forest would wither. Lakes would dry up, and vegetation would shrivel. And through all of this, the cursed child wouldn¡¯t sustain a single injury. ¡°When everyone was afraid and curious, the Emperor himself decreed an oracle. He said that the child, cursed by all things, would destroy the world simply by existing.¡± ????¨¯???? ¡°The Emperor?¡± ¡°The ruler of the Holy Empire, who has governed this world for a long time. He is also an apostle of the God of Order. He is beyond humanprehension.¡± The face of the bandit showed reverence. It wasn¡¯t just respect for a ruler¡ªit was akin to worshipping a god. ¡°The Emperor is the ruler of the world. His words arew. That¡¯s why we call the child the Cursed One and keep our distance.¡± Hearing the exnation, Taesan thought for a moment. Then he asked the bandit again. ¡°This curse¡ªdoes it take a day to manifest?¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ So far, whenever the Cursed Child stayed in one ce for more than a day, the curse would take effect.¡± ¡°What if someone followed the moving child?¡± ¡°That¡­ we have no information on¡­¡± No one would dare to follow the Cursed Child. The man nced nervously at Taesan. What he had just said was consideredmon sense. But Taesan acted as if he was hearing it for the first time. While the man was pondering Taesan¡¯s identity, Taesan waved his hand. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Now scram.¡± ¡°Ah, th-thank you!¡± Not sure if he¡¯d really be spared, the man ran off in a panic. The remaining bandits quickly followed after him. ¡°Does the Lord of Divine Blood also possess such traits?¡± [Hmm¡­ I don¡¯t know. There¡¯s too little information. It doesn¡¯t seem impossible, but could the Lord of Divine Blood really remain unscathed?] The ghost seemed uncertain. For now, Taesan decided to confirm things firsthand. He stomped his foot. The child hadn¡¯t gone far. Taesan caught up in just two steps and stood in front of the child. ¡°Huh?¡± The child¡¯s eyes widened as they saw Taesan blocking their path. ¡°Didn¡¯t you leave?¡± ¡°I heard about you from those guys earlier.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ So you didn¡¯t know about me.¡± Finally, the child made a face of understanding. Since Taesan was unaware of the curse, he had stayed nearby. That¡¯s what the child concluded. ¡°I cause suffering and death to everything around me just by existing. So please, stay away.¡± The child said this and continued walking forward. And Taesan followed. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Where are you headed?¡± ¡°H-huh?¡± The child stammered in surprise at Taesan¡¯s question. ¡°¡­The vast forest. I¡¯m going to Lecresen.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The child was taken aback. ¡°If you stay near me, you¡¯ll be cursed! Please stay away!¡± ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± Taesan spoke calmly. ¡°At least in this world, nothing can curse me.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± The child didn¡¯t seem to believe him. But Taesan was confident. Inbat, maybe it might cause some issues, but curses could be easily shrugged off. ¡°So let¡¯s go together.¡± The child desperately tried to shake off Taesan. They tried reasoning, hiding, and moving away stealthily. But nothing worked. Taesan didn¡¯t listen to the child and found every hiding spot immediately. In the end, the child gave up. ¡°Even if you¡¯re cursed, don¡¯t me me.¡± Taesan and the child walked together. The child kept as much distance as possible. The path was wide enough that there were plenty of passersby. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°The Cursed Child¡­¡± Those who recognized the child backed away in fear. It was the look one would give a monster, not a fellow human. The child epted those gazes calmly. The child kept walking until night fell. Eventually, they staggered into a forest. The childy down on a patch of soft grass. As they tried to fall asleep, a loud rumbling sound came from their stomach. Their face turned red with embarrassment. Watching the child, Taesan entered the forest. ¡°Ah.¡± The child almost called out to Taesan but stopped themselves.@@novelbin@@ If he left, it would be for the best. Convincing themselves of this, theyy back down. But soon, Taesan reappeared. ¡°Huh?¡± The child¡¯s eyes widened. In Taesan¡¯s hand was a deer. Taesan tossed the deer down and waved his hand. mes engulfed the deer, and the meat began to cook with a sizzle. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The child stared nkly at the deer. Their body was weak and slow. They couldn¡¯t catch swift wild animals. Most of the time, they filled their stomach with grass or fruit. The only meat they had was fish. Now, freshly cooked meat was in front of them. As the child stared, Taesan spoke. ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°I brought it for you.¡± ¡°Th-thank you!¡± The child buried their face in the meat. Startled by the heat, they quickly backed off but didn¡¯t give up, blowing on it before taking bites. Taesan waved his hand. A breeze surrounded the meat, cooling it to a more edible temperature. The child devoured the meat hungrily. Finally full, sleep overtook them, and they copsed. The child fell into a deep sleep. Taesan gathered wood and started a fire. A gentle breeze ensured the child could sleepfortably. Their face became noticeably more peaceful. The next morning, the child woke up and saw Taesan looking perfectly fine. ¡°Huh? Huh?¡± Until now, every ce the child stayed for more than a day had been devastated. But even after staying by the child¡¯s side for more than a day, Taesan waspletely unharmed. ¡°How¡­¡± ¡°I told you. I¡¯m strong.¡± Taesan spoke calmly. ¡°Your curse doesn¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°Uh, uh¡­¡± The child was flustered. It was the first time they had experienced such a thing, leaving them utterly confused. But life began to return to the child¡¯s eyes. As they walked again, the distance between the child and Taesan was noticeably closer than the previous day. The child continuously spoke to Taesan, and Taesan responded appropriately. ¡°So, back then, I was so happy to have caught a squirrel and eaten its meat, but suddenly, the baby squirrels appeared. I was so hungry but had no choice but to let it go.¡± ¡°Honestly, I still can¡¯t really tell which mushrooms are edible or not. It¡¯s hard to distinguish.¡± ¡°How long do you think it took to build such a big road? A lot of people must have worked really hard, right?¡± The child¡¯s words didn¡¯t stop. It was as if they were releasing all the conversations they hadn¡¯t been able to have for a long time. They kept talking while walking along the road. They continued on their journey until it was night again. The child kept nodding off, trying hard to stay awake. ¡°If you¡¯re sleepy, why don¡¯t you sleep?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I still have so much to talk about¡­¡± The child desperately tried to stave off sleep. They wanted to share all the things they¡¯d experienced while wandering the world alone¡ªeverything surprising and noteworthy. Unlike sha, the princess of Vekveta, this child was different. While sha was also a child, her education as a princess had made her realistic andposed. But this child was simply a child. That¡¯s why they hadn¡¯t been able to properly push Taesan away. Once they realized their curse didn¡¯t affect Taesan, they quickly opened up to him. Taesan asked. ¡°Why are you risking your life for this?¡± The child closed their mouth at Taesan¡¯s question. ¡°No.¡± The child shook their head. ¡°I¡­ am a being that shouldn¡¯t exist in this world. Devoting myself to His Majesty the Emperor is the only way I and the world can be saved.¡± Their voice was full of conviction, as if there were no other choice. Taesan spoke again. ¡°Why are you offering yourself to the Emperor?¡± ¡°Because only His Majesty can suppress my curse.¡± The child replied bitterly. ¡°I even visited a temple to understand my curse. They said His Majesty prayed directly to the god to figure it out. I was cursed from birth, and I can¡¯t even die as I wish.¡± If the child were to die, their curse would scatter across the world and torment all existence. But even while living, the curse devastated everything around them. ¡°Only His Majesty can resolve this. I shouldn¡¯t exist.¡± The child clenched their fists. Their thin arms trembled. ¡°This journey is for him.¡± The child fell asleep with a sorrowful expression. Taesan poked at the campfire. ¡®Choice, huh.¡¯ What kind of ending did the God of Choices desire? Taesan gazed at the night sky. A vast expanse filled with countless stars spread above him. While staring nkly, Taesan spoke. ¡°Go away.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Rejection.] Crunch. With the deration, the space distorted. The force of the gaze directed toward them was crushed and blocked. The suppressed force carried emotions of anger and confusion. No more gazes were felt. Taesan stirred the campfire. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived¡­¡± The child murmured while looking at the vast forest. It was a remarkably beautiful forest. With a mncholy face, the child stepped inside. ¡°The vast forest. Lecresen. Do you know what kind of ce it is?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a very beautiful forest. For a long time, it¡¯s been home to countless nts and animals, and people love it. But I¡­¡± The child clenched their fists and walked deeper into the forest. As they ventured into untouched areas, the path became rougher. Eventually, a sharp leaf cut the child¡¯s arm. ¡°Ouch!¡± Blue blood spurted from the child¡¯s arm. With a gloomy expression, the child moved further inward. Taesan picked up the leaf stained with blue blood and stored it. ¡°When I dered that I would offer myself, an oracle descended. To be a sacrifice, I must pass trials. I must clearly realize what kind of being I am and how horribly twisted I¡¯ve be.¡± Reaching the center of the forest, the child sat down. ¡°To stay in Lecresen for a day¡ªthat¡¯s the first trial.¡± If the child stayed in one ce for a day, that ce would inevitably be cursed and devastated. The child spoke with a sorrowful face. ¡°Please leave. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re unaffected by the curse, but this time, it really won¡¯t be okay.¡± The child didn¡¯t know why Taesan remained unharmed. But this time was different. Every ce they had stayed longer than a day had been ruined. There was no reason for this time to be any different. ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head. The child, though conflicted, was simultaneously grateful for his decision. ¡°¡­Thank you for staying with me.¡± The child lowered their head quietly. Time passed. The child dozed off intermittently. They nibbled on the meat Taesan brought and silently closed their eyes. And so, a day passed. Birds chirped, and the sound of flowing water filled the air. The scent of grass wafted strongly, and the leaves swayed in the wind. The forest was serene. ¡°Huh?¡± The child¡¯s eyes widened. Chapter 363: 76th Floor, The Child Of Divine Blood (3) ¡°Uh? Uh?¡± The child was struggling to process it. Looking around repeatedly as if the peaceful surroundings felt strange, the child muttered. ¡°Why is the forest¡­¡± Whenever the child stayed in one ce for more than a day, a curse would manifest. Springs dried up, and thend withered. The only unaffected being was the child. But now, even after a full day had passed, Lecresen showed no changes. Life was thriving and vibrant. ¡°C-Could it be that Taesan-nim did something?¡± ¡°No.¡±Taesan shook his head. He had watched over the child all night. But nothing happened. The child¡¯s divine blood didn¡¯t run wild, nor did thend copse. ¡°W-What¡¯s going on?¡± The child was visibly flustered. ¡°Then what happens to the trial?¡± ¡°Well¡­ the trial was just to stay here for a day¡­ so it should be cleared.¡± The child stammered, managing to exin. The child couldn¡¯t calm down. However, since the trial was cleared, Taesan began moving with the child again. As they walked, the child kept muttering. ¡°Why? Why didn¡¯t anything happen?¡± ¡°Could it be that your curse is broken?¡± ¡°That¡­ can¡¯t be.¡± The child trailed off, denying Taesan¡¯s words. Looking at their arm, the cut from a leaf yesterday was scabbing over, not in red but in blue. ¡°I still have blue blood flowing within me.¡± The child¡¯s curse wasn¡¯t broken. Taesan didn¡¯t know either. Despite expanding his senses the previous day to detect changes, nothing happened. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the next trial for now.¡± ¡°Ah. Y-Yes.¡± The child stammered, nodding. Walking along the path, the child continued muttering. ¡°It¡¯s strange. Just days before meeting Mr. Taesan, the curse activated.¡± The child exined that during a long journey, they had fallen asleep for an entire day in a cave due to exhaustion. When they awoke and left the cave, all vegetation around them had withered and died. ?¨¤N?¦Â¦¥? ¡°So why¡­?¡± The child looked confused. They continued their journey, and night fell. The child leaned against a tree, still muttering. ¡°Why didn¡¯t the curse activate in Lecresen?¡± ¡°Not sure.¡± Taesan handed some rabbit meat to the child. Though puzzled, the child devoured it eagerly. ¡°Mm.¡± Exhausted, the child soon fell asleep. Taesan watched the sleeping child for a moment before pulling out a leaf from his belongings. The leaf that had cut the child¡¯s arm still had traces of blue blood. What exactly was divine blood? He needed to figure that out first. [You have activated Focused Detection.] The detection power focused on the blue blood on the leaf. Information began flowing into Taesan. Taesan frowned. The information about divine blood was reaching him. But he couldn¡¯t analyze it. It was like a text file scrambled with random characters, making it impossible to interpret. Taesan tried using Focused Magic and attempted detection again, utilizing reconnaissance and essence identification. But nothing changed. The information remained indecipherable, scrambled as before. ¡°Hmm.¡± Though he hadn¡¯t obtained anything, this was, in itself, a piece of information. A power beyond what Taesan could currently analyze. It implied that it might be a force above his rank. [You have summoned the Spirit King of Wind, Minerva.] ¡°Gotcha.¡± The wind quietly coalesced, forming the figure of a woman. Landing on the ground, Minerva looked around in surprise. ¡°What kind of world is this? Such an intense power dominates this ce.¡± She narrowed her eyes and muttered. ¡°It¡¯s stronger than me.¡± ¡°You can feel it?¡± ¡°I am a being of nature. There¡¯s no Spirit King here. In such a world, my detection range is exceptionally vast.¡± Closing her eyes, Minerva expanded her senses and realized something. ¡°Ah. It¡¯s a world ruled by the Apostle of a Transcendent. No wonder the power is monstrous.¡± ¡°What level is an Apostle?¡± Taesan had encountered Apostles a few times. However, most of them weren¡¯t in their true forms. The Apostle he met on the battlefield of gods was one forcibly endowed with powers, while the Forgotten Goddess¡¯s Apostle had lost their memories. The Apostle of Pavsha, Malesten, had descended using Taesan¡¯s body. The only true Apostle he had fought was the Apostle of the Ancient God in his previous life, but since the Ancient God was a distorted existence, it was hard topare. ¡°They vary greatly. Weak ones barely cling to the edge of mortality, while the strongest, known as the Fingers, can surpass most immortals. On average¡­¡± Minerva looked at Taesan. ¡°About your current level, Master.¡± ¡°That strong?¡± ¡°Apostles are created by gods expending their own power. How could they possibly be weak?¡± Even the leaders of the Guides, who were at the brink of mortality, hadn¡¯t been able to form contracts as Apostles. Though their values and actions didn¡¯t align with the gods, it also meant their power wasn¡¯t enough. Unless one waspletely aligned with the gods, as Taesan did, the standards were exceptionally high. ¡°It¡¯s rather amazing that you, Master, reached this level in such a short time without an Apostle¡¯s contract. It¡¯s unheard of.¡± Looking around, Minerva asked Taesan. ¡°So, what¡¯s the matter? Doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s a fight.¡± ¡°I have something to ask you.¡± Taesan waved the leaf stained with blue blood. ¡°What do you know about divine blood?¡± Minerva, as a Spirit King, possessed innate knowledge. It was possible she had information about divine blood. ¡°Ah, so that child possesses divine blood. It¡¯s my first time seeing it in person.¡± Looking at the child curiously, Minerva spoke. ¡°I don¡¯t know much. Even my knowledge about that is vague.¡± Even the Spirit King¡¯s knowledgecked information on divine blood. ¡°It manifests very rarely. Possessing divine blood doesn¡¯t necessarily mean surpassing human limits.¡± What Minerva knew wasn¡¯t much different from what the ghost had exined. ¡°Does someone with divine blood ever affect their surroundings? Like desting a ce after staying there for more than a day?¡± Taesan exined the curse the child described. Minerva refuted his words. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Divine blood is a power humans can¡¯t interfere with. If it¡¯s a case of power running wild, the user wouldn¡¯t remain unharmed. If it truly rampaged, it wouldn¡¯t just devastate a ce¡ªit would obliterate an entire country.¡± The curse the child described was impossible with divine blood. Taesan organized the information. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Return for now.¡± ¡°Got it. Call me again if you need me.¡± Minerva disappeared. The child remained quietly asleep.
¡°Damn it! A creature that should never have been born! You¡¯re ruining our world!¡± The people gritted their teeth and quickly fled. Only the child and Taesan remained on the in. The child sat down on the in, looking deeply sorrowful. ¡°It¡¯s a natural reaction. This ce is famous for its beauty. If I settle here, thend itself will wither, so of course they hate me.¡± ¡°How many trials are there in total?¡± ¡°There are seven in total.¡± The child stared nkly at the in, as if trying to take in the scenery onest time. Then, as if a thought had suddenly urred, the child kept ncing at Taesan. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Ah, n-no, it¡¯s nothing.¡± The child hesitated before cautiously opening their mouth. ¡°Umm¡­ can I hold your hand?¡± ¡°Do as you like.¡± Taesan extended his hand to the child. The child was momentarily flustered, perhaps not expecting such an easy eptance. ¡°Th-thank you¡­¡± The child carefully held Taesan¡¯s hand tightly, as if determined not to let go of the warmth. The child fell asleep, still holding onto Taesan¡¯s hand. Gentle, rhythmic breathing could be heard. Time passed, and the day soon came to an end. It was the moment when the curse the child mentioned was supposed to manifest. At that moment, Taesan could sense it. Something was activating beyond the space around them. Centered on the child, a force began manifesting with tremendous ripples, seeking to realize itself in this world. The power wasposed of divine energy. Crack. The earth began to fracture. The manifested force attempted to destroy everything except the child. Taesan raised his aura.@@novelbin@@ His immense energy engulfed the space. The manifested power was forcefully suppressed and crushed. The divine energy dissipated under Taesan¡¯s overwhelming presence. The child remained asleep. Taesan looked beyond the space. The force centered on the child did not originate from the child. It was the influence of a powerful being far away. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± He was starting to get a sense of things. The next day, the child woke up. The in was still as beautiful as ever. The same happened during the next trial. The child stayed in one ce for a day. Divine energy manifested from beyond the space, and Taesan crushed it with his power. Thus, nothing around the child was destroyed. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± That night, the child muttered while staring at the campfire. ¡°Why¡­ why isn¡¯t anything happening?¡± The child didn¡¯t realize that Taesan was nullifying the curse as it activated. From the child¡¯s perspective, the curse had simply stopped. If it happened once, it could be dismissed as a coincidence. But by the third time, doubt began to creep in. The child started to wonder if their curse had disappeared. The child wanted to believe it. But they couldn¡¯t. Conflicting emotions stirred within the child. ¡°Why, why¡­ Why is this happening¡­ Is someone toying with me? If it was going to vanish like this, it should have happened sooner¡­¡± The child broke into sobs. Crying uncontrobly, they eventually fell asleep from exhaustion. Even as they slept, the child held tightly onto Taesan¡¯s hand. Taesan gently stroked the child¡¯s hair with his free hand. How many years had it been since this child had held someone else¡¯s hand? The child spoke often while traveling with Taesan. But none of those stories were about their parents. It seemed they were consciously avoiding the topic of their parents. ¡°Hmm.¡± Minerva had said that even with divine blood, the kind of curse the child described was impossible. And Taesan had identified the force manifesting around the child. When the child stayed in one ce for more than a day, divine energy manifested from beyond the space and devastated the surroundings. And the gaze that watched over the child. Someone was deliberately causing the curse to manifest. Taesan released the hand the child was holding. [You have activated Servants of the Wolf.] ¡°Keep watch.¡± Two wolves quietly nodded. Since they were created from Taesan¡¯s energy, he would immediately know if anything happened. Taesanunched himself. [You have activated Leap.] His body soared through the night sky. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Where would you like to search?] ¡°The location the child mentioned.¡± The cave the child imed had been devastated by their curse. That was his destination. Taesan reached it shortly. Although he had been traveling slowly to match the child¡¯s pace, it was a distance that took him mere minutes. Tap. Taesannded on the dested ground. Around the small cave, all vegetation had withered and died. Theke had dried up, and thend was barren, unable to sustain life. [You have activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection.] Magical energy spread across the destend, bringing information back to Taesan. The results revealed the truth. ¡°And deliberately killed by someone.¡± Thend had been purposefully devastated. And within it, traces of divine energy were present. It was almost certain now. Taesan spoke. ¡°Show yourself.¡± nk. With the sound of metal, a golden knight emerged from the ruins. ¡°¡­I warn you. Unworthy infidel.¡± A scraping metallic voice rang out. ¡°Stay away from the cursed child. If you don¡¯t, divine punishment will descend upon you.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I am the first knight of His Majesty the Emperor.¡± The knight spoke proudly. Taesan stared at him quietly. The knight was quite powerful. Not just in words¡ªhe could likely descend beyond the 50th floor. ¡®But he¡¯s distorted.¡¯ The power wasn¡¯t the knight¡¯s own but something granted by another. ¡°Leave this world at once, unworthy infidel.¡± ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Taesan replied. The knight drew a golden sword with a metallic ng. ¡°Then die by my hand.¡± In an instant, the knight¡¯s body vanished. Even a trained knight or a seasoned mercenary couldn¡¯t track his speed. For an outsider, death woulde before they could react. The knight was confident that Taesan wouldn¡¯t survive his sword. That¡¯s why he was shocked. His sword, aimed at Taesan¡¯s neck, was caught in Taesan¡¯s hand. The knight panicked and tried to pull his sword back. But it wouldn¡¯t budge. It didn¡¯t move as if embedded in solid rock. ¡°You¡­!¡± Crack. The sword shattered. The knight hastily retreated. Taesan tossed aside the broken fragments and asked the knight. ¡°Why is the Emperor targeting the child with divine blood?¡± Chapter 364: 76th Floor, The Child Of Divine Blood (4) The power that manifested beyond the space converged at the child. It contained divine energy. To exert such power across space was an extraordinary feat, impossible for ordinary mortals. There was only one such being in this world. ¡°You sphemer!¡± The knight gritted his teeth and stomped his foot. Light enveloped the knight¡¯s entire body. ¡°It seems you¡¯re not willing to answer.¡± If so, he intended to extract answers by force. The knight, cloaked in divine energy, charged at Taesan. A golden sword materialized in his hand.The de targeted Taesan¡¯s neck. Taesan raised his sword. Ka-ga-kak! The grinding sound of des rang out. Taesan deflected the knight¡¯s sword and stabbed his chest. Ka-aaang! ¡°Urgh!¡± The knight spewed blood as he was pushed back. His armor, pierced by the sword, had caved in. ¡°My, my armor¡­¡± ¡°Not breaking, huh?¡± The knight was shocked that his armor was dented, and Taesan was surprised it hadn¡¯t shattered. The difference in strength between Taesan and the knight was overwhelming. The knight should¡¯ve fallen in a single blow, yet he endured. The reason was the power granted to the knight by someone else. Taesan stomped his foot, and his body disappeared. The knight¡¯s instincts screamed in rm. He reflexively turned and swung his sword. Ka-aang! ¡°Ugh!¡± Taesan applied just enough pressure for the knight to barely parry his attacks. The knight sweated profusely, struggling to defend himself. ¡°This is fun.¡± Taesan calmly observed the knight¡¯s power. The knight¡¯s own strength wasn¡¯t exceptional,parable to sword masters Taesan had met in the world of Vekveta. However, the divine power granted to him elevated his abilities to the equivalent of the 50th floor of thebyrinth. ¡°Can a god¡¯s apostle bestow this much power without being a transcendent themselves?¡± Taesan muttered as he struck with his sword. Ka-aaang! The ground beneath the knight¡¯s feet caved in as he blocked the attack. ¡®Monster!¡¯ The knight was horrified. Even while using the power granted by the Emperor at full strength, he was being overwhelmingly suppressed. ¡®But!¡¯ Taesan was letting his guard down. The knight targeted an opening in Taesan¡¯s defense. Ka-kak! Taesan swung his sword, blocking the knight¡¯s attack. The knight¡¯s eyes gleamed as he stepped forward aggressively. ¡°Die!¡± Ki-i-i-ing! A radiant light, like the sun, enveloped the knight¡¯s sword. He poured all his power into the de for a decisive strike. The sword was aimed for Taesan¡¯s chest. Ka-ga-ga-gak! But it couldn¡¯t pierce through. The golden light touching Taesan disintegrated. ¡°What, what?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a gap in our level of power.¡± Taesan grabbed the knight by the neck and mmed him into the ground. Even with bestowed strength, one couldn¡¯t surpass the inherent gap in rank. No matter how much effort was made, the knight couldn¡¯t even force Taesan to use his First Attack Nullification. ?£Á?????? ¡°I have some questions to resolve too, so how about answering me?¡± The power of the three proofs activated. Taesan¡¯s very presence materialized, crushing the knight. ¡°Aaah¡­¡± The knight¡¯s face turned pale. His spirit was being overpowered by Taesan, and his body trembled like a leaf. He could do nothing. The sheer disparity in rank suppressed even his will to act. As Taesan was about to extract information from the knight¡ª Ki-i-i-ing! A pir of light descended from the sky. Containing power potent enough to scorch the earth, even Taesan couldn¡¯t disregard it. [You activated Restricted Blink.] Taesan swiftly exited the pir¡¯s range. The pir pierced through the knight. ¡°Aaaaargh!¡± The knight screamed as he was incinerated. The power within him flowed away through the pir of light to somewhere unknown. When the pir disappeared, nothing was left behind. ¡°Cold-hearted.¡± It seemed they preferred to deal with him themselves rather than let Taesan extract information. Taesan returned to the child. Dismissing the wolves, he looked at the child. The Emperor was targeting this child. The obsession was intense. No matter what, the Emperor was determined to obtain the child. Taesan retrieved a leaf stained with divine blood. This divine blood was the most critical clue. Now that he had confirmed this, there was no reason to hesitate. [You activated Beyond the Boundary.] [You activated Magic Ovey.] [You activated Focused Detection.] Focused Detection activated. Previously, he couldn¡¯t discern the information contained within the divine blood. But now, it was different. With Beyond the Boundary, he forcibly essed power beyond mortality. Even power surpassing Taesan¡¯s level could now be deciphered. The information and energy within the leaf flowed into Taesan¡¯s mind. ¡°I see.¡± Taesan pressed his forehead, suppressing the pain. essing power beyond mortality meant processing information beyond his current capacity, leading to immense mental strain. This was why he had postponed using Beyond the Boundary. But the value of this knowledge was undeniable. He didn¡¯t uncover everything, but he grasped all the crucial information. ¡°So it¡¯s truly the power of a god.¡± The divine blood was literally godly power. Flowing through blood, it surpassed mortality. However, simply possessing divine blood didn¡¯t grant one godly power. That¡¯s why most who inherited divine blood lived ordinary lives and died. To be precise, they were closer to sealing the divine blood within their bodies. Even so, it was power that transcended mortality. Upon reaching a certain level, one could wield it forcibly, like Helia. Helia, at the pinnacle of mortality, became this powerful. Someone stronger could handle it more freely and powerfully. For instance, someone at Taesan¡¯s level. The boundary referred to a state straddling mortality and immortality. Stronger than mortals but clearly weaker than immortals, it was an ambiguous state. If someone in such a state obtained divine blood¡ª They might cross the boundary. Taesan looked at the child sleeping quietly. The child had said: Unable to endure the pain, they went to a temple and received an oracle. Cursed by all things, only the Emperor could lift the curse. The method to lift the curse was for the child of divine blood to willingly offer themselves as a sacrifice to the Emperor. ¡°When a being with a sense of self bes an offering, forcing them doesn¡¯t work, does it?¡± [It greatly diminishes the meaning. An offering means willingly giving oneself. The will of both the offering and the receiver is crucial. They must mutually agree and ept it.] The ghost spoke. Taesan shook his head. Why did the god of choice send him to the child? Now, he felt he understood what she wanted. The child moved to the next trial¡¯s location. Another day passed there, but when Taesan blocked the curse again, nothing happened. ¡°Haha¡­ What is this¡­¡± The child shook their head. At this point, it was absurd. ¡°Why on earth?¡± The child, after enduring long despair, had ultimately decided to be the Emperor¡¯s sacrifice. That was the purpose of the seven trials. But as soon as they entered the trials, the curse suddenly disappeared. The child couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Could it be¡­ because I decided to take my own life that the curse vanished? Then, now I¡­¡± The child muttered continuously. Eventually, they arrived at a small rural vige. ¡°Huh?¡± The child¡¯s eyes widened. The vige was bustling. Many people wereughing and talking, and various foods were disyed on stalls. ¡°A vige festival, it seems.¡± A small festival unique to a vige¡ªit seemed to be in full swing. The child nkly stared at the festival. Taesan asked the child, ¡°Do you want to join?¡± ¡°W-What? No, I can¡¯t. I¡¯m a cursed child. If I join something like a festival¡­¡± The child couldn¡¯t finish their sentence. They hung their head deeply. ¡°B-But I¡­¡± ¡°Your curse takes a day to activate, doesn¡¯t it? And right now, the curse isn¡¯t active. So there¡¯s no issue.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The child wanted to join the festival but seemed too afraid of their curse, retreating timidly. Taesan spoke quietly. ¡°It¡¯s your choice. Do you want to enjoy the festival?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Taesan led the child into the heart of the festival. The child looked around the festival with wonder. Covered by a robe, the vigers seemed to think Taesan and the child were travelers. ¡°Hey there! Is that your son?¡± A sturdy man asked Taesan with augh. Taesan nodded, and the man chuckled as he handed over a skewer. ¡°You¡¯re outsiders, huh? Hey, kid! This is on the house! Enjoy your time here!¡± ¡°Th-Thank you.¡± The child hastily epted the skewer with a word of thanks. They took a small bite of the skewer, then eximed in amazement. ¡°It¡¯s delicious¡­!¡± The child, who had lived alone, was overwhelmed by the taste of the seasoning carefully crafted by people. The child, staring at the skewer in awe, finally handed it to Taesan as if they had made a big decision. ¡°This tastes good. You should try it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. You eat it.¡± ¡°T-Thank you!¡± The child devoured the skewer quickly. The festival continued. A clown appeared, and a talking bird captured everyone¡¯s attention. The child was no different. They walked among the crowd, their eyes sparkling as they took in the sights. Even so, they didn¡¯t let go of Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°¡­This is nice.¡± The child muttered. Though short, the words carried a myriad of emotions. Taesan spoke. ¡°Do you long for a normal life?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The child¡¯s gaze shifted to a boy their age, holding hands with his parents andughing as they walked together. ¡°If I had been born normal, if I hadn¡¯t been born with blue blood¡­ what would it have been like? Could I have lived happily too?¡± The child¡¯s voice carried a despair unbefitting their age. Taesan responded. ¡°If you could live such a life?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If your blue blood was just that¡ªa trait that didn¡¯t affect your life much. Even if people around you persecuted you for it, if you could still live alongside them¡ªwould you have made the same choices you¡¯ve made now?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The child looked confused, unable to understand Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Taesan looked toward the sky. From beyond the space, a force surged forth. It was about to manifest in the world with tremendous intensity. Crack. The ground began to crack. Space distorted. ¡°Huh?¡± The child¡¯s expression hardened. Based on their experience, they knew what this was a precursor to. ¡°T-There¡¯s no way! It hasn¡¯t even been a day!¡± ¡°They must be getting impatient, seeing you finding hope. How pathetic.¡± ¡°We need to leave quickly! If we don¡¯t, the vige will¡­¡± The child clung desperately to Taesan¡¯s arm. But before they could move, a deafening roar echoed. Space twisted, and the ground trembled. Vigers screamed, copsing in fear. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± The child¡¯s face filled with despair. People were going to die. Because of them. Taesan stomped the ground. His power erupted and shed with the divine energy. The distorted space began to stabilize rapidly. The force from beyond the space collided with Taesan¡¯s, the two powers opposing each other. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± The panicked child¡¯s pupils widened. Until now, they hadn¡¯t realized the force beyond space was there. It had been suppressed so quickly in previous encounters that they hadn¡¯t noticed. But this time was different. The force beyond space shed with Taesan¡¯s power in a confrontation so immense that even the unaware child could sense it. Taesan sneered at the force beyond. ¡°No matter how far away you send your power, it won¡¯t work on me.¡±@@novelbin@@ The force resisted but was gradually crushed by Taesan¡¯s power. ¡°Just wait. I¡¯lle to you soon.¡± Crack. The space was closed. The vigers groaned as they got back on their feet. ¡°What¡­ What just happened?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± No one had died. The ground had shaken a bit, but the damage was minimal¡ªonly a few copsed stalls at worst. The child looked at Taesan with trembling eyes. ¡°¡­Sir Taesan?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave for now.¡± Taesan took the child out of the vige. The child staggered and copsed into a bush. The child bit their trembling nails. ¡°¡­What was that?¡± This time, it was clearly strange. The curse had activated, even though a day hadn¡¯t passed. This had never happened before. ¡°And then¡­ the power beyond the space I saw at the end. No matter how I think about it, it didn¡¯t feel like a curse.¡± The child was deeply confused. ¡°You are not cursed. Just because you possess blue blood, events like this should not happen.¡± ¡°What?¡± The God of Choices had said: they respected all choices, even those that lead to death. But they strongly disliked paths that were forced upon someone, where no choice existed, dictated entirely by another. Taesan began speaking slowly, exining to the child.
A few dayster. The child, with a lifeless expression, looked up at the golden temple. Their face was filled with every negative emotion imaginable. ¡°Everything is your choice.¡± Taesan spoke. The child, as if resolute, began walking toward the temple. The knights guarding the entrance thrust their spears toward Taesan and the child. ¡°Halt! This is the temple where His Majesty resides! Who goes there?¡± ¡°I am¡­ the cursed child.¡± The child removed their robe. The guards, recognizing the child¡¯s identity, were visibly startled. Suppressing their emotions, the child spoke. ¡°I havepleted all the trials His Majesty bestowed upon me. I havee here to meet my end.¡± Chapter 365: 76th Floor, The Child Of Divine Blood (5) The guard hurriedly escorted Taesan and the child. After a moment, a middle-aged man in splendid attire appeared. ¡°You are the child cursed by all things, correct? It¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The child curtly nodded. The man smiled faintly. ¡°I am the saint who serves the great god of order, Horai. And so, cursed child, I hear you have passed all the trials?¡± ¡°The trials bestowed by His Majesty for me¡ªI have passed them all and arrived here.¡± ¡°Truly remarkable!¡± The saint suddenly shouted in a loud voice. ¡°You must have endured your pain and sins toe here! His Majesty¡¯s mercy will surely be upon you!¡±The child suppressed the grimace trying to take over their face. Unaware of the child¡¯s reaction, the saint pped his hands. ¡°Well then,e this way.¡± The saint nced at Taesan. ¡°I apologize¡­ but this is His Majesty¡¯s residence. Outsiders are not permitted entry. Please return.¡± ¡°No.¡± The child shook their head. ¡°I will go together with him. Otherwise, I won¡¯t go either.¡± It was a small but firm voice. The saint¡¯s expression wavered for a moment. He looked between Taesan and the child, deliberated, and made a decision. ¡°¡­Very well. Since this is your final request, I suppose it can be allowed. Normally, it would be impossible, but I will make an exception.¡± The saint spoke as if granting a great mercy, raising his chin high. He led the way, with the child following with a gloomy expression. The temple was overwhelmingly ornate. Contrary to the name of the god of order, it was covered in gold to the point of being blinding. As they walked through the corridors, devotees they encountered bowed. Upon noticing the child, they flinched, trembling and instinctively retreating. ¡°Calm yourselves. He hase to offer himself.¡± The saint reassured them as he led the way deeper into the temple. When the massive door opened and they entered, the emperor was there. A young man, appearing barely twenty, with a cold expression. Sitting on the lofty golden throne, he gazed down at the child impassively. ¡°Your Majesty! Apostle of Horai!¡± The saint knelt, crying out. ¡°The cursed child! He has passed your trials ande here to offer himself! Please, absolve his original sin!¡± The emperor nodded silently. The saint sped his hands in awe. A divine power began to manifest. Kiing! Devices resonating with the divine power activated before the child. ¡°You are cursed!¡± The saint shouted at the child. ¡°Cursed by all things, you kill life merely by existing! Even great magic cannot control it, nor the power of faith suppress it! Tragically, even your parents died because of your curse!¡± ????¦­?¦¢¨§? The saint spread his arms wide. ¡°But His Majesty is different! The great one can contain your curse!¡± His voice, filled with madness, suddenly softened. ¡°Of course, the cost is your life¡­ but it cannot be helped. If you were to continue living, the entire world could fall under the curse. Truly a noble sacrifice.¡± Before the child, a pir of light formed. ¡°Enter it. His Majesty will contain your curse. Then, everyone can be happy.¡± The child had passed the trials and arrived here for this. Yet they only stared at the pir of light, making no move to enter. ¡°¡­Taesan.¡± The child spoke slowly. ¡°Could you exin it to me once more?¡± ¡°If you wish.¡± Taesan opened his mouth. ¡°You said you¡¯re cursed if you stay in one ce for a day. But that¡¯s impossible. The blue blood you possess is divine blood, a power beyond human control. Such a curse cannot exist.¡± The saint¡¯s face hardened. Taesan continued. ¡°But you¡¯ve suffered, and your life has been twisted by this so-called curse.¡± ¡°Who are you to spout such nonsense in His Majesty¡¯s presence? Leave now¡ª¡± ¡°Silence.¡± Zzeong! At Taesan¡¯s briefmand, the saint¡¯s mouth snapped shut. Startled, the saint attempted to speak, but his lips refused to part. ¡°You, tormented by pain, sought a solution from the emperor, and an oracle was given.¡± ¡°I must¡­ offer myself as a sacrifice for the emperor.¡± The child red at the emperor seated on the throne. The emperor gazed down at them with calm indifference. ¡°Your curse is the emperor¡¯s doing. The oracle was also his. He is the root of all evil.¡± ¡°Why¡­ why would he?¡± ¡°Your blue blood is a power beyond mortality. If someone as strong as the emperor were to acquire it, they might be even stronger.¡± Of course, it was only a possibility. There was no guarantee that obtaining divine blood would lead to greater power. Yet the child¡¯s life had been distorted for this faint possibility. ¡°If the emperor hadn¡¯t interfered, you could have lived an ordinary life, even with your blue blood.¡± ¡°¡­Targeting those around me wasn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°To obtain your power, you must offer yourself willingly.¡± Taesan responded. The child stared nkly at the emperor, their face twisting in anguish. ¡°Your Majesty. Is what he says true?¡± The emperor did not reply. As if the child didn¡¯t matter, as if he could control the oue regardless, he only stared at Taesan. The child¡¯s face contorted further. ¡°So, the ones who killed my parents¡­ wasn¡¯t my curse, but you! Your Majesty!¡± Only the child¡¯s voice, filled with rage, echoed through the throne room. The emperor remained silent. That alone confirmed the truth of the child¡¯s words. ¡°Ha, hahaha! Hahahahaha!¡± The child burst into madughter. No longer was there a child seeking love and ming themselves. Only a being consumed by boundless rage remained. ¡°You! You!¡±@@novelbin@@ Their anger erupted. Taesan spoke quietly. ¡°You now know everything. From now on, whatever you choose is your decision.¡± ¡°¡­If I make my choice, will you help me?¡± Taesan nodded. The child, with a twisted expression, shouted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡± It was the child¡¯s true feeling, buried deep within their heart¡ªsuppressed by the belief that they were cursed. ¡°I want to take revenge on the Emperor!¡± ¡°If that is your choice.¡± Taesan raised his hand. Following the content of the quest, he made his own decision. This was Taesan¡¯s choice. ¡°Ugh!¡± The force holding the saint¡¯s mouth shut released. The saint shouted urgently. ¡°You! What have you done?!¡± [You have activated Zepar¡¯s ck Storm.] Kuwoong! The space split open, unleashing a storm. A powerful force descended upon the earth, sweeping everything away. ¡°O-Oh no!¡± The saint, his face pale, unleashed his divine power. However, the ck storm devoured even that, consuming it entirely. Ku-goo-goo¡­ As the storm subsided, the temple waspletely destroyed. The only things left intact were the Emperor and the golden throne he sat on. The Emperor had protected only himself from Taesan¡¯s storm. ¡°You let everyone else perish.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The Emperor replied impassively. ¡°They were nothing more than crude humans and their tools. With time, they can be restored. The human beside you is no different. No matter what that worthless tool says, break their spirit and cause enough pain, and they will eventually submit. It¡¯s just a minor inconvenience.¡± The Emperor¡¯s gaze never left Taesan. ¡°You are what matters. To be honest, I was initially surprised. I thought another god had intervened to disrupt my ns.¡± But as he observed more, he realized Taesan was not an apostle of another god. He was merely a powerful being. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you came to my world, but I¡¯ll crush you and resume my ns.¡± The Emperor¡¯s power began to emerge. ¡°Ah.¡± The child¡¯s face turned pale. The overwhelming power began distorting the very fabric of space. ¡°Stay back.¡± ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡± Taesan used his power to shield the child, who hesitated but slowly retreated, ncing at Taesan. Taesan drew his sword. For the first time, he was facing a true transcendent apostle without any restrictions or conditions. The Emperor, wielding immense power, raised his sword. ¡°Die under the power of the great god.¡± The power exploded. The Emperor¡¯s divinity surged toward Taesan, threatening to engulf him. Taesan stomped the ground. [You have activated Apostle Transformation [Stained Chaos].] [You have activated Avatar of Nature.] [You have activated King¡¯s Vessel.] Taesan¡¯s power and aura momentarily reached a transcendent state. He unleashed his energy against the surging divinity. Kuwoong! The shockwaves from the sh of powers engulfed the surroundings. Taesan pointed his sword fiercely at the Emperor. [You have activated Apostle yer.] ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Even the Emperor could feel his own stature diminishing. ¡°You¡¯re interfering with my authority?¡± The Emperor grimaced and clenched his fist. The Emperor¡¯s body leapt toward Taesan. Taesan raised his sword. Kaang! Sword and fist collided. The power radiating from the Emperor¡¯s fist was something even Taesan could not underestimate. Taesan understood¡ªthe Emperor, like him, was straddling the boundary. Taking a breath, Taesan moved his body. Kakakak! Sword and fist shed. The Emperor used a domineering martial art. His movements were rough, but each strike carried immense power. However, that was all. The martial art itself wasn¡¯t extraordinary. It could easily be ovee. Taesan¡¯s eyes sharpened. Zzeong. Taesan pressed his sword against the Emperor¡¯s fist, driving it back. As the Emperor tried to counter, Taesan blocked every move and swung his sword downward. Kwajik. The Emperor barely blocked it but couldn¡¯t avoid being pushed back. As Taesan moved in for a deeper strike¡ª ¡°So, you are a being of the Labyrinth.¡± Kiing! The light surrounding the Emperor suddenly erupted. It was a divine amplification so overwhelming that even Taesan struggled to withstand it. He quickly retreated. ¡°I acknowledge it. You are strong. You possess exceptional talent and have conquered the Labyrinth created by the gods, gaining the power to challenge me.¡± The Emperor lowered his fist, and the divine energy surrounding him grew even more intense. The intensifying divine energy took form. It was a kind of domain. The Emperor was a god¡¯s apostle, and gods each possessed their own domain. ¡°But even so, it¡¯s merely a mortal power. Even if you straddle the boundary, you haven¡¯t obtained the power beyond it.¡± The Emperor smirked arrogantly, his expression dripping with pride as he gathered his strength. ¡°I am the Apostle of Horai, the God of Order. I wield divine power. With your meager strength, it¡¯s impossible to reach me. Foolish human, I will show you the power of the gods.¡± Kiing. The divine energy exploded. The transcendent domain of an apostle materialized in the world. [The Law of Order is imposed upon you.] Chapter 366: 76th Floor, The Child Of Divine Blood (6) The domain of the transcendent devoured the space. Taesan tried to distance himself, but the entire world had already been engulfed. [You have activated Essence Identification.] [You have activated Focused Detection.] [You have activated Reconnaissance.] He attempted to discern the power manifesting in the world. However, nothing was revealed. As when detecting divine blood, only jumbled letters chaotically flooded into Taesan¡¯s mind. The domain of the transcendent was iprehensible, even with Taesan¡¯s power. Boom!The emperor leaped forward. Taesan blocked the swinging fist with his sword. ng! Taesan¡¯s body was slightly pushed back. As the domain unfolded, the emperor had grown noticeably stronger. However, the increase in power was not overwhelming. If he chose to counter, he could handle it well enough. For a divine authority, it wasn¡¯t particrly extraordinary. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] An arrow of light collided with the emperor. The divinity enveloping the emperor consumed the light. Taesan swung his hand again. Magic of all kinds manifested. The earth crumbled, and frost nketed the world. The magical power Taesan wielded was immense. Even someone of the emperor¡¯s caliber struggled to endure it and approach. Taesan continued to unleash his magic, pressuring the emperor. The emperor, however, regarded Taesan with an arrogant expression. ¡°How rude. To dare wield such profane magic in the sacrednd of a god.¡± The emperor raised a finger. ¡°I shall establish a rule. In this divine Horai¡¯s domain, every time magic is used, you must sp your hands and offer a prayer.¡± As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the magic that was manifesting abruptly canceled. ¡°What?¡± Taesan¡¯s face briefly twisted in a frown. Magic canceling midway? That had never happened before. Taesan quickly gathered his mana. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] Mana was consumed, and the power should have manifested. But it did not work. It was like trying to ignite a me underwater; the activation itself failed. The emperor stepped forward, thrusting a foot at Taesan. Taesan defended against the storm-like onught of attacks. ng! Taesan clicked his tongue as he was pushed back. He manipted magi instead of mana. [You have activated Asmodeus¡¯s Chains of Decay.] A newly acquired ck magic skill. Its effect: suppression. Crack! Chains ripped through space, binding the emperor¡¯s body. The emperor thrashed, shaking his limbs violently. The chains groaned and began to break. [You have activated Arrows of Unreasoning Tempest.] ck arrows formed and shot toward the emperor. The emperor shattered the chains binding him, swung his fist, and counterattacked. Boom! The sh of ck and golden forces created a destructive explosion, reducing the surroundings to ruins. ¡°To dare wield ck magic in this holy ce?¡± The emperor scowled as he made another deration. ¡°Here¡¯s a new rule: every time ck magic is used, you must bow your head to the ground in reverence to the god.¡± The ck magic that had been manifesting was canceled. ¡°This is absurd.¡± [What the hell is that?] The ghost muttered, astonished. It wasn¡¯t just a restriction on Taesan alone. The world itself was imposing a prohibition on ck magic. The emperor relentlessly drove Taesan back. Crack! Taesan, keeping his distance from the emperor, sped his hands in prayer and cast magic. Thankfully, simply sping his hands was enough for the magic to manifest. ???????¨¨?? Crack! The frozen world unfolded properly. Taesan¡¯s eyes narrowed. The emperor¡¯s derations were not lies. By abiding by the rules, he could exert his power, but withoutpliance, it was impossible. ¡°Your swordsmanship is reckless.¡± The emperor smirked as he dered again. ¡°Before wielding your sword, you must kneel on one knee and offer respect to the god.¡± Taesan, poised to swing his sword, hesitated. The alteredws of the world prevented his sword from moving. Quickly, he knelt, then rose and swung his sword. ng! ¡°Damn it.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and summoned Minerva. The summoned Minerva unleashed wind, pressing the emperor. ¡°To dare summon a spirit in thend of a god? This is a sacred domain. A spirit summoned without proper tribute is not allowed. Begone.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Minerva¡¯s form disappeared with a scream. Taesan, deflecting the emperor¡¯s attacks, made a quick assessment. ¡®Rules.¡¯ A power that interfered with thews of the world itself. It was simr to partial world alteration but on a higher level. The power of the god¡¯s domain was partially drawn in, engraving unteral rules onto the world. Horai was the god of rules. These oppressive regtions were forcibly imprinted to disadvantage Taesan. Taesan realized this was a power only apostles chosen by gods could wield. ng! [Your First Attack Nullification has activated.] The attack was erased. As his body returned to its state before the attack, the emperor scowled and charged again. ¡°This is ridiculous.¡± Boom! The emperor rushed in with clenched fists. While his techniques were simple, Taesan easily responded. But the restrictions on Taesan were severe. Magic, ck magic, spirits, and even swordsmanship couldn¡¯t be used properly. Victory was possible as long as you discerned the possibilities. Taesan moved his body, slowly analyzing the emperor¡¯s power. However, for the moment, it meant merely enduring. Taesan allowed the emperor¡¯s attacks, and as a result, damage gradually umted on him. All his attack nullifications were consumed, and his stamina began to dwindle. Boom! The emperor¡¯s fist smashed against Taesan¡¯s sword, pushing him backward. ¡°You cannot defeat me,¡± The emperor dered arrogantly. ¡°The power of your true self is indeed stronger than mine. I won¡¯t deny that.¡± If they were to fight with everything, the emperor knew he would lose. ¡°But before great power, the strength of one¡¯s true self is utterly meaningless.¡± A power that rendered everything a mortal built meaningless¡ªthat was the power of a god. It was an absolute authority mortals could never reach. ¡°Do you understand, lowly tool?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± The child, who had been watching the battle from afar, trembled. Even though thebat was beyond the child¡¯s perception, it was clear Taesan was being overwhelmed. ¡°This weak one faces death because of your stubbornness.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± The child¡¯s face turned pale. Taesan was going to die. Because of the child. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want this.¡± The child staggered forward, unable to bear the weight of knowing that many had already died because of them. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± Taesan interrupted, blocking the child. ¡°So, you truly desire the divine blood that much?¡± ¡°The power is far too great for a lowly tool like you to handle. Shouldn¡¯t the one who takes it be someone worthy?¡± The emperorughed, his twisted smile filled with greed. ¡°Yes! I will absorb the divine blood, transcend mortality, and be an apostle seated beside the one true deity!¡± With a madugh, he charged. ¡°Be my stepping stone, lowly being!¡± Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Mental eleration.] Blocking the oing attacks, Taesan calmly sorted his thoughts. ¡®The enforcement of rules.¡¯ Utterly one-sided rules, favoring only the emperor. But the opponent was not a god. At best, he was an apostle merely borrowing divine power. There had to be limits to thosews. Even the fact that the emperor couldn¡¯tpletely seal magic or ck magic but only impose preconditions for their activation proved it. ¡®He can impose conditions, but he cannot seal the abilities themselves.¡¯ [You have activated Concealment.] The ground copsed under the emperor¡¯s assault, obscuring Taesan¡¯s form. His presence vanished momentarily. Taesan moved behind the emperor and knelt. ng! The emperor hurriedly twisted his body to block Taesan¡¯s attack. ¡°You possess far too many unpleasant abilities,¡± The emperor remarked but did not impose a rule against concealment. ¡®He hasn¡¯t imposed rules on attack nullification either.¡¯ Although irritated and flustered, the emperor hadn¡¯t blocked those powers. The same applied to Flow, which Taesan had activated duringbat. Taesan sheathed his sword. His fist collided with the emperor¡¯s. Boom! Taesan had never specialized in martial arts. However, with his swordsmanship restricted by the rules, fighting barehanded was a better option. Since his attack power was integrated through the Airak Weapon Technique, the damage itself was not a significant issue. Fist shed with fist as Taesan defended against the emperor¡¯s strikes. The emperor¡¯s martial arts were not particrly sophisticated. By contrast, Taesan had fought countless opponents in thebyrinth, some of whom specialized in barehandedbat. Knowing how to counter meant knowing how to act. While it was far from his swordsmanship in precision, it was sufficient to endure. Due to the gap in experience, the emperor struggled to break through Taesan¡¯s defenses. ¡°Lowly creature, you don¡¯t even know shame. You should quietly ept your death,¡± The emperor mocked Taesan. But he did not take further action. Even though he could have imposed rules on martial arts to suppress them instantly, he did not. Taesan was certain now. The rules had limitations. So what were those limitations? ¡®If the rules are not one-sided but also apply to himself¡­¡¯ All the rules imposed so far targeted magic, ck magic, spirits, and swordsmanship¡ªareas unrted to the emperor¡¯s martial arts. If the rules applied to him as well, he likely wouldn¡¯t enforce them.@@novelbin@@ ¡®Or perhaps there¡¯s a limit to the number of rules.¡¯ There might be a restriction on how many rules could be enforced simultaneously, exining why martial arts weren¡¯t included. Testing it was not difficult. [You have activated Spark of Cmity.] Raging mes of destruction manifested in the world. The power contained within was stronger and denser than anything Taesan had wielded before. Having defeated the core members of the Guides, he could now fully control the power of destruction. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± The emperor scowled, retreating. Taesan focused his mind. The spark of cmity, which burns all things in the world, could not be controlled if the usercked either sufficient strength or qualifications. Until now, Taesan hadcked both. But now, he had them. The mes surged. True mes capable of burning the world tore through the transcendent¡¯s domain. Due to the inherent high level of destruction, even the emperor struggled to withstand it. Taesan seized the moment to sp his hands in prayer. [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] Zing! Magic and ck magic activated. The rules did not block their use outright. As long as the preconditions were met, they could be wielded. Power surged toward the emperor. Though he wanted to counterattack, the mes chasing him left little room for action. Clicking his tongue, the emperor spoke. ¡°To dare wield such a base power in Horai¡¯s domain. mes that burn the world cannot exert their full force outside their original realm.¡± New rules were imposed upon the world. At the same time, Taesan noticed the initial rule restricting magic had disappeared. The number of rules that could be enforced simultaneously was limited. The limit was four. The test wasplete. Taesan had also devised a response. Now it was his turn. Taesan gathered his strength. Chapter 367: 76th Floor, The Child Of Divine Blood (7) Ice, earth, and starlight surged forward. The Emperor hastily opened his mouth to speak. But by now, Taesan understood. For the Emperor to enforce order in the world, he must dere it aloud. And the time required for that deration was by no means short for Taesan. In an instant, dozens of spells materialized in the world. As if destruction itself had been unleashed, the force exploded, engulfing the Emperor. ¡°Grrrk!¡± The Emperor amplified the divinity cloaking his entire body. The divinity shed with the spells, gradually eroding away. ¡°In the sacred domain of Horai, one must sp their hands in prayer each time magic is invoked!¡± The Emperor dered again while enduring the spells. Dozens of spells simultaneously lost their power and vanished.But Taesan had anticipated it all. Before the Emperor could finish his deration, Taesan closed the gap with a restricted Blink and unleashed Starlight Arrow. The divinity surrounding the Emperor was nullified by the arrow, and Taesan ced his hand on the Emperor¡¯s body. [You have activated Branch of Despair.] A torrent of overwhelming emotions surged through the Emperor¡¯s mind. Negative feelings sought to dominate him. Taesan immediately activated another skill. [You have activated Forced Descent.] The Emperor¡¯s movements visibly slowed. Seizing the opportunity, Taesan swiftly widened the distance and sped his hands together. Crack-crack-crack! Magic raged violently. Taesan invoked magic and ck magic ording to the rules. Though the Emperor¡¯s movements were sluggish, he couldn¡¯t exploit the gaps. ¡°Urrgh!¡± The Emperor¡¯s face contorted under the torrent of emotions. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± He roared angrily. ¡°I am the Emperor! The Apostle of God! Such petty emotions cannot stop me!¡± With fierce determination, divinity surged within the Emperor. But the torrent of emotions did not vanish. Deep within his mind, the assault continued, eroding his psyche. The Emperor gnashed his teeth. ¡°What is this? Why won¡¯t it disappear?¡± Branch of Despair was a skill directly bestowed by the God of Despair. It was an evolved version of Seed of Despair, ranking among the most valuable of Taesan¡¯s skills. In terms of potency, it stood equal to the Emperor¡¯s power. Even the Guides of Sin could only endure the effects of Seed of Despair with sheer willpower. ??????¦Â¦¥?? Likewise, the Emperor, wracked with pain, couldn¡¯t focus on the battle. Taesan didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] In an instant, Taesan closed the distance to the Emperor. After dropping into a kneel, he leapt forward with full force. Bang! ¡°Ugh!¡± The Emperor barely managed to defend and shouted with a distorted face. ¡°I dere! I belong to Horai! As long as Horai does not permit it, mental interference with me is impossible!¡± With the imposition of this rule, the effect of Branch of Despair vanished. The restriction on ck magic was also lifted. Taesan quickly gathered dark energy. Rumble! ck magic manifested consecutively. Chains bound the Emperor, arrows of the storm tore through space, and ck waves engulfed the world. [You have activated Amon¡¯s Pitch-ck Spike.] Crack! The spike struck the Emperor, sending him sliding backward with a powerful impact. Gnashing his teeth, the Emperor dered once more. With the new rules, the power of ck magic waned. ¡°You insolent pest!¡± The Emperor charged Taesan, brimming with anger. Given the rules, it was nearly impossible to block the Emperor¡¯s attack. Therefore, Taesan had no intention of blocking it. [You have activated Designated Mark eleration.] Taesan¡¯s body instantly moved backward. The speed resembled a spatial leap, causing the Emperor¡¯s pupils to widen in shock. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Taesan kicked the ground. Using Designated Mark eleration, he moved freely through space. The Emperor, caught off guard, struggled to respond. It was a power he had never encountered before. After a moment of hesitation, the Emperor roared. ¡°This is the domain of Horai! To leap through space, you must first dere your position!¡± A restriction was imposed on spatial movement. The Emperor charged forward aggressively. [You have activated Designated Mark eleration.] @@novelbin@@ Once again, Taesan moved to the mark¡¯s location. It wasn¡¯t a spatial leap but rapid movement through space. Thus, the restriction didn¡¯t apply. The Emperor¡¯s face twisted in frustration. ¡°I imposed the rule! Why isn¡¯t it working?¡± As the new rule applied, the restriction on spirits was lifted. [You have summoned the Wind Spirit King, Minerva.] ¡°What¡¯s the big idea? Summoning me just to chase me away! That¡¯s too much!¡± Minerva, seething with anger, unleashed a tempest. The divinity surrounding the Emperor gradually thinned. Taesan smirked mockingly at the Emperor. The Emperor was undeniably strong. In pure power alone, he wasn¡¯t inferior to Taesan. The authority of his rules was overwhelmingly selfish, capable of restraining all of Taesan¡¯s actions. Had he wielded it effectively, he could have nullified most of Taesan¡¯s efforts. But the Emperor failed to do so. His use of the rules was overly simplistic, and his grasp of Taesan¡¯s power was so poor that he wasted energy. Hisck ofbat experience was ring. It wasn¡¯t surprising. Even the strongest in the outside world barely reached the level of the 30th or 40th floor. The Emperor, standing at the boundary, couldn¡¯t possibly match someone of equal footing. Perhaps he had never truly fought since bing an apostle. ¡°Honestly, the Guides of Sin were tougher.¡± If they, with their vast experience, had wielded the power of rules, they might have defeated Taesan. Such was the potential of the rules. Power alone meant nothing. One must learn how to wield it effectively, counter an opponent, and manage unforeseen variables. This understanding was why the gods created thebyrinth. Power without experience wasn¡¯t frightening at all. The Emperor dismissed Minerva with a deration. Seizing the moment, Taesan closed in on the Emperor. [You have activated eleration.] He thrust his sword fiercely. The Emperor opted to evade rather than block. [You have activated Sure Hit.] Crack. The sword¡¯s trajectory twisted, piercing the Emperor¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What is this! What is happening!¡± The Emperor shouted angrily. He couldn¡¯tprehend Taesan¡¯s abilities. His ignorance led to confusion, and confusion slowed his actions. Crunch. Taesan swung his sword with force. [You have activated Call of Ruin.] The power of ruin burst into the world. Startled, the Emperor cloaked himself in divinity. Call of Ruin was a power obtained after defeating the Demon King in the ghost realm. It was far stronger than the Ember of Catastrophe. Though Taesan had yet to master it, he could now wield it to some extent. Ruin, which devoured all, consumed the divinity surrounding the Emperor. The divinity visibly diminished. ¡°The power of ruin cannot exert its full strength outside its original world!¡± The Emperor barely managed to shout. But this resulted in the restriction on swordsmanship being lifted. Taesan swung his sword violently. [You have activated de of Will.] The Emperor struck with his fist. Boom! Fist and sword collided. Divinity was eroded. The Emperor widened his eyes and drew upon his strength. ¡°Die!¡± Boom! The exploding divinity engulfed Taesan. But Taesan was already gone from that spot. Having moved to the side, Taesan gathered dark energy. He had already prepared for the ck magic. The Emperor, gritting his teeth, charged forward. His anger clouded his judgment as he intended to ignore Taesan¡¯s ck magic, relying on the divinity cloaking his body to attack. Until now, Taesan¡¯s ck magic had only chipped away at his divinity without causing any direct damage. The Emperor rushed toward Taesan. Taesan unleashed his magic. [You have activated Beyond the Boundary.] [You have activated Arrow of the Unthinkable Storm.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] An arrow imbued with power beyond mortality hurtled forward. The Emperor instinctively recognized it. That power could pierce through his divinity. But it was toote to respond. He hastily tried to amplify his divinity further, but the arrow shattered it before he could. Thud. The storm arrow pierced the Emperor¡¯s heart. Rumble¡­ ¡°Cough.¡± The Emperor spat out blood. Staring nkly at his pierced chest, he looked dazed. He was Horai¡¯s apostle. Even with his heart pierced, as long as his divinity wasn¡¯t fully consumed, he could recover. But the heart pierced by the storm arrow wasn¡¯t healing. The power contained within the arrow surpassed the level of his divinity, which existed on the boundary. ¡°Ha.¡± The Emperor let out a hollowugh. With time and focus, he could recover fully. But his opponent wasn¡¯t going to just stand by and let that happen. ¡°Is this all you¡¯ve got?¡± The Emperor withdrew the transcendent domain he had spread across the world. Screech! The apostle¡¯s power concentrated entirely into his fist. All the rules that restricted Taesan were lifted. This was the power the Emperor reserved for dire situations. It was his trump card. If Taesan could block this attack, everything would end. There was no need to hold back anymore. Taesan gripped his sword. Tap. The Emperor leaped, throwing a fist meant to obliterate everything. Taesan met it head-on with his sword. ck energy coated the de. Then gold oveid it. The result was a hue of gray. Boom! The power of the apostle and the boundary collided. The mingled gray force gaped open, devouring the apostle¡¯s power. ¡°What is this?¡± The Emperor was horrified. As an apostle, he recognized the gray force. It was a power beyond mortality. No, perhaps even beyond that. His thoughts were cut short as the gray exploded, engulfing his entire body.
¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± The Emperor, his body mangled, admitted defeat. His face showed neither great rage nor despair. ¡°To think I¡¯d return to Horai like this¡­ I¡¯ll have to meet and apologize.¡± An apostle was a being who offered their soul to their god. For them, death wasn¡¯t the end. It¡¯s merely shedding their physical form and returning. The Emperor¡¯s soul emerged from his lifeless body. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The heavens opened. A colossal presence appeared. Its power felt cold and devoid of warmth. It was the God of Order, Horai. ¡°Oh, my god¡­¡± The Emperor gazed at Horai with a hazy look. Horai stared at the Emperor with an indifferent gaze. The light in that gaze was utterly merciless. ¡°G-god?¡± The Emperor was flustered. Horai¡¯s gaze was anything but benevolent. Suddenly, the Emperor felt fear and tried to flee, but there was nowhere to escape. ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± Horai¡¯s power forcibly devoured the Emperor¡¯s soul. There was nopassion, no kindness, no mercy. It crushed him like a tool that had outlived its usefulness. The Emperor disappeared with a scream. [Your Soul Ascension has activated.] The Soul Ascension system notification appeared. Taesan calmly drew in the remaining divinity to heal his body. ¡°It¡¯s over now.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The child shuddered. Even during the battle, the Emperor had ensured the child wasn¡¯t harmed. As a result, the child remained unscathed amidst the ruins. Taesan spoke to the child. ¡°The curse tormenting you is gone now.¡± The curse had been something imposed by the Emperor. Now, the child was merely a bearer of the divine blood, an ordinary child. The child stared at Taesan nkly, unable to grasp the reality. ¡°¡­Everyone I knew is dead.¡± The child¡¯s family had perished by the Emperor¡¯s hand. ¡°The world will still hate me.¡± To the world, the child remained ursed. People might believe the destruction of the temple and the Emperor¡¯s disappearance were due to the child¡¯s curse and persecute him further. ¡°I¡¯m still a cursed child. That hasn¡¯t changed. But¡­¡± The child looked at Taesan. Taesan had fought the Emperor for him. For no one else but him. ¡°Even so¡­ I¡¯ll live.¡± The child decided to live, no matter what trials awaited, at least for Taesan¡¯s sake. It was the choice the child made in the end. Taesan nodded. ¡°If that¡¯s your choice.¡± With those words, Taesan¡¯s body vanished. The quest¡¯s conclusion transported him back to thebyrinth. ¡°Sir Taesan?¡± The child stood still for a moment, then slowly began walking. He would live despite the pain and suffering. The child had made his decision. But there was a problem. What purpose would he live for? He didn¡¯t have one. He had wanted an ordinary life, but that was now impossible. And he no longer wished for normalcy. After some thought, a ce came to his mind. ¡°Thebyrinth?¡± The child recalled the stories Taesan had shared about it. A ce where warriors from all worlds gathered. A ce to grow stronger, if one could survive. Taesan had said he was descending into it. ¡°¡­Perhaps.¡± The child decided his goal in life. With unwavering steps, he moved forward.
[It is finished.] ¡°¡­You could have waited just a little longer.¡± [Do you not think this ending is eptable?] The voice of the God of Choice was filled with satisfaction. [That child will live on. They will face countless choices¡­ and eventually, they wille here. It will be an entertaining time.] Maria chuckled. [You did very, very well. You showed me everything I wanted to see.] And so, an appropriate reward would be given. With those words, Maria waved a finger. A crystallized force took shape and began materializing in Taesan¡¯s hand. Chapter 368: The World, Community The crystallized power materialized as a blue jewel before Taesan. The jewel slowly descended into Taesan¡¯s hand. With a cold sensation, the jewel settled in his palm. [You have obtained Crystallized Divine Blood.] ¡°Divine Blood?¡± [It is a fragment of my power. How you handle it is entirely up to you.] Maria spoke leisurely. [You can imnt it into your body and control it, or you can use it as material to craft a weapon. However, at least for now, it will be impossible.] Taesan gazed at the Crystallized Divine Blood. The blue, jewel-like divine blood was stable but contained an overwhelmingly terrifying power.Even in his current state, Taesan appeared incapable of handling such power. [Crystallized Divine Blood cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It is a unique reward meant solely for you.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Maria was right. Divine blood was a power that no one could obtain unless they were born with it. The Emperor had sought to acquire divine blood in the form of sacrifices, but whether he truly seeded was unknown. He had obtained a power that could never be acquired through conventional means. That alone made it invaluable. [This is both a reward and a kind of expectation. Be strong enough to wield it, and then you¡¯ll truly understand its value.] Maria chuckled softly. [This is your reward for sessfully passing my trial. You must have questions¡ªfeel free to ask.] ¡°Then, if I may¡­¡± Taesan opened his inventory. In his hand was a small flower-shaped ornament. Its seven petals shimmered in vibrant rainbow hues. [Maria¡¯s Gift] [A gift bestowed upon a human favored by a god. Currently has no effect.] ¡°What is this used for?¡± It was the reward Maria had given him when they first met¡ªa long time ago. At the time, he was only on the 12th floor, weaker than both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyeok in their current states. Yet, even now, he had not figured out how to use Maria¡¯s gift. Whenever he thought about it, he activated Essence Perception or Focused Detection, but nothing was revealed. [So that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. Then I¡¯ll answer.] Maria spoke slowly. [That is a gift that cannot be used on its own. It can only be activated when you meet someone with whom you are connected.] ¡°¡­Someone I¡¯m connected to?¡± Everyone he had connections with was dead. He had turned back time. And Maria also knew that. When she first met Taesan, she had said so¡ªthat he had reversed time after making a fatal mistake while entangled with ancient gods. Yet she mentioned someone he was connected to. Taesan¡¯s gaze darkened. Maria smiled quietly. [Let¡¯s save that for ater surprise.] With those words, Maria¡¯s domain began to recede. [I¡¯ll be waiting for you in a deeper ce. Come down quickly.] With that soft voice as thest echo, Taesan returned to thebyrinth. ¡°A person I¡¯m connected to¡­¡± His mind was slightly muddled. Taesan fiddled with the flower ornament.
Some questions arose, but one thing was certain: he had cleared the 76th floor. [Crystallized Divine Blood] [Stabilized divine blood in crystallized form. If an unqualified individual attempts to control it, it will run amok.] It was more a warning than an exnation, and Taesan felt the same. While it was a reward, he could not use it yet. For now, he could only hold onto it, but considering its power, it was far from a trivial reward. Just as Maria had said, he needed to grow stronger before addressing it. ?§Ñ?¨°§£¨¨s And then, there were the rewards for clearing the 76th floor. [Armor Refined by Deep Darkness] [Strength +900] [Defense +900] [ck Magic +30] [ck Magic Resistance +1] [An armor crafted as a hobby within the domain of the creator of ck Magic. Despite its yful origins, it contains immense power.] If the creator of ck Magic was a demon, then this equipment seemed to be crafted by one. Appropriately, it enhanced both ck Magic and resistance to it. [Rough-Cut Anklet of Raw Stone] [Strength +500] [Attack Power +400] [Defense +500] [A mysterious raw stone fell to a one day. Countless cksmiths tried to refine it but died simply by striking the stone a few times, overwhelmed by its power. After uncountable lives were lost, it finally became an anklet.] The default clear rewards, as always, did not disappoint. And after defeating the Emperor, Soul Ascension activated. [Your Soul Ascension has activated. Divine Power mastery has increased by 3%.] The 3% increase in Divine Power seemed insignificant at first nce. However, to Taesan, who understood the value of Divine Power, it was a substantial improvement. When Divine Power reached 81%, progress had halted entirely. Despite the considerable number of Earth¡¯s yers worshiping Taesan, there was no movement. Once it reached 100%, he could potentially gain his own divinity, making the progress painfully slow. A 3% increase was monumental. It was more valuable than acquiring most skills. And then, the newly obtained skill: [Special Activation Skill: Law of Regtion] [Consumption ??? : ???] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summons the Domain of Regtion and enforces itsws. However, the user currentlycks the rank and qualification to wield this power effectively.] A soul-based skill. The description resembled that of the King of Machinery, making its nature clear. This was an authority granted exclusively to the Apostle of the God of Regtion. Through Soul Ascension, Taesan had acquired it. [Even an apostle¡­ it¡¯s genuinely hard to ept.] Soul Ascension disregarded the opponent¡¯s nature¡ªbe it an immortal, an ancient god, or an apostle¡ªand seized their power.@@novelbin@@ It was a skill that defied understanding. It was a considerable reward. Although it couldn¡¯t be used immediately, if Taesan gained the necessary qualifications, it meant he could wield a portion of divine authority. Its value was immense. Perhaps because he had defeated an Apostle, his Apostle Transformation underwent changes. While the name remained the same, its effects had slightly strengthened. With these rewards, it was time to proceed. Taesan ascended the floor. Hafran greeted him as though he had been waiting. ¡°You¡¯re here. I¡¯ve been wondering when you¡¯d arrive.¡± ¡°Is everything ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan had previously entrusted Hafran with the Pure Light Crystal obtained from the Spirit Realm. It seemed the crafting wasplete. Hafran handed Taesan a shimmering fragment of light. ¡°I struggled to decide what to create, but nothing seemed appropriate. So, I opted for something simple yet powerful.¡± [Pure White Powder of Blessing] [A powder of blessing. Can be applied to a weapon to imbue it with power.] [Attack Power +200] [Can activate Light of the World once per hour.] [Light of the World] [Summons the primordial light of radiance. Dispels darkness and repels unholy beings.] ¡°You can use it on the relic of Calvert that you have.¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± The pure attack power was significantly high. While he didn¡¯t know the exact effects of Light of the World, if it was simr to forced amplification, it would prove quite useful. The powder more thanpensated for the stats lost due to the release of the maddened spirit. Taesan sprinkled the powder onto his sword. ¡°Is that all you needed?¡± ¡°No. I have a question.¡± Taesan disyed the ck and white rings on his fingers. ¡°How exactly were these rings created?¡± To use both rings together, he needed a thorough understanding of their creation. Hafran looked puzzled but answered. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± ¡°Was the crafting process of the rings designed as a pair from the beginning?¡± ¡°No, they weren¡¯t.¡± Hafran shook his head. ¡°Initially, I attempted to craft them as a single piece of equipment. However, the materials were so overwhelmingly powerful that they repelled and resisted each other. I almost died because of it.¡± The materials contained within the rings were beyond even Hafran¡¯s control. After much contemtion on how to stabilize them, he reached a conclusion. ¡°I crafted two rings through identical processes. Although the materials differ, resulting in external variations, the crafting methods are perfectly equal. By making them resonate with each other, their power is amplified and stabilized. That¡¯s how these rings werepleted.¡± ¡°So the process was exactly the same?¡± ¡°Not a single deviation. Twins are, by definition, such creations.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Rings crafted to be perfectly identical. That made it possible. Not immediately, but the potential was there. ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to know. Thank you.¡± ¡°You provided the materials and requested the equipment. It¡¯s only natural I answer. Is that all?¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing.¡± Taesan showed Hafran the Crystallized Divine Blood. ¡°Can you refine this?¡± Hafran examined the Divine Blood briefly before grimacing. ¡°You bring something that wouldn¡¯t be obtainable even on the 90th floor. Do you think it¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°Figured as much.¡± Taesan hadn¡¯t expected much to begin with and returned the Divine Blood to his inventory. ¡°I may be great, but I¡¯m still mortal. I hope you understand that.¡± Hafran grumbled. Taesan bid him farewell and descended the floor once more. As he was heading toward the 77th floor, a flood of system windows suddenly obstructed his vision. They were all rted to the Community. Taesan opened the Community. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: ¡­Why are you already back?] [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Because we finished early.] [Amelia Aerin [Solo]: What about China? Something definitely happened over there.] [Kang Jun-hyeok [Solo]: Oh, that? Exining it would take a while¡­] [Oliver Khan [Hard]: Let¡¯s hear it. We¡¯ve got time to rest anyway.] The Community was abuzz with conversation. Taesan realized that yers from other countries had finallypleted their trials and returned to thebyrinth. Chapter 369: 77th Floor, The World On The Brink Of Destruction (1) While Taesan descended thebyrinth, what progress had others made, and what events transpired? First, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok began to speak. [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: "We¡¯ve made it down to the 40th floor." [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "As expected, you¡¯re fast." [Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: "¡­Already?" Amelia quietly expressed her astonishment. While she had beenpleting Earth¡¯s quests, Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok had rapidly caught up to her. [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]]: "The things you taught us have helped a lot in many ways. There were some dangerous encounters, but we managed to make it down without much trouble." It seemed they had entered a stable phase. Unless they became overconfident or careless, they could likely continue descending without major difficulties. [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "We¡¯ve also made considerable progress. Some of the faster yers have cleared up to the middle of the 60th floor." [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "Not bad." [Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]]: "But things are starting to get tough. It seems like it¡¯ll take quite some time from here." Just as the deeper levels of Solo Mode were known for their sudden difficulty spikes, the same was true for Hard Mode. They were likely to be stuck for a while. [Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: "I need to hurry. At this rate, they¡¯ll catch up to me." [Daniel Darmon [Hard]]: "We just got back, so it can¡¯t be helped." [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]]: "By the way, when do you think the next return quest will appear? It feels like it¡¯s about time for one to show up." [Oliver Khan [Hard]]: "But we¡¯ve only just returned to thebyrinth. I doubt a quest will appear so soon." [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: "Taesan, do you know anything?" [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "I have no idea." Taesan didn¡¯t know either. With so much having changed from his previous life, his memories were no longer as reliable. [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "It coulde right away, or it could take a long time. Just be prepared." [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: "Understood." [Kang Junhyeok [Solo]]: "Oh, by the way, how far have you gone, hyung?" [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "The 77th floor." [Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: "¡­Seriously?" Themunity buzzed with excitement. [Oliver Khan [Hard]]: "Wow. I can¡¯t even imagine what that¡¯s like. How strong are you at that level?" [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: "Aren¡¯t you close to clearing it?" [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "There¡¯s still a long way to go." The remaining floors might take even more time than everything he¡¯d experienced so far. [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "But I¡¯ll probably finish before you all." [Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]: "So, will you return to Earth first, or wait for us at the 100th floor?" [Kang Taesan [Solo]]: "Not sure." Even Taesan was undecided about that. After exchanging more words, Taesan closed themunity. If anyone could return quickly, it would be Taesan. How would he bridge the gap in time? And how would he revive the broken Earth? The polluted air. The decayednd. The deste ground and the dried-up seas. In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t cared much. Their sole purpose had been survival. Protecting a small area and surviving against the monsters was their goal. There was no need to worry about anything else. ????¨°???S? But not anymore. What Taesan now wanted wasn¡¯t mere survival but to drive out the ancient gods from Earth and live there again. Rebuilding civilization, cultivating thend, and having children. That was the fundamental reason he had turned back time. yers from thebyrinth could endure the polluted air with their enhanced bodies. While the decayednd couldn¡¯t supportrge-scale farming, limited subsistence farming was possible. However, the newborn children wouldn¡¯t survive in the polluted air. Subsistence farming also wasn¡¯t a perfect solution. With no living animals, consuming meat was impossible. To truly live on Earth again, not just survive, many issues needed to be resolved. Whilebyrinth items could provide temporary solutions, they were only localized powers. With Earth¡¯s very foundation destroyed, they couldn¡¯t solve everything. ¡°What should I do?¡± Taesan was lost in thought. He believed he might find answers as he descended thebyrinth. Taesan reached the 77th floor. [77th Floor Quest Initiated.] [Stabilize a world driven to the brink of destruction by the ancient gods.] @@novelbin@@ [Reward: The Cruel One¡¯s Bloodstained Hammer.] [Secret Reward: Depends on your performance.] ¡°Hmm?¡± Reading the quest conditions, Taesan narrowed his eyes. A world on the brink of destruction. After a moment of thought, Taesan nodded. As soon as he epted the quest, his body leaped through space. Thud. Taesannded on the ground. What he felt was polluted air. And the sensation of decayednd. And the faces of people, deeply shrouded in despair. Taesan realized this ce was identical to Earth just before its destruction.
The polluted air pierced the lungs. For someone of Taesan¡¯s strength, it wasn¡¯t a significant issue. Even for an ordinary human without any special powers, there wouldn¡¯t be immediate harm. But over time, as the pollution umted, the body would deteriorate, and the mind would be corrupted. [Is this the quest?] ¡°You know about it?¡± [You know the high gods want to destroy this world, right? And that manys with life were destroyed as a result.] Taesan nodded. After clearing Vekveta¡¯s quest, the demon god had mentioned this to him. A total of 258 worlds had been destroyed by the ancient gods. Time had passed since then, so the number was likely even higher now. [The gods don¡¯t sit idly by during the high gods¡¯ attacks. They try to protect the attacked worlds and drive out the ancient gods. You''ve done a simr quest before, haven¡¯t you?] The quest from Zelbando, the god of magic. The world of the arrogant giants. That world had been invaded by the high gods. [That¡¯s how the gods protect each world. Sometimes they seed without issues, and other times they fail, resulting in the destruction of the world. And asionally, they manage to protect the world, but it remains deste and devastated.] ¡°This ce is one of those, then.¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of hope on the faces of the people roaming about. The ghost confirmed it. [This quest isn¡¯t focused onbat. The goal is to restore and stabilize this broken world.] Taesan gathered his magic and activated Leraje¡¯s Territory Detection. Information about the flowed into him. Thend where people lived was about the size of a single city. A significant number of people were residing there. The detection extended beyond the city. No creatures of the ancient gods were detected. Considering his substantial detection range, it was safe to assume they didn¡¯t exist nearby. The quest¡¯s objective was to stabilize this ce. How should it be done? While pondering, someone called out to Taesan. ¡°You there, young man.¡± An old man waved at Taesan from a shabby tent. Following the gesture, Taesan approached the old man. ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t recognize your face. Did youe from another city?¡± ¡°Another city?¡± ¡°¡­You don¡¯t know?¡± The old man¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, are you someone who came from outside?¡± He was likely asking if Taesan had survived outside the city and arrived here. Taesan nodded. The old man chuckled and stroked his beard. ¡°Ha. I thought all survivors outside the city were dead, but there¡¯s still someone alive. Meeting you must be fate. Come with me. I¡¯ll tell you about this ce.¡± The old man led Taesan to a tattered shack. ¡°Will you eat?¡± The old man handed Taesan a rusty bowl filled with a murky broth containing unidentifiable chunks. Taesan shook his head. The old man chuckled and sat on a broken chair. ¡°You must be a rare survivor. But you¡¯re unlucky. After all that struggle to survive, you ended up in this broken city.¡± ¡°There are multiple cities?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The old man ate a spoonful of the broth and continued. ¡°This is one of humanity¡¯sst cities. A gathering ce for the forsaken¡ªBereziak. A city where people survive because they can¡¯t die.¡± The old man spoke bitterly. From his words, Taesan understood. ¡°So the other cities are in better condition?¡± ¡°There are five cities in total.¡± The old man slowly began exining. ¡°Each city is controlled by a different group, and they¡¯re all at odds with one another. The strength of the four is nearly equal¡ªexcept for us.¡± As the old man spoke, faint footsteps approached. A young boy entered the tattered tent. ¡°Grandpa! I¡¯m back!¡± The boy widened his eyes when he saw Taesan. ¡°¡­Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A visitor from the outside.¡± The boy¡¯s eyes widened even further. ¡°An outsider? There¡¯s a survivor outside?¡± ¡°I was surprised too.¡± ¡°Why¡¯d theye to our city? If they had toe, why not go to another city? Such bad luck.¡± The boy opened a bag, revealing a moldy piece of bread. ¡°Here, Grandpa. I was lucky today and found some bread buried deep underground.¡± The boy handed the bread to the old man as if it were a great fortune. The bread was so thoroughly covered in mold that it was hard to find an edible part. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t give you any of this,¡± the boy said, ring at Taesan. His stance was firm, as if losing this bread would threaten his future. Taesan spoke. ¡°You¡¯re a group cast out by others.¡± ¡°Old people and children are useless to them. So we were abandoned. Even those who resisted and rebelled against them were all exiled here.¡± The old man rubbed his back. ¡°We have no power. But we can¡¯t let the lives we barely held onto go to waste. We¡¯re doing our best to survive.¡± Taesan quietly listened to the old man¡¯s words.
Taesan parted ways with the old man and began exploring the city. The state of the city¡¯s interior was more dreadful than he could have imagined. There was no proper food, clothing, or shelter. People were merely scraping by, trying to survive day by day. It was hard to find intactnd. Without the ability to produce proper food, they were barely holding on by consuming the remaining supplies they had. ¡°How should I go about this?¡± Taesan contemted silently. His quest was to restore stability to this ce. Stability didn¡¯t simply mean surviving day to day. It meant being able to produce sustainable food, raise children, and dream of a better future. To achieve this, Taesan realized he would need to take the lead in managing the city. He would need to figure out how to expand their territory, cleanse the polluted air, and create livablend. Taesan came to a realization. This quest wasn¡¯t just about stabilizing the current situation¡ªit was also a test to determine how he would go about restoring Earth after everything was over. Chapter 370: 77th Floor, The World On The Brink Of Destruction (2) [There¡¯s no definitive answer for this quest. Your rewards will change depending on how you handle it.] ¡°How did you clear it?¡± [In my world, I drove out the ancient god, but monsters remained. Survivors were being hunted down by those monsters. I gathered them, built a city, and eradicated the monsters. It took about¡­ half a year.] Lee Taeyeon had also spoken about the 77th floor before. She said that people there distrusted one another. Not just simple mistrust¡ªshe described it as a level where people no longer saw each other as human. As if it were kill or be killed, she said it was a chaotic world where everyone sought to kill everyone else. It was probably because the high god had corrupted their minds. He remembered her grumbling about how many items she had to use to clear it. [Usually, people solve it with brute force. The quest''s purpose is stability. As long as you can create a situation where people can somehow survive, even if their numbers are low and their minds are wrecked, it counts as cleared.] Their lives didn¡¯t matter; only the quest¡¯s clearance conditions did. [What will you do?] ¡°I don¡¯t n to do it that way.¡± The world Taesan visited was almost identical to Earth on the brink of destruction. It was a rehearsal for how to revive a devastated Earth. Taesan wasn¡¯t only concerned with clearing the quest; he was nning to experiment with different methods. ¡°You should leave.¡± As Taesan wandered around the city, a child approached him. ¡°This is a dying city. You look young and strong, so you¡¯ll probably make it to another city somehow. They¡¯ll ept you there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Taesan answered calmly. The child shook his head in disbelief. ¡°You won¡¯t be treated well.¡± The city of the abandoned was slowly dying with no visitors. In such a situation, someone young and strong like Taesan attracted attention. Before long, everyone in the city knew about Taesan. The people of the city looked at him with unfriendly eyes. This was a ce that couldn¡¯t produce anything¡ªonly consume, day by day¡ªa discarded city. In such a ce, a strong, able-bodied man was unwee. Instead, he was seen as someone who could pressure others with his strength and consume more food, making him an object of suspicion. ??????? However, they didn¡¯t drive Taesan away. Everyone here had been deemed useless and abandoned. Thus, the people of the city were tightly bound together. While they distrusted Taesan, they didn¡¯t exclude him. But that didn¡¯t mean they got along with him. The people kept their distance from Taesan. Only the elderly and the children spoke to him. Standing in a vacant lot on the outskirts of the city, Taesan stared at the ground in silence. Thend was contaminated. Even makeshift farming wouldn¡¯t work on this soil. In his previous life, there were items to neutralize soil contamination, which allowed limited cultivation, but those items weren¡¯t avable now. ¡°What are you doing?¡± An old man approached, patting his back. Seeing Taesan holding a seed and staring at the ground, the old man guessed his intentions and shook his head. ¡°A seed? That¡¯s a rare thing to have. But, unfortunately, it¡¯s impossible.¡± It wasn¡¯t as if they hadn¡¯t tried. After driving out the monsters, they had nted leftover seeds in the soil. But nothing sprouted. The poison in the contaminated soil was too much for any seed to endure. Thus, they abandoned all their seeds. ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn and leave, young man. This is our grave. There¡¯s no reason for you to bury yourself here.¡± The old man spoke bitterly. Taesan didn¡¯t respond. He merely thought. And reached a conclusion. Kiiing! A golden light radiated from Taesan¡¯s hand. The old man, who had been watching absentmindedly, widened his eyes. ¡°¡­That is?¡± The old man, who had lived through the war against the ancient god, remembered. The terrible monsters that swarmed the sky. And the mighty golden light that trampled them. What Taesan held now was the same golden light. ¡°Encasing the entire city would be difficult, but¡­¡± This small vacant lot could be easily covered in divine power. The divine power expanded, nketing the lot. The small space became Taesan¡¯s domain. Any foreign energy not permitted by Taesan was expelled. The contaminated soil was purified, beginning to regain its vitality. ¡°Oh¡­ oh¡­¡± Taesan scattered the seeds. When he had embarked on the quest on Earth, he had brought several seeds. The old man¡¯s already wide eyes grew evenrger. The seeds sprouted rapidly. Shoots emerged, followed by leaves. Yellow kernels began to form, their green husks enveloping them. In less than a few minutes, dozens of corn stalks filled half the lot. In the gray, lifeless city, vibrant green nts grew proudly. Taesan nodded. ¡°It works.¡± He maintained the divine domain in a small area and activated makeshift farming there. The cultivation was a sess. With this, the city¡¯s food problems could be resolved. Since the soil itself was being purified, expanding the domain could also make their living spaces safe. ¡°Bring the people here.¡± Taesan spoke to the old man, who stood frozen in shock. The old man didn¡¯t move. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t need to. People who had seen the golden light began approaching cautiously. They gasped when they saw the corn. ¡°What is this?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s corn! Corn!¡± The people rushed at it, wide-eyed. Taesan didn¡¯t stop them. Word spread rapidly, and soon everyone in the city gathered. They tore at the corn with desperate fervor. Though the small lot couldn¡¯t feed everyone, it didn¡¯t matter. As soon as the corn was harvested, more grew in its ce. ¡°Oh¡­ ohhh!¡± A boy, who arrivedte to the scene, eximed as he tore into a cob. He hastily peeled it and shoved it into his mouth. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Since the corn wasn¡¯t cooked, it was hard and dry, making it difficult to chew and swallow. But it was fresh. It wasn¡¯t moldy or half-rotted like the food they were used to. The boy, who barely remembered the time when he was an infant, felt something long forgotten. ¡°Uhh¡­ uhhh¡­¡± The boy chewed through tears. The others weren¡¯t much different. Everyone wept as they devoured the corn.@@novelbin@@ Not long after, their hunger subsided, and only then did their reasoning return. ¡°Why is there corn growing in a ce like this?¡± ¡°No, more importantly, what is that golden light covering thend¡­?¡± Their confused gazes turned toward the old man and Taesan, who stood nkly before them. ¡°Old man, what¡¯s going on here?¡± The old man looked at Taesan instead of answering. The people¡¯s attention shifted to Taesan. Ignoring their stares, Taesan opened his inventory. ¡°Let¡¯s see if this one works.¡± Taesan scattered ck seeds over the remaining space. The observers¡¯ pupils dted. Vines began to grow. The fruits expanded rapidly. Before long, the remaining half of the lot was filled withrge, sturdy watermelons. The people¡¯s expressions mirrored that of the old man¡ªutter disbelief. A silence filled with astonishment enveloped them. Afterward, the atmosphere shifted rapidly. Taesan was no longer just a suspicious young man who had appeared out of nowhere. Taesan became the master of the abandoned city. In a ce that had produced nothing and was slowly dying, the sudden resolution of the food problem made it impossible not to follow him. [Makeshift Farming. That¡¯s quite an intriguing skill. How did you evene up with getting something like that?] The ghost sounded amazed. The Labyrinth wasn¡¯t a ce to live; it was a ce to conquer. Basic sustenance was sold in shops, so the ghost had never needed to cultivate anything. Only yers in the unique situation of returning to Earth had acquired such skills. Taesan asked the boy: ¡°Are there any livestock here?¡± ¡°Uh, this way.¡± The boy hesitated as he led Taesan. Along the way, he kept stealing nces at Taesan before finally asking: ¡°¡­Did you reallye here to save us?¡± After seeing Taesan produce food, some people began to whisper cautiously that he might be the savior of the world. They spected that he was a savior sent to guide them in this deste world. Some even whispered that he might be an emissary of the gods. The elderly especially supported this idea, iming to have seen simr powers in the past. Taesan replied: ¡°Something like that.¡± The boy¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Knew it!¡± The boy seemed thrilled that his thoughts were confirmed. Inside the small animal pen he led Taesan to, there were two emaciated pigs. Too weak to move, they simplyy there, barely breathing. ¡°Oh no, nobody¡¯s been taking care of them.¡± The boy hastily threw some corn to them. The pigs, their noses twitching, wobbled over and began devouring the corn. ¡°We¡¯ve been feeding them scraps just in case, but they were reaching their limit. We were nning to butcher them soon¡­ but now that we have corn, maybe we can¡­ get some meat¡­¡± The boy¡¯s eyes sparkled. Taesan also had something in mind. Makeshift Farming only worked on nts. It didn¡¯t apply to raising livestock. In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to this. Survival had been too challenging to be picky about food. But to ensure a sustainable future, meat would be essential. And inrge quantities. As he stared at the pigs, Taesan pulled out various materials from his inventory. Blue flowers, green leaves, and other diverse ingredients. Taesan had collected materials for alchemy and small-scale environmental alterations whenever he had a chance. While most of them were used in battles, some were left unused because they had nobat applications. Among them were materials with growth-elerating effects, which he had kept unused until now. But now, things were different. Taesan prepared the materials. ¡°Huh?¡± The boy looked on in surprise as the materials seemed tobine, drawing out a mysterious power. Taesan focused. The alchemy he had learned from the Gremlin was now being properly applied. Kiiing! The harmony of the materialspleted, and the power of alchemy enveloped the pen. The pigs, which had been slowly nibbling on corn, suddenly let out piercing squeals. ¡°Squeeaaaak!¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± The boy covered his ears in panic at the ear-splitting noise. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± The pigs¡¯ flesh began to grow rapidly. Their eyes turned a glowing red. One pig let out a bellow and tackled the other. The boy grew even more flustered. ¡°Wha¡­ what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°This seems to work. I just need to refine it a bit more.¡± Taesan confirmed that alchemy could aid in the reproduction and growth of livestock. The only problem was sourcing the livestock. With Earth in ruins, finding proper animals was nearly impossible. ¡°Maybe I could get them as a reward from the Labyrinth?¡± [No one¡¯s ever asked for something like that¡­ but if you want it, they¡¯ll probably give it to you. Try asking as a service after clearing it.] The possibility of livestock reproduction was confirmed. Taesan summoned Minerva. ¡°Wow, this ce is practically dead.¡± ¡°Can you purify the air here as well?¡± Contaminated air impacted life itself. While Labyrinth yers could endure it with their strengthened bodies, newborns couldn¡¯t. Minerva, the King of the Wind Spirits, governed nature itself. The possibility seemed high. ¡°Hmm¡­ It depends on the situation, but since the power of the high gods is mostly gone, it should be possible.¡± Minerva closed her eyes and focused her power. Slowly, the wind and air currents began to change. At that moment, the people realized it. The polluted air was clearing, and breathing suddenly became easier. The contaminated air was being purified. ¡°It¡¯s working.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t do this on arge scale. The pollution is too severe. At most, I can manage this city.¡± ¡°For now, that¡¯s enough.¡± People gradually began to learn about the various things Taesan had done. They started following him even more. The city, once on the brink of destruction, was now being restored¡ªentirely by Taesan¡¯s hands. Chapter 371: 77th Floor, The World On The Brink Of Destruction (3) Resolving the food crisis. Breeding livestock. Purifying the air. Taesan devised various other methods as well. Taesan focused his mind. ¡°Be constructed.¡± Boom! Pirs rose from the ground. Thend warped, twisted, and houses made of soil were formed. Taesan knocked on one of the houses. Despite applying considerable strength, it did not shake. ¡°Not bad.¡± The people were ecstatic about the houses. They eagerly explored the new homes.¡°Wow!¡± ¡°So spacious!¡± The houses made of soil were empty inside. But even so, the people were satisfied. No longer would their bodies get drenched by rain leaking through the gaps in tent roofs. No longer would they have to endure poorly made tents full of holes that failed to block the wind. They were overjoyed. Taesan continued to do many things. He treated the injured and patrolled the city surroundings. The people¡¯s trust in Taesan grew deeper and deeper. Yet Taesan was not satisfied. The city had found stability, but only because of him. It was merely a temporary fix. Simplified cultivation couldn¡¯t be used on contaminatednd. The soil first needed purification with divine power or special items. Thend avable for cultivation was limited. The current poption wasn¡¯t a problem, but if it grew, the story would change. Sooner orter, food would be scarce. Purifying the air was also impossible without Minerva. Since he couldn¡¯t stay here forever, problems would arise again once he left. What Taesan wanted wasn¡¯t mere survival but an environment that would continue to grow and thrive. A world that copses without him held no meaning. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Taesan kept pondering solutions. Of course, this was only Taesan¡¯s dissatisfaction; the city¡¯s people were greatly satisfied. The food problem was resolved. Given more time, they could even have meat. The air was purified, and sturdy homes had been built. This ce quickly became a paradise.
¡°Is there something you need?¡±@@novelbin@@ An elderly man, the one Taesan first met, cautiously approached him. Smiling kindly, he handed over a worn-out bowl. ¡°Take this.¡± Inside the bowl was a small piece of bread. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have any wheat left.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what we had stored. It¡¯s nearly spoiled, but still edible. People used thest of their flour to bake this for you.¡± Taesan epted the bread and ced it in his mouth. The elderly man watched him with a peculiar gaze. ¡°Are you aware that some people have started calling you a messenger of the gods?¡± ¡°I know.¡± Divine energy was already flowing into Taesan little by little. Since he had received quests from the gods and came to this ce, he didn¡¯t deny it, finding the im not too far from the truth. ?§¡????§¦? ¡®Faith, huh.¡¯ A thought shed through Taesan¡¯s mind. As he organized his thoughts, the old man spoke again. ¡°Are you¡­ truly a messenger of the gods?¡± But the elder swallowed his words. Before the world fell, their world had gods who protected them. Everyone worshipped those gods. But when the monsters appeared, their gods vanished. Though they were in by high gods, the people did not know this. They believed their gods had abandoned them. Other gods appeared to block the monsters¡¯ invasions, but all of them disappeared without a trace once the monsters were gone. Once again, the people felt forsaken. Under such circumstances, for the gods to send a messenger to save them seemed rather strange. ¡°Thank you.¡± In the end, the elder could only express his gratitude. ¡°Thanks to you¡­ we have hope.¡± The elder knew he wouldn¡¯t live much longer. He had always worried whether his grandson could survive in such a harsh world. Thanks to Taesan, much of that worry was gone. ¡°But I¡¯m uneasy.¡± The elder muttered with a worried expression. ¡°If the other cities find out about this, they won¡¯t remain idle.¡± He had mentioned it before. There were five cities in total, each ruled by a faction. Apart from the city of the abandoned, the powers were bnced, each in a state of tense opposition. Taesan asked, ¡°How exactly are they divided?¡± ¡°Come to think of it, I didn¡¯t exin in detail before.¡± The elder began to exin. There were five cities in total. Each city was ruled by a faction. The Red Incarnate. The Blue Dew. Kaleyiat. The Martial God. The Forsaken. ¡°The other cities are in slightly better conditions than this one. They have livestock, albeit few, and some degree of food cultivation.¡± Though not substantial, the few could live without worrying about survival. ¡°And each faction has individuals with special powers.¡± ¡°Special powers?¡± ¡°Some can manipte invisible forces, while others have physical capabilities far surpassing ordinary people.¡± The elder nced at Taesan. ¡°People like you.¡± The elder seemed to believe Taesan was one of those people. Taesan didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°After the monsters appeared, those with such powers began to emerge.¡± Since it happened after the monsters appeared, it was highly likely to be rted to the gods. The elder continued. ¡°Those with such powers dominate ordinary people and treat them as ves. Those who refuse to ept this or are deemed useless are cast out and end up in this city.¡± The elder frowned. ¡°They¡­ are still opposing each other. Even in this ruined world, they fight for their interests, trying to kill each other. When they should be working together to survive.¡± The elder couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°If they find out about this ce¡­ it could be dangerous.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Taesan muttered. His indifferent attitude made the elder¡¯s face grow grim. ¡°They are immensely powerful. You may possess a special power, but yours is ultimately nonbative.¡± Taesan had not demonstrated anybat-rted abilities to these people. At most, he had shown them how to cultivate food and purify the air. Naturally, the people assumed Taesan¡¯s abilities were limited to such domains. ¡°In contrast, their power is focused on force. They can shatter boulders the size of houses with ease.¡± The elder spoke with a tone that emphasized the danger. ¡°Even you shouldn¡¯t let your guard down. You need to be prepared.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan replied. His persistently disinterested attitude left the elder flustered. Taesan then asked him a question. ¡°You mentioned five cities. Are there no other survivors?¡± When asked if the remaining survivors of this world were limited to the five cities, the elder replied with a bitter expression. ¡°At least as far as we know, that¡¯s all. Only five cities remain. That¡¯s the reality of this world.¡± The elder¡¯s answer was firm. All the survivors of this world were gathered in these five cities. Taesan considered a possibility.
Hoo¡­ A bronze-skinned, muscr man slouched on a plush sofa, exhaling anguid breath. He was Malbre, the master of the Red Incarnate, one of the five cities. ¡°How boring.¡± He was utterly bored. It had been a long time since the stalemate between the factions had begun. Unless one side acted first, no conflict would arise. There were no food issues. As the city¡¯s ruler, he could eat whatever he desired. Many people had died because of it, but he didn¡¯t care. Though the world was on the brink of destruction, he lived an extraordinarily luxurious life. For him, this world was better than the one before the fall. Back then, he had been at the bottom of society, a man trudging through a wretched life. But during the world¡¯s copse, he had suddenly gained immense power. What could he do to stave off this tedium? ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll capture some ves.¡± Pitiful creatures who crawled on the ground without power, yet clung to life like desperate fools. Still, the emotions they disyed as they died were entertaining to watch. As Malbre settled on his decision and was about to rise, the ornate door swung open. A man entered. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I bring news for Your Majesty.¡± The man bowed deeply. It was all because of Malbre¡¯s orders. Malbre demanded to be addressed as emperor and forced those around him toply. Malbre lifted his chin. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°I have returned after scouting the other cities, as per yourmand.¡± The man, like Malbre, had gained special powers during the monster invasion. His greatly enhanced speed made him nearly impossible to catch. Malbre had entrusted him with reconnaissance. ¡°What is the situation in the other cities?¡± ¡°Three of the cities showed nothing noteworthy. However¡­ the city of the Abandoned was different.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± At the unexpected mention of the Abandoned, Malbre frowned. The city of the Abandoned. A ce where useless people, mere drains on resources, gathered. It was a barrennd where survival was impossible, and thus Malbre had ignored it. ¡°What did you find there?¡± The man hesitated to speak. Malbre scowled, urging him on. Finally, the man spoke. ¡°They were eating corn.¡± ¡°¡­Corn?¡± ¡°Not just corn. I also saw watermelons.¡± ¡°What?¡± Malbre¡¯s eyes widened. Corn was a rarity in this world. As for watermelons, it had been a long time since he¡¯d even seen one. ¡°And there wasn¡¯t just a little. Everyone I saw was holding either corn or watermelon.¡± ¡°What is this nonsense?¡± Malbre¡¯s face twisted. The man quietly added. ¡°I overheard their conversations in secret. They were saying that a messenger of the gods had descended to them.¡± ¡°A messenger of the gods?¡± Malbre sneered. He didn¡¯t believe in gods. His strength was entirely his own, and he had defeated monsters through his power alone. While there were events beyond his understanding, he dismissed them all as coincidences. ¡°Someone with production-oriented powers must have entered the city of the Abandoned.¡± Malbre bared his teeth. ¡°Summon the executives. We¡¯re going to crush the city of the Abandoned.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The man replied swiftly. Upon Malbre¡¯smand, the Red Incarnate¡¯s executives gathered. Malbre addressed them, exining that someone with the ability to produce food was in the city of the Abandoned. He ordered them to crush the city and bring that person to him. ¡°If they refuse to obey, you may kill everyone else in the city. But do not harm that person.¡± The executives answered in unison. Malbre stepped outside with his officers. The ves, who were working with haggard faces, recoiled and hid upon seeing him. Malbre relished their fear. He was an emperor. No one could challenge his power. Malbre believed this without a shred of doubt. Before long, Malbre reached the city of the Abandoned. Chapter 372: 77th Floor, The World on the Brink of Destruction (4) ¡°That¡¯s the ce.¡± Malbre muttered as he gazed at the city of the Abandoned. Observing it from a distance, he frowned. ¡°...What are those buildings?¡± The first thing that stood out was the small, sturdy houses made of earth that spread across the city. Then he noticed the people moving around frantically. These were the Abandoned, and they should have been scrawny and malnourished. Instead, they looked rtively healthy, a bit worn, but certainly not starved. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt about it.¡± Someone here had the power to produce. ¡°Pathetic creatures.¡± Malbre sneered and advanced, his lieutenants following behind. The city¡¯s people saw theming and panicked. ¡°What do we do now?¡± In their joy and relief, they had nearly forgotten the harsh reality of their situation. They had no power. If any other faction decided to intervene, they would have no way to resist. The reason Malbre was here was obvious: he hade to take Taesan away. ¡°We have to protect the Messenger of the Gods!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let them take him!¡± The people raised crude weapons, shouting their determination to fight back. But not everyone agreed. One man spoke calmly. ¡°Do we really have an obligation to protect him?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re suggesting we abandon the Messenger?¡± ¡°No.¡± The man shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s the opposite. It¡¯s arrogant of us to think we can protect him. Think about it¡ªdo you really believe someone like him would be mistreated if he went to another city?¡± The others paused, considering his words. Taesan¡¯s abilities were impressive, far beyond anything they¡¯d seen. The other cities wouldn¡¯t use him as a tool¡ªthey would likely shower him with gifts and privileges to keep him. In fact, staying here was probably a disadvantage to Taesan. ¡°If anything, trying to keep him here is our selfishness talking. That¡¯s how I see it.¡± The people were silenced, unable to argue against his logic. Taesan walked past them, heading outside the city. ¡°Oh...¡± ¡°Messenger...¡± People tried to reach him, but Taesan had already stepped outside. Malbre spotted him and his eyes glinted with recognition. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± The man with the distinctive ck hair and piercing gaze didn¡¯t look like someone who belonged among the Abandoned. Malbre instinctively knew. ¡°You¡¯re the one who revived this city?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan answered simply. Malbre studied him. There were no identifying marks or signs of affiliation. He wasn¡¯t part of any known faction. That meant he likely came from outside. ¡°Are there still survivors out there...?¡± Malbre was slightly surprised, but he pushed that thought aside. ¡°Your power is wasted on a ce like this.¡± Malbre extended a hand. ¡°Come work for me. Even in this ruined world, I¡¯ll make sure you live without want.¡± The Abandoned watched with anxious expressions, but Malbre didn¡¯t even consider the possibility of Taesan rejecting his offer. ¡°No.¡± Taesan¡¯s response was short. Malbre¡¯s expression twisted. ¡°No?¡± ¡°I have no intention of leaving. Go back.¡± The Abandoned sighed in relief and rxed. Malbre clicked his tongue in annoyance. ¡°So that¡¯s why you¡¯re here. You¡¯re an idiot.¡± People like Taesan were oncemon. Those who possessed powerful abilities but used them for others rather than themselves. Malbre considered such people to be utter fools. In this world, caring for others was useless. Only one¡¯s own survival mattered; the results spoke for themselves. Those who cared for others were easily exploited and killed, while people like him had survived. Malbreughed, finding Taesan¡¯s attitude foolish, yet it made him easier to control. ¡®If I start killing the weaklings here, he¡¯ll give in.¡¯ For now, he just needed to subdue Taesan. Malbre ordered his lieutenants. ¡°Capture him without injuring him.¡± The lieutenants sneered and moved forward. The people of the city started to rush forward to protect Taesan, but he held up a hand to stop them. ¡°Stay back.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± The Abandoned froze, feeling apulsion as if they had beenmanded to obey. The lieutenants lunged forward. Their attack was precise¡ªsharp enough that even Malbre would have difficulty countering it. Since Taesan possessed nonbative powers, Malbre was certain he would be helpless. Malbre watched with satisfaction. Even as the lieutenants closed in, Taesan remained motionless, his gaze distant and cold, as if he were observing insects. For a moment, a chill ran down Malbre¡¯s spine. An instinctive warning red. He opened his mouth to yell for a retreat, but it was toote. The lieutenants were already within range. Taesan moved. With a sickening crunch, a single punch sent the lieutenants flying. One of them tumbled past Malbre, struggling to get up. ¡°What... what was that?¡± ¡°Controlling my strength so they don¡¯t die is harder than I thought.¡± Taesan stamped his foot, and his body surged forward at incredible speed. A force erupted. Invisible energy crashed down on Taesan, mes roared, and sharp des aimed for his chest. Taesan moved his hands. des shattered, mes vanished, and invisible energy dissipated. The Abandoned stared in shock. ¡°What... what is he?¡± One of the lieutenants cried out. They were beingpletely overpowered, their attacks shattered like brittle ss.@@novelbin@@ Taesan murmured as he brushed off their attacks. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of a way to stabilize the contaminatednd.¡± The answer wasn¡¯t difficult. A sacred site. Taesan had enough divine power now to establish one. But maintaining it was an issue. The divine energy would deplete quickly, and the sanctuary would disappear soon after he left. So he needed a way for the sanctuary to sustain itself. He had an idea. In the Wraith¡¯s world, he had seen the Sanctuary of the God of Regret. Even though the God of Regret had long abandoned it, the believers¡¯ faith continued to uphold the sanctuary. If he could create a sanctuary powered by faith, it couldst even after he was gone. Faith depended on the strength of people¡¯s belief, and the stronger it was, the more powerful the divine energy would be. He would make sure they understood his power. Taesan drew his sword. With a brutal sh, one of the lieutenants fell, and Taesan kicked the body aside. He extinguished another me and grabbed another by the throat, tightening his grip. ¡°Oh... oooooh!¡± The Abandoned cheered. The lieutenants fell one by one. Malbre¡¯s face drained of color. ¡®W-wait.¡¯ Taesan was far from weak. His strength was greater than Malbre¡¯s own. ¡®He... can¡¯t be!¡¯ Malbre had the highest power among the survivors. But he knew his strength was nothing special. In the early days of the monster invasion, there had been others with far greater power. Yet, those stronger fighters had all died in battle, leaving Malbre free to rule. Taesan¡¯s power now reminded him of those warriors. ¡®A survivor...?¡¯ Quickly assessing the situation, Malbre made a decision: he needed to flee. ¡°D-damn...!¡± He abandoned his dying lieutenants and fled. One of the lieutenants cursed as he saw this, but was silenced by Taesan¡¯s attack. ¡®I have to escape!¡¯ Whenever Malbre had encountered a stronger opponent, he¡¯d fled and hidden somewhere safe. He had done so even during the monster invasions, staying away from the front lines. But this time, it was impossible. ¡°Huh?¡± Suddenly, he felt a tremendous pressure lifting him off the ground and mming him into the earth. Boom! ¡°Gah! Ugh...¡± ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Taesan, standing over him, spoke nonchntly. Malbre¡¯s face twisted in horror. ¡®He... he already took them all out?¡¯ Taesan looked at Malbre, assessing him. What was the source of this special power? [You have activated Essence Analysis.] Examining Malbre, Taesan realized. ¡®Divine power.¡¯ Although just a fragment, Malbre had a trace of divine energy. The reason wasn¡¯t hard to guess. The invasion of the ancient gods had been nearly impossible for the gods to repel, hence the quest the Magic God had given him. In this world, the gods had scattered divine energy among humans to give them powers strong enough to fight on their behalf. ¡®So even divine power can be used this way.¡¯ Not just select individuals like apostles or saints, but granting divine power to ordinary humans. It was a method currently beyond Taesan. Divine energy¡¯s potential was endless. ¡°But it¡¯s nothing impressive.¡± Malbre¡¯s power wasn¡¯t particrly strong. He wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against even a mid-level monster. He was, in essence, just a meat shield. [An unworthy fool wielding power remains unworthy.] Taesan had extracted all the information he needed. He pressed his foot down on Malbre¡¯s chest. Under the weight, Malbre stammered. ¡°P-please... spare me...¡± ¡°You¡¯ve killed without hesitation. Now it¡¯s your turn.¡± Taesan finished him off. Returning to the city, he was met with stunned silence before the people erupted in cheers. ¡°Woo-hoo!¡± ¡°Messenger of the Gods!¡± ¡°He hase to save us!¡± Taesan looked at them. Their faith, overwhelming and intense, poured into him like a flood. The people began to worship Taesan. He had provided them with food, built homes, and purified the air. Then, with his unmatched strength, he had defended them from those who sought to oppress and enve them. For the people, Taesan¡¯s actions were nothing short of miraculous. His kindness, shown without expecting anything in return, left them seeing him not just as a savior, but as a divine figure. The people¡¯s reverence naturally deepened into genuine worship. In the midst of their devotion, someone cried out, ¡°No, he¡¯s not merely the Messenger of the Gods! He¡¯se down to this world himself to save us ¡ª he is our Savior!¡± ¡°Savior!¡± ¡°Behold, our Savior!¡± The people began to refer to Taesan as their Savior, gathering regrly to pray to him. The fervor of their faith grew, creating a tangible wave of devotion directed solely toward him. Yet, Taesan knew that even this level of faith was still insufficient. To ensure asting sanctuary, he needed a much deeper, unwavering faith that would endure beyond his presence. Taesan gathered a few representatives from the city and set out toward the city that had once been ruled by the Red Apostle. With their leader gone, the city had fallen into disarray, with people uncertain and directionless. Taesan addressed them, exining that he had defeated Malbre and his subordinates, and that they were now free. At first, the people were skeptical, but when they saw Taesan perform acts of creation ¡ª providing food and constructing shelter ¡ª they began to believe. Unlike the Abandoned, these people had suffered harshly under Malbre¡¯s rule, and their relief transformed quickly into reverence. Those who had apanied Taesan from the city of the Abandoned spread word of his deeds, loudly proiming his greatness. In no time, this second city also began to worship Taesan. With the unwavering faith of two entire cities behind him, an intense and steadfast divine power continued to flow into Taesan. But he knew it still wasn¡¯t enough. A new possibility crossed Taesan¡¯s mind. ¡°What if I were to receive the worship of every living soul on an entire?¡± In a normal world, such an endeavor would be impossible. Every world is usually overseen by its own god, and with diverse poptions, unifying everyone under one belief was nearly unthinkable. But this world was different. The god who had once watched over this realm had been in by an ancient god, and only a handful of survivors remained. With survival being a pressing concern for all, gaining the faith of every human on this world might just be achievable. [Honestly... even I have no idea what that would mean.] The wraith could only specte. Universal worship ¡ª the faith of every living being. It had now be Taesan¡¯s ultimate goal. Chapter 373: 77th Floor, The World on the Brink of Destruction (5) The two cities were fully devoted to worshiping Taesan. Seeing this, the leaders of the other cities grew restless. They hadn¡¯t been idle either; they had anticipated Malbre¡¯s movements and had sent scouts ahead. As a result, they witnessed the one-sided battle between Taesan and Malbre. Taesan had single-handedly defeated the Red Apostle. This signified that he was a warrior beyond any of their capabilities. Fear gripped them. They believed someone with such power would not simply remain still and would surely crush them and their cities. However, they did not wish to submit to Taesan. They were not prepared to relinquish their status as rulers of their cities. They made a decision. They would form an alliance to defeat the tiger known as Taesan. Blue Dew, the Martial God, and Kalriat joined forces. With theirbined strength, they advanced toward the city once ruled by the Red Apostle. ¡°...I¡¯d heard the rumors, but it¡¯s real.¡± Upon arriving in Taesan¡¯s city, they frowned. The city was bustling with life, the people¡¯s faces brimming with vitality, and the structures looked sturdy and secure. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± They entered the city. The people trembled at the sight of them. ¡°Uh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s... going on?¡± As the leaders and officers of the three factions entered in unison, the people shivered in fear. Enjoying the fearful looks cast their way, they went in search of Taesan. ¡°Are you the one who defeated Malbre?¡± The leader of Blue Dew addressed Taesan arrogantly. They surrounded him as if to trap him. ¡°I have a proposal for you. Join hands with us.¡± The leader of Blue Dew spoke confidently. They knew Taesan was powerful. But they also believed they were no pushovers. With thebined strength of their three groups, they thought they could inflict significant damage on him. Hence, they proposed an alliance. ¡°We recognize the two cities you¡¯ve conquered as yours. But leave our cities alone.¡± They believed Taesan wouldn¡¯t refuse. They thought they had enough strength to make him consider their proposal. Taesan replied. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°...¡± The man¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°In that case, unfortunate as it may be, we have no choice. Kill him!¡± A deafening roar erupted as the officers from each faction charged at Taesan, smashing through buildings. Taesan observed them expressionlessly. The people watching from a distance cried out in terror and crouched low. When they looked up, Taesan and the allied forces were already in battle. ¡°Die!¡± The leader of Kalriat shouted as he unleashed his power. At the same moment, an invisible force struck Taesan, pushing his body back. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The leaderughed maniacally, swinging his hand wildly, continuously pressing Taesan with the unseen force. ¡®Is it simr to telekinesis?¡¯ An invisible force, neither magic nor ck magic. It gave no warning signs and was difficult to trace its source. It was an unusual power. Not only Kalriat, but even his officers were using simr powers. ¡°Crush him!¡± At their leader¡¯smand, the officers mmed their hands down. Taesan¡¯s body fell to the ground, causing the earth to crack and crumble under the immense pressure. ¡°Interesting.¡± The power was unusual enough to be entertaining. The leader of Blue Dew also began to wield his power. Suddenly, a sphere of water formed around Taesan¡¯s face. His vision was blocked, and his breathing was cut off. Though he shook his head to dispel it, the water sphere formed again. Not only that, but columns and walls of water rose around him, attempting to restrict his movements. The leader of the Martial God also made his move. He was swift and powerful, his strikes sharp, and his movements efficient. However, Taesan observed him closely and realized his movements were not his own. Something was adhering to his body, enforcing this efficiency. The other officers also possessed unique abilities. As Taesan examined them, he understood the reason. There was more than one god who had scattered divine power across this world. Several gods had bestowed their powers to protect this world, and depending on the divine power they received, each individual had gained unique abilities. ¡°I wonder what powers I¡¯d gain if I used my divine power?¡± He grew curious. Though it was beyond him for now, if he could fully acquire divine power in time, he too might wield it in such ways. ¡°A... Ahhhh!¡± The spectators let out cries of despair. From their perspective, Taesan appeared to be faltering under the relentless onught. They closed their eyes and prayed desperately. The leader of Kalriat grinned. ¡®We can win!¡¯ Though they had never practiced fighting as a team, their coordination was wless. A sense of euphoria from glimpsing a higher ne overwhelmed him. They pressed Taesan faster and harder. The invisible force grabbed Taesan tightly. The leader of Kalriat yelled. ¡°Kill him!¡± The leaders seized the opportunity and charged together. Kalriat¡¯s leader also rushed in with an invisible sword. Taesan nodded. ¡°Not bad.¡± They were quite formidable. To him, their power was mere scraps, but they wielded it almost perfectly. They must have fought desperately, oveing unimaginable trials, and cing their lives on the line, sometimes leaving everything up to fate. Such power was not acquired otherwise. Though they were ruthless tyrants, their movements were genuine reflections of their effort and struggle. But overwhelming power always tramples over everything. As they drew near, Taesan flicked his hand. [You have activated Marbas¡¯ ck Tide.] Darkness engulfed them in an instant. ¡°Huh?¡± The leader of Kalriat opened his eyes. ¡°Huh...?¡± He got up slowly and looked around. Everything was destroyed. ¡°Everyone...?¡± There was no one left. All the officers who had followed him were gone without a trace. Only Blue Dew¡¯s leader and the Martial God¡¯s leader, with dazed expressions, were there beside him. ¡°What... just happened?¡± ¡°You survived?¡± A voice echoed. ¡°Though I didn¡¯t even open a portal, I didn¡¯t expect you to survive. Impressive.¡± Taesan looked at him calmly. Only then did Kalriat¡¯s leader recall what had happened. He had used his power to restrain Taesan, and they thought they had a chance. They all charged together. He, too, had wielded his invisible sword, aiming for Taesan¡¯s heart. But as they reached him, Taesan had made a small flick of his hand. Darkness had manifested in that moment. The memory of that darkness sent chills down his spine. Terrified, he¡¯d wrapped himself in his invisible power. And then he had cked out. When he came to, everything had been swallowed by darkness. ¡°What...!¡± He swung his hand wildly. The strength of his denial fueled his every movement. Taesan neither dodged nor blocked. With a light snap of his fingers, he neutralized the attack entirely. ¡°...¡± ¡°You did well enough. I¡¯ll make this quick.¡± Step. Taesan advanced toward him. The leader, now terrified, gathered his power desperately. But the moment his power touched Taesan¡¯s body, it dissipated without a trace. As he tried to escape, he found his body would not move. ¡°Move! I said, MOVE!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t move in that state.¡± ¡°Huh, huh?¡± After struggling for a while, the leader of Kalriat finally realized his body was immobilized. Half of his body had sunk into darkness, numbing his senses. The leaders of the other surviving factions shared his fate. All of them were on the brink of death. ¡°Aaaah...¡± Only now did he understand. It wasn¡¯t that Taesan hadn¡¯t been able to counter their attacks. Their efforts simply didn¡¯t merit a response. Realizing that they had deluded themselves into thinking they could win, he stopped resisting. Taesan finished them off effortlessly. ¡°Oh... Ohhh!¡± The people, who had finally understood the situation, burst into cheers. They cried out, praising Taesan. ¡°Savior!¡± Those who had once feared the monstrous overlords who had treated them as ythings saw them fall helplessly under Taesan¡¯s power. The tyrannical factions that had ruled through terror were utterly annihted. The people shouted Taesan¡¯s name in reverence. ¡°Ohhh!¡± ¡°God!¡± No longer did anyone call him a messenger of the gods, nor did anyone address him as a mere savior. They called him a god. They believed he was a deity who had descended to this world to save them. Having finished what he needed to, Taesan moved. A multitude of people followed him. He journeyed to the remaining cities, where he cultivated food and provided shelter. Initially, the people were wary of Taesan, but seeing the fervent faith of those who apanied him and realizing that Taesan demanded nothing in return, they quickly started to worship him. Now, more than half of the remaining poption in this world worshiped Taesan. ¡°Hmm?¡± At that moment, Taesan felt it. Something had changed within the faith flowing toward him. ¡°What... is this?¡± It was hard to describe, but his influence¡ªor perhaps his presence¡ªhad evolved. Though its nature remained elusive, he felt that he would understand once he dealt with the remaining two cities. Taesan resolved the issues in the remaining two cities as well, providing food and shelter. Now, all five cities worshiped Taesan. Everyone left alive in this world revered him as their god. ¡°Huh?¡± At that moment, Taesan noticed a qualitative change in the faith directed toward him. [You have fulfilled the necessary qualifications. Concept Skill [Master of Faith] acquired.] [Divine Power proficiency increased by 3%.] "Huh?" Minerva, who was moving alongside Taesan, widened her eyes. Even Wraith paused in surprise. "Master?" [Whoa... something¡¯s definitely different about you.] Even before they could say anything, Taesan was already aware. An unusual sensation coursed through his entire body¡ªa strange, awe-inspiring feeling he had never experienced before. "You suddenly feel so... distant?" Minerva murmured in a daze. Her words were literal; although she was standing right beside him, it felt as if he were on an entirely different ne of existence. "..." Taesan opened his skill window. [Concept Skill: Master of Faith] [Proficiency: 1%] [One who is worshiped by all inhabitants of a world.] The description was incredibly simple. Taesan raised his hand, releasing his will. In that moment, the flow of the air shifted. Even Minerva, the Spirit King, could only purify a single city at a time due to the overwhelming corruption that gued this. That limit highlighted the extent of pollution caused by the ancient gods. "Wha¡ª" Minerva gasped in astonishment.@@novelbin@@ The air was being purified. The pollution brought by the ancient gods vanished, and countless nts began to turn green and thrive once more. The people around them realized that breathing had suddenly be much easier. "...What is this?" Purification itself was not particrly extraordinary. Taesan already had some influence over nature, and he could purify smaller areas if needed. But this time, it wasn¡¯t only the city that was being purified. The freshly purified air extended beyond the city, spreading across the entire world. Taesan realized something monumental. He had truly be the god of this. Chapter 374: (Side Story). The Dying Earth. Lee Taeyeon (4) ¡°Ughhh...¡± ¡°It hurts. It hurts. It hurts...¡± ¡°My arm!¡± The air was filled with the cries and groans of the wounded. Lee Taeyeon clenched her fists, her face hardening. They had barely managed to defeat the monsters. But it was a victory riddled with losses. Half of the yers had perished, and many of the survivors were severely injured. The refuge she and the others had struggled so hard to create was now in ruins. ¡°Ugh...¡± Lee Taeyeon suppressed a surge of emotion. She had witnessed countless horrors, and she thought she had grown ustomed to it, but that was a delusion. The stench of death and fear still filled the air, thick and unrelenting. Grinding her teeth, she set to work. She pulled out her items. She purified the toxd and reorganized their territory. She treated the wounded and eliminated the remaining monsters. After a grueling effort, she managed to bring an end to it all. ¡°Ugh...¡± ¡°What... What is this...?¡± However, the confusion hadn¡¯t yet dissipated. Those who had clung to hope, looking to her for strength, now found themselves facing monsters that even she struggled to fend off, and despair had returned to their faces. Just as she was struggling with what to say to them, Taesan spoke in a cold, detached tone. ¡°Get a grip. You survived by risking your lives, and now you n to die wallowing in despair?¡± His harsh words cut through to the survivors. ¡°Stand up. We are thest survivors on Earth. We¡¯ve endured countless deaths to get here¡ªare you really going to give up over something like this?¡± ¡°...¡± People clenched their teeth. Gradually, despair and sorrow began to subside. Taesan stepped back. ¡°It¡¯s your turn now.¡± ¡°Ah, right,¡± Lee Taeyeon said, calming the people and rallying them to start rebuilding. They reconstructed the damaged buildings. They fortified the protective barriers, making them stronger andrger than before, so that they would be more prepared for future attacks. They also redefined their approach to dealing with monsters. Until now, whenever a powerful monster appeared, they had relied solely on Taesan and Lee Taeyeon. But S-ss monsters were a different matter; even the two of them could not guarantee victory. While they dealt with such monsters, the other yers needed to devise ways to hold their ground. There were numerous discussions. ¡°Were there waves even before I arrived?¡± ¡°Once. Many died then too.¡± ¡°So, this is the second one...¡± --- Time continued to pass. yers kept returning from thebyrinth. Given the long time that had passed, especially those on hard mode began to make their way back. And so, the third wave began. The monsters invaded. Hundreds of A-ss monsters and multiple S-ss monsters attacked. ¡°Aaaaargh!¡± Lee Taeyeon let out a scream of rage. ¡°Die!¡± She used all the valuable items she had been saving. Humans and monsters ughtered each other. In the end, they won another victory filled with losses. ¡°Damn it...¡± Lee Taeyeon copsed, coughing up blood. This time, they had barely made it. Despite knowing the strength of their enemies and preparing thoroughly, she had been pushed to the brink of death. She forced herself to stand on her shaky knees. Survivors cheered weakly, struggling to celebrate even though many had died and their territoryy in ruins. Crack. The sky distorted. With a pale face, Lee Taeyeon looked up at the crack in the heavens. From within, she could feel a gaze bearing down upon her. ¡°Ah...¡± A shiver ran down her spine. The power emanating from beyond the crack was terrifyingly strong. She wasn¡¯t the only one who felt it. The Easy and Normal mode yers copsed, unable to endure the gaze. The Hard mode yers barely managed to withstand it, trembling uncontrobly. And then... The gaze vanished. People copsed, gasping for breath. ¡°...What was that?¡± Taesan¡¯s voice echoed, his expression grim. --- They managed to repair the damage. They restored the broken barriers and repaired the destroyed buildings. Using the experience gained from their previous battles, they trained even harder. But no one smiled. When Lee Taeyeon first returned, most of those who had looked to her with trust in their eyes were now dead. Those who remained had lost any hope of survival. They moved only out of a stubborn refusal to die quietly. ¡°Ha...¡± Lee Taeyeon let out a bitterugh. The gaze from beyond the crack after the wave... The creature that woulde next to invade Earth... She knew exactly what it was. ¡°A Herald...¡± An existence beyond mortality. Even if she were to die ande back to life countless times, she could never defeat it. Though the others might not have fully understood, they, too, seemed to instinctively realize it. That power beyond the crack was something they could never hope to reach. There was no hope in sight. Everyone lived with death close by. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Taesan frowned as he watched them. ¡°If you¡¯re nning on killing yourselves, go outside the barrier and die. Don¡¯t drag down those who are fighting to survive.¡± ¡°But...¡± ¡°But what? Just because we can¡¯t win, you¡¯re ready to give up? Is that why you cleared thebyrinth?¡± ¡°Hyung, calm down,¡± Kim Joong-geun hurried over to Taesan, who continued coldly. ¡°I have no ns to die. I¡¯ll do everything I can to win.¡± His voice was icy. But he wasn¡¯t wrong. They hadn¡¯t conquered thebyrinth to die; they did it to survive. Now was not the time to surrender their lives just because they faced an unbeatable foe. To give up now would be an insult to the lives they had fought so hard to live. The people clenched their teeth and began moving. Lee Taeyeon watched from afar with a bitter smile. That was her role. She was the only yer to have conquered the Alone mode, the leader who was supposed to inspire and rally the people. Yet here was Taesan, an Easy mode yer, fulfilling that role in her stead. ¡®A true leader is...¡¯ Not her, but Taesan. But Taesan could never be the leader. He was, after all, just an Easy mode yer. Lee Taeyeon bit her lip. Time continued to pass. They repaired the damage. Alongside the yers returning from thebyrinth, they worked to expand their territory again. But the monsters scattered across the world grew stronger. It was bing increasingly difficult for anyone other than Hard mode yers to survive. As a result, their numbers continued to dwindle. ¡°Hm...¡± Lee Taeyeon looked at the crack in the sky with an ambiguous expression. It had been some time since the third wave. The fourth wave might start soon.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Guess I¡¯d better take a look.¡± She leapt into the air. ¡°Joong-geun, I¡¯ll go scout for a bit. Taesan went after some fleeing Hard mode yer, right?¡± ¡°Yes. I imagine he¡¯ll return alone, though,¡± Kim Joong-geun said with a bitter smile. Lee Taeyeon shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Take care.¡± Lee Taeyeon concealed herself fully and moved beyond the barrier. She gazed at the massive wall protecting the people with a sorrowful expression. Massive though it was, it fit easily within her field of vision. The remaining human poption had dwindled to the point where they could all be protected within a single barrier. ¡°Sigh.¡± She steadied herself and sprang forward. Just like before, she arrived beneath the crack in the sky. Thanks to her experience, she could gauge the start of the next wave based on the energy fluctuations emanating from the crack. ¡°Huh?¡± She studied the energy quietly, her eyes widening. The power from the crack was fluctuating erratically. ¡°Oh...¡± Her legs trembled. It was a familiar energy pattern. The wave would begin in less than a week. And then... A gaze from beyond the crack fell upon her. For a moment, Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t breathe. She had activated every stealth skill she possessed. Even a single-digit S-ss couldn¡¯t detect her presence up close. Yet the gaze beyond the crack was fully aware of her. The gaze lingered briefly before disappearing. ¡°Ha... Haha.¡± After some time, she let out a hollow, despair-filledugh. Staggering, she returned to their shelter. The people awaiting her arrival cheered when they saw her. ¡°Oh! Miss Taeyeon! You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°How was it this time?¡± She stared at them for a moment before speaking. ¡°...Where¡¯s Taesan?¡± ¡°Taesan? He¡¯s training a newly returned Hard mode yer right now.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± She walked past them slowly. The man who had answered looked at her, puzzled. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No.¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she spoke. ¡°Tell Taesan toe see me tomorrow.¡± --- The ticking of a clock echoed in her room. She stared vacantly around her space, filled with trinkets and decorations meant to mask her feelings. Now, they held no meaning. It was all over, anyway. ¡®There¡¯s no way we can win.¡¯ There was no chance of victory. Knowing this, she activated a skill. [You have activated Ten Thousand Possibilities.] Is there a possibility of victory in a battle against a Herald? The skill sought an answer. Every oue led to her death. [You have activated Ten Thousand Exclusions.] [You have activated Ten Thousand Possibilities.] [You have... ] Over and over, she activated the skill. Hundreds, thousands of times, she repeated it, seeking an answer through countless deaths. But no other result appeared. Exhausting all her mana, unable to activate the skill any longer, she was left with nothing but death. Her trembling hand clutched her chest. In a week, she would die. Her breathing grewbored. The fear she had tried so hard to suppress washed over her. ¡°Haha...¡± She reached into her pocket, gripping a solid object. The Ouroboros Stone. It would allow her to turn back time once. If she used this item, she could survive for now. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to use it. Would she really go back and clear thebyrinth again? That hellish ce? Turning back time would reset her abilities to what they were in the past, reducing her to her weaker, former self. She couldn¡¯t guarantee she¡¯d be able to conquer thebyrinth again. Her initial sess had been nothing short of a miracle. And even if she did clear it again, she¡¯d end up back on Earth. She couldn¡¯t abandon the survivors here to live her life in thebyrinth. Yet the thought of dying here terrified her. Unable to decide, she remained there, grappling with an endless, unsolvable dilemma. Would she meet her end here? Or would she return to thebyrinth? Her mind was in turmoil, unable to tilt toward either option. While she was lost in thought, she sensed someone approaching. She realized it was Taesan. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell him toe tomorrow?¡± She checked the time and realized she had been agonizing over this for an entire day. ¡®No!¡¯ She couldn¡¯t face Taesan like this. Quickly, she forced herself to appear calm. Creak. The door opened, and an exasperated voice echoed. ¡°Seriously, haven¡¯t you given up on that weird habit?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care to hear your opinion on my tastes.¡± Her mouth moved automatically. Thanks to her years of practice, she had be an excellent actor. Though she hadn¡¯t reached a decision, she greeted Taesan with a perfect mask ofposure. Chapter 375: 77th Floor, The World on the Brink of Destruction (6) "Master? What is this?" Minerva was visibly unsettled. She finally understood the reason Taesan felt so distant. It was simple¡ªhe had far surpassed her realm. "Master, could it be... transcendence...?" "No," Taesan denied. "It''s not that far." Even Taesan couldn¡¯t fully grasp his own condition. An overwhelming presence was emanating from him in waves. "Oh, ohhh!" The legs of those watching him trembled. They bowed their heads, chanting Taesan''s name. Yet, this wasn¡¯t out of their conscious will. Instead, they were overwhelmed, instinctivelypelled to worship a being far beyond them. If things continued like this, all of them would be fanatical followers, worshipping him and nothing else. Taesan suppressed his presence, and only then did they let out ragged breaths. Just by releasing control, he affected their minds. Taesan decided to move away from the people. In an instant, his body vanished. The moment he envisioned a ce in his mind, his body appeared there. [Whoa.] This wasn¡¯t a skill. His body simply traversed space, following his will. Minerva, who had followed btedly, looked at him in shock. "What level have you reached now?" "I don''t know," Taesan narrowed his eyes. A sense of omnipotence filled his entire being. It felt as if he could achieve anything he desired, as if his limits had vanished. What level had he attained? He began to examine himself, contemting his own power and reading his state. Taesan closed his eyes and dove deep within. Minerva and Wraith watched him quietly. His contemtionsted for a long time. It wasn¡¯t until a full day had passed that Taesan opened his eyes. "I understand now." He let out a faint chuckle. "A limited transcendence, achieved through the collective faith of the people." That was his current state. "Ah," Minerva gasped. "Minerva, you once mentioned this," he said. Reaching transcendence through worship alone was rare but not impossible. However, it required the faith of an entire world, making it nearly unachievable. It was something Minerva had mentioned a while ago. Taesan hadn¡¯t thought it relevant to him and had forgotten it, but now he had reached it in an unexpected way. Minerva groaned. "This world''s survivors are limited to the five cities. If all of them worship the master... perhaps it''s not impossible." Ordinarily, this would have been impossible. Humans are diverse, each with their own thoughts and beliefs. For all to worship a single being without distrust was unthinkable. But here, only a small number had survived, and all of them were on the edge, physically and mentally drained. In such circumstances, Taesan¡¯s overwhelming strength and his selfless aid had led them to worship him. "And there''s no god here. Not even aary spirit." This world was abandoned. Theary god had been in by the ancient gods, and the gods who defeated the ancients had also vanished. All conditions had aligned, fulfilling the requirements for the world¡¯s faith in Taesan. Thus, he had temporarily transcended mortality. [So, does that mean you''ve truly achieved transcendence?] Wraith asked, stunned. Taesan shook his head. "Not quite." He looked at his hand. Though his body was filled with a sense of omnipotence, the limits were clear. "The number of survivors is too small." There were only five cities, and they weren¡¯t bustling modern metropolises but medieval settlements. Taesan estimated that even with everyone worshipping him, the total number of believers wouldn¡¯t surpass one hundred thousand. It wasn¡¯t nearly enough to support true transcendence. Thus, his power was unstable, liable to disappear the moment their faith wavered¡ªa limited, fragile strength. "If I were to categorize it, I¡¯d say I¡¯m closer to an immortal than a transcendent." Still, this state was beyond anything he had reached before. As he observed his newfound power, he realized something else. "This power is confined to this world." Simr to Begueseta¡¯s local god, Hamon, Begueseta was Hamon¡¯s domain. Though Wraith had mistaken him, Hamon was powerful enough within his territory to be a match for demon lords. The moment Taesan left this world, he would lose this state. "Still, with the world¡¯s faith as a foundation... I could probably retain a part of it, though I can¡¯t fully grasp how." Minerva groaned. Regardless, Taesan had reached a state he could not normally attain. With this newfound power, he knew what to do next. --- Taesan held the Crystallized Divine Blood in his hand. **[Crystallized Divine Blood]** **[Divine blood stabilized in crystalline form. Attempting to control it without the proper qualifications will cause it to go berserk.]** Maria had mentioned that mastering this power would be a pleasure in itself. Taesan focused his power on the crystal. Crack. The crystal trembled under his will. The power within it began to flow out and spread into the world. But he could control it. Just as Taesan narrowed his eyes, intending to draw out more power¡ª Crack. A fracture appeared in the crystal, and its power began to surge uncontrobly. CRACKLE! Space distorted, copsing around him. Taesan urgently gathered his strength and will, dering: "Be sealed." [You have activated the Deration of Sealing.] CREEEAK! A tremendous force suppressed the rampaging crystal. The fractured areas were sealed. The Crystallized Divine Blood regained its stability, and Taesan clicked his tongue. "This is beyond my current limits." It wasn¡¯t a matter of power, but of stability. His transcendence was only partial, tied to a unique state; his power was inherently unstable, making control difficult. In his current state, he couldn¡¯t manage the Divine Blood. Unexpected, but not disappointing. This merely confirmed the exceptional power contained within the Divine Blood. He didn¡¯t need to rush¡ªit was a power he would attain eventually. "This means I can¡¯t touch the rings, either." He had intended to use a skill gained from his battle with the Guides to fuse the twin rings. But he decided against it. In this unstable state, there was a risk of damaging them. Taesan then retrieved the floral ornament Maria had given him. Deciphering it should be possible. Focusing his discerning gaze, he examined the ornament. Upon reading its contained power, his brow furrowed. He had thought the floral ornament was a material to be used for equipment. He had nned to utilize it once he grew stronger. However, the ornament¡¯s purpose was entirely different. It wasn¡¯t meant for him but for someone else. This ornament¡¯s effect would activate only when given to a specific person. However, he couldn¡¯t discern who that was. Even upon closer inspection, no further information surfaced. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Taesan put the ornament away. He concentrated.@@novelbin@@ It was time to aplish what he could within his current power. In essence, he was now the god of this world. Thus, he could wield his power in such a way. Taesan gathered his will and dered: "Gather." [You have activated the Deration of Gathering.] The world responded to hismand. The scattered powers across the world began converging, swirling together. Minerva retreated, her face pale. "Even if it''s limited, he¡¯s almost a true transcendent." It was a power only those who had reached transcendence could wield. With a hum, the energies across the world coalesced. A colorless sphere floated before Taesan. [You have obtained the Essence of the World.] Taesan collected the sphere. It was the essence of this world, something only its ruler could hold. He hadn¡¯t yet decided how he would use it, but its value was immeasurable. "Now then." He had aplished everything he could. It was time to handle the final task. --- Suppressing his presence to its utmost, Taesan gathered the people. As they bowed their heads before him, he spoke. "I will soon depart." A shadow of despair crossed their faces. ¡°No! Please don¡¯t abandon us!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t leave us!¡± They cried out, their desperation forming a wave of denial that enveloped him. ¡°Hm.¡± Taesan let out a small groan. For a moment, his state wavered. ¡®So this is how it works.¡¯ A state achieved solely through the faith of others. Hence, when that faith wavered, his power wavered as well. Suppressing the surging force, he spoke. ¡°I have no choice. There is something I must do.¡± The people wept, but they didn¡¯t stop him. Taesan continued. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. Even if I am not here, I will always be protecting you.¡± He summoned his power. His repressed presence expanded throughout the world. Taesan drew upon his divinity. A golden pir of light pierced the sky, and the people gazed upon it in awe. A sense of absolute power that couldmand the world itself enveloped him. Taesan maintained control as he activated a skill. [You have activated the Inner World.] The Inner World skill extended his power and presence as a domain. Though it sounded potent, he had never used it due to the small area it coveredpared to its power consumption. But now, things were different. The domain of the Inner World expanded, epassing all five cities. Taesan then unleashed his divinity. He knew what to do. He had seen the Sanctum of the God of Regret in Wraith¡¯s realm. He could do the same. The extended pir of light spread throughout the world. The people cheered, praying fervently. Taesan guided their faith into the pir of light. HUMMMM! The domain of the Inner World filled with divinity, establishing Taesan¡¯s sanctuary in this world. [You have created your own sanctum. Special Divine Skill [Sanctum Creation] acquired.] ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan took a deep breath. Although brief, it had taken a significant toll on him. He looked around. Orbs of light surrounded the people, fueled by their faith, which reinforced the sanctum. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Ohhh!¡± ¡°What is this...?¡± The people marveled at their surroundings. A pir of light enveloped them warmly. The witherednd began to flourish. The colorless world regained its vibrancy. Roots buried deep in the earth sprang to life. Buds emerged, filling thend with greenery. The divine light shone upon them like a sun, casting warmth over them. It was truly a miracle. Ovee with emotion, the people cried out in gratitude. A wave of explosive faith surged toward Taesan, nearly overwhelming him. ¡°As long as you remember me, this protective light will never disappear.¡± With those words, Taesan¡¯s figure faded away. But the people continued to pray to him. ¡°Huu.¡± Taesan returned to thebyrinth. A system window appeared before him. [You have acquired the Transcendent Skill [Eternal and Immortal Faith].] [77th Floor Cleared.] [Obtained the Bloodstained Hammer of the Cruel One.] [Secret rewards are determined based on your achievements.] [Checking...] [Complete.] [The Labyrinth Manager, Valvavamba, appears.] RUMBLE! The floor of thebyrinth shook as Valvavamba began to manifest. Chapter 376: The 78th Floor, The Library of All Things (1) The Lion King exhaled deeply. His entire body seemed on the verge of disintegration. With all his remaining strength, he summoned his aura to protect himself, but it flickered dangerously, as if it could shatter at any moment. The Lion King looked up. In the endless gray space, ck spheres floated like stars, scattered throughout. Gritting his teeth, he advanced forward. *Crack.* A fierce pressure engulfed him, distorting the space around him, twisting his entire being. ¡°Ugh!¡± The Lion King unleashed his power, using the full strength of someone on the brink of mortality. But it was in vain. Like a single drop falling into the ocean, a small ripple spread, then quickly vanished, leaving the gray space eerily silent. His expression hardened as he pressed on. He had spent all his gold on protective gear, but each piece was destroyed, one by one, as he moved forward. Finally, he reached the massive ck sphere before him. ¡°Oh...Great One!¡± he cried out, falling to his knees. ¡°To the one who desires the copse of all things, who despises everyw! This humble body calls to you in your domain!¡± With a cry, he threw several gemstones from his pockets toward the sphere. The gemstones were swallowed by the enormous sphere, disappearing into it. He pressed his forehead to the ground, knowing he had no idea what might happen next. His throat was dry as he waited in silence. *Boom.* The sphere began to tremble. The fierce pressure pressed down on his entire body. In the overwhelming force that felt like it would dissolve his very mind, the Lion King barely held on.@@novelbin@@ The torrent of force gradually subsided. And then, it descended upon this ce. ¡°[You, insignificant creature.]¡± The voice, filled with irritation, echoed. The sheer force within it shook the space. ¡°[Imend you for struggling your way into my domain. But you, a mere worm, dare to call upon me?]¡± The Lion King¡¯s body began to crumble, his resistance meaningless. The power gap between them was insurmountable. Yet, he remained prostrate, unmoving, his head bowed. Gradually, the crushing force diminished. ¡°[Speak. For what purpose have you intruded into my domain?]¡± He had passed the first test. Suppressing his racing heart, the Lion King spoke. ¡°Oh, Great Transcendent, I have an offer for you.¡± The moment he finished speaking, a force beyond anything before crashed down upon him. For a moment, his consciousness flickered. ¡°[You, an insignificant being, dare to propose an offer to me?]¡± The voice was filled with a single emotion: rage. The Lion King¡¯s lips trembled as he spoke again. ¡°Do you not wish to disrupt the ns of the other gods?¡± The crushing force holding him down suddenly vanished. Without missing a beat, the Lion King continued, knowing this was his chance. ¡°A certain adventurer is descending through thebyrinth. He possesses great strength, and many gods favor him, hoping to im him as their own once he dies.¡± If no one stopped him, that adventurer would likely clear thebyrinth. The other gods would revel in it, feeling satisfaction for having created such a ce. "Do you not wish to shatter their expectations? To render their beliefs meaningless and crush their confident ns?" His voice was steady. He waited. A momentter, the voice returned. ¡°[That would indeed be an entertaining prospect.]¡± Sess. The Lion King clenched his fist. ¡°I will serve as your agent, your tool, carrying out your will.¡± ¡°[Why should I use a wretch like you?]¡± ¡°You are bound by thews of thebyrinth; you cannot intervene directly with the adventurer.¡± One of thebyrinth¡¯s unbreakable rules: gods could not directly interfere with adventurers. It was the reason why so many gods refrained from touching the one who led the path of sin. But this wasn¡¯t limited to just one god. Many gods existed within thebyrinth, and some surely disliked Taesan as well. ¡°[So, because I can¡¯t reach him myself, I should stoop to using you?]¡± ¡°No. I only beg for mercy.¡± The Lion King quietly bowed. He could feel the presence scrutinizing him. The Lion King closed his eyes. The oue was beyond his control. All he could do was offer a silent prayer. ¡°[Very well.]¡± He opened his eyes. ¡°[I will permit it, in light of your pitiful effort. But do not expect it to be what you desire. Do not regret this, mortal.]¡± Power surged over him. --- Valvavamba appeared, silently watching Taesan before sighing. "[You truly are a headache.]" Valvavamba spoke as if exhausted. "[You cause me endless headaches.]" ¡°What went wrong?¡± ¡°[Nothing is wrong. In fact, your clear of the 77th floor was wless.]¡± On the 77th floor, Taesan had stabilized a world destroyed by an ancient god, a quest most adventurerspleted with brute force, doing just enough to ensure the survivors could scrape by. Yet, Taesan had done far more than expected, far beyond what even Valvavamba had anticipated. Valvavamba¡¯s headachey elsewhere. ¡°[He has, however, reached a partial transcendence. And he has yet to step foot on the 80th floor.]¡± ¡°You already knew?¡± ¡°[I am the administrator. I know most of what urs in this ce.]¡± Valvavamba spoke, clearly troubled. ¡°[In rare cases, one may reach such a state through a pact with a god. But to achieve it with one¡¯s own strength...this is unprecedented...]¡± Shaking his head in resignation, Valvavamba had decided to wash his hands of the situation, leaving any future issues with Taesan to the mage. It was the least troubling choice. ¡°[And now, for your reward.]¡± This, too, presented a problem. Taesan had surpassed all expectations in clearing the floor, so his reward had to reflect that. After pondering, Valvavamba made a decision. ¡°[In cases like this, simple is best.]¡± Power surged into Taesan. ¡°[You have received the title: ¡®Savior of the World.¡¯]¡± ¡°[You have received the Ring of the World¡¯s Savior.]¡± ¡°[Your level has increased.]¡± ¡°[Your level has increased.]¡± ¡°[Your level has increased.]¡± ¡°[Review the rewards on your own.]¡± As Valvavamba¡¯s form began to fade, he left a final remark. ¡°[You are still unstable. If you achieveplete transcendence, the mage will seek you out.]¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With that, Valvavamba vanished. Taesan checked his rewards. --- **[Title: Savior of the World]** *A title given to one who has perfectly saved a world.* - Health +2000 - Mana +500 - Demonic Energy +200 - Attack +200 - Defense +200 --- ¡°Not bad.¡± Unlike equipment, titles provide benefits simply by being held. This one was as powerful as high-tierbyrinth gear. --- **[Ring of the World¡¯s Savior]** *Given as a reward to one who restored a world on the brink of copse.* - Mana +500 - Demonic Energy +100 - Attack +300 --- It included stats beneficial to Taesan, with impressive capabilities. Additionally, he received the usual weapon reward, which he nned to sell, and the skills. --- **[Divine Skill: Sanctuary Creation]** - Mastery: 1% - Divine Power Cost: ??? *Manifest divine power to create a sanctuary. The size and characteristics of the sanctuary vary based on the divine power used and the form manifested.* --- It was his first divine skill. This skill was more useful on Earth than in thebyrinth, perfect for Earth¡¯s ravagednds. As long as his followers continued their faith, the sanctuary would persist. Lesser monsters wouldn¡¯t even be able to approach it. Then came the transcendent skill. --- **[Transcendent Skill: Eternal and Immortal Faith]** - Mastery: 1% - Cost: Faith and Rank. *You receive faith from all life in one world. They will offer unwavering faith eternally. By consuming their faith and your rank, you can gain true divinity.* --- ¡°Hmm.¡± He had a rough idea of the skill¡¯s effect. **[You have activated Eternal and Immortal Faith.]** In an instant, Taesan¡¯s inner self expanded. The faith of all those who worshipped him flowed into him. A powerful strain apanied his transformation, pushing his body and mind to a higher level. The omnipotent feeling he experienced in the dying world filled him once more. ¡°[Oh.]¡± The Wraith let out an involuntary gasp. Taesan had, even if only briefly, transcended mortality. ¡°[It¡¯s real...]¡± ¡°No.¡± He canceled the skill, the omnipotence vanishing and reced by an overwhelming fatigue. ¡°I¡¯m not there yet.¡± While he could temporarily transcend mortality, it was unstable,sting only a few minutes due to the strain. Moreover, faith was depleting rapidly. With fewer than a hundred thousand believers, he risked exhausting his sanctuary¡¯s faith. ¡°So, it¡¯s limited to that world.¡± This was only natural. In the dying world, he had be a god by receiving universal faith. It was a shortcut to power. His godlike strength was confined to that realm. To use it elsewhere came at a steep cost. ¡°[Still, do you realize what this means?]¡± The Wraith¡¯s tone was slightly excited. ¡° [Unless your opponent also transcends mortality, they can¡¯t defeat you.]¡± Taesan was now different. Even those who had touched the edge of transcendence couldn¡¯t defeat him. ¡°Though this power remains unstable...for now.¡± As he prepared for the uing Earth quests, he realized that yers from China, Japan, and Korea were already worshipping him. If people from other countries began to do the same, what would happen? Taesan¡¯s story was spreading through themunity, and his name was reaching other nations. Though many yers had perished while fighting monsters or traversing thebyrinth, far more survived than in the dying world. If he received their faith, his powers could stabilize. His Divine Power mastery might even reach 100%. He looked forward to his eventual return. Taesan proceeded to the 78th floor as a quest window appeared in his vision. --- **[78th Floor Quest Initiated]** - **Objective:** Sessfullyplete the librarian¡¯s request in the Library of All Things. - **Reward:** Book of Knowledge. - **Secret Reward:** ??? Chapter 377: The 78th Floor, The Library of All Things (2) As Taesan set foot on the 78th floor, he was taken aback. This floor was unlike any he had encountered before. Endless rows of shelves stretched out as far as the eye could see, with narrow paths just wide enough for a single person to walk through. The shelves were packed with an uncountable number of books, densely arranged. There were no monsters in sight¡ªonly the lingering scent of old paper filled the space. Despite theck of visible light sources, the area was bright enough for reading without any trouble. And it was vast¡ªTaesan had never seen a floor this expansive. It truly seemed endless. **[You have activated Lerasier¡¯s Domain Detection.]** He cast his dark magic, yet even with this, he could not locate the end of the floor. It was like the floor contained every book in existence. ''Just like I heard.'' This 78th floor, the Library of All Things, was one of the ces Taeyeon had spoken about frequently. **[Nothing¡¯s changed here. Though, it¡¯s a ce that can¡¯t really change. I missed this.]** The Wraith muttered with a hint of nostalgia. Taesan walked between the shelves, inspecting the book titles. **[Goblin Ecology]** **[The Great Adventurer Pnca¡¯s Guide to Cooking Monsters Deliciously]** **[Are Elves Truly as Gentle and Nature-Loving as People Think?]** ¡°Quite the variety.¡± There were books ranging frompletely useless trivia to ones requiring deep knowledge to understand. **[This is the Library of All Things. If it exists in book form, it¡¯s here. Literally anything.]** ¡°So, did the mage and Valvavamba create a ce like this?¡± **[No. This ce was created by the God of Knowledge, Metis.]** The Wraith continued, calm and steady. **[This is Metis¡¯s domain, where all of her umted knowledge is organized and preserved. That¡¯s what the Library of All Things is.]** ¡°Knowledge, huh?¡± Taesan pulled a book from the shelf. It was a simple novel, seemingly out of ce in a god¡¯s domain. But, given that this was the realm of the God of Knowledge, it made sense. For a god, their domain is their essence and all-epassing. The God of Knowledge desired and gathered all knowledge that existed in the world. Taesan ced the book back and moved deeper into the library. He walked endlessly, passing rows upon rows of shelves filled with books, until the overwhelming sight was almost too much to bear. Eventually, he found a small open space. It was a reading area with several tables and chairs¡ªa perfect ce to read. There, a man sat, engrossed in a thick book resembling an encyclopedia. He wore sses and had neatly trimmed hair, giving him an austere appearance. Despite sensing Taesan¡¯s presence, he continued reading unbothered. **[You have encountered Jorge, the Librarian of the Library of All Things.]** --- Jorge said nothing. He simply continued reading his book. Taesan, without disturbing him, picked up a book titled **[A Study on the Beards of Female Dwarves].** In the silence, only the sound of pages turning filled the air. When Jorge finally finished his book, he closed it. ¡°A polite guest.¡± His voice, like his appearance, was curt but had an air of dignity. ¡°The process of gathering knowledge must not be interrupted. Those who havee here before youcked manners, but at least you have shown some courtesy.¡± Jorge¡¯s gaze held a trace of approval as he looked at Taesan. ¡®So it was true.¡¯ Taesan reflected as he closed his book. Taeyeon had once told him how, on the 78th floor, she hade across Jorge reading and had spoken to him abruptly, interrupting his reading. Jorge had been visibly irritated and had treated her coldly ever since, making her time on this floor challenging. Remembering this, Taesan had made sure not to disturb Jorge. **[It¡¯s been a long time.]** ¡°...Warrior.¡± Jorge¡¯s eyes lit up as he recognized the Wraith. ¡°You died. I truly thought you could reach the end of thebyrinth. What happened?¡± **[A mistake on my part.]** The Wraith answered quietly. **[The Lion King and Society¡ªhave they passed through here?]**@@novelbin@@ ¡°Yes, not long ago. They were discourteous.¡± Jorge clicked his tongue and nced at the Wraith, seemingly understanding something. ¡°Betrayal, perhaps? It makes sense. You often spoke of them to me. I regret hearing it turned out this way.¡± **[It¡¯s in the past. I¡¯m dead now, beyond any further involvement.]** ¡°True enough. This time, it¡¯s the adventurer who hase. I should speak with him.¡± Jorge turned his gaze to Taesan and spoke. ¡°Adventurer, what is your name?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Kang Taesan. Do you know where you are?¡± ¡°The Library of All Things, the domain of the God of Knowledge, Metis.¡± ¡°I suppose the warrior told you. Yes, that is correct.¡± Jorge nodded. ¡°This is the domain of Metis, where all the knowledge she amassed is stored.¡± A sea of books stretched endlessly, impossible to read in a single lifetime. ¡°By her grace, I have been honored as the custodian of this ce, and I reside here as its librarian.¡± A satisfied smile crossed Jorge¡¯s face as he spoke, pride evident in his tone. ¡°Thanks to her, I am able to endlessly pursue knowledge. I am eternally grateful and fullymitted to fulfilling her will as the librarian of this ce.¡± Jorge¡¯s tone softened. ¡°This is the Library of All Things. You may stay here as long as you like.¡± ¡°There is no time limit?¡± ¡°There is none. Knowledge does not restrict those who seek it. You are free to stay.¡± Taesan already knew this. There was no time limit to clear the 78th floor. One could stay here indefinitely to umte knowledge. Taeyeon had spent a considerable amount of time on this floor as well. ¡°It is a gift from Metis. Be grateful. However... if you wish to leave and continue your journey, I have a request for you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Jorge stood and pulled out a book. He opened it as he exined. ¡°As the librarian, I have guarded this ce for a long time. But even I cannot read every book here.¡± The true master of this ce was the God of Knowledge, and it was impossible to absorb all of her knowledge. ¡°I am stillcking.¡± Jorge¡¯s eyes shone with a fervent desire for knowledge. ¡°Bring me a book I have yet to find or read. That is my request.¡± **[Quest Initiated]** **[The librarian of the Library of All Things, Jorge, has an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He wishes to learn all there is to know in the world. Find a book he has not yet read and bring it to him.]** **[Reward: Dependent on Jorge¡¯s satisfaction with the book you retrieve.]** ¡°Understood.¡± **[Quest epted]** ¡°So you intend to proceed forward. I can¡¯t understand that.¡± Jorge looked at Taesan with a look of genuine iprehension. As a seeker of knowledge, he could not fathom why adventurers would want to leave the Library of All Things. Taesan asked him, ¡°Will any book that you haven¡¯t read suffice?¡± ¡°Yes. Any book I have not yet encountered will do.¡± Jorge returned his gaze to his book. ¡°If that proves too difficult, you can also retrieve a book I cannot ess. This is a god¡¯s library, after all. Some books are restricted and cannot be approached without proper qualifications. You may choose the option that suits you best.¡± As Taesan prepared to leave, Jorge seemed to recall something and spoke again. ¡°There are a few rules you must follow while you are here.¡± He held up a finger. ¡°First, do not damage any books. Though as an adventurer, you should not have the power to desecrate the domain of Metis, there are standards of respect. If you cross the line, I will expel you. Second, do not disturb me.¡± Jorge turned a page, looking slightly annoyed. ¡°Some have tried to bother me. But let me make it clear: in this ce, I hold absolute authority.¡± Jorge idly touched a page. The air around them shifted. The will of Metis¡¯s domain pressed down on Taesan at Jorge¡¯smand. The force was absolute; Taesan could not resist it unless he used his transcendent skills or eternal faith. ¡°I am the only administrator granted authority by Metis. This is my domain as well. Remember these two rules, and that will suffice.¡± Taesan nodded, and Jorge returned to his book. Instantly, the pressure vanished. ¡°That will be all. Now, roam freely and gather knowledge, adventurer.¡± --- The quest required Taesan to find a book Jorge hadn¡¯t read. At first nce, it seemed simple. The library was impossibly vast, and Taesan couldn¡¯t even see its end. He could assume that almost any book he chose would be one Jorge hadn¡¯t encountered yet. But this was the deep floors. Quests on these levels were never that easy. ¡®Did it take Taeyeon about three years?¡¯ It had taken Taeyeon quite a while to clear this floor. She hadn¡¯t been in a rush to clear it, but it had still taken an exceptionally long time. Jorge remembered nearly every book in this ce. Taeyeon had tried countless times, but Jorge had turned her away each time, iming he¡¯d read every book she brought. She had evenined about it on themunity forum, questioning whether he was lying. **[How will you handle this? Clearing it traditionally will take some time.]** The Wraith seemed aware of the timemitment as he asked Taesan. Taesan moved between the bookshelves. ¡°For now, let¡¯s take it slow.¡± There was no need to rush. He already knew the way to clear this quest. He couldplete it immediately if he wanted. But he had no intention of doing so. This was the domain of the God of Knowledge. It was said that all the knowledge of the universe was here. Taesan slowly scanned the bookshelves, picking out titles that caught his interest and began reading. ¡°So, this is how you know so much?¡± Immortals, transcendent beings, faith, spirits, and more. The Wraith knew an incredible amount and had been a great help to Taesan. Some of that knowledge was not essible through normal means. This library was where he had acquired it. The Wraith confirmed. **[Yes. Nearly any knowledge you desire can be found here. If you search diligently, you can uncover answers to almost any question.]** Taeyeon had been the same. She had enjoyed this floor and spent a great deal of time reading. Taesan also didn¡¯t intend to simply pass through. There were many questions on his mind¡ªabout faith, divinity, transcendent beings, ancient gods, and more. He intended to resolve as many of these mysteries as he could. Taesan began turning the pages slowly. Chapter 378: The 78th Floor, The Library of All Things (3) What is an immortal? What is a transcendent? How does human faith work? The Library of All Things held information on these subjects as well. Most of it aligned with what the Wraith had already told Taesan, though the Wraith hadn¡¯t fully explored everything here. The reason was simple: the Wraith had little interest in faith or transcendence. The Wraith¡¯s focus was always on the sword and saving worlds on the brink of destruction. Thus, some details in the Wraith¡¯s knowledge were uncertain. ¡°Hm.¡± Taesan closed another book. He had spent time in the library reading through various texts on faith and transcendence, filling in any gaps and verifying what he knew. He¡¯d also found more intricate details. **[Reflections on Immortality and Transcendence: An Inquiry into Two States of Being]** The book was dense withplex information. **[A transcendent is one who has acquired a divine name and established a domain of their own. Such beings are sometimes called gods.]** **[In contrast, an immortalcks a divine name. They have no domain to govern. Though they rise to the position of an immortal solely through power, they exert little cosmic influence.]** **[While it is possible for an immortal to be a transcendent, most do so ipletely, relying on faith from others. Only a rare few throughout the universe achieve true transcendence by obtaining a domain.]**@@novelbin@@ The difference between an immortal and a transcendent was whether they possessed a domain¡ªjust as the Wraith had told him. However, theter details were new to him. **[It is possible to transcend mortality by gathering the faith of others, though this is unstable and limited.]** This resonated with Taesan¡¯s experience. Through the faith of many, he had temporarily surpassed mortal limits. With sufficient quality and quantity of worship, reaching transcendence might indeed be possible. After all, a world under one''s rule could be considered a kind of domain. ¡°That might be the path the Green Witch was searching for.¡± The Green Witch had aspired to transcendence. Faith from people¡ªperhaps that was one path she had in mind. As he pondered, a gentle voice echoed in his mind. **[That¡¯s not quite it, dear.]** The voice was soft and warm. Taesan paused, realizing who the voice belonged to. ¡°The Green Witch.¡± **[You remember me.]** A chuckle followed. Taesan refocused on the book in his hands. ¡°So you canmunicate like this?¡± **[I can manage a brief conversation. I had intended only to watch, but I felt the need to correct your thoughts.]** The witch¡¯s voice was calm and soothing. **[What you think is correct. With enough faith, one can temporarily reach the level of transcendence. But, child, didn¡¯t you experience it yourself? How precarious that position truly is?]** ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± When Taesan announced his departure, his followers despaired. The outpouring of their grief had burdened him immensely, even to the point where he momentarily felt his rank waver. **[One can indeed reach transcendence through faith, but that position is hardly secure. Humans all perish, and so does faith. As time passes, the strength of belief weakens, eventually vanishing altogether. I don¡¯t seek such a temporary position.]** Her voice wasced with a quiet intensity. **[What I desire is a pure, solitary position. A divine name that no one can interfere with¡ªa ce that shines with eternal and undying brilliance, unaffected by time.]** ¡°I see.¡± Reflecting on it, it made sense that an immortal like her would be well aware of faith¡¯s fragility. She sought a position much higher than one built on unstable worship. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate, then.¡± **[Not at all. Things are different now. There is hope where there wasn¡¯t before.]** The witch¡¯s voice was light, almost excited. **[You¡¯re truly remarkable. Even if it was only temporary, you reached the same level as me¡ªand in such a short time.]** It hadn¡¯t been long since Taesan had met the witch. Within that time, he had crossed the threshold and surpassed mortality. The speed of his growth was beyond exnation. Many powerful beings spent their lives without ever reaching that threshold. It was that difficulty that had driven the Emperor to pursue divine blood so obsessively. **[Perhaps... if anyone can...]** Of course, it was still a distant possibility. He was not a true immortal, and the ce of true transcendence was even further away. But he had potential. **[I¡¯ll keep watching over you. Don¡¯t lose heart.]** With those words, the Green Witch¡¯s voice faded. The Wraith exhaled, clearly relieved. **[Whew. That was intense.]** ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± **[The presence of an immortal isn¡¯t easy to endure, you know? It¡¯s strange that you were fine.]** The Wraith grumbled, having had to spend energy protecting himself against her presence. Taesan continued reading up on deities and ancient gods. Most of the information aligned with what the transcendent beings had already told him. The Wraith, looking at Taesan¡¯s calm reading pace, murmured in disbelief. **[Doesn¡¯t this make you dizzy? I could never get through this stuff.]** It wasn¡¯t just that the Wraith had little interest in faith or ancient gods¡ªsome texts were simply inessible. Each time the Wraith tried to read certain books about the gods, a mental strain took over, as if hecked the capacity to understand. Taesan, however, seemed unaffected. ¡°No issues.¡± He felt no mental strain. Taesan continued reading in silence, and the Wraith clicked his tongue. Just as he was about to close one of the books, a particr line caught Taesan¡¯s eye. **[A transcendent governs a domain aligned with their divine name, and no one can interfere within that domain.]** ording to the book, a transcendent who held a domain was untouched by outside forces. Even Taesan, who had turned back time, couldn¡¯t fully evade the gods¡¯ gaze. The truly intriguing part, however,y in the following lines. **[However, even these gods can rarely intervene in the flow of time. The moments they can influence are limited and specific.]** ¡°So even gods can¡¯t fully manipte time?¡± But Urboros¡¯s Time Stone had returned Taesan to the past. ¡°How did Taeyeon acquire something like that?¡± Taeyeon had kept her knowledge of the Time Stone a secret. So, Taesan didn¡¯t know how she had obtained it. He was curious, but without divine help, the mystery would likely remain unsolved. Taesan stood up. **[What¡¯s this? Are you done already?]** ¡°Not quite.¡± He still had many questions, but with unlimited time here, there was no need to rush. First, he intended to get his bearings on this floor. He already knew a fair amount about the 78th floor. ¡®The goddess Levienoff resides here.¡¯ He wondered if Ainzhar had found his goddess. It seemed likely, though he couldn¡¯t be certain. Levienoff¡¯s residence made thingsplicated. The goddess Levienoff was said to reside in the twenty-fourth secret room. In other words, this floor had over twenty-four secret rooms. ¡°A floor filled with secret rooms.¡± Taesan made his way back to where Jorge was stationed. Jorge, without looking up from his book, spoke. ¡°Did you bring a book?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Taesan handed over a random book he¡¯d picked up on his way back. Jorge nced at it briefly before returning to his own book. ¡°I¡¯ve read this. Bring another.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan moved away but didn¡¯t go far. He lingered near the shelves, idly browsing the books. Annoyed, Jorge scowled and spoke. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of trying some sort of trick, don¡¯t bother. I¡¯ve read all the books in this vicinity. This floor isn¡¯t the type to reward cleverness or shortcuts.¡± Jorge had likely read nearly every book in this library. Many tried to exploit the nearest shelves, assuming Jorge hadn¡¯t read them. While some floors required unconventional thinking, Jorge dismissed this possibility. Though searching nearby was futile, Taesan continued to circle around him. Jorge clicked his tongue, choosing to ignore him. After browsing for a while, Taesan asked Jorge a question. ¡°This library holds vast knowledge, but it seems tock specific information on deities and ancient gods.¡± There were exnations of realms and powers, but nothing detailed about the gods themselves¡ªwhat it meant to be a demon god, what powers Maria, the goddess of choice, wielded, or the exact nature of ancient gods. The Library of All Things was supposed to contain all knowledge the God of Knowledge possessed. Yet, there was no trace of this information, leaving only two possibilities. Either Taesan hadn¡¯t found it, or it was sealed somewhere deeper within the library. ¡°Is that what you seek?¡± Jorge frowned. ¡°This library holds much knowledge... but there are truths that cannot be essed by those without the necessary qualifications.¡± The information Taesan desired on gods and ancient gods was part of that restricted knowledge. Even Jorge could not reach certain books for this reason. ¡°If you wish to obtain that knowledge, prove yourself worthy. Seek it out on your own. That is the will of Metis.¡± If one desired knowledge, one had to demonstrate their worth. Taesan was prepared to do just that. ¡°Found it.¡± He murmured softly as he pushed a book deeper into the shelf. *Rumble!* The bookshelf trembled. With a loud sound, the bookshelf slowly shifted, creating an empty space. **[ Huh?]** ¡°...What?¡± Both the Wraith and Jorge turned in surprise. Beyond the opened space, a hidden passage was revealed. **[You have discovered the first secret room.]** **[Bonus for First Discovery]** - Health +500 - Mana +300 - Demonic Energy +50 **[What¡¯s this? A secret room on this floor?]** ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± **[Of course not. I scouted everywhere and found nothing; I assumed none existed here.]** The Wraith hadn¡¯t known about the secret rooms on the 78th floor. The revtion left him visibly stunned. **[How did you...?]** ¡°I heard something about it.¡± Taeyeon had spent a long time on the 78th floor. During that time, she shared various trivial stories, including many minor details that few cared about. It was this information that had led Taesan to know about Levienoff¡¯s room being the twenty-fourth secret room. During her stay in the Library of All Things, Taeyeon had discovered over twenty-four secret rooms and had shared this information widely in themunity. Chapter 379: The 78th Floor, The Library of All Things (4) Leaving a bewildered Jorge behind, Taesan entered the secret room. The Wraith, regaining hisposure, asked in astonishment. **[What¡¯s this? How did you find it so quickly?]** ¡°You know why.¡± **[Wait, are you saying... Oh.]** The Wraith realized. He was well aware that Taesan had traveled back in time and that another adventurer had been involved in the process. The Wraith fell silent as Taesan passed through the corridor into the room. Inside the small room was a single book. Taesan picked it up. **[Analysis of Reading Techniques for Deepening Knowledge Comprehension]** Taesan exited the room, holding the book, and showed it to the still-stunned Jorge. ¡°Have you read this?¡± ¡°...No.¡± Jorge shook his head. ¡°This is a book I¡¯ve never seen before.¡± ¡°Good to know.¡± ¡°How did you find that ce so easily?¡± Jorge was perplexed. This was Metis¡¯s domain, unaffected by any scouting abilities. Finding a secret room required intuition, time, and luck. Yet Taesan had found one immediately. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I have my ways.¡± Taesan took a seat and opened the book. Its content matched its title, not particrly intriguing but worth a read. Once he finished reading, he acquired a new skill. **[You have obtained the passive skill [Speed Reading].]** ¡®So it¡¯s true.¡¯ Simply by reading, he could gain skills rted to the content. This was why the book was hidden in a secret room. Taesan handed the book back to Jorge, who was still recovering from the shock. ¡°I acknowledge your achievement. I don¡¯t know how you found it, but you¡¯ve brought me a book I haven¡¯t read. Congrattions. You¡¯ve fulfilled the requirements to clear the 78th floor.¡± Taesan now had the option to proceed to the 79th floor whenever he wished. ¡°You can descend if you like, or you can remain here to umte knowledge. The choice is yours.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay a bit longer.¡± Taesan moved among the shelves once more. His movements indicated he was searching for something specific rather than casually reading, causing Jorge to look at him with growing suspicion. ¡°...Could it be that you...¡± ¡°Found it.¡± *Rumble!* Another bookshelf moved, revealing a passageway beyond. **[You have discovered the second secret room.]** **[First Discovery Bonus]** - Strength +100 - Agility +100 - Intelligence +100 ¡°...¡± Jorge was at a loss for words. --- Taesan continued exploring the Library of All Things, systematically uncovering more secret rooms. **[You have discovered the sixth secret room.]** **[First Discovery Bonus]** - Attack Power +50 - Defense +50 **[Ha!]** The Wraith couldn¡¯t hide his admiration. **[I suspected as much, but this is astounding.]** The Wraith knew of Taeyeon. Not only had Taesan spoken of her at times, but the Wraith had encountered an embodiment of her in the trial given by the God of Despair. Even with only that one meeting, the Wraith had a clear sense of her character. A person full of fear, who wanted to run but couldn¡¯t abandon her duties, ultimately pressing forward. The Wraith understood that while Taeyeon possessed enough talent to clear thebyrinth, she seemed far weaker than Taesan byparison. Yet, this exceeded his expectations. The Wraith had never suspected the existence of secret rooms on this floor, and neither had most other adventurers. Finding secret rooms in an expansive library without scouting abilities seemed nearly impossible. Yet Taeyeon had found multiple secret rooms here. **[In some ways, she¡¯s more impressive than you.]** ¡°She¡¯s incredible.¡± Though she was self-critical, she was undoubtedly remarkable. Taeyeon had shared her experiences on the 78th floor ages ago, and Taesan still remembered the approximate locations. She had frequently posted about her time in the library on themunity forum, recounting her discoveries and struggles to anyone willing to listen. Her posts had been so numerous that they were ingrained in Taesan¡¯s memory. While his recollection wasn¡¯t perfect, he remembered enough to retrace her steps. ¡°...Truly remarkable.¡± Jorge muttered to himself as he watched. Since Taesan had discovered the second secret room, Jorge had put aside his book to follow him. *Rumble!* **[You have discovered the seventh secret room.]** As usual, Taesan attempted to enter the room. But this time, the corridor rejected him, pushing him back. Taesan stared at the passage. A faint energy shimmered, barring his entrance. **[Secret Room of the Demon God]** **[Entrance is forbidden unless permitted by the god.]** ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? There is knowledge here that requires qualifications. The room of the Demon God is one of those ces.¡± Jorge exined. ¡°This is the Library of All Things, and it includes information on the gods. But not everyone can ess it. Only those granted permission by a god can enter. It¡¯s practically impossible, so I suggest you give up.¡± Taeyeon had mentioned something simr. She had found secret rooms she could not enter. Taesan ced his hand on the corridor¡¯s entrance. The energy blocking the passage wavered, as if observing him. Then, beyond the barrier, Taesan sensed a familiar presence¡ªa gaze he had often felt. The owner of the gaze chuckled softly. The barrier dissipated. ¡°...This is unbelievable.¡± Jorge¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. Taesan entered. Inside, a sphere of ck energy awaited him. The sphere approached Taesan and merged with him. **[You have acquired the passive skill [Mark of Darkness].]** With the acquisition of this skill, a memory also surfaced in Taesan¡¯s mind. --- Taesan continued searching for more secret rooms and found several connected to other gods, like the Demon God¡¯s room. He uncovered rooms associated with the Gods of Struggle and Death, Lakiratas, and the God of Victory, Balthazar. Both gods allowed Taesan ess to their secret rooms, and he imed their rewards without difficulty. Eventually, Taesan discovered over fifteen secret rooms. Jorge observed in silence. ¡®What is he?¡¯ Jorge was astonished. He knew Taesan was strong. The library was his domain, so it was natural for him to gauge the strength of visitors. He was aware that Taesan possessed powers that exceeded mortality. Though impressive, it wasn¡¯t shocking. Many powerful adventurers visited the library, some even stronger than Taesan. But watching Taesan uncover secret room after secret room was a different matter. No matter how great someone¡¯s analytical skills, finding even one secret room should take months. Yet, Taesan had discovered over ten in a short time. Jorge briefly considered the possibility that Taesan had learned of the rooms from someone else. However, these were secrets no one had previously uncovered, making that impossible. And then, there was the divine recognition. As the library¡¯s custodian, Jorge understood its significance. The library contained knowledge of various gods, making it a ce of importance for them as well. For a god to permit someone ess to their hidden knowledge meant they regarded Taesan as more than a mere follower, perhaps even as a trusted confidant. Three gods had deemed him worthy. ¡®Fascinating.¡¯ Jorge¡¯s eyes gleamed. As one driven mad by his thirst for knowledge, Jorge had been acknowledged by the God of Knowledge and granted stewardship over this ce. And now, Taesan was awakening that same thirst for knowledge within him. Jorge quietly observed Taesan. Having found numerous secret rooms, Taesan finally paused. He had gathered plenty and nned to organize his gains before resuming his search. While each first discovery bonus was minor on its own, collecting over fifteen of them made the rewards substantial. This alone justified the effort spent in exploring the secret rooms. Taesan¡¯s rewards included five books, seven items, and three divine secrets along with skills. The seven items were all gear rted to magic and dark magic. He intended to offer them as tributes. The five books mostly contained skills for knowledge acquisition, unlikely to significantly impactbat. Finding them less valuable after learning their skills, Taesan handed the books to Jorge, who received them with satisfaction. The divine secret rewards were particrly useful, each granting an appropriate skill. The Demon God¡¯s reward was a skill that amplified dark magic¡¯s potency. Lakiratas granted a skill that temporarily boosted stats when near death. From the God of Victory, Balthazar, Taesan received a skill that awarded additional stats when fighting a specific monster type after defeating a certain number of them. All these were passive skills, requiring no active attention from him. They were all highly practical. Moreover, each skill came with memories rted to the gods. Although the memories were initially jumbled and unclear, Taesan began to make sense of them as he organized his thoughts. These were memories of the gods from their mortal lives. This likely exined why divine recognition was necessary to ess them. As Taesan started to sift through these memories, footsteps approached. The sound of someone drawing near filled the air. Jorge frowned. ¡°That bothersome old man has arrived.¡± ¡°Now, now, Jorge. Don¡¯t be so harsh.¡± The familiar voice echoed, though its tone held a striking emptiness. The voice carried no strength. An old man with a golden aura appeared, his face hollow as he emerged from between the shelves. ¡°We¡¯re going to be spending a lot of time together here, so let¡¯s get to know each other better.¡± ¡°I have no desire to get acquainted with a madman.¡± Jorge spoke curtly, clearly disliking the man. But the old man paid him no mind, instead sinking into a nearby chair, seemingly oblivious to Taesan¡¯s presence. The old man¡¯s demeanor was strange. Finally, Taesan took the initiative to greet him. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Only then did the old man notice him. His eyes widened when he recognized Taesan. ¡°...You¡¯ve reached this ce already?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Ainzhar.¡± **[You have encountered a Seeker of the Gods.]** --- Ainzhar. ¡°Haha!¡± Ainzharughed upon seeing Taesan. ¡°You¡¯re fast! I knew you were talented. To have reached this ce so quickly!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve put in the effort. Did you find what you were looking for?¡± The beloved goddess Levienoff¡ªthe reason the holy knight Ainzhar had entered thebyrinth.@@novelbin@@ Taesan had informed him that Levienoff resided on the 78th floor. Though considerable time had passed, Ainzhar was still here. Taesan couldn¡¯t tell if he¡¯d aplished his goal. ¡°...Did I find what I was looking for?¡± Ainzhar¡¯s expression shifted abruptly. ¡°Yes. Yes, I found her.¡± He smiled faintly. His expression seemed carefree, as if nothing could trouble him. Yet, the brightness of his smile made Taesan feel uneasy. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. I found Lady Levienoff.¡± ¡°...Congrattions.¡± Something felt off. Taesan remembered Ainzhar well. While his devotion to his goddess bordered on fanaticism, he was otherwise a stable man¡ªenergetic, consistent in thought and action. But now, something was wrong. Though Taesan couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what, it felt as if Ainzhar was actingposed for his benefit. ¡°...This is perfect timing.¡± Ainzhar pped his hands. His unsettling smile turned to Taesan. ¡°Would you like to join me in meeting Lady Levienoff?¡± Chapter 380: The 78th Floor, The Library of All Things (5) Despite a sense of unease, Taesan had no reason to refuse Ainzhar¡¯s invitation. He followed the pdin deeper into the library. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you that I found Lady Levienoff,¡± Ainzhar murmured, almost humming as they moved. Without Taesan¡¯s hint, Ainzhar would likely still be searching aimlessly for his beloved goddess. ¡°Since it was you who helped me reach her, it¡¯s only fitting you¡¯re given the honor of seeing her.¡± ¡°I appreciate it,¡± Taesan replied, watching Ainzhar with a careful gaze. The holy knight¡¯s demeanor was markedly different from before. Something felt off. ¡°This way,¡± Ainzhar gestured, leading Taesan toward the library¡¯s edge. **[Well, old man, congrattions. You finally found her? Took you long enough¡ªyou¡¯ve been in thisbyrinth longer than I have.]** The Wraith¡¯s teasing tone made Ainzhar pause, as though only just noticing the Wraith¡¯s presence. ¡°Ah, hero! You¡¯re here too!¡± Ainzhar¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°All of this is thanks to Taesan! Because of him, my hope has been fulfilled.¡± Heughed as he rearranged several books on a shelf. Momentster, the shelf shifted, revealing a hidden passage. ¡°Come in. Lady Levienoff awaits within,¡± he said, stepping into the darkened corridor. Taesan followed. While the library itself was brightly lit, the passage was dim and shadowed as if sealed off from the outside world. With each step further inside, a strange, warped energy grew stronger. **[...Wait a moment.]** The Wraith¡¯s voice wavered as he sensed the same unease. Taesan¡¯s expression hardened. ¡®This energy...¡¯ He couldn¡¯t quite identify it, though he felt it was something familiar. This chaotic, twisted force was not the organized energy of a transcendent being but rather something mangled, almost tainted. It felt disturbingly simr to his own boundary power, yet it was different. ¡®A corrupted boundary?¡¯ Taesan steeled himself and continued through the passage. Ainzhar smiled, opening a heavy door. ¡°Behold! Lady Levienoff!¡± Beyond the doorwayy the goddess Levienoff, hovering serenely in a vast, empty chamber. Her face radiated a gentle beauty, her presence soothing to behold, filling the viewer with peace. But the aura emanating from her was twisted. From her heart spilled a tainted, decaying energy¡ªsomething vile and rotten that had no ce in this world. **[Ugh.]** The Wraith instinctively mped a hand over his mouth. Though he was no longer alive, an impulse to retch overwhelmed him. Such was the malevolent energy that flowed from the goddess. **[What... is this?]** Taesan¡¯s body tensed, reacting to the sight before him. It felt like gazing upon a masterpiece defiled in the most grotesque way. While Levienoff¡¯s form was still beautiful, there was a profound wrongness to it¡ªsomething that no longer belonged in the realm of gods. ¡°Kneel! Show reverence to the goddess!¡± Ainzhar cried, stretching his arms wide, his hollow gaze fixed upon her. ¡°My goddess, Lady Levienoff!¡± **[You have discovered the goddess Levienoff, tainted and corrupted by an elder god.]** --- **[Old man...]** the Wraith¡¯s voice trembled as he addressed Ainzhar. **[What happened here?]** Levienoff¡¯s condition was unmistakably unnatural. Ainzhar, however, seemed unfazed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, his voice calm. **[What else could I mean? Look at the goddess! What happened to her?]** ¡°Ah, you mean that.¡± Ainzhar smiled thinly. ¡°The goddess is simply... unwell at the moment. There¡¯s no need to worry. In time, she will recover and return to her former self.¡± **[...Return? To her original state?]** ¡°Of course,¡± Ainzhar said with conviction, though his tone felt more like he was reassuring himself than addressing the Wraith. **[If you say so...]** the Wraith muttered, trailing off. As Levienoff¡¯s follower, Ainzhar would know her condition better than anyone, so the Wraith held back furtherment. But he couldn¡¯t shake the unease in his heart. Could such a corrupted state truly be healed? ¡°She seems to be tired,¡± Ainzhar murmured, leading Taesan out of the chamber with a regretful expression. ¡°My apologies, Taesan. You came all this way only to be unable to offer her a prayer. But please, feel free to return anytime. The door is always open to you.¡± ¡°...Thank you.¡± ¡°No, I should be thanking you,¡± Ainzhar replied with a hollowugh. After parting with Ainzhar, Taesan roamed the library, yet the words on the pages failed to reach his mind. His thoughts were consumed with Levienoff¡¯s state. The goddess¡ªtwisted and corrupted¡ªand the malevolent force emanating from her. Eventually, Taesan spoke up. ¡°Valvavamba.¡± *Rumble.* The floor shifted, and Valvavamba appeared. **[Why have you called me?]** ¡°Ainzhar. Do you know him?¡± **[...So you met him. Come to think of it, you were the one who told him where to find the goddess.]** Valvavamba clicked his tongue. **[Perhaps it would have been kinder to let him wander in ignorance. At least then, he could have lived with an impossible dream rather than facing the reality.]** ¡°What exactly happened to her?¡± Within the corrupted goddess, Taesan had sensed the power of an elder god. Valvavamba hesitated, then responded. **[Given your current state, you can handle this knowledge. But you, hero... you must step back.]** **[So this is knowledge I can¡¯t hear? A bit harsh, but fair.]** The Wraith grumbled butplied, moving out of earshot. Valvavamba summoned a veil of energy around himself and Taesan. Only then did he begin. **[The elder gods are waging war against this universe. In their wake, countless worlds and transcendents have perished.]** This wasn¡¯t new to Taesan; he had heard simr tales. The God of Evil had once mentioned over two hundred worlds annihted by the elder gods. **[Many beings have fallen¡ªmortals, immortals, and even those who had reached the status of transcendent. Levienoff is one of those casualties.]** ¡°So, she was harmed while resisting the invasion of an elder god?¡± **[That¡¯s a simplified version of events, but essentially, yes.]** ¡°Yet her condition seems... more severe.¡± Levienoff was in a state far worse than mere injury. Her divinity and the elder god¡¯s essence were intermingled, twisted together beyond recognition. **[That¡¯s because the elder gods are beings beyond thews of this universe.]** Valvavamba¡¯s tone was steady. **[Transcendents, who wield their own domains, cannot die unless their domains are destroyed. However, many have fallen before the elder gods. The reason is simple: the elder gods can corrupt the very fabric of a domain.]** ¡°Corrupt...?¡± **[To a transcendent, their name and domain are their everything. The elder gods have the power to defile that core, destabilizing the foundation of a god¡¯s existence.]** ¡°...Is that even possible?¡± The domains of gods were supposed to be absolute. They couldn¡¯t be influenced or tampered with. Destroying them through brute force, as the God of Evil might, was conceivable. But corruption? It seemed unimaginable. **[As I said, they are beings beyond thews. Even domains and divine names are forms ofw.]** ¡°And just what exactly is this w¡¯?¡± Taesan had heard this term repeatedly, but its meaning eluded him. **[Law is the fundamental principle that holds this universe together, an absolute truth that no entity born within it can escape.]** ¡°...Wait.¡± If thew was the foundational principle of the universe, something no being born within it could escape... An idea flickered through Taesan¡¯s mind. **[That¡¯s as far as I can exin.]** Valvavamba¡¯s tone turned final. **[That¡¯s all the information you¡¯re allowed. Given that you¡¯ve transcended mortality, albeit in a limited way, you¡¯re permitted this much. Now, do you understand why I said Ainzhar¡¯s belief was futile?]** ¡°For the most part.¡± The power of the elder gods had tainted Levienoff¡¯s domain, corrupting it. For a god, their domain was everything. Even other gods couldn¡¯t interfere with such a corruption. **[The God of Knowledge has safeguarded Levienoff within this library, but even he cannot cure her.]** Valvavamba¡¯s voice wasced with frustration. **[To be blunt, I would rather remove Levienoff from this ce immediately. She¡¯s far too unstable.]** As if to emphasize his point, a violent wave of power erupted. The sickeningly twisted energy¡ªhalf divine, half elder god¡ªpulsed through the air. **[Again...]** Taesan leaped towards the source, arriving at the secret chamber where Levienoffy. Ainzhar was desperately channeling his energy, his face etched with worry. ¡°Oh, my goddess... please!¡± Levienoff¡¯s once-peaceful face contorted, her eyes wide open, streaming ck tears. From her chest gushed a dark aura, one that seemed to corrupt everything it touched. **[Aaaaaaah!]** A shrill, tormented scream echoed. Ainzhar flinched at the sound, his expression pained. Shadows spilled from the wounds in Levienoff¡¯s body, spreading an aura of contamination over everything they touched. Taesan manifested his divine power, countering the dark energy with purifying light. **[What a disaster.]** Valvavamba released a powerful force, attempting to contain Levienoff¡¯s energy within thebyrinth itself. *Rumble!* It seemed to work. After a tense moment, Levienoff¡¯s eyes closed once more. **[Ainzhar. Is this really the conclusion you desired?]** ¡°....¡± Ainzhar knelt on the floor, his eyes fixed nkly upon his goddess. **[Though I intervened this time, I have no intention of continuing to interfere. In the future, Jorge will handle any issues. But as her only true devotee, would it not be better to grant her peace rather than prolong her suffering?]** --- ¡°I¡¯m sorry for dragging you into this,¡± Ainzhar said, looking weary as he apologized to Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Taesan replied calmly. Then he asked, ¡°You knew, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...How could I not?¡± Ainzhar¡¯s face twisted in anguish. He was a powerful warrior, far stronger than Taesan, perhaps even ranking among the upper echelons of the immortals. Someone of his caliber couldn¡¯t fail to notice what Taesan had observed. But he had chosen to avert his gaze, clinging to denial. ¡°Lady Levienoff suffers. I wish I could do something to help her, but I¡¯m utterly powerless.¡± His face was etched with helplessness. ¡°She sacrificed herself to save me, and yet, I can do nothing for her. She endures this torment on her own... but I have no way to ease her suffering.¡± Though Levienoff still resisted the elder god¡¯s influence, her tears and screams made it clear¡ªshe was fighting back, even if only barely. However, as Ainzhar said, there was nothing he could do. The issue was beyond any mortal or immortal means¡ªa hopeless struggle. ¡°Perhaps Valvavamba is right...¡± Ainzhar muttered, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails drew blood. Taesan contemted for a moment. The goddess was resisting the elder god¡¯s corruption, though just barely. And Taesan did know of a power somewhat simr to her corrupted state. ¡°Let me ask you something,¡± he began carefully. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°In the unlikely event... that there is a way to cleanse her of that corruption...¡±@@novelbin@@ Ainzhar¡¯s eyes widened, a spark of hope igniting within them. Taesan¡¯s voice remained steady. ¡°What would you do?¡± Chapter 381: The 78th Floor, The Library of All Things (6) ¡°...What are you saying?¡± Ainzhar couldn¡¯t fully grasp Taesan¡¯s words. ¡°There is no way to save her. I¡¯ve read every book in this ce and asked thebyrinth¡¯s administrators.¡± He hadn¡¯t just waited idly by. Ainzhar had done everything in his power to restore the goddess. But nothing had worked. Not even other transcendents could touch the power that had corrupted her. But Taesan continued, unwavering. ¡°I might have a way.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s... a cruel jest.¡± Ainzhar¡¯s face twisted with anger. He raised his sword reflexively, aiming it at Taesan¡¯s neck. ¡°Hngh!¡± Realizing it was Taesan he was attacking, Ainzhar forced himself to stop, though his hands still trembled. ¡°That power...?¡± It was unmistakably the same twisted energy he¡¯d sensed from the elder god that had consumed his goddess. Taesan, however, contained that same dark power within himself. Hebined it with his divine aura, a strange, greyish energy emerging as they mingled. *Fwoooom!*@@novelbin@@ ¡°Ah...¡± Ainzhar¡¯s voice wavered. Taesan¡¯s power resembled the corrupted force tainting the goddess but was stable and fully under his control. Taesan let the aura dissipate, then turned to Ainzhar. ¡°Now do you believe me?¡± Ainzhar stared, speechless, at Taesan. --- They sat in silence for a few minutes before Ainzhar, nowposed, returned to Taesan with a grim expression. He asked how Taesan had acquired such a power. And Taesan exined. He told him about Earth. About the elder god that had invaded his world. About the faith that powered his abilities. As the story unfolded, Ainzhar¡¯s expressions shifted from shock to awe. Taesan finished his story with a straightforward statement. ¡°I possess the power of an elder god. And I also wield divine energy. Bybining these forces, I¡¯ve learned to control a hybrid power.¡± ¡°...Hah.¡± Ainzhar let out a hollowugh. ¡°You¡¯ve... gone through more than I could ever have imagined.¡± ¡°Do you believe my power can save her?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Ainzhar nodded. The power Taesan had disyed was indeed simr to that afflicting Levienoff. But unlike her twisted state, Taesan¡¯s power was stable and fully within his control. This meant that, theoretically, her condition might also be brought under control. They didn¡¯t yet know exactly how, but the possibility was there. Taesan then asked the question that had been on his mind. ¡°Then... why did the goddess end up in such a state?¡± ¡°....¡± After a moment of silence, Ainzhar began to speak. ¡°Let me exin a bit more about myself.¡± He drew his golden sword. Powerful energy radiated from him, filling the space around them. ¡°I am Ainzhar, a devoted follower and loyal servant of the great goddess, Levienoff.¡± The force of Ainzhar¡¯s presence confirmed what Taesan had sensed: Ainzhar was a monster, a being far stronger than Taesan could currently match. Ainzhar¡¯s gaze grew distant, as if looking back through time. ¡°Our world was once and of peace, guided by Lady Levienoff¡¯s love. Love flourished there. People didn¡¯t hide their affections; they celebrated them openly. Those who loved were united, and those who were unloved found eptance. All this was Lady Levienoff¡¯s blessing. But... one day, that all began to warp.¡± ¡°An elder god,¡± Taesan murmured. Ainzhar nodded, his face hardening. ¡°Yes. Much like in your world, our realm was invaded by an elder god.¡± The goddess of their world fought off the elder god, and Ainzhar fought by her side, destroying the monstrous invaders. At first, it hadn¡¯t been too difficult. As a transcendent, the goddess held immense power, and Ainzhar was among the strongest of the immortals. Even when powerful enemies descended, they managed to fend them off. But the attacks never stopped. The world around them began to wither, its inhabitants sumbing to decay. They managed to repel the elder gods but at a terrible cost¡ªtheir world was slowly rotting away. ¡°Other gods might have intervened to help, but this was during a time when elder godsunched an all-out assault on the realms. The gods were stretched too thin. And so, our world descended toward ruin.¡± As the world decayed, even Levienoff¡¯s divinity began to falter. Levienoff was a god bound to her world. If it perished, so would she. ¡°We fought to the end, she and I. But I could see her strength waning. I wanted to sacrifice myself to save her... but instead, she tried to save me.¡± Ainzhar¡¯s expression was one of profound sadness. ¡°In a dying world, surrounded by ash, she told me, ¡®A god without her world is meaningless. I should perish with it. But you... you must live on, forget everything, and move forward.¡¯¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t,¡± Taesan said quietly. ¡°Would you expect a servant who lost his goddess to find meaning in life?¡± Ainzhar shook his head slowly. ¡°After she forced me away, I searched every corner of existence for her. I found nothing. There was no trace of her anywhere. Many assumed she¡¯d perished, but I could still feel her power within me. So, I held on, hoping she was still out there, somewhere, somehow.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°The rest you know. When I finally learned she was within thebyrinth, I ventured here. And, thanks to you, I was able to see her once again.¡± With that, his tale came to an end. He turned to Taesan, his expression desperate as he grasped his hands. ¡°Please, I beg of you. If there¡¯s any way, any means at all, save Lady Levienoff. I¡¯ll give you anything... anything in my power. Just, please... save her.¡± Taesan nodded solemnly. --- ¡°Can you tell me the exact method you¡¯re nning to use?¡± Ainzhar asked, a note of hope creeping into his voice. ¡°I can¡¯t be certain it will work, but I do have an idea.¡± The power of the boundary he wielded was a mix of divine and dark energy, akin to the state the goddess was in now. The difference was that Taesan could control it, while Levienoff could not. If he used his boundary to absorb and stabilize the elder god¡¯s taint, he might be able to bring her back. After hearing the n, Ainzhar¡¯s eyes glimmered with a renewed sense of hope. ¡°If that¡¯s possible... it might actually work.¡± One reason Levienoff¡¯s condition was untouchable was that it stemmed from an elder god¡¯s essence¡ªsomething beyond even the reach of gods. But Taesan had managed to harness a power not unlike it himself. It wasn¡¯t impossible. ¡°However, it won¡¯t be easy,¡± Taesan cautioned. Although Levienoff¡¯s corrupted state was simr to his boundary power, her divine essence was still damaged, which meant multipleyers of care would be needed. If he tried to forcibly purge the corruption, it might end herpletely. ¡°She¡¯s been resisting the corruption, hasn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ainzhar confirmed with a somber expression. ¡°Likely because I am here, still alive, offering my faith to her. It¡¯s my belief that keeps her tethered... and yet, it must also be causing her great pain.¡± Ainzhar, being an immortal, possessed faith of great potency. His devotion was likely both her anchor and her torment. If that was the case... After a brief moment of thought, Taesan asked, ¡°Is there a way to help her regain even a bit of her mind and stability?¡± The difficulty in purging the corruptiony partly in her condition. If she could regain some semnce of self, there might be a chance he could interact with and stabilize her essence. ¡°...Would that be possible?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure. It¡¯s only a theory.¡± But it was worth trying. ¡°Let me think for a moment.¡± Ainzhar fell silent, contemting. Then he spoke, his tone uncertain. ¡°There is... the 84th floor... there¡¯s a hidden path there that might take you to her world.¡± ¡°Her world?¡± ¡°Yes, what remains of Lady Levienoff¡¯s world. But... it¡¯s incredibly dangerous.¡± Ainzhar bit his lip. ¡°You¡¯d need a certain level of strength to survive there. I can¡¯t leave thebyrinth, though. I must stay by her side to tend to her and ease her suffering.¡± The task fell to Taesan. Ainzhar gave him a measured look before nodding, as if arriving at a decision. ¡°Taesan, will you undertake this?¡± Ainzhar raised his sword, steeling himself. ¡°I¡¯d be eternally grateful if you could, but I won¡¯t send you to your death. I know you¡¯re strong, but I can¡¯t be sure of your true strength without testing it myself.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Taesan agreed without hesitation. Ainzhar grinned, calling out, ¡°Jorge!¡± Jorge appeared momentster, his face as tired and irritated as ever. ¡°What do you want now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to duel him. Could you set up a barrier for us?¡± ¡°Ugh, always asking for trouble,¡± Jorge muttered as he waved a hand. Bookshelves moved aside, creating arge, clear space for them. Ainzhar unsheathed his sword with a dangerous smile. ¡°Fight with all your strength. I won¡¯t hold back either .¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect anything less.¡± Taesan activated every buff he had, his stats and strength rising to their peak. Ainzhar¡¯s grin widened as he nted his foot on the ground. A tremendous explosion followed as Ainzhar lunged forward, his de slicing through the air toward Taesan¡¯s neck. Taesan raised his own sword, bracing himself. The sh sent him sliding backward, but he held his ground. ¡°Hah! Impressive that you could block that!¡± Ainzharughed,unching himself into another attack. The golden de swung in seemingly random arcs, yet each sh was a mortal threat. Taesan gritted his teeth, feeling the immense force behind every blow. This was the strength of an immortal¡ªa being at the pinnacle of their kind. *Boom!* Their des collided, producing shockwaves that reverberated through the space. Taesan staggered, but he held firm. Ainzhar couldn¡¯t hide his admiration. To withstand even a fraction of his strength... no other adventurer hade this far, not even those who¡¯d reached the higher floors. ¡°Try stopping this!¡± Ainzhar gathered radiant energy, forming a massive, golden de of light. As the de came down, Taesan¡¯s instincts screamed a warning. This was the immortal¡¯s full power¡ªa strike no mortal could survive. There was only one way to counter it. **[You have activated the Eternal Faith.]** A pathway opened, connecting Taesan¡¯s faith with divine energy. An overwhelming power surged through him. With one swift movement, he deflected the golden de, sending Ainzhar back. He had just countered an immortal¡¯s true strength. Ainzhar¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°...A full world¡¯s worth of faith?¡± He recognized the nature of Taesan¡¯s power immediately. Ainzhar took a step back, momentarily stunned, then grinned. ¡°Perhaps... you really can do this.¡± He advanced again, his resolve renewed. Outside the barrier, Jorge grumbled to himself, reinforcing the shield. The force of their sh was enough to shatter it if he rxed even a moment. ¡°...Monsters, the both of them.¡± It wasn¡¯t clear which of them he meant. --- In the end, Taesan proved his strength in battle, and Ainzhar was thoroughly convinced. ¡°If anyone can survive that ce... it¡¯s you.¡± With that, Ainzhar presented him with a new quest. **[Subquest Initiated]** **[Ainzhar, desperate to save his goddess Levienoff, entrusts you with a mission. He sees a glimmer of hope in your power.]** **[Travel to the remnants of her world, now corrupted by the elder god, and retrieve her sacred relics to restore her essence.]** **[Conditions: Fully restore the goddess¡¯s state.]** **[Reward: Ainzhar¡¯s most valued treasures and the goddess¡¯s blessing.]** ¡°Take your time,¡± Ainzhar said. ¡°Lady Levienoff¡¯s condition is stable for now, as long as I remain by her side. There¡¯s no need to rush.¡± Following his advice, Taesan didn¡¯t hurry to leave. He spent time on the 78th floor, training with Ainzhar in numerous sparring matches. As an upper-level immortal, Ainzhar¡¯s guidance sharpened Taesan¡¯s skills, enhancing his proficiency with techniques like the Ak swordsmanship. He also continued to explore the Library of All Things, delving deeper into its vast knowledge and discovering additional hidden rooms. After a month of absorbing what he¡¯d gained and honing his abilities, a new notification appeared before him. **[Special Quest Initiated]** **[Return to Earth.]** Chapter 382: The 78th Floor, The Library of All Things (7) **[Special Quest Initiated]** **[Return to Earth.]** **[One week from now, you will return to thend you abandoned. Survive there, and return once more. Your reward will be based on your performance.]** **[This quest cannot be declined.]** The quest for returning to Earth had begun. Taesan closed the message calmly. When he opened themunity board, yers'' reactions were varied. Korean, Chinese, and Japanese yers epted the news readily and began preparing. For them, returning to Earth now was in line with the natural progression of events, as they had quickly made their way back to thebyrinth after theirst return. However, the response from other countries was different. **[Oliver Khan [Hard]: This feels too sudden... I¡¯m not fully prepared yet.]** **[Daniel Darmont [Hard]: Yeah, we¡¯re not mentally prepared for this. It¡¯s unsettling.]** For yers from other regions, clearing the Earth quest had taken longer, so they felt the return was happening too soon. However, they too ultimately epted it and began preparations. These yers were seasoned veterans, ustomed to unexpected twists. yers exchanged information on themunity board as they prepared for the return. **[Oliver Khan [Hard]: So what will the scope of this return be? Will it cover the whole world?]** **[Kang Taesan [Alone]: It won¡¯t be worldwide.]** **[Amelia Erin [Alone]: Oh.]** **[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]: Ah, Taesan¡¯s here.]** Themunity grew momentarily lively at Taesan¡¯s appearance. Once themotion died down, Taesan posted again. **[Kang Taesan [Alone]: It¡¯s too early to connect the whole world.]** **[Oliver Khan [Hard]: You¡¯re right. This will likely be an expanded connection.]** They could easily deduce this from theirst return, where yers from different countries had already encountered each other. **[Kim Huiyeon [Hard]: Probably divided by continents¡ªAsia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, perhaps?]** **[Daniel Darmont [Hard]: That seems likely. The issue is thatmunication between nations is still shaky...]** They continued to discuss, sharing information with other countries and trying to establish a n. With preparations likely to take some time, Taesan closed themunity board and set off once more. ¡°Oh! You¡¯vee!¡± Ainzhar greeted him with augh. ¡°Here for another sparring session?¡± Taesan nodded, drawing his sword. Ainzhar, amused, took up his weapon as well. Taesan regrly sought out Ainzhar for sparring. Levienoff¡¯s episodes were infrequent, so they could train undisturbed. Each time, Jorge wouldin, muttering about the inconvenience, but this didn¡¯t bother Taesan. *ng!* Their swords shed, and Ainzharughed heartily as he brought his sword down forcefully. *ng! ng!* The heavy blows bore down on Taesan, who twisted his de to deflect the strikes. **[Your Mastery of Deflection has increased by 1%.]** Ainzhar was a monster. He was a being that Taesan, even now, couldn¡¯t hope to defeat. And sparring with such an opponent allowed Taesan to improve his skills rapidly. Variousbat skills advanced. His **Sense Synchronization** reached 20% mastery, enhancing his perception so that he could feel his surroundings as if they were an extension of his body. Buff skills like **Despise the Mighty** also leveled up, granting higher bonus stats. Unable to counter Ainzhar¡¯s attacks with swordsmanship alone, Taesan incorporated both magic and dark magic into his strategy. His mastery of numerous skills, including **Magic Layering** and **Magic Release**, increased. New magic and dark magic spells acquired from the Library of All Things became second nature. --- **[Intermediate Magic: The Eternal me Phoenix]** **[Mana Cost: 400]** **[Mastery: 4%]** **[Summons the Phoenix, an eternal bird of fire, to attack enemies. The summoned Phoenix¡¯s power is restricted.]** This fire-based magic was as powerful as his **Frozen World** spell, emitting intense heat. It would prove useful in certain situations. --- **[Intermediate Magic: Forceful Expulsion]** **[Mana Cost: 500]** **[Mastery: 5%]** **[Pushes opponents within a certain range away from the caster. This skill cannot be used again for 10 minutes.]**@@novelbin@@ Even Ainzhar was momentarily stunned by its force. The skill¡¯sck of warning impressed him. --- **[Intermediate Dark Magic: Gaph¡¯s Sturdy Boulder]** **[Mana Cost: 800 | Dark Energy Cost: 350]** **[Mastery: 3%]** **[Summons a massive, indestructible boulder from Gaph¡¯s realm to drop on enemies. Though weakened during summoning, it remains incredibly tough.]** A straightforward but powerful skill, this spell summoned a massive boulder that would crush opponents beneath its weight. Its simplicity and strength made it likely to see frequent use. --- **[Intermediate Dark Magic: Astaroth¡¯s Veil of Darkness]** **[Mana Cost: 400 | Dark Energy Cost: 300]** **[Mastery: 3%]** **[Cloaks the user in darkness from Astaroth¡¯s realm, significantly reducing iing damage.]** This defensive dark magic reduced damage by half. Though the duration was brief, the skill was highly versatile in certain scenarios. These were all highly practical skills. Typically, they would require extensivebat practice to master, but thanks to Ainzhar, Taesan quickly reached a level of proficiency suitable for actualbat. The most notable progress, however, was in his **Ak Weaponry** skill. --- **[Advanced Skill: Ak Weaponry]** **[Mastery: 60%]** **[A skill for mastering weapons and one¡¯s own body. With improved control, there is now no loss in the transmission of force, allowing slight variations in attack and defense. Even unfamiliar weapons can be wielded as if they were extensions of your body.]** At 60% mastery, Taesan could now wield weapons as naturally as his own limbs. He tested it by pulling out the scythe he had acquired as a hidden reward and could hold his ground against Ainzhar¡¯s attacks. This would certainly be useful in livebat. ¡°You¡¯ve reached 60% already? Remarkable.¡± Ainzhar chuckled as he praised Taesan. ¡°At this rate, you may reach 100% one day. Are you satisfied?¡± ¡°More than enough.¡± Ak Weaponry, the advanced skill that consolidated the power of all his equipment, was one of the most valuable abilities he had acquired. It had helped him ovee countless challenges. At the time, he¡¯d marveled at having such a skill, but he now understood. **Ak Weaponry** was a technique crafted by none other than Ainzhar. As an immortal, creating such a skill would not have been difficult for him. After their sparring session, Taesan informed Ainzhar of the uing return to Earth, exining that he might be away for some time. He also mentioned the descent of gods onto Earth. Ainzhar raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s intriguing. Gods and elder gods striking a deal? That¡¯s exceedingly rare.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Fundamentally, they¡¯re pr opposites. They inherently despise one another. For them to negotiate... it means there¡¯s something on Earth valuable enough to justify it.¡± Ainzhar looked at Taesan. ¡°And that something is probably you.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t deny it; he sensed it too. Ainzhar absentmindedly touched the hilt of his sword. ¡°I¡¯m truly grateful to you, Taesan. Thanks to you, I dared to hope for something I thought impossible. But... I have many questions.¡± The look in Ainzhar¡¯s eyes was filled with curiosity. ¡°What exactly is that power?¡± Taesan exined the source of his powers, including his **Spiritual Ascension**. Ainzhar, as one of the strongest among immortals, might hold some insights. Yet even Ainzhar could not exin **Spiritual Ascension**. ¡°I scoured countless worlds to find my goddess. Hundreds, even thousands of realms. I encountered countless powers, but none like yours.¡± An elder god¡¯s power could not be wielded by a being bound to thews of existence. It was a force that transcended thosews. **Spiritual Ascension** allowed Taesan to steal that power. Moreover, he could blend it with divinity to create a new power and even control it. While even gods could not harness such abilities, Taesan, not yet a true immortal, had managed to achieve it as a mortal. ¡°With power like that... why haven¡¯t you transcended yet? Why are you still confined within a physical form?¡± Ainzhar¡¯s questions were mostly rhetorical, musings that sought no answers. ¡°Taesan.¡± Ainzhar gazed at him steadily. ¡°What level have you truly reached?¡± --- After his conversation with Ainzhar, Taesan continued exploring the Library of All Things. With a week left, he didn¡¯t n to waste any time. ¡°I think I¡¯ve nearly exhausted the ces to search.¡± He had discovered a total of twenty-five secret rooms, matching exactly the number Lee Taeyeon had found. He¡¯d attempted to uncover any rooms she might have missed, but without sess. The secret rooms required abination of intuition and luck. If he couldn¡¯t find any more, he wouldn¡¯t be able to gain the floor''splete rewards. So he consulted Jorge. ¡°You only need to find one secret room to get the reward. Finding as many as you have is already unusual.¡± Jorge had looked at him with an exasperated expression, remarking that it was unusual to find so many. Even Ghost hadn¡¯t known about the existence of these rooms, so it wasn¡¯t unexpected. Since he would still receive the reward, Taesan saw no reason to spend more time looking for additional secret rooms. Yet he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something remained, something significant. His instincts nudged him forward, so he resumed his search through the bookshelves. With this kind of work being mindless and straightforward, Taesan had room to contemte Ainzhar¡¯s parting words. **¡®Level of mastery, huh.¡¯** Taesan knew he was an anomaly. He wielded power that gods could not, the force of an elder god. And though he felt mental strain, he hadn¡¯t sumbed to the corruption that had overtaken the goddess. **Spiritual Ascension** had even allowed him to steal abilities from the highest tier of immortals. But he was still mortal. Even as he became stronger, skirting the line of immortality, he had achieved everything while still bound by mortality. What level had he truly reached? This was a mystery even he could not answer. Reflecting on the memories he had absorbed from gods¡¯ mortal lives in the Library of All Things, Taesan noted that each had been driven by a single, all-consuming obsession. This was how they had achieved their domains and be gods in their own right. If that was the case, what was his own obsession? The answer eluded him. Pondering this, Taesan continued his search through the library. Atst, he found what he was seeking. *Click.* *Rumble...* He had found a shelf filled with magical tomes. As he removed a few, the shelf shifted. **[You¡¯ve found another one... You really are something else.]** Ghost muttered in awe. Taesan reached out toward the passageway. An energy spread subtly from the room, and he felt a watchful presence. Sensing the energy, Taesan identified the room¡¯s owner. **¡®The God of Magic, Jervand.¡¯** **[Secret Room of the God of Magic.]** **[Entry requires divine permission.]** Jervand observed him in silence. After a brief chuckle, the restrictive energy dissipated. Taesan stepped inside. The vast room contained only a single floating book. He reached out and grasped it, expecting to find another intermediate spell. But the system message took him by surprise. **[You have acquired an advanced spell: The Tome of Grand Copse.]** Chapter 383: The Sixth Return, Earth (1) [Wait a moment. Advanced Magic?] The ghost was taken aback. Taesan stared nkly at the book in his hand. [Advanced Magic: The Grimoire of Grand Copse.] [A grimoire that possesses advanced magic capable of copsing matter and space. Only those who have passed the qualifications and trials can wield its power.] Since entering the Labyrinth, Taesan had encountered many formidable opponents. Among them, there was only one who could use advanced magic. "Have you ever seen advanced magic?" [I have, but... they were all apostles of the God of Magic. The only other being who could wield it was the one you faced, Shayan. He was the first.] The five demonstrations of destruction that Shayan had wielded. Taesan was in a much stronger state now than when he had faced Shayan. Could he perfectly counter that power in his current form? The answer came swiftly. It was impossible. If it involved manipting boundaries, eternal faith, or anything beyond the threshold, he could block or counter it. But if not, it was impossible. Even if he did his utmost to defend, he would inevitably suffer damage. The value of advanced magic was iparable to that of intermediate magic. Now, an opportunity to obtain such power hade to Taesan. "What do you mean by qualifications?" [It means exactly what it says.] The voice resonated. It was not the ghost''s voice. A powerful being was revealing its presence through the medium of the book. "...O God of Magic." [Greetings, Adventurer.] "It''s been a while." Taesan quietly paid his respects. It had been quite some time since the God of Magic had spoken directly to him. The God of Magic epted Taesan''s greeting and continued. [Advanced magic holds significant meaning for me as well. Not everyone can obtain it. To gain it, one must possess legitimate qualifications.] "And the qualifications?" [It''s nothing particrly grand. Just that I find it pleasing. That''s all.] Jervand spoke as if it were nothing. [In that sense, you possess the qualifications. That is why I have opened the pathway for you.] "Did Shayan also please you?" The great mage Shayan, who had been a guide of sins, had also wielded advanced magic. [I did not like his ideology, but he was a child who dedicated everything to magic. If I do not embrace that poor child, who else will?] The God of Magic valued the passion for magic above all else. This could be seen in how he granted the talentless Lillis the opportunity to obtain magic by offering tributes. [Above all, that child unraveled something I had carelessly cast aside long ago with near-mad obsession. It was merely a backdoor. In contrast, you obtain it through legitimate qualifications.] "So, I must pass a trial for that." [Advanced magic holds that much value. From there, it approaches more fundamentalws. If youck the power to control it properly, it will devour you. Once you obtain it, you will understand.] "What is the content of the trial?" A trial to learn advanced magic. There was no reason to dy. Taesan intended to pass the trial immediately. The God of Magic smiled quietly. [First, finish what you have to do. You''re about to leave this ce, right?] "You know." The return to Earth was now less than a week away. [I¡¯m keeping a close watch on it as well. Solve things there. We can talk afterwards.] "Understood." [Then, I will be looking forward to it. Perhaps we may meet there.] With that, the presence of Jervand faded away. [A madman for magic granting advanced magic to someone who is not even his apostle...] The ghost muttered. However, it did not seem overly surprised. Having witnessed numerous events by Taesan''s side, the ghost had be so ustomed that it was no longer easily shocked. Taesan continued to roam the Library of All Things during the remaining time. He amassed knowledge and gathered information. asionally, he tried to interpret the grimoire of advanced magic, but it was as if it were locked away; he could read nothing. Time passed. Only a few hours remained until the return. [Kim Hwi-yeon [Hard]: Huh. Since it¡¯s the sixth time, I should be getting used to it, but I¡¯m still trembling.] [Geum Jung-geun [Hard]: It¡¯s only natural not to know what to expect. How about you, Jun-hyuk?] [Kang Jun-hyuk [Alron]: I¡¯m quite used to it. It seems like Lee Tae-yeon is a bit anxious, though.] [Lee Tae-yeon [Alron]: Ugh, it¡¯s noisy.] People were quietly soothing each other''s anxieties. Taesan asked Kim Hwi-yeon. [Kang Taesan [Alron]: How did the discussions with other countries go?] Since there was a high likelihood of meeting other countries again, it was better to exchange information beforehand. Above all, Taesan himself did not know much about the uing return. There had already been too many changes from his previous life. With those who should have been dead and countries that should have perished still remaining, the memories of his past life werergely useless. [Kim Hwi-yeon [Hard]: Taesan, that is...] Kim Hwi-yeon trailed off. [Kang Taesan [Alron]: It seems things didn''t go well.] [Kim Hwi-yeon [Hard]: No, we did manage to talk. We exchanged some information to a certain extent.] [Kang Taesan [Alron]: Then what''s the problem?] After a moment of contemtion, Kim Hwi-yeon posted again. [Kim Hwi-yeon [Hard]: They are distrustful of us.] The unexpected statement made Taesan pause. [Kang Taesan [Alron]: Distrustful?] [Kim Hwi-yeon [Hard]: Yes. And the reason... they say it¡¯s because of you, Taesan.] [Kang Taesan [Alron]: Because of me?] [Kim Hwi-yeon [Hard]: I think it would be quicker for you to see it directly in themunity rather than me exining.] Following Kim Hwi-yeon¡¯s suggestion, Taesan moved to themunity. There, yers from Korea and India appeared to be engaged in a heated discussion. [Lee Chae-a [Hard]: So, you¡¯re saying Taesan saved us! He¡¯s our savior! Why do you keep denying it!] [Gulshan Grover [Hard]: We are not denying it. As you say, Taesan must indeed be extraordinary.] [Lee Chae-a [Hard]: I know! So...!] [Gulshan Grover [Hard]: But do not impose that faith upon us. We did not worship a pitiful human like you.] [Sajid Khan [Hard]: How pathetic it is for humans to worship other humans.] [Lee Chae-a [Hard]: Wh-what?] The overall atmosphere of themunity was simr. The Korean yers spoke of Taesan''s greatness, while the yers from other countries expressed their aversion. They had onemon refrain. We survived through our own strength and have our own faith. We did not escape and shift everything onto someone else like you. "Is that so." Taesan understood what had happened. Goshin had focused his power on Taesan. As a result, yers from Korea, China, and Japan had been targeted heavily by Goshin''s power. Consequently, other countries had not received as much of Goshin''s power. Thus, they had the leisure to maintain their beliefs. The pride of being human could still be preserved. It didn¡¯t matter. They would learn during this return. As time flowed, the quest began. Taesan stepped into the space beyond. What appeared was a crumbled world and numerous yers. ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°Taesan!¡± Upon spotting Taesan, they rushed in with exmations. Bowing their heads, they offered absolute reverence. A deep, profound faith began to flow into Taesan. Receiving their worship, Taesan moved. --- * * * Kim Hwi-yeon organized the information of the survivors. Since she had roughly categorized it during the previous return, it did not take long. ¡°Surprisingly, the damage is small, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon murmured with a bright face. The number of deaths while breaking through thebyrinth since thest return was far fewer than she had expected. ¡°With the blessings of the gods we received, there shouldn''t be any deaths as long as we are cautious.¡± Taesan said. The blessings they had received from the gods were numerous. They were not insignificant even in Alron mode, let alone in other modes. ¡°How far have you advanced?¡± ¡°We just entered the 70th floor.¡± The hard mode yers had reached the 70th floor. It was indeed a fast pace. In his previous life, they had barely reached the 40th floor at this time. Now, memories of his past life were not particrly useful. ¡°However, the difficulty suddenly increases from here. I almost died after advancing carelessly.¡± ¡°Take it slow. From there, it¡¯s the real deal.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon nodded. Taesan then met with Geum Jung-geun, and sought out Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk. As Taesan drew his sword, the two raised their weapons in response. Taesan sparred with them. He refrained from using magic, dark magic, or even held back his swordsmanship as much as possible. He adjusted their stats to be equal , giving them a fair chance in the duel. ¡°Gah!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± However, they could not even graze the hem of Taesan¡¯s clothes. Kang Jun-hyuk grumbled, dusting himself off. ¡°We¡¯ve gotten a lot stronger, but we still can''tnd a hit.¡± ¡°You said you were getting close to thete 40s of the 40th floor?¡± ¡°Yes. At this rate, we will reach the 50th floor before long.¡± The 50th floor. For a moment, Taesan contemted what awaited there. ¡°There will be a vige on the 51st floor. A ce where the broken-hearted live. It¡¯s fine for a short rest, but be careful not to get lost in it.¡± ¡°A ce to rest...¡± Lee Tae-yeon muttered, sprawled on the ground. Unlike in her previous life, now she should be able to pass through the 51st floor without any issues. She had grown that strong. As Taesan briefly observed Lee Tae-yeon, he realized something. ¡®...What is that?¡¯ Within her, there was a mysterious power. It was a small force that could only be seen now, having barely surpassed mortality. It was different from a blessing. It was distinct from divine rewards. As Taesan briefly examined that power, he could understand. That was a link. Something was connected to Lee Tae-yeon. As Taesan stared at her intensely, Lee Tae-yeon subtly averted her gaze. ¡°W-What¡¯s wrong? Did something get on me?¡± Just as Taesan was about to ask her what it was, a quest window appeared. --- **[Special Quest Initiated]** [This quest is a joint quest of the continent.] [Designated continent: Asia.] [All yers of the designated country must gather in one location. Ovee the hardships encountered while gathering and meet yers from other countries.] [This quest has no time limit.] [The greater the impact on encounters between yers, the more points you will earn when returning to thebyrinth.] --- * * * A sudden quest window caused amotion. Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk also looked at the quest window. ¡°Across Asia? It suddenly got huge!¡± ¡°It will take a significant amount of time just to gather. Ah, Taesan, weren¡¯t you going to say something?¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan turned his gaze. The power within Lee Tae-yeon was too small to matter. It was not an issue that needed immediate attention.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Let¡¯s talkter.¡± He nned to sort everything out first before checking it properly. Taesan sought out Kim Hwi-yeon. She was quickly processing the sudden quest window with her mind. ¡°If it¡¯s the whole of Asia... it¡¯s too much. Ah! If I had known this would happen, I would have talked to more countries!¡± There were too many issues to sort out. Kim Hwi-yeon rapidly reviewed the quest details. And she realized one fact. ¡°The gathering ce is right here?¡± She sighed in relief at the fact that there was no need to move to another location. Taesan also checked the contents. ¡°Then this is it.¡± Taesan moved his body, stopping right in front of the sky. Those who saw Taesan bowed deeply in unison. As he received their faith, Taesan gathered his strength. This ce was the objective of the quest. There was no need to move elsewhere. In that case, it would be fine to establish a base here. Kiiing! A golden light burst forth into the world. It enveloped the heavens and the people. The light spread out towards the world, turning heads from afar. ¡°Oh, oh...¡± ¡°Ah...¡± People unknowingly knelt. An awe-inspiring feeling, as if witnessing a divine miracle, overtook their entire being. Taesan unleashed his power. The gold spread from the heavens, creating a realm. [You have activated the Creation of a Holy Land.] Chapter 384: The Sixth Return, Earth (2) A realm made of golden light manifested around the crumbled heavens. ¡°Whoa...¡± People instinctively sensed it. This was a realm created by Taesan. That golden light would protect them. As they shouted Taesan¡¯s name, they sent forth strong reverence. Their faith became the foundation that upheld the holynd. ¡°Hmm.¡± At the same time, Taesan realized. His standing, which had been on the boundary, was now pushing its way beyond that threshold. ¡®I might be able to reach it faster than I thought.¡¯ Taesan sought out Kim Hwi-yeon again. She was visibly astonished by the holynd Taesan had created. ¡°Taesan! What is that?!¡± ¡°A holynd.¡± ¡°A holynd?¡± ¡°Ordinary monsters cannot invade the holynd. And injuries will heal at a rapid pace within it. It will also prevent interference with the mind.¡± ¡°What about the duration?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t one. As long as you all continue to worship me unwaveringly, it will remain there forever.¡± ¡°...Now you really are a god.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon murmured in disbelief. She knew Taesan possessed otherworldly power, but to create a holynd was beyond her imagination. ¡°Enough of that. Let¡¯s sort things out. Which countries will being if they¡¯re gathering from all over Asia?¡± ¡°Ah, right.¡± With aposed expression, Kim Hwi-yeon began to speak. ¡°Based on what I confirmed in themunity, the countries gathering here will mainly be India and Russia.¡± During thest return, Korea, China, and Japan had clustered together at one location. Other countries were no different. Russia and Mongolia had grouped towards Russia, while the remaining countries had gathered in India. ¡°It¡¯s convenient that I don¡¯t have to worry about the details.¡± ¡°What will you do, Taesan?¡± Was she asking if he would assist them in finding their way like before? Taesan shook his head. ¡°I won¡¯t go help them. They¡¯ll arrive without any issues.¡± The rift in the sky was very quiet. Taesan recognized it as the calm before the storm. Goshin was gathering power to kill Taesan. In such a situation, it wouldn¡¯t waste its power targeting yers from other countries. From Goshin¡¯s perspective, everyone except Taesan was no more than dust. Taesan concluded that they would reach their destination without interference. ¡°Isn¡¯t there something to do? We¡¯re talking about at least hundreds of thousandsing, right?¡± ¡°Probably...?¡± ¡°Then where will we amodate all those people?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a problem as well.¡± Even now, there were quite a few people sleeping on the ground. If a poption the size of hundreds of thousands arrived, finding space for them would be a significant task. ¡°Isn¡¯t expanding the holynd difficult?¡± ¡°Impossible. The size of the holynd has its limits.¡± As the size of the holynd increased, the consumption of divinity grew exponentially. Considering the faith of the people, the limit was about twice the size of the heavens. Taesan rose from his seat. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Let¡¯s just clear somend.¡± ¡°...That doesn¡¯t sound very reasonable.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon replied with hesitation. Taesan stepped into the holynd he had created. The holynd had formed around the heavens. During the battle with the monsters, Baekdu Mountain had crumbled. The debris was still upying space. He would clean that up and return it to its original state. It wasn¡¯t difficult. The holynd was his domain. What he desired would be realized. He infused his will into his words. ¡°Return.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Regeneration.] Kugugugung!@@novelbin@@ ¡°Uh, uh?!¡± People resting in the holynd jolted awake in shock. The ground began to tremble. ¡°Whoa!¡± In the sudden chaos, people hurried outside of Baekdu Mountain. They gazed nkly at the mountain. Kugugugung... Cliffs began to rise, and the waters that had scattered in all directions started to rise into the air. Trees grew, and colors began to spring forth into the space. The crumbled Baekdu Mountain was rising once more. As the shaking subsided, people were left speechless. Baekdu Mountain, which hadpletely copsed and lost its form, regained its original shape. When the people reached the peak of Baekdu Mountain, the heavens were also as they once were. ¡°...O God.¡± Someone murmured in a voice that resembled a groan. Taesan then cleaned up other locations, not just the holynd. It was not difficult. Taesan, who had contracted with the Spirit King, could exert absolute influence over nature. With the power ofmand, he could easily turn the entirend upside down. In an instant, all obstacles that blocked his view disappeared. Space was created for hundreds of thousands of people to settle. The people did not cheer or exim in awe. They simply knelt quietly and offered prayers to Taesan. A pure faith, free from any impurities, enveloped Taesan¡¯s entire being. Time passed, and they arrived. --- * * * ¡°They¡¯vee.¡± ¡°Heh, heh.¡± Taesan halted his sword. Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk copsed in exhaustion. Taesan was gazing toward the distance. The two, finally calming their breaths, turned their eyes in the direction Taesan was looking. ¡°...There¡¯s nothing there?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not seeing it because it¡¯s outside your view. Tell Kim Hwi-yeon to get ready; they¡¯ll be arriving soon.¡± ¡°Yes...¡± Lee Tae-yeon staggered to her feet and headed toward Kim Hwi-yeon. Not long after, Kim Hwi-yeon and the other leading yers stared at the direction Taesan had indicated with tense faces. Soon, the approaching figures drew near enough for them to discern. ¡°What¡¯s with all these people?¡± ¡°Wait a minute. How many are there?¡± People were aghast. They couldn¡¯t count the numbers. It was literally endless. Even when they first met the Chinese, they had been overwhelmed by the numbers, but this time it was even greater. The people waited nervously for them to approach. As those figures drew closer, they stopped at a certain distance. ¡°...Huh?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon¡¯s eyes widened. The others were establishing their own camp while keeping their distance. ¡°What are they doing?¡± It was quite strange. They were survivors from a perished world. Even if survivors excluded each other for their own gain, they had never kept their distance like this. Yet this time, they seemed to be intentionally avoiding contact, setting up camp at a distance. This bewildered Kim Hwi-yeon. She couldn¡¯t fathom what the other party was thinking. As she hesitated, unable to make a decision, someone approached from their side. He was a man who looked somewhat frail. Approaching alone, he quietly spoke. ¡°I am Kamal Hassan, an Alron mode yer and the leader of the Asian Alliance from India.¡± ¡°The Asian Alliance?¡± ¡°A group formed primarily around my country, India. We¡¯re calling it that since we don¡¯t have a proper name.¡± Hassan said this and fell silent. Kim Hwi-yeon steadied her surprise and spoke. ¡°I¡¯m the leader from Korea. Kim Hwi-yeon.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. Are you the leader of this group?¡± ¡°For now, that is the situation.¡± Hassan nced behind Kim Hwi-yeon. There was the golden holynd. Hassan¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Did you create that...?¡± ¡°Eh? No, that was made by Kang Taesan over there.¡± ¡°Kang Taesan...¡± Hassan looked at Taesan. After pondering something alone, he spoke. ¡°I havee to talk with you. Would that be alright?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon nodded vigorously. In a situation where the other party was keeping their distance and unsure of what to do, a leader had approached them. Kim Hwi-yeon intended to extract information no matter what. ¡°May I ask why you are keeping your distance from us? It would be better to join forces if monsters appear...¡± ¡°I think so as well.¡± Hassan smiled wryly. ¡°However, there are those who refuse that. I am in a position where I can do nothing.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon was taken aback by Hassan¡¯s words. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were a leader? But you can¡¯t force others when some refuse? What do you mean by that?¡± If it was something everyone opposed, that would be one thing, but for the leader to have to bow to the wishes of a minority was iprehensible to Kim Hwi-yeon. ¡°...Ick power.¡± Hassan closed his mouth with a depressed expression. Kim Hwi-yeon wanted to ask more, but Hassan wouldn¡¯t respond any further. She led Hassan toward the holynd. Those who saw Taesan knelt and offered their prayers. As Hassan observed their demeanor, he spoke. ¡°All of them worship you, just like themunity said, Taesan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Taesan saved us. If it weren¡¯t for Taesan, none of us would have survived.¡± It was no empty talk. The monsters that appeared were beings they couldn¡¯t contend with. Without Taesan, no living creature could exist in thisnd. However, Hassan appeared troubled by that statement. He looked at Kim Hwi-yeon. ¡°You¡¯re a hard mode yer, right? How far have you advanced?¡± ¡°I just reached the 70th floor.¡± Hassan¡¯s pupils widened. ¡°Se ventieth floor?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon tilted her head. It wasn¡¯t such a surprising level, in her opinion. A considerable number of hard mode yers had reached the same level as her. But Hassan looked as if he had heard of an impossible feat. After struggling to regain hisposure, Hassan asked again. ¡°It seems you¡¯re an Alron mode yer, but could you tell me how far you are?¡± ¡°What level are you at? I heardst time you were at the 77th floor.¡± ¡°78th floor.¡± ¡°Wow. You¡¯re fast indeed.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon couldn¡¯t help but express admiration. However, Hassan¡¯s reaction was even greater. His eyes grew wide in astonishment. ¡°Seventy-eighth floor...?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon tilted her head. Hassan couldn¡¯t close his mouth. ¡°Just how... did you reach that point...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just Taesan. yers Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk are also clearing Alron mode at a rapid pace.¡± ¡°Are they...?¡± ¡°About thete 40s? I think so.¡± Hassan was left speechless. ¡®What is this...?¡¯ He had just entered the early 40s of Alron mode. And the other hard mode yers from India had only just reached the 60th floor. It was an overwhelming difference. ¡®...And yet, you¡¯re saying that without Kang Taesan, you would have been annihted?¡¯ ¡°Uh, why do you look like that?¡± A momentary look of fear shed across Hassan¡¯s face. Kim Hwi-yeon cautiously inquired. Hassan hurriedlyposed himself. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Her confusion about his inexplicable reaction deepened. She couldn¡¯t fathom Hassan¡¯s thoughts at all. ¡°This is it.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon brought Hassan right in front of the holynd. As Hassan stared nkly at the golden realm, he asked. ¡°May I enter it once?¡± ¡°Do as you please.¡± Taesan replied. Hassan stepped into the holynd. ¡°Ah.¡± Hassan involuntarily let out a groan. The golden aura enveloped his entire being. A sense of fullness he had never felt before surged within him, and the fatigue of his mind vanishedpletely. ¡®This is...¡¯ Power that felt unhuman. Hassan stared nkly at Taesan. --- * * * ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon grumbled. Hassan stood there, still in shock for a long time before quietly leaving. Kim Hwi-yeon tried to grab him, but it was futile. She had no idea what the other party was thinking or what they desired. ¡°Are you thinking about cooperating with us or not?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Taesan replied calmly. Before long, the yers from Russia and Mongolia also arrived. Unlike the Indian yers, they did not keep their distance at all. However, their gazes were not particrly friendly either. While it wasn¡¯t clear exactly because they hadn¡¯t had a detailed conversation yet, Kim Hwi-yeon sensed an air of contempt and disdain directed at them. In the midst of the confusion, all yers gathered. Quietly, a system window appeared. --- **[Special Quest Initiated]** [The first wave is beginning.] [Preparation time: one week.] [Defeat all attacking monsters.] [Rewards upon return to thebyrinth will be distributed based on performance.] Chapter 385: (Side Story). The Dying Earth. Lee Taeyeon (5) ¡°Isn¡¯t that pretty? I got it from the art gallery this time.¡± At the tip of her finger was a massive portrait. A portrait four times the size of a human torso. Taesan sighed. ¡°Why is it that a woman like you is the strongest human?¡± Lee Tae-yeon smiled brightly. ¡°In situations like this, obsession with something is important. Why don¡¯t you pick up a hobby like me? I used to think art was meaningless in the previous world, but now I see there¡¯s a charm to it. Just look at this portrait I brought...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s save that forter.¡± Taesan interrupted her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± She was trying to appear calm, but her mouth was parched with anxiety. What had juste to mind were mere words she had blurted out without any concrete thoughts or ns. To conceal her fluster, she continued speaking. ¡°The little brat from hard mode. I heard you trained him?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one else to do it but me.¡± ¡°Right, a hard yer training an easy yer. It¡¯s a strange story, no matter how you look at it.¡± Lee Tae-yeon looked at Taesan before speaking. ¡°Status window.¡± Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s status window appeared. --- **[Lee Tae-yeon]** **[Level: 258]** **[Health: 45,810/45,810]** **[Mana: 7,020/7,020]** **[Strength: 10,152]** **[Intelligence: 9,899]** **[Agility: 13,254]** **[Attack Power + 5,421]** **[Defense Power + 8,456]** **[Target is in a state of fear.]** --- To anyone else, those stats would be astonishing. Her light attacks would rival the full power of a hard mode yer. Seeing such a status window, Taesan had a sullen expression. ¡°Are you bragging?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a simple confirmation. Taesan, show me your status window too.¡± ¡°That is bragging. How can an easy yer live with such shame?¡± Taesan grumbled and opened his status window. --- **[Kang Taesan]** **[Level: 57]** **[Health: 1,021/1,021]** **[Mana: 820/820]** **[Strength: 105]** **[Intelligence: 100]** **[Agility: 98]** **[Attack Power + 49]** **[Defense Power + 58]** **[Target is in optimal condition.]**@@novelbin@@ --- Lee Tae-yeon nodded. ¡°You really are weak.¡± Taesan frowned. ¡°Are you challenging me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a simple confirmation, okay? Still, that¡¯s pretty decent. Most easy yers have stats far worse than yours. In terms of mana, you¡¯re among the upper echelon even among normal yers.¡± While Taesan was very weak, at the same time, he was strong. It was all due to the skills he possessed. After a brief conversation, Lee Tae-yeon looked at Taesan and raised her fist. ¡°Hold on a moment.¡± [Lee Tae-yeon activated Addition. Half of the base attack power is added.] [Lee Tae-yeon activated Plus. Current attack power is doubled.] [Lee Tae-yeon activated Guaranteed Hit. This attack will definitely hit.] [Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s attack.] The damage dealt could easily kill Taesan ten times over. [The first attack of Kang Taesan¡¯s Absolute Nullification has been activated.] [0 damage to Kang Taesan.] But only a brief system window appeared. Taesan didn¡¯t even take a defensive stance. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°...Just nothing.¡± Lee Tae-yeon smiled wryly. The ultimate uracy skill, Guaranteed Hit. It was one of her top five skills, yet it was utterly useless against Taesan. ¡°Absolute Nullification, absolute judgment, multiplication, multi-ovepping attack, copying, simplified time stop... They¡¯re all absurd skills.¡± Skills that could make anyone a top-tier yer if they only had one. Taesan had over two hundred of such skills. That was how he had survived thus far, overwhelming everyone despite his poor stats. ¡°You said you obtained those skills while ying the tower, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a tower; it¡¯s abyrinth. Why would a ce for going down be called a tower?¡± ¡°Most people, except you, call it that. What does it matter? Just answer me.¡± ¡°Right. You can obtain skills regardless of difficulty.¡± Lee Tae-yeon lowered her head and pondered. ¡°We should have properly understood the tower like you did. We should have focused on bing stronger to the limit instead of just being obsessed with clearing it...¡± They hadn¡¯t been able to do that. Out of fear, they had be obsessed with clearing thebyrinth quickly and escaping, missing out on most of the elements that could help them grow stronger. Lee Tae-yeon btedly realized this simple fact. ¡®No.¡¯ Even if she hadn¡¯t been obsessed with clearing it and had aimed for other means, would it have been possible? It was impossible. She could not be that kind of person. She was still too scared to attempt clearing thebyrinth again. ¡°Who knows?¡± Taesan¡¯s attitude was indifferent, as if he thought the same way. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true.¡± Lee Tae-yeon refuted Taesan¡¯s words. Taesan looked at her with a puzzled expression, but she changed the subject instead of answering. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re amazing. If you had yed in Alron mode, we might have been able to win.¡± True. If Taesan had cleared Alron mode instead of easy mode. He could have defeated the apostles. It would have been entirely possible for him. Taesan waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Can we stop talking about that? Get to the point. Didn¡¯t you go scout?¡± ¡°Right.¡± Lee Tae-yeon said with a serious face. ¡°The next wave is starting soon.¡± Taesan frowned. ¡°How many monsters?¡± ¡°Two S-ranks. Several A-ranks. Hundreds of B-ranks. And an apostle.¡± Lee Tae-yeon said calmly. Taesan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± The S-ranks were monsters that even Lee Tae-yeon could barely handle. And there were two of them. Moreover, with several A-ranks, there were only a little over twenty hard yers capable of facing A-ranks. And then, there was the apostle. Something beyond S-rank, an alien entity. Defeat was virtually certain. ¡°But we have to at least put up a fight. Taesan, you deal with the two S-ranks.¡± ¡°What?¡± Taesan chuckled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re telling me to die?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one else to deal with the S-ranks. I¡¯m too busy with the apostle to worry about them. You know that.¡± ¡°Come on, give me a break.¡± Taesanined but didn¡¯t refuse. He turned his body. ¡°Are you going to notify everyone?¡± ¡°At the very least, we should prepare them mentally. Should I let them die without knowing anything?¡± ¡°Maybe that would be happier for them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Taesan stepped outside. Lee Tae-yeon, left alone, muttered. ¡°Taesan, you¡¯re strong. You could lead us to victory.¡± She wore a bittersweet smile. ¡°But I¡¯m a coward.¡± In her hand was a dark, rough stone. --- * * * In the end, she couldn¡¯t say it. Even while meeting Taesan, she failed toe to a conclusion. ¡°Hahaha. Hahaha...¡± She burst into a deepugh, filled with despair and self-loathing. ¡°...I need to prepare.¡± After a while of staring nkly, she stood up. She bid farewell to the people and traveled far from the city to the vicinity of the rift. The apostle was far stronger than she was. Just the aftermath of the battle would lead to the deaths of all those around her. She had no choice but to fight alone. The power emanating from the rift was growing denser. Within a few minutes, she knew monsters would descend. [You have activated a Thousand Possibilities.] Escaping reality, she activated the skill once again. But simrly, the answer did not emerge. ¡°What am I trying to do?¡± She blurted out. She didn¡¯t even know herself. She was still dying her choice. Lee Tae-yeon stared nkly at the rift. If Taesan used the Ouroboros Stone to return to before entering thebyrinth, he would choose Alron mode. And he would descend into thebyrinth, risking his life to grow stronger. If that happened, he could defeat the apostle alone. But the consumable item, the Stone, could not be passed on to anyone. Consumable items could only be transferred if the holder died while still possessing it. In that instant, a chill ran down her spine. If she died, Taesan would be able to obtain the Stone. ¡°Why...?¡± How could she have not recalled such a simple fact? She found it easy to understand the reason. She had consciously erased it from her mind. In the end, giving the Stone to Taesan meant that she would meet her end. Afraid of death, she had blocked that possibility. But now she recalled that truth. ¡°...¡± [You have activated a Thousand Possibilities.] This time, the skill did not simte her battle with the apostle. It was determining whether Taesan could obtain the Ouroboros Stone after her death. ¡°Ah.¡± The activation of the skill ended. There was no need to fill it a thousand times. The answer was possible. As long as a few conditions were met, it would be possible to transfer the Stone to Taesan. ¡°I...¡± Kuwuuung! Her thoughts could not continue. The power of the rift exploded. Countless monsters began to descend upon the earth. ¡°Ah, ah.¡± And among them, the writhing entity¡ªthe apostle. It was clearly staring at Lee Tae-yeon. Wriggle. The apostle approached Lee Tae-yeon. She erased all thoughts from her mind, turning every organ in her body into a state to defeat the enemy. The other monsters headed straight for the city. Only the apostle and Lee Tae-yeon remained. As Lee Tae-yeon tensed her entire body, the form of the apostle changed. The entity expanded, beginning to engulf the world. She nted her feet firmly, pulling out all her cards, and charged at the apostle. --- * * * Boom! She gave it her all. Pressing the apostle with everything she had. As a result, the apostle slowly began to yield to her. Despite having the upper hand in the battle, Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s expression was far from bright. Having already seen the possibilities, she knew this was a meaningless process. Wriggle. In an instant, the apostle¡¯s form twisted. The apostle transformed into a human shape, draped in robes. It wielded a massive scythe. The human-shaped apostle moved its scythe. Lee Tae-yeon sensed it. If she remained still, she would die. But if she tried to move normally to avoid it, that too would lead to the same oue. Her ring shone, and Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s body moved back. The very space she upied was sliced away. ¡°...Hah.¡± The only reason she had avoided that recent attack was sheer luck. Even if she were to try to dodge again, she couldn¡¯t guarantee sess. That was the true power of the apostle. The scythe swung again. Dozens of spaces were simultaneously sliced away. Lee Tae-yeon gasped and leaped. She resisted desperately. Attempting to im victory against an overwhelmingly powerful enemy. That was undoubtedly a great challenge. But even so, it could not turn the impossible into the possible. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The scythe swung. Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s body was severed. In that moment, her body transcended space. Kwajik. At that instant, the ring shattered. Lee Tae-yeon clenched her fist, her face pale as a ghost. Almost all her equipment had been depleted. The precious items she had cherished had all been used in the previous wave. Even if victory seemed impossible, she fought desperately. And the apostle mocked her by transforming its shape. It became a woman wielding a bow, drawing the string. An arrow pierced the air. Lee Tae-yeon raised her shield. Kwajik. ¡°Guh.¡± As the shield shattered, Lee Tae-yeon tumbled to the ground. She tried to rise with her trembling legs, but her body wouldn¡¯t respond. She couldn¡¯t win. She had to run away. With shaking arms, she opened her inventory. [You have activated Designated Move.] Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s body was summoned to the center of the ruined city. ¡°Sorry. I couldn¡¯t win. If the apostlees, everyone should run away...¡± She opened her mouth to warn, but her words could not continue. There was no one there. Only destroyed buildings and scattered corpses remained. In an instant, as she surveyed her surroundings, Lee Tae-yeon realized. Everyone had died. She was the only one left. ¡°...That can¡¯t be.¡± Lee Tae-yeon raised her gaze. From afar, she sensed one remaining life and the powerful monster lurking invisibly. It was Taesan. She recognized it. But Taesan¡¯s condition was not good either. Even if he somehow defeated the monster he was facing, he would surely be in a state of near death. ¡°Hahaha...¡± A sorrowfulugh escaped her. The only survivors on Earth were herself and Taesan. Humanity had perished. ¡°Who are you...?¡± Deep, thick emotions flowed from within her. The surge of emotions shattered and trampled the objects around her. She clenched her fists. She wanted revenge. She wanted to sink her teeth into their neck and seize their ankles. She wanted to ruin the enemy¡¯s ns. But she was insufficient. Shecked the strength and willpower for that. ¡°...¡± Lee Tae-yeon raised her gaze. Over there, a battle was still raging. Kang Taesan. Against two low-tier S-ranks, he was still alive. In fact, he had even managed to bring one down. He was performing an impossible feat. It was beyond her. But Taesan was different. [You have activated a Thousand Possibilities.] Could he find the Ouroboros Stone after her death? The first attempt. Sess. The answer came on the very first try out of a thousand. Then, all that remained was her determination. ¡°...I¡¯m sorry. Taesan. I¡¯m making you take on the burden.¡± She murmured quietly. The dreadful energy arrived before her. As the apostle attacked, she swung her sword. Until the very end, Lee Tae-yeon did not give up. Rolling on the ground, choking on dust, she fought for victory. But before long, she crumbled. ¡°Ahhh!¡± She was mmed into the earth. Blood gushed from her mouth. There was no means of survival left. She had used all the skills and items she possessed. The apostle slowly approached her. In her panic, she fumbled for the Stone. The apostle transformed into a figure resembling a grim reaper, holding a scythe, and smiled wickedly. When that scythe swung, she would die. Fear enveloped her. She didn¡¯t want to die. She wanted to survive. And the way to do that was in her hand. If she used the Stone, she could live. She could escape right now. She could abandon everyone and find her own peace. Her survival instincts, the very drive that had allowed her to clear thebyrinth, urged her to use the Stone. ¡°Shut up...¡± But she endured. Crying silently, trembling all over, she suppressed her instincts. The scythe drew a line in the air. She closed her eyes. [You take @#!!!!# damage.] [You have died.] And so she died. . . . [An orb that holds something has activated.] [......The power is manifesting. In return, the interference domain of ...... is reduced.] And her consciousness surged up. --- * * * ¡°Eh?¡± Lee Tae-yeon opened her eyes in surprise. She was in a ck space. Dense and cool, yet simultaneously a gentle sensation enveloped Lee Tae-yeon. It felt like being cradled in a mother¡¯s embrace. ¡°Uh, huh?¡± She looked at her limbs. She could feel her entire body. ¡°...Why?¡± Kwajik. She heard something shatter. She hastily looked at her hands. Therey a broken orb, devoid of light. ¡°This is...¡± As she briefly sifted through her memories, she quickly realized. This orb was given to her by the mysterious voice before leaving thebyrinth. Just as she was grasping the situation, the voice echoed. [Are youing to your senses?] She quickly turned her head. Before her stood something enormous. ¡°Ah.¡± In that moment, she was overwhelmed. It was a presence more powerful, thicker, and higher than anything she had ever seen. ¡°...Oh God.¡± [Yes, child. I have called you.] The deity chuckled. It was a voice filled with genuine delight. ¡°You were... a god.¡± The true identity of the voice that had been watching her in thebyrinth was that of a transcendent being. Having anticipated it to some degree, she quickly regained herposure. [I was watching you through that orb. Until your very end.] ¡°Ugh.¡± She had certainly died. She clearly remembered the cold death that had consumed her. As chills crept down her spine, she shrank back. The deity quietly allowed her to be. [Have you calmed down?] ¡°Yes, yes...¡± She slowly raised her gaze. ¡°Did you save me?¡± [I did not save you. Your physical body is dead over there. That ce is a world dominated by Goshin. Even for us, interference is difficult. But... if you prepare in advance, I can bring back a soul that has lost its body.] ¡°...Why?¡± Lee Tae-yeon asked the deity. Why did you save my soul? She spoke in a grim voice. ¡°I am nothing. I was lucky to clear this ce, but in the end, I¡¯m just a coward who pushed the choice onto others.¡± In reality, the deities had despised Lee Tae-yeon. They ignored her, branding her a coward. The deityughed. [Yes. For me, that¡¯s a blessing. Thanks to you, I can obtain such a precious talent without anypetition.] ¡°You... will obtain me?¡± [A bright me that seems ready to burn the world is undoubtedly beautiful. The sight of it burning brightly while consuming itself is enchanting. But I am not interested in such things.] The deity spoke. The voice was full of exuberance, radiating ecstasy. [Even if it¡¯s a dying ember, it will struggle to growrger to avoid extinguishing. Even if it gets sullied by mud and no one cares for it, it will burn itself alone, illuminating the world. And that tiny ember... will connect to someone and be a me that burns the world.] With those words, a space opened up. Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s eyes widened. Beyond the space, she saw Taesan and the apostle. Taesan was fighting desperately. [He will be that me. A unique me that shines brighter than any other.] The deity looked at Lee Tae-yeon. [But it was your choice that made it possible. Other gods won¡¯t care for you, but I am different.] ¡°...¡± [You are a truly fascinating being.] Whaty behind those words was admiration and awe. [You struggled more than anyone else. Between yourself and others. Unable to choose either, you wanted to run away. But you couldn¡¯t. You desperately tried to help others and live together with them. And in the end, you chose to give up yourself for others. That agony and emotion¡ªI know it all. You¡¯ve done well, child.] ¡°...Ugh.¡± A transcendent being, greater than anything, acknowledged her. It understood her, who had always been despised and suffered. Lee Tae-yeon quietly sobbed. The deity spoke gently. [Child, will you be my apostle?] ¡°Yes?¡± [Not just any ordinary apostle. I wish for you to stand by my side. A being like you is worthy of that.] Apostle. The seat next to the deity. Lee Tae-yeon was taken aback by such an unexpected event. But she paused at the deity¡¯s next words. [If you be my apostle... you may see him again. And you will also be able to confirm the results of your sacrifice.] ¡°Confirm... what?¡± [I am a god. I am a being that is not affected by the flow of time. If you contract with me, you will also somewhat escape that flow.] ¡°Does that mean... I could go back in time?¡± For a moment, fear crossed Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s face. To have to clear thatbyrinth again. She had already died, but even so, it was an experience she found revolting. The deity spoke softly. [It¡¯s simr, but different. Because you will lose all your memories, and all your powers will vanish. You won¡¯t have your own domain.] ¡°Then what does that even mean?¡± [It¡¯s different. Even if time goes back, the contract of the apostle will not be broken. If there is an opportunity... you may be able to regain your memories.] ¡°...¡± Lee Tae-yeon fell silent. Her head was incredibly muddled. She turned her gaze beyond the space. Taesan, pushed back by the apostle, was mmed to the ground. Seeing the apostle approaching him, Taesan activated the Simple Time Stop. [You can obtain peace just like this. You are worthy of that. But if you have lingering feelings... you can confirm the results of your sacrifice. Everything is your choice.] Lee Tae-yeon stared nkly at the deity. ¡°Who are you?¡± The deity smiled and answered. After hearing the response, Lee Tae-yeon bowed her head. Time passed. Taesan, crawling toward Lee Tae-yeon¡¯s corpse, grabbed the Stone. And at the same time, Lee Tae-yeon opened her mouth. The deity softlyughed. His power enveloped Lee Tae-yeon. Chapter 386: The Sixth Return, Earth (3) A weekter, the wave would begin. The faces of the people hardened as they started preparing for it, looking tense and serious. The first step in their preparation was to establish connections with other groups. In the case of India, since they hadn¡¯t properlymunicated with them, it was essential to first talk to the groups from North Asia. Fortunately, unlike India, they readily epted the proposal. A few hard mode yers, including Kim Hwi-yeon, met with Kang Taesan and several yers from North Asia. ¡°I am the leader of this group and an Erelon mode yer from Russia. Viktor Stanichin. Just call me Viktor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Kim Hwi-yeon. I¡¯m a hard mode yer.¡± ¡°Hard mode?¡± Viktor tilted his head slightly in confusion. ¡°I thought there were quite a few Erelon mode yers among you. Why are you the leader?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to be the leader.¡± Taesan replied calmly, and Viktor turned his gaze to him. ¡°...Are you the one that Oliver spoke about?¡± ¡°Oliver? You mean Oliver Khan?¡± ¡°We were friends long before this world became what it is now. We shared many conversations, most of which were about you.¡± Viktor quietly looked at Taesan and spoke. ¡°We are willing to cooperate with you. To be precise, we will move ording to your will. In this situation, it is better to act under one clear leader than to have multiple leaders.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, as our numbers are not great. Compared to you, we are pitifully small.¡± North Asia originally had a sparse poption. Even with Russia included, they had barely as many as Japan. Viktor spoke calmly. ¡°Therger group consumes the smaller group. That¡¯s only natural.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon sighed in relief. Seeing the Indian yers reject them made her think that the Russians might be simr, but fortunately, the talks were going well. ¡°However, there is one condition.¡± ¡°A condition...?¡± ¡°I want to test Kang Taesan. The one Oliver Khan spoke of as the strongest yer on Earth.¡± Taesan gazed at him nkly. Viktor sent a distrustful look toward Taesan. ¡°...You¡¯re the one he mentioned, right?¡± ¡°Oliver said that the monster named Amelia was so strong that we couldn¡¯t defeat it even if all the yers from America joined forces.¡± Viktor was not convinced by that im. ¡°If you¡¯re that strong, howe you¡¯re only able to survive to this extent?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because...¡± Kim Hwi-yeon struggled to find the words. Even if she exined that it was due to the overwhelming monsters, it wouldn¡¯t be taken seriously. Viktor spoke with intensity. ¡°We came here with all our strength. We defeated monsters, and we arrived here without relying on anyone. We survived as humans.¡± His voice was filled with deep pride. Kim Hwi-yeon couldn¡¯t understand that. ¡°...How can you have such pride?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How can you still afford to have that kind of pride?¡± They had no room for such pride. In the face of terrible despair, they had been too busy just surviving, and without relying on Taesan, they would all have gone insane. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°...Never mind.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon kept quiet and looked at Taesan. He nodded. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. What will you do?¡± ¡°Come with me.¡± Viktor stood up. Following him, they arrived where numerous yers were waiting. ¡°All those here are hard mode yers. Among them, about three thousand are at the top tier. You just have to endure their attacks for an hour.¡± Viktor exined, as if justifying the request. ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯s too much. Ultimately, we must entrust our lives to you. I want to see your full strength firsthand.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough.¡± Taesan murmured as he shook his arms. ¡°Can we start?¡± Viktor, surprised by theck of hesitation, responded. ¡°Don¡¯t you need any preparation time?¡± ¡°Why would I need that? We only have a week left. Let¡¯s finish this quickly, so let¡¯s get started.¡± ¡°...¡± For a moment, Viktor''s mind raced with the thought of whether this was truly happening. ¡®...No.¡¯ But he quickly dismissed the thought. He himself had descended to the 35th floor of the Erelon mode, and even defeating a hundred hard mode yers would be a challenge. Let alone the three thousand hard mode yers present here. No matter how strong Taesan was, he could not defeat them all. ¡°Then.¡± [The group duel has been established.] Viktor gripped his weapon with a tense expression. Given the scale of the fight, there were plenty of spectators. yers from Southeast Asia and North Asia watched with bated breath. [Duel Start.] Viktor leaped. The other hard mode yers all charged at Taesan. In an instant, Taesan¡¯s form vanished. ¡°What?¡± Viktor¡¯s eyes widened, and at the same time, his body flew through the air. It wasn¡¯t just him. Dozens of hard mode yers charging in were all flying away. ¡°What the...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly.¡± Taesan kicked the ground. At first, the spectators gasped in awe, but as time passed, they fell silent. Within less than ten minutes, all three thousand hard mode yers were knocked out. Afterward, Viktor said nothing about Taesan. --- * * * ¡°They are different from us. I told you, right?¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Indeed.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon lowered her head with a bitter expression at Taesan¡¯s words. Korea was in a state where Goshin¡¯s power was concentrated significantly. And as such, the people from other regions were quite rxed. They had the leisure to not abandon the pride and aplishments they had built. Even though they were all facing Goshin''s invasion on the same, their situations were entirely different. yers from other regions who believed they could survive by working together could not understand those who followed Taesan. Seeing them worship and rely on Taesan, they thought them weak and foolish. ¡°You can curse me. In a way, it¡¯s my fault.¡± ¡°No. It was bound to happen at some point. Thanks to you, we experienced it in advance, so it¡¯s actually a blessing. But... India is likely rejecting us for the same reason, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s likely.¡± In the case of Russia, their numbers were very small. Their leader was close to Oliver, and they had already heard stories about him. Thus, some coordination was possible. But India was different. Their numbers were not insignificantpared to them. They had no reason toe in at a disadvantage like Russia. And unlike Viktor, they had probably only received information about Taesan through themunity. Kim Hwi-yeon now understood why the Indian leader had shown such an attitude. ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°...Still, we are all survivors. If we leave it like this, it will be dangerous.¡± The uing wave would be unlike any they had faced before. Kim Hwi-yeon clenched her fist. ¡°I have to find a way to talk to them.¡± ¡°Do your best.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon kept her promise. She began to gather information by observing the Indian yers, who had maintained a considerable distance. As a result, she was able to learn a few things. First, their leader. Han appeared to have a weak influence. He was busy moving about here and there, but the people showed no sign of following his lead. Rather, they listened more attentively to the words of several yers dressedvishly. Yet, they didn¡¯t seem stronger than Han. In order to figure out the reason, Kim Hwi-yeon focused on observing them, discovering another fact. ¡°What? Are they still believing in religion?¡± ¡°It looks like it¡¯s Hinduism.¡± There were quite a few of them. The majority of the yers they observed seemed to still believe in Hinduism. It was something she couldn¡¯tprehend at all. Ultimately, Kim Hwi-yeon made a decision after much deliberation. She would approach them directly. She, along with Kim Jung-geun and a few hard mode yers, approached them. ¡°Everyone! I am the leader of Korea, Kim Hwi-yeon!¡± In front of their encampment, she shouted desperately. ¡°The wave will start soon! It will be very different from what you¡¯ve experienced! We need toe together and prepare!¡± But no one listened. A few nced her way, but that was the extent of their reaction. It was as if they were disregarding her entirely, treating her like she didn¡¯t exist. It felt as though engaging with them would bring down severe punishment. Just as Kim Hwi-yeon was about to give up and try again. ¡°How noisy.¡± A person emerged from among the crowd. He was dressed in a remarkably extravagant manner. Adorned with luxury that was out of ce in the current situation, he looked like a nouveau riche with a ne made of jewels. ¡°...Who are you?¡± ¡°I am a Brahmin.¡± The caste system of India sprang to Kim Hwi-yeon¡¯s mind. The highest caste was the Brahmins. The man before her held considerable influence. Kim Hwi-yeon resolved to persuade him. ¡°I understand that you have been victorious thus far. But this time, it is different. With us...¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± He interrupted her. Clicking his tongue, he gave her a look full of disdain. ¡°You, who are weak, cowardly, and untrustworthy, I won¡¯t talk with you.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°Worshipping a human as if he is a deity. How shameful. Do you dare to speak to us?¡± His expression dripped with limitless contempt and scorn. Kim Hwi-yeon¡¯s face hardened. ¡°You are weak, so you only look to someone to help you. I won¡¯t let you work with such weaklings. Leave.¡± ¡°...You!¡± The face of the hard mode yer behind her flushed red. It was an insult to their lives and struggles. They could not overlook such mockery. But Kim Hwi-yeon raised her hand to block him. She asked with a firm face. ¡°Clearly, you don¡¯t have any intention of talking to us. Where is Han?¡± ¡°...Han, you mean.¡± The man frowned. ¡°I asked him to bring some information, yet it seems he only brought useless chatter. This is why the lowly ones can¡¯t be trusted.¡± Han imed to be their leader. But now, the man¡¯s attitude showed no respect or esteem toward him. ¡°He is our leader. I can¡¯t let you speak with him. I won¡¯t allow it. Go back.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon found it absurd. If that was the case, then what was the purpose ofing to meet them alone? Before she could press the issue, the man turned away as if there was nothing more to say. ¡°If the wave starts, you who are unable to survive without relying on anyone will perish. I have no interest in speaking with the dead. If you survive, I may listen to you a little.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon let out a hollowugh. --- * * * Kim Hwi-yeon returned empty-handed. She was not the only one to attempt conversation. Other hard mode yers, as well as Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk, had also tried to engage with them. But each time, the samevishly dressed individuals iming to be Brahmins appeared to block their conversations. They mocked them and spouted all manner of contemptuous remarks. What began as an attempt to endure their taunts had slowly begun to build anger in the others. ¡°Can¡¯t you do something, brother?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Taesan said indifferently. He had no intention of consuming his mental strength over something that would eventually resolve itself with time. As feelings began to umte between them, Kim Hwi-yeon bit her lip. She couldn¡¯t bear to abandon those who had survived. While she thought of ways to resolve the situation, Kim Jung-geun entered her tent. ¡°Oh. Jung-geun. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone who wants to see you, noona.¡± ¡°...Huh?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon¡¯s eyes widened. It was Han, the leader of India. He entered her tent with a gloomy face. ¡°How did you get here? They were preventing anyone from meeting us...¡± ¡°Despite appearances, I am the strongest here in India. I can manage to avoid them for a moment.¡± Han sighed as he spoke. Realizing that, Kim Hwi-yeon asked, ¡°So you think differently from them?¡± Han nodded. ¡°Can you call Taesan over? And any other Erelon mode yers as well.¡± Chapter 387: The Sixth Return, Earth (4) Kim Hwi-yeon followed Han¡¯s instructions. Soon, six people gathered in a location away from the others: Kang Taesan, Kim Jung-geun, Lee Tae-yeon, Kang Jun-hyuk, Kim Hwi-yeon, and Han. ¡°Hey! Aren''t you the leader from India? What brings you here when we couldn¡¯t even meet before?¡± Kim Jung-geun¡¯s eyes widened upon seeing Han. He had also made efforts to contact India, so he understood the current situation. Han smiled wryly. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°I can see you¡¯re not hostile towards us, so I¡¯ll ask: why is India rejecting us so harshly?¡± In response to Kim Hwi-yeon¡¯s question, Han remained silent. After ncing around at her, Taesan, and Lee Tae-yeon, he seemed toe to a decision and opened his mouth. ¡°Before that, I have one request.¡± ¡°A request...?¡± ¡°May I duel with Taesan?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Kim Hwi-yeon was taken aback. Han fixed his unwavering gaze on Taesan. Taesan nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Han drew his sword and manifested his power with a serious expression. ¡°Whoa.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite impressive...¡± Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk were in awe. It was not quite at their level, but it was not insignificant either. This level of power could only be attained after reaching the 40th floor. ¡°If it¡¯s you, Taesan, you could easily win against someone like me. So, I ask you to please face me with all your strength.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Taesan epted. The duel was established, and Han prepared to move with a serious expression. ¡°Oh.¡± But he suddenly froze. Taesan was simply watching him without making a move. Just that was enough to make Han¡¯s whole body tremble as if he were a leaf in the wind. His body became drenched in cold sweat. ¡°Ah, ah, ah...¡± Eventually, Han¡¯s eyes rolled back, and he copsed. Kim Hwi-yeon, who was watching, gasped and caught him. ¡°Taesan? What did you do?¡± ¡°Just a little pressure.¡± Taesan had shown Han what he could do using his will alone. That alone was enough to break Han¡¯s mental resolve and knock him out. ¡°Wow.¡± Lee Tae-yeon clicked her tongue. A yer from the 40th floor couldn¡¯t even resist, fainting from just a simple pressure. They were likely not that different. Although they were of the same difficulty level, Taesan¡¯s power felt unapproachable. ¡°Ugh...¡± Before long, Han awoke. Staring nkly at Taesan, he soon forced a wry smile. ¡°Is this why we¡¯re in such a situation, despite having a monster like you? Truly, it¡¯s a twisted world.¡± ¡°...You¡¯re trying to cooperate with us, right?¡± ¡°I am. But the others are different.¡± Han took a deep breath to calm himself. ¡°I¡¯m certainly their leader, but I have no real power. I¡¯m merely a decorative figure.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that...?¡± ¡°Where should I begin?¡± Han scratched his head with a troubled expression. ¡°Let me start from the beginning. After the world fell apart and monsters emerged, we desperately fought to survive. However, people¡¯s spirits began to decay. Despite struggling to survive, many resorted to suicide.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon nodded. They were not any different. The copse of their peaceful world and the sudden need to fight for their lives had led many to break down. ¡°We overcame the crisis and continued to live. The monsters weren¡¯t that strong, after all.¡± As all power was concentrated in Korea, other countries had a rtively easy time. The yers in India could still live with hope for the future. ¡°The problem arose from there. The caste system began to revive.¡± ¡°The caste system? I heard that has mostly disappeared now.¡± ¡°That used to be true. But when the world fell apart andws lost their meaning, society began to revert to its past. People started to discriminate against and oppress each other.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about Brahmins and Kshatriyas, right?¡± ¡°Yes. The highest caste is the Brahmins, followed by the Kshatriyas. Then there are the Vaishyas, Shudras, and the untouchables known as Chand. The upper two castes started gathering to seize power.¡± ¡°That sounds strange.¡± Kim Jung-geun, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. ¡°I hate to say this, but the dungeon is quite egalitarian. Once you gain real power, caste means nothing. But a caste system? I find that hard to believe.¡± In reality, Korea was also the same. During the first return, politicians and civil society members attempted to wield power in society, but all were killed by monsters. The ss system on Earth had no meaning in the current destroyed world. But Han shook his head. ¡°Originally, that was the case. In fact, initially, the caste system was shattered, and everyone was equal. However... the hard mode Brahmins and Kshatriyas began to move.¡± Han bit his lip. ¡°They drew in the hard mode Vaishyas and Shudras to make them their own.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Kim Jung-geun finally understood what was happening. ¡°In modern India, the caste system had been dismantled. Many people didn¡¯t like that. They took the opportunity presented by the dungeon to draw people in.¡± ¡°If you join us, you can hold power.¡± ¡°Your offspring will forever be treated as nobles and royalty.¡± ¡°We have the strength to do that. We deserve it.¡± They preached this way. ¡°The world is in ruins. Those with power wished for a hierarchy. Under their cooperation, a perfect caste system was established in the blink of an eye. Since it arose within hard mode, I couldn¡¯t intervene.¡± Thus, the caste system was fully revived in India. ¡°It¡¯s a different situation than China.¡± In China, it was the overwhelming force of Jin Long that established the caste system. No matter how high their position, they were ultimately beneath Jin Long. But in India, it was different. The caste system was revived under the cooperation of the majority of hard mode yers. Their discipline was strong, and it wouldn¡¯t be easily broken. ¡°We had the luxury to pursue more than just survival. In fact, hard mode yers could easily defeat the monsters. That reality made the caste system in India solid.¡± Han continued, almost as if he was regurgitating his words. ¡°They defined the castes and began to manipte religion as they pleased. Although some opposed it, their numbers wererge, and they had power, so it was impossible to stop them.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you get pulled into that?¡± ¡°They approached me as well. But I refused.¡± Han said with a bitter expression. ¡°I am from the lowest caste, Chand. epting their will would benefit me, but my colleagues and friends would suffer. More than anything, people should be equal. Caste should never define us.¡± Han spoke strongly, as if it was a truth he had to uphold. Taesan looked at him. He felt no particr energy emanating from Han, indicating he wasn¡¯t receiving divine support like Amelia. He had reached the 40th floor solely through his own strength. In some ways, he had qualities even superior to Lee Tae-yeon or Kang Jun-hyuk. However, Taesan had never seen Han in his previous life. The answer was clear. Han was a good person. And good people willingly sacrifice their lives for others. Perhaps in his past life, he had lost his life for others on Earth. ¡°I stood in opposition to them. But I didn¡¯t have the power to defeat them all. If a full-scale sh broke out, someone would ultimately die. I¡¯ve been yielding bit by bit because I didn¡¯t want that.¡± As a result, Han lost his voice. ¡°Though I¡¯m the strongest yer, they pretend to respect me while treating me with disdain. The yers from other countries who joined have gained the Chand caste. Right now, India is a toy for hard mode yers.¡± ¡°...Seojangsan would like to hear that.¡± Kim Hwi-yeon smiled wryly. Seojangsan, a hard mode yer from Korea, had attempted simr things. If Taesan hadn¡¯t intervened, he likely would have seeded. ¡°Still, that¡¯s eptable to some extent. After all, many are still alive.¡± Han¡¯s face contorted. ¡°But now, the story has changed.¡± Han turned his gaze to Taesan. ¡°You are a monster. You are likely stronger than any being I have encountered. Yet you have not saved the world.¡± Given the level of monsters invading India, it seemed impossible. Taesan should be able to wipe them all out alone. But that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°The monsters we¡¯ve faced thus far are just fragments. The real monsters have been targeting you. That¡¯s why we have felt at ease.¡± ¡°Well aware of that. That¡¯s the answer.¡± ¡°Is that so...¡± Han lowered his head gloomily. Though his prediction had been correct, it was the worst-case scenario, so he couldn¡¯t feel happy about it. ¡°If this continues, the yers from India will not survive.¡± Without joining Taesan, there was no hope. That was precisely why Han hade here, avoiding the gaze of the Brahmins. ¡°I¡¯m trying to persuade them, but they won¡¯t listen to me. They refuse to give up the power they hold.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you came to us.¡± ¡°Yes. I beg you. Please help prevent many lives from being lost.¡± Han pleaded earnestly. As everyone fell silent and contemted, Taesan finally spoke. ¡°How can I help?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°If I crush the hard mode yers with force and save them, what changes?¡± ¡°That is...¡± Han couldn¡¯t provide an answer. ¡°If I dominate them with force, will they follow me? In the end, it would just mean a supreme being above the caste. The fundamental problem would remain unresolved.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Are you seeking answers from us when you yourself can¡¯t find a solution? Go back. Come to us when you¡¯ve found the answer for yourself.¡± Han could not respond to Taesan¡¯s words. --- * * * ¡°Taesan, can¡¯t we do anything?¡± After Han had trudged away, Kim Hwi-yeon cautiously asked. Taesan gazed at the rift in the sky as he spoke. ¡°What is there to do?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you make them follow you with your power...?¡± ¡°I told you, the fundamental problem won¡¯t be solved. We might survive for now, but nothing will change.¡± Taesan spoke. ¡°I will certainly save people. But I won¡¯t save everyone.¡± ¡°...¡± Kim Hwi-yeon could not respond. She too understood that saving everyone was impossible. She couldn¡¯t force that on Taesan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t intend to leave them to their fate.¡± Taesan said. He was not a sage-like saint. Still, he intended to save as many people as possible. If Taesan were merely focused on efficiency, the number of survivors would likely be less than half of what it was now. But if he were going to save them, it would be in a way that benefited him as well. Taesan wrapped the faith that flowed towards him. His stature continued to push its way beyond the threshold. It was happening at a much faster pace than he had anticipated. ¡®Is it because I am an existence of this world?¡¯ A world on the brink of destruction under the influence of the Celestial God. Taesan was not a being born and raised there. For that reason, the faith that gathered from there was diluted. But Earth was different. Taesan was born and raised here. As a result, he was receiving faith from the people of Earth. That meant the faith was more fundamental and profound. ¡®At this rate...¡¯ Perhaps there was a possibility of transcending the threshold in this return. Taesan nned to take action for that. Time passed. Han desperately tried to persuade the Brahmins, but they mocked and ridiculed him. Weak cowards. A traitor trying to align with unbelievers. They dered they would perfectly block the wave and prove Taesan¡¯s weakness. Han didn¡¯t give up, but nothing changed. The Brahmins, who had never experienced the threat, had no intention of relinquishing their power. Eventually, time passed without any significant results. People formed ranks in preparation for the wave. The Brahmins standing at the forefront awaited the wave confidently. They intended to quickly clear the monsters and resume enjoying their power. That was all they were thinking. And then the monsters appeared. [Wave Start.] [Roar!] [Monster 987 has appeared.] [Monster 378 has appeared.] [Monster 148 has appeared.] --- * * * ¡°Ugh...¡± The Indian easy and normal mode yers waited for the wave with tense expressions. Many prayed, hoping for salvation from their gods. And among the hard mode yers at the front lines, there was no anxiety or fear. Their faces were full of smiles as if they were ying a game. ¡°Who do you think will defeat the most monsters this time?¡± ¡°Want to bet? Whoever defeats the most monsters gets 200 gold and a thousand Chand.¡± ¡°A thousand? Too little. You should at least offer ten thousand. Since it¡¯s a festival, we should make it worthwhile, right?¡± They ced the lives of people as bets, and none of them found it strange. They had acquired absolute power. No one could stop them or interfere. The reason was simple. They had strength. After obtaining a certain level of power, they had faced almost no life-threatening situations on Earth. Each of them could take down dozens of monsters alone, without sustaining any injuries. With more than a million hard mode yers, they could sweep away the monsters. They only needed themselves. Easy and normal yers werepletely useless. Their confidence warped their ideologies even further. ¡°What will Han do? He seems to be trying to coborate with other groups.¡± ¡°Let him be. It¡¯s not worth directly interfering. We can overlook that much.¡± Although Han was alone, he was still the strongest yer. They wouldn¡¯t touch him as long as he continued to yield to them. Someone among them smirked. ¡°Before long, that group will be ours as well.¡± In response to that,ughter filled the air. ¡°Just a coward worshiping a single human. It¡¯sughable.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll probably scream to be our ves once they see us deal with the monsters.¡± Having seen themunity, they were aware of Korea¡¯s situation. That¡¯s why they mocked and ridiculed the Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese. Weaklings who could only survive by relying on one human. It was utterly pathetic.@@novelbin@@ Taesan might be strong, but they believed he was only at Han¡¯s level. If that were the case, they could easily crush him with sheer numbers. They nned to swallow up Russia and Korea during this return. As they dreamed of a rosy future, the wave began. ¡°Let¡¯s clear them out quickly.¡± As space expanded, the monsters appeared. Most of the monsters were not impressive; they were the same level they had faced before. But among them were monsters they had never seen before. [Roar!] [Monster 987 has appeared.] [Monster 378 has appeared.] [Monster 148 has appeared.] ¡°...Huh?¡± ¡°Three-digit?¡± A momentary panic spread across the faces of the Indian yers. What they had seen had only gone up to four digits. A four-digit monster was quite powerful, but it was not life-threatening, and they could easily take it down if theybined forces. ¡°...I¡¯ve never seen three digits before.¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be much different.¡± They felt a bit tense, but they didn¡¯t carry any emotions beyond that. Even if they faced three-digit monsters, they believed they could overwhelm them. They had no doubt about that. The hard mode yers rushed toward the monsters. The monsters stared nkly at them. ¡°Die!¡± The first person drew his weapon. It was the same man who had suggested the bet. The monster moved its body. His head separated from his torso. ¡°Ah?¡± [Oh! Oh! Oh!] With a deafening explosion, a st erupted. The Indian hard mode yers were sent flying in all directions like shrapnel from a grenade. Chapter 388: The Sixth Return, Earth (5) ¡°Starting off with three-digit monsters? I shudder to think what¡¯singter,¡± Lee Tae-yeon grumbled as she moved. A spirit assisted her, and dark magic rained down upon the monsters. Boom! The monster¡¯s tentaclesshed out. With such a dense attack, it was impossible to evade entirely. Lee Tae-yeon swung her sword. [You activated **Shed Blood**.] Boom! The trajectory of the tentacles twisted. As the monster focused its power on Lee Tae-yeon, Kang Jun-hyuk fell from above. Crash. Kang Jun-hyuk¡¯s sword pierced through the monster. The startled monster shook violently from the surprise attack, stopping its assault on Lee Tae-yeon, who quickly seized the opportunity to dash in and drive her sword into the creature alongside Kang Jun-hyuk. [You defeated Monster 577.] ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Lee Tae-yeon took a breath. With theirbined efforts, they could take down three-digit monsters without much trouble. As she sliced through an oing monster, she nced around. ¡°They¡¯re holding up pretty well.¡± A significant number of four-digit monsters and a few three-digit ones. The hard mode yers were struggling, but they were managing to take down the creatures somehow. @@novelbin@@ They had faced monsters far stronger than themselves on Earth. Through countless deaths and experiences, they had established the most optimalbat methods and formations for dealing with monsters. They no longer felt overwhelmed. Lee Tae-yeon leaped into the air, her speed suddenly doubling. [You activated **eleration**.] Crash. ¡°Huh?¡± Her sword pierced the monster. Kim Hwi-yeon, who had been gritting her teeth and holding her ground, widened her eyes. Lee Tae-yeon tightened her grip on the sword. [You activated **Tear Apart**.] sh! Her sword danced, shredding the monster to pieces. ¡°Thanks, Tae-yeon.¡± ¡°Looks like the situation is manageable.¡± ¡°We are...¡± Kim Hwi-yeon nced away. From the direction where the Indian yers had gathered, a massive scream echoed, loud enough to reach them. ¡°That doesn¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Taesan?¡± ¡°To Russia. He said he thought they could handle it and left it to them.¡± Kim Hwi-yeonined, but her expression was not dark. In other words, it meant Taesan trusted her. ¡°Russia, huh.¡± Lee Tae-yeon narrowed her eyes. Russia was fighting from quite a distance, but it posed no real problem for her now. The Russian yers were being overwhelmed by the monsters. And there was Taesan,nding amidst them. ¡°It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± --- * * * The situation in Russia was far from good. Victor, blocking the iing monsters, was horrified. ¡°What the hell!¡± The monsters were far stronger than any he had faced before. The rare three-digit ones could even take down hard mode yers in a single blow. ¡®Could that really be true?!¡¯ During their information exchange, Kim Hwi-yeon had warned that the monsters appearing this time would be unlike any before. She said that without proper preparations, many lives could be lost. Victor had been skeptical of her words. While he had confirmed Taesan¡¯s strength, the monsters he had faced so far had not been that strong. Nevertheless, he had prepared adequately, knowing there was no smoke without fire. Yet, the strength of these monsters exceeded his expectations. Boom! With a loud crash, people were sent flying. Each swing of the club wielded by the giant monster resulted in fatalities. The yers from Russia and Mongolia were caught off guard and struggled to respond effectively. As a result, they were being pushed back helplessly. [Roar!] Thud! Thud! Thud! The giant charged at Victor with a roar. People realized its intent and threw themselves in front of him to block, but it was of little use. Just as the club swung down, Victor gritted his teeth to endure. Crash. The giant¡¯s body was mmed into the ground. A monster they couldn¡¯t stop had suddenly dropped dead. The one responsible stood atop its corpse. ¡°...Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Now you get it. You see what kind of situation we¡¯re in.¡± ¡°More painfully than I expected.¡± Victor grimly nodded. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡± People do not truly realize until they experience it firsthand. The expression on Victor¡¯s face was one of genuine understanding. Then it was time to clean up. Taesan gathered magic. The power manifested in the world through the open passage. [You activated **Jepar''s ck Storm**.] ¡°Wha¡ª!¡± ¡°P-please don¡¯t... wait, what?¡± The people who had been desperately fighting the monsters suddenly froze. A small ck wind began to form among the monsters. It was small enough to be ignored, but for some reason, all of them were captivated by the ck wind. The wind began to growrger. It swirled and eventually took the shape of a massive storm. Crackle! The storm descended upon the earth, swallowing the world whole. The monsters began to be sucked into the storm. As people crouched in fear, the ck storm touched none of them, only consuming the monsters. ¡°What the...?¡± Victor stared at the storm in shock. As the storm gradually settled, no more monsters were visible. Tens of thousands of monsters had been cleared away in an instant. Before such overwhelming power, no one could speak. ¡°...Did he hold back?¡± He chuckled hollowly. Taesan had not shown his full strength when he took down the three thousand hard mode yers. Victor realized this factte. Two dayster, the wave ended. Russia had managed to prevail due to Taesan¡¯s clearing, and the East Asian trio had also emerged victorious with their previous experiences without much difficulty. But India was different. They barely survived on a mountain of corpses. --- * * * ¡°Ugh...¡± ¡°Ahh...¡± Screams and groans echoed from all directions. The faces of the Indian hard mode yers were rigid with horror. So many had died that it was terrifying to confirm the damage. For them, the return quest had been nothing more than a game. They believed they could defeat monsters anytime, so they hadn¡¯t devised any formations or strategies. That was why the losses were so great. Upon confirmation, it turned out that 30% of the yers had lost their lives. A significant number of hard mode yers were included in that count. And the quest appeared once more. [Special Quest Starting] [The second wave is beginning.] [Preparation Time: One week.] [Eliminate all attacking monsters.] [Rewards will be distributed based on performance when returning to the dungeon.] ¡°Ah.¡± Fear etched itself into the faces of the people. Han desperately tried to persuade the hard mode yers. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see? The monsters appearing from now on will be difficult for us to handle alone. We must join forces with other groups and seek help...¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± But they ignored Han¡¯s words. ¡°This was just a one-time urrence. This time... we can stop the second wave with our strength!¡± Their confidence, rooted in the belief that they possessed absolute power. Their belief that the monsters were not their match. As all of that shattered, they began to deny reality. They shouted wildly, filled with stubbornness and pride. ¡°...Is that so?¡± Han¡¯s eyes darkened. He stepped back, a look of resolve on his face. And then the second wave began. Nothing had changed. The monsters were still strong, and they were still weaker than the monsters. Unlike the first wave, they managed to form a makeshift formation, but it was insufficient. In fact, the disarray led to even greater losses. ¡°We¡¯vee to help! Follow us behind!¡± Fortunately, while many people were dying, yers from Korea, who had cleared the wave, arrived to assist. Thanks to the support, they managed to patch things up without suffering further losses. However, the atmosphere turned even worse. It had be clear that they could not fend off the monsters with their own strength. People began to split apart. The reason the caste system had been maintained was that hard mode yers could survive on their own. They could impose their overwhelming strength upon others. It had all been a matter of power. But what if they could not secure that strength? If they couldn¡¯t achieve anything by relying on those they trusted. Then everything built upon that power would copse. The window announcing that the next wave would begin in one week appeared. And the very next night, the easy mode yers of the Chand caste attempted to sneak away to the formations of Korea. However, given their numbers, they couldn¡¯t escape the vignce of the hard mode yers. The hard mode yers from India stood in their way with twisted expressions. ¡°What are you doing?! I told you it was forbidden to make contact with other groups!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± A man from the Chand caste shouted roughly. ¡°You¡¯ve been treating us like ves, like tools! You said we could survive if we followed your will! But look at this mess! We¡¯re not just surviving; we¡¯re dying!¡± His emotions erupted in a deep and intense outburst, causing the hard mode yers to hesitate for a moment. The man shouted through gritted teeth. ¡°If this goes on, we¡¯ll all die! So we¡¯ve decided to join forces with another group!¡± ¡°Y-You...¡± The faces of the hard mode yers flushed red. They wanted to rebut, but they couldn¡¯t. In reality, if things continued this way, most of them would perish. Yet, even so, they had no intention of agreeing with the other¡¯s words. ¡°...Fine. I¡¯ll concede. But it was decided by our rules. Those who attempt to betray us will only meet death.¡± The hard mode yers drew their weapons. The Chand caste trembled, crying out in fear. Seeing their reaction, the hard mode yer grinned and pointed his sword at the man. ¡°If you repent now and take your own life, we¡¯ll forgive the rest by taking only one of your eyes.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± The man raised his middle finger. ¡°I¡¯ll die regardless. Do whatever you want.¡± ¡°...So you¡¯re pushing for death, then?¡± The hard mode yers made up their minds to kill them. Just as they were about to charge forward with their weapons. ¡°Why all this ruckus?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± But they could not act. Right next to them, Taesan was staring nkly at them. --- * * * The hard mode yers were momentarily thrown into disarray. They hadn¡¯t sensed Taesan approaching at all. He had appeared right beside them like a ghost. But they quickly regained theirposure. ¡°Get lost.¡± One hard mode yer boldly stepped forward and spoke. ¡°This is our group¡¯s matter. You have no right to interfere.¡± Taesan merely looked at him silently instead of answering. The hard mode yer felt a chill run down his spine but forced himself to ignore it and stared back defiantly. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Sajid Khan. The great Brahmin of India.¡± ¡°Alright, Sajid. I don¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a saint. I have no intention of saving those who aren¡¯t my people, but if you want to be my people, that¡¯s a different story. They¡¯re trying to abandon you and join my group.¡± Taesan turned his gaze to the Chand. ¡°You all want toe to our side, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Y-yes! We¡¯ll follow you. We won¡¯t be with these bastards any longer!¡± The Chand, now filled with hope, shouted desperately. Taesan nodded. ¡°Then that¡¯s good. Come over here.¡± ¡°...Who do you think you are!¡± Sajid shouted fiercely. ¡°These people are ours! You have no right to involve yourself!¡± ¡°Do you even have the right to speak?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The leader of India isn¡¯t you. It¡¯s Kamal Hasan. And I¡¯ve already finished talking with him.¡± If anyone wanted to shift groups, he wouldn¡¯t stop them. They would be free to move without obstruction. It was what Han had told Taesan two days earlier when he hade secretly. ¡°Even if youck practical dominance, you¡¯ve acknowledged him as your leader. Then everyone else is just an ordinary yer. You have no right to stop me.¡± Taesan¡¯s indifferent reply left them unable to retort. It was they who had made Kamal Hasan their leader in order to offload their annoying responsibilities. ¡°...Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± But Sajid resisted. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯d allow that!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need my permission.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Sajid snorted, pulling out a blue staff from his inventory. ¡°No matter what, you¡¯ve betrayed us! Die!¡± [Sajid activated **Wind de Staff**.] The wind des rushed toward the Chand. The Chand screamed as they stumbled to the ground. Taesan waved his hand lightly. The wind scattered under Taesan¡¯s control. Sajid was astonished. ¡°What... What is happening?¡± His power had not been blocked. It had simply vanished. Taesan gazed at him expressionlessly. Sajid forced himself to maintain hisposure and shouted defiantly. ¡°They¡¯re ves! There¡¯s no need for qualifications!¡± He was convinced. Taesan could never kill him. India still had hundreds of thousands of hard mode yers remaining. If Taesan attacked Sajid, it would surely lead to a full-blown conflict. In his mind, there was no way Taesan would take such a risk for the likes of the Chand. ¡°Get out of my sight! Outsider!¡± Sajid shouted vigorously as he charged toward the Chand. Other hard mode yers were also preparing to move stealthily. But Sajid was mistaken about one thing. To Taesan, the hard mode yers of India were utterly worthless. Taesan snapped his fingers expressionlessly. The rushing Sajid¡¯s head jerked back violently, and he flew away. Sajidy sprawled on the ground like a bug. ¡°...Huh?¡± ¡°You seem to be misunderstanding something.¡± Taesan¡¯s voice resonated quietly through the stunned silence. ¡°To me, you have no value whatsoever.¡± It didn¡¯t matter whether they were easy or normal mode yers treated like ves, or the hard mode yers ruling over them. To Taesan, they were all the same. Chapter 389: The Sixth Return, Earth (6) "...You! You! You!" The hard mode yer, who had btedly regained his senses, pointed his finger at Taesan. "You crazy bastard! Attacking us! Are you out of your mind?" As themotion spread, people started to slowly reveal themselves. Hard mode yers, as well as those from the lower castes like the Chands and Sudras of India, had somehow gathered around, watching them. "I told you. They¡¯re trying to be my people. You tried to kill mine. I¡¯m just retaliating." Taesan responded in an indifferent voice, as if asking what the problem was. "...This is war!" The hard mode yer grit his teeth and shouted. "This is war now! How dare you touch us! We won¡¯t let this slide!" The hard mode yers red at Taesan with murderous intent. They pulled out their weapons, sending killing intent toward Taesan. Taesan spoke quietly. "Really?" "Of course! You¡¯re going to die here..." The words were never finished. The once aggressive faces of the hard mode yers froze. "Huh, huh?" In the forced silence, all that could be heard was desperate breaths. "If you really want to fight me, I won¡¯t stop you, but it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t." "Ugh... Ah..." The hard mode yers began to drool. Their bodies lost control over their minds. Some couldn¡¯t bear it and copsed to the ground, even starting to cry. "You are nothing." Taesan spoke leisurely. He wasn¡¯t demonstrating direct strength or showing his will to crush them. He merely exuded a very small, fragmentary aura. That alone was enough to make the hard mode yers bow their heads, powerless to resist. "Ah..." The aura focused only on the hard mode yers, so the others didn¡¯t feel it as strongly, but they could still tell. They could sense that Taesan¡¯s aura was suppressing them. "I don¡¯t n on messing with you. You have the freedom to resist me and bear the consequences." The aura pressing down on them grew stronger. It became so intense that they couldn¡¯t even breathe properly, their faces turning pale. Some couldn¡¯t hold on and fainted. Taesan then sealed the aura. "Hah!" People exhaled in relief as they copsed. Around them, people started retching and crying. "Choose whatever you like. As you wish." Taesan said leisurely. No one answered. After the sh with Taesan: After the sh with Taesan, the hard mode yers of India fell silent. They had realized that resisting Taesan was useless. Many Indian yers had watched the scene unfold. Rumors quickly spread. In less than a day, every yer in India knew the truth. The hard mode yers of India could no longer protect themselves. Taesan had crushed them all and had the power to protect himself. People in India began to leave in droves. Literally uncountable numbers of people flocked to the Korean formation. The Korean yers weed them without discrimination. "Come here! We have food!" "Oh, oh..." "We have corn! Corn!" "Fruit too?" "We have infinite food! Eat as much as you want!" They had been discriminated against and couldn¡¯t get proper rations, but Korea had its own growing system. With fresh vegetables and fruits, they were very happy. Hearing this, more people began to escape even faster. One hard mode yer, unable to hold back, drew his weapon. "I¡¯ll kill them all!" He couldn¡¯t ept that someone with absolute power had been humiliated by Taesan. He couldn¡¯t stand that he was unable to do anything against Taesan. Even if it meant dying, he wanted to make Taesan suffer. So, he decided to kill those trying to escape with Taesan. He thought that Taesan would try to stop him, but he aimed to kill as many people as he could before that happened. The moment he was about to strike down those who were screaming in fear... A ck lightning struck from the clear sky. The lightning pierced through him without affecting anyone else around. He burned ck and copsed. "Ooohhh..." Anyone who opposed him would suffer divine punishment. It was like a miracle from the gods. After that, no one dared to touch those who were escaping. Soon, more than half of the people from India had joined Taesan¡¯s side. It had been a group built purely on strength. There was no loyalty. However, even so, a fair number of people still hadn¡¯t left. These were the ones who either doubted Taesan¡¯s power or believed he would discriminate against them further. The next wave began. [Uhhhhh!] Monsters rampaged. The Indian hard mode yers resisted, but they were broken and sent flying like twigs. Unable to block the monsters, they fled in a panic. Naturally, the Easy and Normal mode yers behind them were exposed to the monsters. [Ooohhh!] "Ahhh!" "Save me!" At that moment, the monsters tried to pounce on the people. [Gang Taesan activated the Frozen World.] [Gang Taesan activated Magic Concentration.] The cold descended upon the world. The monsters that were about to trample the people froze instantly. "Uh...?" Taesannded on the ground. The people stared at him, stunned. Everything in front had frozen. Not a single monster was left unfrozen. The monsters they had to face with their lives on the line, ones they might not have been able to defeat, were taken care of in a single blow. As the wave ended, the remaining people began to escape. Now, only the hard mode yers of India remained. Hassan had also long since joined Taesan¡¯s side. "...What should we do?" They gathered to discuss. There was no solution here. Their power only mattered if there were people beneath them to support them. A noble with no one to support them was no longer a noble. A few of the Indian hard mode yers threw away everything and joined Taesan¡¯s side. But most couldn¡¯t even decide to join Taesan. They were nobles. They were absolute beings. Anything they wished for was granted. If they joined Taesan, they would have to give up everything they had. They could never ept that. They had decided. They would show their power in the next wave. They would show enough strength that Taesan could not ignore them, intending to shift the people¡¯s gaze and maintain their power. Once the decision was made, no more shes urred. The situation calmed down. Those who had joined Taesan blended in without difficulty. As they lived together, listened to Taesan¡¯s story, they began to trust him more and more. But they didn¡¯t worship him. It was only natural. Worship wasn¡¯t something that happened easily. They had believed in Hinduism and gods that didn¡¯t even exist. They had a strong aversion to humans worshipping other humans. They trusted Taesan but didn¡¯t reach the point of worship. For them to start worshipping Taesan, what needed to be done? It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out. They believed in gods from myths that didn¡¯t exist. So, all Taesan needed to do was show them the kind of power that would only appear in myths. [Special Quest Started] [The final wave begins.] [Preparation begins: one week.] [Defeat the attacking monsters.] [Rewards will be given based on performance when returning to thebyrinth.] The final wave. People sighed in relief, thinking it was the end. But Taesan¡¯s thoughts were different. "They¡¯re too weak." So far, only a few A-rank monsters had appeared. He had expected at least a couple of S-rank monsters, but none had shown up. Goshin had put everything into thisst wave. Taesan had prepared quietly for the moment he would appear. And when the day of the wave came, people stood in tense formation, waiting. [Crack! The space splits open.] A huge opening appeared. [Uhhhhh!] Monsters appeared, countless in number. They filled the horizon. [Monster 44 appeared.] [Monster 92 appeared.] [Monster 421 appeared.] Among them, there were even double-digit monsters. The people gritted their teeth and prepared for battle. Crack. "...Huh?" A voice full of confusion was heard. The monsters didn¡¯t rush at the people. Instead, they began to rush toward a tiny ck orb among them. Crack. The monsters that reached the orb were crushed and sucked into it. But the monsters didn¡¯t stop. Hundreds of monsters, even two-digit ones, were all absorbed into the orb. Soon, the monsters that had filled the horizon were vastly reduced in number. And in proportion to that, the orb grewrger. What had been a speck of dust was now the size of a person. Despite the monsters disappearing on their own, no one was celebrating. An instinctive sense of dread spread throughout them. Crack. Thest monster was swallowed, and the orb trembled. The orb distorted and shook, turning into a formless monster. Thud. Itnded on the ground. Taesan grimaced. "This is troublesome." [!#$!# appeared.] "...Huh?" The Indian hard mode yers froze in their tracks. They had nned to charge at the monsters, showing off their strength. But now, they realized something was wrong. The monster that had swallowed the others showed no strength. Yet, instinctively, they realized the danger. They understood, on a subconscious level, that this monster had reached a dimension they couldn¡¯tprehend. "Run..." As they turned to escape, the monster''s gaze fell upon them. "Uh." The moment their eyes met, their faces froze. Their faces turned pale, their legs giving out beneath them. Blood flowed from their eyes and noses. "Ugh..." "Save... us..." The Indian hard mode yers copsed. They would never rise again. "...Huh?" Only then did people realize something was wrong. Lee Taeyeon trembled. "What... what is that?" An instinctive rejection overwhelmed her. Something deep inside her screamed. It was a fear and terror she had never felt before. "Ugh..." Taesan nced at Lee Taeyeon. It wasn¡¯t an iprehensible reaction. ¡®Even if time goes backward, does something remain?¡¯ The formless monster. Taesan had seen that before in his previous life. That monster was the very one that had killed both Taesan and Lee Taeyeon ¡ª Goshin¡¯s Apostle. "Did you send that thing yourself?" Taesan revealed his teeth. A smile of joy spread across his face, as if he couldn¡¯t contain himself. The monster turned its gaze toward them. [!#$!#¡¯s Gaze.] [You will die instantly.] Its gaze washed over them. The people¡¯s breath stopped. Their souls tried to leave their bodies. It was a death gaze. An absolute will, which no one but Taesan could resist. @@novelbin@@ The moment Taesan tried to use his divine power to block it... A massive presence enveloped the people. The gaze of death faded away. "Hah, hah!" "This..." "Mm?" Lee Taeyeon¡¯s eyes widened. Taesan spoke. "Are you already descending?" [It¡¯s the right time for it.] The god appeared, apanied by a rxed voice. [The God of Choice. Maria descends upon Earth.] Chapter 390: The Sixth Return, Earth (7) A god descended upon the earth. The yers from the Three Kingdoms, who had already experienced such events, weren¡¯t as shocked. They kneeled and showed their reverence to the god. However, yers from Russia and India couldn¡¯t ept it so easily. "Oh, oh..." "God..." They gazed at Maria in astonishment. The towering woman exuded an aura as if she were from another dimension. With reverence and fear, they trembled and lowered their heads. Maria spokezily to them. [Do not worry. I did note here to harm you. Rather, I havee down to protect you.] Maria¡¯s power surrounded the people. The death-inducing gaze that could kill just by looking at them was blocked by Maria¡¯s power and disappeared. "Thank you." Taesan quietly expressed his gratitude. While the death gaze had no effect on Taesan, it was dangerous for the other yers. It had been quite a headache, but thanks to Maria, the problem was resolved. [They''ve really made up their minds. They¡¯ve already sent that thing down.] "Do you know what that is?" [Of course I do.] Maria cast a nce at the formless entity and spoke. [It¡¯s hard for Goshin to directly intervene in the world. So, they sent an apostle to destroy the world in their ce. That creature is one of Goshin¡¯s apostles.] "Apostle..." Lee Taeyeon murmured as she listened to the conversation. Maria''s voice could only be heard by Taesan and Lee Taeyeon. Maria continued. [Especially that one, it¡¯s an apostle that has survived for a long time. While its power is not that greatpared to other apostles of Goshin, its abilities are quite tricky to deal with, which is why we¡¯ve had trouble with it. It¡¯s always been a thorn in our side.] Maria looked at the apostle with a scornful gaze but then smiled softly. [But that thorn will end today. Like the others, I do not n to intervene in the battle.] Maria quietly stepped back and spoke to Taesan with an expectant voice. [Now then. Show me. Your power.] "I will." Taesan took a step forward. The people held their breath, watching him. **Rumble.** The apostle silently watched as Taesan approached. He turned off the system prompt that would notify of the death-inducing attack. "I knew this day woulde eventually, but I didn¡¯t expect it toe so soon." The monster that had killed Lee Taeyeon and pushed him to his own death. It had yed a decisive role in the world¡¯s destruction. Taesan bared his teeth. The ghost by his side was slightly startled. She had been with him for a long time, but this was the first time she had seen him show such intense emotion. "I don¡¯t know if you remember me... but it doesn¡¯t matter. This is my revenge." Taesan turned back time. In a way, his anger and emotions could be seen as misguided. After all, it hadn¡¯t happened in this world. But it didn¡¯t matter. This was his revenge. Taesan gathered his strength. The opponent was the monster that had defeated him. He wouldn¡¯t let his guard down. From the very beginning, he would fight with everything. [The opponent is a difficult enemy to defeat.] [You will face the creature that defeated you and fight with your life again. You have gained the special, continuously activated skill [Avenger].] [Your Avenger skill has activated.] [Your Destroyer of Doomsday skill has activated.] [Your Demi-God¡¯s Blessing has activated.] [You have activated the Immortal Opponent skill.] --- The skill activation prompts shed one after another. In an instant, Taesan¡¯s body and strength surged to a level far beyond what it had been before. [You have activated the Avatar of Nature.] [You have activated the King¡¯s Vessel.] [You have activated the Apostle Transformation (Darkened Chaos).] His strength and body amplified again. He realized that he was just one step away from the level of an immortal. "Then... let¡¯s do this." Taesan stomped the ground. The monster responded by shaking its massive body. The sh of their powers caused the ground and sky to tremble, and the world itself began to break apart. --- ### *Aftermath of the sh* "Ooohhh..." "Lord Taesan..." People were in awe as they prayed. Everything was being destroyed. The sky split open, mountains vanished, and the earth cracked, creating massive craters. It felt as though Taesan could really destroy the world itself with his power. yers from the Three Kingdoms prayed to Taesan. Russia and India were in shock. And Lee Taeyeon, with a nervous expression, nced at Maria. Maria silently gazed down at her. Lee Taeyeon felt a sense of unease from the god¡¯s gaze. [The passage of time is truly mysterious.] "Y-yes?" [No. For now, let¡¯s just watch. That¡¯s the next part of the story.] "Ah. Yes..." Lee Taeyeon turned her attention back to the battle, and Maria did the same. Right now, the key point was the battle between Taesan and the Apostle of Goshin. [Hmm.] A huge sound echoed, and everything was being destroyed. Their power wasn¡¯t that great. While it was powerful enough to touch immortality, it still fell far short whenpared to Maria herself. But the issue wasn¡¯t their power. It was the type and direction of their power. Taesan was unique. He had created his own domain while contemting the world. He was an existence that even gods who had lived for eternity couldn¡¯t perceive. [How can such a being exist?] The voice of doubt was drowned out by the thunderous sound of the battle. **Boom!** Taesan swung his sword. The apostle¡¯s form was shaken by the powerful impact. Taesan was overwhelming the apostle. As the apostle struggled, its form began to change. The apostle had the ability to change its form into one that had previously defeated Taesan. Now the true battle was beginning. **ng.** The apostle¡¯s body transformed into a scythe-wielding reaper. The scythe swung toward Taesan. At the same time, the space around Taesan began to distort. Space distortion. In his previous life, Taesan couldn¡¯t counter this and had to use all his attack negations to survive. But now, that wasn¡¯t the case. Taesan gathered his mana. [You have activated the Twisting skill.] **Kaang!** The sh of space distortion and twisting energy caused the distortion to break. Taesan backed off and swung his hand. [You have activated the Storm Arrow of the Irreversible Storm.] A line of ck storm arrows shot toward the apostle. The arrow pierced through everything in its path. The apostle¡¯s form shifted into that of a giant warrior holding a massive shield. The shield shed with the arrow. **Kaang!** With a crashing sound, the apostle was sent sliding backward. The apostle used its arm to push the shield forward. The shield broke, and the arrow exploded. In that moment, Taesan had already moved behind the apostle. The apostle¡¯s form shifted again. This time, it took the shape of a barbarian wielding two axes. The sh of sword and axes. [You have activated the eleration skill.] [You have activated the Power Strike skill.] **Ka-Gak!** Metal shed, sparks flew, and the sight was obscured by the mes. Taesan didn¡¯t falter and met the apostle¡¯s attack head-on. In his past life, he would have been overwhelmed by both the speed and strength of the transformed apostle. He would have had to dodge for his life. But now, he could face it. Taesan¡¯s sword glowed with a golden light, imbued with divine power. He swung the sword at the apostle¡¯s axe, causing a crack to form in the axe. **Kaang!** The apostle¡¯s body was sent flying backward. Taesan immediately dashed forward. [You have activated the eleration skill.] The apostle¡¯s body transformed again. This time, it took the form of a mage holding a staff and wearing a robe. Taesan responded instantly. [You have activated the Magic Ovep skill.] [You have activated the Frozen World skill.] [You have activated the Starlight Arrow skill.] [You have activated the Unyielding me Phoenix skill.] Cold, light, and mebined and condensed. Taesan unleashed thebined energy. [You have activated the Magic Liberation skill.] [You have activated Magic Focus.] A burst of magic exploded toward the apostle. The apostle¡¯s staff moved, and a torrent of thick mana poured out. The sh of powers began to destroy the space around them. [You have activated the Restricted Blink skill.] Taesan moved above the apostle¡¯s head, then rapidly fell. [You have activated the Landing skill.] The apostle tried to shift its form to counter Taesan¡¯s attack, but Taesan¡¯s sword was already close. The apostle tried to use its staff in desperation, but Taesan¡¯s sword cut through it cleanly. [!#$!# takes !@!! damage.] **Thud.** A painful shockwave rippled through the air. In an instant, the apostle¡¯s body began to growrge. It started to gather energy as though it was about to explode. Finally, the energy erupted , sweeping everything around it, but Taesan had already moved out of the st radius. [You have activated the Marked Exclusion skill.] Taesan moved out of the explosion¡¯s range as if he knew exactly where it would spread. And indeed, he did. "Sorry, but this is the third time." Once in his previous life. And once during the Trial of the God of Despair. Taesan had fought the apostle multiple times already. The memories and experiences of those battles were fresh in his mind. He knew exactly what powers the apostle used and what tactics it would employ. **Thud.** The apostle changed shape again. It became something grotesque, its mere gaze warping reality. All kinds of mental attacks were thrown at Taesan. "Doesn¡¯t work." Taesan shrugged off the attacks and charged at the apostle again. [You have activated Gaph¡¯s Sturdy Boulder.] The sky opened, and the massive boulder fell toward the apostle like a meteor. The apostle transformed again, this time into a woman holding a giant bow. She drew the bowstring tightly and shot an arrow at the boulder. **Thud!** The boulder shattered as the arrow pierced through it. Amidst the breaking debris, Taesan rushed forward. The apostle pulled back the bowstring again and fired another arrow at Taesan. Taesan used his legs to propel himself forward, charging straight at the arrow. [You have activated Forced Exclusion.] **Screech!** The mana exclusion force pushed the arrow away. The arrow struggled, but it was quickly deflected. Taesan reached the apostle and swung his sword. Now, he no longer needed to rely on essence strikes. But that didn¡¯t matter. Now, he couldnd a blow. **Crack.** [!#$!# takes %@#! damage.] The apostle staggered. Taesan bared his teeth. It was certain. Now, he was strong enough to defeat the apostle. He could take down the creature that had defeated him in his previous life. Now, he was strong enough. Taesan gripped his sword tightly and aimed for the apostle¡¯s opening. At that moment... The apostle transformed again. This wasn¡¯t unusual, as it had been changing constantly. But Taesan had to stop. This transformation was different. The apostle now had blue skin, a disquietingly serene smile, and four arms. It was an appearance that couldn¡¯t be called human. It was a change that Taesan had never seen before. And that wasn¡¯t all. This new form radiated an entirely different level of power. "Ah..." The faces of the Indian yers turned pale. They knelt, overwhelmed by despair. "Ts." Taesan clicked his tongue. "Yeah. It couldn¡¯t just be that simple." Maria had said this apostle had destroyed many worlds and had been a thorn in their side for a long time. But Taesan had not yet reached the level of an immortal. While he could temporarily reach that power, he had not used it yet. Even Taesan, who was still not immortal, couldn¡¯t fail to notice that this creature, which had destroyed multiple worlds and survived the gaze of gods, was a force that could still outss him. "In my past life, I didn¡¯t use the Immortal¡¯s power because I could defeat you with just a mortal¡¯s strength." Even in his previous life, Taesan had been strong, but he hadn¡¯t touched the power of an immortal. There was no reason to use it. @@novelbin@@ The Trial of the Fallen God was based on his memories, so he hadn¡¯t seen this transformation of the apostle. The apostle could change into the form of someone it had killed. And the apostle was a being that destroyed worlds. There were immortals among the guardians of worlds. The apostle had now transformed into the form of an immortal it had killed during the destruction of the world. [The opponent is an impossible enemy to defeat.] Chapter 391: The Sixth Return, Earth (8) "An Immortal, huh?" A being clearly stronger than Taesan at present. Taesan first observed his opponent. Attacking without any information was almost like a gamble. However, there was no time for such thoughts as the apostle¡¯s four arms moved. At that moment, Taesan realized it: around him, a massive force was gathering. **Boom!** Everything around him copsed. The ground was obliterated, and the air was erased. An absolute destruction that even caused space itself to copse, enveloping Taesan. Unable to dodge, Taesan allowed the apostle''s attack to strike him. [Your First Attack Nullification skill has activated.] Taesan staggered backward, clicking his tongue as he red at the apostle. "What the hell?" He had been on high alert for the apostle¡¯s movements. No matter how the attack came, Taesan was ready to counter. But he hadn¡¯t been able to dodge. To be precise, he hadn¡¯t even thought of dodging. The apostle¡¯s four arms moved again. Taesan retrieved a shield from his inventory. [You have used Aegis¡¯ Shield. You are immune to all damage for 1 second, but you cannot move.] At the same time, immense pressure weighed down on Taesan. Aegis'' Shield grantedplete immunity to damage. No damage could reach him. But Taesan still felt the crushing force of destruction pushing him down. **Crrr!** The material around him split at the atomic level. The force was strong enough to potentially take down Taesan in a single strike. When the shield¡¯s effect expired, Taesan used Restricted Blink to leap through space. "This is ridiculous." It was like fighting a monster. The apostle had been casually handling these devastating blows as if they were nothing but ordinary attacks. [You have activated Focused Detection.] [You have activated Essence Perception.] [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [Destroyer.] Only one piece of information appeared. @@novelbin@@ The people of India watching the battle screamed in terror. "Ooohhh!" "Shiva, please! Have mercy on us!" They bowed their heads, terrified of the apostle. Their emotions flooded toward the apostle. "Shiva?" Taesan turned his gaze toward the apostle. Blue skin, four arms, and an alien smile. It was definitely simr to the image of Shiva he had seen online before. Whether it was a coincidence or rted, it wasn¡¯t important right now. The apostle¡¯s arms moved again. Taesan released his divine power. Golden energy enveloped his entire body, and heunched himself into the air. [You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.] First, Taesan attempted to dodge. Given how the apostle¡¯s arms were moving, figuring out the attack conditions was not difficult. Taesan moved quickly through the air. **Swoosh!** However, the apostle¡¯s power precisely targeted Taesan, even as he attempted to evade. Cracks immediately spread across the golden aura that surrounded him. In Earth, where divine power was directly supported, Taesan¡¯s divine energy could regenerate endlessly. But there was a limit to the total amount he could handle at once. If his opponent¡¯s power exceeded that amount, his divine power could not block it. [You have activated Magic Ovep.] [You have activated the White Rune Shield.] Taesanyered defensive magic and released it, but even then, he couldn¡¯t withstand the apostle¡¯s power. The destructive force broke through his defenses and hit Taesan. [Your Second Attack Nullification has activated.] The second nullification skill was expended. But Taesan had gathered some valuable information. ¡®I can¡¯t dodge.¡¯ Though the principle was unclear, the apostle¡¯s power was perfectly aimed at Taesan. It wasn¡¯t about directly hitting Taesan. It was more like the force simply moving in that direction. At least for now, there was no way for Taesan to avoid it. And it was futile to try to block the force of destruction. The opponent was an Immortal. A clearly superior being, and blocking such a force was impossible. So, what was the way to respond? Taesan quickly came to a conclusion. He would confront it head-on and break through with sheer strength. The apostle¡¯s four arms moved again. Taesan gathered his strength. [You have activated the Call of Destruction.] The power of destruction surged forward. It shed with the copsing force trying to crush Taesan. **Screech!** But even the power of destruction couldn¡¯t reach Taesan. The dense and deep energy broke apart and dissipated. Taesan gathered even more strength. [You have activated the Ember of Cataclysm.] [You have activated the Light of the World.] mes and light erupted. Taesan followed with magic and dark magic, activating them in rapid session. The collision of their immense power began to distort the space around them. **Swoosh!** The destructive power couldn¡¯t touch Taesan, shattering into pieces. The apostle hadn¡¯t used any of its energy to respond. On the other hand, Taesan had exhausted a lot of mana and magical energy, including cooldowns for his Call of Destruction, Ember of Cataclysm, and Light of the World. If the battle continued this way, he would inevitably lose due to sustainability. "I didn¡¯t want to use this already, but..." [You have activated Partial World Alteration.] Thews of the world began to change. A world where the apostle was at a disadvantage and Taesan at an advantage began to take shape. The apostle sped its four hands together. **Creeeak!** Thews of the world twisted. The world that had been oveid with partial alterations distorted as thews collided. The apostle once again used the power of destruction. Taesan drew his mana and magical energy together. **Boom!** The power shed, and the world trembled. --- ### *Aftermath of the Battle* "Ahhh!" "Lord Taesan!" yers from the Three Kingdoms offered fervent prayers. Russian yers, hesitant at first, began to join in their prayers. But India was different. They weren¡¯t praying to Taesan. "Shiva, please! Please! Have mercy on us!" "Please don¡¯t abandon us!" They were still clinging to their belief in Hinduism. And now, the apostle¡¯s form closely resembled the image of Shiva from their mythology. As a result, they began to believe that the apostle was Shiva¡¯s incarnation, the god of destruction, who hade to eliminate them. In turn, they started to offer their fearful prayers to the apostle. Their faith made the apostle stronger. Taesan, who had created a parallel world through Partial World Alteration, began to gradually falter. Maria quietly observed them. At that moment, a presence approached her. [...My Lord.] [You are the one bound to thebyrinth. What brings you here?] The ghost steeled himself. [Please, help Taesan. Great God.] [Hmm.] Anguid voice echoed. The ghost tensed. Asking a god for help without permission was dangerous. If the god had a bad temper, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if the ghost was destroyed on the spot. But the ghost didn¡¯t back down. After a moment of silence, Maria muttered. [Tell me. Why do you want me to help him?] [...Because he will lose.] Taesan had won many battles he thought he couldn¡¯t win. But this time was different. [The opponent is an Immortal.] An Immortal. A being that fully transcended mortality. Even Taesan, though capable of reaching immortality now, could only do so with limitations. While he could hold his own and counter the opponent, the longer the battle went on, the more certain his defeat would be. [He has defeated immortals before, but that was only because his opponent was in a broken, senseless state. This time is different.] The apostle was now fully an Immortal. Though the powers it wielded were weaker than an actual Immortal, it was still an Immortal. Even with diminished power, immortals were not something mortals could contend with. Taesan would ultimately lose to the apostle. It was an inevitable oue. [If it were you, you could help Taesan win. The fact that the apostle came down means that the gods have allowed that much influence.] [I won¡¯t deny it. That¡¯s true. But why should I do it?] Maria chuckled softly. The ghost swallowed nervously. Gods expected an equal price in return for granting a mortal¡¯s wish. The ghost gathered his resolve. [I will offer myself.] [That¡¯s not a very attractive proposal. You have little value to me...] [It¡¯s the literal meaning. I offer everything I am.] Maria fell silent. In the quiet, her voice rang out. [You know what that means, don¡¯t you? Offering yourself means you will cease to exist. Your wish will never be granted.] [Yes, I understand.] The ghost replied calmly, as if he had alreadye to terms with it. Maria looked at him for a moment and then muttered. [That¡¯s your choice, huh?] [Huh?] [That¡¯s forter. Want me to help him?] [...Yes.] [Sorry, but I refuse.] [What?] The ghost was taken aback. [You don¡¯t want him to die, do you? Are you really...] [You¡¯re mistaken. I don¡¯t need to help him.] [But...] [For now, just watch. You¡¯ll understand soon enough.] Maria said leisurely. The certainty in her voice made the ghost fall silent. --- ### *Aftermath of the Prayer* "Ooohhh..." "Aah..." The people of India continued their prayers to the apostle. They were pleading for salvation from the very being that sought to destroy them. Only Hassan remained calm, observing the situation. ¡®What must I do to change this?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t participate in the battle before him. It was a fight beyond hisprehension and understanding. But he couldn¡¯t just stand by. He had to find a way to turn the tide. After much thought, Hassan came up with a n. The golden light that surrounded Taesan. Hassan didn¡¯t fully understand what it was. To him, it was a power on a much higher level. But he could tell that it was somehow tied to faith, a power rted to worship. Worship and faith. Hassan looked at the yers from the Three Kingdoms. They were praying to Taesan. "...." He couldn¡¯t be sure. Gaining power through worship? It felt almost godlike. But the possibility was there. Hassan was sure that this was something only he could do, so he quicklyposed his thoughts and spoke. [Hassan has activated the Roar skill.] "Wake up!" The loud voice echoed, and the people who had been praying to the apostle suddenly snapped out of it. Hassan shouted with a twisted face. "That¡¯s not our god!" "But..." "I know! The god of destruction, Shiva! It looks just like him, doesn¡¯t it? But we all saw it!" Hassan pointed at the apostle. "It¡¯s changed its form! It¡¯s disguised itself as our god to deceive us!" Whether it was true or not, Hassan didn¡¯t know. But he was dering what he believed to be the truth. And that was enough. The fear that had covered the faces of the people slowly began to fade. "It¡¯s trying to kill us! So the one we need to believe in is right here!" **Boom!** A huge sound echoed. The people¡¯s eyes shifted to Taesan. "He¡¯s fighting for us! He¡¯s protecting us against the one you thought was Shiva!" "O-oh..." The space twisted and everything began to crumble. The shockwaves from the battle were tearing everything apart. Amidst it all, Taesan stood alone, facing the apostle. The power Taesan disyed was unlike anything human. It was like that of a god. Hassan spoke softly. "An unreal god won¡¯t protect us. It¡¯s the living beings of this world that protect us. Now you know who we need to believe in." No one looked at the apostle anymore. All eyes were on Taesan. *** Taesan, who had continued to battle the apostle, realized something. At some point, the faith directed toward him had been growing stronger. As he blocked the apostle''s attack and turned his gaze, he noticed a few Indians praying to him. ¡®This...¡¯ The faith was steadily amplifying, and the threshold to a new realm was growing closer. The faith of India was still weak. There weren¡¯t many people offering prayers. Taesan needed to make that faith stronger and encourage more people to believe in him. The method was simple. Boom! The power of destruction shed. Cracks spread across the space. The duration of the Partial World Alteration was almost up. Through the battle, Taesan had fully grasped the apostle''s strength. Now, it was time to make his decisive move. Taesan gathered his strength. As the apostle¡¯s hands moved, the force of destruction surged toward him. Taesan didn¡¯t respond. [Your Third Attack Nullification has activated.] Time rewound. And Taesan moved. [You have activated the Beyond the Boundaries skill.] [You have activated the Eternal me Phoenix skill.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] The Phoenix of mes manifested in the world. mes enveloped his body. The apostle moved its four arms to manipte the force of destruction. In the sh of powers, Taesan activated another skill. [You have activated Eternal Immortal Faith.] [You have activated Mental Burden Transference.] The gap between mortality and immortality was temporarily breached. Taesan gripped his sword and charged. The duration of the Eternal Immortal Faith was very short. He had to finish this before it expired. He spread his divine power. In the copsing world, golden light engulfed everything. The people cried out. The apostle gathered its four arms, as if in prayer. At that moment, an overwhelming pressure unlike anything before crashed down on Taesan. This force twisted reality itself, a power that could not be resisted by beings bound by thews of existence. But Taesan charged even harder. The golden light around him shed with the apostle¡¯s overwhelming force, turning into a grayish hue. Taesan swung the gray energy forward. The pressure shattered, creating a path toward the apostle. Taesanunched himself at the apostle, pouring everything into his strike. The apostle swung its four arms wildly. Boom... A blinding light that seemed to bring about the world¡¯s end engulfed the people. Maria¡¯s barrier trembled for a moment. When everything settled, the people¡¯s vision returned, and Taesan stood unharmed. But his appearance was the only thing that remained intact. [Your Final Chance skill has activated.] [You have taken @#!!! damage.] [Your Endurance skill has activated.] Even though the Final Chance had blocked the attack, the aftermath still triggered the Endurance skill. The immense power was being forced to be contained by his Eternal Immortal Faith, causing this effect. The duration of Partial World Alteration had ended. The Eternal Immortal Faith had also expired. Taesan looked at the apostle. "I couldn¡¯t kill it." The apostle did not fall. In the end, it had withstood using Goshin¡¯s power. Two of its arms had been severed, and its lower half was almost destroyed, but it was still alive. There was no longer any hope of victory for Taesan. But this was enough. "Oooh..." Everything settled, and the people saw Taesan standing strong and the apostle severely damaged. It was an incredibly dramatic scene. The deity they had believed to be the god of destruction was broken by Taesan. In that instant, the faith of the people exploded. It was the faith of countless lives. The faith sent by every living being on the continent, part of a vast world. The faith, so thick it could be seen with the naked eye, reached Taesan. At the same time, Taesan¡¯s status rose beyond mortality. He reached a realm that until now had only been essible in limited, iplete ways. The sensation that covered his entire body was qualitatively different from before. It was a realm that surpassed mortality. [Your mastery of Divine Power has increased by 3%.] [You have gained [Immortality].] Chapter 392: The Sixth Return, Earth (9) And in that moment, the people could feel it. Something had changed within Taesan. Though they couldn¡¯t exin it precisely, they sensed a shift. Taesan no longer seemed like a being of the same life form as them. The people who had been praying stared at him in a daze. Maria smiled quietly. [You¡¯ve reached it.] [Ah...] The ghost groaned. He stared nkly at Taesan. [That...] Taesan looked at his own hands. He could easily tell that everything about him, from his fundamental concepts, had changed. **Crunch.** The apostle¡¯s damaged body regenerated. Four arms moved as power surged once again. **Rumble!** The power of destruction rushed toward Taesan. Even with all his strength, it was an attack from an immortal being¡ªone that could not be blocked. Taesan tightened his grip on the sword in his hand. He stepped forward, twisted his waist, and swung his arm. His sword collided with the destructive force. **Whooosh!** A deafening sound erupted as the force of destruction shattered like ss and dispersed. He hadn¡¯t used the power of destruction, nor activated Beyond the Boundaries, nor used Partial World Alteration. He had simply swung his sword with all his might to block the destructive force. "So this is it." This was a truly elevated level of power. Taesan was now standing at the same level as the apostle. He bared his teeth. "Let¡¯s try this again." Taesan stomped his foot. The apostle¡¯s four arms moved violently. The battle resumed. The destructive force came crashing down on Taesan. He stomped his foot and kicked off into the air, evading the attack. Until now, he had never been able to avoid the destructive force. It always seemed predetermined that it wouldnd. But not anymore. The force of destruction could not touch him. The apostle raised its four arms high. The power of destruction poured down as if to crush the entire world. It was a wide-ranging attack with no room for evasion. Taesan gathered his mana. [You have activated Magic Ovep.] Cold, light, and me were condensed and burst forth. [You have activated Magic Liberation.] [You have activated Forced Amplification.] Thebined force spread outward. The power within was not so different from before. However, the scale was different. The magic shed with the destructive force, opposing each other. Now, Taesan was certain. He could break through with sheer strength. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] He exerted force into his legs and leapt. His body reached the apostle¡¯s proximity in an instant. The apostle began to respond. Unlike before, it moved its body more actively, trying to evade Taesan. **Crunch.** Taesan swung his sword, shattering the force of destruction, while using magic and dark magic to create a path. He pursued the apostle as it distanced itself, pouring its strength into the attack. As everything around them crumbled, Taesan slowly got closer to the apostle. In desperation, the apostle moved its four arms. It condensed the force of destruction and mmed it down like a pir. This force was so absolute that nothing within its reach would be spared. But Taesan didn¡¯t retreat. He and the apostle were now on equal terms. There was no reason to avoid it. [You have activated the de of Determination.] Taesan swung his sword, infused with strength. The pir and his sword shed, and space itself shattered. **Screech!** Space itself copsed as Taesan¡¯s body was affected. [You have taken !@#!@@ damage.] [You have taken !@#### damage.] [You have taken ^$%%$@ damage.] The distortion of space, which even divine protection couldn¡¯t prevent, had affected him. But he didn¡¯t fall. Even though he was taking damage, he didn¡¯t approach death. He could endure. Taesan protected himself with divine power, infusing his sword with even greater force. He exerted all his strength and swung his sword. With a loud sound, the pir of destruction shattered. The distorted space returned to its original form. "You try blocking this." Taesan drew upon his dark magic. He opened a portal to the demon world, bringing out the true power of dark magic. The process was faster than anything before. [You have activated Gaph¡¯s Sturdy Boulder.] A massive boulder fell from the sky toward the apostle. The apostle attempted to counter the force of destruction, but the boulder didn¡¯t break easily. In the end, the apostle swung its four arms forcefully at the boulder. It finally shattered, scattering like a meteor shower. And in that moment, Taesan had already thrust his sword into the apostle¡¯s chest. [!#$!# to !!@@ damage.] He swung his sword down, splitting the apostle¡¯s upper body. The apostle swung its arms in retaliation, but Taesan didn¡¯t allow it. He grabbed its arms and twisted them. The apostle staggered and copsed. Taesan kicked it and drove his sword down. In an instant, the apostle¡¯s entire body was cleaved in two. And that attack was incredibly significant. The apostle¡¯s body was unnervingly contorted. **Snap.** Taesan jammed his sword into the apostle¡¯s neck and swung it fiercely. He was about to press forward even more. But the apostle¡¯s form began to copse. It twisted and began to take on an amorphous form. At the same time, dark colors began to envelop everything around it. It was dangerous. Instinctively, Taesan was warned. He escaped from the collective darkness using Limited Blink. **Crunch.** Having distanced himself, Taesan observed the apostle¡¯s transformation. The apostle had be an amorphous, human-like form. ck power surrounded the apostle, consuming the space around it. Taesan realized. This was the end. Having judged that the power of an immortal being could no longer stop him, the apostle had abandoned everything and returned to its original form. The ck energy coalesced. The power within it was capable of destroying the entire world if it spread. Taesan raised his sword. Divine power began to gather in the de. **Screech!** It was incredibly bright. If the divine power he had handled before was akin to a firefly, this was the light of the sun. Having earned the qualification and right, he could now handle divine power directly. People shielded their eyes and bowed their heads. The ghost watched in stunned silence. And the golden light slowly turned to a dark, ashen hue. It was ash-gray. The apostle swung the condensed ck energy. Taesan, enveloped in the ash-gray power, charged forward. The ck power belonged to Goshin. It twisted thews and destroyed reality. The beings within that reality could not block it. But it didn¡¯t matter to Taesan. **ng!** The ashen and ck powers collided, trying to consume each other. And the ash-gray energy won. Taesan devoured the ck power attempting to consume the world, advancing forward. The apostle desperately raised its strength, but it was futile. **Snap.** And the path was cleared. Taesan spoke softly as he raised his sword. "Goodbye." The apostle attempted to resist, moving its body. But Taesan¡¯s sword was faster. He activated every transformation, addition, and skill avable. The ash-gray energy cleaved the apostle in half. [!#@!!!!] An iprehensible scream echoed as the apostle¡¯s body disintegrated. The power contained within it flowed into Taesan. It was foreign, almost as if it resisted being consumed by him. But even that released enough power to fell tens of thousands of mortals. @@novelbin@@ But in the end, it was quietly absorbed into Taesan¡¯s being. [You have defeated !#$!#. ] [Your Soul Power has increased.] [The skill of Twisted Soul Adjustment has increased by 5%.] [Mastery of ck Energy has increased by %$#$%.] [Mastery of Boundary has increased by 1#%.] [Mastery of Summoning has increased by 3%.] [???''s skill mastery increased by 4%.] [Mastery of Seed of Life has increased by 13%.] [Skill "Apostle yer" has increased by 7%.] [You have gained the Soul Skill [Destroyer].] [You have defeated a servant of Goshin. You have gained the Special Passive Skill [Enemy of Goshin].] [You have in the force of destruction and saved the world. You have earned the title [Savior].] Taesan sheathed his sword. The ashen energy dissipated, revealing everything. Now the people could see it. Taesan standing alone. A triumphant roar echoed throughout thend. The deep and overwhelming faith flowed into Taesan. *** [One weekter. Returning to the Labyrinth.] The system message appeared, indicating that everything was over. Taesan was far away from the people, distanced from their loud cries. He had stepped away from the chaos. He had won. And this victory had earned him much more than just the defeat of an enemy¡ªit had significantly raised his fundamental level. There was a lot to confirm, so much more to explore. [Immortality] [The one who has transcended mortality. Freed from the cycle of life and death, standing alone. Closer to thews of the world.] This was the skill he had gained through the faith of the people¡ªImmortality. [Do you feel something different?] The ghost quietly asked. Taesan responded. "Some things have changed." The concept of himself had changed. Until now, he had barely clung to the category of a human being, but now, it felt as though he had transcended that category entirely. "And... something about my vision has changed." [What do you see?] "I can''t quite put it into words, but I can see things at a more fundamental level. Other than that, not much has changed." The ghost seemed to be in a somewhat confused tone. [I''ve never seen a mortal be immortal before. I don''t know what to say.] The ghost was knowledgeable, but he had no experience with the difference that happens when a mortal bes an immortal. "Over time, I''ll naturally understand it. But one thing is for sure¡ªI''m still me." He was Taesan. His concept had changed, and his vision had been altered, but he was still himself. That hadn''t changed. Bing an immortal hadn''t drastically altered him. His power and level had risen, but he was still the same at his core. The ghost sighed in awe. [You''re... truly incredible.] To reach the level of immortality¡ªespecially in such a short time¡ªwas extraordinary. Compared to the amount of time that the guides of sin had invested in the Labyrinth, it had happened almost in the blink of an eye. "Anyway, it was always going to be a ce I reached eventually." But Taesan calmly reflected. This was always a level he would eventually attain. Considering his goals, he couldn¡¯t be satisfied with just immortality. Goshin, after all, were beings who even transcendent beings struggled with¡ªbeings beyond the limits of mortalprehension. If anything, Taesan had only reached the starting line. What mattered now was what he could do with immortality. There was a lot to confirm. Soul skills, divinity, the crystallized divine blood, and the essence of the world. The flower ornament Maria had given him. As Taesan prepared to go through everything, he suddenly heard a familiar voice. [You look quite busy.] Maria quietly descended next to him. She smiled and asked: [How do you feel?] "It¡¯s not bad. It¡¯s closer to good." Taesan responded calmly while looking at Maria. [...This is unbelievable.] After reaching immortality, Taesan could perceive Maria''s power more fundamentally than before. There was no end to her power. If Taesan was strong, Maria was the vast sea itself. There was that vast a difference between them. In fact, he hadn''t fully grasped her power. Taesan was still far toocking in both level and strength to trulyprehend Maria. She was a transcendent. Her power was on the same level as beings like Lakiratas, who possessed two domains. [You have reached immortality, but... this is just the beginning.] Maria spoke softly. [I¡¯ve been in this ce for eons.] Maria continued with a quiet smile. [Normally, I would stay here forever, but that¡¯s not relevant to you. Anyway, congrattions. You have reached the solitary, pure position.] "Thank you." [Then, I must give you a gift to celebrate.] Maria''s power began to spread, enveloping the entire world. [You have thwarted Goshin¡¯s ns. And you¡¯ve perfectly handled their apostle, something that has been a thorn in our side for a long time. This is my reward to you.] And from that reward, the strongest and most intense essence flowed into Taesan. Chapter 393: The Sixth Return, Earth (10) [Manifestation of Divine Power] [Blessing descends.] [You have received the Divine Blessing [Unwavering Choice].] The blessing of the gods descends upon the people of the world. Taesan opens the skill window. [Divine Blessing: Unwavering Choice] [When you are confident in your decision, without the slightest doubt, all your action speeds increase and both attack and defense increase slightly. You also gain a broader field of view and sharper senses.] This was a buff with certain prerequisites. However, meeting the conditions wasn¡¯t difficult. Any yer who had descended into the Labyrinth would be able to act without doubt in their choices. This blessing boosted not only stats but also vision, senses, attack, and defense, making it a great aid in conquering the Labyrinth. People burst into exmations of awe and joy. And then, Taesan received another ability. [Special Passive Skill: Exclusion of Choice.] [You can choose to erase one attack from your opponent. This skill can only be used once per battle and has a one-day cooldown. You cannot erase attacks that are stronger than you.] Reading the description, Taesan let out a small exmation. A skill that erases an opponent¡¯s attack. It seemed simr to the skill of Destruction¡¯s Greed, which removed the result of an attack. It looked very useful. ¡®It¡¯s simr.¡¯ This skill was almost identical to his attack negation skill. The difference was that Exclusion of Choice was an active skill, making it more valuable than Attack Negation, which didn¡¯t allow for choice. It didn¡¯t feel like a simple reward. Maria answered the unspoken question in his mind. @@novelbin@@ [That¡¯s part of my power of choice. Do you feel satisfied?] "Enough. But is it alright for you to give me such power when I''m not even your apostle?" [You took care of the troublesome apostle. This is the least I could do for you.] Maria chuckled lightly. Taesan epted the gift gratefully. Maria¡¯s reward had ended. It was now time for Taesan to reassess the power he had gained. Taesan quietly examined himself. What was his current state after reaching immortality? He had definitely reached immortality. But that immortality had been granted through the faith of the people of the Three Kingdoms, Russia, and India. It was certain that he had achieved immortality, and even if the faith of the people faded, his level would not fall. However, since he hadn¡¯t surpassed his limits through his own power, his strength could still weaken depending on the faith of others. Aside from attaining immortality, there were many other things he had gained. It was time to check them one by one. [Special Passive Skill: Avenger] [Skill Proficiency: 1%] [When fighting an opponent who defeated you, all your action speeds increase and your attack power slightly increases. If the opponent is stronger than you, all your stats increase in proportion.] This skill was gained from the re-battle with the apostle. Taesan hadn¡¯t gained it during the trial of the God of Despair, likely because the apostle created from his memories had no clear identity. ¡°Probably won¡¯t be useful anymore.¡± The only being who had defeated Taesan in both his current and past lives was the apostle of Goshin. Even when he fought with Ainzhar, it wasn¡¯t a life-or-death battle, so this skill wouldn¡¯t trigger. [Special Passive Skill: Enemy of Goshin] [Skill Proficiency: 1%] [You are recognized as the enemy of Goshin. When fighting any being rted to Goshin, all your stats and action speeds increase. You also resist their corruption and can deal more direct damage to their essence.] This skill was simr to Deity Theory, but more optimized against Goshin. The more passive skills you had, the better. [Title: Savior.] [You have saved the world from a being trying to bring about its destruction.] [When you prevent the world¡¯s destruction, most of the life forms will send their deep trust and faith towards you.] [The faith and divinity you receive from them are amplified.] The Savior title was quite effective. Not only in Earth, but as Taesan continued to descend in the Labyrinth, there would be many times he¡¯d have to oppose Goshin. Most of these would likely involve saving a world from destruction. This title would be immensely useful in such cases. It was definitely worth the effort. Additionally, many of his skills had leveled up. Especially Seed of Life, which had increased by 13%, bringing it close to 40%. The apostle of Goshin had the ability to devour and assimte its opponent. It seemed that this was why the Seed of Life skill had improved significantly. His Divinity skill had also reached 90%. With faith from all of Earth¡¯s yers, it would likely reach 100%, and then Earth would be his domain, possibly even allowing him to reach transcendence. Though it was still in the realm of spection, it was entirely possible. Finally, he had gained the skill Destroyer, rted to the Immortal apostle of Goshin, whom he had defeated. [Soul Skill: Destroyer] [Skill Proficiency: 1%] [Destroyer of all things. What you crush and destroy bes your power and authority. The user¡¯s level and qualifications are currently insufficient to fully handle this power.] It was a power simr to the King of Machines, but with a twist. What was different now, however, was that the skill mentioned the user¡¯s level and qualifications, meaning that even though Taesan could use it, he wasn¡¯t yet able to wield its full potential. He still had much to learn and understand. With everything checked, Taesan moved on. Now, it was time to figure out what he could do with all these powers. The first thing to check was, of course, his Soul Skills. [Soul Skill: King of Machines] [Skill Proficiency: 1%] [King of Machines. The power of the ruler of machines. The user¡¯s qualifications and level are currently insufficient to fully handle this power.] "It¡¯s certain now." Originally, the exnation had stated that the user''s rank and power were far toocking to handle this power. Soul skills were powers of the Immortal. But now, Taesan had reached the rank of immortality. That meant there was no reason why he couldn''t handle it. As Taesan moved toward his next task, he saw Kim Hwiyeon and the others struggling in front of a tractor. "What are you doing?" "Oh! Oh! Lord Taesan!" When hended in front of them, people gasped and immediately bowed their heads. Taesan asked them, "What are you trying to do with the tractor?" "We¡¯ve been feeling the limits of our farming." Kim Hwiyeon spoke up. The number of people had grown significantly. They had to feed over a hundred million people. Basic farming was enough to feed them all, but now the area ofnd needed for farming had greatly expanded. Rather than having people dig everything by hand, using machines was far more efficient. They were now looking for a way to fix the broken tractor. "But it seems tough. We can get oil, but the interior is broken... we can''t afford to buy parts either." Kim Hwiyeon shook his head as he spoke. Taesan gazed at the tractor. He reached out his hand. [Taesan¡¯s Power Manifestation. The King of Machines is activated.] Creeeak! The power manifests. The tractor makes a noise as its broken parts begin to move. People recoil in shock, moving away. [...Huh?] The ghost murmurs in disbelief. Taesan didn¡¯t understand the structure of the tractor. He had no idea how it worked. But it didn¡¯t matter. There was no need to understand orprehend. The answer just appeared in Taesan''s mind. Vroom. The noise stops, and the tractor starts working with an engine sound. The people¡¯s eyes widen in shock. "We have oil, but it won¡¯tst long. Go find more yourself." "Ah, yes..." The people nod in confusion. Kim Hwiyeon clicks his tongue. "Is this really possible?" "It became possible this time." Taesan answered vaguely as he leapt away from the city. He arrived at arge, broken-down power nt. The power nt was oncerge enough to supply power to an entire city, but now it was in ruins andpletely broken. [Taesan¡¯s Power Manifestation. The King of Machines is activated.] The power manifests. Although Taesan didn¡¯t know how the power nt worked, it didn¡¯t matter. He knew the answer. Parts moved through the air, roaming between machines. The spaces were filled, and where it couldn¡¯t fill, parts were taken and reassembled into other machines. Taesan snapped his fingers. The power nt starts working with a rumbling sound. "Is this power?" [This is truly ridiculous.] The ghost murmured in disbelief. Taesan had known that he gained the power of an Immortal, but seeing it used directly was hard for the ghost to ept. Powers were something a being umted over a lifetime. Taesan was not only stealing that result, but was also handling it as though it were his own power. [What the hell are you?] "I don¡¯t know either." The Soul Skill: Soul Ascension was still a mystery to him. After confirming a few things, Taesan learned how to use the King of Machines skill. "I can¡¯t create machines or create parts that don¡¯t exist." At the moment, all he could do was repair machines. That was the only thing possible with the skill. The description of the skill said that it wasn¡¯t possible to fully handle this power yet because his rank and qualifications were stillcking. Taesan had just recently be an Immortal. It was clear that he couldn¡¯t fully wield the power of another Immortal just yet. "Still, it¡¯s useful." When it came to rebuilding Earth¡¯s civilization, one of the biggest problems was machines. In a developed society, even skilled technicians would find it impossible to start from scratch. It would take a considerable amount of time and effort to bring in electricity and recreate all machines from scratch. This problem could be perfectly solved by the King of Machines. "I wonder if I can use the Law of Order as well. It¡¯s worth testing." [I don¡¯t know.] The ghost sighed in frustration. There was no point in thinking about it, so the ghost decided not to dwell on it. After finishing the confirmation of his Soul Skills, Taesan began to fiddle with the materials he had. [Crystallized Divine Blood] [Essence of the World] These materials had been acquired earlier, but he had kept them because he didn¡¯t have the qualifications or strength to handle them. Now, he felt he could handle them to some extent. [What do you n to do with them?] "I¡¯m thinking it over." He wasn¡¯t a cksmith. He couldn¡¯t perform forging. He had thought about devouring them and turning them into his own power, but that would take quite a bit of preparation. He didn¡¯t have a clear method of use for them at the moment. [Do whatever is convenient for you. They are yours now.] "That¡¯s the n... but aren¡¯t you leaving?" Taesan turned his gaze. Maria was quietly smiling in that ce. [You¡¯re quite persistent. Trying to push me out like this.] "Others left right after their tasks werepleted. I was just curious." Lakiratas, the Demon God, and Beatrice had all left Earth immediately after granting their blessings. However, Maria remained here. [I still have things to see.] "Things to see?" [You¡¯ll understand soon enough.] With those words, Maria disappeared. Taesan didn¡¯t understand Maria¡¯s intentions. Time passed, and before long, only two days were left before his return to the Labyrinth. The people waited calmly for their return. Taesan had also finished confirming everything and was resting quietly in the heavens. "Hoo." Lee Taeyeon climbed up, drenched in sweat. "Oh, Taesan! You¡¯re here?" "I had nothing else to do. Did you spar with Junhyuk?" "Yes. After we return, we don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll be back, so I decided to enjoy thest scenery." Lee Taeyeon nodded. Her proactive attitude was something Taesan had never seen in her in her previous life. She had truly grown stronger. "By the way, Maria is still here..." "Why? Is it ufortable?" "It¡¯s not that... it¡¯s just that, I can¡¯t exin it, but something feels off." For a moment, Taesan looked at her and then checked the link between them. What was it? Even after reaching immortality, Taesan still couldn¡¯t understand it. Then, his thoughts turned to the flower ornament Maria had given him. Taesan took the flower ornament. Perhaps because he had reached immortality, he could now more clearly sense the power within it than before. "What is that? It¡¯s pretty." Lee Taeyeon looked at the flower ornament with a curious expression. Taesan carefully examined it. [You activated Essence Perception.] [You activated Scout.] The information on the flower ornament was revealed. It wasn¡¯t for Taesan, but for someone else. And who was that someone? As Taesan grasped this, he froze for a moment. "What?" Taesan furrowed his brows. At his sudden reaction, Lee Taeyeon flinched. "What¡¯s wrong?" "..." Without answering, Taesan stared at Lee Taeyeon. He handed her the flower ornament. "Are you giving it to me?" Lee Taeyeon hesitated but epted the ornament. At that moment, the flower ornament began to glow. [Maria¡¯s Gift is activated.] "Huh?" Lee Taeyeon¡¯s pupils widened. The flower ornament seeped into her body. And Taesan could see it. The link that had been inside her was amplifying. "Huh? Huhhh?" Lee Taeyeon was inplete shock. The light enveloped her gently, as though unaffected by her confusion. Chapter 394: The Sixth Return, Earth (11) **"Aaaaah."** The light envelops her entire body. At the same time, changes begin. The link connects to something, and the energy she possesses transforms. **"Ugh!"** She grabs her head in pain. **''What, what is this?''** Her head feels like it¡¯s going to split open. It was a headache she had never experienced before. Desperately trying to keep her mind focused, she tried to endure. But it was impossible. This was not a simple headache or mental pressure. It was on apletely different level. **"Ah, aaaah!"** A voice escapes from her lips. Amid the headache, something flows into her mind. It was a memory. **''...Me?''** She forgets the pain and opens her eyes wide. It was undoubtedly her. But it was a version of herself she didn¡¯t know. The memories begin to stack up like bricks, piece by piece, from the very beginning. **"Ah."** Lee Taeyeon flinches, her body trembling. In her memories, she is descending into the Labyrinth. She didn¡¯t receive Taesan¡¯s help, nor did she rely on anyone. She simply moved forward, alone. Crying in fear, struggling to resist giving up, but she never stopped. She watched that version of herself in a trance. It was beautiful. Even though it was herself, she couldn¡¯t hold back her surprise. The memories umted, and the more they did, the closer the version of herself in the memories came to the present version. And after the memories ended... She became one. **"Ah... Ah."** Her voice settles. Lee Taeyeon takes a deep breath. Taesan furrows his brow. **"You."** Lee Taeyeon¡¯s aura is different. It¡¯s no longer the sensation of the Lee Taeyeon he knew. And Taesan had felt this same aura from her in a past life. **"...Hello, Taesan."** Lee Taeyeon smiles, her expression cold, like a mask. **"It¡¯s been a while."** When Taesan saw that smile, he was certain. **"You... Lee Taeyeon?"** She was Lee Taeyeon. It was such a simple question. But Taesan¡¯s question carried a deeper meaning. Lee Taeyeon slowly affirms. **"Yes."** **"...."** Taesan frowns. When he handed Lee Taeyeon the flower ornament from Maria, it suddenly seeped into her. Then Lee Taeyeon regained her past life¡¯s memories. He couldn¡¯t understand how this had happened. Finding the answer wasn¡¯t easy. Then came the sound ofughter. A smallugh, reverberating in the air. It was Maria. Lee Taeyeon quietly prepared herself. **"It¡¯s been a while, huh?"** **[Yes, child.]** Maria says with augh, her voice warm, as though she knew Lee Taeyeon well. Taesan watches Lee Taeyeon silently. Lee Taeyeon presses her forehead. **"You must have a lot of questions... but sorry. My memories are jumbled, and I haven¡¯t sorted them out properly. Can you give me some time?"** There was no reason to refuse, so Taesan agreed. Lee Taeyeon sat down for a moment, lost in thought. Left alone, Taesan speaks. **"Maria. You... what are you doing with her?"** **[What do you think?]** Mariaughs, sounding quite pleased, as if waiting for this day. **[I think you should hear the answer from her directly.]** Taesan shuts his mouth. --- An hourter, Lee Taeyeon approaches him. She looks much moreposed than before, her face calmer. **"You seeded."** Her first words upon seeing Taesan were those. There was admiration, awe, and, somehow, a sense of inevitability. **"You defeated the Apostle. Just six returns... it¡¯s incredible."** **"I got stronger."** **"Yeah. You got stronger. I knew you were the right choice. My choice wasn¡¯t wrong."** Lee Taeyeon murmurs, a look of relief crossing her face as if a heavy burden had been lifted. **"You."** Taesan frowns. The Lee Taeyeon he met during the Trial of the God of Despair had been very different from the one he was seeing now. He knew she had been thinking and nning something in secret. But to regain her past life¡¯s memories? He didn¡¯t expect that. --- Taesan hade to the conclusion that she had made a contract with a god. She had a link to the gods, a contract that allowed her to temporarily escape the flow of time. But, she nodded, confirming Taesan¡¯s assumption. **"Yes. I¡¯m the God of Choice. I made a contract with Maria."** **"But you died."** Taesan had clearly seen her corpse. Lee Taeyeon smiled wryly and spoke. **"Where should I start?"** She slowly exins. She had known from the beginning that she couldn¡¯t win. She had always struggled with the decision to use Ouroboros¡¯ gem to reverse time. But in the end, she couldn¡¯te to a conclusion. At the end, she returned to the city to hand the gem to Taesan, but copsed. **"So that¡¯s why you were in the city."** Taesan had been puzzled by this. Why had she, who had been fighting away from the city to avoid causing damage, ended up dying in the city? It was all to give Taesan the gem. She died there. And her soul, with the power of the item Maria had given her, was summoned into Maria¡¯s domain. There, she epted Maria¡¯s offer. **"So the flower ornament you gave me was for this purpose?"** **[Hmm, perhaps.]** Maria answers in a yful tone. That was enough of an answer. **[I like fair choices. Moving forward in crises and hardships, without lies, oveing them with power and strategy. But I also don¡¯t dislike choices full of doubt.]** **Doubtful choices.** It was clear she was referring to Lee Taeyeon. **[Inner turmoil. Self-loathing and fear. And self-denial... She hides many emotions, and still moves forward. Proudly, for others. That is noble sacrifice in itself. In this world, especially for someone like her, it¡¯s not easy to sacrifice one¡¯s own life for others.]** **"No."** Lee Taeyeon denies Maria¡¯s words. **"I was just... afraid of going back down into the Labyrinth. It wasn¡¯t such a noble choice."** She speaks in a bitter tone. Maria only smiles quietly, saying no more. **[That¡¯s what you think. Either way, I liked you. That¡¯s why I made the offer.]** **"I truly appreciate it. Thanks to you... I can see you again."** Lee Taeyeon looks at Taesan. Her gaze is full of emotion. **"How should I call you now?"** **"Just call me Lee Taeyeon. With Maria¡¯s help, I regained my past life¡¯s memories, but my present life¡¯s memories are intact. If I were to say, they¡¯ve merged."** The Lee Taeyeon of her past life had always worn a mask, acting. In this life, she was weak but didn¡¯t back down and had confidence in herself. Now, she was somewhere in between. Lee Taeyeon lowers her head, her face gloomy. **"I¡¯m sorry, Taesan. In the end, I passed the responsibility onto you."** She was the yer who had cleared the Demon Lord mode. She had been responsible for everyone. But in the end, she had passed on the responsibility and sought rest. **"You can me me or despise me. I¡¯ll bear it."** **"I don¡¯t think so."** Taesan said calmly. **"I never thought I¡¯d have to say this."** Taesanforted the Lee Taeyeon he had met in the Trial of the God of Despair. But that had been a fake, made of memories, for his own satisfaction. Now, the real Lee Taeyeon stood before him. Then, there was something he had to say. **"I¡¯m sorry, but I already knew what you were thinking and what mask you were wearing in your past life."** **"Huh?"** **"You did well. You held it together, not breaking even under pressure, and supported us. We survived until the end because you were there."** Lee Taeyeon¡¯s eyes widen. Taesan finishes his words. **"You¡¯ve done well, Lee Taeyeon."** **"...Thank you."** She lowers her head, her voice heavy with emotion. --- After hearing Taesan¡¯s words, Lee Taeyeon¡¯s face softened. She talked to Taesan for a long time. She vented her frustrations, saying many things, and Taesan listened quietly. It was a joy for Taesan to see Lee Taeyeon regain her past life¡¯s memories. It meant he wasn¡¯t the only one who remembered those forgotten times. Lee Taeyeon waved to the ghost. **"Goodbye?"** **[Yeah. What kind of guy was I when you met me?]** **"I don¡¯t know. I never met you. I was just scared and passed by."** **[...Really? A first for me. Well, you¡¯ve reached higher ground than me, so I can¡¯tin.]** The ghost chuckled. Taesan was about to ask her about the next floors, but Lee Taeyeon shook her head. **"Sorry, but I can¡¯t answer that. Since I made a contract with the Apostle, I can¡¯t influence the present with my knowledge."** Maria liked to see adventurers challenge the Labyrinth. She couldn¡¯t let Lee Taeyeon, with her cheat, simply go unpunished. Though Taesan wasn¡¯t surprised, he didn¡¯t react much to that. **"You made a contract with Maria, didn¡¯t you? Does that mean you¡¯re now a god¡¯s apostle?"** **[No, I¡¯m not.]** Maria suddenly interjected. Lee Taeyeon looked surprised as Maria spoke. **[The flow of time is not that simple. The contract I offered her is something that will happen in the future, from now. So, right now, she¡¯s regained her memories, but her power hasn¡¯t changed.]** **"So she can¡¯t gain power until that timees?"** **[Something like that. Transcendents aren¡¯t affected by the flow of time. But they can¡¯t escape it either. Technically, the first contract I offered was to you, Taesan.]** **"Hmm."** Lee Taeyeon tilted her head in confusion. It was difficult for her, a mortal, to understand. **[It¡¯s not that important, but it¡¯s better for you to know.]** With a soft voice, Maria disappears again. --- **"I don¡¯t know the details, but... it¡¯s as Maria said. My power hasn¡¯t changed."** **"But you still have your past life¡¯s memories."** Even if she couldn¡¯t speak about it, the knowledge she had was a great power in itself. Taesan asks her. **"What will you do from now on?"** **"I don¡¯t know."** She stares at her hands in a daze. **"Taesan. The reason I gave you the Ouroboros stone... was partly to save the world, but also because of my own problem."** She confesses, like a soul-searching confession. **"I was so afraid of going back into the Labyrinth."** To risk her life, to fight through it alone again. She could not make that choice. But now, she was different. Lee Taeyeon clenched her fists. **"I¡¯ve gotten stronger."** It wasn¡¯t physical strength. It was mental strength. **"Honestly, I¡¯m surprised. I didn¡¯t think I could go back into the Labyrinth like this."** In her past life, Lee Taeyeon had given up many things, used shortcuts to clear the Labyrinth. But in this life, even with Taesan¡¯s help, she was breaking through the Labyrinth proudly, head-on. Her past self had never realized her own potential. **"And I¡¯m not alone."** She looked at Taesan. The only person who remembered the ruined world. Apanion who had fought against destruction through countless years. Now, she didn¡¯t need to suffer alone or worry. She didn¡¯t need to wear a mask anymore. She could move forward with Taesan. That, for her, was salvation. **"You¡¯ve done enough. I¡¯ll do what I can. I won¡¯t go down the same way as I did in my past life."** Her quiet voice carried a deep determination. Having finished most of the conversation, Taesan and Lee Taeyeon descended from the heavens. A puzzled Kang Junhyuk greeted them. **"Sis. You¡¯ve changed a lot. What happened?"** It wasn¡¯t just her expression or tone; even herbat style had changed. Lee Taeyeon answered. **"Something happened."** Taesan watched her movements. The movements of her past and present life were intertwined. It was still a little awkward, but it was her own strength. The next time they meet, many things would have changed. --- And thus, the return time came. People gathered and waited for their return. **[The Labyrinth''s mage and manager are probably going to have a headache once you return.]** @@novelbin@@ Maria speaks to Taesan as he waits for his return. Her voice is only heard by him. **[You¡¯ve reached the position of Immortal. That¡¯s a sort of destination. The Labyrinth''s system never expected an adventurer to be an Immortal in the 70th floor range. Fabbamaba is going to have a real headache.]** Mariaughs. **[Child, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s strange?]** **"What do you mean?"** **[Only transcendents, those with their own realm, are unaffected by the flow of time. They don¡¯t experience time¡¯s influence because their realm doesn¡¯t allow it. In other words, even if you¡¯re an Immortal, you can¡¯t resist the flow of time.]** Maria¡¯s words confirm that only transcendents aren¡¯t affected by time¡¯s flow. **[But the power you have is unaffected by time, even if it turns back.]** Taesan¡¯s skill remained his even when time reversed. **[You haven¡¯t reached transcendence yet. You don¡¯t have your own realm. But your power isn¡¯t affected by the flow of time.]** It was a paradox. **[And that power can even steal the power of Immortals and Gods.]** Taesan wasn¡¯t a transcendent. But he wasn¡¯t affected by time. He was stealing the powers of Gods that defied the world¡¯sws. It was power that defied Maria¡¯s understanding. **[Where will the end of the path you walk lead? I¡¯m curious.]** With those words, Maria disappears. People began to gather, ready for their return. Lee Taeyeon gave a small nod to Taesan. **"See you next time."** **"Yeah."** Taesan replied. With that, he returned to the Labyrinth. **[Monster Position Bonus + 1,443]** **[Apostle Position Bonus + 3,121]** **[Victory Bonus + 775]** --- **[Settlementplete]** **[You receive 5,876 points.]** Chapter 395: Floor 79, The Floor of Struggle (1) ¡°Congrattions.¡± As soon as he returned to thebyrinth, a voice greeted Taesan. He immediately recognized who it was. "The Witch." It was the Green Witch speaking to him. ¡°To think you''ve reached the same realm as me already... You really are fast. It''s not necessarily bad news for me, but it does feel a bit bittersweet.¡± Through their contract, the Witch shared Taesan¡¯s vision. With every new power Taesan gained and each stronger enemy he faced, he brought her closer to her own goals. His strength benefited her. Yet, she had been stalled as an immortal for an unimaginable amount of time. Taesan, on the other hand, had achieved immortality in what, to her, seemed like a mere blink. It was hard for her to feel purely happy about it. ¡°Still... it¡¯s not a bad thing. The stronger you be, the greater the chances you¡¯ll uncover the path to transcendence.¡± The Witch¡¯s voice held a tinge of excitement. ¡°I wonder what you¡¯ll be. Will you stop at immortality as I did? Or will you continue onward, advancing like the gods and ultimately reach transcendence? I¡¯ll keep watching you.¡± @@novelbin@@ With those words, her voice faded. The Witch desired to find the path to bing a transcendent. That was why she had formed a contract with Taesan. But he was walking a path unlike that of ordinary immortals or even transcendent beings. Whether he would prove helpful to the Witch¡¯s goals was something Taesan couldn¡¯t yet determine. He opened themunity. Survivors who had returned to thebyrinth were chattering away. --- **Oliver Khan [Hard]: What''s the situation in Asia and Europe?** **Daniel Darmon [Hard]: We¡¯re fine. It was a bit tough joining up with the Africa team, but no major issues.** **Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: We¡¯re all good too. There were a few problems... but having Taesan with us solved those.** **Amelia Erin [Alone]: I could feel something horrifying across the sea. Are you sure everything was okay?** **Lee Taeyeon [Alone]: It¡¯s fine. We did lose a fair number of people, but it was within the expected range. No major problems.** --- Lee Taeyeon left a calm message. Amelia, finding her tone unusual, asked curiously. --- **Amelia Erin [Alone]: Your tone seems different. Did something happen?** **Kang Junho [Alone]: After the quests, something changed. Did Taesan say something to you?** --- Amelia, Kang Junho, and Lee Taeyeon, all ying in Alone mode, frequently shared information. So, they quickly noticed any change in each other. --- **Lee Taeyeon [Alone]: Well, something like that.** --- Lee Taeyeon brushed it off. Amelia seemed curious but didn¡¯t press further. Having regained memories of her past life, Lee Taeyeon would be moving through thebyrinth with newfound speed and method. Taesan looked at themunity briefly before turning to check his points. He had 5,800 points¡ªa substantial amount. He considered how best to spend them. Naturally, he thought about using them to improve his skill proficiency, but the exact allocation required thought. "Not usable on soul skills, I see." The points couldn¡¯t be used on certain high-level skills. He also considered applying them to magic or dark magic, but with his broad skill set, he realized the efficiency might diminish. After a moment of thought, he made a decision. "I¡¯ll save them forter." There was no immediate need to spend the points. He could hold onto them and invest in future skills as he acquired them. There were still plenty of advanced skills he nned to obtain. High-level magic, for instance. And with the Lemegeton, he¡¯d soon be able to make direct contracts with demons, too. It made sense to save the points for skills he would gain from those contracts. Having decided, Taesan moved on. He was still on the 78th floor, within the Library of All. He ventured deeper into the library. --- The first to notice him was the library¡¯s caretaker, Jorge. Sensing Taesan¡¯s presence, Jorge closed the book he was reading. "You¡¯ve been away for quite some time. Where have you been?" He looked at Taesan as he spoke, then fell silent. Staring at Taesan, Jorge¡¯s expression changed. "...You¡¯ve reached it?" "It seems so." ¡°What on earth...¡± Cracks appeared across Jorge¡¯s face. ¡°How did you reach it so quickly...?¡± He groaned. Even as the caretaker of the Library of All, possessing boundless knowledge, he was taken aback by Taesan¡¯s newfound power. ¡°This is absurd.¡± That was all he could say. Briefly, greed and desire shed in Jorge¡¯s eyes. As the library¡¯s caretaker and an apostle of the god of knowledge, he was eternally devoted to the pursuit of wisdom. Taesan¡¯s existence stirred his hunger for knowledge. But Jorge could do nothing more than observe. His authority did not permit him to take any further action. In the end, all he could do was swallow his envy. ¡°This is one of those rare times I feel a bit of resentment toward Lady Metis. What will you do? Are you going to continue downward, or linger here for a while?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay a bit longer.¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Jorge¡¯s eyes never left Taesan, as if he intended to observe his every move. Taesan, unbothered, went to find Ainzhar. ¡°Oho!¡± Ainzhar gasped as soon as he saw Taesan. ¡°You have reached it. I sensed the possibility, but how did you do it so swiftly...?¡± ¡°I used a bit of a shortcut.¡± It was a ce he had reached through faith rather than his own strength, a kind of shortcut. Ainzhar understood and chuckled. ¡°Is there such a thing as a shortcut to achieving power? It¡¯s merely a difference in paths. You obtained your strength fairly. Congrattions.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After offering his gratitude, Taesan drew his sword. ¡°With that said, may I ask for a spar?¡± ¡°dly!¡± Ainzharughed heartily as he drew his own sword. The duel began once more. Taesan had sparred with Ainzhar many times before, but Ainzhar had never fought him with full force. Ainzhar had only shown predictable, basic movements. Even so, Taesan hadn¡¯t been able tond a single strike. The gap between them had been that vast. But not anymore. ng! Swords shed. Faced with Ainzhar¡¯s overwhelming strength, Taesan didn¡¯t take a single step back. --- **[You have activated Decarabia''s Distorted Vegetation.]** It was dark magic he had often used. But now, its power was on another level. Boom! Roots emerged, shaking the library. If Jorge hadn¡¯t erected a barrier, part of the library might have been destroyed. Roots prating through space summoned everything they could grasp. In response, Ainzhar, d in a golden aura, swung his sword. Crack! The roots were sliced by the golden sword¡¯s light. But the golden aura surrounding Ainzhar was visibly thinning. ¡°This is fun!¡± Ainzhar¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°No need to hold back my strength!¡± He stomped his foot. In an instant, he appeared before Taesan. Even with Taesan¡¯s current abilities, he could barely follow Ainzhar¡¯s speed. But it wasn¡¯t beyond his ability to respond. Taesan swung his sword. --- **[You activated Power Strike.]** ng! Taesan was pushed back, sliding across the floor. But he had managed to block the blow. He had withstood Ainzhar¡¯s full strength. ¡®He¡¯s strong as ever.¡¯ Ainzhar was a monster. Now that Taesan had reached immortality, he could clearly see it. Out of a hundred fights, he would likely lose ny-nine times. But there was still that one chance. Taesan had reached a level that put him on par with Ainzhar. With his skills like Boundary Line, Divinity, and his main skills, victory wasn¡¯t impossible. Taesan stomped forward, his sword slicing toward Ainzhar with precision. Boom! The duelsted for half a day. When it finally ended, Ainzhar looked incredibly satisfied. ¡°Good. I haven¡¯t had a workout like this in a long time.¡± After a brief rest, Taesan sought out Levinenov. Now that he had attained immortality, it might be possible to influence him. However, it remained impossible. Ainzhar clicked his tongue in disappointment. ¡°It seems you¡¯ll need to reach the 84th floor first. I leave it in your hands, Taesan.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± With Ainzhar¡¯s confirmation, Taesan felt he had acquired sufficient knowledge. There was no longer any reason to remain in the Library of All. He headed toward the passage to the 79th floor. Jorge was waiting there. ¡°Ready to go down, are you?¡± Taesan nodded. Jorge activated his power. --- **[Cleared Floor 78.]** **[Your level has increased.]** **[Your level has increased.]** **[Your level has increased.]** **[Obtained: Book of Knowledge.]** **[Obtained: ???]** --- ¡°Status screen.¡± --- **[Level: 161]** **[Shield: 19,100/19,100]** **[HP: 200,277/200,277]** **[Mana: 20,341/20,341]** **[Dark Energy: 2,218/2,218]** **[Strength: 37,845]** **[Agility: 37,985]** **[Intelligence: 33,941]** **[Attack +10,125]** **[Defense +6,752]** **[Status: Optimal]** --- The ghost let out a hollowugh. His stats were staggering, evenpared to those who had cleared thebyrinth under normal conditions. Taesan checked his rewards. --- **[Book of Knowledge]** **[Contains a fragment of the knowledge within the Library of All.]** --- ¡°A mini Library of All?¡± Flipping through the pages, he found they seemed endless. Even using reconnaissance and focused detection, he couldn¡¯t find thest page. The Library of All was, after all, an infinite library. Jorge himself hadn¡¯t read every book within it. It made sense that even a fragment of its knowledge would be endless. He nned to read it in his spare time. --- **[You used ???]** **[Obtained: Sword of All Things.]** --- **[Sword of All Things]** **[Strength +300]** **[Agility +300]** **[Intelligence +300]** **[Mana +200]** **[Dark Energy +75]** **[Attack +750]** **[Dark Magic +10]** **[Magic +10]** **[A sword crafted with elements of the universe itself. The power within the sword exceeds the wielder''s full control.]** --- It was a weapon that boosted nearly all of his stats. Fortunately, Taesan was proficient in both magic and dark magic, making it an ideal fit. After organizing everything, Taesan descended the stairs. --- **[Floor 79 Quest Initiated.]** **[Prove your strength in the Realm of Struggle.]** **[Reward: Ring of the Victorious One.]** **[Hidden Reward: ???]** --- The 79th floor. The 80th floor was now in sight. Just as Taesan prepared to descend further, thebyrinth¡¯s floor trembled. Having experienced this multiple times, he waited calmly. Soon, Balbabamba appeared. Balbabamba said nothing. He simply stood there in silence. Taesan did not speak either. After a moment, Balbabamba finally opened his mouth. ¡°You...¡± The voice was filled with a profound weariness. ¡°You are truly a headache to me.¡± Chapter 396: Floor 79, The Floor of Struggle (2) ¡°Of all times, the mage is away. What am I supposed to do with this?¡± Balbabamba sighed. "Headache bothering you?" ¡°It¡¯s not like I can me you, but I certainly want to.¡± He let out a low groan. ¡°You¡¯ve be an immortal. That means you¡¯ve reached the goal that thebyrinth was designed for.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nning to stop here.¡± There was still much to gain. Reaching immortality didn¡¯t mean Taesan was going to stop his progress. ¡°I suppose...¡± Balbabamba trailed off, watching as Taesan prepared to descend to the 79th floor. But Balbabamba didn¡¯t move aside; he blocked the passage, standing firm. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m considering. Should I let you descend or stop you here?¡± ¡°Wait, are you actually trying to prevent me from going down?¡± The ghost was astonished. For an administrator to interfere with a challenger¡¯s progress was unheard of. Balbabamba spoke in a grumpy tone. ¡°Under normal circumstances, this would never happen. My role is to maintain thebyrinth and reward adventurers. Blocking an adventurer¡¯s progress is not my job... but this situation is far from ordinary.¡± Balbabamba¡¯s gaze toward Taesan wasplex, his eyes a swirl of mixed emotions. ¡°You¡¯ve reached a major milestone. Going further could be seen as contradicting thebyrinth¡¯s purpose.¡± Thebyrinth was created for gods to witness mortals struggle. An immortal descending through its floors wasn¡¯t within thebyrinth¡¯s original design. This was only natural; after all, some of the entities that challenged adventurers were themselves immortals. The idea of one immortal testing another was absurd. ¡°Ainzhar seemed to be descending thebyrinth without issue.¡± ¡°He has a contract with the mage. He can move freely through thebyrinth, but he doesn¡¯t receive system benefits. He gets no rewards for clearing floors, nor does his level increase. That¡¯s the necessary process for an immortal to enter thebyrinth.¡± Balbabamba was the administrator responsible for maintaining and correcting anomalies within thebyrinth. Taesan, by his very existence, was an anomaly. But how he had reached immortality was a matter for consideration. Those who had transcended mortality while traversing thebyrinth usually did so through a divine contract, their souls imed by a god, which naturally disqualified them as adventurers. They were thus excluded from thebyrinth. But Taesan had achieved immortality by his own strength while clearing thebyrinth. How to handle someone who transcended mortality without outside aid during their journey through thebyrinth was a question Balbabamba had never had to answer before. Achieving immortality had only ever happened after apletebyrinth clear. After a long period of thought, Balbabamba reached a decision. ¡°For now, proceed downward. I¡¯ll summon the mage to find an answer.¡± Balbabamba finally stepped aside. As Taesan began to descend, he spoke up. ¡°Is there really a need to stop me just because I became immortal? It was already easy for me to clear floors before this.¡± Ordinary floors hadn¡¯t been able to hinder Taesan for some time. Only special levels, like godly trials, had posed any challenge, and immortality wouldn¡¯t change that. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you reach the 79th floor. Let me just say, don¡¯t push too hard. I¡¯ll grant you all the rewards you¡¯re owed regardless.¡± With that, Balbabamba vanished. As Taesan continued down the stairs, he encountered the shopkeeper. ¡°Took you a while this time. Here to buy somethin¡¯...?¡± The shopkeeper, pipe in hand, trailed off as he looked at Taesan. With a dull tter, the pipe fell from his mouth. ¡°...You.¡± ¡°Good to see you.¡± Taesan greeted him calmly, while the shopkeeper stared at him in a daze. ¡°...You¡¯ve reached it.¡± ¡°It appears so.¡± The shopkeeper burst into madughter, his face contorted with excitement, his eyes glinting wildly. ¡°Yes! You¡¯ve reached it! That means I... I can...!¡± In a fervent tone, with a face flushed red, the lost king cried out. ¡°I can finally fulfill my wish!¡± @@novelbin@@ The sound of his voice filled the small room. After releasing his pent-up emotions, the shopkeeper returned to his calm demeanor, picking up his pipe again. ¡°So, buying anything?¡± ¡°Not yet. I haven¡¯t saved enough gold.¡± ¡°In that case, see youter.¡± He smiled as he spoke. Taesan moved past the shopkeeper. --- ¡°...So his wish involves something rted to immortality?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what it is?¡± ¡°I told you before, didn¡¯t I? The shopkeeper never liked me, likely because he thought I couldn¡¯t fulfill his wish. If it¡¯s connected to immortality, that would make sense.¡± The ghost, who was powerful but still a mortal, let out a wry chuckle. ¡°No wonder he¡¯s been here since thebyrinth¡¯s creation. Needing an immortal... what could his wish be? Then again, ording to Balbabamba, it may be something that¡¯s simply impossible.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Taesan hadn¡¯t yet reached the floor the shopkeeper desired, but he knew he would in time. He passed through the corridor and opened the door. It led to an open space. It resembled a vast in more than abyrinth floor, and the area was teeming with life. ¡°So this is the 79th floor.¡± The Realm of Struggle. Here, the task was simple: prove his strength. This was one of the floors that had taken Lee Taeyeon a long time to clear. The floor was filled with numerous beasts, each preying upon others to grow stronger, and at the top of the food chain was the ruler of the 79th floor. To clear the floor, one had to either defeat a certain number of these beasts or challenge the king and prove their power. Of course, Taesan intended to defeat them all, despite Balbabamba¡¯s advice. He gripped his sword and stepped forward, his body vanishing in an instant. With a soft thud, he appeared before two beasts locked in a life-or-death struggle. One was a three-headed ck dog spewing mes that melted everything around it. The other had the lower body of a snake and the upper body of a human, with snake-like hair¡ªa creature akin to a Medusa. Their bodies were scarred as if they had been fighting to the death. Both creatures froze, staring at Taesan. ¡°Come at me.¡± Taesan calmly awaited their attacks, intending to gauge their strength. But no matter how long he waited, neither moved. They simply stood there, frozen like statues. Taesan frowned. At that moment, the dog lowered its body. ¡°Whimper... whimper...¡± The dog crouched down, exposing its belly¡ªa posture of absolute submission. The Medusa creature was no different, trembling as she approached Taesan and desperately bowed her head. --- ¡°...Huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Taesan murmured, perplexed. --- The 79th floor, the Realm of Struggle. The beings here didn¡¯t fear death. They thrived on the thrill of battle, relishing the challenge of facing formidable foes. Each day, dozens of monsters challenged the king of this floor, only to lose their lives in a world where beasts lived solely to fight. That was how Lee Taeyeon had described it. But the monsters in front of Taesan showed no trace of a fighting spirit. Like mice before a cat, they begged desperately for their lives. Their eyes held nothing but terror. --- ¡°...This isn¡¯t right. What¡¯s going on with them? They¡¯re not supposed to act like this. When I came here, they charged at me like madmen, and it was a struggle. Why are they acting like pets all of a sudden?¡± The ghost mumbled in shock. The 79th floor had been around even when he traversed thebyrinth, and he couldn¡¯t hide his surprise at the change. To test his theory, Taesan took a step forward. The two monsters, who had been rubbing against him in submission, recoiled in fear and fled. Next, Taesan moved to an area where arge group of beasts were locked in fiercebat. These creatures weren¡¯t weak; an average adventurer on the 79th floor would need all their strength to defeat even one of them. With a soft tap, Taesannded among them. Immediately, all fighting stopped. Howls erupted from every side. Some monsters fled, while others, seemingly resigned, approached him and began rubbing against him submissively. By now, it was clear. Taesan had ascended to the rank of an immortal. And an immortal was a being of a higher dimension than mortals. Even if he attempted to hide his presence, any creature in his presence would instinctively recognize him as something beyond their level. Thus, even the monsters of the 79th floor, who existed for battle, could not bring themselves to challenge him. ¡°So this is what Balbabamba meant.¡± In hindsight, it was only natural. The concept of struggle only held meaning between beings ofparable stature. If the opposition was on a fundamentally different level, the struggle became pointless. The beasts, driven by instinct, likely couldn¡¯t even entertain the thought of attacking him. Seeing this made Balbabamba¡¯s concerns understandable. With thebyrinth¡¯s purpose of struggle nullified, it was indeed a tricky situation for an administrator. ¡°A bit of a problem.¡± Taesan stroked an eagle perched on his arm, its feathers twitching nervously under his touch. The creatures here had abandoned the notion of fighting him, resorting instead to desperate pleas for mercy. Dealing with such passive beings wasn¡¯t ideal. ¡°...Balbabamba did say he¡¯d grant the rewards if I went easy.¡± It seemed Balbabamba had anticipated the monsters would refuse to fight, hence his suggestion to let things be. With that in mind, Taesan saw no reason to take any further action. He roamed the 79th floor. Every monster he encountered either fled or rubbed against him submissively, making actualbat impossible. With nothing left to do, Taesan set about finding the secret room. Although the 79th floor was expansive, it posed no difficulty for him. Upon reaching immortality, his perception of the world had changed. He could sense the location of the secret room instinctively, without needing any skills. In no time, Taesan discovered the secret room. --- **[Boots of the Fighter Who Lived for Struggle]** **[Attack +600]** **[Defense +300]** **[Strength +300]** **[Action Speed +19%]** **[Movement Speed +18%]** **[Boots worn by one who fought against the world from a young age, living solely for struggle. Though they never reached their ultimate goal, their feelings and regrets linger within the boots.]** --- Although the defense was lower than his current boots, the increased attack power made them a worthwhile option. With the secret room cleared, there was nothing left to do. In the end, Taesan went to find the king of the 79th floor. The king was a massive ck bear, his body covered in scars, muscles tightly woven beneath his fur. ¡°You¡¯re strong.¡± He possessed power on par with the leaders of the Path of Sin. Quietly observing Taesan, the bear slowly lowered itself. It knelt, pressing its head to the ground, a posture of absolute submission. Taesan gently stroked the bear¡¯s head. --- **[Cleared Floor 79.]** **[Balbabamba¡¯s power has activated. Forced clear initiated.]** **[Your level has increased.]** **[Your level has increased.]** **[Obtained: Ring of the Victorious One.]** **[Obtained: ???]** **[You have pacified an entire floor without a single battle. You have obtained the passive skill [Absolute Authority].]** Chapter 397: Floor 80, The Lion King (1) **[Ring of the Victorious One]** **[Attack Power +300]** **[A ring worn by one who ultimately overcame his struggles. Although he never reached the highest realm, his strength was nheless formidable.]** --- **[You used ???]** **[Obtained the Emblem of Struggle.]** --- **[Emblem of Struggle]** **[An emblem proving that the bearer has dedicated their life to struggle itself. The emblem holds a powerful strength of its own.]** --- The rewards included a ring that boosted pure attack power and a material item. It was a decent ring, and though Taesan nned to consult with Hafran, he could already sense its impressive value. Additionally, he had gained a unique skill. --- **[Special Passive Skill: Absolute Authority]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** **[Those of a lower rank than you will feel an overwhelming authority from you and lose their will to fight. Resistance is nearly impossible without extremely strong mental fortitude and power.]** --- A skill obtained only by pacifying an entire floor without using force. Likely, no one else had ever managed to acquire it. It was a skill unique to Taesan alone. --- ¡°Quite the array of unusual skills, really,¡± the ghost chuckled. ¡°Considering that even the boss on the 79th floor couldn¡¯t resist, it¡¯s safe to say that most mortals won¡¯t be able to either. Balbabamba must be beside himself.¡± Thebyrinth was, after all, a ce for mortals. The 80th floor would likely produce a simr oue to the 79th. At this point, each floor was losing much of its significance. Balbabamba had gone to consult with the mage on Taesan''s behalf. He would return with answers once they reached a decision. Taesan resumed his journey, as the beasts quietly bowed their heads in deference to him. And so, he stepped onto the 80th floor. --- **[80th Floor Quest Initiated.]** **[Pass the Trial of Acurus.]** **[Reward: Thread of Ruin.]** **[Hidden Reward: ???]** --- Moving past the shopkeeper, he arrived at the floor and was greeted by an ominous ck orb. --- **[You have discovered the Altar of Acurus.]** **[First Discovery Bonus]** **[Permanently increased Strength by 100.]** --- The ck orb radiated an overwhelming power. Taesan had encountered many altars of gods, but none had exuded such a dense, malevolent force. It was powerful enough that a lesser being would be crushed in both body and mind merely by approaching it. --- **[Acurus, the God of Ruin,]** the ghost whispered. Acurus was a transcendent god who governed the realm of ruin. --- ¡°Among the gods that dwell within thebyrinth, he¡¯s closest to being an evil god,¡± the ghost continued. ¡°More so than the God of Fall?¡± The God of Fall, who treated mortals as mere ythings, seemed like an evil god from a human perspective. --- ¡°In some ways, yes, even worse.¡± --- ¡°Why?¡± --- ¡°Acurus desires ruin in the truest sense. He wishes for the copse of order and the obliteration ofws. Everything humanity holds sacred¡ªbasic morality, faith in the divine, even soul-bound contracts¡ªhe wants it all shattered and broken. He is a god who desires the ruin of all things.¡± --- The copse of every concept and material thing¡ªthat was Acurus¡¯ motive. --- ¡°To mortals, he is indeed an evil god, nothing more and nothing less. Even I had a rough time dealing with him.¡± The ghost shivered. ¡°He¡¯s disliked by the other gods too, given his nature.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll dislike me as well.¡± ¡°Most likely...¡± --- Taesan approached the altar. The chaotic energy rising from it sought to engulf him, radiating a malice that seemed intent on crushing him. Yet within it, there was also a quiet proposal. --- **[Sub-Quest Initiated]** **[Acurus wishes to test you as you havee to his altar. If you ept, the trial will begin, and if you ovee it, a reward will follow.]** **[Reward: Determined by Acurus based on your performance.]** --- ¡°I ept.¡± Taesan nodded. The condition for clearing the floor was to pass Acurus¡¯ trial, so refusal wasn¡¯t an option. Power surged from the altar and began to coalesce into a form. It took on the shape of a lion-maned figure with a muscr body and a massive sword that symbolized strength. --- ¡°...Huh?¡± the ghost said in disbelief. As the power settled, the form took on a distinct shape. The entity that appeared in thebyrinth opened its eyes. --- **[Servant of Acurus: The Lion King has appeared.]** --- --- ¡°Oh,¡± Taesan murmured. He recognized the Lion King. He had glimpsed him once during his encounters with the leaders of the Path of Sin. ¡°If my memory serves, he wasn¡¯t a servant of Acurus then.¡± The Lion King looked at Taesan and the ghost, then spoke. ¡°It has been a while, hero.¡± --- **¡°You... what are you?¡±** the ghost asked, sounding baffled. **¡°Did you really offer yourself?¡±** ¡°What point is there in asking when the answer stands before you?¡± The Lion King replied calmly, and the ghost let out a bitterugh. **¡°You... After all that time descending thebyrinth, you end up not as an apostle but as a mere servant?¡±** A servant of a god. Taesan had seen such beings once before in the trial of Lakhiratas, and now, having achieved immortality, he could sense the essence of what they truly were. --- ¡°A tool.¡± --- An apostle was a title bestowed through a mutual agreement. In exchange for offering themselves to a god, mortals received a fitting share of power and stature from the deity. Since it was a consensual contract, there were very few apostles, and gods cherished them greatly. They respected their apostles'' autonomy and would even protect them, sometimes at the cost of their own power. Horaira was an exception, but that was a unique case. Normally, the rtionship between gods and apostles was one of mutual respect. A servant, however, was different. A servant was simply a god¡¯s tool. They were used as the god desired, discarded as pawns at any time. All their umted strength, experiences, and values became utterly meaningless, reduced to nothing more than a disposable oue. This was why the ghost couldn¡¯t understand it. --- **¡°Is this really the ending you wanted? To throw everything away and be used by a god without a second thought?¡±** --- ¡°Of course not.¡± The Lion King denied it lightly. ¡°Although I may be Acurus¡¯ servant, I am powerful. Not even a god would treat me as a mere expendable pawn.¡± --- **¡°But your essence hasn¡¯t changed. To Acurus, you¡¯re worthless. You sacrificed yourself just to be that.¡±** @@novelbin@@ The ghost spoke with sharp disdain. The Lion King remained silent. --- **¡°Well, I guess it makes sense. Acurus wouldn¡¯t ept you as an apostle, nor would any other god. In desperation, you turned to Acurus... but to go that far, all just to kill Taesan?¡±** --- ¡°...Silence.¡± The Lion King ground his teeth. His gaze was filled with raw fury. --- ¡°I cannot ept it!¡± His powerful voice echoed through thebyrinth. ¡°He¡¯s been in thebyrinth for less than three years, yet he¡¯s already reached the 80th floor! It¡¯s uneptable! There should be no such being! It¡¯s wrong!¡± His face twisted with rage and hatred, mingled with envy and jealousy. --- ¡°A being like you should not exist in this world! You¡¯re a distortion of order! I¡¯m merely setting things right!¡± His voice held a powerful conviction that would shake the hearts of the weak-willed. Taesan responded indifferently. ¡°So, in the end, you¡¯re just jealous of me.¡± --- ¡°What...?¡± --- ¡°Am I wrong? It hasn¡¯t been long since I entered thebyrinth, and here I am, already at this floor. In the time it took you, struggling for countless years, I¡¯ve reached this ce almost instantly.¡± It was indeed a remarkable feat. Even the ghost couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the pace at which Taesan grew stronger. The Lion King harbored intense resentment toward Taesan. --- **¡°Now I get it. You always imed we were the greatest in the world. You said that if not for thebyrinth, we would be unmatched.¡±** --- ¡°Hero...¡± The Lion King¡¯s face twisted with anguish. Those who delved into thebyrinth¡¯s depths were, more often than not, the strongest in the outside world. The Lion King was no exception. He had likely descended thebyrinth¡¯s depths without much resistance, developing an unwavering confidence in his abilities. But the deeper levels had rejected him. The depths had shattered his pride and talent. As he wallowed in inferiority and frustration, others like him began to appear. They were all highly talented like him, but they, too, couldn¡¯t breach the deeper levels. This gave the Lion King a sense of relief. He wasn¡¯t alone; even the finest others were blocked here. This was simply the limit of mortals, he thought. Thus, he gathered them to form the leaders of the Path of Sin. The Lion King had led the formation of the Path of Sin. He consoled himself and kept his confidence alive until Taesan appeared. Despite not possessing great initial strength, Taesan had cut through thebyrinth¡¯s depths at an unprecedented speed, a pace so fast that even the depths couldn¡¯t keep him from advancing. The Lion King couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡°In a way, it¡¯s remarkable,¡± Taesan said. **Absolute Authority** was active. The Lion King¡¯s warped pride and inferiority were fueling his resistance against the skill¡¯s effects. --- **¡°I still can¡¯t understand. You sacrificed yourself for that?¡±** ¡°Enough,¡± the Lion King growled. ¡°You know nothing. I cannot ept him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not umon for people to die over pride.¡± Taesan had seen it even on Earth. In the Lion King¡¯s case, his very sense of self was rooted in his strength and the confidence that came with it, making it all the more likely. It wasn¡¯t particrly surprising. The Lion King grinned wickedly, baring his teeth. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right. I am a tool. But I gained power through this.¡± --- Rumble... --- Thebyrinth trembled. The Lion King¡¯s strength surged as his entire being began to twist and distort. --- **[The Lion King has activated the Oath of Ruin.]** --- Taesan could sense it. That was the power of Acurus. The Lion King was breaking through the barrier of mortality, transcending his limits with sheer force. --- ¡°Oh! Oh! Ooooh!¡± Forcing his decaying mind to remain focused, the Lion King swung his greatsword with ferocity. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The Lion King roared withughter. A feeling of omnipotence he had never experienced before was taking over his entire being. Though his body and mind were slowly deteriorating, it didn¡¯t matter. The sensation was utterly intoxicating. ¡°So this is what it means to be immortal!¡± Atst, he had reached the ce he had only dreamed of, the ce he had sacrificed his life for. He felt as though he could do anything. The Lion King looked at Taesan with a crazed grin. ¡°Now... die, you wretched¡ª¡± His words were cut off. --- ¡°...What?¡± --- ¡°To sacrifice both body and mind just to surpass one¡¯s limits.¡± Taesan was watching him calmly. As if the Lion King¡¯s newfound immortality meant nothing. And absurdly enough, the Lion King sensed it too. Upon meeting Taesan, he had recognized that Taesan had reached an elevated realm. But he had believed that Taesan was only at the early stages of this state, a state that would still be unstable. It made sense. Taesan had grown far too quickly. Reaching immortality so soon was practically impossible by normal standards. The Lion King was certain Taesan had used some kind of shortcut. This belief fueled his confidence that, by bing immortal, he could surpass Taesan. But upon reaching immortality, he realized the truth. Taesan had attained a stable level of immortality, far beyond his own. --- ¡°No... Impossible! How... how are you already there?!¡± ¡°Quiet.¡± Taesan dismissed him and drew his sword. ¡°Let¡¯s end this quickly.¡± Chapter 398: Floor 80, The Lion King (2) ¡°Ugh, aaaah!¡± A scream filled with denial erupted as the Lion King clenched his sword and charged, swinging it with all the fury and hatred he possessed. Taesan met him head-on. Numerous buff skills activated as their swords shed, creating a deafening roar. --- *BOOM!* --- Their powers collided. Taesan¡¯s stats were approaching 40,000, significantly higher than the Lion King¡¯s, yet the Lion King wasn¡¯t easily pushed back. *¡®The power of Acurus...¡¯* The god¡¯s power had boosted not only the Lion King¡¯s strength but also his speed to the absolute limit. The Lion King gripped his massive sword with both hands and stepped forward. --- *Crack!* --- The sword¡¯s long reach gave him an advantage, allowing him to maintain a moderate distance during the fight. The Lion King was utilizing this edge skillfully. His style was a powerful, straightforward swordsmanship that appeared full of openings. However, each apparent vulnerability was a trap. Any attempt to exploit it would have surely been met with a deadly counterattack. --- ¡°Roooooar!¡± The Lion King let out a beastly roar, mming his sword down with tremendous force. --- **[The Lion King has activated the Gathering of All Power.]** **[You activated Strong Strike.]** **[You activated eleration.]** --- Taesan didn¡¯t back down; instead, he rushed forward, shing with the Lion King using amplified strength and speed. --- *CLANG!* --- Both fighters staggered slightly from the impact, but neither was deterred. The Lion King gritted his teeth, regained his stance, and charged again. It was rough, forceful, and full of openings yet wless in its execution. This was the Lion King¡¯s swordsmanship. --- *¡®He¡¯s strong.¡¯* --- It was nearly perfect, a styleparable to the devastating swordsmanship of Stormscar. In terms of swordsmanship alone, he had even surpassed Taesan. ¡°But I am stronger than you.¡± The Lion King¡¯s primary technique was his swordsmanship, and Taesan had already analyzed its patterns. Exhaling steadily, Taesan raised his sword. His movements became incredibly fluid. --- **[You activated Flow.]** --- ¡°Hnng!¡± The trajectory of the Lion King¡¯s sword twisted. He quickly corrected it, having witnessed Taesan and the other leaders use Flow in battle. Understanding it, however, didn¡¯t make it impossible to counter. Just as the Lion King was about to counterattack, a dark energy surged from Taesan. --- **[You activated Storm of Arrows from Beyond Thought.]** --- A streak of darkness shot toward the Lion King. He instinctively raised his sword. His beast-like instincts, honed over countless battles in thebyrinth, saved him. Although his heart was spared, the attackunched him into the wall with brutal force. --- **[The Lion King took 6,357 damage.]** --- ¡°Gah!¡± --- **[You summoned Minerva, the Spirit King of Wind.]** ¡°Minerva, attack.¡± ¡°A lot has changed since west met, I see. Alright!¡± Minerva responded enthusiastically, releasing a powerful gust. The Lion King rose with a furious roar. ¡°How dare a mere Spirit King!¡± ¡°Watch your mouth! I am a guardian of this world!¡± Wind shed with the Lion King¡¯s de, dissipating upon impact, yet managing to withstand his attacks. Summoning a Spirit King required significant strength from the summoner, but Taesan, having reached the level of an immortal, could fully summon Minerva in herplete form. --- **[You activated Asmodeus¡¯s Chains of Decay.]** --- Chains wrapped around the Lion King as he fought off the wind. He struggled violently to break free but couldn¡¯t shake them off easily. --- **[You activated Gaf¡¯s Unyielding Boulder.]** --- A boulder dropped from above, descending almost directly onto him. In a rage, the Lion King summoned his power. --- **[The Lion King activated the Power of the Beast.]** --- @@novelbin@@ *Crack!* The chains shattered. The Lion King gripped his sword with both hands, swinging wildly as the boulder broke apart above him, though fragments of it still managed to strike him. ¡°Aaaah!¡± --- **[The Lion King activated Unstoppable Will.]** **[The Lion King activated Target Lock.]** --- Ignoring the debris, he charged toward Taesan, tearing through Minerva¡¯s winds with his own body and aiming his sword straight at Taesan. Taesan raised a finger, calmly watching his advance. --- **[You activated Forced Exclusion.]** --- *Boom!* A powerful wave washed over the Lion King, attempting to repel him and deny him any approach. ¡°Graaah!¡± The Lion King¡¯s veins bulged as he pushed forward, inching closer to Taesan, his muscles trembling under the strain. He was almost within striking distance when Taesan raised his hand. ¡°Well done.¡± --- **[You activated Naberius¡¯s Golden Sword.]** --- With Taesan¡¯s attack, the Lion King¡¯s desperate resolve and power were rendered meaningless as his body was driven into the ground. Cracks spread across the floor like shattered ss. ¡°Grrrraaah!¡± Another roar erupted,ced with denial. Taesan responded without hesitation. Magic and dark energy swirled, bombarding the Lion King, preventing him from closing the distance. Though Acurus¡¯s power had significantly increased his stamina, he was now nearing death. ¡°This... this can¡¯t be... I...¡± The Lion King hadn¡¯t relied solely on divine power; he had carefully prepared for this battle, strategizing based on his previous encounter with Taesan. Yet, none of it mattered. Taesan looked at him calmly. ¡°You are strong, but... that¡¯s all.¡± The Lion King had transcended mortality, but it was a twisted, unstable level achieved through sacrifice. In contrast, Taesan had surpassed his limits through divine grace, reaching a stable and pure state. His strength and experience were far greater. An insurmountable chasm separated Taesan and the Lion King. ¡°Farewell.¡± Taesan approached, sword in hand. Fear filled the Lion King¡¯s eyes. ¡°N-no...¡± The Lion King stammered, his voice trembling with terror. ¡°No! No! Please, God, save me! I beg of you!¡± **¡°How pitiful,¡±** the ghost sneered. It was an unbing disy for someone who had dwelled within thebyrinth for so long. The Lion King cried out to the heavens. ¡°I¡¯ll give you everything! Just free me from this ce, I beg you!¡± Then, a mockingugh echoed. Power surged from the altar, untouched by the battle around it. The Lion King¡¯s face froze. The god¡¯s power within him swelled violently. ¡°No, s-save...¡± The power expanded, consuming his consciousness as he desperately clung to his desire to escape. His will and intellect were devoured by the overwhelming force. --- **[Acurus¡¯s power activated. Acurus¡¯s domain of influence has diminished.]** **[The servant of Acurus has lost all reason and intellect.]** --- ¡°Hm.¡± --- **¡°Hold on.¡±** Taesan stopped in his tracks. The light in the Lion King¡¯s eyes had faded, reced by a fierce, burgeoning power. It was a force that even Taesan couldn¡¯t disregard. --- **¡°An enhanced trial? But he didn¡¯t get his consent!¡±** --- Before the ghost could finish, the system issued a warning. --- **[Enhanced Trial Proposal......@#!@$]** **[Acurus¡¯s Authority of Ruin activated. Acurus¡¯s domain of influence has diminished.]** --- The system warning shattered, thews and order breaking down. --- **¡°What?¡±** ¡°As expected, they went to these lengths,¡± Taesan murmured. He remembered the trial of Lakhiratas on the second floor, where the god had forced an enhanced trial on him without his consent. The ghost had mentioned that such selfish actions were rare, even among gods. But this also implied that other gods could do the same. Not every god favored Taesan. Some surely harbored resentment. He had anticipated that a situation like this might arise someday. However, there was a difference nowpared to the trial with Lakhiratas. Taesan had earned the favor of more gods. --- **[Lucifer¡¯s Mother of Darkness activated. Lucifer¡¯s domain of influence has diminished.]** --- Space opened, and a dark being descended onto the ground. --- --- Power surged from Acurus¡¯s altar, tinged with surprise. A dark-haired girl stepped into thebyrinth. **[I don¡¯t usually interfere within thebyrinth,]** a clear voice rang out as the darkness enveloped Taesan protectively. **[Though I cherish him, his struggles and trials are his own. My interference wouldn¡¯t benefit either of us. But this... is a different story.]** The dark being chuckled mockingly. **[Did you really think we¡¯d let you undermine our expectations, Acurus?]** --- **[...You.]** A voice resonated,ced with fury, a chilling tone that sapped the life from everything it touched. **[How dare you interfere with me?]** Power exploded forth. This was the true force of a transcendent god. A force that even Taesan, at his current level, couldn¡¯t resist¡ªaw unto itself. Darkness shed with the godly power. There was no sound, only a shift in reality. **[You¡¯re one to talk. At the very least, respect the basic rules.]** The dark beingughed, its face hardened in anger. **[You dare to meddle with the one I cherish?]** Dark energy surged, nketing the world in a shadowed realm. **[He is my chosen. Even if he¡¯s not my apostle, he¡¯s one I hold dear. Do not cross the line. Follow the rules.]** The being waved its hand. **[But I won¡¯t deny your trial itself.]** --- A rumbling filled the air. The dark energy restored the shattered order, and a system message appeared before Taesan. --- **[Acurus proposes an enhanced trial for you.]** **[Trials conducted under legitimate conditions are always just. epting it is the adventurer¡¯s choice. What will you do, Taesan?]** The dark being looked up at Taesan, awaiting his answer with a steady gaze. ¡°I will ept it.¡± Taesan replied. The fact that the dark being had acknowledged the trial meant it was legitimate. There was no reason for him to refuse. The dark being smiled, as if it had expected this all along. --- **[Good. We¡¯ll meet again soon, Taesan.]** --- With that, the being vanished into the darkness. Acurus exuded irritation and fury but could no longer interfere. Eventually, Acurus¡¯s presence receded quietly. --- **[Acurus¡¯s Trial: Defeat the Sword of Acurus.]** **[The Sword of Acurus has appeared.]** --- ¡°A sword, then.¡± Neither a servant nor an apostle¡ªa sword. Though he hadn¡¯t encountered such a foe before, Taesan immediately grasped its nature. The name ¡°Lion King¡± had ceased to exist. What remained was solely the power of Acurus¡ªan entity twisted into a pure instrument to channel Acurus¡¯s power. The might contained within it was no less than Acurus¡¯s own. But it didn¡¯t matter. For Taesan, this was no longer an obstacle. The figure shaped like the Lion King moved. Its sword swung as it charged toward Taesan. --- **[The Sword of Acurus activated Ruin.]** --- And everything began to crumble. The walls of thebyrinth quaked, cracks spreading outward. Taesan shrouded himself in divine light. A blinding radiance engulfed thebyrinth. Chapter 400: The Mage Who Created the Labyrinth **Reunion with the Mage.** There was no reason to refuse. Taesan consented without hesitation. Without any sign of dy, Balbamba used the Administrator''s power. [Balbamba has activated #000004.] *Crack.* The space warped, and the world beyond thebyrinth came into view. [You''re the first to see the mage again in such a short time. Enter. Speak with the mage ande to an understanding.] Taesan stepped into the space. It was the same as before¡ªdistorted, with countless colors mixed together in chaos. This was the essence of the space. An area built from the mage¡¯s power, but it felt empty. Unlike a typical realm, itcked the presence of its owner. Instead, it was simply a chaotic mix of forces, an indistinguishable mess. Taesan had no understanding of it when he first came here. At that time, hecked the power to perceive suchplexities. But now, he could at leastprehend a little. [You have activated Essence Perception.] Focusing his mind, Taesan''s gaze trembled slightly. ¡®...What is this?¡¯ Though he couldn''t grasp the structure or dimensions of the space, he did understand one thing. This space had not originally been this chaotic. In the past, it had resembled the domains of other transcendent beings, containing traces of its creator¡¯s features. The power spread throughout the space revealed this truth. Someone had taken that space and twisted it into this iprehensible, chaotic form. Only the master of the domain could alter it this drastically. The mage had transformed his domain so much that its original shape was unrecognizable. Taesan couldn¡¯t fathom why he did it, though. His rank was still stuck at the level of an Immortal¡ªhe simplycked the power to understand. ¡°You look curious,¡± a voice suddenly said. Taesan turned to see a man with an ordinary,monce face¡ªa face anyone could see anywhere. He was looking at Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again.¡± Taesan nodded in acknowledgment. --- * * * The mage snapped his fingers. A chair and a table appeared. A variety of refreshments appeared on the table as well. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, I was surprised,¡± said the mage, sitting in the chair and sipping tea. Taesan took a seat across from him. ¡°Really. How did you get here so quickly?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t I watching everything?¡± Taesan replied. ¡°You were watching, yes. But still, it''s surprising.¡± The mage shrugged. ¡°I thought you¡¯d reach at least Floor 80 before getting here. This ce isn¡¯t just a matter of meeting requirements to progress; it''s about power and rank. I thought youcked those... but I was wrong. A pleasant misunderstanding.¡± The mage took another sip of his tea. ¡°Though Balbamba''s probably got a headache now.¡± ¡°What will you do about it?¡± Taesan asked. Thebyrinth was for mortals, and Taesan, as he was now, wasn¡¯t supposed to be the target. The mage smiled quietly. ¡°What will I do?¡± he repeated. Taesan waited in silence. The mage continued to drink his tea, remaining quiet. ¡°Honestly, I have a headache too,¡± the mage said, setting his empty teacup down. ¡°ording to thebyrinth¡¯s rules, I should expel you. Otherwise, we¡¯d have to make a contract that prevents you from taking anything further from thebyrinth. But... if I do that, the gods will cause quite a fuss.¡± Taesan immediately thought of the Demon Lord and Maria. There were others, like the gods of Struggle and Death, Rakiratas, and the gods of Victory¡ªquite a few gods who would not approve. The mage had made an uneasy alliance with them. ¡°I have to respect them as we work together. That¡¯s why this is soplicated,¡± he added, but his face remained rxed. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m not going to expel you.¡± The owner of thebyrinth made his decision. ¡°But right now, this situation isn¡¯t ideal, right? For both you and me. So I¡¯ll fix that.¡± Something shifted from the mage. It wasn¡¯t just power or energy¡ªit was more like aw or order. [The mage has activated the Designer¡¯s Authority.] ¡°I can¡¯t limit your strength. You need to grow stronger. Limiting you would be absurd. So, I¡¯m going to change thebyrinth¡¯s floors to suit you.¡± This was the space outside thebyrinth. But Taesan could still feel it¡ªthebyrinth was changing on the other side. ¡°Any floors already settled by transcendent beings or special floors will remain as they are. But all the others will change to match you.¡± Thebyrinth was transformed to fit Taesan, the Immortal. A quiet yet intense wave spread, and soon, the disturbance settled. The mage pped his hands. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Faster than I thought.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only separated the floors for your use. Of course, Balbamba¡¯s going to have more work to do now,¡± the mage waved off, as if it were nothing. ¡°And about the rewards you¡¯ve earned. You don¡¯t need them as they are, do you? I¡¯ll change them into something more useful for you.¡± [The mage has activated the Management Authority.] [The title *Unyielding Body and Spirit* has been changed to *Solitary Body*.] [The special constant skill *Unyielding Heart* has been changed to *Immortal Heart*.] The rewards from Floor 80 were of no use to Taesan, now that he had reached immortality. The mage changed them into something that would benefit him. ¡°And that Absolute Authority you¡¯ve earned... It¡¯s a troublesome skill. Because of thebyrinth¡¯s system, obtaining skills like that is normal, but the problem is, it''s a constant skill.¡± Absolute Authority was a skill Taesan could not control. As the skill worked, any mortal who saw Taesan would lose all will to fight and submit to him. It wasn¡¯t an ideal skill for someone like Taesan. ¡°So here¡¯s a service for you. To make things easier in the future, I¡¯ll create a skill that will help you control it.¡± The mage snapped his fingers. [The mage has activated Skill Creation.] [You have obtained the special skill *Authority Seal*.] ¡°If you use this skill, mortals won¡¯t sense anything from you. They¡¯ll just think of you as a normal human. You can use it when needed.¡± ¡°...Thank you.¡± Taesan looked at the mage. The mage changed the effects of a skill and casually created a new one¡ªan act only the owner of thebyrinth could perform. This was the mage who created thebyrinth. [Unbelievable. Really.] The ghost muttered with a hollowugh. Essentially, the mage could acquire any skill he wanted if he desired. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. It¡¯s all based on the system and thebyrinth¡¯s ce. Not that impressive.¡± The mage said, his face showing neither pride nor regret¡ªjust a simple statement of fact. Taesan turned to him with a question. ¡°What is it you want?¡± The gods of thebyrinth seek mortal struggles and battles, as well as finding mortals they favor. The mage had said he created thebyrinth to learn things unknown to him. But he didn¡¯t seem to be simply after knowledge. The mage opened his mouth, but his response wasn¡¯t an answer to Taesan¡¯s question. ¡°What made you this way?¡± Taesan frowned at the mage¡¯s sudden self-reflection. The mage continued. ¡°Before you reversed time, why were you so weak?¡± ¡°I was in easy mode,¡± Taesan replied. In easy mode, his growth had been limited. Therefore, he had no choice but to be stronger by acquiring numerous skills. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that seem strange to you?¡± the mage prodded. ¡°You were strong. Really strong. Even though it was a shortcut, you were rated equally with Lee Taeyeon, who cleared this ce. If you fought for real, you would¡¯ve won.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I used the system to gain skills...¡± ¡°No.¡± The mage denied Taesan¡¯s words. Heughed. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°But I did it.¡± Taesan had defeated Lee Taeyeon, a B-rank monster, and even wounded the Apostle of the God of Death with his weak stats. The mage¡¯s words meant nothing to him. ¡°That¡¯s the problem, Taesan,¡± the mage said, leaning back in his chair. His face was full of amusement. ¡°I said it was impossible, but it¡¯s notpletely impossible. Just like your past self, you could have made an effort to acquire countless skills, achieved results, and gained other powers. It was possible. But... how much effort did you really put in?¡± ¡°...More effort than I can count.¡± He had abandoned all distractions and focused only on acquiring skills, pursuing every possibility. ¡°Amazing dedication and effort. With those stats, you took down two single-digit monsters. You even wounded the Apostle of the God of Death. It¡¯s an impressive feat. Even transcendent beings would be in awe. So let me ask you one question.¡± The mage asked with genuine curiosity. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t your past self transcend mortality?¡± @@novelbin@@ --- * * * Taesan, having finished his conversation with the mage, returned to thebyrinth. But his mind was still unsettled. ¡®You should have transcended mortality back then. It should have happened exactly like that.¡¯ In fact, Taesan had earned that right. He had reached a higher ne through the union of body and mind. But nothing changed. He was still just a mortal. ¡®But the Soul Up grades I got then remain, even after time reversed. With that, I can steal the powers of even the Immortals and transcendent beings.¡¯ The mage had been right in that regard. Thest words of the mage echoed in his mind. ¡®What made you like this? What twisted you?¡¯ Taesan didn¡¯t know the answer either, but for now, he decided to put aside the unresolved issue and focus on something that mattered more. He opened hismunity chat. In themunity, numerous people were chatting away. Taesan looked for Lee Taeyeon, but she wasn¡¯t responding. [Gang Junhyuk [Allron]: Ah, hyung.] He received a quick response when he contacted Junhyuk. [Gang Taesan [Allron]: How¡¯s Lee Taeyeon doing?] She had regained her memory. Taesan needed to know how she was progressing through thebyrinth. [Gang Junhyuk [Allron]: Funny you should ask. I was about to ask you the same thing. What did you talk about with her?] [Gang Taesan [Allron]: Why?] [Gang Junhyuk [Allron]: She¡¯s already on Floor 55.] Taesan froze. When he had left for Earth, she had only been in thete 40s. From Floor 50 onwards, the difficulty increased, and it wasn¡¯t easy to progress. Junhyuk asked in confusion. [Gang Junhyuk [Allron]: She hasn¡¯tined at all. She¡¯s just quietly going down. What did you do to her?] Chapter 401: Floor 81, Advanced Magic (1) [Gang Junhyuk [Allron]: Your personality''s changed a bit... Your way of speaking is different too... Did you give her any items or skills?] [Gang Taesan [Allron]: If I were going to give something, I would''ve given it to you as well. The reason she changed isn¡¯t because of me.] Taesan had given Maria the flower ornament, but it was only a medium that helped restore her memory. The reason she had changed was because of herself. [Gang Junhyuk [Allron]: It''s not bad that she''s progressing fast... but it¡¯s a little unsettling. What if something goes wrong?] Junhyuk''s message was filled with anxiety and concern. [Gang Taesan [Allron]: It¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ll talk to her.] [Gang Junhyuk [Allron]: Alright. Thanks, hyung.] After finishing his conversation with Junhyuk, Taesan reached out to Lee Taeyeon once more. After some time, she epted the conversation. [Lee Taeyeon [Allron]: Ah, sorry. I was clearing a boss, so I¡¯m a bitte in checking.] [Gang Taesan [Allron]: How far are you now?] [Lee Taeyeon [Allron]: I¡¯m at Floor 55.] Taesan couldn¡¯t immediately recall what kind of monster was at Floor 55. It was cleared so quickly that he didn¡¯t have a clear memory of it. After thinking for a moment, he remembered. [Gang Taesan [Allron]: I think it was a monster that interferes with the mind.] [Lee Taeyeon [Allron]: Yep. I cleared the Allron Mode, so mental interference isn¡¯t a problem for me.] Lee Taeyeon had clearly used shortcuts to bypass thebyrinth, and she had been mentally weak. But that was more due to her own inner struggles and self-deprecation. Her mental strength was far superior to that of an average adventurer. Now that her memory had returned, there was no way she¡¯d allow any ordinary monster¡¯s mental interference. [Gang Taesan [Allron]: Aren¡¯t you progressing too quickly?] [Lee Taeyeon [Allron]: It¡¯s fine. I know all the floors, so the strategy¡¯s simple. The trials of the gods were a bit tough, but I didn¡¯t run into any real problems.] Lee Taeyeon had tackled each floor with full effort. She had a clear memory of each floor as well. If she had gained experience and knowledge from clearing the deeper floors, she would be able to progress down to the lower levels without issue. However, Taesan didn¡¯t think she would rush like this. Clearing thebyrinth quickly wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. [Gang Taesan [Allron]: Why the rush?] [Lee Taeyeon [Allron]: I can¡¯t leave you alone.] Taesan paused. After a moment of silence, he responded. [Gang Taesan [Allron]: I don¡¯t mind.] [Lee Taeyeon [Allron]: I know. This is just for my own satisfaction.] After a bit more conversation, Taesan closed themunity. He felt strange. If someone else were about to clear thebyrinth, he would tell them to wait, to gather their strength, and clear thebyrinth together with everyone else. Then, he nned to return to Earth alone to deal with the monsters. Lee Taeyeon knew Taesan¡¯s n. That¡¯s why she said she couldn¡¯t leave him alone. He wasn¡¯t alone. It felt strange but not bad. In fact, it felt good. Taesan settled his thoughts and continued checking his rewards. --- **[Title: Solitary Body]** [Unaffected by anything, simply a solitary body.] [Resistance to all physical status effects is significantly increased.] --- The title, which was useless to Taesan, had been changed into something useful by the mage. Now, poisons, paralysis, or simr status effects would have no meaning for Taesan. --- **[Special Constant Skill: Immortal Heart]** [Proficiency: 1%] [As long as your will is unbroken, both your mind and body will remain steadfast. You can move a body that has reached its physical limits through mental strength.] --- ¡°Moving the body with willpower,¡± Taesan muttered. While it didn¡¯t seem like a huge benefit for him, it wouldn¡¯t hurt either. Then, the special skill. --- **[Special Activation Skill: Authority Seal]** [Mana Cost: 1] [Seals Absolute Authority. You can also seal your presence if you wish.] --- This was quite a unique skill, created and handed over directly by the mage. Taesan decided to test it. [You have activated the Authority Seal.] [Oh?] The ghost let out a sound of surprise. Taesan, now an Immortal, had a natural presence that was hard to conceal, due to his very rank. However, when he activated the Authority Seal, everything vanishedpletely. Taesan now appeared like apletely ordinary adventurer with no distinguishing features. [This could be useful.] Taesan summoned Minerva to check it. Minerva appeared, her face filled with excitement. ¡°Master! You''ve finally reached immortality! You should¡¯ve called me earlier! I¡¯ve got so many questions...¡± Minerva stopped abruptly when she saw Taesan. She looked puzzled, unable to feel his presence. ¡°Huh? I¡¯m sure you reached immortality...¡± ¡°Did you, the contracted spirit king, not recognize me?¡± Taesan released the seal. His presence flooded back into thebyrinth. Minerva was surprised. ¡°Sealing the presence of an Immortal? Such a skill exists?¡± ¡°I got it from the mage who created thebyrinth. Not bad.¡± Taesan could now hide his presence at will. He felt this could prove useful in the future, no matter what floorsy ahead. ¡°The mage who created thebyrinth must have been capable of such things. Fascinating,¡± Minerva said, ncing around thebyrinth in awe. ¡°Anyway, congrattions, Master. You¡¯ve surpassed mortality. A feat few in the entire universe could achieve.¡± Her words weren¡¯t just empty praise. Even in thebyrinth, where the strongest beings from all worlds gathered, an adventurer who surpassed mortality was rare. Reaching immortality was an extraordinary achievement, even by universal standards. However, Minerva spoke with a somewhat uncertain expression. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, but... I¡¯m not sure how much help I¡¯ll be from here on.¡± Now that Taesan was an Immortal, as the mage had said, thebyrinth would change to match his level. While Minerva was strong, she couldn¡¯t match an Immortal. ¡°You have your own tasks.¡± Even without needing to worry, a spirit that acted on its own was useful, even beyondbat. After some more conversation with Minerva, Taesan continued checking the remaining items. --- **[Thread of Ruin]** [A thread conjured bypressing the power of copse. Simply touching it causesplete destruction of the body.] --- **[Ring of Endless Ruin]** [Attack Power +500] [A ring with the power to destroy anything around it. If the usercks the required rank and power, the ring will destroy their body.] --- A material item, and a fairly useful ring. Looking at it, Taesan noticed the twin rings that had grown stronger since his ascension to immortality. The white and ck rings. Now that Taesan was an Immortal, the power of these rings had stabilized significantly. @@novelbin@@ The ck ring¡¯s attack power ranged from 1,500 to 2,000¡ªfar superior to most weapons. The white ring had a feature that could use divine power to assist Taesan, activated by the ring¡¯s own will. However, it wasn¡¯t enough yet. Taesan fiddled with the pair of rings. Abination of two equal elements created the *Dual Unity* skill. He was now strong enough to use it. If hebined the white and ck rings, their power would greatly increase. But not right now. After confirming things with Half-Ran, he nned to test it. Finishing his preparations, Taesan headed to Floor 81. Leaving the quietly smiling shopkeeper behind, he stepped onto Floor 81, where a familiar altar awaited. [Floor 81 Quest Begins.] [Pass the Trial of Zervand.] [Reward: Wand of Rippling Sound.] [Secret Reward: ???] --- The altar of the God of Magic, Zervand, appeared before him. As Taesan approached and ced his hand on it, an aura surrounded him. He nodded as the power expanded and the world transformed. A space filled with starlight, resembling a gxy. This was the realm of the God of Magic. [You have arrived.] ¡°Greetings.¡± Zervand stood alone in the gxy, waiting for Taesan. Taesan bowed deeply, showing respect. Zervand waved his hand dismissively. [No need for formalities. You¡¯re an Immortal now. You don¡¯t have a domain of your own yet, but you¡¯ve surpassed mortality. No need for formalities.] ¡°Even so...¡± Zervand was far stronger than Taesan. Zervand seemed to know this and gave a faint smile. [Perhaps it¡¯s unnecessary. Do as you wish.] Zervand created a chair and sat down. [You know what you¡¯re about to obtain, don¡¯t you?] ¡°Advanced Magic, I suppose.¡± [Correct. Advanced magic is a power that even those with great talent who dedicate their entire lives to magic cannot easily attain. That¡¯s why I will give you a trial rted to it. Will you ept?] Zervand spoke with a challenge. ¡°Yes.¡± Finally, Advanced Magic. The gap between basic and intermediate magic was like night and day . Taesan had nearly stopped using basic magic since obtaining intermediate magic, seeing how much more useful it was. Now, what would Advanced Magic be like? Zervand smiled slyly. [Good. I¡¯ll take you to the trial ce. You¡¯ll find the details there.] With a snap of his fingers, space elerated around Taesan. Countless stars streaked past as Taesan was transported to one ce. It was a tower. In an empty white space, an endless tower stood. ¡°Is this the trial ce?¡± [Probably.] Taesan walked toward the tower. When he opened the small door, eight figures were waiting for him inside. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here!¡± ¡°...Hmph. Not impressed.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t sense anything. Did Zervand really grant Advanced Magic?¡± Their voices mixed with curiosity, frustration, and distrust. From them came an intense and deep mana wave. Their mana felt different and disjointed, each wielding a unique form of magic. And one of them stood out especially¡ªan elderly man in a gray robe, wearing a pointed hat and a long white beard. The epitome of a traditional wizard, the old man stood at the center of the group. ¡°...¡± He looked silently at Taesan, his eyes filled with intrigue. Taesan was also a bit surprised by the old man. ¡®An Immortal.¡¯ ¡°Hello! Nice to meet you!¡± A woman who had shown curiosity toward Taesan waved her hand with a bright smile. ¡°We¡¯ve heard from Zervand. But since you¡¯re new here, you probably don¡¯t know much about this ce. Feel free to ask anything! What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°What kind of ce is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± she replied proudly, cing her hand on her chest. ¡°We are the magicians chosen by Zervand!¡± ¡°Chosen?¡± ¡°We are magic fanatics. Only a few of those who dedicate their lives to magic are chosen by Zervand. Those chosene together to study and practice magic forever. This is the ce¡ªthe Tower of Eternity!¡± The ce where magicians gathered¡ªthe Tower of Eternity. The woman raised her finger. ¡°And we are the magicians who reside here! You can think of us as the examiners who will test whether you deserve Advanced Magic! Look forward to it!¡± [Sub Quest Started.] [The God of Magic, Zervand, wants to test if you deserve Advanced Magic. To do so, you must visit the Tower of Eternity, where Zervand¡¯s chosen magicians have gathered. Gain the approval of the seven schools and pass the tower master¡¯s trial.] [Conditions: Approval of the Seven Schools and the Tower Master.] [Reward: Advanced Magic. Great Copse.] Chapter 402: Floor 81, Advanced Magic (2) ¡°Rest for now. Since you¡¯ll be staying for a while, take a look around. If you have any questions, feel free to ask,¡± said the woman, and with those words, the other magicians dispersed. Taesan followed her advice and began exploring the tower. The tower was vast and high, with no visible end in sight, and countless rooms spread across its structure. Each room had its own unique characteristics. Some were filled with all kinds of experimental tools, like aboratory, while others were covered with hundreds of magic circles. There were many magicians in the tower. At a nce, there were over a hundred of them. Most of them ignored Taesan, focused solely on practicing their magic. Taesan wandered through the corridors. A man with red hair, walking from the opposite direction, scowled when he saw Taesan. This was the man who had muttered an annoyed greeting when they first met. With a look of disdain, he brushed past Taesan. ¡°Even if Zervand epted you, we do not acknowledge you. Don¡¯t act recklessly.¡± He whispered the warning as he passed. Taesan watched him for a moment before continuing his stroll through the tower, not paying him any mind. [They can¡¯t see me. It¡¯s not like the old man at the center could either.] Taesan felt several pairs of eyes on him. The magicians weren¡¯t approaching; instead, they were using their magic to observe him. Most of them were curious, or indifferent. Of course, some disyed hostility. Taesan paid it no mind and spent the day leisurely exploring. ¡°What is this ce?¡± He had arrived at a library filled with countless magical books. It was significantly smaller than the vast library he had seen before, but still, there were enough books here tost a lifetime of study. ¡°Oh, hello there.¡± A woman appeared, smiling brightly from adder atop a bookshelf. She was the only one of the magicians who had shown any friendliness toward him. ¡°Whew.¡± She jumped down from thedder, and a host of dolls gently caught her. As she descended and smoothed her robes, she asked, ¡°Have you had a good look around? What do you think of the ce?¡± ¡°A few showed hostility, but most were indifferent.¡± ¡°Right?¡± The woman sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why they can¡¯t just ept a new magician with some grace. We¡¯ll be here together for a long time, right? They¡¯re just being stubborn.¡± She grumbled for a moment before smiling again. ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± ¡°I was just wandering around. What is this ce?¡± ¡°This is the library. It¡¯s filled with many magical books. Some are cursed or contain magical consciousness, so be careful.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Taesan looked around the library. As the woman said, some books radiated special power, but they didn¡¯t seem that remarkable. ¡°Well, this works out. Guys, help me out.¡± @@novelbin@@ The woman pped her hands, and at the same time, a wave of mana scattered in the shape of threads. The dolls, infused with mana, moved and began flipping through the bookshelves. In no time, dozens of books piled up in front of Taesan. ¡°These are well-organized books that are great for learning. Take a look.¡± ¡°...Thank you.¡± There were so many books. Just reading them would take quite some time. Taesan didn¡¯t n on staying here long. After briefly skimming through some of the books, Taesan asked, ¡°You¡¯re a puppeteer, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± The woman smiled and snapped her fingers. The dolls started to pair up and gracefully danced a waltz. ¡°I handle specially crafted puppets. I can control over a hundred at once. It¡¯s fun, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unique.¡± A magician who controlled puppets¡ªTaesan had never seen one before. The woman shrugged. ¡°Here, we learn Zervand¡¯s magic. Most of the magicians are focused on that. But a few of us, including myself, are different. Instead of relying on Zervand¡¯s magic, we¡¯re creating our own. The eight magicians who will test you are all like that.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it unnecessary to create your own magic?¡± Zervand was the God of Magic. His magic was wless and perfect. The woman scratched her cheek with a sheepish expression. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit awkward to say, but we¡¯ve hit a wall.¡± She waved her hand, and with a surge of mana, arge blue spear materialized. ¡°An intermediate-level magic,¡± Taesan noted, recognizing the magic from the aura alone. ¡°Yes. Did you catch on? I thought it might be hard, but you¡¯re quite sharp.¡± The woman shook the spear in the air. ¡°This is the level we¡¯re allowed to use, but... anything beyond this, Zervand doesn¡¯t approve of.¡± She gave a wry smile. ¡°I see. Advanced magic?¡± ¡°Yeah. We think we¡¯re qualified for it, but Zervand doesn¡¯t agree.¡± Because of this, they were creating their own magic rather than relying on Zervand¡¯s. ¡°Well, you see, some of the magicians who are going to test you... They¡¯re pretty jealous of you.¡± Having spent a long time here, learning magic but still not being allowed to use advanced magic, Taesan, an outsider, was immediately granted ess. It wasn¡¯t strange for them to show hostility. ¡°Are you one of those?¡± ¡°No. I just thought it looked interesting, so I joined in. And I wanted to help you a bit. The guy pretending to sleep over there is a magician who specializes in nts. He¡¯s one of the seven magicians. He¡¯s a sly one, so be careful.¡± The woman whispered while ncing at the man lying on a sofa. From his direction, a voice filled with annoyance echoed. ¡°Selling other people¡¯s information? What are you trying to do, Elia?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk about the other magicians. The one taking the test has to figure out how to deal with us and how we operate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too harsh. This much info should be given upfront.¡± Elia muttered, and the man groaned as he got up from the sofa. ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t talk about the others from now on. The one who has to figure that out is him.¡± ¡°Mm... Fine.¡± Elia reluctantly nodded. ¡®That¡¯s not it.¡¯ But Taesan had already known everything about the magicians when he entered. He could see their mana flow and how they manipted it. Even though they had ced protections around themselves, it meant nothing to him. While he didn¡¯t know the exact magic they were using, he could tell their direction and affinity. ¡°By the way, I never introduced myself.¡± The woman cleared her throat dramatically and proudly ced her hand on her chest. ¡°I¡¯m Elia Magatri, the head of the Marite School and one of the eight magicians chosen by the God of Magic, Zervand.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Constria Veriel, the head of the Rokest School, also one of the eight magicians chosen by Zervand.¡± Constria, who had been silently watching, asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Gang Taesan.¡± ¡°Gang Taesan. Leave this ce immediately.¡± ¡°Constria?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a warning, it¡¯s advice. I feel nothing from you.¡± Constria spoke bluntly. ¡°You were recognized by the God of Magic, which means you have far superior talent than us. I can¡¯t argue with that. But you¡¯re too weak.¡± Taesan stared at him quietly. The silence seemed to have hit the mark, and Constria continued. ¡°Elia here is a special case. Most of the people here don¡¯t allow outsiders, especially if they¡¯re weak. All of us here have reached a certain level. No matter how much talent you have, someone as weak as you can¡¯t learn anything.¡± With those words, Constria turned and began to walk out of the library. ¡°Leave now. Live your life. That¡¯s my advice.¡± The door closed behind him. Elia scratched her head awkwardly. ¡°Well... he¡¯s a bit harsh, but he¡¯s notpletely wrong. But don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll help you!¡± Elia clenched her fist. ¡°If you¡¯ve been approved for advanced magic, then Zervand must have recognized your talent. After a few years of hard work, the other magicians will acknowledge you too!¡± ¡°I see.¡± It dawned on Taesan why the conversation had felt off. They didn¡¯t truly know anything about him. Though he had been granted ess to the advanced magic, they thought it was because he had the talent to learn it, not realizing that he was hiding his strength. Taesan was currently using the Authority Seal, hiding all of his power. To them, he appeared as an ordinary human. That¡¯s why Elia thought she could help him, assuming he¡¯d be spending a long time here with them. ¡®This is troublesome.¡¯ There was no reason to stay long. Releasing the Authority Seal would probably go against what Zervand wanted. After deciding this, Taesan asked Elia: ¡°Can I take the test whenever I ask?¡± ¡°Hmm, yeah. Since it¡¯s Zervand¡¯s will, we don¡¯t have the right to refuse. But right now, it¡¯s impossible to pass, so you should train slowly and¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll take the test right now.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Elia¡¯s eyes widened. --- **The Trial Begins** ¡°Already? What¡¯s the hurry?¡± one magician grumbled. Inside the tower, there was a room for duels. The eight magicians and Taesan gathered there. ¡°Elia, you said you ¡¯d take care of this. What are you talking about?¡± ¡°No, I tried to stop him...¡± Elia scratched her cheek awkwardly. When Taesan insisted on taking the test, she tried to stop him, saying it wouldn¡¯t matter now. But Taesan was resolute. Since he hade to this ce by Zervand¡¯s will, Elia had no choice but to give in. ¡°So, who¡¯s going to do it?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± A man stood up. It was the man with red hair, the one who had shown the most hostility toward Taesan. He grinned as he walked toward Taesan. ¡°Why is he so enthusiastic?¡± ¡°He¡¯s always whining about wanting to learn advanced magic. He probably hates that Taesan got it so easily.¡± They had no expectations. Since they¡¯d detected no power from Taesan during their first encounter, they all knew he had nothing to show. ¡°Why did Zervand bring someone so weak? He seems talented, but he¡¯s too weak.¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯s weak?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The old man, who had been silent, spoke up. The magicians, surprised, asked him. ¡°Of course. I can¡¯t sense anything from him.¡± ¡°Elia, you¡¯ve been close to him. What do you think?¡± ¡°Well... I don¡¯t know. I feel like he¡¯s hiding something, but it doesn¡¯t seem that impressive.¡± Elia shook her head. Even though she had tried to sense Taesan¡¯s power up close, she had felt nothing. ¡°I see.¡± The old man observed Taesan quietly. ¡°Interesting. How did he hide everything so perfectly?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± The red-haired man arrived in front of Taesan. His eyes were filled with hostility. ¡°Scum.¡± His voice was filled with hatred and antagonism. He had dedicated his whole life to magic. Literally, he had abandoned his family, friends, lovers, and even his own life, all for magic. With that obsession and his results, he was recognized by the God of Magic and entered the Tower. He was proud of himself. He was one of the very few magicians acknowledged by the God of Magic. But then Taesan, someone with no apparent power, had been granted ess to advanced magic. He couldn¡¯t ept Taesan¡¯s existence. Just by being here, Taesan was tarnishing his authority. He couldn¡¯t allow someone like him to contaminate the air of this ce any longer. The man decided to exclude Taesan from the tower. But expulsion wasn¡¯t possible. Zervand himself had granted Taesan permission. So, he would make him leave on his own. The man grinned widely. ¡°I am Butler Raven! The founder and sole magician of the Butler School! I will test you!¡± Butler called upon his mana. Immediately, the space around Taesan twisted. Butler specialized in spatial magic. He could fold space to leap great distances, twist space to prevent attacks from reaching him, or distort it to directly attack his opponents. Butler¡¯s first action was to seal Taesan¡¯s movement. Then, he applied pressure. The space around Taesan tightened, restricting his movement. Slowly, slowly, the pressure intensified, making it hard for him to breathe and causing his muscles to ache painfully. Taesan didn¡¯t show any signs of movement. Butler sneered. Taesan was surely feeling the agony of being bound, as if he were being tortured. Elia, watching from behind, frowned. ¡°That¡¯s too much.¡± She stood up, but a staff blocked her path. ¡°Grandfather?¡± ¡°Watch closely. There won¡¯t be a problem.¡± The old man stared at Taesan with calm eyes. The pressure increased further. Butler was preparing to finish this. Any more pressure could risk Taesan¡¯s life. ¡®This should be enough to intimidate him.¡¯ When he released the magic, Taesan would instantly change his expression and copse. And with fear, he would look at Butler. Butler was eager to release the spell. ¡°Is this...?¡± Taesan murmured. He reached out and gently touched the spatial pressure. ¡°Certainly unique. It¡¯s a magic I can¡¯t manipte.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Butler¡¯s eyes widened. He hadpletely bound Taesan¡¯s body, preventing him from even moving or changing his expression. But Taesan, as if strolling, calmly manipted the distortion of space. ¡°What is this...?¡± ¡°This is a magic test. So, using magic is only natural.¡± [You have activated Magic Ovep.] [You have activated Distortion.] [You have activated Distortion.] [You have activated Distortion.] Mana was concentrated. Those watching held their breath. From Taesan, a massive surge of mana suddenly erupted. It was a high-level magic, one they could hardly understand. With just the condensation of mana, the sphere of space began to crack. The old man¡¯s eyes widened with surprise. [You have activated Magic Liberation.] [You have activated Partial Magic Calibration.] The spatial distortion shattered the sphere. --- ¡°Cough!¡± Butler fell, spitting blood. The recoil from trying to handle magic beyond his limits had caused it. ¡°This... What...¡± Constria groaned. Intermediate magic¡ªdistortion¡ªwas something they could all use. But the power Taesan had disyed was on a level they could never reach. All the magicians, except the old man, were left speechless at the scene before them. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± Taesan¡¯s voice echoed through the silence. Chapter 403: Floor 81, Advanced Magic (3) ¡°Break Butler¡¯s magic so easily...?¡± A voice mixed with astonishment echoed through the room. Taesan remained unchanged. His breathing, hisplexion¡ªnothing about him had altered. The attack itself had been as meaningless to him as a child¡¯s tantrum. ¡°...Our eyes were the ones that were blind.¡± In that single trial, all of them realized something. Taesan wasn¡¯t powerless; they had reached a level of strength that they couldn¡¯t even sense. They were all highly skilled magicians recognized by Zervand. They were not foolish enough to deny what had just urred before them. ¡°This is troublesome.¡± After the trial ended and Taesan returned, Elia scratched her head awkwardly and spoke with a sheepish expression. ¡°There was a reason Zervand granted you Advanced Magic. I was too stubborn.¡± ¡°Did you suggest the trial?¡± ¡°Yeah. Zervand originally had a different approach in mind, but we strongly insisted.¡± They had proposed testing Taesan to determine if he was truly worthy of Advanced Magic. Zervand had agreed to their request. ¡°So, this is how it turned out?¡± Elia looked at Taesan with a wry smile. ¡°You¡¯re really strong. Far stronger than us.¡± ¡°Then is the trial over?¡± The seven magicians, aside from the old man, could not reach Taesan. But Elia shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Her eyes were steady and resolute. ¡°Even so, we¡¯re magicians. We¡¯re curious. How far will our magic work against someone as powerful as you? We have to give it our all.¡± They requested some time to set up a new trial, and Taesan agreed. Two dayster, Elia came to take him to the trial room. ¡°Alright! This time, it¡¯s my turn!¡± Though her face looked tired, as though she hadn¡¯t slept, her eyes sparkled with excitement. Other magicians arrived shortly. Butler, still wobbling from his injuries, managed to sit down. ¡°My trial will be with my magic. Puppetry!¡± She spread her arms wide, and two white puppets flew toward Taesan and Elia, standing before them. ¡°We won¡¯t fight directly. Instead, we¡¯ll control the puppets and make them fight! If you win, you pass! How about it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to use puppetry,¡± Taesan replied. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll teach you the basics.¡± Elia approached Taesan and took his hand. Mana flowed from her into him. Taesan felt the flow and analyzed it, understanding it almost immediately. ¡°It¡¯s not something that¡¯s normally possible like this, but you¡¯re far stronger than me. You¡¯ll pick up the basics.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± [You have learned Puppetry.] ¡°...That was fast.¡± Elia muttered, surprised. She thought it would take at least an hour for him to grasp it. ¡°So, how is it?¡± ¡°It feels awkward.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Elia grinned and swirled her mana. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin!¡± The puppets came at Taesan with swift and intense movements. It was a battle using puppets, and the puppets¡¯ strength didn¡¯t depend on the user''s power. Taesan had only just learned puppetry, so he couldn¡¯t control them well yet. Given his immense strength, he would quickly get the hang of it, but for now, there was a high chance he would lose. But Taesan had no intention of losing. There was no restriction to only using magic. Taesan connected his mana to the puppets and spoke. ¡°Work for me.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Motion.] The puppet jerked its head up. Boom! The puppet rushed forward, faster and more aggressively than Elia¡¯s puppet. ¡°Wha¡ªwhat?¡± @@novelbin@@ Elia, who had thought that Taesan wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the puppets, gasped in surprise. The puppets shed, and Elia¡¯s puppet was immediately pushed back. Elia hastily took control of her puppet. It moved smoothly, as if it were human. She was indeed an excellent puppeteer. But that was as far as it went. The puppet controlled by Taesan carried the authority of an immortal. The disparity in their levels was immense. In an instant, Elia¡¯s puppet shattered. ¡°...I lost.¡± Her own magic, her lifelong creation¡ªpuppetry¡ªwas shattered with a single word from Taesan. Her self-esteem crumbled in an instant. After that, the magicians each conducted their trials, each one using their own magic. But none of them could match Taesan. The nt magician¡¯s trial had Taesan facing nts that burrowed into his body. The nts never even touched his skin. The trial ended in an instant. Next was the trial of blocking pure mana condensation. Taesan simply waved his hand. The mana, which the magician had gathered to the point of exhaustion, waspletely wiped out with that simple motion. ¡°...Huh.¡± The magician let out a wryugh. It was clear¡ªtheir levels were no match for Taesan. Taesan also analyzed their magic. The magicians¡¯ magic was diverse and unique. Depending on how it was used, it could prove useful to Taesan as well. But the more he learned, the more something became clear. ¡°Zervand¡¯s magic is of a higher level than this.¡± ¡°...That hurts to hear.¡± Elia¡¯s face fell slightly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking how you feel about your magic. I was just answering your question.¡± Their magic was indeed diverse and unique. But that was all. They had be too fixated on trivial aspects, which diminished the power of their magic. The versatility of their magic was also quite limited. It wasn¡¯t worth acquiring. Compared to the magic Taesan had learned in thebyrinth, their magic was inferior. ¡°It might be unnecessary advice, but rather than focusing on creating your own magic, it would be better to keep exploring Zervand¡¯s magic.¡± They were strong. Taesan could tell from how effortlessly Elia handled intermediate magic. They were magicians on par with Shayan, who called himself a grand mage. If they fought properly, they could possibly match Taesan. But they had forgotten their true power. They were too obsessed with creating their own magic, which had shackled them. ¡°With your current level, you won¡¯t be able to learn Advanced Magic.¡± Even Shayan, using thebyrinth¡¯s system and tools, had only barely managed to wield primitive advanced magic. These magicians, equal to him, had no hope of using advanced magic. ¡°Is that so?¡± Elia smiled wryly. She had already realized that what they were doing had no real meaning. But it was frustrating. No matter how hard they tried, the path to Advanced Magic seemed out of reach. As a result, the seven magicians had chosen to escape into creating their own magic. ¡°Did Zervand know this, and that¡¯s why he agreed to our request...?¡± Elia realized that the reason they were given this opportunity was to show them that the magic they created was nothing more than child¡¯s y to a stronger being. She let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Guess we¡¯re not like Grandpa after all.¡± The identity of the ¡°Grandpa¡± she referred to was not difficult to guess. ¡°You mean the master of this tower.¡± ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s the one who reached the highest level without ever learning Zervand¡¯s magic, creating his own path. That¡¯s why we started this futile effort of making our own magic. After all, someone like him achieved it right next to us.¡± A magician who reached immortality through his own magic. Elia smiled. ¡°Even though our magic seems awkward and low-levelpared to Zervand¡¯s, Grandpa¡¯s magic won¡¯t be like that. His trial will give you a real challenge.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Taesan responded calmly. The trials continued. Of course, they did not stop Taesan¡¯s path. As time passed, only two trials remained. ¡°My trial is this.¡± A short, middle-aged man with a long beard showed Taesan a massive contraption. ¡°It¡¯s the culmination of my magic, made with magic engineering. It¡¯s the machine itself. Try to activate it without breaking it.¡± The man grinned, his face full of confidence that Taesan wouldn¡¯t easily clear this trial. Though Taesan was monstrously strong, this was a matter of technique, not power. No matter how strong Taesan was, he would have to understand the technology before passing the trial. The man¡¯s prediction wasn¡¯t wrong. Taesan didn¡¯t understand the machine¡¯s technology at all. But the answer to how to operate and handle this machine was already in Taesan¡¯s mind. [Gang Taesan¡¯s divine power manifests. The King of Mechanisms activates.] Mana naturally flowed out. The old man, watching from the side, stood up in shock. Elia, who was next to him, jumped back in surprise. ¡°Grandpa? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°....¡± The old man didn¡¯t answer. He just stared at Taesan with wide eyes. ¡°...How?¡± A voice full of confusion echoed, and the machine began to activate with a mechanical hum. --- Taesan continued walking. He passed through the long corridor and opened the door at the end. Click. A vast interior appeared before him. He could see the antique wooden floors and walls. The space itself seemed to expand, with no visible end in sight. When he stepped forward, he felt a strong rebound from the floor. ¡°This space was created by Zervand himself. No matter how much you struggle, it¡¯s impossible to destroy, so don¡¯t worry about that.¡± At the center of the expansive room stood an old man. Holding a staff and wearing a gray robe, he looked at Taesan with quiet eyes. ¡°Where are the other magicians?¡± ¡°They¡¯re watching from a different ce, so they don¡¯t get involved.¡± The old man tapped his staff. ¡°I am Wirad. Just Wirad.¡± He didn¡¯t mention a school. The reason was easy to guess. For the man who called himself Wirad, such distinctions didn¡¯t matter. ¡°What are the rules?¡± ¡°All powers except for magic are sealed.¡± The staff pointed at Taesan. A strong rule wrapped around him. [The skill [Strong Pressure] has been sealed. The skill [eleration] has been sealed. The passive skill [Quick Judgment] has been sealed...] A system window blocked his vision. Almost all skills except magic were sealed. ¡°This is a trial from the God of Magic, Zervand. As long as you follow the trial¡¯sws, you cannot break the rules.¡± Taesan clenched and unclenched his fists. His entire body felt different, as if his senses had been muted by the sealing of his passive skills. ¡°Next?¡± ¡°Make me leave this circle.¡± At Wirad¡¯s feet was a circle,rge enough for a person to step inside. ¡°If you seed, you pass the final trial.¡± ¡°Sounds easy.¡± Taesan began to draw on his strength. The previous seven trials were nothing more than distractions. They held no meaning or value. Zervand surely knew that. But epting their request meant one thing. The magician before him. That being alone was enough to create a trial worthy of Advanced Magic. Wirad stared at Taesan with fluctuating eyes. ¡°You... what are you?¡± ¡°I am an adventurer of the Labyrinth. And I¡¯m someone on the same level as you.¡± ¡°No. Something¡¯s different. You... are fundamentally unlike me.¡± Wirad fell silent. After a moment of contemtion, he shook his head and raised his staff. ¡°Anyway, I am the examiner. Pass my trial.¡± The staff crackled with energy. It began to seize control of the space, bending the world to his will. ¡°My magic is very simple. What do you see this as?¡± Wirad tapped the staff in the air. A ck dot appeared. ¡°It¡¯s a dot.¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s a dot.¡± Wirad pulled the staff horizontally. The dot stretched into a line. ¡°This is a line. It¡¯s created by stretching a dot into a straight line.¡± Wirad pulled the staff upward. The line stretched upward. ¡°This is a ne. It¡¯s created by extending the line vertically.¡± A ck ne appeared in mid-air. ¡°A dot, a line, and a ne. These are the three aspects of my magic, and my power.¡± Wirad flicked his robe. Mana began to engulf the world. ¡°Come, unknown immortal. Challenge my power.¡± [Wirad¡¯s power manifests. The Dimension Definition has been activated.] Chapter 404: Floor 81, Advanced Magic (4) Taesan gathered all his strength. The opponent before him was an immortal. Unlike the beings who had lost their sense of self, like the King of Mechanical Devices, or those who used corrupted power like the Apostles of the High Gods, this was a pure immortal, without any penalties. Both had reached the same level of power. But Taesan¡¯s skills, aside from his magic, were sealed. The odds were extremely slim. Taesan spoke up. ¡°How many times can I challenge you?¡± ¡°Of course, as many as you want. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d win on your first try anyway.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m ready.¡± Taesan had no intention of being satisfied with the first round. Hepleted his preparations, and Wirad raised his staff. ¡°Let¡¯s start lightly.¡± *Keeying.* A ck dot appeared on Wirad¡¯s staff. He waved the staff. The dot turned into a line. There was no wave of power, no tremor. The ck line moved toward Taesan with calm force, as if drawn onto a canvas¡ªso quiet it didn¡¯t even feel like an attack. Taesan stepped back, his foot scraping the ground. His skills were sealed, but his stats remained. Moving quickly, he evaded the ck line. *Boom!* The ck line struck the brown floor, dissipating with a soft noise. *¡®Not that fast.¡¯* Even with his dyed reaction, it wasn¡¯t difficult to evade. If this was the full extent of the speed, he could dodge any attack. ¡°You¡¯re pretty fast. At this pace, no matter how many times you attack, you won¡¯tnd a hit,¡± Wirad said, realizing his attack had been evaded. He raised his staff again. The previous attack had been just a test. Now, the real challenge began. The dot appeared again, and once more, it turned into a line. The speed was the same as before. Just as Taesan moved to evade again and close the distance to Wirad¡ª *Keeying.* The line split. Dozens, hundreds of lines shot out, racing through the space like lightning, swallowing everything in their path. There was no space to avoid them. In that moment, Taesan drew his mana quickly. [You have activated Frozen World.] [You have activated Starlight Arrows.] [You have activated Magic Focus.] The freezing cold and starlight arrows shot forward. This was intermediate magic, wielded by an immortal like Taesan. Its power was on an entirely different level. Even a light strike could be enough to cripple the higher-ups of the Labyrinth¡¯s leadership. However, as the ck lines collided with the magic, they were shattered. The Frozen World scattered as shards of ice, and the Starlight Arrows were crushed by the ck lines, losing their light. Taesan twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the impact as the ck lines hit the ground. *Boom!* Taesan didn¡¯t take any damage. While the Frozen World and Starlight Arrows couldn¡¯t fully block the ck lines, they altered the trajectory, giving Taesan enough space to evade. Taesan clicked his tongue. Even intermediate magic wasn¡¯t enough to counter Wirad¡¯s power; it barely managed to alter the path of the attack. But conversely, this meant that, at his current level, Taesan could at least respond somewhat to the immortal¡¯s power with intermediate magic. ¡°Not bad,¡± Taesan muttered. With a quiet voice, Wirad drew another ck dot. This time, it wasn¡¯t one. It was five. The lines shot out all at once. Taesan swung his hand roughly and began gathering his mana. * * * *Boom!* The ck lines swallowed the world, crushing everything that stood in their way as they consumed space. Yet, Taesan didn¡¯t stop moving. *Keeying!* A ck dot appeared right next to Taesan. As Taesan instinctively gathered his mana, the dot sent out lines in all directions, like sea urchin spines. [You have activated Twisting.] [You have activated Forced Exclusion.] Taesan twisted the trajectory of the lines and forcefully pushed them back with his formless power. With his double-casting ability, Taesan could handle two spells simultaneously. But there was no time to rx. Hundreds of lines shot from the ck dot in the air, surging toward him. [You have activated Magic Ovep.] [You have activated Eternal Firebird.] [You have activated Magic Liberation.] The ovepped Firebird manifested, scorching everything in its path and blocking the lines. Taesan quickly surrounded himself with the Shield of the Guardian and used Concentrated Detection on Wirad and the ck dots. *Keeying!* But the magic was blocked. The mana barrier surrounding Wirad prevented the Concentrated Detection from activating. Wirad casually waved his staff. ¡°Other magicians might be able to detect that, but not me.¡± *Boom!* The lines pierced through the Eternal Firebird. The Firebird, which had been struggling to hold on, was eventually obliterated. Wirad raised his staff. More ck dots appeared in multiple spaces. The lines came crashing down like a storm. And yet, there was no disturbance of power or ripples, making them hard to detect. Normally, with his Harmonizing Eyes and Sensory Enhancement, Taesan could easily pinpoint the source. But both skills were sealed. He had no choice but to sharpen his senses and expand his vision, physically observing and dodging the attacks. ¡®There¡¯s no answer at this rate.¡¯ He was putting all his energy into defending against the relentless ck lines, with no chance of approaching Wirad. Mana was also being drained steadily, and at this rate, defeat was inevitable. He tried using Limited Blink, but Wirad didn¡¯t allow it. For the first time, Taesan realized that a top-tier magician could actually block the activation of Limited Blink. It was time to take a risk. With a decision in mind, Taesan¡¯s body leaped through the air. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan didn¡¯t know where he wouldnd, the teleportation being unpredictable. The ck lines immediately shot toward him, but there was a slight dy. Quickly, Taesan began ovepping his magic. He gathered the Frozen World and exploded it. *Crash!* The freezing cold spread out, scattering the ck lines momentarily. Taesan seized the opportunity and unleashed his magic all at once. [You have activated Eternal Firebird.] [You have activated Starlight Arrows.] [You have activated Earthquake.] The magic erupted in rapid session, engulfing everything in its path. With the help of his Continuous Chanting skill, the speed and power of his magic grew exponentially, gradually pushing back the ck lines. ¡°Is this your strategy? Not bad, but it¡¯s not the solution.¡± Wirad waved his hand again. The ck lines surrounded Taesan from four directions. *Crash.* The lines merged and began forming a maze-like shape. A physical barrier was being created that Taesan could not escape from. Wirad intended to suffocate Taesan. However, Taesan had already predicted Wirad¡¯s actions. *Boom!* Magic poured relentlessly. In an instant, dozens of different magics flooded Taesan¡¯s vision. The seven magicians watching from other locations gasped in awe. ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± They could handle intermediate magic, but the power of the magic Taesan was using was on apletely different level. ¡°Is this the level needed to receive Advanced Magic...?¡± They all realized just how far away their desired path was. Even Wirad was overwhelmed by the unrelenting barrage of Taesan¡¯s magic. ¡°How much mana does he have?¡± Even as an immortal, no one could wield intermediate magic as recklessly as Taesan was doing. When it came to pure mana, Taesan was clearly superior to Wirad. Magic after magic poured out, far surpassing Wirad¡¯s predictions, and the mana scattered, briefly obscuring Taesan¡¯s figure. The ck lines veered off course, and Taesan seized the opportunity. He exploded the Starlight Arrows that had been prepared, and the light filled the world as the arrows shot toward Wirad. Wirad tried to block it with the ck dots, but Taesan activated his skill in that moment. [You have activated Magic Separation.] The arrows of light split into hundreds of individual shots. The ck lines were powerful, but they were still lines. As long as they weren¡¯t an attack that upied space, they couldn¡¯t block the split arrows. Taesan, seeing Wirad¡¯s reaction, immediately prepared his next attack. ¡®Excellent.¡¯ Wirad couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. With all non-magic powers sealed, Taesan was clearly weaker than him. But Taesan wasn¡¯t giving up. He was observing for any gaps, and was on the verge of exploiting them. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to show you all of this from the start.¡± Wirad muttered as he waved his staff. The line extended, and finally, it formed a ne. A ck ne surrounded Wirad¡¯s body. The Starlight Arrows collided with it. *Boom!* A deafening sound echoed, and light illuminated the area. When the light dimmed, Taesan clicked his tongue. The ck ne that protected Wirad was unscathed. ¡°My magic is the dot, line, and ne.¡± Wirad raised his staff, and dozens of ck dots appeared in the air. ¡°As long as you can¡¯t ovee these three, it¡¯s impossible to push me out of this space.¡± With a calm voice, the ck lines descended. * * * @@novelbin@@ ¡°Have youe?¡± When Taesan entered the library, Elia was waiting with a face full of admiration. ¡°You really are strong.¡± ¡°Even so, I didn¡¯t win. He ¡¯s strong.¡± ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? We¡¯re different from him. The old man reached his level with his own magic. You¡¯re definitely monstrous in strength, but so is he.¡± Even without the restrictions ced on Taesan¡¯s use of non-magic skills, a guaranteed victory was still uncertain. Wirad had that much power. To face such a strong opponent, Taesan had to rely solely on magic. At this moment, the chances of winning were slim. ¡®But it¡¯s not like I¡¯ve gained nothing.¡¯ Wirad¡¯s magic. The units of matter. There were no premonitions of power, no sense of pressure. The way he used magic was incredibly simple. ¡®Compressing mana to its limit.¡¯ Bypressing mana over and over again, a single ck dot was created. He stretched thatpressed power into a line, and then expanded it into a ne. The theory was simple, but the power was evident. Since the mana waspressed to the extreme, the power didn¡¯t leak out, making it impossible to read the prelude to the magic activation. Thepressed mana itself was formidable. The disadvantage was the limited range of the power, but the use of nes solved that problem. It was a highly useful and intricate magic. But it wasn¡¯t a method Taesan could replicate. His magic had been granted by the God of Magic. While some modifications were possible, handling mana like that was out of the question. And, truth be told, Taesan wasn¡¯t even interested in doing so. The reason Wirad¡¯s magic was so powerful was that he had devoted his entire life to it. In contrast, Taesan wasn¡¯t a magician. He was an adventurer. He gained strength from various sources and used them as tools. Unlike magicians, he didn¡¯t obsess over magic itself. So, he took only the best parts. Taesan stood up. * * * Taesan continued facing Wirad. They had fought dozens of times, and all of them had ended in defeat. ¡°Your loss.¡± Wirad pointed at Taesan with his staff. Taesan epted his words without any visible change in expression. Outside, Elia consoled him. ¡°Another failure today... It¡¯s okay! You¡¯ll reach it soon!¡± Taesan nodded silently. Elia looked back at him with a sad expression. They had been amazed by Taesan¡¯s first battle. The power of his magic. His use of it. They no longer doubted him and respected him as an excellent magician, even in the face of Wirad. But the subsequent battles were strange. Unlike the first one, the time to defeat Taesan became shorter, and he couldn¡¯t even put up a proper counterattack. Was he hoping for luck, since he couldn¡¯t win conventionally? Elia was worried. ¡°Old man. What happened to Taesan? Is he giving up and hoping for luck?¡± Elia went to ask Wirad. He answered quietly. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s giving up?¡± ¡°No? It¡¯s strange. He¡¯s losing so quickly and not even putting up a proper fight.¡± ¡°No. Quite the opposite. He¡¯s actually searching for the answer.¡± Wirad waved his staff. ¡°It¡¯s amazing. Is that the adventurer of the Labyrinth? His approach to strategy is perfect.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Elia was surprised by thepletely different evaluation. Wirad said, remembering the gaze Taesan had directed at him. ¡°Quick losses were part of his n. Think back. Were the battles ever the same?¡± ¡°Um...¡± Elia paused as she recalled the battles. It was as Wirad had said. In dozens of battles, there was never the same pattern repeated. Elia silently gasped in shock. ¡°Could it be...¡± ¡°He intentionally put himself in danger to test my reactions. I didn¡¯t n to amodate him, but the battles unfolded that way. He¡¯s brilliant at tactical y.¡± Quick defeats were expected. He had deliberately thrown himself into danger to provoke Wirad¡¯s response. ¡°And that wasn¡¯t all.¡± Wirad recalled the gaze Taesan had directed at him. He had been observing not only his responses but also his entire approach to handling power. It was as if Taesan was trying to learn something. Wirad¡¯s magic was his creation, the magic of an immortal. No one could steal it. But Taesan¡¯s gaze suggested he thought it was natural to learn from it. That intrigued Wirad as a magician. ¡°What means will he use? How interesting.¡± Wirad smiled. At this moment, Taesan could never defeat him. But at the same time, Wirad was deeply curious about how Taesan might bring him down. Several days passed. Taesan came to Wirad again. ¡°Can I try the trial again?¡± Wirad looked at Taesan. His face was different this time. There was a certainty that he could win. Wirad nodded. ¡°I ept. Adventurer of the Labyrinth.¡± Chapter 405: Floor 81, Advanced Magic (5) Wirad noticed it. This time, Taesan intended to fight with the goal of victory. "Then let¡¯s begin." In ordance with the god of magic¡¯s rules, most powers besides magic were sealed. Wirad¡¯s staff moved, a ck dot forming in the air, soon transforming into lines that shot toward Taesan, leaving no space to escape¡ªa perfect domination of the surroundings. Taesan responded by casting his own magic. >[You have activated Starlight Arrow.] > >[You have activated Magic Focus.] The Starlight Arrowpressed and shot toward the ck lines. Although the Starlight Arrow crumbled under the attack, it disrupted the trajectory enough to open a gap for Taesan to evade. *Boom!* Taesan evaded Wirad¡¯s assault without taking any damage, countering purely with his own magic. Wirad, however, was unfazed. Instead, heughed joyfully, waving his staff. *Buzz!* Dozens of ck dots appeared in the air. Hundreds of lines poured down like divine punishment, crashing toward the ground. Taesan moved swiftly. *Boom!* Taesan manipted the space around him, twisting it to create gaps, and used random blinks to widen the distance. Heyered his magic to intercept the falling ck lines, detonating his spells to block them. Wirad formed a ck dot at the tip of his staff and drew arge arc. "Go." *Boom!* From the arc, a fan-shaped force erupted, swallowing space violently. Taesan raised his hand. >[You have activated Magic Ovep.] > >[You have activated Distortion.] The ovepped distortion activated. As soon as the fan-shaped force touched the twisted space, it began to warp. Taesan didn¡¯t miss that moment. >[You have activated Forced Exclusion.] > >[You have activated Magic Focus.] > >[You have activated Magic eleration.] *Boom!* The power of exclusion focused on the twisted space, causing the fan-shaped force to screech to a halt. >[You have activated Distortion.] > >[You have activated Magic Explosion.] Taesan activated Distortion once more and exploded the space. The rampaging force shattered, creating an opening for Taesan to dodge the attack effortlessly. Wirad snarled, swinging his staff. ck lines filled the space but failed to reach Taesan. The world was engulfed in fire and ice, a disy of perfect magic resisting Wirad¡¯s might. >[Magic proficiency increased by 1%.] > >[You have acquired the skill [Magic Circle].] > >[You have acquired the skill [Magic Interference].] > >[You have acquired the skill [Memorize].] The battle with Wirad was entirely one of magic. As Taesan¡¯s proficiency continued to rise, it finally reached 80%. >[You have activated Frozen World.] *Crack!* The Frozen World activated, a force beyond anything Taesan had unleashed before, freezing everything in its path. Wirad raised his staff, summoning countless ck lines that shattered the Frozen World. "Impressive." Wirad expressed pure admiration. Taesan had analyzed Wirad¡¯sbat patterns and powers almost to perfection. As a result, even though the battle hadsted for quite some time, Taesan remained unscathed. Of course, as an immortal, Wirad had lived for countless years as a mage, still holding many patterns yet to reveal. But every pattern and action was based on fundamental principles. Taesan had identified these, making it difficult for Wirad to break through. "But that¡¯s all there is." Taesan wouldn¡¯t fall easily. But that was his limit. Wirad¡¯s staff moved, unleashing ck lines en masse. Taesan countered with his magic. At 80% proficiency, Taesan¡¯s magic was indeed powerful. Other mages watching might doubt that this was the same magic they had learned. *Boom!* But even now, it couldn¡¯t break through the ck lines. Though it counteracted them more effectively, the strength was still insufficient. "I reached the pinnacle of immortality using only this magic," Wirad murmured. "If you had your full power, it might be different. But with only magic, you¡¯ll never reach me." *Boom...* ck lines densely surrounded Taesan, close enough for Wirad to pierce him at any moment. "So, what will you do now?" Victory seemed impossible. And Taesan knew it. "I never thought I could win in the first ce." Everything Taesan had done so far had been to prepare for this moment. Taesan looked through the ck lines toward Wirad. "Your authority, Dimensional Definition, maniptes points, lines, and nes. I was curious how you controlled them. Surprisingly simple." "Oh? What did you discover?" "The bnce between opposing forces¡ªinternal and external." Wirad grinned. "Correct." The foundation of Wirad¡¯s magicy in tiny points, each a meticulouslypressed force without any outward ripple. The method to create this was simple. ¡®Extreme manapression.¡¯ Hepressed mana to create a small point. But that alone was unstable and would explode uncontrobly. After a few experiments, Taesan understood. So, he coated it with an equal amount of mana externally, creating a bnce. "But I couldn¡¯t figure out how to do it." Taesan had attempted it multiple times but failed. Even when he covered thepressed mana with morepressed mana, he couldn¡¯t achieve the same bnce as Wirad. The mana simply exploded. It seemed only Wirad could manipte mana in such a way. "So, what now? Are you nning to experiment further to steal my magic? I won¡¯t stop you. Spend a hundred years or so, and you might get close." "No," Taesan shook his head. "I can¡¯t do that." Wirad was a genius. His talent for magic was iparable, having devoted countless years to achieve his mastery. "I¡¯m not a mage. I have neither the time nor the patience to invest in a single magic. It¡¯s just too bothersome." Taesan was an adventurer. One who wielded every power he could gather to his advantage. "So, I¡¯ll simply take what¡¯s useful." @@novelbin@@ Wirad¡¯s magic was based on the bnce of internal and external forces. But it didn¡¯t have to be done with mana alone. ck energy began to flow from Taesan¡¯s hand. Wirad, who was about to attack, halted his staff. "...That power." Wirad, as an immortal, possessed strength that rivaled the gods and had even defended worlds on Zerband¡¯smand. He had defeated monsters and saved worlds. So he recognized the power Taesan wielded now. "The power of the ancient gods?" This was a forbidden power, one beyond the reach of the beings of this world, yet Taesan wielded it. "Most skills were sealed, but this one wasn¡¯t." The reason was simple. The power of the ancient gods was beyond Zerband¡¯s rules. As an immortal, Taesan could somewhat control the ck energy. Butbining it with magic required a control that exceeded even Taesan¡¯s imagination, so he needed additional preparation. Taesan gathered materials and inserted them into his wristguard. This ce was the mage¡¯s tower, abundant with alchemical ingredients. >[You have activated Partial World Alteration.] He wasn¡¯t altering Zerband¡¯s domain. He was altering himself. The power of his mana amplified, granting him perfect control over it. Taesanbined his mana and the ck energy. Could ck energy bebined with something other than divine power? No one else in this world could handle the ck energy¡ªonly Taesan. ck energy and holy power were naturally opposing forces, always on the verge of shing. Taesan forcefully subdued the ck energy with his will. But magic couldn¡¯t withstand ck energy; it would be consumed. He had been struggling with this until Wirad showed him the way. Condensed mana manifested the Frozen World. Taesan enveloped it with ck energy. What was needed was the bnce of opposing forces. The ck energy struggled, attempting to consume everything. ¡®Be silent.¡¯ Taesan forced it down. It didn¡¯t matter if it was the power of ancient gods or beyond this world. It was his power. So it would obey him. With his will, Taesan suppressed the ck energy, and it quieted. The internal mana and external ck energy bnced. Taesan unleashed the power. >[You have activated Frozen World.] *Crack!* A chilling aura surged into the world, but this time, it wasn¡¯t white¡ªit was pitch ck. Wirad quickly swung his staff, unleashing lines that split, aiming to pierce Taesan. But as they met the ck ice, they shattered and scattered in all directions. For the first time, Wirad¡¯s magic had been broken. "Good." Taesan clenched his fist. A system notification appeared. >[You have obtained the magic of Negation.] "...Ha. Haha! Hahaha!" Wirad, staring nkly, burst into hystericalughter. His long beard quivered as he looked at Taesan with wild eyes. "How can you wield the power of the ancient gods as your own! I can¡¯t fathom it!" He struck his staff to the ground, powerful waves rippling outward. "Excellent! Absolutely excellent! This ce is perfect for gathering magical knowledge, but it¡¯s filled with weaklings! To reach a higher dimension, one must fight the strong with all their power!" Wirad pointed his staff at Taesan. "Come! Immortal of a different kind! Raise me to a higher ne!" His staff shook violently. >[Wirad¡¯s Authority Activated: Dimensional Separation.] At the tip of his staff, a dot formed, but this time, it was white instead of ck. Taesan felt no power emanating from it, yet instinctively, he knew. That white dot was not mere power; it was something close to the veryws of the world. Taesan gathered his mana and ck energy. He had acquired the skill, and he knew exactly how to use it. A ck magic manifested in the world. >[You have activated Frozen World [Negation].] Chapter 406: (Side Story). Floor 58. Lee Taeyeon >[Quest for Floor 58 initiated.] > >[Defeat the boss of Floor 58 to proceed.] > >[Reward: Sword of the Death Line.] > >[Secret Reward: ???] "Floor 58... what was this one again?" Lee Taeyeon tilted her head in thought. With Maria''s help, she had regained memories from her previous life. However, as conflicting memories arose, much of what she had deemed unimportant was left blurred and unclear. Floor 58 was no exception. She could only recall a vague image of it and couldn¡¯t remember what kind of monster she would face. "I guess I¡¯ll find out once I go in." She descended the stairs. The shopkeeper awaited her at the bottom. "You¡¯re here." "Hello!" Taeyeon waved with a cheerful smile. The shopkeeper gave her a questioning look. "Already on Floor 58?" "Yes. Quick, aren¡¯t I?" "Yes, too quick... way too quick." The shopkeeper eyed her with suspicion. "What did you do out there?" "Well, some things happened." Taeyeon deflected the question smoothly. Due to Maria¡¯s restrictions, she couldn¡¯t reveal her memories to anyone, and the shopkeeper wasn¡¯t exactly someone close to her. After observing her for a moment, the shopkeeper looked away. "Perhaps... you might be able to do it." The shopkeeper muttered thoughtfully, then changed his expression. "So, buying anything?" "Nope, I¡¯m a bit short on gold right now." She shook her head. The shopkeeper resumed organizing his wares. "If you¡¯re interested,e byter. I¡¯ll show you something useful." "Ah, okay." Taeyeon replied nonchntly and moved past him, feeling strange about his change in attitude. In her previous life¡ªand even now¡ªthe shopkeeper had always looked down on her, mocking her and her efforts. Even when she reached Floor 100, it hadn¡¯t been any different. He had called her a rat, someone who had merely clung to the system by sheer luck, barely catching his interest. But now, things had changed. As she regained her past memories and advanced rapidly through thebyrinth, his attitude had softened somewhat. This was the first time she had seen the shopkeeper act this way. "Quite interesting." Muttering to herself, she stepped forward. A mixture of nervousness and anxiety began creeping up on her. The first step onto each new floor was always the most nerve-wracking. *Creaaak.* She opened the door, and the monster on Floor 58 responded in kind. >[A Golden Stag has appeared.] A stag with golden antlers. @@novelbin@@ The moment she saw it, the memory resurfaced. "Ah, so this is that floor?" The stag roared and charged at her. Taeyeon took a deep breath and drew her sword. *ng!* Her sword shed against the golden antlers. Taeyeon didn¡¯t step back. Twisting her sword¡¯s trajectory, she sliced deep into the stag¡¯s side. The stag cried out in pain as Taeyeon swung her hand. A mid-level spirit she had contracted followed hermand, attacking the stag. >[You have activated Deflection.] *Crack!* She deflected the spirit¡¯s attack, dodging the charging stag. She quickly lowered her stance and threw herself forward. >[You have activated Stealth.] > >[You have activated Shadow of the Earth.] Taeyeon¡¯s body faded into shadow. The stag, unable to locate her, hesitated, and Taeyeon used the chance to pierce its neck. The stag trembled in pain, jerking its head to throw her off, and charged once more. After several minutes of battle, the stag finally copsed. "Haah." Taeyeon caught her breath. She hadn¡¯t taken a single scratch. She brushed back her tousled hair and continued her exploration of thebyrinth. --- Her steps were confident and unwavering. More stags appeared, but she dispatched them easily, one after another, without injury. After felling the seventh stag, she muttered to herself. "Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d be breaking through thebyrinth like this?" In her previous life, she had been a coward. Instead of facing the challenges head-on, she had cleared thebyrinth through cunning tactics. Floor 58 had been no different. Although her memory was faint, she likely would have only managed to hunt one or two stags before devising a way to avoid the rest. And she had seeded. She had thought that was all she was capable of. Only someone like Taesan could progress through thebyrinth head-on like this. But as time reversed, so had many things in her life. Continuing forward, she moved to the next chamber. After defeating seven stags, she had adapted to their patterns. She even found herself able to think about other things during the battles. ''Taesan has probably surpassed Floor 80 by now, right?'' The deeper floors Taesan was navigating must have changed significantly from what she remembered. Taesan had already transcended mortality, and the mage who created thebyrinth likely intervened in some way. "The Deep Floors..." Just thinking about that hellish ce sent chills through her. Her very instincts rejected the thought of it. But she suppressed her fears with her willpower. *ng!* With a swift sh, she deflected the stag¡¯s antlers and struck deep into its chest. The stag shuddered and copsed. She collected her thoughts. The Deep Floors would be incredibly difficult and treacherous; she needed to prepare thoroughly. She was indeed much stronger than she had been in her past life. But that also meant certain skills were now out of her reach. "If I master the Invisible Shadow, I should be able to acquire it... The Untold Story will probably appear around the mid-70s floors. As for the Breath of the Hidden Rat, that might be difficult." The Breath of the Hidden Rat was a skill acquired gradually from the early parts of thebyrinth. Following apletely different path now, she knew it would be hard to obtain. The Breath of the Hidden Rat had been one of her most effective skills. Missing out on it was certainly a disadvantage. Yet she remained unfazed. While it was a powerful skill, it also symbolized her former weakness. Now, she had be stronger. There was no need to regret the past. She had already gained skills that more thanpensated for it. After clearing the floor swiftly, she arrived at the boss of Floor 58. Arger stag, with even more radiant antlers. As the stag charged forward to pierce her, Taeyeon swung her sword. >[You have activated Strong Strike.] *ng!* With Strong Strike, a normally single-use skill, she could trigger it repeatedly with the Ability Sword, as long as her timing was right. Using the Ability Sword, dark magic, and the power of spirits, she relentlessly pressed the boss. After several dozen minutes, despite sustaining some damage, she finally defeated the boss. >[Floor 58 Cleared.] > >[Your level has increased.] > >[You have returned to peak condition.] "Hahh." Taeyeon sighed with relief, sinking to the floor. She checked the time and smiled. It hadn¡¯t even taken her a day to clear Floor 58. She had definitely grown stronger. "So, what was on Floor 59 again...?" While she was resting and organizing her thoughts, someone ascended from a lower floor. Taeyeon nced calmly toward the stairs. The person who emerged was a Guide of Sin, a fifth-ranked adventurer. She waved at him. "Hello?" "..." The guide clicked his tongue upon seeing her. "A lowly coward." His gaze held nothing but contempt as he looked at her. "I don¡¯t know how someone like you received permission from the leadership, but don¡¯t get cocky. You¡¯re nothing but a worm." Visible in his eyes was jealousy and disdain. These feelings were nothing new. In her past life, guides had looked at her the same way. Although the higher-ups had recognized her talent and granted her entry into the Deep Floors, other guides couldn¡¯t ept it. To them, Taeyeon was merely a coward who cleared thebyrinth through tricks rather than through earning achievements as an adventurer should. That¡¯s why they despised and envied her. And even now, nothing had changed. Though she now descended more honorably, there was still a fear she couldn¡¯t fully suppress. "Mm-hm. Mm-hm." She responded absently, leaning back against the wall. Her indifferent attitude twisted the guide¡¯s face into a scowl. "...It seems I need to teach you some respect." The guide drew an axe. Pointing it toward her, he demanded sharply. "Bow your head." Taeyeon stared at him nkly. The guide continued, full of confidence. "I am an adventurer of a higher rank than you. I have reached Floor 60. As a guide, you must show absolute obedience to one of a higher rank. Even if you have permission to enter the Deep Floors, I am still further ahead." His words were almost an insult. Taeyeon felt the arrogance in his gaze. ¡®Ah.¡¯ She remembered. This was the same guide who had harassed and mocked her in her past life. What would her past self have done? There was no question. She would have bowed her head immediately. Pride was useless in thebyrinth. Only survival mattered. For survival, she would have dly set aside her pride. But now... She stood up with a smirk. "No." "...What?" Surprised by her defiance, the guide¡¯s eyebrow twitched. Taeyeon repliedzily. "Why should I bow to someone like you? Isn¡¯t it the other way around? I¡¯m an adventurer recognized by the higher-ups. We¡¯re not on the same level." "You...!" The guide lifted his axe in anger. In that instant, Taeyeon moved. She gripped her sword, charging at him swiftly. "Wha¨C!" The guide hurriedly swung his axe. Taeyeon calmly shifted her sword, effortlessly deflecting his axe away. "Oh." Her sword struck toward his head. The guide felt death looming. *Shing!* The de grazed his cheek. Taeyeon lightly patted his shoulder. "A bug was buzzing around your head. I can¡¯t stand bugs. My bad." "You... you...!" The guide stepped back, his cheek bleeding from the cut. He had reached Floor 60, deeper than Taeyeon, yet he couldn¡¯t respond to her movements at all. "...Get lost." In the end, he swallowed his pride. There were no bugs in thebyrinth, but he left without a word, storming down to the lower floors. Taeyeon watched him leave, and once his presence faded, she sank to the floor. "Hah!" She exhaled, her confident demeanor gone. "That was terrifying. I really don¡¯t want to pick unnecessary fights." But she didn¡¯t want to back down either. So she had pretended, just like she had on Earth, and it had worked well. She chuckled to herself. "Maybe I could¡¯ve been an actress? If the world ever returns to normal, I might give it some thought." Her expression grew serious again. She had been ready to fight the guide who had insulted her. In her past life, when she valued nothing but survival, she would never have done such a thing. But now, she had changed. And she liked this new version of herself. "Well then... time to keep going." After a brief rest, she picked up her sword and continued her descent into thebyrinth. Determination shone in her eyes. Chapter 408: Floor 81, Advanced Magic (7) A vast, earthy brown space spread out around him. Taesan stood alone. The quest had beenpleted. Now it was time to examine the gains he had acquired. --- **[Magic]** **[Proficiency: 81%]** *Allows efficient use of magic. The control over mana itself permits various auxiliary powers for magic.* His magic proficiency had reached 80%. The ability to wield negation magic, even in a limited manner, was likely due to this proficiency increase. ¡°Only 19% left to reach 100%.¡± Yet, based on his experience with divine power, he knew that progress from here would be painstakingly slow. Reaching 80% proficiency had also granted him several new skills. --- **[Magic Circle]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** *Allows the user to deploy various spells in the form of magic circles.* Taesan decided to try it out firsthand. >[You have activated the Magic Circle of Frozen World.] *Buzz!* A magic circle formed beneath Taesan¡¯s feet. From the circle emanated a frigid chill, creating a protective area that blocked iing attacks and could freeze enemies. ¡°So, it¡¯s a persistent effect?¡± By casting his magic in the form of a magic circle, he could upy the surrounding space. Testing it further, he discovered he could deploy up to three magic circles simultaneously, making it highly versatile depending on how he utilized it. --- **[Magic Interference]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** *Allows the user to interfere with an opponent¡¯s magic.* He already had an idea of how to use this skill. Wirad had disrupted Taesan¡¯s restricted Blink skill, making it difficult to close in on him. Now, Taesan could disrupt an opponent¡¯s magic in the same way, and although his current proficiency was low, the value of the skill would rise as it improved. --- **[Memorize]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** *Allows the user to pre-record their spells, which can then be activated at will. Currently, up to three spells can be recorded.* Taesan immediately put the skill to the test. >[You have activated Memorize.] >[You have activated Frozen World.] >[You have activated Starlight Arrow.] >[You have activated Restricted Blink.] After recording these spells, Taesan cast one of them. *Crack!* Frozen World materialized instantly, without the usual casting time or mana fluctuations. Taesan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. The same was true for Starlight Arrow and Restricted Blink; the absence of a casting time meant the spells materialized immediately, without warning. ¡°Not bad.¡± The ability to cast spells without the usual visual cues or mana waves meant his opponents would have no forewarning. Although limited to three stored spells, it was a useful skill nheless. Completing the trial had also granted him two intermediate magic spells. --- **[Intermediate Magic: Mana Storm]** **[Mana Cost: 1,000]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** *Creates a storm concentrated from pure mana.* The mana cost was the highest among his intermediate spells, so he anticipated significant power. Gathering his mana, Taesan activated it. >[You have activated Mana Storm.] Mana flowed out and took form in the world around him. Initially swirling gently, it quickly transformed into a tempest, tearing through the surrounding space. *Crack!* The sheer force of the mana storm swept everything in its path. True to his expectations, this was one of his most powerful intermediate spells by sheer force. ¡°It¡¯s slightly different.¡± Unlike his ck magic spell *Zepar¡¯s ck Gale*, which created multiple smaller whirlwinds covering arge area, Mana Storm focused its immense force in a single area. Both had their distinct uses, so he didn¡¯t mind. --- **[Radiant Blue Barrier]** **[Mana Cost: 900]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** *Summons a barrier of blue light, blocking all types of attacks and preventing hostile entities from entering.* The Blue Barrier performed just as described. When he activated it, a translucent blue barrier formed over arge area. ording to the description, it blocked attacks regardless of type. It seemed particrly useful for when he returned to Earth. ¡°Not bad.¡± The new spells he¡¯d gained were incredibly valuable. Normally, he would be overjoyed, but right now, these abilities felt somewhat overshadowed. Taesan looked at the skill window. --- **[Advanced Magic: Cataclysm]** **[Mana Cost: 5,000]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** *Controls a core that brings about the copse of all things.* The mana cost was exorbitant. 5,000 mana was about a quarter of his total. Even with his intelligence stat and skills that reduced mana consumption, the cost was on another level entirely. ¡°Hm.¡± After checking out the advanced magic, Taesan turned to examine another skill as critical as his advanced magic. --- **[Negation Magic]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** *An unholy magic created by merging the power of ancient gods with Zerband¡¯s magic.* Negation magic¡ªa magic Taesan had created by bncing darkness and magic against each other, yielding an absolute advantage inpatibility. The power was undeniable. With a mere intermediate spell, he had neutralized Wirad¡¯s ck lines, which he previously could only divert. It was no exaggeration to say it rivaled the authority of an immortal. But the risks were equally significant. For one, it required absolute control over mana to wield it. The issue was that Taesan had yet to reach the level where he could attain such control. He needed to manipte mana as easily as his own limbs, but he was still far from that level. As such, he had to cast Partial World Alteration on himself to use negation magic. Partial World Alteration affected the world itself, allowing him to impose restrictions or alter the environment. Yet, he had to forgo using these aspects to wield negation magic. Having an absolute advantage inpatibility was a potent power, but Partial World Alteration was valuable in its own right. Moreover, the resource consumption when using negation magic was significantly higher than for other spells. ¡®It¡¯s definitely useful.¡¯ The conditions were demanding, and the cost high, but the return was substantial. A powerful tool, but one he couldn¡¯t use lightly¡ªa trump card, in essence. >[Can¡¯t you mix the ck energy with anything other than magic?] ¡°I tried, but nothing else worked.¡± Taesan answered the spirit¡¯s question. He had to temper the ck energy just enough to prevent it from spiraling out of control, and only magic could achieve this bnce. ck magic, in particr, reacted wildly, trying to consume him in the process. If he reached a higher level, it might be possible, but for now, only magic and divine energy couldbine with it. Havingpleted his review, Taesan exited the room. Walking down the corridor, he encountered several mages. They froze upon seeing him, casting him intense, mixed looks. Their gazes contained admiration and reverence. And also, fear. All the mages had witnessed his battle with Wirad. While they found Taesan¡¯s use of ck energy fascinating and astonishing, it also felt disturbingly alien. Since that fight, neither Eliana nor any other mage had dared to approach him. ¡°Feeling a bit lonely here.¡± >[Your fake sentiment is showing.] The spirit scoffed. Taesan walked down the corridor until he reached a small room. Opening the door, he stepped inside. ¡°You¡¯vee.¡± Inside was Wirad, who closed the spellbook he had been reading. ¡°Are you nning to leave now?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve gained everything I needed.¡± After defeating Wirad, Taesan hadn¡¯t immediately returned to thebyrinth. Wirad had told him he could stay as long as he wished, as per the will of Zerband. With no reason to refuse, Taesan had stayed to gather knowledge on magic and consolidate his new powers. But his time here was nearing an end. It was time to return to thebyrinth. Taesan spoke to Wirad. ¡°Thank you. I gained a lot thanks to you.¡± The concept of negation magic was inspired by observing Wirad¡¯s powers. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say it was thanks to Wirad. Wirad responded nonchntly. ¡°What you gained was through your own ability, so there¡¯s no need to thank me.¡± Wirad looked at Taesan thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re not a mage.¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan nodded. He wasn¡¯t a mage who delved into mysteries and pursued the arcane. He was an adventurer who gained strength through various abilities. Though he admired Wirad¡¯s magic, as an adventurer, he preferred shortcuts to the direct path Wirad had taken. Wirad chuckled quietly. ¡°Zerband told me to recruit you as a member of the tower.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t belong here. Go back to where you should be.¡± ¡°May I ask a question before I go?¡± ¡°A question, is it? Ask whatever you like. I¡¯ll answer as I see fit.¡± ¡°Your authority.¡± Dimensional Separation. The ability to create a separate dimension and manipte points, lines, and nes¡ªpowers resembling the veryws of nature. It felt far beyond the authority of an immortal. When asked about it, Wirad replied. ¡°This ce is the Tower. It¡¯s an optimized space for magical power. I also set up some preparations in the duel space. Because of that, I could wield powers beyond my capacity.¡± Wirad waved his hand, creating a quiet ck point. ¡°Intervening in dimensions is indeed the level I aspire to, but right now, I can only manage simple effects like this. I¡¯ll get there someday, but for now, it¡¯s out of reach.¡± ¡°I see.¡± His curiosity was satisfied. Wirad spoke again. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll ask a question. You¡¯re an immortal. What¡¯s your authority?¡± What was his authority? Taesan himself couldn¡¯t be certain. Perhaps the best fit was Spirit Elevation, but he had possessed that power even before bing an immortal. It didn¡¯t feel like an authority he gained upon ascension. And divine power was not exactly it either, as it was something any being could acquire through worship. Wirad, perhaps misunderstanding his silence, spoke again. ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer. Authority is the culmination of an immortal¡¯s own strength. It¡¯s inherently personal and private. But instead, I¡¯ll ask something else. How did you manage to wield ck energy with magic?¡± ¡°That, I do not know.¡± He had obtained the ck energy through Spirit Elevation and had been able to control it to some extent from the start. That was all he knew. ¡°Interesting. Beings bound by thews of this world cannot wield the power of the ancient gods, not even immortals. Yet you not only control it, you also merge it with magic.¡± Wirad regarded Taesan. ¡°It¡¯s as if your very essence contains a hint of their power.¡± Something Wirad said sparked a thought in Taesan¡¯s mind. Wirad shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m curious, but if even you don¡¯t know the answer, then I won¡¯t dwell on it.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± ¡°Zerband¡¯s trial is over. That means you¡¯ve acquired advanced magic, correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Wirad looked at him with interest. ¡°I¡¯ve never personally seen Zerband¡¯s advanced magic.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°The mages here haven¡¯t been granted that privilege yet.¡± The mages of the Tower were all individuals acknowledged by the God of Magic himself, possessing both talent and a passion for magic. Yet, none among them had been allowed to wield advanced magic. Such magic had immense value. ¡°I chose to pursue my own magic, so I didn¡¯t learn advanced spells. I stand by that choice, but I admit, I¡¯m curious. How about a duel?¡± Taesan nodded, eager to test the strength of his advanced magic. Having an immortal like Wirad assist him was invaluable. For a final confirmation before leaving, Taesan headed to the dueling grounds with Wirad. Wirad waved his hand, summoning hundreds of ck points. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin. When you activate the advanced spell, I¡¯ll respond ordingly.¡± Taesan nodded and gathered his mana. >[You have activated Cataclysm.] The advanced magic manifested in reality. Simultaneously, an intense power gathered. Space itself began to copse, a core of terrifying power forming and appearing before Taesan. A ck sphere materialized before him. @@novelbin@@ ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan let out a soft groan as the powerful burden weighed on his body. Wirad¡¯s expression hardened. He quickly swung his staff, sending thousands of ck lines toward the ck sphere. Taesan fired the sphere. The core of Cataclysm shot toward the ck lines. *Rumble!* ¡°What in the world?!¡± Wirad was astonished. The ck lines could cancel out negation magic, meaning they held strengthparable to it. Yet, these ck lines were all crushed and obliterated. The core disintegrated everything it touched, leaving no trace behind, and it showed no signs of slowing. Wirad hurriedly summoned a white point. The white dot collided with the ck sphere, causing a violent shockwave. --- Once everything was confirmed, Taesan returned from the Tower. As he prepared to go back to thebyrinth, the space around him shifted. A universe of countless gxies unfolded in a ck world. >[Did you enjoy it?] Zerband stood alone in the dark space. Chapter 410: The Will of the Destroyed World of Hafran (2) Taesan epted Hafran¡¯s quest. As a result, he had now arrived in Hafran¡¯s destroyed world. The world hadn¡¯t changed much from before. It was still a world of ash, where nothing alive could be felt. It was, quite literally, a world filled only with death. And from within that world, Taesan could feel a gaze upon him. A fierce hostility and murderous intent. The will of the world had clearly recognized him. However, unlike before, no significant action was taken. There were no storms, no earthquakes or ground-shattering to crush Taesan. It was as if the world was conserving its power, quietly waiting for Taesan. In response, Taesan moved towards the ce where the energy was gathering. It was a considerable distance, but for Taesan now, distance wasn¡¯t much of a problem. After a short journey, Taesan arrived at the cave where the will of the world resided once again. Taesan stomped his foot. With that single motion, the floor of the cave copsed. His body began to fall into an endless abyss. Taesan activated hisnding skill. His body touched the deep bottom of the ground. Taesan walked down the long corridor. His movement was natural, as if he were walking down a familiar path. After passing through the corridor, he reached a massive za, where a pure white orb stood. An orb emitting light like the sun. From it, the will and power of a consuming everything could be felt. [You have encountered the will of the world.] "Second time now." Taesan murmured. The hostility directed at him from the world intensified. Die. That was the world¡¯s deration. Amand filled with absolute will struck Taesan. [Instant Death Judgment in progress...] [Judgment sessful!] There was no need for amand. At this point, an instant death judgment couldn¡¯t touch him. "It¡¯s good to see you again." Taesan spoke leisurely as he drew his sword. The hostility from the world grew even stronger. When Taesan had first encountered the world before, he had been unable to block a single strike. Had there been no boundary, he might have truly died there. But now, it was different. Taesan poured his power into his entire body. Numerous buffs surged through him. [You have activated Apostle: ckened Chaos.] [You have activated the Vessel of the King.] [You have activated Avatar of Nature.] . . . [Your World¡¯s Adversary has activated.] There were no signs indicating victory was impossible or that it would be difficult to win. Taesan had now reached the same level as the being who had destroyed Hafran, the one who had nearly killed him with a single strike. "Shall we try it?" Taesan released his momentum. The world responded, bursting forth with emotion. *Crack!* The za shattered with a loud noise. Taesanunched his body into the air amidst the falling debris. --- ### * * * *Boom!* The world itself swung its power. The force was on apletely different scale than the wandering Taesan had seen on the 75th floor. Shards of rock rushed at him like a storm. [You have activated Forced Exclusion.] An intangible shockwave erupted from Taesan. The debris couldn¡¯t withstand the shockwave and shattered, flying off in all directions. "This ce is too cramped, isn¡¯t it? Shall we move outside?" [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan had marked the path on his way here. Thanks to this, he used Random Blink to teleport to the surface. *Boom!* Before long, the cave was destroyed. The will of the world, like a sun, revealed itself on the ground. Nature responded to its will. The air settled, and the earth began to boil. The sky growled as if in fury. *Howl!* Taesan activated his divine aura to protect his body. The world¡¯s will was being manifested, and nature was following its lead. *Crack!* The distant mountain range copsed. Numerous rocks and earth clumped together to form a massive shape like a giant thorn. This giant thorn, made from the umted mass of the mountain range, hurtled directly toward Taesan. The force of the mountain¡¯s mass was immense. If it wished, it could pierce through the itself. But it wasn¡¯t just raw physical force. It contained the will of the world, the same force that had driven Taesan to the brink of death. However, Taesan didn¡¯t bring out the boundary. He watched the thorn fly toward him, gripping his sword with both hands and raising it high. As the thorn approached, he struck down with all his might. *Boom!* The body, unable to withstand the physical force, was pushed back. But Taesan did not fall. He strengthened his legs and braced himself. He then applied more force to the sword. *Crack!* The mountain-shaped thorn shattered, scattering in all directions. With no skill at all, Taesan had shattered the world¡¯s power with pure strength. "You can¡¯t kill me with such a brute-force method." Taesan shook his sword. The world, which had been still for a moment, finally showed signs of movement. The massive core, resembling a sun, shattered. From the shattered remains, something humanoid rose. It was pure white, like a spirit. That was the will of the world. [It¡¯s the condensed force itself.] The massive core was not suited to face someone as small as Taesan. So, the world had changed its form to match Taesan¡¯s size. The world raised its hand. At the same time, its power concentrated. It wasn¡¯t just something big this time; it was a concentrated force specifically aimed at Taesan. Taesan responded to the surging power. The power of destruction shook the surroundings. [You have activated the Call of Destruction.] The ck power greedily appeared in the world. Then the world, enraged, struck back. As if it could not tolerate something like this in its own world, it swung its power once again. Materials broke down, and space began to distort. Taesan didn¡¯t stop his movements. He stomped his foot against the earth, which tried to engulf him. [You have activated Magic Ovep.] [You have activated Earthquake.] The earth exploded. Taesan quickly activated the three shields he had stored using Memorize, then unleashed a Mana Storm. The swirling storm advanced toward the world. The world sped its hands together. At the same time, the air, the earth, everything that made up the world, swirled into a vortex. Another storm, one in opposition to Taesan¡¯s Mana Storm, shed with it. *sh!* [Ugh.] The ghost sighed as if terrified by the storm raging in front of it. The force here was on an entirely different level from that of the wandering. This was the world itself. Taesan wasn¡¯t backing down in the face of such a foe. [You have activated Dekarabia¡¯s Twisted Vegetation.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] *Rumble!* Roots summoned by the world¡¯s power immediately tried to destroy Taesan, but they didn¡¯t give way easily. [You have activated Limited Blink.] And Taesan seized the moment when the world¡¯s power was concentrated. He instantly moved forward, appearing right in front of the humanoid form of the world. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] With his sword, Taesan struck. The world concentrated its power. Its defensive will took shape. But it didn¡¯t matter. [You have activated Absolute Judgment.] The defense itself was erased. The white form of the world flickered for a moment, as though startled. Just as Taesan¡¯s sword was about to strike, the form scattered. And reappeared in another location. The method of evasion wasn¡¯t particrly surprising. This was, after all, the opponent¡¯s domain, and space could easily be traversed. What mattered was that it had evaded. It hadn¡¯t simply ignored the attack; it had dodged it. If Taesan¡¯s strikended, it would cause meaningful damage. One by one, Taesan targeted the world. The world realized that, at this rate, it would not be able to defeat Taesan. Therefore, it made a decision. The world raised its hand. At the tip, a small orb of blue light formed. From that small orb, a dense power could be felt¡ªsomething Taesan hadn¡¯t sensed before. The world hurled the orb at Taesan. As the orb flew toward him, it exploded just before reaching him. It was the power of the wind. An explosion of wind energy, condensed to its limit, obliterated everything in its path. As the orb neared, Taesan reacted. He deployed defensive magic and activated the me of Catastrophe to counter the attack. *sh!* But the wind force snuffed out the me and tore apart the defense. Even with preparation, the force was too overwhelming to defend against. In the end, Taesan allowed himself to be struck by the oing de of the storm. [Your first Absolute Nullification attack has been activated.] Quickly distancing himself, Taesan quietly examined the remnants of the wind. The power contained within it was stronger than anything the world had shown so far. It wasn¡¯t just brute strength. Taesan realized what kind of power it was. ¡®Authority.¡¯ The unique power possessed by those who transcend mortality. *Howl!* Another orb appeared. This time it was brown. The orb flew toward Taesan and exploded. *Boom!* At the same time, countless rocks poured out . Taesan raised his sword. [You have activated Copse.] The skill obtained after passing through the God of Destruction¡¯s trial. The effect was to copse anything the sword touched. [You have activated Gale Charge.] The sword swung like a storm. The falling rocks were broken and could not reach Taesan. *Howl!* The effect of the orb faded, but once again, the orb flew toward Taesan. But this time, Taesan threw himself at it. Before the orb could unleash its power, it collided with Taesan, exploding with a deafening sound. [Your second Absolute Nullification attack has been activated.] The attack nullified. In the meantime, Taesan analyzed the power within the orb. ¡®So this is it.¡¯ The world itself condensed into the form of an orb and exploded. This was the world¡¯s authority in action. It was undoubtedly a powerful force. Taesan¡¯s skills didn¡¯t have many ways to block it without harm. But there was still a way. ¡°If this is all you have, you can¡¯t defeat me.¡± Various ideas shed in Taesan¡¯s mind. Partial world alteration couldn¡¯t be activated. Forbidden magic couldn¡¯t either. There were no materials left for that. The boundary also wasn¡¯t something he could use at this moment. The opponent had a space-manipting evasion skill. And since it appeared the world could only use one orb at a time, it likely couldn¡¯tunch multiple orbs at once. If that was the case, what was the optimal action? To counter the orb¡¯s power and unleash enough force to damage the world. As soon as the answer came to him, Taesan acted. [You have activated Astaroth¡¯s Dark Envelopment.] [You have activated the Brilliant Blue Barrier Magic Circle.] Surrounded by darkness to reduce damage and protected by the barrier magic circle. [You have activated Magic Ovep.] The magic to ovep had already been chosen. [You have activated Great Copse.] *Boom!* Mana condensed, and the Copse Sphere emerged in the world. The world quickly manipted the orb. Once again, Taesan did not stop it. [Your third Absolute Nullification attack has been activated.] [You have activated Great Copse.] *Boom!* The power condensed again. Taesan¡¯s body began to feel the strong strain. [You took 1,233 damage.] [You took 2,312 damage.] While Taesan was protected by magic and ck magic, and the absolute blessing blocked continuous damage, some damage still came through. And again. [You have activated Great Copse.] *Crack.* Space shattered. A dark and deep Copse Sphere, capable of devouring even light, took shape in the world. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan took a breath. Even now, the aftereffects of the Copse were eating away at his health, but it wasn¡¯t at a level he couldn¡¯t withstand. And the moment the Great Copse stacked, the world sensed something was wrong. The power contained within it could easily destroy this world. The world instinctively realized this. It had to block it. The world gathered all its power and created another orb. *Howl!* The orb glowed in rainbow colors. It was the very essence of the world, all the world¡¯s power concentrated. With this, it could surely block the force Taesan had shown so far. The world was about to hurl the orb at Taesan. [You have activated Copy.] Another orb appeared. Without any sign or wave of power, the Copse Sphere, capable of destroying everything, had appeared once more. @@novelbin@@ The scene felt unreal, and the world froze. And that wasn¡¯t all. [You have activated the Twisted Ring of the Regretful One. Cooldown of Copy reset.] [You have activated Copy.] Another orb appeared. Three Copse Spheres had manifested in the world. [...What is this.] The ghost was speechless. ¡°Now, try to block this.¡± [You have activated Magic Liberation.] [You have activated Absolute Judgment.] [You have activated the Aegis Shield of the Divine Child.] Three Copse Spheres, which could destroy everything, advanced, breaking everything in their path. Chapter 411: The Will of the Destroyed World of Hafran (3) Taesan was currently protecting his body not just with magic and ck magic, but also with divine protection. However, the three Great Copses that descended upon the world were prating even that divine protection and affecting Taesan¡¯s physical body. Had it not been for Aegis'' Shield, Taesan would have been dead in an instant from the power. *Boom...* The three Copse Spheres advanced toward the world. *Howl!* The world did not retreat but met the oing force. It hurled a rainbow-colored orb formed from the essence of the world directly at the Great Copse spheres. The orb flew toward the Great Copse, releasing its power. *Boom!* Wind, earth, fire, water¡ªall the elements that made up the world collided. But that was not all. The released forces synchronized with the world¡¯s will, continuously gathering more power together. Everything in the world was converging in this ce. *Crack!* The force that exploded caused the Copse Sphere to distort. It slowly advanced without being pushed back, but the world¡¯s raging power made the sphere wobble and sway. The world drew even more strength. *Boom...* The intense fragments of the Copse scattered in all directions, breaking apart space itself. The overwhelming natural force that flooded the area obscured Taesan¡¯s vision. The world trembled with joy. It had repelled the force of the filthy outsider. It was the master of this world, and no one could oppose it. And then, it happened. *Crack.* Amid the shattered Copse fragments and the natural debris, the remaining two Copse Spheres flew toward the world. The world flinched. It had just repelled the Great Copse. But what was this?! ¡°Sorry, but you only stopped one of them.¡± Taesan muttered calmly, and the world stepped back involuntarily. If it was engulfed by those, it would be obliterated. For the first time, the world felt fear. But the world did not retreat. It was the master of this world. Thend, this domain, belonged only to it. To retreat in fear of such an outsider... Its ego as a world did not allow it. All the world¡¯s power gathered and surged forward, racing toward the Great Copse. *Howl!* The Great Copse, which had been advancing without resistance, finally stopped. Seeing this, the world drew even more strength. Now, the power was so immense that the world could no longer maintain its form. *Boom.* And yet, the Great Copse began to advance again. Like a crushing press, it slowly but surely moved toward the world, smashing everything in its path. The world struggled, swinging its power, but it couldn¡¯t stop the Great Copse. For the first time, the world thought about retreating. But by then, it was toote. The Great Copse had already reached the world¡¯s proximity. As the Great Copse consumed the world, an explosion erupted. --- ### * * * The Great Explosion caused by the two Copse Spheres. Watching the iing force of destruction, Taesan activated his shield. [You have activated Aegis¡¯ Shield.] For one second, all damage was nullified. The moment the shield was activated, the destruction engulfed Taesan. ¡°Hmm.¡± Even with immunity, the pressure was overwhelming. His vision was clouded with darkness, and all he could feel was the force of copse. One second passed in the blink of an eye, but the destruction didn¡¯t end there. Taesan cloaked his body in divine energy. He then used magic and ck magic. *Boom!* But it was not enough to block the force. [You take 21,230 damage.] [You take 11,212 damage.] [You take 14,543 damage.] In an instant, more than half of his health was drained. Even though this was just the aftermath, the power was immense. Taesan realized that with the strength he currently possessed, he couldn¡¯t withstand the aftereffects. He gripped his sword. The sword, once ck, now turned to gray, mixed with gold. Taesan activated the boundary and swung his sword. *Crack!* The force of the Copse shattered and scattered in all directions as the sword split the gray energy. ¡°Such monstrous power.¡± Only by handling the boundary was he able to withstand the aftermath. The ghost was unable to conceal its shock. [...Is Copy a skill capable of copying even advanced magic?] ¡°I suspected it, but I didn¡¯t think it woulde to this.¡± Taesan had always thought about this. A skill that doubles the result of an action: *Copy.* In his past life, Taesan only used *Copy* to increase damage. He had no magical abilities in his easy mode. But this life was different. He had gained magic, ck magic, and various other powers. What would happen if he copied them? At first, Taesan had attempted to copy the boundary or ck magic. But those two weren¡¯t possible. The copy itself was feasible, but Taesan couldn¡¯t handle the amplified power. Since he hadn¡¯t fully mastered it yet, he couldn¡¯t use *Copy* freely. But magic was different. Magic was a power Taesan had gained by being acknowledged by the God of Magic. Since he could control it perfectly, copying it was definitely possible. The problem was that there was little value in copying it. Doubling the power of mid-level magic wasn¡¯t worth it; it was far more beneficial to replicate attacks like in his past life and increase damage. That¡¯s why Taesan had always used *Copy* to increase damage. But the Great Copse was advanced magic. The power contained within it was almost akin to thews of the world. And it was a force that Taesan had received directly from the God of Magic, under his control. Therefore, Taesan had been certain that *Copy* could replicate the Great Copse. His judgment was almost guaranteed, and indeed, it worked. And now, the results were unfolding before his eyes. The world crumbled. The sky, the earth, and even the deepest parts of the all copsed and distorted. Space twisted, and materials melted, losing their original form, flowing like mud. The very concept that made up the world was copsing. ¡°Good.¡± A smile appeared on Taesan¡¯s lips. Now, he was using *Copy* not just to replicate damage, but to replicate the original effect itself. That fact brought Taesan satisfaction. Taesan began to walk. In the copsed world, nothing remained intact. ¡°It didn¡¯t vanish.¡± Beneath the shattered surface, the form of the world was still visible. Whether it had seeded in defending or not, the world staggered to its feet. But it looked pitiful. Its entire form was melting, as if everything was dissolving. The once-great power of the world had been drastically reduced. ¡°I¡¯ll make it easy for you.¡± Taesan raised his sword. The world, staring nkly at Taesan, burst into fury. Power surged forth. Taesan responded in kind. *Boom!* The force of nature erupted. Taesan too, had expended considerable energy. The mana cost of the Great Copse was immense, and despite his high intelligence, the mana didn¡¯t decrease much. His mana was nearly depleted, and his health had dropped significantly. But the world was already on the brink of death. [You have activated Overflow.] Taesan swung his sword, deflecting the oing forces. He used Limited Blink to teleport behind the world. [You have activated Asmodeus¡¯ Corruption Chains.] As the world tried to increase the distance, Taesan ensnared it with ck magic and ced his hand on it. [You have activated the Branches of Despair.] The emotion of despair spread through the world¡¯s mind. @@novelbin@@ Taesan pressed on, his sword imbued with force, and thrust it with tremendous power. [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated de of Spirit.] [167,544 damage to the world.] The gray energy engulfed the world. The world, desperate to resist, gathered its remaining strength, but it was far toote. As the world¡¯s human form copsed, the energy within it scattered. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your Spirit Level Up has activated.] [The conceptual skill [Will ??? Resistance] has increased by 25%.] [The conceptual skill [Will ??? Resistance] has evolved into the conceptual skill [Will of All Things].] [Your Spirit Level Up has activated. Your Command Skill has increased by 5%.] [You have killed the world. You have gained the special passive skill [World yer].] [You have obtained the core of the world.] At the same time, the world began to change. The air, once filled with poison and aimed at living beings, slowly calmed. The parched earth turned to dust and scattered into the air. The ash-gray sky slowly began to copse. With the fall of the world¡¯s master, this world became a dead world. ¡°Faster than I expected.¡± Hafran¡¯s world was no weak ce. The rainbow-colored orb the world controlled was able to nullify the Great Copse that had been ovepped by magic. But when considering not the total amount of power but the strategy inbat, the world was rather clumsy. If it had been able to leap through space from the beginning, it should have fought with greater freedom. If it had kept its distance from Taesan, applying pressure from afar, retreating each time Taesan approached, it would have given Taesan much more trouble. But the world didn¡¯t fight that way. It insisted on direct confrontation and failed to make full use of its advantages. The reason for that was clear. It was, after all, the world itself. The master of this world. No one had been able to resist it during its process of destruction. It had never fought a being of equal power, so itsbat style was inevitably awkward. And now, it was all over. Feeling a strange sensation throughout his body, likely due to the Spirit Level Up and the new skill gained, Taesan knew there was something else to do before he moved on. He returned to thebyrinth. ¡°Already?¡± Hafran¡¯s eyes widened. Taesan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s all over.¡± ¡°...Thene with me. Let¡¯s check it.¡± Hafran took out a ck gem from his pouch. Taesan and Hafran¡¯s bodies moved together to his destroyed world. "Ha." Arriving in his world, Hafran let out a hollowugh. The dead air, the crumbling earth, the falling sky. ¡°I really did it. So, did you find what I mentioned?¡± ¡°You mean this.¡± Taesan handed the will of the world to him. It was a brilliant, rainbow-colored orb. [Core of the World] [Everything of the world. This small orb contains the essence of the world itself.] Trembling, Hafran took the orb in his hands, andughed out loud. ¡°Ha ha ha! Perfect! Finally! Finally! I can fulfill my wish!¡± In the dying world, only Hafran¡¯sughter echoed. [Sub Quest Completed.] * * * Hafran¡¯sughter, which had been echoing for a long time, gradually subsided. He tightly gripped the core of the world. "Good. There¡¯s nothing left to do here. Let¡¯s go back." "What about the other materials?" This was Hafran¡¯s world. There were plenty of useful materials here. But Hafran shook his head. "If our goal had been to subdue the world, we could have taken them. But our goal was to defeat the will of the world. This ce is now a dead world." The itself was cooling off. When he looked up at the sky, he saw that the atmosphere was gradually vanishing. Before long, this ce would transform into a giant rock abandoned in space. "If the world dies, everything in it will die as well. Even if we somehow managed to take something, by the time we could forge it into equipment, its power would be spent." In the end, many of the materials in this world had to be abandoned. It was regrettable, but not a huge problem. The equipment that could be made from the materials in this world wasn¡¯t that impressive to Taesan, considering his current power. They left the dying world behind and returned to thebyrinth. Hafran, still with a pleased expression, fiddled with the orb. "I¡¯ve always wanted to make exceptional equipment. Something perfect, that no one could find fault with. Something that ordinary people couldn¡¯t even use. With this, I can make equipment that transcends mortality, with your help." He chuckled to himself. "You said you wanted me tobine the twin rings I made into one. Show me the other materials." "Here." Taesan took out the materials, one by one. Fragments of Will, Essence of the World, Crystallized Divine Blood, Proof of Struggle, Threads of Copse. These materials had been in his possession for quite some time, but Taesan hadn¡¯t been able to use them due to ack of ability. "Use these tobine the twin rings into one." Chapter 412: 82nd Floor, Lemegeton (1) "The reason they were crafted as twins in the first ce was due to their overwhelming uniqueness; merging them into one was simply impossible. But with materials like these... it should be feasible." Hafran examined the materials carefully. "Are you nning on using all of them?" "I¡¯ve justid out everything because I¡¯m not sure exactly how much we¡¯ll need." "Hmm." Hafran stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We won¡¯t need them all... Even if the twin rings have a strong identity, what you¡¯ve brought surpasses it by far. Using everything might actually be overkill." Looking over the items, Hafran picked up the Divine Blood. "This won¡¯t be necessary. Its caliber is far too high. It might even overshadow the ring¡¯s essence." The Divine Blood was an item capable of elevating a mortal being to immortality. Certainly, it seemed excessive to use such an item for a mere piece of equipment. "Besides, if it¡¯s something rted to a god... I¡¯d rather not meddle. There''s no telling how the deity might react." With a hesitant expression, Hafran handed back the Divine Blood. "But the other materials should suffice. Using the World Core alongside the World Essence is an ideal match. In the meantime, continue with thebyrinth." "So it¡¯s going to take quite some time, then." "With materials like these, just figuring out how to handle them takes considerable time. Besides, I¡¯ll need your assistance when we¡¯re ready to forge the equipment. I¡¯ll summon you when everything is prepared." "Understood." "By the way, do you intend to use this as well?" Hafran indicated a shard of Will. "This is a material connected to will. You¡¯d be better off entrusting it to Kosrun than to me." Previously, Hafran had mentioned a cksmith who was particrly adept at crafting will-based equipment. The mad cksmith, Kosrun. He was rumored to dwell in the deeperyers. But Taesan shook his head. "Unfortunately, I haven¡¯t encountered him." "Hmm?" Hafran looked surprised. "You¡¯ve already passed the 80th floor, haven¡¯t you? And yet you haven¡¯t found Kosrun?" "If I didn¡¯t overlook anything, he¡¯s simply not there." It was unlikely that Taesan would miss such a presence. Kosrun had been absent up to the 82nd floor. Hafran rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I heard he was settled somewhere in the 70s, but he may have moved. In any case, keep it with you. You might not need it after all." Taesan epted the shard of Will. With an excited expression, Hafran picked up his hammer. "Well then, I¡¯ll start my preparations. You can expect something extraordinary." Taesan watched Hafran for a moment. Seeing the scrutinizing gaze, Hafran looked puzzled. "Is there a reason you¡¯re looking at me like that?" "No, it¡¯s nothing." ¡®Joy, excitement, and madness, perhaps.¡¯ Taesan turned and descended thebyrinth, leaving Hafran behind. The materials he had entrusted were ones so rare that even in the depths, they were almost impossible to find. Whenbined into a piece of equipment, it would likely surpass anything Taesan had obtained thus far. Perhaps, it might even exceed the gear wielded by his former self, Lee Taeyeon. Taesan descended deeper into thebyrinth, leaving Hafran to his work. --- His business with Hafran was concluded. Now, it was time to assess the power he had recently acquired. While he hadn¡¯t gained much, the changes were significant. --- **[Conceptual Skill: Will of All Things]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** **[The will of everything in the world can be sensed and read. If desired, this will can be influenced to align with your intentions. Currently, only minimal influence can be exerted.]** --- A conceptual skill, ???. Its effect allowed Taesan to read the will of others. He could predict an opponent''s actions and thoughts in advance, allowing him to counter them effectively. While subtle, it had proven useful in battle. This skill had evolved into the Will of All Things after he had defeated the world itself. Taesan looked at the ghost beside him. The ghost flinched as if feeling exposed under Taesan¡¯s gaze. [Why are you looking at me like that?] "I had something to confirm." With the Will of All Things, Taesan could read Hafran¡¯s emotions when they had spoken. It wasn¡¯t just superficial emotions; he could sense things from deeper within as if reading thoughts themselves. He sensed simr feelings from the ghost. ¡®Expectation.¡¯ A hope that Taesan might reach the end of thebyrinth and what he might obtain there. ¡®Unease.¡¯ A worry that Taesan might fail along the way. ¡®...A sliver of despair.¡¯ An unspoken sadness, rooted in the realization that the ghost¡¯s quest would soon conclude, after which he would part ways with Taesan. These were emotions the ghost likely wasn¡¯t even aware of. Taesan closed his eyes. The ghost looked bewildered. [Is there a problem with your new skill?] "In a way, yes." Taesan briefly exined, and the ghost fell silent upon hearing it. [So you can read everything about Hafran¡¯s and my emotions?] "Not just yours." Everything in thebyrinth felt close. The skill¡¯s nature made sense. After all, he had defeated the world itself, and the world was the master of all life. Thus, by transcending the world, he had acquired the ability to perceive and influence all things in existence. But Taesan was still human. Although the skill was powerful, the excess information wasn¡¯t exactly beneficial. "I¡¯ll need to regte it." [That would be wise. Just being near you and having my emotions read is unsettling.] The ghost muttered ufortably. Taesan focused his mind, staring at thebyrinth walls. Gradually, he blocked out the ghost¡¯s emotions. If he wished, he could filter out unnecessary information and focus only on the will and emotions he desired to read. It wasn¡¯t an uncontroble power. How it would prove helpful remained to be seen, but it was a wee change. Furthermore, the proficiency of Word of Authority had surpassed 20%. --- **[Special Passive Skill: Word of Authority]** **[Proficiency: 24%]** **[Manifestation of will. By uttering words infused with will, you can make derations that influence the world. Greater variety and specificity in derations are now possible.]** --- Although it was a potent skill, Word of Authority had been difficult to control. But with increased proficiency, he could now wield it with more precision, which was a valuable improvement. Taesan activated the Seal of Authority and stepped onto the 82nd floor. --- **[Quest for the 82nd Floor begins.]** **[Ovee the Demon¡¯s Trial.]** **[Reward: Belt of the Deep Dark Waters]** **[Hidden Reward: ???]** --- "A demon, huh." A master of ck magic, one who wields it. The rewards from the 81st floor had been items rted to magic. This time, it seemed to be equipment connected to ck magic. Taesan proceeded forward and discovered an altar. It was simply ck in color. No symbols, no ornaments. Only a dark passagey in the center of the room. Taesan inspected the passage quietly. He discovered something. From that passage, he could feel a power akin to that of the ancient gods. ¡®They did say these beings are simr to ancient gods.¡¯ Though far weaker than the ancient gods, they were simr entities. Beings born with immense power from birth¡ªdemons. And Taesan possessed a skill rted to them. --- **[Lemegeton]** **[A contract formed with demons. If you desire, and they consent, you can make direct pacts to wield ck magic. Currently, this is merely a right, with no effect.]** --- The right to form direct contracts with demons. He had obtained it long ago but hadn¡¯t had the chance to use it. Finally, it was time to activate Lemegeton. Just as Taesan took a step toward the passage without hesitation¡ª [Would you wait a moment?] A vast darkness descended between Taesan and the passage. He paused, recognizing the familiar presence he had encountered multiple times. "Lord of Demons." [We meet again, Taesan.] The Demon Lord, Lucifer, appeared quietly. --- The Demon Lord¡¯s ck hair swayed as he descended into thebyrinth,nding barefoot. @@novelbin@@ [It seems you¡¯ve acquired some intriguing powers.] "Indeed." Curses and the Will of All Things were both unique forces. The Demon Lord spoke calmly. [You can likely guess why I¡¯m here.] "Would it be for this?" Lemegeton. The right to make direct contracts with demons. The Demon Lord nodded. [Ordinarily, the choice of whether to use it would have been yours. Of course, you¡¯d likely have used it anyway, but the choice would¡¯ve been yours. But things are different now, Taesan. You¡¯ve already entered into a pact with the Mage, haven¡¯t you?] "Yes." Taesan nodded. The contract with the Mage allowed him to increase the difficulty of thebyrinth for his exclusive benefit. And the best way to raise the stakes was through Lemegeton. Taesan epted it calmly. "I don¡¯t mind. I intended to use it regardless." The Demon Lord pped with satisfaction. [Lemegeton has been activated.] The ck passage began to twist and distort, merging with Lemegeton amidst a screeching sound. Beyond the darkness that seemed like an abyss, Taesan sensed multiple presences. They were demons. Demons who each held dominion over their own realms, and they were staring at Taesan. [Normally, a low-ranking demon would oversee the trial. Even a lesser demon could adequately challenge an adventurer. But now, apart from those who possess a domain, no demon here can match you.] Taesan gazed quietly beyond the passage. Perhaps because of the Demon Lord¡¯s direct intervention, he could feel their power even more keenly. The demons were formidable. They were certainly stronger than Taesan. But in terms of essence, they stood on equal footing. ¡®Immortal-grade, perhaps.¡¯ [Among the demons, these are the 72 most powerful, each with their own dominion. They are the masters of the ck magic you wield. They will present you with a trial.] The demons seemed ready to burst forth from the passage. ck energy seeped out of the darkness. [Hold your ground.] The Demon Lord swung his hand, unleashing a massive wave of force that dispersed the gazes directed at Taesan. [These troublesome beings... bound by contract, yet always trying to act independently.] As the scattered gazes gradually returned, the Demon Lord seemed to read Taesan¡¯s mind. [These beings are simr to the ancient gods. Born with immense power from the outset. Most are far weaker than the ancient gods... but still closer in essence to that side. It¡¯ll be quite the significant trial for you.] Since the Demon Lord had subdued them, the demons¡¯ power had settled. The Demon Lord reached his hand into the passage. [As I mentioned, these demons are close to the ancient gods, which makes their trials rather... distasteful.] He clicked his tongue in disapproval. [I doubt you enjoy torture or such cruelties either. I¡¯ll filter them for you.] "Thank you." Although unexpected, Taesan was grateful. If the Demon Lord filtered the trials, it would save him from trials too distasteful to stomach. Time passed. About ten minutester, Taesan asked the Demon Lord calmly. "Has a suitable trial been selected?" [Just a bit longer.] The Demon Lord scowled. [No way am I letting them subject you to a trial of this level.] The trials proposed by the demons seemed to displease him, as his tone was firm. Taesan kept silent and waited. Ten more minutes passed, then twenty. Throughout, the Demon Lord continued to sift through the trials, hand in the passage. "Perhaps it¡¯s fine to proceed with one of the current trials..." [Hmph. None of these trials are satisfactory. Compared to Jervand, they¡¯reughable.] While Taesan appreciated the Demon Lord¡¯s diligence, he couldn¡¯t help but think that at this rate, it would take all day to finalize the trial. He was about to request a more expeditious process when¡ª [Then I shall handle this.] A deep male voice resonated from beyond the passage. A hand emerged. [...Why have you shown yourself?] The Demon Lord looked startled as the figure stepped forward leisurely. [At this rate, it seems we¡¯ll never reach a conclusion. While I understand your favor for him, wouldn¡¯t it be better to bring things to a close?] The owner of the voice borerge horns on his head. His red pupils were reptilian, and a dark aura enveloped his entire body. An image of a demon incarnate. And his power felt vastly different from the other demons. ¡®This one...¡¯ A being of apletely different level. By rank, he was an Exalted Being. Most notably, his aura didn¡¯t belong to this world. A being akin to the ancient gods. He looked at Taesan with a sly grin. [It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, amalgamated one.] **[The Grand Demon Baal has appeared.]** Chapter 413: 82nd Floor, Lemegeton (2) [Why have you crawled in here?] The Demon Lord looked displeased, his expression different from when he faced other demons. Where he looked down on them, he showed a slight wariness toward the figure before him. [It sounded like you were having a bit of trouble.] Baal replied calmly, his gaze resting on Taesan. [You kept going on and on about him. With all the chatter, how could I not get curious?] A faint smile yed on Baal¡¯s face. [So, I thought I¡¯d drop by and meet him.] [You.] The Demon Lord¡¯s face twisted. The air grew heavy. An intangible pressure enveloped Baal, a weight even an immortal would struggle to bear. [What are you thinking?] [Some of the others are up to some boring schemes. I¡¯d love to crush them myself, but, as a Grand Demon, I can¡¯t get directly involved. That¡¯s why I need a suitable candidate.] Baal raised a finger, pointing at Taesan. [Instead of other demons, I, the Grand Demon Baal, will test this one. That will suffice as this floor¡¯s trial.] [...] @@novelbin@@ [Don¡¯t worry, Lucifer. Artificial being. You¡¯ve been wracking your mind trying to find a fitting trial, haven¡¯t you? I won¡¯t set a trial that would concern you. So long as we have our contract, I cannot lie to you.] [You might not lie, but you can still hide the truth. I¡¯ve been burned by you enough times.] [Oh,e now. Those were mere pranks. This time, I swear it will be genuine.] Baal spoke lightly, as if he were an old man pacifying a child. [Hmph.] The Demon Lord scoffed. [Do as you please. I suppose I trust you more than the others.] [Thank you for that.] With a faint chuckle, Baal disappeared into the passage once again. [I¡¯ll be waiting, soe in when you¡¯re ready.] With that, Baal¡¯s presence faded. The Demon Lord clicked his tongue in irritation. [A troublesome one has shown up.] "Who was that?" The entity had been powerful. Taesan¡¯s level was far too low to discern the exact extent of his strength, but he could tell that the presence was almost equal to that of the Demon Lord. More importantly, his power felt... different. It was closer to that of a transcendent rather than a mere demon. The Demon Lord responded to Taesan¡¯s question. [A Grand Demon. The master of all demons.] "Isn¡¯t that you?" [Indeed, I forged contracts with the demons,pelling them to lend their ck magic to my followers. But demons are incredibly self-serving. Even if I tried to suppress them with sheer force, they wouldn¡¯t listen. The one who helped me manage them was Baal, the Grand Demon.] The Demon Lord continued. [Though I don¡¯t know his reasons, he betrayed the Old Demon Lord and sided with me. Through him, I was able to sway the other demons to cooperate with the demonkind and enter into contracts.] "He betrayed the Old Demon Lord?" The Old Demon Lord¡ªknown now as the ancient gods. ording to what Taesan knew, the demons had cast aside the Old Demon Lord to make the Demon Lord their new god. That was the general sequence of events. But apparently, the demons had yed a role in that process as well. [I don¡¯t know why he betrayed the Old Demon Lord; he won¡¯t answer when I ask. In any case, Baal sided with me, managed the demons, and facilitated their contracts with my people.] The Demon Lord scowled. [He was helpful when I first became the god of the demon realm, but he also pulled plenty of nasty pranks.] "I see." Baal¡¯s lighthearted attitude towards the Demon Lord made sense, given this background. [He¡¯s annoying, but better than the others. If he¡¯s handling the trial, it won¡¯t be something trivial.] The Demon Lord had granted Baal permission to take over. It was time to enter the passage. Standing before it, Taesan asked the Demon Lord a question. ¡°He seems very simr to the ancient gods.¡± While the demons¡¯ power was impressive, Baal¡¯s in particr felt nearly indistinguishable from that of the ancient gods. Taesan could hardly tell them apart. ¡°Is there any difference between them?¡± [That¡¯s something you¡¯ll need to discover for yourself. Go forward. im what you desire.] The Demon Lord¡¯s grin apanied his words. Taesan nodded and stepped into the passage. Feeling the gazes of countless demons, he arrived in a vast space. Above him stretched a blood-red sky. Belowy a deste wastnd, littered with ruins. Several figures stood in the middle of it. ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t what Taesan expected. Five beings stood among the ruins. And none of them bore the aura of a demon. They appeared to be regr humans or demonkind. --- [Kekeke! Another one¡¯s here! So many of you!] A piercing voice filled the air, and Taesan turned his gaze. There was a creature with bat-like wings and arge, grotesque eye. [You pathetic humans! You must have Lemegeton too, don¡¯t you?] Taesan nodded. This creature was different from those he¡¯d seen among the ruins. "Are you a demon?" [Of course! I am a demon, feared by mortals, wielding immense power!] The demon dered proudly. [Go over there and wait! Once everyone¡¯s here, we¡¯ll begin the qualification test!] ¡°What kind of test is this?¡± Taesan hadn¡¯t been told anything yet. The demon red its wings in irritation. [Silence! Worm! Don¡¯t question me! Just obey mymands!] ¡°I don¡¯t like that idea.¡± [You... you... you insolent¡ª] The demon¡¯s eye rolled wildly. [You need to be taught a lesson!] Before it could finish its words, power surged over Taesan. A thick, deep darkness. Dark energy swallowed and constricted him entirely. [I won¡¯t kill you! Just meddle with your mind a bit!] The darkness invaded Taesan¡¯s mind, attempting to disturb his thoughts and seize control. It was formidable. As the demon had imed, ordinary mortals would have been overwhelmed. But that was all it was. Taesan stood within the darkness, unbothered. The demon burst into loudughter. [Kakakak! That¡¯s what you get for your arrogance!] ¡°Shut up.¡± [Wha¡ª] Taesan shook his head, dispersing the darkness as if shattering it. He grasped the demon by its throat, which quivered in shock. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you could answer my questions.¡± Taesan spoke in a low voice, releasing a fraction of his sealed power. The other figures in the distance couldn¡¯t sense it, but the concentrated force bore down on the demon. The demon shrieked in terror, crying out desperately. [Ask me anything! I¡¯ll answer everything!] ¡°Good. So, you¡¯re a demon too?¡± [Yes! Yes! Although Ick a name and domain, I am indeed a demon!] ¡°You¡¯re rather weak.¡± In fairness, the demon possessed a significant amount of power. It would be a difficult foe for even a borderline transcendent to face. But that was all it was. It hadn¡¯t surpassed mortality. The gap between mortality and immortality was insurmountable. To Taesan, it posed no threat. [W-well, there are stronger ones as well. Those with names and domains are vastly superior to the likes of me.] ¡°So there are different kinds of demons.¡± The Demon Lord had mentioned that only 72 demons held domains. The rest seemed to be of this demon¡¯s level. With this cleared up, Taesan asked his next question. ¡°All right. When you say ¡®too,¡¯ does that mean those individuals also possess Lemegeton?¡± [Yes! Every fool here has Lemegeton just like you!] Taesan wasn¡¯t the only one with Lemegeton. Lemegeton was a means to form direct contracts with demons. Six individuals with that power had gathered here. ¡°What exactly is the purpose of this ce?¡± [This is the site for undergoing trials to ascend to the rank of a demon!] ¡°What?¡± Taesan¡¯s expression twisted. ¡°Ascend to the rank of a demon? Is that even possible?¡± Demons were beings akin to the ancient gods. To take on their mantle, one would have to surpass mortality. Yet the people gathered here had not achieved that. They were just shy of that boundary¡ªimpressive, but not nearly enough to reach demonic power. [I... I don¡¯t know the details. All I know is that the demons with domains decreed it, and I was assigned to guide you.] The nameless demon spoke cautiously. It didn¡¯t seem to know much more. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± [Thank you!] The demon bowed low to Taesan and then quickly flew off into the distance. Taesan turned away from it and approached the five others. As he drew near, a man with a pale face and unkempt, nest-like hair stepped forward. ¡°...¡± The man silently scrutinized Taesan before extending a hand. ¡°...Handshake.¡± Taesan looked at the hand for a moment, then grasped it without hesitation. The man seemed momentarily surprised but slowly shook Taesan¡¯s hand. Through the handshake, a pulse of energy seeped into Taesan, probing his strength. However, it was halted by the sheer weight of Taesan¡¯s own power, unable to prate him. ¡°...Huh?¡± The man¡¯s face stiffened as he instinct ively withdrew his hand. ¡°...You.¡± ¡°Fool.¡± An elderly man behind him scoffed. ¡°Hiding one¡¯s powerpletely ismendable, but letting others touch you so freely? Such a person won¡¯tst here.¡± Taesan observed them. The pale man and the elder were human, while the other three seemed to be demonkind. And they made no effort to hide their strength. They were broadcasting their dark energy proudly, almost unting it. ¡°You¡¯re all openly showing your power, then?¡± ¡°Why would I hide it? This power defines me. There¡¯s no need or reason to conceal it.¡± The old man dered boldly. ¡°I am Ethan, wielder of ck magic through a contract with the mighty demon Dekarabia.¡± Dekarabia. Taesan recognized the name. Beginner-level ck magic, Dekarabia¡¯s Twisted Flora. It was the same ck magic he¡¯d been using effectively. ¡®So that¡¯s how it works?¡¯ They were ck mages who wielded ck magic by contracting with specific demons. Ethan questioned him indifferently. ¡°Which demon did you contract with? I doubt a coward who hides his power would answer, but I¡¯m asking out of courtesy.¡± ¡°A contract, huh.¡± Taesan considered it. If he had to say, it would be the Demon Lord, but he wasn¡¯t technically a demon. Taesan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡± ¡°What?¡± Ethan¡¯s face twisted. As he was about to say something, the space around them fractured. [It appears everyone is here.] The Grand Demon Baal appeared, his gaze sweeping over the ck mages with a leisurely smile. [I am the Grand Demon, Baal. Pleased to meet you.] ¡°L-Lord Baal!¡± The ck mages flinched and bowed their heads. Every ck mage knew the name of the Grand Demon. The primordial master of pure evil, reigning above all demons. None of them had expected such an entity to appear in person. Trembling in fear, they dared not lift their heads. Only Taesan stared at Baal directly. Baal spokenguidly. [To be honest, I¡¯m not fond of you.] The ck mages swallowed hard. A crushing fear of death enveloped them. [But even as a Grand Demon, I can¡¯t stifle the desires of other demons. Since both you and they agreed to this, I won¡¯t interfere.] With a smile, Baal nced briefly at Taesan, then continued. [For the six who possess Lemegeton, this is my trial. If you pass, you will ascend to the rank of demon and im a domain.] Hearing this, the ck mages¡¯ eyes sparkled with intense desire. [This is my trial. In the forsaken domain of the dead demon, Belial, survive and im Belial¡¯s throne.] --- **[Sub-quest initiated.]** **[The Grand Demon Baal has presented a trial to the holders of Lemegeton. Although Belial, the demon, has perished, his domain remains in a twisted form. Ovee the challenges within and seize the throne in Belial¡¯s castle.]** **[Reward: The rank of a demon and ownership of a domain.]** Chapter 414: 82nd Floor, Lemegeton (3) The eyes of every other Lemegeton bearer lit up with anticipation. Unlike Taesan, the others were not adventurers from thebyrinth. They didn¡¯t have a quest window appear before them, but Baal¡¯s words had made it clear enough. Belial¡¯s Throne. Whoever imed it would ascend to a prestigious position. Greed and desire stirred within them. Baal observed them, his expression indifferent. [Then, I will open the gate. The rest is up to you.] A deep rumbling resonated as Baal waved his hand, and a massive darkness engulfed them all. ¡°Aagh!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± The overwhelming dark force was intense enough to make them fear for their lives. Screams filled the air as they squeezed their eyes shut. Rumble... As the darkness gradually dissipated, they slowly opened their eyes, realizing they were still alive. ¡°...Ah.¡± ¡°So this is it.¡± They marveled at the sight before them. The world around them was crumbling, dying¡ªa world once ruled by the now-deceased Belial. --- The group quickly took in their surroundings, realizing they had reached their destination. The sky was filled with spiny, sea-urchin-like shapes clustered densely above them. The ground was cracked and broken, with floating fragments hovering in mid-air. And within the air itself was an immense, oppressive power. Someone couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously. @@novelbin@@ It seemed they were in a safe zone for the moment, yet the strength emanating from the surroundings was overwhelmingly ominous. As they scanned the area, they noticed another presence beside them. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I am the Observer, once a servant to Lord Belial, who has now vanished.¡± An old man in dark clothing bowed respectfully. Despite his ordinary servant¡¯s appearance, his eyes were a pitch-ck void. ¡®He¡¯s powerful.¡¯ Taesan gave a quiet nod of appreciation. Although the servant hadn¡¯t reached immortality, he was just below that level, close to the boundary. Compared to Taesan, he was noticeably weaker, but in general terms, his strength was exceptionally high. It seemed that any entity closely connected to Belial held considerable power. The servant sighed deeply, an expression of genuine regret. ¡°It grieves me deeply that worms such as yourselves have set foot in my master¡¯s domain, but it cannot be helped.¡± ¡°They say the demon of this domain is dead.¡± One of the five contract holders, a woman with two small horns and a revealing outfit¡ªa subus¡ªsmirked. ¡°So there¡¯s no problem if we be demons ourselves, right? Besides, isn¡¯t it beneficial for you to have a new master?¡± ¡°It would be better to die than to let such unworthy worms im my master¡¯s domain.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not a problem. We¡¯ve already earned our qualifications.¡± The woman spoke confidently. The demon she had contracted with had granted her permission to im Belial¡¯s domain. The servant remained impassive. ¡°Think as you will. Ultimately, this is the will of greater beings. As a servant, I am here to observe those who have gained the right to be my master.¡± His gaze held no trace of emotion. It was evident he didn¡¯t believe these visitors could ascend to a demon¡¯s position. ¡°Hmph.¡± Another member of the group¡ªa muscr man wielding a long spear¡ªscoffed disdainfully. ¡®If I be a demon, he¡¯ll be the first I kill.¡¯ He smiled darkly to himself. The man was a promising figure even within the vast demon realm. Born into a prestigious family, he bore the name Khalid and possessed extraordinary talent, receiving full support from his house. But for Khalid, the demon realm felt confining. Many of its strongest, like the apostles of the Demon Lord, had left to wander other worlds. Realizing he could no longer grow within the demon realm, he left to explore and gain strength across different worlds. Although he knew of thebyrinth, he hadn¡¯t found it particrly appealing. Instead, he searched for more effective ways to enhance his power. He stopped at nothing in his pursuit of strength, and in doing so, destroyed several worldsckingary gods. Despite the curses of the countless people whose homes he had ruined, Khalid merely sneered. To him, the world was a stepping stone to greatness. The death of others in the process was insignificant. In the end, Khalid was chosen by a demon. The demon Marbasi took him as his subordinate and granted him Lemegeton. Khalid was thrilled. A demon. A being of great power. He could stand as an equal to the master of the ck magic he wielded. He had no intention of missing this chance. With a smirk, Khalid turned to the other contract holders. ¡°Let¡¯s form a temporary alliance.¡± He addressed the others, hiding his contempt. To him, they were lowly beings, unworthy of power, driven by greed. Still, he had to admit they were powerful. They each possessed strength on par with his own. They would be excellent tools for his ascension to demonhood. Concealing his intentions, he continued. ¡°I¡¯d like us to work together.¡± ¡°...Work together?¡± The pale man muttered, and Khalid replied as if it were obvious. ¡°You don¡¯t think you can get through this alone, do you?¡± ¡°...¡± The man fell silent. They all understood. Even though this domain had fallen after its master¡¯s death, the lingering demonic power was deadly. One misstep would see them crushed by the remnants of Belial¡¯s power. Even the location of the throne was obscured by a powerful force. ¡°Only one of us can be a demon, but that just means we share the same goal. So, let¡¯s cooperate until we reach the destination.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it, but... there¡¯s no other choice.¡± One by one, they agreed to join forces. All but Taesan. ¡°He¡¯s aware of his limits. You¡¯re irrelevant, so stay out of this.¡± Khalid sneered at Taesan. Taesan had no demon supporting him. This meant he was unchosen. It was obvious that someone without a patron would be weak. Khalid assumed that Taesan was hiding his power out of desperation to conceal his weakness. However, Khalid soon found himself perplexed. Taesan didn¡¯t seem to care about him at all. It was as if he didn¡¯t even acknowledge Khalid¡¯s existence. Instead, Taesan quietly observed Belial¡¯s domain. ¡°So, this is what it¡¯s like.¡± He muttered softly and began to walk forward. Before anyone could stop him, he stepped into Belial¡¯s domain. ¡°Huh?¡± Before long, Taesan¡¯s figure disappeared behind the shattered terrain. Momentarily taken aback, Khalid quickly collected himself. ¡°He knows his ce and left on his own. Good riddance.¡± It seemed he understood his limitations and had chosen to go off alone rather than risk being cast aside. Khalid dismissed Taesan from his thoughts. ¡°Now, let¡¯s discuss our strategy. So, what¡¯s the n?¡± Each of you will be my stepping stone. Hiding his true thoughts, Khalid smiled calmly. --- ¡°Hm.¡± Taesan strolled through Belial¡¯s domain. He already knew where Belial¡¯s throne was. The powerful energy emanating from it made it impossible not to notice. But he wasn¡¯t heading directly for the throne. Instead, Taesan chose to explore further, intending to learn more about his surroundings. ¡°Well done, worm.¡± A low voice echoed. It was Belial¡¯s servant. Taesan replied nonchntly, ¡°You might want to focus on them instead of me.¡± ¡°I am a servant of Lord Belial. Creating projections is a trivial matter.¡± The servant responded indifferently. ¡°I don¡¯t care for you either, as you covet my master¡¯s power, but choosing not to cooperate was the correct decision.¡± His face twisted with disdain. ¡°To seek my master¡¯s throne through coboration with others... It¡¯s a detestable ambition, one that is, fortunately, unattainable.¡± The servant seemed confident that they would never reach Belial¡¯s throne. ¡°Regardless, you at least have the decency to attempt this on your own. For that, I offer a small amount of praise. Now, ept this and perish here.¡± With those words, a burst of energy exploded from the floating spiny orbs above. The remnants of the deceased demon moved to expel the intruder. *Shhhk!* Thorns shot toward Taesan in a straight line, filling every possible space with no room for evasion. The power contained within them was demonic. It was unstoppable by mortal means. Convinced of Taesan¡¯s demise, the servant began to turn away. ¡°Stop.¡± [You have activated a Deration of Cessation.] *Whump.* The thorns froze just before reaching Taesan. ¡°...What?¡± The servant¡¯s eyes widened at the sight. The thorns hung in the air, halted by nothing more than Taesan¡¯s single deration. ¡°How... how could this be?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strong, but without a master, it¡¯s just stray power.¡± Using his Word of Authority, Taesan could neutralize it entirely. He casually touched one of the frozen thorns. ¡°Very simr to Hafran¡¯s domain.¡± In Hafran¡¯s domain, when the will of the world had been defeated, the world itself had begun to die. This ce was much the same. The difference was that, here, Belial¡¯s power still lingered considerably. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s something worthwhile to gain here.¡± Taesan clenched his fist. The thorns shattered like brittle sticks, clearing a path forward. The servant stood speechless. --- Meanwhile, the other Lemegeton bearers had banded together to advance through Belial¡¯s domain. The spiny orbs trembled and shot toward them. ¡°Khh!¡± Khalid groaned, raising his hand to release Marbasi¡¯s false mes to fend off the onught, only to have them shattered as the thorns pierced through. The elderly man who had contracted with Dekarabia pressed his hand to the ground, summoning twisted roots to rise and intercept the attack. *Crash!* The five ck mages wielded the power of demons, using every ounce of their strength to barely withstand the assault. ¡°Hah... hah...¡± They wiped the cold sweat from their brows, catching their breath. ¡°Such a monstrous power...¡± Even though it was only the remnants of a deceased demon, it was deadly. Without cooperation, they wouldn¡¯t have survived. But this realization only fueled their determination. If they reached the throne, they could im this power as their own. Greed and desire swirled within them. By now, they had all but forgotten about Taesan. Struggling as a group of five, they assumed he had already perished. The servant, who would normally mock their efforts, was too shocked to say a word. The group steeled themselves and continued forward, risking their lives and using each other to press onward. Meanwhile, Taesan strolled leisurely through Belial¡¯s domain. ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s a skill here I can acquire.¡± He was already contemting the possibility of gaining new abilities. Chapter 415: 82nd Floor, Lemegeton (4) Taesan observed the sky, filled with countless spiny spheres hovering above him. The spheres weren¡¯t living creatures. They were remnants of the long-vanished demon, Belial, now functioning as automated defense mechanisms. Their only purpose was to eliminate intruders who dared to step into Belial¡¯s domain. The thorns from the spheres seemed to be triggered automatically whenever something approached within a certain range. Taesan continued his observations. The servant, who had been watching him in silence, finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity. ¡°What exactly are you doing?¡± ¡°Nothing that concerns you. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± Taesan¡¯s answer was curt, and the servant fell silent again. The ghost traveling alongside Taesan had figured out what he was attempting. [Aiming to gain a skill?] Taesan nodded, and the ghost wasn¡¯t surprised. After all, Taesan had always made efforts to obtain skills, regardless of the situation. This ce was a world left behind by the dead demon Belial¡ªan unusual environment that might hold hidden opportunities. [Interesting. What skill are you after this time?] ¡°I have no idea.¡± [...No idea?] ¡°I¡¯ve never tried to get this skill before, and I¡¯ve never even thought of it.¡± Taesan answered inly. He had calcted and obtained numerous skills through specific conditions. But in his previous life, he had only yed on Easy Mode, where his environment and opportunities were very limited. Conditions like these had never existed on Easy Mode. So even he couldn¡¯t be sure what kind of skill he might acquire under these conditions. Trial and error were his only options. Taesan reflected briefly, then resumed his experiments. Every time Taesan moved, the spheres responded by shooting thorns that engulfed his entire vicinity. ¡®Stopping them isn¡¯t hard.¡¯ He could halt the assault with a single Word of Authority, but that wouldn¡¯t yield him anything. Taesan decided to test some hypotheses. First, he attempted to suppress the sphere¡¯s powerpletely, gathering his force to crush it. The thorns failed to emerge, blocked by his overwhelming aura. But no system message indicated he¡¯d gained a new skill. He had never expected sess on the first try, so he continued experimenting without disappointment. Next, he tried neutralizing the force from all directions, casting a magical barrier around the sphere to stop the thorns from advancing. The thorns were blocked in front of the sphere, unable to move forward. But again, no skill was granted. Taesan wasn¡¯t discouraged. Acquiring skills through sheer trial and error was a process he was familiar with. As he continued his various experiments, the ghost asked, curiosity evident in its tone. [Can you even get a skill here despite the huge difference in power and status?] ¡°There are a few skills where power and status don¡¯t really matter.¡± For certain skills, fundamental conditions rather than power levels determined the chance of obtaining them. The ssic example was ¡°Stacking,¡± which required consistent attacks without any disruption in stance, regardless of the opponent¡¯s strength. Taesan was aiming for a simr type of skill here. After a moment of thought, Taesan took a step forward. The thorns from the spheres shot out as expected, their trajectories filling the space around him. Instead of dodging or blocking, Taesan simply stood still. *Boom!* The thorns viciously pierced the ground. [...What?] The ghost was startled. Amidst the dense thorns, Taesan stood untouched. It was as if the thorns had intentionally avoided him. [How did you...?] ¡°It¡¯s not about movement but intention. This can be done too.¡± Reading movement was a matter of interpreting force trajectories and dodging ordingly. But ¡°intent¡± was a stage before force even manifested. Taesan read the intent of the spheres, predicting where the thorns would aim, and positioned himself in the gaps they left. He had done something simr when facing a fallen apostle. That apostle, having lost intelligence and operating on sheer instinct, had been predictable. However, this was the first time he¡¯d sessfully used it against something inanimate. ¡°Can I read the intent of non-living objects too?¡± @@novelbin@@ This world-specific skill was proving to be strange andplex. This attack confirmed another insight. The spheres weren¡¯t targeting Taesan specifically. They acted on a reflexive response. If something approached their range, they automatically released a barrage of thorns to prate everything around them. Dozens of possible conditions and skill criteria shed through Taesan¡¯s mind. And finally, he arrived at a promising hypothesis. ¡®An unyielding walk through a barrage of attacks.¡¯ If he could walk through this storm of attacks as if he were on a leisurely stroll, neither dodging nor defending and emerging unscathed, what kind of skill might he gain? ¡°Let¡¯s try it.¡± Confident in his theory, Taesan resumed his experiments. He began by testing how precisely he could read the intent of each attack, how urately he could identify safe zones, and how he could subtly influence the thorn trajectories based on his movements. Step by step, he refined his approach, assessing how to make his movements appear effortless yet effective. Two hourster, Taesan had finished his preparations. He extended his senses to perceive all the intents around him and took a step. Immediately, he felt the spheres¡¯ intent shift. They prepared to release their thorns, aiming to repel the intruder. Having already mapped the paths of every thorn, Taesan stepped forward. *Boom!* The thorns mmed into the ground. But Taesan remained untouched. It was as if the thorns deliberately missed him. Once again, Taesan raised his foot. The spheres¡¯ intent shifted, and he sensed the directions of thousands of thorns before they even shot out. He detected a path that seemed unavoidable. But that didn¡¯t matter. Taesan made a slight, non-defensive motion, casually raising his hand. The intent within the spheres adjusted. Since they were automatic defenses, they recalibrated with every movement he made, even if those movements were irrelevant. After two hours of experimentation, he knew exactly how to redirect their trajectories. Confirming the change in their paths, Taesan took another step forward. The thorns fired again, but once more, none touched him. *Step.* He continued moving. *Boom!* The thorns shot out. But Taesan remained untouched, subtly adjusting his stance to twist the thorns¡¯ paths. [...Whoa.] The ghost exhaled in awe. While it wasn¡¯t shocking to see Taesan avoid attacks, his movements this time were astoundingly smooth. *Boom!* The barrage of thorns filled Taesan¡¯s field of vision, iming every inch of space, leaving no apparent room to evade. Yet Taesan walked forward calmly, as if taking a leisurely stroll. It looked as though the thorns were purposefully avoiding him. It was almost surreal. And after he had taken twenty paces in this manner, a message appeared. **[You have walked through a barrage of attacks without any evasion, defense, or damage taken. You have acquired the passive skill: ¡°Hidden in Shadows.¡±]** --- The moment he acquired the skill, the thorns began to avoid Taesan naturally. This time, it wasn¡¯t due to his intent reading but because of the skill itself, which caused attacks to veer away from him on their own. He could guess the nature of his new skill based on that reaction. **[You activated Zepar¡¯s ck Storm.]** *Crash!* Taesan unleashed Zepar¡¯s ck Storm, obliterating all the spheres. The thorns were consumed and swept away by the dark storm. ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± The other contract holders attempting to breach the domain shrieked, quickly distancing themselves from the chaos of the storm. Taesan noticed them briefly but dismissed them from his thoughts, opening his skill window to inspect his new acquisition. **[Passive Skill: Hidden in Shadows]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** **[Attacks from those unaware of your presence will not hit you.]** The ghost chuckled. [You sure pick up all sorts of skills. What¡¯s this one supposed to do?] ¡°Unaware attacks won¡¯tnd, huh.¡± The effect seemed straightforward. If his opponent was unable to detect him, their attacks would simply miss. ¡°Guess this is the limit for it.¡± After examining the skill in detail, the ghost seemed to understand what he meant. [It¡¯s conditional.] From here on, every opponent Taesan would face was likely to be of immortal level or higher. For such foes to be unaware of him was improbable. To properly use this skill, he¡¯d need to conceal himself from his enemies¡ªa feat that wasn¡¯t easily achievable. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± But Taesan spoke calmly. ¡°This is still a win.¡± Taesan had faced numerous challenges to acquire skills in his past. After years of effort, he had often obtained skills that proved entirely useless in real battles. From experience, he had learned which skills to retain, such as ¡°Copy.¡± For an unexpected, unnned skill, this one was satisfactory. [Guess you¡¯re right.] In truth, ¡°Hidden in Shadows¡± was far from a low-tier skill. It was a passive skill that required no mana. If he could remain concealed, he could avoid attacks from even higher-level enemies. Even the ghost, during its life, would have been thrilled to obtain a skill like this. The difference was that Taesan had acquired much higher-tier skills thus far, making this seem less significant byparison. [My standards must be skewed.] The ghost chuckled wryly. Taesan began considering potential uses for the skill. ¡®Invisibility.¡¯ With his Ability Sword¡¯s Invisibility effect, he could vanish from sight for a full second , thus fulfilling the conditions for his new skill. ¡®Or perhaps using partial world-shifting techniques to conceal myself.¡¯ If he wanted to maximize this skill¡¯s utility, he had plenty of options. He¡¯d assess its effectiveness as he used it. Satisfied, Taesan continued forward. Without hesitation, he advanced, only to encounter a new wave of resistance. This time, it wasn¡¯t the spheres but tiny living creatures. They were almost invisible due to their size, with wings and grotesque eyes, like a swarm of locusts. They rushed toward him, ready to kill the intruder in their master¡¯s domain. Taesan clenched his fist lightly. *Crack.* The swarm was crushed instantly, dissipating into nothing. [Not going to try for a skill this time?] ¡°I¡¯ve already tested everything that this scenario could yield.¡± Taesan replied matter-of-factly. Tiny, nearly invisible foes had been amon factor in his past experiments, and he¡¯d long since exhausted the possibilities of any skills they could provide. Most of those skills had proven useless in battle. [So you¡¯ve already done it all.] The ghostughed softly as Taesan advanced toward the powerful force he could sense in the distance, moving forward without hesitation. Chapter 416: 82nd Floor, Lemegeton (5) Taesan had obtained everything he could from this ce. Having made this judgment, he moved quickly. Crack. He swung his arm. The small, relentless creatures, like a swarm of locusts, were crushed instantly. There was no need for magic or dark magic. With just his body, he could plow through them. As Taesan moved forward, the ghost spoke. [By the way, you said these weren¡¯t skills from your previous life. Have you obtained everything there is to get now?] ¡°No, not yet. There are still some truly powerful skills left.¡± Multiply, basic time stop, designated skill reset. The Essence Strike could be achieved by simply raising proficiency, but the three others¡ªMultiply, Basic Time Stop, and Designated Skill Reset¡ªseemed nearly impossible to obtain. Their acquisition conditions were exceedingly difficult to fulfill. Even after conquering over 80 floors, he hadn''t encountered a floor that fulfilled their requirements. ''Maybe a floor meeting the conditions will appear before I clear it.'' He wasn¡¯t sure. He wasn¡¯t ready to give up, but the possibility seemed slim. Even if the conditions were met, he couldn¡¯t be certain that he would be able to acquire them. Most of the skills Taesan had obtained were like that¡ªhis acquired skills weren¡¯t always a result of mastery and judgment, but rather, something simpler was required. That something was luck. No matter how perfect the n or how well one adapted to all variables, without luck, acquisition was impossible. Even if he went back in time to try again, there was no guarantee he would seed. ''What should I do?'' He wasn¡¯t ready to give up. The value of these skills was too high. However, these weren¡¯t skills that could be obtained just by fulfilling conditions and trying hard, as he''d done before. As Taesan organized his thoughts, he continued forward. He was growing tired of dealing with the small obstacles and waved his hand. [You activated the Frozen World.] Shhhh! Magic engulfed the demonic realm. One of Belial''s servants beside him hurriedly shielded himself with his power. Crack. ¡°Ugh!¡± The oing cold shattered his strength. Desperately gathering his energy, the servant barely managed to block it. ¡°...¡± The servant¡¯s eyes shook with anxiety. Taesan had used the skill casually, as if swatting away an annoyance, but the servant had to defend with all his might. "...Who are you?" The servant asked in a trembling voice. By this point, there was no way he didn¡¯t know. Taesan had reached the level of his master, an immortal. ¡°Adventurer.¡± Taesan gave a nonchnt answer. ¡°By the way, I was hoping you''d answer me soon. When the other contractors imed they were qualified, you must haveughed at them in your heart, didn¡¯t you?¡± The servant flinched. Shock was written all over his face. ¡°How... how do you know...¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important.¡± The servant believed he had perfectly hidden his emotions. But Taesan, with the Will of All Things skill, could read even the emotions buried deep inside. It was mockery and disdain. It was contempt for those who acted arrogantly without even knowing their ce. ¡°As if they were unworthy of it.¡± The demons had granted Lemegeton to allow the contractors to enter their domains. It was safe to say they were qualified. But the servant had been certain. They were unqualified. ¡°...It¡¯s a story I don¡¯t need to hear. They are unqualified.¡± The servant red at Taesan with rough eyes. ¡°And that goes for you as well. I acknowledge your strength, but that¡¯s a separate matter.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. If I be the master of this ce, you¡¯ll be my servant, right? So just tell me what I need to know.¡± ¡°...¡± Taesan said yfully. The servant¡¯s face contorted, as if he no longer wished to converse and leaped away. ¡°Has he gone?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t bother chasing after him. ¡°I have a few guesses.¡± Since Ba¡¯al had acknowledged that he could im the domain, Taesan assumed that it could be obtained. But Ba¡¯al never said it would be acquired in the usual way. The castle wasn¡¯t far. Taesan took another step. *** ¡°Ugh!¡± An old man gritted his teeth, stamping his foot. The earth trembled, and twisted spikes shot up, striking things so small they were barely visible. But they didn¡¯t disappear. They bounced away, rolling on the ground, only to stagger and rush back at him again. ¡°What the hell is this!?¡± The old man ground his teeth. After barely breaking through the sea of spiny nts, the next challenge appeared¡ªcountless tiny servants of Belial sprang up in what seemed like an endless swarm. Although they were small, each of these beings was remarkably powerful. Even with all their strengthbined, it was difficult to defeat them. A shadowy man raised his trembling hand. A gust of harsh wind swept through, flinging the servants away. In response, the old man summoned roots to form a path. They quickly ran along the path they had created. After a long sprint, they managed to escape the attacks from the servants. ¡°Huff... Huff...¡± The four contractors panted, wiping the sweat from their brows. The old man gritted his teeth, ring at Halid. ¡°You!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Halid responded nonchntly. His expression was noticeably more rxed than the others. The old man shouted furiously. ¡°Because of your nonsense, one of us is dead! Why did you do that!?¡± When they were fighting back the servants of Belial, Halid had clearly done something strange. He had targeted a subus with his dark magic. The subus, who had been defenseless, was immediately knocked back and buried by the servants. Halid chuckled quietly. ¡°What are you talking about? Why are you ming me? Shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me?¡± ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°We¡¯re allpetitors here. Only one of us can be a demon. I just helped reduce thepetition. You should be grateful.¡± ¡°You crazy bastard.¡± Halid¡¯s words weren¡¯t wrong. They were allpetitors. Sooner orter, their alliance would fall apart. But, at least for now, they had agreed to cooperate in breaking through. And it was Halid who had said that first. The shadowy man spoke softly. ¡°...For now, we are in a cooperative rtionship. If that changes, I won¡¯t be able to trust you.¡± ¡°Fine, don¡¯t trust me.¡± Halid replied with a calm attitude. A sly smile spread across his face. ¡°But if you try to ostracize me, someone will definitely die. I have that much power.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± It was a clear threat, but none of them could deny it. Halid was certainly stronger than they were. The difference wasn¡¯t huge, but it was enough to make a significant impact. Halid had managed to conserve a lot of his power during their journey, which gave him an advantage over the others. If they fought seriously, even if the three of them teamed up, they would likely suffer. For now, they had no choice but to continue working together and wait for the right opportunity. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been carrying a snake in your bosom all this time.¡± ¡°Say whatever you want.¡± Halidughed. He would be a demon. He would rise to a ce beyond mortality, to the eternal and immortal realm. And for that, he was willing to do anything. They all marched toward the castle. And Taesan was already there. *** Taesan ced his hand on the massive, pitch-ck door. The final gate protecting Belial¡¯s castle. The door was extremely sturdy, imbued with immense power, making it nearly impossible for challengers to break through. But this wasn¡¯t meaningful to Taesan. He exerted force on his hand. Screech! With a sound of metal grinding, the door crumpled like foil. Taesan swung his arm. Boom! The crumpled door shattered and flew off. Taesan stepped into the castle. And at that moment, the castle shook. The floor, the decorations, and the walls all moved. They twisted and swirled, beginning to exude murderous intent. Taesan didn¡¯t panic and raised his weapon. Throughout Belial¡¯s domain, traces of Belial remained. These remnants were designed to repel intruders, and the area with the most concentrated traces was, of course, the castle. The castle itself was moving to erase the intruder¡ªTaesan. The decorations hanging on the walls rushed toward him, as if alive. Boom! Taesan sliced through the approaching objects with his sword. Pirs broke free and flew at him. Taesan raised his sword to block them. The heavy weight of the impact was felt through his de, and his body was pushed back. Boom! The floor began to crumble, and the remaining debris gathered into a swirling vortex. The vortex rushed toward Taesan. ¡®Strong.¡¯ Taesan couldn¡¯t help but admire it. The force rushing toward him now was merely the remnants of the dead Belial. Even so, the power contained within it was monstrous. In terms of pure power, it was superior to Taesan. ¡®Is this what a demon is?¡¯ It was a force greater than Ainzhar. ¡®But.¡¯ That was all it was¡ªremnants of a dead being. The power contained within was mere fragments. There was no sense of depth, nor the will of a living being. Taesan infused his sword with his own power and will. He swung it at the approaching remnants. Boom! The immense force of the attack met the thin de, but Taesan didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, he channeled even more of his own power and advanced forward. Boom! The castle¡¯s remnants shattered and scattered. But they immediately reformed and charged toward him once again. Taesan dered, infusing his will into his words. ¡°Copse. Break. Shake.¡± [You activated the Deration of Copse and Crumbling.] Boom! The gathered remnants trembled violently. Though they struggled to hold on, they exploded in response to Taesan¡¯s deration. ¡°Explode.¡± [You activated the Deration of Explosion.] Boom! The remnants burst apart, scattering in all directions. The remnants of Belial were not yet gone. The debris of the castle creaked and rose again, rushing toward Taesan. [You activated the Internal World.] Taesan¡¯s strength and will consumed Belial¡¯s domain. Normally, Belial¡¯s force would have prevented the expansion of the Internal World, but with the remnants of a masterless being, it could not stop Taesan. As the Internal World overtook the castle, the power from the remnants noticeably weakened, and their movements slowed. You can¡¯t win just by being strong. In battles that surpass mortality, it¡¯s not about strength¡ªit¡¯s about depth. [You activated the Great Copse.] Kiiiing! The Great Copse, which destroys all things, was brought into the world. [You activated Magic Separation.] The ck sphere created by the Great Copse scattered in all directions. Tiny spheres filled the space. Boom! The separated Great Copse collided with the castle¡¯s debris, causing it to begin to disintegrate. Taesan clenched his fist. [You activated Magic Explosion.] The scattered Great Copse exploded. A tremendous force swept through everything, engulfing all. *** All the power settled, and nothing remained. What was once a grand castle had vanished, leaving not a single fragment. [Is this really the extent of it, even against a demon...?] ¡°It¡¯s just the remnants of a dead demon. If this were during its mortal days, I might have been worried, but now it¡¯s no problem.¡± [Is that so? But despite all this destruction, is the throne still intact?] ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Even after the castle had vanished, the power still felt as strong as ever, showing no sign of weakening. Taesan walked toward the source of the power. [Oh...] The ghost let out a soft groan, almost involuntarily. In the vast wastnd stood a single, twitching, pitch-ck throne. @@novelbin@@ What could be felt from the throne was a fully realized force. It was the very power of Belial himself. Taesan knew immediately. It was an instinctual realization. If he sat on that throne, he could im Belial¡¯s power and domain. The master of ck magic, the ruler of demons, from the dawn of time. Taesan took a step forward. Chapter 417: 82nd Floor, Lemegeton (6) It was the moment Taesan was about to walk toward the throne. Several presences were rapidly approaching. Taesan stopped and turned his head. *¡°Huff! Huff!¡±* *¡°We... we¡¯ve arrived!¡±* Four figures, panting heavily, appeared before him. Their bodies were covered in wounds. The other contractors had felt the intense shockwave of the battle between Taesan and the remnants of Belial. Realizing that this was the destination, they had rushed here without looking back. As a result, they had sustained significant damage, but they had managed to reach their goal. *¡°Ohhhh!¡±* ¡°The throne!¡± They gasped in awe upon seeing the throne. A tremendous power emanated from it. It was the kind of power that was, quite literally, transcendent, beyond their reach. That was the power of the demon. The power they sought to im. Taesan didn¡¯t even register in their minds. Everyone was mesmerized by Belial¡¯s throne. And in that moment, Halid moved. Halid unleashed his dark magic toward the old man. The old man immediately reacted. *Crack.* ¡°Ugh!¡± The old man roughly erected a barrier. The dark magic that collided with the barrier scattered in all directions. ¡°You bastard!¡± Halid grinned widely. ¡°Good job!¡± *Boom!* Dark magic exploded. The contractors bared their teeth and rushed toward Halid. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll just let you do this?¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± They had all expected that Halid would ambush them once they reached the goal, so they were ready to respond immediately. But they had already taken too much damage from breaking through Belial''s domain. In contrast, Halid was clearly stronger than them and had enough energy stored up. Despite it being a 1:4 battle, the fight was one-sided. In an instant, all the other contractors fell. [Greedy, that¡¯s for sure.] ¡°Quite impressive, really.¡± To be so loyal to his desires, Halid¡¯s determination was something to admire. ¡°Hahaha! I¡¯ve done it! I¡¯m going to be a demon!¡± Having defeated everyone, Halid burst into maniacalughter. His eyes were full of excitement. ¡°Belial¡¯s domain is mine!¡± ¡°Who says so?¡± Taesan muttered quietly. Upon hearing the voice, Halid finally noticed Taesan¡¯s presence. ¡°...The one not chosen. How did you get here?¡± Halid furrowed his brow, twisting his mouth. ¡°I see. So your power is of that nature.¡± From the moment Taesan first met them, he had perfectly concealed his power. It was clear that Taesan¡¯s power was specialized in hiding his presence. Concealing his form, avoiding attacks from the domain, and barely arriving here. Halid had deduced this. ¡°You¡¯re of no concern to me. Die.¡± Halid punched the air. Dark magic rippled through the space. The waves of magic surged toward Taesan like a tide, attempting to overwhelm him. Halid didn¡¯t bother to pay attention and started walking toward Belial¡¯s throne. Taesan, expressionless, extended his arm. He grabbed the tidal wave of magic, and with a fist, he shattered it. *Boom!* The magic waves shattered and scattered in all directions. Halid, who had ignored him, quickly turned around. ¡°What trickery is this!¡± The waves of magic surged again. Taesan didn¡¯t try to block them. As he simply walked forward, the waves dissipated. Taesan grabbed Halid by the neck and threw him away. *Boom!* ¡°Ugh!¡± Halid coughed up blood. He looked at Taesan with disbelief, his teeth clenched. ¡°...Dammit!¡± Halid realized the truth. Taesan was far stronger than him. Whether he had hidden his power or reached a level beyond their perception, what was certain was that Taesan was on apletely higher ne. ¡®So far...¡¯ Halid was furious but quickly assessed the situation. He began to distance himself from Taesan, slowly. ¡°You¡¯re certainly clever.¡± Taesan muttered toward Halid. Halid was thinking about how he could win. ¡®It¡¯s impossible with conventional methods.¡¯ His trump cards had already been used to defeat other dark mages. So, what now? With his judgment made, Halid moved immediately. He rushed toward Belial¡¯s throne. *Shhh!* The spatial fluctuations hit Taesan. But rather than knocking him down, it seemed to be an attack trying to grab his ankle. ¡®If I just sit on the throne!¡¯ Then everything would be resolved. Taesan took a step. Just that simple movement neutralized the spatial fluctuations. If he wanted, he could have captured Halid right then, but Taesan didn¡¯t stop him. Just like Halid used other dark mages, Taesan intended to use him for something important. Without interference from Taesan, Halid reached the throne. ¡°Finally! I...!¡± He had reached his great position. With an exalted face, Halid sat on the throne. At that moment, power descended upon him. ¡°Ohhh!¡± The power of a demon surged through Halid¡¯s body. He felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment and omnipotence that he had never felt before. Halid twisted his mouth and looked at Taesan. Now, he could sense power from Taesan¡ªpower that was certainly impressive, but whenpared to the power now coursing through Halid, it was clearly inferior. Halid, intoxicated by the intense power settling within him, was nning to kill Taesan after he had fully absorbed it. And Taesan silently observed him. ¡°So, this is what it meant.¡± ¡°...What?¡± Halid¡¯s face stiffened as he continued to absorb the power. No matter how much he absorbed, the power just wouldn¡¯t stop. ¡°Ugh... Ah...¡± Something was slowly consuming his very self. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Suddenly, Belial¡¯s servant appeared,ughing maniacally as he watched Halid. ¡°Foolish and base creatures! This is what your words have led to!¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Halid let out a dying sound. His eyes were losing their rationality as his being slowly disappeared. And in its ce, something else was filling him up. Taesan knew exactly what was happening. It was Belial. The demon who had been thought to be dead. It was using Halid¡¯s body to descend. Taesan had expected this to some extent. A demon was, by nature, an existence beyond mortality. Certainly stronger than Taesan. Such an existence¡¯s power could not be epted by a mortal being. It was obvious that it was trying to use him as a vessel for resurrection. ¡°My lord, I apologize for allowing such a lowly being to serve as your vessel!¡± The servant begged. Taesan walked slowly toward the crumbling Halid. The servant sneered at him. ¡°What a shame! You¡¯ve been toocent. If it were you, you might have been able to collect Belial¡¯s power, but now it¡¯s toote!¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan ced his hand on Halid¡¯s body. The demon¡¯s power surged toward Taesan, attempting to resist. ¡°It¡¯s toote to interfere now! The fusion is already in progress!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not fully merged yet, are you? Your power and dignity are unstable. It¡¯s not hard.¡± Dark energy poured out of Taesan¡¯s hand, suppressing and nullifying the demon¡¯s power. ¡°What!¡± Taesan tightened his grip. With a *crunch*, Halid¡¯s body was torn away from the throne. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The descent was canceled. The power that had settled in Halid¡¯s body returned to the throne. ¡°Ugh... Ah...¡± Halid copsed, lying on the ground, drooling. The shock of being overwhelmed by the power had caused him to lose both his self and his reason. But that was of no concern to Taesan. Taesan spoke. ¡°I know you¡¯re watching. Come out.¡± [You caught me?] Azy voice followed as Ba¡¯al descended. --- * * * ¡°**Ba¡¯al**, my lord.¡± The servant, startled, bowed low, but Ba¡¯al paid him no mind. Taesan asked. ¡°Was this a trap from the beginning?¡± The quest''s reward was supposed to be Belial''s power and dignity. Clearly, Taesan and the other contractors could have obtained it. But there was no guarantee they could obtain it without issues. Like Halid, other dark mages would likely have been consumed, transforming into Belial themselves. [That¡¯s not a lie. You certainly could gain that power.] ¡°But you hid the truth.¡± [If you wish to me someone, me the other demons.] Ba¡¯al¡¯s gaze lingered on Belial¡¯s throne. [It was they who concealed the truth.] ¡°Resurrection?¡± [Demonkind exists beyond the realm of this world. They are beings far removed from death. However, their physical body can be destroyed and banished to the demon realm. To resurrect, a suitable vessel is needed.] ¡°So that¡¯s the purpose of Lemegeton.¡± If a dark mage were to sessfully sit on Belial¡¯s throne, their rationality and intellect would vanish, turning them into a vessel for the demon. This was what the direct contract meant. [It¡¯s quite an unpleasant sight. Whatever they do is their choice, but personally, this is not the picture I wanted.] ¡°So you called me here.¡± While bringing Taesan the trial, Ba¡¯al also sought to disrupt the ns of the other demons. That seemed to have been Ba¡¯al¡¯s goal all along. [You¡¯ve sessfullypleted my n. I thank you. Now you can take Belial¡¯s power and domain.] Ba¡¯al spoke quietly. [If it were any other contractor, I¡¯m not sure, but you, you can certainly handle that power.] Taesan ced his hand on the throne. At that moment, Belial¡¯s power and dignity began to overwhelm him. Taesan shook it off and withdrew his hand. Taesan shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re ying with me too much.¡± [What do you mean?] Ba¡¯al smiled, his face amused. [You can obtain Belial¡¯s power and dignity without losing your identity. That is no lie.] ¡°Except I¡¯ll lose my own strength.¡± The power Taesan sought to obtain was all of Belial¡¯s. And that power and dignity were far beyond Taesan¡¯s current capabilities. Of course, Taesan could devour it. He had already reached the level of immortality. He could defeat Belial, who was attempting to descend into him, and take only the power and dignity for himself. But even if he devoured it, it was undeniably power greater than his own. Such power couldn¡¯t be taken without consequence. If Taesan consumed it, he would likely lose most of the strength he had umted up until now. [Isn¡¯t it a good choice? Belial¡¯s power is formidable. You can¡¯t reach it right now. Even if you lose the power you¡¯ve built up, you¡¯d gain something far greater.] Ba¡¯al whispered, like a demon tempting a human. [The power of a demon itself. This will be your domain. You will be able to wield true dark magic. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a bad choice.] ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not going to do that.¡± He had be strong through his own power. Though Belial¡¯s power was certainly far out of his reach, it wasn¡¯t worth abandoning his own strength for. There was no reason to even consider it. [Is that so? In that case, it¡¯s a shame. You¡¯ve cleared the trial, but you won¡¯t be able to obtain your reward.] Ba¡¯al smiled, unaffected. ¡°That¡¯s not my n.¡± Taesan stood before the throne, sword in hand. [Will you increase your stature?] Ba¡¯al quietly smiled. [With that power, you could steal it without losing your own strength. But you must know. In the process, most of Belial¡¯s power will be discarded.] **Increasing stature** couldn¡¯t steal all of an opponent¡¯s power. Now that Taesan had earned the right to take all of Belial¡¯s power, using increasing stature would likely result in a significant loss of strength. [That choice isn¡¯t wrong either.] Ba¡¯al said, as if he didn¡¯t care which decision Taesan made. Ba¡¯al¡¯s eyes were filled with interest and amusement as he watched Taesan. ¡®Certainly a perverse taste.¡¯ Taesan recalled what the **Demon** had said. No matter what choice was made, he couldn¡¯t take everything. Even if a decision were reached, regret would remain. Ba¡¯al seemed to enjoy watching such dilemmas and decisions unfold. But Taesan had no intention of following Ba¡¯al¡¯s will. Belial¡¯s throne was a condensation of power and dignity. Taesan¡¯s sword pierced the throne. *Boom!* The stored power erupted, and at the same time, **Increasing Stature** activated. Taesan began to steal a portion of Belial¡¯s power and dignity. Taesan focused his energy and concentrated. [...Hmm?] Ba¡¯al¡¯s expression, which had been watching with enjoyment, faltered for a moment. **Increasing Stature** was a power Taesan couldn¡¯t fully control. But Taesan had acquired the skill *Seed of Life* while defeating Hafran¡¯s world. The effect wasn¡¯t incredible, and it didn¡¯t hold significant meaning on its own. But when Taesan reached 40% proficiency with *Seed of Life*, it brought about some noticeable changes. *Crack.* He interfered with the power being stolen by **Increasing Stature**, delving deeper into it. *Crack!* Ba¡¯al¡¯s eyes trembled. He had assumed that Taesan would only steal a small portion of Belial¡¯s power. That was not an incorrect assumption. After all, Belial was a demon. Even stealing a part of his power would greatly strengthen Taesan. But what he was feeling now from Taesan was different. It was as if power itself didn¡¯t matter. Taesan muttered toward the will of Belial, which was clinging to him. ¡°I don¡¯t need your power and dignity.¡± The power that would make him lose himself through consumption¡ªhe didn¡¯t want it. Belial was indeed stronger than Taesan. The gap was something Taesan could never easily bridge. But that was all it was. Although it couldn¡¯t be easily caught up to, Taesan would eventually reach a higher level than Belial¡ªthrough his own abilities. More importantly, Belial¡¯s power was still Belial¡¯s. It was not Taesan¡¯s own. Taesan had learned a valuable lesson as he gained several powers of the immortals. Even if he stole the powers of the gods through **Increasing Stature**, he could never reach the level of the one from whom he stole. Even if Taesan took Belial¡¯s power and dignity, it was the same. It would certainly be powerful, but as long as it wasn¡¯t his own power, there would always be limitations. What he needed now wasn¡¯t power or dignity. *Boom!* @@novelbin@@ Belial¡¯s throne began to go berserk. Unlike before, it no longer epted Taesan. It scattered violent waves of power as though it didn¡¯t want to lose something important. What it desired was **qualification**. The position of a demon itself. [This...!] Ba¡¯al realized this as well. Belial¡¯s domain was violently shaking. It seemed on the verge of copsing, as if it were unstable. [...Impressive. To seek one of the 72 positions.] Ba¡¯al chuckled as he watched the sequence unfold. The servant, who had quietly been watching, gasped in shock. Something was wrong. Something that maintained the existence of the throne was twisting. ¡°Oh, no!¡± The servant rushed forward to stop Taesan. He had an overwhelming premonition that if things continued, the entire ce would be destroyed. [It¡¯s getting interesting. Don¡¯t interfere.] But Ba¡¯al exposed his strength toward the servant, causing him to vanish without leaving a trace. *Screech!* Belial¡¯s will resisted fiercely. But Taesan could easily crush the resistance from an entity that existed only as power, without a body. Taesan focused even more intently. He used **Increasing Stature** to approach the deep source of power within Belial¡¯s throne. Nothing else mattered. The only thing he needed was that source. Just that one thing. Taesan reached out. He grabbed the surging power in Belial¡¯s throne and pulled it. *Crack!* Something was ripped from the throne. Belial¡¯s will screamed as it scattered into the air. At the same time, the domain began to disintegrate. Taesan gripped what had been ripped out with all his strength. Something burst, and the power flowed into Taesan. [Your Increasing Stature has activated. [Lemegeton] has transformed into [Lemegeton¡¯s Throne].] At the same time, Belial¡¯s domain began to change. Chapter 418: 82nd Floor, Lemegeton (7) The remnants of Belial that had spread throughout the entire domain vanished. The sea urchins that had been guarding the domain, the small minions that scattered to fend off intruders, all ceased to exist. The evidence that this had been Belial''s domain disappeared one by one. The throne began to slowly decay. And this ce started to transform into Taesan''s domain. *¡°Huff.¡±* Taesan took a deep breath. Ba¡¯al muttered, looking surprised, but as if he understood. [So this is what you are.] With those words, Ba¡¯al stomped his foot. The world turned upside down. In the blink of an eye, Taesan was moved to a space ofplete darkness. *¡°Where is this?¡±* [This is my domain. I wasn¡¯t nning to bring you here, but I suppose with you, it doesn¡¯t matter.] In Ba¡¯al¡¯s domain, there was nothing but darkness. Yet, it was possible to distinguish objects. It was as though the darkness served the role of light. Ba¡¯al pped his hands. [Congrattions. A mixed being. You are now the first human to ever possess the domain of a demon that has existed since the dawn of time.] The domain of a demon. Taesan raised his hand. He could feel a sensation that he hadn¡¯t experienced before, running through his entire body. He had now taken hold of the demon¡¯s domain. *¡°But I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯ve be a demon.¡±* While he felt the power and sensation of a demon, he was still human. [That¡¯s what¡¯s surprising.] Ba¡¯al spoke with a chuckle. [If you had taken Belial¡¯s power and qualifications, your very essence would have changed to that of a demon. You would have be one of our kind. But you only seized Belial¡¯s domain. As a result, your essence hasn¡¯t changed.] Taesan was still human. [You acquired the domain of a demon while remaining human. That¡¯s why you gained the skill, ¡°Lemegeton¡¯s Throne,¡± not the power of a demon.] Instead of bing a demon, he had simply stolen the demon¡¯s domain. The skill ¡°Lemegeton¡¯s Throne¡± had this meaning. [Quite remarkable. And amusing. I never imagined something would happen that would defy my predictions in this world.] Ba¡¯al spoke with a smile. [Now, you possess the domain of a demon. You have ced your name in one of the 72 demon seats. Do you understand what that means?] A demon with a domain¡ªonly 72 demons held such power. Taesan had taken one of those seats. A demon. It meant that Belial¡¯s name had been reced by Taesan¡¯s. Ba¡¯alughed as though he found it truly amusing. [The demon that existed since the beginning of time has perished, and the owner of that domain has changed right here and now. Truly, it¡¯s a great surprise.] *¡°It doesn¡¯t seem that way to me.¡±* [It¡¯s a surprise, yes. But more than that, I find the current situation rather enjoyable.] Ba¡¯al looked at Taesan with amusement. [Who would have thought you¡¯d give up both power and dignity, and only seek the position?] *¡°Power doesn¡¯t matter.¡±* Taesan had killed Lee Taeyeon and defeated the Apostle of Goshin, and now, those who had blocked his path, the leaders of the guides, were all under him. Both power and dignity could be reached if one continued to delve into thebyrinth. But position was different. The demon¡¯s domain¡ªsuch an opportunity would note again. From the moment Taesan saw the throne, his goal was not the power, but the position itself. Using *Seed of Life* and *Increasing Stature*, Taesan had been able to control the domain and seize it. [So, has anything changed? It¡¯s the first time someone has gained a demon¡¯s domain, so I¡¯m curious too.] *¡°I can feel magic more clearly.¡±* @@novelbin@@ It was as if he could perfectly control magic, as if it were his own limbs. Ba¡¯al spoke as though it was natural. [Demonkind are the masters of magic. It¡¯s only natural to be able to control it perfectly.] *¡°And... I feel something within me.¡±* It was still empty, but it was something vast. *¡°This must be the domain of a demon.¡±* [You understand well.] Ba¡¯al stroked his chin and looked at Taesan with an intrigued expression. He then spoke. [The reward for this trial was Belial¡¯s domain and his position. Normally, there would be no further reward... but I find you interesting. I¡¯m curious about your endgame. I¡¯ll give you a little service.] The darkness that filled Ba¡¯al¡¯s domain began to seep into Taesan¡¯s body. [Be pleased. You are the first to gain my dark magic.] [You have acquired the intermediate dark magic skill: [Ba¡¯al¡¯s Abyssal Surge].] [You have acquired the intermediate dark magic skill: [Ba¡¯al¡¯s Ovepping Darkness].] [Your magic power has permanently increased by 3,000.] [Your dark magic proficiency has increased by 5%.] *¡°...Is it really okay to give me this much?¡±* Taesan¡¯s magic power had increased by 3,000. It was even more than the amount he had now. Ba¡¯al spoke dismissively. [Being a great demon, this much is nothing. More importantly, from now on, you¡¯ll need much more magic. So it doesn¡¯t hold much significance.] Ba¡¯al waved his hand, as if signaling that everything was done. The darkness parted, revealing a passage. [Go there. Lucifer. The young one will be waiting for you.] Taesan gazed at the passage. But he didn¡¯t turn toward it. He spoke to Ba¡¯al. ¡°I have a few questions. Would you be able to answer them?¡± [Hmm... You¡¯ve shown me something enjoyable, and now it¡¯s no longer an irrelevant matter. Go ahead. I¡¯ll answer as best as I can.] *¡°What are you?¡±* Demons were simr to Goshin. And Goshin were beings exiled from this world. Now that Taesan had gained the demon¡¯s domain, he could feel their power more intimately. And that power felt entirely alien. It wasn¡¯t of this world. [...Does it matter?] After a moment¡¯s thought, Ba¡¯al murmured. [It seems you have some guesses. With where you are now, I¡¯ll answer you. We are beings that existed before the creation of the world.] They were beings that had existed before the world was born. That was the nature of demons and Goshin. [We are beings that distort thews of this world. We existed before thews of the world were ever made. Thews that were createdter have no meaning to us.] It wasn¡¯t too shocking. Taesan had already made some guesses when he explored the Library of All Things. Thus, the questions didn¡¯t seem to be solved but only multiplied. *¡°Then what meaning do you have?¡±* Beings that existed before creation, yet they had survived and corrupted the world. What meaning did that hold? *¡°Do you exist to destroy the world? Or does it have no meaning at all?¡±* Ba¡¯al spoke ambiguously. [Meaning, huh. If you want to search for it... I can¡¯t easily answer that either. After all, that¡¯s our original sin.] *¡°Original sin?¡±* [Think of it as denying the flow of time. I am the lord of demons, but I didn¡¯t stop Belial¡¯s demise.] In fact, Ba¡¯al had used Taesan to stop the ns of the other demons who tried to resurrect Belial. It meant that Ba¡¯al didn¡¯t want Belial¡¯s resurrection. [Originally, we were many more than this. We were, literally, enough to cover the world. But due to various events, only this many remain.] Ba¡¯al shook his head. [That¡¯s all. The rest, you¡¯ll have to figure out yourself.] *¡°...I understand.¡±* Original sin. Denying the flow of time. This was new information, but it wasn¡¯t enough to understand everything. Taesan cleared his mind. [Is that all your questions?] *¡°There¡¯s one more. You called me a mixed being.¡±* [That¡¯s the literal meaning. You didn¡¯t think a being from this world could wield the power of Goshin and seize the domain of a demon, did you?] Ba¡¯al spoke as though it was nothing new, saying it was always like that. [The seat of Belial has never been vacant since we were born. Since the dawn of time, no one has ever interfered with it. Yet you, easily, have meddled with it and forcibly reced it with your name.] *¡°When did this happen?¡±* Taesan already knew that he wasn¡¯t exactly a normal being. But when had he be a mixed being? Ba¡¯alughed quietly. [The Labyrinth Mage seems to be looking diligently, but you won¡¯t easily find the answer. So... I¡¯ll give you a hint. Reflect carefully on your memories. And recall your journey.] With those words, Taesan¡¯s body was forcefully pushed toward the passage. The world flipped, and Taesan arrived in a barren wastnd. *¡°My journey?¡±* Taesan shook his head. As Ba¡¯al said, it was a question that couldn¡¯t be answered immediately. Taesan lifted his gaze. A world of barren wastnd, with nothing in sight. This ce, once Belial¡¯s world, was now Taesan¡¯s domain. --- * * * Taesan walked through his domain. He had gained control over a domain several times before. It had happened when he altered the world through partial changes or when he became the master of a world through faith. But this feeling was unlike any of those. It was the purest, most eternal sense of owning something untouched by anything else. Taesan gathered his will. *Boom!* The empty world responded and moved. The barren wastnd trembled, and cliffs and mountain ranges formed. It was a miracle that shook nature itself, yet there was no consumption of power. [This is your domain. This world is truly yours. Whatever you do here, it is your freedom.] A quiet voice echoed. The Demon. Lucifer stepped into his domain. *¡°Hello.¡±* [The domain of a demon? I thought it was possible.] Lucifer was crossing her arms, seemingly lost in thought. [Well, this isn¡¯t a bad picture.] After reaching a conclusion, Lucifer extended her hand to Taesan. [Make a contract with me. Taesan. A contract as the master of the demon¡¯s domain, not as a human.] Darkness flowed from her and enveloped Taesan. *¡°What does it involve?¡±* [Demonkind are beings beyond thews. But they wield dark magic. That¡¯s because there is a contract with me.] Lucifer continued. [Through this contract, you will be able to create your own dark magic. And by essing the very essence of magic, you can strengthen this world. In return, the dark magic you create will be provided to dark magicians and demons.] *¡°That¡¯s fine with me.¡±* Taesan agreed. The darkness gently flowed into him. [You have acquired the contract skill [Demon and the Demon].] [You have acquired [Dark Magic Creation].] [You have acquired the special passive skill [Virtuous of Darkness].] [You have acquired the special passive skill [Master of Dark Magic].] [An excellent choice.] Lucifer smiled. The connection between her and Taesan was felt. Satisfied, she spoke. [For now, you¡¯ve only obtained the seat. You don¡¯t have the corresponding power and dignity. You¡¯ll have to fill that over time. A demon doesn¡¯t grow in power, but as one who has merely obtained the domain, you¡¯ll be different.] Taesan¡¯s essence was still human. He had only gained the power of a demon¡¯s domain. [From here on, I can¡¯t assist you.] This was Taesan¡¯s world. He would have to create it using only his own strength. [Good luck. Try to create it as you wish.] With that, Lucifer vanished. *¡°My domain?¡±* [What will you do?] *¡°I¡¯ve already gained so much.¡±* The first thing was to confirm that. Taesan opened his skill window. --- [Lemegeton¡¯s Throne] [You have acquired the Lemegeton¡¯s Throne by taking the demon¡¯s domain. You can now bestow Lemegeton upon your minions.] --- By taking Belial¡¯s domain, Taesan had acquired the Lemegeton¡¯s Throne skill. Since it was an advanced skill of Lemegeton, it seemed he could now bestow Lemegeton upon his minions. --- [Contract Skill: Demon and the Demon] [A contract between a demon and the demon. The demon lends their power to their children, while the demon can influence the world through the demon¡¯s power.] --- Lucifer had once told Taesan that dark magic was the use of a demon¡¯s power. This skill seemed to make that possible. --- [Dark Magic Creation] [Proficiency: 1%] [By using some of the forces in your world, you can create dark magic that can be wielded through a contract with the demon.] --- Dark Magic Creation. Taesan had used various demons¡¯ dark magic before. Its power had been immense, helping him greatly in conquering thebyrinth. Now, Taesan could create such dark magic himself. Chapter 419: 83rd Floor, Essence of the Falling God (1) First, Taesan needed to confirm how to handle the demon¡¯s domain. He released his will. As he did so, the domain shifted in response to his thoughts, changing in various ways. *Boom!* Cliffs formed, and massive mountain ranges shot up in the distance. With a wave of his hand, the mountains crumbled, and a vast in emerged. This ce was now Taesan''s domain. No matter how thendscape changed, everything was under Taesan''s control. As Taesan altered the domain for a while, he realized that his actions held no real meaning. The appearance of the domain was changing, but it was only surface-level. There was no actual change in power. A different kind of force was needed. What that force was wasn¡¯t difficult to guess. @@novelbin@@ Magic began to flow out of Taesan¡¯s body. The magic spread throughout his domain. *Boom!* At the same time, the domain began to transform. This change was fundamentally different from when he altered the domain with just his will. It felt like he was expanding his own body and fine-tuning it as he desired. Taesan focused his will on the magic that was spreading through the domain. What he desired was a sharp, heavy, ck wind that could carve through mountains and cut across seas. The magic, responding to his will, began to change. *Whiiiiiiing!* Then, the wind began to blow. It was ck. The deep, dark wind started to swirl in the once-silent domain. *¡°Is this the feeling?¡±* Right now, Taesan was using the magic, thinking of his basic dark magic, Seir¡¯s ck Wind. And, as expected, the ck wind began to blow through his domain. Taesan swung his hand. The scattered ck wind gathered together and eventually became a storm. *Ka-ka-ka-kang!* The rough, pitch-ck storm ground everything in its path. In an instant, a massive empty space appeared. By using magic to inject power into the domain, Taesan created a phenomenon and summoned it. This seemed to be the nature of dark magic. But for now, it was not something he could use easily. Taesan opened his stat window. --- **[Level: 171]** **[Shield: 25,162/25,162]** **[Health: 260,901/260,901]** **[Mana: 23,558/23,558]** **[Magic: 3,244/5,798]** **[Strength: 47,027]** **[Agility: 47,558]** **[Intelligence: 42,221]** **[Attack Power +12,238]** **[Defense +7,422]** **[The target is in optimal condition.]** --- *¡°The magic consumption is too high.¡±* It had cost 2,500 magic to create the ck wind. For now, it seemed difficult to use it perfectly. Still, it was possible to create his own dark magic. The ability to generate the necessary dark magic ording to the situation and conditions was certainly an advantage. --- **[...Huff.]** The ghost lost its words and exhaled in awe. Taesan had gained the domain of a demon. Specifically, the domain of one of the 72 demons that had existed since the dawn of time. It was truly something extraordinary in a direction never seen before. --- **[You''re not actually human, are you? A transcendent or the avatar of a demon?]** *¡°I¡¯m human.¡±* Taesan responded to the joking words. He was human. Even if he was mixed with something else, his essence had not changed. --- **[In that case... Should I consider you a transcendent?]** A transcendent who controlled their own domain. But Taesan denied that too. --- *¡°It¡¯s different. This is certainly my domain, but it¡¯s not my true domain.¡±* In the end, it was a demon¡¯s domain. It wasn¡¯t something that Taesan, on his own, could have imed as his own. Right now, he was more like an immortal who had gained control over a demon¡¯s domain. *¡°Hmm.¡±* He pondered. What kind of dark magic should he create? It had to be Taesan¡¯s, something that he could use. The answer didn¡¯te easily. *¡°I¡¯ll have to think about it over time.¡±* He needed to figure out everything he could do with this domain. Retrieving the magic consumed by the domain wasn¡¯t difficult. Taesan gathered the ck wind back. What he needed now was to increase the total amount of magic. Fortunately, he had gained a skill that would help with that. --- **[Special Passive Skill: Virtuous of Darkness]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** **[Master of darkness itself. When you defeat an opponent, you gain magic. Additionally, you absorb the faint darkness around you, constantly increasing your magic.]** --- This skill helped with acquiring more magic. He gained magic by defeating enemies and, even while idle, absorbed the surrounding magic, increasing his own reserves. It was the perfect skill for the current situation. Now, with the demon¡¯s domain, Taesan had taken one of the 72 demon seats. He was essentially closer to the essence of dark magic. Because of that, the restrictions on using dark magic had been lifted. --- **[Special Passive Skill: Master of Dark Magic]** **[Dark magic is the power to summon forces existing in a demon¡¯s domain. As the new master of this domain, you no longer face any restrictions on using dark magic.]** --- The restriction was only one. Taesan raised his arm. --- **[You have activated Dekarabia¡¯s Twisted Vegetation.]** *Ka-ga-ga-gang!* Roots that pierced through the world were summoned. The entire body of the roots spread roughly throughout Taesan¡¯s domain, filling the space. A smile appeared on Taesan¡¯s face. Dark magic was the act of summoning forces within a demon¡¯s domain. In other words, to fully wield the true power of dark magic, Taesan needed to open a passage to the demon¡¯s domain. However, opening that passage took time. So far, he had used magic to buy time before linking it to dark magic. While powerful, it was a substantial constraint that forced action. But now that the restriction to open the passage had disappeared, Taesan could finally use dark magic without dys. --- *¡°This is nice.¡±* This alone made it worth clearing the trial. Taesan opened a passage and returned to thebyrinth. At the same time, a system window appeared, announcing the clearance. --- **[Your level has increased.]** **[Your level has increased.]** **[Your level has increased.]** **[You have obtained the Belt of Water Consumed from the Depths of Darkness.]** **[??? obtained.]** --- Three level-ups. And the reward for clearing the floor. --- **[Belt of Water Consumed from the Depths of Darkness]** **[Dark Magic +50]** **[Magic +500]** **[Strength +400]** **[Intelligence +400]** **[Attack Power +300]** **[Defense +300]** **[A belt made from the skin of a creature that lived in the deepest parts of an unknown demon¡¯s domain. The darkness within it is so dense that anyone who touches it will go mad.]** --- The belt provided high dark magic and magic stats, along with a decent boost to attack power. It was a useful item. The secret reward was a potion that permanently increased magic by 500, with no conditions. This was incredibly useful since the total amount of magic would be important going forward. Thest remaining rewards were the two intermediate dark magic skills that Ba¡¯al had personally given him. --- **[Intermediate Dark Magic: Ba¡¯al¡¯s Abyssal Surge]** **[Mana Cost: 2,000]** **[Magic Cost: 800]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** **[Summons a space consumed by darkness from Ba¡¯al¡¯s domain. This space shatters the concepts andws of objects, leaving it a decayed space with only physical force.]** --- The mana and magic consumption for this dark magic was higher than most. Ba¡¯al was a great demon, so even with the same intermediate level, the power was much greater. Taesan immediately tested it. --- **[You have activated Ba¡¯al¡¯s Abyssal Surge.]** Mana and magic surged out, summoning a space consumed by darkness. As the space crumbled, the concentrated ckness surged forward like a wave. *Whoooosh!* With a loud crash, everything began to distort. The space collided with thebyrinth¡¯s walls. *Boom!* A tremendous sound echoed. When the distorted space returned to normal, a deep mark had appeared on thebyrinth¡¯s walls. --- *¡°This is on apletely different level.¡±* The power of this magic was on a whole new scalepared to any dark magic Taesan had used so far. Of course, it wasn¡¯t as powerful as *Great Copse*, but while *Great Copse* took time to gather its force, Ba¡¯al¡¯s dark magic was much quicker to manifest. While the mana cost was high, it was definitely useful. Satisfied, Taesan checked the next skill. --- **[Intermediate Dark Magic: Ba¡¯al¡¯s Ovepping Darkness]** **[Mana Cost: 1,700]** **[Magic Cost: 700]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** **[Summonsyers of darkness from Ba¡¯al¡¯s domain and wraps them around the body. This darkness is so decayed that it can hide even from the gaze of transcendent beings.]** --- A darkness that cloaks the body. This skill would only show its true potential in the presence of an enemy. Taesan summoned Minerva and Barka. --- **[What¡¯s going on?]** *¡°Master, it¡¯s been a while!¡±* Minerva appeared in thebyrinth, gazing at Taesan with a chuckle. *¡°Master, you¡¯ve really gone too far, haven¡¯t you?¡±* Now, the gap in their powers was enormous. Minerva groaned in frustration. *¡°It¡¯s good that the master has gotten stronger, but it¡¯s a bit sad that the value of being a spirit is fading.¡±* *¡°You¡¯ve got your own tasks, right? You¡¯re a spirit, so your perception is quite good, isn¡¯t it?¡±* *¡°Yeah, I¡¯d say I¡¯m as good as an immortal when ites to perception.¡±* *¡°And since you¡¯ve contracted with me, you should be able to detect me even better.¡±* *¡°A spirit who can¡¯t sense their contractor? That¡¯s unheard of.¡±* Minerva grumbled, and Taesan nodded. --- **[You have activated Ba¡¯al¡¯s Ovepping Darkness.]** Severalyers of darkness cloaked Taesan¡¯s body. His presence disappeared entirely. Minerva was bewildered. --- **¡°...Master, are you really there? I don¡¯t sense anything.¡±** Minerva, a spirit contracted with Taesan, could usually sense where he was, what he was doing, and his power. But now, Taesan was hidden so perfectly by the darkness that even Minerva couldn¡¯t detect him. --- **¡°So, this is what it¡¯s like.¡±** Taesan moved his arm. The ovepping darkness shifted smoothly with his motion. If he were to make violent movements or be attacked, the darkness would likely break, but moving while maintaining the darkness was no issue at all. A power that even Minerva, his contracted spirit, could not detect. This skill could bebined with the *Shadow Walker* skill for even more effectiveness. --- **¡°This is good.¡±** It was a skill Taesan was fully satisfied with. After confirming everything, Taesan began descending again into thebyrinth. --- **[83rd Floor Quest Started.]** **[Pass the Trial of Essence.]** **[Reward: The Ring of Endless Descent into the Abyss.]** **[Secret Reward: ???]** --- ¡°From the 80th floor onward, it¡¯s all godly trials.¡± Taesan murmured. The 83rd floor. Essence. The God of Falling. He passed through the passage and opened the door to see the Altar of Essence. The Altar of Essence resembled an altar used for human sacrifices. The power emanating from within was very deep. It felt like an endless descent into an abyss, apletely alien sensation. Finally, the God of Falling had appeared. The god who had devoured Princess Vendingkiah and toyed with Amelia. One of the few evil gods Taesan had encountered. Taesan ced his hand on the altar. A strong wave of power struck him. The space twisted, and Taesan¡¯s body shifted. Minerva and Barka were somehow teleported back. Instinctively, Taesan knew he had arrived in Essence¡¯s domain. And, as expected, the rightful owner of the domain was waiting for him. Taesan turned his head. It was massive. Its size was so enormous that he could barely discern its form. Its entire body was squirming, as if it were made of every kind of life forcibly fused together. With his enhanced senses, Taesan could see the true form of Essence, the God of Falling. The gaze of malevolence turned towards Taesan. At the same time, Taesan felt himself begin to fall. The essence of power and strength, his body and mind, seemed to be falling into an abyss. The God of Falling¡¯s power was one that could make anyone fall simply by looking at them. --- **¡°It won¡¯t work.¡±** But Taesan shrugged off Essence¡¯s power by lightly tensing his whole body. The falling force that had gripped him quickly dissipated, and he returned to his original state. Essence¡¯s gaze toward him carried a trace of emotion. Taesan met that gaze. The gaze of two beings who had transcended mortality crossed. A sense of displeasure flowed from Essence, but it had no direct effect on Taesan. Ultimately, it was Essence who spoke first. Chapter 421: 83rd Floor, Essence of the Falling God (3) They didn¡¯t respond to Taesan¡¯s words, instead charging at him once again. Kiiing! Light enveloped them. Taesan had no trouble discerning what it was. That was abyrinth skill. Each one of them activated their skills, pressing Taesan hard. Taesan responded in kind. [You activated Ba¡¯al¡¯s ck Spatial Assault.] Crash. The space darkened. The man who had charged forward froze in fear for a moment. The spreading darkness quickly engulfed them all. Kwahgahgahng! The space, now transformed into pure darkness, rushed in all directions. It crushed everything in its path, shattering and breaking apart all obstacles. The attackers tried to activate their defensive skills, but it was futile. They were buried in the very space itself. Kugugung... As the spreading ck space faded away, only the man who had been called the leader remained. ¡°...Hah!¡± The man exhaled heavily, copsing to his knees. No significant wounds could be seen on his body. Taesan was slightly surprised. ¡°He blocked it perfectly.¡± Ba¡¯al¡¯s ck Spatial Assault wasn¡¯t as powerful as the Great Copse, but it was a force that easily surpassed intermediate magic. It was a strength so immense that it was nearly impossible for mortal beings to defend against. But the man in front of him, though exhausted, had sessfully defended. Looking around and realizing he was the only one left, the man let out a bitterugh. ¡°A monster of a rookie has arrived.¡± ¡°You¡¯re adventurers of thebyrinth, then.¡± Taesan had suspected this when he saw their familiar gear, and after seeing their skill activation, he was certain. Though the activation window didn¡¯t appear, it was undoubtedly abyrinth skill. The man nodded. ¡°Not all of us, but most of us, yes.¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°...I¡¯d rather not speak of it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something shameful.¡± With trembling arms, the man drew his sword. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough. A meddler will appear shortly.¡± The man charged at Taesan. Taesan raised his sword. Kwajik. With a light defense, Taesan pierced the man¡¯s chest. The man was dying, but there was no fear or pain visible on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to die at the hands of a rookie...¡± The man spoke those words before vanishing. Taesan saw his soul drifting toward some part of the model garden. After watching for a moment, Taesan continued walking. No matter how far he walked, the in never seemed to end. The samendscape kept repeating itself as if it were a copy. ¡®They said there¡¯s no death here.¡¯ In this ce, death wasn¡¯t the end. It was probably a reference to resurrection. Since all of them were souls trapped by the Essence, it wasn¡¯t strange. But there was always purpose behind actions. This was the model garden. A ce where the souls captured by the Falling God were confined. What was the Falling God¡¯s purpose in creating this ce? He couldn¡¯t know yet. ¡°Perhaps this is rted.¡± Taesan lifted his gaze and looked above his head. There, a white spear hovered. [Points: 5] When he first arrived, it was at 0. After defeating five enemies, it had risen to 5 points. It seemed that points were awarded each time one was defeated. Points wouldn¡¯t exist without reason. While he was contemting, Taesan felt the approach of eight presences. ¡°Perfect.¡± He would be able to get answers from them. Taesan stopped walking. ¡°Are you a rookie? Apologies, but this isn¡¯t entirely bad news for you.¡± The figures approaching him were not much different from the ones he had first encountered. Wearing simr equipment tobyrinth adventurers, they showed no hostility or greed, only exhaustion on their faces. ¡°You¡¯ll answer if it¡¯s you.¡± Just as Taesan was about to unsheath his sword, the voice of a giant echoed. ¡°Stop!!¡± Ugh! Ugh! A massive voice resonated. They clutched their heads as if the sound was directly stimting their brains. The man who had spoken to Taesan earlier grimaced. ¡°Has it appeared already?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve arrived!¡± The owner of the voice rushed forward,nding gracefully between Taesan and his opponents. Her golden hair swayed. Her radiant golden eyes gleamed like jewels. ¡°Huh. You must be tired.¡± It seemed she had run from quite a distance, as she was slightly out of breath, but there was an undeniable grace to her. She was inherently different, emanating a nobility that Taesan could feel. The man muttered gruffly. ¡°Here to meddle again? The Golden Princess.¡± Taesan silently admired her. ¡®She¡¯s strong.¡¯ She was the strongest adventurer Taesan had encountered in the model garden. Even now, with his full strength, she wouldn¡¯t fall easily. With just one step, she would reach the level of immortality. The woman, called the Golden Princess, nodded proudly. ¡°He¡¯s a rookie, right? I¡¯ll take responsibility for his training for now.¡± ¡°Still meddling too much. You¡¯ll learn it all soon enough just by going through it.¡± ¡°But if someone tells you, you¡¯ll know without having to suffer.¡± The Golden Princess spoke gently. ¡°Annoying woman.¡± The man clicked his tongue. ¡°Where¡¯s the old man who used to follow you around?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± An old man slowly walked up. In his hand was a long spear. ¡°Our princess is always about action before words. I can barely keep up.¡± ¡°Sorry about that.¡± ¡°How many times have I heard that? I¡¯ve given up, so I don¡¯t care anymore.¡± The elderly man, who appeared to be an ally of the Golden Princess, wasn¡¯t on guard, but he was undoubtedly stronger than the others. ¡°An old man too. No chance of winning.¡± The enemy spoke calmly, but they didn¡¯t retreat. All eight of them drew their weapons. ¡°Just to confirm, how much longer do we have?¡± ¡°Probably once I defeat you all.¡± ¡°Good.¡± The man grinned andughed. The battle began. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Again with that phrase? I¡¯ve already given up, so it doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± The old man, who appeared to be an ally of the Golden Princess, wasn¡¯t on guard, but he was undoubtedly stronger than the others. ¡°An old man too. No chance of winning.¡± The enemy spoke calmly, but they didn¡¯t retreat. All eight of them drew their weapons. ¡°Just to confirm, how much longer do we have?¡± ¡°Probably once I defeat you all.¡± ¡°Good.¡± The man grinned andughed. The battle began. ¡°Hello?¡± The Golden Princess smiled at Taesan. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Gang Taesan.¡± ¡°Gang Taesan! That¡¯s a unique name. I¡¯m Diana!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Reynaldo.¡± The old man, who had been standing behind, spoke. The battle ended in an instant. The Golden Princess remained poised, whereas her opponents, having failed to guard, were now defeated. The difference in their basic strength was immense. However, despite being knocked down, the faces of those who had fallen weren¡¯t dark. In fact, they seemed to be smiling contentedly. Diana handed Taesan a piece of dried meat. ¡°Would you like some? It¡¯s a rare food, though there isn¡¯t any hunger here. But putting something in your mouth has its own meaning.¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Diana ced the dried meat in her mouth. It was a somewhat careless motion, but there was still grace in every movement she made. ¡°Now, just to confirm. Are you an adventurer going deeper into thebyrinth?¡± Taesan nodded. Diana¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Then... perhaps...¡± She seemed about to ask Taesan something, but her words didn¡¯t continue. After some thought, she closed her mouth with a wry smile. ¡°Never mind. There¡¯s no need to confirm it so soon. I¡¯ll save it forter enjoyment.¡± She concluded to herself. After watching her for a moment, Taesan spoke. ¡°Why did you save me?¡± ¡°To tell you about this ce. I don¡¯t care, but the princess couldn¡¯t just leave someone like you alone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s her nature. You can think of it as a form of self-satisfaction.¡± Diana spoke softly. ¡°We all got tricked by him, the Falling God. So I sympathize with you.¡± Although Taesan was closer to having entered this ce on his own, he quietly listened to Diana¡¯s words. ¡°As you might have guessed, this ce is where those like you¡ªtricked by the Falling God¡ªare gathered. It¡¯s a model garden made for his amusement.¡± Diana raised her finger. ¡°First of all, in this ce, the concept of death doesn¡¯t exist. If someone dies and is erased, after a day¡¯s time, they are resurrected in a specific ce.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s no way to truly die?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯ve had someone try turning their whole body to dust, but they still resurrected, though in excruciating pain.¡± You couldn¡¯t die. They would live on forever in this ce. Diana pointed toward the horizon. ¡°As you can see, there¡¯s nothing here in this model garden. The technicians tried to invent something, but everything turned to ashes and disappeared.¡± Change was not allowed here. ¡°The only form of entertainment we have is fighting each other. But, ording to the rules of the Falling God, once a battle starts, we must fight to the death using our full strength. And the pain when we are resurrected isn¡¯t small.¡± ¡°What a perverse god he is.¡± Reynaldo clicked his tongue. Taesan asked them, ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s been so long since I lost count.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. It feels like several hundred years, but beyond that, I can¡¯t say.¡± They spoke emotionlessly. A world of silence where nothing was allowed. You couldn¡¯t die. Change wasn¡¯t allowed. You couldn¡¯t even choose when to fight. This ce was a vast prison. ¡°That¡¯s why you had no ill will toward me.¡± ¡°Not everyone wants to fight. We¡¯re in the same situation, so there¡¯s no point in venting our resentment or anger. It doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡± They were all victims. The only enemy was the Falling God. But hearing this made Taesan curious about something. ¡°Then why did they try to kill me?¡± ording to Diana, there was no real meaning behind the battles here. There was no reason to want to kill the newly arrived Taesan. ¡°And you¡¯re not as desperate as I expected.¡± This ce was a horrible one. Nothing changed, and nothing was allowed. You couldn¡¯t escape through death. Yet, the people Taesan met in this ce seemed to have their sanity intact. They looked tired, weary, but their actions were clear-headed. They didn¡¯t seem like the tortured souls of people who¡¯d been there for centuries. ¡°The reason is simple. Whether it¡¯s a whim, or perhaps it¡¯s more enjoyable to keep our sanity, we¡¯ve created a few conveniences for ourselves.¡± Diana smiled wryly. ¡°You know I said we resurrect in a specific ce after dying? That ce is a huge vige. The ce made by the Falling God. There, people can eat meager food and sleep on hard beds. There¡¯s even simple entertainment.¡± At least there were minimal living conditions. ¡°Most of all, there¡¯s a point system. You must have noticed the system window showing points above our heads. You get 1 point each time you kill someone. And there are several ways to use those points.¡± The use of points was easily predictable. ¡°Temporary upgrades to the conveniences.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Diana nodded. ¡°If you use 1 point for a meal, the tasteless soup turns into a delicious steak. If you use it for a room, you can stay in a room with a cotton bed and shower facilities instead of a straw mattress. The more points you use at once, the better the facilities.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why they tried to kill me.¡± They killed to gain points, to enjoy basicforts like food and sleep. @@novelbin@@ ¡°It¡¯s an obvious tactic, but it works. Most people rely on that, and somehow manage to maintain their sanity.¡± ¡°A twisted hobby.¡± ¡°Really.¡± The highly talented, transcendental beings who could surpass the depths and clear thebyrinth would kill each other over food and sleep. And it was these basicforts that helped them cling to their sanity. This was the system that the Falling God had created, and it revealed his purpose for this ce. ¡°But that¡¯s not all.¡± It was a system that allowed them to maintain their sanity, but that was all it could do. There was no hope. Yet, in the people Taesan had met in this ce, there was hope. The hope that they could escape. Diana smiled. ¡°You¡¯re lucky. You¡¯ll be able to return to the world soon after entering this ce.¡± ¡°Return?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better if you see it for yourself. Let¡¯s go, Reynaldo.¡± ¡°Now? Isn¡¯t it okay if we don¡¯t practice?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve practiced for this day thousands of times.¡± Diana grabbed her sword with burning eyes. ¡°Follow me. I will lead you to salvation.¡± Taesan followed her. They walked across the ins. In the meantime, others appeared and blocked Diana¡¯s path. Diana said only one thing to them. ¡°I¡¯ve gathered everything.¡± ¡°...Oh?¡± With that single statement, the ones who had blocked her path lowered their weapons. Then they began following Diana. The crowd gathered and grew, eventually forming a group of several hundred. Diana, leading them, walked proudly. ¡°You know I said there are several uses for points? This is one of them.¡± And she arrived at the center of the in. There, a single pir stood. Diana shouted toward it. ¡°Falling God! Princess of the destroyed world! I, who have been deceived by you, havee here!¡± Kugugung! The pir began to function. The gaze of the Falling God was revealed. With shining eyes, Diana spoke. ¡°I have met your conditions! Now, I request! The Colosseum for liberation!¡± Chapter 422: 83rd Floor, Essence of the Falling God (4) The Falling God revealed His will through the pir. That will was eptance. Before long, a massive Colosseum formed around the pir. Diana stood proudly at the center of the Colosseum. The stands slowly began to fill. ¡°There are many.¡± It wasn¡¯t just a few dozen. It exceeded hundreds, even thousands. It seemed as if every living being in this ce had gathered. ¡°The Falling God has been filling this model garden with mortals since the distant past. There are only about a thousand of them, so you could say it¡¯s still small.¡± ¡°Is it something that all the people here are supposed to gather for?¡± Reynaldo nodded. ¡°There are many who have given up. Even though their basic needs are met, the despair doesn¡¯t change. But when the Colosseum opens, everyone gathers here without exception.¡± ¡°What exactly is the Colosseum?¡± ¡°The basic use of points is temporary enhancement of basic needs. The other use is the opening of the Colosseum for liberation.¡± Reynaldo said in a low voice. ¡°The condition is the consumption of 100 points.¡± 100 points. You gain 1 point for each person you defeat. That meant Taesan would need to defeat at least a hundred people to open the Colosseum. All those gathered here were stronger than the guides of sin. Collecting 100 points would be an incredibly difficult task. ¡°What do you gain by opening the Colosseum with such a tough condition?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. This is the Colosseum for liberation.¡± There was a glint of longing in Reynaldo¡¯s eyes. ¡°The one who requests the Colosseum must battle the Apostle of the Falling God. And if they win, every soul trapped here is freed.¡± ¡°Freed souls?¡± ¡°You get to escape this damned ce and return to the outside world.¡± There was a heat in Reynaldo¡¯s voice. His fist clenched tightly. ¡®So that¡¯s it.¡¯ That was why there was hope in their eyes. That was why they hadn¡¯t given in to despair. Because there was a chance to return to the outside world. 100 points were a tough goal, but with the princess and the old man¡¯s strength, it wasn¡¯t impossible. ¡°Is this a battle with a chance of winning?¡± ¡°The princess has opened the Colosseum many times. It¡¯s always been a near miss. She has fully analyzed the strength of the opponent from the previous battles. This time... it¡¯s definitely possible.¡± There was a deep sense of hope in Reynaldo¡¯s voice. Taesan turned his gaze to the others. They weren¡¯t much different. In fact, some showed an even stronger sense of longing and hope. But some of them were expressionless. It was as if they weren¡¯t expecting anything, watching the predetermined y unfold. Taesan shifted his gaze to Diana, standing in the center of the Colosseum. With three swords in hand, she awaited her opponent with an unshaken face. Kugugung! The pir began to activate. The crowd buzzed with excitement. From the rotating pir, space opened, and soon a single arm shot out. ¡°Well, you called for me already? Who¡¯s it going to be?¡± The owner of the arm revealed himself. He had bronze skin with well-defined muscles on his exposed upper body. His hair was golden, and he had the appearance of a man who seemed somewhat mboyant. ¡®He¡¯s strong.¡¯ Taesan sensed the power of the Apostle. It was significant. Diana couldn¡¯t easily guarantee her victory. However, it wasn¡¯t an impossible level. She could still win. ¡°Is it you again?¡± The Apostle looked at Diana with a stunned expression. Diana raised her three swords. ¡°I¡¯ve analyzed all the movements and power you showed before.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The Apostle grinned and raised his fist. The once loud audience instantly became silent. Diana, in a perfect stance, pulled her three swords and rushed forward. The Apostle bared his teeth, clutching his fist. Kaaang! The sh of three swords and a fist echoed. The Apostle swung his fist fiercely. Diana moved her swords. [Hooh.] A voice echoed in the air. Diana¡¯s movements were graceful. She was effortlessly blocking all the Apostle¡¯s attacks without losing her poise. Kiiing! Diana raised her arm. The trajectory of the fist missed. Diana seized the opening and the Apostle twisted his body to evade. ¡°Whoa!!¡± The crowd erupted in cheers. Diana was overpowering the Apostle. The hope of returning to the outside world grew stronger. Diana pressed the Apostle without faltering. She thrust her sword. The Apostle defended but didn¡¯t stop her thrusts, and their speed increased. The elerating swords drew afterimages, splitting into dozens of trajectories. ¡°Is this the higher version of a consecutive attack?¡± Since she had escaped thebyrinth, the skill activation window didn¡¯t appear. However, it was possible to make an educated guess based on the effects. Each of the afterimages had substance. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this before!¡± The Apostle grinned and focused all his strength into his fist. A deep, dark energy formed around his massive fist. He threw the punch. The fist was concentrated, enormous energy. In contrast, the afterimages of the swords were scattered power. They would likely shatter upon colliding with his fist. But Diana pulled her sword deeper and thrust it forward. The dozens of split swords converged and merged into one. Kiiing! ¡°Grrrk!¡± The sword pierced through the massive fist, shing with the Apostle¡¯s punch. The Apostle hastily pulled back, but a deep wound had formed on his fist. ¡°I told you! I¡¯ve fully grasped your power!¡± Diana¡¯s eyes sparkled as she charged again. [Strong.] The ghost watching from afar whispered in awe. [I don¡¯t want to admit it, but your swordsmanship is definitely superior to mine. With that level of skill, you could definitely win.] Kugung! The Apostle swung his fist wildly. He wasn¡¯t easily pushed back. He pressured Diana¡¯s movements, asionallyunching attacks that Diana didn¡¯t expect. But Diana remained calm, countering and retaliating. The difference in strength wasn¡¯t thatrge. The oue of the battle depended on who had the better grasp of the opponent. And Diana had perfectly analyzed the Apostle. Everyone in this ce was strong in their own right. They knew it. The hope and expectations grew stronger. [At this rate, you might clear the quest before I even do anything. Even if you fail, with that level of skill, you should be able to win without issue. Is this the condition for clearing the quest?] The ghost spoke. The Apostle was on par with Diana, and Taesan was definitely superior to Diana. If Taesan gathered the points and opened the Colosseum, he could secure an assured victory. But Taesan¡¯s gaze darkened. The Colosseum, opened with the consumption of 100 points. If the Apostle of the God of Falling is defeated, the souls are freed. Taesan could guess why the Falling God allowed this possibility. The Falling God didn¡¯t want the beings trapped in this ce to fall into despair, to give up all hope. He was a god who wanted to see mortals rise to the top and then fall to the bottom. This Colosseum was a device designed to make them fall. Kaaang! The Apostle staggered back. Diana caught her breath. Sweat dripped down her body, but her expression was bright. She had a real chance of winning. Though she would have to keep fighting for a long time, if no mistakes were made, she could definitely win. Even the Apostle admired her. ¡°You¡¯re good. You¡¯re the first to push me this far. You¡¯re worthy of being chosen by the Essence.¡± ¡°Right? I¡¯ll make you regret using me.¡± ¡°No.¡± The Apostle grinned. ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± The Apostle charged. And Taesan saw it. The flow of power that no one else could see, a power only someone who had reached the immortal realm could perceive. Something new had appeared inside the Apostle. The fist swung. Kooong! ¡°Grrk!¡± Diana, who blocked the punch, couldn¡¯t withstand the force and staggered. A blood-red energy swirled around the Apostle¡¯s body. ¡°Did you still have hidden power?¡± Reynaldo gasped. From their reactions, it seemed the blood-red energy surrounding the Apostle was a new power, something that hadn¡¯t been seen in the previous Colosseum battles. Diana, who barely regained her stance, forced a smile. ¡°...I hadn¡¯t seen that power before.¡± ¡°There was no need to use it. The time limit is short, and the penalty is great. But it¡¯s more than enough to knock you down!¡± The Apostle bared his teeth. But Taesan knew. That power wasn¡¯t the Apostle¡¯s original power. It was new power that had emerged during the battle. ¡®It was designed to be impossible to win from the start.¡¯ The Apostle¡¯s power was on par with Diana¡¯s. If she analyzed it and didn¡¯t make mistakes, she could win. That¡¯s how it looked. But in reality, as the battle continued, the Apostle would gain new strength in some way. It was probably part of the Falling God¡¯s design. Even though these beings were strong, they were still mortals. They couldn¡¯t perceive the tricks of transcendents. The new power the Apostle obtained changed the entire structure of the battle. Even if Diana managed to ovee this power, it was likely that another new power would emerge. The Colosseum was, in the end, nothing more than a false hope. ¡°Too bad. You had false hope, but try again next time.¡± The Apostle mocked Diana. His face was full of enjoyment. Diana¡¯s pupils dted. Diana had endured desperately, but she had already spent most of her strength. The Apostle¡¯s attacks began to hit Diana. The once excited audience had now cooled down. The Apostle grinned and threw another punch. Diana¡¯s abdomen was pierced. Diana was defeated. The people despaired. They had believed she could win, and now they were all in a somber mood. But that feeling didn¡¯tst long. ¡°Too bad.¡± ¡°But now we¡¯ve grasped new power. We can defeat him in the next Colosseum.¡± They weren¡¯t wrong in their thoughts. After the Apostle defeated Diana, the blood-red energy dissipated. If Diana had held out just a little longer, she could have turned the tide. If it hadn¡¯t been for the Falling God¡¯s intervention. They scattered once more, holding onto hope. ¡°Too bad, but we learned something new, so it¡¯s a good thing. I¡¯ll be challenging it soon too. I need to think of a strategy in advance.¡± Reynaldo wasn¡¯t much different from the others. Taesan asked him. ¡°Where is Diana?¡± ¡°She¡¯s dead for now. She¡¯ll revive after a day. She¡¯ll probably be resting in the highest room in the vige. She worked hard, so she deserves to rest today.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Yeah. So what will you do now? If you want, the princess and I...¡± As Reynaldo looked at Taesan, he suddenly froze. Taesan had disappeared without him noticing. @@novelbin@@ ¡°...How?¡± A voice full of confusion rang out. The next day, Taesan arrived at the vige and went to find Diana. When he knocked on a very ornate door, a small voice called out. ¡°Come in.¡± Creak. As he opened the door and entered, he saw Diana sitting on a bed. She smiled brightly when she saw Taesan. ¡°Oh my. Taesan, wee.¡± Taesan entered without a word. Diana wore a slightly apologetic expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I said I could return, but in the end, I was defeated embarrassingly.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. It was designed to be impossible from the start.¡± ¡°...Huh?¡± Diana froze. Taesan looked at her expressionlessly. ¡°If it were anyone else, they wouldn¡¯t have noticed. But didn¡¯t you realize? The Colosseum is nothing more than a false hope.¡± When the Apostle wielded the blood-red power... Diana¡¯s expression was different from the others. It was as if she had known he would wield new power, a look of eptance rather than shock, a quiet despair. ¡°Well, it¡¯s obvious if you think about it. The Falling God would never truly liberate us. Most people either forget it or intentionally ignore it, but you seem to be different.¡± Some of the figures in the audience, who showed no emotion... They were the ones who didn¡¯t react when Diana was defeated. Theirmon trait? They were all strong enough to have reached the boundary. They probably opened the Colosseum multiple times to try to leave. And they realized. This was a Colosseum they could never win. ¡°But unlike them, it seems you haven¡¯t given up.¡± Diana understood that she couldn¡¯t win. But she hadn¡¯t given up on the hope of leaving. In fact, she looked desperately determined. She wanted to leave thebyrinth no matter what. ¡°Is that because there¡¯s something like that outside?¡± ¡°...Why do you ask that?¡± A quiet voice echoed. Diana¡¯s killing intent turned toward Taesan. Taesan shrugged it off and said casually. ¡°It¡¯s simple. You might be one of the reasons I came here.¡± ¡°Reason?¡± ¡°Beldenkia. Do you know it?¡± Diana¡¯s pupils widened with cold killing intent. ¡°How do you know that name...¡± ¡°As expected.¡± Diana¡¯s behavior and her tone. Her appearance. Everything matched the characteristics that Beldenkia had mentioned. At first, Taesan was skeptical, but after observing thebat style, he was certain. ¡°Beldenkia is looking for you. He made a contract with a wizard and settled into thebyrinth for this reason. I came here to save you. The Princess of the Magician.¡± Chapter 423: 83rd Floor, Essence of the Falling God (5) ¡°Belden... Kia?¡± Diana repeated the name. Her voice sounded awkward, as if she couldn¡¯t imagine uttering that name. ¡°He... me?¡± ¡°He made a contract with a magician to save you. He¡¯s settled on the 61st floor and has been testing the adventurers whoe his way.¡± Taesan opened his inventory. ¡°He gave me a quest. To save his princess. And if I do, he promised to give me everything. I epted the quest.¡± A music box appeared from the inventory. The magician''s music box. The one made by Beldenkia for the captured princess. The music box activated, and a song began to y. A vigorous, morning-like melody. Diana¡¯s pupils widened. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± ¡°This was the item Beldenkia gave me along with the quest. He said it could heal your soul.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s true. I never imagined I¡¯d hear the song of my homnd again aftering this far.¡± Diana smiled softly. ¡°My world was destroyed. Only Beldenkia and I know that song. There¡¯s no lie in what you¡¯ve said. Haha... It¡¯s so absurd. You told me to forget, to live my life. You said that... but you ended up making a contract with a magician...¡± She said it reproachfully, but there was undeniable joy in her expression. After a moment, as she reflected on her emotions, Diana spoke. ¡°Would you mind telling me about Beldenkia?¡± ¡°If you want.¡± Taesan spoke about what he knew of Beldenkia. About the trials he had taken on, what he did, and why he gave Taesan the quest. Diana listened with a delighted expression. ¡°He hasn¡¯t changed at all. That puts my mind at ease.¡± She smiled gently. ¡°Thank you, Gang Taesan. I never imagined I¡¯d hear about him again, after thinking I¡¯d never see or hear about him.¡± Her tone had changed. Taesan shook his head. ¡°You can speak freely.¡± ¡°No. You¡¯re the hero who came to save me. I must show you the respect you deserve. I truly thank you.¡± She stood from the bed and assumed a polite posture, one befitting a princess. After a brief pause, Diana asked calmly. ¡°So then... you weren¡¯t deceived by the Falling God.¡± ¡°I entered this ce on my own. I made a deal, though.¡± ¡°...I¡¯m sorry to ask, but are you really okay? There are many strong people here. Some are even stronger than me. But no one has cleared the Colosseum.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Taesan spoke indifferently, in a tone that implied there was no problem. Diana hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully. ¡°I can tell you¡¯re hiding your power, so you¡¯re undoubtedly strong. If possible, would you show me your strength?¡± Now that she mentioned it, he was still under the authority seal. Taesan deactivated the skill. ¡°Haha.¡± At that moment, Diana¡¯s expression froze. Her face turned pale, and she instinctively grabbed the sword beside the bed. After taking a deep breath, she finallyposed herself. ¡°You¡¯re strong.¡± There was no hiding her admiration. ¡°You¡¯re on a level that¡¯s iparable to that. If it¡¯s you... maybe you can do it.¡± The way to clear this ce was to defeat the Apostle in the Colosseum. The strength Taesan had just shown was greater than the Apostle''s. If he fought head-on, he could surely win. ¡°No.¡± But Taesan negated her words. ¡°It will probably be difficult. It¡¯s designed that way from the start.¡± ¡°...Is that what you meant earlier?¡± ¡°You know it too. From the start, it¡¯s designed to be unbeatable. The close battles were meant to give false hope. It¡¯s no different for me.¡± He didn¡¯t know the exact principle behind it. The one thing he was sure of was that the Apostle could never be defeated. That was the rule. Of course, if Taesan were at his peak, he could overwhelm the Apostle. But right now, he was in a state where his immortal level was sealed. It was probably because the Falling God deliberately lowered his level to that of a mortal. This was the reason. ¡°I see.¡± Diana lowered her head. She had suspected this. All the others who had reached the boundary, including her, had never expected to win. The reason was simple. After hundreds or thousands of attempts, they had realized that it was impossible. She had denied it at first, but in her heart, she had known. ¡°There is no other escape, is there?¡± ¡°Probably not. Everyone here has tried.¡± In the end, to clear this ce, they had to go through the Colosseum. But winning in the Colosseum was impossible. This was why the Falling God believed with no doubt that they would never return. The only escape had been blocked from the start. ¡°We should gather information first. Princess. Could you tell me about your battles with the Apostle?¡± Diana spoke calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve opened the Colosseum forty-seven times. At first, I lost hopelessly, but as I kept challenging it, I grew more familiar. From the thirtieth Colosseum onward, the battles were nearly equal. But from that point on, the Apostle continued to show new powers.¡± Martial arts, special movements, or even entirely different techniques. Every time I thought I had figured him out, something new emerged. ¡°The spectators, seeing this, thought the opponent had hidden power, that they would win next time... but I, having fought firsthand, saw it differently.¡± Diana bit her lip. ¡°The new strength the opponent showed was always so fitting for the situation.¡± ¡°Fitting?¡± ¡°When my stamina was sufficient but my techniques ran out, he brought out an ability I couldn¡¯t counter. In the opposite situation, when my stamina was low, it suddenly recovered. It wasn¡¯t anything overwhelmingly powerful, but it was enough to change the flow of the battle. Every one of the ten or so battles followed a simr pattern.¡± Something felt off. It wasn¡¯t just that he was hiding his strength. It was too perfectly tailored to the situation. ¡°I couldn¡¯t fully understand it since I wasn¡¯t the one fighting. But gradually, I realized something was strange. After hearing your story, I now understand. It was designed that way from the start.¡± Diana spoke bitterly. Taesan stroked his chin thoughtfully. There was something that came to mind after hearing Diana¡¯s story. But since he had only witnessed one battle firsthand, he couldn¡¯t be certain. After a brief hesitation, Taesan made his decision. ¡°Anyone who collects 100 points can open the Colosseum?¡± ¡°Yes. Although very few have the strength to gather 100 points. That¡¯s why we cooperate.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡®Guess I¡¯ll have to try it myself.¡¯ Taesan left the room. Taesan left the vige and ran across the ins. Before long, he saw five people traveling together. They seemed to be the ones Diana had spoken of¡ªthose who cooperated with others to gather points. Taesan drew his sword. As he got closer, they noticed him, but it was already toote. Crack! ¡°Gaaah!¡± The scream and the noise erupted. It was a single strike. The five of them copsed in an instant. Taesan stepped firmly. Soon after, he encountered another group. This time, there were four. As before, he charged in and attacked. The simple action left the opponents unable to respond. The four of them copsed without even blocking a single blow. [As expected, you¡¯re a monster.] The ghost clicked its tongue. The ones Taesan had defeated weren¡¯t weak by any means. The fact that they had been chosen by the Falling God meant that they were strong enough to reach the 83rd floor. Yet, they fell with a single strike. Taesan, as he moved on, spoke. ¡°The basic stat difference is too great.¡± At this point, Taesan¡¯s stats were on the verge of reaching arrogance. They were far higher than those of the people he had just defeated. Moreover, he had equipment, and there was a fundamental gap in their levels. Though his immortal level had been sealed, once you reached a certain tier, your power was different from that of mere mortals. These people hadn¡¯t even reached the boundary. There was no reason to struggle. Taesan quickly cleaned up the situation. In no time, he had umted over 40 points in a single day. As expected, word began to spread. The resurrected ones said they hadn¡¯t even been able to respond before they were defeated. News about the neer, Taesan, quickly spread. A monster had arrived. The rumor spread quickly, and soon everyone knew. As a result, those who had remained quiet began to move. ¡°This makes 60 points.¡± Taesan checked his points. It seemed like he¡¯d be able to open the Colosseum by tomorrow. Just as he was about to move again, he stopped. Five presences were approaching him. Their power was greater than anyone Taesan had defeated so far. They were at the level of someone simr to the princess. Those who had reached the boundary. They surrounded Taesan and spoke in low voices. ¡°...You¡¯re strong.¡± Taesan was currently without the authority seal. His power was now freely spreading throughout the world. ¡°Why have youe?¡± ¡°To confirm something.¡± They revealed their respective powers. A variety of forces pressed in on Taesan. ¡°You¡¯re nning to clear the Colosseum. Before that, we¡¯ll check your strength.¡± ¡°A test from the losers?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t deny it. We¡¯ve given up, after all.¡± A calm voice echoed. Taesan scanned each of them. One held a sword. One gripped a spear, while the other two radiated magical and dark magical power. Thest one seemed to be wielding elemental power. @@novelbin@@ All five had different powers. Taesan quickly processed the situation. ¡°The conditions have been met. This works out well.¡± ¡°...Works out well?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got something to test too.¡± Right now, Taesan wasn¡¯t in his immortal form. If he had to define his level, he was at the boundary. So, in this reduced state, could he still obtain skills? ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Chapter 424: 83rd Floor, Essence of the Falling God (6) They charge. The first to attack was the swordsman. The swords sh. Kaga-gak! Taesan put strength into his arm. The opponent was thrown back, unable to withstand the force. But quickly regaining their posture, they charged again. Taesan was clearly stronger than them. However, in terms of basic rank, they were on a simr level. It wasn¡¯t a fight to take lightly. Kagak! Taesan used his sword to push the opponent back. Just as he did, a spear thrust its way in. Taesan didn¡¯t respond with his sword. He quickly pulled a spear from his inventory. He swung it in a wide arc, deflecting the opponent¡¯s spear and then thrusting his own. The opponent didn¡¯t retreat. On the contrary, they charged forward. The opponent¡¯s body moved instinctively. They dodged Taesan¡¯s thrust and pulled the deflected spear back into their hands. It was an effective move, but the will behind it was absent. That was a counter skill. Taesan responded in kind. [You have activated Counter.] Two of the same skill are triggered simultaneously. In this case, the one with higher basic stats and proficiency wins. ¡°Krrgh!¡± The opponent was shoved back. There¡¯s no time to rx. Magic and dark magic flew toward Taesan. Bright arrows that obscured his vision, and a pitch-ck wave that sought to consume everything. Though the skill windows didn¡¯t appear, Taesan knew what they were. Starfire Arrows and Marbas¡¯ ck Wave. [You have activated Starfire Arrows.] [You have activated Marbas¡¯ ck Wave.] The same Starfire Arrows and ck Wave manifested. They swallowed the opponent¡¯s power and surged toward them. The opponent reacted in fear and activated a defensive skill to block. ¡°Ifrit!¡± [Ah, looks like I¡¯m facing a famous one from this side.] mes ignited, and a handsome man appeared. The power he carried was formidable. ¡®The Fire Spirit King.¡¯ In that case, responding with the same Spirit King should work. [You have summoned Minerva, the Wind Spirit King.] Wind gathered, and a beautiful woman appeared. ¡°Haha. I didn¡¯t expect to fight against another Spirit King.¡± [We are mere bodies manifested in the world ording to our contractor¡¯s will. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got, young Spirit King. Show me the power of experience.] ¡°I¡¯m not going to lose!¡± Wind and fire shed. Minerva pressed the attack against Ifrit. Though Ifrit counterattacked, the overwhelming strength of the wind blocked all his efforts, causing him to vanish. The strength of the Spirit Kings corrtes with the power of their contractors. Minerva could use her full strength. Moreover, Minerva, who had consumed Vishnu¡¯s core, was far stronger than other Spirit Kings. Kugugung! A 1v5 battle. The fight proceeded with overwhelming dominance. The spear wielder was unable to block Taesan¡¯s spear and had their arm pierced. Quickly backing away, the opponent smiled faintly. ¡°...You¡¯re monstrously strong. Someone like you was deceived by the Falling God?¡± ¡°Figure it out yourself. It¡¯s too tiresome to exin.¡± Taesan put the spear away and drew his sword. He activated Forceful Strike, knocking away the iing sword. Then the frozen world enveloped Taesan. Taesan activated the frozen world in response. Tzzzt! The frozen world quickly devoured the opponent¡¯s frozen space and covered the battlefield. The opponent, managing to create distance with a limited Blink, grimaced. ¡°...What are you doing?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why are you fighting the same way each time?¡± Taesan had been fighting in the same manner against each opponent. Against the sword wielder, he used a sword. Against the spear wielder, he used a spear. Against the magic users, he used magic; against the dark mages, dark magic; against the spirits, he responded with spirits. He had been matching their skills and using the same ones in return. There was something he was aiming for. ¡°I told you. I have something to test.¡± Taesan casually replied and swung his sword. The opponent managed to withstand the blow, but the battle was one-sided. The difference in skill and basic stats was too great. Even as Taesan used the same skills to match their attacks, one by one, they began to fall. Kuuuung! Finally, thest opponent copsed. Taesan thrust his spear, piercing their heart. The dying opponent¡¯s face was calm. ¡°I don¡¯t know why someone like you came here, but... in the end, it doesn¡¯t matter. This ce is designed that way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide. It¡¯s my job.¡± Thest opponent dissolved. Their soul flew toward the vige. Then, the system message appeared. [Your Soul Strength has activated. Counter proficiency increased by 1%.] [You have used the same skill as your opponents to defeat them. You have obtained the special passive skill [Perfect Superiority].] ¡°Seems like it works.¡± Skill acquisition doesn¡¯t happen when there¡¯s a huge difference in strength between the opponent and oneself. So, could Taesan forcibly lower his rank to acquire skills? The experiment was a sess. [Special Passive Skill: Perfect Superiority] [Proficiency: 1%] When responding to an opponent¡¯s skill with the same skill, the power and speed of your skill increase.] This was a skill that could only be obtained by fightingbyrinth adventurers. The condition was to fight at least five opponents using different powers simultaneously and match their skills to win. It was a rather difficult condition, as those five opponents had to use the same kind of power as Taesan. Moreover, unlike those hiding in shadows, this skill could not be obtained if the difference in power and rank was too great. ¡°Now there¡¯s a possibility.¡± The skills Taesan had obtained in his past life, but not yet in this life. Those skills might not be obtainable now, as he had grown too strong. The rank he had reached in immortality made it difficult to acquire new skills. He had been pondering how to solve that problem when the solution came to him. If he sealed his rank and strength, it was possible to acquire skills. However, sealing one¡¯s rank wasn¡¯t an easy task. At least, it wasn¡¯t possible with Taesan¡¯s own power. It would require a transcendent-level contract, and gods would never seal one¡¯s power for no reason. Even if a transcendent favored Taesan, they wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. They didn¡¯t like shortcuts. ¡°But at least there¡¯s a possibility.¡± That alone was enough. The rest was about finding a way to meet the conditions. Having confirmed this, Taesan continued moving to gather points. And within two days, he had umted 100 points. Taesan arrived at the pir. ¡°Falling God, I have met the conditions.¡± Kugugung! The pir began to activate. The gaze of the Falling God appeared. ¡°I request the Colosseum for liberation.¡± The Falling God epted with a smile. The Colosseum opened again. The news spread throughout the model garden. No one expected it to open so soon, and the adventurers gathered in the Colosseum with a mixture of confusion and anticipation. ¡°Taesan, what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check it out first.¡± Taesan responded to Diana¡¯s question. The stands were filled, and the space split open, revealing the Apostle. ¡°So it was you, opening it this fast.¡± The Apostle bared his teeth at Taesan. ¡°How dare you defy the Essence! You¡¯re dead now. I¡¯ll teach you some manners.¡± ¡°You?¡± Taesan spoke indifferently. The Apostle¡¯s disyed power was at the same level as Diana¡¯s. The Apostle had no chance of winning. But his face was full of confidence. ¡°I¡¯m definitely weaker than you, but here, I can defeat you!¡± The Apostle clenched his fists and charged. Taesan swung his sword. Kwah! The Apostle didn¡¯t move. It was as if he had adapted to Taesan¡¯s movements, swinging his fists in response. To an outside observer, it might have seemed like the Apostle was targeting Taesan¡¯s moves, but Taesan could tell. The Apostle was being forced to match Taesan¡¯s level. It was like a typical ¡°unbeatable boss¡± in a game. Even if his HP hit 1, he would infinitely recover, and his strength and speed would keep increasing. It was designed to be an unavoidable defeat. Though they tried to adjust the difficulty to give false hope, it was clear that the boss was meant to be unbeatable. Taesan¡¯s sword began to glow with a mix of ck and golden hues. It was the boundary. @@novelbin@@ Those watching suddenly moved back. The ominous energy was gathering on the sword. Though Taesan¡¯s immortal rank had fallen, he could still wield it with ease. He swung the boundary. ¡°Ooooh!¡± The Apostle didn¡¯t retreat. ¡°My God!¡± The boundary contained a power that shook the veryws. The Apostle had no chance of surviving. But Taesan could see it. The Apostle was using a high-level, iprehensible force. ¡°Give me your power! I¡¯ll throw everything that dares to oppose me off the edge!¡± And the divine power overwhelmed Taesan. It started affecting all the power Taesan was manifesting. The boundary shattered. The energy and rank contained within it started to copse rapidly. The grey mist shook, and the ck and golden hues began to emerge. The Apostle clenched his fist. He swung it toward the boundary heading toward him. Kugugung! The grey mist exploded, splitting into ck and gold. Taesan watched the Apostle without changing his expression. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The Apostleughed maniacally. His body was in shambles. One arm was missing, and his upper body had been shredded. But he didn¡¯t fall. With a defiant expression, he red at Taesan. ¡°I will never lose!¡± Taesan had overpowered the Apostle. Though the Apostle had barely blocked the Great Copse, he had taken heavy damage. After that, he couldn¡¯t properly counter Taesan¡¯s attacks and began to take wounds. But he still didn¡¯t fall. With a roar, he kept drawing on his strength and barely blocked. Those watching believed Taesan would win, and it looked like it was happening, but Taesan¡¯s expression remained cold. [You have activated Ba¡¯al¡¯s ck Space Rupture.] The ck space surged toward them. Within it was the power of the Great Demon Ba¡¯al. The Apostle couldn¡¯t defend against it. ¡°Yiii!¡± But the Apostle didn¡¯t fall. Even on the verge of death, he summoned some new strength and barely blocked the Space Rupture, using the same method he used to block the Great Copse. A sigh mixed with frustration escaped. ¡°I told you! I will never lose!¡± The Apostle rushed toward Taesan. Taesan swung his sword. Kagak! The Apostle didn¡¯t budge. Unlike before, he seemed to have adapted to Taesan¡¯s movements and countered with his fists. To the outside, it appeared that the Apostle was countering Taesan¡¯s attacks, but Taesan knew better. The Apostle was being forced to match Taesan¡¯s level. This was like a boss that was designed to be unbeatable. Even if their HP dropped to 1, they would regenerate infinitely, with their strength and speed increasing continually. It was a mechanic designed for an inevitable defeat. Though they adjusted it to provide false hope, it was clear the Apostle was meant to be invincible. Taesan¡¯s sword began to shine with ck and golden hues again. It was the boundary. The crowd stepped back, sensing the rising ominous energy. Though Taesan¡¯s immortal rank had diminished, he could still wield it effortlessly. He swung the boundary again. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The Apostle didn¡¯t retreat. ¡°My God!¡± The boundary contained a power that disrupted thews themselves. There was no way the Apostle could survive. But Taesan could see it. The Apostle was channeling a power from beyond what Taesan couldprehend. ¡°Give me your strength! I¡¯ll throw everything that dares to challenge me into oblivion!¡± The divine power then washed over Taesan, affecting all the strength he manifested. The boundary shattered, and everything within it quickly diminished. The Apostle clenched his fists and struck out at the boundary with all his might. Boom! The mist exploded, and ck and gold swirled together. Taesan watched the Apostle without changing his expression. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The Apostleughed. His body was torn apart, one arm missing, his upper body shredded. But still, he didn¡¯t fall. With a defiant smile, he red at Taesan. ¡°I will never lose!¡± *** Taesan overwhelmed the Apostle. The Apostle barely managed to block the Great Copse, but he had taken significant damage. He was unable to properly respond to Taesan''s subsequent attacks, and wounds began to appear on his body. However, he didn¡¯t fall. With a roar, he continued to pull power from within and somehow managed to hold on. Those watching believed that Taesan would win, and it truly looked like it was going that way, but Taesan¡¯s expression remained cold. [You have activated Baal¡¯s ck Space Surge.] A space stained in pitch ck charged forward. Within it was the great demon¡ªBaal¡¯s power. The Apostle, continuously being overwhelmed, could not block it. "Ugh!" But the Apostle still didn¡¯t fall. Even when pushed to the brink of death, he drew on some new strength and barely managed to block the ck Space Surge. It was the same way he had blocked the Great Copse. A sigh mixed with regret escaped his lips. "I told you! I will not lose!" With a grin, the Apostle charged at Taesan. Taesan swung his sword. ng! The Apostle didn¡¯t get pushed back. Unlike before, it seemed like he had adapted to Taesan''s movements and countered with a swing of his fists. To those watching, it looked like the Apostle was finding a way to exploit Taesan¡¯s moves, but Taesan, facing him directly, could tell. The Apostle was being forced to adapt to Taesan¡¯s level. It was like fighting an unbeatable boss in a game. Even when his health dropped to 1, the Apostle would infinitely regenerate, constantly increasing his power and speed. It was a tool designed to ensure defeat. It seemed like the powers were being manipted to give a false sense of hope, but in the end, it was an unbeatable boss. Taesan¡¯s sword began to glow with a mixture of ck and gold. It was the Boundary Line. Those watching quickly stepped back. All the ominous energy was gathering on the sword. Although the immortal level had fallen, Taesan was still more than enough to wield this power. He swung the Boundary Line. "Oooh!" The Apostle did not back down. "My God!" The power contained in the Boundary Line shook the veryws of reality. The Apostle could not remain unharmed. But Taesan saw it. The Apostle was wielding a high-dimensional power that Taesan could not fully understand. "Give me your power! I will cast down all who dare oppose you into the abyss!" The divine power descended upon Taesan. It began to affect all of the power Taesan was manifesting. The Boundary Line began to copse. It felt as if everything inside it was quickly being drained, falling into an endless abyss. The grayness wavered, and the ck and gold began to show themselves once more. The Apostle clenched his fists. He swung them at the iing Boundary Line. Boom! The grayness burst out and split into ck and gold. Taesan looked at the Apostle without changing his expression. "Hahaha!" The Apostle burst into maniacalughter. His body was a wreck. One of his arms was gone, and his upper body was shredded. But he did not fall. The Apostle remained standing, shouting at Taesan. His wounds healed almost instantly. "Your power is undoubtedly strong! But! You don¡¯t think that power is invincible, do you?" The Apostle was a being from beyond thews, a corrupter of the world. But in the end, they had been defeated. Driven away by the Transcendents, cast out to the farthest reaches of the world. If you reach the level of the Transcendents, you could certainly resist the Boundary Line. "You! You cannot defeat me! You cannot leave this ce!" The Apostle shouted with a voice full of certainty. He smiled, and Taesan muttered to himself. "That¡¯s fine." "...What?" "It¡¯s not about erasing, blocking, or nullifying¡ªit¡¯s about making the power itself fall. Interesting power. This is getting fun." "You?!" The Apostle thought Taesan had just used an empty trump card. It was a despairing situation, but Taesan''s expression didn''t change. In fact, there was even a glimmer of enjoyment in his demeanor. "Why aren¡¯t you panicking?" "Why should I panic? I should be enjoying this." Taesan said it indifferently. "After all, this is the power I¡¯m going to obtain." Chapter 425: 83rd Floor, Essence of the God of Fall (7) The Apostle hesitated for a moment. Taesan¡¯s face showed confidence. Confidence that he could obtain the power of the God of Fall that the Apostle had demonstrated. With a voice devoid of doubt, the Apostle, too, briefly thought that Taesan¡¯s words had credibility. ¡°Bullshit!¡± But the Apostle quickly denied his own thoughts. It was impossible. Taesan''s power could never reach him. He clenched his fists with confidence and charged forward. Taesan met him with equal resolve. Crack! The battle''s course didn¡¯t change. Taesan still overwhelmed the Apostle. But the oue didn¡¯t change either. The Apostle did not fall. Instead, he began to respond more effectively to Taesan''s power. ¡°Wait...¡± ¡°This is...¡± Only then did the onlookers realize something was wrong. The power that Taesan had disyed was clearly superior to theirs. Evenpared to the princess who had opened the Colosseum just days ago, he had reached a far higher level. And the Apostle was an opponent on the same level as the princess. There was no way he could block Taesan¡¯s attacks. But the Apostle, though precarious, continued the battle without major damage. It was as though it had been designed that way from the start. ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°This is...¡± In that moment, despair spread throughout the audience. They, too, had realized the truth of the Colosseum. ¡°Tch. No need to pretend anymore.¡± ¡°They probably tried to hide it on purpose, but too bad.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The Apostle sneered. ¡°It may be a little early, but he¡¯ll be satisfied. Those who believed there was an escape route will now realize the truth and fall off the cliff. This is exactly the kind of picture that Essence loves.¡± The Apostle let out a madugh. ¡°Above all! You can¡¯t give up! Even if there¡¯s nothing at the end of the rope, you cannot let go of the only hope!¡± The Apostle mmed his fist down. ¡°Come! Feel your own helplessness!¡± Taesan casually drew his sword. The battle continued. Taesan unleashed a great deal of power, and the Apostle responded to all of it. Confidence appeared on the Apostle¡¯s face, and joy spread across Taesan''s. No matter how many attacks he made, the opponent wouldn¡¯t fall. It was a perfect opponent to increase his proficiency. Taesan used numerous skills to level up his proficiency. Even if their power was roughly on the same level, the difference in strength was immense, so Taesan couldn¡¯t increase his proficiency by much. But it was enough to satisfy him. Taesan had meaningfully increased his proficiency in magic, ck magic, and various other skills. And during that process, he kept analyzing the Apostle¡¯s power. Once Taesan had a rough understanding, he sheathed his sword. ¡°That''s it. I concede.¡± ¡°...What?¡± Boom! As the participant acknowledged defeat, the Colosseum came to an end. When Taesan suddenly gave up, the Apostle was taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re giving up like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve figured out everything I needed to.¡± Taesan nonchntly moved his body. In the midst of confusion and chaos, Taesan disappeared without a word. The Apostle stood there, dumbfounded. *** Taesan used his remaining points to secure a decent room. He hadn¡¯t expected to win from the very first battle. What he wanted was information and strategies. He had obtained plenty of what he desired. His proficiency had also significantly increased, so after recovering, he could try again. ''It''s a shame I didn''t gain any new skills.'' None of the skills he remembered met the required conditions. A few new skills came to mind, but the risks involved were significant. Since he hadn¡¯t fully grasped the Apostle''s power, there was no need to take any unnecessary risks. Taesan organized his thoughts. The Apostle was an unbeatable boss. No matter how much health was drained, it would just refill. The Apostle gained new power in response to Taesan¡¯s skills. ¡°And it even responds to the boundaries.¡± This was the first time Taesan was directly intervening with the boundaries. But he wasn¡¯t particrly surprised. The boundaries were powerful, but they weren¡¯t omnipotent. He knew that transcendents and immortals could break through them. There was no reason to be surprised now. On the contrary, the fact that he could obtain powers capable of interfering with the boundaries was exciting. Knock. Knock. The sound of knocking echoed. It was Princess Diana. She entered. ¡°Taesan, are you okay?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Diana, who had entered, was flustered. She had thought Taesan might be mentally shaken. But Taesan¡¯s face showed no sign of change. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I doubt you¡¯ll need my advice.¡± Diana, with aposed face, asked, ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking.¡± He had grasped the basic structure and principles. But he still hadn¡¯t figured out how to break through them. The problem was ultimately the power of the God of Fall. He had to find a way to break through that power. Why did the God of Fall have such confidence in his victory? Because he would use his power. Powers were something built up by the existence itself. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising for Essence, a transcendent, to have absolute confidence. [Is there no way to break through with a loophole?] ¡°It would be difficult.¡± This was the domain of the God of Fall. No loopholes would be allowed here. Even skills beyond the boundaries, and the immortal faith skill, were sealed. @@novelbin@@ Taesan thought deeply. Diana also groaned as she tried to figure it out. The damage to the Apostle was normal. As Taesan had predicted, his health didn¡¯t drop below 1. Once it reached 1, it would heal. If that was the case, the way to win was simple. He just needed to force the health that wouldn¡¯t drop below 1 to 0. Taesan had a card for that. The boundary. A power that shattered order and ignoredws. With this power, he could defeat the Apostle. The God of Fall knew this too, so he blocked the boundary with his power. In other words, the God of Fall had revealed that the boundary was the answer. ''Transcendent''s power.'' That had to be broken through. But it was the transcendent¡¯s own power. A mortal like Taesan, who had fallen to a lower tier, could never break through it. Even if it wasn¡¯t aplete power. If it was the power of a transcendent, then a boundary created by a fallen Taesan could probably be disregarded entirely. But that didn¡¯t happen. The one who wielded the power was still the Apostle. No matter how much of a god¡¯s Apostle he was, he couldn¡¯t perfectly wield a transcendent¡¯s power. There was certainly a limit. ''I need to break through that limit.'' But how would he break through the limit? The power of the God of Fall interfered with the boundaries as well. It was one of the highestws among thews. It couldn¡¯t be broken through by the power within thosews. Taesan had previously defeated an Apostle who wielded a transcendent¡¯s power, but he couldn¡¯t say he had broken through the power. He had only exploited the fact that his opponent couldn¡¯t fully control it. Essence, judging that Taesan could never break through the power with any means, had likely imposed this trial. So, what if he used other abilities that the God of Fall didn¡¯t know about? Taesan came to a conclusion. *** The next day, after fully recovering his spent energy and gathering points, Taesan opened the Colosseum again. Once again, the audience seats were packed, but the faces of the spectatorscked the same trust and expectations as before. Everyone sat with half-empty expressions, as though they had been drained. ¡°...Princess.¡± ¡°Ah, Reynaldo.¡± Reynaldo approached Diana with a gaunt face. ¡°Are you alright? Your expression doesn¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter here. What meaning does health have in a ce where death is impossible?¡± Reynaldo forced a bitter smile. ¡°We were fools. We had no idea, and we acted recklessly. Did you... know from the beginning?¡± Diana nodded. Reynaldo¡¯s face twisted in regret. ¡°...I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know, and yet I said foolish things to you, Princess.¡± ¡°No. Thanks to you, I was able to clear my head. You don¡¯t need to apologize.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful for that.¡± After collecting his thoughts, Reynaldo looked at Taesan. ¡°I thought the Colosseum wouldn¡¯t open for at least a few years... but did youe up with a way?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know, Princess?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t give me a proper answer. When I asked why, he said the God of Fall might be watching.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± This was the God of Fall¡¯s domain. There was no way he wouldn¡¯t know what was happening in his own domain. ¡°But... if there¡¯s a possibility, then he must have chosen to challenge it.¡± Reynaldo¡¯s eyes gleamed with a spark. Then the Apostle appeared. He red at Taesan with a displeased expression. In the previous battle, Taesan had dered his defeat. But there was no sense of victory, only the feeling of being used. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± The Apostle gritted his teeth. Taesan raised his sword with a nk expression. The battle began. The setup of the battle was no different than before. Taesan overwhelmed the Apostle, and the Apostle barely managed to block him. But no one cheered. The realization that this was all a predetermined show made the audience¡¯s faces fall even further. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The Apostle swung his fist and blocked Taesan¡¯s sword with augh. ¡°You can never defeat me! It¡¯s meant to be this way!¡± ¡°Maybe not.¡± Taesan ced the materials into his wrist guards. The wrist guards eagerly absorbed all the materials. Then Taesan changed the world. [You activated Partial World Alteration.] The world itself wasn¡¯t being altered. Taesan was changing himself. What he desired was control over mana. [You activated Frozen World [Negation].] An icy cold, as dark as midnight, swept through. The Apostle¡¯s face froze momentarily. ¡°Ugh!¡± The Apostle clenched his fist and swung it. Boom! Until now, the Apostle had continuously gained power that surpassed his opponent''s strength. But this time, it didn¡¯t work. The magic of Negation was a fusion of ck and magic. It fundamentally had the upper hand in all interactions with the forces of this world. In the end, the Apostle was engulfed by the pitch-ck cold. Crackle! ¡°...What is this?¡± The Apostle, whose entire body was frozen, grimaced. ¡°You¡¯re using a rather unusual power. But it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± After breaking free from the ice, the Apostle spoke with confidence. ¡°With this, you can¡¯t kill me.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± The power of Negation had absolute dominance in thews of interaction. It couldn¡¯tpletely disregard thews. However, the Apostle couldn¡¯t fall, but he couldn¡¯t counter it either. That was enough. Negation magic was a spell that fused with the high divine powers. It couldn¡¯t be considered a force within thew. Taesan¡¯s sword mixed ck and gold, then a grayish ash appeared. Taesan swung the boundary line. ¡°Hahaha! Foolish!¡± The Apostle mocked Taesan. ¡°God! Grant me your power! Drop everything that dares to oppose you into the abyss!¡± The Apostle¡¯s power struck Taesan. At the same time, Taesan activated a skill. [You activated Choice Exclusion.] The ability that erases the opponent¡¯s choices, Maria''s power. But nothing happened. Taesan clicked his tongue. ¡°Is it not an attack, or does it not work on powers?¡± Whatever it was, the power of the God of Fall engulfed Taesan. It interfered with him, nullifying all the forces he controlled and making them meaningless. The boundary line was included in that. In an instant, the boundary lost its power. The ckness and divinity began to separate. At this rate, Taesan couldn¡¯t defeat the Apostle. Taesan knew that fact as well. From here on, it would be the real fight. [You activated Frozen World [Negation].] [You activated Mana Storm [Negation].] [You activated the Evesting Firebird [Negation].] He consecutively activated the powers of Negation. As all of them manifested along with the boundary, they began to fall. The power was erased meaninglessly. The power of the God of Fall still surrounded Taesan. It was impossible to break free. Yet Taesan didn¡¯t stop. Instead, he gathered even more mana and poured out his strength. The ck and divinity mixed again to create a new boundary. Endlessly, powers capable of copsing the world began to emerge. ¡°...You?¡± The Apostle¡¯s face hardened. He realized something was wrong. [You activated Great Copse [Negation].] A distorted sphere manifested in the world. The power of the God of Fall swallowed the Great Copse and sent it crashing down. Crackle. But something was different. Through the gaps in the power that surrounded Taesan, strength slowly began to leak out. It was as if the limits of the power had been surpassed. ¡°...You!¡± Only then did the Apostle realize what Taesan was aiming for. ¡°How dare you! Are you trying to confront the power of the great one directly? Don¡¯t make meugh! He is a transcendent! Someone like you could never touch him!¡± Transcendents rule concepts themselves. They possess an appropriate realm for their divinity, and within it, they exert near-absolute influence. The God of Fall was a transcendent who ruled the concept of fall. Essence¡¯s power over fall was the veryw of the world itself, like how an apple falls to the ground or how air moves from high to low pressure areas. To break such a power, the opponent had to have a concept and intervene in thews as well. In fact, it was impossible to respond unless you were also a transcendent. But now, Taesan was trying to break Essence¡¯s power with his strength. ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide. It¡¯s for me to decide.¡± This wasn¡¯t enough. What he was trying to do now was deny the veryws of the world with his power. Even though he used both the boundary line and the magic of Negation, he still wasn¡¯t at the level to break the power of the God of Fall. So, one more thing. He needed a power that could surpass immortality, a power that could reach a transcendent. Taesan opened his demonic powers. But it wasn¡¯t the ck magic of another demon. It was Taesan¡¯s own ck magic. [You activated Kang Taesan¡¯s Domain Liberation.] Chapter 426: 83rd Floor, Essence of the God of Fall (8) ¡°...What is that?!¡± The flowing demonic energy. It was not the ck magic of any other being, but Taesan''s own ck magic. ¡°What is that?!¡± The Apostle shouted with a twisted face. It seemed as though he hadn¡¯t expected Taesan to use his own ck magic. ''As expected.'' He was currently in the God of Fall''s domain. The God of Fall must have examined Taesan¡¯s inner power and confirmed the strength he possessed. But even the gods don¡¯t know everything. The magic of Negation was a fusion of ckness and magic. Even Zerband, the God of Magic, hadn¡¯t anticipated such magic. Its origin was in the domain of the God of Magic. Taesan¡¯s own demonic domain was the same. The power he acquired hade from between the Demon God and Ba¡¯al. Both the God of Magic and the Demon God were transcendents, just like Essence. No matter how powerful transcendents were, they couldn¡¯t know everything that happened between other transcendents. Essence didn¡¯t haveplete knowledge of Taesan¡¯s strength. Taesan opened the demonic power. ck magic uses demonic energy to create phenomena and summon entities within the demonic realm. Taesan ced all his demonic energy into the realm. The phenomenon he created was one of harmony and amplification. And now, he had liberated the demonic realm here. Creek! The demonic realm manifested in the model garden, the domain of Essence. Like oil poured onto fire, it quickly expanded. Negation magic was a fusion of ckness and Zerband¡¯s magic. The demonic realm was closer to the domain of the Demon God. The boundary line was a mixture of ckness and divinity. Without resistance, they began to merge as though greeting each other. The demonic energy spread like spider webs through the boundary line and Negation magic. Crackle! The power of the God of Fall surrounding Taesan began to crumble. The Apostle¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s impossible! This is Essence''s power! Thew of the world itself!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, then die.¡± [You activated Copy.] The demonic energy copied itself. The amount of demonic energy doubled, merging with the boundary line and Negation magic. It fused and fused, creating something that wasn¡¯t just a boundary, nor simply Negation magic or ck magic. Inside, there was a power capable of negating the veryws of the world. Taesan swung his sword roughly. Whoosh! A sound of breaking echoed. It wasn¡¯t the sound of material or space breaking. @@novelbin@@ It was the sound of concepts themselves breaking apart. Essence¡¯s power collided with something that denied thews, and the two nullified each other. [You overcame the transcendent¡¯s power. You have acquired the special activation skill [Law Negation].] [Your proficiency in ck magic increased by 4%.] [Your proficiency in boundary lines increased by #$!!%.] [Your proficiency in ck magic creation increased by 5%.] ¡°Ah, ah...¡± The Apostle stared nkly, his mouth agape. Taesan took a deep breath. His condition wasn¡¯t great. Mana and demonic energy were nearly depleted, and his health was rapidly decreasing. He nned to end this now. Taesan stomped his foot. The Apostle snapped out of his confusion. ¡°G-God! Grant me your power! Everything that dares oppose you, throw it into the abyss...¡± The prayer was cut off. Taesan was already right in front of the Apostle. The Apostle hurriedly stopped his prayer and gathered all his strength. With everything he had, he threw a punch. The punch collided with the boundary line and copsed. The boundary covered the Apostle. His whole body began to crumble as the structure fell apart. ¡°Oh, ohhh!¡± The Apostle let out a desperate scream. His body, which had been disintegrating, quickly returned to its original state. But it immediately copsed again. It was like a broken vessel. While it could be roughly pieced together to resemble the original shape, that was its limit. Any shock would cause it to shatter again. The Apostle¡¯s body, that vessel, had already shatteredpletely and scattered. ¡°This can¡¯t be!¡± The Apostle cried out in negation. He was the Apostle of the God of Fall, the gatekeeper of the model garden, who had brought despair to countless adventurers and reveled in it. He believed that he would live like this forever, enjoying it for all eternity. But now, the end wasing. The Apostle resisted, but the boundary line swallowed everything. Just as Taesan was about tond the finishing blow, a huge presence intervened. The Apostle¡¯s confusion and rage tried to directly influence Taesan. [No. Essence. This kind of interference is no fun.] Another presence spread power with augh. It was a very familiar voice, that of a young girl. The power that was about to engulf Taesan was instantly pushed away. Taesan, with the boundary line in his sword, swung it. The Apostle was buried within the boundary. The Apostle¡¯s very existence was erased. *** [Your Spiritual Ascension has been activated.] [Your health has permanently increased by 4,545, strength by 875, and agility by 587.] [Your Spiritual Ascension has been activated.] [You have acquired the special constant skill [The Undying].] Taesan sheathed his sword. The ash faded, and nothing remained in its ce. The Apostle, who had served as the gatekeeper of the model garden for a long time, hadpletely disappeared. ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°Oh...¡± A groan rang out from the audience. They hadn¡¯t fully understood the flow of the battle from the middle of the fight. Forces that far surpassed theprehension of mortal beings had continuously emerged. All they couldprehend was the result. And the result was the Apostle¡¯s defeat. And if they won in the Colosseum, they would all be able to leave. ¡°Oh, ohhhhh!¡± A cheer erupted. The sounds of joy filled the air, carrying all the emotions of the world. What was contained in those sounds was intense worship and faith toward Taesan. For a moment, Taesan could feel a divine presence that made him uneasy. [Your proficiency in divinity has increased by 1%.] ¡°Is it enough to raise the proficiency?¡± There weren¡¯t many of them. Compared to the amount of faith Taesan received on Earth, it was nothing. But still, the proficiency in divinity, which had been stuck at 90%, had increased. Each one of them was a being at the very edge of mortality, so it seemed their faith carried a heavy weight. ¡°Ta-Taesan-nim!¡± The princess approached with a face filled with great joy, but also one of confusion. ¡°You really won, didn¡¯t you? I believed it was possible, but this... this...¡± Taesan raised his hand to silence her as she stuttered. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡± ¡°Eh, what?¡± Taesan turned his gaze toward the air. ¡°Come out.¡± [.......] Crunch. The space warped. An intense, angry gaze turned toward Taesan. All the people who had been celebrating fell silent, holding their breath. Their faces drained of color. A rage that conveyed no other emotion, a rage so clear that even they could recognize it. That emotion alone caused the model garden to distort. And Taesan calmly let the anger flow past him. [You.] A voice echoed. A clear murderous intent was directed at Taesan. Essence wanted Taesan dead more than anything. But it couldn¡¯t happen. Even now, the Demon God was watching them from afar. In the end, Essence had no choice but to suppress the anger. [Damned Demon God. You dare y these kinds of games?] Essence muttered through clenched teeth. It wasn¡¯t just because the Demon God had blocked him that he was angry. After collecting his emotions, he made a deration. [You have won in the Colosseum. You are free. My toys.] It was something he truly didn¡¯t want to do, but Essence had no other choice. If they won in the Colosseum, they would be able to leave. It was a deration made in his name. He couldn¡¯t take it back now. [And that damned thing. I will give you your reward.] Essence¡¯s power enveloped Taesan. It was a part of the power Essence possessed. [You have acquired the special activation skill [The Fall of All Things].] [You have obtained the Shoes of the Free.] [Get lost. The next time I meet you, I¡¯ll stake everything to kill you.] With those deadly words, Essence¡¯s presence disappeared. Only then did the people, who had been holding their breath, exhale. ¡°...Ha, haha.¡± Someoneughed. Theughter spread, infecting everyone in the room. Essence¡¯s affirmation hade. They were free to leave. *** Everyone burst into cheers, expressing their joy. They had been trapped here for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years, or more. They had lived, clinging to hope, in the midst of terrible despair. And now, they had seized that hope in their hands. There was no way they couldn¡¯t be happy. Reynaldo also grabbed Taesan¡¯s hand, shaking it with an excited face. ¡°Thank you! Truly, thank you! I can¡¯t even express how much! I¡¯d love to give you something, but damn it, the restrictions haven¡¯t been lifted yet, so that¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°Restrictions?¡± ¡°The God of Fall¡¯s restrictions. We can¡¯t give each other anything. We¡¯ve been freed, but it seems like those restrictions still haven¡¯t been lifted.¡± Reynaldo chuckled. ¡°Once I return to mybyrinth, I¡¯ll give you everything I have. Don¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°I have no intention of refusing.¡± If he was offering a reward, Taesan was happy to ept it. Taesan asked him, ¡°What do you n to do from now on?¡± ¡°...I¡¯m not sure.¡± Reynaldo stroked his chin. ¡°We failed to clear thebyrinth. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll even be possible to go back down now. Above all, most of us, including myself, have no attachment to thebyrinth anymore.¡± Reynaldo gave a wry smile. ¡°We¡¯ve been here for far too long. We¡¯ve realized that freedom is far more valuable than strength.¡± ¡°I... don¡¯t know either.¡± The princess mumbled with a vague expression. What would they do after returning? The suddenness of their freedom left them unable toe to a conclusion. ¡°For now, I want to meet Veldenkia. After that, I want to think things through.¡± Diana spoke with a delighted face. ¡°By the way, why hasn¡¯t anything happened yet?¡± It had been hours since Essence dered their freedom, but they were still in the model garden. A slight unease appeared on Reynaldo¡¯s face. ¡°Could it be that they were lying?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unlikely. They¡¯re probably talking to thebyrinth¡¯s administrator. It¡¯s too much to just enter thebyrinth as it is.¡± The adventurers who had reached the 83rd floor, over a thousand in number. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if thebyrinth were to burst from the overload. They waited, thinking this, and finally, a change urred. Boom! As if the role of the world had beenpleted, the model garden began to fold in. ¡°Finally.¡± Reynaldo muttered with an excited tone. Diana quietly closed her eyes. Boom! The world folded for thest time. And Taesan returned to a familiar ce. [Questpleted.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained the Ring of Endless Abyss.] [??? obtained.] On the 83rd floor, where the altar of the God of Fall stood, Taesan arrived. And he was not alone. ¡°...Huh? Where did the others go?¡± Diana looked around with a confused expression. Everyone who had been captured by the God of Fall was gone. Only Diana remained by Taesan¡¯s side. [You have returned.] And it seemed like Balbamba had been waiting, now settled in thebyrinth as well. *** ¡°Oh my.¡± Diana covered her mouth with her hand. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it? Balbamba.¡± [Indeed, Princess.] They seemed to be familiar with each other. It wasn¡¯t surprising, considering they had both reached the 83rd floor, so they must have had some prior acquaintance. [This time, you¡¯ve really done something grand. Thanks to you, we¡¯ll have to redo the 83rd floor.] ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that.¡± [No. It¡¯s fine this time. In fact, it¡¯s been a good thing.] Balbamba didn¡¯t show the irritation it usually did. Despite the added work, it seemed to be in a better mood. [It¡¯s not a bad thing for me either.] Balbamba exined. [We have a cooperative rtionship with the gods. Generally, we can¡¯t ce restrictions on their actions. But honestly, the God of Fall is a god I don¡¯t particrly like either.] ¡°No need to ask why.¡± The purpose of thebyrinth was to observe the struggles of mortals. But the God of Fall treated talented mortals as his toys, trapping them in the model garden. That was theplete opposite of thebyrinth¡¯s purpose. It wasn¡¯t something Balbamba, the administrator, would have preferred. [While I can¡¯t do anything about the souls already bound, I don¡¯t think any more souls will be used by the God of Fall from now on.] ¡°What happened to the God of Fall?¡± [We had a conversation. As a result, we now have a rather unfavorable rtionship.] Balbamba spoke calmly. [At least now, the God of Fall won¡¯t show his face to you through thebyrinth again.] Chapter 427: 61st Floor, Veldenkia. Desire "Are you saying they left the maze entirely?" [That cannot be the case. The maze and the transcendent''s contract cannot be easily resolved. If they left on their own, maybe. But to expel them from this side is difficult. Just say that we had a deep conversation, that''s all.] Balbamba turned the conversation, as it seemed there was some secrecy about the details. [At least, they can no longer interfere with the trials. You can leave it at that.] "That''s good." Inside the maze, there was no need to worry about the God of Fall anymore. That was a relief for Taesan, who already had enough enemies to deal with. Information about the God of Fall ended there. Taesan asked another question. "Then, where did the others go?" In the model garden, there had been over a thousand people. But now, only Diana remained. [They are no longer adventurers.] The maze¡¯s manager replied as if announcing a verdict. [Even if the God of Fall had intervened, they ultimately failed the trials. Thanks to you, they were freed again, but the fact remains¡ªthey are losers, just like the ghost next to you.] "A ghost?" Diana looked around. However, she didn¡¯t notice any ghostly presence. "So, you exiled them?" [They no longer have the right to go down into the maze. They were all sent back to the entrance. The rest is up to them.] Balbamba spoke indifferently. It was as if it didn¡¯t matter what they did or what choice they made. "That''s unfortunate." If they had returned to the maze, Reynaldo had promised to give everything he had. But they had been exiled from the maze. They would never receive any reward. While Taesan was feeling regretful, Balbamba spoke up again. [But even though they were failures, they were once adventurers. Talented ones, too. You freed them. As the maze''s manager, I will reward you for that.] [Balbamba activated #000018.] [You have received 500,000 gold.] "Well." Five hundred thousand gold. It was a considerable amount. With this, Taesan could buy decent equipment,bining it with the gold he had. "Not bad. So why did the princess stay here?" The princess, like the others, was a failure. Balbamba replied as if it were obvious. [She is Veldenkia¡¯s. It¡¯s his wish. For now, she is allowed to stay in the maze. After the wish is granted, she¡¯ll have to leave.] "Veldenkia..." Diana muttered quietly. [This is the general exnation. I need to get going soon, so the rest you¡¯ll have to figure out yourself.] "Thank you." Without answering, Balbamba turned and left. Taesan looked at Diana. "Then, let¡¯s go meet him." "...Yes." Diana clenched her fist against her chest and nodded. --- ### * * * The floor where Veldenkia had settled was the 61st floor. They had to climb quite a few floors. The first NPC they encountered was a shopkeeper. "...Princess?" "Oh my. It¡¯s been a while." The shopkeeper was surprised upon seeing Diana. "You were supposed to have been eaten by the God of Fall and disappeared..." "That¡¯s how it went." The shopkeeper looked at Diana and Taesan, then nodded as if agreeing. "So that¡¯s what happened... You cleared the model garden, huh." The shopkeeper¡¯s face showed a satisfied expression as he looked at Taesan. At some point, he had stopped paying attention to Diana. Diana, with a slightly hurt look on her face, spoke. "After all this time, and this is how you treat me?" "I don¡¯t care about losers. You know that." "Still, it¡¯s a bit disappointing. You had such high hopes for me once." "The moment you shook hands with the God of Fall, you became nothing to me. Don¡¯t bother me anymore, and just leave." The shopkeeper clicked his tongue. Since he refused any further conversation, Taesan and Diana turned away from him. "He hasn¡¯t changed." "Were you once descending into the maze?" "Yes. At that time, he saw potential in me and was kind to me. After the God of Fall intervened, he lost interest. I wonder what he¡¯s after." The next floor in the maze weed her, the Library of All Things. The librarian there, Jorge, grimaced upon seeing Diana. "How are you...?" "It¡¯s been a while, Jorge. Have you been well?" "...I see. There was potential, but I didn¡¯t expect you to really do it." "Who is this?!" Laughter echoed as Ainztar, the Apostle of Levinenov, approached Diana with a friendly expression. "Princess. You¡¯ve returned here!" "Ainztar? So, you stayed behind as well." "Yeah! Veldenkia¡¯s wish is finally about toe true! Congrattions!" "Thank you." Diana smiled gently. "I hope your wish alsoes true." "Thank you for saying that. Don¡¯t worry. The person next to you, too, is making your wishe true." Ainztar grinned. "Since you saved the princess, it means you¡¯ve reached the 83rd floor. Only one floor remains. I¡¯ll be waiting." Taesan nodded. They descended back into the maze and met Hafran. Hafran, like the others, was surprised to see the princess. But knowing Taesan¡¯s strength, he quickly epted it. "To think you broke through the transcendent¡¯s domain. Incredible." "What about the equipment?" "I¡¯ve finished most of the preparations. Only the final adjustments are left. I¡¯ll call you when it¡¯s ready." After finishing their conversation with Hafran, they continued climbing the maze. "I miss it." Diana murmured with a nostalgic look. Perhaps, at one point, the ce Taesan upied could have been hers. She could have fulfilled the wishes of the NPCs, reached the end of the maze, and saved the world. But she wasn¡¯t regretful or despairing about it. She had given up on grand wishes and was content with small happiness. "I owe an apology to Veldenkia. When I meet him, I¡¯ll start by apologizing." Diana quietly muttered. They continued up the maze, climbing and climbing. Then, they reached the stairs leading to the 61st floor. Diana, with emotions welling up in her face, climbed the stairs. "Veldenkia! Please!" "Stop it! I told you not to do this!" "Don¡¯t say that, teach me! I¡¯ll do anything you ask!" "I¡¯ve told you several times it doesn¡¯t work!" What they saw was Veldenkia, bewildered, and Lilith clinging to his legs. It was an oddly peaceful, affectionate scene. Diana¡¯s face stiffened. Veldenkia, struggling to shake off Lilith, eventually sensed their presence. "...Princess?" A reunion of people who thought they would never meet again. It was surely an emotional moment, but Diana¡¯s face remained frozen. "...You look like you¡¯re having fun?" "Y-yes?" "No, it¡¯s nothing. I had told you to give up, but I couldn¡¯t force you. But still..." Diana lowered her head deeply. Her body trembled slightly. "I¡¯ve been holding on, waiting only for you, and you¡¯ve been living a joyful life with another woman. I¡¯m so sad..." "No! That¡¯s not it!" Veldenkia shouted and pushed Lilith away. "She¡¯s a contractor of the Goddess of Magic! She kept clinging to me asking for my magic! There¡¯s nothing between us!" Veldenkia grabbed Diana¡¯s shoulders. "I¡¯ve always been thinking about you, Princess! I¡¯m here because of that!" "...Pfft." At Veldenkia¡¯s desperate words, Diana burst intoughter. "Your Highness." "It¡¯s just a joke. We used to joke like this a lot, didn¡¯t we? I didn¡¯t expect you to react this strongly though." Diana, lifting her head, wore a soft expression. "You settled here for me. How could I hold a grudge against you? ...It¡¯s good to see you again, Veldenkia. My magician." "Princess..." Tears welled up in Veldenkia¡¯s eyes. "...Taesan. What is all this? I can¡¯t keep up." "Veldenkia has fulfilled his wish." Taesan answered Lilith¡¯s dazed question. --- ### * * * "Did you say your name was Lilith? I¡¯m sorry you got caught up in the drama." "Oh, no. After hearing the story, I understand. I¡¯m sorry for the misunderstanding." Lilith regained herposure and spoke with a serious face. "Congrattions on escaping the God¡¯s grasp." "Thank you." Diana smiled softly. She was still holding Veldenkia¡¯s hand tightly. "Thank you, Taesan. Although I gave you the quest... I didn¡¯t really expect it to bepleted." Veldenkia¡¯s eyes were full of emotions. It was a quest that required confronting a transcendent. He himself had thought it was impossible. But Taesan had done it wlessly. "Then, a reward befitting the achievement is in order. Princess, please wait a moment." Veldenkia drew a magic circle on the floor. "What you¡¯ve done for me is, quite literally, my wish. More important than my life." That¡¯s why Veldenkia had decided to give everything to Taesan. "So I¡¯ve been thinking about how to reward you. One of the results of that thought is this." [Veldenkia activated Magic Transfer.] The magic circle began to function. Veldenkia spread his mana and spoke. "Don¡¯t refuse. ept it." The magic circle, engulfed in mana, began to operate around Taesan. And power began to flow into Taesan. Taesan knew exactly what it was. The power flowing into him was Veldenkia¡¯s very own. The mana he had umted. His experience with magic. All of that was now merging with Taesan. [Your mana has permanently increased by 7,800.] [Your intelligence has permanently increased by 5,500.] [Your magic proficiency has increased by 4%.] [You have obtained the intermediate magic: [Waves of Poison Mist].] Boom! Unable to bear the pressure, the magic circle shattered. Veldenkia, sweating, gathered his remaining mana. "That¡¯s about it. Only 4% increase in proficiency? Looks like I really raised it a lot." "...Can proficiency really be transferred to someone else?" Normally, proficiency could only be raised with proficiency potions or throughbat and repetition. Yet, here, Veldenkia had transferred his strength to Taesan, almost like a spirit¡¯s growth. "I told you. This is my magic that I made just for you. Honestly, the efficiency is terrible. It permanently consumes my own power, and only a small fraction of that is transferred." Indeed, the power Taesan felt from Veldenkia had noticeably decreased. Though still strong, it was a stark differencepared to before. "Still, for a reward like this, I had to do something." It was a generous gift. Mana had increased by 7,800, and magic proficiency went from 81% to 85%. The boost to intelligence was impressive too. Considering that the magic proficiency had almost stagnated at 80%, this was a satisfying reward. And it didn¡¯t end there. "The equipment I used in the maze, the ones I kept... They¡¯re all magical, so you won¡¯t need them, but you can sell them at a shop or use them as offerings." Veldenkia handed over a magic staff and a spellbook. After checking their performance, Taesan saw they weren¡¯t far behind the equipment he currently wore. With this, two intermediate magic skills could be acquired. "Not bad." "I¡¯m sorry, I said I¡¯d give you everything, and this is what I can offer. If you need anything else, just say it. As long as it doesn¡¯t harm the princess, I¡¯ll do everything I can." @@novelbin@@ Taesan looked at them. The princess was strong. She was on the edge. Even though Veldenkia had consumed his power, he still seemed to be at the level of a guide¡¯s leader. Taesan spoke. "Then, where do we go next?" "Hmm..." "I¡¯m not sure either." Veldenkia had fulfilled his wish. There was no longer any reason to stay in the maze. And Diana would soon have to leave. But their world had already perished. If anything, they were like refugees. "Shall we try settling in a new world? That doesn¡¯t sound too bad." "If there¡¯s no ce to go, how about where I am?" "What?" Diana¡¯s pupils dted. Taesan continued. "A world that the gods are after. A world where you can¡¯t predict when it¡¯ll fall, a world where you must fight for your life. Interested?" Chapter 428: 84th Floor, Levinenov鈥檚 World (1) "Do you also know about the gods?" "I know." Veldenkia nodded. While descending through the maze, they had gathered a lot of information, including about the gods and how they were invading the world. "My world is one that is being invaded by these gods." "...Then, you entered the maze to save the world, Taesan." "No, I¡¯m different. I came into the maze in a slightly different way." "A different way?" "It''s aplicated exnation. To be precise, at the moment of our world¡¯s destruction, the maze invited our people." "Invited?" Veldenkia¡¯s eyes widened. Taesan slowly exined. They were invited into the maze and, at certain times, returned to Earth to fight against the gods'' minions. "We¡¯re hanging in there for now. But many have died, and many more will die." The number of survivors would be barely a handful. Taesan wanted to save as many as possible, but the limitations were clear. "So you need our help." "You''re both strong. If you help my world, the number of deaths will be significantly reduced. What will you do?" Taesan spoke calmly. "I''m not forcing you. After all, we¡¯ll have to fight for our lives anyway. If you¡¯re willing, let me know." "Hmm. I owe you a debt greater than my life, so I should help you... but..." Veldenkia looked at Diana. "In the end, the most important thing to me is the princess. I can¡¯t put her in danger again." "I know. I don''t want to use the debt as an excuse to force you." The princess had been trapped in the model garden for over a century. Finally, she had just managed to escape and could enjoy happiness. But the thought of risking her life, fighting against gods who even transcendents couldn¡¯t suppress, was incredibly despairing. It was the moment when Taesan was about to give up and withdraw. "Isn''t it alright, Veldenkia? Let¡¯s ept it, Taesan." Diana spoke casually, as if it didn¡¯t matter. "Princess?" Veldenkia was surprised. "Anyway, if it weren''t for Taesan, I would never have gotten out of the model garden. I was practically a dead soul. Veldenkia has repaid me, but I¡¯ve been struggling to find a way to repay him. This is good." "Princess, are you sure? You know better than anyone what the power of transcendent beings can do." "I told you, didn¡¯t I? I was already dead. Above all, Veldenkia, let¡¯s think about why we entered the maze." "...To save our world." Slowly, Diana had led Veldenkia into the maze to save their dying world. "But we failed. Countless people lost their lives. We couldn¡¯t save the world. So this time... even if they¡¯re people from another world, I want to save them with my own hands." "...." Veldenkia was left speechless. Diana gently wrapped her hand around Veldenkia¡¯s. "There are people in his world who need our help. Those who can still be saved with our will, those who are not beyond saving. I don¡¯t want to turn a blind eye to the weak." "...Does that mean you¡¯re willing to risk your life for them?" "Yes." Diana smiled softly. At her unwavering answer, Veldenkia let out a hollowugh. "You¡¯re that kind of person, Princess. I had forgotten." "Of course, I¡¯m not thinking of forcing you toe. You live your life..." "No. Anyway, my life is yours, Princess. Your will is my will, so don¡¯t worry." "You don¡¯t have to call me Princess. Call me by my name, Veldenkia." "...Diana." "Oh, oh." Lilith, who had been silent until then, spoke up. Her face turned red, as if she were embarrassed, and she nced away. "Ahem." Only then did Veldenkia and Diana cautiously move apart. "Alright. Taesan, Diana and I will ept your proposal." "Thank you." Taesan expressed his gratitude. Facing the gods was a life-or-death challenge. Regardless of whether Taesan saved them or not, it was certainly something to be grateful for. "By the way, what should we do now? Is there a way for us to go back?" "Since you were able to summon Minerva and the ghosts, I believe it would be possible if you made a contract." Taesan called Balbamba to discuss the contract. [Not bad. Veldenkia also fulfilled his wish, so he has to leave the maze. Fine, I¡¯ll facilitate the contract.] Balbamba readily epted. ording to the system of the maze, a contract was formed between Taesan, Veldenkia, and Diana. --- **[Summoning Contract.]** [When Taesan returns to Earth, Veldenkia and Diana will also return. If they do not return to Earth, they will temporarily reside in the maze.] --- [For the time being, it¡¯s fine to stay in the maze. I¡¯ll give you that convenience. But until then, you¡¯ll have to take on the 61st floor¡¯s quest.] "Got it." "Thank you, Balbamba." With everything sorted, Lilith scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Taesan. What about me?" "Talk to them. See if you can stay with them. Or if you¡¯ll follow me." "You know, I¡¯m offering my tribute to Lord Zervand now, so I¡¯m not really needed anymore... Ugh." Lilith groaned, looking conflicted. Taesan said his farewells and descended into the maze again. He considered buying equipment from the shop, but his gold was still a little tight. He decided to gather a little more and then make a decision. Finally, it was time to check the things he had obtained. --- First, Taesan checked the ck magic he had acquired. --- **[Creation of ck Magic]** **[Proficiency: 6%]** [By using some of the power from your world, you can create ck magic that can be controlled through a contract with a demon.] --- Taesan had created a ck magic called "Domain Liberation." It was a type of ck magic that opened up a domain and materialized the magic contained within. He still hadn¡¯t fully grasped it, but it seemed there were many different ways to handle it. And through his use of it this time, he realized something. --- "The Demon¡¯s Domain can bebined with Boundary or Negative Magic." Since all three were rted to the gods¡¯ power, it wasn¡¯t strange. By mixing and fusing these three powers, he was able to counterbnce a transcendent¡¯s power with mortal strength. The direction of how to handle the Demon¡¯s Domain was starting to take shape. --- **[Special Activation Skill: Law Denial]** **[Mana Consumption: 3,000]** **[Consumption ??? : ???]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** [By denying a transcendent¡¯s power, you can slightly disregard thews that have been engraved upon the world.] --- **[Such a skill exists...]** The ghost clicked its tongue. Denying the very power itself... This was a skill no one had expected to be obtained by Taesan, and it was something he had earned exclusively in the maze. Honestly, Taesan couldn¡¯t gauge the level of the skill. He knew it was remarkable, but it was so high-level that he would only truly understand its effectiveness after using it in practice. @@novelbin@@ Next, Taesan checked the following skill. --- **[Special Passive Skill: The Immortal One]** **[Proficiency: 1%]** [As your health decreases, your health recovery speed drastically increases.] --- "So that¡¯s one of the reasons I was able to endure so persistently." The apostle¡¯s wounds healed almost instantly. Taesan¡¯s proficiency wasn¡¯t high enough to show such performance, but still, it was a highly valuable skill. As long as he didn¡¯t die with a single blow, he could endure and rapidly recover his health. --- **[Shoes of the Free One]** **[Attack Power +700]** **[Defense +400]** **[Agility +200]** **[Action Speed +20%]** **[Movement Speed +20%]** [Shoes worn by someone who wandered freely in the world, unbound by anyone.] [Allows you to move as usual in any situation.] --- The overall stats were good, and it had a special effect. "It doesn¡¯t seem to ignore skills like the ¡®No Movement¡¯ skill, but it seems to allow freedom from situations that slow you down." [That¡¯s probably right? Complete freedom of action would be too high-level.] Still, it was a solid effect. It allowed for free movement even in ces like swamps or space, and it freed him from speed-reducing skills. It was a piece of equipment that could save over a thousand adventurers. Not only did Taesan gain equipment, but he also obtained power. But before he went any further, he checked the reward for clearing the 83rd floor. --- **[Ring of Endless Abyssal Fall]** **[Attack Power +700]** **[Defense -200]** **[Strength -100]** **[Agility -100]** **[Intelligence -100]** [The wearer gains tremendous destructive power, but everything besides power is weakened.] --- This was the first piece of equipment to decrease stats. However, the attack power was high enough that Taesan, now used to the changes, didn¡¯t mind the stat reductions. He equipped the ring. --- **[??? Used.]** [You have obtained Thick Slime that was buried deep beneath.] --- **[Thick Slime]** [Slime that had been squirming in the lowest part of the world, exposed to nothing.] --- As soon as Taesan thought it was a material item, his arm guards moved. In an instant, they devoured the slime and absorbed it as their own. --- **[World-Changing Arm Guard.]** [An arm guard created by a witch who infused her power. Using specific conditions and catalysts, it can change thews of the world around the equipment.] **[Attack Power +800]** **[Defense +800]** [If you have learned the magic of the Green Witch, you can use [Partial World Change].] --- His attack power rose by 200, and his defense by 300. It was a solid increase. "Then." Thest thing left to check was one final skill. --- **[Special Activation Skill: The Fall of All Things]** [For a certain period of time, causes everything within the user¡¯s range, excluding the user, to fall. Anything of a higher rank than the user cannot be made to fall. This skill has a one-week cooldown after activation.] --- The Essence¡¯s power. The Fall of All Things. From the description, it seemed different from the effects used by the apostle. Verification was necessary, and Taesan couldn¡¯t fully check it alone. So, he went to the Library of All Things and met with Ainztar. "I have a skill that needs verification. Could you help me?" "Of course, anytime!" Ainztar readily agreed. Taesan exined the general details of the skill. After hearing it, Ainztar¡¯s eyes shook. "That... That¡¯s incredibly hard to understand. To gain a transcendent¡¯s power." "Well, it was a deal." "Seems like the God of Fall really wanted to get rid of you. A troublesome god doesn¡¯t even give their apostle their power." Ainztar marveled. "That¡¯s what needs verifying, right? Try using it. I¡¯m curious myself." There was no need to hesitate. Taesan activated the skill. --- **[You have activated The Fall of All Things.]** "Mm." "Mm?" A groan echoed. Ainztar¡¯s eyebrows twitched. "This is... a strange sensation." Ainztar gathered golden light. Normally, this light would burn the world, but now, it was faint. The power within was clearly weakerpared to usual. "It¡¯s a power that negates the manifested strength itself." If Ainztar was weakened by the Fall of All Things, he could still block and counterattack at full power without issue. The fact that it affected him meant that, unless you were a transcendent, you couldn¡¯t escape. "Ah. It¡¯s over? The duration isn¡¯t long." Soon, golden light surged around Ainztar¡¯s sword again. He chuckled. "An absurd skill." There were no restrictions on using this skill. Unless you were a transcendent, you couldn¡¯t resist it. Everything that manifested from an opponent would fall. It was a skill that bound the opponent¡¯s limbspletely. "That¡¯s what a god¡¯s power is... I used to handle something like that too, but it¡¯s been so long I barely remember." Ainztar gave a wry smile. "It¡¯s the next floor." Taesan spoke. The 84th floor was where Ainztar said they could save Levinenov. It was right in front of them. Ainztar¡¯s eyes shimmered. "...They¡¯re waiting. Please, do it." Chapter 430: 84th Floor, Levinenov鈥檚 World (3) ¡®For something that was supposedly exiled, it¡¯s sure made quite the impact.¡¯ Taesan wasn¡¯t surprised. The gods were openly showing their ambitions in this world, trying everything they could to infiltrate it. If transcendents had truly banished the gods perfectly, they wouldn¡¯t be able to appear in this world, or at the very least, they wouldn¡¯t have any trouble driving them out. But they needed Taesan¡¯s help. This meant that the power of the gods was growing stronger. ¡°There¡¯s nothing eternal in this world. Eventually, everything fades away. Even the transcendents¡¯ seals aren¡¯t immune to that.¡± The man twisted his smile. ¡°But they are different! Their power and rank are eternal! Even the transcendents couldn¡¯t deal with them and could only temporarily exile them! This world belongs to them!¡± His voice rang out with unwavering certainty. Taesan said tly, ¡°You sacrificed yourself for that.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to worship beings that are eternal, unchanging, than those who will eventually fade?¡± The man grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s abandon this weak world and worship them. That¡¯s the true course.¡± ¡°If they¡¯re such great beings, they won¡¯t need someone like me.¡± Even though Taesan was strong now, he was at the level of an immortal. He was still far from a transcendent. On the surface, it seemed there was no real value for the gods to show any interest in him. ¡°I thought the same, but it seems the thoughts of those beings are different.¡± The man spoke with a puzzled expression. ¡°My master said you are the key. With you, many things are possible.¡± The key. It seemed that whatever Taesan possessed was extremely attractive to the gods. And it didn¡¯t take much to figure out what it was. ¡®The Boundary.¡¯ The mixing of divinity and ckness, a power that shatteredws, a kind of force that even transcendents couldn¡¯tprehend. What the gods wanted from Taesan was undoubtedly the Boundary. ¡°Come to me, Taesan.¡± The man reached out. ¡°They will promise you eternity. If you want, they¡¯ll even offer you a seat at the highest level.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°Of course not. If you wish, they won¡¯t touch your little world anymore. If you want, they¡¯ll even make the maze your possession. In the world they dominate, everything you desire will be yours.¡± The man whispered seductively. ¡°Even if they dominate the world, the world around you will remain the same. Those you know will live happily and die. People you don¡¯t even know hold no value, right?¡± ¡°That sounds tempting.¡± Nothing would happen to Taesan or those around him. The ones who would suffer were those he didn¡¯t know. ¡°If you¡¯re going to give me all that, how about a condition? Don¡¯t touch the transcendents.¡± ¡°No.¡± The man shook his head, speaking with firm denial. ¡°Every transcendent will die. Their domains will be defiled, and their names erased from the minds of all. That one thing I will never give up.¡± ¡°The gods¡¯ purpose is still the transcendents, then.¡± ¡°They only see mortals as ythings. There¡¯s no reason to care about them, right?¡± Taesan stroked his chin. The man leisurely awaited Taesan¡¯s answer. After a brief pause, Taesan spoke. ¡°You didn¡¯t think I would ept your proposal, did you?¡± ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m not that foolish.¡± The manughed mockingly. ¡°My master said you were the key. But I knew someone like you would never ept such a proposal.¡± ¡°You understand well.¡± Lee Tae-yeon, Kang Jun-hyuk, Kim Jung-geun, and the people of Earth. They were all killed by the gods. ¡°I don¡¯t think transcendents are good either. Most of them only see mortals as entertainment. I don¡¯t deny that.¡± Taesan drew his sword. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t give me any reason to side with you.¡± From the beginning, Taesan¡¯s answer had been rejection. He had only been asking questions to extract information. The gods¡¯ objective was Taesan¡¯s Boundary. And the death of all transcendents. He had gathered enough information. ¡°I see. That¡¯s what I¡¯m thinking about right now.¡± The man emanated a sense of power. ¡°I can¡¯t kill you. But someone like you will never be mentally subdued. So I¡¯ve decided to keep it simple.¡± The man grinned and moved. He grabbed the hilt of a sword stuck into the temple floor. ¡°Let¡¯s make your mind a nk te!¡± Boom! The moment the man pulled the sword hilt, the temple began to copse. The ceiling shattered, and the floor crumbled beneath them. Taesan quickly rushed outside the temple. The man was buried in the copsed temple in an instant. **[Self-destruction... no.]** Boom! The copsed temple slowly shook. And then, it appeared. The man was holding a sword. But it wasn¡¯t just any sword. A jet-ck sword shaped like a bastard sword rose high into the air. Taesan had to crane his neck to see the tip of the de. It was truly as massive as a mountain. The man looked like an ant inparison. **[...Wow.]** ¡°Phew.¡± The man took a deep breath and raised the sword. The mountain-sized de moved smoothly in his hand. ¡°I am the avatar of the Empty Being! A traitor who joined hands with the gods, killing many immortals and destroying countless worlds!¡± The manughed. His smile was full of madness. ¡°I am the one who wields the world in my hands! Let¡¯s go! Be the cornerstone of the end of this damn universe, heralding the destruction!¡± **[The opponent is an undefeatable foe.]** The massive sword sliced through the air and swung toward Taesan. **[You have activated the Apostle Skill: [ckened Chaos].]** **[You have activated the King¡¯s Vessel Skill.]** **[Your opponent¡¯s god¡¯s power has activated.]** --- Countless activation messages obscured Taesan¡¯s vision. Holding his sword, Taesanunched himself toward the attack. --- @@novelbin@@ The giant sword created a massive storm in the air. Taesan didn¡¯t back down. Instead, he charged directly at the de. **[You have activated eleration.]** **[You have activated Strong Strike.]** He gathered strength in both hands and swung toward the massive sword. ng! A deafening noise filled the air. And it was Taesan who was knocked back. To be precise, it wasn¡¯t that he was knocked back, but his body was blown away, unable to withstand the force. **[You have activated Landing.]** With a swift motion, Taesan forced his body tond, preventing himself from flying off. His feet dug into the ground, bracing against the impact. Crack! The ground cracked and split. The earth copsed as if an earthquake had struck. ¡°It¡¯s a monster.¡± Taesan quickly gave up on a direct confrontation. The force was too overwhelming, even for him. A sword the size of a mountain. It wasn¡¯t so much wielded as it was a sword that could easily crush anything in its path. How far could he manage to control it? **[You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.]** Taesan¡¯s body soared through the sky. He elerated rapidly, heading straight for the man. ¡°Humph!¡± The man snickered and flicked his wrist. A very small, almost unnoticeable movement. But that alone made the trajectory of the giant sword shift. The sword swung directly toward Taesan, who barely managed to evade it, though he couldn¡¯t keep it up for long. The sword was massive. But conversely, that meant if he could get inside its range, the fight would be much easier. He elerated his whole body. The massive sword smoothly followed Taesan¡¯s movements. After leading the sword to a dangerously close distance, Taesan jumped into space. **[You have activated Limited Blink.]** In the blink of an eye, Taesan closed the gap with the man. Hended right in front of him, activating Landing. The man sneered and swung his arm. ng! The man deflected all of Taesan¡¯s attacks with just the sword hilt. ¡°Everyone thought my weakness was closebat. Honestly, I¡¯m grateful for it.¡± The sword hilt, as long as a spear, was more than capable of blocking Taesan¡¯s attacks. The man roughly shoved Taesan away and spun the sword. With the sword¡¯s de, he aimed to crush Taesan. **[You have activated Designated Marking eleration.]** Taesan couldn¡¯t gain any advantage and had no choice but to distance himself. But with the size of the sword, it was nearly impossible to create space. Taesan decided to change tactics. Rather than avoiding or defending, he would focus on overwhelming the man with attacks. **[You have activated Frozen World.]** **[You have activated Mana Storm.]** **[You have activated Great Copse.]** **[You have activated Marbas¡¯ ck Wave.]** Magical and dark magic techniques were activated one after another. Taesan clenched his fist. **[You have activated Magic Split.]** The magic split into dozens of branches. **[You have activated Perfect Aim.]** **[You have activated Skill eleration.]** And then, he charged directly at the man. Power surged from all directions. The man grinned, pulling his arm back. The air twisted. The sky trembled ominously. The man swung his arm, and the sword swept across every direction. The air exploded as it collided with the sword. The ckness contained in the de rushed out and charged toward Taesan, tram pling over all of Taesan¡¯s activated skills. There was no space left to dodge. It was like an explosion from a sun scorching the earth. He could block it, but it would take a significant toll. Taesan quickly decided to abandon evasion and defense. **[You have activated the First Absolute Nullification.]** The attack was erased. The man sighed in admiration. ¡°You¡¯ve got an interesting ability. But if that¡¯s all, you¡¯ll never defeat me!¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± Taesan nodded. He couldn¡¯t deny it. The man was definitely stronger than Taesan. In terms of level, he seemed to be on par with Aintshar. The man wielded the massive sword like his own limb. If it was just raw physical strength, Taesan could easily handle it, but the sword contained the man¡¯s rank as an immortal, his divine power. That wasn¡¯t all. Great Copse was an advanced spell. Even Aintshar wouldn¡¯t easily block it, but the man had done so with ease. The reason was simple. The sword contained the ckness. ¡®It¡¯s simr to the magic of negation.¡¯ Absolute superiority in all forms of interaction. Unfortunately, Taesan could not use negation magic. He had exhausted all the materials needed for Partial World Change. The chances of winning seemed slim. The man knew as well. If he swung the giant sword at full power like before, Taesan would be unable to do anything and would surely lose. Both the man and Taesan were aware of this fact. ¡°They abandoned you. Foolish beings. They didn¡¯t recognize your worth, yet they discarded you like this. Why would you risk your life to fight for such beings?¡± The man raised the sword. Taesan¡¯s answer would decide whether it woulde down or not. ¡°It¡¯s not toote. Even now, join my master.¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan replied immediately, as if there was no room for doubt. ¡°Unfortunately, I seem to be quite different from you.¡± The man had said he almost lost everything due to the games of transcendents, and that the gods had saved him. Taesan was the opposite. It was the gods who almost killed him, forcing him into the easy mode, while the transcendents had favored him, granting him power. Taesan prayed to the gods in his heart. The gods answered. **[Lakiratas has bestowed upon you the Master of Struggling Wars.]** It was Lakiratas'' blessing. His divine power. The very essence of struggle infused Taesan¡¯s body. The man¡¯s pupils widened. ¡°Lakiratas¡¯ blessing?¡± A divine blessing granted by the gods. It consumed the domain of the transcendents. Transcendents were incredibly selfish beings. They never used their domain unless it was for their apostles, and even then, it was extremely rare. That was why the man was so surprised. Taesan didn¡¯t look like an apostle of Lakiratas. For a god to grant something to someone unrted to them was impossible. ¡°...Looks like you¡¯ve made many offerings.¡± After some thought, the man came to a conclusion. He had made countless offerings to Lakiratas, and only then was the blessing granted. The man concluded that. ¡°But with just a blessing, you can¡¯t reach me.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The gods'' blessing was indeed powerful, but the difference between the man and Taesan was far greater. And Taesan hadn¡¯t just received one blessing. **[Maria has granted you the Unchanging Choice.]** The blessing of Maria, the Goddess of Choice. **[Jerband has granted you the Fundamental Elements of the Universe.]** The blessing of Jerband, the God of Magic. **[Lucifer has granted you the Precious Child of Darkness.]** The blessing of Lucifer, the Demon God. **[Ehilis has granted you the Master of the Sword.]** The blessing of Ehilis, the God of Swords. **[Aphrodia has granted you the Coiled Despair in Darkness.]** **[Baltazar has granted you the One Who ims Victory.]** **[Arrogance has granted you the Trial of Infinity.]** And many more blessings flowed one after another. The man could only watch in a daze. He couldn¡¯t even think of attacking while the blessings were being poured down. ¡°Why would the gods...?¡± ¡°They favor me. Unlike you.¡± **[The Wizard of the Labyrinth has granted you the Blessing of the Labyrinth.]** Lastly, the blessing of the Wizard of the Labyrinth infused Taesan. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan took a deep breath. The blessings of the gods took over his entire body. His strength and rank reached new heights. ¡°Let¡¯s try again.¡± Chapter 431: 84th Floor, Levinenov鈥檚 World (4) ¡°OOOOO!¡± The man moved his great sword with a shout. With every swing, dozens of storms were formed from its power. Taesan didn¡¯t retreat. He dug his feet into the ground and moved forward. Compared to the massive sword, his sword seemed as small as a toothpick. **KAAAHH!** With the collision, shockwaves swept through the surroundings. The man¡¯s face twisted. Unlike before, Taesan didn¡¯t fly off. Even though he was pushed back, his feet remained nted firmly on the ground. The man moved his hand, clearly displeased. **KWA! KWA! KWA!** The great sword moved to crush Taesan. Taesan pushed his entire body to the limit, flexing his muscles. **KUUWOOONG!** Collisions upon collisions. And at some point, Taesan stopped being pushed back. He was now fighting with all his might. The blessing of Lakiratas, the Master of Howling Struggles, activated. His speed and strength grew exponentially. **KUUUNG!** Taesan nted his feet and swung his sword upwards, directly facing the descending de. **KAAAHHH!** ¡°Grrrhh!¡± The man¡¯s body was pushed back. He quickly regained his posture, grinding his teeth. ¡°Damn god¡¯s blessing!¡± **[You have activated Forced Fall.]** Forced Fall. The effect, transformed by the Ability Sword, increased the weight of the opponent¡¯s sword upon impact. ¡°Ugh!¡± After several shes, the man quickly realized something was wrong. The weight of his great sword was bing heavier. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! This is no ordinary sword! This is my power! Do you think such tricks will work on it?!¡± ¡°Even so, it¡¯s still a sword, right? The effect will still apply.¡± The movement of the great sword slightly slowed. Taesan wrapped his magic around it. **[You have activated Baal¡¯s ck Space Surge.]** ck Space Surge was a powerful ability, but due to his low proficiency, it couldn¡¯t fully manifest its original power. But this time, it was different. The blessing of the Demon God. The Precious Child of Darkness. Its effect was dominion over all dark magic. **ZHZHZHZH!** The space, tainted with darkness, surged. It contained the power to crush all things and interfere with the very concept of existence. The man swung the great sword, trying to crush it, but the dark magic didn¡¯t back down easily. The great sword shed against it, creating a tense stand-off that bewildered the man. Taesan seized the opening. In an instant, he darted toward the man¡¯s side, piercing deeply. There was no hesitation in his action. With certainty, he chose to exploit the opening. The blessing of Maria activated. Divine power infused Taesan¡¯s sword. **KAAAHH!** ¡°Grrrhh!¡± The man barely managed to block with the sword hilt, but his body was pushed back. ¡®This is the power of divine blessing.¡¯ Each one of them had the ability to change the course of the battle. The avatar of the gods, which had seemed overwhelming, no longer frightened him. ¡°...Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± The man shouted. Filled with rage, he lifted the great sword high into the air. The surrounding air rippled and began to copse. ¡°Damn transcendents! You¡¯re unreasonable! You give everything to those you favor and show no interest in the rest! You treat their lives like toys! You¡¯re not gods! You¡¯re just powerful ruffians!¡± The man ground his teeth. ¡°I cannot ept you! Beings like you should not exist in this world!¡± The man dered, his voice filled with the same defiance one might show against a deity. Taesan, however, moved with an indifferent expression. ¡°So what?¡± ¡°W-What?¡± ¡°Gods are unreasonable. I know that. But it¡¯s not just the gods, right?¡± Taesan was an Easy Mode yer. No matter how strong he got, there were clear limits, and eventually, he was forced to be stronger through skills¡ªan inevitable, despairing kind of unfairness. But he didn¡¯t give up. The unfairness was the world itself. The man¡¯s words didn¡¯t affect him in the slightest. ¡°And you shouldn¡¯t be talking about unfairness. You said it yourself. You¡¯ve killed countless immortals, destroyed many worlds, with the power you received from the gods. You, too, are proof of unfairness.¡± ¡°To fight against great beings, sacrifices are inevitable. They are necessary sacrifices.¡± ¡°In the end, you acted ording to your own desires, didn¡¯t you? So what¡¯s the difference between you and the transcendents?¡± ¡°......¡± The man¡¯s face turned red, but he couldn¡¯t respond. ¡°Transcendents are beings who rose from mortality by their own power. They weren¡¯t born with the role of protecting mortals. We shouldn¡¯t demand absolute good from them.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± The man swung his sword. The attack was full of emotion, with no reason behind it. It was nothing but an angry outburst. ¡°So what are you saying?¡± ¡°You, like the transcendents, are acting ording to your own desires.¡± In the end, the man¡¯s true feelings were simple. He wanted revenge on the transcendents who had ignored him and treated him like a toy. ¡°Don¡¯t try to dress up a simple story as something grand.¡± --- ¡°Die!¡± The man, whose worldview had been denied, howled. The great sword, filled with pure murderous intent, swung wildly. The overwhelming physical force distorted the very air. Taesan didn¡¯t falter. Blessed by many, he possessed transcendental power. But though he didn¡¯t retreat, he wasn¡¯t able to dominate either. Because of the size of the great sword, he lost the initiative and couldn¡¯t fight head-on. His approach was the same one he had originally thought of¡ªa method of closing the distance. Having made his decision, Taesan gathered his mana. **[You have activated Great Copse [Negation].]** Negation magic was a spell that could only be activated if Taesan had control over mana through Partial World Change. However, with the blessing of Jerband, the necessary condition was met. The magic, mixed with ckness, was manifested in the world. The great sword and Great Copse collided. With a deafening sound, space crumbled. The two powers shed, neither yielding easily. The one who cracked the bnce was Taesan. **[You have activated Magic Explosion.]** Great Copse exploded, overwhelming everything. The man quickly shielded himself with the great sword. Dark orbs engulfed everything, blocking Taesan¡¯s sight. ¡®It¡¯s meant to block my vision!¡¯ It was absurd. He was an immortal, with higher power. Vision wasn¡¯t a crucial ability. **[You have activated Baal¡¯s Ovepping Darkness.]** Taesan¡¯s body blended with the darkness. The man¡¯s pupils shook. Taesan could no longer be sensed anywhere. ¡®...Even so!¡¯ The man fiercely raised his great sword. Like a windmill, he swung it to sweep everything in all directions. If he couldn¡¯t detect his opponent, he would clear everything in the area. It wasn¡¯t a wrong decision. But Taesan also had a countermeasure. The great sword didn¡¯t touch him. The aftershock didn¡¯t reach him either. The sweeping force around him missed Taesan precisely. Without resistance, Taesan arrived behind the man. Realizing toote that Taesan had moved, the man hurriedly tried to react with the sword hilt. The situation was the same, but now the tables had turned. Closebat no longer favored the man. **[You have activated Sword of Determination.]** **KAAAHH!** ¡°Grrrhh!¡± The ability of Sword of Determination tripled the shock contained in the sword. The man staggered, and Taesan dug in deeper. **[You have activated Gale Charge.]** He swung the sword in both hands with ferocity. The storm-like blows created gashes all over the man¡¯s body. ¡°This is nothing!¡± The man tried to regain his posture and retaliate, but due to Forced Fall, the weight of his sword had increased significantly. It was difficult for him to get into position, and Taesan didn¡¯t give him any opening. @@novelbin@@ Taesan stepped on the man¡¯s foot and shoved him aside, making him stagger. At point-nk range, Taesan activated Great Copse. **KUUUUNG!** The man, hit directly by the Great Copse, was buried deep into the earth. Taesan stomped on the man¡¯s hand, still gripping the great sword. The man coughed up blood. ¡°Ha, haha! Good! I admit it! With your blessings, you¡¯re stronger than I am!¡± But there was no sense of defeat on the man¡¯s face. ¡°But I am the avatar of the Empty Being! My master awaits here! Please, bestow upon me the power that empties everything!¡± A massive presence began to take form within the man. His face filled with a sense of omnipotence. ¡°No.¡± **[You have activated Exclusion of Choice.]** The entity that was about to possess the man vanished instantly, as if it had never made a choice. ¡°What!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve prepared for your trump card.¡± The man was an avatar of the gods. It had been expected that he could call upon the power of the gods. Taesan had nned to block the activation of the trump card itself. Taesan drove his sword into the man¡¯s chest. **[You have activated Copse.]** ¡°Ghh!¡± Copse¡¯s effect was to destroy anything that touched the weapon. The man¡¯s body shook. [You have activated Copse.] ¡°Ghh!¡± The effect of Copse caused the man''s body to shake. [You have activated Fall of All Things.] And everything fell. In an instant, the man¡¯s power was shattered to the ground. [You have activated Forced Duel.] Then came the Forced Duel. If bothbatants wielded swords, neither could use anything else. The ckness was blocked. ¡°Vile Empty Being... I...¡± [You have activated Sacred Ground Creation.] Kiiing! Golden light enveloped the world. The gods'' blessings had strengthened the divine power to a high level. Even in a world tainted by the gods, he had created a holy ground. The powers trying to possess the man were blocked by divinity. The environment was now one where the gods could no longer intervene. ¡°Ah... Ah...¡± The man¡¯s face turned pale. Taesan looked at him calmly. ¡°It''s working.¡± Taesan had just tested something. The gods had often intervened duringbat. Taesan had found that very annoying. He had wondered if there was a way to block their intervention. While the powers already bestowed couldn''t be undone, the process of their manifestation could still be intervened with. Having made a quick judgment, Taesan acted. With Fall of All Things and Copse, he shattered the opponent¡¯s power and blocked other forces with Forced Duel. Then, by using divinity, he created a sacred ground to banish the gods. Once the opponent was weakened enough, blocking divine intervention with divinity became possible, and it was a sess. Taesan looked down at the man beneath him. ¡°Surprisingly, you¡¯re still alive.¡± Despite his limbs being gone, the man was still breathing. But he no longer posed any threat. With the divine power Taesan had unleashed, he had sessfully blocked the gods'' intervention. ¡°...I see now. I can block the divine powers¡¯ descent. It¡¯s good to have learned this. Next time, I¡¯ll need to summon them from the beginning.¡± The man muttered with a calm face. He was neither upset by his defeat nor afraid of dying. ¡°They¡¯ve abandoned you. They¡¯re foolish. They didn¡¯t recognize your value and discarded you like this. Why would you risk your life fighting for such beings?¡± The man raised his great sword. Based on Taesan¡¯s response, he seemed ready to strike again. ¡°It¡¯s not toote. Join me and my master now.¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan responded without hesitation. ¡°There¡¯s no point in pondering. I¡¯m quite different from you.¡± The man was the avatar of the gods. He had been sent to protect Levinenov¡¯s world because of his master¡¯s orders. He had thought the gods were interested in Taesan because he was favored by them and could wield ckness. That alone made him unique and valuable in the eyes of the gods. But now... The man was terrified. He could feel it¡ªhe was afraid. The ashen power was neither a part of the gods¡¯ domain nor anything else. It was the power to separate his very essence from the gods'' corruption. The fear of death, which had been long forgotten, had now returned. ¡°P-please... spare me...¡± ¡°You¡¯ve killed so many, right? Then you should have prepared for your own death.¡± The ashen power pierced through the man¡¯s body. He screamed in agony as the power exploded and flowed into Taesan. Chapter 432: 84th Floor, Levinenov鈥檚 World (5) [Aaaaah!] The man''s soul screamed in anguish. He thrashed about, trying to escape from Taesan''s grasp. But Taesan easily overpowered his resistance, forcefully extracting the power and prestige imbued in the soul. [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Permanently increased: Health by 10,147, Strength by 2,278, Agility by 2,202, Intelligence by 587.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. Twisted Soul Tuning proficiency increased by 5%. ck proficiency increased by 5%.] [Your Soul Ascension has been activated. You have acquired the soul skill [Sword of the World].] With the activation of Soul Ascension, the blessing that had been bestowed upon Taesan dissipated. A wave of exhaustion washed over his body. While he was still immensely powerful, the blessing had raised him to a state beyond his natural limits, cing a significant strain on his body and soul. ¡°So, this is what the state of Ainzhar feels like,¡± he murmured. He had experienced a sensation close to the pinnacle of transcendence. Taesan clenched his fist. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he reached that level himself. He opened his skill window to check his progress. Twisted Soul Tuning had finally reached 80% proficiency, and ck had climbed to 20%. ¡°It took long enough.¡± He wanted to test it immediately, but there were more pressing matters to address. Raising his hand, Taesanmanded, "Ascend." [You have activated Deration of Levitation.] The remnants of the temple began to rise into the air. Amid the debris, Taesan found the sacred relic embedded within. The temple, having been at the epicenter of the battle, was so thoroughly destroyed that not even its original shape could be discerned. Yet the sacred relic remained unscathed, as pristine as when he first saw it, exuding divine power. Taesan grasped the relic. Looking up at the sky, he could see that the battle was nearing its conclusion. His task here wasplete. Taesan returned to thebyrinth. --- [84th Floor Cleared.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained the Weapon''s Engraving.] [You have obtained ???.] --- [You¡¯ve returned,] a voice greeted him. Waiting in thebyrinth was Balbabamba. [You don¡¯t seem to have suffered any major issues. That¡¯s good. So, have you uncovered the truth you sought?] ¡°Enough for now,¡± Taesan replied, meeting Balbabamba¡¯s gaze. Balbabamba''s eyes searched for an answer. [You¡¯ve acquired the sacred relic, haven¡¯t you?] Taesan held up Levinenov''s relic for him to see. Balbabamba nodded in approval. [Good. Let¡¯s move on.] [Balbabamba activates #000231.] **Rumble!** Thebyrinth twisted and reformed. In the blink of an eye, Taesan found himself on the 78th floor, in the Library of Myriad Realms. [You have many questions, but they can wait until youplete Ainzhar¡¯s quest. It will be more convenient for both you and us that way.] ¡°If you insist.¡± Taesan turned and headed toward Ainzhar. He found him sitting at the entrance to Levinenov''s hidden chamber, resting. When Ainzhar noticed Taesan¡¯s approach, he leapt to his feet. ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re back already? Did you retrieve the relic?¡± Taesan revealed the relic. Ainzhar¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. ¡°O-oh... ohhh...¡± ¡°How is Levinenov faring?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°She had a seizure not long ago, but she has stabilized since.¡± ¡°Then we can proceed.¡± Taesan entered the hidden chamber. Inside, the goddess remained as he hadst seen her¡ªsitting serenely with a gentle smile on her face. But the aura she exuded was undeniably weaker. The corruption emanating from her heart had only grown more potent. His task was clear: purge the corruption and restore the goddess to her original state. Taesan lifted the sacred relic. --- [What are you nning to do?] Balbabamba had not left. The library¡¯s guardian, Jorge, also arrived, observing Taesan intently. ¡°Purging a god¡¯s corruption isn¡¯t a trivial matter, even for my master. If this seeds, I¡¯d like to document the process,¡± Jorge remarked. [What about you, Balbabamba? Shouldn¡¯t you be managing other parts of thebyrinth?] [What happens here could significantly impact thebyrinth. As its administrator, I must ensure nosting damage urs.] [Ah, I see.] The ghost nodded. Ainzhar, however, asked anxiously, ¡°What do you n to do?¡± ¡°Though much of her is corrupted, Levinenov has been containing it within her heart. The corruption mirrors the boundary I wield.¡± Taesan exined his n to use the boundary to cleanse the corruption from Levinenov''s heart. ¡°My initial intent was to purify Levinenov¡¯s entire realm, but that proved impossible. It has be entirely an Old God¡¯s domain.¡± The realm itself was beyond salvation. Instead, Taesan would focus on purging the corruption consuming Levinenov¡¯s physical form. ¡°The goddess will lose her domain and much of her power. Failure isn¡¯t unlikely either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Ainzhar said, his voice tinged with desperation. ¡°Even a sliver of hope is enough.¡± Taesan approached Levinenov, holding the sacred relic. The corruption in her heartshed out violently as if sensing his intentions. Dark energy rippled through the chamber. Undeterred, Taesan pressed forward, shrouding his hand in divine power. **Buzz!** A boundary manifested above his palm. Without hesitation, he drove his hand into Levinenov¡¯s heart. --- Levinenov''s eyes snapped open, and she let out a deafening scream. [Aaaaagh!] The corruption erupted like a wild beast sensing its demise, releasing a torrent of destructive energy in all directions. Ainzhar hastily conjured a golden barrier, while Balbabamba fortified the chamber with his administrator¡¯s authority. The corrupt energyshed out, attempting to infiltrate Taesan¡¯s body and overwhelm him. It failed. The boundary surrounding Taesan''s hand devoured the corruption instead. The taint of an Old God, potent enough to destabilize even transcendent beings, had no effect on him. Strengthening the boundary, Taesan plunged his hand deeper. At the core of the corruption, he found its source¡ªa writhing, malevolent essence. The root of the goddess¡¯s defilement. Taesan detonated the boundary. The essence fought back with all its might, releasing a catastrophic shockwave. **Boom!** Ash-gray energy flooded the chamber. Ainzhar instinctively recoiled, knowing contact with it could warp his very existence. Balbabamba exerted his full strength as thebyrinth¡¯s administrator. [Balbabamba activates #000001.] **Rumble!** Thebyrinth fractured as Balbabamba severed the chamber from the rest of the structure. It was his ultimate authority as thebyrinth''s guardian. Even so, the ash-gray energy threatened to breach his containment. [Hmph.] Balbabamba focused harder, isting the chamber as though sealing it away. With a final push, Taesan seized the essence. For a fleeting moment, he felt a presence¡ªa vast, iprehensible being from beyond this world. Its gaze bore into him, apanied by a sinister smile. Taesan crushed the essence, suppressing the presence with his boundary. The source of Levinenov¡¯s corruption was finally extracted. --- [You have obtained a Fragment of the Old God.] [Boundary proficiency has increased by !!@%$.] [You have purified the Old God¡¯s corruption. You have acquired the special activation skill [Purification of the Profane].] [Aaaaah...] Levinenov¡¯s scream abruptly faded. Her body went limp, and the life drained from her features. The forceful removal of the corruption had destroyed part of her physical form, leaving her unable to sustain herself. Taesan quickly ced the sacred relic into her heart. **Rumble!** The relic fused with the goddess seamlessly, restoring the void left by the corruption. --- ¡°Phew...¡± As the ash-gray energy subsided, Ainzhar rushed to Levinenov''s side. ¡°My goddess!¡± He cradled her weakened form. Though still unconscious, her presence now felt pure¡ªuntainted by corruption. ¡°Oh... ohhh...!¡± Ainzhar wept with joy, holding the goddess tightly. [Sub-quest Complete.] [Ainzhar and Levinenov grant you a reward.] --- Taesan examined the fragment in his hand. --- [Fragment of the Old God.] [A piece of an Old God that transcendsws.] --- The fragment oozed profane energy, attempting to corrupt him. But the boundary enveloping Taesan rendered it powerless. ¡°You actually seeded,¡± Jorge said, his toneced with curiosity. ¡°Even the Library of Myriad Realms has no record of someone like you. You intrigue me more with every passing moment.¡± Ainzhar, still shaken but ted, staggered to his feet. ¡°Thank you... truly, thank you.¡± He gripped Taesan¡¯s hand firmly. ¡°I will repay this debt.¡± ¡°Not yet. She¡¯s not awake, and we don¡¯t know how she¡¯ll recover. Focus on protecting her for now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. For now, I must dedicate myself to Lady Levinenov¡¯s well-being. When she awakens, I¡¯ll ensure you¡¯re properly rewarded.¡± Taesan nodded, unsurprised by the dy. ¡°It¡¯s over ,¡± he muttered. [Indeed.] Balbabamba silently observed him. [Let me open the way for you.] [Balbabamba activates #000004.] A portal appeared, leading to a shimmering space filled with swirling colors. [The rest is up to thebyrinth¡¯s mage.] Stepping through, Taesan entered a realm of chaotic energy, where the mage awaited him. "Sorry, but you can¡¯t stay here," the mage said to a lingering spirit. "Leave." [What?] The ghost was powerless to resist and disappeared from Taesan''s side. ¡°You too, Green Witch. This secret is not meant for you.¡± [Wait!] A flustered voice faded in an instant. The mage conjured a chair and sat down casually. ¡°From here on out, we¡¯ll be discussing secrets too great for others to hear. I trust you¡¯ve grasped the basics by now?¡± ¡°More or less,¡± Taesan replied, taking a seat across from the mage. ¡°The Old Gods are gradually revealing themselves in this world, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll take a long time, but yes, they will return one day. The thought of repeating that wretched war is sickening.¡± The mage¡¯s tone was weary, as though he had personally faced the Old Gods in battle before their banishment. ¡°With some luck, they might be sealed away again... but who knows how things will unfold this time?¡± ¡°That being called me a key,¡± Taesan said, cutting to the point. ¡°It imed that with me, many things be possible. Do you know what it meant?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already guessed, haven¡¯t you?¡± The mage pointed a finger at Taesan. ¡°You wield the ck. And you do so without issue.¡± ¡°Is handling the power of the Old Gods truly so rare? In Levinenov¡¯s realm, I saw an avatar of an Old God¡ªit was an immortal. It wielded the ck quite effectively.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a different case entirely. It ascended to the rank of an immortal and then willingly offered itself to the Old God. In return, it gained the ability to manipte the ck.¡± The mage leaned back, crossing his legs. ¡°But you? You have no contract with the Old Gods, yet you wield not only the ck but also an anomalous force¡ªthe Boundary¡ªthat mixes divinity with it.¡± His eyes, dark as the abyss, fixed on Taesan. ¡°That power allows for many things. Severing the connection between an Old God and its avatars, purifying a corrupted goddess... What else might it achieve?¡± ¡°Have you figured out what I am?¡± Taesan asked. The mage had previously admitted to being intrigued by the uniqueness of the Boundary, yet unable to uncover its origins. ¡°I¡¯ve found some answers.¡± A bitter smile crossed the mage¡¯s lips as he began his exnation. ¡°We waged war against the Old Gods.¡± It was a conflict from a distant past, one known to only a handful of transcendents. ¡°Countless transcendents perished¡ªand were born anew. Space copsed, timelines twisted, and concepts themselves unraveled. The war, one that seemed as though it wouldst until the universe¡¯s end, somehow reached its conclusion.¡± The victors were the transcendents. @@novelbin@@ ¡°But we couldn¡¯t kill the Old Gods. All we could do was banish them. Together, every transcendentyered countlessws to create an imprable seal. Not even the Old Gods could break it. The universe was finally freed from their influence.¡± The mage paused, his expression darkening. ¡°Yet that seal is fracturing. The Old Gods are reappearing, and their target is you.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± the mage said, voice firm. ¡°Your Boundary. With it, you could undo the seal and release the Old Gods.¡± Chapter 433: 85th Floor, The Ashen Lady. Societ Gardenia (1) ¡°Even though the seal banishing the Old Gods is weakening, it will take a long time topletely break. Long enough for a bright star to lose its light. But if the Boundary is used, that changes everything.¡± With Taesan¡¯s Boundary, the seal could be forcibly undone. ¡°That¡¯s something no transcendent in this world could ever achieve. And it¡¯s not just that. You¡¯re aware of the Old Gods¡¯ ultimate goal, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°The death of all transcendents.¡± The grotesque, empty avatar of the Old Gods had stated this, making it clear that it was a condition they would neverpromise on. The mage confirmed it with a nod. ¡°They abhor transcendents. They want to erase our very existence from this world. But their own power isn¡¯t enough to aplish that. No matter how much they corrupt us, beings like Levinenov can endure.¡± Levinenov had suffered the corruption of her domain and her physical body, yet she hadn¡¯t perished. She had withstood the corruption by containing it. ¡°Moreover, deities as powerful as Lakiratas or Maria might not even allow corruption to take hold in the first ce. But... with you in the picture, things could be different.¡± The mage gave Taesan a peculiar look. ¡°Your Boundary denies and dismantlesws. It might even be able to erase the very domains of transcendents from this world.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of power.¡± ¡°Not yet, perhaps. But what if the Old Gods lent you their strength? If the other gods are weakened like Levinenov, do you think it would still be impossible?¡± ¡°....¡± Taesan didn¡¯t respond. He couldn¡¯t deny the possibility outright. The mage shrugged. ¡°To be honest, we don¡¯t fully understand the Boundary. Within the scope of what thews allow, we know almost everything, but what lies beyond that is a mystery. Maybe the Old Gods know, but they¡¯re not exactly forting with answers.¡± A figure flitted through Taesan¡¯s mind. The Archdemon, Baal. A being closer to the Old Gods than any other. ¡®He called me the Interwoven One.¡¯ Baal seemed to know something about Taesan. Perhaps he held the answers Taesan sought. But he wouldn¡¯t share them. If he¡¯d been inclined to do so, he would have already. Relying on Baal wasn¡¯t an option. The mage spoke with a conflicted expression. ¡°One thing is certain: you have the potential to unravel this world. That¡¯s why so many transcendents want you dead.¡± ¡°Quite the obsession,¡± Taesan remarked. But he understood. As someone who could undo the banishment of the Old Gods, he was a threat transcendents couldn¡¯t afford to ignore. The mage smirked mischievously. ¡°Several beings who govern the universe are trying to kill you. How does that make you feel?¡± ¡°Not great.¡± Not only did he have to deal with the Old Gods, but now an array of transcendents was also targeting him. A lesser man might have broken under the weight of it all. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. There are those, like me, who favor you and are holding them off. Nothing catastrophic will happen.¡± ¡°You¡¯re protecting me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I have no intention of joining such a foolish endeavor. Those transcendents are too one-dimensional in their thinking.¡± The mage¡¯s gaze burned with intense curiosity as he looked at Taesan. ¡°You have the power to free the Old Gods. You could kill the gods themselves. But you¡¯ve also purified the corruption of a goddess we had no means of saving, and you could destroy an avatar of an Old God¡ªsomething even we could only banish.¡± The Boundary¡¯s capabilities remainedrgely unknown. The mage leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with an almost maniacal intensity. ¡°So, I wonder... Could your power permanently banish them? Could it ensure that they never interfere with this world again?¡± His curiosity was nearly mad in its fervor. ¡°If we harness your strength, could we kill the Old Gods¡ªthe very beings we couldn¡¯t destroy before?¡± The mage chuckled darkly. ¡°You are a harbinger of change. Perhaps even the first step toward a new era. And to think, they want to eliminate you as a threat. Their ignorance isughable.¡± He sneered disdainfully, mocking the shortsightedness of the transcendents. In the end, it all traced back to the Boundary. And the skill that had allowed Taesan to obtain it: Soul Ascension. [You have entered a state of Thoughtless Immersion. Your body and mind be one.] [A miraculous power has been imprinted on your soul. You have acquired the soul skill [Soul Ascension].] ¡°When I first gained Soul Ascension, this appeared in my status window. What exactly is it?¡± A skill that allowed him to steal the powers of the Old Gods and even immortals. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know much about it either,¡± the mage admitted. ¡°All I can say for certain is that you gained Soul Ascension upon reaching a certain pinnacle of power. But even I can¡¯t discern the nature of that pinnacle.¡± The mage shook his head. ¡°To have acquired such a skill, you must have reached a significant level of transcendence. But you didn¡¯t fully retain that state. Whatever you attained has vanishedpletely, leaving only the skill behind. Were you an immortal? A transcendent? Or something else entirely? I can¡¯t say.¡± If the mage was correct, Taesan in his previous life had reached an exalted state, which had resulted in him obtaining Soul Ascension. But that state no longer existed. Only the skill remained. ¡°Still, what puzzles me even more is why you were prevented from achieving it fully. What or who could have stopped you? And how?¡± The mage¡¯s eyes were filled with unrestrained curiosity. ¡°You should continue searching for answers yourself. After all, it¡¯s your power. You¡¯re the one most likely to uncover the truth.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough for now. I¡¯ve told you everything I know. What will you do next?¡± ¡°Nothing changes.¡± Taesan spoke calmly. He remained an adventurer of thebyrinth. He would continue descending, growing stronger with each step. The affairs of the gods and Old Gods were insignificant in the grand scheme of his journey. The mage grinned. ¡°I won¡¯t stand in your way. You¡¯re free to continue descending thebyrinth as you see fit. That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Rumble! The space began to copse, and Taesan¡¯s body returned to thebyrinth. ¡°Show me. Show me what lies at the end of your path.¡± With those parting words, Taesan reappeared in thebyrinth. [Is it over?] ¡°More or less.¡± [Since I was kicked out, it must have been quite the secret conversation.] ¡°I won¡¯t deny that.¡± Taesan clenched his fist. Though he¡¯d learned many new truths, the fundamentals of his journey remained unchanged. And that was enough. He was unwavering. [What kind of conversation was so important you had to kick me out?] The Green Witch¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. Taesan shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you.¡± [Hmm... If the mage deemed it secret, then it must be something significant. It¡¯s a shame, but I¡¯ll continue watching over you.] Her voice faded again. She had made a pact with him because of his uniqueness. Yet even now, midway through the 80th floor, her desires remained far from realized. ¡®I¡¯ll find the answers as I continue descending.¡¯ Clearing his thoughts, Taesan opened his skill window. [Special Passive Skill: Twisted Soul Tuning] [Proficiency: 82%] [Twisted beings can manipte their own soul energy. You can now control the soul energy imbued within yourself or that you possess. You can also use soul energy to directly influence the world.] At 80% proficiency, the skill had evolved. Taesan now sensed his soul energy on apletely new level. He activated his soul energy, no longer limiting it to his body but extending it outward. Rumble! His soul energy enveloped the world. Taesan immediately understood what he had done. ¡°A partial alteration of the world itself.¡± [You have activated Frost Arrow [Profane].] Crack! Even without invoking a full partial alteration of the world, he could now cast profane magic by forcibly amplifying his control over mana using his soul energy. This newfound ability allowed him to replicate the effects of partial world alteration within a certain range without consuming materials. Combining this with the actual partial world alteration skill would significantly amplify his power. And then there was the ck. [Transcendence: ck] [Proficiency: 20%] [Consumption ???: ???] [?#$@!! #$!!@# @#@! !@#!!!] Atst, its proficiency had reached 20%. Though the description was still unreadable, Taesan felt a noticeable improvement in his control over it. He unleashed the ck. The dark energy spilled onto thebyrinth floor, seeping into the space and saturating it. [This... looks dangerous.] The ghost groaned as the ck transformed the area into something unrecognizable. It no longer felt like part of thebyrinth. This was the domain of the Old Gods. ¡°So this is how it feels.¡± Taesan withdrew the ck. He could now disperse it broadly, not just limit it to his body or weapons. ¡®Could I use the Boundary in a simr way?¡¯ So far, he had used the Boundary exclusively as a weapon. While he had employed its repulsive force to protect his body, it had never extended far beyond his immediate vicinity. But now that he could spread the ck over a wide area, it seemed usible to extend the Boundary in a simr manner. Still, it was too risky to test immediately. If he damaged thebyrinth, Balbabamba might intervene. He decided to wait for the right moment. ¡®Even without the Boundary...¡¯ Demons were akin to the Old Gods. Bybining the ck with demonic magic, such as profane spells, he could create new applications. The possibilities were endless. Organizing his thoughts, Taesan checked another skill. [Soul Skill: Sword of the World] [Proficiency: 1%] [Summon a sword forged from the world itself. Due to the user¡¯sck of qualifications, the sword requires time to restore after each use.] This was the colossal sword wielded by the Old God¡¯s avatar, the one that resembled a mountain. It was a skill of immense value, given the power it promised. Though the sword could only be used once before requiring restoration, that single use was more than enough. [Weapon¡¯s Engraving] [An engraving applied to a weapon. Though itcks any visible markings, it contains undeniable power.] Taesan embedded the engraving into Carbert¡¯s Relic. [Carbert¡¯s Relic: A Sword Imbued with the Blood of Ancestors] [An artifact from a destroyed world. It imed the lives of countless royals.] [Attack +1000] @@novelbin@@ [Attack +150 against all enemies.] ¡°Well.¡± The sword¡¯s attack power had increased by 500¡ªa significant improvement, surpassing most equipment upgrades. The hidden reward he received, a material for dark magic, was earmarked as a sacrificial offering. [Special Activation Skill: Purification of the Profane] [Proficiency: 1%] [Consumption ???: ???] [Cleanse the profane elements polluting the world. Currently, only certain types of corruption can be purified.] This was the skill he had obtained after purifying the goddess¡¯s corruption. It seemed specifically designed to counter the Old Gods¡¯ taint. Its exact effects would only be clear upon using it on a target. Having reviewed his skills, Taesan retrieved the fragment of the Old God. [Fragment of the Old God] [A piece of an Old God that exists beyond thews.] This fragment wasn¡¯t something to handle lightly. He still had the crystallized divine blood sitting dormant in his inventory. How could he use these two materials? Pondering the possibilities, Taesan stored the fragment in his inventory. He began walking toward the 85th floor. But instead of a quest notification for the 85th floor, a different system window appeared. ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± [Special Quest Activated] [Return to Earth.] [In one month, you will return to thend you abandoned. Survive there and return. Rewards will be determined based on your performance.] Chapter 434: 85th Floor, The Ashen Lady. Societ Gardenia (2) The Return to Earth. This was the seventh urrence. As soon as the system window appeared, themunity erupted in chaos. yers from around the world engaged in heated discussions. [Oliver Khan (Hard): This time, all the yers on Earth are likely to gather together, right?] [Kim Hwiyeon (Hard): That seems highly probable.] [Daniel Darmont (Hard): Hmm... I can¡¯t quite grasp how this will y out.] During the sixth return, yers had split into three groups: Europe, America, and Asia. Now, it seemed almost certain that all yers would be united this time. Anxiety and trepidation spread among the yers. However, the Asian yers were not afraid. They were confident. Confident in their victory. [Baek Sanghun (Normal): Taesan is with us!] [Gulshan Devaya (Normal): As long as Taesan is here, we will win! We cannot lose!] They chanted Taesan¡¯s name, pouring unwavering trust and devotion into him. [Oliver Khan (Hard): ...We¡¯ve witnessed your power firsthand, though you didn¡¯t show your full strength then. I wonder if we, too, wille to revere you like they do. It¡¯s hard to imagine.] [Kang Taesan (Alone): Whether you believe in me or not is entirely up to you.] Taesan had never demanded faith or devotion. [Kang Taesan (Alone): But there¡¯s no harm in worship, is there? In fact, it might even benefit humanity.] [Oliver Khan (Hard): Worshipping you, you mean?] [Kang Taesan (Alone): Yes.] In a world brought to the brink of annihtion by the Old Gods, Taesan had be the object of universal faith, ascending as its ruler. The same could happen on Earth. But faith wasn¡¯t something that could be forced. True belief had toe from the depths of the heart, beyond Taesan¡¯s control. He shifted the conversation. [Kang Taesan (Alone): How far has everyone progressed?] One by one, yers began to answer. Korea¡¯s hard mode yers had reached the mid-70s. American yers were at the early 70s. yers from other regions were at simr levels. The progress of hard mode yers was about what Taesan had anticipated. The most critical part was the Alone mode yers. [Kang Junho (Alone): I¡¯m in the mid-50s.] [Amelia Aerin (Alone): I¡¯ve reached the 64th floor.] [Kamal Hassan (Alone): I¡¯m in thete 40s.] Other Alone mode yers, previously not well-known, also began to speak up. Overall, they had advanced further than Taesan expected. At this rate, even Alone mode yers could be significant assets. [Kang Taesan (Alone): What happened? You¡¯ve progressed faster than I thought.] [Kang Junho (Alone): We¡¯ve been sharing information diligently. Plus, my sister¡¯s help was invaluable.] [Amelia Aerin (Alone): I¡¯ve been carefully analyzing thebyrinth, but she seemed to know the details even better than I did. How did she manage that?] [Lee Taeyeon (Alone): Hard work. Nothing more.] Lee Taeyeon posted her progress. [Lee Taeyeon (Alone): You asked about our floors? I¡¯ve reached the 69th.] [Amelia Aerin (Alone): ...You¡¯re absurdly fast.] Amelia grumbled. She had thought no one but Taesan could rival her. Yet, Lee Taeyeon had rapidly caught up and even surpassed her. Despite this, Amelia felt no hostility or jealousy. Her confidence had already been shattered by Taesan, and she had grown close to Lee Taeyeon through frequent conversations. Her curiosity, however, remained. [Amelia Aerin (Alone): Something must have changed, but you won¡¯t tell me what.] [Lee Taeyeon (Alone): It¡¯s just a difference in mindset. Nothing special.] [Kang Taesan (Alone): A deep zone? That shouldn¡¯t be an issue for you.] Taeyeon was more than capable of navigating deep zones without Taesan¡¯s help. The conversation continued, ranging from floor strategies to methods for acquiring certain skills. Taesan shared detailed exnations and advice. [Kang Junho (Alone): ...Even hearing it again, it sounds impossible. Is it really attainable?] [Kang Taesan (Alone): With effort, some of it is achievable. Don¡¯t get too obsessed.] Lee Taeyeon had managed to acquire rare skills like Guaranteed Hit and Addition. The others had potential, too. After answering their questions, Taesan closed themunity. He began his preparations for the return. For one, he could take Beldenkia and Diana with him to Earth. Diana was a powerful ally on the edge of the Boundary. Despite being weakened, Beldenkia was still at a leadership level. Together, they could significantly enhance humanity¡¯s survival chances. Then there was dark magic. Taesan, having acquired his own domain within the demonic realm, could create unique dark magic. Could he share this magic with Earth¡¯s yers? It seemed possible, though he hadn¡¯t tested it yet. If sessful, it would undoubtedly be a formidable asset. ¡®Now that I think about it...¡¯ Thebyrinth was separated by the Old Gods. While transcendent entities were unaffected, NPCs were likely left stranded. Beldenkia and Diana were probably still in someone else¡¯sbyrinth, unable to fulfill their goals. ¡®I should ask Balbabamba about this.¡¯ He decided to investigateter. For now, Taesan knew the Old Gods¡¯ intentions. They would no longer conceal their desires. Their primary target wasn¡¯t Earth¡ªit was him. And he would prevail against them. Taesan made his way back to the 85th floor. This time, the quest window finally appeared. The ghost seemed startled as he read the contents. [85th Floor Quest Activated.] [Defeat Societ Gardenia.] [Reward: Savage Broken Sword.] [Hidden Reward: ???] Societ Gardenia. The Ashen Lady was the target of the floor¡¯s quest. ¡°Did Balbabamba change this?¡± The usual 85th floor was no longer sufficient to challenge Taesan, so thebyrinth¡¯s quest had been altered. This meant that Societ herself was deemed a fitting opponent for someone of Taesan¡¯s caliber. [She was a princess of a kingdom,] the ghost muttered. [One day, for no apparent reason, she drew the ire of aary god. Her entire kingdom was cursed. Her father sacrificed himself, begging for his people to be spared, but it was in vain. Everyst being, down to the dogs, was ughtered.] Transcendents were notoriously capricious. Just as Hamon had tried to annihte the Bekveseta demons without reason, something simr had likely happened in Societ¡¯s world. [She survived, thanks to the help of a few loyal subjects. But no one epted her. Instead, they ced a bounty on her head, hunting her down. Barely clinging to life, she eventually reached thebyrinth. And there, she met me.] The ghost sighed. [I pitied her. I felt a sense of kinship. We were both royalty who had lost everything and survived alone. So I helped her, taught her much, and supported her. But...] ¡°She killed you.¡± The one who had first proposed killing the ghost within the guides¡ªthe leader of that faction¡ªwas none other than Societ Gardenia. The ghost fell silent. Taesan moved forward, passing through the corridor. He opened the door and stepped inside. There, he saw Societ. She was dancing. Dressed in a pristine white gown, she waltzed alone. Her movements exuded an undeniable elegance. Taesan silently observed. Soon, the waltz ended. Societ turned, a gentle smile on her face. Extending her hand toward the ghost, she looked every bit the princess choosing a partner at a ball. ¡°Hello, my prince. Would you care to dance?¡± [The Ashen Lady, Societ Gardenia, has appeared.] *** @@novelbin@@ [Sorry, but thanks to someone, I¡¯m stuck in this state. Dancing isn¡¯t exactly an option for me.] ¡°Is that so? What a shame.¡± Societ spoke with genuine regret, her expression tinged with sorrow. ¡®She¡¯s twisted.¡¯ Taesan, possessing the Will of All Things, could sense it clearly. Societ¡¯s emotions were a chaotic mess, interwoven with contradictions he couldn¡¯t fully unravel. Resentment. Longing. Regret. And something else. [I really was blind. I never imagined you would betray me.] ¡°You weren¡¯t the only one. Even I didn¡¯t think I would.¡± [Why did you betray me?] The ghost¡¯s voice was sharp. [You weren¡¯t like the other guides. They were all mad, but you... you were different. You were deeply human.] The other leaders were all warped in some way. Societ, however, was an exception. That was why the ghost had grown close to her. [Not to praise myself, but we were rather close, weren¡¯t we?] ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Societ agreed, a sad smile gracing her lips. ¡°Our rtionship was good. Very good. But, Bardray...¡± Her slender finger pointed toward the ghost. ¡°You never truly understood me.¡± [...] ¡°You see, Bardray. You felt a connection to me. But I never felt the same about you. If anything, I felt distant.¡± [What?] ¡°The connection you felt came from the fact that we were both princes and princesses of ruined kingdoms. But aside from that... we were far too different.¡± Societ bit her lip. ¡°You wanted to restore the fallen kingdom. You even asked me to join you. But I... I never wanted to save the kingdom.¡± [Why not?] ¡°Because I was a cursed child.¡± Societ spoke with calm detachment. ¡°From the moment I was born, I was abandoned by the kingdom. I was born with a power that could not be tolerated. My existence was erased from the kingdom¡¯s records, and my mother, who bore me, was executed. The only reason I survived was the possibility that my power might be useful in war.¡± The ghost¡¯s form trembled. Societ smiled bitterly. ¡°This is the first you¡¯re hearing of this, isn¡¯t it? Of course. I lied to you. I told you, just like you, I was loved by my kingdom. That even though I was cursed, everyone loved me.¡± [That was a lie?] ¡°When the god trampled the kingdom, it wasn¡¯t my father who offered himself in sacrifice to save his people. No, he dragged me by the hair, threw me off a cliff, and shouted that he would offer me in exchange for their survival. I just altered the story to make it sound better.¡± Societ hummed softly. ¡°The kingdom fell, and I survived. But nothing changed. Every human in the world rejected my existence. I ran and ran, and after endless fleeing, I finally reached thebyrinth. That part, at least, was the truth.¡± [...] After a brief silence, the ghost spoke with a tone of disbelief. [Why did you lie to me?] ¡°That¡¯s simple.¡± Societ smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s human nature not to want to reveal one¡¯s scars to someone they love.¡± The ghost¡¯s form shook violently, far more than before. Societ watched him with a knowing expression. ¡°You really didn¡¯t know? I figured as much. Back then, you were consumed by your goals.¡± [You... loved me?] ¡°I love you.¡± Societ¡¯s voice trembled with the excitement of a girl experiencing her first love. ¡°And that hasn¡¯t changed. Even now, the only one who cared for me, worried about me, supported me, and focused solely on me... was you.¡± [Then why?] The ghost spoke, his voice barely steady. [Why did you kill me?] ¡°Because you weren¡¯t looking at me.¡± Societ¡¯s face turned nk, her voice monotone. ¡°Your goal was always to restore the fallen world and live with your fianc¨¦e. Do you know how unbearable it was for me to sit beside you and listen to her stories while pretending to be supportive?¡± She clenched her teeth. ¡°There was no ce for me in your life. Once you cleared thebyrinth, I would have been nothing more than a girl you felt some kinship with. A fleeting memory, forgotten once you found happiness.¡± Her face twisted in anguish. ¡°You, Bardray, are everything to me.¡± The girl who had never been loved, who had only known hatred, desperately clung to the one kindness she had ever received. ¡°I wanted to remain in your heart. To never be forgotten. To be something more than a mere fragment of memory. Something that would define your life. And how could I achieve that?¡± [...] ¡°I know this is twisted. I know it¡¯s wrong.¡± Societ smiled faintly. ¡°But this is my love for you, Bardray.¡± *** The ghost said nothing. It remained silent, unmoving. ¡°Judging by yourck of response, I¡¯d say I¡¯ve achieved my purpose. You¡¯ll never be able to forget me now. But... this isn¡¯t enough.¡± Societ¡¯s lips curled into a twisted smile. ¡°I want to consume you. To fill you with nothing but me.¡± Snap. Dark energy began to emanate from her body. It was neither demonic magic nor the power of the Old Gods. It was something entirely different¡ªprofound, heavy, and oppressive. Dressed in her white gown, Societ stood amidst the encroaching darkness. ¡°I love you. More than anything else in this world. That much, at least, is the absolute truth.¡± Rumble. From the dark energy, corpses began to rise. Knights and mages, their hollow forms animated by her power, stood ready. Societ¡¯s voice was steady and resolute. ¡°And so, I¡¯ll fill your existence with nothing but me.¡± The undead moved in unison, their hollow eyes glowing with malice, as they surged toward Taesan and the ghost. Chapter 435: 85th Floor, The Ashen Lady. Societ Gardenia (3) ¡°Necromancy, huh.¡± Taesan hurled himself into the oing corpses, clenching his fists and mming them forward as he took a step. A violent shockwave tore through the undead, scattering flesh and shattering the bones of skeletons in all directions. BOOM! Yet, the corpses kepting. Among them, Taesan recognized some of the figures¡ªmonsters he had once defeated in the lower levels of thebyrinth. Now, those same monsters moved under Societ¡¯s control. Worse yet, they were far stronger than they had been before. Societ¡¯s power was clear: she reanimated the dead, wielding their bodies as tools against the living. Taesan kicked out, obliterating dozens of charging beasts in a single blow. Without hesitation, he swung his arm, pulverizing more of the undead. His fingers came away slick with decayed flesh, but for every corpse he struck down, even more rose to take their ce. In mere moments, the chamber was teeming with the dead. While fighting, Taesan spoke, his voice cutting through the chaos. ¡°How does it feel, knowing that someone you thought you understood was actually aplete stranger?¡± [Shut up.] The ghost¡¯s reply was curt, though his earlier shock hadrgely dissipated. [...Remarkable.] He had known nothing about Societ. He had believed her lies and never once suspected that she might harbor feelings for him¡ªlet alone betray him. [And in the end, she killed me. I feel some regret, but... the fact remains. Societ murdered me.] The ghost¡¯s voice was low and steady. [I''ve sorted it out.] ¡°Good.¡± Taesan extended his hand. Hundreds of corpses surged toward him, but he called forth his magic with a thought. [You have activated Mana Storm.] CRASH! A tempest roared to life within the chamber, its gale-force winds ripping through the undead ranks. Corpses were shredded to pieces, their remains swallowed by the storm. Societ hastily summoned more, but the storm fed on them, growing even more ferocious. ¡°A monster indeed,¡± Societ muttered with a hollow chuckle. Her expression turned serious as she ced her hand on the ground. ¡°Come forth.¡± RUMBLE! From the darkness emerged a massive chimera¡ªan amalgamation of corpses. Its head resembled that of a dog, its arms were those of an orc, and its lower body bore the scaled tail of a basilisk. The patchwork abomination let out an ear-piercing screech and lunged straight into the mana storm. The storm began tearing chunks from the chimera, but it pressed forward, heedless of its injuries. Wrapping itself around the core of the tempest, it bore the full brunt of the storm¡¯s power. BOOM! The mana storm exploded in a violent eruption. Razor-sharp gusts of wind sliced through the air, reducing the chimera to countless fragments. But Societ didn¡¯t stop. Spreading her dark energy further, shemanded once more: ¡°Reveal yourselves.¡± The ground quaked as an enormous arm emerged from the shadows. It was impossiblyrge, its hand alone dwarfing Taesan. Beyond the arm, a colossal, ominous eye red down at him from the darkness. [A giant¡¯s corpse?] ¡°A difficult one to acquire,¡± Societ said with a smirk. ¡°Let¡¯s see you handle it.¡± This was no ordinary giant. The power radiating from the corpse surpassed even that of thebyrinth¡¯s council leaders. But for Taesan, it was nothing extraordinary. He didn¡¯t even see the need to use his enhancement skills. Drawing his de, he strode forward. SLASH! With a single swing, he severed the giant¡¯s arm, sending it crashing to the floor. The giant retaliated with its massive frame, but Taesan countered each strike with precise, devastating cuts. BOOM! The giant reeled under Taesan¡¯s unrelenting assault. His de found its mark once more, plunging into the creature¡¯s shadowy form. [You have activated Copse.] Power surged through the de, flooding the giant¡¯s body with destructive energy. The towering corpse thrashed in resistance, but it was futile. The overwhelming force reduced its massive form to dust and scattered remains. With her greatest creations destroyed, Societ stood alone in the chamber. Taesan rushed her, his de poised for the final strike. Societ didn¡¯t resist. SHLUNK! The sword pierced her chest. THUD! [You have dealt 34,123 damage to Societ.] [Societ has activated Necromancy. Her health is fixed at 0, and her race changes to Undead.] ¡°So, I couldn¡¯t defeat you after all,¡± Societ said, blood dribbling from her lips. ¡°The victory is yours.¡± @@novelbin@@ Taesan withdrew his de. Though she had clung to life through her necromantic skill, it was clear she had no strength left to continue. He stepped back, leaving her unfinished. It wasn¡¯t his fight to end. The ghost moved forward. [...Societ.] ¡°Bardray.¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°He¡¯s your sword, isn¡¯t he?¡± [No. He¡¯s not some tool for me.] The ghost denied her words. ¡°...That¡¯s surprising to hear. I remember you as someone incredibly arrogant. Back then, you saw everyone as beneath you. Even me.¡± Societ let out a softugh. ¡°To think you¡¯ve changed enough to acknowledge another person. It seems your time with him has made quite an impact.¡± [It¡¯s been a long time. I spent centuries trapped in my grave, reflecting on everything. I¡¯m no longer the prince you once knew.] ¡°Is that so?¡± she murmured. ¡°In the end, I¡¯m just a fragment of your past. How... mncholic.¡± [You killed me, Societ.] The ghost¡¯s voice was heavy. [No matter what you felt or thought, that fact doesn¡¯t change. This is goodbye.] Societ¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not that simple.¡± BOOM! Thebyrinth trembled violently. Taesan reacted instantly, swinging his de with impossible speed. SHIIING! But his strike was stopped by an invisible barrier surrounding Societ. ¡°The man who felled countless council leaders, defeated all odds, and stood alone at the top... Did you really think I would face you without a n?¡± Societ stood, raising her hand toward the heavens. ¡°Descend! O Great One! For your purpose, grace this ce with your presence!¡± CRACK! Reality tore apart as a colossal being manifested in thebyrinth. [The God of Lust, Exireia, has descended.] A suffocating presence filled the room. Reflexively, Taesan tensed, ready to fight. The God of Lust was a new entity to him, but the words of the mage echoed in his mind: many deities wanted him dead. Exireia could very well be one of them. Just as he prepared to unleash his power, a voice reverberated through the air. [I have note to kill you, Adventurer. Such matters do not interest me.] Exireia¡¯s voice was calm, yet unyielding. [I havee to test you.] ¡°This is my final card. What do you think?¡± Societ smiled, but neither the ghost nor Taesan seemed particrly shaken. [This feels familiar. Like the Lion King.] The ghost¡¯s voice wasposed. He recalled how the Lion King had sought the aid of the God of Destruction to challenge Taesan. [But it doesn¡¯t matter anymore. You no longer hold any significance to me.] His tone was even, as though he had finally made peace with himself. Instead of anger or despair, Societ simply smiled. ¡°I told you. This isn¡¯t enough. Did you really think I¡¯d rely on such a conventional method?¡± She staggered, cing her hand on the ground. The dense darkness surrounding her condensed, converging under her palm. ¡°Bardray. Do you remember your death?¡± [You stabbed me in my sleep with a cursed dagger. I¡¯ve alreadye to terms with it.] ¡°No, Bardray. That¡¯s the version you were told after the fact. You were asleep when you died. You never saw it for yourself.¡± Societ hummed softly. ¡°I am a necromancer. A master of the dead. Bardray... Do you really think your body is still buried in that grave?¡± [...You didn¡¯t.] For the first time, the ghost¡¯s voice faltered. Societ¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Come forth, my prince.¡± From the shadows, a figure emerged. Taesan¡¯s eyes narrowed as recognition dawned. The figure had tinum hair and a bnced, regal physique. Save for a small scar on its chest, the body was wless, its noble bearing unmistakable even in death. Taesan knew that face. [A...ah.] The ghost let out a faint sound, filled with shock. The system¡¯s announcement confirmed the truth. [The Prince of the Fallen World, Bardray¡¯s Corpse, has appeared.] Chapter 436: 85th Floor, The Ashen Lady. Societ Gardenia (4) ¡°What...?¡± Bardray scanned his surroundings, his expression twisted in confusion. ¡°I was resting on the 10th floor just a moment ago.¡± ¡°Ha... hahaha... hahahaha...¡± Societ, copsed on the floor, let out a manicugh. Even though everything she had was drained by Exireia, leaving her with nothing, her sheer, almost maddening determination kept her conscious. ¡°Ahhh... my prince...¡± ¡°...Societ?¡± Bardray¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he noticed her condition. ¡°What happened to you?¡± ¡°Listen, my prince,¡± Societ said, her lifeless face barely moving. ¡°You died. I borrowed Exireia¡¯s authority to bring you back.¡± ¡°...What nonsense is this?¡± Bardray¡¯s face contorted further. ¡°There¡¯s nothing on the 10th floor that could kill me.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know. But the fact remains¡ªyou¡¯re dead. Maybe someone from the upper ranks secretly killed you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way someone could get close enough to me without me noticing.¡± Kang Taesan quietly observed Bardray. The Bardray standing before him had memories up until the moment he fell asleep on the 10th floor. Revived by divine authority, it made sense that his memories only extended to right before his death. Though Bardray initially denied it, the more Societ spoke, the more he began to ept reality. ¡°...If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s usible.¡± ¡°There were plenty of guides who didn¡¯t get along with you. They were the ones who orchestrated it. I tried to stop them, but... they wouldn¡¯t listen.¡± ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± Bardray asked sharply, his mistrust evident in his tone. Societ chuckled softly. ¡°If I were the one who killed you, why would I go to such lengths to bring you back? Look at me.¡± She raised a frail arm, now devoid of any strength. ¡°I gave everything I had to resurrect you.¡± ¡°...You borrowed her power,¡± Bardray said. [Indeed,byrinth warrior.] Exireia¡¯s voice rang out, calm and resolute. [She offered everything to resurrect you, and that is the truth.] ¡°Is that so...¡± [Thus, I grant you, the resurrected, a choice.] A system window materialized before Bardray. [System Notification] Objective: Defeat the adventurer who made a pact with the ghost of the fallen prince of a ruined world. Condition: Kill Kang Taesan. Reward: Resurrection. After reading the notification, Bardray spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you, Societ.¡± [Are you truly going to believe her?] The ghost chuckled bitterly. Bardray¡¯s gaze shifted to the ghost. Looking at his spectral counterpart, Bardray said bluntly, ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± [Yes, I am you.] ¡°You made a pact with abyrinth magician for vengeance? To think I¡¯d see my own soul like this... how curious.¡± [It¡¯s true Societ resurrected you. But she¡¯s also the one who killed me.] ¡°Then I¡¯ll return the favor. I can¡¯t trust your words either.¡± Even his ghostly counterpart was not exempt from Bardray¡¯s suspicion. ¡°You¡¯ve experienced many things in that form. You¡¯re me, but not entirely me. I cannot trust you.¡± [Ah, the past me is quite the tiresome personality.] ¡°No matter what you say, it changes nothing,¡± Bardray dered, reaching into the air. The space split apart¡ªabyrinth-granted inventory opening at hismand. ¡°What matters is that I was dead... and now I¡¯ve been given another chance.¡± From the inventory, Bardray drew a longsword. ¡°I won¡¯t squander a miracle like this.¡± His gaze toward Taesan sharpened, overflowing with deadly intent. The warrior who had provided so much assistance now aimed to kill him. [Then let your desires guide you, beings of ambition.] With those final words, Exireia withdrew. Bardray smirked arrogantly, gripping his sword with unwavering confidence. ¡°If I¡¯m making a pact with an adventurer, they must be skilled. Allow me to test you myself, adventurer.¡± Step. Bardray moved. The sword left trails in the air, shing through space with countless arcs, as if an entire army attacked at once. The First de of the Storm Scar¡ªWolf¡¯s Fang. Taesan raised his own sword. ng! The sh of des erupted in a chaotic flurry. Though Bardray had died on the 80th floor, making him stronger than most 80th-floor adventurers, Taesan was the Immortal. Even if dozens of Bardrays attacked simultaneously, they would not leave a scratch. Yet Bardray¡¯s strikes were razor-sharp and overwhelming. Empowered by Exireia¡¯s authority, For the One Beloved, Bardray¡¯s abilities had soared to unprecedented levels. Now, he rivaled the likes of Princess Diana of Veldenkia. @@novelbin@@ ng! Bardray leaped back, his face twisting in frustration. ¡°...You¡¯ve learned my swordsmanship.¡± The ability Sword was based on the Storm Scar style. ¡°You dare to use my own techniques? That style is mine alone. I¡¯ll show you the true Storm Scar.¡± With an air of arrogance and unrivaled self-confidence, Bardrayunched himself forward again, his movements now flowing like a dancer¡¯s graceful performance. The Second de of the Storm Scar¡ªDancer¡¯s Waltz. [You activated Deflection.] Bardray¡¯s sword strikes curved like a serpent, aiming for Taesan¡¯s neck. [You activated Flow.] ng! Taesan¡¯s counterattack knocked Bardray back effortlessly. ¡°I see. You¡¯re diverting the force of every collision itself...¡± Bardray murmured before drawing a second sword. Holding dual des, he spun and charged like a whirlwind. The storm of strikes blurred reality, mixing feints and real attacks so seamlessly it was nearly impossible to distinguish between them. In terms of pure swordsmanship, Bardray surpassed Taesan. But as Taesan calmly blocked the onught, he spoke. ¡°Have you sorted out your thoughts yet?¡± [...You were waiting for me?] ¡°This is your quest, after all,¡± Taesan replied evenly. ¡°I can¡¯t just end it without your resolution.¡± [Heh.] The ghost chuckled. [It¡¯s already over. End it all. Everything.] With those words, Taesan gripped his sword with both hands and struck downward. Bardray countered with spring-like agility, but the sheer weight behind Taesan¡¯s strike overwhelmed him. The conflict surged with divine interventions and impossible stakes, as three transcendent powers¡ªExireia, Derzha, and Ehilie¡ªconverged to test thebyrinth''s strongest warrior. Taesan¡¯s de bore down with relentless force. Bardray¡¯s dual swords moved with incredible precision, parrying each strike, but the gap in sheer power was insurmountable. With a sharp motion, Taesan pinned Bardray to the ground, his de pressing down mercilessly. ¡°Gah!¡± Bardray coughed as the weight forced him to the floor. Taesan imbued his de with divinity, shing downward in an unrelenting attack. Boom! Golden light erupted, its radiance flooding thebyrinth. The power of the divine strike was so immense that even a high-ranking apostle would not survive unscathed. Yet, Bardray emerged alive, shielded by an unyielding barrier. [You activated Absolute Judgment.] Taesan''s de struck the barrier again, but not a single crack appeared. The system''s ruling was absolute. The protective shield surrounding Bardray was invulnerable¡ªan effect stemming from the divine authority granted by For the One Beloved. The power shielded Bardray from all fatal damage for a set duration. Gritting his teeth, Bardray pushed himself up, his face grim. ¡°You can¡¯t beat him as you are now,¡± Societ murmured weakly. Herplexion had paled further, her vitality rapidly draining. The limitations of Exireia¡¯s blessing were clear. Even empowered by divine authority, Bardray could not ovee Taesan, whose power far exceeded the limits of a resurrected 80th-floor adventurer. Bardray said nothing, his expression somber. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Bardray,¡± Societ continued, her voice faltering. ¡°I know that... I¡¯ll ensure... you defeat him.¡± As her final words escaped her lips, thest traces of life left her body. [Societ Gardentia has died.] ¡°Societ?¡± Bardray¡¯s voice wavered as he called her name. Though her death was inevitable, the abruptness of it struck him deeply, as if she had chosen her own end. At that moment, a massive presence descended upon thebyrinth once more. But this time, it was not Exireia. [Derzha''s Posthumous Contract has been activated. Derzha¡¯s interference has increased.] Societ¡¯s body stirred, her eyes opening. Societ rose to her feet, her movements unnervingly mechanical, as if a marite was controlling her. ¡°Hm...¡± she murmured, her voice utterly devoid of emotion. ¡°I wasn¡¯t fond of Exireia¡¯s meddling, but I¡¯ve achieved my goal¡ªthe body is mine. It will suffice.¡± Turning her gaze toward Taesan, the being inhabiting Societ¡¯s corpse finally spoke. ¡°So, you¡¯re the one stirring up thebyrinth.¡± ¡°...And you are?¡± Taesan¡¯s expression hardened. The presence emanating from Societ now surpassed even Exireia¡¯s. ¡°I am Derzha,¡± she said. ¡°The God of Death.¡± Derzha¡¯s identity sent a wave of shock through Bardray. ¡°The God of Death... Derzha?¡± Bardray whispered, his eyes wide. Derzha was a transcendent being, a true embodiment of death itself. Unlike other gods who ruled over aspects of death, Derzhamanded the very concept of mortality and had existed since the beginning of time. For Bardray, Derzha¡¯s appearance on the 85th floor was unthinkable. She was a god known to reside in thebyrinth¡¯s deepestyers, far beyond the reach of ordinary adventurers. ¡°Why would Derzha possess her body...?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been watching her since she first entered thebyrinth,¡± Derzha replied casually. ¡°I proposed a contract many times, but she always refused. Recently, however, she changed her mind and epted.¡± [Derzha¡¯s Puppeteer has been activated.] Boom! The power of the God of Death surged forth, manifesting through Societ¡¯s body. ¡°The magician ims you can create a new world,¡± Derzha said, her voice cold and unyielding. ¡°What is this ¡®new world¡¯? This world is already perfect. Why spare a being that only brings chaos to this bnce?¡± The air grew heavy as the essence of death seeped into thebyrinth, spreading like a slow, creeping fog. ¡°You, a being of such discord, cannot be allowed to exist,¡± Derzha dered, her tone final, like a judge delivering a sentence. ¡°Did Societ... sacrifice herself for me?¡± Bardray murmured, his voice filled withplex emotions. ¡°If she wished for my victory that much, then I must answer her resolve in kind.¡± [Ha.] The ghost let out a dry, mockingugh. To someone who knew the truth, it was almost absurd. ¡°Ehilie,¡± Bardray called, his voice trembling but determined. ¡°I ept your contract now.¡± [The God of Swords, Ehilie, descends.] Ehilie¡ªa god Taesan had once encountered during his trial. Ironically, Ehilie had previously descended into Bardray¡¯s body during Taesan¡¯s ordeal, granting him temporary power. Now, the same god was sealing a pact with Bardray, who had regained his physical form, to strike down Taesan. The ghost watching the scene whispered bitterly, ¡°Back when I was alive, I was offered the chance to be an apostle several times, but I refused every time. Apostleship imposes limits on growth, so I chose to reject it.¡± And yet, here and now, Bardray was epting the very contract the ghost had once turned away, all to defeat Taesan. A guttural groan escaped Bardray as his body began to change. ¡°Oh... Ohhh...¡± His very essence evolved, ascending rapidly to be an apostle of Ehilie. His power surged, his presence growing mightier by the second. ¡°There are so many of them,¡± Taesan muttered, clicking his tongue in annoyance. Exireia, Derzha, Ehilie. The power of three transcendent beings now targeted Taesan simultaneously. Despite the overwhelming odds, Taesan stood resolute, his unwavering determination zing like a beacon amid the oppressive divine forces surrounding him. Chapter 437: 85th Floor, The Ashen Lady. Societ Gardenia (5) ¡°With my pact with Societ, I will assist you, Apostle of Ehilie.¡± [Derzha has transferred control of the puppet.] Bardray gained temporarymand over Societ, now a vessel controlled by Derzha¡¯s authority. ¡°She is my possession. If she sustains even a scratch, I won¡¯t let it go unpunished,¡± Derzha warned. ¡°I can¡¯t make any guarantees, but I will try my best,¡± Bardray replied calmly. ¡°Hmph.¡± Derzha scoffed, her presence withdrawing from Societ¡¯s body. ¡°Well then, shall we begin anew?¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± ¡®Forced Duel won¡¯t be of use here,¡¯ Taesan thought, observing the situation. The mechanics were like puppetry. While Forced Duel prevented damage to non-targeted entities, it allowed attacks on targets¡¯ puppets or possessions without restriction. ¡°Societ.¡± At Bardray¡¯s curtmand, Societ moved mechanically, shing the air with precision, devoid of will or hesitation. Screech. The space split apart. A chaotic void of ck and crimson appeared, swirling violently. At first nce, it seemed like nothing more than paint smeared across an empty canvas. But Taesan could sense the truth. It was death¡ªpure and unrelenting. The aura of death surged toward Taesan. In response, he unleashed his divine energy, forcing it outward in all directions. The collision of divine power and the crimson-ck void resounded in a deafening cacophony, both forces shattering each other. Bardray didn¡¯t remain idle. Channeling his strength, he gripped his sword with both hands. [Bardray has activated Divine Sword Unification.] Tap. Bardray leaped forward. His movements now transcended anything he had disyed before, his speed and precision reaching an overwhelming level. Taesan, even with his immense power, had to focus fully to keep up. ng! Taesan deflected Bardray¡¯s strike, dodging and countering the flurry of attacks while activating his own skills. [You activated Flow.] Using thebyrinth skill Flow, Taesan redirected Bardray¡¯s de, diverting its trajectory effortlessly. Bardray, having faced Flow before, understood its mechanics well. But instead of retreating, Bardray pressed his assault, swinging with even greater force and aggression. The moment Flow deflected his attack, Taesan countered, thrusting his de at Bardray. Just as their swords were about to collide, Flow activated again, twisting the trajectory of Bardray¡¯s de. At that instant, Bardray¡¯s wrist moved. With a smooth, almost unnatural motion, his wrist corrected the twisted trajectory, realigning the sword instantly. There was no dy in his movements¡ªit was a disy of swordsmanship bordering on divine mastery. ng! The sh of swords reverberated through thebyrinth. Taesan widened the distance between them, but Bardray closed the gap in an instant. [You activated Heavy Strike.] [You activated eleration.] Taesan¡¯s de descended with immense force, bolstered by his abilities. Even as an Apostle of Ehilie, Bardray¡¯s stats couldn¡¯tpare to Taesan¡¯s. With the added effects of Heavy Strike and eleration, the attack should have been impossible to counter. Yet Bardray didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, he met the descending de head-on, redirecting it with a swift, precise motion. ng! As Bardray¡¯s de shed with Taesan¡¯s, it began to buckle under the overwhelming difference in power. But Bardray¡¯s wrist moved again, as fluidly as before, redirecting the force of the strike. Like a living creature, Bardray¡¯s de twisted and flowed, dispersing the force of Taesan¡¯s attack entirely. Taesan clicked his tongue, retreating once more. Such movements couldn¡¯t be attributed to mere skill or experience. Bardray had be an Apostle of the God of Swords, gaining ess to divine authority. His swordsmanship now transcended human limitations. Bardray advanced again, his de sharp and unrelenting, like a wolf¡¯s fang. The First de of the Storm Scar¡ªWolf¡¯s Fang. ng! ng! ng! [You activated Gale Run.] Taesan unleashed a flurry of strikes, his movements mirroring the ferocity of a storm. The sheer speed and force of his attacks countered Bardray¡¯s relentless pressure. But strength and speed alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to prevail. [You activated Counter.] The Counter skill allowed automatic retaliation to enemy attacks, ensuring a defense even against impossible strikes. Taesan¡¯s body moved instinctively, evading Bardray¡¯s attacks andunching precise counters. But Bardray adapted again. His de moved like a serpent, sliding along Taesan¡¯s sword to strike with precision. The Second de of the Storm Scar¡ªDancer¡¯s Waltz. Counter was enough to neutralize Dancer¡¯s Waltz. But Bardray wasn¡¯t using just one technique. Hebined the ferocity of Wolf¡¯s Fang with the fluidity of Dancer¡¯s Waltz, overwhelming Taesan with a relentless assault. Even Counter struggled to keep up with the seamless fusion of techniques. ng! Taesan was forced to retreat once more. [¡°...Can the Storm Scar style even be used like that?¡±] The ghost, observing the fight, couldn¡¯t hide his astonishment. Bardray¡¯s swordsmanship had evolved beyond anything imaginable after bing Ehilie¡¯s Apostle. For the first time, Taesan found himself being pushed back. Despite his superior stats and abilities, Bardray¡¯s divine swordsmanship dominated the fight. ¡®So this is the power of the God of Swords¡¯ Apostle,¡¯ Taesan thought. He realized that victory wouldn¡¯te through swordsmanship alone. [You activated Frozen World (Negation).] A wave of icy magic mixed with negation surged toward Bardray. Bardray swung his de, countering the freezing magic with sheer force. But negation magic, with its universal dominance, couldn¡¯t be easily dismissed. While Bardray focused on repelling the magic, Taesan seized the opportunity. He lunged, aiming for Bardray¡¯s back¡ªa gap so perfect that only a skill could defend against it. But Bardray moved again. Even as he resisted the magic, he twisted impossibly, shing at Taesan with a motion that defied thews of space and time. ng! Taesan¡¯s attack was thwarted. He stepped back, narrowing his eyes. ¡°It seems you¡¯re not just skilled with the sword,¡± Taesan muttered. ¡°Societ!¡± Bardray shouted. At hismand, crimson death surged forward again. Taesan countered with divine energy, forcing the deadly force back. But Societ, wielding Derzha¡¯s authority, moved. She summoned waves of undead, their movements eerily fluid and brimming with killing intent. [You activated Mana Storm (Negation).] A ck storm tore through thebyrinth, shredding the undead. But a few managed to endure, charging toward Taesan with lethal precision. ¡®Troublesome.¡¯ Realizing that neither swordsmanship nor magic alone could turn the tide, Taesan readied himself for the next phase of the battle. *** ng! des shed violently, the sound reverberating through thebyrinth. Death surged around them, but Taesan countered its overwhelming presence with abination of dark magic and divine power. He didn¡¯t stop moving. Blocking every strike from Bardray and Societ, Taesan retaliated with precision. Bardray staggered backward, his face contorted in frustration. ¡®He doesn¡¯t tire, does he?¡¯ Bardray thought, ncing at Taesan. While his own breathing was starting to growbored, Taesan showed no signs of fatigue. Not even a bead of sweat marred his calm demeanor. ¡®And just how many skills does he have?¡¯ Bardray continued to exploit every opportunity, relying on Societ¡¯s aid to probe for openings in Taesan¡¯s defenses. But Taesan countered each time with a new skill, rendering Bardray¡¯s attempts futile. He cloaked himself in shadows, summoned destructive powers, and even erased Bardray¡¯s attacks entirely. No matter how much pressure Bardray applied or how many gaps he created, Taesan neutralized them all with unparalleled resourcefulness. As the fight dragged on, Taesan began to grow ustomed to Bardray and Societ¡¯s movements. With each passing moment, it became harder for Bardray to find an opening. In truth, without Societ¡¯s assistance, Bardray would have already lost. Gritting his teeth, Bardray lowered his sword. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Taesan asked coldly. But Bardray wasn¡¯t addressing him. His gaze shifted to the ghost watching from the sidelines. ¡°I¡¯ve realized I can¡¯t defeat you with my strength alone,¡± Bardray admitted, turning to his spectral counterpart. ¡°So let me ask: why are you just standing there, doing nothing, when we share the same fate?¡± The ghost remained silent as Bardray continued. ¡°If he dies, I will be resurrected. I will descend into thebyrinth again, and I will clear it. I know I can.¡± It wasn¡¯t arrogance. Even Taesan acknowledged Bardray¡¯s talent and skill. If anyone could conquer thebyrinth, Bardray had the potential to do so. ¡°You¡¯ve been with him for a long time. You must know all his weaknesses and the cards he holds. Tell me everything, and I will strike him down. Together, we can achieve our shared goal.¡± [That¡¯s impossible.] The ghost¡¯s voice was steady, devoid of emotion. ¡°Lies,¡± Bardray spat. ¡°If you clear thebyrinth, you¡¯re granted your wish. That¡¯s the reason I came here¡ªto achieve that goal.¡± [Clearing thebyrinth and conquering it are two different things. As you are now, conquering it is impossible.] ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± Bardray said sharply. ¡°Even if what you say is true, what of it?¡± Bardray mmed a fist against his chest. ¡°I came here to save everyone! Even if it¡¯s an impossible task, I¡¯ll keep going! If fulfilling my wish isn¡¯t possible, then I¡¯ll find another way¡ªturn back time itself if I must! I will save my world!¡± It was a deration of madness, the cry of someone who would never give up on their desires. [You... truly are different from me.] The ghost spoke softly, almost to himself. Once, he too had been like that, willing to sacrifice everything for his desires. Perhaps that was why Taesan had betrayed him without hesitation. But the ghost had experienced too much, seen too much. His youthful fervor had faded, tempered by reality. In the end, he hade to ept his failures. @@novelbin@@ [I won¡¯t say you¡¯re wrong. But I am no longer you. Your words no longer reach me.] ¡°Damn you!¡± Bardray snarled, his face twisting with fury. Taesan raised his sword again, his stance unyielding. Exireia, Ehilie, Derzha¡ªtheir divine powers were overwhelming. Their authority bent the veryws of reality, making them difficult to oppose. Yet, instead of focusing on offense, Taesan had concentrated on defense and evasion, slowly analyzing their abilities. ¡®If this is all they¡¯ve shown me so far, then it must mean these are their limits,¡¯ Taesan concluded. It was time to end this. [You activated Baal¡¯s Abyssal Surge.] A ck tide of energy surged outward, consuming everything in its path. ¡°Societ!¡± Bardray shouted. At hismand, crimson death surged forth, colliding with the ck wave. The forces shed, neither side giving way. [You activated Great Copse (Negation).] Taesan¡¯s power surged again, twisting the very fabric of space. Through his mastery of negation magic, he unleashed a devastating force, overwhelming the stalemate. [You activated Magic Explosion.] [You activated Aegis Shield.] A sphere of darkness erupted, shaking thebyrinth to its core. Death was distorted, pierced by the explosive force. Caught in the aftermath, Bardray wisely chose to evade rather than block. The destructive power of Great Copse was too immense to withstand without sustaining damage. But his retreat created distance between him and Societ. Seizing the opportunity, Taesan reached into the void. [You activated World¡¯s de.] Boom! A massive de materialized in Taesan¡¯s hands, its form brimming with the essence of the world itself. Taesan infused the de with ck energy and swung it toward Bardray. ng! Bardray barely managed to block, but the force sent him flying. ¡°Damn it!¡± Bardray groaned, struggling to recover. But Taesan didn¡¯t give him time to regroup. He charged toward Societ, his de aimed at her heart. Societ raised her hand, attempting to summon more undead, but Taesan was faster. Bardray, focused on defending against the World¡¯s de, couldn¡¯t react in time to issuemands. Thud! Taesan¡¯s sword pierced through Societ¡¯s body. The divine power of Derzha within her began to stir violently. [You dare harm what is mine?] Derzha¡¯s enraged voice echoed, shaking thebyrinth. [Did you think you could touch the possession of a transcendent being and walk away unscathed?] Societ¡¯s eyes snapped open as Derzha¡¯s power surged. ¡°AAAHHH!¡± Societ let out a blood-curdling scream as Derzha¡¯s authority exploded outward, engulfing Taesan. It was the very concept of death made manifest. [You activated All Things¡¯ Copse.] [You activated Law Negation.] [You activated Selective Exclusion.] Taesan unleashed his own transcendent abilities in response, pushing back against the overwhelming force. But death itself had consumed him¡ªaw of reality that couldn¡¯t simply be denied. It sought to leave an indelible mark on Taesan¡¯s soul and body. [Let¡¯s see how your precious Boundary resists this,] Derzha mocked. Taesan¡¯s Boundary Line was typically limited to his sword, incapable of covering his entire body. Yet Taesan showed no hesitation. His mastery over the ck energy had reached 20%, allowing him greater control. He infused the energy into his entire body, mixing it with divine power. The result was aplete Boundary surrounding him, seamless and unyielding. Thews of the world could no longer touch him. Death itself began to recoil, retreating from Taesan. [You... bastard!] Derzha¡¯s voice, filled with shock, echoed in disbelief. Taesan detonated the Boundary surrounding him, obliterating Societ¡¯s corpse in an instant. Chapter 438: 85th Floor, The Ashen Lady. Societ Gardenia (6) [You bastard!] Derzha¡¯s voice roared in defiance. But her resistance no longer mattered. Even the final explosion of death was nullified by Taesan¡¯s Boundary Line. Taesan¡¯s Spiritual Rise activated, allowing him to absorb a portion of the power that had once belonged to Societ¡¯s body. [Your Spiritual Rise has activated. Your stamina has permanently increased.] [Your Spiritual Rise has activated. You have acquired the special skill [Necromancy].] But it didn¡¯t stop there. Taesan began to draw upon powers that Societ had not possessed¡ªabilities granted by external intervention. [How dare you! You would dare to steal my authority!] Derzha¡¯s enraged voice thundered as she fought back, attempting to suppress Taesan¡¯s Spiritual Rise by exploiting Societ¡¯s disintegrating body. But her efforts were futile. Spiritual Rise ignored Derzha¡¯s resistance, forcefully seizing the powers she had bestowed. [You...!] With a final, furious cry, Derzha waspletely expelled. Crunch. Taesan pulled his sword free, feeling the remnants of Derzha¡¯s authority begin to settle into him. [Your Spiritual Rise has activated. You have acquired the special skill [Cradle of Death].] Societ¡¯s body fully crumbled, leaving behind nothing. For a moment, Taesan gazed down at the remains before calmly swinging his sword to clear the air. While Taesan finished off Societ, Bardray seized the opportunity to strike. ng! Their swords collided. Bardray executed a technique of near-divine mastery, redirecting Taesan¡¯s de andshing out with a counterstrike. But Societ was no longer present. Taesan¡¯s magic and dark arts were now unimpeded. [You activated Baal¡¯s Abyssal Surge.] Thebyrinth trembled as a space-consuming darkness surged toward Bardray. Bardray tried to hold his ground but was ultimately forced to retreat as the dark tide overwhelmed him. ¡°...For all the confidence you had in the gods, they didn¡¯t seem to help you much,¡± Bardray muttered, scowling. Taesan raised his sword, pointing it at Bardray. ¡°Do you still intend to fight?¡± Most of Bardray¡¯s cards had been revealed, and with Societ gone, victory seemed all but impossible. Yet Bardray stood firm, lifting his sword without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re right. I cannot defeat you. But what of it? A true hero does not falter in the face of the impossible! I came here knowing whaty ahead, conquering every so-called impossibility to reach this point!¡± His words, charged with unyielding determination, rippled through thebyrinth. ¡°I will make the impossible possible! Come, adventurer! I will kill you and im victory!¡± True to his word, Bardrayunched himself at Taesan, refusing to stop despite the odds. Taesan reciprocated, ready to bring the fight to a decisive end. [You activated Great Copse.] A sphere of destructive magic materialized, warping reality as it rushed toward Bardray. Bardray narrowly evaded, his movements swift and precise. But Taesan pursued him relentlessly, striking at his retreating form. ng! Their swords met again, and Bardray¡¯s wrist twisted deftly, guiding Taesan¡¯s de downward with a precision born of mastery. With an opening created, Bardray drove his sword toward Taesan¡¯s chest. But Taesan didn¡¯t block. [Your First Strike Absolute Nullification has activated.] The attack vanished, leaving Bardray¡¯s eyes wide with shock. Taking advantage of the opening, Taesan thrust his de. [You activated de of Willpower.] [You activated Addition.] Crunch. [You dealt 88,977 damage to Bardray.] [Bardray¡¯s Last Stand has activated.] [Bardray¡¯s Final Battle has activated.] ¡°Gah!¡± It was a single, decisive strike. Although Bardray¡¯s passive skills triggered, they were meaningless in the face of Taesan¡¯s overwhelming power. Bardray¡¯s meticulously nned counters and his persistence failed to turn the tide. A single mistake had ended the battle. Blood spurted from Bardray¡¯s lips as he let out a hoarse cry. ¡°The victory is yours... adventurer!¡± The ghost watching silently from the sidelines didn¡¯t avert its gaze, witnessing Bardray¡¯s second death without flinching. *** [Your level has increased.] [Your Spiritual Rise has activated. Your stamina has permanently increased.] [Your Spiritual Rise has activated. Ability Sword mastery increased by 2%, Heavy Strike mastery by 1%, eleration mastery by 2%...] [Your Spiritual Rise has activated. You have acquired the soul skill [Divine Sword Unification].] Taesan absorbed a wave of proficiency. The skills rted to the ghost, a master of the sword, saw a collective rise in mastery. At the same time, the ghost''s physical body fully disintegrated. [85th Floor Cleared.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained the Ferocious Broken Sword.] [You have obtained ???.] Societ was dead. The ghost¡¯s quest hade to an end. [Congrattions on your victory.] Exireia, who had withdrawn earlier, appeared once more. [You have passed my trial brilliantly, adventurer.] ¡°Did you gain what you desired?¡± Taesan asked calmly. [More than enough.] Exireia¡¯s voice carried a note of satisfaction. [I am the God of Lust. I understand the weight of desire better than anyone, and the ghost beside you bore a burden heavier than nearly any mortal I¡¯ve encountered.] Lust epasses both love and desire. As the god embodying desire itself, Exireia¡¯s words carried an undeniable truth. [But as he journeyed with you, he set aside his desires for your sake. That alone speaks volumes about what kind of person you are. More than that, I had the privilege of witnessing the usually unppable Derzha be unsettled. That alone was worth it.] ¡°Do you not get along with Derzha?¡± Taesan asked. [She¡¯s one of the oldest gods, present since the birth of the world. She has a habit of nagging about everything.] Exireia chuckled derisively. [I¡¯ve always wanted to mess with her, and now I¡¯ve finally gotten the chance.] Exireia spoke with amusement. [You¡¯ve shown me many things. From now on, I, Exireia, will lend you my aid.] ¡°Thank you.¡± [Thank him instead. In the end, it was the ghost beside you who made everything possible.] A light, melodicugh echoed. [For someone with such immense desires to set them aside for another¡ªit¡¯s a rare sight. I was pleased. So, I shall grant him a personal reward.] [Exireia¡¯s interference has diminished.] Divine power wrapped around the ghost. @@novelbin@@ [Exireia?] [Your quest isplete. You have fulfilled your wish. The pact with the magician has ended.] Exireia¡¯s tone was calm and resolute. Just as he said, Taesan could no longer sense the contract with the ghost. The presence that had been with him since the second floor was now entirely gone. [Unlike others, you exist solely as a soul. Without the pact, you cannot remain in thebyrinth. Your soul will go to where it is meant to be. But that would be too cruel.] As the ghost¡¯s presence began to fade, it suddenly stabilized, returning to its original form. [My power will sustain your soul. For now, you may remain by his side.] [...Thank you.] [But you won¡¯t be able to stay long. Settle your affairs quickly.] With those parting words, Exireia vanished. [I¡¯ll be able to stay by your side for a little while longer. But... this is the end.] The quest had concluded. The contract was over. The ghost¡¯s journey had reached its final destination. *** Taesan turned to speak to the ghost, but before he could, another presence revealed itself. Boom! The bricks of thebyrinth shifted, and Balbabamba, the Administrator, appeared. [This interference exceeds what is necessary, but I¡¯ll allow it this time. It concluded without any significant issues.] ¡°What now?¡± Taesan asked impatiently. [The end of a contract. A contract with someone like the ghost, who has already died, is unique. When it ends, I must handle it directly.] Balbabamba¡¯s gaze shifted to the ghost. Though Exireia¡¯s power maintained its form, the ghost was no longer bound to thebyrinth. [Like those who were deceived by the God of Descent, you are no longer permitted to remain here. Normally, I would finalize your rewards and expel you. However... you fulfilled your role as a contractor in thebyrinth¡¯s quest. I¡¯ll allow you to remain for now.] [Understood.] Balbabamba hesitated for a moment before addressing the ghost again. [What do you intend to do now?] [There¡¯s nothing more to do. This is the end.] [If you wish, you can establish a new contract with thebyrinth.] The ghost paused, startled. [...That¡¯s possible?] [Normally, it wouldn¡¯t be. But this time, I¡¯ll make an exception. If you agree to a new contract, you will be allowed to stay in thebyrinth.] The ghost¡¯s voice was unsteady. [And if I ept?] [You may entrust your wish to the adventurer. However, as your wish borders on the impossible, you would need to remain here for a very long time¡ªperhaps until the end of the universe itself.] The ghost¡¯s wish: the salvation of a destroyed world. It could only be achieved by conquering thebyrinth or reversing time¡ªboth feats bordering on impossibility. [I won¡¯t force you. The choice is yours. You are now entirely free. Returning to where you belong might be the better option. I¡¯ll give you some time to decide.] Balbabamba turned to leave, but Taesan stopped him. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°What I want to know is this: thebyrinth was replicated by the High Gods, wasn¡¯t it?¡± [Are you referring to thebyrinths created by the High Gods?] ¡°No, I¡¯m talking about this one.¡± [I understand what you mean.] In solo mode, yers like Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t meet one another because thebyrinth had been duplicated for each individual. While those who reached transcendent levels were unaffected, ordinarybyrinth NPCs were. ¡°In cases like Beldenkia or the ghost, does that mean their counterparts in otherbyrinths didn¡¯t achieve their wishes?¡± The idea felt deeply unfair. After all the effort to fulfill a wish, would their other iterations remain unfulfilled? [The magician has also been pondering that question. There¡¯s no need for you to concern yourself. A solution has already been found.] Balbabamba¡¯s response was curt. [Is that all your questions? If so, hero, I¡¯ll await the ghost¡¯s decision.] As Balbabamba began to vanish, he seemed to remember something. [Ah, about the 86th floor. I thought long and hard about what to do with it. A standardbyrinth wouldn¡¯t suffice, but I couldn¡¯t find anything suitable.] ¡°What did you do?¡± Taesan asked warily. [I kept it simple.] ¡°Simple?¡± [I pulled up a floor from below.] "Pulled up?" Taesan repeated, realizing what it meant. A floor from deeper in thebyrinth had been dragged upward. [It won¡¯t fully satisfy someone like you, but it should still be worth your effort to conquer.] With that, Balbabamba vanishedpletely. The ghost remained silent, lost in thought. *** [And so... it¡¯s finally over.] The connection between the ghost and Taesan had been forged through their shared quest. Now, with the questplete, it was time for the rewards to be distributed. [You¡¯ve done well. Exceptionally well. It¡¯s only right that I give you a reward worthy of your efforts.] Power surged from the ghost into Taesan. It wasn¡¯t a mere fragment; it was as if the ghost was offering everything, holding nothing back. [Take it. This is all of me.] [The Relic of Cavert: The Sword Imbued with the Ancestor¡¯s Blood has transformed into The Relic of Cavert: The Final Master.] [You have acquired the title: Sessor of the Storm Scar Swordsmanship.] [You have obtained the Ring Announcing the Session of the Fallen Empire.] [You have obtained Bardray¡¯s Keepsake.] The ghost¡¯s legacy, along with the remnants of his past and his treasured items, had now fully passed to Taesan. The bond forged by their journey had reached its final moment, leaving Taesan with both power and the weight of the ghost¡¯s legacy. Chapter 439: 86th Floor, The World of Armaments (1) [The Relic of Cavert is nowpletely yours.] [Relic of Cavert: The Final Master] [A relic of a world that no longer exists, soaked in the blood of countless royals. You are the final master of this sword. If ownership changes, all abilities of the sword will disappear.]
  • Attack Power: +1500
  • +500 Attack Power against all enemies
  • Greatly increases mastery gain for all swordsmanship skills.The sword¡¯s attack power had increased by 850, and the additional effect of significantly enhancing swordsmanship mastery was invaluable. [And now, you are the sole wielder of the Storm Scar Sword¡ªa sessor to its legacy.] [Title: Sessor of the Storm Scar Swordsmanship] [Attack Power: +500] [Defense Power: +500] [You are the final sessor of the Storm Scar swordsmanship, acknowledged by its founder. If you wish, you may teach this swordsmanship to those deemed worthy.] [Though my world will now fade from memory... if you pass on the Storm Scar swordsmanship, its legacy will remain.] The ghost¡¯s voice was calm, as if he hade to terms with everything, carrying the wisdom of someone who had transcended life. [The other two items are thest remnants of my world. They should be quite useful.] [Ring Announcing the Session of the Fallen Empire]
  • Stamina: +3000
  • Strength: +500
  • Attack Power: +300
  • Defense Power: +300 [A ring that signifies the sessor of an empire. However, the empire itself holds no value, as it has already fallen.][Bardray¡¯s Keepsake] [A small earring Bardray never removed from his body since reaching adulthood. It holds his lingering resentment and emotions.] The keepsake appeared to be a material item for crafting. While these rewards were exceptional, Taesan¡¯s expression remained subdued, showing little joy. ¡°You...¡± Taesan started to speak to the ghost but stopped himself. The ghost appeared deep in thought, clearly needing time to sort through his emotions. Deciding to give him space, Taesan began reviewing his rewards. He had gained three levels. Defeating two adventurers had significantly boosted his stats and skill mastery through Spiritual Rise. Yet the most notable rewards weren¡¯t merely numerical increases. [Special Activation Skill: Necromancy] @@novelbin@@
  • Mastery: 1%
  • Mana Cost: 2500
  • [Revives corpses with intact self-awareness and intelligence. However, they are permanently undead and weaker than in life. The spell breaks if they sustain significant damage. You may revive up to three corpses simultaneously at this time.]It was the skill Societ had used to revive Bardray and cheat death herself. While the restrictions were severe, the ability to summon the dead to the battlefield could provide both strategic andbat advantages in thebyrinth. Unfortunately, testing the skill was impossible as Bardray and Societ¡¯s bodies had already disintegrated. The most intriguing acquisition was the power granted by the God of Death, Derzha. [Special Activation Skill: Cradle of Death]
  • Mastery: 1%
  • Mana Cost: ??? [Allows you to escape any form of death other than physical damage. Grants a faint dominion over the dead, allowing limited influence on them.]The skill offered resistance to instant-death derations and spiritual destruction¡ªthreats that rarely troubled Taesan. Most such attacks didn¡¯t affect him, and with the Boundary Line now enveloping his body, he could escape the concept of death altogether. However, the added ability to exert influence over the dead was of particr interest. [This...] The ghost murmured, reading the skill¡¯s description. The phrase about dominion over the dead seemed to resonate with him¡ªa soul that had already died. [What kind of influence does it grant?] ¡°Hold on a moment,¡± Taesan said. [You activated Cradle of Death.] Derzha¡¯s authority manifested, bringing the concept of death closer to Taesan like a mother¡¯s embrace. With this power, Taesan could now perceive deeper truths about the ghost. The energy enveloped the ghost, causing him to let out a soft groan, as if experiencing something strange. ¡°...This seems to be the limit,¡± Taesan said, canceling the skill and taking a breath. Even a brief activation carried an enormous burden, pulling Taesan toward death itself. ¡°But now I understand,¡± he continued. The ghost¡¯s soul was being drawn somewhere, though Taesan couldn¡¯t discern its destination. Likely, it was the ce where all freed souls from thebyrinth were meant to go. For now, Exireia¡¯s granted reprieve was preventing that pull. Taesan¡¯s Cradle of Death could temporarily anchor the ghost in ce, but its limitations were clear¡ªit couldn¡¯t hold him indefinitely. Eventually, the ghost would have to leave. Taesan clicked his tongue in frustration and resumed reviewing his gains. [Soul Skill: Divine Sword Unification]
  • Mastery: 1% [A state where the body and sword be one. For now, you have glimpsed only fragments of this realm. Greatly enhances your swordsmanship.]Taesan drew his sword and swung it experimentally. Unlike before, the de felt like an extension of himself, moving seamlessly with his intent. ¡®The God of Swords, Ehilie.¡¯ Ehilie was one of the few gods who had shown him favor, even bestowing blessings during his battle with a High God¡¯s avatar. Yet Ehilie had turned Bardray into his apostle, pitting him against Taesan. Whether this was a test for Taesan or a move to im Bardray¡¯s body and soul remained unclear. ¡®Gods truly are unpredictable.¡¯ Still, Taesan benefited from the encounter, gaining a fragment of Ehilie¡¯s authority. Taesan examined the rest of his equipment. [Ferocious Broken Sword]
  • Strength: +500
  • Attack Power: +1250 [The sword wielded by an avatar of ferocity. Once renowned for its near-absolute cutting power, it broke under the strain of the avatar¡¯s strength.][??? has been used.] [You obtained the Ankle Guards of a Love-Desperate ve.] [Ankle Guards of a Love-Desperate ve]
  • Strength: +400
  • Agility: +400
  • Attack Power: +700
  • Defense Power: +1000 [These ankle guards were gifted by the God of Lust to a ve who desperately sought love. Unfortunately, their master forgot the ve¡¯s name. Wearing these grants the attention of the God of Lust.]The stats were excellent, but the side effect of drawing a god¡¯s attention was often more trouble than it was worth. However, since Taesan was already under divine scrutiny, it didn¡¯t bother him much. The most significant development wasn¡¯t in his equipment or skills but in his ability to envelop his entire body with the Boundary Line. Now, Taesan could escape thews and order of the world entirely while surrounded by the Boundary. Unlike the unstable Boundary Rebound, which shattered under any force, this was a perfected form. Even physical attacks were nullified and erased. Expanding the Boundary to cover more than his body might also be possible, as he had once theorized. The only issue was the energy consumption. The wider he wielded the ck energy, the more divine power was needed to suppress it. When he fought Derzha¡¯s authority, the strain had nearly depleted his reserves. Taesan hoped this problem might be resolved upon his return to Earth. There, he would face the remnants of humanity. Finishing his review, Taesan spoke. ¡°Have you sorted your thoughts?¡± [More or less.] ¡°What will you do?¡± Would the ghost remain in thebyrinth or return to where he belonged? The ghost hesitated. [I don¡¯t know.] [I¡¯ll need more time to think about it.] ¡°It¡¯s your decision,¡± Taesan said. [Taesan... can I leave your side for a while?] ¡°Are you sure?¡± [I¡¯m no longer bound by a contract. I¡¯m free to go wherever I please.] For the first time since his death in thebyrinth, the ghost had gained true freedom. ¡°Do as you wish.¡± [I¡¯ll returnter.] And so, the ghost left. Though it wasn¡¯t the first time the ghost had temporarily disappeared, this was different. This was a full departure, leaving Taesan with an unfamiliar sense of emptiness. Shaking off the feeling, Taesan advanced to the 86th floor. [Quest for the 86th Floor initiated.] [Subdue the King¡¯s Sword in the World of Armaments.] [Reward: Ego Soul.] [Hidden Reward: ???] *** The 86th floor began. Taesan walked through the passage and emerged into an entirely new world. Whaty before him was a sight he had never witnessed. Countless weapons¡ªspears, swords, shields, halberds, and bows¡ªwere embedded in the earth. He walked across the vast terrain, his gaze sweeping over the innumerable weapons. Each one exuded an intense will, as if they were more than mere tools. "They said this floor was pulled up," Taesan thought. This wasn¡¯t a fabricated space¡ªit had always been a floor of thebyrinth. He didn¡¯t know its original depth. It could have been from thete 80s or even the 90th floors. Pondering the implications, Taesan continued forward. Rumble. After walking for a while, a sword embedded in the ground began to tremble violently. It radiated a fierce, overwhelming intent. Swish! The sword pulled itself free and hurtled toward Taesan, carrying an unmistakable killing intent. Taesan moved, his body shifting with minimal effort, evading the attack with ease. The sword¡¯s speed increased, growing sharper and deadlier. Taesan¡¯s eyes gleamed faintly. The speed of the sword was such that an ordinary adventurer wouldn¡¯t even be able to react, let alone dodge. Even his past self, Lee Taeyeon, would have struggled to keep up. "It seems this is a very deep floor," Taesan mused. It appeared the trial had been pulled from thete 90s, possibly even the final stages of thebyrinth. As the sword continued its relentless assault, Taesan decided to act. Reaching out, he grabbed it mid-swing. Boom! Air exploded around them as the sword writhed violently in his grasp, trying to break free. Taesan tightened his grip ever so slightly. His will and presence engulfed the sword. Thrum. The weapon quivered violently, almost as if it had been struck by a blow. It trembled for a moment longer before going limp, surrendering to him. The sword had submitted. Taesan opened the system window to inspect it. [A Sword with Will] [A nameless sword born of self-forging in this world. Holds no value as a weapon.] ¡°Just material, huh?¡± Taesan nced around. Staves, spears, swords¡ªan array of weapons surrounded him, all emanating a strong, palpable intent. The air was thick with hostility, as if the weapons regarded him as an intruder who had to be dealt with. Their collective will was like that of vignt guardians determined to protect this domain. Taesan stared at the weapons for a moment before tossing the subdued sword aside and continuing forward. In this living, breathing world of armaments, where countless weapons seemed to draw breath, Taesan walked alone, pressing onward.
    • Chapter 440: 86th Floor, The World of Armaments (2) ng! A spinning axe flew toward Taesan¡¯s head. He caught it by the handle, and it immediately thrashed in a frenzy. Without hesitation, Taesan threw the axe away. It spun through the air, and other weapons embedded in the ground rose up to intercept and catch it. The scene was almost human-like in its coordination, and Taesan chuckled. ¡°What kind of world is this?¡± The weapons here were alive, undeniably so. They were not mere tools but entities forged from iron with wills of their own. Compared to the arrow Taesan wielded, these weapons possessed far greater autonomy and intelligence. This world didn¡¯t seem like something created solely for abyrinth trial. Normally, he would¡¯ve asked the ghost for answers, but the ghost wasn¡¯t here. Instead, Taesan summoned Minerva. [You summoned Minerva, the Spirit King of Wind.] ¡°Phew, what a summoning.¡± Minerva materialized in a swirl of wind and nted her feet on the ground. Almost immediately, she grimaced with visible difort. ¡°...Master, what is this ce? I can¡¯t feel even a trace of nature here.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. That¡¯s why I called you. Do you have any ideas?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Minerva tilted her head as she scanned the surroundings. ¡°Wait a minute, where¡¯s the ghost?¡± The absence of the ghost, who was always at Taesan¡¯s side, didn¡¯t go unnoticed. ¡°He left for a while,¡± Taesan replied. ¡°Aren¡¯t you bound together by a quest? How is that even possible?¡± ¡°The quest is over.¡± Minerva nodded in understanding. ¡°I see... That must feel lonely. Don¡¯t worry, Master. You still have me and Varkaz.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about thatter. For now, can you figure out what kind of world this is?¡± ¡°Hmmm...¡± Minerva pressed a finger to her chin, deep in thought. ¡°There are so many weapons here, most with faint wills. But there¡¯s no sign of any real life¡ªnot even other spirits. It¡¯s as if this world exists solely for the weapons.¡± She hesitated, her tone uncertain. ¡°Maybe... a God of cksmiths?¡± ¡°A God of cksmiths?¡± ¡°A deity who governs the concept of weapons and their creation. I¡¯m not sure, though. We spirits aren¡¯t exactly on friendly terms with him.¡± Minerva continued, ¡°It¡¯s said that he can forge weapons that surpass mortality itself¡ªtools that choose their own masters and elevate them to extraordinary heights. ording to rumors, he maintains several realms to store his creations. This might be one of them.¡± She shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s all I can tell you. He¡¯s a god too far removed from us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Taesan said. He had gained enough to work with. Minerva shrank back, visibly ufortable. ¡°Master, I¡¯m sorry, but can I go back now? There¡¯s no natural energy here¡ªjust cold metal. It¡¯s unbearable.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master. Call me if you need me again.¡± With a look of relief, Minerva vanished back to the spirit realm. Her assessment had been urate. The only thing that filled this world was the overwhelming will of the weapons. The entire realm felt like a showcase¡ªa disy case built solely for the armaments. ng! ng! Dozens of weapons embedded in the ground around Taesan simultaneously rose andunched themselves at him, aiming for his body. ¡°Stand down.¡± [You activated Deration of Exclusion.] Boom! The intense will of the weapons collided with Taesan¡¯s power and was repelled, scattering them in all directions. The weapons emitted creaking noises, almost as if expressing confusion. Subduing each weapon individually was impractical, and their endless attacks were bing tedious. [You activated Baal¡¯s Ovepping Darkness.] A veil ofyered darkness surrounded Taesan, obscuring him from view. The weapons seemed to lose sight of their target, their wills faltering. Ignoring them, Taesan focused. [You activated Leraje¡¯s Domain Detection.] The power of detection spread throughout the world. In an instant, Taesan absorbed a detailed understanding of everything within the realm. Given time and no interruptions, he could even map an entirerger than Earth from his current position. Through this scan, Taesan discerned three critical points:
  • The immense size of this world, rivaling Earth.
  • The location of an overwhelmingly powerful presence, likely the King¡¯s Sword described in the quest.
  • A single other living being within this realm.Taesan''s attention shifted. While the King¡¯s Sword was undoubtedly important, he decided to investigate the third discovery first. He stomped the ground, and his body surged forward, tearing through space. Eventually, he found a small cave. Surrounding the cave were weapons, much like the rest of the world. However, their aura was different. Unlike the hostile, unyielding will of the other weapons, these exuded a calm, stable intent. Taesan picked one up. [A Sword with Tempered Will] [A nameless sword born of self-forging in this world. It has been refined by a skilled cksmith, transforming into a sharp weapon.]
  • Attack Power: +1000
  • Actively aids its wielder.Unlike the weapons that had attacked him, this one had genuine value as a weapon. Taesan entered the cave. ng! ng! ng! The sound of a hammer striking metal echoed within. The air was thick with heat, clinging to his skin. As Taesan ventured deeper, the weapons in the cave stirred, as if ready to defend their master. ¡°Enough, you fools. He seems to be a guest.¡± Aid-back voice echoed. The weapons slowly returned to their ces. Taesan walked to the deepest part of the cave. There, he found a dwarf. He looked like something out of a fairy tale¡ªan almostical figure holding an oversized hammer, striking an anvil. ng! The dwarf looked up sharply. ¡°You there. Are you an adventurer?¡± [You have encountered the Mad Dwarf, Kosrun.] *** The name Kosrun resonated with Taesan¡ªhe had heard of it before. Haphran had spoken about him. Kosrun was a smith driven mad by his obsession with creating equipment that transcended mortality. When it came to gear imbued with will, Haphran admitted Kosrun was unparalleled. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering? Are you an adventurer or not?¡± Taesan nodded, and Kosrun tilted his head curiously. @@novelbin@@ ¡°When I signed my new contract, they told me no adventurers woulde here for a while. Guess it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Puffing out his chest, Kosrun thumped it proudly. Despite barely reaching Taesan¡¯s waist in height, his voice was booming. ¡°I am Kosrun, the cksmith who resides in thebyrinth! Burn that into your mind and don¡¯t you dare forget it!¡± ¡°I know who you are,¡± Taesan replied calmly. ¡°You¡¯re Kosrun, and I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re unmatched when ites to handling gear imbued with will.¡± Kosrun¡¯s confident demeanor froze, his face falling in surprise. ¡°What? How do you know that?¡± ¡°Haphran told me.¡± ¡°Haphran?¡± Kosrun scowled. ¡°...That¡¯s odd. He¡¯s not the type to share that kind of thing with adventurers. You must¡¯ve impressed him somehow. Then again, I suppose that¡¯s expected if you¡¯ve made it this far.¡± Kosrun¡¯s gaze turned sharper, tinged with interest. ¡°I heard you were stationed on the 70th floors,¡± Taesan remarked. ¡°I was,¡± Kosrun confirmed, grinning as he swung his hammer. ¡°But when I learned that a ce I¡¯ve dreamed of was now essible in the deep floors, I immediately requested a new contract and relocated.¡± Kosrun¡¯s excitement was palpable as he spoke. ¡°Haphran, huh? Maybe I should¡¯ve brought him along. Then again, this ce isn¡¯t really in his area of expertise. It¡¯s probably better he didn¡¯te.¡± ¡°What kind of ce is this?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°The Wizard and the God of cksmiths recently forged a contract,¡± Kosrun exined. ¡°Thanks to that, the previously inessible domain of the cksmith God is now part of thebyrinth.¡± Minerva¡¯s guess had been correct¡ªthis was indeed a realm of the cksmith God. Kosrun grinned proudly. ¡°The moment I learned that, I immediately renegotiated my contract with Balbabamba. There was some back-and-forth, but in the end, I secured a position in the cksmith God¡¯s domain! Now, I can work with all the weapons here¡ªgear you¡¯d never find anywhere else! It¡¯s perfect!¡± ¡°Is it really possible to change contracts so freely?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°Of course! The only reason I¡¯m here is to fulfill my own desire! If a better way to achieve thates along, why wouldn¡¯t I adjust my contract?¡± Thinking about it, Taesan realized that the ghost¡¯s original quest had been to defeat the secret boss on the 10th floor. Over time, the quest had evolved as new truths came to light. It seemed that as long as it aligned with the contractor¡¯s ultimate goal, changes to contracts were permitted. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a price,¡± Kosrun added with augh. ¡°I made a pact with the cksmith God. Once my desire is fulfilled, I¡¯ll be part of this ce¡ªone of the countless weapons embedded in the ground.¡± ¡°...Forever?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Kosrun¡¯sughter echoed loudly. ¡°I wonder what I¡¯ll be¡ªa spear? A shield? I¡¯m excited just thinking about it!¡± Taesan remained silent. To willingly be a weapon and exist eternally in this realm¡ªit was a fate most would consider despairing. Yet Kosrun seemed to yearn for it with every fiber of his being. ¡°Haphran was right,¡± Taesan thought. Kosrun was undeniably twisted. Even after a brief interaction, it was clear his values were warped beyond recognition. ¡°So, they said no one woulde here for a while,¡± Kosrun muttered, curiosity flickering in his eyes. ¡°But here you are. Does that mean you¡¯ve already reached the 100th floor?¡± Taesan frowned. ¡°Is this the 100th floor?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Of course, it is!¡± Kosrun replied, as if the question was absurd. Taesan¡¯s expression hardened. He had expected this floor to be in thete 90s but never imagined it would be pulled directly from the 100th. ¡°Was this originally the end of thebyrinth?¡± he wondered. Kosrun nced at Taesan¡¯s expression and shrugged. ¡°You seem special, but that¡¯s none of my concern,¡± he said, striking his anvil with a sharp ng. ¡°I just need to do my work. You¡¯ve reached this ce, and you¡¯ve earned Haphran¡¯s approval. That means you might just be able to help me. So, I¡¯ll give you a quest.¡± [Sub-Quest Started.] [The Mad Dwarf, Kosrun, desires to forge a weapon that transcends mortality and surpasses his limits. Help him achieve his dream.] [Conditions: Bring Kosrun the materials he desires.] [Reward: Determined by Kosrun based on your performance.]
    • Chapter 441: 86th Floor, The World of Armaments (3) ¡°Are you trying to create a weapon that surpasses mortality?¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve taken up residence in the domain of the cksmith God.¡± Kosrun tightened his grip on the hammer in his hand. ¡°I know myself well. I can never surpass mortality. Ick the talent and the sheer stubbornness for that. But the weapons I create¡ªthey might be different.¡± A twisted smile spread across his face. ¡°To forge a weapon that transcends mortality, like the cksmith God, with this mortal body... My work will be remembered across the entire universe. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s worth dedicating a lifetime to?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible.¡± Having ascended to the position of the immortal, Taesan knew this well. Immortality was fundamentally different from mortality. Those who had not reached that level could notprehend what it truly entailed. No matter how much effort Kosrun put in, it was hard to believe he could create such a weapon. Even Kosrun didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s something close to impossible. But it¡¯s my desire. And I have no intention of giving up on it. For that, there¡¯s no ce better than this.¡± This ce was overflowing with exceptional materials. It was true that Kosrun could hardly find a better location than here. ¡°I¡¯m trying to find the answer step by step, one method at a time. The quest I¡¯m giving you is part of that process. There are weapons here that even I can¡¯t handle. I want to use them as materials to craft something greater, so I need you to bring them to me.¡± Taesan nodded. The quest was epted. Kosrun exined with a satisfied smile. ¡°There¡¯s the Burning Red Staff in the west, the Frostbound de in the north, and the Bloodstained Whip soaked in cruelty in the east. Subdue those weapons and bring them to me. Once you¡¯ve brought them all, I¡¯ll reward you.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Then go.¡± Taesan left the cave. Shrouded inyers of darkness, he began to move. *** Taesan moved directly toward his target. Thanks to Lerazie¡¯s domain detection, he had already pinpointed the locations of the exceptionally powerful weapons. His first destination was the west. There, a staff spewing mes hovered majestically in midair. The roaring mes engulfed everything, dominating the space itself. Taesan stepped into the fiery domain. The staff, sensing him, reacted immediately with hostility. Violent messhed out, surging toward him. [You have activated Marcocias¡¯s False me.] Physical mes materialized in the world. In an instant, the false mes overwhelmed those released by the staff, consuming the entire space. The staff trembled, seemingly flustered. Taesan walked calmly toward it and seized it. Boom! mes spiraled violently around Taesan, as though the staff¡¯s will sought to burn him to ashes. ¡°Stay still.¡± Taesan exerted his will. The raging fire died out instantly, as if doused by water. The staff, which had been resisting, quieted in submission. The power contained within the staff was immense, enough to challenge even Diana. But for Taesan, it was insignificant. ¡°I hope the King¡¯s Sword puts up more of a fight.¡± Muttering to himself, Taesan moved quickly. In no time, he subdued the Frostbound de of the north and the Bloodstained Whip of the east. The quest felt less like a challenge and more like a casual stroll. With everything gathered, Taesan returned to Kosrun. Kosrun¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Taesan disyed the three weapons. Once unruly and resistant, they nowy docilely on the cave floor. ¡°They¡¯re... real.¡± Kosrun stared at Taesan with awe. ¡°Even the strongest individuals can¡¯t gather them this quickly. Could it be... you¡¯ve surpassed the boundary?¡± Taesan nodded silently. Kosrun let out a breath of disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s incredible. Truly incredible.¡± He touched the weapons, his fingers lingering over them. ¡°With this, I can¡¯t afford to create anything subpar. Crafting a weapon that even an immortal would value... this could be an extraordinary experience for fulfilling my wish. Wait here. I¡¯ll get everything ready.¡± Kosrun hurried deeper into the cave. Taesan waited for him to return. As he passed the time, someone approached him. [Hello?] It wasn¡¯t Kosrun. It was a ghost. The ghost, who had briefly left Taesan, had returned. Taesan asked calmly, ¡°Have you made peace with yourself?¡± [More or less.] The ghost¡¯s voice was subdued. [I¡¯ve decided not to stay in thebyrinth anymore.] The ghost had chosen to leave thebyrinth and move on to where the dead were meant to go. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± If the ghost desired, it could remain in thebyrinth. Whileplete death seemed inevitable, lingering here could have been a preferable alternative. There was even the faintest, almost impossible chance that the ghost¡¯s destroyed world could be saved. [It¡¯s fine. This is enough.] But the ghost spoke calmly. [My first journey was to save my world.] The ghost had entered thebyrinth to fight for its destroyed world. It endured the trials, grew stronger, and fought relentlessly. But in the end, it was killed by Societ. That marked the end of its first journey. [And my second journey was with you.] The ghost had apanied Taesan, witnessing his struggles, determination, and values. It cheered for him, grew anxious for him, and empathized with him. At the conclusion of this quest, the ghost¡¯s second journey hade to an end. [At first, I thought about staying in thebyrinth. But when I realized that I¡¯d still be separated from you no matter what, the idea lost all meaning.] Their quest was over. Taesan would one day return to Earth, while the ghost would remain in thebyrinth. [With that thought, I saw no reason to stay. I don¡¯t need a third journey. My adventure ends here.] ¡°...You¡¯ve done well.¡± Taesan knew the ghost would leave before his return to Earth. The presence that had always been by his side, offering information, assistance, and idle chatter, would disappear. That absence would leave a significant void for Taesan as well. But the ghost had made its decision. Any argument on Taesan¡¯s part would feel empty. Taesan remained silent. The ghost stayed by his side quietly. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± Kosrun burst in, loudly announcing his return with a cheerful grin. ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea of what to make! Now, tell me what you want, and I¡¯ll tailor it to your needs...¡± His voice trailed off. His gaze was fixed, not on Taesan, but on the ghost. ¡°...A soul?¡± ¡°So, this is the first time you¡¯ve seen him.¡± [You must be Kosrun, right? You must¡¯vee here after me. This is my first time seeing you.] The ghost spoke curiously. Kosrun, on the other hand, seemed startled. ¡°Why is there a soul here?¡± ¡°He was abyrinth contractor like you. His contract has ended.¡± ¡°A wizard contracted with the dead in thebyrinth? But in that case, he should¡¯ve returned to where he belongs. Why is he still here?¡± Taesan answered Kosrun¡¯s question, exining the transcendental being¡¯s involvement and how it had allowed the ghost some additional time. He also borated on the ghost¡¯s story. Kosrun fell silent after hearing the exnation. ¡°So now, he¡¯s a free soul... A remarkable adventurer in life...¡± Kosrun murmured to himself, lost in thought. The ghost showed no interest in Kosrun. To him, Kosrun held no significance since he was leaving thebyrinth. But Kosrun¡¯s next words caught the ghost off guard. Kosrun smirked, his voice burning with fervor. ¡°Ghost, how about bing a weapon?¡± *** The ghost was momentarily stunned by the unexpected remark. [...What kind of nonsense is that?] Finally regaining hisposure, the ghost dismissed Kosrun¡¯s words outright. Bing a weapon? Who in their right mind would ept such an offer? ¡°I¡¯mpletely serious. Would you consider bing a weapon as a soul?¡± [Why would I ever agree to that? Are you asking me to get trapped in some object? Stop spouting nonsense.] ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be trapped! You¡¯d be the weapon!¡± Kosrun shouted passionately. ¡°It¡¯s a concept where your soul would embody a weapon as its form, allowing you to be reborn! You¡¯d retain yourplete will, able to act independently! And you¡¯d grow even stronger! Strong enough that one day, you might even surpass mortality!¡± His voice rang out, brimming with fervent madness. [...What the hell are you even talking about?] The ghost had not been present during Taesan and Kosrun¡¯s earlier conversation, so he couldn¡¯t grasp the full context of Kosrun¡¯s words. Realizing this, Kosrun took a deep breath and began exining more calmly. [So, you want to create a weapon that surpasses mortality. What does that have to do with turning me into a sword?] ¡°Because, in the end, I¡¯m just a mortal,¡± Kosrun replied with a click of his tongue. ¡°I don¡¯t truly understand the concept of immortality. No matter how much effort I put into it, I can¡¯t create a weapon that transcends mortality.¡± Humans could study how birds fly and even replicate it with technology, but they could never fully understand the bird¡¯s instincts or feelings. It was impossible to craft something of a higher realm through mere imagination. ¡°But what if I crafted a weapon that, like a human, could grow stronger on its own? A weapon with a fully independent will. Don¡¯t you think such a weapon could one day transcend mortality?¡± Kosrun smirked. ¡°There have been artificially created beings that reached the immortal realm. It¡¯s not entirely impossible.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your goal, then?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°My only desire is to witness one of my creations transcend mortality. Nothing else matters to me.¡± [Then why not use the weapons outside? They all have wills of their own, don¡¯t they?] The weapons in thebyrinth each had their own sense of will. But Kosrun shook his head. ¡°The weapons hereck intelligence. They¡¯re closer to beasts driven by instinct. That¡¯s not enough. What I want to create isn¡¯t an ego sword. An ego sword is nothing more than a de with a mind.¡± His eyes burned with passion, his voice trembling with raw desire. ¡°A truly free entity, a perfect lifeform in the shape of a sword¡ªthat¡¯s my dream.¡± A lifeform in the form of a weapon. That was Kosrun¡¯s ultimate aspiration. ¡°But to achieve that, it needs aplete, independent will. That¡¯s always been the hardest part. I¡¯ve been stuck at that hurdle... until you showed up.¡± His eyes, filled with unrestrained ambition, fixed on the ghost. ¡°You are apletely free soul, unbound by anything.¡± Thanks to Exireia¡¯s power, the ghost was neither confined to thebyrinth nor forced to move on to the afterlife. @@novelbin@@ ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand me. Bing a weapon doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯d lose yourself. You¡¯d retain your will and continue making your own choices. The only difference is that your vessel would no longer be a physical body but a weapon.¡± Kosrun pressed on. ¡°If you wanted, you could travel the world alone. Or you could stay with someone you wish to follow.¡± [...] The ghost had already made his choice between two paths: he had refused a third journey. But now, a new option had appeared before him. ¡°What do you think? Interested?¡± Chapter 442: 86th Floor, The World of Armaments (4) [...Even so, the idea of bing a sword doesn¡¯t sound all that appealing.] ¡°Of course, certain sensations and experiences would change. After all, you wouldn¡¯t be reborn as a human but as a sword. But your sense of self and free will wouldn¡¯t disappear.¡± [How can I trust that you won¡¯t mess with me in the process?] ¡°I, Kosrun the Dwarf, swear upon my desire and everything I¡¯ve built in my life: I will ce no restrictions upon you.¡± Kosrun immediately dered, ¡°If I vite this oath, I¡¯ll suffer eternal torment, achieving none of the things I desire.¡± It was a deration tied to his name and pride. With that, the possibility of Kosrun betraying him was eliminated. [...Well, damn.] There was nothing more to say. All the obstacles had been addressed, leaving only the ghost¡¯s decision. [This is giving me a headache.] The ghost was torn. He couldn¡¯t make the decision easily. [Give me some time.] ¡°Take all the time you need,¡± Kosrun replied without pressure. ¡°Think it over at your own pace. I¡¯ll be working on other things in the meantime. Let me know once you¡¯ve made up your mind.¡± The cave fell silent, leaving only Taesan and the ghost. [What should I do?] Just when he thought everything had concluded, a new option had presented itself. The ghost worked to calm his turmoil and assess the conditions rationally. [Bing a sword, huh.] To exist not as a living, breathing body, but as a sword. It was an unsettling idea, but Kosrun¡¯s exnation made it sound less horrifying than it initially seemed. He would retain his freedom and act autonomously as a sword. Only the vessel housing his soul would change. There were, of course, clear downsides. He would no longer feel the warmth of life. He wouldn¡¯t be able to embrace others or experience deep emotional connections. And there was no guarantee Kosrun would seed. This was Kosrun¡¯s first time attempting to turn a soul into a weapon, so problems were almost inevitable. But on the other hand, he could live again. He could talk with others, experience new things, and grow stronger. Perhaps, as a sword, he might even achieve his own desires. The advantages and disadvantages were clear, which only made the decision harder. [What should I do?] In the end, the ghost turned to Taesan. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t leave this decision to me. It¡¯s something you need to choose for yourself.¡± The ghost¡¯s future hinged on this choice. No one else had the right to intervene. The ghost nodded in agreement. [You¡¯re right. In the end, it¡¯s my decision to make.] ¡°But...¡± Taesan trailed off. The ghost waited for him to continue. After a moment, Taesan spoke. @@novelbin@@ ¡°I think it would be better if you lived on, even as a sword.¡± [...I see.] The ghost let out a smallugh, a smile forming on his face¡ªa light, relieved expression, as if he had let go of a burden. [I¡¯ve made my decision. Someday, I might regret it... but it¡¯s my choice, and I¡¯ll bear the consequences.] Taesan called for Kosrun. Kosrun approached with a face full of expectation, eager for the ghost¡¯s answer. [I ept, dwarf.] ¡°Great! I promise you won¡¯t regret it!¡± *** "So, what exactly needs to be done?" Turning a living soul into a sword¡ªa feat unheard of. Even Kosrun, who was thrilled at the opportunity, couldn¡¯t hide his uncertainty. ¡°I¡¯ve figured out the basics, but this is my first time embedding a soul into a weapon. I¡¯ll need to run some experiments. How much time do we have?¡± [About... two weeks. After that, I¡¯ll have to leave.] ¡°Two weeks, huh? That¡¯s cutting it close.¡± Kosrun furrowed his brows and quickly started calcting. ¡°To begin with, we¡¯ll need a weapon tied to you. Since the sword will act as the vessel,patibility is critical. Can you retrieve the sword you used during your lifetime?¡± [That¡¯s not a problem. Taesan.] At the ghost¡¯s request, Taesan pulled out Cavert¡¯s Relic. It was the sword the ghost had used before entering thebyrinth, the very weapon he had wielded until his death. It had been hispanion throughout his entire life. Kosrun¡¯s eyes sparkled as he took hold of the relic. ¡°This sword holds a strong connection to you. It¡¯s more than enough¡ªperfect, in fact. I¡¯ll hold onto it for now.¡± Kosrun carefully set aside Cavert¡¯s Relic and continued. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll need a vessel capable of holding immense willpower. To house a soul in a sword, the weapon must be imbued with such space. Unfortunately, the weapons hereck that kind of capacity... I¡¯ll have to gather and assess them first.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Taesan said. From his inventory, Taesan produced a Fragment of the World¡¯s Will. Kosrun¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°A shard of the world¡¯s will. Will this do?¡± ¡°More than enough,¡± Kosrun said, letting out a dryugh. ¡°With this, there¡¯s more than enough space for the soul. Where did you even find something like this...?¡± ¡°And there¡¯s this as well.¡± Taesan also showed him Bardray¡¯s Legacy. Kosrun let out an astonished exmation. ¡°This resonates deeply with the soul. In theory, one sword would suffice, but the more materials like this we have, the higher the chances of sess.¡± Kosrun smiled, clearly satisfied. ¡°Perfect. With this, most of the problems are solved.¡± It was as though everything had been prepared from the start, with each condition falling into ce. ¡°We have the basic materials ready. Now I need to get a better feel for the process. Adventurer, bring me as many weapons from outside the cave as you can. They need to be subdued.¡± ¡°How many are we talking about?¡± ¡°As many as possible. As much as your abilities allow.¡± Kosrun grinned. ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯re going to need a lot.¡± Taesan nodded and stepped out of the cave. He intended to fulfill Kosrun¡¯s request to the best of his ability. Standing on the weapon-strewn ground, Taesan raised his hand. ¡°Gather.¡± [You have activated Deration of Cohesion.] ng! ng! ng! Weapons were uprooted en masse and flew toward Taesan. The weapons, seemingly shocked at being forced against their will, struggled in resistance, but hismand overwhelmed them. Every single one was drawn to his hand. Taesan dered again. ¡°Submit.¡± [You have activated Deration of Submission.] There was no need for overwhelming force. One simple phrase sufficed. The power of his words etched itself into the world. The weapons collectively ceased their resistance, submitting to Taesan. He continued moving without pause. In less than an hour, he had gathered over a hundred weapons. ¡°This should do, right?¡± ¡°...For now, it¡¯s more than enough,¡± Kosrun said, his face nk with astonishment. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d bring this many...¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say to bring as many as possible?¡± ¡°Well, I did, but... still, this is impressive. Fine. Thanks to you, we¡¯ll be able to proceed much faster.¡± With hundreds of weapons now at his disposal, Kosrun carried them into the cave. *** Kosrun continued experimenting. He fused weapons, refined them, and extracted the will contained within. Though Taesan, an outsider to such work, couldn¡¯t fully grasp the details, it was clear how arduous the process was. Each time Kosrun refined a weapon, his eyes grew hollow, and his cheeks sunken. Yet, Kosrun looked utterly delighted. Even as his body reached its limits, he didn¡¯t stop. In less than two days, he had used every weapon Taesan had brought him. ¡°Do you think it¡¯ll work?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a sense of it, but there¡¯s still a lot missing. I¡¯ll need more¡ªmore thanst time.¡± Taesan agreed without hesitation. Just as before, he swiftly gathered more weapons. Kosrun used them all and once again asked Taesan for new ones. The countless weapons scattered across thend began to vanish. Soon, Taesan had to venture further afield to find more. During this process, Taesan had only one task: collecting weapons. While Kosrun conducted his experiments, time opened up for Taesan. He found himself with moments of respite. So, during those intervals, Taesan talked with the ghost. Their conversations weren¡¯t extraordinary. The ghost spoke about when he first met Revancia, how he obtained Cavert¡¯s Relic, and the experiences that shaped him throughout his life. In turn, Taesan shared stories about his life on Earth¡ªwhat he had done before entering thebyrinth and the ordinary events of his past. Most of their dialogue revolved around the mundane, simple aspects of their lives. And so, ten days passed. ¡°I¡¯ve wrapped up most of the preparation.¡± Kosrun¡¯s face was gaunt, but his determination remained. ¡°But there¡¯s still one thing missing. The final material. The quest reward for this floor: Ego Soul. Bring it to me.¡± Taesan agreed. He moved swiftly toward the location of the King¡¯s Sword, which he had already identified. There, embedded in a rock, was a magnificent sword, dazzling like an ornate piece of decoration. ng! The King¡¯s Sword was pulled free. Unlike the other weapons, it didn¡¯t exude malice or a will to resist. Instead, it radiated a strong determination to test Taesan. The King¡¯s Sword moved. The power within it coalesced into its de, and it swung. The energy turned into a de of force, shing toward Taesan. Taesan raised his sword and countered. Boom! The battle began. The King¡¯s Sword, without a master, moved of its own ord, pressing Taesan with relentless attacks. The strength it disyed approached the pinnacle of mortality, on the verge of crossing into the realm of immortality. For Taesan, however, it posed no real challenge. He had already surpassed mortality. But for someone like I-Taeyeon, it would have been a different story. For her, simply surviving against this sword would have been an achievement, let alone subduing it. ¡®So, she managed to ovee this.¡¯ The quest condition for the floor was to subdue the King¡¯s Sword. Judging by the aura emanating from the sword, it was unlikely any shortcuts could have been used. This meant she had cleared the 100th floor purely with her own ability. She was undoubtedly remarkable. ¡®I¡¯ll have to ask her how she managed it once I return to Earth.¡¯ Taesan put aside his thoughts and focused on the fight. ng! He gripped his sword tightly and swung powerfully. The King¡¯s Sword couldn¡¯t withstand the force and slid backward. Given the gap in their fundamental levels, there was no need for Taesan to employ advanced skills or finesse. He subdued the King¡¯s Sword in an instant, grasping its hilt and driving it into the ground. He then infused it with his aura. The King¡¯s Sword trembled violently for a moment, as if in defiance, but it soon calmed. The power it had been exuding dissipated. The King¡¯s Sword rested quietly in Taesan¡¯s hand. [You have subdued the King¡¯s Sword.] [86th Floor Cleared.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained Ego Soul.] [You have obtained ???.] Ego Soul An artificial vessel for souls. Empty and ready to be filled. ??? Used. [You have obtained King¡¯s Pommel.] King¡¯s Pommel Strength +200 Agility +200 Attack Power +200 Defense +200 A pommel from the sword wielded by the King of the World. Can be attached to any sword, perfectly bncing its weight. Taesan had cleared the 86th floor. With the Ego Soul in hand, he returned to Kosrun, who greeted him with a grin. ¡°Just a little longer. Wait just a bit more while I finish up.¡± Kosrun took the Ego Soul and retreated to his private workspace. Two dayster. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Kosrun returned. Everything was ready to transform the ghost into a sword. ¡°Let¡¯s get started. Are you ready?¡± [I am,] the ghost answered calmly. Chapter 443: 86th Floor, The World of Armaments (5) ¡°First, take a look.¡± Kosrun handed Cavert¡¯s Relic back to Taesan. Cavert¡¯s Relic: The Final Masterpiece A relic from a now-destroyed world. It imed the lives of countless royals. You are now its final master. If ownership changes, all of the sword''s attributes will disappear. Currently in a highly iplete state, it holds no value as a weapon. A vessel for housing a soul has been prepared. ¡°The attack power stats arepletely gone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯ve reconfigured it. My goal isn¡¯t to trap a soul in a sword¡ªit¡¯s to transform the soul into the sword itself. I¡¯ve modified it to align with the soul¡¯s characteristics. As a result, its value as a weapon is gone, but that¡¯s irrelevant. Once this isplete, it¡¯ll have power beyondparison.¡± Kosrun, grinning ear to ear, led Taesan deeper into the cave. There, a prepared altar stood, seemingly assembled at some point without notice. Four pirs surrounded the altar, swirling with immense willpower and strength. At the center of the altar was a slot perfectly sized for a sword. ¡°All you have to do is ce Cavert¡¯s Relic into the slot on the altar.¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯m the one who has to do it?¡± ¡°No. Only the soul destined to be the sword can do it.¡± [I hate to break it to you, but I can¡¯t physically touch anything.] The ghost, being dead, could not influence the physical world under normal circumstances. Kosrun waved his hand dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s what the altar¡¯s for. Don¡¯t worry.¡± He began manipting several devices surrounding the altar. Whirrrrr! The mechanisms roared to life, sending out strange vibrations that spread throughout the cave. [This is...] At the same time, the ghost¡¯s ethereal form began to take on color. Previously like a misty apparition, it now regained some semnce of its former self. ¡°You should have enough physical presence to hold the sword now.¡± [...] The ghost stretched out a hand. Cavert¡¯s Relic rested smoothly in his grasp. [It¡¯s been a long time since I held this sword again.] ¡°No need to get sentimental. You¡¯re about to be one with it. We¡¯re short on time. Let¡¯s move.¡± The ghost stepped into the altar, gripping Cavert¡¯s Relic. Kosrun spoke slowly. ¡°From this point forward, focus deeply on your desires. While the sword will take shape by default, its abilities will reflect what you wish for most.¡± [What I wish for...] ¡°Let¡¯s begin!¡± Kosrun eximed, his voice full of excitement as he activated the mechanism. The ghost plunged Cavert¡¯s Relic into the slot at the altar¡¯s center. Whirrrrrr! The altar emitted a thunderous noise as its systems synchronized and amplified the surrounding power. The energy focused on the ghost and the sword. [Ugh.] The ghost let out a faint groan. It was an intensely ufortable sensation. It felt as though every part of him was being distorted and corrupted. Steeling himself, the ghost dove deep into his thoughts. ¡®What do I wish for?¡¯ Boom! With a deafening sound, the ghost¡¯s form began to copse. At the same time, Cavert¡¯s Relic floated into the air. The sword, distorted and fragmented by the overwhelming energy, merged with the ghost. It wasn¡¯t just a soul being ced inside the sword¡ªit was the creation of a perfect unity. A living weapon, shaped like a sword, began to form. ¡°Ohhhhhh!¡± Kosrun cried out in ecstasy, his face radiant with joy. The fusion seemed to be a sess. The merging soul of Bardray showed no resistance, as though the ghost and the sword had been one from the beginning. ¡°I did it! I really did it!¡± Kosrun shouted in triumph. But just as the fusion was reachingpletion, something descended upon them. A pure force¡ªindescribable, unmeasurable, closer to aw than a tangible power. It touched the ghost. [Ah.] The ghost groaned softly. ¡°What? Wh-what¡¯s happening?¡± Kosrun¡¯s face twisted in panic as the perfectly merging ghost and sword suddenly destabilized. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± He frantically manipted the devices, but nothing changed. The ghost¡¯s soul was being pulled away, drawn toward where it naturally belonged. ¡°Why is this happening?!¡± Kosrun yelled, his voice filled with confusion. But Taesan understood. ¡°It¡¯s death.¡± Thews of the world dictated that a soul without a body must pass into the afterlife. That natural order now attempted to drag the ghost, who was on the verge of bing a sword, into its proper ce. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡± Taesan unleashed a wave of ck energy. In an instant, the cave was consumed by darkness. Kosrun¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Wha¡ªwhat¡¯s this?¡± Taesan infused the darkness with divine power. The cave was nketed in a grayish hue. The pull of death, which had been dragging the ghost away, was blocked by the boundary. It could no longer reach him. Regaining his freedom, the ghostpleted his transformation into the sword. He focused deeply on his innermost desire. Boom! The gray energy engulfed the world. ¡°Ugh...¡± Kosrun staggered, barely managing to stay upright. The altar had been obliterated, leaving no trace behind. At its centery a single sword. ¡°Did it... seed?¡± Kosrun muttered, his voice uncertain. Taesan approached the sword. Outwardly, it appeared the same as Cavert¡¯s Relic. But the energy emanating from it was entirely different¡ªand unmistakably familiar to Taesan. ¡°How do you feel?¡± he asked. [Cold. I doubt I¡¯ll feel warmth anymore.] The ghost¡¯s voice echoed from the sword. Taesan gripped Cavert¡¯s Relic. [You have obtained the Prince of a Fallen World: Bardray.] *** It was no longer Cavert¡¯s Relic. The sword in Taesan¡¯s hand was now, in every sense, Bardray himself. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Kosrun approached, brushing off the dust. When he saw Bardray in Taesan¡¯s hand, he rushed over eagerly. ¡°How is it? Did it work?¡± [Looks like it.] Bardray floated out of Taesan¡¯s grip, moving freely in the air. The way it drifted was so natural, it was as if a human were moving their body. ¡°Oh... ohhhh!¡± Kosrun¡¯s face lit up with unrestrainable joy. ¡°Hahaha! I did it! I really did it! I seeded!¡± Kosrun, practically bouncing in excitement, grabbed Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°Thank you. Truly, thank you! It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± ¡°So, does this mean you¡¯ve achieved your goal?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°No, not quite,¡± Kosrun replied, his exhration still evident. ¡°Creating a living weapon through the fusion of soul and de¡ªsomething no one else has done¡ªis an achievement, no doubt. But my true desire is to witness one of my creations surpass mortality with my own eyes.¡± Though Bardray had gained the potential for such a feat, he had not yet crossed that threshold. Kosrun¡¯s ultimate dream remained unfulfilled. Still, Kosrun was visibly content. ¡°But this is more than enough. It exceeds all my expectations. If Bardray ever does ascend to immortality, promise you¡¯lle find me. I need to see it with my own eyes!¡± [Sure, I can do that.] ¡°Oh...¡± Kosrun shuddered, ovee with emotion. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you,¡± he said, looking at Taesan. After all, it was Taesan who had brought the ghost to him, making the fulfillment of his ambitions possible. ¡°What¡¯s your name again?¡± ¡°Taesan.¡± ¡°Right, Taesan. Is there anything else you want? Just name it, and I¡¯ll make it for you.¡± But Taesan nced at Kosrun¡¯s face and shook his head. Kosrun looked utterly exhausted, his hollowed features resembling a walking corpse. ¡°Let¡¯s talk after you¡¯ve had some rest. I need to check everything anyway.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Finally realizing how tired he was, Kosrun¡¯s legs wobbled. ¡°You¡¯re right... Sorry, I need to rest a bit. I¡¯lle backter.¡± Kosrun stumbled back to his private workspace, leaving Taesan to step outside. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Taesan asked. [Hmm... it feels like I¡¯ve be the sword itself. That¡¯s the best way to describe it. The sensations are strange, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll have any trouble moving.] Bardray floated midair and began to move. A sharp slicing sound followed as the sword executed several strikes. However, the movements were clumsy, like a child struggling to handle the weight of the weapon. [This is rough. It¡¯ll take some time to get used to wielding myself as a sword. Still, it¡¯s not bad. I¡¯m satisfied.] ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Congrattions.¡± Taesan sincerely congratted him, and Bardray responded in kind. [Thanks.] ¡°So, what¡¯s next? What do you n to do now?¡± Bardray was now free in every sense. He could leave Taesan¡¯s side without any issues. Taesan wouldn¡¯t stop him if that was his decision. [The reason I chose to be a sword was to see the rest of your journey.] Bardray spoke calmly. [Considering everything I owe you, leaving now would be shameless, don¡¯t you think?] ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Taesan joked. Bardray returned to his hand. [I have no intention of leaving you. You¡¯re the only one worthy of wielding me.] [You have been acknowledged by Bardray. All abilities of the Stormscar Sword are now yours.] Along with Bardray¡¯s acknowledgment, all aspects of the Stormscar Sword were transferred to Taesan. Knowledge, experience, and skill¡ªall of it flowed into him. Taesan swung Bardray. The sharp sound of air being sliced followed as the de swept through the air like a storm. It was the Swordsmanship of the Stormscar. Though Taesan had learned it directly from Bardray before, the level of skill he now demonstrated was on apletely different scale. [It seems my desire manifested in this way... how curious.] ¡°What did you wish for?¡± [Nothing significant. I just thought it¡¯d be nice if I could still teach the Stormscar Sword to others even as a de. I guess this is the result. It¡¯s a bit different from what I expected, but I¡¯m notining.] Taesan had gained near-perfect mastery of the Stormscar Sword. Since the Ability Sword was based on the principles of the Stormscar Sword, this newfound mastery meant a substantial increase in his proficiency with the Ability Sword. Taesan had reached the heights of swordsmanship that Bardray had spent a lifetime achieving. [And here¡¯s the other thing.] [Bardray activated Form Manifestation.] The sword floated in midair, its shape shifting. The de twisted, and the hilt bent and distorted. Before long, a humanoid figure forged of steel stood in its ce. [The sensations haven¡¯t changed, but... I guess this will do.] ¡°Did you wish to take on a human form?¡± Taesan asked. [Something like that. Being a sword all the time would be inconvenient, wouldn¡¯t it? I thought it¡¯d be nice to have the option of a humanoid form. This should suffice for now.] Bardray reverted to sword form and returned to Taesan¡¯s hand. [Go ahead and check.] ¡°Are you sure?¡± Although Bardray had been apanion, he was now a weapon. Taesan felt it was necessary to assess his abilities, but he had hesitated, worried it might make Bardray ufortable. [It¡¯s fine. I was prepared for this. I¡¯m your weapon now. You cleared the 86th floor and Kosrun¡¯s quest to obtain me. Use me as you see fit.] ¡°If you insist.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t hold back any longer. The system window for Bardray appeared before him. Prince of a Fallen World: Bardray The prince of Cavert¡¯s empire from a destroyed world. Bardray was reborn with a sword as his body. Stats: @@novelbin@@ Attack Power: +2500 All swordsmanship skills gain greatly enhanced proficiency. Bardray can move independently and wield his swordsmanship on his own. Bardray can grow stronger. His attack power increases as he defeats enemies. Only those acknowledged by Bardray can wield him. Those acknowledged by Bardray can perfectly master the Stormscar Sword. For one hour per day, Bardray can activate Form Manifestation, allowing him to assume a humanoid form. Chapter 444: 87th Floor, The Demonic Battlefield (1) Taesan¡¯s attack power had increased by 500. Additionally, Bardray could now move independently to attack enemies. ¡°If needed, you could fight on your own.¡± [It¡¯s possible, but... my movements are still clumsy. If I could fight at the level I did when I was alive, it wouldn¡¯t be much of an issue.] Bardray wasn¡¯t yet fully adept at controlling his new form as a weapon. [Besides, if I act alone, you wouldn¡¯t be able to wield me. That¡¯s a significant drawback.] ¡°Still, it¡¯s a good fallback option. I¡¯ll just have to keep a spare weapon handy.¡± Taesan had already tested Bardray¡¯s Form Manifestation. Bardray could assume a human form for an hour a day. While the time limit was a restriction, having the ability to take on a humanoid form was a significant advantage. Moreover, Bardray was now a growth-type weapon. Given Kosrun¡¯s intent in creating him, this was expected, but the ability to increase attack power by defeating enemies was a wee surprise. While the exact increment would need to be tested, even a modest growth rate would be highly beneficial. [Not bad, right?] ¡°Sorry to say this, but you¡¯re excellent.¡± Bardray had immense value as a weapon. With his basic assessmentplete, Taesan went to find Kosrun. Still resting, Kosrun hadn¡¯t yet emerged, so Taesan waited patiently. A dayter, Kosrun appeared, his face showing signs of recovery. ¡°All right, all right. Have you thought about what you¡¯d like me to craft for you? I¡¯ll do anything within my power.¡± Kosrun examined Taesan¡¯s equipment. His gaze stopped at the ck-and-white ring on Taesan¡¯s finger. ¡°That ring...¡± Kosrun¡¯s expression changed as he leaned closer to inspect it. ¡°...That¡¯s incredible. It doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s from thebyrinth. What is it?¡± ¡°Haphran made it.¡± ¡°Haphran? That guy has skill, but I didn¡¯t know he could make something like this. Can I take a closer look?¡± Taesan handed the ring to Kosrun, who examined it with growing admiration. ¡°This is exceptional. But there¡¯s room for improvement. Should I upgrade it for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve alreadymissioned Haphran for that. There¡¯s no need to touch it before then.¡± The ck-and-white ring was to be reforged into a single piece using rare materials¡ªa request Taesan had made to Haphran. The process should have been nearingpletion, and Taesan nned to visit Haphran before returning to Earth. ¡°Ah, I see. That¡¯s a shame.¡± Reluctantly, Kosrun handed the ring back. ¡°Anything else you need?¡± ¡°There is.¡± Taesan pulled out a set of arrows. Arrows with Independent Will Arrows that move on their own to protect their master. They possess sentience and act autonomously but cannot travel beyond a certain range. Current Master: Kang Taesan Current Attack Power: 3421 The arrows have reached their limits as weapons. These arrows, which Taesan had acquired earlier, were semi-autonomous. While useful at first, Taesan had stopped using them. The reason was simple. The arrows had limited utility on their own. They required Taesan¡¯smands, either through mana or willpower, to function effectively. However, controlling them drained a considerable amount of energy, often yielding fewer benefits than costs in most battles. As a result, the arrows had remained unused. Taesan wanted to make them practical again. ¡°Oh?¡± Kosrun¡¯s curiosity was piqued as he inspected the arrows. ¡°Who made these? With equipment like this, you¡¯d usually see traces of the creator¡¯s intent, but there¡¯s none here. The craftsmanship is excellent, but that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Do you think you can improve them?¡± ¡°This? Easily.¡± Kosrun fiddled with the arrows, a grin spreading across his face. ¡°Give me a bit. I¡¯ll make something worthwhile.¡± With that, Kosrun disappeared into his workspace with the arrows. While Kosrun worked, Taesan kept himself busy. He familiarized himself with Bardray¡¯s changes, practicing with the Stormscar Sword and refining his control over Bardray¡¯s movements. Bardray, in turn, adjusted to wielding himself as a weapon. After three days, Kosrun reemerged. Instead of arrows, he held a spear. Fused Spear with Independent Will A spear created by fusing autonomous arrows. It moves independently to protect its master and can travel over a wide area. It is self-repairing and can synchronize with its master to amplify power and capabilities. Current Master: Kang Taesan Attack Power: Equal to Kang Taesan¡¯s Attack Power Applies various status effects to enemies upon impact. ¡°Oh.¡± Taesan examined the spear. Its attack power now matched his own. Kosrun, visibly pleased with his work, chuckled. ¡°The arrows were high-quality, far beyond what I expected. But they had clear limitations for standalone use, so Ibined them into a single weapon. This should be much more useful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than enough.¡± Taesan threw the spear. It sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, moving rapidly and precisely. Without needing Taesan¡¯s active control, the spear synchronized with him and acted autonomously. It was now a viable tool for facing the powerful enemies ahead. The upgrade had been well worth the time invested. As Taesan prepared to leave, Kosrun asked, ¡°By the way, do you know who made those arrows?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± He had acquired them after defeating a Forgotten Apostle. They were rted to a goddess whose name had been erased from memory. Since meeting her at the final altar, Taesan hadn¡¯t encountered her again and had nearly forgotten about her. ¡®There must be something to it.¡¯ It was unlikely thebyrinth¡¯s altars were ced randomly. The quest to restore faith in the Forgotten Goddess had been given to Taesan, but nothing had progressed since. Even at the upper levels of thebyrinth, there had been no signs. All Taesan could do was wait until the time was right. With his preparationsplete, Taesan bid farewell to Kosrun. ¡°I¡¯ll look forward to seeing you again,¡± Kosrun said cheerfully as he saw Taesan off. Taesan turned his gaze toward the 87th floor. [87th Floor Quest: Conquer the Demonic Battlefield.] Reward: Coiled Serpent Statue of Darkness. Hidden Reward: ??? As he stepped forward, Balbabamba appeared. [Before you proceed to the 87th floor, I¡¯ll impose a restriction. Your immortal rank will be sealed, reducing you to mortal status.] ¡°Do as you wish.¡± Sealing his immortality didn¡¯t matter. Without such limits, he wouldn¡¯t be able to fully im the rewards anyway. Balbabamba used thebyrinth¡¯s authority to suppress Taesan¡¯s rank. Taesan entered the 87th floor. The first thing he saw was a bright moon hanging in the sky. Below it stretched an endless battlefield filled with monsters killing one another in a frenzy. Taesan stepped into the world. Immediately, a knight d in twisted, broken armor rose from the ground and swung a half-shattered sword at him. Taesan swung Bardray, slicing the knight clean in half. Boom! Before the knight¡¯s body hit the ground, a massive hammer swung toward him. An enormous one-eyed ogre was charging with ferocious strength. Taesan countered with his fist. Crash! The hammer shattered, and the ogre¡¯s chest was pierced by Bardray, who returned to Taesan¡¯s hand. But it wasn¡¯t over. Through the mist, an endless tide of monsters approached¡ªbroken knights, barbarians, beasts, and abominations. Taesan raised his hand. [You have activated Great Copse.] [You have activated Magical Explosion.] A sphere of destruction formed and erupted. Boom! When the smoke cleared, the area around Taesan was deste. Yet his senses detected no end to the monsters. The sheer number was incalcble. ¡°What is this ce?¡± [You have activated Lerazie¡¯s Domain Detection.] @@novelbin@@ Buzz! Waves of detection rippled outward, scouring the battlefield. There was no end in sight. Taesan clicked his tongue and canceled the detection. This battlefield was iparably vast, filled with monsters in every corner. ¡°This is going to take a while.¡± Muttering to himself, Taesan took a step forward. *** At the Same Time Lee Taeyeon bit her lip anxiously. ¡°Lady Maria, isn¡¯t this too harsh? You¡¯re being too cruel to your favorite mortal.¡± She muttered herints, but soon shook her head vigorously. ¡°No, no. I should face this sooner orter. If not now, then when?¡± Steeling her resolve, she took a step forward. [72nd Floor Quest: Ovee the Trial of the Gods.] Reward: Belt crafted by the Master of the Savage Void. Hidden Reward: ??? Passing through the corridor of the 72nd floor, she entered a vast, empty room. Waiting there was a singr presence. A woman made of fire. Taeyeon smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting, haven¡¯t you?¡± [The Fire Spirit King, Vishnu, has appeared.] The Fire Spirit King. Vishnu stared at Taeyeon with a hardened expression. ¡°You.¡± Her gaze was filled with seething anger. ¡°Do you dare betray us?¡± ¡°Betrayal? I¡¯ve never worked with you in the first ce. You forced your will upon me. That¡¯s not betrayal, is it?¡± Taeyeon replied lightly, drawing her sword and assuming a battle stance with unwavering confidence. ¡°There¡¯s no need for a long conversation, right? Let¡¯s get started.¡± Chapter 445: 87th Floor, The Demonic Battlefield (2) Vishnu¡¯s gaze toward Lee Taeyeon brimmed with intense displeasure and fury. ¡°How dare you...¡± Lee Taeyeon had once been associated with the Pathfinders. Recognizing her talent, the leadership allowed her to descend to the deeper levels of thebyrinth, expecting her presence to significantly aid their clears. True to their expectations, Lee Taeyeon swiftly navigated thebyrinth, meeting their high hopes. But at some point, she changed. Her demeanor shifted drastically, bing proactive and assertive as she began zing through thebyrinth at an extraordinary speed, far surpassing even the Pathfinder leadership. rmed by this sudden transformation, the leadership conducted an investigation but found nothing amiss. Her contract with Maria, the Goddess of Choice, was one for the future. For now, Lee Taeyeon remained a mortal receiving Maria¡¯s asional attention. Deeming her simply a blossoming talent, the leadership weed her contributions and continued to rely on her abilities. But by the time they reached the 70th floor, things had changed. When the leadership sought her cooperation, Lee Taeyeon refused outright, dering she would act independently. Vishnu spoke coldly. ¡°You think you can run rampant because a god is watching over you.¡± The leadership resolved to punish her for her defiance. But when they gathered to deal with her, they realized something monumental. Maria descended quietly and addressed them with a simple deration. [This child is mine.] The words left them powerless. Vishnu, recalling the moment, clenched her teeth in frustration. ¡°You¡¯re a cunning little rat. A filthy traitor.¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not a traitor. Are you hard of hearing?¡± Lee Taeyeon muttered dismissively, showing no fear despite standing before Vishnu. Herposure was unnerving. Vishnu scowled, remembering their earlier encounters. Taeyeon, who once trembled and shrank from their mere words, now stood tall and unyielding. The leadership believed her transformation was due to Maria¡¯s support. But seeing her now, Vishnu knew the truth. It wasn¡¯t just support. Taeyeon had fundamentally changed, even her personality. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Fwoosh. Fire flickered along Vishnu¡¯s arm as she murmured. The air in thebyrinth grew searingly hot. Vishnu¡¯s lips curled into a seductive smile. ¡°Your god won¡¯t save you now. You¡¯ll meet your end.¡± Maria had offered apromise to the leadership. [It wouldn¡¯t align with thebyrinth¡¯s purpose to simply let her walk away.] Thebyrinth existed to witness mortals risking their lives in battle. [So here¡¯s my proposal. One of you may face my child inbat.] Vishnu had been chosen. Fire began to dominate the room, Vishnu¡¯s confidence unshaken. Though she had yet to clear the 74th floor, her prolonged stay in the depths had honed her strength significantly. Taeyeon, newly arrived in the deepbyrinth, was little more than a novice byparison. Confident in her victory, Vishnu sneered. ¡°Now, die, traitor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a traitor, jeez,¡± Taeyeon muttered, gripping her sword with a serious expression. [Vishnu activates Nature¡¯s Incarnation.] Vishnu moved first. mes exploded, surging toward Taeyeon like a tidal wave. Realizing she couldn¡¯t block it entirely, Taeyeon dodged, her movements swift and deliberate. Vishnu manipted the mes, sending them after Taeyeon like living entities, blocking her path and relentlessly pursuing her. The rising heat sapped her strength and made breathing difficult. The world seemed to be consumed by fire. ¡®She¡¯s strong, no doubt.¡¯ Taeyeon clicked her tongue, her expression weary. In her previous life, she had avoided direct conflict with the leadership, feigning cooperation while secretly clearing floors and fleeing. She had never gauged their true strength. Now, she understood. The leadership were monsters. But so was she. Taeyeon¡¯s eyes sharpened, her demeanor shifting. [Your Indomitable Will has activated.] [Your Determination in Weakness has activated.] Facing the oing mes, Taeyeon raised her sword. [You activate Deflection.] Fwoosh! The mes twisted as they touched her de. Vishnu¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°...You?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this properly,¡± Taeyeon said, her tone unwavering. [Lee Taeyeon activates Foras¡¯s Transparent Darkness.] A translucent aura enveloped Taeyeon. ¡°ck magic!¡± Vishnu eximed, startled. Humans had gained ess to dark mana after Taesan¡¯s Earth quest was cleared. However, Vishnu was unaware of this, and the sight left her deeply unsettled. Still, she remained confident. A few basic dark magic spells wouldn¡¯t significantly alter the battle. Taeyeon¡¯s position remained clear, easily pinpointed. Taeyeon knew this too. So, she waited for an opening. Boom! mes erupted, distorting the air and disorienting both vision and perception. ¡®Now.¡¯ [You activate Hidden Shadow.] [You activate the Breath of the Concealed Rat.] Vishnu¡¯s gaze faltered. In an instant, shepletely lost track of Taeyeon¡¯s presence, as though she had vanished. Thud! ¡°Argh!¡± Vishnu let out a pained cry as Taeyeon¡¯s de pierced her chest. Vishnu retaliated with a burst of mes, forcing Taeyeon to retreat. Taeyeon stepped back willingly, her expression calm. The battle resumed. As she deflected Vishnu¡¯s attacks, Taeyeon opened her inventory. [Lee Taeyeon activates Rainbow Disorienting Powder.] A sparkling powder, purchased from a merchant, scattered into the air, warping Vishnu¡¯s vision. Scowling, Vishnu unleashed mes to disperse the powder. And Taeyeon struck again. [You activate Hidden Shadow.] [You activate the Breath of the Concealed Rat.] Vishnu, unable to track her, found Taeyeon¡¯s de stabbing into her abdomen once more. ¡°Damn it!¡± Vishnu roared, unleashing a chaotic explosion of fire. But Taeyeon had already retreated to a safe distance. The Breath of the Concealed Rat. One of Taeyeon¡¯s main skills. It had been difficult to obtain in her current life, requiring a life-or-death struggle on the 71st floor. While her mastery wasn¡¯t as refined as in her previous life, it was still effective enough. ¡°...You¡¯re a true rat,¡± Vishnu spat venomously. ¡°Scurrying in the shadows, exploiting every opening. Do you think you can conquer the deep floors with such cowardly tactics?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taeyeon¡¯s reply was firm, her gaze unwavering, as though she had already seen the future. The certainty in her eyes left Vishnu briefly shaken. ¡°...Ridiculous!¡± Vishnu snarled, mes gathering around her, turning white as they concentrated. ¡°Behold! This is the world granted to me, the Spirit King!¡± [Vishnu activates King¡¯s Domain.] The space transformed. Thews of thebyrinth bent and twisted, and Taeyeon realized she now stood within Vishnu¡¯s world. ¡°Hide all you want, rat. I¡¯ll burn this entire world to ashes!¡± ¡°...Wow.¡± Taeyeon clicked her tongue. ¡°So Taesan defeated this head-on? How?¡± Vishnu¡¯s King¡¯s Domain was overwhelming. In this state, Vishnu was unbeatable. The gap between them was insurmountable. ¡°This is amazing,¡± Taeyeon muttered, genuinely impressed. ¡°Die, rat!¡± Vishnu roared, engulfing the world in mes. [Lee Taeyeon activates Choice Exclusion.] The mes consuming the world were extinguished. Vishnu¡¯s King¡¯s Domain copsed, erased without resistance. ¡°...Huh?¡± Vishnu stood dumbfounded. Her King¡¯s Domain had been powerful, but it was still a mortal skill. Against divine authority, it was powerless. ¡°This should do it,¡± Taeyeon murmured. [You activate Hundred Possibilities.] The skill calcted a hundred possible oues. The result: 100 losses. ¡°Even without the King¡¯s Domain, I still lose? The gap is that wide.¡± [You activate Hundred Exclusions.] [You activate Hundred Possibilities.] [You activate Hundred Exclusions.] The skill repeated, over ten times. ¡°...What is that skill?¡± Vishnu asked, trembling. Taeyeon smiled. ¡°A skill that even Taesan doesn¡¯t have. My own.¡± ¡°Taesan?¡± Vishnu didn¡¯t know who Taesan was. Taeyeon shrugged. ¡°A monster. And for now, this drains too much mana and mental strength to use often.¡± After exhausting Vishnu¡¯s strongest move, Taeyeon had found her answer. Out of 2,324 possibilities: 1,242 defeats. 1,081 stalemates. 1 victory. Opening her inventory, Taeyeon retrieved a gray powder. ¡°Shall we continue, Spirit King?¡± She charged at Vishnu. *** [You have activated Magic Stacking.] [You have activated Great Copse.] [You have activated Great Copse.] [You have activated Great Copse.] [You have activated Magic Release.] The stacked magic unleashed its full force. Condensed spheres of power swept across the battlefield, erasing thousands of monsters in an instant. [Your level has increased.] But the vacant spaces were immediately filled with new monsters. Taesan, his face grim with fatigue, gathered more mana. [You have activated Baal¡¯s Rushing Abyss.] The ckened void surged across the battlefield, wiping out the monsters once more. For ten days, Taesan had relentlessly fought his way through the 87th floor. The result? He had cleared out the majority of the monsters. And yet, the end was not in sight. Even Taesan felt a sense of weariness. ¡®No valuable skills to gain, either.¡¯ The battlefield was vast and monotonous. Most of the monsters relied solely on brute strength andcked any unique traits or abilities. Taesan had already acquired most of the skills avable under such basic conditions. Still, the sheer number of monsters allowed him to refine his coordination with Bardray and improve theirbined movements. Bardray¡¯s attack power also continued to increase. [Prince of a Fallen World: Bardray] The prince of Cavert¡¯s empire, reborn with a sword as his body. [Attack Power +2596] The rate of increase appeared to depend on the strength of his opponents. Despite defeating countless monsters, the growth in attack power was modest, rising by nearly 100 points. Still, it was a satisfying improvement. There wasn¡¯t much left to do. At that moment, Taesan received a messenger bird. ¡°This is...¡± It was a message from Haphran. The content was simple: the preparations wereplete, and Taesan was toe. This meant that Haphran was ready to modify the ring Taesan hadmissioned. There was no need to dy any further. @@novelbin@@ Taesan quickly pushed through the remainder of the 87th floor. [87th Floor Cleared.] [You have obtained the Coiled Serpent Statue of Darkness.] [You have obtained ???.] [Coiled Serpent Statue of Darkness] A sculpture of a serpent nestled deep in the abyss. Neither the identity of its creator nor the material used is known. Despite being a mere sculpture, it exudes an intimidating power that inspires fear even in those who dare to gaze upon it. [You have used ???.] [You have obtained the Golden Ring of Deep Slumber.] [Golden Ring of Deep Slumber] Health +3000 Mana +500 Strength +500 Agility +500 Attack Power +300 Defense +300 A ring that once shone as brightly as the sun, now submerged in darkness. The power within it has been tainted, mingled with the shadows into a murky state. After confirming his rewards, Taesan ascended to the next floor. His pace was faster than usual. Taesan soon arrived at Haphran¡¯s forge. Waiting there was Haphran, visibly exhausted but with a glint of excitement in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯vee. The preparations areplete. Let¡¯s begin immediately.¡± Chapter 446: The Black-and-White Ring (1) ¡°Then show me the ring.¡± Taesan revealed a pair of ck-and-white rings. As Haphran examined the rings, Taesan spoke to him. ¡°By the way, Kosrun. I met him.¡± ¡°Kosrun?¡± Haphran¡¯s pupils widened. ¡°...Where did you meet him?¡± ¡°On the 86th floor. He said he made a new contract with a wizard.¡± ¡°A new contract?¡± Taesan exined to Haphran, and after hearing the story, Haphran calmed himself. ¡°...So that¡¯s how it is. It certainly wouldn¡¯t have had much meaning for me.¡± Haphran couldn''t handle equipment with a will of its own. For him, a world of sentient weapons was not particrly appealing. ¡°Wait.¡± Haphran frowned. ¡°...Then the aura I¡¯ve been feeling since earlier...¡± [Hello, Haphran.] Bardray spoke in the form of a sword. Haphran closed his mouth. A momentter, he let out a hollowugh. ¡°Hero... Is that how it turned out? I thought the quest waspleted, and you had imbued that sword with your power and left.¡± [I have be the sword.] ¡°So Kosrun must be going wild with joy. Hero, are you satisfied with that?¡± [Well, for now? At least, I don¡¯t regret it much.] ¡°Well, that¡¯s good.¡± Haphran spoke calmly. ¡°Congrattions on achieving your wish.¡± [Thanks. But my situation isn¡¯t that important, right? You have your own task.] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Haphran acknowledged and tightly gripped the pair of rings. ¡°Let¡¯s start right away. Follow me.¡± Haphran led Taesan to his destroyed world. It waspletely dead. The faintest trace of life had disappeared, and it had turned into a massive stone the size of a. ¡°Are we making it here?¡± ¡°The equipment I¡¯m making now surpasses my own knowledge. Since I can¡¯t predict how the aftermath will unfold, I thought it best to craft it in this dead world.¡± Haphran said as he headed toward an abandoned forge, which appeared to have been set up after the world¡¯s death. ¡°Let¡¯s organize things. I¡¯m not capable of handling the tools you gave me. But if I were to use you as a tool, that would change the situation.¡± Taesan would be Haphran¡¯s hammer and anvil. An immortal would serve as the cksmith¡¯s hands and feet. With that, even materials Haphran couldn¡¯t handle would be manageable. ¡°But tools are the hands and feet of a craftsman. Simply following my orders won¡¯t work. You must be me, and I must be you.¡± Haphran took out a pure white orb from his pocket. ¡°First, let¡¯s synchronize you and me.¡± [Refined Core of the World] [A core forged by the cksmith, the Refined Core of the World. It has the power to synchronize and connect different life forms.] ¡°Ah. Excuse me, Hero. Please distance yourself for a moment. I can¡¯t predict what influence someone like you might have.¡± [Got it.] Bardray pulled away from Taesan¡¯s hand and distanced himself. ¡°...Completely free. Kosrun. I never expected he¡¯d gain the possibility to fulfill his wish.¡± Admiring the situation, Haphran spoke seriously. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Taesan nodded. Haphran handled the core of the world. The white orb expanded and engulfed them. And Haphran and Taesan synchronized. They began to feel each other¡¯s power and energy. Haphran¡¯s face trembled. ¡°Hmmm...¡± Taesan was an immortal. Even though Taesan was adjusting, perfect synchronization with Haphran, a mortal, was difficult. ¡°This is more than I expected. Maybe I wasn¡¯t fully prepared.¡± Haphran took out a number of materials from his pocket. He activated them all at once. In an instant, Haphran¡¯s power surged to an extraordinary level. Only then did Haphran take a breath, as if the pressure had eased a little. ¡°Then... we need to take one step further. Let¡¯s connect our minds.¡± ¡°Minds?¡± Taesan hesitated. To connect their minds meant that Haphran would look into Taesan¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I understand your hesitation. But without connecting to that level, crafting the equipment will be difficult.¡± ¡°I have no choice, huh. It¡¯s fine.¡± There was no reason to refuse now. It was just showing him, and it wasn¡¯t something he felt ufortable about. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s start.¡± Kiiing! The core of the world that surrounded them amplified further. They began to connect with each other. And Taesan saw it. In a world made of fire itself, a dwarf was hammering alone. Despite setting himself on fire, he continued to strike the hammer in silence. That was Haphran¡¯s mindscape. And just as Taesan saw Haphran¡¯s mindscape, Haphran was also seeing Taesan¡¯s mind. ¡°...Hmm?¡± Haphran¡¯s eyes shook. He looked as if he had seen something strange, as if he had witnessed something that shouldn¡¯t exist. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°No, nothing.¡± Haphran concealed his confusion and steadied himself. ¡°Our minds have connected. How does it feel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange.¡± Taesan could feel something about Haphran within himself. It felt as if the two of them had be one. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s begin.¡± Haphran ced the pair of rings on the anvil. ¡°These rings are yours. Your self, your power, and your energy will influence them. Remember that.¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°Then, let¡¯s begin. Activate.¡± [You have activated the dual bond.] Crackling sound! A noise erupted. The pair of rings on the anvil tried to forcibly be one. Naturally, resistance broke out. The structure of the rings began to copse. It was as if they were forcing mismatched puzzle pieces to fit together, unable to ept and breaking apart. At that moment, Haphran took out more materials. Whoosh! Threads of copse traced through the air. Thanks to their connected minds, Taesan immediately realized what Haphran wanted. He moved the threads, tightly wrapping them around the rings. Then, he tightened them. The copsing rings were forced to maintain their form by the copse threads. Haphran immediately took out the next material. It was the Token of Struggle. As the token shattered, the intense power contained within it began to spread. Taesan focused his will, directing the power into the rings. Boom! The rings, now infused with immense power, responded. They surged to an even higher level, and the resistance between them began to gradually diminish. Finally, the essence of the world. Everything in the world was contained in it, and it covered the pair of rings. Crack! It sealed, pulled up, and enveloped. The rings slowly began to ept each other. Then Haphran raised his hammer. ng! The sound of hammering echoed. Haphran did not stop. He raised his hammer again and struck down. ng! He focused all his mind and power. He raised his hammer again. ng! The hammering sounded as though he was sacrificing himself. But even so, it wasn¡¯t enough. The rings resisted, emitting waves. Haphran¡¯s full force came down on them, but there was no significant effect. Then Taesan responded. Boom! He unleashed his own power and energy, pressing down on the rings. The divine and ck were mixed, crushing the rings¡¯ resistance. ¡°You are my equipment.¡± Those rings were his possession. And possessions had to follow their master¡¯s will. He pressed down on the rings with his will. The resistance of the rings slowly weakened. Soon, the rings yielded and began to ept him. The hammer was raised. The sound of iron shing with metal rang out, and the rings fused. Boom! The ck and white spread everywhere. Within it was an intense power capable of destroying and copsing everything. Taesan spread his arms. A magical barrier surrounded Haphran. Boom! The barrier, struck by the force, shook violently but held firm. The aftershock settled. ¡°...Thank you. I almost died making this equipment.¡± Haphran muttered with a face covered in sweat. ¡°Doing it here was the right choice.¡± The ruined world had be deste due to the concentration of power. If they had done this in thebyrinth, his forge would have shattered. And on the anvil, there was a single ring. The ring swirled with ck and white, like a yin-yang symbol. ¡°Truly... you did it.¡± Haphran chuckled. He hadn¡¯t imagined that such a level of equipment would be achieved. The materials that went into that one ring alone were the Light of the Origin, the Source of the Apostles, Dragon¡¯s w, the Ember of the Spirit King, the Essence of the World, Threads of Copse, and the Token of Struggle. Seven materials in total. Each one could have created a top-tier piece of equipment. And all of it had been used for just this one ring. Haphran looked at it with hopeful eyes. ¡°That is yours. Take a look.¡± Taesan took the ring. It did not resist and allowed Taesan¡¯s touch. [The ck-and-White Ring, Blended with Majesty and Perfection] [Strength +10%] [Agility +10%] [Intelligence +10%] [Attack Power +2500] [Defense +500] [Numerous materials have been mixed together, bing aplete whole. The twin rings that were separately made have fused and acquired aplete self. You have perfectly tamed this ring.] [This ring is in harmony with you. It perfectly assists your every action.] [This ring is a part of you. It can wield the power you possess to protect you and attack your enemies.] [This ring has a will. If you wish, you can awaken its will.] [The awakened will grows each time it defeats an enemy, enhancing the ring''s abilities.] *** [Oh.] Bardray involuntarily let out a sound. [What kind of ring is this?] Bardray had already anticipated that the ring¡¯s performance would be on apletely different levelpared to anything he had seen before. Just considering the materials used, it was easy to tell that much. But this was beyond even Bardray¡¯s imagination. The increases to strength, agility, and intelligence were 10% each. Even though there was a 5% increase from the set effect, it was still an unbelievably high number. With just that stat increase alone, Bardray thought it would be worth it. But that wasn¡¯t all. The attack power was a staggering 2500. It was on par with Bardray himself. This couldn¡¯t simply be attributed to a single ring¡¯s attack power. Though the defense of 500 seemed rtively small due to the high attack power, it was still an amount that an ordinary ring could not possess. [What is this? How the hell did you make this?] ¡°I didn¡¯t make it. To put it simply, it¡¯s almost as if Taesan made it himself.¡± But even as Haphran spoke those words, there was a strong sense of pride and exhration on his face. ¡°Can I check it out too?¡± Taesan handed the ring over to him. The ring, as if displeased, let out a faint power, but it didn¡¯t resist much. ¡°Ooooh....¡± Haphran let out a gasp as he examined the ring. His eyes shone with an undeniable joy. ¡°I... I made this kind of equipment...¡± ¡°Does this mean your wish has been fulfilled?¡± What Haphran had always wanted was to create equipment that no one else could¡ªsomethingpletely unique to him. ¡°No. I¡¯m stillcking.¡± But Haphran denied it. His eyes held a strong desire. ¡°I can create even more superior equipment, something that no one can match. And with you... It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Haphran smiled broadly. ¡°Let¡¯s keep getting along well, adventurer.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Having the full support of such an outstanding cksmith would only benefit him. Taesan examined the ring once more. It wasn¡¯t just the basic stats; the ring had special effects as well. To verify those effects, it seemed he would need to awaken the ring¡¯s will. @@novelbin@@ ¡°The ring¡¯s will, huh?¡± Taesan gently caressed the ring. As his power and energy seeped into it, the slumbering will within the ring began to awaken. Chapter 448: Revineff "Does losing a god¡¯s domain cause the fall of their divine essence?" "Not everyone. Those like Lakiratas and Maria, who reached their level by their own power, don¡¯t lose their great power even if they lose their domains. But I was a local god who received the faith of others." Her divinity and godhood were sustained by the world itself. But now, she had lost her world. "Normally, I should have perished there. But because of Ainzhar¡¯s belief, I was able to endure." Revineff looked at Ainzhar with a soft expression. "Thank you, Ainzhar." "I¡¯ve only done what I was supposed to do, my goddess." "You don¡¯t need to call me goddess anymore. I¡¯m no longer a god." "No." Ainzhar denied it. With a steady expression, he spoke. "Revineff, you are my goddess. That will never change." "...Is that so? Thank you." Revineff no longer denied it. And as they spoke, Akasha quietly watched them. [.....] Through her connection with Taesan, Akasha¡¯s emotions were felt. There was a deep mix of longing and confusion within her feelings. Akasha was praying at the statue of the forgotten goddess. Her rtionship with Ainzhar and Revineff might not have been so different. "And it¡¯s not because of me, Revineff. The one who saved you was Taesan." "That¡¯s right. I¡¯m really thankful, Taesan." Revineff said with a joyful face. "Even though I¡¯ve lost everything and fallen to a mortal level... I¡¯m still alive. That¡¯s enough for me. It¡¯s all thanks to you." "I¡¯ve only done my duty," Taesan said calmly. He had received the quest, epted it, andpleted it. That was all there was to it for him. Revineff smiled faintly. "Then I must give you a reward that matches what you¡¯ve done." Revineff extended her hand. A light began to gather in her pure white palm. "I¡¯m no longer a god. I would love to give you a blessing, but I no longer have the strength for that. All I have left are fragments of the past." Kiing! @@novelbin@@ It was a tinum-colored fragment that resembled something forcibly torn from iron. The power emanating from it surpassed Taesan¡¯s recognition. "Right now, it¡¯s useless to me... but maybe it will be different for you. Please take it." The tinum fragment moved to Taesan¡¯s hand. He grasped it. [Fragment of Divinity] [The fragment of the divine essence of a being who can no longer be called a god. It is a shard of their divinity.] "...This is..." "I don¡¯t know what to do with it either." Revineff spoke softly. "But you have an incredibly special power. You purified my corruption, and you can intervene in thews of the world. Perhaps you could find some way to use it." "Thank you." Taesan carefully stored the fragment of divinity. A shard of godhood. Though it was just a fragment, it was more valuable than divine blood. Taesan wasn¡¯t sure how to handle it just yet, but it was an incredibly rare material. He would need to figure out how to utilize it, but it was a fitting reward. "I¡¯m d you¡¯re satisfied." "Then, it¡¯s my turn." Ainzhar stepped forward, chuckling as he patted Taesan on the shoulder. "Once again, thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to fulfill my wish. So, I must give you a proper reward. First, take this... the wealth I gathered as I traveled the world." [You have received 300,000G.] Three hundred thousand gold. Even at the depths of thebyrinth, this was still a substantial amount. Then, Ainzhar began removing the armor he was wearing. "I thought long and hard about what I could give you, but this is the only thing that came to mind. Take it. This armor, blessed by Revineff herself, the one I¡¯ve worn my entire life." [You have received Ainzhar¡¯s Armor, Blessed by Revineff.] [Ainzhar¡¯s Armor, Blessed by Revineff.] [Attack Power +1000] [Defense +1000] [Armor crafted by the goddess for her favored apostle. Although the goddess¡¯s power has faded, the apostle wore it for so long that some of its power still lingers.] [The attack power increased by Iyrac Weapon Techniques is further increased by 10%.] Taesan was amazed. An attack power of 1000 was impressive, but what stood out was the special effect. An additional 10% attack power increase from Iyrac Weapon Techniques. In essence, it was a 10% boost to his attack power. It was practically a graduation-level piece of equipment, one he could use until he cleared thebyrinth. "Are you satisfied?" "Definitely." "I¡¯m d to hear that. I¡¯ve been thinking hard about what to give you, since you saved the goddess. I¡¯m relieved you¡¯re happy with it." Ainzhar grinned and asked. "So, are you thinking of going down to the next floor?" "No. I have to return due to the call of the High Gods. I still have some time left." He had a few days of respite. It wasn¡¯t enough to descend another floor. Ainzhar drew his sword. "Then, how about this until then?" Taesan nodded with ease. Ainzhar took out his sword. *** Taesan spent the remaining time before returning to Earth engaged in a duel with Ainzhar. Now, he could withstand Ainzhar¡¯s full attacks. The gap still existed, but it wasn¡¯t as significant as before. As they continued to fight, Taesan engaged in various conversations. "By the way, hero, you¡¯ve be a sword." [You¡¯re asking that now? I thought you had forgotten about me.] "I¡¯m sorry. I had to focus on the conversation with him first, so I didn¡¯t pay attention." Ainzhar gave Bardray, now a sword, a strange look. "...Born as a sword, huh. Are you satisfied?" [Just about?] "That¡¯s enough then. As long as you¡¯re alive, the day when your wishes true wille. Don¡¯t give up either." [Well...] The ghost responded ambiguously. He had let go of everything. There was no longer any wish to be had. Meanwhile, Akasha also had something she wanted to ask Revineff. [Goddess,] Akasha asked quietly. [Goddess Revineff, do you not know anything about me?] ¡°You...¡± Revineff, looking at Akasha, furrowed her brow. After a moment, she shook her head. "I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know." [Is that so...] "Your aura feels familiar, like you were once a being simr to me... But beyond that, I don¡¯t know." Even Revineff, a transcendent being, didn¡¯t know anything about the god Akasha had believed in. Unless Akasha herself recalled it, it seemed there was no way to learn about the goddess. For several days, they continued their battles. And finally, it was over. "Is it already time to return?" "There¡¯s still a little time, but I have onest thing to do. I think this is enough." "That¡¯s unfortunate." "You¡¯re my benefactor. Feel free to visit anytime." "What will you all do now?" The reason Ainzhar made the contract was for Revineff. But now, he had fulfilled his wish. "Well, I¡¯m not sure." "First, I need to meet the magician in thebyrinth. I should go to Metis and express my gratitude. After that... I¡¯ll have to think about it." "Even though you¡¯ve fallen, Revineff, you are still a goddess. The magician should show you some favor." Taesan also mentioned that, like Diana and Beldenkia, they too would being to Earth. However, Ainzhar¡¯s expression was uncertain. "I¡¯ve received a great favor from you. It¡¯s a favor I can never repay. I also have a desire for revenge on the High Gods. But... for now, I want to stay by Revineff¡¯s side." "I see." Taesan said no more. Ainzhar had fulfilled a lifetime¡¯s wish. If he sought peace, Taesan had no right to stop him. "But revenge... it¡¯s an alluring thought. Once I find some stability and finish sorting my mind, I¡¯ll think about it." "That¡¯s enough for now." Taesan bid them farewell and headed for the 61st floor. There, Beldenkia and Diana were chatting cheerfully. "You¡¯ve arrived? What¡¯s going on?" "Where¡¯s Lilith?" "She went to sleep because she was tired." Taesan spoke to them. "I¡¯m about to return to Earth." The atmosphere shifted. From their peaceful faces, it quickly transformed into the face of adventurers who had been through numerous battles. "Is it almost time? How much longer?" "About a day?" "A day? Is there anything to prepare?" "I have some things, yes." Taesan thought for a moment and asked. "Can you use a magic circle for spatial movement?" "It depends on the type. Long-range or short-range? For many people or just a few? Or maybe for a specific target or an unknown number? What do you need?" "All of them." "Hmm." Beldenkia stroked his chin. "I have a few options in mind. I¡¯ll prepare them." "Please." Taesan bid them farewell and descended to the 87th floor. As usual, the shopkeeper was there. "Are you going down?" "No." Taesan shook his head and approached the shopkeeper. "I¡¯m thinking of buying some equipment." "Oh." The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "You¡¯ve saved up quite a bit, haven¡¯t you?" "Quite a bit." Taesan had about 1.5 million gold now. This was the total amount of gold he had earned since descending through thebyrinth. The shopkeeper opened a portal. "Alright. With what you have now, I can show you most things." Whoosh! Countless items poured out. Taesan paused to look at them but immediately chuckled when he saw the prices. [2,000,000G] [1,800,000G] Even with all the gold Taesan had earned up to the 87th floor, there were still items he couldn¡¯t afford. "What¡¯s this?" "Look at the price. You can expect performance to match it." Taesan carefully examined the items. [Extremely Compressed Mithril Sword] [Attack Power +4000] [Made by gathering all the mithril in a world andpressing it to its limit to create a single sword. Its weight is so heavy that no one can wield it properly.] [The user will suffer a penalty from its weight.] [1,700,000G] [Ne Made from God¡¯s Remnants] [Health +10%] [Mana +10%] [Strength +4%] [Agility +4%] [Intelligence +4%] [Attack Power +1000] [Gods are generally eternal, but they too face inevitable ends. This ne was made from the remnants left after the god¡¯s destruction.] [1,800,000G] If it were just the stat increases, the boosts would be impressive, with several stats rising by over 10%. Though not as powerful as Bardray and Akasha, these were equipment of a simrly high caliber. There were dozens of them. ¡®Impressive.¡¯ Taesan continued to browse the items. Then, something familiar caught his eye. It was the Dark Silver Wrist Guard. [Dark Silver Wrist Guard] [Made from pure colorless light woven into a wrist guard. The divine power contained within it protects the user.] [Reduces all damage taken by 50%.] [2,000,000G] [...What¡¯s this?] Bardray let out a stunned sound. Two million gold. This was the most expensive equipment in the shop. And it had performance that exceeded expectations. It reduced all damage by half. And Taesan recognized it immediately. This was the same equipment worn by Lee Taeyeon. Taesan realized. The equipment here was essentially the "graduation gear" of thebyrinth. Chapter 449: The Seventh Return, Earth (1) As Taesan showed interest in the wrist guard, the shopkeeper spoke. "That''s a fine piece of equipment. Are you interested?" "I don¡¯t have enough money." The wrist guard was priced at two million gold. Taesan only had one and a half million gold. Even if he sold all the spare equipment he had, he wouldn¡¯t be able to afford it. ¡®It¡¯s a shame.¡¯ A piece of equipment that could halve all iing damage without any conditions. Its value was immeasurable. Whenbined with the Sturdy effect, the damage taken would only be 25%. It was certainly valuable, on par with the equipment Lee Taeyeon wore. But hecked the gold. With his return to Earthing up, he couldn¡¯t afford to gather more. ¡®Even if I could buy it, would it still be worth it?¡¯ The wrist guard was the problem. Taesan already had the Wrist Guard of World Alteration. The Wrist Guard of World Alteration, which interfered with thews of the world, didn¡¯t fall behind the Dark Silver Wrist Guard in terms of value. But it was still a regret. Taesan shook off his thoughts and looked at the other equipment. After scanning the avable items, one piece caught his attention. ¡®An essory.¡¯ Specifically, a ring. With the merging of the twin rings, he now had room to wear another ring. That spot needed to be filled. Taesan focused on the rings and selected one. [Ring of Revenge Revisited] [Strength +10%] [Agility +10%] [Intelligence +10%] [Attack Power +500] [A ring given by the one who governs the realm of revenge, to their favored.] [The damage you receive is umted within the ring, and it can be triggered to release at yourmand. It resets after the battle.] [1,500,000G] The basic stats were already superior, and it had a special effect. The damage Taesan took would be umted and could be unleashed as a force when needed. Taesan¡¯s current health exceeded 300,000, so umting that much damage and releasing it would have the power to deliver a devastating blow, like a finishing move. "I¡¯ll take this one." "Is that so? Fine." Taesan paid the gold and purchased the ring. As the shopkeeper began to tidy up, he shook the Dark Silver Wrist Guard. "You seemed interested in this one." "I don¡¯t have enough gold, and the slot for it is a bit awkward. It¡¯s fine." "Well, let me knowter. Depending on what you do for me, I might just give it to you." The shopkeeper grinned. Taesan left him behind and opened themunity chat. There was very little time left before his return. Themunity was bustling with conversations. Humanity¡¯s union. People seemed excited about the news. Taesan participated in the discussions. As the leaders of various factions and solo yers were talking about matters on Earth, Oliver Kan posted something with a curious tone. [Oliver Kan [Hard]]: "I know this sounds like old news, but humanity is finally united." [Daniel Darmong [Hard]]: "...It seems so." Among the surviving nations, there were some that had been hostile toward each other. But under the threat of the High Gods, they had alle together. [Oliver Kan [Hard]]: "Once we crush all those invaders, will we finally find peace?" [Amelia Erin [Alone]]: "Stop spouting nonsense. Do you even know how many have died and been killed to get here? That¡¯s not going to happen." [Oliver Kan [Hard]]: "I guess a little hope is okay. But I just think... even after everything ends, there¡¯ll be more fighting. It¡¯s exhausting." The conversation continued. They organized their thoughts and discussed strategies. It wasn¡¯t a short conversation. Itsted a long time. And now, the time for the return to Earth was truly almost here. [Oliver Kan [Hard]]: "Then I guess it¡¯s time to wrap things up. Let¡¯s all survive and see each other again." [Kim Huiyeon [Hard]]: "See youter, Taesan." [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: "See you on Earth. I¡¯ve got a surprise to tell you." [Amelia Erin [Alone]]: "I¡¯m looking forward to it, Kang Taesan. I¡¯ll show you the power I¡¯ve gained!" Taesan chuckled briefly. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: "I¡¯ll be looking forward to it." He gave a short reply. At the same time, the world twisted. Thebyrinth grew distant, and his world¡ªEarth¡ªcame into view. Taesan did not resist the pull that drew him. And he arrived on Earth. [Special Quest: Start] [You have two days to prepare. Establish order and get ready for the uing travels and battles.] [The more influence you have, the more points you will earn when you return to thebyrinth.] "Two days, huh." Taesan turned his gaze. What he saw were the ruins of the world and the people. They were not panicking. They had steeled themselves and were moving quickly. It seemed they had already made ns, as a few groups began to gather around specific individuals. After so many returns, people had be seasoned experts. And soon, they noticed Taesan. "Oooh!" "Taesan-nim!" They cried out as they rushed toward him. They tried to offer their prayers, but hesitated. "Why are there so many of you?" "Is this your world... it¡¯s filled with an awful aura." @@novelbin@@ Beldenkia clicked his tongue, and Diana, with a somber face, looked up at the sky. The sudden appearance of the clearly out-of-ce pair bewildered the crowd. *** Kim Huiyeon quickly gathered people andpiled information. She then brought together the people who would lead. However, they hesitated to speak. They nced at Taesan, who stood beside them. Standing next to him were Beldenkia and Diana. "Quite different," Beldenkia muttered as he observed them. Kim Huiyeon cautiously asked. "U-um, Taesan, who are the people next to you...?" It was obvious they were not ordinary people. Beldenkia appeared to be of European descent, but there was something about him that suggested he was from apletely different world. He didn¡¯t seem like he belonged to humanity. Diana was even more striking. With her long blonde hair, she was extremely beautiful and exuded an aristocratic air. She looked like a princess. Most of all, there was an undeniable presence about her. Though they were trying to suppress their powers as much as possible, it was clear that they weren¡¯t ordinary beings. Taesan answered. "Allies." "Allies...?" "In Alone Mode, there are NPCs. I made a contract with them. We asked for their help during our return to Earth." "Hmm, so they''re aliens?" "From our perspective, yes." A ripple of surprise spread among them. NPCs only existed in Alone Mode. They had heard about them from Taesan and Lee Taeyeon, but this was the first time they had seen them in person. "I knew we weren¡¯t the only ones in the universe, but it feels strange to meet them like this." "No need to be startled. We¡¯re here to help you," Diana said with a soft smile. Her warm expression momentarily distracted everyone. Lee Taeyeon watched them with a look of some concern. Kim Huiyeon quicklyposed herself and bowed. "I look forward to working with you." "Let¡¯s ovee this together," Diana said, and Kim Huiyeon nodded. "Now, let¡¯s get organized. Fortunately, not many have died while descending through thebyrinth." Once they reached a certain depth, people rarely suffered serious injuries or death. The difficulty of thebyrinth increased, but because they were inrge numbers, they were able to manage. "So, how many floors have you reached?" "Hard mode yers have reached the 77th floor," came the answer from one of them. "I¡¯m at the 58th floor," another replied. "I¡¯m at the 72nd floor," said Lee Taeyeon. Everyone¡¯s gaze turned toward Lee Taeyeon. "Really... that fast?" "There are people faster than me. What about you, Taesan? What floor are you on?" "87th floor." Taesan answered. A hushed gasp spread among them. "...That¡¯s not far off." "As I said before, we don¡¯t know. The difficulty will increase once we reach the 90th floor." With that, they had roughly confirmed the situation. The rest of the conversation focused on leadership and strategy, so Taesan didn¡¯t intervene. He took Beldenkia and Diana and moved toward the outskirts. "You were right. It¡¯s truly different than I expected," Beldenkia said, clicking his tongue. "You¡¯ve reached the 77th floor? I couldn¡¯t even reach your level. Thebyrinth has be so segmented. It¡¯s beyond even the God of Falling. What is this High Gods power capable of?" Taesan exined to them about Easy, Normal, and Hard modes. However, he didn¡¯t mention that Alone Mode had also been copied. The idea that the NPCs had been copied might be too difficult for them to ept. Since the magician had found a method, Taesan nned to leave that matter to him. That¡¯s why there had been some mimunication when Taesan met Lee Taeyeon. "Wow... this is strange when I see it like this." Lee Taeyeon gave Beldenkia a curious look. She had met Beldenkia in both her past and present lives. But she had never been able to fulfill Beldenkia¡¯s wish. Now, Beldenkia had realized his wish and was here, so Lee Taeyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange emotion. Beldenkia seemed to have sensed this and asked Lee Taeyeon. "You¡¯re quite impressive. No, you¡¯re at quite a high level." "Of course. I¡¯ve actually cleared thebyrinth," Lee Taeyeon said with pride. "Huh? But I don¡¯t remember meeting you." "Well, there were circumstances that prevented it." Lee Taeyeon awkwardly changed the topic. She then started talking to Taesan. "You said 87th floor? Are there any floors I might recognize?" "No. Most of the floors have changed." "I see... Well, considering your current strength, I can clear the floors I¡¯ve already cleared pretty easily. That much is to be expected." "If you¡¯re on the 72nd floor, you must have encountered the Pathfinders." "I did. Fought them. Won." Lee Taeyeon said proudly. Taesan was a bit surprised. From his judgment, Lee Taeyeon hadn¡¯t yet reached the level where she could defeat the Pathfinders. "Who did you fight?" "The Fire Elemental King. Vishnu." "You managed to handle the King¡¯s Domain?" "I have Maria¡¯s authority. I erased it with that." "...Choice Exclusion." Vishnu wasn¡¯t particrly formidable, except for his King¡¯s Domain. Taesan had struggled only after Vishnu used the King¡¯s Domain. Before that, Taesan had the upper hand without using any special cards. But even so, winning was impressive. Lee Taeyeon had definitely grown stronger. "Why don¡¯t you try fighting Beldenkia over there? He¡¯d be a suitable opponent for you." "I don¡¯t think I can beat him... but I¡¯ll try." Lee Taeyeon responded somewhat reluctantly. She went up to Beldenkia and challenged him to a fight, which Beldenkia epted readily. The battle began, and Lee Taeyeon fought desperately but ultimately lost. However, she immediately challenged him again. "That¡¯s impressive." Kim Huiyeon, who had been watching their battle, couldn¡¯t help but express her admiration. "Is it true that Diana is even stronger?" "Much stronger. Even if Lee Taeyeon and Beldenkia teamed up, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance." "Really? That¡¯s amazing." Kim Huiyeon clenched her fists. "With those two around, we should be able to survive without too much trouble." Taesan didn¡¯t say anything. Both his past and present lives had changed significantly. The quests on Earth were no exception. It was likely that the memories of his past life would no longer be very useful. The High Gods would now actively target Taesan, and they would try to kill people. But they would win. Just like always. And so, after two days. A new quest began. Chapter 450: The Seventh Return, Earth (2) [Special Quest: Start] [This quest targets all of humanity.] [All survivors must gather at a specific location. Ovee the challenges encountered on the way and reach the designated ce.] [This quest has no time limit.] [The more influence you have on the encounters between yers, the more points you will earn upon returning to thebyrinth.] The quest began. Leaders and powerful figures from various nations gathered in a conference room, their faces serious as they started their discussions. "Has the location been confirmed?" "It¡¯s in the United States." In response to the question from India''s leader, Kamal Hassan, Russia¡¯s leader, Viktor Stanichin, answered. "The United States was the dominant nation before the world fell apart, so it¡¯s fitting as thest meeting point. But I don¡¯t like it." Viktor grumbled. His homnd, Russia, had been in opposition to the United States until the world¡¯s copse. The idea that the final gathering point would be in America wasn¡¯t a pleasant one for him. "Given the state of the world, it would be foolish to cling to such outdated feelings," Taesan added. "We need to head to Las Vegas in the United States. Fortunately, there¡¯s no time limit like in the previous quest," Kamal Hassan said. "Las Vegas..." Kang Junhyeok muttered with an ambiguous expression. "How do we get there?" At those words, silence fell over the room. Previous quests had involved long-distance travels, crossing continents and oceans. But this time was different. This time, they had to cross not just continents, but the world itself. "How far is it from here?" Kamal asked. "Approximately... 6,500 miles. About 10,000 kilometers. That¡¯s a straight-line distance across the North Pacific. If we go bynd, it could be double the distance. Strangely enough, that¡¯s about half of the Earth''s circumference," the Russian leader replied. "...I can¡¯t even fathom how long that will take." Kim Huiyeon sighed in disbelief. It could very well take years toplete the quest¡ªif Taesan weren¡¯t around. "Still, with Taesan here, it shouldn¡¯t take that long." All eyes turned to Taesan. With him, they believed that even the monsters that appeared along the way could be defeated, and they could push forward. Though it was generally impossible to walk that distance, even Easy Mode yers had surpassed the capabilities of average humans. Endurance would not be a problem. "So how do we cross the ocean?" Lee Taeyeon asked. "I recall there¡¯snd near Canada that borders Russia. We could go through there," Viktor suggested. "I¡¯ve confirmed it. In Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, there¡¯s a port town called Wellen. It¡¯s very close to ska. Though it takes about an hour by ne... that should be manageable for him," Kamal Hassan added. "Yes. It should be more than possible," Kim Huiyeon nodded. Taesan had crossed the seas between Japan and Korea before. A one-hour flight would be nothing for him. "It¡¯s going to be a long journey. We¡¯ll need to prepare thoroughly." The decision was made. They began preparing for the journey. Given the number of people involved, which exceeded the hundred-thousands, they had to prepare thoroughly. In the midst of the nning, Taesan spoke up. "What are you talking about?" "We¡¯re discussing how to move forward. Why?" "There¡¯s no need to go through Russia. We¡¯re going straight." "...What?" They were taken aback. Kam Hassan, who had interpreted Taesan¡¯s words, asked with a stunned expression. "Straight? You mean... across the Pacific?" "Yes. We¡¯ll cross the Pacific directly to the United States." "No... that¡¯s the fastest route, but..." Kim Huiyeon stammered. "Across the Pacific? That¡¯s over 10,000 kilometers! And the ocean depth is around 10,000 meters. Even Taesan... can you really do that?" It was different from crossing the seas between Japan and Korea. They would have to cut across the entire Pacific Ocean. It was like splitting the world in half. Taesan replied calmly. "I won¡¯t be splitting the ocean this time... but it¡¯s not impossible. It won¡¯t be that difficult." "...Huh?" "Well, I don¡¯t doubt your abilities, but... it¡¯s hard to believe." Everyone, except for Lee Taeyeon, Beldenkia, and Diana, was stunned. They could barely collect their thoughts. "But if what you¡¯re saying is true, it would save us a huge amount of time." "Call me when you¡¯re ready." Taesan stood up and left the conference room. In their confusion, they organized their thoughts and addressed the others. They were going to cross the Pacific. Everyone was startled. But soon, that shock turned into trust in Taesan. Aside from a few concerns, no one opposed the n. From there, everything moved swiftly. They began traveling in a straight line across the Earth toward America. [Wooooo!] Monsters emerged, trying to block their way. Since this was the seventh return, the monsters were incredibly strong. Countless B-rank monsters appeared, and some A-rank monsters, who even Hard Mode yers would struggle to defeat, were also among them. They began fighting for their lives. And Taesan gave his orders. "Beldenkia, Diana, and Bardray. Move strategically and take down the monsters." "How strategically do you mean?" "Just don¡¯t let them die. These yers need real battle experience." "Understood." They moved quickly. Thousands of monsters were charging toward them, with several A-rank monsters among them. Just as the Hard Mode yers were preparing to block the monsters, Beldenkia swung his hand. Numerous magic circles appeared. Fire, ice, wind, and earth erupted all at once. Boom! Thousands of monsters were thrown into the air in an instant. The people watching couldn¡¯t hide their amazement. Diana also moved swiftly, but the results were far from light. Dozens of monsters were instantly torn apart. Bardray, in sword form, dashed through the monsters, cleaving them left and right. "Oooh!" The overwhelming strength left everyone in awe. When they had time to spare, Taesan engaged in battles with the Alone Mode yers. Except for Lee Taeyeon, no one else was able to put up much resistance, but fighting against overwhelming strength was a huge benefit for them. Even Beldenkia was surprised at how quickly they improved with each battle. "Impressive. Even without Maria¡¯s favor, these three might be able to clear Alone Mode. They¡¯ll need to face dozens of life-or-death challenges, but it¡¯s not impossible." This time, it was different from Taesan¡¯s past life. There were almost ten yers who were capable of clearing Alone Mode. Those with the talent and strength to clear it were more than capable. They would be crucial allies in taking back Earth. Taesan¡¯s desires were slowly being fulfilled. They reached the East Sea. Their destination was Japan. To reach the United States, they first had to pass through Japan. "I can see it." Viktor narrowed his eyes. Having be a superhuman, they could now see Japan from across the sea. @@novelbin@@ "Can we really cross it?" "Yes," Aika nodded firmly. Taesan spoke. "Freeze." [You activated the Deration of Freezing.] Creeeak! The sea began to freeze, like cracks spreading on ss. The cold spread rapidly. A chilling wave swept over them. "Ah..." "This is..." The entire ocean visible on the horizon began to freeze. "Oh, ohhh..." The murmurs of awe and disbelief echoed. Only the yers from Japan and Jeju Ind had witnessed Taesan parting the sea. There weren¡¯t many of them. But even they had never seen him freeze the entire ocean. The power of a divine act sent shockwaves through the onlookers. "I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d be walking on the ocean like this." Viktor muttered. Amidst the awe and reverence toward Taesan, they quickly made their way to Japan. The Japanese people, having arrived on their homnd, knelt down and kissed the earth in gratitude. People gathered supplies as they crossed Japan. While monsters appeared, they were quickly dealt with by Diana and Beldenkia, so there were no significant problems. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the end of Japan. "Pacific Ocean." Lee Taeyeon murmured. Before themy the vast ocean. "Can¡¯t see anything." "The Earth is round. You couldn¡¯t see it beyond the horizon, could you?" Beyond the horizon, nothing was visible. Just the endless horizon. Taesan stepped forward. Exerting his influence over nature, he dered with strong will. "Freeze." [You activated the Deration of Freezing.] Creeeak! The ocean froze. People couldn¡¯t contain their awe. In an instant, the entire ocean froze. "Just like Taesan!" "Ohhhh..." yers from Easy, Normal, and Hard Modes marveled at the sight. It wasn¡¯t surprising since they had seen Taesan freeze the East Sea before. But the Alone Mode yers and the strongest among them were different. They remained silent. Their eyes were filled with disbelief and shock. Even someone like Hassan or Viktor, with enhanced perception, could sense the range of Taesan¡¯s power. Lee Taeyeon asked with a puzzled expression. "...How far did you freeze?" "The entire North Pacific. It¡¯s arge area, and the distance is long, so I did it to be safe." Taesan answered nonchntly. Lee Taeyeon let out a brief chuckle. The North Pacific was vast. It wasparable in size to the entire Asian continent. Taesan had frozen an area of that size with barely any effort. It meant that, with a thought, he could exert his influence on a continental scale. Taesan said, as if it were nothing. "It¡¯s just nature without will. It¡¯s not hard to intervene." "You do know that this only applies to you, right? I knew it, but... you really are a monster." She murmured in a tone filled with admiration. Beldenkia, too, couldn¡¯t hide his amazement. In his prime, he had nearly reached the edge of mortality. It wasn¡¯t impossible to exert this level of influence, but it would require countless magic circles and tools, preparing for at least a year. Even then, it would be unstable, and someone could easily disrupt it. But Taesan had done it with a simple phrase. It didn¡¯t even seem unstable. He had frozen even the deep ocean, and there were no problems even with millions of people walking on it. "Is this the power of an immortal?" In the stunned silence, Taesan moved forward. "Let¡¯s go." *** "A whale." Kim Huiyeon muttered. On the surface of the ocean, a whale was frozen, its head raised above the water. But it wasn¡¯t just the whale. Countless fish from the Pacific Ocean. They were all visible beneath the frozen sea surface. The North Pacific, between Japan and the United States, waspletely frozen now. "What is this?" Lee Taeyeon clicked her tongue in disbelief. While she could easily make a path across the East Sea using her items, freezing the entire Pacific Ocean was an achievement beyond her imagination. "Taesan, there must be monsters beneath the ocean, is that okay?" "No problem." Taesan replied calmly. Monsters were banging on the ice beneath the ocean, but unless they were at the Apostle level, they couldn¡¯t break the ice that Taesan had created. They continued to advance across the frozen Pacific. Late to react, monsters began charging at them and attacking. [Uooooh!] [You have activated the Frozen World.] Crreeeeak! The frozen sea rose up. It turned into a tidal wave of coldness, rushing forward. The monsters charging toward them froze instantly and became immobile. "Taesan..." The reverence and trust in Taesan grew even stronger. And that belief materialized, enveloping Taesan. [Divine Power Mastery has increased by 1%.] It had been a long time since his Divine Power Mastery had increased. Now, there was not much left to reach 100%. Taesan¡¯s primary goal for this return was to reach 100% Divine Power mastery. Chapter 451: The Seventh Return, Earth (3) The American yers were waiting in Las Vegas. They were setting up defensive lines, holding back the approaching monsters, and preparing to wee thoseing toward them. Crack! Amelia¡¯s sword pierced through the monster¡¯s skull. She quickly advanced forward. In the blink of an eye, dozens of monsters were chopped to pieces. She swung her sword and flicked the slime off. ¡°How annoying.¡± ¡°It seems this area is cleared.¡± A blonde man with blue eyes approached her. The leader of the maze, Oliver Khan. ¡°For now, it should be safe. Thanks.¡± ¡°Do your best. How long are you going to keep surviving by relying on me? You should do it with your own strength too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Oliver didn¡¯t react much to Amelia¡¯s words. He knew from experience that she wasn¡¯t speaking with ill intent. She was genuinely concerned about them. If theycked strength, they could be wiped out by the monsters, so her message was one of encouragement to put in the effort. It was just that her tone was aggressive. It used to be worse, but after the duel with Taesan, she had softened a lot. Oliver shifted his gaze and looked up at the sky. ¡°By the way, if yers areing from Europe and Asia to the U.S... I¡¯m not sure how long it¡¯ll take or how they¡¯ll get here.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible toe through Russia from Asia?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve heard that Kang Taesan can cut through the sea... if they cross from Russia to ska, it might be doable, but it¡¯s a pretty long distance.¡± Suddenly, Oliver let out a smallugh. ¡°Cut through the sea? Is that really possible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Amelia said casually. Oliver shook his head. Even with his understanding of breaking through the maze, the strength involved was beyondprehension. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a bad idea. Once things are settled here, we¡¯ll need to send people that way.¡± Oliver gripped his weapon. While people from other regions wereing, they couldn¡¯t just sit idle. They nned to clear out the monsters near Las Vegas and wait for those who would cross the sea. As Amelia and Oliver were quickly clearing the areas, a man came running toward them with a pale face. Oliver, seeing the man¡¯s face, was taken aback. ¡°Anton? What are you doing here? You were supposed to be heading to San Francisco for reconnaissance.¡± Anton was skilled at hiding, and Oliver had sent him to San Francisco, near the Pacific, for scouting purposes. There was no way he should be back here so soon. The man took a deep breath and stammered. ¡°P-please follow me. Something¡¯s wrong.¡± Anton managed to calm his shock and said it with difficulty. After hearing the story, Oliver fell silent, and Amelia frowned. ¡°...That¡¯s unexpected.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check it out.¡± Oliver deployed enough defense forces in Las Vegas and headed for San Francisco. Thanks to Amelia¡¯s efforts, they quickly reached a location overlooking the North Pacific. They couldn¡¯t speak. Everyone stared at the sea, their faces frozen in shock. ¡°No...¡± ¡°What is this?¡± The entire horizon, as far as the eye could see, was frozen over. No one, not even Amelia, could speak easily. Oliver, with a trembling voice, said, ¡°...Is this the work of the gods?¡± He had heard from Amelia about the beings that were invading the world. The sight in front of them was something impossible unless caused by some transcendent being. ¡°No.¡± Amelia approached the frozen sea. She closed her eyes and extended her senses. ¡°Ha.¡± Soon, she let out a hollowugh. Even with her sensory abilities, she couldn¡¯t fully confirm the extent of the frozen sea. And if the cold was enough to freeze the sea, it should have affected them as well, but there was no such effect. It meant that the one who had caused the frozen sea was suppressing its effects. Amelia knew whose power it was. ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°No matter how much I try to believe it, I still can¡¯t. This... is truly...¡± ¡°A miracle of the gods.¡± Amelia gave a wry smile. ¡°Unbelievable. Truly.¡± *** The American yers, having regained theirposure, quickly cleared the monsters between the North Pacific and Los Angeles. As they did so, more and more people began to see the frozen sea. They were all left speechless. And within less than a month, a massive crowd appeared across the frozen sea. "They''ve arrived." Oliver Khan and Amelia moved into action. He headed towards the front of the crowd. "Hello." Kim Hwiyun greeted them calmly. "Oliver Khan. And Amelia Aerin, right? Nice to meet you." "You''re Kim Hwiyun. Sorry about the Coliseum incident." "That¡¯s already in the past, right? I look forward to working with you from now on." They shook hands. After the greetings, Oliver turned his gaze awkwardly. "...Kang Taesan." "Why?" Taesan responded. Oliver hesitated, then eventually changed the subject. "I have many questions, but first, we should finish the quest. Follow me. I''ll guide you." They followed the yers of the maze. Amelia continued to nce at Taesan as they moved forward. Beside her, Beldengia let out an impressed exmation. "Who¡¯s that woman? Pretty impressive, huh? Not as good as Lee Taeyeon, but still, quite skilled." Amelia had already reached the mid-60th floor and had passed Beldengia''s trial. Beldengia tilted his head. "But... I feel like there¡¯s something familiar about her." "Amelia was also an adventurer chosen by the God of the Fall, like you guys. She¡¯s been freed now, though." "What?" "Talk to the princess and herter, the three of you." Before that, Lee Taeyeon moved. She shed a smile at Amelia. "It¡¯s been a while, Amelia." "Ah, Lee Taeyeon?" Amelia, who had been a bit hesitant, brightened up. Soon, Kang Junhyuk joined them, and they began talking happily. Meanwhile, the American yers continued to watch Taesan. Their gazes held both reverence and fear. And there was a faint sense of faith in their eyes. Taesan epted their faith. Thanks to the American yers clearing the monsters ahead, there were no major issues. Soon, they arrived in Las Vegas. Kim Hwiyun was surprised upon seeing the city. "It¡¯s in better shape than I expected?" Quite a number of buildings had managed to maintain their structure. Considering how hard it was to find intact buildings in Korea, this was a surprising sight. "We had the luxury of time, unlike you. The people skilled in construction gathered and rebuilt. With so many superhumans around, it was quite easy." Hard mode yers were far stronger than heavy machinery. There were countless people like that, so building was no problem at all. "With millions of people gathering, we had to prepare ahead of time. Still, it might not be enough." Oliver looked at the Asian yers with a tired expression. There were just too many. The number was beyond what Las Vegas could amodate. And the European yers hadn¡¯t even arrived yet. The city needed to expand. Taesan spoke. "That¡¯s not a problem. I¡¯ll handle it." "...Is that even possible?" Amelia muttered. Taesan nodded in response. She stared at him for a moment before speaking, determined. But Taesan moved first. "I¡¯m going to be away for a while, so handle things yourselves." "You¡¯re leaving? Where are you going?" "To help the European yers." "Ah." They realized. While Asia had been easy to get through thanks to Taesan, Europe wasn¡¯t the same. Crossing the sea alone was a struggle for them. Taesan needed to help. Everyone agreed with Taesan¡¯s words. "I¡¯ll take care of things. I¡¯ll be gone for a while." "Got it." Amelia also stepped back with a resigned expression. Taesan, after briefly looking at them, leaped away. His destination was Europe. From a distance, Taesan could already sense the presence of the European yers, so he knew where they were. They had gathered in France. Taesan ran across the sea. Monsters appeared to block him, but Taesan wiped them all out. The more monsters Taesan defeated, the more power flowed into Bardray and Akasha. "Do you feel something stirring?" Akasha grew stronger with each enemy she defeated, her powers increasing. Memories could be part of this process. [...I¡¯m not sure yet.] Akasha responded after a brief silence. [Every time my master defeats an enemy, I sense something, but it¡¯s still faint.] [These monsters are too weak. No matter how many gather, they can¡¯t challenge you. Naturally, neither I nor Akasha are gaining much power.] "Looks like we need to face stronger enemies after all." And in this return, such enemies would likely appear. Taesan needed to prepare for that. One of the preparations was to max out his proficiency in Divine Power. If he were worshipped by all the beings on Earth, it was highly likely that his proficiency would naturally reach 100%, and he would be a god of Earth in the process. But how could he receive such worship? Taesan was already thinking of one way. He leaped forward. *** The European yers were in quite a dilemma. They had to cross to America. But the problem was, how were they going to cross the Antic? "We need to go through the UK, right? It¡¯s much simpler if we go via d and Greend!" "No, that way, we¡¯ll cross too much sea. It¡¯s safer if we go through Africa and stop by Brazil." "But that¡¯s a much longer detour. The risk is too high!" Each side strongly argued that their approach was correct. They were still gathered in France, unable to move. "Hmm..." The leader of Europe, Daniel Darmont, stroked his chin with a troubled expression. There was no clear answer. So, he couldn¡¯t make a quick decision. But it was getting to the point where they needed to decide. Just as Daniel was about to speak after much contemtion¡ª "Hey?" "What¡¯s that?" A murmur spread through the crowd. Following the gazes of the people, a small dot appeared in the distance. "...A bird? But that¡¯s too big." The dot was rapidly growingrger. Daniel¡¯s pupils widened. That wasn¡¯t a bird. The person approaching at high speednded right in front of Daniel. At the suddenness of the arrival, everyone was too stunned to react, but the person spoke. "Daniel Darmont?" "...Ah." Daniel realized who it was. It was a face he had seen once before in the Coliseum. "Kang Taesan?" Kang Taesan. At the mention of that name, the surroundings buzzed. Only the French yers had seen Taesan in person. The rest had never met him. But everyone had heard his name. The strongest person in the world. An invincible superhuman that no one could rival. "How did you get here?" "I came across the sea to help you." "The sea... cross... No, if it¡¯s Taesan, then it should be fine." Daniel, regaining hisposure, looked at Taesan with a hopeful expression. "If Taesan¡¯s here, it¡¯ll be much easier." "What are you still worrying about?" "We¡¯re debating whether to go through Brazil or the UK, and then take a detour through Greend. What do you think is the best option, Taesan?" "Both are unnecessary." "Pardon?" "We¡¯ll cross the sea." "...What?" "Follow me." Taesan moved forward. Daniel, still stunned, hurriedly followed behind him. "If we¡¯re crossing the sea..." "We¡¯ll take the shortest route across the Antic." "Is that possible?" Daniel¡¯s face showed confusion. He knew Taesan could cut through the sea. But that was for the rtively short distance between Japan and Korea. The Antic Ocean, between Europe and America, was one of the five major oceans of the world. Even Taesan would find it hard to believe that crossing it was possible. "It¡¯s possible, so follow me." "...If it¡¯s Taesan¡¯s word, I¡¯ll follow you." @@novelbin@@ Daniel answered calmly. He told the others. The strongest yer, Kang Taesan, hade to help them. They would cross the Antic. Naturally, disbelief and doubts arose. They knew how strong Taesan was, but crossing the Antic directly was an impossible task, they argued. That was something only gods could do, they said. Daniel desperately tried to convince them. "Anyway, it¡¯s not far from here to the Antic. Let¡¯s head that way first." "...Understood." Reluctantly, they epted. But their eyes, as they looked at Taesan, still held disbelief. This was understandable. People could never truly believe in something they hadn¡¯t seen with their own eyes. Especially when it was something that seemed close to a miracle. Of course, Taesan wasn¡¯t bothered by this. What he sought was the faith of all people. They had to believe in Taesan and follow him. But what did he need to do to make that happen? Taesan hade to a simple conclusion. He simply needed to show them what he could do. By shattering their disbelief and showing them powers beyond their imagination, it would be enough. He had that kind of power now. They arrived at the sea. The people gazed at Taesan with many different emotions. Expectations, disbelief, doubt, curiosity. Taesan spoke. "Freeze." [You activated the Deration of Freezing.] Crack! The sea instantly froze. The entire area within their sight turned to ice. "..." "Huh?" No one could speak. All the emotions shifted to one ¡ª astonishment. "Now, let¡¯s go." Taesan stepped onto the ice. And one monthter. Taesan arrived in Las Vegas, without losing a single European yer. Chapter 452: The Seventh Return, Earth (4) The European yers who followed Taesan were utterly stunned. With nk faces, or expressions like they were staring at a deity, they gazed at Taesan. After finallying to their senses, Daniel Darmont spoke to Taesan with a trembling voice. "I knew you were strong, but I never expected it to be to this extent... With you here, we can survive." "No." Taesan shook his head. "The enemies won¡¯t allow that. They¡¯ll give us quests to stop us." All the yers on Earth gathered in Las Vegas. The conditions for the quest had been met, and a new quest was issued. [Special Quest Begins] [Choose your representative.] [The designated yer will be your representative and will be able to issue orders and direct your actions.] [In order to be a representative, the majority of the yers must agree.] As people read the quest, their gazes naturally turned toward Taesan. "What is this... Looks like it¡¯s only going to be Taesan, right?" "There¡¯s no room for disagreement." Taesan didn¡¯t refuse. Given the conditions, there was no one else who could take the role of representative. While it would make sense for someone like Kim Hwiyun or Oliver to be the leader based on efficiency, the yers from other continents wouldn¡¯t ept them as their representative. It had been the same in their previous lives. People from each country had strongly argued that their leader should be the representative of humanity, and that had led to bloodshed. Since the representative had to be epted by the majority, it was inevitable that Taesan had to take that position. Taesan spoke to them. "I won¡¯t lead people directly like I did before. The leaders of each country will still be issuing orders, as they have. You need to coordinate with each other ande up with a consensus." The people nodded. The leaders of each country had done their best to guide them up to now. No one would refuse if they coordinated the n. A conclusion was reached, and a new quest appeared. [Special Quest Begins] [Monsters will swarm you.] [Preparation time: 20 days.] [Defense zone: The continental U.S., excluding ska and inds.] [For a month, defeat the iing enemies and protect the pirs that are generated in each region.] [You will suffer penalties in the next quest depending on how many pirs are destroyed.] Boom! At the same time, a deafening sound rang out. A blue pir rose from the ground into the air. "Wh¡ª?" "Wait, what? The continental U.S.?" The yers who read the quest were shocked. The quest conditions themselves weren¡¯t particrly special. It was just another defense quest, something they had been doing all along. But the scale was the problem. The entire U.S. maind. That was the quest¡¯s battlefield. Even though ska and the inds were excluded, it was still an impossibly vast area. People murmured in disbelief. "How are we supposed to stop this?" "What kind of ridiculous quest is this...?" Comints and confusion spread like wildfire at the near-impossibility of the quest. The people were overwhelmed with uncertainty. Negative emotions spread, like paint running across a canvas. It was then that the leaders, including Kim Hwiyun, tried to calm the people. "Silence." Taesan spoke. His soft voice echoed across all of humanity. In an instant, the chaos subsided. The people fell silent, all eyes fixed on Taesan. "We can win." It was a statement without any proof or logic. But those words silenced the confusion. A belief began to settle in the eyes of everyone that they could indeed win. A strong, unwavering faith began to flow from them to Taesan. Having gathered their faith, Taesan spoke again. "Now that you¡¯re calm, let¡¯s begin." "Ah, yes." Kim Hwiyun quickly nodded. *** The first thing that was needed was to assess the number of yers. It was important to determine how many survivors there were and what the distribution was among the different modes. Given the sheer number of survivors, it took an entire day just toplete that task. And then the conclusion was reached. "Total survivors are... well, meaningfulbat forces from the Early Mode are less than a hundred, so we¡¯ll exclude them. Hard Mode has 30 million. Normal Mode has 70 million. Easy Mode has around 100 million." "100 million, huh." Oliver muttered with a bitter smile. It wasn¡¯t a small number. But humanity¡¯s total poption had surpassed 7 billion. With that number reduced to 1/35th, it was only natural to feel a sense of solemnity. However, Taesan¡¯s expression was not dark. Even if only 50 million had survived, he would still consider it a sess. The Earth in their past life had been that precarious and despairing. After several returns, stability had been restored, but before that, the number of deaths was incalcble. At this point, the result exceeded what he had initially expected. They quickly regained theirposure. Now that they had determined the number of survivors, it was time to address the basics: food, shelter, and clothing. There were no issues with food. Makeshift cultivation was almost all-epassing when it came to food. But the issue was with shelter. "Hmm..." @@novelbin@@ "Where are we going to sleep... with this many people?" For those who had be superhumans, difort in sleeping arrangements wasn¡¯t a major issue, but human psychology was important. Since they hadn¡¯tpletely shed their human minds, the state of their living quarters would still have a huge impact on their mental well-being. The number of people was toorge to fit into the city of Las Vegas. They would have to scatter across many cities, but that would cause management difficulties. Taesan, as if mocking their struggles, solved the issue simply. "Rise, take form." [You have activated the Deration of Formation.] Boom! The earth twisted. People screamed as they staggered. "An enemy?!" Oliver quickly drew his weapon, ready for the monster he thought would appear. But the shaking earth created something he couldn¡¯t have imagined. Boom! The ground rose and began to take form. Hundreds, thousands of gigantic buildings appeared simultaneously across the vast in. In the blink of an eye, massive buildings materialized, centered around Las Vegas. At first, the people, unsure of what was happening, hesitated, but soon realized that it was Taesan¡¯s doing and began to enter the buildings. And they couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. The interiors of the earthen buildings were perfect. The rooms were divided into several sections, and there were many structures that appeared to be beds. Despite being made of earth, the beds were incredibly soft. Those who had gained shelter cheered loudly. Taesan didn¡¯t stop there. The buildings wererge and tall. They seemed vulnerable to monster attacks. [You have activated the Creation of Sacred Grounds.] A golden domain manifested. On Earth, where direct worship was received, there would be no shortage of divine power. The divine power rising again was fully transferred to the sacred grounds. The size of the sacred grounds grew to its maximum limit, as allowed by the abilities. As a result, the sacred ground extended beyond Las Vegas, surrounding all the buildings Taesan had created. "Whoa..." People groaned under the golden light that surrounded them, like something out of a myth. Even Diana and Beldengia couldn¡¯t hide their astonishment. "Sacred grounds... How is he creating this without being a transcendent?" Taesan then expanded his senses, increasing the range of his influence. "Rise." [You have activated the Deration of Barriers.] Boom! A massive barrier appeared, surrounding the pirs created across the U.S. When the barrier surrounded the pirs near Las Vegas, the people gasped and stepped back in surprise. "It should buy us some time." It was a deration filled with strong will. Even S-rank monsters wouldn¡¯t easily be able to break it. The people couldn¡¯t regain theirposure. Buildings were created, massive barriers formed to protect the pirs, and a golden domain gently embraced them. It was as if the powers of creation itself were being wielded. "Taesan... My Lord." Even the yers from America and Europe, excluding Asia, began to fumble with their praise for Taesan. Those who had survived up to this point didn¡¯t believe in gods. The reason was simple. Such miracles didn¡¯t exist. They had sent off their families and friends without being able to do anything. People died carelessly. The gods they had longed for had not saved them. Those who had escaped to non-existent gods did not survive. But now, Taesan was showing them powers that were nothing short of miraculous and granting them blessings. Those who had lost faith began to find it again. And that faith was directed at Taesan. [Your divine power proficiency has increased by 1%.] *** "Mm." A strong faith enveloped Taesan. A deep, unwavering belief filled his mind. Taesan quietly gathered the faith and began to move. His destination was Beldengia. "How''s it going?" "No major issues." Beldengia was drawing a magic circle. Taesan had asked him to create a teleportation spell. Given therge number of survivors, the quest¡¯s scope was wide, and that proved to be correct. 108 pirs had appeared across the U.S. They needed to be protected one by one, which required a lot of attention, and immediate means of transportation were necessary. Beldengia¡¯s magic could handle it. "The location is fixed, so it¡¯s easy to make. Try it out." Beldengia stepped back afterpleting the magic circle. The magic circle was enormous. It wasrge enough to transport thousands of people at once. Taesan ced his foot inside the circle. In an instant, the magic surrounded him, and when the light faded, he was in a different location. "New York, huh." After assessing the location, Taesan returned to Las Vegas via the magic circle. "How is it?" "It works well. Can you make these in every city with a pir?" "That¡¯s impossible. I have to draw the circles myself, and there¡¯s not enough time. I¡¯ll try my best, but I think I¡¯ll only manage about half of them." "Then spread them as far as you can. We need to move quickly." "Got it." The means of transportation were set. They could now move directly to the cities that were falling behind. However, to make this possible, amunication method was needed to warn them of the dangers. For that, many scientists and technicians had gathered to discussmunication solutions. They were brainstorming how they could stillmunicate in a world where everything had fallen apart. If there were functioning cell towers, they couldmunicate across the U.S., but most of those towers had been destroyed. Repairs could be done, but they only had 20 days to work with, which wasn¡¯t enough time. Taesan solved their problem. Hebined his powers and made a deration. "Establishmunication." [You have activated the King of Mechanical Devices.] [You have activated the King¡¯s Deration.] Beeeeep! Although he didn¡¯t know much about mechanical devices, the nature of his powers was different. Countless devices regained their original form. The destroyed cell towers began to function again. "That should do it." "Yes..." The people nodded in a daze. Themunication issue was also resolved. Every time Taesan moved, the impossible things they had believed could never be solved were being addressed one by one. The people¡¯s faith grew stronger. And that faith was directly empowering Taesan. With every increase in divine power, Taesan realized that the level and quality of the divinity he held had surpassed what it had been before. And beyond that, he saw something else. It was a higher realm, one he had not yet reached. [Your divine power proficiency has increased by 1%.] Chapter 453: The Seventh Return, Earth (5) The proficiency was steadily increasing. The lofty realm that had seemed out of reach now flickered before his eyes. What would happen when the proficiency of divine power reached 100%? What kind of realm would he attain? It wasn¡¯t easy to grasp. Taesan calmed the divine power surging within him and surveyed the numerous pirs that had appeared across the maind. This quest was one even he did not know about. In their previous life, the area they had to defend had been just Las Vegas. The change hade because of Taesan''s intervention. The quest description stated that as the pirs were destroyed, penalties would be imposed on the next quest. The high-tier beings woulde in full force to destroy the pirs. They could swarm from outside the U.S. or be summoned from across the entire country. "Should we prepare?" Though the pirs were surrounded by barriers, it still wasn¡¯t enough. Taesan used his skills to ce defensive magic circles around each pir where Beldengia hadn¡¯t set up a teleportation circle. Meanwhile, the leaders of various countries began to deploy people. There were many ces to defend. They were struggling to figure out how to allocate the manpower. Fortunately, there were Diana and Beldengia. Both were very strong. Each of them could easily handle a pir on their own. The leaders ced people around Diana, Beldengia, and the strong yers from the Early Mode. They decided to ce arge number of people around the outskirts, with a moderate amount of defenders stationed at the inner pirs. If monsters appeared from the inside, they would respond immediately using the teleportation magic circles. That was the n. The rest of the yers spent their time sparring and preparing for the battles toe. Among them were also the yers from Early Mode. ¡°Ha!¡± Amelia swung her sword fiercely. Dozens of afterimages were drawn around her. She charged at Diana along with her afterimages. Diana extended her hand smoothly. Amelia¡¯s sword was caught by Diana¡¯s finger. "Ugh!" With a light flick of her finger, Diana sent Amelia flying. Amelia barely managed tond on the ground. Diana spoke with a calm face. "Disrupting with afterimages to hide the real attack. It¡¯s not bad, but unless you have skills, it won¡¯t work against someone stronger than you." "...I see." "You have talent. That¡¯s probably why the God of the Fall chose you." Amelia had been chosen by the God of the Fall. It meant she had the kind of talent that warranted the attention of a god. "But you¡¯re relying on your talent to seek victory, not experience or judgment. It works when you fight those less talented than you, but against someone with equal or greater talent, it won¡¯t work. You should work on that." "I¡¯ve thought about it, but it¡¯s not easy." "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure you understand it this time." Diana smiled softly and raised her sword. Amelia met her gaze and raised her own sword with a somewhat reluctant expression. She wasn¡¯t the only one. Viktor, Hasan, Kang Junhyuk, and others from Early Mode who were emerging as strong yers also engaged in sparring with Diana or Beldengia, preparing for theing quest. They were all incredibly talented among humanity, each possessing extraordinary skills. However, Early Mode was abyrinth of one¡¯s own making. It was difficult to train with others. In principle, the guides of sin in each hierarchy could spar with one another, but there was an atmosphere of mutual suspicion, with each trying to prevent the other from growing stronger, so actual sparring was rare. Thus, for them, the time spent on Earth was the only opportunity to train with one another. They continued to refine their skills, sometimes equalizing their abilities, sometimes fighting with full strength, or even fighting in 1-vs-many scenarios to gain experience. And Taesan watched them. "How¡¯s it going?" "Ah, Taesan." Diana spoke with a gentle smile. "Lee Taeyeon has alreadypleted herself, so she doesn¡¯t need much help from me. Amelia is quite impressive. She¡¯ll adapt quickly, even if she steps into the depths." Amelia was exceptional. In some ways, she could be considered above Lee Taeyeon. Like Taesan or Lee Taeyeon, she had the potential to delve into the depths and acquire her own abilities. "The others also have good talent. Thanks to you, Taesan, many of them possess unique powers." During the process of clearing Earth¡¯s quests, various blessings from the gods had been granted to the yers. These blessings had greatly enhanced their strength and abilities. "At this rate... if we take on hundreds of life-risking challenges, we might be able to clear thebyrinth. I can¡¯t say for sure, though." Those who realized Taesan¡¯s presence gave him a light nod of acknowledgment. Amelia approached Taesan with a solemn expression. "Taesan, can I ask you something?" "By the way, what were you about to say? Go ahead." "Can you spar with me? Full strength." Taesan looked at her. Amelia met his gaze with an unwavering expression. If he went all out, Amelia wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything. She must have known that too. Taesan nodded. "Alright." [Kang Taesan has challenged Amelia Aerin to a duel.] Taesan drew his sword. Amelia took a deep breath and charged at Taesan. Taesan lightly swung his sword. Amelia raised her sword in an attempt to block. ng! But she couldn¡¯t block it. Taesan¡¯s sword shattered her defense and struck her with a powerful blow. With a loud noise, she crashed into the ground. @@novelbin@@ [The duel has ended.] "...I expected it, but I couldn¡¯t block even one strike." "You knew it too. Why did you challenge me?" "Just... I wanted to clear my mind. It¡¯s fine. I feel much better now." Her face, as if it wasn¡¯t a mere emptyment, brightened up. After that, Amelia began to change. She started actively talking with people and participating in conversations. She even approached Diana herself and started speaking to her. Taesan could see the change in her emotions. She had been struggling with her role up until now. Though overshadowed by Taesan and Lee Taeyeon, she too had the potential to be a leading figure. She could stand before the people and guide them. In her past life, she had held the role that Taesan now held. But not anymore. Now, there were four people stronger than her: Taesan, Lee Taeyeon, Diana, and Beldengia. This had brought confusion to Amelia, who had always been the leader. But after her duel with Taesan, she had made her own conclusion: she would support Taesan and Lee Taeyeon, taking the role of a supporting figure. Amelia was undoubtedly growing, both physically and mentally, beyond what she had been in her previous life. Time passed. Only one day remained until the quest began. People moved to their assigned regions, preparing for the next day. Taesan wasn¡¯t assigned to any region. He would move freely, ready to counter any monsters that appeared. Taesan spent his time quietly in Las Vegas. "What¡¯s up?" Lee Taeyeon flew over andnded next to Taesan. "Nothing. But why are you here? Shouldn¡¯t you be waiting in your assigned region?" "I was just bored. Anyway, it¡¯s fine. I can move around before the quest starts, so it doesn¡¯t matter." She sat down on the ground and stared nkly at the sky''s crack. "I¡¯ve always wanted to see this." "Where¡¯s thising from?" "I mean the atmosphere where peoplee together, believe they can survive, and are willing to move forward." Taesan understood what she meant. In their past life, countless people had died. It wasn¡¯t just because of the monsters. People had tried to exclude each other, killing others to secure their own interests. When all the yers of the world gathered in the past life, they constantly fought to be the representative of humanity. In the process, many had died. But now, under the overwhelming power of Taesan, everyone had united. There was no despair to be seen in those waiting for battle. Everyone believed that if they united, they could survive, filled with hope. "We can... achieve it." "Yeah. We can." Taesan answered. The next day arrived. The quest began. *** A scream echoed beyond the outskirts. "How many of them are there?!" It was endless. Monsters were charging, breaking through forests and tearing across the seas. [Monster 213 has appeared.] [Monster 144 has appeared.] [Monster 146 has appeared.] ... Countless B and C-rank monsters. And there were also hundreds of A-rank monsters. Among them, some of the monsters they had previously defeated were visible. "Looks like they resurrected." Lee Taeyeon wasn¡¯t surprised by this fact. Monsters with numbers attached to them were essentially mass-produced by the high-tier beings. No matter how many they defeated, it was certain that they would keep appearing. [Oooh! Oooh! Oooooh! ] Among them, there were also monsters with far superior strength. [Monster 4 has appeared.] [Monster 12 has appeared.] [Monster 5 has appeared.] S-rank monsters. They scattered in all directions, rushing toward America. The scene, like an omen of the end of the world, made Oliver shout with a stern face. "Then I¡¯ll leave it to you!" "Got it!" Lee Taeyeon lunged forward. She charged head-on at an S-rank monster. The S-rank monster gathered its intangible body and shot a violet beam. The target of the beam was the pir. People screamed as the destructive light within it approached. Lee Taeyeon did not back down. She shed her sword with the beam. The light scattered in all directions, and the shockwave alone obliterated hundreds of monsters. Ka-ka-ka-ka! Lee Taeyeon swung her sword forcefully, deflecting the beam. "Oooh!" A cheer erupted. She smiled as she looked at the monster. "You. You''re the one." [Monster 9 has appeared.] It was the S-rank monster that had made Lee Taeyeon face death in her previous life. "Alright. Let¡¯s do this fairly." Lee Taeyeon charged at the monster. The monster responded with a violet beam. Beldengia was also doing his part. He waved his hand, and dozens of magic circles appeared in the air. Boom! And within them, magic was unleashed. In the blink of an eye, thousands of monsters were wiped out. The sheer power of the magic left the people in awe as they looked at Beldengia. Amelia wasn¡¯t yet at the level to take on S-rank monsters, but she was standing firm, holding her ground against hundreds of A-rank monsters without retreating. Minerva had also been summoned and swung wind and fire, taking down numerous monsters. People cheered as they stopped the monsters rushing toward them. And Diana was holding off the S-rank monsters. "With just one of these, a weak world would crumble easily. How terrifying." Ziiing! Muttering that, Diana dodged the iing light and blocked the storm of des. She swung her sword gently, severing the upper body of one S-rank monster. Grrrk. The monster¡¯s upper body flew off and immediately regenerated. Diana clicked her tongue and pressed the attack. [Uoooooh!] From afar, three more S-rank monsters were charging. Diana thought she could deal with one quickly before the others arrived. But just as she prepared to press the attack¡ª Crunch. The monster¡¯s head was crushed. Diana¡¯s eyes widened. It was Kang Taesan, crushing the monster¡¯s head with his foot. "Taesan?" Taesan then stabbed his sword into the monster¡¯s body. [56,334 damage dealt to Monster 5.] Taesan immediately followed up with magic and dark magic. Other monsters charged in to stop him, but Taesan simply expanded his divine power, pushing them all away. In an instant, the S-rank monsters vanished without putting up any resistance. "It¡¯s done. The rest is up to you." Diana, who had inadvertently lost her kill, spoke. "...Weren¡¯t you supposed to stay out of the battle?" Taesan had previously decided to watch the battle, only intervening when a dangerous or strong monster appeared. "I was nning to do that, but this one¡¯s a bit special." Monster 5. It was the same monster Taesan had fought for his life in his previous life. Now it was nothing to him, but he still wanted to handle it himself. "And I had a little time. Now, it¡¯sing down." "Ah." For a moment, Diana¡¯s expression shifted. Her instincts were warning her. Something dangerous wasing. If she stayed here, she might lose her life. Woosh. From the sky¡¯s crack, a massive darkness descended. It was a viscous slime. Formless, itnded on the earth. Taesan calmly raised his sword. "Is it one of the apostles from the start?" [$!@##! has appeared.] Chapter 454: The Seventh Return, Earth (6) The apostle moves. The viscous slime, split into dozens of strands, surges toward Taesan. The power contained within each one was immense, something that even Taesan couldn¡¯t afford to underestimate. Taesan gripped his sword tightly. Crack! An explosion erupts. Taesan steps forward, using his arms, legs, and entire body to wield his sword. The slime bursts apart, scattering in all directions. Taesan immediately gathers his magical power. [You have activated Baal''s Abyssal Space Surge.] The darkened space flies toward the apostle. The apostle quickly gathers the scattered slime to form a defense around itself. Boom! A tremendous roar erupts. The slime body of the apostle, struck by the Space Surge, suffers a slight loss, though not significant. The apostle of the high-tier beings. A being that has destroyed countless worlds and disrupted the very fabric of reality. Its strength was transcendent. Even Diana, having reached the boundary, would have little chance of victory against the apostle. But... ¡®I¡¯m stronger.¡¯ Taesan¡¯s victory against the apostle came during the sixth return to Earth, and since then, his strength had grown overwhelmingly. The apostle before him seemed no different from the one he fought in the past, and it could not stand as his equal. There was no reason to hesitate. Taesan stamped his foot and dashed toward the apostle in an instant. And at that moment, the apostle''s slime body exploded. Taesan, thinking it was an attack, protected his body with divine power. But the scattered slime did not target Taesan. [Huh?] The apostle¡¯s body broke down into thousands, even tens of thousands, of tiny droplets. ¡®Separation?¡¯ Among the scattered droplets, Taesan could feel the apostle¡¯s will and power in the smallest of them. That was the core. Taesan reflexively tried to strike at the droplet, but the slime scattered in all directions. It disoriented his vision and disrupted his senses. Because the pieces were so small, Taesan momentarily lost track of the core¡¯s location. The slime seemed to have no intention of fighting Taesan. It was dispersing across the entire United States. "Tch." Taesan clicked his tongue. He realized what the apostle was targeting. He quickly released both magic and dark magic toward the dispersing droplets. Boom! In an instant, thousands of droplets evaporated and vanished. But far more remained, scattered in every direction. Taesan quickly pursued them. The apostle¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t to defeat Taesan. Nor was it targeting the people. It was the destruction of the pirs scattered throughout the United States. *** "Is it okay for us to just wait here like this?" A Korean yer, guarding a pir, asked with a confused expression. It was Lee Changchun. He wasn''t one of the highest-level Hard Mode yers, but he had reached mid-60th floor, possessing considerable power. His assigned task was to defend a pir in the interior of the United States. However, since most of the monsters were gathering from the outskirts of the U.S., and even with the fierce battles taking ce, there was little for him to do here. "I feel like I should be helping somehow." "No." A French Hard Mode yer replied to his concerned remark. "The quest¡¯s objective is, after all, the pirs. If we concentrate all our strength in the front lines, we won''t be able to respond when the enemy targets this ce. At the very least, we need minimal defensive personnel here." "I get that, but it still feels... ufortable." Lee Changchun grumbled, suppressing his emotions. As he nkly stared ahead, wasting time... "...Hm?" Something small was floating in front of him. "Slime?" It was ck slime. So small, about the size of a droplet, that it would be easy to miss if you weren''t paying attention. "What is that?" Just as Lee Changchun was about to approach in curiosity, the slime suddenly erupted. In an instant, it swelled up, bing the size of a small hill. It charged toward the pir and the yers guarding it, attempting to swallow them whole. Caught by surprise, they couldn¡¯t react in time. At that moment, the magic circle Taesan had set up activated. Ziiiiing! A brilliant, shining blue barrier blocked the slime''s attack. Only then did the yers, now realizing the situation, scream and draw their weapons. "What¡ªwhat is this?!" "It''s an enemy!" Some of the more hot-headed yers rushed outside the barrier, eager to counterattack. But at the same time, the slime viciously engulfed them. "Huh?" Realizing something was wrong, the yer who had rushed out knew it was toote. Despite his resistance, he was consumed without much effort. Only then did the rest realize that the slime before them was an enemy they could not defeat. The slime grewrger again and struck the barrier. Cracks began to appear in the barrier. "...What do we do now?" "What else can we do? We fight for our lives." With determined faces, they gripped their weapons. The barrier began to break. Just as they were about to rush forward with a battle cry... Boom! With a tremendous explosion, the slime disappeared. "Huh?" Those who had been bracing for death stopped, confused. Something had passed, but at their level, they couldn¡¯t see or feel what it was. "...Taesan?" *** Taesan quicklyunched himself forward. He tracked the scattered slime, erasing each one as he went. But this could not go on forever. The number of slimes had surpassed tens of thousands, and they were scattered across the entire United States. No matter how strong Taesan was, eradicating them all would incur significant damage. ¡°Akasya, assist me.¡± [As youmand, Master.] [You have activated Magic Stacking.] [You have activated Great Copse (Negation).] Negation magic began to stack up. And just then, Kim Hwiyun, having realized throughmunications that the pirs were under attack, quickly shouted. ¡°Everyone! Use the magic circles to move to each pir!¡± The high-tier beings¡¯ goal was not to kill them but to destroy the pirs. Had the monsters only appeared at the outskirts, they might have been able to hold the front. But now that they had already breached, maintaining their formation was meaningless. The people quickly used Beldenkia''s magic circles to rush toward the pirs being attacked by the apostle. At the same time, the slime rushed at them. ¡°Defend with your lives!¡± ¡°Aaaahhh!¡± Screams and shouts filled the air. They threw themselves in front of the pirs to block the attack before the barrier was destroyed. Despite the apostle''s overwhelming power, as the slime had split into so many pieces, with the help of the magic circles, they could hold them off for a while. And during that time, Taesan finished casting his spell. Stacking the Great Copse three times, he unleashed it. [You have activated Magic Liberation.] The condensed Great Copse surged into the sky. A ck sun rose above the maind United States. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] And the sun exploded. It shattered into countless pieces, scattering everywhere. Taesan focused his mind, and with Akasya¡¯s assistance, he sensed and located every apostle scattered across the United States. He then precisely targeted their locations with his magic. [You have activated Magic Tracking.] [You have activated Precision Strike.] The exploded sun fell like rain, piercing the earth. Boom! The apostles, targeting the pirs, were pierced by the rain and exploded. Some tried to move quickly to evade, but the dark rain pierced them urately. In an instant, more than half of the slime was lost as the apostle burrowed deep into the earth. The situation had stabilized slightly. Those who were catching their breath immediately recognized what had happened and cheered. ¡°It¡¯s Taesan!¡± ¡°He saved us!¡± A newly formed belief began to take root in Taesan. Taesan, having quickly gathered that belief,unched himself into action. ¡°Ta-Taesan? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The ones I was facing split up and started targeting the pirs. Their goal isn¡¯t to kill us, it¡¯s the destruction of the pirs.¡± ¡°I see... I¡¯ll focus on defending the pirs from now on, rather than maintaining the front line.¡± Kim Hwiyun quickly nodded. Thanks to themunication system Taesan had fixed, the message was immediately conveyed to everyone. People gathered at the pirs. At the same time, the monsters began to change. The ordinary monsters were almost gone, reced by ones that either stalled for time or self-destructed to cause significant damage. ¡®There¡¯s no way these are just apostle-level.¡¯ Taesan was incredibly strong now. And with Beldenkia and Diana also joining the fight, the strength the high-tier beings could show had increased. But what appeared was the same apostle as before. It seemed like this quest¡¯s focus was to destroy the pirs, and at the end, they would pool all their strength for one final push. ¡®I don¡¯t n on taking it lying down.¡¯ [You have activated Frozen World.] Crack! A cold wave rushed forward, freezing the monsters in front of them. Taesan, moving with willpower, drew out a spear that moved freely, unaffected by his connection to it. The spear quickly pierced through the monsters. The people shouted in awe. When Taesan moved with intent, monsters below A-rank couldn¡¯t even get a foothold in the United States. But even Taesan couldn¡¯t move freely now. The presence of an apostle, hiding deep within the earth, couldn¡¯t be sensed. Whether it was optimized for hiding or using some other method, Taesan couldn¡¯t predict when or where the apostle would strike. ¡°Please handle it.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Kim Hwiyun responded energetically. The people did their best. Usingmunication, they strategically positioned personnel and moved people as necessary. Meanwhile, Taesan focused on blocking the apostle¡¯s attacks. Rumbling. In the western part of the U.S., at a distant pir, slime appeared. yers, who had just identified the slime, screamed. Just as they braced for impact... Crack! The slime copsed and vanished. In its ce, Taesan appeared. He waved his hand. [You have activated Starry Arrow.] [You have activated Magic Separation.] [You have activated Magic Tracking.] Zing! The starlit arrow traced its path. In an instant, it pierced through all the slimes scattered across the U.S. Taesan stomped his foot. His body shot through the air. The air split as he reached an unimaginable speed. Taesan reached the easternmost part of the country in no time. There, he obliterated the slime that had just been about to attack a pir. The people guarding the pir, still reeling from the shock, muttered. ¡°We just got amunication saying Taesan was in the West...¡± ¡°He flew over here.¡± ¡°Eh...?¡± The people were speechless. The apostles were using every method to destroy the pirs, but every attack was blocked. The slime rapidly shrank in number. It wouldn¡¯t be long before Taesan could finish off the apostle''s core. But the situation for the other yers was not as favorable. At first, there hadn¡¯t been any major problems. The leaders of each nation had done their best, and they had managed to defend the pirs without suffering major losses. But as time went on, things started to change. The monsters became sharper, and faster, in their actions. The monsters that appeared now were all specialized in destroying the pirs. Crack! ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Block it with your body!¡± Drill-like monsters charged at the pirs. The yers threw themselves at the monsters, managing to stop them, but many were injured in the process. ¡°Wounded, move to the sanctuary and recover!¡± Oliver shouted roughly. The problem was simple. They were finite. People were dying, and injuries were mounting. While they could recover quickly at the sanctuary in Las Vegas, the time it took to travel was still a factor. With the relentless attacks from the monsters, fatigue set in, and their concentration wavered, but the monsters showed no such weakness. They were creations. They had no exhaustion. They would not stop until their objective was achieved. Beldenkia, Diana, and Lee Taeyeon were all upied with the constantly appearing S-rank monsters. As a result, the defenses were slowly starting to crack. ¡°It¡¯s a bit early, but it can¡¯t be helped.¡± Taesan murmured and approached Kim Hwiyun. ¡°Abandon a few pirs.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t protect them all anyway.¡± Taesan spoke calmly. He had anticipated this from the beginning. There were simply too many pirs. No matter how quickly they moved people, it was impossible to defend all of them. Rather than obsessing over the impossible and losing everything, Taesan preferred to give up on what couldn¡¯t be saved and focus on what could be preserved. ¡°Focus on the pirs you can defend. Leave the ones that are too far, or where magic circles weren¡¯t set up.¡± Some pirs were much farther apart than others. ¡°And concentrate on the remaining ones. Even if slime appears, make sure you can hold them off for a while.¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult with the current situation, but if we abandon a few pirs, it should be fine.¡± The apostle, now severely weakened by losing most of its slime, had been nearly defeated by Taesan. With thebined strength of several top-tier Hard Mode yers, they could buy enough time. ¡°Got it.¡± Kim Hwiyun immediately withdrew the personnel from the distant, harder-to-defend pirs. This strengthened the defenses at the remaining pirs, and the monsters focused on the abandoned ones. Then, Taesan moved again. ¡°Open.¡± With a deration, the earth began to copse. ¡°Ugh!¡± Kim Hwiyun quickly stumbled back, startled by the copsing ground. The hole seemed endless. It wasn¡¯t just dark. The depth was beyond what her eyes could perceive. Taesan dove into it. His body fell rapidly, passing through the surface and drilling through the mantle. And Taesan reached the very core of the Earth. He shielded his body and expanded his senses. In an instant, every single atom in the area came under Taesan¡¯s detection. At the same time, the apostle made its move. The slime sent a portion of itself to the surface, aiming for the pirs. However, the yers, already prepared under Taesan¡¯s watch, gritted their teeth and blocked the apostle¡¯s attack. Boom! ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Aaaah!¡± Dozens of yers simultaneously vomited blood and copsed. Instinctively, they realized they couldn¡¯t even put up a small resistance. Had the slime not split into so many pieces, they would have all died just by being there. They were facing that kind of power. But they did not back down. ¡°Taesan!¡± They screamed his name, charging toward death. [The proficiency of your Divine Power has increased by 1%.] The yers fought desperately, and eventually, they managed to defend the pir. Meanwhile, Taesan had sensed everything. Not just the surface, but even the deepest parts of the Earth¡ªhe had tracked every movement. In the end, he pinpointed the core of the apostle he had missed earlier. ¡°Create a path.¡± Crack! The rock cracked open, and a path was created. Taesan immediatelyunched himself forward. The apostle¡¯s core, trying to flee toote, was already too far gone. Taesan pierced it directly with his sword. @@novelbin@@ [You have defeated $!@##!] [Your Spiritual Strike has activated.] [Your Twisted Spiritual Alignment proficiency has increased by 4%.] [Your proficiency in ckness has increased by %$!!@.] [Your proficiency in Boundary has increased by !%#$@.] [Your proficiency in Command has increased by 2%.] [Your Will of All Things proficiency has increased by 4%.] [You have obtained ck [Fragmentation].] As the apostle fell, the slime attacking the pirs copsed in unison. The yers, who had been defending with their lives, were momentarily stunned. But the shock didn¡¯tst long. They realized that it was Taesan who had stopped the slime. ¡°Whoooa!¡± Even though Taesan showed an overwhelming disy of power, there were still those who didn¡¯t believe in him. After all, humans were all different, and it was strange for everyone to trust Taesan. However, as the quest progressed, more and more of those skeptics began to disappear. Now, except for a handful, everyone started believing in and revering Taesan. [The proficiency of your Divine Power has increased by 1%.] Taesan''s proficiency in Divine Power had reached 99%. Chapter 455: The Seventh Return, Earth (7) After defeating the Apostle, there had been no major difficulties. Whenever danger seemed imminent, Taesan personally took action to handle the monsters, so no one had died after that. It was a strange thing. When Taesan judged, Goshin could have sent down another Apostle. There was enough strength left for that. However, there were no signs of any such move. The number of S-ss monsters had noticeably decreased, making defensepletely manageable. Taesan understood Goshin¡¯s strategy. ¡°Is he conserving his strength?¡± ording to the exnation following the destroyed pir, there would be penalties in the next quest. Since the n had already been disrupted when the Apostle fell, it seemed like Goshin intended to put all his power into the next quest to capture Taesan. However, the people who didn''t know that were simply rejoicing as they defeated the monsters without difficulty. They were burning with fighting spirit as they brought down the monsters. Time passed without any major issues, and the quest waspleted. [Quest Ended.] [One weekter. The next quest will begin. Please take this time to recover from the damage and prepare for the uing battle.] ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°We won!¡± ¡°We were victorious!¡± Those who had fought off the monster attacks cheered in celebration. Taesan approached Diana and Veldenkia, who had copsed from exhaustion. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°Ugh. This is tough. My stamina isn¡¯t what it used to be.¡± Veldenkiained with a tired face. Diana''s expression didn¡¯t change much, but her breathing had be noticeablybored. ¡°This is hard. This is what it¡¯s like in a world under Goshin¡¯s invasion.¡± ¡°Thanks to you, many people have survived. I¡¯m grateful.¡± While Taesan was fighting the Apostle, S-ss monsters had continued to appear. Without the two of them, Lee Taeyeon would have had to handle it alone, but no matter how strong she had be, that would have been impossible. If Diana and Veldenkia hadn¡¯t been there, the possibility of annihtion couldn¡¯t have been ruled out. ¡°No, it¡¯s something I wanted to do. If anything, I should be thanking you.¡± Diana looked at the people with a gentle smile. They were celebrating their survival from destruction. For her, who hadn¡¯t been able to save the people she wanted to, seeing them gave her greatfort. ¡°Is it over now?¡± ¡°No. A new quest will begin in a week. But for now, you should rest.¡± They were given a week. It was a week that would barely be enough to assess the damage, but they had been through intense battles for a month. Rest was definitely needed. Diana and Veldenkia followed Taesan¡¯s advice. They approached the people celebrating. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°The princess and the magician havee!¡± ¡°Thank you so much! My son survived because of you!¡± The people greeted them with joy. At first, there had been strange looks directed at Diana and Veldenkia. Once they realized they weren¡¯t from Earth, many had doubted them, wondering if they might be spies of the monsters. However, as the quest progressed, those people hadpletely disappeared. Everyone was now expressing their gratitude. The two of them had fully blended in with the people of Earth. Though they were both embarrassed by the praise, they appeared happy. The people were filled with joy and happiness. They rested, and for the first time in a long while, served cooked food. Due to ack of ingredients, the dishes weren¡¯t extravagant, but still, the people were content. The leaders of the nations didn¡¯t stop them. They understood that rewards were absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, Taesan was examining the new power he had gained. [ck: Fragmentation] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can now separate and control your own fragments.] It was the first skill categorized under "ck." It was likely an ability unique to beings of the Apostle level. The effect wasn¡¯t hard to guess. [You have activated Fragmentation.] At that moment, something erupted from Taesan¡¯s body. [What the hell?] Bardray was momentarily confused. A human-like form of energy, shaking, appeared in front of Taesan, the same size as him. That was Taesan himself. [...Master, you¡¯ve been split.] Akasha murmured, also startled. Taesan examined the separated energy. There was no sense of will, but it was undoubtedly himself. ¡°Part of my power, rank, divinity... and even ck¡ªeverything is there.¡± [But it¡¯s so small. Even now, I could easily erase it.] Taesan stopped Fragmentation. It was as the skill¡¯s description said: he could now separate and handle parts of himself. But what could be done with it, he still wasn¡¯t sure. He would have to think more about it and figure it out in time. [By the way... what do I do with this?] Bardray muttered with a pale face. Taesan, now on top of a building in Las Vegas, was observing himself. Around the building, countless people were bowing their heads. The entire city was densely packed with people. Millions of them were bowing their heads in worship toward Taesan. Taesan had traveled across the entire United States to stop the Apostles. Going from the east to the west, he had brought down the Apostles. During this process, people had directly witnessed his power. Not to mention, it was Taesan who had brought Diana and Veldenkia, who had saved them. Almost everyone, except for a few, was now worshiping him. Truly, like a god. @@novelbin@@ When Taesan tried to block the hole he had made while capturing the Apostles, the people had shown reluctance. When he asked them why, they replied: ¡°This is a mark left by Taesan-sama to save us. We must preserve this ce and tell future generations about it.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Taesan ultimately did not seal the hole. His divine power had reached 99%. With that, the limits of his divinity seemed to have disappeared. At this point, with only a slight effort, he could likely cover the entire United States with his divine power. However, he was still 1% short. Taesan understood the reason. Most people revered him, but there were still some who resisted. ¡°I acknowledge his strength, but he¡¯s not a god.¡± Pure unbelievers. People who, as humans, did not believe in the gods. ¡°Could such a powerful being even exist? Could it be a trick with the enemies?¡± Skeptics. Those who doubted Taesan¡¯s true identity and considered his connection with Goshin. There were also many others who, for various reasons, didn¡¯t worship Taesan. When he received their faith, his skill proficiency would finally reach 100%. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± Before the world on the brink of destruction fell to Goshin, Taesan had received the worship of many, but there were fewer people, and they were all cornered. Back then, all who didn¡¯t believe in him had fought and perished. So, it had been possible. Akasha, who had been silent, spoke up. [Master, the problem is those who do not believe in you, correct?] ¡°Exactly.¡± [Then the solution is simple. Just kill them all. With your abilities, you could eliminate them without anyone noticing.] Akasha spoke calmly. Taesan looked at Akasha, who was resting quietly on his finger. [That¡¯s... too extreme, don¡¯t you think?] [But it¡¯s a rational approach. The hearts of unbelievers cannot be swayed easily. It¡¯s more reasonable to erase them than to try and convince them.] ¡°I don¡¯t use methods like that.¡± Taesan replied firmly. If he was going to solve it by killing them, there were far easier ways. But Taesan had rejected all of that ande here. [Is that so?] After a brief silence, Akasha quietly asked. [Master, am I strange?] [You¡¯re not exactly normal, no.] Bardray spoke with a slightly bitter tone. [If you don¡¯t believe, you kill them? That sounds like something a fanatic would say.] [...I see.] ¡°Did your memory return?¡± As Taesan defeated the Apostle, Bardray''s offensive power had significantly increased. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if something changed in Akasha as well, who grew with every enemy defeated. [Not exactly... but it¡¯sing back naturally. Emotions, or actions, I suppose. Something like that. It seems I was quite heartless when I was human.] [Well, you¡¯re an Apostle who believes in a god. It¡¯s not surprising you¡¯d have that temperament. You do seem to be a rather cruel god when I look at you.] [Is this what cruelty feels like? It¡¯s a strange feeling.] Akasha murmured. ¡°Your point is the quickest, but I¡¯m not nning to do that. I¡¯m thinking of another way.¡± Taesan said. And so, time passed, and a day went by. People began to examine the damage with serious expressions. The first thing they checked was the number of destroyed pirs. ¡°Fourteen out of 108 pirs have been destroyed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if this is good or bad.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± Taesan answered. He had expected that up to twenty pirs might be destroyed. Fourteen was within an eptable range. In the ces where the pirs had been destroyed, something strange could be seen. ¡°...What is that?¡± It was a ck substance. Something as dark as pitch had squeezed into space and settled there. People instinctively feared it and didn¡¯t approach. Taesan walked toward the substance. He reached out and grabbed it. The people watching held their breath. But nothing happened. ¡®A barrier?¡¯ Taesan inspected the substance more closely but couldn¡¯t make out what it was exactly. He considered using the Boundary Line, but Goshin was likely aware of it as well. If he touched it carelessly, it could potentially work out in Goshin''s favor, so Taesan only sealed off the area around it. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it for now.¡± ¡°Understood. But why are the pirs that weren¡¯t destroyed still standing, even though the quest is over?¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re being kept for the next quest?¡± ¡°Then we should consider cing them around the pirs.¡± Kim Hwiyun answered calmly. The number of deaths wasn¡¯t very high. It was around 20 million¡ªabout 10% of the total poption had lost their lives. It was a significant loss, but those who had risen above billions of lives quickly recovered from their grief and moved forward. The cleanup was finished quickly. Everyone expected the next quest to be thest one. And with that, they knew it would be incredibly difficult. However, they had no doubt that they would ovee it again. Everyone steeled themselves and waited for the next quest. And a week passed. The quest began. [Special Quest Started.] [14 Pirs Destroyed.] [Checking conditions...] [Conditions Confirmed.] ng! The ck substance shattered. The ck energy that leaked out began to coalesce into one. ¡°Huh?¡± People instinctively shivered. Something was descending upon them. It wasn¡¯t an Apostle. It couldn¡¯t be described as terrifying or alien, nor could any words or phrases exin it. It was an existence beyond theirprehension. [Condition: Defeat Goshin before all the pirs are destroyed. If you fail, all of humanity will lose their lives.] Chapter 457: The Seventh Return, Earth (9) Boom! The earth trembled. Several pirs, unable to withstand the force, shattered. Zervand¡¯s power, which had been suppressing the giant, began to wane. The giant started rampaging even more wildly. It swung its arms violently, causing storms that began to tear the world apart. [You have activated Mana Storm [Negative].] Crack! Taesan summoned a storm to counter the one the giant created, erasing the aftermath. Taesan clicked his tongue. He was holding on, but the situation wasn¡¯t good. Hiding didn¡¯t make sense. Whether he activated his invisibility skill or not, the giant could immediately detect his position. Moreover, apart from the injury on its foot¡ªcaused by its own power¡ªTaesan hadn¡¯t been able to inflict much damage. I¡¯mcking power. The Boundary Line was undoubtedly an extraordinary force, but it was still a power wielded by an immortal like Taesan. His strength alone wasn¡¯t enough to pierce the giant¡¯s body easily. There was one chance, one single opportunity. The target was clear. Taesan looked up at the blood-red eye that towered above him. The single blood-red eye. That was likely the weak point of the Goshin. The problem was that to attack the eye, he¡¯d have to ascend to the towering heights. Right now, Taesan had only managed to survive and hold out by staying beneath the giant, where it couldn¡¯t freely attack. If he targeted the eye, he¡¯d be exposed to the giant¡¯s attacks. But Taesan tightened his grip on his sword and steadied his breath. The opponent was clearly stronger than he was. Trying to win without taking any risks would be arrogant and foolish. As always, he had to stake his life on it and move forward. Taesan recalled the Boundary Line protecting his body and instead wrapped himself in divine power. The amount of ck energy he could wield was running low, and he nned to save it for his final strike. Taesan knelt. He gathered all his strength in his lower body and mmed into the ground. [You have activated Leap.] [You have activated eleration.] His body made a piercing sound as he flew toward the giant''s eye. ¡°Woah!¡± The people watching fell to their knees. Faith in Taesan began to permeate them. The giant immediately responded. It raised its foot and mmed it down. Taesan still had two attack nullifications left. But since Goshin¡¯s divine power couldn¡¯t be nullified, Taesan had to avoid every attack if he was to reach the eye. Taesan pushed against the foot and kicked the air forcefully. [You have activated Aerial Leap.] Boom! He barely avoided the foot descending toward him. The divine energy enveloping his body wavered as the shockwave hit him. [You have activated your second attack nullification.] But he didn¡¯t hit the ground. The divine energy minimized the effects of the aftermath. Taesan spread his wings and elerated toward the eye. Whoosh! The giant raised its arm high and struck down with its elbow. The pressure from the attack felt as though the sky itself wasing down on him, crushing Taesan. It was impossible to break through it with just his own strength. But Taesan didn¡¯t stop. [You have activated Choice Exclusion.] Boom! For a brief moment, the world warped. The sh of transcendental powers and Goshin¡¯s divine power caused the world to tremble. The giant¡¯s elbow hesitated slightly. The pressure weakened for a moment. Taesan didn¡¯t waste the chance. He moved swiftly, grazing past the giant¡¯s elbow. [You have activated your third attack nullification.] The third attack was nullified. As a result, Taesan reached the giant¡¯s chin. Whoosh! The giant swung its arm down, and Taesan, this time, didn¡¯t dodge. [You have activated Aegis of the Divine Shield.] Crack. Taesan was hit squarely by the giant¡¯s downward swing. Even though he used the invincible shield, his body groaned in pain. His bones shattered, and his flesh was crushed. Taesan gritted his teeth, pushing his divine energy even harder to envelop his body. Boom! Taesan¡¯s body couldn¡¯t withstand the force and was sent flying high into the sky. People screamed in despair. Even Lee Taeyeon thought, for a moment, that Taesan had lost. ¡°How terrifying.¡± The impact sent Taesan flying, and he murmured. Aegis of the Divine Shield grants immunity to damage. But due to Goshin¡¯s divine power, the shield¡¯s effect was pierced. In an instant, his body was wrecked. Taesan used his divine energy to heal his broken and damaged body. Now fully recovered, he looked around. A pitch-ck space. Countless stars surrounded him. He was now in space. Taesan gripped his sword. He hadn¡¯t failed to avoid the attack; he had deliberately taken it. With his own power, he couldn¡¯t pierce the Goshin¡¯s body. The eye was exposed, but that made its defense even stronger. That was why he had used Goshin¡¯s power tounch himself into space. [You have activated Landing.] Taesan¡¯s body began to fall from space. Normally, he would have crashed to the ground instantly, but since he had flown into space, it took considerable time for him to fall. One of the features of Landing. The longer it took to activate, the faster it elerated. And there was no limit to that eleration. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] ¡°Huh?¡± The people, who had been despairing, looked up in shock. A meteor was falling from the sky. Boom! Taesan descended back to Earth. The giant stomped its foot angrily. Using its waist, itunched a punch. @@novelbin@@ Taesan didn¡¯t dodge this time. The moment the punch made contact, his skill activated. [Your Final Opportunity has been activated.] A skill that blocks a deadly attack once, for sure. But, like the previous skills, it didn¡¯t activate properly. Taesan had known the Final Opportunity wouldn¡¯t activate properly. In fact, he had nned for that. If it couldn¡¯t be blocked, at least he could try to make it miss. Taesan twisted his body. The giant¡¯s punch brushed past him. The shockwave hit Taesan. [You have taken 3,252,478 damage.] [Your Endurance has activated.] It wasn¡¯t a direct hit. It was just a fragment of Goshin¡¯s full power, significantly suppressed by Zervand¡¯s pir. Still, the damage exceeded three million. There was no longer any defense left. But because of that, Taesan was able to maintain his speed and evade the attack. Taesan drew his sword. He sharpened the Boundary Line further. The giant¡¯s response was simple. It quickly raised its arm to block its eye. Even with that, Taesan couldn¡¯t break through. But Taesan waited for the perfect moment and released all the power he had gathered. [You have activated the Fall of All Things.] [You have activated Memorize.] [You have activated the Twisted Ring of the Regretful One.] Boom! Power exploded. Magic, ck magic, divine powers, and all the skills Taesan possessed¡ªeverything was unleashed at once toward the giant¡¯s hand. The giant¡¯s body shook violently. Even Goshin, despite its power, couldn¡¯t avoid the shock from such a powerful blow at this close range. But the giant didn¡¯t move. Even though it shook, it kept its hand firmly covering its eye. In that moment, Taesan¡¯s ring glowed. [You have activated the Ring of Vengeful Recollection.] The damage Taesan had taken exploded, rebounding upon Goshin itself. The giant¡¯s foot slid back, and its arm lifted. The blood-red eye became visible. Taesan sharpened the Boundary Line on his sword. He activated Plus, Transformation, and the de of the Iron Will, then thrust his sword forward. The giant closed its eyes toote, but it was already toote. The Boundary Line pierced through the eye. Crack. [Seventh Fragment of the ck Giant, @#%$%$] [!!!!!!] An inaudible scream erupted. A fierce howl overwhelmed Taesan. Having poured all his strength into the attack, Taesan couldn¡¯t withstand the recoil and crashed into the earth. [Are you alright?] ¡°No. I¡¯m going to die.¡± Taesan staggered to his feet. The giant was clutching its blood-red eye. Blood was dripping from it. Taesan smiled in satisfaction. He had seeded in leaving an irreparable wound on Goshin¡¯s body. But the situation was far from favorable. He had expended all his power. He had exceeded the limit and could no longer control the Boundary Line. All his trump cards had been used. The giant had lost its eye, but its detection ability alone was enough to crush Taesan. The chance of victory was slim. But those watching the battle had different thoughts. Taesan was fighting against an unbeatable enemy. He had not retreated and fought for them. And in the end, he had finally pierced his sword through the blood-red eye. The scene, like something from a mythic battle, made people¡¯s emotions explode. ¡°Ah...¡± Even Amelia couldn¡¯t hold back her moan. She had always thought highly of Taesan, but had never worshipped him. She believed that one day she could catch up to him. No matter how powerful Taesan appeared, that belief had never wavered. But now, that belief was shattered. And in its ce, a new belief began to form. Faith surged. Even the unbelievers and doubters emptied their hearts. And they all sent one emotion. The entire Earth worshipped Taesan. And that worship soon became a force that descended upon Taesan. [Your divine power proficiency has increased by 1%.] [Your divine power proficiency has reached 100%. Divine power has evolved into [Divinity].] [You have be [God of Earth].] *** In an instant, everything was restored. Taesan¡¯s body surpassed its previous peak, reaching a ce he had never attained before. His senses had changed. He couldn¡¯t quite put it into words, but he had gained something. It was something of a higher dimension. He turned his gaze. Where his eyes focused, there was Earth. Earth felt closer to him now. The shaking wind, the quaking ground, felt as though they had be his limbs. The giant wasn¡¯t just standing idly by. It raised its foot and kicked powerfully. With all his defensive skills exhausted, evasion was now the only option. But now, Taesan wasn¡¯t afraid. He wrapped his body in the divine power that had materialized from faith. Boom! Taesan¡¯s sword shed with the giant¡¯s foot. His body was shoved back, but he didn¡¯t take any damage. He had sessfully blocked the giant¡¯s attack. [This is...] Akasha groaned. Even she, directly synchronized with Taesan, couldn¡¯t fully grasp the level of transcendence he had reached. [Master, what level have you reached?] Instead of answering, Taesan inspected the divine power he had enveloped his body with. Brilliant golden light. The level and quality of the divine power were on apletely different nepared to before. Taesan, still gazing at the giant, activated the Great Copse. A pitch-ck sphere immediately turned into divine power. The ashen sphere flew toward the giant. The giant stretched out its hand and grabbed the Great Copse. Boom! The Great Copse exploded. The giant¡¯s hand shook violently. Red blood poured from the open palm. [Seventh Fragment of the ck Giant, @^%$#%] ¡°Ha.¡± Taesan exhaled deeply. A sense of omnipotence overtook his body. It felt as though he could do anything. He didn¡¯t restrain his power. [You have activated Sacred Land Creation.] The brilliant golden light covered the world. It was so bright that those watching had to shield their eyes. Taesan infused the golden light with ck. Though he had used up all the allowed energy, there were no longer any restrictions. The newly formed sacrednd quickly turned ck. Zervand, who had been watching, observed with intrigue. Before him, a massive area made of ash appeared. It was an area that no one else could create¡ªa domain that belonged solely to Taesan. [You have gained the Chaos Domain.] Chapter 458: The Seventh Return, Earth (10) The ashen domain spread across the entirety of the United States. At the same time, the screen Zervand had been showing to the people flickered out. ¡°W-What?¡± ¡°What''s happening?¡± The people were bewildered. Lee Taeyeon, without realizing it, turned to look at Zervand, but he shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t do this. He did.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°This is interesting.¡± Zervand observed the ashen domain with a curious expression. Zervand¡¯s magic had been forcibly canceled within the ashen domain, as it couldn¡¯t be epted there. Even through his vision, he couldn¡¯t discern the true power contained within the ash. It was, in every sense, alien. This space couldn¡¯t be considered a part of this world. But it wasn¡¯t Goshin¡¯s domain either. It was a space made solely for Taesan. Boom! The battle continued within the ashen domain. Taesan, enveloped in the ashen power, charged toward Goshin. The giant raised its arm and struck down. Taesan didn¡¯t retreat and leapt forward, swinging his sword through the ash. Boom! Taesan was pushed back, but he wasn¡¯t the only one. The giant also staggered back. He had sessfully countered the blow that was meant to destroy him. The giant, annoyed, regained its stance and extended its arm. Taesan activated the Great Copse. [You have activated Great Copse [Chaos].] The ashen Great Copse collided with the giant. With a thunderous noise, the giant¡¯s arm was pushed back. [!!!!!] A howling sound erupted. The giant¡¯s silent roar carried immense power. If it still possessed its full strength, the force would have torn the atmosphere apart. But not here. Taesan, who had absorbed the howling into the ash, pushed forward, charging at the giant. Boom! He wrapped his body in the Boundary Line and enhanced his strength as he swung his sword. The sh between the giant¡¯s massive fist and Taesan¡¯s sword shook the very space around them. Boom! This was Taesan¡¯s domain. Everything was within his grasp. The giant began to be pushed back. It focused not on attacking, but on defending. The ash, which had engulfed the world, climbed up the giant¡¯s foot. It tried to shake it off by stomping, but the ash gradually climbed up and enveloped the giant¡¯s body. Crack! A mark appeared on the giant¡¯s arm where Taesan¡¯s sword collided. Red blood poured out like a waterfall. Within the ashen world, the giant¡¯s divine power that cloaked its body began to twist and shatter. Crack! Taesan sliced through the giant¡¯s fingers. Flesh flew in all directions. He didn¡¯t stop there¡ªhe swung his sword, hitting the giant¡¯s chest with a powerful strike. Boom! The giant, unable to withstand the attack, copsed. Taesan climbed on top of its chest. ¡°Devour it.¡± Crack! At Taesan¡¯s will, the ash surged and enveloped the giant¡¯s body. The ash gripped the giant¡¯s limbs and tore open its chest. In an instant, the giant¡¯s innards were exposed. The giant tried to resist, but the ash that bound its body made it impossible to shake off. Inside the giant¡¯s chest, its core was visible. Taesan reached out his hand into the air. Space split open. [You have activated the Sword of the World [Chaos].] It was the shattered Sword of the World. The Sword of the World took considerable time to recover after its use. Since it had been broken by the giant¡¯s attack, it wouldn¡¯t be usable for a while. But that didn¡¯t matter. The ash crawled toward it. The broken part of the Sword of the World was filled with Boundary Line. With the ash mingling with the sword, Taesan swung it down toward the giant¡¯s core. Crack! The giant¡¯s core screamed. The giant shook its body in resistance, but the ash didn¡¯t budge. The core couldn¡¯t endure and cracked, spreading like a spider¡¯s web. Taesan gathered all the world¡¯s power into the sword, and with all his might, he struck. Kaang! Like a ss orb, the core shattered. The power contained within it burst out into the world, trying to return to its original owner. But the Boundary Line blocked its movement, forcing the power to be stolen back as Taesan¡¯s Divine Will surged. [You have defeated the Seventh Fragment of the World Crusher.] [Your Divine Will has surged.] [The skill proficiency of Twisted Divine Will Calibration has increased by 6%.] [The proficiency of ckness has increased by 6%.] [The proficiency of Boundary Line has increased by !%@@#%.] [The proficiency of Will of All Things has increased by 5%.] [You have stolen the Transcendence [Self-Immutable].] [You fought and won against Goshin. You have gained the special passive skill [Resistance to Beyond].] A system window blocked Taesan¡¯s view. Inside the shattered core, a tiny blood drop was visible. Taesan reached out and grasped the blood drop. [You have obtained the Blood Drop of the World Crusher.] It was over. Taesan extinguished the Chaos Domain. A wave of intense exhaustion and fatigue washed over his body. Even his immortal body, which usually never felt fatigue, was now in a state of copse. That was closer than I thought. As the ash faded, Zervand¡¯s magic resumed. What the people saw was Taesan, standing alone in a devastated world. The one who won was Taesan. A roar like thunder erupted. The sound was so loud it shook the entire United States. They had survived. They had won. [Quest Complete.] [One weekter, thebyrinth will begin again.] *** A festival broke out. After the Earth quest had ended, people typically didn¡¯t celebrate too wildly. Though they had survived, the damage had been immense. But this time, it was different. Thanks to Taesan, the quest to protect the pirs had minimal casualties, and in the final quest, not a single person had died. It was a perfect clear, a sess beyond expectations. Moreover, the power and authority Taesan had disyed. They had defeated a monster that could not be described by words. There was no reason for the mood to be anything less than celebratory. Taesan was also thoroughly satisfied. He had achieved all the goals he had set out for. [Divinity] [Proficiency: ???] A token granted to those who receive the faith of the world, a mark of one who may be called a god. Divine power had transformed into true Divinity. And the changes that came with this transformation were immense. Taesan lightly released his power. The golden light spread across the world, eventually enveloping the entire United States. There was no significant consumption of power, no drain on his mental strength. Until now, there had been limitations on handling divinity. It had been blocked beyond a certain threshold, as though it was forbidden. Now, those limits had disappeared. @@novelbin@@ As long as the total amount of power allowed it, he could easily cover the entire world in divine energy. Moreover, the quality and magnitude of his divinity had changed. Previously, divinity was primarily focused on healing and defense. Now, it could also be used offensively. That was why Taesan had been able to block Goshin¡¯s attacks with divinity alone. Now, he could imbue spells, even dark magic, with divinity. He could enhance his entire body, or apply pressure on his enemies. As a support ability, it was almost omnipotent. In addition, thebination of divinity and ck energy allowed Taesan to use the Boundary Line to its fullest extent. No longer was it limited to merely surrounding his sword or protecting his body; now, he could create entire domains. [Chaos Domain] [Proficiency: ???] A domain created by mixing divinity and ck energy. Within this domain, everything can be manipted ording to the caster¡¯s will. Taesan, after contemting for a moment, activated the Chaos Domain. He expanded it to a small area, the size of a single building. It was the ashen domain. As its master, Taesan knew this ce well. Thews of the world did not apply here. If he wished, he could erase even the concept of death from this domain. Of course, there were limitations. On Earth, as he received direct faith, his divinity was limitless. Now, with the true divinity he possessed, the restrictions had almostpletely vanished. However, even with the faith he received, he couldn¡¯t quite keep up with the divinity consumption required for the Chaos Domain. It was uncertain whether he could manage the costs of such power in ces other than Earth. While reflecting on its effects and limitations, someone entered his domain. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± Taesan responded. Zervand entered the ashen domain, grinning widely. Taesan looked at him. This was his domain. He could feel Zervand¡¯s power and authority, but at the same time, Taesan realized there was still more to uncover. He couldn¡¯t fully perceive everything yet. He could understand the surface level, but the depths of Zervand remained beyond his grasp. ¡°You¡¯re still far from it.¡± ¡°Really? I thought the opposite.¡± Zervand extended his arm. Magic began to manifest, but the ashen space did not allow it. ¡°Where you¡¯ve reached, it only holds power in this space. It¡¯s not rare across the universe, but notmon either. Here, it¡¯s fine, but from my perspective, it¡¯s not that impressive. It¡¯s an iplete ce where once you leave your world, limitations appear.¡± Much like how Hemon and Levinef achieved their states through faith. Such gods, although powerful, were leagues apart from true transcendents who governed the very concept of existence. The Demon King easily wiped Hemon off the map, demonstrating the difference. ¡°But even a god of magic like me can¡¯t freely use magic in your domain. Of course, if I were to seriously try and kill you, it would be different... but just that alone makes it hard to believe.¡± Taesan¡¯s Chaos Domain, a space he had created, suppressed even the magic Zervand, a being who controlled the very concept of magic, sought to use. This alone spoke volumes about the peculiar nature of the Chaos Domain. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re stillcking. The ce you¡¯ve reached is an unstable one, only attainable through faith. With that alone, you can¡¯t reach us. But... what if you rise to our level? What then?¡± Zervand¡¯s face held pure curiosity. Taesan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I should reach it either.¡± He was in a twisted state. Even the sorcerer who created thebyrinth didn¡¯t know what had happened. Taesan himself wasn¡¯t sure what his goal was or how he would reach the level of transcendents. Zervandughed. ¡°Take your time. We¡¯ll help you.¡± Zervand¡¯s power flowed out again. Taesan extinguished the Chaos Domain. ¡°There¡¯s plenty more to discuss... but first, I should take care of what I need to do. You¡¯ve defeated Goshin. You deserve a proper reward.¡± [God¡¯s Power Manifestation.] [Blessings Descend.] [You have received the blessing of the gods [Magic Talent].] The blessing was bestowed upon all of humanity. The people who had been celebrating were suddenly taken aback. A new sensation they had never felt before washed over them. [God¡¯s Blessing: Magic Talent] [This is the blessing of the gods. It grants talent in magic. Additionally, by offering tribute to the god of magic, one can gain further ess to magic.] ¡°...Is this alright?¡± Magic could only be learned by a very select few. Even Bardray had failed to properly master magic, giving up after his efforts. But now, every single person on Earth could use magic. ¡°Though it¡¯s a hefty cost, you¡¯ve shown us something worth it, so it¡¯s no problem. However, this blessing means little to you. So, I¡¯ll give you something of your own.¡± Zervand smiled. ¡°You defeated Goshin on your own, without my help. You have quite a bit of leeway left.¡± Power flowed from Zervand once more, but this time it entered Taesan. [You have obtained the high-level magic [Teleport].] [You have gained the title [Grand Magus].] Chapter 459: The Seventh Return, Earth (11) "Aren''t you curious? Check it out now. I have something to exin, too." Taesan didn¡¯t refuse. He opened the skill window to see what he had gained. [Advanced Magic: Teleport] [Mana Consumption: 5000] [Proficiency: 1%] [Allows teleportation to a designated location within range.] The first advanced magic he had acquired was Great Copse. Its performance had been highly satisfying. While it had slightly dulled in effect against Goshin, it remained one of Taesan''s most powerful attack skills. It was of apletely different caliber than intermediate magic. And now, Taesan had gained another skill of equal stature. Zervand, grinning, gestured with his chin. "Try using it." "Thank you." The description of the skill said it allowed him to teleport to a desired location. Taesan envisioned a ce in his mind. [You have activated Teleport.] Mana gathered around him. Space opened, and Taesan''s body leaped through the air. He arrived at the ce he envisioned. "...It¡¯s real." Although the ce he arrived at waspletely destroyed and no longer recognizable, it was the very ce he had chosen during the "Aural Mode" selection. Taesan closed his eyes again and envisioned a different location. This time, it was Antarctica. He had never been there, but using what he had seen in the media, he activated the magic. [You have activated Teleport.] And Taesan arrived in Antarctica. It was slightly different from what he had imagined, but he knew immediately that it was the same ce. After a few experiments, Taesan understood the range and conditions of Teleport. ¡®There¡¯s no cooldown.¡¯ His Random Blink and Limited Blink skills had a 10-minute cooldown, meaning he had to be very careful about when to use them. But Teleport, as an advanced magic, didn¡¯t have a cooldown. Although the mana cost was high, the absence of a time restriction was undoubtedly a significant advantage. Moreover, Taesan could even teleport to ces he had never seen¡ªjust by imagining the location in his mind, he could arrive at simr ces. But what about the maximum distance of the designated range? Taesan visualized the vastness of space in his mind and activated Teleport. Thud. He arrived at a blue. He had reached space. ¡®Maybe around the atmosphere?¡¯ Taesan returned to Earth. Zervand, who had been waiting leisurely, asked, "How is it?" "It¡¯s great." It wasn¡¯t without its limitations. The location had to be imagined quite specifically, requiring some preparation time to fully materialize it. The magic wasn¡¯t instant either. It took a brief moment for the mana to gather and open the space. When calcting the full process, it took about a few seconds¡ªso it wasn¡¯t a skill that could be used quickly in battle. However, as a skill that allowed free space travel within aary range, without cooldown, it was the ultimate teleportation skill. Its value as an advanced magic was unquestionable. "Normally, such a skill isn¡¯t granted to mortals, but you''re far beyond that now, so it¡¯s not a problem." Taesan checked his title. Those who had been granted the title of Grand Magus were always individuals of overwhelming magical ability. Even those like Shayan, who could use advanced magic in limited ways, hadn¡¯te close to Taesan¡¯s level. The magicians of the Magic Tower, despite their tremendous magical talent, were far behind Taesan in this regard. But now, Taesan had earned that title. [Title: Grand Magus] [A great and extraordinary magician. A talent beyond anyone else¡¯s reach.] [Magic + 200] [Mana + 10,000] [Intelligence + 3,000] [Skill proficiency rted to magic increases exponentially.] [Within Zervand¡¯s allowed domain, you can interfere with his magic.] The title of Grand Magus significantly increased the rted stats and abilities. But the most astonishing part was the next effect. The increase in skill proficiency became exponential. A short phrase, yet its value was immense. Magic proficiency had always been slow to increase. Even Taesan''s Frozen World skill had yet to reach 60% proficiency after continuous use. Intermediate magic was slow to master, and it was even worse for advanced magic. The proficiency of Great Copse was still under 10%. He had expected to struggle to reach 100% proficiency until thebyrinth was cleared. But now, he had obtained a title that would double the speed of his growth. "Is this alright?" "If you¡¯re going to bear the title of Grand Magus, you have to meet that standard. It¡¯s fine." Zervand answered casually. Taesan epted it gratefully. "Being able to interfere with magic..." "Magicians have made various modifications to my magic," Zervand said, referring to the magic ovepping and magic liberation techniques created by the magician Akisha, who had sought vengeance on Shayan. "You¡¯ll be able to make simr modifications. It¡¯s not that impressive. Since you¡¯ve already created Negation Magic, it¡¯s somewhat simr. With my permission, you¡¯ll be able to handle it more stably in the future." "Thank you." Now, Taesan could handle Divinity and Boundary Line more effectively. That, too, was a satisfying reward. "This is all I¡¯ll give you. My role is done." Zervand¡¯s presence began to fade. He was leaving Earth, returning to his domain. "You said you had something else to talk about?" "It¡¯s nothing too important." Zervand spoke casually as if it weren¡¯t anything significant. "Taesan, you defeated the Seventh Fragment of the World Crusher. That¡¯s certainly an amazing feat, but it¡¯s not impossible." Once someone bes a transcendental being, they can handle something like Goshin¡¯s fragment. "But you did something no one else has done. Do you know what it is?" "...Blocking its power?" "Correct." Zervand smiled. "It¡¯s different from a mere monster or apostle. That¡¯s a fragment of Goshin himself. Goshin had to personally retrieve his power." When Taesan defeated the fragment, the power inside tried to return to the other side of the world. It would have been absorbed by the World Crusher¡¯s true body. But Taesan blocked and stole that power with the Boundary Line and the increase in his Divine Will. "We tried to stop the flow of power, but no transcendental being has ever seeded. The Immutable is beyond thews. But you blocked it and stole the power." Zervand was grinning, clearly delighted. "You¡¯ve left a mark on Goshin¡¯s Immutable." Zervand¡¯s face was alight with excitement. While he was known to show emotional changes often, there had always been a sense of distance, as if a god were imitating a human. But not now. What Zervand was showing now was his true emotion. "You¡¯re the only one who can end this damn war. It may sound like a dream, but it¡¯s not impossible." He smiled broadly and waved his hand. "See you next time." With those words, Zervand vanished. Taesan stood for a moment, quietly looking at the remnants left behind. *** [Blood Drop of the World Breaker] [Blood drop of the High God. Normally, it could not exist in this world, but it was forcibly manifested by a special power.] The power contained within it was immense and profound. Even Taesan, now a god of Earth, couldn¡¯t easily grasp it. If he used Boundary Line, he could possibly create something with it. ¡°Hm.¡± Taesan thought about the materials he had. Blood drop of the World Breaker. Crystallized divine blood. And fragments of the High God and divine fragments. It was as if the materials had been paired intentionally. ¡°Perhaps I can handle it soon.¡± Taesan took out the divine blood and gently handled it. Things about the divine blood that he couldn¡¯t understand before now filled his mind. Now, he could treat the divine blood as a material. He had also be able to handle the fragments of the High God and divine fragments, though not perfectly, to some extent. ¡®What can I do with this?¡¯ Because the materials were so high-tier, it made him hesitate. After thinking for a while, Taesan decided to go visit Haphran and Kosrun. Though the materials were too advanced for them to handle, as cksmiths, they might be able to provide some insight. [Special Always-Activated Skill: Resistance to the Beyond] [Proficiency: 1%] [Resistance and rejection of things beyond thews. Slight resistance to distorting thews.] @@novelbin@@ The fragment of the High God intervened with Taesan¡¯s skill. The attack nullification activated strangely, and the forced fall was canceled. It seemed to be a skill that allowed a bit of resistance to those kinds of things. It would prove useful, especially since he would often sh directly with the High God in the future. [Transcendence: Self-Unchanging] [Proficiency: ^@] [Unchanging against ^@ and strong resistance to !@$.] This was the power Taesan had stolen from the fragment of the World Breaker. Transcendence [Self-Unchanging]. It was the second transcendence he obtained after the one from the ck. The Eternal Immovable Faith was a transcendence skill that was somewhat different in its category. As it was directly rted to the High God, it was hard to fully understand the details. However, its effect was somewhat predictable. From the moment the skill was obtained, Taesan felt a strange sensation in his body. Taesan called Diana. ¡°Please attack me with all your strength.¡± ¡°...You want me to attack you, Taesan-nim?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I need to check.¡± Diana, slightly startled,plied and took her weapon. ¡°Though it probably won¡¯t mean anything even if I attack...¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Taesan suppressed the divinity surrounding him, perfectly controlling his aura. At this moment, Taesan was defenseless. Diana hesitated for a moment, but then followed Taesan¡¯smand. She was also aware of the existence of attack nullification. ¡°Whooo.¡± She took a deep breath and then struck. Using all her skills, she attacked Taesan with everything she had. Her lethal strike. Even an S-ss monster would fall instantly if hit directly. No matter how much Taesan had obtained divinity, Diana was one who walked the Boundary Line. In this state, she couldn¡¯t avoid taking damage. The tip of her sword made contact with Taesan. At that moment, Diana felt a strong recoil. Kaang! ¡°Ugh!¡± The sword was flung back. Diana couldn¡¯t withstand the force and was pushed back, stumbling. She held her wrist and stared at Taesan nkly. ¡°...Taesan-nim? Something... feels off.¡± It wasn¡¯t just the concept of being overpowered by strength. Something was strange. It was a sensation she had never felt before. ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan raised his divinity and healed her. Taesan then went to see Beldenkia. He asked him to attack with full power, using magic. Beldenkiaplied. He used his full power tounch an attack at Taesan. Wind, fire, me. Various magic elementsbined and rained down on Taesan. Taesan casually reached out and grabbed. The magic twisted. Paaang! Beldenkia¡¯s magic vanished, leaving only remnants. His pupils widened. ¡°W-What?¡± It wasn¡¯t that his magic was overwhelmed by a stronger force. It was a phenomenon that didn¡¯t align with such concepts. ¡°So this is it.¡± After briefly inspecting his own body, Taesan approached Beldenkia. ¡°Defense magic.¡± ¡°Uh... okay.¡± Beldenkia instinctively activated his defense magic. Numerous magic circles appeared and ovepped. This was the magic he had cast with all his might, capable of stopping even an Immortal¡¯s attack. Taesan reached out toward the defensive magic. Whum. At just that, the magic circles began to twist. ¡°W-What... is this?¡± Beldenkia couldn¡¯t understand. He knew that Taesan was strong. He was aware that Taesan could easily dismiss even his strongest magic with a mere swing of his hand. But this was entirely different. As soon as his magic touched Taesan, it distorted and warped. It wasn¡¯t allowed. The weaker force, the lower rank, was rejected and denied for attempting to interfere with Taesan¡¯s body. Taesan exerted force with his hand. The magic circles twisted as if sucked in, and soon disappeared. There was no wave of force, no aftereffect. It was as if it wasn¡¯t allowed; the power of both Beldenkia and Diana was denied the moment it touched Taesan. Self-Unchanging. The effect was the denial of the world¡¯sws interfering with the caster. Chapter 460: The Seventh Return, Earth (12) Taesan examined his own body. Something invisible, like a membrane, surrounded him. The power contained within it was not of this world. It belonged to the High God. ¡°What is that?¡± Beldenkia asked, his face incredulous. ¡°It¡¯s not just some simple force or concept of rank. What kind of power did you obtain?¡± ¡°Power of the High God.¡± Taesan briefly exined. After hearing this, Beldenkia¡¯s pupils widened, and then a hollowugh escaped him. ¡°Denial of thews themselves? What nonsense...¡± That was not something easy to ept. ¡°So, does that mean no one can interfere with you now?¡± Even transcendents, their powers are based on thews of the world. But Taesan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not at that level. The limits are clear.¡± When the High God directly wielded it, that would have been the case. Death, life, power¡ªeverything would be interfered with, and even thews of thebyrinth would be twisted and broken. But the power had degraded during the process of Taesan¡¯s theft. What he could stop were only thews that directly interfered with him. And every time he blocked thews, Self-Unchanging was consumed. When he blocked Diana¡¯s lethal strike earlier, the Self-Unchanging surrounding his body was consumed. It was slowly replenishing, but at a very slow rate. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s reduced, though?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because the gap between you and me is toorge.¡± Taesan was a transcendent now. Even though Diana was strong, she was at most at the Boundary Line level. The difference in rank was overwhelminglyrge, so the consumption was minimal. To block an attack from someone of equal rank or higher, Self-Unchanging would be consumed significantly more. Beldenkia stroked his chin as he processed this. ¡°Still, it¡¯s an absurd power. To affect you, they would first need to break through the Self-Unchanging surrounding you, right? Until then, they can¡¯t interfere with you in any way.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Even with limitations, it was an incredibly powerful skill. No existence in this world could escape the concept ofws. For anyone to influence Taesan in any way, they would have to first break through the wall of Self-Unchanging. And Self-Unchanging was the power of the High God. It didn¡¯t belong to thews of this world. It was also difficult for enemies to evenprehend it. Moreover, the problem of attack nullification failing had also disappeared. Is this the power of the High God? Even this was a significantly degraded version of what the High God originally had. Taesan became curious about what kind of powers other High Gods wielded. Beldenkia let out another hollowugh. ¡°Someone with the power of the High God. First time I¡¯ve heard of that.¡± Next, Taesan wanted to check the changes in Bardray and Akasha. Both evolved and changed every time they defeated an enemy. Since they had just defeated a fragment of the High God, Taesan expected significant changes. [Prince of the Destroyed World: Bardray] [The Empire of the Destroyed World. Prince of Cavert. Bardray. Reborn by embodying a sword as his flesh.] [Attack Power +2854] But contrary to his expectations, there were no significant changes. Though his attack power increased to a high level, considering that they had defeated a fragment of the High God, it wasn¡¯t an extraordinary number. Bardray spoke. [I think it¡¯s because it was the High God? It¡¯s an existence beyond thews. You¡¯re special, so you were able to gain power without any problem, but I couldn¡¯t.] ¡°I guess that makes sense.¡± The High God was immutable. That power neither decreases nor increases. Only Taesan could forcibly steal it using the Boundary Line and rank-up increases. Bardray wasn¡¯t included. What about Akasha? [I¡¯m not sure either. It¡¯s still foggy, like I¡¯m in a haze. I think something wille to me soon, but... it¡¯s tough for now.] ¡°Take it slow.¡± [Yes. Thank you, Master.] He had roughly checked the rewards. But it still wasn¡¯t over. Taesan closed his eyes and began to contemte. He had be the god of Earth. On Earth, he was a transcendent. Now that he had be a transcendent, what could he do, and what influence could he wield? He read and observed himself. He was assessing the new powers and abilities he had gained. ¡°Ah.¡± A voice echoed. Taesan realized something and opened his eyes. ¡°...Now that I think about it, it was obvious.¡± Taesan chuckled lightly. He had be a transcendent. Therefore, it was natural that he could now use abilities that only transcendents could possess. Taesan stood up. His body leaped through space. *** One week remained until they would return to thebyrinth. During that time, the people danced, sang, and rejoiced. "For Taesan-nim!" The people shouted the names of those who had saved them. The name most frequently called, of course, was Taesan¡¯s. Everyone on Earth worshipped Taesan. They prayed to him and praised him. Some singers evenposed songs in his honor. "For Diana-nim!" After Taesan, the next most frequently called name was Diana. She had single-handedly fought and defeated several S-ss monsters, and she definitely deserved the praise of the people. Beldenkia also received praise for simr reasons. "For Lee Taeyeon-nim!" Naturally, Lee Taeyeon was also included in the praises. She was the second strongest Earthling after Taesan. She fought S-ss monsters and saved many people, so she too was worthy of admiration. But among them... No one called out Am¨¦lia¡¯s name. Am¨¦lia smiled bitterly among the crowd. ¡°Hah.¡± With a sigh, she slipped away from the people. As she passed, those who saw her smiled brightly and expressed their gratitude. ¡°Ah! Am¨¦lia-nim! Thank you! We wouldn¡¯t have survived without you!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. I just wanted everyone to survive.¡± She casually responded and made her way to a quiet ce, slipping away from the crowd. She hadn¡¯t been forgotten. She still had the trust and belief of the people. But she was no longer their hope. ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s only natural.¡± She muttered quietly. In terms of strength, she was fifth. It was a position that felt terribly ambiguous. ¡°...It¡¯s a little sad.¡± She couldn¡¯t be the leading star. The leading star was Taesan. She epted that. But there was still an inexplicable sadness. Am¨¦lia leaned against the wall. What am I hoping for? She couldn¡¯t even clearly understand her own feelings. As she absentmindedly thought, Taesan¡¯s face appeared in her mind. Their first meeting hadn¡¯t gone well. Having received the god¡¯s blessing and believing herself to be the greatest, Am¨¦lia was certain that Taesan, like everyone else, was weaker than her. But when the duel took ce... She couldn¡¯t do anything and lost. It was a crushing defeat. An absolute gap in power. Am¨¦lia had been captivated by that power. More precisely, she had been captivated by Taesan himself. She believed that with her talents, she could catch up one day. She thought she could be equal to that fascinating person. I¡¯ll catch up to you. I¡¯m the one who will be next after you. With that resolve, she began challenging thebyrinth. But at some point, Lee Taeyeon changed. She started descending through thebyrinth at a speed unlike before. Am¨¦lia, sensing the urgency, sped up as well, but Taeyeon overtook her in the blink of an eye. As a friend, she was happy and proud of her growth, but at the same time, she was flustered. I¡¯m the one who will catch up to Taesan. I¡¯m next after him. But that wasn¡¯t the end. Diana and Beldenkia. Two others, clearly stronger than her, appeared. Her strength no longer seemed all that remarkable. And then came the overwhelming power Taesan disyed during this return. The thought of catching up to Taesan disappeared from her mind. And in its ce, something else filled her heart, something she couldn¡¯t even fully recognize. Is it jealousy? Was it jealousy of their strength? No, it wasn¡¯t. She felt grateful that so many people had survived thanks to them, not jealous. ...Did I want to be worshipped by the people? She used to. She had wanted to be the strongest, to be adored by everyone. But now, that wasn¡¯t the case. The indifference of the people was a little bitter, but it didn¡¯t depress her. The reason for her sadness was something else. ...Taesan and Taeyeon often talk to each other alone. She knew that Taeyeon¡¯s change had something to do with Taesan. But Taesan hadn¡¯t told her anything about it. The same went for Diana and Beldenkia. Taesan had never shared any details about them with her. And that made Am¨¦lia a little disappointed. ¡°...Huh?¡± She suddenly spoke aloud. She had realized the reason for her sadness. To her, Taesan was a god. He was an overwhelming powerhouse, a leader guiding everyone. She wanted to be recognized by him. You¡¯re strong. If it¡¯s you, I can trust you. She wanted his trust and to hear his secrets firsthand. Am¨¦lia¡¯s face turned red. ¡°W-What¡¯s this?¡± Wasn¡¯t it just a desire for recognition, like a child¡¯s? She didn¡¯t want to admit her feelings. She shook her head, trying to shake them off, but once the thought had appeared, it wasn¡¯t easily erased. Looking back, she had always wanted to be acknowledged by someone. She had been deceived by the God of Fall because he had recognized her. Now, that had be Taesan. Once she realized her feelings, they didn¡¯t stop. Thoughts kept flooding her mind. She wanted to share secrets with Taesan too. She wanted to hear him say that he trusted her and could rely on her. She wanted to fight alongside him, back to back, depending on each other¡¯s lives. She crouched down. ¡°Is that all I¡¯ve been hoping for? How embarrassing.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She was startled and jumped up. Before she knew it, Taesan was standing next to her. ¡°Ta-Taesan? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I have something to ask you.¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°...Me?¡± Not Taeyeon or Diana, but her. Am¨¦lia felt a sudden rush of happiness just from that. Her previously gloomy feelings vanished. She said cheerfully: ¡°What is it? Tell me.¡± Taesan looked at her for a moment before speaking. ¡°Would you like to be my apostle?¡± *** Taesan''s words made Am¨¦lia¡¯s face stiffen. ¡°Apostle of a god... You¡¯re talking about that, right?¡± Taesan nodded. An apostle. She knew what that was, too. ¡°I¡¯ve be a god.¡± Although he wasn¡¯t entirelyplete, Taesan was now a transcendent being. And transcendent beings could create their own apostles. ¡°Your soul will be bound to me. In exchange, I¡¯ll be able to grant you my power.¡± Until now, Taesan had been offered apostolic contracts by other transcendents. But now, he was offering an apostolic contract to someone else. ¡°You¡¯ll be my first apostle. Interested?¡± ¡°...Wait a minute.¡± Am¨¦lia was confused. She needed time to collect her thoughts before agreeing to an apostolic contract so suddenly. Taesan waited quietly. After a while, once she had sorted through her thoughts, she asked: ¡°How many apostles are there?¡± ¡°Just you. Right now, I can only make one apostle.¡± At the moment, he wasn¡¯t yet aplete transcendent. There were still various limitations. Hearing this, Am¨¦lia bit her lip. With a determined expression, she said: ¡°Taesan. The apostolic contract should be with Lee Taeyeon, Diana, or Beldenkia, not me.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They¡¯re stronger than me.¡± They had more talent than Am¨¦lia did. For them to be Taesan¡¯s apostles would maximize their strength. She believed that if she became his apostle, she wouldn¡¯t be able to fully use Taesan¡¯s power. That was her reasoning. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± But Taesan looked at her as if she were speaking nonsense. ¡°You have talent, Am¨¦lia Aerin.¡± ¡°Well, I do, butpared to them...¡± ¡°Your talent is in no way inferior to Lee Taeyeon¡¯s. In fact, in some aspects, you¡¯re superior.¡± ¡°Eh? Really?¡± Am¨¦lia had thought she was inferior to Lee Taeyeon. But now, Taesan was denying her thoughts. ¡°You¡¯re exceptional. When ites to pure talent, you¡¯re in no way inferior to them.¡± Thump. Am¨¦lia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Taesan was acknowledging her. ¡°Are you serious...?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan nodded. I knew it. Am¨¦lia was exceptional. In Taesan¡¯s judgment, her talent was among the best of any human he had encountered. Even after escaping from the God of Fall, she had descended through thebyrinth at an impressive speed. But at some point, something had changed in her. Her speed through thebyrinth had slowed, and there were gaps and hesitations in her movements. Taesan knew the reason for this. Lee Taeyeon¡¯s talent is doubt and caution. She had be almost cowardly, constantly doubting herself, and at times even rejecting the right answers. The reason she had survived and grown stronger was definitely due to her talent. Even now, after recovering memories from her previous life, her excessive traits had been tempered, but her foundation hadn¡¯t changed much. And Am¨¦lia¡¯s talent is belief in herself. She repeatedly took life-threatening challenges. She never doubted. She believed she would win, that she could aplish whatever she set her mind to. And she actually seeded. That was her talent. But the reason she had been overwhelmingly defeated by Taesan was that her belief in being the strongest had been shattered. Even so, it was okay. Taesan was the only one who was truly strong. She could still believe in herself and move forward. Then Lee Taeyeon appeared. Lee Taeyeon, unlike Taesan, didn¡¯t match her. But at some point, she changed and suddenly reached deeper into thebyrinth than Am¨¦lia had. Then Diana and Beldenkia appeared. Cracks began to form in Am¨¦lia¡¯s belief in herself. It was self-doubt. She began to wonder if she really was exceptional or if she was just slightly better than an ordinary person. She was quietly breaking down, eroding her own confidence. At this rate, even if she cleared thebyrinth, she might stop at a level that wasn¡¯t all that impressive. Taesan would never let that happen. This is perfect. He had been thinking about how to resolve Am¨¦lia¡¯s wavering. Simple words wouldn¡¯t work. He needed to show her, directly, that she had value. And the apostolic contract was the most certain form of recognition. ¡°I don¡¯t offer an apostolic contract to anyone I don¡¯t recognize.¡± Am¨¦lia¡¯s pupils shook. Her face turned bright red. What filled her heart was joy. ¡°You¡¯re exceptional. The difference is just in direction, you¡¯re in no way inferior to Lee Taeyeon or Diana.¡± ¡°But Lee Taeyeon reached deeper into thebyrinth than me...¡± ¡°That¡¯s because she recovered her memories.¡± ¡°...Memories?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to be specific, but she went through a special method. It¡¯s not because she has overwhelmingly superior talent over you.¡± ¡°...¡± Am¨¦lia couldn¡¯t hide her joy. Taesan was acknowledging her. He had said she wasn¡¯t inferior to Lee Taeyeon or Diana. ¡°I¡¯m offering the apostolic contract not to Lee Taeyeon, not to Diana, not to Beldenkia. Am¨¦lia. It¡¯s you.¡± Am¨¦lia worshipped Taesan. And she was someone who understood what being an apostle meant. An apostle is the closest servant to a god. They follow the god¡¯s orders by his side, and because of that, gods don¡¯t offer apostolic contracts lightly. They only offer them to those they truly trust, or those who have power, or those who are exceptionally attractive. Am¨¦lia realized Taesan¡¯s intentions. All the embarrassment she had felt before disappearedpletely. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not forcing you. It¡¯s about dedicating yourself. If you don¡¯t want it, I won¡¯t push...¡± ¡°No.¡± Am¨¦lia shook her head. Her thoughts were now clear. She smiled widely. It was the same confident smile she had shown when Taesan first saw her, the smile of someone who truly believed she was the best. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it. Taesan. I¡¯ll ept.¡± Chapter 461: The Seventh Return, Earth (13) Am¨¦lia readily epted. Taesan immediately began the apostolic contract. [You have proposed an apostolic contract to Am¨¦lia.] ¡°I ept.¡± Am¨¦lia nodded. As the contract waspleted, the two of them began to connect. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± A voice echoed. Taesan groaned, and Am¨¦lia, startled, reacted. It was a strange sensation. They were connected. Taesan¡¯s power and rank enveloped Am¨¦lia. ¡°Ugh.¡± Am¨¦lia groaned. A thick, strong, and foreign power settled within her soul and body. ¡°...Is this the feeling?¡± Taesan clenched and opened his fist repeatedly. He, too, felt a sense of difort, much like Am¨¦lia. Am¨¦lia was inside him. Though he could grasp her thoughts and feelings through the will of all things, now he could evenprehend what was deeper within her. [You have obtained Apostle [Am¨¦lia Aerin].] [She has sworn eternal loyalty to you.] [You have created your first apostle. She will protect you and carry out your will, capable of many things.] [You can givemands to your apostle. If you genuinely desire it, the apostle cannot refuse.] There were countless system windows that couldn¡¯t be seen in one nce. Am¨¦lia, too, was quickly scanning the air. Am¨¦lia had be Taesan¡¯s apostle. Once the confirmation wasplete, Am¨¦lia looked at Taesan with a slightly puzzled expression. ¡°Uh, Taesan...-nim?¡± ¡°Why the formal speech all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Well, since I¡¯ve be an apostle, I thought I should address you properly.¡± ¡°No need. Just treat me as usual.¡± ¡°...Got it.¡± Though Am¨¦lia looked ufortable, she spoke casually as she normally would. ¡°Calling you informally feels weird. Is this some kind of sphemy?¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± What mattered wasn¡¯t the attitude. What was important was what she had gained and what she could do. ¡°So, how does it feel to be an apostle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange. It feels like part of you has settled within me.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s test it.¡± Taesan drew his sword. Am¨¦lia grinned and readied her weapon. Whoooosh! The two engaged in a spar. Taesan held back a bit, observing her movements. What he learned was: ¡°There¡¯s not much change after all.¡± Am¨¦lia had be faster and more precise. With this alone, Am¨¦lia before bing an apostle could not have defeated the current version of herself. But it wasn¡¯t a massive transformation for someone who had be an apostle. Am¨¦lia spoke. ¡°They say I¡¯m still not qualified to fully wield the power of an apostle. But I did get the skill Apostlehood.¡± ¡°Try using it.¡± It was a skill Taesan also had. He prompted her to activate Apostlehood. [Am¨¦lia has activated Apostlehood.] ¡°Ugh.¡± Am¨¦lia let out a small groan. The rank and power of Taesan that resided within her instantly amplified and enveloped her entire body. In the blink of an eye, she reached a level she had never attained before. Taesan gestured for her toe back. ¡°Come back.¡± ¡°Ah, okay.¡± Am¨¦lia stomped her foot. ng! She became faster and stronger. At this point, even facing an S-ss monster would be within her reach. The duration, like Taesan¡¯s, was one hour, with a cooldown of one day. Considering that Taesan was able to defeat formidable opponents with the help of Apostlehood, this was a significant change. ¡°This is amazing.¡± Am¨¦lia couldn¡¯t hide her admiration. She had surpassed a level she couldn¡¯t reach before, jumping past a previously blocked threshold in an instant. And now she could wield divine power. Compared to Taesan, she was a mere firefly before the sun, but being able to recover during battle made it highly useful. However, she didn¡¯t gain any greater power. Other apostles could handle certain divine abilities, but Am¨¦lia had gained nothing else. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as divine power. What I got is just Apostlehood and divine power, that¡¯s it.¡± Taesan tried to use his own energy to grant her a divine power. What he intended to give her was the soul skill Destroyer. But Am¨¦lia couldn¡¯t ept it. She groaned in pain, unable to handle the power. Eventually, Taesan gave up on bestowing her the power. ¡°Is it a restriction?¡± [You have not yet fully mastered your strength and rank as a god. There are restrictions to your divine powers.] He had be the god of Earth. But he was still in an iplete position, influenced by people¡¯s faith. Maybe when time passed, and people¡¯s faith stabilized and Taesan reached a higher level, he could fully control his divine powers. It seemed that¡¯s why even though Am¨¦lia had be an apostle, she still had limitations with the Apostlehood skill. Once he was fully qualified, Am¨¦lia would surely gain her full powers as an apostle. But Am¨¦lia was satisfied. ¡°This is enough for me. Honestly, it¡¯s the best skill I¡¯ve gotten so far. But I don¡¯t think you could give me this level of power for nothing. Did you feel any energy drain?¡± ¡°There is, but it¡¯s negligible.¡± It was an extremely small, almost negligible drain. Given the gap between Taesan and Am¨¦lia, it was virtually nonexistent. The apostolic contract. Though there were restrictions now, they would disappear with further growth. Then, it wouldn¡¯t just be Am¨¦lia. He would be able to form apostolic contracts with other yers in the Arlon mode as well. As Taesan finished confirming the new abilities he had gained, Am¨¦lia, while examining the system windows, tilted her head. ¡°This seems strange. Why is it empty?¡± ¡°What¡¯s empty?¡± ¡°Your divine name, I guess? The part with your name is nk.¡± ¡°...Exin in more detail.¡± Taesan asked seriously. Am¨¦lia¡¯s exnation was simple. She had received a system window showing who her contracted god was. But the first part of Taesan¡¯s name was missing. [ Kang Taesan ] ¡°This is how it is.¡± Taesan stroked his chin. The god of Bequeseta. Hamon was the god of light born from the earth. Levinof was the goddess of love. The divine name signifies the essence of a god. Right now, he was the god of Earth. But that was a state reached through the faith of the masses. It couldn¡¯t be called his true essence. The fact that it was empty meant one of two things. Either he hadn¡¯t obtained his true essence as a god. Or the system of thebyrinth itself couldn¡¯tprehend the essence that Taesan held. My essence. He focused on understanding it. Taesan set his next goal. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go back then.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Taesan stomped his foot. Thanks to Taesan matching his speed, Am¨¦lia was able to follow without difficulty. She stared nkly at Taesan¡¯s back. ...It¡¯s so vast. Now that they had entered the apostolic contract, she could sense Taesan¡¯s power deeply. Taesan was enormous. He was like the sun, a force so intense that it could reduce someone like her to ash in an instant. Am¨¦lia was feeling the same emotions that Taesan had felt looking at the transcendents up until now. ...Hmm? As Am¨¦lia examined Taesan¡¯s power, she discovered something. Deep within the heart of Taesan. Something was settled there. She was Taesan¡¯s apostle, the closest being to him in this world. But even she couldn¡¯t understand what it was. Am¨¦lia tried to observe it more closely, but in the blink of an eye, that something vanished deeper into the abyss. What is that? She tilted her head but couldn¡¯t figure out what it was. There were four days remaining until their return to Earth. During that time, Taesan used the Demon Realm to create some ck magic spells that could be useful to people. Though the mana consumption was very low, they filled the gaps that people had, and they were deeply moved by it. In addition, he gave advice on acquiring skills and strategies. People listened to Taesan¡¯s words with serious faces. Am¨¦lia, along with other Arlon mode yers, continued to spar. Among them, the one showing the most significant change was Am¨¦lia. ng! ng! ¡°Hoh.¡± Diana let out an exmation. ¡°You¡¯ve be stronger.¡± ¡°I¡¯m an apostle now. I should be able to do this much.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean. You¡¯ve really gotten stronger.¡± Diana had always thought that Am¨¦lia was exceptional, but her talent didn¡¯t reach Diana¡¯s level. But now, the movements she was showing were entirely different. Having let go of her doubts about herself, she had begun to awaken her talent. ¡°I can¡¯t just stand by, can I?¡± Diana gripped her sword with a serious expression. Lee Taeyeon, who was standing beside Taesan, muttered. ¡°Am¨¦lia is an apostle. It seems fitting. It looks like her inner struggles have been resolved.¡± ¡°Did you know?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my specialty, isn¡¯t it? Doubting oneself and eating away at one¡¯s own talent.¡± Lee Taeyeon said proudly. Taesan chuckled lightly. ¡°That¡¯s not really something to be proud of, is it?¡± ¡°From the outside, I wasn¡¯t sure what to do, but I¡¯m d you solved it.¡± She suddenly let out augh. ¡°So, you made an apostle... You¡¯re truly a god. You¡¯vee so far.¡± ¡°I havee far. But the road ahead is long.¡± And on thest day before returning to thebyrinth. Taesan began to prepare. Kiiying! Divinity covered the entire Earth. People let out gasps of awe. Taesan, who had exerted a great influence, dered: ¡°Die.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Death.] Crack! Divinity exploded. The monsters remaining throughout the Earth were crushed and ttened. Though they struggled, the divinity that enveloped the world trampled them as though it were divine punishment. In an instant, all the monsters left in the world were obliterated. People erupted into cheers. After handling thest monster, Taesan gathered the divinity together. He then released it toward the ck hole in the sky. Kwoooosh! The sh of powers. Space distorted and the world trembled. Taesan grimaced. The hole in the sky remained unchanged, as though mocking him. It¡¯s still insufficient. But next time, it would be different. Taesan contained his power. The people¡¯s bodies began to return to thebyrinth. Lee Taeyeon waved his hand. ¡°Well then, see you next time.¡± Taesan nodded in response. And then, they returned to thebyrinth. [Monster Disposal Bonus + 2443] [Apostle Defeat Bonus + 3154] [Fragment of the High God Defeat Bonus + 6814] [Victory Bonus + 1115] @@novelbin@@ [Settlement Complete] [15,876 points have been granted.] As soon as they left Earth and returned to thebyrinth, Taesan¡¯s high rank and divinity began to fall. He was the god of Earth. When he left Earth, his powers became restricted. With the fall of his rank, his omnipotence disappeared. Taesan quietly assessed himself. I¡¯m barely hanging on as a transcendent. His rank had been reduced to the point where even the powers of a transcendent couldn¡¯t be fully used. But I¡¯ve surpassed immortality. He was still a transcendent. This was less than what he had expected. Taesan checked the link with Am¨¦lia. She was settled in thebyrinth, checking her points. [Can you hear me?] [Huh?] Am¨¦lia startled, looking around. [...Taesan?] [I can hear you.] The apostolic contract was a transcendental privilege that ignored even divergent dimensions. While it didn¡¯t matter much due to themunity, the ability to check in real-time was quite appealing. [This is amazing.] [Keep going down. If you need me, just pray and call me.] [Yeah. Thanks.] Taesan checked his earned points. 15,876 points. Adding to the points he had earned before, it exceeded this amount. Now, what should he use this points for? Just as he was starting to think about it, thebyrinth began to shake. ¡°Balbabamba.¡± Perhaps because he had be a transcendent, he immediately sensed the gathering and consolidation of power. Soon, thebyrinth¡¯s administrator, Balbabamba, appeared. Chapter 462: Floor 88: Those Who Aspire to Godhood (1) [I anticipated that you would return as a god.] A voice filled with weariness and caution resonated through the space. [We are aware of the situation on Earth. It wasn¡¯t a difficult prediction. That¡¯s why thebyrinth¡¯s difficulty was calibrated ordingly. Your reaching the threshold of transcendence, albeit iplete, was within expectations.] Balbabamba manifested in his perfect form, descending into thebyrinth. [However... the power of the Ancient God¡¯s Authority was beyond my calctions.] The skill that defied the world¡¯sws weighed on him heavily¡ªTaesan¡¯s transcendent skill, [Self-Unchanging]. ¡°Is it a problem?¡± [A problem? It¡¯s more than that. That power is dangerous. Your mere existence could distort thebyrinth¡¯sws.] ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can¡¯t fully control it yet.¡± Self-Unchanging only activated when directly targeting Taesan. It had no effect on passivews like thebyrinth¡¯s, which influenced everything naturally. However, Balbabamba¡¯s wariness didn¡¯t fade. [While it¡¯s not a problem now, there¡¯s no telling what might happen in the future.] ¡°If that timees, I¡¯ll make sure thebyrinth remains unharmed.¡± [That remains to be seen. No one in this world has ever wielded the Ancient God¡¯s Authority. Nothing can be assumed.] Taesan didn¡¯t deny the statement. Balbabamba¡¯s concerns were entirely reasonable. ¡°So, what now?¡± [Frankly, I want to seal your power.] As thebyrinth¡¯s administrator, Balbabamba¡¯s role was to maintain its integrity, eliminate uncertainties, and correct any errors. He was created for that purpose. Thus, Taesan¡¯s Self-Unchanging was a source of immense difort. [However... the Magician has ordered me to leave you be.] Balbabamba strained to suppress his emotions. [As my mastermands, I will not intervene.] ¡°The Magician said that?¡± [I don¡¯t understand it. Allowing something that could potentially copse thebyrinth? Absurd.] Although grumbling, Balbabamba showed no intention of disobeying the Magician¡¯s orders. His eyes gleamed with frustration. [Let me ask, though¡ªwould you consider sealing Self-Unchanging yourself?] ¡°Not a chance.¡± Taesan shook his head firmly. Seeing his resolve, Balbabamba said no more. [You should be careful. I don¡¯t know how you stole the Ancient God¡¯s Authority, but that power doesn¡¯t belong to this world. It could disrupt and destroy it, taking you down in the process.] Balbabamba¡¯s warning was direct and to the point. Taesan nodded in acknowledgment, understanding its validity. [I¡¯ll have to start preparing rewards in case you end up breaking something. Just when I thought my work was settling down, things are getting hectic again.] ¡°Wait a second.¡± Taesan stopped Balbabamba, who was about to leave. [What is it now?] ¡°Can points be used in ways other than the standard options?¡± Taesan currently had over 20,000 points. Until now, he had used them exclusively to increase skill proficiency. However, as many of his skills reached higher levels, the cost-effectiveness of using points had drastically decreased. For top-tier skills, even spending all his points would barely increase proficiency by 3-4%. Using points to increase proficiency for lower-tier skills seemed equally pointless, as they would eventually reach 100% naturally through practice. Exchanging points for gold or stats was the least appealing option of all. Having no clear use for the points, Taesan decided to ask thebyrinth¡¯s administrator. [Points, you say?] Balbabamba paused mid-motion. After a moment of thought, he spoke. [It¡¯s not impossible. The three standard options were created for convenience, but points are a form of reward given to you. They can indeed be used in other ways. However, it was assumed that the standard choices would suffice.] ¡°Is that so?¡± Indeed, points had been incredibly useful during Taesan¡¯s journey thus far. However, he had grown too powerful for the current system to keep up with him efficiently. Balbabamba made his decision. [Very well. I¡¯ll allow you to use your points for a reward. You may choose between equipment or a skill. Which will it be?] ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Now it was Taesan¡¯s turn to ponder. ¡°What¡¯s the level of the equipment?¡± [It will be enough to meet your expectations. To be specific, it matches the quality of what is currently avable in the shop.] ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief.¡± Equipment worth 20,000 points would only trante to about 200,000 gold. Such a purchase would have been an enormous waste. Thankfully, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. Between equipment and skills, Taesan¡¯s decision came quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll go with a skill.¡± With ess to master cksmiths like Haphran and Kosrun, equipment could always be crafted as long as he had the materials. Skills, on the other hand, were different. Meeting the conditions to acquire them was often arduous. Even now, Taesan had yet to reacquire several skills he had obtained in his previous life. In terms of equivalent value, skills were the clear winner. Upon hearing Taesan¡¯s decision, Balbabamba swiftly responded. [Then I¡¯ll present you with options.] [1. Offensive Skill] [2. Defensive Skill] [3. Support Skill] ¡°Only three choices?¡± [If you were hoping to specify a skill and receive it, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s impossible. That would exceed thebyrinth¡¯s allowed framework.] Offense, defense, or support. Taesan made his choice. ¡°Support skill.¡± Given his possession of Boundary Line, offensive skills held less importance. Defensive skills were equally redundant, as he already had abilities like Self-Unchanging, Attack Nullification, Last Chance, and Endure, all ensuring his survival. Support skills, then, were the natural pick. Balbabamba epted the decision. [Among the skills avable to you now... this one seems fitting.] [Balbabamba activated #000421.] [You have acquired the special passive skill: Cooldown eleration.] Taesan¡¯s eyes sparkled. The name alone gave him a good idea of its effects. [Special Passive Skill: Cooldown eleration] [Proficiency: 1%] [Designate equipment or a skill with a cooldown to reduce its cooldown by 10%. Equipment or skills with cooldowns exceeding one month cannot be designated. Once designated, the target cannot be changed until its original cooldown is restored.] As expected, the skill elerated cooldowns for designated skills or equipment. ¡°Impressive.¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. A 10% reduction in cooldown wasn¡¯t particrly significant for now. Reducing a 30-day cooldown to 27 days wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference. The real valuey in the future. As the skill¡¯s proficiency increased, the reduction percentage would undoubtedly rise¡ª10% to 30%, 30% to 50%, and perhaps even beyond. When that happened, the utility of the skill would skyrocket exponentially. Using Replication every 30 minutes and Choice Exclusion every half-day¡ªthis skill would multiply his efficiency manifold. Cooldowns exceeding a month couldn¡¯t be designated, but Taesan didn¡¯t possess any skills with such long cooldowns, making this limitation irrelevant. [Judging by your expression, you seem satisfied.] ¡°More than satisfied.¡± This was far beyond what Taesan had anticipated. He immediately designated a skill for Cooldown eleration: Restricted Blink. Since the initial reduction was only 10%, it was logical to select a frequently used skill to quickly build proficiency. As Taesan worked, Balbabamba observed him silently before speaking again. [Is your choice finalized?] ¡°Yes. But why are you still here? Don¡¯t you have work to do?¡± [I just realized there¡¯s something else I need to exin. You¡¯ll be descending soon, correct? I¡¯ll be waiting on the 88th floor.] Balbabamba¡¯s form vanished, teleporting away. Taesan descended the stairs. [Quest for the 88th Floor has begun.] [Bring stability to the world.] [Reward: Staff of the Crawling One.] [Hidden Reward: ???] On the 88th floor, Balbabamba was waiting. [You¡¯ve arrived. The 88th floor is a new stage I¡¯ve prepared just for you. Allow me to exin the quest.] Taesan stood before Balbabamba, listening intently. [Your destination is Mariseion¡ªa world where two immortals have been locked in conflict for centuries, both striving to ascend as gods.] *** "That''s interesting," Taesan murmured. He hadn¡¯t been a god for long, yet the quest on the 88th floor was intricately tied to the concept of divinity. Balbabamba responded calmly. [It¡¯s pure coincidence. Your task is simple. The prolonged conflict between two immortals has devastated their world. Bring stability to that ce and restore it to its original state.] ¡°Hold on,¡± Taesan interrupted, raising a hand. [Do you have questions?] ¡°When they say they want to be gods, are they trying to achieve universal worship like I did?¡± [No. There are many ways to ascend to godhood. The method you achieved is a rare and special case. Normally, it¡¯s far simpler.] ¡°Could you exin the other methods?¡± Though it didn¡¯t matter much to Taesan, who had already transcended, he was curious about the paths to godhood. After all, the Green Witch¡¯s goal was to be a transcendent, and understanding more about the process could be useful. [You¡¯re already aware of some. For instance, Bekveseta¡¯s god, Harmon, didn¡¯t achieve universal worship, yet he was still a god.] ¡°That had puzzled me.¡± Taesan only knew of two methods: attaining divinity through universal worship or carving out one¡¯s domain to rise to supreme heights. Balbabamba borated. [There are various ways. One is through imprinting upon the world.] ¡°Imprinting?¡± [If a being is universally recognized as a god¡ªembedded in the collective consciousness as an undeniable fact¡ªit can ascend. Likemon knowledge solidified over time. Once that belief is etched deeply enough into the fabric of the world, the being bes a god.] If people began to view a specific being as a god and that belief spread, eventually epassing everyone, then that entity would truly be a god. [While worship enhances a god¡¯s rank and power, the key lies in imprinting. Human thought manifests as force, shaping reality. Through this process, one can ascend.] Balbabamba pointed at Taesan. [Your case is an extreme form of imprinting achieved forcibly through universal worship. Normally, such recognition would take centuries or millennia to cultivate.] ¡°Is that so?¡± [Another method involves simply having the qualifications¡ªby birth, contract, or otherwise. Once qualified, undergoing and oveing appropriate trials leads to godhood. There are additional ways, but... I can¡¯t share them. The two I mentioned are the mostmon paths to transcendence.] ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound particrly difficult,¡± Taesan noted. [It¡¯s not impossible. But there are limits to what can be achieved through those methods.] Balbabamba¡¯s tone was indifferent. [There are two kinds of transcendent beings: those dependent on external factors for their existence and those who govern and embody concepts within the world¡¯sws. Thetter cannot be destroyed as long as their concept endures.] Taesan was already aware of this distinction.ary gods like Levinenov and Harmon were fundamentally different in stature from transcendents like the God of Magic or Maria. [There are unique exceptions, such as Demon Gods, but reaching the level of governing concepts cannot be achieved through reliance on external forces. That domain is only essible through one¡¯s own strength.] ¡°So that¡¯s the difference.¡± Taesan thought of the Green Witch. It was unlikely she was unaware of these facts. With her capabilities, slowly cultivating universal worship wasn¡¯t out of reach. ¡°She must be aiming to reach the level of governing the world¡¯sws.¡± After organizing his thoughts, Taesan spoke again. ¡°So, these two immortals are trying to imprint themselves as gods.¡± [That¡¯s the idea. As a result, their world is inplete disarray, and their struggle is causing adverse effects far beyond their immediate surroundings. Your mission is to resolve this and return.] ¡°Understood.¡± @@novelbin@@ [Good. Off you go.] Balbabamba opened a rift in the space. Just before stepping into it, Taesan asked: ¡°Does it matter how I handle this?¡± [Not at all. Whether you seek a peaceful resolution, negotiate a deal, or crush them with brute force, it¡¯s entirely your decision.] ¡°I see.¡± Hearing Balbabamba¡¯s response, a smirk spread across Taesan¡¯s lips. He stepped through the portal, and a new world unfolded before him. Chapter 463: Floor 88: Those Who Aspire to Godhood (2) As Taesan stepped into the new world, the first thing he felt was an intense wave of power. Rumble... The very world trembled under the sh of two enormous forces. Two colossal beings were locked inbat, shaking the fabric of the. "What a mess." On the opposite side of the, their confrontation raged on. When one reaches the level of an immortal, the ability to destroy a world single-handedly is within reach. With two such beings opposing each other, it was no surprise that the world was in a state of disrepair¡ªbut even Taesan hadn¡¯t expected it to be this extreme. The ground quaked, and the skies warped under the sheer force of their battle. The rippling waves of energy suffused the world, making it nearly impossible for ordinary life to survive. Taesan cloaked his presence, suppressing his aura and preventing any of his power from leaking out. His first priority was to survey the world and grasp the situation. Taesan cast his gaze toward the horizon. The entirety of the world unfolded before his eyes. "It¡¯s about the size of Earth." But the number of living beings was strikingly small¡ªbarely surpassing a hundred million. No doubt the immortals¡¯ actions were the primary cause. On a continent far away, Taesan sensed the presence of countless mortals. They were divided into three groups. Two groups stood against each other. The third group kept its distance. [You activated Teleportation.] Space bent, and Taesan¡¯s body leapt across the distance. He arrived on the other side of the continent, where he saw people locked in bloodybat. "For Paragup the Great!" "For Keboruak! Kill the heretics and offer their blood to Keboruak!" Those d in blue armor and red armor screamed the names of their respective deities as they swung their weapons. Their eyes burned with madness and unwavering faith. [They¡¯re worshipers of the immortals, it seems.] Hundreds of people trampled over corpses, ughtering one another. Even as they killed and died, they cried out: "All for Paragup!" Their fervent derations of faith revealed their devotion to the immortals, a belief that seemed almost unnatural. "Is this brainwashing?" The battle raged on. Taesan crossed his arms and watched the chaos unfold. ¡°Hey, you!¡± From the nearby forest, someone called out to him. ¡°Sir! It¡¯s dangerous there! Come over here, quickly!¡± The voice belonged to a boy who looked no older than fifteen. He was frantically waving at Taesan to follow him. Taesan stared at him briefly before walking over. The boy grabbed his arm and pulled him away in a panic. ¡°Are you crazy? Why are you standing there watching the fanatics fight?¡± ¡°It looked interesting.¡± ¡°Interesting, my foot! Those lunatics are trying to drag us into their mess!¡± The boy grumbled, scanning Taesan from head to toe. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen clothes like that before... Are you from another region?¡± ¡°Very far away,¡± Taesan replied. The boy crouched and whispered. ¡°Anyway,e this way. While those crazies are busy killing each other, we need to run.¡± Pushing through the forest, the boy led the way. After some time, they reached a small group of people waiting anxiously. Their faces lit up upon seeing the boy. "Jeratin!" "Where have you been? We were so worried!" "Sorry! I saw this guy standing there watching the fight and thought I should bring him along." "...What?" The group turned their attention to Taesan, their expressions ranging from curiosity to suspicion. One woman paled as she scrutinized him. "Could he be one of theirckeys...?" "No, look at his clothes. They call their ceremonial armor their ¡®holy garb.¡¯ There¡¯s no way they¡¯d take it off, even if their lives depended on it." "Oh..." Relief washed over the woman¡¯s face. A man who seemed to be the leader of the group spoke up. "If everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s move. We need to get as far away as we can while the fanatics are killing each other." "Understood." The group stood with grim determination, preparing to leave. Taesan silently joined them. "Two immortals aspiring to godhood," Taesan mused, analyzing the situation. Two groups d in blue and red armor, fighting fervently in the name of their respective immortals. And a third group¡ªa collection of mortals¡ªdesperately fleeing from it all. This third group appeared to abhor thebatants, calling them lunatics and avoiding any association with them. They didn¡¯t seem to worship the immortals. "Damn them..." "How much longer do we have to keep running?" The mortals in this group were filled with hatred and despair, mutteringints under their breath. ¡°Hey, mister.¡± The boy, Jeratin, approached Taesan with a curious expression. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re not with the fanatics, but where are you from? You didn¡¯t even flinch watching them fight. Were you nning to join them?¡± ¡°No, I have no intention of doing that.¡± The group cast cautious nces at Taesan, their eyes filled with suspicion and unease. After a moment of thought, Taesan spoke. ¡°I lived in a small vige deep in the forest.¡± "A... vige?" Their eyes widened in shock. "W-Where is it? Is there really a vige that hasn¡¯t been destroyed by the fanatics yet?" ¡°No. The reason I left was because those armored lunatics showed up. Something felt off, so I ran.¡± "Oh..." Disappointment quickly spread across their faces. From their reactions, Taesan gleaned an important fact. "There are no intact viges or cities left." Those who didn¡¯t worship the immortals seemed to have been driven into a nomadic existence. Processing this information, Taesan pressed for more details. ¡°What are those people fighting for?¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t know? You must¡¯ve been living in total istion. I guess that¡¯s why you¡¯re clueless.¡± ¡°Exactly. Enlighten me.¡± ¡°Where do I even begin...¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°I¡¯ll exin.¡± The group¡¯s leader stepped forward. ¡°If your vige was untouched by the fanatics until now, that¡¯s a miracle. But I¡¯ll tell you what happened.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± The man sighed and began recounting the tale. ¡°I don¡¯t know the full details myself. It¡¯s all hearsay. But I¡¯ve been told our world wasn¡¯t always like this.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rumble... Another wave of energy pulsed through the air. The immense power of the immortals caused the people to stumble and gasp in fear. The man grimaced and continued. ¡°Apparently, the world used to be peaceful. The ground was fertile, the sky serene, and people lived out their days in their homes, growing old and dying in peace.¡± ¡°Hard to believe a world like that ever existed,¡± Jeratin muttered. ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain either. It¡¯s just what I¡¯ve been told.¡± The man turned back to Taesan. ¡°But one day, thunderous roars filled the skies, and the world began to quake. Two beings appeared in our world.¡± [I am Paragup, the Treader of Earth. Worship and serve me, or lose your lives and suffer even in death.] [I am Keboruak, the Master of the Sky. Worship and serve me, or I shall ensure you never die, trapped in eternal torment.] The two beings, each demanding devotion, soon turned their wrath on each other. They waged war, forcing their beliefs on the people and punishing those who refused toply. ¡°Even the royal family became their ves. Every city and vige now belongs to them. They¡¯re nothing more than puppets.¡± The man clenched his fists, his face a mix of anger and sorrow. ¡°Those of us who refuse to worship them are left to wander, hiding wherever we can.¡± ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, they¡¯re incredibly powerful. How do you manage to stay hidden?¡± ¡°Eventually, they became so focused on fighting each other that we were able to slip under the radar. That¡¯s the only reason we¡¯ve survived.¡± The man gave a bitter smile. Taesan, deep in thought, asked: ¡°Why not pretend to worship them and stay in the cities? Wouldn¡¯t that be easier?¡± "No way!" Jeratin shouted, his face twisting in anguish. ¡°Those monsters aren¡¯t gods! They kill people like ythings just for not believing in them! I¡¯d rather die than worship them!¡± His voice dripped with hatred and fury. The man quietly added: ¡°Jeratin lost his parents to them.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Many here share his sentiments. They¡¯d rather die than worship those so-called gods.¡± ¡°You said ¡®many.¡¯ That implies not everyone feels that way.¡± ¡°Well, yes...¡± The man hesitated before speaking. ¡°Some couldn¡¯t bear the hardship and went to the fanatics, pretending to worship them in exchange for aid. Most never returned. Those who did... came back as hollow shells, fanatics themselves. It¡¯s as if pretending to worship them causes you to lose your very soul. That¡¯s why we choose to keep running, no matter how hard it is.¡± *** As the group settled down for the night, one by one, the people drifted off to sleep. Taesan volunteered to keep watch in their ce and quietly made his way to a more secluded spot. [Have you figured it out?] ¡°More or less.¡± The two immortals were using the lives of this world as the foundation for their bid to be gods. They demanded unwavering faith from the people and killed those who refused toply. But there was a limit to coercion. True faith had toe from the depths of one¡¯s heart. The faith born of fear, no matter how loudly it was proimed, wasn¡¯t the kind of devotion the immortals needed. So, they chose another path: brainwashing. Whether through some special ability or by wielding the sheer weight of their immortal presence to crush minds, they forcibly instilled faith in the people. By doing so, the two immortals expanded their influence. Those who came to believe in them began attacking the other side¡¯s followers and forcibly dragging non-believers into their ranks. [A vulgar method,] Akashamented softly. [Yet, it is rational. An ordinary immortal cannot ascend to transcendence without resorting to such shortcuts. Foolish, but not without merit.] Taesan nced at Akasha. Her voice was calm, devoid of any strong emotion. It was clear that beings at the level of immortals didn¡¯t impress her in the slightest. [What will you do, Master?] ¡°It¡¯s not a method I particrly approve of.¡± Rumble... The ground trembled violently. The sleeping refugees stirred in a panic, some cursing under their breath before reluctantly settling back down. ¡°Since the quest told me to bring stability to this world, I¡¯ll do just that. And I¡¯ll make sure to take whatever I can while I¡¯m at it.¡± Taesan¡¯s tone was as calm as ever, but his smirk betrayed a hint of anticipation. Chapter 464: Floor 88: Those Who Aspire to Godhood (3) The next day, the group resumed their journey. Their goal was clear: escape the immortals'' reach and establish a ce they could call their own. The leader of the group spoke with determination. ¡°If what you said is true, Taesan, then there are still some remote areas untouched by those beings. That¡¯s where we need to go.¡± ¡°I know of a ce,¡± one person chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s so remote that no one ever goes there. The immortals likely haven¡¯t reached it yet.¡± The group began to discuss dense jungles and treacherous terrains, eventually agreeing on a destination. With their path set, they pressed onward. Taesan naturally blended in with the group, but his intentions were clear. [Are you just going to follow them like this?] ¡°No.¡± Bardray¡¯s quiet question was met with a shake of Taesan¡¯s head. There was no need for him to act just yet. Soon, they woulde to him. Neigh! The sharp cry of a horse echoed from the distance, growing louder with every passing second. The expressions of the group shifted drastically. The leader¡¯s face turned pale as he shouted in rm. ¡°Everyone! Into the forest! Run!¡± The group scattered in panic, racing toward the nearby woods. But their pursuers were faster. ¡°There you are!¡± A thunderous voice boomed across the clearing. ¡°Wretched heretics! Where do you think you¡¯re running off to?¡± ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Knights surrounded the group in an instant. People screamed and copsed to the ground in fear. ¡°Ah... no...¡± The leader¡¯s face turned ashen as he watched the inevitable unfold. Taesan, meanwhile, observed the scene silently. Neigh! A troop of knights d in shimmering blue armor approached, their mounts kicking up dust. The one wearing the most ornate armor stepped forward. ¡°I am Kantara, loyal knightmander of the great Paragup!¡± His promation sent waves of despair through the group. The immortals rarely hunted non-believers themselves. Instead, they relied on loyal subordinates to capture dissenters and force them into submission. When caught, the only options were to fight to the death or scatter in the hope of escape. Lesser followers could sometimes be evaded or defeated, but the knightmanders were a different matter entirely. Commanders like Kantara were granted power directly from their gods, making them near-superhuman. One alone was enough to wipe out an entire group of refugees. The group, realizing the futility of resistance, huddled together, trembling in fear. Kantara surveyed the group with a satisfied smirk. ¡°There are so many of you. Paragup will be pleased!¡± He raised a massivence and drove it into the ground with a thundering crash. ¡°If it were up to me, I¡¯d kill everyst one of you for daring to flee from Paragup¡¯s light!¡± His tone shifted to one of mock benevolence, as if he were doing them a favor. ¡°But the great Paragup is merciful. He grants even wretches like you the chance to see his glory! Come with us to the holy sanctuary, and witness his magnificence for yourselves!¡± The group remained silent. Everyone knew the fate of those taken to the sanctuary. None ever returned, or if they did, they were hollow shells of their former selves. People instinctively backed away from Kantara, but knights closed in from behind, pulling their reins menacingly. Kantara clicked his tongue in frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Faith in a god is the greatest happiness one can attain. If you won¡¯te willingly, I¡¯ll simply have to drag you there.¡± He unsheathed his sword with a cruel grin. ¡°Seize them!¡± Knights moved swiftly, grabbing several people by the hair and throwing them before Kantara. ¡°There are too many of you to take at once,¡± he said, his smile twisting cruelly. The knights numbered in the dozens, but the group of refugees was nearly a thousand strong. Even under heavy guard, some were bound to escape. ¡°So, I¡¯ll show the rest of you what happens to those who run.¡± He raised his de and looked down at the terrified captives. ¡°Let¡¯s begin with a demonstration. Shall we?¡± ¡°No! Please, no!¡± ¡°Help!¡± The captives struggled and screamed, but Kantara merely chuckled. He loved this¡ªtheir fear, their pain. Torture was both his duty and his delight. As the de descended toward its first victim, Kantara savored the anticipation of their screams. Then, his arm stopped. ¡°What...?¡± Someone had grabbed his wrist. The ck-haired man from the refugee group was holding his arm firmly, his expression calm and unyielding. ¡°How dare you.¡± Kantara¡¯s face contorted with rage. ¡°Do you want to be a hero? Fine. I¡¯ll make you one myself.¡± He swung his sword with inhuman speed and strength, aiming to sever the man¡¯s head in a single strike. ng! The de struck Taesan¡¯s neck¡ªand was repelled, sending sparks flying. Kantara staggered back, his hand trembling from the impact. ¡°W-What... What are you?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he stared at Kantara, his gaze piercing through him. In that instant, Kantara felt as though every part of him was exposed. ¡°I sense divinity.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you spewing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s iplete,¡± Taesan mused, his voice detached. ¡°You¡¯ve been fighting for centuries, haven¡¯t you? You¡¯re partially crossing to the next stage. But you¡¯re far from it.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Kantara clenched his sword, shouting to his men. ¡°Kill him! Kill that heretic!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, Commander!¡± The knights hesitated, sensing something unnatural about Taesan. None dared move. Taesan sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s keep this simple.¡± The task was clear: bring stability to the world. The immortals sought to ascend through faith. So, he would destroy that faith. Releasing the restraints on his power, Taesan let his presence erupt. A colossal aura spread across the battlefield, seeping into the fabric of the world. ¡°Ah...?¡± ¡°What...?¡± The people froze, their jaws ck with astonishment. They had felt the overwhelming power of the immortals daily, but it had always been terrifying, monstrous. This was different. Taesan¡¯s presence exuded majesty. Simply looking at him inspired reverence,pelling their bodies and souls to bow. For the first time, they felt the presence of a true god. The thunderous shes of the immortals ceased. The two great beings turned their attention to Taesan, their gazes filled with shock. ¡°I am a god.¡± Taesan¡¯s voice rang out, calm yet overwhelming. It was a deration of absolute authority. Kantara wanted to deny the im, but his lips wouldn¡¯t move. The divinity Taesan radiated engulfed them all. Everyone instinctively recognized him as the true god. Taesan stepped forward, the wind bending to his will, gently embracing the refugees. Kantara stood frozen as Taesan ced a hand on his forehead. Through that contact, Taesan glimpsed Kantara¡¯s soul¡ªa vile being who would have ughtered countless even without Paragup¡¯s influence. ¡°I sentence you to punishment.¡± With a single motion, Kantara¡¯s body copsed like a puppet with its strings cut. The knights watched in horror, paralyzed by fear. Even if Taesan had driven a sword through their chests, none would have dared resist. ¡°You follow false gods,¡± Taesan said, his voice steady. ¡°You deserve punishment, but I will grant you mercy.¡± ¡°Th-Thank you...¡± one knight stammered, falling to his knees. The faith they held for Paragup shattered, reced by the awe Taesan inspired. ¡°I havee to restore this world and punish those who falsely im divinity. Go. Spread the word: a true god has arrived to set things right.¡± The knights scrambled away, their terror driving them to flee. As Taesan turned back, the refugees stared at him in a daze. Even their leader and Jeratin were at a loss for words. Taesan¡¯s calm voice broke the silence. ¡°Follow me.¡± He began walking, the air around him shimmering with power. ¡°Follow, and witness the world change as it should.¡± Entranced, the people nodded and followed without hesitation. *** Taesan marched forward, revealing the full extent of his presence. The people following behind him stared in awe, their gazes fixated on his every step. [You¡¯re changing the way you speak on purpose, aren¡¯t you?] Taesan nodded. Bardray¡¯s voice carried a hint of curiosity. [I mean, you¡¯re a god now, so adopting a divine tone fits, but that¡¯s not really your style. Are you aiming for something here?] ¡°There¡¯s a purpose. These people need to believe I¡¯m a real god. Adjusting my tone to match their expectations helps with that.¡± [So, like on Earth, you¡¯re gathering faith from everyone?] ¡°Not quite. It¡¯s more about something Balbabamba said.¡± Balbabamba had mentioned that one way to ascend as a god was through imprinting¡ªbing a divine presence etched into the collective memory of the world. Taesan had achieved divinity on Earth through the extreme method of universal worship, but this methodcked stability. By engraving himself as a god in the minds of Mariseion¡¯s people, he intended to solidify his divine status. ¡°And it¡¯s also an opportunity to destroy what they¡¯ve built,¡± he added with a faint smirk. Before long, they reached a massive city. ¡°What¡¯s this city?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°It¡¯s... amercial hub,¡± the leader answered hesitantly, his tone almost reverent. @@novelbin@@ ¡°This used to be the continent¡¯srgest trade center. Merchants and artisans from across thend gathered here. But now...¡± ¡°Intruders!¡± ¡°The heretics havee!¡± Amotion erupted from within the city. Soon, figures wielding hammers and axes burst out from behind the gates. ¡°Seize them!¡± ¡°Drag them to serve Keboruak!¡± The leader¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Now... they call this Keboruak¡¯s holy sanctuary.¡± ¡°Sanctuary?¡± Taesan let out a derisive chuckle. ¡°This garbage heap?¡± The fanatics charged toward him, their eyes filled with fury, but they stopped in their tracks as soon as they saw Taesan. ¡°W-What...?¡± ¡°I... I...¡± [You activated Restricted Blink.] In an instant, Taesan teleported forward, grabbing the foremost fanatic by the cor. The man trembled violently, his face a mixture of awe and terror. He couldn¡¯t utter a single word. Taesan studied him closely, quickly realizing the truth. ¡°It¡¯s brainwashing.¡± These people weren¡¯t driven by genuine faith. The immortals had forcibly twisted their minds to instill devotion. The solution was clear. Buzz! A golden light radiated from Taesan, expanding outward and enveloping the entire city in mere moments. Crash! The crude divinity spread by Keboruak to control the city shattered instantly. Taesan unleashed his power further, letting it seep into the minds of the people. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The force of Keboruak¡¯s influence crumbled. The citizens clutched their heads, groaning in pain as the oppressive weight of the false god¡¯s power disappeared. ¡°W-Where am I?¡± ¡°What... happened?¡± Their expressions shifted from confusion to relief as the haze lifted. The madness in their eyes was gone. The leader of Taesan¡¯s group stared in shock, his pupils dting. ¡°This is...?¡± ¡°Pathetic,¡± Taesan muttered as he strode into the city. The people, now free of Keboruak¡¯s control, turned to him, their gazes filled with a mix of reverence and disbelief. Taesan addressed them in amanding voice. ¡°Follow me, those who have suffered and been oppressed.¡± The sky trembled. A massive force began to gather above, its presence heavy with rage. Everyone could feel it¡ªa furious power descending upon them. It was Keboruak. The citizens¡¯ faces turned pale with fear, their voices trembling as they screamed. ¡°It¡¯s divine punishment!¡± A concentrated windstorm swirled above the city, aiming to crush everything beneath it. As death loomed over them, the people braced for the end. But Taesan raised his golden light once more. His power surged upward, mming into the storm. Boom! The divine wind faltered, breaking apart under the sheer force of his radiance. The golden aura pierced through the heavens, dispelling the storm and illuminating the world below. ¡°I¡¯ll being for you soon. Wait patiently,¡± Taesan murmured, his gaze fixed on the remnants of Keboruak¡¯s power as they dissipated. The people stared at Taesan in stunned silence, their eyes wide with awe. Without hesitation, Taesan took a step forward. ¡°Follow me,¡± he dered. ¡°Witness as I set this world right.¡± Enthralled by his words and presence, the people nodded, their expressions filled with newfound hope as they followed their god. Chapter 465: Floor 88: Those Who Aspire to Godhood (4) Taesan continued his march. Traveling through various cities and towns, he broke the chains of divinity-induced brainwashing and freed the people. Like Keboruak, Paragup also tried to retaliate by shaking the ground, but Taesan dispelled their efforts with nothing more than a firm step. To those freed from their mental envement, Taesan spoke only onemand: ¡°Follow me.¡± The people, as if entranced, obeyed without hesitation. As the group expanded, the journey grew arduous. Many became exhausted, and some even copsed under the strain of traversing the continent. But Taesan¡¯s divine power healed their wounds and relieved their fatigue, allowing them to continue. The result was the formation of a massive following. For many, reverence and worship for Taesan grew naturally, though not everyone was convinced. Some were overwhelmed by confusion, unsure of what was happening, while others suspected Taesan of having ulterior motives. Still, none doubted that he was a god. This collective belief began to leave an imprint on the world itself. [Divine Skill Proficiency increased by 1%.] For the first time since Taesan¡¯s divine power had transformed into true divinity, its proficiency increased. At the same time, his divine power stabilized slightly. ¡°So this is how it works,¡± Taesan murmured. As more people believed in him¡ªwhether through faith or sheer acknowledgment¡ªhis divine power grew steadier. The more time passed and therger his following became, the more stable his divinity would be. Unless every single believer disappeared, like with Levinenov, his power would not waver. Taesan moved with purpose. His aim was simple: to bring all belief in this world under his control. By freeing the enved and leading them, he shifted the tide of faith. Of course, there were still those who fanatically worshipped the immortals, unaffected by brainwashing. But Taesan didn¡¯t need to intervene¡ªthose liberated from the immortals¡¯ control dealt with them instead. ¡°You killed my family!¡± ¡°Because of you, I¡¯ve suffered so much!¡± The world began to reshape itself in Taesan¡¯s image. At some point, the fighting between the immortals ceased entirely. This change did not go unnoticed. ¡°The world... it¡¯s so quiet!¡± The endless shes between Paragup and Keboruak had been like the constant droning of cicadas, gnawing at everyone¡¯s nerves. Now, the silence brought a rare sense of peace, and the people rejoiced. Taesan, however, could sense the emotions of the two great beings. Confusion. Wariness. Doubt. That night, Taesan used his divine power to manipte the earth, creating makeshift shelters for his followers. Once they were settled, he moved away from the group. Reaching a vast in, he called out: ¡°Come out.¡± Buzz! A massive presence descended from the sky,nding with enough force to shake the ground. The figure had a humanoid body but was far from human. Its sharp beak and raptor-like eyes glinted in the moonlight, and four wings pped powerfully behind its back. Its towering frame, three times the size of an average human, marked it as a member of the Avian race. Thud. Thud. Footsteps echoed as another figure approached. This one was a man with dark, leathery skin and grotesquely overdeveloped muscles, making his form appear more monstrous than majestic. One detail stood out most to Taesan. ¡°Ah, a bald one,¡± he remarked with a slight smirk. Gesturing casually, Taesan addressed them. ¡°You must be Keboruak, and you must be Paragup.¡± Paragup¡¯s expression twisted with displeasure. ¡°What brings a god from another world to this ce?¡± [Leave. This is our world. Even if you are a god, you have no right to meddle here. You are an outsider.] The rejection in their tone was palpable, and their postures bristled with aggression, ready to strike at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°You seem confused.¡± Taesan¡¯s voice was calm, almost mocking. ¡°First of all, you¡¯re not gods. You¡¯re just immortals born of this world, with no rightful im to its ownership. If a true god existed here, you wouldn¡¯t have been allowed to wreak such havoc.¡± This worldcked aary god, which was why the immortals could ravage it unchecked, pursuing their selfish desires. ¡°You¡¯re already doing whatever you please to satisfy your ambitions. I¡¯m simply doing the same.¡± [You¡¯re an outsider! You weren¡¯t born of this world!] ¡°And yet, I¡¯m a god. Doesn¡¯t that make me more legitimate than you, who dare im authority over this world just because you were born here?¡± Taesan¡¯s taunting words made Keboruak¡¯s aura ripple with anger. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think,¡± Taesan continued, his tone shifting to a razor¡¯s edge. ¡°Decide. Will you die or step aside?¡± ¡°Arrogant fool,¡± Paragup growled, his eyes glinting dangerously. ¡°You cannotprehend the consequences of your choices.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide.¡± Taesan raised a hand, unleashing a wave of force that crashed over the two immortals. Boom! Their limbs seemed to tear apart¡ªonly, they hadn¡¯t. What Taesan struck were not their true forms. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t send avatars. Show up in person.¡± [You¡¯ll regret this!] ¡°Sure, sure.¡± Taesan waved dismissively, his expression bored. The next morning, Taesan resumed his journey with his followers. None of them noticed what had transpired during the night. Meanwhile, the ces where the immortals resided fell into an eerie silence, the air thick with one overwhelming emotion: Rage. They waited, seething, for Taesan toe to them. Of course, Taesan had no intention of rushing. ¡°I¡¯ll handle everything else first.¡± He continued traveling across the world, liberating every city. One by one, the chains of brainwashing shattered, and the forced faith in Keboruak and Paragup dwindled to nothing. With each city he freed, the immortals¡¯ rage grew stronger, bing so intense that even ordinary people began to sense it. But Taesan took it all in stride, amused by their impotent fury. Finally, Taesanpleted his mission. He had freed every city in the world. There were no longer any worshipers of Keboruak or Paragup. [Divine Skill Proficiency increased by 1%.] Among the liberated, some chose to worship Taesan, while others refrained. But regardless of their choice, one truth was firmly etched into their minds: Taesan was a god. That was enough. Their belief would umte over time, further strengthening him. Now, it was time to bring the quest to its conclusion. *** ¡°Ugh...¡± The people hesitated, staring ahead at an immense chasm that stretched across the continent. This was no ordinary chasm¡ªit was a scar upon the world, its depths unfathomable and its vastness iprehensible. It was the site where the two immortals had waged their centuries-long battle. A ce so legendary that none dared approach it, spoken of only in hushed tales. Now, they beheld it with their own eyes. ¡°You may leave,¡± Taesan dered, his voice calm yetmanding. ¡°Wait for the world to correct itself.¡± With those words, he stepped into the void, his body vanishing into the darkness below. Behind him, the people fell to their knees and began to pray fervently. ¡°Lord Taesan...¡± ¡°Please, deliver us from this torment...¡± Their prayers carried powerful faith, and Taesan could feel it binding to him, strengthening his divinity. At the bottom of the chasm, Taesannded gracefully. ¡°Hello.¡± His casual greeting broke the oppressive silence, and two immense figures turned to face him. Keboruak and Paragup stood before him, their presence radiating hostility. [Die.] No further words were exchanged. The two immortals unleashed their full power simultaneously. Theirbined might surged forward, threatening to obliterate Taesan in an instant. Taesan tightened his grip on his sword. Boom! The resulting shockwave shook the entire world. Taesan sidestepped, his lips curling into a smirk. ¡°So, the two of you, who¡¯ve spent centuries trying to kill each other, are now working together just to take me down?¡± Paragup growled, his massive frame swelling as his body morphed. Muscles bulged grotesquely, and his skeletal structure expanded until he towered tens of meters high. ¡°Haaaah...¡± A low, guttural hum escaped him, resonating with the earth. The ground rose up in response, encasing Paragup¡¯s body in a seemingly indestructible armor of earth. Boom! Paragup¡¯s colossal fist swung down, aiming to crush Taesan. Taesan met the blow with his de, the sh reverberating like thunder. Though Paragup was forced back, his armor remained intact, quickly repairing itself from the impact. ¡°So, this is your power...¡± Taesan muttered. Paragup was known as The One Who Walks the Earth. His power allowed him to harmonize with thend, encasing himself in an infinite, self-repairing shield of earth. Above, a deafening screech echoed. The sky darkened as Keboruak summoned a tempest, wind and lightning converging into a monstrous storm. As the storm hurtled toward Taesan, he clenched his fist. [You have activated Great Copse.] A dark sphere materialized, pulsating with destructive energy. Before Taesan could unleash its full force, Paragup¡¯s massive hand shot out, gripping the sphere tightly. Boom! The explosion reverberated through the canyon, but Paragup¡¯s earth armor absorbed the brunt of it. He let out a low grunt, his protective shell barely cracking under the strain. Keboruak seized the opportunity, condensing the storm into a singr force and directing it straight at Taesan. Buzz! Taesan responded by summoning his divine power, a golden aura enveloping his body. The storm battered against it, but no harm reached him. ¡°Impressive teamwork,¡± Taesan remarked, dodging theirbined assaults with precision. [This is my world!] Keboruak¡¯s voice roared, shaking the heavens. The sky responded to his call, bending to his will. Every inch of the atmosphere within the chasm became his domain. ¡°And the earth belongs to me.¡± Paragup¡¯s deration was calm but resolute. The ground, the rocks, even the¡¯s very core resonated with his presence, reinforcing his domain. Together, they transformed the battlefield into their own territory¡ªa harmonious blend of sky and earth. @@novelbin@@ Taesan assessed the situation. ¡®Strong,¡¯ he thought. The two immortals, entrenched in their respective domains, were formidable. Though weaker than Ainzharvo, they were only a step below, theirbined efforts creating a synergy born of centuries of conflict. Against most opponents, this union would have been insurmountable. Even the highest-ranking immortals would struggle to withstand them. [You may have reached a higher level than us, but you are no god of this world!] Keboruak¡¯sughter was wild, filled with confidence. [You¡¯ve barely just be a god, and your power is unstable! You¡¯re nothing more than a trembling novice!] Taesan didn¡¯t deny it. They weren¡¯t wrong. Though he had begun to garner faith in this world, his foundation remained tied to Earth. Outside his domain, his strength was significantly diminished, barely scraping the level of a transcendent. Had more time passed since his ascension, his power would have stabilized, transcending the constraints of any single world. But for now, he was vulnerable. [Now, we will destroy you!] ¡°Your bodies and souls will serve as stepping stones to the higher realms,¡± Paragup added, his tone brimming with certainty. They truly believed in their impending victory. Taesan smirked, his eyes gleaming with disdain. ¡°You think you can defeat me?¡± Keboruak roared, gathering the full might of his domain. The sky coalesced into an enormous, glowing sphere of energy, brimming with destructive force. It hurtled toward Taesan with unstoppable momentum. Taesan didn¡¯t move to evade it. Instead, he reached out with one hand. Crack! The sphere collided with his palm, its energy thrumming violently. Keboruak¡¯s triumphantughter echoed across the chasm. [How arrogant! That attack will tear you apart, body and soul!] The sphere was a culmination of Keboruak¡¯s full strength. Even a transcendent weakened in a foreign world couldn¡¯t withstand it¡ªor so he thought. Taesan clenched his hand. The sphere¡¯s energy screamed in protest, its vtile power straining to escape. Yet, it failed to inflict even the slightest damage. [W-What?] For the first time, Keboruak¡¯s confidence wavered. He realized that his attack hadn¡¯t even touched Taesan. Something intangible, something beyond this world, had utterly nullified it. Crack! The sphere shattered, scattering harmlessly into the void. ¡°You misunderstand something.¡± Taesan dusted off his hand, his voice steady. ¡°You¡¯re right¡ªI¡¯m not a fully realized god yet. My power is unstable, and I¡¯ve barely begun to adapt to this world.¡± He paused, a faint smile ying on his lips. ¡°But none of that changes the fact that I¡¯ve already surpassed you.¡± The gap between immortality and transcendence was an insurmountable one, an unyielding wall. No matter how strong Keboruak and Paragup were, they would always remain immortals. And immortals, no matter how exceptional, could never stand against a transcendent. ¡°Show me,¡± Taesan said, spreading his arms. ¡°Show me everything you¡¯ve got.¡± [You have activated Sanctuary Creation.] Golden light erupted, engulfing the battlefield. Chapter 466: Floor 88: Those Who Aspire to Godhood (5) Golden light erupted, expanding aggressively as Taesan¡¯s Sanctuary pushed back the domains of Paragup and Keboruak. [Don¡¯t make meugh!] Keboruak roared in defiance, his domain surging to resist the encroaching divine power. Paragup followed suit, calling upon the earth to bolster their defense. [You dare im a domain within my world? You, who¡¯ve stepped beyond your own!] ¡°And what of it?¡± Taesan replied nonchntly to their usations. The golden radiance spread further, engulfing the battlefield. [This... this can¡¯t be...] Though their domains weren¡¯tpletely annihted, they were visibly diminished, the sheer presence of the Sanctuary reducing both their size and authority. ¡°So, the domain of immortals pales before a true Sanctuary,¡± Taesan mused. Despite being in a foreign world, his Sanctuary was strong enough to suppress the domains of these so-called immortals. This realization brought a faint smile to his lips. ¡°Perfect. Let¡¯s test this properly.¡± Paragup¡¯s expression darkened as he prepared to strike. Boom! The earth rose in colossal waves, aiming to swallow Taesan whole. Paragup hurled his massive frame forward, his enormous fist crashing down toward his foe. Taesan met the blow head-on with his own. Boom! The shockwave from their collision rippled through the air. Paragup stumbled backward, his attack effortlessly parried. Taesan dusted his hand off. From above, Keboruak unleashed a storm. The heavens trembled as winds and lightning coalesced, descending upon Taesan with relentless ferocity. Rumble! Taesan dodged gracefully, his movements fluid, as he dismantled the onught with mere strikes and counters. The battle turned chaotic. Paragup observed with mounting unease. Taesan wasn¡¯t relying on any external power. He wasn¡¯t utilizing artifacts, spells, or even his full divine strength. Taesan wasbating them solely through the strength of his body and the weight of his presence. ¡°This... this shouldn¡¯t be possible.¡± Paragup muttered, shaking his head in denial. The earth trembled as Paragupshed out again, waves of power crashing toward Taesan. Boom! Taesan¡¯s form remained unscathed, protected by a faint, invisible force. ¡°Not bad,¡± Taesan murmured, calcting the cost. ¡°Even against immortals, this is manageable.¡± The Self-Immutability skill, one of Taesan¡¯s greatest defenses, negated anyw-based interference. Yet, against Paragup and Keboruak, its energy was gradually being drained with each attack. ¡®It¡¯ll hold for at least ten more full-strength assaults,¡¯ Taesan estimated. Having tested his defensive capabilities, he decided it was time to evaluate his offensive power. [You have activated Great Copse.] A sphere of annihtion materialized, its presence distorting reality itself. Paragup surged forward, intercepting the attack. Boom! Though the explosion made him groan in pain, Paragup¡¯s armor absorbed the blow, rapidly regenerating. Paragup¡¯s authority as an immortaly in his unbreakable defense, an ability that had never been breached, even in countless battles with Keboruak. But that was about to change. [You have activated Spell Stacking.] Taesan conjured three Great Copse spheres,yering them atop one another. The resulting fusion radiated an intensity that caused the battlefield to shudder, threatening to unravel the very fabric of the world. Keboruak unleashed a tempest to disperse it, but the enhanced Great Copse withstood his efforts, barreling toward Paragup. [You have activated Spell Release.] The fused sphere surged forward, aimed directly at Paragup. For a moment, Paragup hesitated. Instinct screamed at him to avoid the attack. But pride drowned out that voice. ¡°Absurd!¡± he bellowed. He had fought for centuries, his defenses unyielding. He refused to believe that anyone, even a transcendent, could shatter his domain. And so, he braced himself. Boom! The collision was cataclysmic. Paragup¡¯s seemingly invincible armor crumbled like sand before a tidal wave. ¡°Kahak!¡± Blood sprayed from his lips as he was hurled backward, his body crashing into the ground. For the first time, his defense had been breached. [You...!] Enraged, Keboruak gathered his strength, enveloping himself in a tempest. With unparalleled speed, he lunged at Taesan, the air screaming around him. Whoosh! In a blink, he closed the distance, a speed so extreme that even Paragup couldn¡¯t track him. Yet Taesan¡¯s eyes followed him effortlessly. [You have activated Baal¡¯s Abyssal Surge.] A tide of darkness erupted, engulfing the approaching Keboruak. The ck magic twisted and corrupted his protective winds, turning them against him. ¡°Aaargh!¡± Keboruak screamed as he was flung back, his body wracked with pain. Taesan smirked. ¡°It works.¡± Without using his divine abilities or the power of ck de, he had sessfully bypassed their defenses. The two immortals rose unsteadily, battered and humiliated. Despite their injuries, they charged at Taesan once more. Taesan weed the assault. ¡°Good.¡± He needed them tost as long as possible. They were his experiments, and he intended to test every facet of his power. Gripping his sword tightly, he advanced. Boom! This time, he didn¡¯t use any external abilities. Purely through swordsmanship, he intercepted their attacks. He parried Keboruak¡¯s tempestuous strikes, redirecting their force harmlessly away. With precision, he carved through Paragup¡¯s armor, each sh deepening the immortal¡¯s wounds. ¡°Kuhhh!¡± Paragup crumpled, unable to withstand the relentless assault. Even his dominion over the earth couldn¡¯t protect him. Keboruak fared no better, his desperate counterattacks falling short. For all their might, Taesan was untouchable. [I... I cannot ept this!] Keboruak¡¯s roar echoed with defiance. Both immortals clung to their belief in their own supremacy. They had sacrificed everything, endured unimaginable trials, and wed their way to power. Yet, none of it mattered before Taesan. [You have activated World¡¯s de.] A colossal sword appeared in Taesan¡¯s hand, its edge radiating cosmic power. With a single swing, the weapon cleaved through theirbined defenses, sending both immortals sprawling. ¡°Even without my full strength, you¡¯re no match.¡± Satisfied, Taesan decided it was time to end the battle. [You have activated Frozen World [Divine].] Crunch! A wave of golden ice surged forward, imbued with a dense, overwhelming divine energy. Keboruak unleashed a torrent of wind to repel it, while Paragup fortified his body with his earthen armor. BOOOOOM! It was all shattered. The divine energy-packed attack obliterated every effort and defense they mustered. The ice froze Paragup''s earthen armor, shattering it into pieces, and left deep wounds across his body. Keboruak''s wings froze solid, sending him plummeting to the ground. [Kuhhh!] ¡°Divine magic can utterly annihte them. I like it,¡± Taesan remarked calmly. Overwhelming. That was all it was. @@novelbin@@ Keboruak staggered to his feet, his body trembling. [I... I sacrificed everything for this....] ¡°And the countless mortals you killed? They worked hard for their lives too. And yet you killed them, enved them, and brainwashed them,¡± Taesan said, his voice devoid of emotion. ¡°For nothing more than your own selfish ambition, you trampled their efforts and their lives.¡± His tone sharpened. ¡°So you should have been prepared for your own efforts to be crushed by someone stronger than you.¡± Taesan''s words were cold and absolute, like a verdict. He had confirmed everything he needed to. With his current power, he could face multiple immortals at once and still emerge victorious. Now, it was time to end this. But first, there was onest thing he wanted to verify. A ck aura began to seep out of him, spreading across the battlefield. The golden sanctuary that enveloped the world was swallowed by shadow, transforming into an ashen void. Paragup, who was trying to rise, froze in ce. ¡°...What is this?¡± This was their domain. After centuries of battle, Paragup had imed the earth, and Keboruak the skies, as their territories. Now, their hard-won domains were warping and disintegrating. It wasn¡¯t simply an overpowering force or a sh of concepts¡ªit was as if their domains had never existed in the first ce, erased by the creeping ash. ¡®What is this...?¡¯ Paragup trembled, his body wracked with fear. Everything he had built, everything he had achieved, was being undone, erased as though it were worthless. For the first time in his life, Paragup felt true terror. [You have activated Chaos Domain.] Chapter 467: Floor 88: Those Who Aspire to Godhood (6) A gray domain descended upon the world. Simultaneously, the domains forged through centuries of battle began to unravel and dissipate. "[Th-This is...]" The grayness could not be called part of this world. It was foreign, an anomaly¡ªa domain where nows or order held sway. "[You have activated the Great Copse (Negation).]" A pitch-ck sphere materialized in the world, swiftly hurtling toward Paragup. He hastily reinforced his entire body in defense. BOOM! "Kuh-ugh!" But his efforts were in vain. The ck sphere pierced through his defenses, striking directly at his essence. "Urgh!" In an attempt to endure the impact, Paragup tried to synchronize with the power of the earth. Yet the ground, consumed by the grayness, no longer heeded his will. His authority faltered, its mechanisms beginning to fail. "What in the world is this...?" "[Hah! Come,e! Face me!]" Keboruak pped his wings furiously. He was summoning the forces of the heavens to disperse the grayness in one decisive strike. But the energy refused to gather. It was as if a barrier had cut him off, leaving him disconnected from the world. Their senses, cast adrift by the cradle of chaos, consumed them. Step. And then, Taesan¡ªthe master of the grayness¡ªapproached them. Paragup''s pupils quivered. Emotions, always suppressed and tranquil, surged within him like turbulent waves. "Ugh... UAAAAH!" Unable to withstand the terror, he lunged forward. Keboruak, trembling from head to toe, spread his wings and charged at Taesan. Taesan greeted them with a swing of his de. KABOOM! The battle erupted. Stripped of their domains, Paragup and Keboruak spiraled into panic, unable to mount an adequate defense. "There¡¯s nothing left to salvage." Taesan resolved to end it. "[You have activated the Frozen World (Chaos).]" CRACK! A gray frost engulfed the immortals. Despite their panic, their instincts desperately tried to counter Taesan¡¯s assault. But it was futile. The grayness shattered their defenses, neutralized their power, and delivered devastating blows to their very essence. "Guh!" "Argh, ugh..." Even their screams faltered, leaving unerasable wounds upon their bodies and souls. At that moment, the domain of chaos dissipated. The gray world that had swallowed everything vanished without a trace. "...This is absurd." Checking the cost of his actions, Taesan let out a hollowugh. The Chaos Domain had onlysted for a minute or two, and its range was limited to the void within the rift¡ªa scope insignificant when measured against the world atrge. Yet, even this brief activation had drained the entirety of his divine essence and ck energy. "This isn¡¯t a power to be used recklessly." But the results were undeniable. The gray domain had engulfed the world, erasing the immortals'' domains in an instant. Unable to continue their resistance, they had fallen. The battle was over. Taesan¡¯s victory was absolute. Approaching the immortals now frozen in ice, Taesan stood before them. They stared back at him with dazed expressions. "You... You shouldn¡¯t exist in this world..." Paragup managed to rasp out. He had encountered transcendents several times before. He had some understanding of their power and their nature. But what Taesan had disyed was unlike anything he had ever seen. It wasn¡¯t the power of a transcendent. It was something alien, something that didn¡¯t belong to this world. "You are... a force that corrupts the universe. You shouldn¡¯t exist..." He muttered in a trance-like state. Without responding, Taesan raised his de to Paragup¡¯s chest. Summoning what little remained of his divine essence and ck energy, he prepared to act. Flicker. The grayness extended toward Paragup¡¯s chest. But Taesan did not strike. Paragup, braced for death, stared up at him in confusion. Slowly, the grayness began to spread across Paragup¡¯s body, creeping over him like a tide. And then, Paragup shuddered. Something twisted, alien, reached into the deepest part of him. An unfamiliar force touched his very essence. "S-Stop." Though he had steeled himself for death, an unbearable fear overtook him. "Please... stop. I beg you..." He trembled violently, pleading with quivering words. After a moment¡¯s pause, Taesan withdrew the grayness. The Boundary Line distorts and shatters the world¡¯sws. It had proven capable of purging even the corruption of the Old God that had merged with a transcendent. If the Boundary Line could erase the corruption of a transcendent... Could it not also obliterate the authority of an immortal itself? Could it strip away their power, forcibly reducing their very nature? It wasn¡¯t an impossible notion. The Chaos Domain had already temporarily erased the domains they had forged. And so, Taesan had conducted an experiment against the immobilized Paragup. However, it was impossible. It was as if something refused to allow such an act. Taesan couldn¡¯t pierce into the deepest part of Paragup¡¯s essence. ¡°So, this won¡¯t work.¡± Yet at the same time, Taesan realized something¡ªit wasn¡¯t truly impossible. Though it was far off, the possibility existed. Havingpleted his test, Taesan thrust his sword. Paragup¡¯s expression rxed into one of relief, even as hey dying. [Your Soul Rank has increased. Permanently...] [You have obtained the soul skill, He Who Treads Upon the Earth.] At the same time, both Bardray and Akasha underwent changes. They let out faint groans as an immense power surged within them. Taesan swiftly dealt with the unconscious Keboruak. [Your Soul Rank has increased. Permanently...] [You have obtained the soul skill, Master of the Skies.] ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± The two immortals, who had tormented the world for centuries while striving for divinity, met their end. Taesan had emerged victorious against thebined assault of two immortals. @@novelbin@@ And he had done so without significant injury. Despite experimenting with various techniques during the battle, his triumph was overwhelming. This, even in his unstable state as a newly ascended transcendent. "Truly overwhelming." Reaching the level of a transcendent ced one on a ne far above that of immortals. But even Taesan, with his irregr powers from the Boundary Line, couldn¡¯t match the most supreme transcendents. A vast gap still remained, one that sheer strength alone couldn¡¯t bridge. What he needed was a major transformation. Fortunately, Taesan possessed the means to bring about such change. Though he was still refining his ns, the foundations were steadily falling into ce. With these thoughts in mind, Taesan turned his attention to his newly acquired skills. Soul Skills [He Who Treads Upon the Earth] Mastery: 1% Description: One who treads and stands firmly upon the earth. While touching the ground, synchronize with it to im a portion of the world as your own. The longer you remain in one ce, the greater your influence. [Master of the Skies] Mastery: 1% Description: The ruler of the skies. When your body leaves the ground and upies the heavens, you gain the ability to manipte the sky at will. Freely soar through the air, and the longer you remain aloft, the greater your influence. The two immortals had represented earth and sky, and their abilities reflected this duality. Beyond that, they weren¡¯t fundamentally different. Testing his new power, Taesan nted his feet firmly on the ground and concentrated. Immediately, the earth began resonating with him. Rumble. The ground rose, encasing Taesan¡¯s body in armor. ¡°So, this is how it feels.¡± Simply by standing on the earth, his authority activated. The conditions were easy to meet, and the ability consumed no resources. Paragup had used this authority to create an endlessly regenerating suit of armor. Though Taesan couldn¡¯t yet wield it to that extent, it provided formidable defensive support. As for Keboruak¡¯s authority, it was remarkably efficient. Taesan kicked off the ground, his body soaring into the air. Focusing his mind, he found himself moving freely through the sky, like a bird. Previously, he had relied on fairy wings for flight. Now, he could maneuver through the air effortlessly without activating a skill. Moreover, he could manipte the winds and elerate his body using the energy of the heavens. Both skills required no energy expenditure. Since they activated in opposite domains¡ªearth and sky¡ªthey were easy to integrate. They were highly practical powers. In addition, Bardray¡¯s attack power had significantly increased, likely due to their sh with the immortal-level opponents. Bardray: Prince of a Ruined World The prince of the fallen empire of Cavert. Bardray, reborn as a de incarnate. Attack Power: +3,012 His attack power had surged by 150 in one go. Even Akasha underwent a noticeable change. [No... This... No...] ¡°What is it? Did somethinge to mind?¡± Akasha muttered iprehensibly. After a moment of silence, her tone turned confused. [Enemy. Ally. Chaos... Everything is jumbled together. Memories... My memories...] Akasha groaned in pain, unable to finish her sentence. [Just... give me a moment. I need time to sort this out.] ¡°Take your time.¡± Taesan left Akasha to her thoughts. The quest wasplete. Using the Master of the Skies authority, Taesan emerged from the battlefield. ¡°Oh! Ohhh!¡± The people waiting outside cried out in relief and joy at the sight of him. ¡°The ones who forced their faith upon you are no more.¡± Taesan addressed them. The people bowed their heads, offering him their gratitude and reverence. ¡°I will leave now. This world is yours to govern. Unite with one another,pete when necessary, and strive to make this world peaceful.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°We will follow your words, Lord Taesan!¡± How long would this reverencest? These people would spread the tale of what they had witnessed and experienced. They would speak of a god named Taesan who appeared, punished those who sought to force faith upon them, and then vanished. Religions and sects would form to worship him. His name would be passed down, etched into their hearts as a divine entity. Generations woulde and go, and they would tell the story as if it were an ancient legend. They would recount the days when this world was in chaos, gued by two ferocious beings who demanded worship. And of the one who appeared, vanquished them, and freed the people. This tale would continue to spread. Over time, the name of Taesan would be an indelible part of this world¡¯s history. That was enough. Taesan¡¯s physical form disappeared. He was no longer in this world. But the people remained kneeling, heads bowed. Even hours after his departure, they held their positions, unmoving. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained the Staff of Crawling Something.] [You have obtained ???.] The rewards for clearing the floor were generous. The Staff of Crawling Something was a piece of equipment tied to ck magic. The secret reward appeared to be of a simr nature. ¡°This should be enough to acquire at least one intermediate ck magic skill.¡± There was no reason to dy. Taesan descended the stairs without hesitation. [Quest for Floor 89 has begun.] [Destroy the outpost of the Old God in the universe.] [Reward: The Ring of Eternally Echoing Reverberations.] [Secret Reward: ???.] Chapter 468: Floor 89: The Old God鈥檚 Outpost (1) Upon arriving at the 89th floor, Balbabamba appeared as usual. [You¡¯ve done well. That¡¯s not a bad oue.] ¡°Really?¡± [You didn¡¯t align with the immortals to destroy the world, nor did you forcibly brainwash the people for their faith. You simply killed two immortals. That much falls within eptable limits.] Balbabamba¡¯s tone was calm, yet carried an air of resignation. [When you reach the 90th floor, you¡¯ll escape my jurisdiction entirely. Do as you please. I can tolerate this much.] His demeanor now was one ofplete detachment. ¡°So the 89th floor is thest one under your management?¡± [That¡¯s correct. Although we might cross paths again, you¡¯ll no longer be a problem for me.] Balbabamba spoke with satisfaction. [Finally, freedom. It¡¯s a relief, truly.] After expressing his delight, heposed himself and got down to business. [Now, I¡¯ll exin the quest for the 89th floor. Your task is to infiltrate an outpost of the Old God in the universe, eliminate its ves, and destroy the world itself.] ¡°What exactly is an outpost?¡± [The Old Gods are fundamentally beings exiled from this world. They are not permitted to intervene directly.] ¡°For beings who aren¡¯t allowed to interfere, they certainly meddle a lot.¡± Taesan had experienced this firsthand, as the Old Gods had repeatedly intervened whenever he acted. It was bing tiresome. Balbabamba responded nonchntly. [What you¡¯ve seen is them holding back. Otherwise, they¡¯d consume entire gxies.] ¡°Their scale is ridiculously massive.¡± [They once ruled this world. It¡¯s no surprise. Regardless, you¡¯re aware there are fools who have contracted with them, aren¡¯t you?] Taesan nodded. The Spirit World. The fool Arulia. The Chinese leader, Jinryong. The embodiment of the Empty Abomination in the Ravineno world. All of them had epted the Old God¡¯s offer. [The Old Gods can¡¯t interfere in this world easily, which is why they confine their contracted pawns tos they¡¯ve consumed. Thoses are their outposts.] Balbabamba¡¯s tone grew more exasperated. [Once devoured, thoses fall under the Old God¡¯s influence. Transcendents try to eliminate the pawns whenever possible, but there are too many. A mistake can result in severe damage even to a transcendent. That¡¯s why we usually deal with pawns that emerge, rather than attacking the outposts directly.] ¡°So the universe is in worse shape than I thought.¡± [The universe has always been unstable. Even without the Old Gods, worlds copse regrly. Their involvement just adds anotheryer.] Balbabamba¡¯s voicecked emotion, as though he were speaking about mundane matters. [While it¡¯s been worsening recently, it¡¯s still manageable.] ¡°So you want me to enter the outpost and destroy it? A ce even transcendents can¡¯t ess easily?¡± [That¡¯s correct. However, you¡¯re an exception. You¡¯re unaffected by their corruption.] @@novelbin@@ Taesan possessed the ck Energy, not only immune to the Old God¡¯s corruption but capable of wielding it freely. [The transcendents will handle any direct intervention by the Old Gods. Your task is to deal with their ves.] ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan nodded. ¡°I ept.¡± The quest was epted. Balbabamba instructed him to speak up when ready. Before that, Taesan offered a tribute to obtain a new ck magic skill. [You have obtained Baal¡¯s Spatial Copse.] Baal¡¯s Spatial Copse Mana Cost: 2,500 Magical Energy Cost: 1,000 Mastery: 1% Description: Summon a distorted space from Baal¡¯s domain at a designated location. The power to copse time and space has deteriorated, resulting only in physical destruction. The new intermediate ck magic skill was akin to a long-range sniping spell. Testing it a few times, Taesan found it effective for targeting distant enemies. The range extended as far as his sight, which was practically limitless. The spell¡¯s destructive power didn¡¯t diminish over distance, making it highly versatile. While acquiring the ck magic, the Demon God spoke to him. [So, you¡¯re heading into theirir this time?] ¡°Yes.¡± [Do you know why we don¡¯t target the outposts?] ¡°Because the Old God¡¯s corruption threatens even transcendents?¡± [That¡¯s part of it. But there¡¯s a bigger reason.] The Demon God¡¯s voice wasnguid. [Outposts usually house the avatars of the Old Gods. An avatar is an extension of the Old God itself¡ªsomething that cannot truly die. Even if we crush it, we gain little. So we leave them alone. But... you¡¯re different.] Taesan could kill avatars. That was likely why he had been assigned this quest to destroy the outpost. [As always, I¡¯m looking forward to your sess.] ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan replied. The Demon God, preparing to leave, hesitated. [...You.] Her gaze turned to Taesan¡¯s hand¡ªmore precisely, to Akasha. [You¡¯ve changed somehow.] [...You are the great ruler of the demon realm, the Demon God. Do you... know who I am?] Akasha spoke in a tone of confusion, addressing the Demon God. The Demon God frowned, her elegant forehead creasing. [...I don¡¯t know you. But I sense something¡ªsomething I can¡¯t identify. What are you?] [So you feel the same.] [Hmm...] After observing Akasha briefly, the Demon God stepped back. [This isn¡¯t something I can determine by looking. Intriguing. Is it rted to the Old Gods?] She murmured with a curious expression. [It¡¯s worth investigating. Until next time.] With those words, the Demon God vanished. Taesan turned to Akasha. ¡°Do you remember anything?¡± [...It¡¯s hard to say.] After a moment of silence, Akasha began to speak hesitantly. [Fragments of memories are surfacing. They¡¯re about my final moments. I was... fighting someone.] Slowly, she pieced together her thoughts. [My master was with me. No, we all were. We resisted desperately against it.] ¡°What is it?¡± [That... I cannot say.] Akasha struggled to recall, eventually closing her mouth in distress. [I don¡¯t know. It feels like everything has been painted over in a different color.] ¡°Don¡¯t force it. Take your time.¡± Taesan reassured her. ¡°Is it that?¡± He pondered, his thoughts turning to whaty ahead. The Demon God imed to sense something from Akasha but admitted she couldn¡¯t identify it. One of the strongest beings in the universe didn¡¯t know who Akasha truly was. The likelihood that Akasha was connected to the Old Gods was high, just as the Demon God had suggested. "She was a forgotten goddess." Akasha was an apostle of a deity erased from memory¡ªone no one remembered. Taesan found himself curious about the goddess Akasha once served. Who was she? What had transpired that even the Demon God couldn¡¯t discern her nature? Yet, as the Demon God had pointed out, it wasn¡¯t something that could be resolved immediately. After settling his thoughts, Taesan approached Balbabamba. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± [Understood. Let¡¯s begin. Do not resist my power.] Vrrrmm! Balbabamba¡¯s power enveloped Taesan. Though he could have shrugged it off effortlessly, Taesan chose to cooperate. The energy tightly sealed away Taesan¡¯s strength, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t leak. [Once you descend in this state, they will detect you immediately. I don¡¯t know how you¡¯ll handle it, but being unnoticed for as long as possible will give you the upper hand.] ¡°Thanks.¡± Balbabamba manipted the energy, opening a portal to a vast space. Rather than a, it led to the universe itself. [Since this world is under the Old God¡¯s influence, I can¡¯t send you directly to the outpost. I¡¯ll ce you nearby. Make your way from there.] Taesan stepped into the portal. Before him stretched an endless expanse of space. Although this was an environment inhospitable to life, Taesan was unaffected. Turning his gaze toward his destination, he saw it¡ªa shrouded in ckness. A sinister energy spread across the entire, seeping into space like tendrils of corruption. That was his target. Taesan moved toward the, his body propelling him effortlessly. As he approached, the ck energy surrounding the stirred, reacting to his presence. It moved to block and reject him. Taesan cloaked himself in ck Energy. When the¡¯s energy touched his own, it merged seamlessly. Without resistance, Taesan prated theary barrier and entered its atmosphere. What greeted him was a world entirely engulfed in ckness. Taesan had witnessed worlds on the brink of destruction¡ªor already destroyed¡ªdue to the Old Gods, but this was different. It was more alien, more deeply intertwined with the Old Gods themselves. The ck energy nketing the acted like a cradle, encapsting the entire world. The number of the Old God¡¯s pawns on this and their strength were unknown. Even Taesan¡¯s senses were obstructed by the overwhelming corruption. Caution would be necessary. He decided to proceed carefully, prioritizing reconnaissance. But his adversaries found him first. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± A man dressed as a mercenary, a sword slung over his shoulder and a bottle of liquor in his hand, looked at Taesan. The sudden encounter sent Taesan¡¯s mind racing. He prepared to eliminate the man swiftly and silently. ¡°New recruit?¡± The man spoke casually, devoid of any tension or suspicion. In an instant, Taesan rxed his posture, loosening his muscles, and nodded. ¡°Which master do you serve?¡± ¡°...The World Breaker.¡± ¡°The World Breaker?¡± Surprise shed across the man¡¯s face. ¡°That one created an apostle? You¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you?¡± The man didn¡¯t look particrly distrustful¡ªmore like he assumed Taesan was bluffing to make himself seem more impressive. Taesan raised his arm. The man stepped closer to examine it, letting out an astonished sound when he saw the self-stabilizing ck Energy covering Taesan¡¯s body. ¡°It¡¯s real... That¡¯s impressive. Follow me.¡± The man walked ahead. Taesan followed him. After walking for a while through the ckened world, they arrived at a small building. The structure was crude, barely holding its shape. From within, Taesan could sense multiple presences. The man entered the building. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Judging by your appearance, there weren¡¯t any problems?¡± ¡°A world without aary deity or immortals? Of course, there weren¡¯t.¡± Puffing his chest proudly, the man gestured toward Taesan. ¡°And look¡ªI found a new recruit.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°A new recruit?¡± Their expressions lit up, weing Taesan with genuine enthusiasm. ¡°Who¡¯s your master?¡± ¡°The World Breaker.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°That one actually created an apostle?¡± ¡°I was skeptical too, but he carries their authority.¡± ¡°Amazing.¡± They regarded Taesan with awe and curiosity, but that was the extent of their interest. There was no hostility or suspicion. ¡°Guess what I brought?¡± The man who had escorted Taesan held up the liquor bottle, grinning. Their eyes sparkled. ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I got it from an empire on thest world I destroyed. It¡¯s a vintage prepared for the crown prince¡¯s coronation! Had to smash a few skulls to grab it.¡± Laughter and cheer filled the room as they celebrated. It was a peaceful and jovial atmosphere¡ªat least on the surface. But the content of their conversation revealed them to be traitors who had sold their souls to the Old Gods, betraying their worlds. ¡°Hey, rookie! Come over here! Tell us what you offered up to join!¡± One of the men, mid-drink, gestured toward Taesan. In that moment, Taesan knew. These people had no idea who he was. Whether information hadn¡¯t reached them or they assumed he couldn¡¯t be there, they weed him with open arms. ¡°So, the pawns aren¡¯t as hostile toward each other as I thought.¡± This was unexpected. He had assumed they would be paranoid, constantly backstabbing or betraying one another. But it wasn¡¯t a bad development. ¡°This works in my favor.¡± If they epted him so easily, he could use the opportunity to gather information. The Old Gods¡¯ capabilities, powers, and numbers remainedrgely unknown. Here, he might glean some answers. Taesan sat beside the man who had brought him and began to speak. Chapter 469: Floor 89: The Old God鈥檚 Outpost (2) ¡°The atmosphere here is better than I expected. I thought everyone would be suspicious and ready to kill each other.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what everyone thinks when they first get here. But we¡¯re all castoffs from this cursed world, aren¡¯t we? We¡¯ve got to stick together.¡± ¡°I see.¡± These people weren¡¯t castoffs. They were the ones who had abandoned their own worlds. To dere themselves abandoned while actively betraying their worlds¡ªTaesan found itughable. He hid his smirk as he raised his ss to his lips. ¡°Cheers! Let¡¯s enjoy ourselves!¡± They chatted merrily, celebrating with a small feast. Taesan quietly drank, carefully observing theckeys. ¡°They¡¯re at immortal-level strength.¡± Though barely, each of them had reached the threshold of immortality. They weren¡¯t weak. Any one of them could destroy an ordinary world as easily as taking a stroll. But to Taesan, in his current state, they posed no real threat. After a brief observation, he spoke again. ¡°I must say, this surprises me. I thought I was the only one, but it seems there are many in my situation.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like the Old Gods exin much when they bring someone in. They¡¯re busy beings, after all.¡± ¡°I see. I ended up contracting with one of them by chance, so I don¡¯t know much about how things work here. Could you tell me more?¡± ¡°Of course! Ask away. What do you want to know?¡± The man responded with surprising friendliness. Taesan asked. ¡°Just... the overall situation. About the Old Gods, and about all of you.¡± ¡°Starting from there, huh? Alright, I¡¯ll exin.¡± The man began to talk. He exined various things¡ªthe nature of the Old Gods, how they formed contracts, and more. Most of it was information Taesan already knew. But since the man spoke from the perspective of the Old Gods, his ount was twisted, differing greatly from what Taesan understood. ¡°This world originally belonged to the Old Gods! It was the transcendents¡ªthose unworthy usurpers¡ªwho drove them out and stole their thrones!¡± The Old Gods had existed even before the concept of the universe. Transcendents came after them. At a nce, the man¡¯s words seemed true. However, Baal, the great demon, had once told Taesan otherwise. Before creation, the Old Gods and demons bore original sin. They were beings who defied the natural order. No one with rightful authority could have said what the man did. ¡°I see.¡± Taesan nodded calmly. The man, excited, continued with more fervor. ¡°I reached a level of greatness! I made a world of my own through my efforts! That was the rightful result of my hard work!¡± The man mmed his ss down, his expression twisted with anger. ¡°But a damned transcendent interfered in my world! They imed it was against the rules and tried to kill me! I barely escaped, but I lost everything because of them!¡± ¡°Same here!¡± Others began shouting their own grievances. The man spread his arms wide, his voice echoing. ¡°Transcendents are the ones who are wrong! They are the ones who should die, the ones who should disappear from this world!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Their fanatical shouts didn¡¯t cease. Taesan listened quietly, feigning agreement while letting the conversation flow. After some time, their fervor subsided. That¡¯s when they finally began sharing the information Taesan sought. ¡°In the end, I became a servant of the Filthy Corruption.¡± For the first time, Taesan heard the name of an Old God. His eyes gleamed. ¡°The Filthy Corruption?¡± ¡°Yeah, one of the more active ones. Their authority is less burdensomepared to others, so more than half of us here are their servants.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Another frequent interloper is the Endless Darkness.¡± ¡°True. Those two are definitely the most visible.¡± Two names Taesan hadn¡¯t heard before. Hemitted the details to memory. ¡°The nature of their authorities...¡± The less burdensome their interference, the closer their power must be to universalws. @@novelbin@@ The easier it was to manipte thews, the more they could influence the world. After a moment of thought, Taesan spoke again. ¡°Does the World Breaker rarely interfere?¡± ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s why you¡¯re so surprising. I¡¯ve never heard of them creating an apostle before.¡± The man regarded Taesan with curiosity. ¡°They¡¯re so vast, they can hardly step into this world. If you really contracted with them... Did you see their true form? How big are they?¡± The only part of the World Breaker Taesan had encountered was the Seventh Drop of Blood¡ªa mere fragment of their essence. He couldn¡¯t speak the truth and fabricated a usible lie. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell. At least, not with my perception.¡± ¡°That¡¯s expected...¡± The others nodded, unfazed by Taesan¡¯s lie. Even though he hid his strength, they likely sensed he was at the immortal level. Even for an immortal, understanding the true form of an Old God was beyondprehension. Taesan spoke again. ¡°Does the Empty Abomination interfere often?¡± ¡°Huh? How do you know about them?¡± ¡°I had an opportunity to learn.¡± ¡°Not often. Maybe once every few centuries, if that.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it...¡± An older man who had been listening from the back spoke up. ¡°There was an avatar of theirs¡ªa pawn who always caused trouble wherever they went.¡± ¡°Ah, the one who stubbornly insisted on using only their own authority, not the Old God¡¯s?¡± ¡°Yeah. Haven¡¯t heard anything about themtely. What are they up to?¡± ¡°No idea. Probably off messing around somewhere.¡± They spected amongst themselves. Taesan knew who they were talking about. It was the avatar he had defeated on Ravineno¡¯s world. ¡°So they aren¡¯t directly connected, capable of instantmunication or anything like that.¡± Bing a servant of the Old Gods didn¡¯t fundamentally change them. ¡°They¡¯re probably surviving just fine. There are plenty of other Old Gods, after all.¡± The conversation shifted, more information about the Old Gods flowing naturally. The Worthless One. The King Beyond. The One Who Lifts and Wields Universes. The All Within One. The Usurper. ¡°Most of them don¡¯t appear anymore. Of those, the Usurper is just a name to us.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Long ago, during the war against the transcendents, they supposedly fought fiercely... But it¡¯s all ancient history. We don¡¯t even know their authority.¡± At that moment, Akasha, who had been quiet, trembled faintly. It was so subtle that even she likely didn¡¯t notice. ¡°The Usurper... Is she reacting to that name?¡± Taesan stored the information carefully in his mind. The man continued. ¡°And then there¡¯s the Monster Who Walks Through Time. They¡¯re the one the administrator of this ce serves.¡± ¡°The administrator?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an avatar of the Old Gods here. That being manages this ce¡ªand it¡¯s absurdly powerful.¡± ¡°Are they away for now?¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t sense any presence of such a powerful entity on this. ¡°Yes. They¡¯ve left temporarily to destroy another world. Quite a busy one, you see.¡± ¡°I envy that... I wish I could be one of their avatars...¡± Someone muttered enviously, their tone filled with longing. Taesan¡¯s eyes glinted briefly. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Is that enough?¡± ¡°Plenty. Thank you.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± The man smiled and patted Taesan on the shoulder. ¡°We¡¯rerades now, bound together unless death takes us. Let me know if you need anything¡ªI¡¯ll help however I can.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan replied calmly. The conversation shifted to casual chatter. Most of it was mundane stories about which worlds they had destroyed and the resistance they encountered. However, useful pieces of information asionally slipped through. As Taesan listened quietly, someone suddenly spoke up as if recalling something. ¡°Speaking of which, whatever happened to that guy?¡± ¡°Which guy?¡± ¡°You know, the one the Old Gods have taken an interest in. Someone from this world.¡± ¡°Oh, that guy from thebyrinth? Strange one, isn¡¯t he? I mean, he¡¯s not even contracted, but how is he using their powers?¡± The conversation took a turn, and Taesan found himself bing the topic. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go after him?¡± ¡°No idea. Our masters seemed interested at first, but recently, they¡¯ve been silent. Still, I¡¯d love to crush that fool who dares to defy them with my own hands.¡± Someone grumbled. Taesan observed them silently. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Do you think you could win against someone who wields their power?¡± ¡°Why not? Maybe not alone, but if we all work together, it might be possible.¡± A moment of silence hung in the air. ¡°You¡¯re suggesting we act together?¡± ¡°What else are we doing right now? The Old Gods see him as a nuisance. Let¡¯s eliminate their problem for them.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± The suggestion stirred unease among the group, but it also began to spark intrigue. ¡°No matter how strong he is, if we all join forces, we can win. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. He may use their powers, but he¡¯s nothing more than a rat stealing what isn¡¯t his. Why would I be afraid of that?¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem? Let¡¯s find him and tear him apart. We¡¯ll offer him as a sacrifice to our masters. They¡¯ll surely reward us with their favor.¡± The instigator¡¯s words began to sway the hesitant. ¡°Hmm...¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bad idea...¡± The air shifted. They were leaning toward hunting Taesan themselves. ¡°But how will we find him? We don¡¯t even know what he looks like.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got the details.¡± The instigator spoke confidently. ¡°I¡¯ve got connections and information. Here¡¯s what we know: ck hair, ck eyes¡ªdefinitely not white-skinned, but an Asian descent.¡± ¡°Hmm, hmm.¡± ¡°He uses the Old Gods¡¯ powers, which everyone knows. As for his face...¡± The instigator began listing Taesan¡¯s features. Taesan listened, his expression unchanged, though inwardly he was impressed by their uracy. He had traveled across many worlds. It wasn¡¯t surprising that spies of the Old Gods had noticed him. As the conversation progressed, one of the men suddenly spoke up. ¡°Sounds a lot like our new recruit.¡± All eyes turned to Taesan. The instigator, mid-description, paused andmented. ¡°...You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Nah, it¡¯s just a coincidence. How would he even get here? Not even transcendents can interfere in this ce.¡± ¡°But he uses their powers, doesn¡¯t he?¡± The room fell silent. The tension thickened. Taesan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He stared at them impassively. ¡°...It must be a coincidence.¡± One man, forcing augh, pped Taesan on the shoulder. ¡°No way our new recruit is that troublesome guy. Why would he evene here? This is the domain of the Old Gods. It¡¯d be suicide, right?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t respond. He simply kept staring. The man¡¯s face slowly stiffened. He withdrew his hand from Taesan¡¯s shoulder and stepped back. At that moment, Taesan spoke. ¡°I have a question.¡± ¡°Uh, w-what?¡± ¡°Are there ranks among the Old Gods?¡± ¡°...I¡¯ve heard there are, but we don¡¯t really know much about it.¡± ¡°I see. If the World Breaker is so massive they can¡¯t interfere easily, they must be among the higher ranks. That¡¯s a relief.¡± Even the Seventh Fragment of the World Breaker¡¯s power had been formidable. If they were lower-tier among the Old Gods, dealing with the higher ones would be a monumental challenge. [Ready to take care of them?] ¡°I¡¯ve learned all I need to.¡± Taesan rose from his seat. In his hand, Bardray had already materialized. The room grew taut with tension, like a stretched rubber band about to snap. Taesan addressed the frozen figures. ¡°You said you wanted to kill me? Let¡¯s see how you n to do that.¡± ¡°KILL HIM!¡± The room erupted into chaos. A dozen servants of the Old Gods charged at Taesan with deafening roars. Taesan gripped his sword and swung. The explosion of gray energy obliterated the small building, leaving no trace behind. Chapter 470: Floor 89: The Old God鈥檚 Outpost (3) ¡°Aaargh!¡± ¡°Khhhk!¡± The attackers were blown back, struggling to recover. One man stared helplessly at his shattered liquor bottle. ¡°My... my drink...¡± ¡°This is not the time to worry about that!¡± Another quickly drew his weapon, shouting in frustration. At the center of the explosion stood Taesan, calm and unscathed. ¡°How the hell did you get in here?¡± This was the Old God¡¯s domain, a ce where even the reigning transcendents of the universe couldn¡¯t interfere easily. ¡°Die!¡± The first to regain his senses lunged at Taesan, his body grotesquely transforming. Thick, slimy ooze dripped from his form, corrupting the ground beneath his feet. He swung his entire body like a weapon, aiming to crush Taesan. Taesan clenched his fist. Boom! ¡°Kahhhk!¡± The charging attacker was mmed into the ground with a thunderous impact. His grotesque form writhed as his ooze-covered body clung to Taesan. ¡°Hahaha! Be defiled!¡± Even as hey on the brink of death, the man shouted triumphantly. The ooze began burrowing into Taesan¡¯s body, seeking to corrupt and destroy his essence. ¡°Rot away, crumble into nothing!¡± The man was confident of Taesan¡¯s demise. As a servant of the Filthy Corruption, his granted authority allowed him to wield a substance capable of corrupting all it touched. Countless powerful beings had fallen victim to this sludge. Taesan, he believed, would be no different. ¡°So, even powers like this exist.¡± But Taesan responded nonchntly. Vrrrm! A golden light enveloped his body. The brilliant radiance of divinity burned away the sludge, reducing it to nothing in mere moments. Taesan stood,pletely unaffected, as though nothing had happened. ¡°Divinity can cleanse it. Not very threatening after all.¡± ¡°H-how...¡± ¡°The gap between us is too vast for this to even be a threat.¡± Taesan spoke calmly and plunged his sword into the man¡¯s chest. The servant spat blood and died, his body melting into a formless mass that soon dissolvedpletely. ¡°No Soul Rank increase, huh? What a shame.¡± These servants were at the lower tier of immortals. The gap between them and Taesan was toorge to trigger a rank increase. Taesan raised his head. The remaining servants, hesitating, couldn¡¯t bring themselves to attack. ¡°Come on.¡± Taesan taunted them. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you could kill me if you all worked together?¡± ¡°You¡ª!¡± ¡°Y-you betrayed us!¡± ¡°Not a betrayal. I was never on your side to begin with.¡± Taesan¡¯s sword began to glow, infused with divinity. The radiant golden light contrasted starkly against the ckened world. ¡°If we¡¯re being precise, you¡¯re the traitors.¡± These were beings who had abandoned their worlds to side with the Old Gods, destroying countless lives and copsing entire worlds. ¡°If you were going to take lives so freely, you should have at least considered the possibility of losing your own.¡± Taesan moved. The servants gritted their teeth and retaliated with all their might. Their bodies oozed with slime, while some sprayed ck energy into the air. Boom! A battle of one versus nine erupted. Darkness, filth, and divinity shed violently, creating a chaotic storm. As Taesan fought, he calmly analyzed their powers. ¡°Most of them are servants of the Filthy Corruption.¡± Seven of the nine transformed grotesquely, oozing their corruption everywhere. Just as the group had said, the Filthy Corruption was one of the most active Old Gods, and their servants were abundant. The remaining two servants wielded a different power¡ªdarkness. They spread a consuming void across the battlefield, turning the very space into their domain and using it to suppress Taesan. ¡°Servants of the Endless Darkness, then.¡± The two appeared to be aligned with the Endless Darkness, whose authority devoured and imed the very fabric of existence. Crash! Taesan swung his sword, the divine light erasing the corruption and restoring the devoured space to its original form. ¡°Khhhk!¡± No matter how desperately the servants charged at him, they couldn¡¯t touch him. These servants were, at best, lower-tier immortals. The gap between them and Taesan was absolute. Even though they wielded the authority of the Old Gods, their own strength was insufficient to fully manifest that power. One of the servants lunged at Taesan with suicidal determination, grabbing his arm even as his chest was pierced by Taesan¡¯s sword. Corruption began to seep into Taesan¡¯s body, and the servant¡¯s face lit up with hope¡ªonly to twist into despair as Taesan casually shook off the ooze. ¡°But I wield their power! Why doesn¡¯t it work?!¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re weak.¡± Taesan¡¯s reply was calm and final. The corruption couldn¡¯t affect someone with Taesan¡¯s self-stabilizing ck Energy. Crunch! ¡°Gahhh!¡± The servant was sent flying, his body pierced by Taesan¡¯s sword. The remaining servants tried to capitalize on the moment, charging in unison. Taesan nted his feet firmly on the ground, drawing power from it. The earth¡¯s energy wrapped around him like armor. Boom! The forces collided. The servants¡¯bined power shattered the armor, but Taesan simply drew more energy from the earth to reform it. ¡°It holds up well enough.¡± Taesan was testing the two immortal powers he had acquired on the 88th floor. The first was He Who Treads Upon the Earth. It performed admirably. Though these servants wielded destructive authority, Taesan¡¯s earth armor was sufficient to withstand their attacks. The power had its limits, but it was highly effective against most attacks. Next was Master of the Skies. Taesan rose into the air. As he ascended, the heavens bent to his will, bing part of his domain. Drawing energy from the skies, Taesan unleashed a gale. Whoosh! A violent storm surged, shing at the servants with razor-sharp winds. ¡°Khhhk!¡± The servants tried to shield themselves, but the storm tore through them, leaving deep wounds across their bodies. ¡°Impressive.¡± As a transcendent, Taesan could wield the powers he had stolen with remarkable skill. Theck of energy cost was particrly advantageous. As long as he remained grounded or airborne, the powers activated effortlessly. Boom! The servants were scattered by the gale. Despair began to seep into their eyes as they realized¡ª They couldn¡¯t reach him. Desperate attacks were futile, blocked by Taesan¡¯s self-stabilizing energy. Each casual swing of his power was more than enough to obliterate his enemies. At first, the servants believed they could win. They held their ground and continued to fight. But now, they understood. They could not defeat Taesan. Not with theirbined strength, not with everything they had. ¡°H-hold on!¡± One of them stammered, his voice trembling with fear. ¡°The administrator wille back... and he¡¯lle straight here. We just need to hold out until then¡ª¡± ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ve seen all I need to see.¡± Taesan¡¯s voice was cold. There was no reason to let them linger any longer. [You have activated Magic Stacking.] [You have activated Great Copse (Negation).] Crack! A pitch-ck sphere formed in the air. And then another. And another. The three spheres ovepped, radiating a terrifying, destructive force. The servants¡¯ faces turned pale. As they tried to flee, Taesan unleashed the magic. [You have activated Magic Release.] ¡°Aaaagh!¡± They moved desperately, trying to survive. They covered themselves in corruption, expanding their ckened domains to resist. But the negation magic consumed everything. The ck spheres devoured their defenses, their bodies, their very essence. The ten servants of the Old Gods, destroyers of countless worlds, were erasedpletely. Taesan didn¡¯t stop moving. The servants had mentioned that the administrator was absent. He needed to act quickly, before the administrator returned. The Conflict Reverberates @@novelbin@@ The battle between Taesan and the servants was felt across the entire domain. The inhabitants of the corrupted world realized that an intruder had arrived. Their responses varied: some chose to observe from a distance, others fled as far as possible, and a few dared to confront Taesan, hoping to eliminate him. Those who chose thetter did not fare well. Boom! ¡°Kahhk!¡± Most of the servants in this world were barely at the lower tier of immortality. They posed no real threat to Taesan. ¡°Show me what your authority can do.¡± Taesan¡¯s calm butmanding voice made his opponent¡¯s blood run cold. Under his oppressive aura, the servant felt their life teetering on the edge. Their face turned pale as they reluctantly unleashed their authority. Something invisibletched onto Taesan. An alien force attempted to infiltrate him, to steal something fundamental from his essence. The servant¡¯s face lit up with hope¡ªuntil Taesan shook his entire body. The alien force was purged, obliterated as if it had never existed. ¡°Ah...¡± The servant¡¯s expression twisted into despair. Taesan himself was momentarily surprised. ¡°It tried to erase my skills.¡± He had deliberately allowed the attack to connect, curious about its effects. The authority had invaded his very essence, attempting to nullify part of his abilities. ¡°Fascinating.¡± Crunch! ¡°Khhhk!¡± Taesan¡¯s sword pierced the servant¡¯s chest. The man didn¡¯t even have time to scream before he died. Taesan continued his ruthless advance. He killed every servant who dared to approach him. And when there were no more willingbatants, he hunted down those who observed from afar. By the time the battlefield was cleared, Taesan had encountered and studied several unique authorities. ¡°Interesting.¡± Each authority was distinct, alien, and dangerous. One servant had even managed to absorb and redirect Taesan¡¯s attacks as his own. If Taesan had faced such opponents without prior knowledge, he might have suffered significant losses. But now, with this understanding, he would be better prepared for simr abilities in the future. A Ruthless Pursuit ¡°About halfway done.¡± Half of the servants in this outpost had already fallen to Taesan¡¯s de. The survivors, gripped by fear, scrambled to distance themselves from him. But Taesan had no intention of letting them escape. His quest was to destroy this outpost entirely. Even the Old Gods, held back by the transcendents, could not interfere directly. The massive shes of power in the skies beyond were evidence enough of that. Time was on his side. He would hunt down everyst servant. Taesan moved methodically, eliminating those who tried to flee. ¡°Spare me!¡± One of the servants screamed, his voice cracking with desperation. ¡°No.¡± Crunch! Taesan¡¯s sword struck without mercy. Every being in this ce had destroyed entire worlds. Mercy was not an option. The destroyers of countless lives died just as mercilessly as their victims had. ¡°Ah... ahhh...¡± Taesan stood over a fallen servant, ready to deliver the final blow. Suddenly, the space around him fractured. A surge of overwhelming power radiated outwards as a figure emerged from the tear. What seeped from the figure was pure, unbridled rage. The dying servant¡¯s face lit up with hope. ¡°Ah... ahhh... finally! Finally, they¡¯vee...!¡± sh! Taesan silenced the servant with a final strike. A blood-drenched arm appeared through the fracture, followed by the rest of the figure. Their entire body was soaked in crimson, their hair dyed so thoroughly with blood that its original color was unrecognizable. ¡°Does no one here understand hygiene?¡± Taesan muttered under his breath. The figure responded with a murderous re. ¡°You... vile creature. How dare you wreak havoc while I was away?¡± ¡°And what are you going to do about it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± A suffocating aura erupted from the figure, distorting the very fabric of time and space around them. Taesan smirked. ¡°Go ahead. Try.¡± A system notification appeared in Taesan¡¯s vision: [The Avatar of the Monster Who Walks Through Time has appeared.] Chapter 471: Floor 89: The Old God鈥檚 Outpost (4) "How dare you. First, you kill the Avatar of the Vacant Abomination. Then, you steal a fragment of the World Breaker. And now, you target the very outpost I manage?" The Avatar¡¯s voice dripped with venomous hatred and fury. Yet, amid the tirade, Taesan gleamed a valuable insight. ¡°So the Avatars do have detailed knowledge about me.¡± The Avatar''s face twisted with rage. "I am Paradise, the Avatar of the Monster Who Walks Through Time. And I will kill you." "Go ahead. Give it your best shot." Taesan replied calmly, his tone almost mocking. Paradise raised a hand to the sky. Taesan didn¡¯t hesitate. He had faced the Avatar of the Vacant Abomination before and knew the power an Avatar could channel. Allowing that to fully manifest would be a grave mistake. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] Taesan surged forward, his speed quadrupled by the ovepping buffs. His movement was so swift that Paradise momentarily lost track of him. ¡°Damn you!¡± In a blink, Taesan closed the gap, his de poised to pierce Paradise¡¯s throat. Paradise panicked, retreating rapidly. But Taesan¡¯s speed was more than enough to catch up. And yet, something felt off. As he neared Paradise, Taesan felt his body slow down¡ªgradually but undeniably. Paradise managed to retreat a safe distance, ring at Taesan with a smug expression. ¡°Such rudeness. But what can you expect from an insolent fool who opposes the Old Gods?¡± ¡®What is this?¡¯ Taesan steadied his stance, his sword still raised. The sensation wasn¡¯t ordinary. It wasn¡¯t just that he had slowed down; the phenomenon was alien, unnatural. Paradise extended his hand to the sky again. "I am the Avatar of the Monster Who Walks Through Time! Hear my plea, O Great One, and descend your authority upon me! Grant me the power to walk your time!" Boom! The sky split open, and an immense power descended, enveloping Paradise entirely. ¡°Ahh...¡± Paradise exhaled, his voiceden with satisfaction. From the fractured air, he pulled forth a weapon¡ªa small, antique-looking musket. "Even if you¡¯ve reached the threshold of transcendence, it doesn¡¯t matter. The power of the Old Gods is meant to kill even the strongest transcendents." He smirked arrogantly. "I¡¯ll show you the might of a true authority." Parsing Paradise¡¯s Authority The Monster Who Walks Through Time... The name alone suggested its authority revolved around manipting time itself. Taesan remainedposed. He needed to analyze Paradise¡¯s ability before engaging fully. Drawing mana, he unleashed an initial probe. [You have activated Great Copse (Divine).] [You have activated Magic eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] Boom! A radiant golden sphere surged toward Paradise. Though meant as a probing attack, its destructive power was immense. Even a high-tier immortal would struggle to survive a direct hit. Taesan prepared to follow up, ready to activate Guaranteed Strike or Magic Detonation based on Paradise¡¯s reaction. But Paradise¡¯s response defied expectations. Paradise didn¡¯t move. He simply stood still. As the golden sphere approached, Taesan noticed something peculiar¡ªit began to slow down. The closer it came to Paradise, the more its speed dwindled. Paradise sidestepped with ease, avoiding the attack entirely. [You have activated Magic Detonation.] Boom! The golden sphere exploded, sending shockwaves reverberating through the air. But just like before, the explosion slowed dramatically as it neared Paradise, its force dissipating entirely. "If it doesn¡¯t hit, it¡¯s meaningless." Paradise reached into the air, bending space and time to forge a bullet. Carefully, reverently, he loaded it into his musket, as if performing a sacred ritual. Click. The musket¡¯s chamber locked into ce, and Paradise aimed the weapon at Taesan. ¡®A gun?¡¯ This was a new kind of opponent. A weapon forged frompressed spacetime wasn¡¯t something Taesan had encountered before. He needed to observe its nature and strength before devising a countermeasure. Paradise fired. The pitch-ck bullet flew at a blinding speed, almost too fast for the naked eye to follow. Taesan twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the projectile. Or so he thought. Zzznnng! The bullet left an unnatural ripple in the air, curving mid-flight. Taesan felt an intense impact against his chest, sending him skidding backward. [What the hell?] [Master?] Taesan clicked his tongue. The bullet fell to the ground, rolling away. Though his Self-Stabilization protected him, it wouldn¡¯t hold up against repeated attacks. Paradise sneered. "You insolent rat... daring to wield the authority of the Old Gods." With deliberate slowness, he chambered another bullet into the musket. "Master dodged it... but it still hit?" "I saw the same thing. What¡¯s going on?" ¡®So that¡¯s how it works.¡¯ The bullet¡¯s effect wasn¡¯t about speed or force. It wasn¡¯t merely a concept of uracy or destruction. ¡®Does it circle back?¡¯ This was unlike any power Taesan had faced before. Dissecting Time¡¯s Authority Paradise had shown two abilities so far. Taesan focused on unraveling their mechanics. @@novelbin@@ [You have activated Mark Designation.] [You have activated Limited Blink.] Taesan teleported directly above Paradise. But as soon as he appeared, he noticed it again. He was moving in slow motion. ¡®This isn¡¯t just about my speed being reduced.¡¯ Even his fall, dictated by gravity, was sluggish. It was as if time itself around Paradise was distorted, slowing Taesan¡¯s every movement. Paradise smirked, drawing a dagger. "Foolish." He aimed the de at Taesan¡¯s neck, but before it couldnd, Taesan activated another skill. [You have activated elerated Mark Designation.] Taesan¡¯s body surged forward, moving faster than Paradise anticipated. Though still slower than usual, the unexpected eleration caused Paradise¡¯s dagger to miss. The farther Taesan moved from Paradise, the more his speed returned to normal. Reaching his designated mark, Taesan quickly regained hisposure. [You have activated Baal¡¯s Designated Spatial Copse.] Whrr! The space where Paradise stood began to distort. But the distortion itself was sluggish, and Paradise simply stepped aside, avoiding the attack effortlessly. "Pointless. Utterly pointless." Paradise¡¯s mockingughter filled the air. rity Amid Chaos Taesan quietly processed everything he had seen. ¡®I understand now.¡¯ He was certain. One of Paradise''s authorities was the ability to manipte time within a certain radius around himself. Outside that range, one would remain unaffected. But the closer one drew to Paradise, the slower the flow of time became. Within close proximity, the effect would peak, making it effortless for Paradise to evade any attack. It was an authority designed to deny closebat¡ªa frustratingly troublesome power. "So you¡¯re using every strange power imaginable." Click. Paradise calmly loaded his pistol and aimed it at Taesan again. This time, Taesan didn¡¯t bother to dodge. [You have activated The Protector¡¯s Three Shields.] [You have activated the Radiant Barrier of Shining Blue Light.] [You have activated Astaroth¡¯s Darkness Devourer.] With the authority of the Earth, Taesan fortified his body. There was no escaping it. Even when he dodged, the attack stillnded. If evasion was pointless, he would face it head-on. The trigger was pulled, and a jet-ck bullet flew toward him. Taesan summoned Great Copse to intercept the projectile head-on. Crack! The Great Copse collided with the bullet. The bullet wavered, creating countless afterimages and distortions. But in mere moments, the bullet pierced through the Great Copse and began to dismantle Taesan¡¯s barriers, one by one. Taesan infused his sword with divine energy and swung it. ng! The de met the bullet mid-air. For a moment, Taesan¡¯s body was pushed back. The force behind the bullet was overwhelming, almost too much to endure. But Taesan didn¡¯t retreat. He drew even more divine energy, imbuing his sword with a zing golden light that seemed capable of setting the world ame. The bullet distorted once again, drawing afterimages as if rewinding time. And then, as if by pure chance, it found the faintest weakness in the golden light surrounding his sword. The bullet struck Taesan¡¯s arm. Crash! The impact shattered Taesan¡¯s Self-Stabilizationpletely. Taesan clicked his tongue. The bullet had twisted and turned, as though rewinding time itself, to target the weakest point in his defenses. ¡®A thousand possibilities condensed into one?¡¯ He wasn¡¯t entirely certain yet, but he was beginning to understand. Every single one of Paradise¡¯s abilities was annoyinglyplex. Yet Taesan¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t dark. In fact, his eyes sparkled. "Not bad." Taesan adjusted his stance. Paradise clicked his tongue in irritation. "You cannot block or ovee the authority bestowed upon me by my master. And yet you cling to your pathetic hope? Truly foolish." Paradise smiled darkly. "Then I shall shatter even that hope for you." With supreme confidence, he raised both arms wide. The world began to warp. Something was twisting. A colossal force was tearing apart thews of reality. Paradise let out a booming cry. "Oh, my lord! I offer this world unto you! Defile it with your glory!" Kiiiiiiii! An eerie sound filled the air as powerful shockwaves rippled outward. Taesan prepared to move in response but immediately realized something shocking. He couldn¡¯t move. No¡ªmore urately, the world itself had stopped moving. ¡®What?¡¯ Inside, Taesan reeled in disbelief. Time within the entire area hade to aplete halt¡ªeven for him. ¡®This...¡¯ He recognized the phenomenon. Paradiseughed triumphantly. "This is the greatest authority my master has granted me! Witness its might!" The servant drew a dagger and charged at the frozen Taesan, aiming for his chest. "Die!" Taesan tried to respond. But it was impossible. Neither mana, nor magic, nor his physical body would move. Ordinary means had no effect in this suspended time. Only powers of equal standing could function. Within the frozen world, both divine energy and the ck energy of corruption began to stir. Even though both powers were greatly restricted by the halted time, they managed to barely manifest. Taesanbined the two forces into one. A gray energy erupted into existence within the suspended reality. And then, he detonated it. BOOM! Paradise hastily retreated as the explosion shattered the time-stopping authority. The frozen world resumed its normal flow. Taesan immediately put distance between himself and Paradise. Paradise narrowed his eyes. "...You managed to resist the authority? No wonder my master warned us about you. But that¡¯s all it amounts to." The servant grinned. "My authority is control over time itself! No matter how hard you struggle, victory is beyond your grasp!" The authority bestowed by his master allowed him to manipte the absolute concept of time. Convinced of his victory, Paradise red at Taesan, expecting despair in his eyes. Instead, his pupils quivered in disbelief. On Taesan¡¯s lips, there was a smile. It wasn¡¯t one of defiance, but pure amusement¡ªalmost joyous. "You... what are you?" Paradise¡¯s voice faltered. He had just stopped time¡ªa feat no being in this world should be able to resist. It was an absolutew under hisplete control. And yet Taesan showed no signs of shock or fear. It was as if this disy of power was something familiar, something mundane to him. "No, seriously." Taesan¡¯s smile deepened, unable to suppress his growing excitement. "Thank you." Chapter 472: Floor 89: The Old God鈥檚 Outpost (5) When Taesan expressed gratitude, Paradise''s eyes wavered. He couldn¡¯tprehend Taesan¡¯s words. He had disyed overwhelming, near-absolute authority, and yet his opponent was thankful. It was irrational. But Taesan was sincere. "So this is how I get an opportunity." He was always calcting. "I can''t obtain every skill." Countless skills he had acquired in his past life. Among them, some would undoubtedly have to be abandoned in this life. "There are skills I must obtain, though." Skills like Multiplication and Skill Designation Reset were invaluable. He had resolved to acquire those two at any cost. And he had a n to achieve it. Before leaving thebyrinth, he would ensure they were his. But other skills? They were less certain. Particrly, Temporal Stasis. The ability to freeze time in the surrounding area. A near-absolute skill, even effective against apostles. But that was its limit. While Multiplication and Skill Designation Reset directly affected Taesan himself, Temporal Stasis manipted the world atrge. It was a skill akin to a rule¡ªaw that interfered with the world itself. For beings like transcendents or the Old Gods, suchws could be overridden by strongerws or broken entirely. This was a nuance he hadn¡¯t known in his past life. Back then, he couldn¡¯t even face a single apostle, let alone stronger opponents. There had been no need to consider suchplexities. But that was no longer the case. Now, Taesan could defeat apostles with rtive ease. His main enemies were the Old Gods. Against them, Temporal Stasis was unlikely to work. Of course, it remained an extraordinary skill. At the level of immortals, it was practically invincible. Even transcendents would expend significant effort to counter it. But the real issuey elsewhere. He had no way to obtain it. Temporal Stasis was among the most difficult and luck-dependent skills to acquire. Gathering thousands of repelling projectiles in a confined space to meet specific conditions was nearly impossible. Even if the conditions were met, it would require more luck than skill or effort on Taesan¡¯s part. Unlike Multiplication or Skill Designation Reset, which he was confident he could earn under the right circumstances, Temporal Stasis was a gamble. After much deliberation, Taesan hade to terms with letting it go. But Taesan wasn¡¯t disheartened. He couldn¡¯t have everything. To gain something, sacrifices were necessary. By giving up a few skills, he had achieved transcendent power that was unattainable in his previous life. That was something to celebrate. And now, an enemy stood before him wielding the very power of Temporal Stasis. Taesan couldn¡¯t suppress a grin. ¡°Perfect.¡± His greedy gaze locked onto Paradise. Unconsciously, Paradise took a step back. Taesan braced his legs. Boom! His body elerated. Taesan swung his arm, manifesting a wave of dark energy. [You have activated Asmodeus¡¯s Chains of Corruption.] tter! Chains materialized, flying toward Paradise. He quickly regained hisposure and dodged. [You have activated Sure Hit.] The chains immediately adjusted their trajectory to pursue Paradise. ¡°Tsk.¡± Clicking his tongue, Paradise stomped the ground. The chains slowed enough for him to create distance without difficulty. But the relentless pursuit of the chains posed a significant threat, no matter how slow they became. They would not stop until they hit their target. [You have activated Limited Blink.] Taesan teleported directly in front of Paradise. [You have activated Call of Destruction.] [You have activated Embers of Cmity.] Two apocalyptic forces manifested, surging toward Paradise. These powers, wielded by a transcendent, carried enough destructive force to obliterate the world. Clicking his tongue, Paradise drew a pistol. He knew he had to destroy the pursuing forces or they would haunt him indefinitely. He smoothly loaded bullets into the chamber,pleting the action with practiced precision before raising the gun. Bang! The bullet tore through the air, shattering the forces chasing him and redirecting its trajectory toward Taesan. Taesan neither dodged nor blocked. [Your First Attack Immunity has activated.] ¡°Urgh!¡± As the immunity took effect, Paradise¡¯s body momentarily trembled. He resisted the power that tried to rewind his actions. ¡°How dare you!¡± Paradise roared, forcing his body back to stability. ¡°So much resistance,¡± Taesan muttered. It was clear that the closer beings were to the level of the Old Gods, the more they could resist thebyrinth¡¯s skills. Taesan pressed forward, closing the distance. Paradise quickly reloaded his gun but refrained from shooting immediately. Instead, he dodged attacks and maintained his distance, only firing after some time. Bang! The bullet fired again. Taesan focused on defense, but the bullet grazed his arm as it returned repeatedly. [Your Second Attack Immunity has activated.] "It has a cooldown." Paradise seemed to wait deliberately between shots. The power to rewind time likely required a certain cooldown period before it could be used again. "Approximately ten seconds." With that calction, Taesan charged toward Paradise. But each time he fired, Paradise widened the gap, quickly reloading and moving farther away. ¡°What a strange power! But it¡¯s useless!¡± Paradiseughed maniacally as he fired again. His authority ensured his bullets would hit, no matter what. In response, Taesan surrounded himself with barriers and holy energy,yering them evenly across his body. The bullet struck his barriers. Crack! Time rewound repeatedly. The bullet adjusted endlessly, seeking the correct answer. At this rate, it would eventually break through. So Taesan consumed it. He summoned darkness. Then, with Boundary Line, he enveloped the bullet. Crack! Time rewound endlessly. But the bullet couldn¡¯t prate the gray barrier. It sought an answer but found none. Paradise¡¯s mocking smile faded as his pupils widened in disbelief. Crack... The bullet lost its power, failing to reach Taesan. Tap. ¡°What the...?¡± Paradise stammered. Taesan unleashed ck magic and unholy spells toward the startled Paradise. The earlier exchange had confirmed it: Paradise required his gun to block attacks. Without it, he had no means of defense. Which meant Taesan could unleash his full strength. Utilizing countless powers, he pressed his advantage. At the same time, he kept moving beyond the range of Paradise¡¯s time interference. Paradise, forced to use his bullets defensively, was unable to mount a proper offense. Meanwhile, Taesan countered each shot with Boundary Line, neutralizing the attacks without issue. After a prolonged chase, Paradise¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Haha! Finally!¡± he eximed, spreading his arms wide. ¡°My master! I offer this world to you! Defile it with your presence!¡± Screeeeeech! The World Freezes. Taesan quickly analyzed the flow of time. "Five minutes." Paradise had activated his authority to stop time, and exactly five minutes had passed before he could use it again. The cooldown for his ability to stop time was five minutes. Having confirmed this, Taesan detonated Boundary Line, forcibly restarting the frozen time. Despite his authority being countered, Paradise¡¯s face bore a confident, triumphant smile. ¡°You stand no chance! Your powers are indeed formidable, but their limits are all too clear!¡± He had already recognized that Taesan wielded an unnatural, ashen power. What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that this power could resist the authority of the Old Gods so effectively. But ultimately, that power would deplete. In contrast, Paradise¡¯s authority was infinite and inexhaustible. @@novelbin@@ In a prolonged fight, victory was assured. Paradise had no doubts. Yet, no matter what Paradise proimed, Taesan paid him no mind, instead organizing his thoughts. Paradise¡¯s powers could be divided into three main abilities. The first was his time-maniption field, which slowed time in the surrounding area. The closer one approached him, the slower time would flow. The second was his offensive authority to rewind time. Its principle was simple: a battle of probabilities. No matter how slim the odds of sess, through endless repetition, the attack would eventually seed. It mirrored the skill Ten Thousand Possibilities that Lee Taeyeon had once wielded. The differencey in execution. While Ten Thousand Possibilities involved analyzing probabilities and actively creating conditions for sess, Paradise¡¯s authority forcibly rewound time until the desired oue was achieved. It was essentially a superior version, but it had a limitation: it required the use of a gun. Paradise¡¯s weapon¡ªa pistol¡ªwas integral to his authority. Despite his immense power, he meticulously and deliberately loaded his gun, as though performing a sacred ritual. Even though he could manipte time, he still took such painstaking care during the reloading process. This act was clearly a restriction tied to his authority. The power itself, however, was undeniable. The Absolute Barrier, which could withstand over ten strikes from a high-level immortal, had been shattered in just two shots. If one of those bulletsnded, even Taesan wouldn¡¯t emerge unscathed. And finally, there was the third ability. The absolute power to stop time. Unless countered by Boundary Line, it was insurmountable. Once activated, it required a cooldown of five minutes. These were the strengths of the herald of the Old Gods. ¡°Not impressive,¡± Taesan muttered. It was tricky and unique. As an authority akin to aw of nature, it was certainly powerful. But it posed no significant threat to him. The analysis wasplete. Now, all that remained was for him to take what he desired. Chapter 473: Floor 89: The Old God鈥檚 Outpost (6) To defeat Paradise, Taesan needed to ovee his authority. The simplest method would be to use Chaos Domain. By distorting the veryws and concepts of the world, even the power of the Old Gods could be crushed. However, Boundary Line had already been significantly depleted. Arge amount had been used to forcibly normalize frozen time. Chaos Domain was a power that, even at full capacity, could only be used once or twice. Using it now carried an enormous risk. But there was no need to rely on it. While Chaos Domain was close to omnipotence, Taesan was confident he could defeat Paradise without it. He already knew how to deal with someone like him¡ªhe had once fought Lee Taeyeon, who had wielded simr abilities. Taesan adjusted his sword, his movements deliberate. Paradise flinched. The air suddenly shifted. Taesan began gathering demonic energy. [You have activated Marbas¡¯s ck Wave.] [You have activated Starlight Arrow.] [You have activated Mana Storm.] In an instant, dozens of spells and dark magic materialized in the world. Taesan spun quickly, channeling mana and demonic energy as he encircled Paradise. Just as Paradise prepared to fire his gun, he realized something. Taesan¡¯s power was literally engulfing the world. To the left, storms raged. To the right, a ck wave surged. In front, arrows of light flew. Behind him, waves of frost advanced. Above, a space darkened by shadow loomed. His entire field of vision was blocked by abination of magic and dark energy¡ªthere was nothing he could see. Panicking, Paradise tried to sense Taesan¡¯s presence and aim his weapon, but Taesan responded effortlessly. [You have activated Stealth.] [You have activated Baal¡¯s Ovepping Shadows.] Taesan¡¯s presence disappeared entirely. The only thing Paradise could perceive were the magic spells hurtling toward him. ¡°Foolish! Even so!¡± Paradise growled, baring his teeth. ¡°You can¡¯t hide from my authority!¡± He spun and fired his gun wildly. Bang! Crack! The bullet rewound time, twisting through the air, searching for Taesan. Paradise¡¯s authority of possibility would repeat endlessly until the desired oue was achieved. Even if Paradise himself didn¡¯t know the answer, the authority would find it. Escaping the bullet, no matter how well hidden, was supposedly impossible. Crack, crack, crack! But the bullet stopped. No matter how many times it rewound, it failed to find its mark, piercing only empty space. ¡°W-What? How?¡± Taesan¡¯s passive skill, Shadow Walker, was the reason. The skill ensured that any attack unable to recognize its target would never hit. While endless repetition would eventually seed if there was even a sliver of a chance, attacks with zero probability were useless. Frustrated, Paradise quickly began reloading his gun. But Taesan¡¯s spells, which had enveloped the area, were already upon him. The closer Paradise was to Taesan, the slower his movements became, but he couldn¡¯t simply move the overwhelming attacks aside. Paradise¡¯s mind raced. If he used his gun, he could carve out a path, but Taesan would undoubtedly exploit the opening. In that case, he would force his way through. @@novelbin@@ The magic surrounding him wasn¡¯t all that strong. If he endured the damage, breaking through was possible. Paradise decided to push through the wave of frost. Compared to the other spells, it seemed weaker and would result in the least damage. Crackle! ¡°Urgh!¡± Frost clung to his entire body. Gritting his teeth, Paradise endured and sessfully broke through. ¡°I figured you¡¯d do that.¡± But that was exactly what Taesan had anticipated. What greeted Paradise on the other side was a shining, golden Great Copse. Breaking through by targeting a weaker spot was the logical choice. Taesan had expected this and preemptively fused divine energy with Great Copse, setting it as a trap. The radiant golden orb filled Paradise¡¯s vision. He thought he had seeded in escaping, only to face a new assault. If he had been calmer, he might have realized Great Copse was a trap. Instead, Paradise reflexively raised his gun. Bang! The bullet rewound countless times, destroying Great Copse. Taesan didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. [You have activated Mana Storm [Chaos].] Crack, crack, crack! A gray storm surged. In an instant, Paradise¡¯s entire body was shredded. He let out a pained groan and staggered back, his body battered and torn. ¡°You¡¯re still standing after that? You¡¯re tougher than I thought,¡± Taesan remarked. ¡°You bastard!¡± Taesan lunged forward. The cooldown for Paradise¡¯s authority was ten seconds¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t give him any time to recover. He swung his sword, infused with ashen energy, resisting the slowed time as he targeted Paradise. Paradise barely managed to block with a dagger. ng! If both were at their peak, Paradise wouldn¡¯t have been able to block Taesan¡¯s attacks. However, the slowed time even affected Boundary Line, reducing Taesan¡¯s speed by half. "I can¡¯t fully resist it." The slow-time field was an area-based authority. Without activating Chaos Domain or enveloping himself entirely in Boundary Line, it was impossible topletely negate its effects. Even so, Paradise barely managed to buy himself ten seconds. But using his gun required reloading the bullets. Paradise gritted his teeth, enduring damage as he reloaded. Blood poured from his side as Taesan¡¯s de inflicted a deep wound. Despite the injury, Paradise sessfully created distance and finished reloading. [You have activated Random Blink.] Taesan teleported behind Paradise. Realizing the shift in position, Paradise hastily gathered mana. [You have activated Great Copse [Chaos].] [You have activated Spell eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] [You have activated Limited Blink.] A chaotic Great Copse materialized behind Paradise while Taesan charged at him from the front. Caught between the two attacks, Paradise¡¯s eyes darted in desperation. No matter how many possibilities he rewound, his bullet couldn¡¯t pierce both the front and back simultaneously. Forcing Paradise into a choice that exceeded the scope of his authority, Taesan left him with no way out. Paradise¡¯s panicked eyes whirled before he made his decision. Bang! The shot was aimed at Taesan. But it was the wrong choice. [Your Third Attack Immunity has activated.] ¡°What the¡ªdamn it!¡± Paradise spat, cursing in frustration. The Great Copse behind him detonated. Boom! Paradise was thrown to the ground, his body rolling across the terrain. Taesan closed in, swinging his sword, leaving a deep gash across Paradise¡¯s back. Despite the injuries, Paradise didn¡¯t fall. Desperately, he stood again, reloading his gun. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievably durable,¡± Taesan said, clicking his tongue. Even attacks reinforced with Boundary Line weren¡¯t enough to finish him. Although Paradise didn¡¯t seem to possess any physical reinforcement authority, his resilience was extraordinary. "Not that it changes anything." Taesan unleashed a barrage of spells. The ground fractured, the air twisted, and the sky split open. Crack! Opening his inventory, Taesan summoned a sentient spear that flew freely, adding to Paradise¡¯s confusion. ¡°You... damn you!¡± Paradise stammered, overwhelmed by the barrage of attacks. As soon as the ten-second cooldown ended, he fired his bullet. But it was a mistake. The bullet was wasted, and Taesan exploited the opening again. No matter how powerful the authority, its effectiveness ultimately depended on the user. Forcing Paradise into constant mistakes and wasted efforts, Taesan chipped away at his defenses. Just as he had done against Lee Taeyeon, Taesan created scenarios and conditions that the enemy couldn¡¯t simte, ensuring his victory. Boom! Wounds continued to umte on Paradise¡¯s body. Hisplexion grew paler with each passing moment. [You have activated World¡¯s de.] The de of the world materialized, its hue tainted with ash. Paradise fired his gun, the bullet colliding with the de. Both shattered upon impact. Taesan pressed forward through the crumbling remnants of the de, targeting Paradise. Terror filled Paradise¡¯s face. ¡°My... my master! I offer this world to you! Defile it as you see fit!¡± Screeeech! The world began to freeze again. Five minutes had already passed. But Taesan was ready to end it. [You have activated Chaos Domain.] With his remaining ashen energy, Chaos Domain wouldst only a few seconds. That was all he needed. The ashen world consumed the frozen one. Freed entirely from the influence of slowed time, Taesan advanced. Tap. ¡°Wait¡ª!¡± Paradise cried out, panic-stricken. Until now, Taesan had only countered the frozen world with Boundary Line, which required a slight dy. But Chaos Domain crushed the authority of the Old Gods outright. Crunch! ¡°Urgh!¡± Taesan¡¯s de pierced Paradise¡¯s heart. He coughed up blood as the life drained from his body. ¡°I... I...!¡± Paradise tried to speak, but the ash consumed everything. ¡°Next time, send an Old God directly. Their envoy won¡¯t suffice.¡± Thud. Taesan drove the de deeper, ensuring Paradise waspletely subdued. The authority and essence within Paradise began to escape, trying to return to its true master in another dimension. ¡°Not so fast.¡± Taesan smiled, drawing forth his power. With his Seed of Life skill having reached 40% proficiency, Taesan now had the ability to directly manipte spiritual energy. He crushed and suppressed the escaping essence, forcibly pulling it into himself. Despite its resistance¡ªits desperate attempts to return to its master¡ªTaesan¡¯s sheer force of will overwhelmed it. In the end, the immense essence was entirely absorbed into Taesan. [You have defeated the Envoy of the One Who Walks Through Time.] [You have shattered countless possibilities to im victory. You have acquired the special skill [Possibility Denial].] [You have stolen the transcendent authority [Time Interference].] As the messages appeared, Taesan felt an entirely new sensation coursing through him. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. For the first time, he understood the scope of his newfound power, as well as its limitations. He couldn¡¯t suppress hisughter. He could now manipte the flow of time in the world itself. Chapter 475: 90th Floor: The Wizard (1) The end of thebyrinth was now within sight. Leaving behind the ever-familiar shopkeeper, Taesan arrived on the 90th floor. The room he stepped into was utterly ordinary. It was just another generic space, identical to countless others he had encountered on his journey. But the person waiting there was anything but ordinary. The man had gray hair. His build was unremarkable, and his face was the kind you¡¯d forget instantly if you passed him on the street. The wizard who had created thebyrinth waved his hand. ¡°Nice to see you again, Taesan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Balbabamba had mentioned that they were no longer responsible for the floors beyond the 89th. Someone else would take over¡ªand it had been easy to guess who that someone would be. ¡°Balbabamba won¡¯t appear from this point onward. This is beyond his role.¡± ¡°So this is goodbye?¡± ¡°You might see him again on asion, but it won¡¯t bemon,¡± the wizard replied casually before turning his gaze to Bardray, who had taken on his sword form. ¡°Should I say congrattions? Or should I pity you? Hero.¡± [I¡¯m satisfied enough with myself. At least I¡¯m not in a situation where I need someone¡¯s pity.] ¡°Then congrattions it is. Congrattions. You may not have achieved your desires, but you¡¯ve found peace with reality.¡± The wizard hummed softly. ¡°You were quite the adventurer, one I found intriguing. It¡¯s a shame that your story ended the way it did... but if you¡¯re content with your conclusion, that¡¯s all that matters. Oh, and there¡¯s one more thing I¡¯m curious about.¡± His gaze shifted to Taesan¡¯s ring. ¡°What exactly are you?¡± [Do you... know about me?] Akasha¡¯s voice was quiet, almost cautious. The wizard shook his head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Taesan was genuinely surprised. Akasha, the Apostle of the Forgotten Goddess, existed within thebyrinth. As the master of thisbyrinth, the wizard should have known everything about it. ¡°I can sense something, but I can¡¯t discern what it is. That¡¯s why I need to hear the story.¡± With a serious expression, the wizard listened as Taesan exined how he had encountered the apostle, prayed to the statue of the Forgotten Goddess, and gained her blessings. The wizard stroked his chin as he processed Taesan¡¯s ount. ¡°That¡¯s... odd.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t fully understand your ownbyrinth?¡± ¡°No,¡± the wizard denied firmly. ¡°I understand this cepletely. In fact, I have to. There¡¯s no other way.¡± His sharp eyes fixed on Akasha. ¡°But I didn¡¯t notice anything about the goddess you mentioned. That¡¯s fascinating. Could it be that she¡¯s forcibly erased herself from perception? So interference of this nature is possible after all.¡± The wizard chuckled, though hisughter carried a faint edge. ¡°Truly, the world is full of nuisances.¡± ¡°So, this is tied to the Old Gods, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Most likely.¡± The demon had also suspected a connection between Akasha and the Old Gods, and the wizard seemed to agree. ¡°They erased all traces of this goddess from our awareness. The only reason we even know about her now is because of you, an irregrity that disrupted their n. Otherwise, we¡¯d have never known. Only the Old Gods are capable of something like this.¡± After mulling it over, Taesan asked, ¡°Do you know anything about the Old God called the Usurper?¡± ¡°The Usurper?¡± ¡°They were mentioned by others. And Akasha reacted to the name.¡± ¡°Hmm, the Usurper...¡± The wizard fell silent, lost in thought. After some time, he spoke. ¡°I do recall the name. They were an Old God who asionally appeared during the ancient wars. But as far as I know, they never took direct action... or maybe I was mistaken.¡± He muttered to himself, piecing together fragmented memories. ¡°Do they erase existence itself... or devour the very concept? This is worth investigating.¡± The wizard smiled, his enthusiasm rekindled. ¡°Well, this has been enlightening. And now, onest thing.¡± The wizard stepped toward Taesan, his hand reaching out. The closer his hand came, the slower its movements became. ¡°Amazing,¡± the wizard remarked, his eyes gleaming. ¡°When you obtained Self-Stabilization, it was impressive, but now you¡¯vepletely mastered the authority of the One Who Walks Through Time. If this continues, you¡¯ll be able to steal the authorities of other Old Gods as well.¡± Taesan stared at the wizard silently. ¡°What¡¯s that look for?¡± the wizard asked, tilting his head. ¡°It¡¯s just... not something you¡¯d find reassuring, is it?¡± After all, Taesan now had the power to copse the very fabric of order andw. While this had always been true, his capacity to do so was steadily increasing. The authorities of the Old Gods¡ªonce banished from the world¡ªwere now bing his. This wasn¡¯t something transcendents would easily approve of. ¡°I understand your concern. But, Taesan,¡± the wizard said calmly, ¡°we don¡¯t intend to repeat their mistakes.¡± ¡°Plenty of others don¡¯t seem to share that sentiment.¡± The God of Death, for instance, had already intervened in thebyrinth to eliminate him. The wizard¡¯s face grew slightly awkward. ¡°Well... not all of us are so reasonable. But as I¡¯ve told you before, you¡¯re safe as long as you¡¯re within thebyrinth.¡± Satisfied, the wizard pped his hands. ¡°Enough idle talk. Let¡¯s get to the point. Do you know why I¡¯m here, Taesan?¡± ¡°To test me.¡± The quest itself was clear¡ªpass the wizard¡¯s trial. There was no other reason for him to appear. The wizard nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m here to test you. You need to prove yourself to me.¡± ¡°Prove what?¡± ¡°Your worth.¡± The wizard stepped back, creating a distance between them, his gaze steady as if preparing for a duel. Taesan frowned as the wizard spoke again. ¡°The 90th-floor quest is simple. Break through me using your strength. If you seed, you pass.¡± ¡°That¡¯s insane.¡± Taesan let out a hollowugh. The wizard was a transcendent. While his exact level of power wasn¡¯t known, he was likely on par with Mariana Rakiratas¡ªone of the strongest among transcendents. Even though Taesan had reached the realm of transcendence, he was at the very bottom of that hierarchy. The gap between them was insurmountable. He possessed Boundary Line, an irregr power, but that alone wouldn¡¯t bridge such a divide. ¡°Try everything you can. I¡¯ll restore everything except your divine energy and ashen power.¡± ¡°Those are the most important things,¡± Taesan grumbled. ¡°Sorry, but those are beyond my control. I¡¯ll hold back appropriately, though.¡± Taesan sighed, shaking his head. The wizard clearly had no intention of altering the trial. Comining further was pointless. ¡°What are the exact conditions?¡± The wizard smiled, pointing to himself. ¡°This body isn¡¯t my true form.¡± Taesan had already noticed. Unlike thest time they met, the wizard¡¯s physical presence now felt peculiar. The power and essence were the same, but there was something hollow about it. ¡°This is a puppet directly connected to me. Injure this puppet, and you clear the 90th-floor quest.¡± Taesan unsheathed his sword. The wizard observed him calmly, seemingly preparing to defend rather than attack. If he had chosen to attack, Taesan¡¯s chances would have been non-existent. Given the circumstances, Taesan abandoned all thought of defense, focusing solely on breaking through. [You have activated Magic Stacking.] [You have activated Great Copse [Negation].] A sphere of condensed darkness materialized in the air. Taesan didn¡¯t stop there. He unleashed every power at his disposal. Dark magic, the power of destruction, and an array of spells filled the room, saturating it with his presence. [You have activated Stealth.] Taesan concealed himself, letting his amassed powers hurtle toward the wizard. ¡°Impressive,¡± the wizard murmured in quiet admiration. Even the forces gathered here were enough to end a world. Taesan was undeniably powerful. Even without Boundary Line, his strength was formidable and not to be dismissed. The wizard pped lightly. Ring! A faint ripple spread across the room, as gentle as a pebble skipping across the surface of a calmke. But the impact was anything but small. The ripple tore through Taesan¡¯s amassed forces. The dark sphere of Great Copse dissolved into nothingness. The ckened space of Baal¡¯s domain was casually pushed aside, as though a child had knocked over a toy. All of Taesan¡¯s attacks, unleashed in full force, were erased by the ripple as if they were never there. @@novelbin@@ Yet, Taesan wasn¡¯t surprised. He had expected the wizard to dismantle his efforts with the ease of toppling a sandcastle. What he had aimed for was a microscopic gap in the destruction. As his attacks copsed and dissipated, Taesan emerged. His entire body was cloaked in ashen energy. He had enveloped himself with Boundary Line. And then he expanded it. [You have activated Chaos Domain.] Laws and order unraveled as Taesan¡¯s domain overrode the room. In its ce, a world entirely of his own making took shape. The Chaos Domain wouldn¡¯tst long¡ªonly three seconds at best. But three seconds was all he needed. The ripple began to crush and suppress his domain, but Taesan advanced regardless. [You have activated Possibility Denial.] His sword, brimming with the power of Boundary Line, shot forward, aiming directly for the wizard. ¡°Ah,¡± the wizard exhaled softly, unable to suppress a note of admiration. The power Taesan wielded was an anomaly. If he continued to grow, reaching the heights of the Old Gods themselves, even they might find it challenging to counter such a force. But now was not that time. ¡°Come to me.¡± The wizard murmured a short incantation, and something monumental descended into the puppet. The wizard extended his hand. Taesan¡¯s sword came to a halt, gripped firmly in the wizard¡¯s hand. Crack! Taesan¡¯s pupils widened. The ashen energy of Boundary Line¡ªa force that had shattered everything in its path until now¡ªwas unable to pierce the wizard¡¯s body. Around the wizard¡¯s hand was something unusual. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Taesan recognized it. It was aw. A fundamental principle of the world, one that even the Chaos Domain couldn¡¯t dissolve. Thew wrapped around the wizard¡¯s body like a protective cocoon. Taesan poured more power into his sword, causing Boundary Line to re violently. But the barrier wouldn¡¯t break. Though thew fractured and crumbled under Boundary Line, it was immediately reced by a new one. ¡°Boundary Line can destroyws, but it takes time. If I replenish them faster than you can dismantle them, your power will never reach me,¡± the wizard exined calmly. With a subtle application of force, the wizard pushed Taesan back. Boom! Taesan was sent flying, mming into the wall of thebyrinth. He gritted his teeth as the impact shattered his Self-Stabilization. Still, he forced himself to his feet, his body battered but unyielding. The wizard dusted off his hands, speaking nonchntly. ¡°Your power is undoubtedly formidable, but you haven¡¯t fully mastered it yet. And so, it can still be countered.¡± The wizard smiled, a lighthearted yet knowing expression on his face. ¡°Remember this¡ªwe defeated the Old Gods.¡± The Old Gods were entities that could bend and shatter the world¡¯sws. They were undeniably stronger than Taesan at his current level. And yet, the transcendents had triumphed over them. Naturally, they had developed ways to counter such threats. ¡°Your approach is too ordinary to reach me. Still...¡± The wizard¡¯s expression softened into one of genuine admiration. ¡°In such a short time, you¡¯ve already begun to erode my domain. Even the Old Gods struggled to aplish that much. Truly, you are... otherworldly.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem like you¡¯re holding back much,¡± Taesan quipped, brushing dust off his armor. ¡°Apologies. But you must at least meet the baseline,¡± the wizard replied with a chuckle. ¡°You know what¡¯s waiting for you beyond this floor, don¡¯t you?¡± Taesan didn¡¯t respond, but he understood the implication. He had already reached the bottom rung of transcendence. He had defeated the Seventh Fragment of the World Breaker, ovee thebined assault of two immortals, and crushed even the envoy of the Old Gods. So what awaited him next? The answer wasn¡¯t hard to deduce. His future opponents would be none other than the Old Gods and transcendents themselves¡ªbeings who ruled over existence. Chapter 476: 90th Floor: The Wizard (2) ¡°Even now, your growth is remarkable,¡± the wizard remarked. ¡°Honestly, across the entire universe, it¡¯s rare to see anyone progress as quickly as you.¡± It hadn¡¯t even been ten years since Taesan first entered thebyrinth. And yet, he had already surpassed the Immortals and reached the realm of transcendence. ¡°Barring a few extremely exceptional cases, no one has grown as fast as you. It¡¯s impressive¡ªextraordinary, even. But... from this point onward, talent and speed alone won¡¯t be enough.¡± Taesan stared at the wizard, his expression calm yet focused. The wizard shrugged. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡± With a wave of his hand, the wizard¡¯s authority enveloped Taesan. His health, mana, and demonic energy were restored to their peak. Taesan steadied his sword. ¡°Is there a time limit?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t one. Take as long as you need. Use whatever means you can¡ªbe it ingenuity, brute force, or outright trickery. The method doesn¡¯t matter. All that matters is breaking through me.¡± The wizard¡¯s presence grew more distinct. His immense authority and domain unfolded, filling the space with an overwhelming aura. Taesan had encountered this domain once before, but at the time, his strength had been insufficient toprehend its full nature. Now, he could see it clearly. The wizard¡¯s domain wasn¡¯t just an extension of himself¡ªit was thebyrinth itself. The space Taesan had traversed, filled with countless mechanisms, traps, and systems, was an extension of the wizard¡¯s will. @@novelbin@@ ¡°I am the wizard of thebyrinth, the one and only creator and ruler of this ce.¡± The wizard spread his arms, his grin widening. ¡°Show me everything you¡¯ve got.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue, his expression hardening with determination. Then, he moved. *** What followed was an exhausting battle. After the initial attack failed, Taesan resorted to trying as many approaches as possible to find a way through. He poured everything he had into breaching the wizard¡¯s defenses, while the wizard countered effortlessly. [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated de of Resolve.] [You have activated Copy.] His attacks, amplified to their peak, carried damage in the hundreds of thousands. Yet, the wizard simply waved his hand, unbothered. ¡°Those who achieve transcendence alone wield control overws. You need to understand the meaning of that.¡± A strange ripple spread from the wizard. Taesan¡¯s sword, bolstered by Addition, Copy, and de of Resolve, lost its power in an instant. The enhanced strength returned to its original state as if nullifiedpletely. The wizard then flicked his fingers. Pieces of thebyrinth¡¯s walls materialized and shot toward Taesan like meteors. The speed was overwhelming, making them nearly impossible to dodge entirely. Taesan moved swiftly, but a few fragments still struck him. [You have taken 111 damage.] [You have taken 111 damage.] Taesan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he noticed the damage notifications. Even his Absolute Defense Nullification failed to activate. The wizard spoke leisurely, his tone almost conversational. ¡°To controlws and concepts means to wield them entirely as one¡¯s will dictates.¡± Thebyrinth was the wizard¡¯s domain. Within it, allws and mechanisms operated under his will, and nothing born from thebyrinth¡¯s system could defy him. ¡°Unless you protect yourself with your own domain,byrinth skills won¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°Yeah, I figured,¡± Taesan muttered. If this were Earth, the situation might have been different. On Earth, Taesan¡¯s domain would offer some resistance to the wizard¡¯s interference. But here, within thebyrinth¡ªthe wizard¡¯s domain¡ªskills tied to its system were utterly ineffective. That meant Taesan had to rely on something outside of thebyrinth¡¯s framework. [You have activated Asmodeus¡¯s Chains of Corruption.] Chains shot forward. Taesanyered spells and ck magic on top of them. Unlike thebyrinth-based system, these abilities were derived from the Demon Lord and Zervand, unrted to the wizard¡¯s control. [You have activated the World¡¯s Sword.] A massive sword manifested, its size adjusted slightly to fit within thebyrinth but still towering in its might. Taesan swung the de. The wizard nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Correct. If your poweres from outside my domain, I can¡¯t erase it at will.¡± The wizard stomped lightly on the ground. With just that small gesture, Taesan¡¯s powers crumbled. The World¡¯s Sword shattered into countless fragments. ¡°But if the difference in strength and authority is too vast, it doesn¡¯t really matter.¡± ¡°Damn it,¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. He had expected this oue. He recalled Harmon, the god who had once ruled over Vegueseata. Harmon had been a transcendent. And yet, when the Demon Lord had clenched his fist lightly, both Harmon and his domain had been obliterated in an instant. Transcendents who governedws were lofty beings. Even when facing just a puppet of the wizard, the gap between them wasn¡¯t something that could be bridged so easily. That meant ordinarybyrinth skills, spells, or ck magic wouldn¡¯t work. He needed divine energy and ashen power. ¡°This is going to take a while,¡± Taesan muttered, quietly gathering his strength. Both divine energy and ashen power regenerated at an excruciatingly slow pace. Since even the wizard couldn¡¯t replenish them, Taesan had no choice but to wait. The wizard stood silently, showing no impatience. After some time, Taesan gripped his sword and rose to his feet. The wizard greeted him with a smile. Taesan¡¯s body was nowpletely cloaked in Boundary Line. As the wizard lightly flicked his fingers, an overwhelming force of pressure and authority descended upon Taesan. Grinding his teeth, Taesan endured. The Boundary Line surrounding his body red as he forcibly pushed back against the wizard¡¯s might. The wizard didn¡¯t press further. He simply observed, as though curious about what Taesan might attempt next. Finally, as Taesan closed the distance, he spoke an incantationced with power. ¡°Stop.¡± Buzz! The ck energy of Boundary Line swallowed the world. Time ground to a halt. The falling debris. The scattering ripples of energy. Everything froze in ce. Even the wizard¡¯s puppet was caught within the frozen world. Taesan charged forward. The duration of the time stop wasn¡¯t long¡ªhe had to finish it within that window. As his sword thrust toward the puppet, its body trembled. It was as though the puppet was resisting the frozen time, flickering with afterimages. Taesan pressed harder, aiming to pierce through. Crack! With a sound like shattering ss, the wizard¡¯s puppet moved. ¡°You¡¯re toote.¡± With a firm grip, the wizard caught Taesan¡¯s sword mid-thrust. Though the Boundary Line exploded outward, trying to erode the puppet, the protective domain surrounding the wizard constantly regenerated, filling every gap. ¡°You wield the authority of an Old God. Freezing the world¡¯s time is a powerful ability.¡± The wizard exerted strength, forcing Taesan to slide backward. ¡°But I¡¯ve fought the original owner of that power.¡± A long time ago, there had been a war between the transcendents and the Old Gods. And the transcendents had emerged victorious. ¡°The One Who Walks Through Time... That Old God obliterated the concept of time itself, copsing both the past and the future to transcend temporal boundaries. Compared to that, what you¡¯re doing now is unimpressive.¡± ¡°How reassuring,¡± Taesan muttered, steadying himself. Boundary Line, Chaos Domain, and even the time freeze¡ªall of it had failed. The wizard smirked. ¡°Keep trying.¡± *** Taesan didn¡¯t give up. He threw everything he had into the fight,bining every skill and ability at his disposal to try and break through the wizard¡¯s defenses. It was a relentless effort, filled with countless attempts to find even a sliver of hope. Taesan pushed himself for over a week, meticulously exploring every possible avenue to victory. And in the end, he reached a conclusion. It¡¯s impossible. He had believed there would be a weakness somewhere¡ªa gap he could exploit. After all, thebyrinth¡¯s trials always allowed for even the slimmest chance of sess. That¡¯s why he¡¯d tried everything in his power. But no solution emerged. Taesan had faced trials before that seemed insurmountable, yet he had always prevailed, achieving monumental feats. He believed in his ability to ovee any obstacle. If there were no clear path to victory, he would create one. If no options were avable, he would find an alternative. But this time was different. Although the opponent was just a puppet, unlike the Seventh Fragment of the Worldbreaker, this puppet was directly linked to the wizard. Its power was a slightly diminished version of the wizard¡¯s own¡ªarguably indistinguishable from the real thing. In essence, what stood in Taesan¡¯s way now was one of the strongest beings in the universe. At least in his current state, victory was utterly out of reach. Taesan closed his eyes. How could he win? No, how could he even reach such heights? This isn¡¯t a quest I can clear through simplebat. That didn¡¯t mean the quest was entirely unwinnable. Thebyrinth was designed so that even the faintest possibility could lead to sess. Taesan looked at the wizard. The wizard said nothing to the now motionless Taesan. He simply smiled quietly. It was clear that the wizard wanted something from him. What does he want from me? Taesan reyed the wizard¡¯s words in his mind. The wizard had said that from this point onward, he would face gods and transcendent beings, and that he needed to meet a certain standard to proceed. Taesan had agreed with this assessment. While he had grown strong and be exceptionally skilled, there were always those who stood higher. The gap between him and those who could influence the universe itself was undeniable. The wizard also mentioned that Taesan had grown rapidly, but that alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to reach their domain. The tone wasn¡¯t one of merely needing more ck energy or a stronger Boundary Line. Taesan pondered deeply. If he continued on his current path¡ªabsorbing power through soul elevation and relying on thebyrinth¡¯s system¡ªcould he reach the same level as the wizard? The answer was clear. It was possible. The Boundary Line and soul elevation were irregrities, powerful enough to allow him to consume the strength of countless strong beings and dramatically increase his power. If he did so, he could eventually grow powerful enough to confront even the wizard who created thebyrinth. But another answer also emerged. It¡¯s far too inefficient. The wizard¡¯s level was extraordinarily high. Reaching it by consuming the power of countless others would take an astronomical amount of time¡ªfar more than what it had taken to descend through thebyrinth so far. While this method would undoubtedly allow him to reach the wizard¡¯s level, it was an inefficient and clumsy approach. Witnessing the wizard¡¯s strength firsthand made this ringly apparent. Taesan opened his eyes. The wizard was silently watching him. Was this what he wanted to show me? That the methods Taesan had relied on so far wouldn¡¯t suffice to reach the heights above? Does he want me to realize something? And it wasn¡¯t something physical. Taesan closed his eyes again, falling deep into thought. The wizard observed him quietly, a faint smile ying on his lips. Chapter 477: 90th Floor. The Wizard (3) The wizard quietly observed Taesan. Taesan was profoundly peculiar. It wouldn¡¯t have been strange if he had already reached transcendence in his previous life. In fact, he should have. But he remained in the position of an ordinary mortal. And in this life, when he reached transcendence, not once did he falter. The moment he obtained the corresponding strength, he transcended immediately. It was as if he had been qualified from the very beginning. ¡®To be honest, I don¡¯t understand him.¡¯ Taesan was twisted. But the wizard couldn¡¯t discern what exactly was twisted, where it had gone awry, or where Taesan was meant to reach. No one could know. Except Taesan himself. To be a transcendent, the most important thing was what one built up on their own. But that wasn¡¯t all. It was merely one of the conditions to bing a transcendent. There were countless other qualifications and conditions to fulfill. One of those was self-awareness. Knowing oneself. Understanding what one had achieved. Contemting what one truly was. One had to know themselves. The wizard intended to give him that opportunity. ¡®I¡¯m relieved that he realized it quickly.¡¯ Self-reflection couldn¡¯t be achieved with someone¡¯s help or through hints. Even when pushed into extreme conditions or backed into a corner, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily lead to the desired oue. One had to confront the wall themselves and seek the answers. ¡°Find the answers within you.¡± The wizard murmured softly. *** Continuing by the old methods was proving to be difficult. If so, it was time to consider a new approach and forge a new path. But, as expected, the solution didn¡¯te easily. So, Taesan began to think carefully, step by step. ¡®A transcendent.¡¯ Not the state of transcendence achieved through divinity, but a higher realm where onemands their own domain and governsws. That level of existence was monstrous¡ªpossessing power that surpassedprehension and could influence the entire universe. Then, how could one ascend to that level? The conditions to reach transcendence. Taesan recalled something he had heard before: ¡®Starting as a mortal, it¡¯s what you build up from there.¡¯ This was of utmost importance. It was a truth he had heard countless times. However, it wasn¡¯t all there was to it. Even those who reached the realm of immortality built their powers based on what they had constructed as mortals. ¡®Is it a matter of what you build?¡¯ What had one built? What had they dedicated their life and soul to? Such subtle differences might separate one realm from another, but it didn¡¯t seem to be the entirety of it. There was something more. Something thaty between immortality and transcendence. But what that was, even Taesan didn¡¯t know. After pondering for a long time, Taesan shook his head. If it were something that could be realized through solitary thought, the Green Witch wouldn¡¯t have bothered to form a contract with him in the first ce. Shifting his focus, Taesan turned his thoughts inward, away from grand concepts, toward himself. ¡®They said I should have reached transcendence in my past life.¡¯ Be it immortality or transcendence, he should have attained it. Countless transcendent beings had told him this. Yet, in his past life, Taesan had remained mortal. He was undeniably peculiar, twisted in some way. So, where did that distortion originate? Thinking back, it truly was strange. Why could he wield the ck energy, something not permitted to exist in this world? Why could he, unlike anyone else, fuse divinity and ck energy to create the power known as the Boundary Line? Why was he capable of stealing and consuming the powers of Old Gods and transcendent beings? All of it was bizarre and defied understanding. The Archdemon had once told him: ¡°You are a mixed one.¡± When Taesan couldn¡¯tprehend those words, the demon offered him a hint: to reflect on his own journey. ¡®...My journey.¡¯ Where had he started? What had he achieved? How had he arrived here? Taesan delved into his memories. It wouldn¡¯t have been on Earth. There, he had been nothing more than an ordinary human. The journey the Archdemon referred to must have started when he first entered thebyrinth in his past life. He still remembered it vividly: a copsing world, monsters tearing through the skies, and the appearance of a choice window before them. At that moment, Taesan had instinctively chosen Easy Mode. When thebyrinth began, everyone had been confused and panicked. However, as they gradually understood the situation, they began descending through thebyrinth. Those who had chosen Easy Mode initially sighed in relief. Themunity was flooded with horror stories from those in Normal, Hard, and Alone Modes. Believing they had made the right choice, those in Easy Mode reassured themselves that they would survive. ¡®That assumption was wrong.¡¯ They realized the truth upon their first return to Earth. They had made the worst possible choice. At the very least, they should have chosen Normal Mode. Taesan had realized it then, too. If things continued as they were, he wouldn¡¯t survive. Only inevitable death awaited him. From that point on, he had changed. He sought strength to survive. Yet, no matter how strong he became, there was a limit to how much strength he could gain in Easy Mode. When others realized this and despaired, giving up, Taesan alone refused to quit. He searched for any means to grow stronger. That was when he discovered skills. ¡®I went through so much back then.¡¯ It had been grueling. At the time, no one knew the conditions for obtaining skills. Taesan had spent an unimaginable amount of effort just to figure them out. When he first acquired a main skill, it was after umting hundreds of useless ones. Countless times, he fulfilled seemingly impossible conditions only to gain worthless skills, or worse, gain nothing at all. There were moments when his resolve nearly broke. People around him advised him to take it easy, to slow down. But Taesan didn¡¯t stop. He pushed forward relentlessly, exploring every possibility to acquire skills. As a result, he eventually obtained abilities like Temporal Freeze and Multiplication. ¡®But in the end, there was a wall.¡¯ He was an Easy Mode yer. No matter how strong he became, his basic stats were limited. That was why he couldn¡¯t defeat an apostle. It was then, using the Fragment left behind by Lee Taeyeon, that he had returned. And now, here he stood. After oveing countless obstacles, growing in strength, he had reached the realm of transcendence. This was what he had built. Taesan grimaced. ¡®But it¡¯s not enough.¡¯ It was a monumental achievement, something worthy of being called a great feat. He had transcended mortality, and it wasn¡¯t surprising to others that he had done so. Yet, it didn¡¯t exin his ability to wield the Boundary Line or handle the rise in spiritual rank. At least, that was how Taesan judged it. The time he spent in Easy Mode likely wasn¡¯t the issue. Then, where was the problem? What had twisted him? He continued to think. ¡®...I¡¯m getting a sense of it.¡¯ But the answer wasn¡¯t clear. It felt like he was standing one step away, blocked by an invisible barrier. ¡®Now that I think about it...¡¯ A thought crossed Taesan¡¯s mind¡ªHaphran. He stood and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll step out for a moment.¡± ¡°Take your time. There¡¯s no rush.¡± The wizard bid him farewell with a leisurely nod. Taesan ascended through thebyrinth to find Haphran. ¡°You¡¯re back again. Do you have another request?¡± ¡°I do, but first, I have something to ask.¡± Taesan began. ¡°You¡¯ve seen my mental image, haven¡¯t you?¡± Haphran had connected their mental images before. Taesan had seen Haphran hammering alone in a world of mes. Haphran must have seen something in Taesan, too. If anyone might know something, it was him. At Taesan¡¯s question, Haphran hesitated before nodding. ¡°I did. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Can you tell me what you saw?¡± ¡°I can, but... it won¡¯t help much. Mental images don¡¯t hold real meaning until the person understands them themselves. Words from someone else are just words.¡± Haphran frowned and continued. ¡°Besides, it could cause problems. Your mind might be fixed on what I say.¡± ¡°Is that dangerous?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the nature of mental images,¡± Haphran exined. ¡°The moment someone else describes it to you, it imprints on your mind, whether you like it or not. It could shake the foundation of what you¡¯ve built.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about that.¡± Taesan replied with confidence. He was no longer someone who could be swayed by another¡¯s words. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see it clearly. I want an outside perspective.¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°If you insist...¡± Haphran stroked his chin thoughtfully before speaking. ¡°To be honest, I couldn¡¯t grasp everything. Even when our mental images were connected, you were far beyond my level. I could only perceive fragments.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± At the time, Taesan had been an immortal. A lesser being couldn¡¯t fully understand or absorb the essence of a higher one. ¡°What I saw... it was strange.¡± ¡°Strange?¡± ¡°Mental images reflect a person¡¯s core essence, usually in a straightforward way. But yours... yours was different. It was mixed.¡± ¡°Do you mean the ck energy?¡± That part didn¡¯t surprise him. He had acquired the ck energy, and it had be an integral part of him. His rise in spiritual rank involved devouring and stealing others¡¯ powers. He expected there would be some distortion. But this felt like more. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But something was off,¡± Haphran said with uncertainty. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just that the power you acquired became part of your mental image. Everything seemed jumbled, making it impossible to discern its essence.¡± Taesan froze at those words. ¡°Everything?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Haphran nodded. ¡°It was as if it had always been that way, mixed from the very beginning.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± The ck energy was something he had acquiredter. At most, it should have mixed partially. But if it had been twisted from the start, if everything had always been intertwined... ¡®Does that mean I was connected to them from the beginning?¡¯ The distortion hadn¡¯t startedter. It had been there from the very beginning. That was his essence, his origin. As he realized this truth, something within Taesan shifted. It was as if an invisible wall had crumbled, revealing something he had been unable to see or feel before. ¡°This...¡± The unseen, the unfelt, the unrecognized now etched itself into his being. ¡°...Something has changed,¡± Haphran remarked, slightly taken aback. ¡°It seems this helped?¡± ¡°More than enough.¡± Taesan suppressed the new energy swirling within him. He hadn¡¯t fully grasped it yet; much remained unknown. But what he had uncovered was already a significant breakthrough. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Oh, by the way...¡± Haphran gave him a puzzled look. ¡°When I saw your mental image, I glimpsed something deep within you.¡± ¡°Something?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what it was. But there¡¯s something inside you. It didn¡¯t feel like it was part of your mental image. It was... strange.¡± Haphran shook his head. ¡°Maybe I imagined it. It appeared for only a moment before disappearing. But it felt unsettling.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Something within him. Taesan pondered this for a moment before nodding. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Taesan shook his head. Something within him had changed. Now, he could attempt what had been impossible before. Opening his inventory, he took out a set of materials. Haphran¡¯s face twisted as he saw them. ¡°...That¡¯s...¡± ¡°I want to make something with this. Will you help me?¡± Chapter 478: 90th Floor. The Wizard (4) The wizard waited leisurely. Taesan was no longer in thebyrinth. He had gone to meet Haphran, and together they had disappeared somewhere. It was likely that they had traveled to Haphran¡¯s ruined world. What they were doing there, the wizard couldn¡¯t discern unless he went there himself. ¡°What will he aplish?¡± The wizard felt an anticipation he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time¡ªa curiosity about the unknown. A day passed, then another, and finally, a week went by. Atst, Taesan reappeared in thebyrinth with Haphran. Taesan immediately descended through thebyrinth. The wizard waited quietly, and it wasn¡¯t long before Taesan appeared before him. The wizard smiled. The Taesan who had returned was different from the one who had left. The power within him had settled, calm and subdued. All of Taesan¡¯s energies were now under perfect control,pletely contained within him. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± Taesan looked at the wizard. ¡°You wanted me to figure this out on my own, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand you.¡± The wizard spoke calmly. ¡°Not just me, but other transcendents don¡¯t understand you either. Perhaps the Old Gods know something, but they would never deign to answer. In the end, you¡¯ll have to forge your own path.¡± A realm unlike any other. A realm that belonged solely to Taesan. ¡°You need to understand yourself. This was a quest for that purpose. Judging by the results, it seems you¡¯ve made some progress.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not at the level you might have hoped, but I¡¯m satisfied enough.¡± Taesan had realized that he had been twisted from the very beginning. This revtion was a significant step toward understanding his essence. At that moment, something within Taesan had shifted. The most noticeable change was in his mastery and understanding of both the ck energy and the Boundary Line. With his newfound insight, Taesan was now capable of feats previously impossible. @@novelbin@@ He opened his inventory. The wizard¡¯s face lit up with surprise. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± In Taesan¡¯s hands were two items: Crystallized Divine Blood and a Drop of the Worldbreaker¡¯s Blood. ¡°They¡¯ve been refined.¡± The two materials were stable, maintaining their forms. Taesan didn¡¯t possess the abilities of a cksmith, which left only one possibility. ¡°Haphran must have gone through quite an ordeal?¡± ¡°He did enough.¡± Although Haphran had used Taesan as a tool, both materials were far beyond Haphran¡¯s level. By the time the refining wasplete, Haphran was nearly dead from exhaustion. Yet his eyes had shone brighter than ever, filled with satisfaction at handling something beyond his own ability. Afterward, he had gone to take a well-deserved rest. The wizard grinned as he asked, ¡°So, what are you nning to do with those? Make equipment? Use them as material for wristguards?¡± Taesan shook his head at the wizard¡¯s eager question. He didn¡¯t intend to use them in such a simple manner. Crystallized Divine Blood and the Drop of the Worldbreaker¡¯s Blood. He had been able to handle these materials before, but the challenge had always been what to create with them. These were extraordinarily rare materials, far too precious to waste on ordinary equipment. He wanted to use them in a way that would maximize their potential. Now, he had found a method. Taesan brought his hands together, cing the two materials in one spot. [You have activated Chaos Domain.] The domain formed by Taesan¡¯s chaos began to manifest in the world. Thews of the world twisted and crumbled. Taesan struck his hands together. The Crystallized Divine Blood and the Drop of the Worldbreaker¡¯s Blood shattered, starting to merge. Immediately, an enormous bacsh erupted. Taesan¡¯s body shuddered violently. Without the Chaos Domain, the shock would have left him gravely injured. KRRRRK! The blood howled, like a beast trying to devour the divine crystal. But the divine blood wouldn¡¯t yield, exploding with its own power to crush and annihte the other material. The two opposing forces,pletely ipatible, swelled against each other. Taesan suppressed the bacsh. The wizard observed with great interest. While the power of the two materials was formidable, Taesan was now strong enough to subdue them. The feat was impressive, but not beyond the wizard¡¯s expectations. ¡°...Hmm?¡± However, as he watched, the wizard realized something. Taesan wasn¡¯t merely trying to merge the materials. Taesan opened his inventory again, pulling out various materials and feeding them into a wristguard. The wristguard seemed to anticipate this, opening its jaws wide. [You have activated Partial World Modification.] Thews of the world warped further. The power of the Chaos Domain intensified, and Taesan suppressed the conflicting forces even more. BOOM! A massive shockwave surged over Taesan. The two materials roared like caged beasts, straining to break free of his control. If all he had wanted was to mix the materials, this level of resistance wouldn¡¯t have urred. It was then that the wizard finally understood what Taesan was attempting. ¡°Harmony?¡± Taesan wasn¡¯t simply trying to blend the Divine Blood and the Worldbreaker¡¯s Blood. He was trying to create perfect harmony, like a yin-yang bnce. The wizard¡¯s face twisted in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Divinity and ck energy could never coexist. Divinity could only extinguish ck energy, and ck energy could only corrupt and consume divinity. They were fundamentally opposed, like fire and water. Only Taesan had been able to blend fire and water to create the Boundary Line. The Boundary Line was something entirely new. While it contained aspects of both fire and water, it was no longer either. But now, Taesan was attempting to preserve the full essence of both materials while fusing them into one. He was trying to create harmony without breaking the fundamental principles of fire and water. This wasn¡¯t something that could be achieved by simply twisting or breakingws. It required the creation of an entirely new set ofws. Taesan¡¯s gaze was calm and steady. He knew exactly what he was doing. Rather than crushing and forcing the two powers together, he aimed to unify them while preserving their individual properties. Taesanpressed the energies further. [You have activated Fragmentation.] Power surged out of Taesan, a fragment of himself. The fragment merged with the fused materials. CRACK! With a sound like shattering ss, the fusion solidified. A smooth orb, polished and wless, formed in Taesan¡¯s hands. BOOM! The Chaos Domain dissipated. Taesan¡¯s divine and ck energies had beenpletely consumed. But his goal was aplished. He looked at the orb in his hand, its colors beyond description. [You have created .] [ ] [ ] No system notifications appeared to describe it. But Taesan understood its nature better than anyone. This was not a material that could be used to craft any equipment in existence. Nothing could merge with it without breaking its harmony. There was only one purpose for it. Taesan clenched his fist, applying pressure. CRACK! The orb shattered, and the power within flowed into him. There was no resistance. That was what the Fragmentation had been for¡ªembedding a part of himself into the orb so it could merge seamlessly with him. The harmonized Divine Blood and Worldbreaker¡¯s Blood seeped into his body. Thump. His heart beat once, powerfully. The perfectly bnced energy coursed through his veins, spreading throughout his entire body. The divine power filled the parts of him that the ck energy could not, and the ck energypleted what the divinity could not touch. Together, they amplified one another, endlessly harmonious. Transcendent and Old God powers began to coexist within him. His body broke free from thews of the world, bing something wholly his own. Taesan realized what was happening. His body was advancing into a new realm. He had once used divinity to reach transcendence. This had elevated his body and essence to the level of divinity, but it had been iplete¡ªimbnced and twisted. Now, his body had surpassed its limits, achieving a perfect state of bnce and advancing to a higher ne. [Your proficiency with ck Energy has increased by 11%.] [Your proficiency with Divinity has increased by !@#%.] [Your proficiency with Immutable Essence has increased by !#$#%.] [Your proficiency with the Boundary Line has increased by ^^$xx%.] [Your special skill Apostle of [Chaotic Fusion] has evolved into Chaos Calling.] [You have obtained [The Vessel of ].] Chapter 480: 91st Floor. Ouroboros (1) Clearing the quest. At the same time, the strain on Taesan¡¯s body overwhelmed him. The burden of forcibly resisting such immense power finally caught up with him. Taesan copsed to the ground. His condition was far from good, even by optimistic standards. While there was no physical damage, the immense strain had pushed his body to its limits. The puppet creaked as it crumbled. Space distorted, revealing the wizard¡¯s true form. ¡°Well, that¡¯s quite unexpected. I thought you¡¯d take at least a few months, not finish so quickly.¡± This wasn¡¯t one of the wizard¡¯s puppets or avatars¡ªit was his actual body. The wizard appeared and attempted to use his Creator Authority to heal Taesan. However, it wasn¡¯t fully effective. Only part of the wizard¡¯s power prated Taesan¡¯s body. ¡°You¡¯repletely independent now.¡± The wizard chuckled softly. ¡°I can¡¯t heal you anymore. Just rest for now.¡± Taesan nodded and closed his eyes. The divine power and ck energy within him, which had been nearly depleted, quickly began to replenish. The speed of recovery was astonishing, far beyond anything from before. Taesan¡¯s body rapidly returned to a stable state. Before long, he was more or less back to normal. Watching this, the wizard couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity. ¡°So that¡¯s the new Boundary Line ability you realized after understanding your origin?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan confirmed, and the wizard let out a dryugh. The true essence of the Boundary Line wasn¡¯t merely destruction; it was interference, transformation, and intervention. Using this power, Taesan had harmonized the conflicting Crystallized Divine Blood and Drop of the Worldbreaker¡¯s Blood. He had even transformed the wizard¡¯s domain itself, piercing through it with the Boundary Line. ¡°So that¡¯s the essence of the Boundary Line. I suspected it wasn¡¯t limited to destruction, but this is beyond imagination. With your current power, you could likely strike against other transcendents as well.¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Taesan shook his head, dismissing the wizard¡¯s praise. ¡°In actualbat, it¡¯s practically impossible.¡± Taesan could alterws. Just as he had intervened in the wizard¡¯s domain, forcing a path through it, he could theoretically do the same against other transcendents. It was undeniably extraordinary¡ªa power no one else possessed, akin to an unstoppable de. But in the end, that de still had tond a strike. Even with Chaos Calling, which stabilized his abilities, the range of his transformations was limited to his body and sword. To truly challenge a transcendent, he would have to engage them in closebat¡ªa prospect his opponents would never allow willingly. Moreover, the strain it ced on him was enormous. Interfering with forbidden domains and transformingws struck at his body and essence, making it a one-time trump card in any battle. ¡°Even so, that¡¯s an incredible power,¡± the wizard remarked, undeterred. The look in the wizard¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t changed. The Boundary Line had always been formidable, but it wasn¡¯t insurmountable. The methods for dealing with the Old Gods had been sufficient against it. But if the Boundary Line could transform and interfere withws, then all countermeasures became meaningless. What defense could work against a force that twisted the very foundation of existence? If Taesan managed to get close, even the strongest transcendent in the universe would have to wager their life. It was an achievement beyond words. The wizard¡¯s gaze narrowed as he observed Taesan. The Boundary Line was far more alien than he had anticipated. He had already known it could purify the corruption of the Old Gods and even free them. But to think it could alter the very fabric ofws and create new ones¡ªit was a power that defied the cosmos itself. Such a force couldn¡¯t be obtained through mere luck or epiphany. It had to be built up,yer byyer, tied to the very essence of its wielder. ¡°This is just the beginning, isn¡¯t it?¡± The wizard had his own suspicions about Taesan¡¯s true nature. After a moment of reflection, he pped his hands. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve done exceptionally well. You cleared the quest and achieved exactly what I hoped for. That means you deserve a suitable reward.¡± Clearing the 90th floor. Completing the final floor of each theme always came with rewards proportional to the achievement. As if waiting for this moment, a flurry of system messages appeared before Taesan. [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have acquired the Wizard¡¯s Hat.] [You have acquired ???.] [You have reached the 90th floor. Title: Seeker of the Heights acquired.] [You have perfectly cleared the 90th floor. Title: One Who Steps Into Another Realm acquired.] [You have perfectly cleared all floors up to the 90th. Title: The Perfect One acquired.] [You have cultivated countless powers and abilities to reach this point. Your umted experience has materialized into strength. Title: Insight into Skills acquired.] [You have stepped into the deepest reaches. From here, you will face cosmic entities. You must rely solely on your own strength to ovee them. Special Passive Skill: Solitary Sovereign acquired.] [The many beings of the cosmos are now watching your actions.] ¡°And this is a little extra,¡± the wizard said, waving his hand. His authority enveloped Taesan. [You have transcended thebyrinth¡¯s system and imed something unique to yourself. Thebyrinth system, previously under the Wizard¡¯s control, is now bing part of you. Special Passive Skill: Sovereignty acquired.] ¡°Go ahead, take a look.¡± The wizard gestured casually. Taesan checked the rewards he had received. ¡°...This is...¡± [Title: Seeker of the Heights] [You are advancing toward heights reached by only a select few.] [Health +5000, Mana +2000, Strength +3000, Attack Power +1000, Defense +1000.] The stats were staggeringly high. The titles One Who Steps Into Another Realm and The Perfect One provided simrly impressive bonuses. Taesan nced at the wizard, who spoke matter-of-factly. ¡°You¡¯ve reached the pinnacle of thebyrinth. Naturally, the rewards should match that achievement.¡± ¡°...Does everyone who reaches the 90th floor receive rewards like these?¡± ¡°Of course not. Yourbyrinth¡¯s difficulty was exceptionally high, so consider this a special service.¡± That exnation made sense. Taesan had cleared quests from the 86th to the 90th floor, a feat far beyond the originalbyrinth¡¯s scope. Enhanced rewards were only fair. [Special Passive Skill: Solitary Sovereign] [Proficiency: 1%] [A being untouched by any influence. You possess strong resistance to all forms of interference.] The phrase ¡°all forms¡± carried immense weight. For the system to im such a thing meant it truly epassed everything. It was a resistance skill that wouldn¡¯t make a dramatic impact but would consistently provide value over time. [Title: Insight into Skills] [You have attained profound understanding of your umted achievements.] @@novelbin@@ [Skill proficiency limits are removed.] ¡°What?¡± Taesan stared at the wizard. ¡°Thebyrinth¡¯s system was originally designed for mortals,¡± the wizard exined with a wry smile. ¡°It could barely amodate immortals, but now you¡¯ve reached the realm of transcendence. Skills that should have grown naturally were capped by the system¡¯s limitations.¡± The system, meant to assist adventurers, had be a constraint for Taesan. ¡°This removes that restriction.¡± ¡°That¡¯s excellent.¡± Taesan opened his skill window. With the cap lifted, the umted proficiency surged. Many skills had increased significantly¡ªsome by over 10%, others by just a few percent. Importantly, nearly all his skills had improved. Some had even transformed, reaching 100% proficiency and evolving into entirely new abilities. [Special Passive Skill: Sovereignty] [Proficiency: 1%] [The skills you acquired with thebyrinth¡¯s assistance are no longer bound to the Wizard¡¯s domain. They now align with your essence and will.] The wizard exined further. ¡°The skills that relied on thebyrinth¡¯sws are now fully synchronized with you, imbued with your essence and usable ording to your will.¡± Though the influence was still minor, the foundation had beenid. As Taesan grew stronger, elevating his essence, the skills would eventually be entirely his. ¡°Check the details for yourself.¡± ¡°Are you leaving now?¡± ¡°I have a lot to do. I need to handle external matters and design the uing floors. I¡¯m incredibly busy.¡± The wizard opened a portal. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again on the 91st floor. I¡¯ll need to exin a few things about that ce.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Taesan expressed his gratitude. The wizard had deliberately created opportunities for Taesan to reflect and grow. The progress he had made was thanks in no small part to the wizard¡¯s guidance. ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. I simply set the stage. Even I thought the possibility was slim. You¡¯re the one who figured it out.¡± With one foot in the portal, the wizard paused and looked back. ¡°You used the Divine Blood and the Worldbreaker¡¯s Blood this time. Don¡¯t you have other materials left?¡± ¡°I do.¡± The shards of divinity and the fragments of the Old Gods he had acquired from Levinenov were still stored in his inventory. ¡°But I feel it¡¯s premature to use them. For now, I need to focus on myself.¡± He nned to attempt it after he became stronger and understood himself more deeply. ¡°Still, I¡¯ve realized one thing through this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t reach your level.¡± The wizard didn¡¯t argue with Taesan¡¯s certainty. Taesan was twisted. By harmonizing the Divine Blood and the Worldbreaker¡¯s Blood, he had elevated his body to an unprecedented level. Such an achievement was impossible for any being of this world. ¡°I¡¯m warped.¡± It was his essence, his beginning. Therey the answer. The wizard smiled. ¡°Keep searching. I¡¯ll help you along the way.¡± With that, the wizard disappeared into the portal. *** Taesan did not immediately descend to the 91st floor. First, he needed to carefully examine everything he had gained. The priority was clear: skills. Many of his skills had increased in proficiency, leading to changes in their descriptions and effects. Additionally, a significant number of his skills had reached 100% proficiency. As a result, he had regained skills that he had previously acquired in his past life. Chapter 481: 91st Floor. Ouroboros (2) Among the skills that reached 100% proficiency, one stood out in particr: Let It Pass. [Special Active Skill: Let It Pass] [Mana Cost: 5] [Proficiency: 100%] [Description: Negates almost anything that interferes with you.] The skill¡¯s description was much shorter now, but its functionality had evolved. It no longer only nullified attacks but almost anything that attempted to interfere with Taesan. The phrase ¡°almost anything¡± implied that only in rare, extraordinary cases, or against powers beyond his capability, would it fail. Recently, Taesan hadn¡¯t used Let It Pass often. The enemies he faced were all overwhelmingly powerful, brute-forcing their way past the skill¡¯s utility. However, with the wizard¡¯s adjustments to thebyrinth system, Taesan¡¯s skills now fully belonged to him. This meant Let It Pass could be deployed even in high-stakes, full-power battles without hindrance. And this wasn¡¯t limited to Let It Pass. [Special Active Skill: Counter] [Mana Cost: 5] [Proficiency: 100%] [Description: Counters nearly any attack. For attacks that cannot be countered, enables Cross Counter.] [Special Active Skill: Cross Counter] [Mana Cost: 20] [Proficiency: 1%] [Description: Instead of avoiding an attack, uses the opponent¡¯s strength to deal greater damage. Can also be triggered for avoidable attacks.] With Counter at maximum proficiency, Taesan unlocked a new skill, Cross Counter. While Counter allowed him to retaliate against most attacks, some were simply beyond its capability. Cross Counter addressed this gap, letting him absorb an attack''s force and turn it into an even more devastating counterstrike. For Taesan, who already had numerous skills to nullify or erase attacks, this added immense value. [Special Active Skill: eleration] [Mana Cost: 5] [Proficiency: 82%] [Description: elerates toward a target at high speed. The greater the distance, the stronger the effect.] [Special Passive Skill: Unshaken Calm] [Proficiency: 88%] [Description: An unshaken mind, immutable will, and indomitable spirit. Represents insight and self-reflection.] Other skills like eleration, Critical Strike, Leap, and Vital Spot Designation had also seen significant proficiency increases. The sheer number of improvements was almost overwhelming. Taesan had expected it to take much longer to reach this level of mastery, yet here he was, progressing faster than anticipated. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect my proficiency to rise like this.¡± But he understood why. Taesan had grown far too powerful. Thebyrinth¡¯s system, which was originally designed to support adventurers, had be a limitation for him. The wizard had likely found this incongruity troublesome and had anticipated that the restrictions would need to be lifted eventually. That moment had simply arrived sooner than expected. For Taesan, it was an unexpected but wee boon, like receiving a gift out of the blue. Among the newly refined skills, one remained particrly critical: [Special Active Skill: Essence Perception] [Proficiency: 94%] [Description: Perceives the essence of a target, revealing the source of their power and their vulnerabilities. Provides insight into their fundamental beliefs and origins. Can glimpse into the depths of their being. Ineffective against targets of significantly higher rank or those who resist intensely.] Essence Perception had finally surpassed 90% proficiency. And atst, one of Taesan¡¯s core reconnaissance skills had reached 100% proficiency. [Special Active Skill: Complete Reconnaissance] [Mana Cost: 10] [Proficiency: 7%] [Description: An evolved form of Reconnaissance. Reveals everything within a certain range. Depth of information is still limited.] Taesan had now unlocked Complete Reconnaissance. Although its proficiency was still low at 7%, the potential was immense. In his past life, he had reached 100% proficiency with this skill, so he knew it could grow far more effective. Even now, the ability to ¡°reveal everything¡± was literal. It could even uncover information that Taesan himself had no prior knowledge of. Complete Reconnaissance shone not inbat but in nonbat situations, where its utility was unparalleled. Taesan turned toward Akasha. ¡°Hold still for a moment.¡± [Understood.] Akasha responded calmly. Taesan activated his skills. [You have activated Essence Perception.] [You have activated Complete Reconnaissance.] [Akasha] [A disciple of a forgotten goddess. Now under your ownership.] [She is unaware of her true self.] [She has forgotten the one she once served.] [She was revered and admired by countless people during her lifetime.] [She is...] A flood of previously unknown information overwhelmed Taesan¡¯s vision, revealing even aspects Akasha herself was unaware of. ¡°This is the issue with Complete Reconnaissance.¡± The sheer amount of information was staggering. At higher proficiency levels, it would allow him to filter out irrelevant details, but he hadn¡¯t reached that stage yet. By focusing on the most critical details, Taesan pieced together the essence of Akasha¡¯s identity. She had been a disciple of a forgotten goddess, serving in a pivotal role directly by the goddess¡¯s side. And aside from Akasha herself, anything tied to the goddess had been entirely erased from existence. Even with Complete Reconnaissance, no trace of the goddess remained¡ªnot a single relic, star, or fragment of her influence. ¡°A usurper, perhaps?¡± Who or what had usurped the goddess? And why? Even the wizard, with all his knowledge, had no insight into this mystery. Taesan closed his thoughts for now and opened his status window. [Kang Taesan] [Level: 197] [Shield: 39,138/39,138] [Health: 400,665/400,665] [Mana: 58,458/58,458] [Magic Power: 2,488/2,488] [Strength: 81,827] [Agility: 82,958] [Intelligence: 75,821] [Attack Power: +26,093] [Defense: +14,542] [Status: Optimal.] Taesan let out a dryugh. These stats were monstrous. Strength, agility, and intelligence were nearing 100,000, making even his past self, Lee Taeyeon, seem insignificant byparison. Yet, even these absurd numbers didn¡¯t fully capture his power. The status window only reflected what the system could quantify, but Taesan¡¯s true strengthy beyond its boundaries. ¡°Alright.¡± He murmured to himself, turning his attention to the newly acquired skills and rewards. [Special Active Skill: Absolute Resistance] [Mana Cost: 100] [Proficiency: 1%] [Description: Provides absolute resistance against a foe of higher rank and power. Temporarily elevates the user¡¯s rank to match the opponent¡¯s. After the effect ends, the user suffers significant repercussions. Cooldown: 1 week.] ¡°What the...¡± Taesan couldn¡¯t help butugh in disbelief. He hadn¡¯t expected much from the skill, but its effect was beyond his imagination. Even if only for a short time, the ability to elevate himself to match an opponent¡¯s rank¡ªbe it Lakiratas or even an Old God¡ªwas astounding. While the penalty afterward would undoubtedly be severe, it was a worthwhile trade-off. Against such overwhelming foes, survival was often improbable without such a skill. Satisfied, Taesan checked his 90th-floor rewards. [Wizard¡¯s Hat] [Magic: +200] [Mana: +3000] [Intelligence: +2000] [Attack Power: +300] [Defense: +1000] [Description: A hat once used by thebyrinth¡¯s creator. Its essence and power remain within.] The stats were impressive, offering significant boosts to intelligence, mana, and even physical attributes like attack and defense. [??? Used.] [You have obtained the Radiant Holy Sword.] [Radiant Holy Sword] [Strength: +700] [Attack Power: +1800] [Description: A holy sword personally bestowed by a god to a cherished disciple. While both the god and disciple have vanished, the sword¡¯s power remains undiminished. Using divinity enhances the weapon¡¯s potency.] The sword was equally formidable. Taesan nodded in satisfaction, collecting his rewards. Finally, he descended to the 91st floor¡ªthe starting point of a new theme and the prelude to thebyrinth¡¯s final stages. As usual, the shopkeeper awaited him at the entrance, greeting Taesan with a knowing smile. ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Taesan asked bluntly. It was clear the shopkeeper had expectations of him. ¡°Is what you desire in this ce?¡± ¡°It will be.¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s grin widened. ¡°With your current strength, you can make it happen. You¡¯ll achieve it. You¡¯ll fulfill... my ursed wish.¡± His words dripped with unspoken emotion, and for once, Taesan didn¡¯t need skills like Complete Reconnaissance to sense the depth of his feelings. ¡°Go further. Just a bit further. Fulfill my wish, and I¡¯ll reward you handsomely.¡± Leaving the enigmatic shopkeeper behind, Taesan pressed onward to the 91st floor. The new floor was unexpectedly unremarkable. It seemed far more ordinary than any he had faced before. Awaiting him was the wizard¡ªor rather, a projection of him. ¡°Hello again.¡± ¡°We meet again.¡± ¡°From here on, things will require exnations. Except for extraordinary circumstances, my projection will provide the necessary guidance.¡± The wizard¡¯s form flickered slightly, confirming it wasn¡¯t his true body. **¡°Let¡¯s start with the 91st-floor quest. It¡¯s called Ouroboros.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes glinted at the name. ¡°The world swallowed by the infinite cycle of the serpent. Your task is to enter that world, achieve your objective, and return.¡± [91st Floor Quest Initiated.] [Quest: The Serpent¡¯s Cycle. Enter the world devoured by Ouroboros and achieve your goal before returning.] [Reward: The Flute of Return.] [Secret Reward: ???] Chapter 482: 91st Floor. Ouroboros (3) Ouroboros. It wasn¡¯t a name unfamiliar to Kang Taesan. It was engraved in his memory, impossible to forget. The Wizard chuckled softly. ¡°Well, you already know about it, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t.¡± Taesan opened his inventory. In his hand appeared a dark, dull stone. [Regurgitated Gastric Stone of Ouroboros] [A gastric stone from the god governing the cycle of all things.] [Usable once. Allows a single person¡¯s time to be rewound.] [Used.] This item, the very beginning of everything, had allowed him to turn back time and make the right choices. The Wizard tilted his head, intrigued, as he observed the stone in Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°Lee Taeyeon... I still don¡¯t get it. How on earth did she manage to obtain that?¡± The gods remember time that has been rewound. Lee Taeyeon, an adventurer who had cleared thebyrinth, was no mystery to the Wizard. Thus, his astonishment toward her was genuine. ¡°No adventurer or god has ever achieved anything meaningful within Ouroboros¡¯s domain.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what she did either?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see what happens inside there. It¡¯s a distorted and twisted ce, swallowed by the serpent. Even she couldn¡¯t speak of it.¡± The Wizard¡¯s gaze held a flicker of admiration. ¡°She¡¯s truly remarkable. While she¡¯s not exactly suited for thebyrinth¡¯s ultimate purpose, her abilities are exceptional. Maria made a good choice.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t disagree. Lee Taeyeon deserved every bit of praise. ¡°So, what exactly is this ce?¡± What was Ouroboros? What did it mean to be a devoured world? The Wizard began to exin. ¡°Ouroboros. The serpent governing the cycle of all things. A being that influences the entire universe.¡± ¡°A god, then?¡± ¡°You could call it a god... but it¡¯s a bit more ambiguous than that.¡± The Wizard trailed off briefly. ¡°Unlike other transcendents who ascend through strength from their mortal days, Ouroboros was born as an entity governing the cycle of existence.¡± ¡°Like Dersha?¡± The God of Death, Dersha, was also a primordial entity, presiding over death itself since the dawn of the world. Ouroboros¡¯s description seemed to align with that. But the Wizard shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s a bit different from that concept. If Dersha is a transcendent being, then Ouroboros cannot be called one. Strictly speaking, it¡¯s more like... a mechanism.¡± ¡°A mechanism?¡± ¡°Exactly what it sounds like. After eons¡ªimmeasurable spans of time¡ªwhen all thingse to an end, the slumbering Ouroboros awakens.¡± The Wizard¡¯s tone resembled that of a bard reciting mythic lore, filled with an almost reverent weight. ¡°It devours everything that has stagnated and initiates a new cycle. That¡¯s the role assigned to Ouroboros since the universe¡¯s inception.¡± ¡°From the sound of it, it shouldn¡¯t be active now.¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°That¡¯s correct. Normally, it would remain dormant no matter what happened in the universe. But...¡± The Wizard¡¯s expression turnedplex. ¡°For some reason, it woke up far earlier than it should have.¡± Ouroboros was moving ahead of schedule. A mechanism gone awry. ¡°It consumed parts of the world. Not just mortals but even immortals and some transcendents were swallowed whole by Ouroboros. None of them have ever returned.¡± ¡°Even transcendents can¡¯t escape it?¡± ¡°Ouroboros is a mechanism born with the universe itself. No matter how powerful a transcendent is, they can¡¯t contend with it.¡± Transcendents draw their power from thews and concepts of the world. Ouroboros, however, is thosews and concepts, the very source of their power. It was beyond even a transcendent¡¯s ability to interfere with. ¡°We don¡¯t know what happens inside it. That¡¯s why this quest exists.¡± The Wizard looked at Taesan. ¡°Enter the world devoured by Ouroboros. Find out why it awoke, and uncover the fate of those within.¡± Such was the quest of the 91st floor. Taesan, after a brief moment of contemtion, asked a question. ¡°You gave Lee Taeyeon a simr quest, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Her quest was a simple reconnaissance mission. How she acquired the gastric stone, even I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You sent her into a ce even you can¡¯t ess?¡± Even transcendents couldn¡¯t interfere with Ouroboros. It was a ce fraught with danger, iprehensible and overwhelming. Sending someone in alone seemed unthinkable. ¡°It¡¯s a bitplicated to exin, but it¡¯s different from what you¡¯re imagining. Simply put, we¡¯re toorge. And she... was small enough. That¡¯s why she could enter Ouroboros.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Taesan understood the concept. Transcendents, with their immense power and stature, would be heavily bound by the mechanism of Ouroboros. But Lee Taeyeon was mortal. From the perspective of transcendent entities, she was fragile and minuscule. That smallness likely allowed her to navigate Ouroboros with less resistance. ¡°I was directly connected to her and ready to pull her out if necessary, so there was no real risk to her. You, on the other hand, won¡¯t even need such a connection.¡± Taesan had the Boundary Line. The ability to defy, twist, and transform the world¡¯sws would likely allow him to remain unaffected by Ouroboros. ¡°Still, even with all that, it¡¯s undeniably dangerous. We have no idea what¡¯s happening in there.¡± Lee Taeyeon herself hadn¡¯t been able to describe what she experienced. It wasn¡¯t that she was hiding it¡ªshe truly couldn¡¯t put it into words. Understanding this, the Wizard hadn¡¯t pressed her for details. ¡°If you wish, you can refuse. It¡¯ll take some time, but we can find another way.¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not going to refuse.¡± Why would he decline? This was an invaluable opportunity. As he toyed with the gastric stone, his resolve solidified. ¡°I ept.¡± [Quest epted.] The Wizard smiled. *** "Let me know when you''re ready. I''ll send you near the entrance." Taesan nodded and opened themunity window. It was bustling with activity. People from all over the world were talking, sharing information, and even exchanging casual banter. Some were whispering sweet nothings, theirughter blending into the vibrant atmosphere. It was a brightness he hadn¡¯t seen in his previous life. Every post, every line carried hope. And it was Kang Taesan who had created this ce¡ªthis sanctuary of connection. After scrolling through a few posts, he opened the chat window. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: How¡¯s it going? The responses flooded in instantly, as if they had been waiting for him to speak. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: Oh, what¡¯s this? [Amelia Aerin [Alone]]: Look who finally decided to say something. What¡¯s the matter? [Kang Junho [Alone]]: Huh? Brother? Long time no see! The speed of their replies brought a faint smile to Taesan¡¯s face. The rate at which messages appeared suggested they had been watching themunity window constantly. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: You¡¯ve been watching themunity all this time, haven¡¯t you? [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: More or less. [Kang Junho [Alone]]: Of course! You know how lonely this ce gets. Themunity¡¯s the only way to blow off steam here. It wasn¡¯t wrong. The ¡°Alone¡± mode meant there was no one else in their worlds. It was nearly impossible to find true allies, so themunity became a source of sce for many. Taesan, understanding this, didn¡¯t dwell on it further and moved straight to the point. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: What floor are you all on now? One by one, they reported their progress. Kang Junho was in the mid-60s, while Amelia had cleared the 72nd floor. [Amelia Aerin [Alone]]: It¡¯s definitely gotten harder in the deeper floors. But thanks to our pact, it¡¯s been smoother than I expected. Amelia had formed a pact with Taesan, granting her the ability to use apostle powers. More importantly, she hade to understand her strengths. At her current level, she was no less capable than Lee Taeyeon. It wasn¡¯t surprising that she was progressing without significant difficulties. [Kang Junho [Alone]]: Wow... That¡¯s amazing. I¡¯m struggling just to get through where I am. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: You¡¯re in the mid-60s. It¡¯s natural for it to be tough at that level. Take it slow and don¡¯t make any mistakes. I¡¯ve got something for you when we meet again. Now, Taesan could extend the power of apostle pacts to others. Kang Junho was next in line for such a gift. [Kang Junho [Alone]]: I¡¯ll do my best. Thanks, brother. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: What about Lee Taeyeon? [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: Me? I¡¯m on the 78th floor. [Amelia Aerin [Alone]]: Seriously? That¡¯s insane. Your speed is monstrous. Amelia grumbled. Despite her best efforts, Lee Taeyeon was far ahead. ¡®The 78th floor... That¡¯s the Library of All Things.¡¯ For Lee Taeyeon, this floor wouldn¡¯t pose any challenge. She would already know the locations of the books the guardian, Jorge, hadn¡¯t read. Even withparable talent, the fact that she had already cleared thebyrinth once meant her experience gave her an inevitable edge. After confirming their positions, Taesan got to the main topic. He asked them what they were doing on their respective floors, what challenges awaited them, and the conditions for acquiring skills. They listened intently to his advice. The conversation carried on for two hours before things wrapped up. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: That¡¯s all for now. Keep it in mind. [Amelia Aerin [Alone]]: Got it. Thanks. [Kang Junho [Alone]]: Thank you, as always, brother. Amelia and Junho exited the chat to continue their descent into thebyrinth. Before Lee Taeyeon could leave, Taesan stopped her. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: Wait a moment. I need to talk to you. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: Oh? What¡¯s up? [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: I¡¯ve reached the 91st floor. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: ...Oh. Lee Taeyeon immediately understood. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: Ouroboros? [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: Yeah. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: Didn¡¯t your quest change? No, I guess it doesn¡¯t matter for you. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: What¡¯s in there? [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: I can¡¯t tell you. Her reply was firm and unwavering. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: It¡¯s just... a concept. It might be different for you since you wield independent power. But for me, it¡¯s not. It meant she couldn¡¯t discuss what had happened there. Taesan thought for a moment, then nodded. [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: Got it. That¡¯s enough. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]: Sorry I couldn¡¯t be more helpful. Do you think I¡¯ll get the Ouroboros quest again? I really don¡¯t want that... [Kang Taesan [Alone]]: The Wizard will sort it out for you. After a bit more conversation, Taesan closed the chat window. The Wizard had been watching with a faint smile. ¡°Things seem to be going well.¡± ¡°Did you read all of it?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not that rude. But I can guess what you talked about.¡± ¡°Well, fine.¡± Taesan closed his eyes, focusing inward. He restored his drained energy, both divine and corrupted, until it reached equilibrium. When his preparation wasplete, he opened his eyes. The Wizard¡¯s replica had been waiting in silence. Taesan spoke. ¡°I¡¯m ready. Send me to Ouroboros.¡± Chapter 483: 91st Floor: Ouroboros (4) ¡°I can¡¯t send you directly into that ce. As I mentioned earlier, we can¡¯t interfere with it.¡± The Wizard opened a portal, revealing the vast expanse of the cosmos beyond. ¡°So instead, I¡¯ll create a pathway that leads near it. You shouldn¡¯t have much trouble finding your destination.¡± ¡°What exactly am I supposed to locate?¡± ¡°The reason Ouroboros devoured the world.¡± The Wizard¡¯s tone was serious. ¡°What broke the cycle¡¯s mechanism? You don¡¯t need to be overly specific. A general understanding will suffice. Find the reason, and I¡¯ll reward you ordingly.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Taesan¡¯s reply was brief. Without hesitation, he stepped into the portal the Wizard had created. What greeted his eyes was an endless universe, a vast expanse devoid of life. To most, such an environment would be hostile, but not to Taesan. He moved freely, unhindered by the absence of gravity or atmosphere. It didn¡¯t take him long to find Ouroboros. Or rather, it wasn¡¯t something he found¡ªit was something that dominated his vision the moment he arrived. [Oh.] [That... That can¡¯t be real...] A low groan,ced with disbelief, came from Bardray. His ghostly voice quivered with a mix of shock and denial. [Is that... really it?] There, in the vastness of space, was a serpent. Not a metaphorical serpent, nor an abstraction. It was a snake, unimaginably massive, coiled in the darkness. Its dark, obsidian-like scales shimmered faintly as it upied an iprehensible portion of the universe. [It has no end...] Even Akasha, calm and rational, couldn¡¯t suppress her astonishment. It was as if the snake formed a wall in space, its sheer size rendering its boundaries invisible. It seemed capable of consuming gxies, perhaps more, with ease. The serpent¡¯s body moved slightly, almost imperceptibly, but the motion carried an ominous weight. [You have discovered Ouroboros.] ¡®So this is the Serpent of Cycles.¡¯ The mechanism governing the cycle of all things. Its size was fitting for its role. Even Taesan, with his enhanced senses, could only grasp a fraction of its form. [And you have to go inside that?] [A creature of this size... Even the faintest motion would tear the universe apart.] Bardray and Akasha contemted the approach with unease. Then the serpent stirred. Its colossal body twisted slowly, deliberately, as though guided by an unseen purpose. Both Bardray and Akasha fell silent, watching in awe. Given its size, even the slightest motion should have unleashed devastating physical forces, ripping through the very fabric of space. Yet, nothing happened. Some unseenw seemed to suppress the consequences of its movements. The serpent¡¯s motion ceased. And then, Taesan felt its gaze. [Ah.] The faint sound of a sharp inhale echoed. Its head wasn¡¯t visible, but there was no mistaking it¡ªthe Serpent of Cycles had noticed him. It was watching him. Taesan instinctively realized that if Ouroboros bore him any hostility, there would be no escape. As long as he existed in the universe, the serpent would be able to pursue him. His body tensed, ready to deploy Boundary Line at a moment¡¯s notice. If Ouroboros made even the slightest threatening move, he would respond immediately. But the serpent did nothing more. After a long moment of observation, it shifted its massive body again, turning its gaze away from him. [Phew!] [What... What is that thing?] Bardray exhaled heavily, trying tough off his lingering fear. ¡°It¡¯s not hostile. It¡¯s not even defensive.¡± If anything, its gesture seemed almost like an invitation. ¡°Then I¡¯ll ept.¡± [If that¡¯s what you¡¯ve decided.] [As you wish, Master.] Bardray and Akasha didn¡¯t protest, fully entrusting themselves to Taesan¡¯s judgment. He moved toward Ouroboros. The serpent remained motionless, indifferent to his approach. Soon, he reached the serpent¡¯s enormous form. Its scales, dark and shimmering faintly, filled his entire field of vision. As he examined it closely, he noticed something unusual. ¡®It¡¯s not physical.¡¯ From a distance, it had appeared to be a tangible entity. But up close, it was clear that its form wasposed of ovepping concepts, an iprehensible amalgamation of ideas manifesting as a serpent. This meant entry was possible. Gray energy enveloped Taesan¡¯s body. The power cloaked him entirely, isting him from thews of the world. Reaching out, Taesan pressed his hand against Ouroboros. Using the power of Boundary Line, he pierced through its conceptual form, creating a pathway. Without resistance, he stepped inside. What greeted him was, unexpectedly, a seemingly ordinary universe. In the pitch-ck void, stars sparkled like countless jewels scattered across the darkness. [This... looks normal?] ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head, countering Bardray¡¯s murmured observation. At first nce, it appeared to be a typical universe. But a closer inspection revealed otherwise. This ce was fused with Ouroboros. Every concept, everyw within this space was part of the serpent. It wasn¡¯t functioning independently; it had been subsumed into Ouroboros¡¯s nature. It was simr to the corruption of the Old Gods, yet fundamentally different. This was a deliberate harmonization, a reshaping of existence into something that served Ouroboros. ¡°Impressive scale.¡± Taesan withdrew his protective barrier. The essence of Ouroboros tried to seep into him, probing his mind and body, but it couldn¡¯t breach his defenses. For now, he could move freely without further preparation. [What¡¯s the n now?] ¡°We start by investigating.¡± Even Taesan couldn¡¯t discern the exact changes caused by Ouroboros¡¯s assimtion. His best course of action was to seek out the beings that had once existed here. [You have activated Teleport [Negation].] A ck portal opened, swallowing him whole. When the darkness faded, a breathtaking blue came into view. Taesan descended toward the, his next steps clear. *** As Ouroboros devoured the universe, Taesan felt the traces of life on the before him. It was teeming with countless living beings, but they were all warped, fused into Ouroboros, and transformed. Taesan resolved to witness their transformation firsthand. Descending onto the, his eyes fell upon thergest city, with a grand castle at its center surrounded by an array of houses. Taesannded in the central square. ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡± ¡°Ah ha ha ha!¡± Laughter echoed from all directions. But this wasn¡¯tughter born of joy¡ªit was filled with madness. The sounds of breaking and shattering apanied theughter. One man grabbed a market stall and hurled it to the ground. The stall¡¯s owner, rather than protesting, pped his hands in delight. A woman of noble appearanceughed as she swung a de recklessly, cutting down those around her. The injured bled and fell, yet none seemed to care¡ªnot even the wounded themselves. They simply grinned as though nothing had happened. ¡°This ce is a mess.¡± It was reminiscent of the cities of sin described in religious texts. Taesan grabbed a man whose face was twisted inughter. ¡°I need to ask you something.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!¡± The man didn¡¯t respond to Taesan¡¯s words. He continued tough uncontrobly. Taesan watched him for a moment before releasing his divine energy. A golden light enveloped the man. Fweeeeeeng! Yet, nothing changed. The divine energy, which restored the body and mind to their original state, had no effect on him. There were only a few possible exnations for this:
  • The man¡¯s transformation through Ouroboros was beyond divine recovery.
  • His mind had existed in this state for so long that it had be his new normal.
  • Both reasons were true.Taesan began walking through the city. Despite his otherworldly and distinct attire, no one paid him any attention. As he continued his observations, he noticed something else. The ones acting out in madness were only a minority. The majority were sitting or lying down, staring nkly into space, doing nothing. Their eyes were devoid of light. Though alive and conscious, they seemed no different from the dead. Taesan entered the castle. The guards who should have been protecting it were nowhere to be found. He walked through the dpidated corridors until he reached the highest point of the castle. Behind a grand door was a throne. Sitting on it was an old man. The man¡¯s face was weary as he looked at Taesan. ¡°...An outsider?¡± His voice was thin and broken, as though even speaking took all his energy. And this was strange. The man before Taesan was an immortal. Immortals were beings who never aged or decayed. Without external interference, their strength and mind remained unyielding. Yet, the old man looked as if he had been worn down by the passage of time. ¡°...It¡¯s been a long time since Ist saw someone. A woman, I believe. Or has it not been long at all? Perhaps it was just a few days ago?¡± The old man mumbled incoherently, unable to distinguish between past and present, as though gripped by dementia. Taesan observed him silently. The man¡¯s rambling slowed, and a faint spark of awareness returned to his eyes. ¡°...Forgive me. It¡¯s shameful to appear so weak before a great being.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Then... may I ask you for one thing?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing grand.¡± The old man ran a trembling hand over his face. ¡°Could you... kill me?¡± The old man¡¯s voice trembled with desperation. ¡°I¡¯m so tired. I can¡¯t do this anymore. Please... please, end this eternal cycle for me.¡± His plea was genuine. He longed for death. ¡°...I apologize,¡± the old man said, swallowing his words. ¡°It¡¯s foolish of me to ask. No one can grant me such a thing¡ªnot even you.¡± ¡°What happened here?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°You¡¯ll see for yourself soon enough.¡± Taesan turned to look out the window at the city below. The chaos was overwhelming. Nothing remained intact, and everything had descended into madness. ¡®...Now that I think about it.¡¯ Something felt off. The people here were worn down by time. Their minds had shattered, their spirits broken. It wasn¡¯t the result of a short period. This must have been the consequence of an unimaginably long passage of time. And yet, the world itself was pristine. It looked as if it had been cleaned just yesterday. This was strange. Fweeeeeeng! A massive tremor rippled through the universe. The force originated from somewhere deep within and spread outward, engulfing the. Taesan instinctively activated his Chaos Barrier, shielding his body. Ouroboros¡¯s influence tried to intrude, but the barrier rejected it. This allowed Taesan to witness what happened next. The dead began to rise. Blood that had spilled re-entered their veins, and broken bodies were restored to their original states, like a film rewinding. The shattered market stall reassembled itself, returning to its previous form. The woman who had beenughing madly while swinging her de regained herposure, her face calm and dignified. ¡®This...¡¯ The world was resetting itself. And Taesan recognized this sensation. It was the same feeling he¡¯d experienced when he used the gastric stone to rewind time.@@novelbin@@
    • Chapter 484: 91st Floor: Ouroboros (5) ¡®This is fascinating.¡¯ Time itself within the world was reversing. It wasn¡¯t simply a phenomenon¡ªit was a massivew at work. Even Taesan, without the power of Boundary Line, would have been swept along with it, unable to resist. He turned to the immortal. The man¡¯s body was being pulled backward through time. His face twisted in agony as if attempting to resist the process, but that was the extent of his struggle. Unable to stop the reversal, he could only suffer through it. Finally, the process came to an end. ¡°Gah...¡± The immortal let out a strained breath as he exhaled deeply. Taesan shifted his gaze back to the square outside. It was spotless, as if freshly cleaned, devoid of any sign of chaos. But the people were not the same. The moment time resumed its normal flow, their faces distorted once more. Laughter filled with madness erupted, and their deranged behavior resumed. ¡®Endlessly reversing time.¡¯ ¡°We are trapped here.¡± The immortal spoke, his face now wearier than before. ¡°You have only just arrived and remain unbound by this ce. But the longer you stay, the more this twisted world will ensnare you. I implore you to escape while you still can.¡± Taesan had no intention of leaving. He asked the immortal, ¡°How long has this world been like this?¡± The immortal remained silent. Closing his eyes, he exhaled softly. His expression reflected a void of emptiness, as though everything had been stripped away. Taesan observed him for a moment before stepping closer. Though the immortal¡¯s spirit waspletely broken, his body was in perfect condition¡ªuntainted by any physical decay. Standing before the man, Taesan spoke again. ¡°I can grant your wish.¡± The immortal¡¯s eyes opened slightly, his gaze trembling. ¡°I can kill you.¡± Taesan raised his sword. Fwoosh. A gray energy manifested in the air, shimmering faintly as it spread outward. The immortal¡¯s pupils widened in astonishment. ¡°...What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve used this before. Were you too far gone to notice it earlier?¡± The immortal stared at the manifestation of Boundary Line as if entranced. ¡°Is that... the power of an Old God? No... it¡¯s not from this world either. Then what is it...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to exin in detail, but you already sense it, don¡¯t you? You know what this can do.¡± The power of Boundary Line enabled the alteration and interference ofws. With it, Taesan could sever the immortal from Ouroboros¡¯s fusion and bring an end to his existence. Desperation suddenly overtook the immortal¡¯s face. He staggered to his feet from the throne, then copsed before Taesan, grabbing at his pants. ¡°P-please, I beg you. O great being, I implore you. Please, end my suffering... Show mercy...¡± He pressed his forehead to the ground, groveling. This was no ordinary man. He was the great immortal who once ruled over this world. Surely, he had been revered by countless people, oveing immeasurable trials to attain his ce of power. And yet, here he was, reduced to a desperate child, pleading for Taesan¡¯s mercy. ¡°If this is what you truly wish for, I¡¯ll grant it. But there¡¯s a condition.¡± ¡°What... what is it...?¡± ¡°Information about this world.¡± @@novelbin@@ Taesan¡¯s voice was calm yet firm. ¡°Everything you know about this ce.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s all... You will truly end my life?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The immortal¡¯s face filled with hope. *** "Where should I begin?" "Start from the beginning. What happened to you?" "From the beginning..." The immortal¡¯s voice faltered as if the act of thinking was something he hadn¡¯t done in a long time. Though slow andbored, his words eventually formed a coherent exnation. "...One day, the serpent suddenly consumed us. We don¡¯t know why. All we remember is waking up to find ourselves inside Ouroboros¡¯s belly." "When was this?" "I don¡¯t know. We lost track of time long ago. All I can say is... it¡¯s been an unfathomably long time." Even an immortal¡¯s mind had its limits, and the endless passage of time had eroded his sense of it entirely. The immortal paused, then spoke again, as if recalling something. "Now that I think about it... before we were consumed, there was talk about the end of a great war in the universe." "A war ending?" "Yes. I don¡¯t know the details, but it was a topic among the immortals. Our was located on the outskirts of the universe, so we didn¡¯t know much." A war in the universe. Taesan¡¯s thoughts flickered to a particr memory. ¡®The war between the Old Gods and the Transcendents.¡¯ A conflict between two opposing forces over dominion of the universe¡ªa war thatsted for ages. The Transcendents emerged victorious, while the defeated Old Gods were sealed away beyond the world¡¯s reach. But that war was an event from the distant past, so long ago that even most Transcendents had forgotten it. If these beings had been alive since that era, it exined much. Time so immense that even the Transcendents considered it unfathomable had eroded their minds. It was no surprise that their sanity was beyond recovery, even by divine means. "Continue." "At first, we didn¡¯t realize anything had changed. Some of the more powerful beings sensed something was off, but that was all. Only those who had reached immortality understood that we¡¯d been consumed by the Serpent of Cycles. But... beyond that, we knew nothing." Ouroboros moves only at the end of a cycle. Aside from that one fact, they knew almost nothing about the serpent. "There wasn¡¯t much difference at first. We carried on as usual¡ªselling goods, dressing elegantly, and dancing at grand balls." Their lives seemed unchanged. "But... a single day after we were consumed, the world rewound itself." The immortal¡¯s voice trembled as he spoke, as if recounting a nightmare he wished to forget. "Since then, we¡¯ve been trapped in an endless loop, repeating the same day forever." "They all went mad, didn¡¯t they?" "The passage of time doesn¡¯t restore the mind. At first, some weed it. But by the time a century had passed, no one could maintain their sanity. After five centuries, reason itself ceased to exist." Crash! Something shattered outside. The immortal ran a hand over his face. "They¡¯re likely unaware of their own actions. Like broken machines, they repeat the same cycle endlessly." Taesan confirmed his suspicion. These beings were affected by something akin to the power of the gastric stone¡ªbut on a scale epassing the entire world. It was likely that Ouroboros¡¯s ability to rewind cycles, originally meant to sustain bnce, had been twisted into this grotesque form. "You mentioned there were other powerful beings here?" The immortal nodded weakly. "We weren¡¯t the only ones consumed. Entire parts of the universe were swallowed, including many immortals. Among them were evenary deities." "I don¡¯t sense any of them." "This area is just the outskirts." The immortal gave a bitter smile. "I didn¡¯t sit idly by. In the beginning, because I hadn¡¯t been fully corrupted yet, I could resist the forced cycles to some extent. Along with other immortals andary deities, we sought a solution by searching for the Serpent of Cycles itself." "You sought Ouroboros? While inside it?" "Yes. At first, I thought it was absurd. But a Transcendent among us exined that what consumed us was merely the serpent¡¯s power, not its true form. The real body lies deeper within." "A Transcendent knew that?" Even the Wizard had admitted his ignorance about Ouroboros¡¯s interior. The idea that a Transcendent trapped here held such knowledge was surprising. "I don¡¯t remember his name... but he was a figure of great power. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for him to know such things. We followed his guidance and began moving deeper." The oue didn¡¯t need to be asked. The immortal spoke, his expression hardened. "As we went deeper, everything became more distorted. The ce we reached was... an abyss. I gave up and turned back, but those who continued never returned." "Got it." "That¡¯s everything I know." The immortal looked up at Taesan, his gaze filled with desperation. "Now... will you end my life?" "One more thing. You mentioned seeing a woman. What did you mean by that?" "Ah..." The immortal hesitated, struggling to dredge up the memory. "I don¡¯t remember clearly, but... a woman visited this ce once. She seemed very frightened and restless, but... I can¡¯t recall much else." "Was she slender, with ck hair and ck eyes?" "Perhaps... I think so." Lee Taeyeon. Taesan¡¯s eyes narrowed. This had urred before the current cycle. Yet, the immortal remembered her. It confirmed that time within this ce operated differently from the outside world. "Alright." Taesan nodded. For the first time, the immortal¡¯s face brightened with relief. "I¡¯ll grant your wish now." "Ah... thank you..." Taesan raised Bardray. Gray energy surged, covering the de. "Anyst words?" "I... am their king." The immortal gazed out the window at the countless mortals driven mad by the endless cycle. "I am the ruler of this world. I should lead them. But I am so tired. I want to rest." "I see." Pierce. The de pierced the immortal¡¯s chest. His face reflected pure relief, as if he could finally rest. The Boundary Line eradicated Ouroboros¡¯s corruption from his being, leading him to true death. The power contained within the immortal dispersed, splitting between Akasha and Bardray. [This... feels strange.] Bardray murmured, his tone uncertain. In life, Bardray had never reached the level of immortality. To him, immortality had been a lofty, unreachable state. Now, he had witnessed someone of that level beg for death. Taesan sheathed his sword, processing the information he had gathered. ¡®Ouroboros¡¯s true body.¡¯ The Ouroboros that devoured the universe was merely its power. Its true form resided deep within. ¡®The deeper I go, the more twisted it bes.¡¯ Unlike the outer areas, where only time rewound, the deeperyers would host far more alien phenomena. Even immortals couldn¡¯t endure it. ¡®And the Transcendent.¡¯ A being of extraordinary caliber, possibly governing concepts themselves, was here. Given the immense time that had passed, it was possible they had perished. But such an entity might have survived. Taesan solidified his objectives: to locate Ouroboros¡¯s true body and uncover the fate of the Transcendent. He gathered his mana, a mix of divine and corrupted energy swirling together. [You have activated Teleport [Chaos].] Taesan¡¯s body shifted, moving deeper into the heart of Ouroboros. Chapter 485: 91st Floor: Ouroboros (6) The only path was forward¡ªdeeper into Ouroboros, into its very abyss. While teleportation normally had a range limited to atmospheric boundaries, the fusion with Boundary Line allowed Taesan to travel far beyond. He left the far behind, moving toward the depths. But Ouroboros had consumed the entire cosmos. No matter how many times Taesan teleported, the destination always felt impossibly far. [You have activated Teleport [Chaos].] He continued leaping through space, traveling deeper and deeper. As he progressed, countlesss came into view. On each of theses, he sensed the presence of millions of lives. Ouroboros had not consumed a single world; dozens ofs, teeming with life, had been swallowed and fused into its essence. @@novelbin@@ Taesan passed theses without stopping. While he could theoretically free them with Boundary Line, the cost of doing so for so many would be astronomical. He focused on the root of the problem. Once Ouroboros¡¯s corruption was removed, these worlds would naturally be liberated. [You have activated Spell Stacking.] [You have activated Teleport [Chaos].] Heyered the chaotic teleportations, amplifying their effect, and surged forward. His body leapt through space, diving ever deeper. After countless leaps, Taesan realized something had changed. Up until now, the influence of Ouroboros had been faint, limited to the forced rewinding of time. But here, just existing in this space caused the time within his body to distort chaotically. Taesan cloaked himself in the Corruption Aura. The creeping influence of Ouroboros was blocked by the swirling gray energy. ¡°We¡¯re getting close,¡± he murmured. As he moved toward the core, the serpent¡¯s power intensified. He was certain he was heading in the right direction. Taesan activated teleportation once more, pushing further into the depths. The deeper he went, the stronger the presence of Ouroboros became. Even with the protection of the Corruption Aura, he could feel the immense weight of its power pressing down on him. ¡®There¡¯s no trace of life left.¡¯ asionally, he saw forms that appeared to have once been alive¡ªsome resembling immortals. These were likely the beings the first immortal had spoken of, those who had ventured deeper in search of Ouroboros. But all of them had long since been consumed, their essence transformed into something no longer recognizable as life. Taesan pressed onward, teleporting through the twisted space for days without rest. Finally, he reached the deepest point. ¡°Hmm.¡± A low hum escaped his lips as the Corruption Aura around him writhed and strained, screaming under the pressure. Here, even the Corruption Aura was insufficient to shield him. He switched to Boundary Line, cloaking his entire being in its power, and surveyed his surroundings. [What the hell is this ce?] Bardray¡¯s voice echoed, incredulous. Space and time were chaotically distorted, creating a scene that resembled a vivid hallucination. [This doesn¡¯t seem like a ce to linger.] ¡°I¡¯ll leave once I¡¯ve achieved my objective.¡± To do that, he needed to locate Ouroboros. Taesan began moving cautiously, shielded by his power. But the serpent didn¡¯t reveal itself. The chaotic space and time interfered with his senses, obscuring his perception. He realized he needed to clear the interference first. [You have activated Great Copse [Chaos].] An eruption of chaotic energy surged outward, forcefully dispersing the distortions in space and time like mist blown away by a gale. His vision cleared. But there was no sign of Ouroboros. Instead, he saw something else. ¡°What is that?¡± It was a mass of intangible energy. It clung to the distorted space and time like barnacles, twisting them further and nullifying the meaning and value within. Taesan recognized the energy immediately¡ªit carried the unmistakable aura of the Old Gods. ¡®So the reason Ouroboros is broken is because of the Old Gods.¡¯ It was unsurprising. Even the Wizard had spected as much. If something had interfered with Ouroboros, it could only be an Old God. As Taesan moved closer to investigate, a deafening voice roared through the space. [HOW DARE YOU!] The thunderous voice shook the very fabric of reality, and Taesan instinctively raised his sword. [A WRETCHED SPAWN OF THOSE CREATURES CRAWLS HERE!] A colossal force descended upon him, carrying the weight of a concept so overwhelming that it rendered all skills and defenses meaningless. It was an attack designed to kill, containing the very essence of its wielder. Taesan poured all his energy into Boundary Line, raising it to its absolute limit. He swung his de with full force to intercept the attack. BOOOOM! The sh erupted with a violent explosion, shaking the distorted space. Taesan frowned. Despite his efforts, Boundary Line failed topletely repel the attack. ¡®It¡¯s not because of the power itself.¡¯ The sheer density of the force was too great. It carried the entirety of the attacker¡¯s existence, a weight so immense that even Boundary Line struggled to push it back. Taesan honed his power further, sharpening Boundary Line to its utmost precision. Focusing his energy into the tip of his de, he shed downward. The overwhelming force split in half, scattering into the void. RUMBLE! ¡°This is absurd,¡± Taesan muttered, clicking his tongue. Even that single attack had drained a significant amount of his energy. [INSOLENT WRETCH!] A voice filled with fury roared again. Murderous intent became tangible, pressing down on him. Even an immortal would have been crushed under such pressure. [DIE.] A massive, concentrated force descended upon Taesan. It was a manifestation of rawws, wielded with mastery only a being who governed concepts could achieve. This was a direct attack from a being far above Taesan¡¯s level. [You have activated Chaos Domain.] The gray aura enveloped Taesan entirely. Channeling it into his de, he thrust it toward the descending force. [FOOLISH MORTAL. DO YOU THINK YOUR PITIFUL CORRUPTION CAN TOUCH ME?] A voiceced with disdain echoed, but Taesan remained silent, focusing entirely on his counterattack. Crack! Thews themselves began to shift. The killing intent embedded within the force dissipated. [WHAT?!] The voice, now tinged with shock, filled the air. Taesan detonated his domain, erasing the force that had threatened him. ¡°This is dangerous,¡± Taesan muttered, steadying his breath. The being that had attacked him paused, seemingly unsettled. Taesan spoke calmly. ¡°I am not your enemy, O Great Transcendent.¡± The distorted space fell silent. A gaze, heavy with scrutiny, bore down on him. With a resounding hum, a figure materialized before him. An old man with a twisted expression stood, his face contorted in both curiosity and frustration. ¡°You... What are you? I can sense their power on you, yet you don¡¯t seem like one of their ves.¡± ¡°I am not aligned with them. In fact, I am their enemy.¡± Taesan¡¯s voice remainedposed. ¡°I was sent here on a mission by the Wizard who created thebyrinth.¡± ¡°Thebyrinth? What¡¯s that?¡± The old man¡¯s question left Taesan momentarily speechless. It was clear the Transcendent before him knew nothing of thebyrinth. The man studied Taesan with a puzzled expression. ¡°Hmm... now that I look closer, I can sense the aura of some familiar ones on you.¡± Taesan understood what he meant. He bore the blessings of certain Transcendents, some of whom had existed for eons. It made sense this figure recognized their presence. ¡°Well, this is strange, but... I suppose you¡¯re not an enemy. I don¡¯t know who this Wizard is, but he must be a Transcendent. Did he send you here to scout this ce?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hmm. You don¡¯t seem like someone who should be able to survive here. The way you interfered with myws and wielded that strange gray energy... You¡¯re quite an anomaly. What¡¯s happening outside?¡± The man¡¯s tone had lost all hostility, reced with curiosity. Taesan lowered his guard slightly. ¡°May I ask your name, O Great One?¡± Taesan asked quietly. The old man¡¯s presence was overwhelming, far beyond anything Taesan had encountered. He belonged to the highest echelon of Transcendentsparable to the likes of Rakhiratas, Maria, and the Wizard. The man answered. ¡°I am the God of Essence. Essentia.¡± *** The concept of essence governed by the transcendent before him made it clear to Taesan¡ªthis old man was the "Great One" the immortal had spoken of. Essentia¡¯s sharp, discerning gaze lingered on Taesan for a moment. ¡°...You¡¯ve reached the realm of transcendence, yet you¡¯re twisted. I can¡¯t read you properly.¡± He studied Taesan curiously before speaking again. ¡°You came here to resolve Ouroboros, didn¡¯t you?¡± Taesan nodded silently, and Essentia stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but those things wouldn¡¯t bestow their blessings on someone they couldn¡¯t trust. I suppose that¡¯s enough for me.¡± Essentia let out a heartyugh, pping Taesan on the back with surprising force. ¡°Apologies for attacking you earlier! Thought you were one of theirckeys. I¡¯d offer you a reward for the trouble, but in this cursed ce, I don¡¯t have much to give.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, but... byckeys, do you mean the Old Gods¡¯ minions?¡± ¡°They show up here asionally, causing trouble. I¡¯ve crushed everyst one of them, but they never seem to learn.¡± Essentia¡¯s tone was dismissive, as though the minions were no more than flies. For someone to infiltrate this deep into Ouroboros, they would have to be at least immortal or stronger. Yet to Essentia, they were barely worth noticing¡ªa testament to his overwhelming power. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re here to fix things, I suppose that makes us allies. Two heads are better than one, eh?¡± Essentia grinned widely, his demeanor light despite the situation. ¡°Any change in this wretched cycle is a wee one.¡± ¡°May I ask a few questions?¡± Taesan inquired. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll answer whatever I can.¡± ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Essentia stroked his chin again, his gaze distant as he contemted. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you exactly. I came here shortly after the Old Gods were driven out of the world. That was an eternity ago, so let¡¯s just say it¡¯s been a very, very long time.¡± It matched what Taesan had heard from the Wizard. Essentia¡¯s expression darkened as he continued. ¡°We defeated them, that¡¯s certain. But those bastards had already scattered their remnants across the world before their downfall. Ouroboros twisting like this? That¡¯s one of their legacies.¡± ¡°So, it was the Old Gods after all.¡± ¡°Ouroboros wasn¡¯t supposed to move for a long time yet. But the Old Gods intervened directly, breaking it. That¡¯s why I got caught up in this mess and ended up trapped here. Damned nuisances, they are.¡± ¡°Do you know which Old God was responsible?¡± ¡°Oh, I know.¡± Essentia¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°It was the Worthless One. That bastard.¡± The Worthless One. Taesan recognized the name from the Old Gods¡¯ outpost. He muttered under his breath. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the Usurper, then.¡± ¡°The Usurper? You know about him? You must be favored by the gods to know such things.¡± Essentia¡¯s tone shifted, tinged with surprise, and Taesan couldn¡¯t hide his own shock at the response. ¡°You¡¯re familiar with the Usurper?¡± ¡°Of course I am. Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± Essentia nced at the ring on Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°Now that I look closer, that ring of yours has ties to him. What a rotten bastard.¡± [What?] Akasha¡¯s voice rang out, filled with confusion. Essentia turned and began walking away. ¡°Come along. Let¡¯s take our time and talk this through.¡± ¡°That seems wise.¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes gleamed with focus. Neither the Wizard nor the Demon Lords had any knowledge of the Usurper. It wasn¡¯t that they had forgotten; the Usurper¡¯s power had erased any trace of him from their memories. Taesan had assumed he would never uncover information about the Usurper. Yet, this transcendent before him remembered. ¡®Is it because he¡¯s inside Ouroboros?¡¯ Taesan couldn¡¯t determine the exact reason, but this was a rare opportunity. Unexpectedly, he had found a source of critical information. Chapter 486: 91st Floor: Ouroboros (7) Essentia led Taesan away from the chaotic center of Ouroboros to a small space. It was his domain, a bastion of stability that he had maintained amidst the twisted powers of Ouroboros. ¡°Alright. We probably have plenty of questions for each other. Who¡¯s going first?¡± ¡°Thank you. Then, I¡¯d like to ask you something first.¡± Taesan¡¯s gaze settled on Essentia. ¡°Do you know a woman named Lee Taeyeon? She¡¯s in her twenties, with long ck hair and ck eyes.¡± ¡°Lee Taeyeon?¡± Essentia tilted his head, puzzled. ¡°Never heard of her. Who is she?¡± ¡°I see.¡± Taesan¡¯s suspicion that Lee Taeyeon had encountered Essentia or acquired the Gastric Stone here was wrong. She must have used her own unique methods to obtain it. Given her level of power, entering this ce would have been impossible otherwise. ¡°Is that all you wanted to ask?¡± ¡°No. My real question is about something else.¡± Taesan shifted to the main topic. ¡°You¡¯re familiar with the Usurper, aren¡¯t you? Could you tell me what kind of being that Old God is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something I should casually share, but... I suppose someone like you is an exception.¡± The Usurper. A mysterious Old God that even the gods had forgotten. Essentia, however, showed no hesitation as he answered. ¡°It¡¯s simple. That bastard is exactly what his name implies. He usurps this world.¡± ¡°...The world itself?¡± Taesan¡¯s surprise was evident. He had thought the Usurper¡¯s power was limited to stealing concepts like divine names or ranks. But to usurp the very world? This ced the Usurper on a level far beyond what Taesan had anticipated. Essentia frowned as he continued. ¡°He¡¯s highly unusual, even among the Old Gods. That¡¯s because he can manipte some of thews of this world.¡± ¡°Thews of this world? Is that even possible?¡± The beings of this world couldn¡¯t wield the powers of the Old Gods, and vice versa. That was an immutable truth. The minions of the Old Gods could wield their masters¡¯ powers, but only because their essence had been transformed to align with them. Only Taesan had the ability to wield both forces simultaneously. ¡°It¡¯s not true mastery. It¡¯s more like parroting. Even so, the fact that an Old God can mimic the concepts of this world is a serious anomaly.¡± Essentia¡¯s face twisted in distaste. ¡°That bastard usurps the very structures that make up this world. Once something is usurped, its existence is erased from this world¡ªlike your master. A tool turned servant.¡± Essentia gestured at Taesan¡¯s ring, pointing directly at Akasha. ¡°Judging by that, your master must have been a Transcendent who was usurped by the Usurper. I don¡¯t know who they were, but considering they left behind someone like you, they must have been an immensely powerful entity tied to concepts.¡± [Can the one I served... be found again?] Akasha¡¯s voice trembled with hope, but Essentia answered indifferently. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± His tone was blunt. ¡°Judging by how fragmented your memories are, I¡¯d say you¡¯re barely clinging to what¡¯s left. Even if you recover and restore her divinity, I¡¯ve never heard of anyone regaining their identity after being usurped.¡± [I... I see.] ¡°So, that¡¯s the Usurper?¡± Taesan mulled over this revtion. He had expected uncovering the mystery of the Usurper to be a monumental challenge. Yet, he¡¯d gained critical information far more easily than anticipated. ¡°What exactly is the Usurper¡¯s power?¡± Essentia hesitated, his expression unreadable. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°That bastard is shrouded in mystery. All we know is that he participated in the war, usurped countless Transcendents and concepts, and vanished. Beyond that, we know nothing.¡± ¡°Have you never fought him?¡± ¡°Never. And I doubt anyone else has either. Every single person who fought the Usurper has been erased. We only know they existed because of the gaps they left behind, but we can¡¯t recall who they were.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°The Usurper takes worlds. That¡¯s the extent of what¡¯s known. No one knows his true nature or the exact mechanics of his power. Come to think of it... he disappeared near the end of the war. It was strange. Perhaps some Transcendent managed to destroy him at the cost of their own life?¡± Ultimately, even Essentia didn¡¯t know much about the Usurper. This was the limit of what he could uncover for now. Taesan organized the information in his mind. ¡°Thank you.¡± It was enough. He could form a rough picture now. Essentia chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Got any more questions?¡± ¡°I do. Why did Ouroboros consume the universe?¡± Taesan only knew that the Old Gods were involved, but nothing beyond that. Essentia, having been trapped here for so long, was likely the best source of information on the subject. ¡°Exining would take too long. I¡¯d rather show you. Follow me.¡± Essentia rose and began walking toward the core of Ouroboros. As he advanced, he dispelled the twisted time and space obstructing their path. Gradually, they encountered more of the intangible energy clinging to the space around them. This energy seeped into time and space, corrupting them and stripping away their meaning. Taesan understood instinctively. Once something was consumed by this energy, its value was nullified. What was once a sharp and indomitable de became ashes. What once shone as radiant gold turned into dull, ckened stone. The energy rendered all things hollow. The further they went, the more abundant this energy became. ¡°They¡¯ve multiplied while I¡¯ve been stuck here.¡± Essentia clicked his tongue and stomped his foot. His very essence expanded outward. HUMMMM! Essence itself manifested, smashing and scattering the intangible energy that clung to space. As the view cleared, Taesan saw something. ¡°Do you see it? Or perhaps it¡¯s better to ask¡ªcan you feel it?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± It was a mass of nothingness, a void that defied perception. Taesan couldn¡¯t see it directly, nor could he sense anything from it. In the warped and mangled space of Ouroboros, it alone was utterly empty. Its size was mountainous, dwarfing even thergest constructs Taesan had ever encountered. ¡°That,¡± Essentia said grimly, ¡°is the source of Ouroboros¡¯s corruption and the reason I remain trapped here. The Worthless One.¡± *** The Worthless One writhed, growingrger by consuming the surrounding time and space, twisting it into itself. ¡°A nuisance.¡± Essentia scowled as his essence¡ªhis very being¡ªmanifested as a material force to strike at the Worthless One. But the Worthless One didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, ittched onto Essentia¡¯s essence, attempting to corrupt and transform it. Slowly, the inherent value and meaning of Essentia¡¯s power began to fade. ¡°Damn parasite.¡± Essentia clicked his tongue, shaking off the intangible entity clinging to him and withdrawing his power. In that exchange, Taesan came to a realization. ¡°It¡¯s not a fragment, is it?¡± This wasn¡¯t some minor concept or splinter of a greater whole. This was the Old God itself. ¡°The Worthless One isn¡¯t a singr entity. It¡¯s a conglomerate of countless small cores. One of those cores has embedded itself in Ouroboros.¡± Essentia swatted away the advancing fragment as he exined. ¡°The main body is the size of a star. Compared to that, this thing is downright cute.¡± ¡°Why would something like that be here?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± Essentia replied casually. ¡°Maybe they were trying to destroy the world using Ouroboros, or maybe this was some desperate ploy when they realized they¡¯d lost the war. Either way, they didn¡¯t seed. Notpletely, at least. Even the Old Gods can¡¯t fully control Ouroboros. Not its main body, and certainly not fragments like this.¡± ¡°But they didn¡¯t fail entirely, either.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± Essentia raised a hand, his expression dark. ¡°Deep inside that thing is Ouroboros¡¯s core.¡± Though the view was warped and twisted, Taesan could make out something within the depths of the Worthless One¡ªa presence that could only be Ouroboros¡¯s main body. ¡°Somehow, the Worthless One managed to reach Ouroboros¡¯s core. Ouroboros responded toote. It managed to defend itself, but the bacsh affected the entire universe.¡± This ripple effect had trapped countless beings, including Essentia himself, in its wake. ¡°At the time, I could¡¯ve escaped. But I realized this had to be resolved, so I came here. I underestimated its power, though, and everyone else who tried was consumed.¡± Essentia¡¯s face twisted in frustration, a deep weariness evident in his tone. ¡°I can¡¯t kill an Old God. And I can¡¯t seal it here either. So I¡¯ve been stuck fighting it over and over.¡± ¡°Even a fragment of it is untouchable?¡± ¡°If I were at full strength, I¡¯d crush itpletely and strip it of its influence. But in here? It¡¯s impossible.¡± The closer they got to Ouroboros¡¯s core, the more its warped time and space took a toll. ¡°Even though Ouroboros isn¡¯t hostile toward me, just being in here drains my strength. Resisting its influence is taking up a lot of my power, so I¡¯m far weaker than I should be. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t deal with that damned fragment.¡± Even a transcendent like Essentia struggled against Ouroboros¡¯s overwhelming authority. It was simply too vast, too fundamental. ¡°But you... you seem unaffected.¡± Essentia¡¯s gaze turned to Taesan, specifically to the thin, gray aura that enveloped him. ¡°Be honest. I have no idea what you are. You interfered with my authority.¡± Taesan had not only resisted Essentia¡¯s attacks but had actively disrupted them¡ªsomething neither a Transcendent nor even an Old God could do. ¡°Who are you?¡± Essentia¡¯s question was filled with pure curiosity. Taesan answered truthfully. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± His tone was genuine; even he didn¡¯t fully understand himself. ¡°But I can wield this.¡± A gray light flickered in Taesan¡¯s hand, embodying the power of the Old Gods. Perfectly controlled, it was entirely at hismand. Essentia¡¯s eyes filled with quiet astonishment. ¡°And I can wield this as well.¡± A golden radiance¡ªthe essence of divinity¡ªmanifested in Taesan¡¯s other hand. The two forces intertwined, forming the grayish hue that surrounded Taesan. ¡°Bybining them, I created a power I call the Boundary Line.¡± Taesan extended his hand. CLANG! The Worthless One¡¯s authority collided with the Boundary Line, attempting to erase and consume it. But it failed. Though the Boundary Line trembled and warped under the pressure, it held firm, shielding Taesanpletely. Then Taesan unleashed the Chaos Domain. The Worthless One¡¯s fragment began to distort under the assault, its form unraveling slightly. In response, an overwhelming malice surged toward Taesan. The intangible energy that had been creeping slowly nowshed out like a cornered beast. A tidal wave of hostility surged toward Taesan, trying to engulf him entirely. Essentia stepped in, his authority ring as he pushed back the rampaging fragment and created some distance. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°...You...¡± Essentia stared at Taesan, his expression nk with disbelief. Taesan extinguished the Boundary Line and met Essentia¡¯s gaze. ¡°I can kill Old Gods.¡± He spoke calmly, yet the weight of his words hung in the air. Taesan didn¡¯t just have the ability to seal or resist the fragment. He could erase itpletely from existence. ¡°But even I don¡¯t understand why I can do this. Or what has been twisted within my own essence.¡± He turned his attention back to Essentia. @@novelbin@@ ¡°You are the God of Essence, aren¡¯t you?¡± Essence¡ªthe fundamental nature of all things, the indispensable core that defines existence. Taesan¡¯s voice lowered as he asked his next question. ¡°Can you see my essence?¡± Chapter 487: 91st Floor. Ouroboros (8) One¡¯s essence¡ªit was something one had to uncover on their own. But if help from another was avable, there was no reason not to ept it. Essentia, the God of Essence, governed essence itself. If anyone could discern Taesan¡¯s essence, it would be him. It was with this thought in mind that Taesan asked the question, and Essentia stroked his chin in thought. ¡°Understanding essence... You mean for you to grasp your own essence, correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not impossible. Many mortals havee to me seeking to find themselves.¡± It was possible. Taesan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°But essence is what makes up an individual. If one recklessly tries to observe it, their sense of self could be shaken. To truly realize your essence, you would need to perform the designated rites in my sanctum.¡± ¡°And if I leave this ce?¡± ¡°Then I can assist you as much as you like.¡± Essentia replied without hesitation. ¡°Normally, one would have to offer themselves to me entirely for such assistance, but for you, I¡¯d do it without cost. I owe you, after all.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± With this assurance, Taesan knew that once Ouroboros was resolved, the God of Essence would help him uncover his essence. ¡°Well, then,¡± Essentia said, shing a mischievous grin, ¡°let¡¯s get to the main event.¡± He chuckled darkly. ¡°Let¡¯s move to kill that damned wretch.¡± ¡°If we deal with the Worthless One, will Ouroboros return to its original state?¡± ¡°Probably. That thing is like a foreign contaminant stuck between gears. Remove the contaminant, and the mechanism should restore itself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy to understand.¡± Clearing the Worthless One wouldplete the quest. However, Essentia frowned. ¡°The issue is... I don¡¯t know how Ouroboros will react afterward. We have no information on whether it possesses full intelligence or can make sound judgments.¡± There was a possibility that a restored Ouroboros might view them as contaminants and attempt to remove them. Addressing Essentia¡¯s concern, Taesan responded calmly. ¡°It should be fine. Probably.¡± Ouroboros had looked at him when he approached. It had then turned its gaze away, almost as if inviting him inside. It didn¡¯t seem hostile toward them. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief, but we should still prepare just in case.¡± In any case, dealing with the Worthless One took priority. For that, rest was essential. Taesan had consumed a significant amount of his Boundary Lines countering Essentia¡¯s attack, and Chaos Domain was still on cooldown. He needed time to replenish himself. In Essentia¡¯s space, Taesan quietly focused on recovering his internal strength. From a distance, Essentia watched him intently. ¡°What is this guy?¡± His gaze was filled with curiosity. Though he didn¡¯t outwardly show it, Essentia was deeply intrigued by Taesan¡¯s true nature. Even as the God of Essence, Essentia couldn¡¯t discern Taesan¡¯s essence. It was baffling. As a god capable of reading even beings of equivalent stature, Essentia should have been able to perceive at least a part of Taesan¡¯s essence. But all he could see was the surface. The deeperyers remained shrouded. ¡°Only the Old Gods have been like this before...¡± But Taesan wasn¡¯t an Old God. Though his power was foreign, he clearly belonged to this world. ¡°...I can¡¯t figure it out.¡± Even as a mighty Transcendent, Essentia couldn¡¯t understand him. Unhidden curiosity glimmered in Essentia¡¯s expression. Unable to suppress his inquisitiveness, he focused his mind, extending his perception to delve deeper. This was his divine authority¡ªgazing into the very core of essence. Only a god governing essence could achieve such a feat. Essentia¡¯s vision began to pierce through the surface, reaching for the depths of Taesan¡¯s essence. And at the deepestyer, he saw it. A distorted image. A mind entirely consumed by ckness, its form indiscernible. It was the same iprehensible darkness that Haphran and Amelia had seen. ¡°What is this?¡± Essentia¡¯s pupils momentarily trembled. This was far more alien than he had anticipated. As he moved to probe further into this unsettling discovery, he saw something. A presence. It had no discernible form, nor could its strength or nature be identified. When Essentia tried to scrutinize it more closely, he was met with a violent rejection. [Stop.] ¡°Ugh.¡± Essentia involuntarily stumbled back, his face reflecting shock. ¡°What... was that?¡± Something within Taesan had forcibly expelled him. Normally, even if the owner of the essence actively resisted, Essentia could bypass such barriers. As a god, his authority to observe essence was nearly absolute. Yet, he had been ejected by whatevery inside Taesan. ¡°...How alien.¡± Essentia¡¯s gaze was filled with fascination. ¡°Something like this exists?¡± A mystery. Taesan¡¯s very existence ignited Essentia¡¯s curiosity. Silently, he observed Taesan. Before long, Taesan opened his eyes. Essentia stood, his steady gaze meeting Taesan¡¯s. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Shaking his head, Essentia rose. ¡°Are you fully recovered?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s get moving.¡± Essentia grinned, his steps lively as he began to move. *** They approached the Worthless One once more. The formless aura had grown, spreading further than before, possibly due to its influence expanding. ¡°You said you could kill that thing, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good. While the Worthless One has no physical form, there must be a core that sustains its existence. It¡¯ll be at its deepest point. Pierce it, and you¡¯ll kill it. The problem is... even so, it¡¯s stronger than you.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be an issue.¡± Taesan answered calmly, his unwavering tone drawing a sharp grin from Essentia. ¡°Not arrogance, I see. Still...¡± Essentia stared at Taesan, his expression contemtive. After a moment, as if reaching a decision, Essentia ced a hand atop Taesan¡¯s head. His authority began to manifest, embedding itself into Taesan. Taesan felt the divine power settle within him, and he didn¡¯t resist it. [You have gained the special skill Essence of Self.] ¡°This is...¡± ¡°Better safe than sorry. You¡¯ll instinctively understand how to use it. Got a sense of it yet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan quietly assessed the ability he had been granted. He could already discern how to wield it and the extent of its potential, as if it were a natural part of him. Which made him question it. ¡°You¡¯re granting me something this powerful?¡± The authority Essentia had given him wasn¡¯t something one would typically bestow upon a first encounter. Other gods had only given Taesan powers after observing him for some time and testing him through various trials. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning on giving you this much initially. Just something useful enough. But... it seems like this is what you need right now¡ªfor your sake and ours.¡± Essentiaughed heartily. ¡°Besides, I attacked you out of the blue before, and there were... other issues. Consider it an apology for everything.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. If we can get out of here, I¡¯d give anything to erase that damn thing from existence. Now, let¡¯s open the path.¡± Essentia stepped forward. The Worthless One stirred, reacting to Essentia¡¯s presence. It lunged toward him with palpable killing intent and hostility. ¡°It seems it¡¯s realized this is its end,¡± Essentia said with a feral grin. His essence expanded, manifesting into a tangible presence that reshaped the world around them. Essentia raised his fist and struck. @@novelbin@@ His essence materialized and enveloped the Worthless One. The attack bypassed all defenses and offenses, directly striking at the core of existence itself. It was a far superior version of Taesan¡¯s essence-based attacks. To withstand such an assault, one would need power equal to or greater than Essentia¡¯s. The Worthless One rose in full force to meet the strike. BOOM! The sh of forces reverberated through Ouroboros. Distorted time and space shattered into fragments. Taesan moved immediately. [You have activated Call of Chaos.] Gray energy enveloped him, allowing him to pierce through the spreading formless power unscathed. The Worthless One tried to block him, but Essentia¡¯s roaringughter interrupted it. ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me!¡± BOOM! A massive shockwave rippled outward. Even though it wasn¡¯t a direct hit, Taesan¡¯s Boundary Line flickered under the impact. This was the true sh of a Transcendent and an Old God. Even in their weakened states, they were leagues above Taesan. But¡ª ¡®They¡¯re not untouchable.¡¯ The Worthless One created a massive circr dome to shield itself from Essentia¡¯s attacks. Essentia clenched his fist and swung again, creating cracks along the dome¡¯s surface. Taesan seized the opportunity, sprinting toward the opening. He focused his mind and gripped his sword tightly. Infused with Boundary Lines, heunched himself forward. CRACK! His sword pierced the gap, and he expanded the Boundary Line, forcing the opening wider. Taesan dashed inside the Worthless One¡¯s protective dome. Inside, he sensed it immediately¡ªa concentrated force, unlike the diffuse aura outside. It was denser, heavier, unmistakably the core of the Worthless One. The core began to coalesce energy around itself, taking on a humanoid form within this world. [A Fragment of the Worthless One has appeared.] The Worthless One¡¯s main body was the size of a sun, but this fragment was norger than a mountain range. Compared to its true form, it was insignificant. Yet most of its strength was focused on defending against Essentia, leaving Taesan to face only a minuscule portion of its power. Still, this was no mere fragment¡ªit was a piece of an Old God itself. The fragment exuded the Old God¡¯s will¡ªan intense hostility directed squarely at Taesan. Even without full intelligence, it emanated the primal rage of a beast defending its territory. Its gaze alone was enough to nullify the world¡¯s value. The Worthless One¡¯s arm moved. BOOM! Condensed, formless power surged forward like a wave. Taesan dodged nimbly. [You have activated Great Copse (Chaos).] A gray force materialized, shing with the wave. But the Great Copse was overwhelmed. Despite being imbued with Boundary Lines, it was swallowed, its value and force erased by the wave. Taesan reinforced himself with Chaos and charged forward. CRASH! The collision of formless power and the gray sword unleashed energy in all directions. CRACK! The fragmented aura tried to cling to Taesan¡¯s body. He swung his Boundary Lines, dispersing the aura. But the formless energy surged again, attempting to engulf him. Taesan stepped back, narrowly escaping. The formless power spread, constricting his space. Even with the Boundary Line enveloping him, it was difficult to push back the oppressive force. Taesan clenched his fist. [You have activated Magic Stacking.] [You have activated Great Copse (Chaos).] [You have activated Ba¡¯al¡¯s Onyx Spatial Surge.] BOOM! Gray energy rippled outward, shaking the space around him. He unleashed everything¡ªmagic, dark magic, and more¡ªto carve an opening. But it wasn¡¯t enough. The formless power seemed endless, a bottomless vessel overflowing with destructive energy. Despite countless shes with Essentia, it showed no sign of diminishing. This was the Worthless One. Even this small fragment could, given enough time, erase an entire gxy¡ªconsumings, suns, ck holes, and all celestial bodies until nothing of value remained. ¡®It¡¯s strong.¡¯ Even while focusing most of its strength on Essentia, the fragment¡¯s power was overwhelming. Yet Taesan was certain. ¡®I can win.¡¯ The Worthless One¡¯s authority erased the value of existence itself. Its power fundamentally surpassed the forces of the world, simr to the negation magic Taesan wielded but on an entirely different scale¡ªa concept close to the essence of an Old God. Formless energy surged again. Taesan raised his sword, unleashing Boundary Lines to sweep it away. BOOM! In a sh of conceptual andw-based powers, the Boundary Line held an edge. The main challenge was that the Worthless One¡¯s strength and rank clearly exceeded Taesan¡¯s. But that didn¡¯t matter. Taesan possessed the skills to bridge the gap. With absolute confidence, Taesan activated his skills. [You have activated Absolute Resistance.] [You have activated Essence of Self.] Chapter 488: 91st Floor. Ouroboros (9) The skill Absolute Resistance¡ªearned afternding a decisive blow against the Labyrinth Wizard. It forcibly elevated the user¡¯s rank to match or surpass that of a stronger opponent. As the rank climbed, the barriers that had once been insurmountable were shattered, and tightly locked doors were violently shaken. Thoom. The door trembled. Cracks began to spider across its surface with a grating noise. Through the widening gaps, Taesan glimpsed the space beyond¡ªa realm of transcendent heights. The domain of Old Gods and the supreme Transcendents who ruled the world. Taesan¡¯s essence pressed against the threshold, trying to force its way through. In that moment, the strain of the artificially elevated rank rippled through his consciousness. If just knocking on the entrance caused such pressure, it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine the burden of fully stepping into that realm. That was where Essence of Self came into y. The power Essentia had granted him had a simple yet profound effect. It allowed Taesan to perceive his essence, observe himself, and temporarily expand his capacity to bear the extraordinary. Taesan focused his mind. Thoom! The cracks on the door deepened, threatening to break it apart. The door trembled, teetering on the edge of copse, but it remained intact, as though dering that this realm was not yet his to enter. But Taesan wasn¡¯t paying attention to the door anymore. His gaze was fixated elsewhere¡ªon the ckened world before him. A world so chaotically tangled and distorted that its essence was impossible to discern. It was his inner world. Taesan had tried countless times to read and understand his own psyche, only to fail each time. Even as its owner, he could not grasp the nature of his own mind. But now¡ª With his granted power, he could delve deeper than ever before. Taesan dove into the depths of his inner world, piercing through the twisted and brokenndscape. At the deepest point, he saw it. Somethingy within him. ¡°Is that it?¡± The entity Amelia and Haphran had spoken of¡ªthe hidden presence within him¡ªrevealed itself in his mind¡¯s eye. It was a form indistinguishable as human or beast, its essence obscured by an unidentifiable power. Its true nature eluded him. But one thing was clear. It was watching him. The gaze directed at Taesan carried an emotion he couldn¡¯t fully decipher¡ªwhether hostility or goodwill, he couldn¡¯t tell. Their eyes met, the tension between them palpable. Then, after a brief moment, the unknown entity moved, as if stepping aside. It withdrew from Taesan, vanishing into the depths. Boom! The door shattered. The once-immovable barrier crumbled, granting Taesan ess to the transcendent realm beyond. His rank soared instantly, reaching a level that brushed against the supreme. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Realizing something was amiss, the Worthless One abandoned its attempt to dominate the space and shifted its focus entirely on Taesan, trying to consume him within its being. Previously, even with the Boundary Line, Taesan would have had to fight for his life to counter this assault. But now¡ª Taesan raised his sword, and the Boundary Line intensified. This Boundary Line was unlike any he had wielded before. Its gray hue deepened, resembling the void itself. When Taesan swung his sword, the Worthless One met his strike. CRACK! A powerful bacsh erupted as the Worthless One recoiled. The Boundary Line persisted, clinging to the Worthless One and threatening to engulf it in its gray void. The Worthless Oneshed out, swinging its arm. Boom! A massive force erupted, scattering the gray energy outward and shaking the dome violently. ¡°Ha.¡± Taesan chuckled. He had now reached the threshold of the transcendent realm. Though it was a temporary state achieved through unorthodox means, the fact remained that he had arrived. An immense power, unlike anything he had experienced before, surged within him. ¡°Let¡¯s try this again.¡± Taesan dashed forward, his movements now far faster than before. The Worthless One drew upon its aura, enveloping the world in its formless power. BOOM! Taesan¡¯s Boundary Line expanded, enveloping his sword as it grew to an enormous size. CRASH! Energy burst and scattered in a violent sh. Taesan swung his sword. [You have activated Great Copse (Chaos).] The Great Copse manifested once more, racing forward. Unlike before, it no longer disintegrated against the Worthless One¡¯s formless power. Instead, it collided with equal force, sapping the Worthless One¡¯s strength. Taesan bared his teeth in a fierce grin, channeling even more power. Outside the dome, Essentia observed the battle and let out an impressed exmation. ¡°Ho.¡± His eyes sparkled with unconcealed admiration. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the power I granted him to reach this level.¡± Essentia could tell¡ªTaesan had used his skills and abilities to elevate his rank to match that of the Worthless One. Moreover, he was stabilizing this elevated state using the authority Essentia had given him. But something was strange. While Essentia¡¯s authority allowed for stability through self-reflection, it had its limits. It was never meant to sustain such a high rank so seamlessly. ¡°Still twisted, I see.¡± And that distortion¡ª Essentia had a rough idea of its origin. Heughed, his expression alight with interest. ¡°So, even something like you has appeared. The world has indeed changed.¡± His gaze bore into Taesan with an almost predatory fascination. ¡°Show me what you truly are, twisted existence.¡± *** @@novelbin@@ [You have activated Mental eleration.] [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Heavy Strike.] BOOM! Taesan swung his sword with immense force. The formless energy was torn apart and pushed back. But as much as it was scattered, it continuously flowed out again from the Worthless One. "Endless," Taesan muttered with a click of his tongue. In his current state, he was equal to the Worthless One. He wasn¡¯t losing in a direct confrontation. In fact, the Boundary Line¡¯s innate advantage made him slightly superior. He had nned to clear the formless energy and approach the core, but no matter how much he dispelled, more reced it. The flow was relentless, stronger than what was being destroyed. The Old Gods were immutable. Their power was never truly depleted. And now, Taesan understood the full meaning of that truth. ¡®This won¡¯t work.¡¯ The true potential of the Boundary Liney in its ability to distort and interfere withws, but it required delicate control. In his current elevated state, such precision was impossible. Even if it were feasible, he had no knowledge of how to distort the power of an Old God. A direct sh of strength was his only option. ¡®A prolonged fight isn¡¯t viable.¡¯ His elevated state, barely supported by an unknown force, was beginning to crumble. The energy holding him aloft was reaching its limits. It was time to change tactics. While the Old God¡¯s power was inexhaustible, this fragment seemed limited in how much it could release at once. If so, he would overwhelm it with a force beyond that threshold. [You have activated Fall of All Things.] [You have activated Purification of the Impure.] [You have activated Rule of Law.] KIIIIIIII! A tremendous power engulfed the battlefield. The Worthless One¡¯s body warped, its flow of energy momentarily stuttering. Taesan seized the opportunity. In his current state, he could infuse the Boundary Line into every ounce of his power. [You have activated Call of Destruction (Chaos).] A force steeped in ash-gray destruction surged forth, ravenously seeking to consume the Old God. BOOM! The energies collided violently. Taesan stretched his hand toward the void. [You have activated World¡¯s Sword (Chaos).] The World¡¯s Sword, imbued with gray chaos, materialized, and Taesan swung it with unrelenting force. The massive de scraped against the dome, tearing toward the Worthless One. The Worthless One gathered its energy, meeting the onught with its own. BOOM! [You have activated Great Copse (Chaos).] [You have activated Baal¡¯s Designated Spatial Copse.] Taesan engaged the fragment of the Old God in a pure contest of strength¡ªand he wasn¡¯t losing. CRACK! The formless energy dominating the space began to falter. Slowly, Taesan crushed the influence of the Worthless One, diminishing its reach. When the battle reached its peak, Taesan unleashed everything. [You have activated Memorize.] He poured out every ounce of strength he had stored, striking the space with enough force to create an opening. Without hesitation, Taesan surged forward, enveloped by the Boundary Line, charging directly at the Worthless One. [You have activated Conversion.] [You have activated de of Resolve.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated Absolute Verdict.] [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] With every ounce of power infused into his sword, he dashed toward his enemy, closing the gap before the Worthless One could react. The Worthless One¡¯s body began to copse, its immense condensed energy now paradoxically acquiring form and value due to its sheer density. This was the ultimate weapon of the Worthless One¡ªa force capable of consuming the world itself, using its very existence as a catalyst. Even Taesan¡¯s Boundary Line might not hold against such overwhelming power in a direct sh. But Taesan had no intention of engaging it head-on. He charged straight into the chaos, not dodging, not retreating. As the Worthless One¡¯s energy enveloped him, Taesan¡¯s authority activated. ¡°Stop.¡± With thismand, the world froze. This was the power of time maniption, wielded by a servant of the time-walking monster. Even an Old God¡¯s power could be countered by such a force. Though Taesan¡¯s Self-Consistency protected him from temporal interference, the confirmation that time maniption could work against an Old God¡¯s authority had already been made. CRACK! For a fleeting moment, the Worthless One¡¯s movements halted. It shattered the temporal interference almost instantly, but the moment was enough. Taesan thrust his Boundary-infused sword forward. The Worthless One scrambled to defend itself, but Taesan didn¡¯t relent. He poured more power into the Boundary Line, detonating it with violent intensity. BOOM! The defense was forcefully shattered. The sword pierced toward the core. CRACK! The de met the core, and cracks spread rapidly across its surface. The core, the very essence of the Worthless One, was formidable. But infused with the Boundary Line, Taesan¡¯s attack proved capable of breaking through in a single blow. A massive explosion erupted. The once worthless now became paradoxically valuable, scattering energy in all directions. [You have activated Domain of Chaos.] [You have activated Replicate.] [You have activated Ring of Twisted Regret.] [You have activated Replicate.] Even the fragment¡¯s final outburst was consumed. With the Domain of Chaos, Taesan used Replicate to quadruple its volume in an instant, unleashing a force beyond his control. But he didn¡¯t try to suppress it. [You have activated Negation of Possibilities.] The Domain of Chaos ran wild, yet all potential harm to Taesan was erased and negated. The Worthless One¡¯s remaining resistance crumbledpletely. Taesan reached out and grasped the shattered core. CRACK! The core disintegrated in his grip, its power dissipating entirely. The entity that had twisted Ouroboros for countless millennia was erased from existence. The dome that had surrounded them copsed, its structure dissolving into nothingness. As the scattered energy began to fade, Taesan forcibly seized it. ¡°Give it to me.¡± CRACK! The fragment of the Old God¡ªits power¡ªwas absorbed into Taesan, transforming seamlessly into his own. [You have defeated the Fragment of the Worthless One.] [Your proficiency in Distorted Spiritual Tuning has increased by 5%.] [Your proficiency in ckened Energy has increased by 4%.] [Your proficiency in Boundary Line has increased by @#!!!%.] [Your proficiency in Will of All Things has increased by 3%.] [Your proficiency in Domain of Chaos has increased by ^%^%.] [Your Spiritual Elevation has been triggered. You have stolen the Transcendence [Worthlessness].] Chapter 489: 91st Floor. Ouroboros (10) A new power surged through Taesan, filling himpletely. He quietly consolidated it, despite the power resisting as if unwilling to be his. Yet, his Spiritual Elevation unwaveringly assimted and imed the Worthless One''s authority. ¡°Whew.¡± Taesan exhaled deeply as the elevated state he had reached began to crumble. The effect of Absolute Resistance ended, and the resulting strain crashed down on him. ¡°Hmm.¡± His entire body groaned under the weight, and his consciousness teetered on the brink. His physical form began to falter. Quickly, Taesan summoned divine energy, spreading it across himself. His broken body and spirit were rapidly restored by the golden light. ¡°That was close.¡± @@novelbin@@ Had he been even a fraction slower, it could have been disastrous. Despite having Essence of Self to support him, the bacsh was extraordinary. He would need several days of rest before he could fully recover. ¡®This isn¡¯t a power to use lightly.¡¯ Yet, he had won. Essentianded gracefully beside him,ughing. ¡°You¡¯ve truly erased it from this world.¡± The Worthless One, which had gued Ouroboros endlessly, was gone. Not a trace of it remained in the universe. The death of an Old God, even a mere fragment, was a rarity. Even Essentia, with his countless eons of existence, had never witnessed such a thing. Murmuring with satisfaction, Essentia looked pleased. ¡°I thought you could win, but I didn¡¯t expect it to go this smoothly.¡± ¡°Neither did I.¡± The opponent had been a small fragment of the Worthless One¡¯s power, further weakened by Essentia¡¯s relentless suppression. Even so, it was an Old God fragment, and Taesan had anticipated a more grueling fight. But he knew why victory hade more easily. ¡®Absolute Resistance.¡¯ The skill had elevated him to a level equal to the Worthless One. Such an overwhelming effect came with severe limitations: its duration was brief, making it a move ofst resort. Yet, the duration had been extended significantly, and the strain reduced substantially. Essentia¡¯s Essence of Self had contributed, but that wasn¡¯t the whole story. ¡®Something within me.¡¯ The mysterious presence that Amelia and Haphran had mentioned. Now, Taesan had seen it for himself. ¡°You seem lost in thought,¡± Essentia said, chuckling. ¡°Well, for now, you should celebrate. You won, and the loser was the Old God.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± Essentia¡¯s words reminded him that, for now, he had earned the right to savor his victory. Taesan raised his head. Rumble. The world, the very fabric of space, trembled and twisted. With the foreign entity eradicated, Ouroboros stirred, groaning as it began to move once more. ¡°Now then,¡± Essentia said with a faintly uneasy expression, ¡°this is where it gets real.¡± His authority manifested, stabilizing the chaotic space. As time and space settled, Ouroboros¡¯s true form appeared before Taesan. ¡®...It¡¯s small.¡¯ Taesan stared at the creature in disbelief. It was far smaller than he had imagined, resembling an ordinary snakemonly seen on Earth. The Ouroboros, with its dull, scale-covered body, wriggled slightly. As if regaining its senses, it turned its head toward them, locking eyes with Taesan and Essentia. ¡°Hm.¡± For the first time, Essentia¡¯s face, usually adorned with a carefree grin, tightened with tension. Ouroboros, the Serpent of Cycles, was one of the most significant entities in existence. Should it decide they were foreign contaminants, even Essentia would have to fight for his life. Slowly, Ouroboros moved toward them. Its movementscked hostility, leaving Essentia momentarily stunned. ¡°Huh?¡± The serpent stopped in front of Taesan, its small eyes gazing at him intently. As if expecting something, Ouroboros waited. Taesan extended his hand, and the serpent brushed against it, leaving behind a faint sensation and something in his palm. Ouroboros floated silently into the air, coiling itself. The influence it had exerted over the world began to recede. RUMBLE! The broken, twisted world started to revert to its original state. Taesan watched as shattereds and distorted gxies rolled back through time, returning to their former selves. The world was restoring itself to the point before Ouroboros had consumed it. Essentia marveled at the sight. ¡°A magnificent disy.¡± When the restoration wasplete, Ouroboros¡¯s power, which had engulfed the universe, vanished entirely. The small serpent twisted for a moment before disappearing from view. ¡°It¡¯s returned everything,¡± Essentia noted. ¡°It seems unable to speak, but it does have some degree of intelligence.¡± ¡°It would appear so,¡± Taesan replied. Looking down at his hand, he saw what Ouroboros had left him¡ªa piece of its dull scales. [You have obtained the Scale of Ouroboros.] ¡°So, it left you a reward for removing the foreign entity. And me? Nothing, despite all my efforts.¡± Essentia grumbled but wore a faintly amused smile. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± he dered, gazing fondly at the universe. For the first time in eons, a Transcendent who had been trapped within Ouroboros was free. ¡°Once again, I thank you, Taesan. Thanks to you, I¡¯ve returned to this world.¡± ¡°No need to thank me. I gained much from this as well.¡± The struggle alone to understand his essence had been worthwhile. Adding the power of an Old God and the Scale of Ouroboros to that made the quest¡¯s rewards more than sufficient. Essentiaughed heartily. ¡°Good. But there¡¯s still something I owe you.¡± Taesan¡¯s self-reflection through the Essence of Self¡ªEssentia had promised it was possible. However, his expression turned uncertain. ¡°To do it properly, we¡¯d need my sanctum and altar. I¡¯m not sure if they still exist or if any mortals remain who worship me. Even my apostles seem to have all perished.¡± Essentia¡¯s long imprisonment within Ouroboros had left him forgotten, even by immortals. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll have much to handle. It will take some time,¡± Essentia admitted. ¡°I understand,¡± Taesan replied without hesitation. He hadn¡¯t expected immediate results. ¡°As an interim reward, I¡¯ll leave you with this.¡± Essentia tapped Taesan¡¯s forehead. A tiny fragment of something lodged itself within him. [You have obtained [Self].] ¡°What is this?¡± It didn¡¯t feel like a power or authority. Nothing emanated from it. ¡°It¡¯s something for you to develop¡ªa vessel to contain who you are. It holds no significance now, but it¡¯ll be quite usefulter.¡± Essentia smiled enigmatically. ¡°What did you see in me?¡± Taesan asked, frowning. Taesan was aware that Essentia had glimpsed something within him that he himself could not perceive. Essentia¡¯s smile widened. ¡°That¡¯s for the future. It¡¯s not something you need to know now.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take it poorly. It¡¯s for your benefit as well.¡± Laughing heartily, Essentia stomped the ground, distorting space as a new dimension opened. ¡°You called it abyrinth? I¡¯ll need to learn more about it. Farewell for now, Twisted One! I¡¯ll find you again!¡± With those parting words, Essentia leaped into the dimensional rift. Taesan stood alone in the vast universe. After a brief moment of silence, he opened a portal of his own, stepping into the expanded space. ¡°Well done,¡± a quiet voice echoed¡ªthe Wizard¡¯s. *** [Quest Cleared.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained the Flute of Return.] [You have obtained ???.] A system window filled Taesan¡¯s vision, announcing his rewards. Through it, he saw the Wizard¡¯s astonished expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to resolve it so perfectly,¡± the Wizard remarked. Taesan had exceeded the Wizard¡¯s expectations. The Ouroboros, which had consumed the universe, no longer existed in that corrupted state. It had returned to its rightful role and purpose. ¡°So, tell me¡ªwhat exactly happened? How did this all y out?¡± The Wizard¡¯s curiosity was written all over his face. Taesan began to exin, detailing the state of Ouroboros¡¯s interior, the reason for its corruption, and the entities he encountered within. ¡°The Old Gods, huh,¡± the Wizard murmured, nodding as if it confirmed his suspicions. ¡°I had a feeling. Nothing else came to mind that could have twisted Ouroboros so thoroughly. But the Worthless One being there... That¡¯s more dangerous than I expected. And Essentia... It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve heard that name.¡± ¡°You know him?¡± ¡°Of course. He¡¯s a Transcendent I once fought alongside.¡± The Wizard spoke as if it were no big deal. ¡°I¡¯d assumed he was dead since his concept still lingered but he¡¯d vanishedpletely. Turns out he was trapped inside Ouroboros all this time. I should pay him a visit someday.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t seem to recognize you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. I¡¯ve changed a lot since then. Now, I¡¯m the Master of the Labyrinth.¡± The Wizard hummed softly, clearly pleased with himself. ¡°So, in the end, you destroyed the fragment of the Worthless One and restored Ouroboros to its original state. Excellent work. Truly exceptional.¡± The Wizard¡¯s approval was evident in his tone, and his gaze toward Taesan radiated goodwill. ¡°You did well. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d handle it all by yourself. I¡¯ll have to prepare an even greater reward for you.¡± Thebyrinth operated on a principle of granting rewards proportional to the adventurer¡¯s aplishments. And Taesan had just aplished something even Transcendents might struggle to achieve. The reward, naturally, had to match the feat. ¡°So,¡± Taesan asked, ¡°can I choose my reward?¡± ¡°Name it. Most things are within my power to grant,¡± the Wizard replied confidently. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Taesan said, opening his hand. The Wizard, who had been smiling, froze. In Taesan¡¯s palm was a Dull Scale. The Wizard¡¯s face stiffened. [Scale of Ouroboros] [The scale of the god who governs the cycle of all things. It holds divine power.] The scale, which Taesan had obtained directly from Ouroboros, didn¡¯t exhibit any particr abilities. In its current form, it held little meaning. ¡°You... want me to use this material to craft something you desire?¡± Taesan asked with a sly smile. The Wizard stared at the scale in stunned silence, his expression a mix of awe and hesitation. Chapter 490: 92nd Floor. Faith (1) ¡°...What is that?¡± ¡°The Scale of Ouroboros,¡± Taesan replied calmly. The Wizard shook his head. ¡°No, I get that. The system already told me.¡± The Wizard stared at the scale with a mixture of astonishment and confusion. ¡°...May I examine it?¡± Taesan handed over the scale without hesitation. Holding the dull scale in his palm, the Wizard let out a low groan. ¡°How did you even get this?¡± ¡°Ouroboros gave it to me.¡± ¡°Ouroboros? That... doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± The Wizardughed dryly, shaking his head in disbelief. He fiddled with the scale, his expression both intrigued and uneasy. ¡°...The Scale of Cycles. I didn¡¯t think such a concept could even exist in this universe.¡± ¡°Is it different from the Chronostone?¡± ¡°Very different. The Chronostone only rewinds an individual¡¯s timeline. That¡¯s all it could do. It wasn¡¯t something we could modify or use in other ways. But this... this contains the essence of cycles itself.¡± The Wizard stared at the scale as though entranced. ¡°If Ouroboros really did intervene, then we might be able to work with it. Though even so, only a handful of Transcendents, myself included, could manage it. You want me to use this to create something you desire?¡± ¡°Yes. Can you do it?¡± ¡°That depends on what you want. Tell me.¡± Taesan exined his request in detail. The Wizard¡¯s expression twisted in a peculiar way as he listened. ¡°I can see what you¡¯re aiming for... but I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s possible.¡± The Wizard hesitated for a moment, then gripped the scale firmly, as though reaching a decision. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try. It might end up deviating a lot from what you¡¯re hoping for.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Taesan hadn¡¯t expected perfection. The material was beyond his understanding and ability to handle¡ªlikely the same for Haphran or Kosrun. Only the most powerful beings in the universe could work with it. Entrusting it to the Wizard was the best option. ¡°I¡¯ll need help from other Transcendents,¡± the Wizard admitted, his face lighting up with the enthusiasm of a schr about to undertake an extraordinary experiment. ¡°This will be fascinating. I never imagined I¡¯d get to handle Ouroboros¡¯s power directly. But Taesan, could you lend me your used Chronostone?¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°It¡¯s depleted. It has no power left, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°At the very least, I can analyze its flow. Oh, and one more thing.¡± The Wizard extended his hand toward Taesan. ¡°The Flute of Return. I know it¡¯s part of your reward, and I hate to ask, but I think it¡¯ll be necessary.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Taesan agreed without hesitation. Losing a reward was unfortunate, but if it meant gaining something even greater in return, it was well worth the trade. He handed over both the Chronostone and the flute. The Wizard raised an eyebrow, smiling strangely. ¡°You¡¯re giving these up so willingly? These materials are incredibly valuable, even to us.¡± The Wizard¡¯s group could potentially keep the scale for their own purposes. But Taesan¡¯s response was calm. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯d be foolish enough to do that.¡± The scale¡¯s value was undeniable. It was a rarity in the universe. But Taesan¡¯s value was even greater. It was an arrogant statement, but the Wizard didn¡¯t refute it. Instead, heughed heartily. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. The scale is remarkable, but it¡¯s not on your level.¡± The Wizard clenched the scale tightly. ¡°There¡¯ll be plenty of interested parties, so I¡¯ll need to track them down. See youter.¡± With those words, the Wizard departed thebyrinth, moving at an almost impatient speed. Left alone, Taesan leaned against a wall. He knew it wouldn¡¯t bepleted overnight. There was even a chance of failure. Transcendents were powerful, but not omnipotent. But if it seeded... He might regain something he had once lost. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll wait patiently,¡± he thought. All he could do was continue to grow stronger until the Wizard returned with results. Taesan began to carefully assess his physical condition, preparing for the challenges ahead. *** Taesan''s condition could hardly be described as good. Even though leveling up fully restored his body and mana, the bacsh from Absolute Resistance remained unresolved. [It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen something that even leveling up can¡¯t fix.] Thebyrinth''s system couldn¡¯t heal it. Recovery would have toe naturally, over time. He estimated it would take about a week of rest to return to his peak condition. In the meantime, there was plenty to do¡ªstarting with understanding the new powers he had gained. [You have activated ???.] [You have obtained the Wizard¡¯s Ring.] [Wizard¡¯s Ring] [Magic +100] [Health +2000] [Mana +1000] [Attack +1500] [Defense +300] [The ring once wielded by the Wizard before he became a wizard. It holds a fragment of its original essence, which is now irretrievable.] ¡°Well, this is something,¡± Taesan muttered with a wryugh. An attack stat of +1500. The magic boost was also considerable. For a single ring, the attributes were absurdly high. This was the 91st floor¡ªthe depths of thebyrinth. The rewards clearly reflected the level of difficulty, surpassing anything that hade before. ¡°Not bad.¡± While raw stats and attack boosts weren¡¯t particrly significant for Taesan at this point, the sheer magnitude of these bonuses made the ring valuable. Still, it wasn¡¯t the stats he was most interested in. It was time to address what could potentially determine the path ahead. [Special Activation Skill: Essence of Self] [Observe yourself. Reflecting on your essence stabilizes your body and rank for 10 minutes. This skill has a 24-hour cooldown.] The power bestowed by Essentia¡ªthe Essence of Self. Its effect was clear: stabilization through self-reflection. It could mitigate the strain caused by Absolute Resistance. ¡®But that¡¯s not all.¡¯ Taesan had stabilized a rank equivalent to an Old God¡¯s level for an extended period, thanks to abination of Absolute Resistance and the Essence of Self. That level of control went beyond what could be achieved by a mere skill. Reaching such a lofty rank and maintaining stability was impossible even with the Essence of Self. What made it possible was something he had glimpsed during his self-reflection¡ªsomething within him. It had looked at Taesan, then stepped aside, as if granting him passage. For a brief time, Taesan had stably wielded power on par with an Old God. But what was that presence within him? After waiting a day for the cooldown, Taesan activated the Essence of Self again. [You have activated the Essence of Self.] He delved into his mentalndscape, reflecting deeply on his own being. Once more, he found himself in the familiar twisted and ckened inner world. But the presence he sought was absent. What he had seen before was gone, as if it had hidden itself. ¡°Hmm.¡± As the skill ended, Taesan returned to reality, frowning. ¡®What is it?¡¯ The only thing he knew was that something existed within him, and its rank was extraordinarily high. Taesan ryed the details to Akasha and Bardray. Bardray offered his perspective. [Whatever it is, it seems to be on your side. It helped you, after all.] [I¡¯m not so sure, Akasha countered. If it were truly benevolent, it wouldn¡¯t have hidden itself. It was watching you in secret, after all.] Taesan agreed with Akasha. So far, the presence had helped him¡ªstepping aside had made defeating the Worthless One far easier. But was it truly friendly? If it genuinely meant well, it would have revealed itself, like Akasha or Bardray. Instead, it had hidden when he tried to find it. ¡®I can¡¯t trust it.¡¯ At the very least, it wasn¡¯t purely benevolent. [There¡¯s one thing I¡¯m curious about,] Akasha asked quietly. [When do you think it appeared within you?] ¡°I have no idea. I only noticed it recently.¡± [Then it might have been there even before time turned back. Perhaps it¡¯s been observing you silently all this time.] ¡°...Maybe.¡± The possibility sent a chill down his spine. If it had always been there, hiding and watching, it could have been manipting events without his knowledge. ¡®Creepy.¡¯ For now, he decided not to dwell on it. When Essentia returned, they could investigate further. Meanwhile, many of his skills had increased in proficiency after the battle with the Worthless One. Notably, Partial World Alteration had reached 99% proficiency. It was just 1% away from maxing out. Taesan didn¡¯t know what changes would ur once the skill hit 100%, but it was bound to be significant. Then there was his new Transcendence skill: Worthlessness. [Transcendence: Worthlessness] [Proficiency: %^&] [$#%^^%] Like other Old God powers, its description was iprehensible. Yet he instinctively knew how to wield it. Worthlessness was a power rooted in the concept of the color ck. He summoned the power, and ck energy flickered over his palm. Taesan focused on it. The deep ck hue gradually faded, bing a translucent, colorless force. This was Worthlessness. Taesan snapped his fingers, sending the formless energy toward thebyrinth¡¯s wall. The wall distorted instantly. Bricks lost their shape, copsing. Thebyrinth¡¯s system itself began to unravel. [Stop!] A panicked voice rang out as the ground trembled. [Balbabamba activates #004501.] Thebyrinth administrator materialized, mming into the affected wall. Thebyrinth¡¯s system fought back, ejecting the invasive energy. RUMBLE! Even so, Worthlessness refused to dissipate. Instead, it clung to Balbabamba¡¯s authority, feeding on it and spreading further. [This is ridiculous!] Balbabamba eximed. Taesan waved his hand, recalling the encroaching energy. [You... you...] ¡°Guess it¡¯s stronger than I thought.¡± Taesan hadn¡¯t fully realized the sheer power of the Worthless One¡¯s authority. While it couldn¡¯t interfere with the Boundary Line, its ability to erode and destroy was overwhelming. [Don¡¯t use that power here again,] Balbabamba scolded. ¡°Fine. By the way, where¡¯s the Wizard?¡± [He left abruptly, saying something came up. Now I¡¯m stuck managing everything.] Taesan chuckled silently. The Wizard had likely gone to work on the Ouroboros Scale. ¡°Can I proceed to the next floor without him?¡± [It¡¯s fine. Everything¡¯s already been arranged.] Balbabamba¡¯s tone calmed. [Someone you know will be waiting for you.] Balbabamba vanished. Taesan quietly contemted his growing powers. With the addition of Worthlessness, he now wielded four different Transcendence skills. He wondered if they could bebined. For now, he let the thought rest. It was a long-term challenge. Taesan spent the next week recovering, interacting with thebyrinthmunity, and reflecting on his newly acquired powers. Finally, fully healed, he descended the stairs to the 92nd floor. [92nd Floor Quest Initiated.] [Fulfill the shopkeeper¡¯s wish.] [Reward: The shopkeeper¡¯s equipment.] [Secret Reward: ???] Chapter 492: 92nd Floor. Faith (3) ¡°Hahaha! Great! Absolutely great!¡± The shopkeeper burst intoughter. His emotions surged uncontrobly, expressing themselves with intense vigor. Since it seemed that asking any further questions would not yield answers, Taesan turned to Balbabamba. ¡°Well, I have one question.¡± [Ask away.] ¡°While you were stealing the faith of multiples, didn¡¯t other gods intervene?¡± [By other gods, you mean the Concept Gods, right?] He exined that invading others and stealing their faith was possible for anyone who had enough power. There were no restrictions preventing such actions. Balbabamba continued. [It¡¯s simple. Most Concept Gods don¡¯t care much about such small matters.] ¡°That small, huh?¡± [From a universal scale, a fews being taken over is quite a small matter. However, there are definitely Concept Gods who disapprove of such things. Normally, they would intervene and stop it, but in this case, it¡¯s difficult for them to do so. There¡¯s a Concept God backing that transcendent.] ¡°A Concept God is backing them?¡± [Not all transcendent beings who dominate concepts are solitary and aloof. Some of them seek to grow their power and expand their influence. That''s how that transcendent was able to invade multiples.] Balbabamba seemed displeased as he spoke. [If they gather too much power, other Concept Gods might start moving. Because of this, things have been rtively quiettely.] ¡°So, who is this Concept God?¡± [We don¡¯t know. They¡¯re hiding their presence.] ¡°I see.¡± Taesan stroked his chin thoughtfully. As if reading his mind, Balbabamba spoke inly. [There¡¯s no need for you to worry. If it were a Faith God, it would be different, but since it¡¯s a Concept God personally involved, it would take away the meaning of the trial. The transcendent beings watching over you will take care of it.] ¡°In that case.¡± Taesan nodded. While this conversation was unfolding, the shopkeeper seemed to regain hisposure, his face now flushed with excitement. He approached Taesan eagerly. ¡°Well, I suppose I¡¯ve shown you an undesirable side of myself. Now then...¡± ¡°The conversation is over.¡± The shopkeeper grinned. ¡°Then, Balbabamba.¡± [In the end, it looks like it¡¯s up to me.] Balbabamba grumbled, then opened a portal. Taesan stepped forward and entered it. As Taesan was about to move to a new world, the shopkeeper quietly spoke. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Taesan stepped onto the new world. [You have activated Stealth [Chaos].] [You have activated Baal¡¯s Ovepping Darkness.] First, he concealed his body. Taesan¡¯s form was shrouded in ash, erasing his presence in the world. Even if a Faith God approached, it would be impossible to detect him unless they were very close. Then, he extended his senses. He instantly grasped everything about the world he had arrived in. Information about the flooded his mind. The¡¯s size was about half that of Earth. The majority of thend was inhabited by primates smaller than humans. Probably dwarves, he thought. Their strength didn¡¯t seem very impressive. Aside from a very small number, they didn¡¯t seem much different from ordinary humans. Amidst them, however, was a tremendous power. An immortal. ¡®Is that the¡¯s ruler?¡¯ He didn¡¯t sense the presence of a transcendent. Taesan gathered mana. [You have activated Teleport [Chaos].] Taesan¡¯s body shot out of the, leaping into space. In the pitch-ck expanse of space, shining stars came into view. The distance between the stars was immense. Even Taesan couldn¡¯t properly perceive the scale of the distance now. It wasn¡¯t a range that could be sensed with simple sensory extension. Then. [You have activated Focus Detection [Chaos].] The gray power of detection stretched across the universe. Surpassing the speed of light, Taesan gathered the information he sought beyond his visual range. As a result, he learned the truth. There were a total of tens. From theses, immense faith was flowing out. And that faith was being gathered at a white star located between thes. ¡®Is the transcendent there?¡¯ The faith of all tens was converging. It was a sight Taesan had never imagined. ¡°Impressive.¡± After confirming the details, Taesan returned to the. The transcendent was at the white star. This meant there was no transcendent on the. Taesan could move freely. Taesan leaped into action. *** First, Taesan needed to understand the atmosphere of this ce, the feelings of its people toward their transcendent, and the nature of the Immortal on the. Only then could he determine how to act and what his goals might be. In an instant, Taesan arrived at the nearest city. The city was stunning. The architecture was unlike anything seen on Earth, with colossal statues and beautifully crafted city structures. This was likely the world of the shopkeeper. Taesannded in the centralke of the city. The sun was slowly setting behind the horizon, and darkness was beginning to fall. It was evening. On Earth, this would be the busiest time of day, when people crowded the streets. But not here. No one could be seen. Apart from some dwarves who seemed to be guards, there were no people on the streets. The entire atmosphere of the city felt dark and subdued. It was as if the city was a prison disguised as a city. Taesan gazed at the city for a moment before stepping forward. In an instant, his body moved to the outskirts of the city. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A scream echoed from one of the houses. Dwarven guards, their faces filled with anger, stormed into the house. The scream was loud, surely audible to the surrounding houses, but no one appeared. Instead, there was a hushed silence, as if everyone was deliberately avoiding involvement. Taesan entered the house. Since he was hidden, no one noticed his presence. ¡°Wait!¡± A dwarf family, likely the residents, desperately tried to stop the guards. But the guards overpowered them and turned the house into chaos. ¡°I found it!¡± One of the guards shouted roughly, throwing something away. It was a poorly made small statue. ¡°How dare you not believe in the rightful ruler, Karak-sama!¡± ¡°Ah! No, it¡¯s not like that!¡± ¡°I have proof!¡± The guard roughly drew his sword. ¡°Take them all! It¡¯s the noose for them!¡± The dwarf family screamed, but no one came to their aid. A small dwarf child, dragged away in fear, struggled desperately. The child managed to break free from the guard¡¯s grip and clutched the discarded statue, muttering softly. ¡°Ah, Remidaos-sama... Remidaos-sama... Remidaos-sama... Please save us...¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± The guard, with a twisted expression, grabbed the child by the hair. ¡°How dare you speak that name! You heretic! You are to be executed immediately!¡± The man drew his sword. The dwarf child¡¯s face went pale. The family screamed in terror. The guard raised his sword, preparing to strike. But his arm couldn¡¯t move. ¡°What... What¡¯s happening?¡± The guard looked around, bewildered. He saw Taesan holding his sword. ¡°Huh?¡± Other guards, the dwarf family¡ªthey all stared wide-eyed. Taesan had suddenly appeared between them. ¡°You... Who are you?¡± The guard tried to pull his arm free, but the sword was stuck in the rock, as if it was embedded there. In the calm gaze of Taesan, the guard¡¯s face filled with fear. ¡°Kill him!¡± sh! The other guards hastily drew their swords, but Taesan simply moved his hand. Crack! The guards didn¡¯t even have time to scream before they were mmed into the floor and walls. With a simple flick of his hand, Taesan turned to the dwarf family. ¡°Uh...¡± The dwarf family looked up at Taesan nkly. ¡°Remidaos...-sama?¡± They suddenly copsed, unconscious. [They¡¯ve fainted.] [It seems they couldn¡¯t follow the sudden change in situation.] Taesan didn¡¯t wake them up and instead picked up the broken statue. The statue was not of a dwarf. It was of a human. When Taesan first sensed the information about this, he knew there were no humans here. Yet, the dwarf child was worshipping this figure. A short timeter, the dwarf family slowly regained consciousness. They looked around with dazed expressions, then gasped in shock upon seeing the fallen guards and Taesan, huddling together in fear. ¡°Who... Who are you...?¡± Taesan remained silent. The child, looking up at him with trembling eyes, asked carefully. ¡°Um... Are you... Remidaos-sama?¡± Taesan did not respond. After a moment, the child, as if having confirmed something, hesitantly bowed his head. ¡°Ah... So it is you... You¡¯vee to save us... Please, please save us...¡± The child was already convinced that Taesan was Remidaos. Taesan, however, didn¡¯t know who that was or what the situation here truly was. Normally, he would have woken the guards to get information and ask the family about their situation. But that was no longer necessary. He had Complete Reconnaissance now. [You have activated Complete Reconnaissance.] [This city is one that must forcibly serve Karak.] [This family does not truly worship Karak.] [This family worships someone named Remidaos.] [This city persecutes those who worship Remidaos.] [This family worships Remidaos because he appeared in their dreams and promised to save them.] ... In that moment, waves of information, things he didn¡¯t know and couldn¡¯t have known, flooded his mind. He understood their lives, how they lived, and the emotions they harbored. All of it, everything, wasid bare before him. This was Complete Reconnaissance. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say he knew everything. If his ability allowed it, he could even understand everything about the world. In an instant, Taesan understood the situation. The Immortal ruling this. He was forcing the dwarves to worship him. He demanded their faith, killing and torturing those who refused. ¡®Just like those guys.¡¯ The Immortals on the 88th floor. Two Immortals who shed, forcing their faith on others. They too had oppressed people in the same way. It wasn¡¯t much different from that. But such a coercive approach would never gain true worship. On the surface, people might pretend to serve, but deep down, they would resist and reject it. The faith gained this way was worthless. In such circumstances, people would seek a figure to truly believe in. That¡¯s what Remidaos was after. Remidaos appeared in their dreams, promising them salvation, to lead them and free them from their persecution, much like Moses in the Bible. If it was only one person¡¯s dream, it could be dismissed as mere escapism. But when many had the same dream, it became a revtion. In their oppression, the people turned to a transcendent. Remidaos became their figure of hope. It was a brilliantly orchestrated y. Because the Immortal ruling this ce was also Remidaos¡¯ subordinate. The Immortal oppressed the people on the surface, forcing them to worship. Meanwhile, Remidaos managed their suffering, gaining the deep faith that came from the hearts of the people. Carrot and stick. It was the most efficient method. Taesan¡¯s method of gaining faith had been simr. He had gained the true faith of people by dealing with those who oppressed them. Unlike Taesan, however, Remidaos had orchestrated the entire y, but the people didn¡¯t know that. The difference wasn¡¯t significant. ¡®Clever.¡¯ So, how could he use this knowledge? The answer came quickly. ¡°Um...¡± The child¡¯s growing anxiety was evident as Taesan stayed silent. ¡°Could it be... Remidaos-sama...?¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan shook his head. ¡°I am Remidaos.¡± Taesan opened his inventory invisibly. A pearl appeared in his hand. [You have activated the Sphere of Transformation.] @@novelbin@@ Taesan¡¯s form changed. His ck hair and eyes turned gold, his body glowing brightly as golden, embroidered robes adorned his form. ¡°Ahhh...!¡± The child¡¯s eyes widened. The parents looked no different. Taesan¡¯s appearance now perfectly matched the Remidaos they had seen in their dreams. Any doubts they had werepletely erased. The dwarf family bowed their heads to Taesan. Their faith now clearly directed toward him. The faith they had built up over time had now shifted to Taesan. ¡®This is good.¡¯ Now, to make them serve him. To gather their faith. While it sounded good, the method wasn¡¯t without itsplications. Faith wasn¡¯t something that could be easily amassed. The circumstances and conditions had allowed it, but if they truly worshipped Remidaos, there was no way to steal that faith. But Remidaos was umting faith in the wrong way. On the surface, he used the Immortal to oppress and demand worship. Behind the scenes, he appeared in dreams, siphoning their faith. To maximize the faith, he had never shown himself in person. In that case, it was possible to steal the faith Remidaos had gathered. Remidaos ruled over tens. Most of them were likely in simr situations. Currently, Taesan was unstable. In the worlds where he was worshipped, he was aplete transcendent, but outside of those worlds, his status was very low. To truly be a transcendent, he had to receive faith from many people over a long time, stabilizing his rank. But with the faith of tens... He could possiblypress the time needed for divine stabilization and achieve the status of a true transcendent. That was Taesan¡¯s goal for this journey. Chapter 493: 92nd Floor. Faith (4) ¡°What... What¡¯s happening?!¡± Upon hearing themotion, the guards rushed over. When they saw Taesan, transformed into Remidaos, they froze in shock. ¡°Wh... W-what?!¡± ¡°I am Remidaos.¡± A quiet voice echoed throughout the entire city. Dwarves, who had been hiding with their heads under nkets, slowly started to raise their heads. ¡°I havee to liberate you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± Slink! The guards drew their swords. They had been tools of oppression for Remidaos'' faith, so it seemed they hadn¡¯t recognized Taesan¡¯s appearance, as they had never seen Remidaos in their dreams. ¡°What kind of strange costume is this? Shut up and die!¡± The guards rushed at him. Taesan lightly flicked his fingers. Crack! An intangible wave of energy crushed them. In an instant, more than ten guards were mmed to the ground, unable to scream as they fell unconscious. ¡°Wooooo!¡± ¡°Remidaos-sama!¡± The dwarf family cried out. Their voices reverberated throughout the city. nk. Doors slowly began to open as dwarves emerged from their homes. They approached Taesan as if hypnotized. ¡°Ah... Aah...¡± ¡°Remidaos-sama?¡± Seeing Taesan¡¯s appearance with their own eyes, they copsed to the ground. With nk, disbelieving stares, they looked at Taesan. Golden hair and golden eyes, a radiant robe made entirely of gold. It was exactly the appearance of Remidaos that they had seen in their dreams. [You have activated Complete Reconnaissance.] [These people...] ... Hundreds, thousands of system windows appeared, blocking Taesan''s view for a moment. The vast amount of information about the many dwarves appeared before him. Taesan quickly filtered through the data and spoke. ¡°I am Remidaos.¡± ¡°Aaaah...¡± ¡°I foretold to you. When your emotions and true faith reach me, I will descend, shining brightly, to lead you and save this world.¡± ¡°Ooooh!¡± The dwarves responded passionately. The reason was simple. It was the very words Remidaos had spoken to them in their dreams. Kiiiiing! Divine energy covered the city. The golden aura that enveloped them made the people¡¯s eyes grow heavy with awe. ¡°Follow me.¡± Taesan began to move forward. The dwarves, as if in a trance, followed behind him. Taesan headed towards thergest building in the center of the city. Made of iron, this building took up about a third of the city. ¡°Everyone, prepare!¡± Inside the building, dwarves scrambled to arm themselves. These weapons had all been made to oppress others. Taesan flicked his fingers. The divine energy manifested and struck the building. Koooom! ¡°Uaaaah!¡± ¡°Save us!¡± The building copsed. Those who had been hastily preparing for battle fled in panic, their faces a picture of terror. In an instant, the building that had taken up a third of the city¡¯s area crumbled into rubble. ¡°O-oooooh...¡± Those who had followed Taesan couldn¡¯t contain their astonishment. Despite the massive building copsing, they felt no repercussions. Taesan was untouched, not even a speck of dust on him. It had been an ordinary building with no magical defenses. Simply applying force was enough to destroy it. Even if someone else, like a guide leader, had done it, they could have achieved the same result. But to these people, it was nothing short of a divine miracle. ¡°I will punish those who oppress you and bring you freedom.¡± The crowd erupted in excitement. The faith they had once ced in Remidaos was now directed toward Taesan. [Your mastery of divine energy has increased by 1%.] *** ¡°Follow me. Witness with your own eyes how those who oppress you and force faith upon you receive the punishment they deserve.¡± Taesan led the people out of the city. Not a single one of them was left behind; they all followed him. The Immortal''s residence was located on the exact opposite side of the. Taesan didn¡¯t head straight there but instead moved toward other nearby viges. There, he dealt with the tools of oppression and led the people. At first, some were skeptical, but after seeing Taesan¡¯s appearance and his power, they had no doubt he was Remidaos. In an instant, a massive procession was formed. As Taesan led them, he thought to himself: ¡®I never expected to use this like this.¡¯ The Sphere of Transformation. It was an item he had received a long time ago from Barija on the 51st floor. He hadn¡¯t really needed to change his appearance, so he had stored it in his inventory. He never thought he would need it again, but now, here it was. ¡®Guess that¡¯s true. You never know when you¡¯ll use something you have.¡¯ If he hadn¡¯t taken the form of Remidaos, it would have taken quite a while for them to believe in him. But with the Sphere of Transformation, as soon as he assumed Remidaos¡¯ form, that problem was solved. The Sphere of Transformation¡¯s effect was short-lived, but Taesan could extend it forcibly. At least until the end of this quest, there wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Taesan looked at the people. As his gaze fell upon them, they bowed deeply. Their deep and profound faith was pouring into Taesan. The faith they had held for Remidaos for so long, perhaps since their birth. True, heartfelt faith was now nesting inside Taesan. [Your mastery of divine energy has increased by 1%.] ¡®Very good.¡¯ Taesan moved forward. He went from city to city, vige to vige, liberating them. A few minor issues arose, but nothing that posed any real problem. [You have activated Complete Reconnaissance.] [Karatuoi harbors a slight doubt about your curly hair.] [Paparachia finds it odd that your manner of speech is slightly different from how Remidaos appeared in their dreams.] ... Complete Reconnaissance reveals everything. And that isn¡¯t a small thing. It tells you how to design the structure of a building to withstand earthquakes. It teaches you how to manipte fire to burn entire mountains. Even if Taesan himself didn¡¯t know, Complete Reconnaissance would provide that information. If he wanted, he could perfectly win over strangers with ease. In his previous life, he couldn¡¯t fully tap into his power due to ack of mana, but now, he could use it without issue. Using Complete Reconnaissance, Taesan gained the perfect faith of the people. And as he moved around the, gathering more faith from its people. It was much easier than before, as he had done this several times. Taesan quickly traveled across half the. And by then, the opposition had begun to move as well. [What are you doing, O great one?] A voice, filled with confusion, broke through the crowd and reached Taesan¡¯s ears. Taesan raised his gaze. From a distance, a strong figure was speaking directly to him. It was probably the Immortal who ruled this ce. Karak. [This is the domain of Remidaos-sama. No matter how much of a transcendent you may be, you cannot just trespass.] ¡°I know.¡± Taesan looked up at the sky. Far beyond, a small white star gleamed. ¡°It seems they know as well.¡± Karak, thinking Taesan understood, began speaking more forcefully. [Not to mention that you are stealing Remidaos-sama¡¯s faith. He will not stay silent. Leave here immediately. I can still look the other way.] ¡°Shut up.¡± [...What did you say?] ¡°You¡¯ll meet him soon enough. We¡¯ll talk then.¡± Crack. Taesan forcibly turned his gaze. The horrified look in Karak¡¯s eyes slowly faded away. ¡°Is... Is that... Remidaos-sama?¡± The dwarves around him, sensing something, looked at Taesan with uneasy expressions. Taesan shook his head, as if nothing was wrong, and then asked them: ¡°Do you remember your king?¡± ¡°King... you mean?¡± ¡°Are you talking about Karak?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about your true king.¡± The dwarves looked confused. They didn¡¯t even know that the shopkeeper had existed. Considering the time he had spent in thebyrinth, it made sense. Remidaos wouldn¡¯t have allowed traces of anyone who interfered with his faith. ¡®What a shame.¡¯ But that was of little concern to Taesan. Taesan continued to gather the faith of all the people. When he felt that nearly everyone, aside from a few, worshiped him, Taesan decided it was time to finish what he started. ¡°I¡¯m going to deliver the punishment.¡± ¡°Ooooooh!¡± ¡°Remidaos-sama! Please, punish him severely!¡± He headed toward the Immortal¡¯s location. The Immortal had seen Taesan¡¯s movement but did not act. Step. Taesan led the people to where the Immortal resided. It was a ce of great splendor. A pce made of gold. Inside the enormous structure, which could have housed thousands of people, the only presence was the Immortal. ¡°Copse.¡± [You have activated the Deration of Copse.] With a brief deration, the pce crumbled. Though the Immortal resisted, sending out waves of power, everything was crushed and obliterated by Taesan¡¯smand. Koooom! In an instant, the pce turned to rubble. ¡°Ooooooh!¡± The crowd cheered as they watched the destruction. Taesan gave them a briefmand. ¡°Wait here.¡± Taesan entered the copsed pce. Clearing away the obstructing debris, he made his way inside. The Immortal was waiting for him. ¡°You...¡± It was a muscr dwarf. With a thick, lush beard, he stared at Taesan with trembling eyes. He gritted his teeth. ¡°This is Remidaos-sama¡¯s domain!¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°He is an incredibly powerful being! No matter how great you are, you can¡¯t defeat him!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that.¡± ¡°Leave now!¡± The Immortal swung his arm forcefully. A strong wave of energy swept through the area. ¡°I¡¯ve already informed Remidaos-sama! How dare an outsider trespass in his domain!¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°You don¡¯t need to inform him. He already knows.¡± Taesan responded casually, but Karak shouted harshly as if he hadn¡¯t heard. ¡°You¡¯re certainly strong, but he has truly reached transcendence! He has the faith of many worlds! You cannot defeat him!¡± He gasped for air. Taesan opened his mouth without reacting. ¡°I know that too.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m aiming for.¡± Karak¡¯s pupils widened. His face twisted as he realized Taesan¡¯s goal. ¡°...You!¡± Karak clenched his fist. All of his power concentrated in a single strike aimed at Taesan. Taesan gently took a step forward. With that single motion, all of Karak¡¯s strength shattered and crumbled. Karak fell to the ground, coughing up blood. Karak gritted his teeth as he got up. ¡°You... filthy plunderer!¡± ¡°Are you really going to say that?¡± Taesan sneered and unleashed his power. Divine energy surged, scattering debris. The crowd outside watching saw Karak lying defeated and Taesan standing tall. ¡°Ooooooh!¡± The people cheered. Deep, profound faith now directed at Taesan. ¡°You need to be overwhelmingly defeated. And they need to see it.¡± Karak¡¯s face twisted in anguish. ¡°Are you going to make a spectacle out of me?!¡± ¡°You were already ying with these people, weren¡¯t you? I think this is just karma.¡± Taesan hummed as he drew his sword. ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of ces to go, so let¡¯s wrap this up quickly.¡± Chapter 494: 92nd Floor. Faith (5) Karak let out a roar. With a face full of rage, he charged at Taesan. His fist was filled with Karak¡¯s full power. ¡°Is this a power of physical force?¡± And Taesan, facing the Immortal¡¯s full strength, casually extended his finger. The swung fist met Taesan¡¯s finger. A massive wave of energy swept across the area. The onlookers were instantly terrified, and screams erupted. ¡°Ah...¡± But Taesan didn¡¯t even budge. Karak¡¯s fist was blocked by Taesan¡¯s finger, unable to advance any further. Despair filled Karak¡¯s face. Taesan simply flicked his finger. Karak¡¯s body flew backward as if struck by a cannonball. ¡°Ooooooh!¡± ¡°Remidaos-sama!¡± The dwarves, who had been slowly raising their heads, erupted in awe at the sight. Their faith in Taesan grew stronger before the overwhelming disy of power. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Ughhhhh!¡± Karak, gritting his teeth, struggled to rise. His determination and will to fight, even against a formidable opponent, seemed unshaken. Taesan smiled, clearly satisfied with Karak¡¯s resolve. Taesan stomped his foot. In an instant, he moved behind Karak and swung his sword. Karak hurriedly raised his fist to defend, but even while defending, it shattered. Karak was sent crashing to the ground helplessly. The crowd gasped even louder. Taesan closed the distance again. ¡°Yaaaah!¡± Karak hastily tried to protect himself, but Taesan grabbed his arm and threw him. Taesan was a transcendent. The Immortal was nothing to him. If he wished, he could have easily suppressed him with just amand. But Taesan continued to give Karak openings with light pressure, and with every move, the dwarves¡¯ faith in Taesan deepened. Karak, his face contorted in rage, shouted: ¡°What are you doing?! Stop ying with me and kill me! Don¡¯t mock me!¡± ¡°No.¡± Taesan responded lightly. Karak screamed as he lunged at Taesan. Boom! The battle continued. Naturally, it was Taesan¡¯s one-sided victory. Karak¡¯s desperate resistance was like a child¡¯s, stomped out without meaning. The people watched with dazed eyes. And after several minutes... When Taesan judged it was time, he gathered strength in his legs. He charged toward Karak. Karak instinctively tried to defend himself, but the gray light contained in Taesan¡¯s sword pierced Karak¡¯s chest. ¡°Guuuurgh!¡± ¡°Good work.¡± ¡°I... I can¡¯t...!¡± Boom! The gray light exploded. Karak died without even being able to leave hisst words. ¡°If you treated the inhabitants of this world like toys for your faith, you should¡¯ve been prepared to die the same way.¡± Taesan spoke calmly. The divine energy increase did not activate. The difference in power was simply too vast for that to be necessary. But Bardray and Akasha were different. [Hm.] [This is...] The Immortal¡¯s power seeped into Bardray and Akasha. The intense power made them both let out small groans of difort. The people who had followed Taesan watched the scene with wide eyes. They slowly realized that the Immortal who had been ruling them had died. ¡°Ooooooh!¡± Their faith exploded. What had once been shaky faith was now fully directed toward Taesan. Taesan¡¯s standing reached new, towering heights. [Your mastery of divine energy has increased by 3%.] At this moment, Taesan had be the god of this. Now that he had gathered the divine energy, he spoke: ¡°I will leave you now.¡± ¡°Aaahhh!¡± ¡°Remidaos-sama! Please don¡¯t leave us!¡± ¡°Do not worry. My true representative wille soon. He was once your king, cast out by the wrongdoers.¡± ¡°Aahhh...¡± ¡°Remidaos-sama...¡± The people slowly regained theirposure. While they weren¡¯t sure whether they would ept the shopkeeper, that was something he would have to handle. Taesan activated teleportation. ¡°I will always be watching over you.¡± [You have activated Teleport [Chaos].] Taesan disappeared, buried in gray light. The people wept loudly. For hours, they sent their faith toward Taesan, right there on the spot. *** Taesan, having left the, immediately moved to another. This new was not much different from the first one. The only difference was that humans, not dwarves, lived here, but everything else was the same. An Immortal oppressing the people. Remidaos, who appeared in their dreams, promising to save them and gain their faith. So, Taesan used the same method as he had on the first. ¡°I am Remidaos.¡± He called himself Remidaos and led the people. He dealt with those who oppressed them and earned their trust. Slowly, Taesan guided them, making his way toward the Immortal. ¡°Foolish one!¡± But this time, it was different. The Immortal was waiting for Taesan with confidence. ¡°How dare you touch us! The news has already reached him. You may have reached a great level, but he is far greater than someone like you! You will not survive...¡± ¡°Enough with the words.¡± Taesan drew his sword. In an instant, he closed the distance, and the Immortal hurriedly leapt to defend himself. ¡°You!¡± ¡°What I do is none of your concern.¡± Taesan showed the people the overwhelming power he had, just as he did on the first. And when that reached its peak, he finished the Immortal off. ¡°Hah, you¡¯ll regret this!¡± The Immortal met his death with a twisted expression. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°Remidaos-sama!¡± The people¡¯s faith now turned toward Taesan. Believing him to be Remidaos, they sent their long-umted faith his way. And so, once again, Taesan became a god on another. Bardray, in disbelief, spoke: [Was it really this easy?] ¡°The conditions were all there.¡± These people were already being oppressed by someone. And within that oppression, they were believing in someone. Taesan was just stealing the faith that had already been built up in the middle. There was no reason for it to be difficult. ¡°Though, it shouldn¡¯t be this easy... but I¡¯m notining.¡± Taesan immediately moved to the next. The third one was the same. Taesan gathered faith from the people and then went after the Immortal. This time, the Immortal¡¯s reaction was different. He staggered back, his face contorted in panic. ¡°Why! Why aren¡¯t you moving!? Your faith is being stolen, and why are you silent!?¡± There was no sign of resolve in him. It was as if something was wrong, like he couldn¡¯t ept what was happening, and he continued to try to flee. Of course, Taesan didn¡¯t let him escape. The Immortal, even as he was dying, had a face filled with confusion rather than resentment toward Taesan. ¡°Why... why...¡± The Immortal copsed. The people¡¯s faith exploded, rushing toward Taesan. [Your mastery of divine energy has increased by 2%.] Taesan had now gathered the faith of threes. His divinity began to grow even stronger and more stable. Taesan immediately moved on to the next. As soon as he arrived, he was ambushed by a great power. Taesan casually flicked his fingers. The power that had attacked him tore apart and vanished. ¡°Ssssss!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± Four Immortals appeared. They attacked Taesan together, their faces desperate. ¡°You want to act first, huh?¡± It didn¡¯t matter. Right now, he had been receiving so much more faith that his divinity was stabilizing rapidly. Whether four Immortals attacked or just one, it didn¡¯t make much of a difference. Taesan casually flicked his fingers again. The color ck manifested in the world. The ckness gradually faded, changing into intangible energy. Taesan sent the worthless energy flying toward the Immortals. It was small, barely the size of a bug, and felt utterly insignificant. The Immortals didn¡¯t think much of it and tried to use their powers to erase the energy. But the moment they made contact with it, they realized something was wrong. ¡°Ssssss!¡± ¡°W-wait!¡± They panicked as they tried to shake off the worthless energy. But the energy clung to them, rendering their powers meaningless. Fear spread across their faces. All the strength and stature they had built up had no meaning. It all vanished and was erased. It turned into something utterly worthless. They struggled, trying to shake it off, but were unable to. The worthless energy slowly consumed them, stripping them of everything. ¡°D-don¡¯t...¡± @@novelbin@@ They felt a terror worse than death. After struggling for some time, they realized there was no escape and begged Taesan. ¡°P-please, I beg you... please...¡± ¡°I won¡¯t kill you just yet. You still have a purpose.¡± Taesan retrieved the worthless energy. It seemed that the Immortals ruling this hade here to try to stop him. ¡°It¡¯s meaningless, though.¡± The Immortalsy on the ground, twitching. ¡°Why... why Remidaos-sama...¡± ¡°The transcendent isn¡¯t moving, it seems?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve informed him... but he¡¯s silent... Why... why...¡± The Immortal mumbled in a daze. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Taesan shook his head. ¡®Why is it so quiet?¡¯ The transcendent who had received the faith of this, Remidaos. He was surely watching Taesan. Taesan knew that Remidaos was watching as he stole the faith and killed his minions. But Remidaos had not made a move. Taesan¡¯s original n had been to steal the faith before Remidaos noticed, and then, when Remidaos moved to stop him, to reveal his true nature in front of the people, shaking their faith. But Remidaos hadn¡¯t made any move. While Taesan had managed to steal an enormous amount of faith, it was eerily quiet. As if the only purpose of Taesan¡¯s actions was to steal the faith. Complete Reconnaissance provides all information, but there are definite limits. Information beyond a certain level could not be obtained. So, Taesan still couldn¡¯t understand what Remidaos was after. ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯ But if he wasn¡¯t going to stop him, Taesan had no reason to refuse. He would take all the faith he could. Taesan captured the Immortals. Taesan traveled through thes. With the captured Immortals, he told the people that he was Remidaos, and he hade to punish them. The people believed Taesan was Remidaos and worshiped him. After quite some time, Taesan had received the faith of all thes. ¡°Hah.¡± He breathed deeply. The immense stature and elevated faith now resided within him. His divinity was stabilizing perfectly. Bardray and Akasha, too, had gained immense power. Among them, Akasha¡¯s change stood out. Akasha was still letting out small groans, as if something was blocking her. ¡°Anythinge to mind?¡± [Something... Something is blocking me. Just a little more, just a little more...] Akasha still seemedcking. Taesan was no different. It seemed that they couldn¡¯t reach the true transcendent level just yet. Something was standing in the way. ¡®Is it too short of a time?¡¯ Because the faith had been gathered too quickly, they hadn¡¯t yet reached theplete transcendent level. But aside from that, there were no difficulties. The process of gathering faith had been so smooth, it was almost boring. The reason for this was obvious. Taesan looked at the white star beyond the universe. He had stolen the faith that had been built up by someone else. Yet, the original recipient of that faith hadn¡¯t moved. While all the faith of thes had been stolen, Remidaos had remainedpletely still. It was like an abandoned house¡ªor rather, it was as though the owner had left the door wide open for the thief. There was no reason to worry. ¡®What does he want?¡¯ Anyway, Taesan had already gathered all the faith he could. Now, he would go and check for himself. To achieve the goal of the quest, he would confront the one who had originally received the faith. Taesan reached out his hand into the air. Space split open, and Taesan leapt across dimensions. Chapter 496: 92nd Floor. Faith (7) [This story... not bad. After I crush you, then we''ll talk about it!] Remidaos raised his arm. Divinity gathered around his outstretched finger. Kiiiiiing. The gathered divinity turned into a point. The point elongated into a line, and the line expanded into a ne. The divinity in the form of a ne rushed toward Taesan. It filled the space, crushing everything in its path. Taesan quickly leapt to the side. The deadly sensation of the attack brushed right next to him. Remidaos¡¯ assault didn¡¯t end there. He curved his arm, and divinity followed it, chasing after Taesan. ¡°Tch.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue and put more strength into his legs. He activated his speed-rted skill, attempting to escape the pursuing divinity. Kiiiiiing! The divinity raced through the universe. The space tore apart, and the elements within the range were obliterated. Kagagagak! No matter how fast he moved, he couldn¡¯t outrun the speed of Remidaos¡¯ finger. The divinity hit Taesan¡¯s back. His self-preservation shield shook violently. [You activated Limited Blink.] Ta! Taesan leaped out of the attack''s range,pletely evading it. Remidaos expressed admiration. [Fast. Quite fast.] Taesan let out a chuckle. ¡®What an absurd way of using divinity.¡¯ The way Remidaos handled his divinity was simr to the power of the immortal Virad from the Maze Tower that Taesan had seen on the 51st floor. Points, lines, nes¡ªjust like that. But it was overwhelmingly stronger. If Taesan were in its path, even a Faith God would have been buried and destroyed. It was a force capable of wiping an entire clean without leaving a speck of dust. Taesan couldn¡¯t handle divinity in that way. It wasn¡¯t a matter of skill, but the amount of divinity at y. Even so, despite using such vast amounts of divinity, Remidaos showed no sign of exhaustion. It felt like a magician in a game using cheats, manipting magic without limits. Remidaos raised his arm again. [How about this?] Kiiing. Divinity gathered above Taesan. The gathered divinity turned into a golden pir and fell toward him. There were easily hundreds of them. Taesan quickly assessed their trajectories and dove between the tiny gaps between the pirs to evade them. Remidaos raised his arm again. A massive divine spear shot toward Taesan. The boundary line on Taesan¡¯s sword shimmered. The ashen and massive divinity collided. Kuuuuuung! Compared to Remidaos¡¯ divinity, Taesan¡¯s boundary line looked like a toothpick. But it held firm, even pushing the divinity back. Taesan put more strength into his sword. The condensed boundary line exploded. Kaaaang! The divinity shattered, and the fragments shot into space. The skies of the tens under Remidaos¡¯ influence were stained golden, shining brilliantly. It was a magnificent and sacred sight, one that could never be seen again. But none of the people watching admired or cheered. They only trembled in fear, burying their heads. They were simply terrified of Remidaos now. They didn¡¯t want to hear or see it. But the image of Remidaos was etched in their minds, one they couldn¡¯t erase by any means. Some couldn¡¯t bear it and wanted to end their lives, but no one actually tried. It wasughable that they feared Remidaos'' wrath so much. To them, Remidaos was no longer a god. He was something distorted and foreign. That emotion seeped into Remidaos. Something different from the faith he had umted filled him. Remidaos embraced it with great pleasure. [Hahaha! Perfect!] Remidaos swung his arm. The massive shockwave of divinity mmed into Taesan. Taesan moved his body but couldn¡¯t fully evade it. Remidaos spoke in an overheated tone. [You! Cannot defeat me! I am the strongest! Those who cannot surpass my rank cannot touch me!] ¡°Well...¡± Taesan didn¡¯t react much. It was true that Remidaos was strong. Faith umted over countless centuries from tens. The divinity formed from it was virtually infinite. That was a monster. In terms of raw power alone, it wouldn¡¯t lose to even Concept Gods. ¡®But.¡¯ The rank itself was still a Faith God. He merely had divinity that was close to infinite, but his rank wasn¡¯t that special. [...Wait.] Remidaos, intoxicated by his own power, suddenly realized something. Taesan had suffered no injury from his overwhelming pressure. Only then did Remidaos notice. The foreign energy surrounding Taesan¡¯s entire body. That energy was blocking his attack. [That¡¯s...] ¡°You¡¯re a monster. I¡¯m sure no one below the level of Concept Gods could defeat you.¡± Ashen energy surrounded Taesan¡¯s entire body. ¡°But that¡¯s the same for me.¡± Although he had only a small fraction of the power and coborated with other transcendents, Taesan had once defeated Goshin. It wasn¡¯t a true fight, and it wasn¡¯t his full strength, but he had still defeated a transcendent. The opponent before him was certainly strong. But even so, they were still within the realm of the "mortal" beings. They couldn¡¯t touch the realm beyond. And Taesan had the power of that realm. ¡°I¡¯ve figured it out.¡± He understood how Remidaos used his divinity. The analysis wasplete. Now, it was time to face him with full power. [You activated Chaos Call.] Chaos enveloped Taesan¡¯s body. *** The alien ash-gray energy caused Remidaos to instinctively retreat. The divinity surrounding him was filled with confusion and turmoil. From this reaction, Taesan realized something. ¡°You know about the boundary line, but you don¡¯t know this?¡± Remidaos didn¡¯t know about Taesan¡¯s domain of chaos. ¡°I don¡¯t know who told you about me, but it seems you know quite a bit about my past.¡± Taesan straightened his sword. He nted his foot in the air. In an instant, he shot toward Remidaos. Remidaos quickly regained hisposure and responded immediately. He unleashed endlessly concentrated divinity, sending waves toward Taesan. And Taesan didn¡¯t avoid the attack. He charged head-on, the divinity shing with his ashen energy. [What!] Remidaos shouted. The divinity collided with chaos, but it couldn¡¯t pierce through and was destroyed. The ashen energy surrounding Taesan wasn¡¯t just a simple boundary line. It was chaos,pressed and limited to his body¡ªa force beyond the line. No matter how tightly concentrated the divinity was, it was nearly impossible for pure divinity to break through it. In an instant, Taesan reached Remidaos¡¯ proximity. Remidaos raised his arm. Kuuuuung! A barrier of divinity manifested, trying to separate Taesan from Remidaos. Taesan put more strength into his sword. Kaaaang! The barrier shattered. Remidaos hadn¡¯t expected it to break so quickly and couldn¡¯t react immediately. Taesan¡¯s sword shed with the divinity that surrounded Remidaos. Kagagak! With a crackling sound, the divinity began to distort. Remidaos gritted his teeth and opened all his divinity. A shockwave of divinity shook the space around them. In that instant, the chaos surrounding Taesan was momentarily undone. Kaaang! Taesan was sent flying backward. Remidaos quickly took advantage of the opening and distanced himself. [What is this...?] Remidaos ground his teeth. The sh between his divinity and Taesan¡¯s swordsted only for a brief moment. But in that short time, the divinity, which had never been reduced no matter how much power was used against it, visibly diminished. Remidaos was stunned by the fact, and Taesan, in turn, was also surprised¡ªthough for a different reason. ¡®Even when it directly shes with Chaos Call, it still reduces meaningfully.¡¯ Chaos Call was a power from beyond. Pure divinity would be erased instantly upon contact. Yet it hadn¡¯t been able to reach Remidaos. This meant that the amount of pure divinity Remidaos possessed was enough to resist Chaos Call. ¡®This is going to take a while.¡¯ Taesan moved again. [Die.] With a low growl, divinity exploded. The sheer force of divinity, capable of covering the entire world, rushed toward Taesan. It was enough power to affect the entire universe. Compared to that power, the chaos Taesan wielded was nothing more than a firefly. The divinity covering the universe collided with the chaos. Kuuuuuung! But it didn¡¯t break through. The chaos shook and distorted, but Taesan firmly held his ground against the divinity. To break through chaos, raw power wasn¡¯t enough. After all, it was a force that shook concepts themselves. To ovee it, one needed to wield a simr rank and concept. But Remidaos was ultimately a Faith God. Although he had overwhelming divinity, his rank remained the same. Kwagak! Taesan carved a path. As he charged toward Remidaos, he activated a magic spell. Magic formed of ash and dark magic shook the world. Remidaos summoned divinity to counter it. But due to the difference in rank, he was gradually pushed back. Kwa-dak! As a result, Remidaos was once again struck. His divinity noticeably shrank again. Remidaos roared with fury. The anger shook the universe. [How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!] Taesanughed. The more Remidaos raged, the better for him. Rage made one lose their rationality. But Remidaos wasn¡¯t that foolish. He had gathered the faith of tens, wielding enough power to reach that position. If he had been foolish, he wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. Even while enraged, Remidaos continued thinking. ¡®That person is wielding a power beyond mine.¡¯ But he wasn¡¯t fully controlling it. If he were, he would have been lying in a heap on the floor, dead by now. ¡®...The power is beyond the line, but his rank isn¡¯t?¡¯ How that was possible, Remidaos didn¡¯t know, but it made sense now. ¡®In the end, he is the one wielding it.¡¯ His rank wasn¡¯t that of a true Faith God. Then... Remidaos released his divinity. It was simr to before, but something felt different. The total amount and concentration of divinity rose above Remidaos¡¯ head. Taesan, who was about to charge forward, paused for a moment. This concentration was beyond what hade before. It was like the brightness of the sun, a collection of divinity. Kuuuung! It flew toward Taesan. Instead of breaking through it with his body, Taesan chose to dodge. Seeing this, Remidaos revealed his teeth and clenched his fist. Kaaang! The divinity exploded, engulfing Taesan. The extremelypressed divinity shook the universe and swallowed Taesan whole. The Chaos Call around Taesan struggled to hold but couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure. His self-preservation shield quickly cracked. The damage umted from blocking the divinity surpassed the shield¡¯s limits. Crack! His self-preservation shield shattered, and the shockwave struck Taesan directly. [Your first absolute nullification attack has been activated.] The attack was erased. Taesan quickly moved out of the explosion¡¯s range. ¡®I¡¯ve got it figured out.¡¯ The boundary line and chaos that Taesan wielded were clearly beyond the rank. But Taesan, despite wielding them, hadn¡¯t reached the true realm of a Concept God or even a full Faith God. Managing that power was highly taxing. Until now, Remidaos had been recklessly swinging his divinity around. Since the force wasn¡¯t concentrated, he couldn¡¯t pierce through chaos. But if Remidaos focused in the way he was doing now, Taesan¡¯s chaos could definitely be pierced. In terms of rank, they were on equal footing, but there was still a clear difference. Remidaos was a true Faith God, while Taesan was not. Of course, Remidaos would have a much higher cost, but he had enough divinity to handle that. This was a strategy only Remidaos could pull off. [You will lose to me!] ¡°Not likely.¡± Once again, their powers shed. Ash and divinity shook the universe. And everyone on thes watched. ¡°Ah...?¡± Remidaos cut off all external distractions and truly focused on pressing Taesan. The anger and pressure that had been directly stimting the people¡¯s brains subsided slightly. Thanks to this, the sight of Taesan fighting Remidaos was now clearer. Taesan¡¯s power was something they couldn¡¯tprehend. The alien ash-gray energy instinctively made them feel repulsed. But despite that, Taesan was facing off against Remidaos. He was fighting a being that shattered their very minds with fear. ¡°Ah...¡± People closed their eyes and sped their hands. Taesan was not the Remidaos they worshipped. But that didn¡¯t matter. Taesan was trying to defeat Remidaos. Just that was enough for the people to want to believe in him. @@novelbin@@ It was no longer the being called Remidaos they believed in, but Taesan¡ªthe individual. Their faith began to shift toward him. Chapter 497: 92nd Floor. Faith (8) Kang Taesan was now the recipient of faith from more than tens. Indeed, the level of faith he possessed was enough to elevate him to the realm of a true god of faith. However, he hadn¡¯t achieved that transcendence. While Taesan himself hadn¡¯t fully grasped the reason, it was simple. It was because he had borrowed the name of Remidaos. A name represents an inherent value of an entity. Yet Taesan, when receiving people¡¯s faith, took on the guise of Remidaos, borrowed his name, and acted in his image. Thus, the people¡¯s faith was directed at Taesan mimicking Remidaos. In the end, the faith was tied to the concept of Remidaos, not Taesan himself. It couldn¡¯t truly be called his personal faith. As such, he had been unable to reach transcendence in the truest sense. But now, things were different. The people''s feelings toward Remidaos had twisted. They no longer revered or offered their faith to him. That wandering faith began to converge on Taesan. Not to Remidaos¡ªbut to Taesan himself. [This is...] "Hmm." Both Taesan and Remidaos sensed the change. Taesan smirked. "So that¡¯s how it is." [You worthless vermin!] Remidaos exploded with rage. The emotions of a transcendent entity tore through the minds of the people. They screamed in terror and cowered, but this only drove them to worship Taesan even more fervently. Remidaos ground his teeth audibly. His n was unraveling. Taesan was far stronger than he had anticipated, and he had failed to instill overwhelming fear in the people. [...It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll just kill you, and it¡¯ll all be over!] "Give it a try." Taesan opened his arms wide. Remidaos gathered divine power and unleashed it in a devastating torrent, a cascade of holiness that filled the space like a gxy rushing forward. Taesan gripped his sword. Boom! With tightly condensed chaos, he deflected the divine force and forged a path forward. Taesan charged at Remidaos, who desperately attempted to block his advance. Screeeeech! The divine power formed a curtain, closing off the space. [You have activated Chaos Copse.] A sphere of chaos materialized, slowly pushing aside the divine curtain and clearing a way forward. Remidaos waved his hand, forcing the curtain back under his control, engulfing both the chaos and Taesan. Taesan nted his feet firmly. [You have activated Magic Explosion.] Boom! Chaos erupted, shredding the condensed divine power. A small breach appeared, and Taesan slipped through. [You¡¯re not going anywhere!] The curtain disintegrated, transforming into thorn-like projectiles that flew toward Taesan. Each thorn was so tightlypressed that it could pierce through chaos itself. [You have activated the Sword of the World (Chaos).] Taesan swung his de wildly, shattering the thorns that came at him. The massive de,parable to a mountain range, shed relentlessly, breaking the onught. Soon, the sword began to corrode, as though eaten away. But he had bought himself enough room to maneuver. Cloaked in chaos, Taesan pushed forward. What greeted him next was another overwhelming wall of divine power. ¡®This is endless.¡¯ Even as Remidaos used unimaginable amounts of divine power in every attack, there was no sign of depletion. The sheer volume of his divine power exceeded Taesan''s expectations. At this rate, the duration of Chaos Summon would end before the divine power was exhausted. Taesan¡¯s gaze sharpened. The only time the divine power had been meaningfully reduced was when he directly struck the divine aura surrounding Remidaos. Simply erasing the manifested divine power had little effect. He needed to attack the core directly. For that, he would have to take a risk. But it was a risk worth taking. Taesan could feel the faith pouring into him. With every block and counter to Remidaos''s attacks, the faith directed at him grew stronger and denser. It had always been this way¡ªwhen achieving feats that anyone could recognize as extraordinary, faith would surge explosively. If he could seed innding a decisive blow on Remidaos... He would ascend in the truest sense. His mind made up, Taesan tensed his legs. [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] His body surged forward at impossible speeds. As Remidaos wielded divine power, Taesan focused the ash-colored chaos around him even further. [You have activated Stealth (Chaos).] [You have activated Baal¡¯s Layered Darkness.] [You have activated Random Blink.] "Ugh." For a moment, Remidaos hesitated. Within the radiant divine brilliance, Taesan hadpletely vanished. Even with his heightened senses, Remidaos couldn¡¯t locate him. [No matter, though!] Remidaos stomped the ground, sending ripples of divine power in every direction. The force could have shattereds, its sheer strength rivaling that of a conceptual god. But it couldn¡¯t touch Taesan. Taesan''s skill erased and excluded any attack that failed to recognize him as its target. Without interference, he closed the gap in an instant. Remidaos, realizing toote, frantically gathered divine power, and Taesan did the same. Boom! Magic, ck magic, and the power of destruction erupted, filling the space with chaos and light. Their forces shed violently, creating a small breach that Taesan exploited to draw even closer. [Foolishness.] Remidaos sneered at Taesan¡¯s reckless advance. The sudden stealth and approach had caught him off guard, but that was all. From a cold, logical perspective, Taesan¡¯s move was akin to a beast sticking its head into a trap. No matter the chaos surrounding him, Remidaos was confident he could break through. He condensed his divine power further,pressing it into a blinding white form. Whooooom! Heunched it directly at Taesan, the proximity leaving no room to dodge. The only choice was to face it head-on. Taesan, however, had no intention of directly confronting it. [You have activated Choice Exclusion.] The brilliant white divine power rushing toward Taesan disappeared entirely, as if it had never existed. [What?!] Choice Exclusion¡ªthe authority granted to Taesan by Maria, the Goddess of Choice. With it, he could select andpletely erase a single action or attack. Conceptual gods or high-ranking deities might have been able to resist it, but Remidaos, being a god of faith, had no such means. @@novelbin@@ A path opened. Taesan elerated even further. Though Remidaos scrambled to summon more divine power, Taesan was already too close. Forced to react prematurely, Remidaos attacked with iplete power. [You have activated Fall of All Things.] Remidaos''s divine power plummeted in quality. Taesan infused his sword with chaos and swung it. Boom! Destruction tore through divine energy, erasing it as Taesan drove forward. Though divine powershed out in retaliation, trying to erase the chaos, Taesan refused to yield. [You have activated Denial of Possibility.] All possibilities that didn¡¯t lead to victory were negated. As Remidaos unleashed a wave of divine power to push Taesan back, Taesan raised his sword high. "Stop." The ckened de embodied his will. Time itself froze. Even Remidaos couldn¡¯t escape this temporal halt. Though the time was brief, it was enough. Taesan plunged his chaos-infused de deep into Remidaos. Screeeeeech! Divine power tore apart, corrupted and disfigured by chaos. As time resumed, Remidaos roared in rage, unleashing another torrent of divine power. [Your second attack immunity has been activated.] [Your third attack immunity has been activated.] [You have taken 198,754 damage.] Though Taesan¡¯s chaos deflected some of the divine power, his health dwindled rapidly. He retreated quickly, using divine energy to heal himself. "This isn¡¯t so bad." Taesan assessed the situation calmly. He had expended a significant amount¡ªhis transcendental powers and immunity had been exhausted, and both his chaos and divine power were heavily drained. But Remidaos had suffered far more. Half of the divine power that had radiated from him was gone. Though the remaining amount was still staggering, the loss was undeniable. [You... you! YOU!] Remidaos¡¯s rage boiled over. The faith he had umted over eons as a transcendent had been cut in half. The sheer loss set his mind aze with fury. [I¡¯ll kill you!] "You¡¯ve been trying to do that this whole time." Taesan replied nonchntly, his tone calm and unwavering. As Remidaos raised his divine power once more, twisting it with his intense emotions, he suddenly paused. A realization dawned on him: the emotions of those who once worshipped him were gone. The fear and trembling devotion of the people had vanished. And in their ce, their faith began to flow toward Taesan. "Oooohhh!" "Please, grant us your mercy!" When Taesan struck Remidaos with a decisive blow, faith in him surged explosively. Remidaos didn''t want to see it. He didn''t want to hear it. But the voices of the people, the faith they poured into Taesan, were inescapable. The fear and dread Remidaos instilled only served to fuel their prayers for salvation. Had events unfolded differently¡ªhad Taesan fallen as Remidaos had nned¡ªthe oue might have aligned with his desires. But Taesan refused to copse under Remidaos¡¯s will. Instead, he counterattacked and wounded the very god they thought was untouchable. The people saw what they once deemed impossible: someone standing against Remidaos and gaining the upper hand. Naturally, their faith flowed to Taesan, and the decisive strike hended caused that faith to erupt. [Your mastery of Divine Power has increased by 17%.] At that moment, Taesan¡¯s divine power reached its peak. *** Taesan gathered the faith directed toward him. Layer uponyer, divine power umted, rising higher and higher. Eventually, it began to take shape. His perception shifted. A sense of omnipotence coursed through his entire being. It was a feeling Taesan had experienced once before¡ªback on Earth. This was theplete state of transcendence. A position of undeniable authority, a god of faith whose domain extended beyond the boundaries of belief itself. The faith of more than tens now filled himpletely. [...Don¡¯t make meugh!] Remidaos refused to acknowledge this truth. [Even if you¡¯ve reached that position, it¡¯s a mere fledgling state! You¡¯ll never match me!] Remidaos wielded his divine power once more,pressing it into a mass as bright and overwhelming as the sun. Up until now, Taesan had struggled to fully block such an attack, even with Chaos Summon. But things were different now. Taesan cloaked himself entirely in chaos. The thick, ash-colored energy met the divine radiance. Screeeeeech! It held firm. No¡ªmore than that. The ash began to devour the divine light. The radiant, sun-like divine power gradually dimmed, darkened, and turned a dusty, lifeless gray. Taesan clenched his fist. The divine power, consumed by chaos, vanished without a trace. Remidaos was left speechless. [...What?] "Not bad," Taesan remarked with a satisfied smile. "Let¡¯s end this." He gripped his sword. The ash-colored chaos radiated outward, extending in countless tendrils. Like an intricate spiderweb, it spread through the space, rapidly expanding in size. The world itself began to be engulfed in ash, the dull gray consuming everything in sight. Chapter 498: 92nd Floor. Faith (9) Boom! Ash and golden light collided violently. The golden light, so radiant moments ago, was swiftly consumed by the ash, turning the world into a palette of gray. Grinding his teeth in frustration, Remidaos gathered his power once more. Boom! The sh of forces reverberated, shaking the space. For the first time, Remidaos, who had never ceded ground, stumbled backward. His face was etched with humiliation. [Don¡¯t make meugh!] A high-pitched hum filled the air as Remidaos stretched out his hand,pressing his divine energy into a brilliant white mass. Crack. [I reached this level of transcendence eons ago! Do you really think you can challenge me just because you¡¯ve finally ascended?] "Yeah, I do." Previously, Taesan had indeed been a transcendent, but he upied the lowest rung among them. Remidaos, on the other hand, was at the pinnacle of faith-based gods. Their realms of power might have been technically equal, but the disparity in their mastery was ring. This difference had allowed Remidaos to dominate Taesan thus far. But that advantage no longer existed. Though Taesan¡¯s transcendence was newly attained, it wasplete. They now stood as equals. And with equal footing, there was no longer any reason for Taesan to falter. Cloaked in dense, ashen chaos, Taesan charged forward. Remidaos, brimming with rage, swung his divine power in retaliation. Boom! The forces shed. The brilliant white divine energy began to darken, struggling as if gasping for air like a deer caught in a predator''s jaws. The path before Taesan cleared as the divine energy was consumed. [You insolent...!] Remidaos retreated once more. Swinging his divine power wildly to create distance, he made it difficult for Taesan to pursue. But that was all Remidaos could do. No matter how fiercely he resisted, his efforts failed to meaningfully affect Taesan. The air shimmered as hundreds of white spears shot toward Taesan. Taesan extended his hand toward the oing storm. [You have activated Destroyer.] A soul skill¡ªDestroyer. A power wrested from an apostle of the High Gods. Until now, Taesan had been unable to fully control it. His mastery wascking, and the immortal authority it granted was not easily wielded. But now, his transcendent state allowed him to stabilize and forcibly elevate his proficiency. Crack! The space around him, and even the world itself, fractured under the weight of Destroyer. A web of cracks spread across the divine energy. Unable to withstand the power, the spears shattered like fragile ss. [How?! How can an immortal¡¯s authority break my divine power?!] "Because I¡¯m the one wielding it." Taesan¡¯s response was casual, even as he pressed forward with relentless force. Though Remidaos resisted with all his might, he couldn¡¯t prevent a direct hit. Screech! The divine energy was shredded in an instant. Despite Remidaos''s desperate attempts to escape, the divine power he relied on was rapidly depleted. [Huff... huff...] Panting, Remidaos struggled to steady himself. His exposed face betrayed both desperation and fear. The god who had once basked in the fear of all now found himself consumed by his own terror¡ªdirected at Taesan. The faith and reverence that once supported him had vanished, reced by unwavering devotion to Taesan. Remidaos racked his brain, desperately searching for a way out of this dire situation. He had crossed countless boundaries and ovee countless trials on his path to transcendence. Surely this would be no different. But soon, he realized... there was no answer. No possibility remained. The weight of that realization brought despair to his face. [No... this can¡¯t be!] Denying his own instincts and logic, Remidaos roared. [I can¡¯t lose! I am destined to be great! I won¡¯t fall here!] A blinding surge of divine energy gathered around him. The sheer concentration of power warped its form and color, exceeding the limits of what he could control. The strain twisted his physical body as well. This was pure, unrestrained power¡ªa final, desperate gamble. Even if it cost him all his divine energy, Remidaos was determined to kill Taesan. [Die!] His voice carried both murderous intent and despair. The distorted divine energy surged toward Taesan in a massive wave. Taesan raised his hand. Above it, an intangible force began to coalesce. He hurled Worthlessness at the approaching wave of divine energy. The small, fist-sized manifestation collided with the immense surge. And then Worthlessness began to grow. The intangible energy resonated with the massive divine power, expanding rapidly as it devoured and nullified everything in its path, reducing it to nothingness. [A-ah...] Remidaos¡¯s final reserve of power¡ªeverything he had gathered¡ªwas consumed and rendered meaningless. Taesan clenched his fist, reiming the Worthlessness. He leaped forward. Remidaos, half-mad with despair, failed to react in time. It was already over. Crunch. @@novelbin@@ [Gah!] Thest remnants of divine energy protecting Remidaos were devoured as Taesan¡¯s de pierced his chest. [No... this can¡¯t be! I... I was destined to be great!] Remidaos writhed in resistance, trying to muster what little strength he had left to push Taesan away. But even that was taken from him. Everything he had built was absorbed by Taesan, his face twisting in agony as the realization struck him. Death loomed. Ovee with desperation, Remidaos screamed into the void. [Please! I beg you! Save me! Save meeeeeee!] A vast presence responded to his cries. For a moment, Remidaos¡¯s face lit up with hope. But that hope was quickly shattered. The presence radiated only amusement and anticipation. [You... are...] His words were cut short. Ash consumed himpletely. [You have activated Soul Elevation. Your mastery of Divine Power has increased by 14%.] [You have activated Soul Elevation. You have stolen the soul skill Divine Power.] [You have in a god. You have acquired the passive skill Godyer.] A portion of Remidaos¡¯s immense divine energy flowed into Taesan. Even this fragment surpassed all the divine power Taesan had umted thus far. Taesan let out a quietugh. "This is absurd, no matter how I think about it." To rob another of everything they had painstakingly built¡ªSoul Elevation truly was a twisted skill. Turning his gaze, Taesan noticed that Remidaos¡¯s connection to the people had been severed. They could sense it too. Remidaos was dead. The being who had tormented them was no more. Their faith surged toward Taesan¡ªimmense, unwavering, and eternal. Even Bardray and Akasha began to change. Unlike a high god, Remidaos was a being of this world. The absorption of his power proceeded smoothly, exactly as desired. [Hmm...] Bardray¡¯s aura grew noticeably stronger. Akasha, however, experienced an even more profound transformation. Remidaos had been a monstrous being of divine energy. Thus, the energy Akasha absorbed was overwhelmingly divine in nature. The god¡¯s immense power churned within her. [Ah...] Akasha trembled as though realizing something. Her voice carried emotions long forgotten, as if a memory had been restored. Though Taesan wished to examine these changes, he had more immediate concerns. He turned his gaze to the void, where a vast presence loomed. It exuded deep satisfaction and amusement. "Unchanging, as always," Taesan remarked. [And you remain as insolent as ever.] "At this point, there¡¯s no need for formalities between us, is there?" Taesan spoke leisurely, prompting softughter from the presence. The space cracked open. Something with a distorted form stepped into the world. At the same time, the people who had been praying to Taesan shuddered. The entity did nothing but appear, yet its mere presence induced a primal fear of death. [You have encountered the God of Descent, Essence.] The God of Descent¡ªEssence. A god with whom Taesan shared a particrly hostile rtionship. Something resembling a finger extended toward Taesan. A power enveloped him¡ªa formless authority seeking to drag him into the abyss. Taesan unleashed his chaos, forcefully shing with the power to negate it. Boom! The collision distorted space and time. Taesan slid backward but quickly regained his stance, reforging his cloak of chaos as he braced for the next attack. [So, you¡¯ve grown to handle even this much.] The God of Descent muttered, displeased. [I¡¯d kill you here and now, as promised, but... I¡¯m restricted by that cursed interference.] The space around Taesan fractured once more. A vast power enveloped him, nullifying Essence¡¯s influence and pulling him into a separate domain. [We¡¯ll meet again soon.] With a voice full of amusement, the God of Descent vanished. The world shifted. Taesan found himself in a space of warped, rainbow-colored hues. He had been here before. Turning his gaze, he saw a familiar figure¡ªthe magician¡ªsmiling at him. "You''re here?" *** ¡°Were you watching?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°Not all of it, but I caught the final moments,¡± the magician replied, pping his hands in approval. ¡°Well done. You¡¯ve sessfully defeated the God of Faith who¡¯s been receiving worship for eons, and you¡¯ve perfectly cleared the quest for the 92nd floor. All that¡¯s left is to get confirmation from the shopkeeper.¡± The quest wasplete. Taesan spoke, his tone calm but resolute. ¡°The transcendent behind Remidaos was the God of Descent.¡± ¡°You suspected it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Taesan gave a silent nod. A transcendent who knew about him, harbored ill will toward him, and held no knowledge of Chaos Summon. The possibilities were limited. It could only be the God of Descent or the God of Death. But the God of Death wouldn¡¯t resort to such methods. That left only the God of Descent. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this feel exactly like something he¡¯d do?¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, yes.¡± The immortals must have expected something in return from Remidaos. Perhaps they, too, sought to be transcendent beings through faith. But to Remidaos, they were nothing more than tools¡ªdisposable when no longer useful. The same applied to Remidaos himself. He tried to ascend through fear, but whether that would¡¯ve worked was uncertain. Even if it had, Essence would likely have intervened, pushing him into the abyss. After all, descent was what the God of Descent desired most. ¡°This time, I kept him from interfering directly with you... but next time, I can¡¯t make any promises.¡± The God of Descent was actively targeting Taesan. It wasn¡¯t out of mere curiosity or amusement. The malice and intent to kill were genuine and unwavering. Taesan, however, remainedposed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Eventually, they would have to face each other. Taesan had no intention of losing when that time came. The magician smiled, clearly satisfied with Taesan¡¯s unshakable confidence. ¡°¡®God of Faith,¡¯ huh? Was that name coined by Balbabamba? It¡¯s not a bad title. Remidaos certainly never moved beyond it.¡± Remidaos had undoubtedly tried every conceivable method, exhausting all options to ascend further. Yet all his attempts had failed. His final, desperate strategy was to transform faith into fear. ¡°The distance between a God of Faith and a Conceptual God is truly vast,¡± the magician remarked. For a moment, an image of the Green Witch flitted through Taesan¡¯s mind. ¡°But... you¡¯ll be different. You won¡¯t stop at his level of transcendence.¡± Taesan¡¯s goal was not limited to the realm of a God of Faith. His ambitions extended far beyond that. Where exactly, no one could say. ¡°In any case, you¡¯ve done well. You¡¯ve gained quite a lot¡ªnot just for yourself, but in other ways too.¡± The magician¡¯s gaze shifted to Akasha. ¡°The changes in your ally are significant, but... you, Akasha, stand out the most,¡± he said, focusing on her. There was an unusual glint in his eyes. ¡°That unknown energy I used to sense from you suddenly feels closer. It¡¯s like a long-lost sense has returned to me.¡± Neither the magician who created thebyrinth nor any transcendent Taesan had met seemed to know much about Akasha. It was as if she had been erased from their awareness. But now, the magician seemed to have a deeper understanding of her aura. Narrowing his eyes, he studied Akasha intently. ¡°You... what have you realized?¡± Chapter 499: The Forgotten Goddess (1) [I...] Akasha slowly began to speak. [Something is...ing back to me. But I can¡¯t piece it all together yet. Just a little more... just a little longer...] ¡°Hmm,¡± the magician mused, stroking his chin as his gaze drifted away from Akasha. ¡°Curious as I am, it¡¯s not my ce to pry. After all, your master is him,¡± the magician said, nodding toward Taesan. ¡°Take your time to sort it out.¡± ¡°I n to,¡± Taesan replied. The magician, sensing that his business here was concluded, stepped back toward the swirling void. ¡°Well, I¡¯m quite busy myself. You can return to thebyrinth through that passageway.¡± At the magician¡¯s fingertip, a glowing portal appeared. A faint pulse ofbyrinthine energy radiated from within. ¡°Before I go, though, do you have any final questions?¡± ¡°How¡¯s the progress on the project I entrusted to you?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The magician snapped his fingers as if suddenly recalling it. ¡°It¡¯s moving faster than I expected. It won¡¯t be long before it¡¯s at the level you envisioned.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Taesan was genuinely surprised. He had anticipated the process might take decades, but the magician was progressing far quicker than expected. ¡°At first, I struggled to get a feel for it, but using the Celestial Stone provided the breakthrough I needed. It won¡¯t be an exact match for your ideal, but it¡¯s close enough, and it won¡¯t take much longer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Taesan said, smiling. His goal wasing to fruition much sooner than he had hoped. ¡°Then, until next time,¡± the magician said, vanishing into the portal. Taesan had much to confirm. Opening his skill window, he began his review. [Divine Power] [Proficiency: ???] A mark of one who receives the faith of the world. A stable position unshaken by any force. One who has reached this realm undoubtedly deserves to be called a god. The skill description had changed. Previously, it had suggested that Taesan had achieved one of the qualifications to be called a god. Now, it unequivocally stated that he was worthy of the title. The new designation of a "stable position" was significant, and Taesan could feel the shift within himself. His transcendence had stabilized to a remarkable degree. Faith could now only strengthen and solidify his standing; it could no longer weaken or destabilize him. As long as even a single believer remained, Taesan would retain his status as a god. ¡°Good.¡± It wasn¡¯t a new power or an entirely new realm, but the ability to maintain stability in any situation was a monumental gain in itself. The proficiency remained marked as ¡°???,¡± but based on previous growth patterns, he estimated it to be at least 60%. ¡°Even at this level, it¡¯s not 100%?¡± Whaty beyond this point remained an enigma even to him. He had also acquired much. Remidaos, though a god of divine power, had not disyed any unique authority during their fight. Initially, Taesan had thought it was being concealed, but now he understood the truth. [Soul Skill: Divine Power] [Proficiency: 1%] Divine power born from burning one¡¯s essence. It is brighter than any other and has no bottom. It is a power painstakingly attained by one who burns their all to ascend to the highest realm. Remidaos¡¯s authority was his divine power. Authority reflects the essence of what one has built. For Remidaos, a god of unparalleled faith, it was only natural that his authority was entirely tied to his divine power. Taesan had stolen that power. By taking the divine power and skill associated with Remidaos¡¯s umted faith, Taesan¡¯s total divine energy had nearly tripled. With this reserve, it was unlikely he would ever run out in any battle. And the pool of divine power would only grow. As long as faith continued to flow toward him, it would remain inexhaustible. ¡°The bnce is broken,¡± Taesan muttered. While his divine power had grown exponentially, his "ck energy"gged far behind. Unlike divine power, ck energy could only be obtained by defeating high gods, whichcked a consistent source. ¡°I need to find a solution for this,¡± he thought, setting the issue aside for now as he continued his review. [Passive Skill: Godyer] [Proficiency: 1%] One who has in a god. The presence and power of any god who opposes you will be slightly diminished. When you face a god, your strength and status will inevitably rise. The Godyer skill, gained by defeating Remidaos, caught his attention. The wording ¡°inevitably rise¡± stood out. As a God of Faith, Taesan had reached a teau¡ªa wall between his current status and the next realm, the domain of Conceptual Gods. But the promise of inevitable growth implied he wouldn¡¯t remain stuck at his current level. ¡°What will that look like?¡± The exact nature of this progression was unclear, but it was something he intended to explore. Having finished his assessment, Taesan turned to Bardray. ¡°What about you?¡± [Not bad. No, actually... it¡¯s amazing. I¡¯ve never felt anything like this before.] Bardray¡¯s voice carried excitement. Some of the power from defeating Remidaos had been absorbed by him, resulting in significant growth. [Prince of a Fallen World: Bardray] The prince of the fallen empire of Cavert. Reborn with a de as his body. [Attack Power +3626] [Greatly increases proficiency with all swordsmanship skills.] [Harnesses holy energy to enhance himself and support his master.] His attack power had skyrocketed, and he had gained holy energy, further boosting his abilities. Akasha, too, had gained power and holy energy but was visibly distressed. ¡°Are you remembering something?¡± Taesan asked. [Yes... but these memories... they¡¯re...] Akasha seemed deeply conflicted, unsure if it was the content of the memories or their fragmented nature that troubled her. [Could you wait a little longer? I need more time to sort this out.] ¡°All right.¡± With everything else confirmed, Taesan stepped through the portal and returned to thebyrinth. A loud, joyousugh greeted him. ¡°Hahaha! Hahahahaha! You¡¯re back! You¡¯ve returned!¡± The source was a dwarf¡ªthe shopkeeper¡ªwho rushed toward Taesan with bloodshot eyes. Taesan instinctively stepped back. ¡°Did you kill him? Is that bastard dead?¡± Taesan gave a silent nod. The shopkeeper¡¯s face contorted with a single, overwhelming emotion. ¡°Ooooh! Oooooh! Finally!¡± The dwarf stomped his feet, the force of his excitement shaking thebyrinth. ¡°That damned thing is finally dead! Gone for good! Excellent! Wonderful!¡± Grabbing Taesan¡¯s shoulders, the shopkeeper eximed: ¡°Thank you! Truly, thank you! You¡¯ve fulfilled my deepest wish!¡± He quickly produced a crystal from his pocket and hurled it into the air. The crystal shattered, opening a portal. Beyond ity the world of the dwarves where Taesan had first arrived. ¡°Wait for me, my people! Your true king has returned!¡± The shopkeeper shouted as he charged through the portal, leaving Taesan alone in thebyrinth. [What just happened?] Bardray muttered, bewildered. At that moment, the ground trembled, and Balbabamba appeared. [Unbelievable. Even after achieving his goal, he leaves without fulfilling his obligations as a contractor.] Thebyrinth overseer shook his head in exasperation. [There¡¯s still so much left to handle, and now it¡¯s all dumped on me. What a pain.] ¡°Is it over?¡± Taesan asked. [For him, yes. Having achieved his wish, he has no further business here.] ¡°And the reward?¡± [Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll handle it.] A system message appeared: [92nd Floor Quest Cleared.] [Rewards will be determined in consultation with Balbabamba.] Unlike before, the quest¡¯s system seemed less rigid. [The reward for this quest isn¡¯t fixed. It will depend on your performance and choices.] The 92nd-floor rewards primarily revolved around equipment from the shopkeeper¡¯s inventory. But Balbabamba made it clear there would be limitations. After a moment¡¯s thought, Balbabamba said: [Wait here. I¡¯ll check on things and return shortly.] ¡°All right.¡± Balbabamba disappeared, leaving Taesan alone once more. Turning to Akasha, Taesan noticed her emotions were settling. ¡°Have you sorted it out?¡± [Yes.] Akasha¡¯s voice was calm but tinged with gravity. She, too, had absorbed some of Remidaos¡¯s power, triggering fragments of memory to resurface. ¡°What did you remember?¡± Taesan asked. [...A part of myself.] Akasha paused before continuing. [Pieces of my memory. Fragments... of what I did, of what happened in that ce... They¡¯ve begun to surface.] @@novelbin@@ ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ve regained your memory?¡± [No. It¡¯s fragmented and scattered. I still don¡¯t know who I was or what emotions drove me. But among the fragments, I remembered something important¡ªsomeone I once served.] Akasha hesitated for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts, then spoke slowly: [I... remembered her name.] The one Akasha served. The forgotten goddess who had given Taesan his quest. ¡°What is it?¡± Taesan asked. Akasha seemed reluctant, as though speaking the name would trigger something significant, even dangerous. Taesan waited in silence. After a long pause, Akasha finally said: [Her name is... Arilnan.] A name carries immense value, especially for one whose status transcends mortal limits. The name of the forgotten goddess echoed through the world. A being erased from existence was called forth once more. As the name etched itself into the cosmos, Taesan felt something stir within him. Something he couldn¡¯t identify orprehend rippled out, as if reiming lost power. Radiant light shone brilliantly. At the center of the light, energy coalesced, forming a shape. [Uh...] Bardray murmured in astonishment as Taesan stepped back. Screeeeech! The energy solidified, forming a resplendent figure. A woman, her body curled like a fetus, hair flowing endlessly, shone with an otherworldly brilliance. ¡°...Ah,¡± she sighed softly. Her voice carried the awe of someone seeing the world for the first time after a long imprisonment. Slowly, she unfolded her body. ¡°Atst, you¡¯ve found me.¡± She smiled warmly, her gaze fixed on Taesan. [The Forgotten Goddess, Arilnan, has appeared.] Chapter 500: The Forgotten Goddess (2) The goddess appeared in this world. Her face was exotic¡ªnot just beautiful but strikingly different from the norms of human appearance. Taesan considered this. The goddess had disappeared during the war against the High Gods, an era so distant that even human skeletal structures might have changed over time. The other gods didn¡¯t feel alien, though. Do they adjust themselves? For beings like gods, changing their outward appearance was a trivial matter. Taesan shrugged off the thought and studied the goddess. Her skin was baster, pale as an albino¡¯s. Her hair and eyes were a dusty ash gray, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly quality. Unusual, yet not unpleasant. It was like gazing upon the work of a master artist. The goddess stepped onto thebyrinth floor. Akasha let out a faint sound. [Arilnan... my goddess.] ¡°Akasha.¡± The goddess turned her gaze toward Akasha, her eyes brimming with affection and longing. ¡°You¡¯ve be a ring. What happened to you?¡± [A great many things... have happened.] ¡°I see,¡± Arilnan murmured, her voice tinged with curiosity. ¡°Still, it¡¯s a relief that your sense of self remains intact. I thought you might have lost it, wandering alone in oblivion. But you¡¯ve endured.¡± [Is it truly... you, Arilnan?] ¡°It is.¡± Arilnan dered it without hesitation. ¡°I am your only master, the one you serve¡ªArilnan.¡± [I see...] Akasha¡¯s voice trailed off. Arilnan¡¯s expression tightened slightly, as if sensing something was amiss. ¡°This isn¡¯t the reaction I expected. Have you not fully recovered your memories?¡± [I¡¯m sorry. While I remember that you were my goddess, much of my memory remains fragmented.] ¡°That is disappointing.¡± Arilnan sighed with genuine regret, her face shadowed with mncholy. ¡°I gave so much to save you, yet you can¡¯t remember it.¡± [I¡¯m sorry.] ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine.¡± The goddess raised her hand, her pale palm catching the light. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to return like this either. If my faithful servant doesn¡¯t fully remember me, it¡¯s a small matter inparison.¡± Her self-examinationplete, Arilnan turned her gaze to Taesan. ¡°All of this... is thanks to you.¡± She looked at Taesan, her expression unreadable. Yet, he felt nothing from her¡ªnot the overwhelming presence of a transcendent, nor the immeasurable strength or elevated status they typically exuded. She was utterly empty, a void. But there was one thing he could discern: Nobility. Even without perceivable power, Arilnan was unmistakably a goddess. ¡°...You.¡± Suddenly, her gaze toward Taesan shifted, twisting into one of hostility and suspicion. [Arilnan?] Akasha moved instinctively, activating her powers to shield her master. Seeing this, Arilnan looked between Akasha and Taesan, her expression softening as she pieced things together. ¡°I see. I¡¯m no longer your master.¡± [I¡¯m... sorry.] ¡°No matter. I am nothing as I am now.¡± Arilnan turned her gaze back to Taesan, her expression calm. ¡°I suppose I have no need to worry.¡± [Pardon?] ¡°This is between us,¡± Arilnan said, shaking her head. ¡°If he is your master, I can ept it. After all, he¡¯s the one who brought me back into this world. It was unsettling, but there¡¯s no need to dwell on it.¡± Having reached her conclusion, Arilnanposed herself with a grace that seemed unshakable, even in the midst of change. ¡°For now, I must thank you. What is your name?¡± ¡°Kang Taesan. You can call me Taesan.¡± ¡°Very well, Taesan. Thanks to you, I have returned to this world.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. It was Akasha. She¡¯s the one who remembered you.¡± ¡°No. Akasha¡¯s current master is you. Ultimately, it was your actions that made this possible. ept my gratitude.¡± Arilnan spoke with gentle authority. ¡°In that case, I will,¡± Taesan replied, bowing his head slightly. ¡°Were you conscious when you gave me the quest?¡± ¡°No. At that time, Icked true consciousness. I was little more than an unconscious fragment drifting in the void. However, your prayer reached me, allowing me to respond.¡± Arilnan looked around, her gaze tracing thebyrinth¡¯s walls and structures. ¡°This ce is fascinating. What exactly is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a ce designed by the Magician,¡± Taesan exined. ¡°The Magician?¡± ¡°Yes. Though they¡¯ve changed their name, you likely know who they are.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Arilnan approached thebyrinth wall, her fingers brushing its surface as if inspecting its intricate patterns. ¡°Arilnan.¡± ¡°Formalities aren¡¯t necessary,¡± she interrupted, her fingers still tracing the wall. ¡°I¡¯m no longer a goddess. You¡¯ve reached the realm of transcendence, haven¡¯t you? By status alone, you outrank me now. I should be the one showing deference.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do that,¡± Taesan said firmly. Arilnan chuckled, her smile yful. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I was wondering how I¡¯d respond if you insisted.¡± She¡¯s more easygoing than I expected. From Akasha¡¯s demeanor, Taesan had anticipated someone cold and severe. But Arilnan¡¯s personality leaned more toward lighthearted mischief. ¡°You seem to have many questions. Ask them. I¡¯ll answer whatever I can.¡± ¡°In that case,¡± Taesan began, organizing his thoughts. ¡°What were you originally the goddess of?¡± Essence had mentioned that Arilnan must have once governed a concept, given that she had been devoured by the Usurper, leaving only Akasha behind. ¡°I was the goddess of...¡± Her words faltered. A part of thenguage itself seemed to vanish from existence, as though the concept she spoke of no longer belonged to this world. Even attempting to read her lips proved futile. ¡°It seems only my name remains,¡± Arilnan murmured, unaffected. ¡°The concept I once governed has been lost to the Usurper and cannot return.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Taesan said. ¡°I expected as much. I never believed I¡¯d reim my former power. For now, this is enough.¡± ¡°Who was responsible for your fall?¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°The Usurper.¡± The name didn¡¯t surprise Taesan. ¡°In the war against the High Gods, the Usurper took everything from me. My apostles, my fragments, my traces¡ªall erased from the cosmos, leaving only Akasha behind.¡± ¡°I thought as much,¡± Taesan said. ¡°Oh? You already knew?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain, but I had a strong suspicion.¡± ¡°Do you remember anything about him?¡± Arilnan¡¯s lips curved into a wry smile. ¡°What an odd question. Do you think I¡¯d forget the one who devoured me?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes sharpened. The Usurper. Arilnan, having fought against him directly, might know more than anyone else¡ªeven Essence. ¡°You seem quite interested in him. Very well, I¡¯ll tell you what I know.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The Usurper¡ªa being who seized worlds. Taesan¡¯s instincts told him there was a connection between them. ¡°What should I tell you? His appearance is meaningless, so I¡¯ll skip that. He devours worlds, absorbing concepts and every aspect of the universe into himself. Though it¡¯s all mimicry, it¡¯s a feat no other High God can achieve.¡± That much aligned with what Essence had told him. But Arilnan continued. ¡°This ismon knowledge among the gods. But here¡¯s something only I know.¡± She sneered. ¡°The Usurper admires this universe.¡± ¡°...Admires it?¡± ¡°Yes. It wasn¡¯t something I originally understood, but when I was devoured, a part of his emotions bled into me. I realized then that the Usurper covets and yearns for this universe.¡± Admiration. It was a word that seemed wholly out of ce for a High God. ¡°Perhaps his desire to usurp this universe stems from that longing. But it¡¯s an unattainable goal. He¡¯s a High God¡ªa twisted existence. No matter how much he consumes, it will always be an imitation.¡± Arilnanughed, her voice dripping with contempt for the Usurper. ¡°And by the way,¡± she added, her expression softening into a mischievous smile. ¡°I nned to mention this after you finished your questions, but I can¡¯t hold it in any longer.¡± She looked directly at Taesan. ¡°For some reason, you smell like him.¡± *** ¡°...You sense that on me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lost my power, but I was once one with the Usurper,¡± Arilnan said, her tone sharp. ¡°Because of that, I can recognize its presence anywhere.¡± Her narrowed eyes focused on Taesan. ¡°There¡¯s a faint trace of its scent on you. It¡¯s barely perceptible unless I concentrate, but it¡¯s definitely there.¡± ¡°...I see,¡± Taesan replied calmly. ¡°Do you have any idea why that might be?¡± ¡°I have a few thoughts.¡± A sh of his inner world crossed Taesan¡¯s mind, but he said no more. ¡°It¡¯s not a significant issue,¡± Arilnan continued, her tone light. ¡°It¡¯s just a trace¡ªa mere scent. But even that shouldn¡¯t exist.¡± She let out a softugh. ¡°That¡¯s why I suspected you at first.¡± Her initial hostility and murderous intent now made sense. ¡°I thought the Usurper had hidden itself and infiltrated through you. But it seems I was wrong. Twisted as you may be, it¡¯s hard to see you as part of that entity. I can¡¯t be certain, but it¡¯s not something I need to involve myself with.¡± Arilnan straightened her posture. ¡°This is your issue to unravel. You should figure it out for yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you for the advice.¡± ¡°No need to thank me. It¡¯s me who owes you gratitude,¡± Arilnan said with a chuckle. ¡°You saved me. That fact doesn¡¯t change, so I must repay you.¡± She extended a hand toward Taesan¡¯s head. A gentle warmth brushed against him, then receded. [Divine Blessings [Unnamed Goddess¡¯s Blessings of Restoration, Soul, and Will] have evolved into [Arilnan¡¯s Blessing]. The power and status of the blessings have greatly increased.] The blessings Taesan had previously received from her were unified into a single blessing, their strength and rank significantly enhanced. ¡°I¡¯d grant you my true authority if I could, but I¡¯m not yet capable of that,¡± Arilnan admitted. ¡°Is that an impossibility? Perhaps with the faith of others...¡± Taesan, with his current abilities, could easily cultivate faith for Arilnan. But she shook her head. ¡°Such a small concept won¡¯t suffice. No matter how broken or lost I am, my foundation is rooted in a concept itself.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Still, there is a way.¡± Arilnan¡¯s lips curled into a subtle smile. ¡°I told you, I was once one with that entity. Through that union, I discovered a secret.¡± Her tone became quieter, almost conspiratorial. ¡°The Usurper devours the universe, but it cannot fully im what it consumes. So where do the things it devours actually go?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes narrowed, his thoughts racing. ¡°Not now,¡± Arilnan murmured softly. ¡°I¡¯m too weak as I am. Like Akasha, my memories are iplete, and I need time. So, until then, I¡¯ll have to rely on you.¡± [Special Quest Initiated.] [The Forgotten Goddess: Arilnan seeks to reim what she has lost. To do so, her strength and status must first stabilize.] [Objective: Help Arilnan recall what was taken from her.] [Reward: Enhanced Blessings from Arilnan and a linked quest.] Taesan nodded. With the immediate conversation settled, Balbabamba appeared. [Kept you waiting, didn¡¯t I? It was a bit of a hassle, but I¡¯ve wrapped everything up. Now, let¡¯s get to the matter at han¡ª] Balbabamba stopped mid-sentence. His gazended on Arilnan, who was watching him with curiosity. ¡°Is this one of the tools created by the so-called Magician? How fascinating,¡± Arilnan mused, inspecting Balbabamba with an amused expression. [What... What is going on here?] Balbabamba¡¯s voice was filled with confusion and disbelief. Chapter 501: The Forgotten Goddess (3) [Who... are you?] Balbabamba addressed Arilnan with formal respect. Despite her ordinary mortal-like presence, devoid of any divine aura or transcendent power, Balbabamba¡¯s instincts screamed that this woman was not someone to trifle with. ¡°I am Arilnan,¡± she said calmly. [Arilnan...?] Balbabamba quickly sifted through the vast archives of knowledge stored within him. Countless records shed before his mind¡¯s eye. And then, he froze. There it was¡ªinformation about Arilnan. It was fragmented, distorted, and iplete, but undeniably present. [This can¡¯t be...] He was shaken. It wasn¡¯t that he had forgotten about her. It was as if her existence had been erased from his perception entirely, only to suddenly resurface. [...This is not for me to judge.] Balbabamba swiftly made a decision, recognizing the situation as beyond his jurisdiction. [When my master returns, I will inform him of this. He will decide what to do regarding Lady Arilnan.] ¡°The Magician,¡± Arilnan mused. ¡°The one who created this domain? Interesting. I find myself intrigued.¡± She nodded with a faint smile. @@novelbin@@ ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll wait.¡± [Taesan... what is this all about?] ¡°How should I know?¡± Taesan shrugged. Balbabamba looked visibly conflicted for a moment but eventually sighed in resignation. [Forget it. This is beyond me. Let the Magician handle it. I¡¯ll focus on my own duties.] With that, Balbabamba turned to Taesan, his voice moreposed. [You¡¯ve cleared the 92nd floor. I¡¯ll begin processing your rewards. It took longer than usual since the one responsible abandoned their duties and ran off.] The reward for the 92nd floor was equipment from the shop. Ordinarily, this required the shopkeeper¡¯s presence, but he had returned to his own world. [I didn¡¯t expect a final thank-you, but I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d leave us in the lurch like this. Damn him.] Balbabamba clicked his tongue in irritation. ¡°So, what happens now?¡± Taesan asked. [The reward is the shop¡¯s equipment. But you won¡¯t receive all of it.] ¡°I figured as much.¡± Taesan never expected to receive every piece of equipment avable. The question was, how much of it would be essible. [You can choose up to five items.] ¡°Five?¡± Taesan raised an eyebrow. ¡°That seems excessive.¡± The shop¡¯s equipment wasn¡¯t ordinary. It was the pinnacle of craftsmanship, the kind of gear that had enabled others to survive insurmountable challenges. To receive five such items was highly generous. Balbabamba, however, remained indifferent. [You are now a transcendent, a god of faith. How much value do you think thebyrinth¡¯s equipment still holds for someone like you?] Taesan had grown too powerful. Thebyrinth¡¯s equipment was, ultimately, designed for mortals. Even if Taesan could use it more efficiently due to his connection with the system, the equipment¡¯s inherent power and rank were now far beneath him. Items like the Crimson Giant¡¯s Sword, which could obliterate S-rank monsters, were once invaluable. But for Taesan, ordinary attacks could now aplish the same feat. The Obsidian Bracers, which reduced iing damage by 50%, were simrly less impactful. Very few enemies, save for High Gods or Conceptual Deities, could even prate the Chaos Cloak Taesan wore. [It¡¯s not entirely useless. The stat boosts and special effects are still valuable, but they¡¯re tools, nothing more.] ¡°I see your point.¡± Taesan was no longer so weak that a piece of equipment could make or break him. He had reached a levelparable to those who crafted such items. After a moment of thought, Taesan asked, ¡°What about the secret reward?¡± [That¡¯s also tied to the shop¡¯s inventory. But you can choose what you want, and I¡¯ll create it for you.] ¡°So, I have options.¡± This was eptable. Taesan still valued equipment that affected cooldowns or other strategic advantages. However, he remained silent, deliberating. Balbabamba waited patiently. After a while, Taesan spoke. ¡°I have a question.¡± [Ask away.] ¡°Can I receive a skill instead of equipment?¡± [A skill?] Balbabamba hesitated, caught off guard by the request. [You mean a specific type of skill, one of your choosing?] ¡°Exactly.¡± [...Give me a moment.] Balbabamba searched through his extensive knowledge, processing the unusual request. [...It¡¯s possible.] He finally answered. [It depends on the skill¡¯s effect, but the system allows for such a reward.] ¡°That¡¯s good enough for me,¡± Taesan murmured, a faint smile ying on his lips. [Skills are certainly more versatile than equipment. But you¡¯ll need to pay a price. Your limit of five items will decrease if you choose a skill.] ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± [Very well. What skill do you want?] ¡°Something that changes the nature of my attacks,¡± Taesan replied, his voice steady. ¡°Specifically, I want a skill that lets me imbue my attacks with pure physical force.¡± *** Balbabamba froze, unable toprehend Taesan¡¯s request at first. It was too unexpected. Imbuing attacks with physical force? After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Taesan rified. ¡°More precisely, I want to convert damage into physical force.¡± [...Ah, I see now.] Finally, Balbabamba understood. [You¡¯re talking about the system¡¯s mechanics.] In thebyrinth¡¯s system, Attack Power was one of the foundational metrics. It scaled with the user¡¯s equipment and determined the amount of damage dealt when hitting an enemy. However, Attack Power wasn¡¯t inherently physical. It didn¡¯t trante into raw kic energy or force. Instead, it was an abstract calction, representing the extent of harm inflicted upon the opponent. Movement speed and strength were governed by other metrics, like agility and raw power. Until an attacknded, damage was essentially intangible. By Taesan¡¯s request, this intangible damage would now manifest as physical force, meaning every attack would carry the tangible power equivalent to its damage value. Balbabamba grasped the idea, but he couldn¡¯t understand the purpose. [Do you really need something like that? Your current abilities far surpass any concept of "damage." Frankly, Attack Power as a stat is almost irrelevant for someone like you.] Taesan had grown beyond what thebyrinth¡¯s system could calcte. His abilities, particrly the Chaos Cloak, existed on a conceptual level, far beyond mere numerical stats. Even if physical force was added to his damage, the improvement wouldn¡¯t be significant. That was Balbabamba¡¯s assessment. [It¡¯s not impossible. It¡¯s certainly doable.] Balbabamba deliberated. Skills weren¡¯t simple tools like equipment. They were a direct extension of thebyrinth¡¯s system, almost like imparting a piece of the Magician¡¯s authority. Granting such a skill required careful consideration. It needed to align with the recipient¡¯s achievements and ensure bnce within thebyrinth. Butpared to Taesan¡¯s monumental aplishments, this skill seemed rtively minor. [...It should be fine.] As thebyrinth¡¯s administrator, Balbabamba had discretionary authority. By his judgment, granting this skill wouldn¡¯t disrupt the system¡¯s bnce. [Very well.] Balbabamba made his decision. ¡°I¡¯m serious?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes widened slightly at how quickly the request was approved. [It¡¯s eptable. However, since this is a direct maniption of the system, you¡¯ll forfeit all other rewards.] Even if the skill wasn¡¯t groundbreaking, it was still a system-level authority. This necessitated a higher costpared to regr equipment. Taesan nodded without hesitation. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s do it.¡± [What an unusual request...] Balbabamba sounded bemused as he activated thebyrinth¡¯s authority. [You have acquired the special passive skill [Physical Force Conversion].] [Special Passive Skill: Physical Force Conversion] [Proficiency: 1%] [Description: You can now imbuebyrinth-calcted damage with direct physical force. The physical force scales proportionally with the damage dealt. For now, the effect may seem minimal.] Taesan grinned, satisfied. Balbabamba, on the other hand, was perplexed. [I may have made a mistake this time.] ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Taesan said, his expression calm but brimming with confidence. For him, even the slightest enhancement¡ªeven the smallest shift¡ªwas enough to justify the skill. [...I don¡¯t get it.] Balbabamba dismissed his doubts and returned to his work. [Lady Arilnan, the Magician is currently away. Until he returns, I¡¯ll arrange a ce for you to wait.] A rift opened in the air. Balbabamba gestured for Arilnan to follow. ¡°Thank you,¡± Taesan called after him, his tone sincere. Arilnan, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke with a faint smile. ¡°So that is the Magician¡¯s authority? It¡¯s quite peculiar.¡± [You¡¯ll have the chance to meet him soon.] ¡°I look forward to it,¡± Arilnan said as she stepped through the portal, her tone tinged with curiosity and excitement. The rift closed, leaving Taesan and Akasha alone once more. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Taesan asked. [...Not bad. No, it feels good. I feel... fulfilled.] Akasha¡¯s voice held a quiet joy. [But... it¡¯s clear now. My master is you.] ¡°That¡¯s all that matters,¡± Taesan replied simply. He had considered the possibility that Akasha might change her allegiance after meeting her former master. Thankfully, that fear was unfounded. Satisfied, Taesan turned his attention to the new blessing Arilnan had bestowed upon him. [Divine Blessing: Arilnan¡¯s Blessing] [Description: This is the blessing of Arilnan. Despite her fragmented state, her blessing retains immense power. It enhances all regenerative abilities, fortifies the will, and stabilizes one¡¯s elevated rank. Once Arilnan fully regains her concept, additional authority will be granted.] The effects of her previous blessings had been consolidated and strengthened. Taesan could feel the significant boost in power. Though Arilnan¡¯s current state limited her influence, her full authority would someday transform this blessing into something far greater. With everything sorted, Taesan prepared to move forward. The 92nd floor was behind him. He had imed rewards that would only grow in value over time. It was time to descend to the next level. From the depths of thebyrinth, he felt a familiar energy calling to him. Taesan stepped onto the stairs leading down. Chapter 502: 93rd Floor, Demons (1) The 93rd floor. Taesan was now in the mid-nies of thebyrinth. He headed toward the staircase. At that moment, space tore open. It wasn¡¯t Balbabamba or the goddess. It was something else entirely. Boom! The air trembled as a presence beyond the dimensional rift stepped back into thebyrinth. It was the shopkeeper. His face was flushed a fiery red, almost goblin-like, his thick beard trembling with rage as his fists clenched tightly. The only emotion he exuded was unbridled fury. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Taesan asked, his expression calm. The shopkeeper¡¯s bloodshot eyes red as he charged at Taesan. Grab. The shopkeeper seized Taesan by the cor. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s rather sudden,¡± Taesan replied tly. ¡°Why! Why!¡± the shopkeeper roared, his face twisted in outrage. ¡°Why are my people worshipping you?!¡± Taesan instantly understood the reason for the shopkeeper¡¯s rage. Remainingposed despite the grip on his cor, he spoke calmly. ¡°As part of clearing the quest, I acquired certain rewards. Among them was their faith.¡± ¡°You insolent fool!¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s grip on Taesan¡¯s cor tightened, his distorted face contorting further, as though he couldn¡¯t bear his anger. ¡°How dare you deceive my people! This is uneptable! They are my people!¡± ¡°Even so,¡± Taesan responded, ¡°faith that has already been given cannot simply be taken back.¡± He reached up and grabbed the shopkeeper¡¯s wrist. The shopkeeper flinched, instinctively stepping back as though struck, and quickly put distance between them. Taesan adjusted his disheveled clothes with a casual motion. ¡°I fulfilled the wish you requested of me. But now, you suddenly behave this way. It''s rather disconcerting.¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s wish had been the death of a transcendent being. Nothing beyond that had been stipted as part of the quest. Taesan had in the transcendent. The quest had beenpleted perfectly, yet the shopkeeper was nowining. Taesan found the shopkeeper¡¯s behavior iprehensible. ¡°Don¡¯t mock me! They¡¯re supposed to worship me! No one else! Me, the rightful king!¡± ¡°Then why not erase their faith in me and rece it with faith in yourself? That much I won''t interfere with.¡± ¡°You insolent¡ª!¡± The shopkeeper''s entire body trembled with fury. At that moment, the floor cracked, and Balbabamba appeared. [An outsider has entered.] The voice was cold and mechanical,cking its usual mirth. It was the same tone Balbabamba had used when Taesan first encountered him¡ªdetached and indifferent. [You worked in thisbyrinth as a shopkeeper to fulfill your wish, and now that wish has been granted. Your connection to thebyrinth has ended.] ¡°But¡ª!¡± [The quest condition was the death of the transcendent. If you had wished for faith, you should have stated it as part of your desire. But when you entered thebyrinth, you omitted that detail.] Taesan realized what Balbabamba¡¯s tone indicated. It was the tone reserved for outsiders, for those with no remaining ties to thebyrinth. [Now that your wish has been fulfilled, you have no rtion to thebyrinth. Normally, intruders would be eliminated immediately... but I¡¯ll grant you this one act of mercy. Leave.] Crunch. Balbabamba¡¯s authority manifested. The shopkeeper was forcibly expelled. He tried to protest, but his words were swallowed by Balbabamba¡¯s power. And just like that, the shopkeeper was banished from thebyrinth. [It¡¯s over. He will not return unless he formtes a new wish.] ¡°You¡¯re ruthless.¡± [This was clearly his mistake. If he desired faith, he should have included it as part of his wish. Yet, perhaps thinking it impossible, he abandoned the idea. Now that it seems usible, he¡¯s throwing a tantrum. I have no reason to indulge such behavior.] The ghost spoke nonchntly, chiming in. [He never saw us as anything more than tools. Taesan, his goodwill toward you was solely because you could fulfill his wish. It had nothing to do with who you are as a person.] ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s done now. Unless I seek him out, our paths won¡¯t cross again.¡± Taesan agreed with Balbabamba. The quest had concluded. There was nothing further to involve himself in. [When a wish is fulfilled, the contract ends. Anything beyond that depends on the magician and the contractor. Remember this¡ªthis applies to you as well.] Balbabamba turned his gaze toward the void. [What you sought was merely the foundation to be a transcendent. If you aspire for more, I will intervene.] ¡°I understand. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Taesan replied. A melodic voice echoed, its owner stepping forward. It was the Green Witch. [Consider this a precautionary warning. Though knowing you, there¡¯s little need for concern.] Taesan followed Balbabamba¡¯s gaze, sensing the presence of the Green Witch. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± [Yes. I¡¯ve witnessed something quite intriguing.] The Green Witch addressed Taesan with great respect, her tone and demeanor formal. ¡°You¡¯re addressing me with honorifics?¡± [You have reached a realm beyond myprehension. It is only proper to treat you with the respect you deserve.] ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary.¡± [No, it is necessary.] The Green Witch¡¯s response was resolute. [Those who reach such heights deserve the treatment befitting their status. I ask you to address me casually in return.] ¡°If you insist...¡± Taesan didn¡¯t particrly care about formalities. He treated most people the same way, just as he had with the shopkeeper. However, since the Green Witch insisted, he saw no reason to object. ¡°Have you found a method?¡± The Green Witch¡¯s wish was to discover the foundation for bing a true transcendent. She had undoubtedly gained much from her contract with Taesan, but she shook her head. [Not yet... I¡¯ve considered gathering fear and terror since faith is out of reach. It seems usible, but I¡¯m uncertain.] ¡°It¡¯s ambiguous.¡± No one could say whether her method would seed. [Remidaos, was it? He was vastly stronger than I am. Although he fell to you, there are few in the universe who could rival him.] Even such a being had failed to reach the level the Green Witch sought. She realized anew the enormity of her desire. ¡°Take your time. Our contract still holds.¡± [Thank you.] The Green Witch expressed her gratitude briefly and departed. Everything had finallye to a close. Taesan descended the stairs. The shopkeeper who had always been there to greet him was nowhere to be seen. Only an empty shop remained. ¡°Guess it¡¯s self-service from now on.¡± If he desired equipment and had the funds, he could still make purchases. But it held little significance now. [Quest for the 93rd floor begins.] [Clear the conditions of the 93rd floor.] [Reward: Fragment of the Darkened Light.] [Secret Reward: ???] The description provided no clear indication of the conditions required for clearing the floor. It seemed he would have to find out from whoever was waiting for him. Taesan opened the door. The figure awaiting him greeted him warmly. [You¡¯ve arrived.] [You have encountered the Demon Lord, Lucifer.] *** Long, ck hair cascading down to her feet. Sharp, feline-like eyes. A sleek ck dress. The Demon Lord appeared exactly as she had the first time Taesan met her. However, her attitude toward him had distinctly shifted. The probing gaze she had once directed at him had softened, now tinged with admiration and goodwill. She gazed at Taesan with evident appreciation. [You¡¯ve stabilized your presence. And to think you¡¯ve acquired such divinity. Even I wouldn¡¯t subdue you easily now.] ¡°You tter me.¡± [No, it¡¯s the truth. Against a standard power, maybe not. But someone as distinct as you? You could hold your ground well. You¡¯ve grown stronger... and it seems you¡¯ve realized something significant in the process.] ¡°...¡± Taesan acknowledged what was within him¡ªsomething even the Demon Lord seemed to recognize. Taesan addressed her directly. ¡°Is this floor¡¯s quest yours, Demon Lord?¡± [No.] The Demon Lord shook her head, stepping back slightly. [I¡¯d like it to be, but it¡¯s not my ce this time. It belongs to someone else.] [That would be me.] A sharp crack resounded as the space around them fractured and warped. From the distortion emerged a muscr man. [It¡¯s been a while, hybrid.] A massive pair of horns adorned his head. His eyes, reptilian and crimson, glimmered with menace. ck energy flowed around his entire body. Baal grinned maliciously. [You have encountered the Archdemon, Baal.] [This quest is under my authority. The Demon Lord is merely an intermediary.] @@novelbin@@ [I still don¡¯t like it.] [This has already been discussed, Demon Lord. This is necessary for him, for us, and for your kind. Dying further would be problematic.] [I understand, which is why I epted.] [Good. Then leave your cherished one in my care for a while.] Baal chuckled darkly and raised a finger. ck energy swirled around Taesan, enveloping him entirely. [Hybrid, follow me.] Taesan did not resist. His body left thebyrinth, transported to another location. As his surroundings shifted, a faint voice reached him. [Onest warning.] It was the Demon Lord, her voice calm but firm. [Though we are bound by contract, that bond is now nothing more than corroded and brittle chains. If you intend to toy with him...] [You worry too much.] Baal¡¯s reply was leisurely and unconcerned. Their voices faded, and Taesan found himself in a void¡ªan endless expanse of darkness. [This must be your second time here.] Though the realm was pure darkness, the void seemed to illuminate itself, the darkness paradoxically serving as its own light. This was Baal¡¯s domain. Baal sat leisurely on a throne of shadow, his form exuding an overwhelming aura. [I¡¯ve heard the stories. You dealt with the ancient one, Essential. You resolved the Ouroboros problem and dealt with the fragment of worthlessness.] ¡°So you¡¯re aware.¡± [Information is my strength. And so, you¡¯ve climbed to this point.] Baal¡¯s gaze fell upon Taesan, his crimson pupils seeming to pierce through him. [...You¡¯ve grown strong. And you¡¯re approaching something. But I still can¡¯t tell which way you¡¯ll lean.] ¡°Why did you summon me?¡± Taesan¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°What do you know about me?¡± His secrets. The thing within him. Where he came from and why he was intertwined with so many paths. Even Taesan was only beginning to grasp pieces of the truth, yet Baal seemed to have known from the start. [My reasons for summoning you aren¡¯t grand¡ªat least, not immediately.] Baal¡¯s lips curled into a small smile. [You¡¯ve been running relentlessly. You haven¡¯t had a single proper moment of rest.] ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Taesan didn¡¯t deny it. He had grown monstrously strong, but he had never truly rested. The leveling system alleviated his mental fatigue, making breaks unnecessary. [So, why not take a moment to rest?] ¡°And by rest, you mean?¡± [The demons hold regr gatherings under my lead. All those who possess domainse together. And you, too, have one foot in the realm of demons.] Taesan had imed Belial¡¯s domain as his own. He wielded the power of a demon¡¯s territory, tethering him partially to their kind. [So, what do you say? Would you like to join us at our gathering?] Chapter 503: 93rd Floor, Demons (2) Demons. Taesan had felt their presence before but had never encountered them directly. However, he understood what they were: beings akin to high gods, each ruling their own domain. ¡°A gathering, you say?¡± [Nothing extravagant. Think of it as a simple tea party. Since I personally host it, every demon with a domain attends. And now that you¡¯re also one of us, I thought it would be good for you to join at least once.] ¡°That¡¯s all there is to it?¡± When Taesan asked if attending this gathering was the entirety of the 93rd-floor quest, Baal responded with a knowing smile. It was clear the meeting wasn¡¯t the endgame¡ªBaal had something more in mind. Taesan nodded. ¡°All right.¡± He didn¡¯t know what Baal truly sought, but he saw no reason to refuse. The Demon Lord was also involved, so it was unlikely that anything overtly unreasonable would ur. Baal stood, satisfaction evident on his face. [Let¡¯s get started. I need to create a space for the gathering.] With a casual sweep of his arm, thick, ck demonic energy began to manifest. The darkness pushed against reality itself, spreading outward to form a new space. Crackle. Like unfolding sheets of paper, the darkness expanded rapidly, soaking up space like a sponge absorbs water. In an instant, the dark energy unfolded into an expansive world. What emerged was a deste in. No mountains, no rocks¡ªjust a vast, barren nd stretching endlessly. [A bitrge, but this should suffice.] Baal¡¯s voice was casual, almost dismissive, but Taesan could see it for what it was. What Baal had just done wasn¡¯t simple at all. Baal had created a new domain. A vast world, stretching beyond sight, had been conjured effortlessly and without strain. Taesan, who could barely maintain his chaotic domain for long, recognized the sheer difference in their power. For someone like Baal, this was no different than breathing. If an ordinary being had witnessed this, they wouldn¡¯t haveprehended the magnitude of it. But Taesan had grown strong enough to understand¡ªBaal was a being who rivaled conceptual gods. [No need to be surprised. One day, you¡¯ll reach this level too. And it may not be far off.] Baal snapped his fingers. In response, the domain shifted. The ground rose and, in an instant, a dazzling structure emerged¡ªa building grander than any pce. [That will be the venue for the gathering.] Baal brushed off his hands lightly. [Go inside and rest. The other demons will start arriving soon. My attendants will guide you to your room. It should take about a day for everyone to assemble.] Taesan walked toward the building. It was enormous,parable in size to a mountain. As he approached, the door opened automatically. Inside, a floating mask awaited him. [This way, please.] With a monotone, emotionless voice, the mask led Taesan to his room. [When everything is ready, I will return to inform you.] The room was vast and opulent. Taesan ran his hand over therge bed, big enough to fit ten people. The plush, resilient texture of the mattress greeted his touch. [Demons, huh.] Bardray, who had been silent until now, muttered to himself. [So this is a gathering of demons. Never thought I¡¯d witness such a thing.] ¡°Is it something to be surprised about now?¡± [You¡¯re right. Maybe I¡¯m getting numb to all this.] Demons were undoubtedly formidable beings. They were the ones who bestowed the power of dark magic upon the demon ns. But Taesan had already faced high gods and conceptual gods, beings far mightier. Bardray, having witnessed it all at Taesan¡¯s side, found the demonsparatively less imposing. As Taesan idly passed the time, he felt several presences approaching the building. ¡°Demons.¡± These presences were distorted, alien to this world. One by one, demons entered the building. Before long, more than ten had gathered, each retreating into what seemed to be their designated rooms. Taesan could feel all their movements and the power they carried. And they, too, could undoubtedly sense Taesan. Numerous gazes fell upon him. Their emotions were not hidden as they observed him. Taesan spoke curtly. ¡°Dismiss.¡± Crack! The gazes crumbled and shattered under the weight of his words. The oppressive stares that had been directed at him vanished entirely. ¡°They¡¯re quite curious.¡± [Not exactly friendly, though.] Every demon in the building had been watching him, and their intent wasn¡¯t particrly kind. [It¡¯s probably because you consumed Belial¡¯s domain. They might see you as someone who stole the power of one of their own.] ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem that simple.¡± Taesan recalled the gazes that had been directed at him. There had been little hostility or anger in them. Instead, there was arrogance¡ªa haughty disdain, as though nobles were looking down on amoner. This puzzled Taesan. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be able to look at me like that.¡± He was curious but decided to let it go for now. He would meet them soon enough. Taesany down on the bed. Baal had suggested he take this time to rest. So, catching up on some overdue sleep seemed appropriate. Letting the tension drain from his body, he rxed his muscles. Sleep descended upon him like a wave. *** Taesan had not slept in months. Ever since he acquired divinity, both his body and mind had transcended human limitations. Even during his exploration of over tens on previous floors, he had never once needed sleep. Thus, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Taesan dreamed. In the dream, he found himself in a strange space. The space was iprehensible. Its shape was undefined, its essence unknowable¡ªa broken domain. Within it floated countless forces and concepts. Some of these concepts were beyond Taesan''s current reach, immense and epassing the entire universe. It was like a treasure trove filled with things more noble than anything else in existence. But these treasuresy scattered across the domain like garbage. At the center of this chaos, something sat. It was not human. Nor was it a monster. It could not be ssified as belonging to this world or any other. It was something caught in between. Taesan stared at it, and it stared back at him. For a moment, the being twisted and distorted. Taesan felt its face change, radiating emotions¡ªjoy, greed, longing¡ªall at once. The undefined entity copsed. Turning into a mist-like form, it surged toward Taesan, enveloping and consuming him, trying to merge with him. At that moment, Taesan awoke. [Awake?] [You have returned to consciousness, my master.] @@novelbin@@ Voices greeted him. Slowly, Taesan sat up, the soft touch of silk brushing against his fingertips. "...How long have I been asleep?" [Quite a while. About eighteen hours.] "That long?" Pressing a hand to his forehead, Taesan tried to shake off the lingering sensation of the dream. The ghost, noticing the unusual shift in his demeanor, asked, [Something happened?] "Not sure." He had dreamed. But it wasn¡¯t a dream. For someone who had achieved divinity, the concept of dreams no longer existed. What he experienced was something else entirely. Yet, the memory of it was blurred, as if something was blocking his recollection. ¡®What was that?¡¯ Shaking his head, Taesan refocused. His senses sharpened, his awareness extending outward. He noticed the demons gathering one by one in the building¡¯s central hall. A presence approached his door. Knock. Knock. A knocking sound echoed. When Taesan opened the door, he found the floating mask that had guided him earlier. [The time hase. Please follow me.] Following the mask, Taesan moved through the colossal building. Before long, he arrived at an enormous door in the center of the structure. Beyond it, he could feel the presence of dozens of demons. [They are all waiting for you. Please, enter.] The mask retreated as Taesan pushed the door open. Creak. As the doors parted, dozens of gazes turned to him. Inside were demons, their appearances varied and strange. Some took the form of muscr men, others of alluring women. Many were inhuman¡ªwarped, amorphous figures, or massive ck birds. The scene resembled more of avish party than a simple gathering. Tables were scattered throughout the hall,den with peculiar items that vaguely resembled food. [The guest of honor has arrived.] Seated on the highest chair, Baal raised a goblet filled with a crimson liquid, a mocking smile on his face. [Now, let the gathering begin. Laugh, drink, talk, and enjoy yourselves. These are the only positive acts you¡¯re capable of.] Baal¡¯s voice dripped with contempt and scorn, directed at the demons around him. The gatheringmenced. The demonsughed, conversed, and indulged in their strange celebrations. Taesan observed them silently. These were the demons who ruled over dark magic, the source of the power he wielded. It was his first time seeing them directly. Among their number, he could sense familiar energies. As Taesan watched them, so too did they watch him. Their gazes carried curiosity, mockery, and disdain. Yet none of them approached him. They pretended not to care, their bodynguage exaggerated in its indifference, as if to say he was beneath their notice. Their obviousness was almostughable. If simply attending this gathering fulfilled the 93rd-floor quest, Taesan thought he might as well let time pass quietly. But his inaction seemed to irritate one of the demons. [How rude.] A grating voice cut through the hall. Taesan turned his gaze toward the source. The demon was enormous, at least ten times the size of an average human, his entire body grotesquely bloated. The sight alone was revolting. Taesan muttered softly, ¡°Amon.¡± Amon. A demon whose dark magic Taesan had partially mastered. Amon sneered, clearly displeased. [You should havee to us first and expressed your gratitude. Instead, you remain idle. Such rudeness.] ¡°You expect me to be thankful?¡± Taesan asked, baffled by the sudden demand. Amon clicked his tongue as if annoyed by Taesan¡¯s ignorance. [You wield our power as your own. That is our grace. Thanks to us, you have reached where you are. It¡¯s only natural to show gratitude.] ¡°I acquired dark magic through a contract with the Demon Lord. Not directly from you,¡± Taesan countered, his voice t. To him, it had been nothing more than a transaction. But Amon seemed offended by the dismissal. [Even so, it is through our power that you have grown. Gratitude is the least you owe us.] ¡°....¡± Taesan silently regarded Amon, his gaze unyielding. For a moment, Amon flinched under the weight of it. [...Well, let¡¯s set that aside. But yourck of decorum cannot be ignored. We are demons.] Amon¡¯s voice swelled with unmistakable pride. [We are eternal, immortal beings. None can infringe upon us. No mortal existence in this world can reach us.] Pointing a finger the size of Taesan¡¯s arm at him, Amon continued. [The same applies to you. No matter how strong you may be, you are ultimately a being bound to disappear. But we are different. We are eternal, untouched by the universe. We are immortal.] ¡°And?¡± Taesan¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°So what do you expect me to do about that?¡± [Show respect.] Amon answered, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. [We are eternal beings. We existed long before your kind came into being. Show us the respect we deserve. That is what you should do.] Laughter echoed throughout the hall. The other demons chuckled as they observed the scene, their expressions mirroring Amon¡¯s arrogance. Every demon present shared his attitude, not a single one differing. Taesan¡¯s eyes grew cold, his expression hardening. ¡®Not what I expected.¡¯ He had been curious about the demons. How they perceived him, their connections to the high gods, their perspectives, and the knowledge they possessed from their long existence. He had anticipated something worthwhile from this gathering. But the demons were a disappointment. Theycked the wisdom orposure one might expect from ancient beings. Instead, they were driven by emotion, overflowing with arrogance and self-importance. There was no value in interacting with such beings. Taesan didn¡¯t need to be here to realize that. Turning his gaze, he saw Baal watching the exchange with an enigmatic smile. Chapter 504: 93rd Floor, Demons (3) [We are noble.] Amon dered this as if reciting an unshakable truth, a statement imbued with unquestionable value. [We are the only eternal beings in this world, unchanging and whole. Even those who call themselves transcendents pale inparison and are destined to fade.] His eyes gleamed with pride and arrogance. [We have existed far longer than any of you. It is only natural for you to show us the respect we deserve.] ¡°Shut up.¡± Taesan cut him off, his tone indifferent. He had no patience for meaningless, self-important derations. He understood the mindset of the demons. They had existed since before the creation of this world. In a sense, they were indeed unique and immutable now that the high gods had been exiled. But they had let this fact intoxicate them, using it as the sole measure of their greatness and nobility. To Taesan, it wasughable. If their value was rooted only in how they were born, they had no true worth. Demons were a race that had survived since before the dawn of the universe. If they had lived for so long, they should have attained the wisdom, insight, and enlightenment to match. Yet, their mentality and values were disappointingly shallow¡ªno different from an average human''s. ¡°You were born strong, weren¡¯t you?¡± [Of course. That is the difference between us and weaklings like you. You must painstakingly build your power, but we were perfect from birth.] Amon spoke proudly. Taesan shook his head. ¡®So that¡¯s why.¡¯ Power without qualification. That exined why their minds remained as undeveloped as those of children. ¡®If the high gods are like this too, it will be disappointing.¡¯ Taesan nced at Baal. As before, Baal made no move to intervene, watching their exchange with quiet amusement. ¡®What are you after?¡¯ If Baal had no intention of stepping in, Taesan would act as he wished. When Taesan didn¡¯t respond, Amon¡¯s expression twisted in irritation, and he pressed him further. [What are you doing? Show respect¡ª] ¡°Be quiet.¡± [What?] ¡°You¡¯re noisy. Keep it down.¡± Taesan¡¯s tone was utterly disinterested. Amon¡¯s face trembled with anger. [You insolent...!] ¡°Let¡¯s drop the excuses. This isn¡¯t really about me not showing respect, is it? Just get to the point. There¡¯s another reason you¡¯re upset, isn¡¯t there?¡± @@novelbin@@ The atmosphere among the demons shifted. The mockery and disdain in the air began to transform into hostility. Amon¡¯s expression contorted. [...How dare you? To insult our purity, to speak to us in such a manner?] ¡°So that¡¯s it.¡± Taesan knew why they were so bothered. He had seized Belial¡¯s domain and made it his own. To beings who prided themselves on their immutable nature as demons, this act was tantamount to desecration. [I was willing to let it go depending on your attitude, but not anymore. Kneel. Utter our names one by one and offer sincere apologies.] ¡°And if I refuse?¡± [Then we won¡¯t let it slide. You¡¯ll have to face punishment befitting your kind.] The demons began to stir, their movements slow and deliberate. Their malicious auras crept toward Taesan, suffusing the air with a palpable tension. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Taesan muttered softly, his power beginning to seep out of him. Even the faint trace of his energy crushed the approaching demon auras, scattering them like dust. Taesan was undeniably stronger than the demons¡ªby a wide margin. They knew it as well. Yet, they didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, they continued to approach, their faces twisted with mockery and ridicule. [You may be stronger than us, but you cannot destroy us. We are eternal, unchanging. You cannot kill us.] It wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. High gods and demons couldn¡¯t be killed by mortal beings. Even the transcendents had only been able to exile the high gods. But Taesan was different. He could kill them. The demons connected to him through Lemegeton surely knew this, but they acted as if they didn¡¯t. There was only one exnation: Baal or the Demon Lord had hidden this truth from them. Taesan nced at Baal again. As before, Baal watched the proceedings with his enigmatic smile, making no move to intervene. [It seems things are heating up.] Baal finally spoke, his voice cutting through the tension. The demons flinched at his words, even Amon. But Amon quickly regained hisposure and turned to Baal with a bold expression. [This is a matter between us demons. Normally, we would not intervene in the affairs of mortals. But now that he holds a demon''s domain, this is an internal issue. Even you cannot interfere. That was the agreement, wasn¡¯t it?] [Indeed. I cannot meddle in your affairs. Nor can I harm you directly. It¡¯s a tiresome contract.] Baal smiled. [So, let me make a proposal.] [A proposal?] [Fighting like this would take ages. You cannot die, but you also cannot overpower Taesan. It will only drag on.] Taesan now understood. Baal knew that Taesan could kill them but was deliberately hiding the fact from the demons. [So, why not settle this with a duel?] [A duel...?] Amon hesitated. He knew full well that he couldn¡¯t defeat Taesan alone. But Baal¡¯s next words were too tempting to resist. [The duel will be between Taesan alone and all of you. Thirty-eight demons, a truly exhausting number.] ¡°A one-against-many fight?¡± [Yes. You don¡¯t mind, do you? The condition for victory is a deration of defeat. All of you must admit your loss. How does that sound? The loser must obey onemand from the winner, no exceptions.] The demons quickly deliberated. Amon, twisting his mouth into a smirk, responded. [Agreed. We ept.] Taesan was undoubtedly strong, but so were they. Amon was confident that if they all attacked with everything they had, victory would be theirs. What¡¯s more, the victory condition was merely to force Taesan to admit defeat. It wasughable. They were eternal beings. They couldn¡¯t die, nor would their strength ever deplete. There was no reason for them to concede defeat. It was only a matter of time before they triumphed. ¡®Baal must not like him either.¡¯ Amon believed Baal intended to use them to put Taesan in his ce. [So, what will you do, human? Are you going to back down now?] Amon sneered at Taesan. But Taesan wasn¡¯t even looking at Amon. His gaze was fixed on Baal. Baal smiled quietly. Taesan, after a moment of consideration, nodded. ¡°All right. I ept.¡± Baal pped his hands with augh. [Excellent.] Boom! The building vanished, swept away as if it had never existed. They now stood on an expansive in. [I¡¯ll give you a bit of time to prepare. After that, we begin. Get ready.] *** [You will regret this, wretched being who dared to steal what is ours.] Amon sneered as he withdrew, leaving with a mocking expression. The thirty-some demons gathered in a group, conversing amongst themselves. Taesan quietly observed them. [So, you''ve seen the demons.] Baal stood beside Taesan, his tone calm. [What do you think?] ¡°Disappointing,¡± Taesan replied without hesitation. The demons fell far short of his expectations. Their ideology and mentality were as immature as children¡¯s. [Demons and high gods are immutable, but demons are far inferior to the high gods. They are immutable not only in body and power but in their very minds.] Baal¡¯s voice dripped with disdain and contempt. [They are like foolish, ignorant children wielding the power to destroy worlds. Once, billions perished for their petty amusements.] ¡°You despise them,¡± Taesan observed. Baal was an archdemon, the lord of demons. Yet his voice and gaze betrayed an overwhelming hatred for them. ¡°What is it you seek?¡± Baal had likely known that the demons would oppose the gathering, yet he had arranged it regardless. This meant he had orchestrated this sh between Taesan and the demons deliberately. [When we first met, you asked me what we were. Do you remember my answer?] ¡°Yes,¡± Taesan replied. He had asked Baal what their purpose was, and Baal had answered that they were the original sin¡ªa defiance of the flow of time itself. That was why he had not stopped Belial¡¯s destruction. [Until now, it was manageable. Contracts prevented us from interfering too much with the world, so it was tolerable. But... that¡¯s no longer the case.] ¡°Why is that?¡± [Because what we¡¯ve held back has begun to stir.] Taesan fell silent. There was only one thing the demons had held back. The high gods. [I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re stirring already, but before that, we need to clean up these defective products.] Baal¡¯s voice was low as his gaze shifted to the demons. The demons¡¯ auras began to settle as they finished preparing. They looked at Taesan with confident expressions, ready for the duel. [Well, it¡¯s your choice. Do as you see fit.] Baal pped his hands, the sound echoing across the domain. [In the name of Baal, I dere: the duel begins. The fight will not end until one side concedes defeat. The defeated will obey onemand from the victor, no exceptions. Do you ept?] The demons shouted their agreement in unison. Taesan nodded as well. [Good.] With their derations, Baal¡¯s power solidified the agreement into a binding contract. He smiled as if he had been waiting for this. [Then let it begin. Kill and be killed.] Boom! The first to move was Amon. Wearing a twisted grin, he charged at Taesan. [Wretched human! Let me show you my true power!] Crack! The space split open, and from the ck rift emerged a colossal, pitch-ck spike. Its size was enormous¡ªlike a mountain range given form. ¡®Amon¡¯s ck Spike.¡¯ It was a form of dark magic that Taesan himself possessed, but its scale was far beyond what he could manifest. This spike carried enough destructive power to annihte an entire continent. [This is the power of demons! Kneel, you lowly creature!] Amon¡¯s voice rang out proudly. Despite the sheer magnitude of the attack, his energy remained untouched. Demons were immutable, their power inexhaustible. Amon hurled the spike directly at Taesan and created another one as he charged forward. Boom! The massive spike tore through the air, the force ripping the space around it. The other demons began to coordinate their attacks, positioning themselves to cut off Taesan¡¯s escape. But Taesan didn¡¯t evade. As the spike neared him, he slowly raised a hand. A faint, ash-gray hue covered his fingertips. The contrast was absurd. Compared to the colossal spike, his gesture seemed insignificant¡ªlike a toothpick against a mountain. The ash-gray energy touched the spike. Boom! The spike shattered. Like a copsing cliff face during an earthquake, the spike crumbled into pieces, disintegratingpletely. Shards of its remains scattered harmlessly past Taesan. The demons hesitated, their movements faltering. Taesan stood motionless, unscathed, not even flinching. [Wha...?] Amon began to realize something was wrong. But by then, Taesan had already moved. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing with his ash-gray energy piercing through Amon¡¯s chest. ¡°Give it up.¡± Taesan¡¯s voice was calm as the power within him surged, devouring Amon whole. Chapter 505: 93rd Floor, Demons (4) [Urgh!] Amon groaned in agony. The ash-gray de piercing his chest carried enough power to end the life of any ordinary being. But he was a demon. Immutable and eternal, he could not die. Countless transcendents had attempted to kill him, and all had failed. Amon believed this time would be no different, even against Taesan. [...Huh?] But then he realized something. The ash-gray energy was slowly devouring him. Starting from his chest, it spread through his body, greedily consuming his flesh and power. [A-Aaaah!] A sudden wave of terror engulfed Amon, deeper and darker than anything he had ever known. It was the fear of death. [Spare me!] For the first time in his existence, Amon begged for his life. He thrashed and struggled to escape, but the ash-gray power swallowed him whole within moments. [S-Spare...!] Even his voice was consumed. The being known as Amon ceased to exist. His body, his power¡ªeverything was erased and absorbed into Taesan. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan calmly consolidated the new power that had taken root within him. It was Amon¡¯s domain. [Your Rank Ascension has activated. You have imed [Amon]. Lemegeton¡¯s Throne has been strengthened.] [You have killed a demon. You have acquired the passive skill [Demon yer].] ¡°So even against demons, the Rank Ascension triggers, despite the disparity in strength.¡± Whether it was due to the unique nature of demons or some other reason, Taesan had been able to im Amon¡¯s power despite the usual restrictions of the Rank Ascension system. Regardless, it was a favorable oue. It meant there was more to gain from fighting demons. Taesan adjusted his de. The remaining demons stood frozen in ce, staring nkly. [T-This... What is this?] [What just happened?] They understood what had urred. Amon¡¯s domain had been stolen. No¡ªAmon himself had been erased. Theirpanion, who had existed since the dawn of creation and whom they believed to be eternal, had vanished without a trace, discarded like garbage. [W-Who are you? What are you?!] Shouts of confusion and fear echoed, but none dared approach Taesan. Instead, they retreated, paralyzed by an unfamiliar and overwhelming terror. ¡°If you won¡¯te to me, then I¡¯lle to you.¡± Taesan pressed his foot to the ground. [You have activated Chaos Summon.] [You have activated eleration.] [You have activated Skill eleration.] In an instant, Taesan disappeared from their sight. When he reappeared, he had already passed through them. [H-Huh?] [What...?] Five demons copsed, their bodies severed. Even as they fell, they couldn¡¯tprehend what had killed them. [S-Save... me...] Their domains were stolen by the Rank Ascension as they perished. These demons, who had once mocked and ughtered countless lives for sport, were helpless and powerless as they disappeared. [What is happening?!] The remaining demons finally snapped out of their shock, releasing their powers as they backed away. [Kill him! All of you, attack at once!] With a furious cry, the demons unleashed theirbined might. Boom! The power of over thirty demons materialized in the air, an overwhelming force capable of shatterings and leveling continents. Even dark magic that Taesan had used before was among their arsenal. But Taesan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He hadn¡¯t used dark magic in a long time. The reason was simple. ¡®It¡¯s too weak.¡¯ Demonic dark magic was inadequate. Though the demons were undoubtedly powerful, their strength had limits. At best, they were on par with immortals. While their endless reserves made them superior to typical immortals, they could never surpass their inherent boundaries. Taesan, on the other hand, was far beyond such limits¡ªsurpassing even the average gods of faith. Given the inefficiency of mixing ash-gray energy with dark magic, he preferred advanced magic instead. The only exception was Baal¡¯s dark magic. Everything else was beneath him. ¡°Which is why I have no further use for any of you.¡± A crimson-skinned demon swung his massive fist, releasing a wave of molten fire. Taesan recognized him immediately. @@novelbin@@ ¡®Marcosias.¡¯ A demon who wielded me-like materials. The heat of his mes could melt stars. [Burn to ash!] Marcosias engulfed Taesan in his fiery substance, his face lighting up with satisfaction. But a momentter, ash-gray energy pierced through the mes, and Taesan emerged unscathed, his hand gripping Marcosias¡¯s throat. [Gah! H-How?!] ¡°You¡¯ll need more than molten stars to prate my defenses.¡± Crack. With a squeeze of his hand, Taesan broke Marcosias¡¯s neck. The ash-gray energy surged, consuming Marcosias and iming his domain. Boom! From the ground rose enormous roots, thick as walls and powerful enough to pierces. It was Dekarabia¡¯s Distorted Vegetation, a form of dark magic Taesan himself had used before. [Be impaled and die!] Dekarabia¡¯s tree-like roots surged toward Taesan. Without hesitation, Taesan waved his hand. ¡°Bardray.¡± [Understood.] Bardray¡¯s de was infused with ash-gray energy as Taesan hurled it toward the roots. sh! The de sliced through the roots like bamboo, leaving Dekarabia scrambling to summon more. But Bardray tore through every one of them without slowing down. Crunch. Bardray embedded itself into Dekarabia¡¯s chest. The ash-gray energy erupted, tearing Dekarabia¡¯s body apart. [Grrraaah!] Another demon, three times the size of a human, managed to sneak up behind Taesan, cing both hands on his head. [Copse!] It was Raum¡¯s Emotional Maniption, an ability far beyond the scope of what Taesan had previously used. Raum¡¯s power was capable of erasing a person¡¯s identity with nothing more than emotional interference. ¡°It won¡¯t work.¡± Crack! Raum¡¯s neck snapped as Taesan effortlessly countered. Emotional maniption, even at Raum¡¯s level, was useless against him. Boom! The remaining demonsbined their powers, unleashing a barrage of ck lightning, shadowy threads, and storm-like arrows at Taesan. Taesan raised his hand calmly. [You have activated Baal¡¯s ck Space Surge.] A darkened space swallowed their attacks, shattering and scattering them. The shockwave alone tore the demons¡¯ bodies apart. [Aaaah!] Realizing their doom, the panicked demons began to understand the reality before them. They couldn¡¯t win. Not ever. One demon, trembling in fear, shouted: [I surrender! I yield!] The others quickly followed suit. [I lost!] [Enough! Enough! I surrender!] Watching their cowardly cries, Baal could no longer contain hisughter. [Truly, you are the most pathetic of beings. After ughtering countless lives, you now tremble in fear of your own deaths. You are utterly... worthless.] With a twisted smile, Baal concluded: [Die. That is the only way you¡¯ll ever be of use.] The demons¡¯ cries for mercy continued, rippling like waves across the battlefield. One demon, believing himself safe after dering defeat, allowed a faint smile to cross his face. Crunch. [Urgh...!] Taesan¡¯s de pierced the demon¡¯s chest, consuming him entirely. [W-Why?! We already surrendered!] [The duel ends only when all participants on one side dere defeat. I believe I mentioned this earlier, didn¡¯t I?] Baal¡¯s voice was unhurried, almost mocking. It was only then that the demons realized not everyone had dered their defeat. [Who?! Who hasn¡¯t done it?!] [Which bastard hasn¡¯t surrendered?!] Desperate, the demons tried to identify the culprit. But in the chaos, with their lives on the line, identifying the holdout was an impossible task. Crack! [Gaaaaah!] One by one, the demons were eradicated. Finally realizing that fighting was their only option, they still hesitated. [Run!] Some turned and fled instead. Taesan let out a scoffingugh. ¡°Even now, you¡¯d rather run than fight. Truly pathetic.¡± The demons scattered, their expressions frantic as they tried to put distance between themselves and Taesan. But their flight was short-lived, halted by an immense wall. [Fight for your lives, you defective creations. This will be your final struggle.] Baal¡¯s tone was calm, unbothered. Taesan gripped his de tightly and approached the panicked demons at a measured pace. [Aaaaaah!] Despair drove the demons to charge him in a final act of desperation. Taesan swung his ash-gray de. Boom! Another demon was impaled and obliterated, their domain twisted and added to Taesan¡¯s own. [You have activated Chaos Copse.] Boom! The magic of chaos tore through the demons, crushing and disintegrating them. There was no escape. No victory. Overwhelming despair consumed them. Some demons stood frozen, drooling and wide-eyed, their minds shattered by the sheer hopelessness of the situation. [Baal!] One demon roared in fury, charging toward Baal. But an invisible barrier stopped him cold, barring his approach. [You nned this from the start! You brought us here to die!] Baal chuckled softly. The demon tried to scream further usations, but Taesan¡¯s de pierced his back before he could finish. Crunch. One by one, the demons disappeared. Finally, only one demon remained. He was an old man, dressed impably in a tailored suit, standing quietly as if unaffected by the ughter. Even as Taesan eradicated his kin, the old man hadn¡¯t moved a muscle. The old man spoke calmly. [Are you satisfied?] [Quite, yes.] Baal appeared beside him, his posture rxed. [Thank you, Bifrons. I wasn¡¯t entirely sure you wouldply, even when I asked.] [You are my lord. Whatever youmand, I will do.] Bifrons smiled faintly. [Besides, I never cared much for my brethren.] Taesan now understood why the duel hadn¡¯t ended. For the duel to conclude, every demon had to dere defeat. But Bifrons had sided with Baal from the start, deliberately refraining from dering defeat so that the demons would perish by Taesan¡¯s hand. ¡°So, this was your n all along?¡± From the moment Baal had summoned him, he had intended for the demons to be eradicated. [It was a rare opportunity to clean up. I couldn¡¯t let it slip away.] [Then, Lord Baal.] Bifrons bowed slightly toward Taesan¡¯s de. [May you achieve all that you desire.] [Thank you, Bifrons. Farewell.] Taesan¡¯s de pierced Bifrons¡¯ chest. The old man epted his death without resistance. His power flowed into Taesan. In total, Taesan had imed the domains of thirty-eight demons. The umted domains merged with the one Taesan already possessed, transforming into something entirely new. [[Dark Magic] has undergone significant changes.] [The basic dark magic [Marcosias¡¯s False mes] has been removed.] [The basic dark magic [Dekarabia¡¯s Distorted Vegetation] has been removed.] [The basic dark magic [Marbas¡¯s ck Waves] has been removed.] And so it continued. System notifications flooded his vision, listing every change and deletion. The transformation wasn¡¯t limited to the spells. Lemegeton¡¯s Throne, the cornerstone of Taesan¡¯s dark magic, began to evolve into something greater. [[Lemegeton¡¯s Throne] has evolved into [A Fragment of Malice].] Chapter 506: 93rd Floor, Demons (5) Thirty-eight. Including Belial''s domain, which Taesan had originally possessed, the total rose to thirty-nine. Thirty-nine demon domains, each belonging to beings that had existed since the dawn of creation, were now fused into Taesan. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and began to inspect the changes within. Something new had settled inside him¡ªvast, boundless. Taesan raised his hand, and in an instant, demonic energy surged forth. Boom! ck magic exploded into the world. Roots that could split the earth, fiery substances capable of melting stars, and massive spikes sharp enough to pierce continents¡ªall of them materialized simultaneously. The sheer force shook Baal''s domain. Baal''s expression brightened with interest. [Well now...] Taesan opened his skill window. [Dark Magic] You can freely wield the powers within your domains. The skill descriptions had simplified drastically. There were no longer skill proficiency levels, but it wasn¡¯t a downgrade. Instead, it had transcended those mechanics. Dark magic was now wholly his, seamlessly integrated into his being. Unlike before, the system window no longer appeared when he used dark magic, much like when he used his physical body to attack¡ªit was no longer something external but an intrinsic part of himself. Except for Baal¡¯s magic, every other trace of dark magic had disappeared from the skill window. Taesan quietly gazed at the changes in the system. [A Fragment of Malice] The remnant of all evil. What it bes depends on your choices. The term "demon" had vanished entirely from the description. With their eradication, the concept of "demon" had been wiped from the system. In its ce, an anomaly¡ªthe amalgamation of every demon''s domain¡ªremained. [What do you think?] Baal¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet.¡± Taesan shook his head. The new power was too vast toprehend in such a short time. He would need more time to fully understand its nature. [When primordial domains fuse and intertwine, this is the result. It¡¯s been a very long time since Ist saw something like this. How fascinating.] Baal pped his hands together. [A satisfying oue. Thank you.] ¡°You intended to kill them from the beginning, didn¡¯t you?¡± [I told you, defective creations needed to be removed.] Baal turned his gaze to the devastated ins. The battlefield bore no remnants of the demons or their power. The evidence of their existence had beenpletely erased. Baal¡¯s face disyed clear satisfaction. [They¡¯ve returned to where they belong. You¡¯ve done well, Taesan.] ¡°Won¡¯t this cause significant repercussions? The aftereffects could be severe.¡± The demons¡¯ power had been integral to the bnce of the world, particrly through the demonic magic they provided to the demonic races. With the demons now erased from existence, demonic magic would no longer be essible. @@novelbin@@ [There¡¯s no need to worry. The Demon Lord and I have already ounted for that.] ¡°...I see.¡± This meant that the Demon Lord had been fully aware of this n from the start. [Besides, the only benefit they ever provided was that single aspect, and even that can be easily handled with our powers. There won¡¯t be any issues.] Baalughed heartily, genuinely delighted. [Finally, I¡¯ve rid myself of those pests I¡¯ve always wanted gone. Thank you.] ¡°Now, I¡¯d like to hear your exnation.¡± Baal and the Demon Lord had orchestrated the demons¡¯ demise, but Taesan still didn¡¯t know why. [There are many reasons, but primarily, I wanted to see for myself.] ¡°To see what?¡± [I¡¯ve always despised those vermin.] Baal¡¯s voice dripped with contempt. [Born as they are, immutable and eternal. Beings without purpose. Yet it was impossible to eliminate them. They cannot die.] ¡°You couldn¡¯t erase them yourself?¡± Though Baal wasn¡¯t part of this world, akin to the Old Gods, it seemed odd that he couldn¡¯t handle the demons. But Baal shook his head. [I couldn¡¯t. When the Old Gods were exiled, I forged contracts with the demons. Direct interference was forbidden. Over time, I managed to use loopholes to eliminate a few here and there, but many still remained.] Baal stomped his foot, and the world folded like paper. [No one in this world could erase them. But you... You can.] The world copsed into neat folds, revealing a white, luminescent space. [You can erase them. You¡¯re capable ofpletely destroying the exiled Old Gods.] ¡°So, this was a test?¡± [I¡¯d heard the stories but never witnessed it myself. Before they return, I wanted to be certain.] Baal raised his hand, gathering a force so immense it bent space and time. [Now, let me show you the truth of this world.] Baal clenched his fist. The condensed power erupted, shattering the dimensions of space and time. The world distorted, propelling them into an unknown realm. [Ooh...] [Ah...] Both Bardray and Akasha gasped, their souls beginning to fragment. [Ah, I forgot you two wouldn¡¯t be able to handle this. Rest for now.] Baal¡¯s power enveloped them, stabilizing their forms. Despite their immense strength, even Bardray and Akasha couldn¡¯t endure this space without disintegrating. Taesan himself couldn¡¯t hold out unprotected and shrouded himself in chaos energy. The ce they had arrived at was twisted and alien. Even Taesan, who had confronted gods and fought Old Gods, found this space utterly foreign. ¡®...Massive, and overwhelmingly powerful.¡¯ Here resided forces that transcendedprehension¡ªfragments of strength that could shake the universe. Among the chaos, Taesan sensed familiar presences. Maria, Zervand, Lachiratas, Lucifer. Not just the gods he knew but countless others, equally powerful, filled the space. Taesan¡¯s gaze shifted. Beyond the swirling chaos stood a single, imposing wall. ¡®...Wait.¡¯ He suddenly realized what that wall was. The power of the Old Gods had created it. The chaotic energy around them was nothing but the remnants of that wall¡¯s creation. Beyond the wall, something loomed. Finally, Taesan understood where they were and what this ce was. ¡°The Boundary of Exile.¡± [Correct.] Baal nodded. [This is where the Old Gods were banished. The boundary of their seal.] *** Baal slowly approached the wall. [You know about our past, don¡¯t you?] ¡°Yes.¡± Long ago, the Transcendents and the Old Gods waged war for dominance over the world. The victors were the Transcendents, though it came at a great cost. Yet the Old Gods, immutable and eternal, could not be killed. They were beings beyond the reach of anything in this universe. [We did win, but since even I couldn¡¯t destroy the Old Gods, we chose to exile them from this universe. There were some minor interventions from beyond the seal, but nothing we couldn¡¯t handle.] The Old Gods'' interference had always been manageable. Even Taesan, when he was weaker, had been able to withstand it. [But now, we have a problem.] Something stirred beyond the wall. A formless entity, warped and indescribable by anynguage or understanding of this universe, watched Taesan and Baal. Boom... It moved, its immense form pressing heavily against the wall. Instinctively, Taesan braced himself for impact. CRAAAACK! The wall shook. The boundary, created by thebined might of every Transcendent, rippled. Baal chuckled. [Still persistent. Never tires.] The being beyond the wall stared at them for a moment, then slowly retreated. Taesan rxed, lowering his guard. That wall was absolute¡ªno single conceptual god could even scratch it. But despite knowing this, Taesan¡¯s instincts had forced him into a defensive stance. ¡°An Old God...¡± The warped, indescribable entity was the true form of an Old God. And Taesan noticed something troubling. Where the Old God had struck, a tiny crack marred the wall¡¯s surface. It was almost imperceptible, so faint that one had to focus to even see it. But it was undeniably a crack. [Nothing in this universests forever.] Baal ran his hand over the new fracture, speaking softly. [The banishment of the Old Gods, created by all the Transcendents working together, is absolute. But as time flows, even the absolute begins to fade.] Taesan¡¯s eyes scanned the entire wall. There were hundreds, thousands¡ªno, tens of thousands of cracks. So many that finding an intact portion of the wall was nearly impossible. [The seal is weakening, and quickly.] ¡°I thought there was supposed to be plenty of time left.¡± The Magician had once told him that the seal wouldst until a bright star burned out. The only way to elerate that process drastically was through Taesan¡¯s unique skill, Boundary Line. That¡¯s why the Old Gods had targeted him. [Originally, that was true. But at some point, the seal began weakening faster than expected. Honestly, it¡¯s rming. If this continues, the seal might not hold for much longer.] ¡°Do you know why?¡± [Many Transcendents have sought the answer, but none have found it. We don¡¯t know if our calctions were wrong or if something else is interfering.] Taesan remained silent as Baal continued. [Even if it¡¯s unexpected, we can¡¯t just sit idly by. That¡¯s why I dealt with the demons. There¡¯s no reason to leave potential threats unchecked.] Baal withdrew his hand from the crack. [That¡¯s all I can tell you. For the rest, you¡¯ll need to speak to the Demon Lord and other Transcendents.] Taesan nodded solemnly, his expression dark. Baal pointed a finger at him. [In a way, I deceived you.] The initial quest Baal had proposed was simply to attend the gathering. But his true goal had been the extermination of the demons¡ªa purpose he hadn¡¯t disclosed to Taesan. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. I gained what I needed.¡± [I figured you¡¯d say that. But there¡¯s someone who¡¯d be furious if I didn¡¯t give you an adequate reward. Consider this my way of making amends, though it¡¯s far from an apology.] Baal¡¯s power flowed into Taesan. It was something alien, entirely unlike anything that existed in this universe. [Take it. It¡¯s a fragment of my power from when I first came into existence.] [You have acquired Advanced Dark Magic: Baal¡¯s Shattered Fragment.] Chapter 507: 93rd Floor, Demons (6) A colossal, heavy, and alien power. That was the sensation that slowly settled within Kang Taesan, transforming into something he could wield as his own. Watching Taesan absorb this power without issue, Baal chuckled softly. [This power is an uneptable concept for the beings of this world, yet you assimte it as if it has always been yours.] ¡°Is this advanced dark magic?¡± Taesan asked. [That¡¯s the name they gave it. Are you satisfied?] ¡°...Quite,¡± he admitted. Through the process of acquiring the skill, Taesan had gauged its strength and caliber. Yet, it left him curious. ¡°This level of power is only considered advanced?¡± [It doesn¡¯tpare to what Jervand created, does it?] Baal smiled as if waiting for Taesan to agree. Taesan couldn¡¯t refute him. He already possessed advanced magic¡ªGreat Copse and Teleportation¡ªboth extraordinarily potent. However, the advanced dark magic he now wielded was on an entirely different level. Though they shared the same ¡°advanced¡± designation, the disparity was ringly obvious. [In truth, advanced dark magic doesn¡¯t inherently exist. That term was coined to fit my power into this world¡¯s concepts. Comparing magic created by Jervand to something rooted in my essence is... unfair.] ¡°Thank you.¡± Such power would undoubtedly be invaluable in future battles. Yet, the newfound strength raised a question. ¡°Is there a tier beyond advanced?¡± [It¡¯s not that it doesn¡¯t exist¡ªit does. But it¡¯s tied to the core of our being. It¡¯s not something I can simply pass on, so there¡¯s no need for you to concern yourself with it.] Baal offered a faint smile. [Besides, if it¡¯s you, it won¡¯t be long before you reach that level on your own.] ¡°...Thank you.¡± [Now, let¡¯s head back. Staying here too long won¡¯t do us any good.] Baal clenched his fist, preparing to leap through space. Just as he was about to act, a thought struck Taesan, and he spoke up. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask.¡± [What is it?] ¡°Why did you betray them?¡± Baal had originally been akin to the Old Gods, yet he turned against them and sided with the Transcendents. There had to be a reason. Baal responded leisurely to Taesan¡¯s question. [It¡¯s nothing special. Just an entirely personal reason.] ¡°Personal?¡± Taesan probed. [Even a being like me cannot fully control my emotions.] With that quiet remark, the world shifted. Thud. Taesannded on solid ground, the firm texture beneath his feet immediately apparent. They had returned to the Demon Realm. As soon as they arrived, space opened, and a girl appeared. [Taesan.] @@novelbin@@ ¡°Demon God,¡± Taesan greeted her respectfully. After briefly examining him, the Demon God¡¯s expression softened with relief. [You seem unharmed.] [I¡¯m offended, Demon God. Do you not trust me at all?] [How could I? I would¡¯ve gone with you if I could. It¡¯s only because it was your matter that I refrained.] The Demon God offered Taesan a satisfied smile. [You¡¯ve done well, Taesan. Thanks to you, I was able to rid myself of something that always irritated me.] [It couldn¡¯t have been done without me, so I¡¯d appreciate some acknowledgment as well.] [Shut up.] Though she grumbled, the Demon God nced briefly at Baal. [Still... it was thanks to you. Without your cooperation, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible. For that much, I¡¯ll give you credit.] [Much appreciated,] Baal replied with a rxed smile, treating her as one might an unruly child. Taesan had noticed it before¡ªBaal seemed to have a particr fondness for the Demon God. But it wasn¡¯t romantic. It was closer to how a parent might view their child. ¡®...The Demon God was said to be a created deity.¡¯ The demons had sought to free themselves from their previous Demon God, forcibly molding a young child into a vessel. That child was Lucifer. Taesan couldn¡¯t help but wonder what role Baal had yed during Lucifer¡¯s creation. [Well, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now,] Baal announced, pping his hands to open a portal. [The rest is for you two to discuss. Until we meet again.] With those parting words, Baal returned to his domain. The Demon God slowly descended to the ground. [How do you feel?] ¡°Quite surprised.¡± The quest itself had been devoid of much emotion. From the moment he first encountered the demons, Taesan hadn¡¯t expected the gathering to end on a cheerful note. However, the truths he had learned afterward had given him much to ponder. ¡°How long will the seal hold?¡± [I can¡¯t say. It¡¯s weakening rapidly, but... it was forged by all of us together. It could hold for a long time yet¡ªor it could break as soon as tomorrow. I thought it was something you needed to know.] The Demon God gazed at Taesan, her feline-like eyes scrutinizing him. [The Old Gods are still targeting you.] ¡°Aren¡¯t they only trying to break their seal? If it¡¯s already weakening, they wouldn¡¯t need me anymore.¡± [I thought the same, but they seem to still be moving with you as their goal.] ¡°...¡± Taesan¡¯s gaze darkened. The Demon God spoke reassuringly. [Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve already defeated them once. The defeated are nothing to fear.] Changing the subject, she pped her hands with a bright expression. [Anyway, congrattions. You¡¯ve acquired all the demonic domains. How do you feel?] ¡°...Strange. I can¡¯t quite put it into words.¡± [It¡¯s all yours now. With dark magic gone, there¡¯ll be some chaos, but Baal and I will handle that. There¡¯ll be some losses, but nothing we can¡¯t manage.] The Demon God gave him a sly smile. [You should take stock of the power you¡¯ve gained. Honestly, even I¡¯ve never seen the domains gathered like this. I¡¯m curious to see how it changes you. At any rate, this quest is nowplete.] [Quest Clear.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained a Fragment of Light Darkened by Shadows.] [You have obtained ???.] Taesan¡¯s body was pulled back into thebyrinth. As he was being drawn away, the Demon God spoke with a hint of regret. [I¡¯d love to talk more, but I have much to do. Until next time, Taesan.] And with that, Taesan returned to thebyrinth. The familiar walls of the maze weed him back. The 93rd floor was nowplete. Taesan sank to the ground, exhausted. *** [W-what¡¯s going on?] The newly freed Bardray and Akasha were visibly startled. [What exactly just happened?] Taesan calmly exined to the two what he had seen. As the exnation unfolded, both Bardray and Akasha were left speechless. [...Is that really true?] ¡°I saw it with my own eyes, so it must be.¡± [Uh... well.] Bardray struggled to process the revtion. After a long moment of confusion, he let out a deep sigh. [...I wish I hadn¡¯t known.] His voice carried a tinge of reproach directed at Taesan. [The scale of this is too overwhelming. Just imagining it feels like my mind is going to break.] ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± [Of course it is! We¡¯re talking about something that affects the universe itself!] [It¡¯s... extremely dangerous. I¡¯m feeling a bit dizzy myself.] ¡°Is that so?¡± Bardray¡¯s tone turned exasperated. [How are you so calm about this? This is a situation where the entire universe could be obliterated without anyone even realizing it.] ¡°Nothing new to me at this point.¡± From the very beginning, Taesan had known about the conflict between the Transcendents and the Old Gods. He was even aware that he held the key to potentially freeing the Old Gods. It was surprising, yes, but not terrifying. For him, it was merely another possibility to prepare for. And preparation meant bing stronger. Taesan turned his attention to his rewards. [Fragment of Light Darkened by Shadows] A shard of something incredibly dark yet dazzlingly radiant. It holds contradictory power. The 93rd-floor reward was a material. Though its appearance was dark, it emitted an unmistakable brightness. The mysterious ??? reward was simr in nature. [You have used ???.] [You have obtained a Fragment of Radiant Darkness.] [Fragment of Radiant Darkness] A shard that is brilliantly bright yet overwhelmingly dark, consuming everything within its domain. It holds contradictory power. Though it represented darkness, it didn¡¯t absorb light. Instead, it illuminated its surroundings, allowing for rity. Taesan recognized this shard¡ªit was a piece of Baal¡¯s domain. ¡°It¡¯s surprising they¡¯d give something like this as a reward.¡± The material was of a significantly high caliber. Even for someone at Taesan¡¯s level, it was immensely valuable. Taesan contemted how to use it. After a brief pause, he began to meditate on the newly obtained power. A vast and profound concentration of all the malice lingering in the universe. How he chose to wield it was entirely up to him. He could channel it into dark magic or use it to craft something entirely new. An intriguing possibility crossed his mind. The demons, in essence, were akin to the Old Gods. If their domains could be corrupted by the ckness Taesan wielded, then perhaps he could expand that potential, crossing boundaries yet unexplored. Though still a possibility, it wasn¡¯t outside the realm of feasibility. Organizing his thoughts, Taesan opened his skill window. [Advanced Dark Magic: Baal¡¯s Shattered Fragment] Mana Cost: 30,000 Base Dark Energy Cost: 5,000 Proficiency: 1% Summons a fragment of Baal¡¯s essence, shattered during his betrayal of his own nature. ¡°This is... something else.¡± The consumption values were absurd. 30,000 mana¡ªa cost six times that of Great Copse. The base dark energy cost was an additional 5,000. Taesan¡¯s original maximum dark energy barely exceeded 3,000. Normally, this would render the skill unusable. However, the battle with the demons had significantly increased his reserves. Even so, it wasn¡¯t a skill that could be used lightly. The description alone didn¡¯t rify the exact effect. Resolving to test it, Taesan activated the skill. [You have activated Baal¡¯s Shattered Fragment.] A ck gem materialized in Taesan¡¯s hand. It did... nothing. The gem rested silently in his palm, exerting no discernible effect on its surroundings. The stillness was so pronounced that Bardray was visibly confused. [...How are you supposed to use this?] Taesan stared at the gem. It resembled a piece of shattered obsidian, its surface shimmering with an eerie brilliance. [You have activated Complete Analysis.] [You have activated Essence Identification.] [A remnant of what Baal held at the moment of his creation.] [A fragment of his essence before he cast it away.] [An existence ipatible with the universe.] An overwhelming amount of information surged through Taesan¡¯s mind. Among it all, he identified what he needed. [A conduit for amplifying power.] ¡°A conduit?¡± The gem was a channel for amplifying force. With that in mind, Taesan ced a finger on the gem. [You have activated Frost Arrow.] Crack. He decided to start with a basic spell to gauge the amplification. As the Frost Arrow came into contact with the gem, it began to turn ck. CRACK! The air grew heavy as the ck frost rapidly expanded, spreading across the room. [W-what?!] Bardray¡¯s voice rose in rm as the arrow swelled, its power growing uncontrobly. Crack. Thebyrinth¡¯s floor fractured, and cracks spread across the walls. [Again?!] Balbabamba appeared, wielding his authority to suppress the spreading frost. Crack! Crack! But it was futile. The ck frost began to freeze everything in its path. This was no mere basic spell. Just as Taesan prepared to use Boundary Line to contain the situation, a voice echoed through the space. ¡°Ah, so you¡¯ve obtained something interesting again.¡± The Magician¡¯s voice resonated as the surrounding space began topress. Crrrk! The ck frost, which had filled the room, began to condense, as if trapped in an invisible box. Soon, the frost that had engulfed the room shrank to the size of a small container. The Magician stepped through a portal, picking up the box. ¡°Hmm.¡± Inspecting the contents, the Magician¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest. ¡°So, this is a fragment discarded by Baal. And now it¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°You¡¯re familiar with it?¡± ¡°I once fought against him. How could I not be?¡± cing the box into another portal, the Magician warned Taesan. ¡°Be careful with this. It¡¯s an incredibly dangerous power.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Good. Balbabamba, you can leave now.¡± [Damn it. Seriously. What a mess.] Grumbling, Balbabamba departed. The Magician smirked. ¡°So, how was it? You must¡¯ve uncovered quite a lot.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I have to do.¡± Taesan¡¯s response was calm. Nothing had changed. His goal remained the same: save Earth and drive out the invading Old Gods. The Magician looked satisfied with his answer. ¡°That¡¯s all you need to be. It¡¯s enough.¡± With a knowing smile, the Magician extended his hand. In his palm rested a white gem. ¡°It took some effort, but it¡¯s done.¡± It was an item Taesan hadmissioned from the Magician, crafted using the Scales of Ouroboros. Now, it was finallyplete. Chapter 508: Floor 94, Easy Mode (1) ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± The sincerity in the Magician¡¯s voice was unmistakable. His face, though only slightly, showed clear signs of fatigue. ¡°Word got out, and Transcendents from all directions swarmed in. They were all eager to control the Scales of Ouroboros. Yet, despite their fervor, it was impossible.¡± The Transcendents¡ªthose who govern the very concepts of the universe. They are beings who, with mere intent, can threaten the entirety of existence. Their influence spans the cosmos, making them some of the most powerful entities in existence. Yet even they, gathered in numbers, failed to control the Scales of Ouroboros. It was something beyondprehension, a humiliation that shattered their pride. ¡°Because of that, I had to go quite far and borrow power from elsewhere.¡± ¡°Elsewhere?¡± ¡°Ouroboros is akin to a mechanism responsible for the cycle of all things. But it isn¡¯t the only such mechanism in existence.¡± The Magician shrugged casually. ¡°This isn¡¯t something that has much to do with you right now, so let¡¯s set that aside. The important thing is... after various trials and methods, I was finally able to create it.¡± The Magician waved his hand, and a jewel began to drift toward Taesan. ¡°Take it. It¡¯s yours alone.¡± Taesan extended his hand, and the white jewel gentlynded in his palm. [You have obtained a Fragment of Ouroboros.] [Fragment of Ouroboros] Allows movement through twisted and fragmented flows of time. Comes with several constraints and conditions. A smile spread across Taesan¡¯s lips. Finally. This was what he had been waiting for. After what felt like an eternity, it was finally in his grasp. Suppressing his excitement, Taesan examined the item. It wasn¡¯t perfect yet¡ªhe needed to confirm how much of the intended functionality had been achieved. ¡°There are constraints and conditions listed here.¡± ¡°As expected. Moving through twisted timelines is impossible even for us.¡± Not even the Transcendents could fully escape the flow of time. Only Ouroboros held such power. ¡°Simply traveling back to the past would¡¯ve been easier, but that¡¯s not what you wanted, is it? Because it¡¯s a concept that exceeds our understanding and domain, it couldn¡¯t be perfected. Consequently, some significant penalties are attached.¡± ¡°What kind of constraints?¡± @@novelbin@@ ¡°First, one.¡± The Magician raised a finger. ¡°You can indeed move through twisted timelines. However, those timelines are separate from this one.¡± ¡°A parallel world?¡± ¡°Something like that. It¡¯s a different temporal axis. No matter what you do or achieve there, nothing in this timeline will change.¡± If Taesan had intended to return to the past and alter the future, this would¡¯ve been devastating news. Aplishments in another timeline would leave no impact on this one. Yet, Taesan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°And the next?¡± ¡°That timeline is fundamentally different. You¡¯ll be a foreign entity there¡ªan anomaly. With the Fragment of Ouroboros and your own power, you¡¯ll manage for a while, but if you try to make significant changes, that timeline will push to expel you.¡± There were constraints on his actions and use of power. ¡°This limitation doesn¡¯t mean much, though. Your abilities and strength will already be restricted.¡± ¡°Restricted?¡± ¡°You can only travel to points after your own birth. You can¡¯t go to a timeline where you don¡¯t exist. You understand that, right?¡± Taesan nodded, and the Magician pointed at him. ¡°The issue is that your strength will also be fixed to that timeline¡¯s version of you.¡± Taesan pondered the implications before speaking. ¡°So, if I go back to my childhood, before entering thebyrinth...¡± ¡°Your abilities will regress to that of your younger self.¡± It was an enormous penalty. Losing all his power and returning to being an ordinary human meant there were very few viable timelines to visit. ¡°Of course, if you want, you can draw on your current power, but in that case, you won¡¯t be able to stay long.¡± Another significant and severe limitation. Still, Taesan¡¯s expression betrayed no disappointment. ¡°And?¡± ¡°As I mentioned, you¡¯re an anomaly in that world. The reverse is true as well.¡± Anything from that timeline brought into this one would also be an anomaly. ¡°It¡¯ll be challenging to bring materials or items back. Even if you seed, they¡¯ll likely lose all value here. The Fragment of Ouroboros won¡¯t be an exception.¡± ¡°So, I won¡¯t be able to bring back anything?¡± The Magician nodded. ¡°Not quite. If you acquire something through legitimate means¡ªyour own efforts and will¡ªit won¡¯t be considered an anomaly. In such cases, there shouldn¡¯t be any issue bringing it back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Taesan smiled. He couldn¡¯t alter the past. He couldn¡¯t make meaningful changes, and he might even lose his power temporarily. Bringing anything back was heavily restricted. The penalties were numerous, and each was burdensome. But Taesan was satisfied. He tightened his grip around the Fragment of Ouroboros. The Magician watched him with intrigue. ¡°This is getting interesting.¡± The Magician knew exactly what Taesan was nning, as he had been the one to make the request. His curiosity was piqued¡ªcould Taesan achieve what he sought? ¡°This will suit you better than what I originally had in mind.¡± The Magician waved his hand. Thebyrinth¡¯sws bent and shifted at his will, engraving a new rule into the space. [Floor 94 Quest Start.] [Achieve what you desire and return.] Reward: The Magician¡¯s Ring. Hidden Reward: ??? ¡°I had something else nned for the 94th floor, but after thinking it over, I realized it wouldn¡¯t mean much to you. This seems like a better fit.¡± ¡°Can you really just change it like that?¡± ¡°Why not? I¡¯m the master of thisbyrinth.¡± The Magicianughed, his eyes gleaming with anticipation and amusement. ¡°Now then, go and aplish what you¡¯ve set out to do. I¡¯ll be waiting here in this world.¡± Taesan nodded and descended the stairs. The 94th floor was empty, utterly devoid of obstacles or enemies. It seemed to be urging him to take initiative. [Are you going now?] ¡°There¡¯s no reason to wait.¡± Taesan had alreadyid out his ns when he made his request to the Magician. All that was left was to act. Bardray murmured hesitantly. [So... what happens to me and Akasha? Unlike spirits, we¡¯repletely bound to you.] ¡°Akasha maybe, but not you. Can¡¯t you leave me if you wish?¡± [Still, I¡¯m bound to you as a weapon. I¡¯m not sure what will happen in this case.] ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Maybe only your soul will follow me.¡± As Taesan firmly grasped the Fragment of Ouroboros, understanding flooded his mind¡ªevery detail about how to use it. [You have used the Fragment of Ouroboros.] Kiiiing! Ripples spread outward. Thebyrinth itself began to tremble and warp. It wasn¡¯t a violent upheaval but a natural distortion, like lines being drawn across a nk canvas. Rumble! The ripples extended beyond space, affecting time itself. Space and time twisted around Taesan. [W-what...?] Bardray¡¯s voice trembled. Akasha remained silent, but the intensity of the disturbance conveyed her unease. They had witnessed many extraordinary phenomena at Taesan¡¯s side. But this... this was unlike anything before. It wasn¡¯t the raw strength of the Transcendents or the alien power of the Old Gods. It was somethingprehensible yet impossible to ept. Something they could grasp but instinctively wished to reject. The reason was simple. [It¡¯s... too vast.] The scale of what was happening overwhelmed them. It was as if the ground they stood on was revealed to be the back of a massive creature, or everything they knew existed within a mere marble. The sheer magnitude of the truth crushed their perceptions. Crack! The power of Ouroboros manifested. A primordial concept that had existed since the beginning enveloped them, severing them from all flows,ws, and concepts. Beings born of the world, once integral to its fabric, now found themselves detached. They no longer belonged to this world. Woooong! *** The shifting axes of time and spacepletely enveloped Taesan. Determined that everything was ready, he tightened his grip on the Fragment of Ouroboros. Crack! Awork of cracks spread across the fragment, and the concept within it was fully unleashed. [W-wait!] Bardray attempted to speak in rm, but his words dissolved before they could linger in the world. The concept surrounded Taesanpletely,pressing everything. And then... nothing remained. Taesan, Bardray, and Akasha¡ªall of them vanished entirely from thebyrinth. Thud. Momentster, Taesan¡¯s foot touched the ground. ¡°Hm.¡± [Ugh...] [Urgh...] A strange sensation washed over them, as if the very world was rejecting their presence. Taesan clicked his tongue and focused his mind. Slowly, the unpleasant feeling began to fade. ¡°This is tolerable.¡± It felt like lying atop a pile of jagged stones¡ªufortable but bearable. [Wait a second. What happened to me and Akasha?] Bardray sounded confused. He was now in a spectral form. Akasha, too, was no different¡ªa faintly glowing, incorporeal figure hovered beside Taesan. [Where¡¯s my body?] [Master, you¡¯ve changed as well.] Taesan examined himself. The vast array of equipment and items he had umted waspletely gone. But it wasn¡¯t just his possessions. An overwhelming sense of powerlessness gripped him. The immense strength that had once allowed him to cleave the heavens and stand at the pinnacle of existence was utterly absent. Compared to his former self, he was indistinguishable from an ordinary human. [M-Master...] Akasha¡¯s voice trembled with unease. [Where are we?] After taking stock of his condition, Taesan lifted his gaze. The first thing he saw was the walls of thebyrinth. Dark, weathered walls filled his vision. The chamber they were in was quiterge¡ªeasily the size of a sports field. At its center stood a massive fountain. Taesan recognized it immediately. Though the memory was from long ago, it remained vivid in his mind. The Fountain of Life. It was different from the smaller, decorative fountain he had encountered in Alone Mode. This one was vast, resembling a smallke. Its scale far surpassed anything found in thebyrinth of his current life. Even Bardray was startled. [What the...? Why is the fountain so big? This size doesn¡¯t exist in thebyrinth!] [Master, where are we? This ce feels...] Akasha trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. Bardray continued for her. [It feels... like thebyrinth.] ¡°It is thebyrinth. Just not the one you¡¯re familiar with.¡± [What¡¯s that supposed to mean?] Taesan took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the long-forgotten scenery. This was a ce he had cleared over the course of an entire lifetime in his past. A distorted space created through the intervention of the Old Gods. This was Easy Mode. Chapter 509: Floor 94, Easy Mode (2) [Wait a second. Then this ce...] ¡°This is where I cleared before turning back time.¡± The world experienced only by Taesan and Lee Taeyeon. Bardray swallowed hard. [Master? What is this ce?] ¡°It makes sense you wouldn¡¯t know.¡± Taesan briefly exined his past to Akasha. When he finished, she was at a loss for words. [That¡¯s... truly real?] ¡°It feels good, likeing home after a long time.¡± Taesan approached the fountain, dipping a finger into the water. Ripples spread gently across the surface. [So...] Bardray, having barely calmed his astonishment, slowly pieced things together. [This isn¡¯t exactly the past, is it?] ¡°You could look at it that way.¡± This wasn¡¯t the past. It was closer to a discarded world, stranded on a twisted temporal axis. If Taesan¡¯s sole objective had been to travel back in time, it could¡¯ve been aplished more easily. But that wasn¡¯t what he had wanted. His goal had been to return to the now-distorted timeline of Easy Mode. Taesan scooped some water from the fountain and drank. The refreshing taste washed away the weariness lingering in his body. As he shook off the remaining droplets, Bardray asked. [So, what¡¯s your n here?] ¡°What else? First, I¡¯ll assess the situation.¡± Taesan turned to Bardray and Akasha. Both were now spectral figures, having lost their physical forms. They hovered faintly beside him, their glowing essence flickering softly. Taesan, too, was different. All the equipment and gear he had umted as the pinnacle of thebyrinth¡¯s challenger were gone. The items he now wore belonged entirely to Easy Mode. ¡°Possession, then.¡± It seemed he was temporarily inhabiting the body of this timeline¡¯s version of himself. If it had been a mere summoning, his actions might have been restricted, so this arrangement was preferable. ¡°Status window.¡± [Kang Taesan] [Level: 57] [HP: 1021/1021] [Mana: 820/820] [Strength: 105] [Intelligence: 100] [Agility: 98] [Attack Power: +49] [Defense Power: +58] [Condition: Optimal] The stats were meager. Compared to his current self, they were abysmally low. Taesan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. This was the exact Taesan from Easy Mode, unchanged in any way. The only difference was a dormant power deep within him¡ªlikely the remnants of the strength he possessed in his original timeline. He could probably draw upon it if necessary, but doing so would almost certainly lead to his expulsion from this world. Having finished his initial assessment, Taesan turned his gaze to his surroundings. [This ce... it¡¯s exactly like thebyrinth. How is that even possible? What did the Old Gods do?] ¡°Exactly the same?¡± [There¡¯s no difference. The energy, the structure¡ªit¡¯s all identical.] ¡°That¡¯s how it seems to you.¡± But not to Taesan. Although all his power had been sealed, the knowledge and experience he had umted were still intact. Because of this, he could perceive something he hadn¡¯t noticed before. ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± Easy Mode and Alone Mode were fundamentally different. There was an unsettling stench here. It was alien, yet oddly familiar. Something was warped. He had suspected as much, but now he was certain after seeing it firsthand. ¡°There¡¯s plenty to do.¡± Taesan recalled the floor they were on. After a brief pause, he realized it was the 80th floor. The resting ce of the Fountain of Life. Taesan had often taken long breaks here during his journey to clear thebyrinth. Many other yers in Easy Mode had done the same, gathering here to chat and recuperate. But now, there wasn¡¯t a soul in sight. He was the only one in the expansive chamber. No, not entirely alone. Someone was slowly approaching. Before long, an old man appeared. ¡°...So this is where you were.¡± The old man greeted Taesan with a warm smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve taken a break, hasn¡¯t it, Taesan?¡± ¡°...Deoksu Grandpa.¡± Forgotten memories surged through Taesan¡¯s mind. Most yers in Easy Mode admired, even feared him. Taesan¡¯s strength, so far beyond what was typical in Easy Mode, made others hesitant to approach him. But a few dared to bridge that gap and formed bonds with him. Deoksu Grandpa was one of those few. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Taesan spoke, his tone neutral. Deoksu''s Grandpaexpression shifted subtly. ¡°...Something about you has changed. It seems you¡¯ve had a change of heart.¡± ¡°Did you notice?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re both getting on in years, but I¡¯ve still got a little edge on you.¡± The old man chuckled softly. ¡°So, does this newfound resolve mean you¡¯re nning to leave thebyrinth? You¡¯ve stayed here for a long time. There are fewer than a thousand of us left now. Most have already gone outside. If you leave, I might get lonely.¡± ¡°Not yet. Not yet.¡± Taesan replied briefly, lost in thought. Fewer than a thousand remaining. That meant a significant amount of time had passed since hisst return. It confirmed that he had sessfully arrived in the timeline he wanted. ¡°Now that I think about it, why are so many still here?¡± Easy Mode wasn¡¯t difficult. Anyone could clear it within a few years if they set their mind to it. Yet, nearly a thousand yers remained. That struck Taesan as odd. His question prompted a bemused look from Deoksu Grandpa. ¡°All because of you. What else?¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know? That¡¯s surprising, honestly.¡± The old man clicked his tongue. ¡°Most of the people who stayed are here for the skills you talked about.¡± The meaning behind his words dawned on Taesan. In Easy Mode, Taesan had shared everything about the skills he obtained¡ªtheir requirements and effects¡ªwithout holding back. These included skills like Addition, eleration, Leap, and Absolute Judgment. And he had acquired all of them in Easy Mode. This meant yers in Easy Mode also had the opportunity to obtain those powerful skills. It was only natural that many would crave the same strength Taesan had achieved, even if it surpassed the limits of Easy Mode. But Taesan hadn¡¯t realized how many had taken on the challenge. He had assumed only a handful would try, not over a thousand. ¡°You¡¯re busy pursuing new skills, I¡¯m sure, but maybe spare a little thought for those around you. Everyone here looks up to you, you know.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Taesan replied curtly and began to move. ¡°Off to get another skill, are you?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Hah... Everyone¡¯s obsessed with skills these days. No one listens anymore. Guess I¡¯ll just stick to chatting.¡± Deoksu Grandpa grumbled as he took a seat. Watching him, Taesan was struck by an old memory. Deoksu Grandpa had never shown much interest in acquiring skills. Instead, he stayed in thebyrinth, asionally talking with Taesan. At the time, Taesan had asked him why he didn¡¯t leave thebyrinth. It had been a reasonable question. They had judged that the struggle was over. ¡®I¡¯m scared,¡¯ the old man had said. ¡®Of what?¡¯ ¡®We have to move forward, don¡¯t we? But I¡¯m not that kind of person. Even if I leave, I¡¯ll fall behind others. Rather than struggle to keep up, I¡¯d rather stay here with everyone and take it easy.¡¯ Taesan hadn¡¯t understood. He had tried to persuade the old man to leave. But when Taesan himself finally emerged from thebyrinth... The old man was no longer alive. @@novelbin@@ Taesan stared at Deoksu Grandpa for a moment before speaking. ¡°Hbeom.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to go outside.¡± ¡°...What brought this on? You always used to tell me to leave.¡± ¡°I did, but thinking it over, staying here doesn¡¯t seem so bad.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± The old man chuckled softly. ¡°Well, hearing that from you is a relief. I¡¯ve been mulling it over recently. Maybe I¡¯ll stay a while longer.¡± ¡°Live as you like. I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± ¡°Sure. Until next time.¡± Deoksu Grandpa bid him a leisurely farewell. *** Taesan continued his descent through thebyrinth, aiming for a deeper floor to achieve his goal. asionally, monsters appeared to block his path, but his body instinctively reacted, honed by countless repetitions¡ªthousands, perhaps tens of thousands of battles. As he progressed, he opened themunity chat. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]: Argh! Seriously! This damnedbyrinth!] ¡°Hah.¡± Taesan let out a shortugh. The moment he opened themunity, a flood of posts from Lee Taeyeon filled the screen. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]: When will I ever get out of here? I¡¯m only on the 77th floor! Stop it already! I want to go home too!] ¡°So, she¡¯s reached the 77th floor now,¡± Taesan mused. Her posts were filled with frustration and anger. Watching her vent, Taesan decided to post a reply. [Kang Taesan [Easy]: Hang in there.] The torrent of posts suddenly paused. A momentter, a reply appeared, as though trying to mask the awkwardness. [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]: ...What? That¡¯s awkward.] [Kang Taesan [Easy]: What is?] [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]: Why are you suddenly being so nice? You usually just tell me to stop whining and keep going.] Lee Taeyeon¡¯s response made Taesan pause. Now that he thought about it, she was right. He had rarely indulged herints, often responding curtly or even coldly. There had been jealousy and anger toward her buried deep within him back then. Smiling faintly, Taesan typed another reply. [Kang Taesan [Easy]: Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve had a change of heart.] [Lee Taeyeon [Alone]: Huh? Are you about to leave thebyrinth? Don¡¯t go. Don¡¯t leave me here alone. Stay until I make it out... please.] [Kang Taesan [Easy]: Shut up and focus.] Taesan closed themunity chat. ¡°Feels nostalgic.¡± How had he been back then? He hadn¡¯t thought about his younger self in a long time. This moment brought those memories rushing back. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°So.¡± Bardray, who had been quietly observing, broke the silence. [You didn¡¯te here just to chat with old acquaintances, did you?] ¡°Of course not.¡± [Then what¡¯s your exact goal? You wouldn¡¯t use the Fragment for something ordinary.] There was a note of anticipation in Bardray¡¯s voice. Taesan always did things that exceeded expectations, producing results that were nothing short of extraordinary. This time, Bardray was eager to see what his master was aiming for. ¡°You¡¯ve already guessed.¡± Crack. Taesan drove his de into a monster¡¯s neck, swiftly taking it down. He was now on the 94th floor¡ªhis destination was close. ¡°It¡¯s a skill.¡± [A skill? What kind? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s something on the level of Addition.] ¡°Multiplication.¡± [...Multiplication?] ¡°And a reset skill for designated abilities. If possible, I¡¯d like to acquire a few others as well, though I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯ll work.¡± Taesan spoke calmly, his tone matter-of-fact. Bardray fell silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh, equal parts disbelief and admiration. [...You never do things halfway, do you?] Chapter 510: Floor 94, Easy Mode (3) [Multiplication?] Bardray contemted the meaning of the word. While he couldn¡¯t precisely define it, he understood the implications. [Addition doubled attack power, right?] It was straightforward: Addition doubled one¡¯s attack power. That was its entire effect. If so, then Multiplication... [Wait.] A possibility crossed Bardray¡¯s mind, and he felt a chill. [...Is it what I¡¯m thinking?] ¡°Whatever you¡¯re imagining, it¡¯s probably correct.¡± [Wow.] Bardray couldn¡¯t hold back his astonishment. [That¡¯s... quite the skill. If it¡¯s multiplication, how much does it multiply?] ¡°Squaring.¡± [Squaring? You mean multiplying your current attack power by itself?] ¡°Exactly.¡± [Hah.] Bardray let out a disbelievingugh. [That¡¯s absurd.] Bardray had seen countless skills alongside Taesan¡ªAddition, Absolute Judgment, Attack Nullification, Forced Duel, and others. Each of them had the potential to alter the oue of a battle, an irregrity in their own right. Every time Taesan acquired such a skill, Bardray had been in awe. But Multiplication was in a league of its own. Squaring attack power meant that defense and health would effectively be irrelevant. If an attacknded, it would annihte any opponent in a single strike. [Your current attack power is around 30,000, right? So, if you square that...] ¡°It¡¯s not just base attack power. Buffs from skills and equipment effects can also be multiplied.¡± In simpler terms, Taesan could activate Addition to double his attack power and then square that doubled value with Multiplication. Bardray was left speechless. [Hold on.] 30,000 multiplied by two through Addition became 60,000. Using the de of Resolve, 60,000 would triple to 180,000. And with other various buffs stacked on top... Then squaring that... [I... I can¡¯t even calcte this.] Bardray gave up trying topute the damage. The numbers were meaningless at that point. [What about this ¡°Skill Reset¡±?] ¡°It¡¯s a skill that resets other skills.¡± [Ah, a reset. That¡¯s at least something I can understand.] Bardray thought of it as simr to equipment Taesan already had that could reset skill cooldowns. But Taesan shook his head. ¡°Designated Skill Reset is different.¡± [How so?] ¡°It can reset skills even while they¡¯re still active.¡± Normal cooldown reset effects only applied after a skill¡¯s effect had ended. For instance, one couldn¡¯t activate de of Resolve, reset it, and then use it twice on a single attack. But with Designated Skill Reset, that was possible. It could reset Multiplication, allowing it to be used multiple times on the same attack. [That¡¯s... iprehensible.] Even Bardray couldn¡¯t muster augh at this revtion. This meant Taesan could theoretically use Multiplication twice on a single attack. But a question lingered in Bardray¡¯s mind. [Isn¡¯t this a discarded timeline? Can you even bring skills back from here?] ¡°I discussed that with the Magician already.¡± The Magician had stated that as long as Taesan earned something through legitimate effort and fulfilled the conditions himself, he could retain it even when returning to his original timeline. [You¡¯ve nned everything out, haven¡¯t you?] Bardray let out a half-amused sigh, but another thought struck him. [Then... the skill you asked Balbabamba for?] ¡°That¡¯s part of this.¡± Multiplication¡¯s primary limitation was that it merely increased damage. No matter how high the damage was, it would mean nothing if the attack didn¡¯t hit. However, the skill Taesan had requested from Balbabamba could change that very dynamic. What results it would yield remained to be seen. But before any of that, Taesan had to acquire Multiplication first. Crunch! Taesan dispatched another monster blocking his path and continued downward. He was now deep into the 90th floors. [I get it now¡ªyour goal and the purpose behind all this.] But one question still lingered in Bardray¡¯s mind. [Whye all the way here? Are the conditions too difficult to meet in your original timeline?] ¡°The problem is that I¡¯ve grown too strong.¡± The acquisition of a skill depended on the abilities of the adventurer. In his weaker state, Taesan had been able to obtain skills like Survival and Forced Duel rtively easily. But to earn them again now would be exponentially harder. His base attack power was now 30,000. At that level, there was no feasible way to meet the conditions to acquire Multiplication. ¡°I thought about sealing my strength temporarily, but the level I¡¯ve reached can¡¯t be undone that way. It¡¯s no longer possible to acquire skills through normal means.¡± This issue was why Taesan hadn¡¯t acquired any new skills recently. He drove his de into the neck of another monster. ¡°And even if that weren¡¯t the case, I might not be able to meet the conditions at all.¡± [You¡¯re saying the conditions are that difficult? Can you even fulfill them here?] The difficulty of obtaining a skill was proportional to its power. The more potent the skill, the harder it was to earn. For something like Multiplication, the conditions would likely verge on impossible. Bardray couldn¡¯t help but wonder if such a skill could even be obtained in Easy Mode. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible,¡± Taesan replied. ¡°But it¡¯s not exactly possible, either.¡± [What does that even mean?] ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not sure myself.¡± Even Taesan wasn¡¯t certain he could obtain skills like Designated Skill Reset here. Most such abilities relied more on luck than raw ability. It would require countless attempts¡ªtime he wasn¡¯t sure he had. ¡°But Multiplication is different. It¡¯s not a skill obtained through conventional means.¡± [Not conventional?] Rather than answering, Taesan descended the final staircase. As the door opened, a fierce wind greeted him. Whooosh! The harsh gusts whipped at his hair. Taesan now stood at the edge of a sharp cliff. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± This was the 98th floor. The floor where Taesan had once obtained Multiplication. *** [A cliff, huh?] Taesan stood at the edge of the cliff, peering down at the ground far below. The conditions to clear the 98th floor were deceptively simple: descend the cliff to the ground below. Simple, but not easy. ¡°It was quite the ordeal.¡± The cliff was astoundingly tall. Falling straight down to the bottom would take over ten minutes. Even though the yers in Easy Mode had reached superhuman capabilities, the height was enough to threaten their lives. Descending slowly by clinging to the cliff walls was an option, but monsters would make it difficult. Ultimately, yers had decided on brute force. Gathering inrge numbers, they secured themselves with ropes and descended en masse, clearing monsters as they went. It was a coordinated effort toplete the floor. This was the first time in Easy Mode where a condition involved falling¡ªa unique mechanic. It was also the floor where Taesan had learned Leap and Landing. Taesan opened his skill window. [Addition] [Great Leap] [Super eleration] [Landing] [Absolute Judgment] [Copy] [Forced Duel] [First Attack Nullification] ... Among his vast collection of skills, there was no sign of Multiplication or Designated Skill Reset. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s go.¡± Taesan stepped off the cliff. His body sumbed to gravity, plummeting toward the ground. As he nced downward, tiny dots became visible¡ªmonsters waiting below. The dots gradually grewrger as he fell. [Screeeech!] The cries of beasts and the tangible sensation of malice reached him. Taesan gripped his sword tightly. sh! [Screeech!] [66 damage to Spores.] A bat-like monster was cut down and disintegrated by his de. These were Spores, monsters designed to obstruct descending adventurers. @@novelbin@@ [Screeeeeee!] Dozens of Spores charged at Taesan in unison. He swung his sword, cutting a clean path through the horde. Crunch! He pierced the head of a Spore, twisting his body midair to dodge others and force them to collide with each other. His footwork and reflexes allowed him to use the momentum of his fall to crush enemies beneath him. What might have been a tough challenge for most yers was trivial for Taesan, who had conquered this floor countless times before. In mere moments, he eliminated all the Spores. [Whooosh!] But the onught wasn¡¯t over. More Sporesunched themselves from below, soaring to intercept him. Without any visible change in his expression, Taesan dealt with the iing waves just as efficiently as before. Crunch! It was a floor he had cleared once before¡ªa floor he had conquered millions of times in his repeated challenges. There was no question about his ability to clear it again. After over ten minutes of falling, the ground drew near. Taesan adjusted his posture. [You activated Landing.] Thud. Taesan¡¯s feet touched the ground. Waiting for him there were dozens of cannons. The cannons embedded in the ground on the 98th floor weren¡¯t active once a yernded. Their sole purpose was to fire Spores to harass adventurers mid-descent. ¡°So, this is the setup.¡± It wasn¡¯t bad. But it wasn¡¯t perfect. Taesan¡¯s body, weakened in this timeline, wasn¡¯t fully synchronized with his mind. To earn Multiplication, he would need to refine his performance. The Spores needed to be dispatched wlessly, with precision and efficiency. He focused on adjusting his body and mind. [You activated Great Leap.] His body soared into the air. The cliff he had just descended blurred past him at incredible speed. As he approached the cliff wall, he kicked off it again. [You activated Great Leap.] Thud. Taesannded atop the cliff once more. It had only taken two leaps. [Wow.] Bardray couldn¡¯t hide his amazement. What took most yers over ten minutes of falling and fighting, Taesan had reversed in moments. [I didn¡¯t realize Great Leap was this powerful.] ¡°It¡¯s one of my core skills.¡± Although overshadowed by shier abilities, Great Leap was an exceptional skill. To defy gravity with such meager stats was nothing short of a miracle. ¡°Well then.¡± Once again, Taesan stepped into the void, his body hurtling toward the ground. [Screeeeeee!] [Screeech!] The Spores came again, their cries tearing through the air. Taesan gripped his sword and moved. Crunch. He crushed one Spore¡¯s head, sliced another in half, and twisted his body to dodge a third. This time, his movements were noticeably sharper, more polished than before. Bardray couldn¡¯t help but marvel. [It¡¯s incredible.] The Taesan of now was not the godlike being who could tear through worlds. His power had been reduced to that of an extraordinary human. The disconnect between his physical capabilities and his honed mind was akin to an elderly patient undergoing grueling rehabilitation. Yet Taesan was wless. For most yers, the Spores would have been a formidable challenge. But for Taesan, they were mere practice. He cleared them without a scratch,nding on the ground once more. To Bardray, it seemed like perfection. There was no room for improvement. But Taesan¡¯s expression was one of dissatisfaction. ¡°Still not good enough.¡± [You activated Great Leap.] Once more, Taesan ascended the cliff. And once again, he plummeted. Each time, his movements became more precise, his strikes more efficient. He climbed, fell, and fought in a relentless cycle, honing himself with each iteration. Slowly but surely, his proficiency improved. [Can you really get a skill like Multiplication with such ordinary conditions?] The process seemed mundane. Descending from a high ce to the ground was unusual for Easy Mode but not unheard of. Taesan himself had cleared simr quests in the past. It didn¡¯t seem like the kind of challenge that would lead to a skill as powerful as Multiplication. Taesan replied. ¡°These conditions alone won¡¯t do it. But here, it¡¯s possible.¡± [I don¡¯t follow.] ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡± Taesan leaped back to the top of the cliff. Gazing down at the ground below, he smirked. ¡°Easy Mode is full of bugs.¡± Chapter 511: Floor 94, Easy Mode (4) [A bug? In the Labyrinth?] ¡°Technically speaking, this isn¡¯t exactly the Labyrinth.¡± If this were Alone Mode, bugs wouldn¡¯t exist. With the Magician and Balbabamba managing the system directly, any bugs would be fixed immediately. But this ce was different. While it had some form of administration, there was no one to patch errors. ¡°They¡¯ve hit their limit trying to imitate the real thing... So there are a fair number of glitches.¡± Taesan spoke casually. In his journey through Easy Mode, he had encountered numerous bugs. Including minor ones, the count easily exceeded dozens. The 98th-floor bug was one of them. [What kind of bug lets you obtain something like Multiplication?] ¡°See for yourself. Exining in advance would ruin the fun.¡± Taesan stepped into the void again. Gravity took hold as his body plunged downward. Spores swarmed toward him, and his sword danced through the air. He cleared the Spores as he descended,nded on the ground, then ascended back to the cliff with Great Leap. He repeated the process. As the cycles continued, Taesan¡¯s mana started to drain. ¡°My stats are abysmal.¡± He muttered with a wry smile. Back on Earth, his struggles with subpar stats had been a constant battle. But here, it was merely an inconvenience. Taesan climbed back to the Fountain of Life. [You have achieved optimal condition.] After drinking from the fountain, his physical and mental fatigue vanishedpletely, allowing him to descend again. Crash! His sword cut through the Spores with precision. They were eliminated cleanly as hended on the ground. Taesan deliberately left the cannons intact. The Spores they fired were integral to meeting the conditions. Again, he used Great Leap to climb back up the cliff. And again, he dove down. This cycle of falling, fighting, and climbing repeated endlessly. Rest was unnecessary¡ªany fatigue or depletion was instantly replenished by the Fountain of Life. Days turned into weeks. sh! Taesan¡¯s sword cut through another Spore. His body twisted midair, and he struck the ground with unparalleled precision. The entire sequence was wless¡ªperfectly executed like a choreographed dance. To Bardray¡¯s perspective, it was a masterpiece, devoid of ws. Yet, Taesan¡¯s expression remained dissatisfied. @@novelbin@@ ¡°Still not enough.¡± Sharper. Cleaner. Taesan climbed the cliff again and dove. Another month passed. Even Bardray, ustomed to Taesan¡¯s methods, was stunned. [This much... just to prepare?] Crash! Taesan¡¯s body moved like a machine, each motion engraved into his muscle memory. He repeated the sequence until it became automatic, requiring no thought. And still, Taesan frowned. ¡°Not quite there yet.¡± [You¡¯re saying this still isn¡¯t enough?] ¡°To surpass perfection, this is necessary.¡± It wasn¡¯t enough to simply align body and mind. They had to be one¡ªseamlessly integrated. For that, more time was required. ¡°Even so, I think I¡¯ve reached the baseline.¡± Taesan ascended the cliff one more time. Standing at the top, he gazed down at the ground below. His eyes were calm, focused, and utterly resolute. Now, the real challenge would begin. [You activated Landing.] [You activated Super eleration.] [You activated Physical Time eleration.] Taesan¡¯s body surged with speed, transforming into a streak of light hurtling toward the ground. Boom! The cannons fired btedly, releasing Spores into the air. Taesan¡¯s sword was already in motion, slicing through the iing monsters. sh! [124 damage to Spore.] A Spore was cleaved in half. The others didn¡¯t even have a chance to approach. In the blink of an eye, Taesannded on the ground. [Wait...] Bardray¡¯s astonishment was palpable. [With those stats, you can move at that speed?] ¡°Remember, I survived to the very end with these stats.¡± Taesan¡¯s tone was calm, as if stating the obvious. To survive against S-rank monsters, this level of performance was a minimum requirement. Bardray shook his head in disbelief. [You¡¯re insane.] Bardray¡¯s awe only deepened. The speed Taesan had just demonstrated was something that even Alone Mode yers would struggle to match. Yet he had achieved it in Easy Mode¡ªa feat no one else could replicate. Still, it wasn¡¯t enough. Taesan ascended the cliff once more. [You activated Landing.] [You activated Super eleration.] This time, his motions were even sharper. Before the cannons could fire, his sword was already cutting through the air. Spores were bisected before they could react, their remnants scattered by the force of his blows. His precision improved with each descent. Even his speed, already extraordinary, grew incrementally faster. ¡°Again.¡± Taesan climbed, fell, and fought, repeating the process over and over. Though Landing and Super eleration didn¡¯t consume much mana, his current mana pool was a mere 50 points. After a few cycles, it would deplete entirely, forcing him to rely on potions to recover before repeating the process again. sh! His body gradually adapted to the incredible speed. Each motion flowed seamlessly, as if choreographed by a master. [So Multiplication is simr to Addition in terms of conditions?] ¡°You caught on.¡± [By this point, it¡¯d be strange if I didn¡¯t.] Addition¡¯s condition had been clear: double damage without relying on external skills. [So for Multiplication, the condition is to increase damage by squaring it?] ¡°Exactly.¡± [But not all skills are allowed. You can¡¯t use ones directly tied to damage output, right?] ¡°If it were that simple, I could¡¯ve used Addition to meet the conditions.¡± Skills like Addition couldn¡¯t be used directly to obtain Multiplication. The requirements were more stringent. [This is dizzying... truly.] The sheer idea of achieving squared damage through pure speed and precision was mind-boggling. [I see now why this would be impossible in your original timeline.] The higher the attack power, the harder it became to meet the conditions. With his current stats of 30,000 attack power, achieving the squared output without external boosts was a near impossibility. That¡¯s why Taesan had returned to the weakened state of Easy Mode to achieve it. Still, Bardray had doubts. [Even here, I don¡¯t see how these conditions are achievable.] ¡°I told you. It¡¯s a bug.¡± Taesan tightened his grip on his sword. By now, his body had fully adapted to the elerated movements. It was time for infinite attempts. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± From his inventory, Taesan pulled out dozens of potions. [You used the Potion of Speed eleration.] [You used the Potion of Aerial Leap.] [You used Fairy Dust.] [You used the Potion of Mental Focus.] He consumed potion after potion, enhancing his physical and mental state to their utmost limits. Thud. Taesan stepped forward, diving once again into the challenge. Taesan''s body soared through the air. As he fell, he activated his skills. [You activated Landing.] [You activated Super eleration.] This time, his speed was faster than ever¡ªso fast that even Bardray lost track of him for a moment. But even this wasn¡¯t enough. To trigger the bug, certain conditions had to be met. And the mechanisms to fulfill those conditions began to activate. Boom! The cannons fired, releasing Spores that homed in on Taesan. He steadied his breathing, twisting his body midair. With one clean motion, his sword sliced a Spore in half. [153 damage to Spore.] He kicked another Spore, using the momentum to elerate further. His body reached speeds beyond what should be physically possible. Just as Taesan was about to reach the ground, the space around him warped. [What the...?] Bardray¡¯s voice trembled in confusion. A grating metallic sound filled the air as the warped space seemed to assess Taesan¡¯s presence. The Labyrinth¡¯s system began to distort. ¡°Here we go,¡± Taesan murmured, a smirk ying on his lips. Boom! On the other side of the distortion, something gazed at Taesan. Its gaze was devoid of emotion, as mechanical and unfeeling as a machine performing its programmed role. The space around Taesan twisted and buckled. It was as if the system were scrutinizing every action he had taken, determining whether they adhered to its rules. Click. A sharp, decisive sound echoed as the system¡¯s inspection progressed. Click. Click. And then, an answer was reached. The gaze disappeared, and the warped space dissolved. Taesan¡¯s body shifted¡ªnot to the ground, but back to the point where he had first leapt off the cliff. Screeech! Still carrying the momentum of his eleration, Taesan began falling once again. [Wait, what just happened?] Bardray gasped. Taesan, undeterred, swung his sword once more. Another Spore fell, split cleanly in two. [167 damage to Spore.] He reached the ground at an even faster speed than before. But just as he was about tond, the space warped again, dragging him back to the top of the cliff. Once more, Taesan began falling. Still carrying all his umted momentum, his speed increased exponentially with each cycle. ¡°This is essentially an infinite loop,¡± Taesan exined mid-fall. [What kind of madness is this?] ¡°This isn¡¯t something the Magician created.¡± This warped space was a creation of the Old Gods¡ªa distorted realm riddled with ws and irregrities. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because this space was created by forces outside the natural order... or maybe it¡¯s just a faulty replication. Either way, there are plenty of bugs here.¡± Taesan continued falling, slicing through Spores as he spoke. It wasn¡¯t the first bug he had encountered. The warped nature of Easy Mode was rife with peculiarities. Some were trivial, like minor visual glitches. Others were exploitable, like item duplication or strange interactions with environmental features. But among them were more significant bugs¡ªones like this, where the Labyrinth¡¯s system itself intervened in unexpected ways. [And what¡¯s with that thing?] Bardray asked, referring to the warped entity. ¡°No idea what it is. Maybe it¡¯s part of the Labyrinth¡¯s system, or maybe it¡¯s something the creators left behind. One thing¡¯s for sure¡ªit doesn¡¯t fix the bugs; it just tries to prevent their exploitation.¡± For instance, this system viewed exceeding a certain speed as a bug. Instead of fixing the issue, it merely looped the user back to the starting point of their action, preserving all momentum. And this quirk was exactly what Taesan intended to exploit. ¡°So when it detects speeds impossible for Easy Mode, it loops you back to the start. But here¡¯s the funny part¡ªit doesn¡¯t cancel your momentum.¡± Bardray fell silent, beginning to grasp the implications. ¡°From the moment I noticed this quirk, I knew it could be used to acquire a skill.¡± Through countless attempts and experiments, Taesan had discovered that the mechanics of Floor 98 provided the perfect opportunity. Now, his body was elerating faster than ever. Spores fell before him, split apart with precise strikes. [189 damage to Spore.] One feature of Landing was that the longer it was active, the more it amplified eleration. And that eleration, in turn, increased his damage. In this distorted space, there were no limits to his speed or damage potential. Taesan¡¯s focus sharpened as he prepared for another cycle. With each fall, his speed grew faster. Each strike became sharper, and eachnding more precise. The system¡¯s warped logic worked in his favor, amplifying his capabilities to absurd levels. [Is Multiplication¡¯s condition really just this simple repetition?] Bardray finally asked. Taesan smirked mid-fall. ¡°Not quite.¡± [Then what is it?] Taesan reached the ground again, only to be warped back to the top. ¡°The condition for Multiplication involves surpassing the physical limits of the world. And in Easy Mode, that means exploiting its bugs.¡± Once more, he fell, his body moving with ever-increasing speed. Taesan¡¯s focus remained absolute, his determination unwavering. As Bardray watched, a realization struck him. [The system itself is helping you create the perfect conditions... How utterly absurd.] Taesan grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this.¡± And with that, he dove into the infinite loop once more, his de ready to carve through reality itself. Chapter 512: Floor 94, Easy Mode (5) Crash! Taesan shed through and sliced the spores as he looped. His speed continued to increase, surpassing even the prime of any ghostly foe. Screeech! Focusing his mind, he expanded his field of vision and swung his sword. sh. [You dealt 745 damage to a spore.] The sensation of something being severed reached him, but there was no time to confirm what it was. The speed of his descent elerated even further. By now, Taesan''s eyes could no longer keep up. His body was on the verge of hitting the ground, but he looped again just before impact. The moment he reset, he swung his sword with ferocious speed. Yet, the speed of his sword couldn''t keep pace with his descent. The de narrowly missed the spores it targeted. It was too fast for his eyes to see and react in time. His attack failed, and he looped again. ¡°Damn it.¡± At this rate, it was hopeless. Taesan pulled out a potion from his pouch and drank it. [You have used a Potion of Physical Reset.] BOOM! A powerful repelling force engulfed Taesan''s body. The relentless eleration of his fall came to a sudden halt, as if he had been caught on an invisible hook. Tap. Taesannded firmly on the ground. Bardray, who had been watching in a trance, was startled. [What? How?] ¡°There¡¯s a condition to this skill.¡± If it was merely about amplifying damage by squaring it, it would¡¯ve been simple¡ªjust keep falling. However, Multiplication had an additional requirement. One of the conditions of Multiplication: The escting damage from eleration must be applied mid-loop and registered by the system. At least once per loop, an attack had tond. This was why Taesan hadn¡¯t destroyed the cannon yet. ¡°This is the tricky part.¡± @@novelbin@@ When eleration reached a certain point, swinging his sword immediately after looping became too slow. His body couldn¡¯t match the speed at which he was falling. After finishing his recovery with the potion, Taesan took a step forward. [You activated Landing.] [You activated Super eleration.] [You activated Physical Time eleration.] Whirr! His body began looping again. His sword cut through and pulverized the spores. The cannon fired, releasing new spores into the air. ¡®Reacting by sight is impossible.¡¯ Trying to adjust his actions after each loop was futile. As his descent speed continued to increase, his vision would eventually fail to keep up. Thus, everything had to be calcted in advance. He analyzed, read, and decided all at once. With one movement, he aimed to resolve multiple loops in a row. Taesan locked eyes on the cannon. The cannon fired whenever the number of spores dropped below a certain threshold. The angles at which the spores flew weren¡¯t entirely random; they followed identifiable patterns. And so, he deciphered them:
  • One to the upper right arm.
  • One near the left wrist.
  • Two to the right leg.
  • One aimed at the head.
  • One targeting the abdomen.Other scattered spores filled the air. What was the sequence in which these spores would reach him? He identified all of them. With his calctionsplete, Taesan adjusted his sword trajectory just after the spore near his left wrist narrowly missed him. sh. The spore near his upper right arm was torn apart by his de. His body elerated again, triggering another loop. Taesan didn¡¯t move his sword from its position. sh! That alone was enough to bisect the spore targeting his left wrist. By calcting the positions and heights of the spores, he resolved multiple loops with a single movement. The spores couldn¡¯t match his speed. Compared to Taesan¡¯s movements, they might as well have been frozen in midair. He swung his sword swiftly. A spore near his right leg skimmed past, but the one following it was neatly severed. sh. In the next loop, the spore that had previously slipped by became the target of his attack. His descent speed continued to elerate. Taesan expanded his field of vision. ¡®One, two, three, four, five.¡¯ He calcted the minimal movement required to handle the maximum number of loops at once. Crack! With a single motion, Taesan resolved five loops¡¯ worth of attacks. BOOM! As soon as the spores he struck disappeared, the cannon immediatelyunched new ones. The number of iing spores matched those he had just eliminated. ¡®One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.¡¯ Taesan quickly analyzed the situation, his mind racing. With one motion, he resolved seven loops. Compared to his initial attempts, his actions were much more stable, and he managed to eliminate numerous spores. His attack power increased incrementally. [You dealt 798 damage to a spore.] [You dealt 802 damage to a spore.] [You dealt 806 damage to a spore.] Yet, it still wasn¡¯t perfect. The unrestricted nature of Landing meant his fall speed continued to increase. As a result, his response time had to grow even faster. sh. Though he managed to resolve this round, Taesan¡¯s eyes remained locked on the spores. He quickly calcted their positions and how best to move. But for the first time, his gaze wavered. A scenario arose where he couldn¡¯t ount for every possible loop. He moved swiftly, resolving the immediate threat, but beyond that point, his calctions fell apart. His ever-elerating body outpaced his ability to adapt. ¡°Damn it.¡± [You have used a Potion of Physical Reset.] ¡®I was too slow to react.¡¯ Situations where he couldn¡¯t handle everything in one attempt were inevitable. He knew that, but it had been so long since hisst attempt that his instincts had faltered. Once again, he began his descent. Crash! ¡®One, two, three, four.¡¯ He processed loops rapidly. His body elerated further, gaining even more speed. This time, he widened his perspective, considering more possibilities. Crack! As he looped, he handled the spores. The cannon fired again, releasing fresh spores. At that moment, Taesan realized something. If he continued like this, he would face the same problem as before. The situations he couldn¡¯t handle in one sequence would inevitably return. He already knew the solution. Taesan swung his sword while shifting his feet. One spore was severed, and another was kicked away. BOOM! As Taesan¡¯s elerated attack struck, the spore was violently flung away. But it didn¡¯t die. Attacking with equipmentcking umted power only caused the spore to rebound, dealing no damage. The spore ricocheted off the ground, colliding with others in mid-air and altering their positions. This collision created new possibilities for Taesan to process multiple loops with a single motion. He adjusted the trajectory of his twin swords ordingly. In an instant, he resolved five loops. Crash-crash-crash-crash! Every scenario was analyzed and resolved. When none existed, Taesan created new possibilities by sheer force of will. sh. [You dealt 1002 damage to a spore.] Finally, a four-digit damage number appeared. But it still wasn¡¯t enough. What he sought was squared damage¡ªaround 2500. The gap to his goal was still significant. Crash-crash-crash! His body elerated relentlessly. The surrounding space warped, and his vision distorted. Without thebyrinth¡¯s protective system, his body would¡¯ve been shredded to pieces by the sheer speed alone. ¡®One, two, three, four.¡¯ He calcted four scenarios and swung his sword ordingly. The loops ended in an instant. But with new scenarios arising just as quickly, there was no time to rest. sh! He moved swiftly, but it wasn¡¯t enough. His de narrowly missed. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan downed another potion and escaped the loop. ¡®This feels about right.¡¯ The once-clumsy imitation of his old reflexes had finally returned to perfection. His senses were fully adjusted. ¡°Time to im it.¡± [Already?] Bardray was astonished. The preparation time hadn¡¯t been insignificant, but given the skill¡¯s requirements, he had assumed it would take months. Yet, Taesan was already confident about obtaining it. ¡°I don¡¯t have unlimited opportunities.¡± To escape the infinite loop, he needed to reduce his speed. However, the Landing skill was a one-use ability that couldn¡¯t be canceled once activated. Taesan couldn¡¯t slow himself down with it. While he had some speed-rted skills, none could counteract the extreme eleration he faced. That¡¯s where the Potion of Physical Reset came in. It temporarily nullified all physical forces acting on his body, instantly halting eleration. The problem was its cost¡ªit was prohibitively expensive. Taesan only had two potions left. ¡°This will be enough.¡± For the current him, two potions were more than sufficient. Taesan began his descent once more. Crash-crash! He sliced through spores, repeating his loops. His falling speed continued to increase until it outpaced his body¡¯s ability to keep up. So, as before, he analyzed every possible scenario. But this time, it wasn¡¯t just seven or eight loops. He calcted ten, twenty, even thirty loops in advance. Crash-crash-crash! His twin swords moved in harmony with his feet. One spore was severed, while another was kicked away. [Screeech!] The kicked spore flew toward the cannon, disrupting its aim. BOOM! The cannon fired, but its trajectory had shifted. [Screech!] The spore itunched headed straight for the cliff. It collided with the rocky surface, spinning wildly. Just as it regained its bnce, Taesan cleaved it in half. The number of spores the cannon couldunch was fixed. Calcting possibilities beyond seven or eight loops was nearly impossible. So Taesan created his own scenarios. This was something his Easy Mode self could never have done. Back in Easy Mode, Taesan had been exceptional, analyzing countlessbyrinth conditions and earning powerful skills. But back then, he had never truly fought with his life on the line. At the very beginning, he¡¯d felt the threat of death, but as he advanced through thebyrinth, he had steadily descended in rtive safety. While he perfected his calctions and fulfilled every condition, his practicalbat experience had remainedcking. In Easy Mode, Taesan had only managed to acquire Multiplication after countless repetitions, relying more on luck than deliberate effort. But now, things were different. He had grown far beyond his former self. The current Taesan could control his environment and create opportunities. sh. He struck a spore, sending it rebounding off the cliff. Twin swords moved fluidly to match the positions and heights of the spores. Crash-crash-crash! He cut them down one after another. Each spore ricocheted off the cliff with a rebound that Taesan calcted to the smallest detail. The speed of his attacks, the exact position of each spore after impact, and the eleration of his own body¡ªall were perfectly ounted for. By repeating his loops, he created entirely new scenarios. His speed increased further, and his damage climbed past four digits. Infinite descent. His body distorted under the strain of relentless eleration, appearing warped even to his own eyes. Without the system¡¯s protection, he would¡¯ve long since been incinerated. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. Taesan swung his sword once more. While the sensation of striking something had vanished, the system window provided clear confirmation. [You dealt 1435 damage to a spore.]
    • Chapter 513: Floor 94, Easy Mode (6) The space was so distorted that it was nearly impossible to perceive anything with the naked eye. Though Taesan possessed vision-rted skills, the limitations of his Easy Mode body were clear. So he relied on his memory. He etched fleeting memories into his body, operating like a programmed machine. He recorded the spores'' positions and the required actions for each loop and executed them wlessly. Crash-crash-crash! [You dealt 1546 damage to a spore.] Without Physical Time eleration, or the ability to enhance the overall speed of his body, even such mechanical precision would not have sufficed to keep up with the eleration. For now, he managed. His mind raced without pause as he deflected a spore lightly to the side. Despite the seemingly gentle touch, the spore was hurled away as if struck by a truck, thanks to his eleration. He swung his sword. The deflected spore was split apart by the next loop¡¯s Taesan. His damage output began to approach 2000. And then, the problems began. ¡®Keeping up is bing difficult.¡¯ He was making the best decisions and executing the best actions possible. Yet, processing the spores was gradually bing harder. [What are you even doing?] Bardray had long since given up trying to understand Taesan¡¯s actions. Even adventurers who had reached the deepest levels of Alone Mode wouldn¡¯t be able to grasp his current movements. sh! Taesan shed through a spore and immediately shifted his stance. His movements were as precise as a dy-free machine. ng! The oue was close, far too close. A spore barely brushed past his sword. A moment of hesitation, even a fraction, would have resulted in failure. Even with perfect judgment, his speed couldn¡¯t keep up with his eleration. ¡®How did I even manage this before?¡¯ Taesan found himself astonished at his past self. Despite having all the knowledge and experience now, acquiring this skill felt nearly impossible. Yet, his Easy Mode self had achieved it. ¡®At this rate...¡¯ He wouldn¡¯t be able to acquire Multiplication. His current attack power was 49. To activate Multiplication, he needed to deal 2401 damage. He was only in the low 2000s¡ªan achievement that was already near-impossible¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t enough. ¡®...I have no choice.¡¯ After a brief moment of deliberation, Taesan made a decision. He wasn¡¯t sure how the system would interpret his actions, but it was better than outright failure. He called upon a fragment of what he once had, a part of his original self thaty dormant within him. Ssssmirr. The world responded instantly, attempting to intervene. Thebyrinth, as if rejecting his existence, tried to expel him. ¡®Get lost.¡¯ Taesan crushed the interference. An almost omnipotent sense filled his entire being. In an instant, he could perceive the entirety of thebyrinth through pure intuition. The time it took to reach this state was so brief that it was imperceptible to any human. With his eyes closed, Taesan moved. Crash-crash-crash! [You dealt 2087 damage to a spore.] He didn¡¯t see. He didn¡¯t calcte. He didn¡¯t analyze possibilities. He simply moved, relying solely on his instincts. @@novelbin@@ sh! And with that alone, the spores were cleaved one by one. No matter how fast calctions were or how optimal his decisions, there was always a dy between thought and action. But the current Taesan bypassed such limitations. He acted purely on instinct and sense. That was enough to handle the spores. Boom! He fell like a meteor¡ªor even faster. At speeds that would incinerate any physical matter, he plummeted again and again. Slice, slice, slice. His damage continued to rise. His body began to struggle to keep up with the speed of his descent. Yet it didn¡¯t matter. His near-omniscient senses acted like foresight, anticipating every move. The spores were split apart. His body forcibly kept pace with his senses. Loop after loop, dozens of times, he repeated this process. Finally, he reached his goal. Crash-crash-crash! [You dealt 2402 damage to a spore.] He surpassed 2401. At that moment, the system window filled his vision. [You have raised your damage to the squared threshold. The special activation skill Multiplication has been acquired.] [You have controlled your environment and forcibly manipted the situation to achieve your desired oue. The special activation skill Forced Reach has been acquired.] *** He had done it. Taesan quickly retrieved a potion. [You have used a Potion of Physical Reset.] BOOM! A tremendous recoil surged through Taesan¡¯s body. Without the system¡¯s assistance, the force alone would have killed him outright¡ªa force potent enough to harm even an S-rank monster if properly utilized. Tap. Suppressing the shock, Taesannded on the ground. ¡°Good. That worked out.¡± What he had summoned wasn¡¯t physical power or higher capabilities but purely his sense. Since only his perception had been invoked, his physical abilities remained unchanged, ensuring the skill acquisition conditions weren¡¯t vited. Even so, invoking such a sense was a gamble. He couldn¡¯t predict how the altered variables might impact Multiplication¡¯s acquisition requirements. Thankfully, it worked withoutplications. ¡°Phew.¡± Taesan exhaled deeply as the omnipotent sense that had overwhelmed him faded away. His body, however, was in terrible condition. Though he had avoided receiving direct damage, the speed of his descent had pushed his body to the brink of disintegration. While his stamina hadn¡¯t been depleted, his physical exhaustion was another matter entirely. His body trembled, barely holding itself together. His razor-sharp focus, like an overheated machine, copsed under its own weight. Yet, Taesan¡¯s emotions burned more fiercely than ever. Despite his attempts to mask it, his expression betrayed the profound feeling of aplishment. He climbed back up to the upper floors and drank from the Fountain of Life. Opening his skill window, Taesan confirmed the fruits of hisbor: [Special Activation Skill: Multiplication] [Mana Cost: 30] [Effect: Squares your damage. Cooldown: 1 hour.] A powerful card¡ªone capable of delivering damage exceeding billions. Atst, Multiplication was his. [...You actually did it.] Bardray, who had finally collected his thoughts, muttered in awe. [Multiplication. Wow. Truly incredible.] Though Bardray trusted Taesanpletely, even he had been skeptical this time. Utilizing Landing to leverage eleration and achieve squared damage while sessfully attacking during each loop¡ªthe conditions were absurdly demanding. Yet, Taesan had done it. Even if he used a workaround at the end, the achievement remained remarkable. Akasha, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. [Master... what exactly are you?] ¡°Why?¡± [I mean... this is just... this is... astonishing.] ¡°Now that I think about it, this is your first time seeing something like this.¡± Since obtaining Akasha, Taesan hadn¡¯t seriously attempted to acquire a skill. Bardray had seen skills like Addition and Forced Duel before, but this was Akasha¡¯s first encounter with Multiplication. [Do all skills require such feats to obtain?] ¡°Not all, but it¡¯s simr.¡± [Master, you are...] Akasha fell silent for a moment, then spoke again, her voice filled with reverence. [You are extraordinary.] ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. Just desperation to grow stronger.¡± Despite his modest words, Taesan himself was slightly surprised. ¡®Was it always this intense?¡¯ Even with the penalty of invoking his original sense, it had been a perilous challenge. To think he had achieved this skill in the past with such meager stats and nobat experience¡ªit was astonishing. Of course, the method back then had been different. Without any time constraints, he had continuously purchased Physical Reset Potions. And then he attempted, and attempted again. Waiting for the miracle where the spores perfectly aligned with his movements. ¡®I think it took me decades.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t even remember the exact duration. By the end, he had been half-insane from the repetitive attempts. Now, he hadpressed what took decades into a mere month. ¡°Ha.¡± Thinking back on it, it was absurd. At the time, he hadn¡¯t known if the skill would be useful or even attainable. Yet, he had invested a lifetime¡¯s worth of effort into it. And it wasn¡¯t just Multiplication. Many other attempts had consumed simr time spans, often yielding nothing. Still, he had never faltered. He simply repeated the process and tried again. ¡°I wasn¡¯t exactly normal either.¡± [Not ¡®exactly.¡¯ You were absolutely not normal.] Taesan chuckled. Still, it wasn¡¯t bad. By acquiring the skill differently this time, he had also gained something new. [Special Activation Skill: Forced Reach] [Mana Cost: 50] [Proficiency: 1%] [Effect: Achieve your desired result through force. However, impossible goals cannot be achieved, and all penalties incurred during the process must be borne by you. If the penalties exceed your capacity, the skill will fail.] ¡°What kind of skill is this?¡± The description made it sound omnipotent. Of course, there were clear limitations. Impossible oues couldn¡¯t be achieved, and the risks and penalties had to be endured. What exactly did ¡°achieving through force¡± mean? To understand, Taesan focused on the far end of the 80th-floor room. It was quite expansive. With his current physical abilities, it would take him several seconds to reach the other wall, even at full speed. He desired to reach the opposite wall as quickly as possible. [You have activated Forced Reach.] The skill activated. Taesan prepared to dash forward, but an intense pain enveloped him. His entire body surged with pressure. Veins burst as his muscles swelled. His heart pounded at an impossibly rapid pace, nearly exploding. BOOM! With a deafening crash, Taesan reached the wall. Or rather, he collided with it. [What?!] Bardray was startled. Taesan¡¯s movement rivaled that of an adventurer in Alone Mode at the 50th floor. While that level of speed wasn¡¯t extraordinary in itself¡ªeven Easy Mode Taesan could achieve it with skills like Super eleration and Physical Time eleration¡ªwhat was shocking was that Taesan had used no speed-rted skills. His current body had stats barely exceeding 100. Yet, with just those stats, he had reached a speedparable to a high-level adventurer. St! Blood vessels across his body burst. His muscles tore, and his heart felt on the verge of exploding. Blood didn¡¯t merely stain the floor; it pooled into a sizable puddle. Taesan grimaced. His limbs trembled, his body drenched in blood. Torn muscles barely kept him upright. [You have taken 5 damage.] [You have taken 8 damage.] [You have taken 7 damage.] The damage persisted, rapidly depleting half his health. Dragging his battered body, Taesan approached the Fountain of Life. [You are now in perfect condition.] ¡°Phew.¡± All his injuries vanished as the healing took effect. Taesan massaged his sore muscles. ¡®...This is.¡¯ His eyes darkened. Having spent more time in thebyrinth than anyone else, he could tell¡ªwhen he activated Forced Reach, his body temporarily exceeded the boundaries imposed by the system itself. Chapter 515: Floor 94, Easy Mode (8) Taesan subdued the resisting anomaly entirely, intending to dissect it further with his boundary and im its power for himself. Crack-crack-crack! But he couldn¡¯t. As if this step was forbidden, an immense rule imposed itself upon him, shackling his actions. At that moment, the world stirred. Where it had only growled and loomed like a threatening beast before, the world now lunged at him, unable to contain its wrath. Its hostility was no longer abstract¡ªit was the will of the world itself, an unstoppable force of rejection. CRUNCH. Taesan¡¯s body was forcibly expelled. He attempted to resist with the boundary, but it was futile. The enormous force was unrelenting, pushing him out. ¡°Hold on.¡± Yet, he endured. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet.¡± @@novelbin@@ This was a twisted, broken ce¡ªa remnant of a timeline that no longer existed. Nothing done here would ripple back to the original world. That left one more thing to confirm. [You have activated Chaos Summon.] The boundary¡¯s domain enveloped Taesan, shielding him from the will of the world. CRACK. Taesan tore through space. Tap. He stepped onto Earth. What he saw was a overrun by monsters and a sky fractured with cracks. The creatures roared upon seeing Taesan, tools executing preordainedmands with no trace of intelligence. They charged to kill him. Taesan didn¡¯t even nce at them. He merely swung his gray energy. The boundary rippled across the Earth, and the monsters disintegrated like dust. Gathering his energy again, Taesan aimed at the crack in the sky and unleashed his power. Though restricted by the world¡¯s oppression, the boundary¡¯s might¡ªcapable of dismantling all and shaking the very limits of existence¡ªreached the crack. For a moment. The crack opened. Something within grasped at the boundary. A silent collision ensued. No sound, no explosion, yet the world trembled. Rumble... It turned its gaze upon Taesan. In that instant, Earth itself seemed ready to copse. Objects disintegrated, and concepts twisted under the mere presence of its gaze. ¡°Not the Usurper,¡± Taesan muttered calmly. The entity beyond the crack looked at him quietly. Before Taesan could discern the emotions behind that gaze, the world swallowed him whole. Unable to endure any longer, the world devoured the boundary and banished Taesan. He returned to the originalbyrinth. ¡°So, that¡¯s that.¡± [Oh.] [Wee back.] Bardray resumed his sword form, and Akasha returned to being a ring. The oppressive will of the world was gone, no longer seeking to expel him. He was back in Alone Mode, the original timeline. Taesan lifted his hand. In it was the fragment of Ouroboros. The overwhelming power and concept that had once resided within it hadpletely faded. It would take an extremely long time before it could be used again. But that didn¡¯t matter. His purpose had been achieved. [Special Activation Skill: Multiplication] [Mana Cost: 30] [Effect: Squares your damage. Cooldown: 1 hour.] Multiplication. The skill remained in his skill window. Taesan smiled. And it wasn¡¯t the only one. [Special Activation Skill: Forced Reach] [Mana Cost: 50] [Proficiency: 1%] [Effect: Forces you to achieve a desired goal. The goal must be realistic, and all penalties and risks incurred will be borne by you.] Forced Reach, too, was his. He had returned with two new skills. ¡°This is satisfying.¡± He had gained what he desired. Sitting down, Taesan began organizing his thoughts. ¡®The god never appeared until the end.¡¯ As expected. If a god had been present, it would have immediatelye to suppress him. No gods existed in Easy Mode. Still, the distorted and ruined space intrigued him. ¡°Who created that ce?¡± A god? Or the Usurper? The Usurper seemed the more likely answer, though he couldn¡¯t be certain yet. ¡®And the god that appeared at the end...¡¯ The one who emerged through the crack in the sky¡ªwho was that? His musings were interrupted as the space around him split, and a magician appeared. ¡°Hello there.¡± The magiciannded lightly. ¡°Sorry I couldn¡¯t get here sooner. Been a bit busy.¡± ¡°How long was I gone?¡± ¡°Not too long. About a month, at most.¡± A month. It seemed the flow of time wasn¡¯t significantly different here. The magician snapped his fingers. ¡°Well, did you achieve what you wanted?¡± A ripple swept over Taesan, scanning him. The magician, using his authority as the creator of thebyrinth, was examining Taesan¡¯s skills. ¡°...Hah.¡± Seeing Multiplication, the magician couldn¡¯t suppress his admiration. ¡°Taesan, do you know why I designed skills to be created instead of pre-existing?¡± Skills weren¡¯t pre-made. Instead, they were created when specific conditions were met and deemed appropriate. It was aplicated, hard-to-control system, but the magician had insisted on this design when building thebyrinth. ¡°The reason is simple. I wanted mortals to strive, to dedicate themselves, and to create something unique.¡± The magician had hoped adventurers would master the system, not merely depend on it. But most adventurers didn¡¯t. They pursued pre-discovered skills and rarely tried to create their own. This had always been a disappointment to the magician. Now, Taesan had exceeded his expectations. ¡°Addition, Forced Duel, Nullify Attack... and now Multiplication.¡± Even the magician, thebyrinth¡¯s creator, hadn¡¯t anticipated Multiplication. The result was beyond his imagination. ¡°Then there¡¯s Forced Reach. Quite the peculiar skill.¡± The magician understood roughly how it had been obtained and couldn¡¯t help butugh. A system-defying skill¡ªunder normal circumstances, it should¡¯ve been impossible to acquire. ¡°Though tricky to use, it could disrupt the bnce if applied correctly.¡± The magician paused. ¡°...Wait.¡± He frowned, his expression shifting to one of surprise. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Snapping his fingers, he brought up a system window. [Special Passive Skill: Physical Damage Conversion] [Proficiency: 1%] [Effect: Converts a portion of your damage into raw physical force, proportional to the damage dealt. Currently, the effect is minimal.] ¡°I didn¡¯t grant this skill. And it doesn¡¯t seem like something you could create yourself.¡± A system-rted skill, impossible to obtain through individual effort. The magician¡¯s mind shed to one figure. ¡°...Balbabamba.¡± ¡°I got it as a reward for clearing the 92nd floor. They said it wasn¡¯t worth much and handed it over.¡± ¡°Well, damn.¡± The magician clicked his tongue. Balbabamba wasn¡¯t wrong. Converting damage into physical force had negligible utility for most adventurers. But with Taesan, it was a different story. ¡°This... could be a problem.¡± What Taesan might achieve with this skill was unsettling, even to imagine. ¡°I can¡¯t take it back, but Balbabamba¡¯s going to get an earful.¡± The magician muttered, and Taesan silently apologized to Balbabamba in his mind. ¡°So, aside from the skills, you didn¡¯t just go there for that, did you?¡± ¡°I learned enough.¡± The gods who created Easy, Normal, and Hard Mode were likely connected to the Usurper. And Taesan felt a strange familiarity with Easy Mode. ¡°As before, I can¡¯t tell you anything.¡± The magician spoke firmly. ¡°That¡¯s for you to figure out. Though if you need guidance, you might want to seek Essentiel, the God of Essence.¡± Essentiel had once offered to help Taesan uncover his true nature. ¡°For now, that¡¯s all I can do for you.¡± The magician waved his hand, and the system responded. [94th Floor Cleared.] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained the Magician¡¯s Ring.] [You have obtained ???.] Taesan examined the ring. [Magician¡¯s Ring] [Thebyrinth creator¡¯s gift to a favored adventurer. It grants a desired stat bonus.] The ability was clear. Taesan focused, and the ring emitted a glow as the description changed. [Magician¡¯s Ring: Attack Power] [Attack Power +3000] A grin spread across Taesan¡¯s face. The hidden reward,beled ¡°???,¡± turned out to be a skill. [Magician¡¯s Spell: Multicolored Radiant Sprint] [Mana Cost: ???] [Proficiency: 1%] [A spell once wielded by the Magician, no longer usable by him. The higher the mana spent, the greater its power and the number of lights produced.] The magician chuckled. ¡°Even I can¡¯t handle that spell anymore. Originally, I intended for it to vanish, but it felt wasteful. It should serve you well.¡± Satisfied with his rewards, Taesan prepared to move forward. ¡°Next is the 95th floor. What¡¯s the quest?¡± ¡°Ah, not yet. There¡¯s something else to handle first.¡± The magician pped, and a long system window filled Taesan¡¯s vision. [Special Quest Initiated: Return to Earth.] [In two days, you will return to the forsakennd. Survive there and return. Rewards will vary based on your performance.] Chapter 517: Eighth Return, Earth (2) Boom! The Guardians knelt in unison, and the ground shook as if an earthquake had struck. Taesan silently observed them. ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°They¡¯re incredible...¡± The crowd murmured among themselves. With over a billion people present, even the softest whispers turned into a roaring noise. One of the kneeling Guardians scowled. ¡°How unpleasant. For such pitiful creatures to watch us like jesters...¡± ¡°Silence.¡± Akrasian immediately reprimanded the man. ¡°We are in the presence of the Great One. Show respect.¡± ¡°My apologies.¡± Though his words seemed formal, his tone was far from genuine. It was more a courtesy born of Taesan¡¯s presence than heartfelt sincerity. ¡°This ce doesn¡¯t seem suitable for a discussion. May I suggest moving to a better location?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Taesan snapped his fingers. The ground shifted. Like rails, it pushed everyone aside, leaving only Taesan and the Guardians in ce. Enormous walls rose around them. Rumble! In an instant, a vast space materialized, enclosing Taesan and the Guardians. The Guardians¡¯ pupils dted. Taesan pped his hands, and they suddenly felt an invisible force suppressing them. Thud. Earthen chairs formed beneath each Guardian, forcing them to sit regardless of their will. The entire sequence of events unfolded naturally, as if the world itself bent to Taesan¡¯s will. And in truth, it did. Taesan was, after all, the god of this Earth. ¡°Your legs must be tired. Sit down.¡± ¡°...Yes, of course.¡± Akrasian¡¯s voice wavered. His gaze at Taesan revealed a mix of awe, unease, and curiosity. ¡°So,¡± Taesan began, his tone calm and steady, ¡°who are you?¡± ¡°We are the Guardians.¡± ¡°And what do you guard?¡± ¡°The universe.¡± Akrasian¡¯s reply was bold and filled with pride. ¡°We are a group dedicated to protecting the universe from the threats posed by the Old Gods.¡± Taesan silently examined them. They were not weak. Each one wielded considerable power, and Akrasian, in particr, stood out as the strongest among them. ¡°The Great One...¡± ¡°Kang Taesan.¡± ¡°Thank you for allowing me to address you by name. Surely you are aware that the Old Gods are invading countless worlds. It seems your world is among their targets.¡± Over 200 worlds had already fallen to the Old Gods, a number that might now exceed 300. ¡°When the Old Gods invade, even the Great Ones cannot intervene recklessly.¡± Direct intervention by Transcendents would disrupt the bnce, creating openings for the Old Gods to retaliate. This was why Transcendents used Taesan as their proxy, sending him to numerous worlds. Taesan now understood what the Guardians were. ¡°You¡¯re proxies.¡± ¡°Yes. We are honored to have been chosen by the Great Ones. Following their will, we protect and defend worlds under siege by the Old Gods.¡± Akrasian¡¯s expression was filled with pride. ¡°Under their guidance, we have traveled to countless worlds and safeguarded many of them.¡± ¡°And now, this world is your next mission.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Akrasian nodded. ¡°We havee here to seal the rift in the sky and save this world, Great One.¡± These were the allies the Magician had mentioned. Taesan grasped the situation but couldn¡¯t help raising a question. ¡°You intend to seal the rift in the sky?¡± ¡°Of course, we cannot do it alone. But the Transcendents have provided us with assistance.¡± Akrasian murmured an incantation, and a portal opened. Kiiiiing. A small disc emerged from the portal, covered in intricate, geometric patterns. The object radiated the unmistakable energy of a Transcendent. It was powerful¡ªso powerful that even Taesan couldn¡¯t analyze it immediately. Akrasian stored the disc and exined. ¡°The Transcendents cannot intervene directly, but they can act indirectly through relics such as this. By cing four of these discs beneath the rift and performing a ritual for a set duration, the rift can be sealed.¡± ¡°And how long will the sealst?¡± ¡°As long as the Transcendent who granted this relic exists, it will be eternal.¡± Akrasian¡¯s voice was calm and assured. The ursed rift could be closed. Earth could finally be free of the monsters¡¯ menace. ¡°...Is that so?¡± It was undeniably good news. If this return seeded, Earth would be liberated. Taesan¡¯s long-cherished goal could finally be realized. Yet, something nagged at him. Like a foreign object stuck in his throat, an inexplicable difort lingered. A faint intuition tugged at the edge of his mind. Noticing Taesan¡¯s silence, Akrasian seemed to misinterpret it. Puffing out his chest, he spoke with unwavering confidence. ¡°You need not worry, Great One. We are the Guardians.¡± His voice brimmed with unshakable pride. ¡°We have protected countless worlds. You, Great One, are far mightier than we are. But forgive my arrogance¡ªwhen ites to this, we are the experts.¡± Conviction. And arrogance. ¡°With just a little assistance from you, Great One, we can save this world without difficulty.¡± Taesan, who had been watching Akrasian intently, finally spoke. ¡°How much do you know about this world?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Do you understand what this ce is? What it truly represents?¡± ¡°This world is being destroyed by the Old Gods, is it not?¡± His expression suggested he couldn¡¯t fathom what more there was to know. Taesan understood what kind of beings the Guardians were. He didn¡¯t even need to scout them further. There was no point, no need, to exin anything to them. Taesan smiled faintly. ¡°Do your best.¡± *** [Guardians, huh. They didn¡¯te when my world was being destroyed.] Bardray¡¯s musings were met with a quiet response from Diana. ¡°The universe is vast,¡± she said. ¡°The number of worlds destroyed by the Old Gods is staggering. And the number of worlds currently under siege is even higher. Even with all their power, the Guardians are just a group of a few hundred. They can¡¯t protect every world.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not exactly likable,¡± Beldenkia muttered, her expression darkening as she nced at the Guardians. Hostility flickered in her eyes. [You seem to know something.] ¡°Yes.¡± Diana nodded, her tone calm but tinged with bitterness. ¡°They came to our world once.¡± [Your world wasn¡¯t destroyed by the Old Gods, though.] ¡°That¡¯s correct. Ours was lost due to inexplicable environmental changes. Yet... perhaps due to ack of understanding, the Guardians visited us.¡± [But your world...] Diana¡¯s world, like Beldenkia¡¯s, had perished after indulging in decadence and hedonism. Diana gave a mncholy smile. ¡°I can¡¯t bring myself to like them. They are, without a doubt, righteous. But that doesn¡¯t make them virtuous.¡± The Guardians stood at the center of a vast crowd, drawing murmurs of admiration and curiosity. ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°They¡¯re amazing...¡± Despite Diana and Beldenkia being aliens themselves, the sheer presence of a group like the Guardians felt vastly different. These were saviors¡ªbeings who had reportedly rescued countless worlds. Most of the gathered yers already knew this thanks to the information Taesan had shared with Kim Hwiyeon. Curiosity and goodwill emanated from the crowd as people gazed at the Guardians. One person, summoning their courage, stepped forward. ¡°Uh... Hello?¡± The timid voice rang out amidst the group of Guardians. ¡°...¡± No response. The Guardians continued speaking among themselves, ignoring the greeting entirely. The person¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°Excuse me?¡± they tried again. Still, no answer. It wasn¡¯t a matter ofnguage¡ªthey understood the Guardians'' words, and the Guardians surely understood theirs. It was deliberate. A calcted, pointed disregard. Eventually, the person retreated, unable to break the ice. This pattern repeated several times. Those who approached were met with the same silent dismissal. The Guardians acted as if these people simply didn¡¯t exist. ¡°I don¡¯t like them,¡± Amelia said, frowning. ¡°What¡¯s with that attitude? Are they trying to say they¡¯re too good to talk to us? Do they think they¡¯re nobility or something?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Kim Hwiyeon tried to mediate. ¡°They¡¯re here to help us. We should at least try to maintain a good rtionship. They¡¯re Guardians, after all. With their strength, they¡¯ll surely be of great help.¡± It was true. They were beings who had protected countless worlds, wielding immense power. Kim Hwiyeon muttered these reassurances to herself. But Amelia¡¯s reaction was less optimistic. ¡°Help? Sure, they¡¯ll be helpful... maybe. But I don¡¯t trust them.¡± She grumbled softly. ¡°Well, having them here can¡¯t hurt, I suppose.¡± Kim Hwiyeon worked tirelessly to calm the crowd, suppressing their confusion and unease while organizing them for the uing quest. Yet, even as she did so, a new system message appeared. [Special Quest Initiated.] [All yers must move beneath the rift in the sky. Eliminate the appearing monsters, advance, and proceed to the rift¡¯s location.] [Condition: All yers and Guardians must arrive at the rift.] [Reward: Differentiated rewards upon return to thebyrinth based on performance.] The objective was clear: they needed to move directly beneath the rift. Kim Hwiyeon quickly began issuing orders. ¡°Where is the rift located?¡± ¡°Greend.¡± ¡°Greend...¡± It wasn¡¯t too far. At least, it wasn¡¯t on the opposite side of the. Kim Hwiyeon finalized the ns, arranging the formation and preparing to lead the yers forward. That¡¯s when it happened. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Akrasian¡¯s voice interrupted her. Kim Hwiyeon froze. She had approached Akrasian once before to coordinate, given her role as a leader. But he hadn¡¯t responded at all, leaving her to return empty-handed. Now, however, he had chosen to speak. Kim Hwiyeon quickly recovered from her surprise. ¡°We¡¯re organizing the formation to move toward the rift. If you could coordinate with us, it would¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± Akrasian cut her off. ¡°We have no need for your opinions.¡± ¡°...Excuse me?¡± ¡°Your role is to follow our orders. That is all.¡± The coldness in his voice sent a chill through her. Akrasian¡¯s tone carried a hint of disdain, and Kim Hwiyeon struggled topose herself as she replied. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand what you mean...¡± ¡°We have saved dozens of worlds from the grip of the Old Gods. Meanwhile, your feeble world can¡¯t even save itself. You¡¯re scrambling to survive, even with the Great One here.¡± His words were steeped in contempt. Kim Hwiyeon couldn¡¯t argue¡ªafter all, it was true. Taesan had been the one to resolve every crisis thus far. They hadn¡¯t contributed much to his efforts. ¡°We have protected countless worlds.¡± Akrasian¡¯s voice was proud, brimming with unshakable confidence. ¡°Your experience and advice mean nothing to us. To us, it¡¯s like the ramblings of a three-year-old child. Your only task is to follow us. That is all.¡± His deration was filled with the certainty of one who had achieved great things. Yet, it was also heavy with arrogance. The crowd fell silent. The weight of his words crushed any dissent. ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering about something since the moment we met.¡± Amelia¡¯s voice broke the silence. @@novelbin@@ ¡°You said you¡¯ve saved countless worlds from the Old Gods?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Akrasian affirmed without hesitation. But Amelia¡¯s doubt deepened. ¡°And you expect us to believe that? You?¡± Her tone dripped with disbelief and challenge. Chapter 518: Eighth Return, Earth (3) A soft voice echoed in the air, cutting through the tense atmosphere. The mood chilled instantly, and the Guardians'' expressions darkened. ¡°Are you... saying we¡¯re weak?¡± ¡°Not weak. Not exactly.¡± But only to a certain extent. ¡°You don¡¯t seem like you¡¯re strong enough to save a world. Did you really save all those worlds?¡± ¡°How dare you! Such insolent words!¡± One of the Guardians, unable to contain himself, roared in anger. His grip on his weapon tightened visibly. ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it feels to me. What do you want me to do about it?¡± Amelia muttered nonchntly, her face devoid of even a hint of tension. Akrasian¡¯s lips twitched as he struggled to suppress his emotions. ¡°...You¡¯re bold.¡± ¡°Decently bold. There¡¯s definitely someone who¡¯s terrifyingly strong, though.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re still frogs in a well. You can¡¯t even save your own world.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true...¡± Amelia shrugged, unable to refute the im. It was, after all, a fact. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re particrly strong either.¡± ¡°You...¡± The air grew heavy with killing intent. The atmosphere was so taut it felt like a sh could erupt at any moment. ¡°You need to be taught a lesson.¡± Akrasian began to draw his sword. Amelia watched the movement with an unnervingly calm demeanor. But the sword was never fully unsheathed. Taesan had appeared, silently watching them. ¡°Oh, Taesan.¡± ¡°K-Kang Taesan...¡± Taesan said nothing, his emotionless gaze fixed on Akrasian. The weight of his stare caused sweat to bead on the Guardian¡¯s brow. For a moment, Taesan stood there in silence before turning and walking away. Akrasian suppressed the rising tension within himself. ¡®That was close.¡¯ The Guardians served the Transcendents. Any reckless attack on his part could provoke their wrath. Akrasian regained hisposure. ¡°Say whatever you want. It doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯ve failed to save even this small world, while we have saved countless others.¡± It was an undeniable truth. Amelia didn¡¯t argue further. Still, doubt lingered in her mind. ¡°...I see now.¡± Amelia nodded, as if understanding something. Akrasian, mistaking her reaction as a retreat, smirked. ¡°Do you truly think your experience and knowledge surpass ours? You can¡¯t be that foolish. Reflect on this carefully.¡± Silence fell over the group, heavy and oppressive. *** The conclusion came easily enough. Earth¡¯s yers decided to follow the Guardians¡¯ lead. It was the obvious choice. The Guardians had sessfully defended countless worlds from the clutches of the Old Gods. Inparison, Earth¡¯s yers had failed to do so even once. The disparity in achievements made defiance almost impossible. The collective decision was to obey the Guardians. But there was one concern. yers like Amelia and Lee Taeyeon, who had reached thebyrinth¡¯s deeper floors, posed potential risks. Their resistance was a possibility, especially given Amelia¡¯s evident distrust of the Guardians. Yet, contrary to expectations, neither of them objected. ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Amelia said, her tone indifferent. ¡°Go ahead. Do whatever you like.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter to me,¡± Lee Taeyeon added nonchntly. ¡°...Are you sure? We¡¯re going to follow their orders.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll be fighting them, right? Then I couldn¡¯t care less. Of course, I¡¯m not following them personally.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°My master is Taesan.¡± Amelia stated this without a shred of embarrassment. She was Taesan¡¯s sole apostle. She had given her soul to him, and everything she was belonged to him alone. ¡°The only one who canmand me is Taesan.¡± No one else mattered to her. No one else could bind her. ¡°Kim Hwiyeon, Oliver¡ªyou two were appointed by Taesan himself, so sure, I¡¯ll tolerate you. But those guys? Not a chance.¡± ¡°Is that okay? What if it causes conflict...¡± ¡°And why would that matter?¡± Her demeanor was indifferent to the point of being unsettling. Lee Taeyeon seemed no different. While their attitudes caused some unease, the decision remained firm. The Guardians began managing and directing the yers. With over a billion people, the initial process was chaotic. But thanks to Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s assistance, the Guardians were soon able to establish control. The journey to Greend, beneath the rift in the sky, began. @@novelbin@@ As expected, their path was blocked by monsters. [Roar!] [Growl!] [Monster 48881 has appeared.] [Monster 97745 has appeared.] [Monster 32319 has appeared.] [Monster 47515 has appeared.] Thousands of monsters charged directly at them. Akrasian seized his weapon eagerly, his expression confident. ¡°Behold, ignorant ones.¡± His voice was proud and arrogant. ¡°This is our power.¡± The Guardians rushed forward. With astonishing speed, they collided with the horde of monsters. Boom! The monsters were torn apart and annihted. ¡°Hahaha!¡± One of the Guardians burst intoughter, swinging his axe with vigor. Monsters were split and shredded under his strikes. Thud. One monster dodged the axe and grabbed the Guardian¡¯s arm. ¡°Hmph.¡± The Guardian shook it off with brute force, sending the monster flying. Crunch. The Guardians didn¡¯t stop. In a sh, the monsters were cleared. The Guardians raised their weapons triumphantly, their faces glowing with pride. ¡°Woooooo!¡± A victory cry echoed through the air. Akrasian, his face beaming, turned to the Earth¡¯s yers. ¡°This is our strength!¡± No response came. What Akrasian mistook for awe at their power was, in fact, confusion. But unaware of the true reason, he continued, his expression smug. ¡°We have saved countless worlds. Of course, we possess this level of power.¡± Feeling ted, Akrasian gestured magnanimously. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be ashamed. These monsters were fairly strong. Without the aid of the Transcendents, you likely couldn¡¯t have handled them. But you¡¯ve done well to survive this far.¡± Still, no response. The reason was simple: the yers weren¡¯t impressed by the Guardians¡¯ strength. ¡°Why are they only B-grade monsters?¡± The yers had expected A-grade monsters¡ªat least hundreds, if not thousands. Instead, they were only B-grade. Monsters of this caliber were something even the yers could have handled without much trouble. What made it stranger was the Guardians¡¯ apparent pride in defeating such creatures. It was as if renowned warriors had just boasted about defeating stray dogs. The yers felt a growing sense of disconnect. While there was no harm done¡ªthe monsters were defeated without casualties¡ªthe disparity between expectations and reality left a bitter taste. For now, things remained stable. But Kim Hwiyeon grew increasingly uneasy. The yers knew nothing about the Guardians. They only knew that these beings had supposedly saved countless worlds. Beyond that, their nature, their motives, and their methods were a mystery. Can we really trust them to lead us? As someone who had acted as Taesan¡¯s proxy in many situations, Kim Hwiyeon couldn¡¯t ignore her doubts. Eventually, she decided to consult Taesan. ¡°What do you think of them?¡± She shared her concerns with Taesan. His response was brief. ¡°You figure it out.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°I have no intention of getting involved in your dealings with the Guardians.¡± It was a dispute among mortals¡ªnot a matter of survival, nor a crisis that threatened countless lives. It was something they could resolve themselves. ¡°You can¡¯t rely on me for everything. Sure, you¡¯ll lean on me¡ªI¡¯m the reason you¡¯re alive, after all. But if you leave even these decisions to me, you¡¯ll be incapable of doing anything without me.¡± ¡°...I...¡± Kim Hwiyeon was momentarily at a loss for words. Taesan wasn¡¯t wrong. The Guardians were an issue the yers could handle without his intervention. Seeking his help now was more a matter of habit than necessity. ¡°You need to learn to stand on your own.¡± And most importantly, it wasn¡¯t a matter that required his involvement. ¡°I have other things to do.¡± ¡°Other things?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going ahead to check things out.¡± Taesan snapped his fingers, and Minerva appeared, cutting through the air. ¡°You really don¡¯t call on me often these days.¡± ¡°Sorry. There just hasn¡¯t been much for you to do.¡± The enemies Taesan faced now were beyond Minerva¡¯s capabilities, leaving little need to summon her. ¡°Minerva, make a path for them to cross the sea.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Taesan stood, preparing to leave. Kim Hwiyeon hurried to speak. ¡°Wait, Taesan?¡± ¡°If you have questions, ask Diana. Good luck.¡± With those parting words, Taesan disappeared. Kim Hwiyeon stared nkly at the empty sky. Taesan¡¯s departure soon became known, and panic rippled through the crowd. The realization that their ultimate pir of support was gone sent the yers into disarray. Kim Hwiyeon worked tirelessly to calm them. ¡°Taesan left to prepare ahead. He¡¯ll be waiting for us at the destination.¡± Her reassurances managed to quell the chaos¡ªjust barely. But the Guardians, now aware of Taesan¡¯s absence, began revealing their true colors. Night fell, and the yers settled into their shelters, ready to rest. That was when the Guardians intervened. ¡°Stop.¡± Akrasian stood before the crowd. ¡°From this point forward, sleeping in groups without explicit permission is prohibited. Keep your distance from others when resting.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Order and discipline must be maintained. Let that be known.¡± ¡°What does that even mean?¡± Confusion spread among the yers. Akrasian frowned. ¡°Are you defying my rules?¡± His voice turned cold as he drew his sword. Intimidated, the yers reluctantlyplied, grumbling under their breath. At first, it was tolerable. Inconvenient, but not unbearable. But the rules kepting. ¡°Do not speak while we fight the monsters.¡± ¡°Provide servants to tend to our meals.¡± ¡°We require attendants to bathe us.¡± The Guardians hade to Earth iming they were here to help. The yers were willing to amodate their demands out of gratitude. But the Guardians¡¯ behavior grew increasingly audacious, as if establishing a hierarchy with themselves at the top and the yers as their subordinates. Dissatisfaction began to mount among the yers. ¡°What¡¯s their problem?¡± ¡°Even if they¡¯re here to help, isn¡¯t this too much?¡± Theints eventually reached Kim Hwiyeon, who decided to seek out Diana. ¡°Do you know anything about them?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Diana shared what she knew. The Guardians were beings tasked with saving worlds from the Old Gods. They had evene to her world once. ¡°But my world wasn¡¯t being destroyed by the Old Gods. It was a mistake on their part.¡± She smiled bitterly. ¡°Still, they imed they could save our world. In the midst of despair, people clung to the hope of survival and gave the Guardians everything they asked for¡ªfood, drink, treasure, even women.¡± ¡°Then... your world wasn¡¯t destroyed?¡± ¡°No.¡± Diana¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°My world was destroyed.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s eyes widened. Based on Diana¡¯s story, there was no reason her world should have been destroyed. ¡°The reason is simple,¡± Beldenkia said with a sneer. ¡°When things started going downhill, those so-called saviors decided there was nothing worth saving and left.¡± ¡°But... they said they could save it.¡± ¡°They said it was possible. They never said they¡¯d do it,¡± Beldenkia replied, her tone dripping with disdain. ¡°I didn¡¯t care back then, so I didn¡¯t argue. But they¡¯re quite the hypocrites.¡± Kim Hwiyeon fell silent. Diana¡¯s voice grew cold. ¡°They are undoubtedly righteous. Saving worlds is no small feat. But they are not good.¡± ¡°And if they weren¡¯t even righteous, I¡¯d have crushed them myself,¡± Beldenkia added. ¡°Barely tolerating them is as much as I can manage.¡± ¡°I... see.¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s mind raced. Diana tilted her head, puzzled. ¡°What are you worrying about?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to hesitate.¡± ¡°But they came to help us. Shouldn¡¯t we listen to them...¡± ¡°No.¡± Diana cut her off. ¡°We only listened to them because they were far stronger than us and capable of saving our world. That¡¯s not the case for you.¡± ¡°...What are you saying?¡± ¡°Why are you obeying people weaker than you? To you, they¡¯re nothing.¡± Diana¡¯s words carried no malice, only pure, uprehending curiosity. *** ¡°Bored...¡± One of the Guardians grumbled. Though monsters asionally appeared, they were hardly a threat. Without danger, there was little to upy their time. And with most sources of amusement already destroyed, there wasn¡¯t much left to do. ¡°Hm...¡± The Guardian clicked his tongue as his gaze drifted over the countless Earthlings passing by. For a moment, he scrutinized them before making his move. ¡°You there. Come here.¡± He pointed at a woman in the crowd. Startled, she nced at herself, then pointed to confirm. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Leading her to a less crowded area, the Guardian spoke with a sense of entitlement. ¡°We are your saviors. We are protecting this dying world.¡± ¡°Uh... and?¡± ¡°In return, it¡¯s only natural that you give us properpensation.¡± The greed in his expression made his intentions clear. ¡°Ah.¡± The woman tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharpening as if understanding his request. ¡°No.¡± ¡°...What?¡± The man¡¯s face twisted. ¡°I said no.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to understand.¡± The Guardian raised his fist, intending to intimidate her intopliance. But the woman, Lee Taeyeon, showed no fear. ¡°You¡¯re annoying.¡± Her expression was one of pure disinterest, as if this entire situation was a waste of her time. Lee Taeyeonzily raised her hand. Crash! The next moment, the Guardian was sent flying into a nearby wall with a sickening crunch. Meanwhile, Taesan had already arrived beneath the rift. ¡°Hm.¡± The massive tear in the sky loomed above him, its edges shimmering ominously. As he watched, it became clear that the rift was slowly growingrger. Beyond it, he could feel an immense power emanating¡ªa presence unlike any he had faced recently. ¡°The Gatekeeper.¡± The entity guarding the rift. ¡°So, it¡¯s that this time.¡± Taesan muttered to himself, his gaze unwavering. Chapter 519: Eighth Return, Earth (4) "Impressive strength." Taesan stood beneath the rift, his senses sharper than ever, heightened by his growth since thest return. For the first time, he could faintly discern the presence of the Gatekeeper guarding the rift. The energy emanating from the Gatekeeper was immense, oppressive even at this distance. If it were a mere fragment or its main body, it didn¡¯t matter¡ªthe Gatekeeper was at least at the level of an Old God. "Could I win against that?" The answer was uncertain. The likelihood of defeat seemed higher than victory. It was an opponent of that magnitude. [You¡¯re not nning to fight it anyway, right?] "True." The Guardians had brought the discs that could seal the rift semi-permanently. If that seeded, there¡¯d be no need to fight the Gatekeeper. The n was to seal it off entirely without confrontation. "Still, I should prepare for the worst-case scenario." [By the way, those Guardian guys are causing a ruckus. Acting like they own the ce. You¡¯re really not going to step in?] "Doesn¡¯t matter." Taesan¡¯s voice was indifferent. "They¡¯re just couriers. Let the yers handle it." * * * "Ugh..." The Guardiany crumpled on the ground, twitching. He struggled toprehend what had happened. He recalled the woman raising her arm, and the next thing he knew, he was on the ground. "Ugh... ah..." The man groaned as he tried to rise. His legs almost gave out, but he managed to stabilize himself by clinging to the wall. "Oh, good. You¡¯re alive." Lee Taeyeon¡¯s voice carried a note of relief. "I wasn¡¯t sure if I held back enough." "You... you... what did you do to me?" The man¡¯s mind, still hazy, worked to piece together the situation. He arrived at a crude conclusion. This woman had attacked him. His face contorted with rage. "You wench! What did you do to me?" "I told you no." "You¡ª! You!" His voice rose in anger, attracting the attention of those nearby. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Among the gathering crowd were other Guardians. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°This woman!¡± The man pointed at Lee Taeyeon, trembling with anger. ¡°She attacked me!¡± ¡°What?¡± The Guardians¡¯ faces hardened. Slowly, their hostility turned toward Lee Taeyeon. "Ugh, this is annoying." Lee Taeyeon remained unfazed, her expression one of mild irritation. There was no fear, no tension¡ªjust pure annoyance, as if she had stepped into a puddle on her way somewhere. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Akrasian entered the scene. The injured Guardian rushed to him, exining the situation in heated tones. After listening, Akrasian¡¯s face twisted in displeasure. "So that¡¯s what happened." His gazended on Lee Taeyeon, sharp and full of disdain. "I had intended to show leniency since this is a world under the Great One¡¯s care. But it seems I¡¯ll need to enforce strict discipline." "He came at me first. How is this my fault?" "Of course, it¡¯s your fault." Akrasian spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "We came down to this world to save you. It¡¯s only natural that you do whatever is within your power to aid us. To refuse that is sheer insolence." "Ah..." Lee Taeyeon sighed. "You really haven¡¯t changed, huh." Akrasian gestured, and the surrounding Guardians closed in on her. ¡®Perfect timing.¡¯ For strict discipline and absolute order, an example was always needed. Akrasian intended to use Lee Taeyeon as that example by thoroughly crushing her. "You¡¯re quite strong," he acknowledged, his tone patronizing. @@novelbin@@ "But not nearly strong enough to challenge us. Let me show you what happens when someone dares oppose a Guardian." "This is such a hassle..." Lee Taeyeon still showed no signs of fear, only annoyance. ¡°Mind if I step in?¡± A clear voice broke the tension. Amelia strolled into the scene, taking a position next to Lee Taeyeon. "Amelia?" "You seem annoyed. Should I take care of this for you?" "Fine by me." Lee Taeyeon agreed readily, and Amelia¡¯s smile grew wider. Akrasian, who had intended to dismiss Amelia initially, frowned when he recognized her. "It¡¯s you." The woman who had mocked their strength earlier. "Perfect. I¡¯ll deal with you first." "You think you can?" Amelia smirked. Akrasian¡¯s lips curled into a sneer. "I know you¡¯re strong. Perhaps even as strong as me." Akrasian drew his sword. "But I¡¯ve saved countless worlds and defeated countless monsters. Someone like you could neverpare to me." "Enough talk. Come at me." Amelia waved him forward with a flick of her fingers. Akrasian growled, baring his teeth as he lunged. He moved fast¡ªtoo fast for an ordinary person to follow. His de swung with precision, aiming for Amelia¡¯s vitals. She remained motionless, unbothered even as the de approached her. Akrasian felt certain of his victory. Boom! Akrasian¡¯s body mmed into the ground with a thunderous impact. "What...?" "Well, this is disappointing." Amelia dusted off her hands. "I thought maybe there was something special about you. Maybe some kind of power I couldn¡¯t sense. I even allowed myself a tiny bit of hope." She looked down at Akrasian, her face a mix of boredom and disdain. "But it turns out... you¡¯re just weak, aren¡¯t you?" *** ¡°Ugh, ah...¡± Akrasian staggered to his feet, his legs trembling as he swayed unsteadily. His eyes darted around, unfocused, his mind a chaotic mess. He had no idea what had just happened. When his senses returned, he found himself buried in the dirt. He couldn¡¯t even perceive Amelia¡¯s movements. As he slowly pieced things together, his face twisted with rage. ¡°...Witchcraft!¡± Desperation filled his voice as he convinced himself that Amelia had used some kind of cowardly sorcery. With this as his only exnation, Akrasian lunged at her again. Amelia extended her hand. Snap. The de he swung so ferociously was caught mid-air. ¡°Y-you...¡± It was as if a toddler was iling a twig. Amelia had overpowered him with embarrassing ease. Before he could process this humiliation, her fist swung. Crash! Akrasian¡¯s body collided with the ground, pain rippling through him as he rolled away. ¡°You... you... YOU!¡± Fighting back a grimace, Akrasian clenched his teeth and tried to suppress the agony coursing through his body. The situation was iprehensible. ¡°I am the leader of the Guardians! Akrasian, savior of countless worlds!¡± ¡°And?¡± Amelia¡¯s response was indifferent. ¡°Guess the worlds you saved were weak,¡± she said with a shrug. ¡°You insolent¡ª!¡± Akrasian¡¯s furious roar shook the air as he issued an order. ¡°All of you! Kill her!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The Guardians charged as one, a tide of soldiers rushing toward Amelia. Amelia smiled¡ªa feral grin full of exhration. ¡°Finally, now this feels right.¡± Hundreds of Guardians stormed toward her. Amelia calmly clenched her fists, her smile widening. Boom! The battlefield erupted as the yers gathered nearby bore witness to an overwhelming scene: one woman against hundreds. And yet, it wasn¡¯t a contest. Crack! Armor shattered. Staves snapped. Desperate swings of swords failed to scratch Amelia¡¯s equipment, and the fireballs they hurled vanished with a casual wave of her hand. It wasn¡¯t a battle. It was a massacre. Kim Hwiyeon stared in disbelief. ¡°This... what is this...?¡± Diana¡¯s voice cut through, calm and steady. ¡°I told you. There¡¯s no need to listen to them.¡± ¡°Those Guardians aren¡¯t weak¡ªthey¡¯re more than capable of saving certain worlds. But you¡¯re stronger. Much stronger. You¡¯ve been underestimating yourselves.¡± Diana gestured toward the chaotic battlefield. ¡°An S-ss monster is enough to devastate a. Even if every living being on that worked together, they¡¯d still stand no chance against it. But here, Lee Taeyeon can defeat such creatures alone.¡± ¡°The universe is vast,¡± Diana continued. ¡°Manys don¡¯t have gods, dragons, or immortals to protect them. On thoses, a few hundred B-ss monsters are enough to cause extinction.¡± ¡°Wait, just a hundred?¡± Kim Hwiyeon¡¯s eyes widened. Diana smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s what an ordinary world looks like. You¡¯re simply too powerful to see it that way.¡± Thebyrinth¡¯s trials had conditioned them otherwise. Across the entire universe, only the rarest of talents could surpass the 50th floor. Even Spirit Kings and Archmages often stalled at the 70th. But here on Earth, even mid-level yers had surpassed those boundaries. Taeyeon wasn¡¯t the only monster; Amelia, though quieter about her prowess, was another force of nature. ¡°You¡¯re among the strongest groups in the universe,¡± Diana concluded. ¡°Your environment¡¯s challenges were so overwhelming that you mistook yourselves for weak.¡± The yers, forged by unrelenting adversity, had grown to rival the Guardians¡¯ so-called saviors in sheer might. It was a reality both stunning and humbling. Meanwhile, the battle came to a swift and decisive end. Boom! Hundreds of Guardiansy crumpled on the ground, their pride and bodies shattered. Amelia stood at the center, her breathing even, not a scratch on her. ¡°Done.¡± Dusting off her hands, she casually nced at the defeated soldiers. What came next was inevitable. The Guardians fell silent, no longer daring to speak out. Some clung to their wounded pride, their voices shaking. ¡°We are the saviors of worl¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up already,¡± Amelia cut in, smacking one across the back of the head and leaving him unconscious. Power had established its hierarchy. The Guardians, for all their arrogance, now understood the difference in strength. They weren¡¯t so foolish as to challenge it again. Amelia sighed in satisfaction. ¡°Should¡¯ve beaten them up earlier. That was cathartic.¡± With the matter settled, the group resumed their march. The Guardians, once revered, were now ignored entirely. Despite their anger, they knew better than to act out again. Monsters fell, one by one, as Minerva cleared a path across the sea. And finally, they reached the rift. ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°It¡¯s massive...¡± The rift loomed before them, an unfathomablyrge gash in the sky. It was vast enough to engulf all of Greend and more, an ominous void that defiedprehension. The yers felt a chill run down their spines as they stared upward. And there, waiting beneath it, stood Taesan. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Taesan¡¯s gaze flicked briefly toward Akrasian. The defeated Guardian leader bowed his head in shame. Taesan spared him no further thought. ¡°Prepare yourselves.¡± With those words, the yers began readying their equipment and forming ranks. Momentster, the quest notification appeared. [Special Quest: Begin the Sealing Ritual.]
  • ce four small discs at the edges of the rift to seal it.
  • Monsters will attack with everything they have to stop you.
  • Protect the discs at all costs.[Objective: Sessfully seal the rift. Ensure the discs remain intact.] [Reward: Rewards will vary based on performance upon returning to thebyrinth.]
    • Chapter 521: Eighth Return, Earth (6) In an instant, the space twisted. The force manifested by the system¡¯s power appeared in the world. Crack. The Servant moved, struggling to withstand the physical force pressing against it. A ck aura surged forth, enveloping the Servant''s entire body, creating an absolute defense that cut off all external interference. This ck aura was a power beyond this world, transcendent and unmatched by any opposing force. Breaking through it with mere physical strength was considered impossible. Creak. And yet, the ck aura cracked. Pure physical power shattered the ck defense. The Servant, in a panic, summoned more of the ck aura to reinforce itself. But it was toote. The moment of contact had alreadye. A resounding crack echoed as the entire defense shattered, and the force reached the Servant¡¯s body. Boom! An explosion erupted. The sky split open. Clouds scattered, revealing the vast expanse of space. The sheer physical power pierced through the Servant and reached into the cosmos. Crash! The ocean turned into a tidal wave, spreading in all directions. The surroundingnd crumbled as the very foundation gave way. Despite Taesan¡¯s efforts to control the direction of his attack, the unleashed physical force rampaged like a wild beast, wreaking havoc everywhere. ¡°Kyaaaaaah!¡± ¡°What¡ªwhat¡¯s happening?!¡± People were swept away like leaves in a storm. ¡°Ugh!¡± Minerva quickly took control of the wind, catching those who were being blown away and pulling them back to Greend. [Aaaaargh!] [Nooo!] Even the monsters were not spared. Many of them couldn¡¯t withstand the aftermath and were flung out of Greend. ¡°Wait¡ªhold on.¡± Lee Taeyeon stared in shock. Even from a considerable distance, she could feel the overwhelming force of the attack. ¡°What... is that?¡± This wasn¡¯t mere physical power. Such concentrated strength and intensity had transcended the realm of physicality and be something akin to divine authority. ¡°What on earth did he just do?¡± Her astonished voice trembled as she spoke. Crack! The Servant¡¯s body distorted, unable to endure the crushing force. It was flung far into the depths of space. The speed was extraordinary¡ªso fast that even Taesan struggled to keep up. Taesan opened a gateway. [You have activated Teleportation.] Leaping through space, he arrived ahead of the Servant, extending his hand with the Boundary Line swirling around it. The Servant¡¯s body was caught in Taesan¡¯s grasp. With a forceful motion, Taesan mmed the Servant into the ground, burying it deep within the earth. Boom! Returning to Earth, Taesan dusted off his hands. The Servant was now in a critical state. It twitched, desperately trying to draw upon its power, but even the ck aura failed to manifest properly. Seeing this, Taesan let out a faint chuckle. The Servant was an existence without a defined physical limit. No matter how high one¡¯s attack power was, it was impossible to defeat a Servant through damage alone. And yet, this being was now teetering on the edge of death due to sheer physical force. [...Wow.] Bardray finally broke the silence with a voice filled with awe. [If my eyes aren¡¯t deceiving me, that damage exceeded four billion, didn¡¯t it?] ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± [Well, that¡¯s... something else.] Bardray couldn¡¯t help butugh in disbelief. [I expected a high number, but this...] Thebination of Addition and Multiplication had brought about this staggering oue. With Taesan¡¯s current attack power, dealing damage in the billions was no longer a difficult task. This result had been anticipated. But witnessing it firsthand was an entirely different matter. Four billion. The sheer magnitude of the number was mind-boggling. Damage on this scale, aplished in just two skill activations, was beyond imagination. ¡°The damage itself isn¡¯t what matters.¡± For Taesan, the numerical value of damage was no longer a significant concern. High damage alone couldn¡¯t defeat the Servants of the Malevolent God. These beings existed outside the rules of this universe. Damage confined within the system¡¯s limits couldn¡¯t deal meaningful harm to them. In other words, even the skill Multiplication had limited value against such enemies. That was until Balbabamba had given him one specific skill. ¡°Even I didn¡¯t expect this.¡± Taesan was genuinely surprised. The skill that converted damage into physical force had exceeded his expectations. While physical force was proportional to the damage dealt, his proficiency with the skill was stillcking. Of course, with damage in the billions, he had expected it to be powerful, but this far surpassed his predictions. ¡°Not bad.¡± No, it was excellent. His efforts to obtain Multiplication had paid off handsomely. For Taesan, the Servant was no longer a difficult opponent. Even without Multiplication, he could have handled it without issue. But rendering the Servant critically wounded with a single strike demonstrated the skill¡¯s value¡ªon par with Boundary Line. ¡°I¡¯m satisfied.¡± Taesan smiled, raising his sword to finish the job. The Boundary Line began to coalesce around the de. However, just as he was about to strike, Taesan paused. The moment he summoned the Boundary Line, he felt something off. It was an indescribable sensation, as though an unknown entity had intervened. He stared at the flickering Boundary Line on his sword. And then he realized what was wrong. The Boundary Line was slipping out of his control, just slightly, and flowing toward something. It didn¡¯t take long for him to identify where it was going. The rift in the sky. Taesan frowned. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± He stared at the rift for a moment before swinging his sword. The de pierced the Servant¡¯s neck, and a grayish hue engulfed its entire body. [Your Spiritual Surge has been activated. ck Aura proficiency has increased by 3%.] [You have activated Teleportation.] Taesan returned to Greend. Thend waspletely destroyed, reduced to rubble and submerged under water. Despite his best efforts to control the force, the battlefield had been utterly devastated. ¡°The disc is intact.¡± Amid the chaos, the divine disc remained unscathed. Taesan spoke briefly. ¡°Rise and restore.¡± [You have activated Deration of Restoration.] Rumble. The shattered ground reformed, rebuilding thend into its original state. It was as though nothing had ever happened. Taesan moved to another disc. There, people were locked in desperatebat with monsters. Crack! A monster fell, pierced through the neck by Kim Huiyeon¡¯s sword. No more monsters remained in sight. Kim Huiyeon cried out with joy. ¡°We won!¡± ¡°Ooooooooh!¡± The crowd erupted into cheers, raising their weapons in triumph. They had achieved victory. *** The joy was short-lived. No sooner had the monsters been defeated than new ones began to emerge. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s a rotation battle. Hold the line!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Fortunately, the newly appearing monsters were not overwhelming in number. Their strength was manageable, allowing the defenders to rotate shifts and hold their ground. With some breathing room, they nced around. ¡°By the way, where is Lord Taesan? I¡¯d like to offer a prayer...¡± ¡°I know where he is,¡± Amelia said, looking up at the sky with aplicated expression. ¡°But you won¡¯t be able to see him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got so many questions for him, but he just won¡¯te down,¡± Lee Taeyeon grumbled. Taesan was high above them. Standing just before the massive, pitch-ck rift, he gazed at it intently. A pir of light, projected from the divine disc, struck the rift repeatedly, but the rift held firm without so much as a tremor. The rift was a deep ck void, so dense it seemed to absorb light itself. This ce was the boundary connecting the world of the Malevolent God and theirs. After a moment of observation, Taesan raised his hand. Flicker. The Boundary Line, a power that was neither light nor darkness, materialized above his palm. At that moment, Taesan saw it clearly. A portion of the Boundary Line was being drawn into the rift in the sky. The rift, consuming the Boundary Line, grew ever so slightly stronger andrger. Taesan clenched his hand, extinguishing the power. Each time he used the Boundary Line, a fragment of it was siphoned into the rift. It was a small amount¡ªso small that it would go unnoticed without precise focus. But it was a definite transfer. Taesan stared at the rift. He felt an odd sense of familiarity emanating from it. It wasn¡¯t the rift itself, but something intrinsic to the concept of the Malevolent God that seemed familiar. ¡°Hmm.¡± Taesan descended back to the ground, reflecting on the Servant he had just defeated. The Servant had taken on the form of an ordinary human. It wasn¡¯t particrly strong or fast. Compared to the previous Servants, who each had unique, intense characteristics, this one was strangely in. Taesan delved into his memory. What had been this Servant¡¯s defining trait? ...The ck aura. The ck aura controlled by the Servant was subtly different from that of the others. It was darker, more alien. What if he had faced this Servant using the Boundary Line? Taesan simted the scenario in his mind. As a transcendent, his mental simtions were remarkably urate. The result was clear. It would have taken significantly longer to defeat. Not that it would have been difficult¡ªTaesan could have handled the Servant without much trouble. It was a matter ofpatibility. The ck aura this Servant wielded was optimized for countering the Boundary Line, persistentlytching on and forcing him to use it repeatedly. And each time the Boundary Line was used, a fragment of it would have been drawn into the rift. Taesan now understood what the Malevolent Gods were aiming for in this return. Their goal was to make him use the Boundary Line. ¡°A solid n.¡± The Boundary Line was Taesan¡¯s greatest power. Forcing him to fight without it was akin to tying his hands and feet in battle. Yet, using it yed directly into their strategy. Somehow, the Malevolent Gods had devised a method to siphon it away with each use. A ssic catch-22. ¡°Well nned.¡± But there was one issue. The Malevolent Gods hadn¡¯t ounted for Multiplication. With the raw physical force he now possessed, Taesan could critically injure a Servant without using the Boundary Line. ¡°Perfect timing.¡± Taesan looked up at the rift with a rxed expression. For nearly a week after that, no significant monsters appeared. A few hundred A-rank and a couple of S-rank monsters descended intermittently, but these were easily handled without any casualties. It almost felt as if the Malevolent Gods were hesitating, unsure how to proceed. The Multiplication skill was an irregrity among irregrities. Its ability to defeat a Servant using pure physical force alone was entirely unexpected, even by the most brilliant mages. The Malevolent Gods¡¯ ns had been thoroughly derailed. Time continued to pass. The golden light encasing the rift in the sky grew steadily stronger. ¡°At this rate... about a month left.¡± ¡°There¡¯s still quite a bit of time.¡± The estimate of a month gave the defenders renewed determination. But just as they reached a moment of rity, the monsters returned in force. ¡°They¡¯reing! Everyone, prepare yourselves!¡± Those who had been resting hurriedly rose to their feet. When they looked up, their faces froze in shock. The sky was entirely filled with monsters, blotting out the heavens. ¡°Seems they¡¯re trying to go all-in this time.¡± Taesan muttered to himself as monsters began to descend in front of him. Boom! [$%%^%& has appeared.] [#@!!!! has appeared.] [!@%^&&& has appeared.] ¡°Three Servants, huh.¡± Three Servants encircled Taesan. [You have activated Reconnaissance.] [You have activated Essence Analysis.] After quickly assessing the Servants¡¯ information, Taesan was certain. The Malevolent Gods were baiting him into using the Boundary Line. These Servants were disposable pawns. The real trump cards were still being held back. Which meant Taesan¡¯s course of action was simple. Do not use the Boundary Line. Taesan moved. The Servants tried to react, but he was far faster. He raised his sword and swung. [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated Multiplication.] Crack. [$%%^%& receives 4,412,382,124 damage.] The Servant desperately tried to block the attack. But its defenses shattered. Its body was hurled into the depths of space. @@novelbin@@ Boom! As soon as Taesan used Multiplication, the remaining Servants charged at him. Their movements made it tantly clear they wanted him to use the Boundary Line. Of course, Taesan had no intention of obliging. With a subtle shift in his stance, Taesan maneuvered the two remaining Servants into ovepping positions. [You have used the Twisted Ring of the Regretful One. The cooldown for Multiplication has been reset.] [You have activated Addition.] [You have activated Multiplication.] [You have activated Replication.] ¡°Go together.¡± With a calm swing of his sword, the two Servants were cleaved apart simultaneously. Chapter 522: Eighth Return, Earth (7) Crunch. The Servants¡¯ bodies were crushed. The immense physical force utterly destroyed their original forms. Screech! The Servants unleashed their powers. As Servants of the Malevolent God, they were the scourge of countless worlds. Their strength was absolute, rivaled only by beings at the level of transcendents. The two Servantsbined their might, summoning ck auras and reshaping their bodies to resist the overwhelming physical force bearing down on them. Crack. But it was futile. The raw physical force rolled over them like a steamroller, crushing their resistance. These entities, existing beyond conventional concepts, were torn apart by sheer physical power. [4,561,159,434 damage dealt to #@!!!!.] [4,561,159,434 damage dealt to #@!!!!.] [4,112,111,688 damage dealt to !@%^&&&.] [4,112,111,688 damage dealt to !@%^&&&.] The Servants¡¯ defenses werepletely shattered, and the physical force threatened to spill outward into the world. Rumble! The collision of force and earth caused the crust to copse. The mantle began to show as the foundations of the were exposed. At this rate, the very of Earth itself was in danger of disintegrating. Taesan raised his hand. [You have activated Inner World.] A domain forged from pure power and force expanded outward. It contained the rampaging physical energy, preventing it from affecting the world outside. Boom! The concentrated energy exploded within the confines of the domain, causing a cacophony of sound. Taesan casually flicked his sword. ¡°Done.¡± Before him, the two Servantsy sprawled out. They weren¡¯t dead. It was impossible to kill them with physical force alone. But he had rendered them into a critical state. The two Servants could no longer act. They werepletely incapacitated. [...This is terrifying.] Thoughcking a physical body, Bardray shuddered in awe. Until now, Bardray had considered Replication a powerful skill. Duplicating a skill without penalty was impressive, a game-changer that could turn the tide of battle. However, he had always thought it was inferior to Addition or Enforced Duel,rgely because of its long cooldown and its limited application to magic or dark magic¡ªthings that didn¡¯t hold much value for Taesan in his current state. But he had been mistaken. Replication revealed its true power whenbined with Multiplication. In this synergy, its value far exceeded Addition or Enforced Duel. ¡°Excellent.¡± Taesan hummed in satisfaction. The Malevolent Gods hadn¡¯t foolishly sent just any Servants¡ªthey had chosen ones optimized to counter physical force. However, against attacks amplified by Multiplication and Replication, theirpatibility advantage became meaningless. The Servants were by no means weak. Even if Taesan had fought them using the Boundary Line, the battle would have taken considerable time. Yet he had rendered these formidable opponents incapacitated with just two strikes. Taesan activated the Boundary Line. Crack. He finished off the Servants. A massive burst of energy erupted as their essence was absorbed into him. [Your Spiritual Surge has activated. ck Aura proficiency increased by 3%.] [Your Spiritual Surge has activated. ck Aura proficiency increased by 4%.] As for the one sent hurtling into space, it was likely handled by the transcendents. Taesan deactivated the Inner World. And what greeted him was the sight of a sky entirely filled with monsters, so densely packed that there was no room for empty space. ¡°Quite a lot.¡± The sheer number suggested the Malevolent Gods were determined to gain the upper hand. Among the monsters, several S-rank entities could be spotted. Though the defenders were fighting desperately, the endless waves were slowly pushing them back. Watching this, Taesan raised his hand. ¡°Perfect timing.¡± Mana surged from his body. [You have activated Radiant Multicolor Charge.] The magic, forgotten by many but bestowed upon him by thebyrinth¡¯s creator, materialized. Seven streams of multicolored light burst into existence. The beams streaked toward the monsters. ¡°Wha¡ª?¡± The defenders, locked inbat with the monsters, froze momentarily. The rainbow lights began to nket the world. Rumble! Hundreds, thousands of beams pierced through the monsters. Covering the entire sky, the light obliterated every monster descending upon Greend in mere moments. Crash! [Aaaaargh!] [Nooo!] Even the S-rank monsters were caught in the onught. A handful of them tried to resist, but the hundreds of beams shattered their defenses and tore their bodies apart. Taesan canceled the magic. ¡°Not bad.¡± The once monster-filled sky was now entirely clear. Although new monsters quickly began to fill the void, it had taken less than three seconds to wipe out every monster descending on Greend. The magic was exceptionally powerful, both in strength and range. The rainbow beams easily covered Greend and more. Its destructive power was equally remarkable. Even among the S-rank monsters, dozens had been annihted without being able to put up meaningful resistance. ¡®And the mana cost is surprisingly low.¡¯ In the three seconds the skill was active, it consumed only 2000 mana. Considering its output, it could have cost three times as much without being unreasonable. Furthermore, the beams could be concentrated for greater power, making it a highly versatile skill. ¡°Not bad.¡± If he could incorporate the Boundary Line or ck Aura into the magic, it would easily surpass the value of any other spell he possessed. Satisfied, Taesan turned to the defenders. ¡°The rest is up to you.¡± His calm voice echoed across Greend. The defenders, hearing him, were filled with reverence and devotion toward Taesan. ¡°Ooooooh!¡± They raised their weapons and shouted in unison. ¡°Lord Taesan!¡± His name reverberated across thend, and a surge of faith exploded. *** The monsters were strong and numerous. But the defenders were no longer weak. Drawing strength from their faith in Taesan and their umted experience, they steadily pushed back, taking down the monsters one by one. Crash! Finally, the defenders managed to clear out the majority of the monsters. ¡°We won!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Cheers erupted as people celebrated their victory. Of course, the battle wasn¡¯t entirely over¡ªmonsters were still descending intermittently from the rift in the sky. However, the current pace was manageable, and rotating shifts were enough to handle the situation. They had secured yet another victory, and the exhausted defenders began to rx and recover from the intensebat. But Lee Taeyeon, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, approached Taesan. ¡°Taesan. What was that?¡± Of everyone present, Lee Taeyeon understood Taesan the best. After pondering the events carefully, she had arrived at a single conclusion. ¡°...You acquired Multiplication, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well spotted. But Multiplication itself doesn¡¯t inherently generate physical force like that.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s something else, right? Because there¡¯s no way just a skill could create such overwhelming power.¡± Lee Taeyeon could sense it. The sheer physical force capable of destroying a¡ªsomething that no skill or item alone could produce. There was only one possibility. Multiplication. And some unknown skill that allowed physical force to manifest through it. There could be no other exnation. Taesan nodded. ¡°You¡¯re correct. You have a sharp intuition.¡± To have deduced the truth without any prior exnation... It was no wonder Lee Taeyeon had been able to clear Alone Mode. ¡°Well, damn.¡± Realizing her theory was urate, Lee Taeyeon let out a dryugh. ¡°How on earth did you get it? Of all things, I thought Multiplication was unattainable.¡± She was aware of the conditions required for obtaining Multiplication. Taesan had never hidden this information, so most yers were familiar with the criteria. And as someone who had cleared Alone Mode, Lee Taeyeon understood better than anyone. It was impossible to acquire Multiplication in Alone Mode. ¡°Is there even a floor in Alone Mode that satisfies the conditions? Or, wait¡ªare we talking about some absurd minimum stat threshold that allows exponential damage?¡± ¡°Not in Alone Mode.¡± So, Taesan had turned back time. He pulled out a shard of Ouroboros. Lee Taeyeon¡¯s eyes widened as she watched. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± ¡°I obtained it as a material during the floor-clearing process.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Lee Taeyeon immediately understood what he had done and where he had obtained it. She let out augh, equal parts incredulous and impressed. ¡°You rewound time just to get Multiplication. That¡¯s absurd.¡± It was an utterly reckless solution. But given that there was no other way to acquire Multiplication, it was also the correct one¡ªeven if it bordered on the impossible. Her face reflected pure admiration and awe. ¡°You¡¯re truly incredible. So, can you turn back time whenever you want?¡± ¡°No.¡± Rewinding time required an enormous amount of energy. While it was possible that the energy could recharge over time, it was far from a certainty at the moment. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. Then how did you convert the damage into physical force?¡± ¡°I got a skill from Balbabamba.¡± ¡°A skill granted by an administrator. Makes sense, considering it¡¯s something no one else could obtain.¡± Reaching a conclusion, Lee Taeyeon gave Taesan a new look of respect. ¡°So now your damage can reach tens or even hundreds of billions?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Hah.¡± She let out augh. But her expression soon shifted to one of eptance. ¡°...Yeah. That makes sense.¡± Multiplication. A skill that exponentially multiplied damage, an ability that surpassed the boundaries of what was considered possible. Yet Taesan hadn¡¯t been able to fully utilize its potential before. With his underdeveloped stats, no matter how much effort he put in, it was nearly impossible to achieve damage in the billions. The true value of Multiplication was far greater than what had been disyed before. Trapped in the constraints of an Easy Mode body, the skill had been reduced to a fraction of its potential. Lee Taeyeon had always found this deeply regrettable. Now, atst, the extraordinary skill was demonstrating its full power under the rightful stats and conditions. ¡°Everything¡¯s finally falling into ce.¡± Lee Taeyeon muttered softly. Time passed. Monsters continued to emerge, and the defenders continued to fight. But no major crises arose. The monsters that appeared were ones the defenders could handle even without Taesan¡¯s direct involvement. Thus, time flowed rtively uneventfully. The pir of light sealing the rift grewrger and stronger. ¡°...What?¡± Taesan frowned. Since sending the three Servants, the Malevolent Gods had shown no further movement. At this rate, the rift would be sealed entirely, yet their silence was deafening. [Maybe they¡¯ve given up? Honestly, now that you have Multiplication, there¡¯s not much they can do.] Bardray¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. The Malevolent Gods had attempted to deplete Taesan¡¯s Boundary Line for an unknown purpose, likely to destroy the divine disc. But thanks to the physical force enabled by Multiplication, Taesan had been able to defeat the Servants without relying on the Boundary Line. The Malevolent Gods¡¯ n had fallen apart. Their strategy to tie Taesan¡¯s hands had backfired, and now he had effectively gained wings to soar freely. They couldn¡¯t have anticipated Multiplication, and from their perspective, it was a perfect betrayal of their expectations. Bardray wasn¡¯t wrong. Yet something felt off. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean they should be doing nothing.¡± @@novelbin@@ Gatekeepers might not descend, but something at the level of fragments or shards should have been sent by now. Even as the pir of light expanded, covering more of the rift and making it harder for the Malevolent Gods to interfere, they made no moves beyond the three Servants. ¡°....¡± Something was happening. This couldn¡¯t be the end. The unease Taesan had felt ever since hearing Akrasian¡¯s exnation only grew stronger. ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± Taesan stomped his foot. His bodyunched into the air. In the blink of an eye, Taesan disappeared from Earth. Chapter 523: Eighth Return, Earth (8) Tap. Taesan arrived in a ce far from Earth. He had returned to the Labyrinth. ¡°Hmm?¡± Not long after, the Magician appeared, his face marked with curiosity. ¡°The quest on Earth isn¡¯t over yet. Why are you back already?¡± ¡°I have something I need to ask.¡± Taesan wasted no time and went straight to the point. ¡°Who is the god that oversees the divine discs?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The Magician was momentarily caught off guard by the abrupt question, unsure of Taesan¡¯s intent. But the confusion was fleeting. Soon, the Magician began to answer Taesan¡¯s inquiry. ¡°The God of Purification, Bright.¡± ¡°Purification?¡± ¡°Not a particrly strong god. Among the transcendents who oversee concepts, Bright ranks among the weakest. But when ites to purifying corrupted or damaged things, there¡¯s no one better in this universe.¡± Taesan thought about this. The ck aura¡ªthe corruption¡ªwas likely included in Bright¡¯s domain. ¡°Bright is one of our most valuable assets. During our battles against the Malevolent Gods, Bright yed a crucial role. Even now, Bright is handlingrge-scale contamination across the cosmos.¡± The Magician pointed a finger at Taesan. ¡°Your world is one of them.¡± A massive corruption capable of threatening the entire universe. Earth was included in that list. ¡°For ordinary worlds, a single relic of Bright is enough for purification. But your world¡¯s contamination is enormous. Even with four relics, it takes significant time to handle.¡± ¡°So all of this is to hold the line until it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be easier if Bright could descend directly to Earth, but that would be far too dangerous. Most gods overseeing such concepts perished in past wars. We have to protect Bright at all costs.¡± The God of Purification, Bright. The true owner of the relics. Taesan fell into deep thought. The Magician broke the silence with his own question. ¡°Why do you ask? Isn¡¯t everything wrapping up soon?¡± ¡°I just have a bad feeling.¡± It was a nagging intuition, one he couldn¡¯t quite put into words. ¡°Bright is safe, right?¡± Taesan asked. ¡°As safe as anyone can possibly be in this universe,¡± the Magician said confidently. ¡°Even if a Malevolent God manifested fully, they wouldn¡¯t be able to touch Bright. You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± After a brief pause, Taesan nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°You seem worried about something,¡± the Magician observed, narrowing his eyes. ¡°At your level, gut feelings tend to be surprisingly urate. If it bothers you that much, I¡¯ll double-check.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± Taesan returned to Earth. While he had been gone, nothing significant had happened. The monsters remained manageable, and the defenders had continued holding their ground without issue. Time passed steadily. Finally, thest day arrived without any major incidents. Screech! The pir of light extended upward, almost fully enveloping the rift in the sky. Only a small opening remained, and monsters continued to trickle through. ¡°Everyone, prepare yourselves!¡± The defenders tensed, their expressions solemn. They were convinced that this would be the Malevolent Gods¡¯ final assault, expecting the appearance of powerful enemies. And they weren¡¯t entirely wrong. [Monster 1 has appeared.] [Monster 4 has appeared.] [Monster 6 has appeared.] [Roar!] Multiple S-rank monsters materialized, unleashing thunderous roars that shook the earth. But that was it. No fragments, no shards, not even a Servant descended. Most defenders, prepared to risk their lives in battle, were left confused. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± The battle didn¡¯tst long. Both Lee Taeyeon and Diana could take down S-rank monsters on their own. Taesan didn¡¯t even need to intervene; the monsters were swiftly dealt with. Boom! Atst, the pir of light fully enveloped the sky. [Special Quest Completed.] [You will return to the Labyrinth in two days.] The quest wasplete. Relief and joy spread across the defenders¡¯ faces. ¡°We did it!¡± ¡°Victory is ours!¡± The rift in the sky was sealed. They had won. They had reimed Earth. It was a moment of collective celebration and belief in their triumph. Crack. The sound of something fracturing spread. It wasn¡¯t just one. All four divine discs began to crack, the fractures spreading rapidly. ¡°Wha¡ªwhat¡¯s happening?!¡± The Guardians rushed to the discs, panic evident in their movements. ¡°Wait! Stop!¡± Crack! Despite their desperate attempts, they couldn¡¯t stop the cracks from spreading. The discs were breaking apart. As the discs copsed, the golden barrier sealing the rift began to waver. Those who had been celebrating quickly realized something was wrong. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Lord Taesan!¡± One of the Guardians, his face pale, ran toward Taesan. ¡°Something is very wrong!¡± Taesan approached the nearest disc. Crack! The fractures had already spread across its entire surface. Taesan ced his hand on the disc, channeling divine energy into it. A golden light enveloped the relic. Crack! But the disc did not recover. Taesan frowned. He was using divine energy¡ªthe most fundamental power of transcendents. Normally, even a relic belonging to another transcendent could be repaired this way. But this time, it didn¡¯t work. The disc continued to wither, like a machine losing its power source. ¡°Has the link with the transcendent been severed?¡± ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible! These are directly connected relics! Unless something has happened to the transcendent themselves...¡± The Guardian¡¯s face turned ghostly pale. That could only mean one thing. Something had happened to Bright, the relics¡¯ owner. ¡°Th-this can¡¯t be... Bright...¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± Taesan clicked his tongue. But he wasn¡¯t entirely surprised. Deep down, he had expected this. A part of him had been waiting for this oue. ¡°So, it happens like this.¡± Crack! The golden barrier around the rift shattered. As the bnce was destroyed, the rift began to open. ¡°What?¡± The people froze, stunned. In that moment, the very atmosphere shifted. A sudden, jarring sensation swept over everyone, as if parts of the world were flung into a distant void. The atmosphere encasing Earth seemed to vanish, leaving an oppressive weight in its ce, causing those present to instinctively shrink back. Gulp. From the rift, a tar-like, ck substance began to seep and fall. The people instinctively knew¡ªcontact with that substance would mean ceasing to exist as themselves. It was a twisted material, capable of defiling and corrupting everything it touched. Its mere presence threatened to poison the Earth itself, rendering it uninhabitable by any living being. ¡°Everyone, get away!¡± Diana shouted, her face pale with fear. The defenders scrambled to escape Greend¡¯s boundaries, but the rift was too vast. For those in Easy and Normal Modes, there was no escape. Taesan gathered the Boundary Line. Now that the bnce had shattered and the rift in the sky had fully opened, there was no need to conserve his power. The ashen energy began to concentrate intensely, preparing to obliterate the falling ck tar in one devastating strike. But before he could release it¡ª ¡°Ah, what a mess.¡± The space split open, and a single hand emerged. The Magician stepped out, his expression twisted in frustration. He flicked his fingers toward the sky. Screeech! A massive, invisible barrier materialized above the heavens. Taesan immediately recognized it¡ªit was the Labyrinth¡¯s System, forcibly extracted by the Labyrinth¡¯s creator to intervene outside its usual jurisdiction. The Magician clenched his fist, causing the barrier topress. The falling ck tar began to gather into one spot, trapped. With a sharp p of his hands, the Magician opened a spatial tear, banishing the gathered tar to a ce beyond this dimension. The threatening substance vanishedpletely. ¡°Magician,¡± Taesan called out. ¡°Quite the mess, isn¡¯t it?¡± The Magician chuckled dryly, his face lined with irritation and disbelief. ¡°You were right, Taesan. There¡¯s been a problem.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Taesan asked, his tone grim. ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡± The Magician brushed off his hands in irritation. ¡°Bright is dead.¡± The God of Purification, a transcendent who had purified the Malevolent Gods¡¯ corruption across the universe since the ancient wars. That being was now gone. Taesan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Suddenly?¡± The Magician had previously assured him that Bright was in the safest ce in the universe. Not even the full manifestation of a Malevolent God could threaten them. And yet, the unthinkable had happened. For a transcendent, death was not an easy thing. Even gods like Levinenov, who had lost their domains and been tainted by the Malevolent Gods, endured without fully perishing. For Bright to suddenly die was iprehensible. ¡°Did multiple Malevolent Gods descend at once?¡± ¡°If only it were that simple.¡± The Magician shook his head, his frustration evident. ¡°I knew Bright¡¯s concept was a delicate one, but I never expected them to side with the enemy. Have theypletely lost their mind?¡± ¡°...Sided with the enemy?¡± Taesan¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°Taesan, I trusted your instincts. A transcendent¡¯s intuition is rarely wrong. I fortified Bright¡¯s barriers even more, just in case, making them strong enough to withstand even the direct manifestation of a Malevolent God.¡± The Magician¡¯s voice grew bitter. ¡°But all those barriers were designed to keep out the Malevolent Gods.¡± ¡°...¡± They hadn¡¯t considered other threats. The Magician let out a mirthlessugh. ¡°Impressive. In all the long history of the universe, never has a transcendent of Bright¡¯s caliber betrayed their side. If making history was their goal, they¡¯ve seeded spectacrly.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Taesan asked, his mind racing. ¡°It¡¯s someone you know well.¡± One name shed through Taesan¡¯s mind, but before he could voice it, the Magician looked to the sky. ¡°But that¡¯s not something we can discuss right now.¡± The rift in the sky had opened. And the entity guarding the rift was now beginning to descend into this world. ¡°Unfortunately, we can¡¯t intervene directly this time. It wasn¡¯t their power that forced the descent¡ªit¡¯s the imbnce in the system that allowed this to happen.¡± The Magician snapped his fingers. ¡°Still, I can do this much.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The defenders, frozen in fear and confusion, were instantly teleported to the far side of the continent. The Magician¡¯s authority made their escape effortless. He then knelt and touched the ground. Screeech! A protective barrier enveloped Greend, isting it from the rest of Earth. ¡°Whatever happens inside here won¡¯t affect the rest of the.¡± ¡°Thanks. That helps,¡± Taesan replied. ¡°I feel bad dumping this on you, but I¡¯m counting on you.¡± The Magician gave a weary smile before vanishing. Taesan turned his gaze to the sky. The entity descending through the rift was finally beginning to take shape. Boom! The ground trembled violently. It was like a shadow incarnate. A being made of something that wasn¡¯t quite matter touched down on the earth. Boom! The ground around it corroded and twisted, unable to withstand its mere presence. If not for the barrier, itsnding alone would have caused the to copse in part. Taesan observed his foe. Its form was humanoid. Its size matched his own, resembling an ordinary human. But after a brief assessment, Taesan understood the truth. A Malevolent God. It wasn¡¯t a fragment or shard. It was a full-fledged Malevolent God. ¡°How troublesome.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like a fully realized Malevolent God. At best, it was an iplete manifestation, barely hanging on the lowest rung of their hierarchy¡ªa pitiful version of its kind. But a Malevolent God was still a Malevolent God. Taesan knew he couldn¡¯t win in a direct fight. [...Can we even do this?] [Master, that thing...] Bardray and Akasha both spoke, their voices trembling with primal fear. They could sense it¡ªa being capable of destabilizing the very fabric of the universe at will. But Taesan¡¯s eyes remained calm. The Malevolent God before him was far from whole. Its shadowy, non-material body was unstable, flickering and distorting like a me in the wind. Bright¡¯s death had disrupted the bnce, creating an opening for this entity to descend into the world. However, the rift wasn¡¯t wide enough for its true form to manifest. What stood before Taesan was a degraded, iplete version of the original. Now, Taesan understood why the Malevolent Gods had tried so hard to deplete the Boundary Line. They had been preparing the rift, aiming to widen it so the Malevolent Gatekeeper could fully descend. @@novelbin@@ ¡°So, the Gatekeeper¡¯s descent was always inevitable.¡± If Taesan had fallen into their trap and used the Boundary Line recklessly, the rift would have expanded, allowing the Gatekeeper¡¯s full power to descend. That would have meant certain death for him. But that wasn¡¯t the case now. Taesan had barely used the Boundary Line. This iplete manifestation was manageable. Moreover, he still had his trump card. [The Gatekeeper of the Rift has appeared.] [Special Quest Activated.] [?!$$%^%^&%&^$#] Even degraded, a Malevolent God was unlike anything Taesan had faced before. He gripped his sword tightly, ready to stake his life on the fight ahead. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!